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DAMASCUS, Syria — Israel carried out a wave of heavy airstrikes across Syria as its troops advanced deeper into the country, a Syrian opposition war monitor said Tuesday, and the Israeli defense minister announced that his forces had destroyed Syria’s navy. Israel acknowledged pushing into a buffer zone inside Syria following the overthrow of President Bashar Assad. But it remained unclear if its soldiers had gone beyond that area, which was established more than 50 years ago. Israel denied that it was advancing on the Syrian capital of Damascus. The Israeli military said Tuesday that it carried out more than 350 strikes in Syria over the last 48 hours, hitting “most of the strategic weapons stockpiles” in the country to stop them from falling into the hands of extremists. The targets included air defense systems, military airfields, missile depots and dozens of weapons production sites in Damascus and other cities. Associated Press reporters in the capital heard heavy airstrikes overnight and into Tuesday morning. Israeli missile ships also simultaneously struck two Syrian navy facilities, where the military said 15 Syrian naval vessels were docked. Israel did not specify how many Syrian naval vessels it struck, but the private security firm Ambrey said it had seen evidence that at least six Soviet-era Syrian navy missile ships had been hit. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel intended to establish a demilitarized zone in southern Syria. Speaking at a navy base in Haifa, Katz said the army will create “defense zone free of weapons and terrorist threats in southern Syria, without a permanent Israeli presence, in order to prevent terrorism in Syria from taking root.” He gave few details on what that entailed, but warned Syria’s rebels that “whoever follows Assad’s path will end up like Assad. We will not allow an extremist Islamic terrorist entity to act against Israel.” In an area where so many geopolitical lines are packed closely together, any military movement can spark regional fears. It is barely 25 miles (60 kilometers) from Damascus to the buffer zone, and only a few more miles to Israeli territory. There was no immediate comment from the insurgent groups — led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS – that have taken control of much of the country. Their lightning advance brought an end to the Assad family’s half-century rule after nearly 14 years of civil war, leaving many questions about what comes next . Members of the ousted Syrian government will gradually transfer power to a new transitional cabinet headed by Mohammed al-Bashir, who reportedly headed the rebel alliance's “salvation government” in its southwest Syrian stronghold. Outgoing officials met for the first time Tuesday with al-Bashir, who told reporters that the transitional period would last until the beginning of March. ‘Damascus is more beautiful now’ Life in the capital is slowly returning to normal after the overthrow of Assad, who fled the country over the weekend and has been granted political asylum in Russia . Private banks reopened on instructions from the central bank, said Sadi Ahmad, who runs a branch in the upscale Abu Rummaneh neighborhood. He said all his employees returned to work. Shops also reopened in the city's ancient Hamidiyeh market, where armed men and civilians could be seen buying perfume and ice cream. A clothing shop owner, who asked not to be named for fear of retribution, said he hoped vendors would no longer have to pay bribes to security officials. At Bakdash, a famous ice cream shop, a poster outside read: “Welcome to the rebels of free Syria. Long live free Syria.” “Damascus is more beautiful now," said Maysoun Qurabi, who was shopping in the market. “It has a soul, and people feel at ease and secure.” Under Assad, she said, “people were hungry and scared. The regime was strong." Syrians across the city celebrated the fall of Assad, and hoped for an end to the relentless bribery demands that governed much of life. “We are happy to get rid of the corrupt regime," said Abdul-Jalil Diab, who was strolling through a square in western Damascus with his brothers. Diab said he was living in Jordan until the city fell, studying German in hopes of moving to Germany. Now he is reconsidering those plans. “The whole country feels better,” he said. Israeli incursion draws condemnation In the immediate aftermath of Assad's fall, Israeli forces moved into a roughly 400-square-kilometer (155-square-mile) buffer zone inside Syria that was established after the 1973 Mideast war, a move it said was taken to prevent attacks on its citizens. Israel has a long history of seizing territory during wars with its neighbors and occupying it indefinitely , citing security concerns. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it in a move not recognized internationally, except by the United States. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has closely tracked the conflict since the civil war erupted in 2011, said Israel has carried out more than 300 airstrikes across the country since the rebels overthrew Assad. The Observatory, and Beirut-based Mayadeen TV, which has reporters in Syria, said Israeli troops are advancing up the Syrian side of the border with Lebanon and had come within 25 kilometers (15 miles) of Damascus, which the Israeli military denied. Israel denies advancing toward Damascus Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesperson, said “reports circulating in the media about the alleged advancement of Israeli tanks towards Damascus are false.” He said Israeli troops are stationed within the buffer zone in order to protect Israel. Israel's military had previously said troops would enter the buffer zone “and several other places necessary for its defense.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later confirmed the airstrikes, saying they aimed to destroy the toppled government’s leftover “military capabilities,” and said Israel wants relations with the new government in Syria. He spoke in a video statement recorded after his first day of testimony in his corruption trial . Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia have condemned Israel’s incursion, accusing it of exploiting the disarray in Syria and violating international law. Turkey, which has been a main backer of the Syrian opposition to Assad, also condemned Israel’s advance. The Turkish Foreign Ministry accused Israel of“displaying a mentality of an occupier” at a time when the possibility of peace and stability had emerged in Syria. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Monday said Israel's incursion constitutes a violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement and called on both Israel and Syria to uphold it.Expert Financial Consultant Martha Barrantes Shares Projections for SME Growth Amid Economic ShiftsArizona WR Tetairoa McMillan to enter 2025 NFL Draft

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As the gaming world gears up for the TGA ceremony, the inclusion of Mystical Beast Palru has injected a sense of excitement and anticipation into the event. With its innovative gameplay, captivating storyline, and dedicated fanbase, Palru has established itself as a force to be reckoned with in the industry. The TGA provides the perfect platform for the developers to showcase their talent and creativity to a global audience, solidifying Palru's status as a modern classic in the world of gaming.As the countdown to the much-anticipated clash between the fourth-tier team and Real Madrid begins, the football world is abuzz with excitement, curiosity, and anticipation. The unique circumstances surrounding this match make it a truly special occasion that embodies the essence of the King's Cup competition – where passion, unpredictability, and the magic of football converge to create unforgettable moments that will be etched in the annals of the sport's history.Rescue team tracking entangled humpback last seen off O.C.’s coast

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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A scruffy little fugitive is on the lam again in New Orleans, gaining fame as he outwits a tenacious band of citizens armed with night-vision binoculars, nets and a tranquilizer rifle. Scrim, a 17-pound mutt that's mostly terrier, has become a folk hero, inspiring tattoos, t-shirts and even a ballad as he eludes capture from the posse of volunteers. And like any antihero, Scrim has a backstory: Rescued from semi-feral life at a trailer park and adopted from a shelter, the dog broke loose in April and scurried around the city until he was cornered in October and brought to a new home. Weeks later, he'd had enough. Scrim leaped out of a second-story window, a desperate act recorded in a now-viral video. Since then, despite a stream of daily sightings, he's roamed free. The dog’s fans include Myra and Steve Foster, who wrote “Ode to Scrim” to the tune of Ricky Nelson’s 1961 hit, “I’m a Travelin’ Man.” Leading the recapture effort is Michelle Cheramie, a 55-year-old former information technology professional. She lost everything — home, car, possessions — in Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and in the aftermath, found her calling rescuing pets. “I was like, ‘This is what I should be doing,’” Cheramie said. “I was born to rescue.” She launched Zeus’ Rescues, a nonprofit shelter that now averages 600 cat and dog adoptions a year and offers free pet food to anyone who needs it. She helped Scrim find the home he first escaped from. It was Cheramie's window Scrim leaped from in November. She's resumed her relentless mission since then, posting flyers on telephone poles and logging social media updates on his reported whereabouts. She's invested thousands of dollars on wildlife cameras, thermal sensors and other gear. She took a course offered by the San Diego Zoo on the finer points of tranquilizing animals. And she's developed a network of volunteers — the kind of neighbors who are willing to grid-search a city at 3 a.m. People like writer David W. Brown, who manages a crowd-sourced Google Map of all known Scrim sightings. He says the search has galvanized residents from all walks of life to come together. As they search for Scrim, they hand out supplies to people in need. "Being a member of the community is seeing problems and doing what you can to make life a little better for the people around here and the animals around you," Brown said. And neighbors like Tammy Murray, who had to close her furniture store and lost her father to Parkinson's Disease. This search, she says, got her mojo back. “Literally, for months, I’ve done nothing but hunt this dog,” said Murray, 53. “I feel like Wile E. Coyote on a daily basis with him.” Murray drives the Zeus' Rescues' van towards reported Scrim sightings. She also handles a tactical net launcher, which looks like an oversized flashlight and once misfired, shattering the van's window as Scrim sped away. After realizing Scrim had come to recognize the sound of the van's diesel engine, Murray switched to a Vespa scooter, for stealth. Near-misses have been tantalizing. The search party spotted Scrim napping beneath an elevated house, and wrapped construction netting around the perimeter, but an over-eager volunteer broke ranks and dashed forward, leaving an opening Scrim slipped through. Scrim's repeated escapades have prompted near-daily local media coverage and a devoted online following. Cheramie can relate. “We’re all running from something or to something. He's doing that too,” she said. Cheramie's team dreams of placing the pooch in a safe and loving environment. But a social media chorus growing under the hashtag #FreeScrim has other ideas — they say the runaway should be allowed a life of self-determination. The animal rescue volunteers consider that misguided. “The streets of New Orleans are not the place for a dog to be free,” Cheramie said. “It’s too dangerous.” Scrim was a mess when Cheramie briefly recaptured him in October, with matted fur, missing teeth and a tattered ear. His trembling body was scraped and bruised, and punctured by multiple projectiles. A vet removed one, but decided against operating to take out a possible bullet. The dog initially appeared content indoors, sitting in Cheramie's lap or napping beside her bed. Then while she was out one day, Scrim chewed through a mesh screen, dropped 13 feet to the ground and squeezed through a gap in the fence, trotting away. Murray said Cheramie's four cats probably spooked him. “I wholeheartedly believe the gangster-ass cats were messing with him,” Murray said. Cheramie thinks they may have gotten territorial. Devastated but undeterred, the pair is reassessing where Scrim might fit best — maybe a secure animal sanctuary with big outdoor spaces where other dogs can keep him company. Somewhere, Murray says, “where he can just breathe and be." Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96Scott Barnes has reflected on his successful karting season after claiming two championships, including seven wins and more than 20 podium finishes. The Bermudian clinched the Skusa Superkarts USA Pro Tour title and retained his Skusa USA Winter Series championship in the Shifter Masters class. He also earned a runner-up finish in the Rok Masters category at the Stars Championship series. Adding to his accolades, Barnes was recognised as one of three “All-Star” drivers in the Masters division by eKartingNews – the leading karting racing website. He shared the honour with Maranello USA team-mate Joe Ruch and Niki Coello of Franklin Motorsport. “That’s a wrap on the 2024 race season,” Barnes wrote on social media. “I can’t say thank you enough to Maranello Karts and Carblos Racing Engines for everything they did for me, bringing me on the team has been amazing! “The Maranello Karts have been amazing all year and the Carblos Power engines have been crazy fast! “[A] big thank you to Cory at Simpsons MotorSports and Butterfield and Vallis, the Powerade brand, for the sponsorship. “Looking forward to 2025 season and competing for more wins and championships. Coming into 2025 hungry to win!” : ,

Tetairoa McMillan, one of the best wide receivers in Arizona history, will skip his final year of eligibility and enter the 2025 NFL Draft, he announced on social media on Thursday. Projected as a top-10 draft pick, the 6-foot-5, 212-pound McMillan finished his illustrious career at Arizona with 3,423 receiving yards, breaking the mark set by Bobby Wade (3,351). In three seasons, the Hawaii native also posted the fourth-most catches (213) and third-most touchdowns (26) in school history. "Wildcat Nation, this journey has been everything I dreamed of and more," McMillan wrote on Instagram. "From the moment I committed to the University of Arizona, to every second spent wearing that Arizona jersey ... it's been an absolute honor. "The University of Arizona has provided me with the platform to grow and chase my dreams. ... Thank you from the bottom of my heart. To the best fans in the country, I appreciate you for all of the love and support you have given me these last 3 years. I will always be a Wildcat." In 2024, McMillan totaled 84 grabs (ninth in Division I) for 1,319 yards (third in Division I) and eight touchdowns for the 4-8 Wildcats. He also ranked third in Division I with 109.9 receiving yards per game. McMillan is a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the most outstanding receiver in college football. --Field Level MediaOne of the most innovative features of the game is the "One Hand Challenge." In this mode, players are only allowed to use one hand to draw and play their cards, adding an extra layer of difficulty and strategy to the gameplay. This unique twist has garnered praise from early playtesters, who found themselves engrossed in the challenge of mastering this new playing style.

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Atria Investments Inc reduced its position in Mplx Lp ( NYSE:MPLX – Free Report ) by 17.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 7,504 shares of the pipeline company’s stock after selling 1,541 shares during the period. Atria Investments Inc’s holdings in Mplx were worth $334,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Mcdonald Partners LLC increased its holdings in Mplx by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter. Mcdonald Partners LLC now owns 17,180 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $732,000 after purchasing an additional 239 shares in the last quarter. Cherry Creek Investment Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Mplx by 2.0% in the third quarter. Cherry Creek Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 14,204 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $632,000 after buying an additional 279 shares in the last quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC raised its holdings in shares of Mplx by 10.4% during the 2nd quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 2,992 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at $127,000 after buying an additional 282 shares during the period. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC lifted its position in Mplx by 3.9% during the 3rd quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC now owns 9,032 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $396,000 after acquiring an additional 338 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Addis & Hill Inc boosted its holdings in Mplx by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. Addis & Hill Inc now owns 13,462 shares of the pipeline company’s stock worth $599,000 after acquiring an additional 357 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 24.25% of the company’s stock. Insider Buying and Selling In other Mplx news, VP Carl Kristopher Hagedorn sold 4,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.24, for a total transaction of $188,960.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 14,750 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $696,790. The trade was a 21.33 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink . Analyst Ratings Changes Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Mplx Mplx Stock Performance Shares of MPLX opened at $49.50 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.95. Mplx Lp has a 12-month low of $35.51 and a 12-month high of $49.54. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $45.02 and its 200 day moving average price is $42.94. The stock has a market capitalization of $50.43 billion, a PE ratio of 11.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.37. Mplx ( NYSE:MPLX – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 5th. The pipeline company reported $1.01 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.05 by ($0.04). Mplx had a net margin of 36.77% and a return on equity of 32.70%. The business had revenue of $2.97 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.09 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.89 EPS. Mplx’s quarterly revenue was up 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Mplx Lp will post 4.31 EPS for the current year. Mplx Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 8th were given a dividend of $0.9565 per share. This represents a $3.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.73%. This is a boost from Mplx’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.85. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. Mplx’s dividend payout ratio is presently 90.33%. Mplx Company Profile ( Free Report ) MPLX LP owns and operates midstream energy infrastructure and logistics assets primarily in the United States. It operates in two segments, Logistics and Storage, and Gathering and Processing. The company is involved in the gathering, processing, and transportation of natural gas; gathering, transportation, fractionation, storage, and marketing of natural gas liquids; gathering, storage, transportation, and distribution of crude oil and refined products, as well as other hydrocarbon-based products and renewables; and sale of residue gas and condensate. See Also Five stocks we like better than Mplx Energy and Oil Stocks Explained Tesla Investors Continue to Profit From the Trump Trade How to Use Stock Screeners to Find Stocks MicroStrategy’s Stock Dip vs. Coinbase’s Potential Rally ETF Screener: Uses and Step-by-Step Guide Netflix Ventures Into Live Sports, Driving Stock Momentum Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MPLX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Mplx Lp ( NYSE:MPLX – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Mplx Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mplx and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .The ITTF 50th week rankings have just been released, and once again, Chinese table tennis players have proven their dominance in the sport. Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha have both surged to the top of the rankings, firmly establishing themselves as the leading players in the world. This latest rankings update sees China maintaining their position at the forefront of international table tennis, holding onto the top spots in four categories.

As Aizen steps onto the stage once again, the anticipation for his role in "Bleach: Soul Awakening" reaches a fever pitch. Will he continue his pursuit of god-like power and domination, or does he have a new agenda that will shake the foundations of the Soul Society to its core? With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, Aizen's return promises to reignite the flames of conflict and intrigue that have always defined the series.In a crucial match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and a top-ranked opponent, controversy erupted when Wolves defender Willy Boly appeared to foul opposition forward Bailey inside the penalty area. The incident saw Bailey go down after a clear contact on his foot, sparking outrage among fans and pundits alike. Despite the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) being called into play to review the situation, the main referee ultimately decided against awarding a penalty, leaving both teams and spectators in disbelief.The A-share market witnessed a remarkable surge as all three major indexes opened high and soared on the trading day. The Shanghai Composite Index, the Shenzhen Component Index, and the Growth Enterprise Index, collectively known as the three major indexes, displayed substantial gains today, creating an optimistic atmosphere in the stock market.

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The commentary piece in German was launched online on Saturday ahead of being published on Sunday in the flagship paper of the Axel Springer media group, which also owns the US politics news site Politico. Mr Musk uses populist and personal language to try to deny AfD’s extremist bent and the piece expands on his post on the social media platform X that he owns, on which he last week claimed that “only the AfD can save Germany”. Translated, Mr Musk’s piece said: “The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party’s leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!” Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has classified the AfD at the national level as a suspected extremism case since 2021. Shortly after the piece was published online, the editor of the opinion section, Eva Marie Kogel, used the US tech mogul’s own platform to post on X that she had submitted her resignation. “I always enjoyed heading the opinion department at Welt and Wams. Today a text by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag. Yesterday I submitted my resignation after printing,” she posted. She included a link to the Musk commentary article. The AfD has a strong anti-immigration stance and, like incoming president Mr Trump in relation to the US, is calling for mass deportations from Germany. Earlier in December, Mr Musk not only posted in favor of AfD but the party’s hard line on immigration appeared to resonate with the incoming US vice-president, JD Vance , MSNBC reported. Senior Welt Group figures weighed in on Saturday. “Democracy and journalism thrive on freedom of expression. This includes dealing with polarising positions and classifying them journalistically,” the newspaper’s editor-in-chief designate, Jan Philipp Burgard, and Ulf Poschardt, who takes over as publisher on January 1st, told Reuters. They said discussion about Mr Musk’s piece, which had about 340 comments several hours after it was published, was “very revealing”. Underneath Mr Musk’s commentary, the newspaper published a response by Burgard. “Musk’s diagnosis is correct, but his therapeutic approach, that only the AfD can save Germany, is fatally false,” he wrote, referencing the AfD’s desire to leave the European Union and seek rapprochement with Russia as well as appease China. The AfD backing from Mr Musk, who also defended his right to weigh in on German politics due to his “significant investments”, comes as Germans are set to vote on February 23rd after a coalition government led by German chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed late this autumn. The AfD is running second in opinion polls and might be able to thwart either a centre-right or centre-left majority, but Germany’s mainstream, more centrist parties have pledged to shun any support from the AfD at the national level. – Guardian

bet on casino Bashar al-Assad's government has been accused of carrying out torture, rape, summary executions and other abuses since since Syria's civil war started in 2011. UN investigators have said that accountability must be taken at the highest level after the downfall of the hardline ruler on Sunday. Here is what we know about the extent of the abuses committed: In 2013 a former Syrian army photographer known by the codename "Caesar" fled the country, taking with him some 55,000 graphic images taken between 2011 and 2013. The photos, authenticated by experts, show corpses tortured and starved to death in Syrian prisons. Some people had their eyes gouged out. The photos showed emaciated bodies, people with wounds on the back or stomach, and also a picture of hundreds of corpses in a shed surrounded by plastic bags used for burials. Assad's Syrian government said only that the pictures were "political". But Caesar testified to a US Congress committee and his photographs inspired a 2020 US law which imposed economic sanctions on Syria and judicial proceedings in Europe against Assad's entourage. In Germany and Sweden eight people suspected of crime against humanity were arrested in July in an operation codenamed "Caesar". Germany, the Netherlands and France have since 2022 convicted several top officials from the Syrian intelligence service and militias. UN investigators say they have lists with the names of 4,000 government officials and operatives responsible for abuses. Human Rights Watch (HRW) in 2012 spoke of a "torture archipelago" in which the "use of electricity, burning with car battery acid, sexual assault and humiliation, the pulling of fingernails, and mock execution" were practised in government prisons. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in 2022 more than 100,000 people had died in the prisons since 2011. In 2023, the UN's top court, the International Court of Justice, ordered Syria to stop "inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment". In 2020, seven Syrian refugees filed a complaint in Germany saying that they had been victims of torture and sexual violence, including rape, electric shocks on the genitals, forced nudity or forced abortion between 2011 and 2013. The UN said in 2018 there had been systmatic rape and sexual violence against civilians by soldiers or pro-Assad militias. It said an investigation had found rebels had committed similar crimes, but fewer. On November 25, 2024, the Syrian Human Rights Network (SNHR) said there had been at least 11,553 incidents of sexual violence against women, including girls aged under 18, by the warring parties since March 2011. Some 8,024 could be blamed on the Assad government and the others mainly on the jihadist Islamic State. In 2016 UN investigators said Syrian authorities were responsible for acts which came down to "extermination" and could be compared to "crimes against humanity". It pointed to the Saydnaya prison outside Damascus, which was described in 2017 by Amnesty International as a human slaughter house carrying out a "policy of extermination". The United States said there was a "crematorium" at the prison which was used to dispose of the bodies of thousands of inmates. In 2022 the Syrian Observatory for Human Righs said around 30,000 people had been killed at Saydnaya, some of them after being tortured. In April 2020, the chemical weapons watchdog OPCW accused the Syrian army of chemical weapons attacks in Latamne in northern Syria in 2017. In November 2023 France issued international arrest warrants against Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher and two generals on suspicion of complicity in the chemical attacks in August 2013 near Damascus, which according to US intelligence left 1,000 dead. Assad's forces have also been accused of using sarin gas on the rebel town of Khan Sheikhun in April 2017, and also of chlorine gas attacks. Assad's government denied using chemical weapons. Israel says it has staged strikes on some chemical weapons sites this week to stop supplies falling into the hands of extremists.

( ) shares are on the slide on Tuesday morning. In early trade, the ASX 200 stock was down as much as 8% to $7.95. The KFC restaurant operator's shares have rebounded a touch since then but remain down 3% at the time of writing. This follows the release of the company's this morning. ASX 200 stock tumbles on half year results What happened during the half? For the six months ended 13 October, Collins Foods had a tough time due to the challenging consumer environment impacting same store sales (SSS) and persistent inflation weighing on margins. For the first half, the ASX 200 stock reported a modest 1.2% increase in revenue from continuing operations to $703.5 million. This reflects modest growth in Australia being offset by softness in Europe. KFC Australia revenue was up 2.7% to $536.8 million, whereas KFC Europe revenue was down 3.4% to $142.1 million. The smaller Taco Bell business posted a 2% decline in revenue to $24.6 million. The company's underlying EBITDA from continuing operations was down 6.6% to $102.7 million, with margins impacted by a combination of flat same-store sales and ongoing inflationary pressures. And on the bottom line, underlying net profit after tax from continuing operations was down 23.8% to $23.7 million. This was due to lower EBITDA and higher depreciation on an increasing store footprint. In light of its lower profits, the Collins Foods board was forced to cut its fully franked interim dividend by 12% to 11 cents per share. One positive was that the ASX 200 stock continued to generate strong cash flows and ended the period with lower net debt. Management believes that this leaves it with significant capacity for investment in growth opportunities. Outlook Management revealed that sales in the first seven weeks of the second half reflected the continuation of a weaker consumer environment in Australia and Europe. KFC Australia's total sales increased 3.9% in the first seven weeks with SSS up 0.8% representing a continuation of the gradual improvement in sales trends during HY25. Total KFC Europe sales were down 1.6% over the period. Looking ahead, management expects its underlying EBITDA margin to be in range of 14.2% to 14.7% for the full year. This compares to 14.6% for the first half. The ASX 200 stock's CEO, Xavier Simonet, said: I am delighted to be leading Collins Foods and am excited about the potential of our business moving forward. The Company operates world-class brands in an exceptionally resilient category and in attractive markets. The business has strong fundamentals and is well positioned to benefit as consumer confidence returns. Broker reaction Goldman Sachs has been looking at the result and was pleased with what it saw. It commented: New Collins CEO, Xavier Simonet, has reported the company's first result under his leadership with the 1H25 numbers in-line at the Ebitda level and above expectations at Npat. Ebitda margins are guided to be challenged in 2H25, although current consensus numbers are within the guided range. Importantly the sales growth trend in KFC Australia has incrementally improved.Art Cashin, Wall Street veteran for over 60 years, dies at age 83

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Audrey McCarthy follows the rope

Cost of Gelsinger’s ambition proves too much for IntelIsland Focus: Grand Bahama Island Lucayan National Park Lucayan National Park Junkanoo in The Bahamas The Greatest Show on Earth Here's what's new and upcoming for those considering The Bahamas for their December getaway: New Routes For a complete list of deals and discounted packages in The Bahamas, visit www.bahamas.com/deals-packages . A Cultural and Natural Haven Grand Bahama Island, the northernmost island in The Bahamas, is renowned for its pristine beaches, such as Lucayan Beach, and its proximity to the United States, making it a quick escape (via plane or boat) to paradise. Known for its natural beauty, including the underwater caves of Lucayan National Park and the botanical Garden of The Groves , it's also a hub for eco-tourism with initiatives like coral farming at Coral Vita . Travel to Grand Bahama is facilitated by direct flights from major U.S. cities, with American Airlines adding more routes beginning on December 5, 2024, or by ferry from Florida. The island offers a mixture of adventure and relaxation with activities like diving, snorkeling, and deep-sea fishing, alongside cultural experiences in Freeport and Port Lucaya, where you can enjoy shopping, dining and nightlife. Looking forward, the island is set to expand its tourism with: ### About The Bahamas: The Bahamas has over 700 islands and cays, as well as 16 unique island destinations. Located only 50 miles off the coast of Florida, it offers a quick and easy way for travelers to escape their everyday. The island nation also boasts world-class fishing, diving, boating and thousands of miles of the Earth's most spectacular beaches for families, couples and adventurers to explore. See why It's Better in The Bahamas at www.bahamas.com or on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram. Attachments Lucayan National Park Junkanoo in The Bahamas CONTACT: Anita Johnson Patty The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation [email protected] Bahamas USA FINN Bahamas [email protected]Councillor Susan Stevenson is speaking out against the findings of the latest Integrity Commissioner investigation into her conduct and social media posts about homelessness. Principles Integrity, a firm hired to act as the City of London’s Integrity Commissioner, has ruled that Stevenson’s persistent questioning of Deputy City Manager of Social and Health Development Kevin Dickins and an accompanying social media post that identified him by name, constitutes harassment and bullying. Deputy City Manager, Social and Health Development Kevin Dickins (Daryl Newcombe/CTV News London) “It has been alleged that the Councillor demonstrates a pattern of behaviour that is inappropriate, unwarranted, unwelcome, unprofessional, not conducive to respectful Council and Staff relations, and is creating a toxic work environment for civic administration,” the Integrity Commissioner writes. “We find that the Councillor’s conduct constitutes harassment, bullying, and targeting, and that this pattern of behaviour is in contravention of the Code of Conduct,” the report concludes. It recommends council suspend Stevenson’s pay for 30 days. “I disagree with the findings,” Stevenson tells CTV News after the report was posted on the council agenda. “It's not clear where I crossed the line or how any of us (councillors) could avoid this going forward,” Stevenson adds. “And a month's pay? This could have a chilling effect on people who want to run for office, who want to make change.” A complaint was received on May 30, 2024 from Deputy City Manager of Social and Health Development, Kevin Dickins. Dickins alleged that Stevenson’s conduct towards administrative staff amounted to harassment and violated the Council Code of Conduct. Dickins’ complaint cited a specific incident on social media when Stevenson posted an altered quote from a CTV News article that added capital letters and emojis to suggest shock, chagrin, shame, and embarrassment. Social media post by Susan Stevenson on X (Source: Integrity Commissioner Report) In response, Dickins sent an email to Stevenson seeking an informal resolution: Hello councillor, Can you kindly keep my name off your social media platforms. I’m a member of your staff team. It’s not appropriate or welcomed. If you have questions or you have concerns please set up a meeting to discuss but I do not welcome it, should it not come down, or should it happen again, I will be filing a formal complaint. I’m (sic) my role, like yours I am often required to speak to media, while I can’t control what they publish, I do ask that as someone who is on the same team as I am refrain from using it in such an inappropriate manner and to position me in such a way personally. You’ll notice staff do not do this to any member of council. Your prompt attention to this is appreciated. On April 22, Stevenson replied by email: My social media post was a direct quote from the news article that I shared.... I’m not understanding what your complaint against me would be. I can assure you that I certainly did not intend to upset you in any way. In the report the Integrity Commissioner determined, “the Councillor editorialized the quote by the addition of provocative emojis; gratuitously included the staff member’s name (completely unnecessarily, if she had simply referenced the article), and unfairly implied that the views advanced were the staff member’s own, rather than reflecting the widely acknowledged prevailing view across the Province.” “I didn't think that was going to be either bullying, harassing, or targeting. It was an undecided matter of council, something that was going to be coming to us in a few months that's important to Londoners,” Stevenson explains. In addition the report states, “The post appeared to suggest that this individual was responsible for the continuing problem of encampments in the City. Naming the employee left him vulnerable to targeting by members of the public.” A photo of graffiti written in black marker on a streetlight pole is included in the report. Picture of graffiti on a streetlight pole (Source: Integrity Commissioner Report) It reads, “(Redacted) is responsible for 100s of homeless deaths.” The Integrity Commissioner also describes, “a clear pattern in which the Councillor takes the opportunity, even where an issue only relates tangentially to homelessness or shelters, to ask questions which allow her to repeat her concerns around the encampment issue. “I'm happy to keep (the) Deputy City Manager's names and all staff off my social media,” Stevenson concedes. “But to be less persistent in my questioning, I don't think I have since I got this complaint May 31.” The report findings include, “Although her words and tone may be moderated and sound respectful, the constant revisiting of the issue amounts to her harping on something that has been well-canvassed already.” It was posited that administrative staff experiencing repeated questions around the issue would interpret them as harassment. “We're governing a $1.4 billion budget, and I'm not going to apologize for asking questions about how that money is being spent or the services that are being offered when we're in a [homelessness] crisis that is increasingly getting worse,” Stevenson says. “A member of Council is entitled to ask probing questions and to seek relevant information in order to make informed decisions. The role of a member of Council includes that ability to ask questions but not to interrogate; to question the reasoning that supports a staff recommendation but not to publicly question staff’s motives or competence,” the Integrity Commissioner writes. Council will meet on December 17 to consider the report and potentially a punishment. Although the integrity commissioner recommends one month without pay, violating the code can result in punishments ranging from a formal reprimand up to three months without pay. This is the second time Stevenson’s social media posts have been found to have violated the Council Code of Conduct. In 2023, she received a formal reprimand from council for posting photos on social media of recognizable homeless individuals in a way that disregarded the impact the post could have on the individuals involved by linking them to criminality. Stevenson has filed a complaint to the Ontario Ombudsman about the 2023 Integrity Commissioner’s investigation, “I feel it was very personal. I don't feel it was fact based. And now you're going to say we can take away a councillor's ability to make their mortgage payment or do groceries for a month for something that's very unclear and subjective?” She has already decided to file a second complaint about the latest investigation. The city’s communications department says municipal staff can not speak to the Integrity Commissioner’s Report. CTV News has reached out directly to Dickens for comment but has not received a response. 2024-12-17 Submission - IC Report Re Councillor Stevenson by ctvnewslondon on Scribd Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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These LEGO Kits Are On Sale And Ready To Gift Black Friday May Be Over, But You Can Still Take Advantage Of These Amazing Sales On Amazon Canada London Top Stories Stevenson disagrees with Integrity Commissioner ruling she bullied Deputy City Manager and deserves financial punishment Brother charged in St. Thomas homicide Lumber mill levelled by mid-morning blaze Labour minister unveils steps to end Canada Post strike Snow winding down, cold air persists, milder temperatures incoming Highway 21 reopens from Amberley to Port Elgin Skiers and snowboarders hit the slopes at Boler Fire crews fight evening trailer fire on 401 CTVNews.ca Top Stories Labour minister unveils steps to end Canada Post strike Canada Post workers began their strike four weeks ago, halting mail and package deliveries across the country. Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said he hopes work will resume as early as next week. Ottawa to remove 30% investment cap for Canadian pension funds Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the upcoming fall economic statement on Monday will remove the cap that currently restricts Canadian pension funds from owning more than 30 per cent of the voting shares of a Canadian entity. Canada's homicide rate down in most provinces, with 2 exceptions The homicide rate is declining in Canada, and the country’s three largest cities all saw double-digit percentage decreases in homicides per capita, according to data released this week. 'They believe in diplomacy, good luck': Doug Ford doubles down on energy threat as some premiers distance themselves Doug Ford is standing behind his threat to stop providing the U.S. with electricity in response to president-elect Donald Trump’s promised tariffs, even as several other premiers publicly distance themselves from the stance. Top musician forced to cancel Toronto concert after Air Canada refused to give his priceless cello a seat on plane Famed British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who became a household name after performing at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, has said he had to cancel a concert in Canada after the country’s largest airline denied his pre-booked seat for his cello. Federal government says 'not to confuse' premiers' differing opinions on Trump tariff retaliation, 'confident' in Canada's response As it continues to tout a 'Team Canada' approach, the federal government is downplaying differing opinions from premiers on how Canada should respond to a potential 25 per cent tariff from U.S. president-elect Donald Trump. Paula Abdul settles lawsuit that alleged sexual assault by 'American Idol' producer Nigel Lythgoe Paula Abdul and former 'American Idol' producer Nigel Lythgoe have agreed to settle a lawsuit in which she alleged he sexually assaulted her in the early 2000s when she was a judge on the show. Eight people injured after horse-drawn wagon went out of control in eastern Ont. Eight people were injured after horses became out of control while a man was offering a horse-drawn wagon ride Thursday in eastern Ontario, according to the Brockville Police Service. Buckingham Palace maid arrested after drunken brawl at work Christmas party Buckingham Palace is investigating after a member of staff was arrested at the end of a rowdy Christmas party. Kitchener Guelph man arrested for attempted murder A Guelph man is facing an attempted murder charge after a disturbance Thursday morning. Waterloo crash sends cyclist to hospital with serious injuries A cyclist has been sent to hospital after he was hit by a driver in Waterloo on Friday morning. This little piggy went to the Humane Society The Kitchener Waterloo and Stratford Perth Humane Society has an unusual animal up for adoption after it was found wandering the streets. Barrie Driver sentenced to jail time in 2019 dangerous driving causing bodily harm case An Aurora man convicted of dangerous driving causing bodily harm for a crash that sent a woman to hospital where she later died was sentenced Friday in a Newmarket courtroom. What police want you to know about a new sophisticated scam It’s no longer just phone calls or emails — fraudsters could now show up at your front door. Pop-punk music festival to return to Burl's Creek event grounds 'All Your Friends Fest' will return to Burl’s Creek event grounds in Oro-Medonte in June. Windsor CUPW Local 630 leader 'disappointed' by government’s plan amid strike Windsor-Essex union leaders for Canada Post workers aren’t happy with the latest plans from Canada’s labour minister about the ongoing strike. UWindsor among top 20 in Canada for sustainability leadership The University of Windsor has been ranked in the top 20 among Canadian universities in sustainability leadership, according to the 2024 QS World University Rankings. LaSalle's Kylie Masse becomes most decorated Canadian with bronze at short-course championships Kylie Masse became Canada's most decorated swimmer at the world championships after winning a short-course bronze medal on Friday. Northern Ontario Northern Ont. bank employee taken to hospital with serious injuries after shooting An employee at Northern Credit Union in Wawa, Ont., was taken to hospital with serious injuries after a shooter entered the branch and opened fire Thursday morning, the financial institution said in a statement. Teen facing child porn charges after sending ex-boyfriend's photos to his parents A teenager in Guelph is facing child pornography charges after sending nude photos of her ex-boyfriend to his parents. Elliot Lake fire crews continue to battle massive apartment fire Fire crews continue to battle an apartment building fire on Hirshhorn Avenue in Elliot Lake. Damage is extensive. Sault Ste. Marie Elliot Lake fire crews continue to battle massive apartment fire Fire crews continue to battle an apartment building fire on Hirshhorn Avenue in Elliot Lake. Damage is extensive. First group of internationally trained family doctors already making a difference in northern Ontario With doctor shortages across the country, Ontario is tapping into the availability of internationally trained family physicians to solve part of the health care crisis. Northern Ont. bank employee taken to hospital with serious injuries after shooting An employee at Northern Credit Union in Wawa, Ont., was taken to hospital with serious injuries after a shooter entered the branch and opened fire Thursday morning, the financial institution said in a statement. Ottawa Eight people injured after horse-drawn wagon went out of control in eastern Ont. Eight people were injured after horses became out of control while a man was offering a horse-drawn wagon ride Thursday in eastern Ontario, according to the Brockville Police Service. More than 1,500 vehicles reported stolen in Ottawa in 2024: Here are the hotspots for thefts Statistics on the Ottawa Police Service's Crime Map show 1,559 vehicles have been reported stolen in Ottawa between Jan. 1 and Dec. 12. Vehicle thefts include joy rides, opportunistic thefts, and "single-use crimes," according to police. Ontario Premier standing firm on retaliatory measures to Trump tariffs Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he will use every tool at his disposal to manage the threat of tariffs from incoming U.S. President Donald Trump. Toronto 'They believe in diplomacy, good luck': Doug Ford doubles down on energy threat as some premiers distance themselves Doug Ford is standing behind his threat to stop providing the U.S. with electricity in response to president-elect Donald Trump’s promised tariffs, even as several other premiers publicly distance themselves from the stance. Top musician forced to cancel Toronto concert after Air Canada refused to give his priceless cello a seat on plane Famed British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who became a household name after performing at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, has said he had to cancel a concert in Canada after the country’s largest airline denied his pre-booked seat for his cello. Transit woes continue into the weekend for GTA commuters Following the service disruptions on Monday and Wednesday, Line 1 (Yonge-University) will be closed between York Mills and St Clair stations though this weekend due to planned track work. Montreal Quebec, Ottawa announce $100-million deal to fight homelessness, add shelter spaces Ottawa and Quebec announced an agreement Friday to help unhoused Quebecers as homeless encampments continue to multiply in the province and frigid weather sets in. Two Montreal anesthesiologists suspended for questionable practices: College of Physicians Two anesthesiologists at Montreal’s Royal Victoria Hospital were brought before the Quebec College of Physicians disciplinary board for questionable practices and were suspended. Tammara Thibeault signs with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions Quebec’s Tammara Thibeault has taken a major step in her career by becoming one of the featured boxers for Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), the promotion company founded by promoter, boxer and influencer and influencer Jake Paul. Atlantic P.E.I. RCMP looking for man who reportedly jumped from Confederation Bridge Multiple police and search and rescue teams are looking for a man who reportedly jumped from the Confederation Bridge Friday morning. Man charged with manslaughter in death of missing Cape Breton man A man has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the disappearance and homicide of a man in Cape Breton this past summer. N.S. named one of the 50 best places to travel in 2025 by travel magazine Nova Scotia has been named one of the 50 best places to travel in 2025 by Travel + Leisure magazine. Winnipeg Labour minister unveils steps to end Canada Post strike Canada Post workers began their strike four weeks ago, halting mail and package deliveries across the country. Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said he hopes work will resume as early as next week. Saying goodbye to a Winnipeg restaurant owner with a legacy of kindness Shirley Eng, the charismatic, down-to-earth owner of the famous chicken finger restaurant Mitzi’s, unexpectedly passed away at the beginning of December at age 78, according to her family. Winnipeg to see above seasonal temperatures this weekend after extreme cold snap Manitoba and northwestern Ontario felt some relief Friday after an extreme cold snap swept through the area. Calgary Alberta's new CTrain Green Line plan includes elevated downtown tracks, more stops The province has released a “reimagined” plan for the Green Line CTrain track that it says is longer and less expensive than what the City of Calgary had planned. Section of QEII highway northbound closed because of 'serious' crash: RCMP The QEII is closed northbound near Lacombe because of a serious crash as of 10:50 a.m. on Friday, RCMP say. Man missing from Cranston may be near Bragg Creek: Calgary police Calgary police are looking for help locating a man who went missing from the community of Cranston. Edmonton Labour minister unveils steps to end Canada Post strike Canada Post workers began their strike four weeks ago, halting mail and package deliveries across the country. Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said he hopes work will resume as early as next week. Section of QEII highway northbound closed because of 'serious' crash: RCMP The QEII is closed northbound near Lacombe because of a serious crash as of 10:50 a.m. on Friday, RCMP say. Lights, shows, action: Here's what's happening in Edmonton this weekend Here are the events happening in and around Edmonton this weekend. Regina Second suspect wanted in Sask. serious assaults investigation arrested The second suspect wanted in connection to serious assaults in Swift Current has been arrested. Grand opening held for Regina's integrated youth services hub A grand opening for a new youth services community hub was held in Regina on Friday. Regina police stats show year-over-year increase in crimes involving people, property A Regina police report shows that both crimes against people and property have seen a year-over-year increase when comparing this November to last. Saskatoon 'Little girl deserves justice': Gallery erupts in anger as charges stayed against driver who killed child In a tense courtroom, a judge stayed the charge against a Saskatoon woman who hit and killed a nine-year-old girl. 'Gong show': Emergency patients overflow into ambulatory unit at St. Paul's Hospital The emergency department at St. Paul's Hospital is so full its turning to the ambulatory unit. Saskatoon man faces child porn charges A 28-year-old Saskatoon man has been charged with child exploitation offences following an online investigation by the Saskatchewan ICE unit. Vancouver Pedestrian in hospital after being hit by car in Abbotsford A pedestrian has been hospitalized after being struck by a car in Abbotsford, B.C. Person found dead in West Vancouver apartment, one arrested Police have launched a homicide investigation after an individual was found dead in an apartment in West Vancouver. Former B.C. NDP MLA Dan Coulter dies at 49 Former NDP MLA for Chilliwack and incoming provincial director Dan Coulter has died at age 49, the party announced Friday. Vancouver Island B.C. Greens to support NDP on confidence votes, work together on shared priorities The B.C. New Democratic and Green parties have reached an "agreement in principle" on a "co-operation and responsible government accord" that will see the smaller party support the government on confidence matters. Nanaimo liquor store robbed at knifepoint, RCMP seek suspect Nanaimo RCMP have released a photograph of a suspect who allegedly robbed a liquor store in the city in an effort to garner new information from the public. B.C. girl inspired by Hollywood star to donate turkeys to local families in need When Maria-Clara Patrick first watched that video of Arnold Schwarzenegger, she assumed they had nothing in common. Stay Connected

Win Bledisloe every two years: Rugby Australia sets out bold five-year goals

Louisiana GOP lawmakers want to make it easier to try juveniles as adultsMcDonald's to expand value menu to woo diners; Dish TV sale nixed; Bosch plans job cutsFive takeaways from Vikings’ 42-21 win over Falcons

Remy Ma and Papoose furiously accuse each other of cheating as Claressa Shields is dragged into feudBy Abby Patkin Jury selection in the murder trial of Brian Walshe — the Cohasset man accused of killing and dismembering his wife last year — is tentatively slated to begin in October 2025. Walshe, 49, was back in Norfolk Superior Court Monday for a hearing before Judge Diane Freniere, who was recently assigned to oversee his case. The lawyers told Freniere they’re eyeing the week of Oct. 20 for jury impanelment. Prosecutor Gregory Connor said the attorneys are expecting a four-week trial, about three weeks of which will be dedicated to testimony. Walshe’s sensational case has grabbed headlines since his wife, Ana Walshe, was last seen alive on New Year’s Day in 2023. Prosecutors allege he made a series of disturbing Google searches about dead bodies and purchased a hacksaw , hatchet, and various cleaning products shortly after his wife’s disappearance. Ana Walshe’s body has still not been found. Brian Walshe has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, misleading police, and improper conveyance of a human body. Defense attorney Larry Tipton noted Monday that forensic testing in the high-profile case “is extremely complicated, and it’s still ongoing.” Connor explained prosecutors are still awaiting testing on one key piece of evidence, tissue allegedly found on a saw discovered in a dumpster near Walshe’s mother’s Swampscott apartment complex. He noted the tissue samples have been sent to Bode Technology, an external lab. Walshe’s lawyers have also raised questions about the investigation’s integrity, given the lead investigator — Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor — was suspended without pay following his testimony in the Karen Read murder trial last summer. During the trial, Proctor admitted to sending vulgar texts about Read to his family, friends, and coworkers while working on the case. Walshe’s lawyers have requested information from a federal probe of Read’s case . They’re also seeking data from Proctor’s work cell phone and cloud account, as well as certain phone records from investigators assigned to Walshe’s case. Tipton specifically noted an interest in any “text messages and emails and cell phone records that indicate a bias, a prejudice, and a lack of professional integrity when it comes to investigating Mr. Walshe.” Prosecutors have said they don’t plan to call Proctor to the stand when Walshe’s case goes to trial. Abby Patkin Abby Patkin is a general assignment news reporter whose work touches on public transit, crime, health, and everything in between. Boston.com Today Sign up to receive the latest headlines in your inbox each morning. Be civil. Be kind.

Insurers Urged to Safeguard Data Amid Rising AI Adoption and Privacy Risks, Says Info-Tech Research GroupQB Josh Allen and coach Sean McDermott deserve credit in Bills latest AFC East-clinching season

Data from Benzinga Pro shows High Tide Inc. HITI shares experienced a significant surge, gaining over 21% in the last two trading sessions, closing at $3.47 on Monday, December 2. This positive performance was reflected in a trading volume of 2,396,045 shares and a market capitalization of $279,947,340. The stock reached a daily high of $3.57 and a low of $3.21. Get Benzinga’s exclusive analysis and the top news about the cannabis industry and markets daily in your inbox for free. Subscribe to our newsletter here . You can't afford to miss out if you’re serious about the business. Read Also: Cannabis Giant High Tide Taps Into $113 Billion Global E-Commerce Market With New Product Categories Cabana Club This substantial increase in stock price indicates strong investor confidence in the company’s prospects. While specific catalysts for this surge haven’t been explicitly identified, it could be attributed to a variety of factors, including positive reports , strategic partnerships, or overall market sentiment . High Tide Inc. is expanding its innovative Cabana Club membership program to the U.S., EU and UK through dedicated websites. "Innovation and market disruption are at the core of High Tide's DNA, and today marks another milestone in our journey,” said Raj Grover, the company’s founder and CEO. High Tide also said it’s adding international snacks and confectionery to its e-commerce platform, alongside hemp-derived CBD and cannabis accessories. With the move the company is tapping into the global e-commerce market for snacks and confectionery, which is, according to Statista, expected to reach over $113 billion in revenue in 2024, with an anticipated annual growth rate of 14%, resulting in a projected market volume of roughly $218 billion by 2029. Read Next: High Tide Cannabis Co. Ranks Among Top Growing Businesses In Canada In 2024 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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Looking ahead, investors will be closely watching for any developments that could impact the trajectory of the Hang Seng Tech Index and the broader Hong Kong stock market. Key factors to monitor include macroeconomic indicators, corporate earnings reports, and geopolitical events that could influence market sentiment and investor behavior.

Michigan GOP lawmaker says gay marriage should be 'illegal again'Thursday: Julia Kornberg on Berlin Atomized at Lost City Books Berlin Atomized , the debut novel from author Julia Kornberg , is described as a “kinetic, globetrotting novel” following three “downwardly mobile” Jewish siblings from 2001 to 2034. Originally published as Atomizado Berlín in 2021, the English-language version, translated by Jack Rockwell , was released earlier this week on Dec. 3. To celebrate, Lost City Books is hosting a conversation between Kornberg and Rockwell, with moderation by translator and author Lily Meyer . Berlin Atomized shows the siblings struggling against economic turmoil, environmental collapse, and war, among other crises over the span of multiple decades. Kornberg opens her novel in Nordelta, a wealthy ( and gentrified ) gated community in Buenos Aires, during Argentina’s great depression in 2001. Born and raised in Buenos Aires and now based in New York City, Kornberg has focused on writing about the Jewish Argentine community, culture, and identity. A writer from a young age, Kornberg recently told Beyond the Zero that “this is pretty much all I’ve done” and credited Argentina’s “institution” of literary workshops—one of which she attended as an adolescent—to fueling her interest in writing. Currently, a Ph.D. candidate at Princeton University, Kornberg is working on her second novel. Julia Kornberg discusses Berlin Atomized at 7 p.m. on Dec. 5 at Lost City Books, 2467 18th St. NW. lostcitybookstore.com . Free. —Daryl Perry Saturday and Sunday: Native Art Market at NMAI Across Indigenous communities in the Southeast U.S., weaving baskets has been a crux of culture, society, and technology. Native women used the practice of basket weaving, the oldest preserved artistic tradition of Indigenous culture, as a means of socializing, documenting history, telling stories, and combining practicality with creativity. The tradition lives on through dedicated descendants and artful masters of the craft, and is one of many forms of art that will be displayed at the National Museum of the American Indian’s Native Art Market. The annual market features Indigenous artists from around the Western Hemisphere, who are known for their award-winning craftsmanship. Lovers of art are invited to immerse themselves in the rich, vibrant culture by learning about Native traditions and the contemporary ways in which these artists adapt them to the modern age. Like basketry, the artwork and creations on display—and for sale—at the market showcase the spirit of vibrant artistry kept alive today. You’ll find beadwork, which predates European arrival to the U.S. and exemplifies just how resourceful Native Americans were in their ingenuity, hundreds of years ago. Also included will be illustrations, jewelry, metalwork, sculptures, photography, and clothing. The Native Art Market runs from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m on Dec. 7 and 8 at the National Museum of the American Indian, Third Street and Maryland Avenue SW. americanindian.si.edu . Free. — Meg Richards Saturday: The Skeptics Guide to the Universe at Miracle Theatre A podcast steeped in science hosted by people who work in science was once one of the most popular ones on iTunes. A long time ago, when you had to actually download a podcast on a computer and then use a cord to upload it to your iPhone, The Skeptics Guide to the Universe ruled a much less influential platform. It’s not surprising that the easier it became to listen to the format, the dumber and dumber it became. Like most early pods that stuck around, the show has produced more than a thousand episodes, a book, and live shows. Unlike most popular current pods, the show is not a product of any other streaming platform, sponsored by a gambling app or broadcast network. And it’s definitely not part of the crop of pods speaking to the young White dudes who might have swung an election. If the influence of those shows are justifiably bumming you out, this live version of The Skeptics Guide should be a respite from today’s news. If you’re a regular attendee of Nerd Nite at DC9 or the Profs and Pints talks throughout D.C., you’ll most likely like The Skeptics Guide . At a time when the dumbest possible future feels inevitable, it’ll be nice to spend a few hours with some like-minded individuals that realize the universe is vast. The Skeptics Guide to the Universe records at 8 p.m. on Dec. 7 at Miracle Theatre, 535 8th St. SE. unionstagepresents.com . $40. —Brandon Wetherbee Tuesday: Emily Dickinson Birthday Tribute Reading with Kimiko Hahn The Folger Shakespeare Library has been hosting programming at a breakneck pace since reopening this summer. On Tuesday, the library is hosting its esteemed birthday tribute to Emily Dickinson in person for the first time since 2020. This year’s reading will be done by poet Kimiko Hahn , the author of 10 poetry collections and winner of the Poetry Foundation’s Ruth Lilly Lifetime Achievement Award. The tribute event is a hallmark of Folger’s programming and has previously featured Mary Oliver , Carolyn Forché , and U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo , among others. And afterward local poet and civil rights lawyer Sunu Chandy will moderate a conversation with Hahn. Prepare for the birthday festivities by brushing up on your poetry readings , attempting Dickinson’s black cake recipe (the cake will also be served at the event) , or watching the TV show Dickinson , based loosely (to say the least) on her life. Or, before you head to the Folger, you can read the Washington Post Magazine ’s account of Dickinson’s 1855 trip to D.C. that’s at odds with her popular hermit-esque persona. According to the story, the then-24-year-old Dickinson was repelled by the city’s opaque high society but interested in its political and cultural attractions; a stance City Paper readers might get behind. The Emily Dickinson Birthday Tribute starts at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 10 at Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E Capitol St. SE. folger.edu . $20. —Serena Zets Ongoing: Virginia Hall Exhibit at the Spy Museum Virginia Hall was hardly a woman of no importance . Baltimore born and raised, Hall went on to become the Nazis’ most wanted Allied spy and a decorated World War II operative with medals from the U.S., the UK, and France. “One of my favorite photos of her is her jumping off a barn as a little girl,” says Hannah Saloio , curator of the new Virginia Hall exhibit at the International Spy Museum. “I think that kind of tells her entire story.” The small but detailed exhibit, found in the museum’s Spies and Spymasters gallery on the fifth floor, aims to tell Hall’s story in greater detail. The woman who became known as “the lady who limps” by the Gestapo—due to her prosthetic leg, which she nicknamed “ Cuthbert ”—was working as a clerk for the State Department in Estonia when Germany invaded Poland and launched WWII. From driving an ambulance on the front lines in France to being recruited by the British Special Operations Executive, Hall proved that women could play an equally important role in the war’s reconnaissance, sabotage, and espionage efforts. Indeed, some of her biggest confidants in France, where she was stationed, were nuns, sex workers, and a brothel owner. Her “resume” sounds more like something out of an Evelyn Salt movie than real life: She was hunted by the Gestapo’s Butcher of Lyon; fled France on foot over the Pyrenees Mountains—with a wooden leg; and became a wireless operator for the U.S. Office of Strategic Services. For one mission, she filed down her teeth to better pass as an elderly milkmaid in order to track German troops. According to the museum , “she radioed intelligence reports, coordinated parachute drops of supplies, oversaw sabotage missions, and planned ambushes of German soldiers.” An NPR article notes that “at its peak, Hall’s network consisted of some 1,500 people,” including a soldier who later became her husband. Her MBE Medal Award, a passport, and the actual uniform she wore as a French ambulance driver are among the artifacts in the exhibit. But the biggest takeaway is the long-overdue recognition of her work. The Virginia Hall exhibit is now open in the Spies and Spymasters gallery at the International Spy Museum, 700 L’Enfant Plaza SW. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. spymuseum.org . $20–$32. —Sarah Marloff Don’t forget to sign up for City Lights , our twice-weekly guide to the best arts and nightlife, delivered from our writers straight to your inbox every Thursday and Sunday.

Chance of direct attack by Russia ‘remote’, says UK armed forces chiefBut alongside his stark warning of the threats facing Britain and its allies, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said there would be only a “remote chance” Russia would directly attack or invade the UK if the two countries were at war. The Chief of the Defence Staff laid out the landscape of British defence in a wide-ranging speech, after a minister warned the Army would be wiped out in as little as six months if forced to fight a war on the scale of the Ukraine conflict. The admiral cast doubt on the possibility as he gave a speech at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) defence think tank in London. He told the audience Britain needed to be “clear-eyed in our assessment” of the threats it faces, adding: “That includes recognising that there is only a remote chance of a significant direct attack or invasion by Russia on the United Kingdom, and that’s the same for the whole of Nato.” Moscow “knows the response will be overwhelming”, he added, but warned the nuclear deterrent needed to be “kept strong and strengthened”. Sir Tony added: “We are at the dawn of a third nuclear age, which is altogether more complex. It is defined by multiple and concurrent dilemmas, proliferating nuclear and disruptive technologies and the almost total absence of the security architectures that went before.” He listed the “wild threats of tactical nuclear use” by Russia, China building up its weapon stocks, Iran’s failure to co-operate with a nuclear deal, and North Korea’s “erratic behaviour” among the threats faced by the West. But Sir Tony said the UK’s nuclear arsenal is “the one part of our inventory of which Russia is most aware and has more impact on (President Vladimir) Putin than anything else”. Successive British governments had invested “substantial sums of money” in renewing nuclear submarines and warheads because of this, he added. The admiral described the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers on Ukraine’s border alongside Russian forces as the year’s “most extraordinary development”. He also signalled further deployments were possible, speaking of “tens of thousands more to follow as part of a new security pact with Russia”. Defence minister Alistair Carns earlier said a rate of casualties similar to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would lead to the army being “expended” within six to 12 months. He said it illustrated the need to “generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis”. In comments reported by Sky News, Mr Carns, a former Royal Marines colonel, said Russia was suffering losses of around 1,500 soldiers killed or injured a day. “In a war of scale – not a limited intervention, but one similar to Ukraine – our Army for example, on the current casualty rates, would be expended – as part of a broader multinational coalition – in six months to a year,” Mr Carns said in a speech at Rusi. He added: “That doesn’t mean we need a bigger Army, but it does mean you need to generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis.” Official figures show the Army had 109,245 personnel on October 1, including 25,814 volunteer reservists. Mr Carns, the minister for veterans and people, said the UK needed to “catch up with Nato allies” to place greater emphasis on the reserves. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Defence Secretary John Healey had previously spoken about “the state of the armed forces that were inherited from the previous government”. The spokesman said: “It’s why the Budget invested billions of pounds into defence, it’s why we’re undertaking a strategic defence review to ensure that we have the capabilities and the investment needed to defend this country.”

Horse Racing Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Queensland Hall of Fame trainer Pat Duff has passed away after succumbing to a health battle on Saturday night. The stalwart of Queensland racing was a popular horseman and became renowned for his willingness to mentor the next generation. Champion jockeys Mick Dittman, Michael Pelling and Jim Byrne all came through Duff’s tutelage with the trainer also well known for championing the case of female riders in the sport. Duff, 84, began his career in country racing after taking out his training license at 21 and trained his first ever winner at Wondai, three hours outside of Brisbane. He would also train at the Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Eagle Farm and privately at Peachester Lodge before finishing his career at Deagon. Trainer Pat Duff was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022. Picture: Submitted • Old marvel: Duff keeps aiming up in pursuit of winners His son Michael said the family was proud of the legacy his father was able to leave on the industry following his passing. “The family is overwhelmed by the love shown to Dad,” Michael Duff said. “He loved horses, he loved the industry but most all he loved the people in it. He was a man of great integrity who did a job he loved for 60 years. “We are proud of the positive impact he had on so many people’s lives and the industry. Our thanks to everyone who has reached out it is appreciated.” Duff was the first to dethrone the legendary Jim Atkins as champion trainer at Toowoomba and had his best finish in the metropolitan premiership in 1990-91 when he ran second to Bruce McLachlan. Queensland Horse of the Year Our Cavalier rates among Duff’s best horses, along with the likes of Handsome Prince, Hard Rock, Star Of Florida, Heart Of The Citi, Hard To Catch and Steel Zip. Steel Zip became one of Pat Duff’s best horses. With an impeccable integrity record, Duff was highly regarded by all in racing and consistently went above and beyond for those who had fallen on hard times. He was the president of the Queensland arm of the Australian Trainers Association for almost 20 years, with the organisation recently honouring a trainer each year with the Pat Duff Trophy, for the trainer who best epitomises his values and behaviours each year. Duff’s stable has continued to be active while he has been in hospital following a hip replacement earlier this year, with his last runner coming at Toowoomba on Saturday night. His last winner came earlier this month, with Optimus Maximus winning at Ipswich on November 1. Duff is survived by his brother Cedric and children Peter, Michael and Suzy. Originally published as Queensland Hall of Fame trainer Pat Duff passes away after decorated career Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories Horse Racing Spriggs’ emotional tribute to owner after Warra win Blake Spriggs struggled to contain his emotions after riding Headwall to victory in The Warra for a friend whose wife died last year. Read more Horse Racing Brown continues golden run with Cranbourne feature double Ethan Brown completed a feature double after a brilliant ride on Globe, who scored his first win since his comeback from a heart scare in the Cranbourne Cup. Read moreGov. Little sends Idaho State Police to U.S. southern border

Furthermore, Sony's impressive lineup of exclusive game titles has been a major contributing factor to the success of its gaming business. With hit titles such as "The Last of Us Part II," "Ghost of Tsushima," and "Spider-Man: Miles Morales," Sony has continued to deliver high-quality content that resonates with gamers and critics alike.Elon Musk’s $56bn Tesla pay package blocked again by US judgeTSMC Arizona has received support from the United States government to increase the nation’s production of semiconductor chips. The U.S. Department of Commerce announced on Nov. 15, 2024, that it signed a $6.6 billion grant agreement with TSMC Arizona via the CHIPS and Science Act , a 2022 bipartisan bill that aims to give the country an advantage in the global technology race. The CHIPS Program Office also approved up to $5 billion in loans for the subsidiary. The money will support TSMC Arizona’s build of three leading-edge fabrications, or semiconductor production facilities, in Phoenix over the next five years, with a total investment of more than $65 billion in the city. It’s the largest foreign direct investment in a greenfield project in United States history, and it’s expected to create tens of thousands of jobs by 2030 in both technical and nontechnical fields. TSMC Arizona’s new facilities represent not just an investment in the future of semiconductor technology, but also an investment in America’s computing infrastructure and power. “Today’s announcement is among the most critical milestones yet in the implementation of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act and demonstrates how we are ensuring that the progress made to date will continue to unfold in the coming years, benefitting communities all across the country,” President Joe Biden said in the announcement . The administration seeks to re-cement the United States as a key player in the field. Semiconductors were invented in the United States more than a century ago, and its plants were once responsible for about 40% of worldwide production. But today, the nation only produces about 10% of the world’s supply, and none of the most advanced chips. TSMC Arizona aims to change that. “Entering this phase of the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act marks a pivotal step in strengthening the semiconductor ecosystem in the United States. TSMC appreciates the continued collaboration with customers, partners, local communities, and the U.S. government beginning in early 2020,” says TSMC Chairman and CEO Dr. C.C. Wei. “The signing of this agreement helps us to accelerate the development of the most advanced semiconductor manufacturing technology available in the U.S.” Ramping Up Semiconductor Production TSMC Arizona will be running the most advanced chipmaking technology on U.S. soil when the first fabrication plant begins volume production in early 2025. The chips TSMC Arizona will create on American soil will remake the technological landscape, helping the nation strengthen its competitiveness on the global stage. “The Biden-Harris administration’s investment in TSMC Arizona is a turning point for American innovation and manufacturing that will strengthen our economic and national security,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “The leading-edge chips that will be manufactured in Arizona are foundational to the United States' technological and economic leadership in the 21st century.” The CHIPS and Science Act provides billions of dollars to boost American semiconductor research, manufacturing, and workforce development, including a 25% investment tax credit. It also funds wireless technologies using open radio access networks, advances in artificial intelligence and biotechnology, and the creation of regional innovation hubs. Additionally, it supports science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education at all levels and equips agencies to address gender- and race-based harassment in STEM fields. To date, the CHIPS for America program has awarded more than $10 billion — and allocated more than $36 billion in total proposed funding — to partners across 20 states. TSMC Arizona Takes the Lead TSMC leads the world in semiconductor manufacturing, creating more than 90% of the world’s most advanced logic chips. While this new $6.6 billion grant is vital to the company’s development plans, it actually began investing in the state’s future back in 2020, when it first announced the creation of TSMC Arizona and a $12 billion commitment to building its first U.S.-located advanced fabrication plant in the capital city. The first of several pieces of complex chipmaking tools arrived on-site in December 2022 — the same time the company announced that it would build a second facility — for a total investment of $40 billion. It also committed to constructing an industrial water reclamation plant on the 1,129-acre lot to support the company’s sustainability commitments with a 90% or better water recycling goal. By February 2024, more than 2,000 employees were already at work in the first facility, with thousands of construction workers on-site each day. Two months later, TSMC Arizona announced that it would open a third facility, bringing its total commitment in the state to $65 billion. Once they reach full capacity, TSMC Arizona’s three fabs will employ about 6,000 people helping to produce tens of millions of chips. According to an economic analysis by the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, this $65 billion investment will enable the creation of more than 20,000 unique construction jobs across all sites. Each of the TSMC Arizona fabs will specialize in a particular type of semiconductor chip. The first will use the company’s N4 process to produce chips primarily used in smart phones; early numbers show the fab’s output is already comparable to its facilities in Taiwan. The second will open in 2028 and use N3 and N2 process technology — currently the industry’s most advanced semiconductor technology in production — to produce chips used by the data centers that power AI. And the third — which was announced in conjunction with the new grant — will ramp up production on A16 chips and chips that use 2nm and even more advanced future process technology by the decade’s end, helping to improve performance and power consumption for high-performance computing applications. This innovation is already benefiting TSMC, with its stock price reaching a record high in October after the company outperformed its quarterly estimates and increased its revenue growth target for 2024. But the real benefit is for its American partners. “We are honored to support our customers who have been pioneers in mobile, artificial intelligence, and high-performance computing, whether in chip design, hardware systems or software, algorithms, and large language models,” said Wei. “They are the innovators driving demand for the most advanced silicon that TSMC can provide. As their foundry partner, we will help them unleash their innovations by increasing capacity for leading-edge technology through TSMC Arizona. We are thrilled by the progress of our Arizona site to date and are committed to its long-term success. ” *The San Francisco Examiner newsroom and editorial were not involved in the creation of this content.

In addition to Scholes and Ferdinand, several other players from the 2012/2013 title-winning squad have also bid farewell to professional football, including Patrice Evra, Ryan Giggs, and Nemanja Vidic, among others. Their contributions to United's success during that era are etched in the memories of fans around the world, with their names forever etched in the club's history books.

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The inspiration behind "Play on! Soul Heroes" came from a dream - a dream that the game's creator had one night. In this dream, he saw a world where souls were the essence of power, playing cards were the key to unlocking their potential, and heroes rose to face unimaginable challenges. Waking up with a sense of purpose, he set out to turn this dream into a reality.

The case of the chief of the South Korean Police Agency serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law in a democratic society. It highlights the need for strong oversight and mechanisms to prevent abuse of power and protect the rights of citizens.

bet you meaning UMaine men’s hockey tops StonehillIOC needs to take a binary position on transgender participation in women’s sportStock market today: Wall Street rises to records despite tariff talkTrump threat to immigrant health care tempered by economic hopes

Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada’s new border plan with Donald Trump’s transition team, a day after Trudeau himself appeared to finally push back at the president-elect over his social media posts about turning Canada into the 51st state. Both Trudeau and former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, who Trudeau has been courting to become Canada’s next finance minister, shared posts on X Thursday, a day after Trump’s latest jab at Canada in his Christmas Day message. It isn’t clear if Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who has repeatedly insisted Trump’s 51st state references are a joke, will raise the issue with Trump’s team when he and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly meet with them in Palm Beach. The two are there to discuss Canada’s new $1.3 billion border plan with just under four weeks left before Trump is sworn in again as president. He has threatened to impose a new 25 per cent import tariff on Canada and Mexico the same day over concerns about a trade imbalance, as well as illegal drugs and migration issues at the borders. The broad strokes of Canada’s plan were made public Dec. 17, including a new aerial intelligence task force to provide round-the-clock surveillance of the border, and improved efforts using technology and canine teams to seek out drugs in shipments leaving Canada LeBlanc’s spokesman, Jean-Sébastien Comeau, said the ministers will also emphasize the negative impacts of Trump’s threatened tariffs on both Canada and the U.S. Comeau said the ministers will build on the discussions that took place last month when Trudeau and LeBlanc met Trump at Mar-a-Lago just days after Trump first made his tariff threat. It was at that dinner on Nov. 29 when Trump first raised the notion of Canada becoming the 51st state, a comment LeBlanc has repeatedly since insisted was just a joke. But Trump has continued the quip repeatedly in various social media posts, including in his Christmas Day message when he said Canadians would pay lower taxes and have better military protection if they became Americans. He has taken to calling Trudeau “governor” instead of prime minister. Trudeau had not directly responded to any of the jabs, but on Thursday posted a link to a six-minute long video on YouTube from 2010 in which American journalist Tom Brokaw “explains Canada to Americans.” The video, which originally aired during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, explains similarities between the two countries, including their founding based on immigration, their trading relationship and the actions of the Canadian Army in World War 2 and other modern conflicts. “In the long history of sovereign neighbours there has never been a relationship as close, productive and peaceful as the U.S. and Canada,” Brokaw says in the video. Trudeau did not expand about why he posted a link to the video, posting it only with the words “some information about Canada for Americans.” Carney, who is at the centre of some of Trudeau’s recent domestic political troubles, also called out Trump’s antics on X Thursday, calling it “casual disrespect” and “carrying the ‘joke’ too far.” “Time to call it out, stand up for Canada, and build a true North American partnership,” said Carney, who Trudeau was courting to join his cabinet before Chrystia Freeland resigned as finance minister last week. Freeland’s sudden departure, three days after Trudeau informed her he would be firing her as finance minister in favour of Carney, left Trudeau’s leadership even more bruised than it already was. Despite the expectation Carney would assume the role, he did not and has not made any statements about it. LeBlanc was sworn in as finance minister instead the same day Freeland quit. More than two dozen Liberal MPs have publicly called on Trudeau to resign as leader, and Trudeau is said to be taking the holidays to think about his next steps. He is currently vacationing in British Columbia.

By Vanessa G. Sánchez, KFF Health News (TNS) LOS ANGELES — President-elect Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportations and tougher immigration restrictions is deepening mistrust of the health care system among California’s immigrants and clouding the future for providers serving the state’s most impoverished residents. At the same time, immigrants living illegally in Southern California told KFF Health News they thought the economy would improve and their incomes might increase under Trump, and for some that outweighed concerns about health care. Community health workers say fear of deportation is already affecting participation in Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program for low-income residents, which was expanded in phases to all immigrants regardless of residency status over the past several years. That could undercut the state’s progress in reducing the uninsured rate, which reached a record low of 6.4% last year. Immigrants lacking legal residency have long worried that participation in government programs could make them targets, and Trump’s election has compounded those concerns, community advocates say. The incoming Trump administration is also expected to target Medicaid with funding cuts and enrollment restrictions , which activists worry could threaten the Medi-Cal expansion and kneecap efforts to extend health insurance subsidies under Covered California to all immigrants. “The fear alone has so many consequences to the health of our communities,” said Mar Velez , director of policy with the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. “This is, as they say, not their first rodeo. They understand how the system works. I think this machine is going to be, unfortunately, a lot more harmful to our communities.” Alongside such worries, though, is a strain of optimism that Trump might be a boon to the economy, according to interviews with immigrants in Los Angeles whom health care workers were soliciting to sign up for Medi-Cal. Since Election Day, community health worker Yanet Martinez said, people are more reluctant to hear her pitch for subsidized health insurance or cancer prevention screenings. “They think I’m going to share their information to deport them,” Martinez said. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Clinics and community health workers encourage immigrants to enroll for health coverage through Medi-Cal and Covered California. But workers have noticed that fear of deportation has chilled participation. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Community health workers like Yanet Martinez encourage people to enroll for health benefits. But many California immigrants fear that using subsidized services could hurt their chances of obtaining legal residency. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Since Election Day, community health worker Yanet Martinez said, people are more reluctant to hear her pitch for subsidized health insurance or cancer prevention screenings. “They think I’m going to share their information to deport them,” Martinez said. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Selvin, 39, who, like others interviewed for this article, asked to be identified by only his first name because he’s living here without legal permission, said that even though he believes Trump dislikes people like him, he thinks the new administration could help boost his hours at the food processing facility where he works packing noodles. “I do see how he could improve the economy. From that perspective, I think it’s good that he won.” He became eligible for Medi-Cal this year but decided not to enroll, worrying it could jeopardize his chances of changing his immigration status. “I’ve thought about it,” Selvin said, but “I feel like it could end up hurting me. I won’t deny that, obviously, I’d like to benefit — get my teeth fixed, a physical checkup.” But fear holds him back, he said, and he hasn’t seen a doctor in nine years. It’s not Trump’s mass deportation plan in particular that’s scaring him off, though. “If I’m not committing any crimes or getting a DUI, I think I won’t get deported,” Selvin said. Petrona, 55, came from El Salvador seeking asylum and enrolled in Medi-Cal last year. She said that if her health insurance benefits were cut, she wouldn’t be able to afford her visits to the dentist. A street food vendor, she hears often about Trump’s deportation plan, but she said it will be the criminals the new president pushes out. “I’ve heard people say he’s going to get rid of everyone who’s stealing.” Although she’s afraid she could be deported, she’s also hopeful about Trump. “He says he’s going to give a lot of work to Hispanics because Latinos are the ones who work the hardest,” she said. “That’s good, more work for us, the ones who came here to work.” Newly elected Republican Assembly member Jeff Gonzalez, who flipped a seat long held by Democrats in the Latino-heavy desert region in the southeastern part of the state, said his constituents were anxious to see a new economic direction. “They’re just really kind of fed up with the status quo in California,” Gonzalez said. “People on the ground are saying, ‘I’m hopeful,’ because now we have a different perspective. We have a businessperson who is looking at the very things that we are looking at, which is the price of eggs, the price of gas, the safety.” Related Articles National Politics | Trump wants mass deportations. For the agents removing immigrants, it’s a painstaking process National Politics | Immigration agency deports highest numbers since 2014, aided by more flights National Politics | Advocates train immigrants to ‘prepare to stay’ in the US under Trump National Politics | Immigration drives US population growth to highest rate in 23 years as residents pass 340 million National Politics | A key Trump ally on immigration explains how mass deportations could work Gonzalez said he’s not going to comment about potential Medicaid cuts, because Trump has not made any official announcement. Unlike most in his party, Gonzalez said he supports the extension of health care services to all residents regardless of immigration status . Health care providers said they are facing a twin challenge of hesitancy among those they are supposed to serve and the threat of major cuts to Medicaid, the federal program that provides over 60% of the funding for Medi-Cal. Health providers and policy researchers say a loss in federal contributions could lead the state to roll back or downsize some programs, including the expansion to cover those without legal authorization. California and Oregon are the only states that offer comprehensive health insurance to all income-eligible immigrants regardless of status. About 1.5 million people without authorization have enrolled in California, at a cost of over $6 billion a year to state taxpayers. “Everyone wants to put these types of services on the chopping block, which is really unfair,” said state Sen. Lena Gonzalez, a Democrat and chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. “We will do everything we can to ensure that we prioritize this.” Sen. Gonzalez said it will be challenging to expand programs such as Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace, for which immigrants lacking permanent legal status are not eligible. A big concern for immigrants and their advocates is that Trump could reinstate changes to the public charge policy, which can deny green cards or visas based on the use of government benefits. “President Trump’s mass deportation plan will end the financial drain posed by illegal immigrants on our healthcare system, and ensure that our country can care for American citizens who rely on Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security,” Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to KFF Health News. During his first term, in 2019, Trump broadened the policy to include the use of Medicaid, as well as housing and nutrition subsidies. The Biden administration rescinded the change in 2021. KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News, found immigrants use less health care than people born in the United States. And about 1 in 4 likely undocumented immigrant adults said they have avoided applying for assistance with health care, food, and housing because of immigration-related fears, according to a 2023 survey . Another uncertainty is the fate of the Affordable Care Act, which was opened in November to immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children and are protected by the Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals program. If DACA eligibility for the act’s plans, or even the act itself, were to be reversed under Trump, that would leave roughly 40,000 California DACA recipients, and about 100,000 nationwide , without access to subsidized health insurance. On Dec. 9, a federal court in North Dakota issued an order blocking DACA recipients from accessing Affordable Care Act health plans in 19 states that had challenged the Biden administration’s rule. Clinics and community health workers are encouraging people to continue enrolling in health benefits. But amid the push to spread the message, the chilling effects are already apparent up and down the state. “¿Ya tiene Medi-Cal?” community health worker Yanet Martinez said, asking residents whether they had Medi-Cal as she walked down Pico Boulevard recently in a Los Angeles neighborhood with many Salvadorans. “¡Nosotros podemos ayudarle a solicitar Medi-Cal! ¡Todo gratuito!” she shouted, offering help to sign up, free of charge. “Gracias, pero no,” said one young woman, responding with a no thanks. She shrugged her shoulders and averted her eyes under a cap that covered her from the late-morning sun. Since Election Day, Martinez said, people have been more reluctant to hear her pitch for subsidized health insurance or cancer prevention screenings. “They think I’m going to share their information to deport them,” she said. “They don’t want anything to do with it.” This article was produced by KFF Health News , which publishes California Healthline , an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation . ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The dominance of artificial intelligence (AI) and the push towards digital services have energized the stock market, significantly boosting the S&P 500’s tech giants. The “Magnificent 7” — Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Tesla — have each experienced remarkable stock surges this year, with NVIDIA’s increase of 182.6% leading the pack. Key Players and Market Shifts Alphabet remains a leader in search; Amazon dominates the cloud with AWS; Apple continues to expand its service revenues. Meta’s global user growth is on the rise, while Microsoft’s Azure shows robust performance, and Tesla drives forward with efficient vehicle production. Yet, it is NVIDIA that has garnered the most attention. The company’s new GPU architecture, Blackwell, handles AI models with exceptional energy efficiency, making it highly sought after by tech giants like Alphabet and Microsoft, and positioning NVIDIA as a crucial player for the future. NVIDIA’s Unmatched Potential NVIDIA’s market share dominance in the GPU industry is formidable, surpassing 80% and expected to grow substantially. The company’s proprietary CUDA platform is favored by developers, enhancing AI optimization capabilities and creating a competitive advantage. Strong Financials and Investment Appeal NVIDIA exhibits a powerful financial foundation with a return on equity of 120.4% and a net profit margin of 55.7%. Its lower price-to-earnings ratio and debt-to-equity ratio compared to industry peers make NVIDIA an attractive and relatively affordable investment. With its solid financial metrics, unparalleled demand for AI chips, and strategic market position, NVIDIA emerges as a top contender among the Magnificent 7 for the coming year. AI-Driven Stock Market Surge: The Unstoppable Rise of Tech Titans The recent surge in the stock market has been heavily fueled by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital services. Among the leading forces driving this momentum are the “Magnificent 7” tech giants: Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Tesla. While each of these companies has experienced significant growth, NVIDIA stands out with a staggering increase of 182.6% in its stock value. Emerging Trends and Innovations As the demand for AI-driven technologies accelerates, companies like NVIDIA are at the forefront of pioneering innovations. NVIDIA’s unveiling of the Blackwell GPU architecture highlights its commitment to enhancing AI model handling with exceptional energy efficiency. This positions NVIDIA as a crucial supplier for major tech firms such as Alphabet and Microsoft, both of which are increasingly integrating AI into their core operations. NVIDIA’s Competitive Edge The prominence of NVIDIA in the GPU industry is visible through its remarkable market share, which exceeds 80%. This dominance is expected to expand further due to the widespread adoption of its CUDA platform, which provides state-of-the-art optimization capabilities for AI development. This gives NVIDIA a significant competitive edge, attracting developers and bolstering its market position. Evaluating NVIDIA’s Financial Strength NVIDIA’s financial metrics emphasize its position as an attractive investment option. With an impressive return on equity of 120.4% and a net profit margin of 55.7%, the company showcases robust profitability. Additionally, its lower price-to-earnings and debt-to-equity ratios compared to industry peers enhance its appeal as a sound investment choice. Market Predictions and Future Outlook With sustained demand for AI chips and a strategic position in the market, NVIDIA is anticipated to be a leading figure among the Magnificent 7 in the upcoming year. Analysts predict continued growth as the company leverages its innovative products and market leadership to capture emerging opportunities in AI technology. For the latest information and market trends, visit NVIDIA’s official website . Through strategic advancements and strong financial fundamentals, NVIDIA and its fellow tech giants remain poised to propel the stock market into a new era of technological growth and innovation.Van Nistelrooy’s first game in charge ended with a 3-1 win over West Ham, thanks to goals from Jamie Vardy, Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka. The Dutchman, who was out of work for just two weeks following his four-game spell as Manchester United interim boss, only started on Sunday so was happy to end a hectic three days in style. “It has been very busy getting to know everyone, start working together,” he said. “Everybody was involved with that and helping, it was busy, long days, but worth it. I was focused on the game and what the game needed, the subs, the half-time talk, so focused on the moment, so I am going to get myself a little beer and reflect on the last three days.” He endured a dream start as Vardy scored after just 98 seconds with El Khannouss and Daka adding second-half goals. It was by no means one-way traffic, though, as West Ham – who scored a consolation through Niclas Fullkrug at the death – had 30 shots on goal. But Van Nistelrooy saw enough to think he can deliver on his objective of keeping the Foxes in the Premier League. “I am very happy, if you look at the result – and it is about the result – it was a great night, three points, three good goals and also very effective. Ruud at the wheel 🛞 pic.twitter.com/eVgIwWAcYw — Leicester City (@LCFC) December 3, 2024 “Overall the game of course we have seen and how dominant West Ham were at certain stages and what they created, that is a fact and something we have to look at. “Overall, what I expected of the players going forward was togetherness and hunger, energy and spirit in this team that is fighting for every inch. “Eleven players on the pitch who are fighting as a foundation to play the rest of the Premier League. I saw that completely with every single player that started and came on. “That’s the foundation we have to build on, without that it will be impossible to get where we want to go. I am very happy about that.” West Ham’s hierarchy will have seen what impact a managerial change can have as the jury remains out on Julen Lopetegui, with away fans making their feelings clear by chanting “You’re getting sacked in the morning”. Lopetegui expects to keep his job but forthcoming games against his former club Wolves, Bournemouth, Brighton and Southampton could determine the Spaniard’s future. “The only thing that I am worried about is to go to training session tomorrow and stand up the players and prepare the next challenge,” he said. “We have one month of December with a lot of matches and I am sure with this attitude we are going to achieve many more points. “I believe in the players. I am confident that tomorrow we are going to be ready to prepare the next match. “Understanding the question, but at the end of the season maybe we talk in another way. There are a lot of matches and points, a lot of things can happen. “I believe in these players and team, I am sure the position is going to be much better. They are only words but we have to work a lot to achieve this.”

10 great Christmas getawaysSnell was introduced Tuesday at Dodger Stadium accompanied by his agent Scott Boras. The left-hander finalized a $182 million, five-year contract last Saturday. “It was really easy just cause me and Haeley wanted to live here, it’s something we’ve been talking about for a while,” Snell said, referring to his girlfriend. “Then you look at the team. You look at what they’ve built, what they’re doing. It’s just something you want to be a part of.” Last month, Snell opted out of his deal with San Francisco to become a free agent for the second consecutive offseason after he was slowed by injuries during his lone year with the San Francisco Giants. Snell gets a $52 million signing bonus, payable on Jan. 25, and annual salaries of $26 million, of which $13.2 million each year will be deferred . Because Snell is a Washington state resident, the signing bonus will not be subject to California income tax. “It just played out the way that people around me felt comfortable with, I felt comfortable with, they felt comfortable with,” Snell said. “We talked and found something that could work for both of us. You want your worth, you want your respect, and you want enough time to where you can really make a name for yourself. I've made a name for myself outside of LA, but I'm going to be invested.” Two-way star Ohtani, who signed a record $700 million, 10-year deal a year ago, had a historic first season with the Dodgers. He helped them win the franchise's eighth World Series while playing only as designated hitter and became MVP in the National League for the first time after twice winning the award while in the American League. “It helps with him in the lineup for sure. That’s big motivation,” Snell said. “You want to be around players like that when you’re trying to be one of the best in the game. Yeah, it played a big part.” Snell joins Ohtani and fellow Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto atop Los Angeles’ rotation. All-Star Tyler Glasnow will be back after having his first season in LA derailed by a sprained elbow. Ohtani didn’t pitch this year while recovering from right elbow surgery but is expected back on the mound in 2025. The rest of the rotation includes Tony Gonsolin, Landon Knack, Dustin May, Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan. “I pitched on six-man, five-man, four-man rotations,” Snell said. “I'm good with it all as long as we have a plan, we'll execute it.” Snell, who turns 32 on Wednesday, went 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 20 starts this year, throwing a no-hitter at Cincinnati on Aug. 2 for one of only 16 individual shutouts in the major leagues this season. He struck out 145 and walked 44 in 104 innings. He was sidelined between April 19 and May 22 by a strained left adductor and between June 2 and July 9 by a strained left groin. Snell won Cy Young Awards in 2018 with Tampa Bay and 2023 with San Diego. He is 76-58 with a 3.19 ERA in nine seasons with the Rays (2016-20), Padres (2021-23) and Giants. He has known Andrew Friedman, Dodgers president of baseball operations, since he was 18. In the aftermath of winning the World Series and discussing how the Dodgers could repeat next year, Friedman said, “All conversations kept coming back to Blake.” “Usually in major league free agency, you're buying the backside of a guy's career, the accomplishments that they have had,” he said. “With Blake, one thing that's really exciting for us is, as much success as he's had, we feel like there's more in there." Snell was 2-2 against the Dodgers in his career. “We couldn’t beat him, so we’re going to have him join us,” Friedman said. .___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Rahm Emanuel: Democrats should 'welcome' Musk's DOGE commission

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New York state government agencies will have to conduct reviews and publish reports that detail how they're using artificial intelligence software, under a new law signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul. Hochul, a Democrat, signed the bill last week after it was passed by state lawmakers earlier this year. The law requires state agencies to perform assessments of any software that uses algorithms, computational models or AI techniques, and then submit those reviews to the governor and top legislative leaders along with posting them online. Canadian legal information database sues company behind AI chatbot National security agencies should explain how they're using AI: federal advisory body Will the AI chatbot wave come for the federal government? It also bars the use of AI in certain situations, such as an automated decision on whether someone receives unemployment benefits or child-care assistance, unless the system is being consistently monitored by a human. WATCH | Canada invests in Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute: Canada launches AI watchdog to oversee the technology’s safe development and use 1 month ago Duration 1:50 Amid rapid global advances and deployment of artificial intelligence technologies, the federal government has invested millions to combine the minds of three existing institutes into one that can keep an eye on potential dangers ahead. Law shields workers from limiting of hours due to AI State workers would also be shielded from having their hours or job duties limited because of AI under the law, addressing a major concern that critics have raised against generative AI. State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, a Democrat who sponsored the bill, called the law an important step in setting up some guardrails in how the emerging technology is used in state government. Federal government use of AI in hundreds of initiatives revealed by new research database Facial recognition technology gains popularity with police, intensifying calls for regulation Experts have long been calling for more regulation of generative AI as the technology becomes more widespread. Some of the biggest concerns raised by critics, apart from job security, include security concerns around personal information, and that AI could amplify misinformation due to its propensity to invent facts, repeat false statements and its ability to create close to photo-realistic images based on prompts.As Ghana’s December 7 elections draw closer, the Ashanti Regional branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has reiterated its resolve to ensure that every vote is counted, amid growing concerns over intimidation tactics allegedly being deployed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC). In a media address, Dr. Francis Adomako, the Ashanti Regional Organiser for the NPP, accused the NDC of attempting to stoke voter apathy in the NPP’s stronghold. He assured the public that any such efforts would be met with strong resistance from the party. “We want to assure you of our firm commitment to a peaceful electioneering process and also indicate clearly that any form of crude tactics and intimidation will be opposed fiercely,” Dr. Adomako stated. The NPP called on the Ghana Police Service, the military, and other security agencies to remain professional in their duties and for electoral officers to ensure a smooth process, free from actions that could lead to rejected ballots or undermine the electoral process. “To the good people of the Ashanti Region, we commit to making sure your vote counts and that nobody will be allowed to intimidate you on polling day,” he added. Dr. Adomako urged the people of Ashanti to come out in large numbers to vote, emphasizing that the NPP is aiming for a massive voter turnout on Election Day. “We are hopeful of a very massive voter turnout on December 7, 2024. That is what the NDC is afraid of hence, all the crude tactics. Turn out in your numbers for a huge margin of victory for Dr. Bawumia,” he said. He also called on party supporters to be vigilant before, during, and after voting. “If possible, do not go home after voting. Position yourself at a reasonable distance from the polling area like we did in 2016 and 2020. Safeguarding every polling station is cardinal to the coming victory,” Dr. Adomako stressed.

Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada’s new border plan with Donald Trump’s transition team, a day after Trudeau himself appeared to finally push back at the president-elect over his social media posts about turning Canada into the 51st state. Both Trudeau and former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, who Trudeau has been courting to become Canada’s next finance minister, shared posts on X Thursday, a day after Trump’s latest jab at Canada in his Christmas Day message. It isn’t clear if Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who has repeatedly insisted Trump’s 51st state references are a joke, will raise the issue with Trump’s team when he and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly meet with them in Palm Beach. The two are there to discuss Canada’s new $1.3 billion border plan with just under four weeks left before Trump is sworn in again as president. He has threatened to impose a new 25 per cent import tariff on Canada and Mexico the same day over concerns about a trade imbalance, as well as illegal drugs and migration issues at the borders. The broad strokes of Canada’s plan were made public Dec. 17, including a new aerial intelligence task force to provide round-the-clock surveillance of the border, and improved efforts using technology and canine teams to seek out drugs in shipments leaving Canada LeBlanc’s spokesman, Jean-Sébastien Comeau, said the ministers will also emphasize the negative impacts of Trump’s threatened tariffs on both Canada and the U.S. Comeau said the ministers will build on the discussions that took place last month when Trudeau and LeBlanc met Trump at Mar-a-Lago just days after Trump first made his tariff threat. It was at that dinner on Nov. 29 when Trump first raised the notion of Canada becoming the 51st state, a comment LeBlanc has repeatedly since insisted was just a joke. But Trump has continued the quip repeatedly in various social media posts, including in his Christmas Day message when he said Canadians would pay lower taxes and have better military protection if they became Americans. He has taken to calling Trudeau “governor” instead of prime minister. Trudeau had not directly responded to any of the jabs, but on Thursday posted a link to a six-minute long video on YouTube from 2010 in which American journalist Tom Brokaw “explains Canada to Americans.” The video, which originally aired during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, explains similarities between the two countries, including their founding based on immigration, their trading relationship and the actions of the Canadian Army in World War 2 and other modern conflicts. “In the long history of sovereign neighbours there has never been a relationship as close, productive and peaceful as the U.S. and Canada,” Brokaw says in the video. Trudeau did not expand about why he posted a link to the video, posting it only with the words “some information about Canada for Americans.” Carney, who is at the centre of some of Trudeau’s recent domestic political troubles, also called out Trump’s antics on X Thursday, calling it “casual disrespect” and “carrying the ‘joke’ too far.” “Time to call it out, stand up for Canada, and build a true North American partnership,” said Carney, who Trudeau was courting to join his cabinet before Chrystia Freeland resigned as finance minister last week. Freeland’s sudden departure, three days after Trudeau informed her he would be firing her as finance minister in favour of Carney, left Trudeau’s leadership even more bruised than it already was. Despite the expectation Carney would assume the role, he did not and has not made any statements about it. LeBlanc was sworn in as finance minister instead the same day Freeland quit. More than two dozen Liberal MPs have publicly called on Trudeau to resign as leader, and Trudeau is said to be taking the holidays to think about his next steps. He is currently vacationing in British Columbia.

A Republican senator has stymied the promotion of Lieutenant General Christopher Donahue. Known for leading the 82nd Airborne Division during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, he faces a setback as the last soldier to exit the tumultuous region in 2021. The anonymous hold was placed by Senator Markwayne Mullin, who has yet to comment on his decision. Lieutenant General Donahue, nominated for a fourth star to lead the U.S. Army in Europe and Africa, remains at the center of political tensions, compounded by critique from President-elect Donald Trump. Trump has vocally criticized the military's Afghanistan withdrawal, eyeing an overhaul at the Pentagon. Despite internal military support from figures like Tony Thomas, former U.S. Special Operations Command head, who described Donahue as "a generational leader," the stalemate underscores the broader political landscape. (With inputs from agencies.)betmgm 。

Iran 'dramatically increasing' uranium enrichment, IAEA warns

Weave Communications stock hits 52-week high at $14.52

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South Korea’s plan to roll out the AI Digital Textbook system in 2025 has sparked some controversy. It is an ambitious project, and there’s nothing quite like it anywhere else in the world. But the boldness of the idea is matched by the intensity of the concerns it raises. The sheer cost, the way it is being implemented as a national policy and whether AI will truly help or hurt education have left people divided and questioning its viability. The AIDT is not just another digital textbook. Traditional digital textbooks are essentially scanned pages of printed books made for screens. The AIDT goes far beyond that with AI-powered features designed to offer personalized learning. It acts like a digital tutor, tracking students’ progress and tailoring content to their needs. Advanced learners get more challenging materials while struggling students get extra support. In theory, the AIDT could help close achievement gaps in Korea’s classrooms. Hagwon have long been a crutch for families competing in the country’s high-pressure education system. If public schools could deliver quality instruction through AIDT, the pressure to use costly private tutoring might lessen, giving students from less privileged backgrounds a fair shot. That’s the promise, though not everyone is sold on it. One major concern is whether spending so much instructional time on digital devices will only disrupt good learning. It’s a valid worry. Research suggests that excessive digital dependence can erode attention spans and rid students of opportunities to process complex ideas and engage in thinking. The fear is that instead of bridging learning gaps, the AIDT might unintentionally widen them. On top of that, AI itself remains a source of anxiety. Generative AI technologies, while impressive, haven’t been around long enough for anyone to fully trust them. Can we really bet an entire education system on AI tools that are far from perfect? The rollout process hasn’t done much to inspire confidence. Teachers feel left out of the conversation and argue they haven’t been adequately trained. There’s also unease over allegations of cozy ties between officials and ed-tech companies. These factors have made the AIDT a political flashpoint. Activists and teachers’ unions have organized petitions and public campaigns calling for the policy to be delayed (for now) or scrapped altogether. Within schools, teachers are split -- some see it as a helpful tool, while others view it as an unwanted imposition threatening their connection to traditional teaching. At the heart of the debate is a tricky question: Will the AIDT reduce educational inequity and improve student learning? Korea’s education system isn’t exactly built to support the changes the AIDT promises. The country’s obsession with test scores and college entrance exams leaves little room for innovation. Success in this system often comes down to rote memorization, relentless practice and a little luck. Lofty ideals like self-directed learning, creativity and personalized instruction -- the hallmarks of AIDT -- aren’t what get students into top colleges. Without systemic change, the AIDT risks becoming just another short-lived promise with little real impact. That’s not to say the technology isn’t impressive. The AIDT comes packed with features like learning path recommendations, automatic feedback and content ideas, all powered by AI. But the reality is that AI shines most when dealing with big data. In a school with thousands of students, the system can identify patterns a human teacher might miss. But in a smaller classroom, a good teacher can often make those same calls just as well. Until we see something truly transformative -- like humanoid robots working alongside teachers (not in my lifetime!) -- many will dismiss the AIDT as overhyped. Some critics have gone so far as to dismiss the AIDT as nothing more than the same old question bank. It’s a harsh take, but one that reflects how education is often viewed in this country. If the AIDT is seen only as a tool for exam prep, its more innovative aspects will likely go unnoticed. So, where does that leave us? The AIDT has the potential to free up time for more interactions between students and teachers. But if it becomes just another cog in the exam machine, drilling students endlessly, the policy could fail spectacularly. At worst, the AIDT might become a cash cow for ed-tech companies while leaving students and teachers more burned out than ever. The AIDT presents a significant opportunity but also a stark reminder that technology alone won’t fix what’s broken in education. For it to succeed, there needs to be a broader policy and paradigm shift -- one that prioritizes civic education, builds a passion for learning, develops life skills and fosters a sense of purpose and belonging. Until then, whether the AIDT becomes a stepping stone or a stumbling block will always depend less on the AI technology itself and more on the people and policies shaping Korea's education system. Lim Woong Lim Woong is a professor of the Graduate School of Education at Yonsei University in Seoul. The views expressed here are the writer’s own. -- Ed.

“I’VE ordered champagne” were the first words Barbara Taylor Bradford said to me when I interviewed her in 2015. We met at The Dorchester, her home from home whenever she visited London, where she was holding court in a quiet corner of the swanky hotel. Dressed to the nines, with a perfectly made up face and coiffed hair that hinted at her twice-weekly visits to the stylist, she looked nothing like the 81 years old she was at the time. Barbara, who died on Sunday, aged 91 , following a short illness at her home in New York City, was every inch the best-selling author honoured by Queen Elizabeth with an OBE for her contribution to women’s literature. Clearly beloved by the hotel staff, they fussed around her, making sure she had everything she needed. And she was kind and courteous in return — as she was to all who met her. Although we had chatted on many occasions on the phone, this was the first time we had spoken face to face. You would imagine someone who had sold 90 million books — making a rumoured £160million from sales — might be bored by the interview pro­cess and give standard, predictable answers. But she was a wonderful, generous hostess and although we were there to chat about her latest release, she asked me questions and genuinely wanted to know about my life. The interview lasted well over two hours — and remains one of my favourite encounters. Known for writing incredible sweep­ing sagas, her first novel A Woman Of Substance was published in 1979, when she was 46. It was an immediate hit. A rags to riches story, it told how Emma Harte, a servant in rural Yorkshire, went on to head up a huge business empire. It sold more than 30million copies and was adapted into a 1984 TV miniseries, starring Jenny Sea­grove as young Emma, Deborah Kerr as her in later life and Liam Neeson as her friend Shane “Blackie” O’Neill. It was the beginning of a career spanning more than 40 years and 40 novels — each received rapturously by her legions of adoring fans. Our latest meeting was in 2019, to talk about her book, In The Lion’s Den, but it was a very different encounter. Her beloved husband, Robert — who she met when she was 28 — had recently died from a stroke aged 92. Again, we met for tea at The Dorchester, and although she tried to put on her game face, it was clear that Barbara was utterly broken. Tears weren’t far away, as she held my hand and told me his last words to her had been, “I love you”. But despite her obvious distress, she was determined to continue making the most of her remaining years — plus Bob had told her never to stop writing so she was keen to honour his wishes. Although her books sold tens of millions of copies, making her one of the world’s wealthiest writers, and she loved her luxuries, she stayed grounded — with fish and chips her favourite meal, coated in lashings of malt vinegar. Even when she discovered her solidly working-class mum was probably the illegitimate daughter of the Marquess of Ripon, a Yorkshire aristocrat, she never took a DNA test. Yet she was rumoured to have maintained the heating of a lake at her former Connecticut home, which a farmer had installed to keep swans warm in winter. And she sold her 13-room Manhattan apartment for £6.7million in 2013 to actress Uma Thurman. But right until the end, Barbara grafted — and her work ethic was second to none. She followed a strict routine, beginning at 6am where she used a typewriter to bash out her novels. She also read the papers every day and had opinions about everything from the royals to politics and the importance of reading. It was why she was so happy to be an ambassador for charities and not-for-profit organisations including the UK’s National Literacy Trust, Literacy Partners in the US, Women In Journ­alism and Reporters Without Borders. Always a supporter of women, she twice chaired the judges for The Sunday Times Write Stuff competition which encouraged the next generation of female fiction writers. Barbara was born and bred in Leeds and came from a working-class family, who adored literature. During one of our book-related chats she told me she was “force-fed books from a very young age”, and was reading confidently by four years old. At primary school — where she was in the same class as future author and playwright Alan Bennett — she dreamed of being a writer. She had her first story published in a children’s magazine when she was ten. Her first job, aged 15, was in the Yorkshire Evening Post’s typing pool. Determined to follow her dream to be a reporter, she surreptitiously slipp­ed her stories into the sub-editor’s tray. When the editors realised, they pro­m­oted her and she became the paper’s only female reporter at the time. By the age of 18, she was its Woman’s Editor. While working at the paper she met a fellow journalist who she said was “lanky and dishevelled with acne”. He kept trying to talk to her, she said, even after she turned him down for a date at the cinema — it was actor Peter O’Toole. Always ambitious, Barbara moved to London aged 20 when Fleet Street called. Her career went from strength to strength and she worked as fashion editor of Woman’s Own magazine. In 1961, when she was 28, Barbara met her husband, Robert, a German- born successful American film producer. They married on Christmas Eve, 1963, and moved to New York. There, Barbara wrote for an interior decoration column that was syndicated to 183 newspapers — even though Robert was wealthy enough that she did not need to work. Her first books were about home design. They included The Complete Encyclopedia Of Homemaking Ideas in 1968. She also wrote a string of entries in the How To Be The Perfect Wife series. When A Woman Of Substance was published, Barbara was over the moon. She had the success she had always dreamed of. She said she wrote books about sexy, scrappy, hard-working women. “What I really wanted to do was to write about a very strong woman, because I’m strong,” she told an interviewer in 1983. “That doesn’t mean I’m tough or hard but I have the strength to meet adversity, not to give in,” she said. Actress Jenny Seagrove, 67, paid tribute to a “dear friend” and “powerhouse of glamour and warmth”. She said: “Success never diluted her warmth and humour or her ability to relate to everyone she met, whether a cleaner or a princess. “She never, ever forgot that she was just a girl from Yorkshire that worked hard and made good.” Charlie Redmayne, chief executive of publisher HarperCollins, said: “She was a natural storyteller, deeply proud of her Yorkshire roots. She would regale us of her time working on the Yorkshire Evening Post with fellow reporter Keith Waterhouse and Peter O’Toole, the dawn of the Soho cafe society, and the many happy years shared with the love of her life, her husband, Bob. Other friends included Sean Connery , Christopher Plummer, Boris Johnson and Joan Rivers. She was also a huge fan of Queen Elizabeth. Maria Boyle, who worked as Barbara’s personal PR for more than 15 years, said: “Book signings were always busy, queues were guaranteed. “Fans would travel from afar, bring­ing old copies of her novels for her to sign while buying the latest release. “One American reader even brought a copy of A Woman Of Substance with a bullet hole in it. Barbara was alarmed, asked what had happened and the lady said her husband shot the book as she was reading it so much. Her books became like Bibles to many.“ When I wrote A Woman Of Substance I didn’t think, ‘I’m going to write about a woman warrior who conquers the world and smashes the glass ceiling’. But I did want to write about them in a positive way “Readers would frequently tell her their story and cite how her books changed their lives — ‘It inspired me to set up a business’, ‘It helped me through some dark times’ or ‘It gave me courage to change my career’. Barbara told one paper: “When I wrote A Woman Of Substance I didn’t sit down and think, ‘I’m going to write about a woman warrior who conquers the world and smashes the glass ceiling’. But I did want to write about women in a positive way. “At the time there were a lot of very sexy books out there but the women didn’t come out of them very well.” One of Barbara’s favourite shops in London was Fortnum & Mason and she would visit every time she was in the capital — where she would order gifts for those she worked with. And me. I wasn’t the only one to be touched by her kindness. Maria said: “Barbara gave generously. “She waived royalties, donated fees and contributed work freely. “During the pandemic, she gifted one of her books so it could be adapted for blind readers and wrote a 25,000-word short story for a national newspaper when asked for just 5,000. “In the interview which went alongside it, Barbara quoted her hero Winston Churchill, telling them to “KBO” (Keep Buggering On) — and she did that throughout her own life.” She was frequently described as the “grand dame of blockbusters”, “Queen of the genre”, and she absolutely was. My lasting memories of Barbara were she was kind, generous and thoughtful. She had an incredible work ethic and was one of those rare people who are both interested and interesting. May she rest in peace.Simons scores 25, Sharpe adds 24 as Trail Blazers bounce back with 104-98 win over RocketsJuve deepen Man City crisis, Barcelona into Champions League knockouts

Nokia Corporation Stock Exchange Release 25 November 2024 at 22:30 EET Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 25.11.2024 Espoo, Finland - On 25 November 2024 Nokia Corporation (LEI: 549300A0JPRWG1KI7U06) has acquired its own shares (ISIN FI0009000681) as follows: On 22 November 2024, Nokia announced that its Board of Directors is initiating a share buyback program to offset the dilutive effect of new Nokia shares issued to the shareholders of Infinera Corporation and certain Infinera Corporation share-based incentives. The repurchases in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR), the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 and under the authorization granted by Nokia's Annual General Meeting on 3 April 2024 started on 25 November 2024 and end by 31 December 2025 and target to repurchase 150 million shares for a maximum aggregate purchase price of EUR 900 million. Total cost of transactions executed on 25 November 2024 was 3,523,779. After the disclosed transactions, Nokia Corporation holds 360,574,603 treasury shares. Details of transactions are included as an appendix to this announcement. On behalf of Nokia Corporation BofA Securities Europe SA About Nokia At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today - and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future. Inquiries: Nokia Communications Phone: +358 10 448 4900 Email: [email protected] Maria Vaismaa, Global Head of External Communications Nokia Investor Relations Phone: +358 40 803 4080 Email: [email protected] Attachment Daily Report 2024-11-25Kane hat-trick gives Bayern handy lead in Bundesliga

NoneRidgefield School District puts two levies February ballot; building third elementary school proposed

The clock may have finally wound down for TikTok after a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled on Friday that Congress has the power to ban the popular social media app if it fails to shed its Chinese ownership. The judges dismissed the First Amendment challenge that was brought by TikTok and many of its highest-profile users, who argued the ban was unconstitutional. "The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States. Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary's ability to gather data on people in the United States," wrote Judge Douglas Ginsburg. Sell-or-Ban—No Other Option The sell-or-ban law was signed by President Joe Biden in April, after receiving bipartisan support from lawmakers—including many who received classified briefings from the U.S. intelligence community. Critics of Friday's ruling were quick to call for the Supreme Court to review the Court of Appeals ruling. "This law threatens the free speech rights of our client and millions of other Americans who use TikTok to share and hear political ideas," said Jacob Huebert, president of the Liberty Justice Center, which filed a lawsuit to challenge the TikTok ban in June. "To protect their rights, we'll ask the court to stay its decision until we seek Supreme Court review and receive a final decision," Huerbert added. Not Over Until It's Over While the company has until January 19, 2025, to either be sold or be banned—there are still possible lifelines available for TikTok. "One is the Supreme Court, which doesn't have to accept the case but could," explained social media analyst Greg Sterling, co-founder of Near Media. It is a long shot, as the high court may opt not to hear the case. Yet, even if the case is heard, it doesn't mean SCOTUS would rule in favor of TikTok, especially as lawmakers from both sides of the political spectrum have pushed for the ban. "It's unlikely to say that the First Amendment outweighs U.S. national security interests, especially in the wake of the recent Chinese 'Salt Typhoon' hacking incident ," said Sterling, who added the other lifeline could come from the incoming administration. During his first term, President-elect Donald Trump had actually tried to ban TikTok, only to see the Biden administration overturn it. It is possible the same could play out again, just with the roles reversed. Trump has said he no longer supports a ban . "Although the ban is scheduled to take effect before he's inaugurated, Trump could push Congress to repeal the ban," added Sterling. "It's not clear whether that would be successful because of divisions within the Republican Party on TikTok." Are The Security Concerns Valid? Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have warned of the potential danger that the app presents as it could share user data with China, yet, some critics of the law say TikTok is just part of a much larger and more serious issue of how social media companies have access to the personal data of users. "The U.S. Court of Appeals ruling on TikTok highlights critical issues in mobile app security, API vulnerabilities, and the overarching role of big technology companies in app ecosystems dominated by Apple and Google," said Ted Morocco, CEO of cybersecurity provider Approov. "While the TikTok ban focuses on national security risks due to foreign ownership, the conversation must expand to address systemic flaws in app distribution and privacy regulation," Morocco added. "The lack of a federal data privacy framework in the U.S. exacerbates the issue, allowing platform owners to set their opaque policies." The cybersecurity expert added that the current policies enable practices that prioritize profit over user protection, including permissive data harvesting and inadequate penalties for privacy violations. "A clear, enforceable policy would mitigate these risks, especially for minors, who are disproportionately targeted by app-based surveillance and manipulative algorithms," explained Morocco, who said similar scrutiny should apply to all apps, regardless of their origin. TikTok's ban is largely justified by concerns over data flowing to a foreign adversary, even as American companies don't operate all that differently in how they gather customer data. "U.S.-based companies like Meta and Amazon have also faced allegations of privacy abuses," said Morocco. "A robust framework would ensure equal accountability and provide mechanisms for imposing meaningful penalties globally." TikTok's case simply serves as a microcosm of broader issues within cybersecurity, and how users are largely oblivious to how their data may be used. This ruling could address some national security concerns, but Morocco said a more comprehensive and transparent approach is needed to tackle the structural problems of app ecosystems. "Only by prioritizing security, transparency, and accountability, can the U.S. safeguard its citizens," he continued. Where Does This Leave TikTok Users? There is now less than a month and a half until TikTok could be banned in the U.S., and those who have large followings may need to look to other platforms . "If TikTok is shut down, which would be highly disruptive for many creators and users, Instagram is the most likely place that both groups would turn," said Sterling. "Instagram Reels is essentially a TikTok clone. But they could move to other networks as well. Bluesky is a possibility but I would be surprised if people moved over there vs. Instagram."

you bet meaning 。

Renuka Rayasam | (TNS) KFF Health News In April, just 12 weeks into her pregnancy, Kathleen Clark was standing at the receptionist window of her OB-GYN’s office when she was asked to pay $960, the total the office estimated she would owe after she delivered. Clark, 39, was shocked that she was asked to pay that amount during this second prenatal visit. Normally, patients receive the bill after insurance has paid its part, and for pregnant women that’s usually only when the pregnancy ends. It would be months before the office filed the claim with her health insurer. Clark said she felt stuck. The Cleveland, Tennessee, obstetrics practice was affiliated with a birthing center where she wanted to deliver. Plus, she and her husband had been wanting to have a baby for a long time. And Clark was emotional, because just weeks earlier her mother had died. “You’re standing there at the window, and there’s people all around, and you’re trying to be really nice,” recalled Clark, through tears. “So, I paid it.” On online baby message boards and other social media forums , pregnant women say they are being asked by their providers to pay out-of-pocket fees earlier than expected. The practice is legal, but patient advocacy groups call it unethical. Medical providers argue that asking for payment up front ensures they get compensated for their services. How frequently this happens is hard to track because it is considered a private transaction between the provider and the patient. Therefore, the payments are not recorded in insurance claims data and are not studied by researchers. Patients, medical billing experts, and patient advocates say the billing practice causes unexpected anxiety at a time of already heightened stress and financial pressure. Estimates can sometimes be higher than what a patient might ultimately owe and force people to fight for refunds if they miscarry or the amount paid was higher than the final bill. Up-front payments also create hurdles for women who may want to switch providers if they are unhappy with their care. In some cases, they may cause women to forgo prenatal care altogether, especially in places where few other maternity care options exist. It’s “holding their treatment hostage,” said Caitlin Donovan, a senior director at the Patient Advocate Foundation . Medical billing and women’s health experts believe OB-GYN offices adopted the practice to manage the high cost of maternity care and the way it is billed for in the U.S. When a pregnancy ends, OB-GYNs typically file a single insurance claim for routine prenatal care, labor, delivery, and, often, postpartum care. That practice of bundling all maternity care into one billing code began three decades ago, said Lisa Satterfield, senior director of health and payment policy at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists . But such bundled billing has become outdated, she said. Previously, pregnant patients had been subject to copayments for each prenatal visit, which might lead them to skip crucial appointments to save money. But the Affordable Care Act now requires all commercial insurers to fully cover certain prenatal services. Plus, it’s become more common for pregnant women to switch providers, or have different providers handle prenatal care, labor, and delivery — especially in rural areas where patient transfers are common. Some providers say prepayments allow them to spread out one-time payments over the course of the pregnancy to ensure that they are compensated for the care they do provide, even if they don’t ultimately deliver the baby. “You have people who, unfortunately, are not getting paid for the work that they do,” said Pamela Boatner, who works as a midwife in a Georgia hospital. While she believes women should receive pregnancy care regardless of their ability to pay, she also understands that some providers want to make sure their bill isn’t ignored after the baby is delivered. New parents might be overloaded with hospital bills and the costs of caring for a new child, and they may lack income if a parent isn’t working, Boatner said. In the U.S., having a baby can be expensive. People who obtain health insurance through large employers pay an average of nearly $3,000 out-of-pocket for pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care, according to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker . In addition, many people are opting for high-deductible health insurance plans, leaving them to shoulder a larger share of the costs. Of the 100 million U.S. people with health care debt, 12% attribute at least some of it to maternity care, according to a 2022 KFF poll . Families need time to save money for the high costs of pregnancy, childbirth, and child care, especially if they lack paid maternity leave, said Joy Burkhard , CEO of the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, a Los Angeles-based policy think tank. Asking them to prepay “is another gut punch,” she said. “What if you don’t have the money? Do you put it on credit cards and hope your credit card goes through?” Calculating the final costs of childbirth depends on multiple factors, such as the timing of the pregnancy , plan benefits, and health complications, said Erin Duffy , a health policy researcher at the University of Southern California’s Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics. The final bill for the patient is unclear until a health plan decides how much of the claim it will cover, she said. But sometimes the option to wait for the insurer is taken away. During Jamie Daw’s first pregnancy in 2020, her OB-GYN accepted her refusal to pay in advance because Daw wanted to see the final bill. But in 2023, during her second pregnancy, a private midwifery practice in New York told her that since she had a high-deductible plan, it was mandatory to pay $2,000 spread out with monthly payments. Daw, a health policy researcher at Columbia University, delivered in September 2023 and got a refund check that November for $640 to cover the difference between the estimate and the final bill. “I study health insurance,” she said. “But, as most of us know, it’s so complicated when you’re really living it.” While the Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover some prenatal services, it doesn’t prohibit providers from sending their final bill to patients early. It would be a challenge politically and practically for state and federal governments to attempt to regulate the timing of the payment request, said Sabrina Corlette , a co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. Medical lobbying groups are powerful and contracts between insurers and medical providers are proprietary. Because of the legal gray area, Lacy Marshall , an insurance broker at Rapha Health and Life in Texas, advises clients to ask their insurer if they can refuse to prepay their deductible. Some insurance plans prohibit providers in their network from requiring payment up front. If the insurer says they can refuse to pay up front, Marshall said, she tells clients to get established with a practice before declining to pay, so that the provider can’t refuse treatment. Related Articles Health | Which health insurance plan may be right for you? Health | Airport authority, Delta unveil $500k multi-sensory room at Metro Airport Health | Your cool black kitchenware could be slowly poisoning you, study says. Here’s what to do Health | Does fluoride cause cancer, IQ loss, and more? Fact-checking Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s claims Health | US towns plunge into debates about fluoride in water Clark said she met her insurance deductible after paying for genetic testing, extra ultrasounds, and other services out of her health care flexible spending account. Then she called her OB-GYN’s office and asked for a refund. “I got my spine back,” said Clark, who had previously worked at a health insurer and a medical office. She got an initial check for about half the $960 she originally paid. In August, Clark was sent to the hospital after her blood pressure spiked. A high-risk pregnancy specialist — not her original OB-GYN practice — delivered her son, Peter, prematurely via emergency cesarean section at 30 weeks. It was only after she resolved most of the bills from the delivery that she received the rest of her refund from the other OB-GYN practice. This final check came in October, just days after Clark brought Peter home from the hospital, and after multiple calls to the office. She said it all added stress to an already stressful period. “Why am I having to pay the price as a patient?” she said. “I’m just trying to have a baby.” ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Sir Keir Starmer was speaking at the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) conference in Estonia where he met leaders of other Baltic states. After signing an energy partnership with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store in Bergen, Sir Keir flew to Estonia where he spoke alongside Mr Store and their Estonian counterpart Kristen Michal. Asked what else could be done to support Ukraine, Sir Keir said: “There is an ever-increasing demand for more capability. That is understandable, and Ukraine needs all the capability that it can get, so I think all of us have put in more capability into Ukraine by way of equipment.” He added: “A lot of money has been raised, funding has been raised, but more is going to be needed.” The Prime Minister’s also discussed making the economic case at home for continued support for Ukraine. Sir Keir said: “Making the case on the significance of Ukraine, making the case, to double down, linking it back to each of our countries – what does it mean for us if Russia succeeds, is a really important question that we have to answer with our people to make it clear why it is that we are so supportive of Ukraine, why it is that we must stand with our allies on this, why it is we must make sure that Nato is put in the strongest position as well. “Now, this is a different world to the world of 10, 20 years ago, to recognise the world that we are living in, there’s a positive case as well to be made. “Defence spending doesn’t sort of sit in a silo over here with no effect on the rest of the economy, no effect on technology. “It has a huge effect on technologies, the cutting edge of technology and change which can then be used in other areas. “It binds countries together. I think all of us have got joint projects on in terms of defence capabilities that bind us together. There’s a huge number of well-paid jobs that are very important to our economy in defence spending as well. “But we have to make that positive case. I don’t personally feel that we can sort of sit back and assume that all of those in our respective countries necessarily accept all of our arguments unless we make them in that positive way, which I do think the argument can and should and must be made. “But the challenge that you put to us is the right challenge, which is it’s very difficult when finances are tight, as they are in all of our countries.” On Tuesday morning the Prime Minister will meet Taavi Madiberk, the founder of Estonian tech start-up manufacturing low-cost air defence missiles, Frankenburg Technologies, which is planning to open a new office in London Specialising in the manufacture of the missiles, the rapidly growing company already collaborates closely with the UK defence industry, sourcing a significant portion of its subsystems locally, including from propulsion specialists Roxel in Worcestershire. The Prime Minister will again attend the JEF summit, joining leaders from the Nordics and Baltics to discuss support for Ukraine, the sustained threat posed by Russia and wider European security. He will then visit British forces serving in the region to deter malign Russian threats.I’m A Celeb fans call episode ‘most emotional ever’ and a ‘hard watch’ as campmates and viewers break down in tears

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Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 dev apologizes for 'what can only be described as an awful launch experience'( MENAFN - PR Newswire) SAO PAULO, Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Trinasolar, a global leader in smart energy solutions, has partnered with Centro Universitário Facens, based in Sorocaba (São Paulo), with the goal of providing training for project development and solar plant construction and assembly companies, while fostering innovation and the development of academic research. Starting in 2025, this initiative will provide a high-level training center for the market and university students, teaching best practices from the conceptual phase of project development to the installation and commissioning of its equipment. According to Felipe Tukamoto, Product Manager for TrinaTracker across Latin America, "the installation of the photovoltaic system on the university campus provides a unique opportunity for the development of advanced studies on the energy efficiency of solar modules, performance curves, and increased energy generation using smart solar tracking system." Additionally, another key aspect of this initiative is to share with the market best practices for enhancing the reliability of equipment installations. This includes step-by-step guidance on ensuring compatibility between components, proper installation according to product manuals, and reducing project implementation costs through correct procedures. "Being close to São Paulo provides us with a strategic location to offer training in a more accessible way, effectively connecting the solar market with the academic sector in a more efficient and dynamic manner. This proximity strengthens the integration between industry and research, creating a fertile environment for innovation and the development of technological solutions," adds Felipe. This collaboration also aims to significantly contribute to skill development in the solar sector, training specialized professionals capable of meeting the growing demands of the renewable energy market. The project seeks to empower students and professionals in critical areas such as solar project design and development, photovoltaic system installation and maintenance, and the application of advanced technologies like intelligent algorithms and monitoring tools. In addition to implementing the state-of-the-art photovoltaic solution, a practical classroom will be established, equipped with advanced devices for demonstrations. This infrastructure will be dedicated to training installation technicians and providing employee development programs, reinforcing Trinasolar's commitment to advancing technical education and promoting innovation in the energy sector. SOURCE Trina Solar Co., Ltd MENAFN16122024003732001241ID1109000071 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers praised Cameron Carter-Vickers and his side’s mentality after they dug out a Champions League point following the defender’s disastrous own goal against Club Brugge. The normally reliable centre-back passed the ball into his own net in the 26th minute after failing to spot goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel’s positioning. But a brilliant turn and finish on the hour mark from Daizen Maeda changed the game and ultimately earned the Scottish champions a 1-1 home draw. On the opener, Rodgers said: “Mistakes happen and it was just unfortunate. He’s played that pass a million times and it’s gone back and then we’ve been able to play forward. It was just one of those unfortunate moments in the game that happens. “But he’s a really, really tough character. He’s a great guy, he picked himself up. He was really strong and aggressive again in the game and got on with it and had a real bravery in the second half, because he was the one carrying the ball forward for us to start the attack.” Despite the gift, Brugge were worthy of their lead and Rodgers admitted his side were too passive in their pressing in the opening half. Some tactical tweaks – and the introduction of Paulo Bernardo – helped Celtic dominate after Maeda’s equaliser, although Brugge had a goal disallowed for a marginal offside. “I can only credit the players for the second half, because we had to fight,” Rodgers said. “And we’re still one of those teams that’s really pushing to try and make a mark at this level. So to make the comeback, score the goal, play with that courage, I was so pleased. “You want to win but I’ve been here enough times to have lost a game like that, but we didn’t. We showed a real strong mentality and we kept pushing right to the very end and the players did well. “I thought they showed great courage in the second half because we weren’t at our level in the first half. Sometimes a game like that can get away from you, but it didn’t. “We stayed with it, showed that determination, showed that mentality, never to quit, to keep going. And then we were much, much better, much freer in the second half. “So we’re on eight points, nine to play for. We’re still very much on course to get to where we want to get to and still three games to go.” Rodgers added: “It’s 20 games now and we’ve won 16 and drawn three and lost one, so it shows you the mentality is there, and especially at this level, you need to have that.”

Looking to burnish communications to the community, the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) is planning to move ahead with the creation of a dedicated smartphone app. “I think it’s a step in the right direction because now instead of relying on mailouts, we’re using the technology that’s already in our members’ hands and communicating with them that way,” said MCK chief Amy Beauvais. The app will be used by all MCK departments to deliver updates, job opportunities, and other information pertinent to band members, but it will not replace existing forms of communication, Beauvais said. “A large majority of our members have smartphones, but that isn’t to say we’re going to obliterate the other forms of communication,” she said. “We’re not trying to get rid of anything. We’re just trying to add and improve.” Beauvais presented the option to other Council chiefs after she was approached with the concept by technology company Communikit, which specializes in creating app solutions for First Nations. “I would say I was ecstatic when I found out,” said Beauvais, who has been looking for ways to boost Council’s outreach following her experience at the Indigenous-led First Nations Executive Education (FNEE) program at HEC Montreal. At the school, she worked on a project that envisioned a communications department at the MCK. It’s something she’s now working to put into action, she said, alongside the MCK’s new administrative consultant. Improving communications is a priority, she said, because community members have often complained they don’t know what Council is doing. Communikit’s technology is already being used by other First Nations, including Six Nations of the Grand River, which issues announcements and other information on the app. The suite of features even allows for forms to be filled out, although Six Nations doesn’t currently have any available. “I think to have a one-stop shop is great,” said Six Nations of the Grand River public relations coordinator Darryl Smart. “There are so many different platforms out there and so many ways to get the message out. If you can spread that message to as many people as possible, I think that’s the big one.” He said in his community, too, paper is not going anywhere. He remembers the department pounding the pavement this summer to deliver parking information ahead of homegrown Kanien’kehá:ka National Hockey League star Brandon Montour coming to town with the Stanley Cup. “Physical information will never go away because if you’re in communications, you also have to realize it’s nice to have the tools, but you also have to realize not everyone has these tools,” Smart said. Even social media cannot reach everyone, he noted, especially with the fragmentation of platforms. The communications app is not the only new technology coming soon to Kanesatake, with MCK chief Brant Etienne revealing to The Pines Reporter earlier this year that Council has contracted the services of OneFeather to provide an online voting option in the next MCK election. The Eastern Door Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 10, 2024-- UBS AG announced today the per-security amounts payable (collectively, the “Call Settlement Amounts”) for the below seven UBS-issued exchange traded notes set forth in the following table (collectively, the “ETNs”). Table-1 ETN Ticker ETN Name and Prospectus Supplement [1] Call Settlement Amount CUSIP Call Settlement Date DJCB ETRACS Bloomberg Commodity Index Total ReturnSM ETN Series B due October 31, 2039 [2] $20.8636 90269A450 12/12/2024 WUCT ETRACS Whitney US Critical Technologies ETN due March 13, 2053 $36.2753 90278V222 12/12/2024 AMNA ETRACS Alerian Midstream Energy Index ETN due June 21, 2050 [3] $53.5830 90269A351 12/12/2024 AMND ETRACS Alerian Midstream Energy High Dividend Index ETN due July 19, 2050 [3] $53.5415 90269A252 12/12/2024 AMTR ETRACS Alerian Midstream Energy Total Return Index ETN due October 20, 2050 [3] $76.6566 90269A245 12/12/2024 ESUS ETRACS 2x Leveraged MSCI USA ESG Focus TR ETN due September 15, 2061 [4] $36.1178 90278V743 12/12/2024 FEDL ETRACS 2x Leveraged IFED Invest with the FED TR Index ETN due September 15, 2061 [4] $55.6842 90278V750 12/12/2024 [1] The table above provides a hyperlink to the relevant prospectus and supplements thereto for each of the ETNs, which are identified by their names. Each of the above ETNs are part of the UBS AG’s Medium Term Notes, Series B, on which UBS AG is sole obligor. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this press release shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the relevant prospectus supplement (including, as applicable, any product supplement and pricing supplement (each such supplement, a “prospectus supplement”)) for the ETNs. The Call Settlement Amount in this table refers to the Redemption Amount as defined in the securities represented by DJCB. [2] The prospectus addendum with a link to the updated base prospectus and the changes to the section entitled “Early Redemption” on page S-3 of the prospectus supplement can be accessed here . [3] The prospectus addendum with a link to the updated base prospectus can be accessed here . [4] The prospectus addendum with a link to the updated base prospectus can be accessed here. On November 20, 2024, UBS AG announced the redemption of the ETNs. 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NoneSAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nutanix, Inc. ("Nutanix") NTNX , a leader in hybrid multicloud computing, today announced its intention to offer, subject to market conditions and other factors, $750 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2029 (the "notes") in a private placement (the "offering") to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Nutanix also expects to grant the initial purchasers of the notes an option to purchase up to an additional $112.5 million aggregate principal amount of the notes within a 13-day period from, and including, the initial issuance date of the notes. The notes will be unsecured senior obligations of Nutanix. Interest will be payable semi-annually in arrears. The notes will mature on December 15, 2029, unless earlier converted, redeemed, or repurchased. The notes will be convertible at the option of holders, subject to certain conditions and during certain periods. Upon conversion, the notes may be settled in cash, shares of Nutanix's Class A common stock or a combination of cash and shares of Nutanix's Class A common stock, at Nutanix's election. The interest rate, initial conversion rate and other terms of the notes are to be determined at the time of the pricing of the offering. Nutanix intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to (i) repurchase a portion of its outstanding 0.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (the "2027 notes") concurrently with the pricing of the offering in separate and privately negotiated transactions with certain holders of its 2027 notes (the "concurrent note repurchases") effected through one of the initial purchasers of the notes or its affiliate, acting as Nutanix's agent, and (ii) repurchase up to $200.0 million of shares of Nutanix's Class A common stock in privately negotiated transactions with institutional investors effected through one of the initial purchasers of the notes or its affiliate, acting as Nutanix's agent, at a price per share equal to the last reported sale price of Nutanix's Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on the date of the pricing of the notes (the "Share Repurchase"). Any such Share Repurchase would not reduce the amount available for future repurchases under Nutanix's existing share repurchase program. Nutanix intends to use the remaining net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital, capital expenditures and potential acquisitions. From time to time, Nutanix evaluates potential acquisitions of businesses, technologies or products. Currently, however, Nutanix does not have any understandings or agreements with respect to any acquisitions. The terms of the concurrent note repurchases are anticipated to be individually negotiated with each holder of the 2027 notes participating in the concurrent note repurchases, and will depend on several factors, including the market price of Nutanix's Class A common stock and the trading price of the 2027 notes at the time of each such concurrent note repurchase. Certain holders of any 2027 notes that Nutanix agrees to repurchase may have hedged their equity price risk with respect to such 2027 notes and may, concurrently with the pricing of the notes, unwind all or part of their hedge positions by buying Nutanix's Class A common stock and/or entering into or unwinding various derivative transactions with respect to Nutanix's Class A common stock. Any repurchase of the 2027 notes, and the potential related market activities by holders of the 2027 notes participating in the concurrent note repurchases, together with the repurchase by Nutanix of any of its Class A common stock concurrently with the pricing of the notes, could increase (or reduce the size of any decrease in) the market price of Nutanix's Class A common stock, which may affect the trading price of the notes at that time and the initial conversion price of the notes. Nutanix cannot predict the magnitude of such market activity or the overall effect it will have on the price of the notes or its Class A common stock. No assurance can be given as to how much, if any, of the 2027 notes or the Class A common stock will be repurchased or the terms on which they will be repurchased. Neither the notes nor the shares of Nutanix's Class A common stock potentially issuable upon conversion of the notes, if any, have been, or will be, registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction, and unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, such registration requirements. This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation, or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale is unlawful. About Nutanix Nutanix is a global leader in cloud software, offering organizations a single platform for running applications and managing data, anywhere. With Nutanix, companies can reduce complexity and simplify operations, freeing them to focus on their business outcomes. Building on its legacy as the pioneer of hyperconverged infrastructure, Nutanix is trusted by companies worldwide to power hybrid multicloud environments consistently, simply, and cost-effectively. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding Nutanix's financing plans, Nutanix's ability to complete the offering, the timing and size of the offering, the concurrent note repurchases and the Share Repurchase, Nutanix's intended use of the net proceeds of the offering. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to, whether Nutanix will be able to consummate the offering, the final terms of the offering, the satisfaction of customary closing conditions with respect to the offering of the notes, prevailing market conditions, the anticipated use of the net proceeds of the offering of the notes, which could change as a result of market conditions or for other reasons, and the impact of general economic, industry or political conditions in the United States or internationally. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of the words "may," "will," "expect," "intend," and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions by Nutanix's management that, although believed to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain and subject to a number of risks. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated or predicted by Nutanix's forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to other risks detailed in Nutanix's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024, and the risks discussed in Nutanix's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Nutanix undertakes no obligation to revise or update this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by applicable law. © 2024 Nutanix, Inc. All rights reserved. Nutanix, the Nutanix logo, and all Nutanix product and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or unregistered trademarks of Nutanix, Inc. ("Nutanix") in the United States and other countries. Other brand names or marks mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder(s). This press release is for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes a warranty or other binding commitment by Nutanix. Investor Contact: Richard Valera ir@nutanix.com Media Contact: Lia Bigano pr@nutanix.com © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.In their final fixture of 2024, Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game midway through the opening period. Arsenal’s victory takes them back to within six points of leaders Liverpool, having played one match more than the Reds, and a point clear of Chelsea following their Boxing Day defeat to Fulham. Ipswich, although much improved in the second half, have now lost five of their last six games, and remain just one place off the bottom of the table, three points away from safety. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/hDd5bkHwXr — Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 27, 2024 Mikel Arteta’s men have been rocked by Bukayo Saka’s hamstring injury which could keep the England winger, who has nine goals and 13 assists this season, out of action for the next two months. Gabriel Martinelli was handed the unenviable task of filling Saka’s shoes on Arsenal’s right-hand side and the Brazilian was involved in the only goal of the evening. The Ipswich defence failed to deal with Martinelli’s cross, with the ball falling to Leandro Trossard on the opposite side of the area. Trossard fought his way to the byline before fizzing his cross into the box for Havertz to convert from a matter of yards. It was Havertz’s third goal in four matches, his 12th of the season, and no less than the hosts, who at that stage of the match had enjoyed a staggering 91.4 per cent of the possession, deserved. Heading into Friday’s fixture, Arsenal had lost only one of their last 75 Premier League games when they had opened the scoring, and their triumph here rarely looked in doubt following Havertz’s strike. Three points that take Arsenal into second 🪜 #ARSIPS pic.twitter.com/Dx3s6XlwQ2 — Premier League (@premierleague) December 27, 2024 Havertz thought he had doubled Arsenal’s lead with 34 minutes gone when he converted Gabriel Jesus’ cross. But Jesus – handed his third successive start for the first time in a year – strayed into an offside position in the build-up. When referee Darren England blew for half-time, Ipswich had failed to touch the ball in Arsenal’s box, becoming just the second side to do so in the Premier League this season. Nottingham Forest were the other, away at Liverpool, before they went on to inflict Arne Slot’s sole defeat of his tenure so far. And for all of Arsenal’s possession, while they held just a one-goal advantage, Ipswich knew they were still in the game. An encouraging start to the second half for the Tractor Boys ensued, albeit without testing David Raya in the Arsenal goal. Shortly after the hour mark, Gabriel should have settled any growing Emirates nerves when he arrived unmarked to Declan Rice’s corner, but the defender headed wide of Arijanet Muric’s post when it looked easier to score. Just over an hour on the clock. #ARSIPS pic.twitter.com/JXNipX1J1Z — IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) December 27, 2024 Martin Odegaard then forced a fine fingertip save from Muric at his near post after a mazy run and shot from the Arsenal skipper. Rice’s stinging goal-bound volley from the following corner was blocked by Dara O’Shea as Arsenal pushed for a game-killing second. Havertz should have tapped home Trossard’s header but he fluffed his lines. And moments later, substitute Mikel Merino’s effort was diverted from danger by a diving Muric. Ipswich looked to catch Arsenal on the counter, but the match ended without them registering a single effort on Raya’s goal. Ipswich fans goaded their opponents with chants of “boring, boring Arsenal”, but it was the Gunners who enjoyed the last laugh as they saw out 2024 with a win which keeps the pressure on Liverpool.

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888 bet login World number one Jannik Sinner triumphed in singles and doubles to help Davis Cup holders Italy beat Argentina 2-1 on Thursday to reach the semi-finals. Italy will face Australia after they earlier defeated record 32-time winners the United States with a tense 2-1 victory. Sinner won his first two Grand Slams this season, as well as triumphing at the ATP Finals last week without dropping a set, and blew Sebastian Baez away 6-2, 6-1 after Francisco Cerundolo comfortably beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-1 in the opening rubber. In the decisive doubles battle, Sinner and Matteo Berrettini shaded Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez 6-4, 7-5 to progress. “If they put me on the court in doubles I try my best,” said Sinner. “Matteo played unbelievable today, he carried me.” Italy booked a third consecutive return to the semi-finals and are favourites to win the Davis Cup for a second year running, in no small part because of Sinner’s presence. The 23-year-old is still waiting for the outcome of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s appeal against his initial exoneration for twice testing positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March. Sinner beat Novak Djokovic in singles and doubles in last year’s semi-finals on the way to helping Italy end a 47-year wait to lift the trophy again. “I didn’t have time to adapt to this court (after the ATP Finals) so I’m very happy with how I handled the situation today,” Sinner told reporters. “It was a very good doubles (pairing), he played unbelievable, I tried to stay there (with Berrettini), he also gave me a lot of confidence to play.” The doubles teams were tied until the ninth game of the first set when Sinner won three points and then Molteni clipped his passing shot which was heading wide to hand Italy the decisive solitary break. The second set was even tighter with Italy breaking for a 6-5 lead and sealing their victory with a Sinner smash. Berrettini more than held his own alongside Sinner. “When you’re playing with Jannik the pressure is off a little bit, he’s going to play great,” said the world number 35. Argentina’s captain Guillermo Coria said he was pleased with his team taking Italy to the wire. “It speaks of the respect Italy have for us, and my doubles pairing, that they put the world number one out there,” he said. “We were close to taking out a powerful team like Italy.” Australia’s match-up with the USA was the most played in Davis Cup history with this their 48th meeting — the first was in 1905. In the opening rubber, Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis edged Ben Shelton 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (16/14) with a gripping tie-break triumph. Taylor Fritz pulled the US level in the tie by beating Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4 before Matthew Ebden and Jordan Thompson scored a 6-4, 6-4 win over Shelton and Tommy Paul. Australia, who have lifted the trophy 28 times, second only to the USA, last won the tournament in 2003 and finished as runners-up in the last two editions.Ultimately, smart sworn companions represent a new standard of NPC design that prioritizes quality over quantity, relevance over repetition, and authenticity over artificiality. By integrating these intelligent and empathetic virtual companions into games, developers can create more immersive, enjoyable, and memorable gaming experiences for players around the world.

The incident came to light when fellow passengers noticed the mother and daughter behaving suspiciously on the train. Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the pair was in possession of a knife, which raised alarm among the other passengers. The train staff were alerted, and the matter was promptly reported to the authorities for further investigation.

Want a Copilot+ laptop? Get the Asus Vivobook S 14 while it’s $300 offIn light of the diverse opinions and concerns surrounding the proposal to exempt land value-added tax for the sale of ordinary residential properties in Henan Province, it is crucial for policymakers to carefully consider the potential implications of this policy change. Public feedback and input from various stakeholders will be vital in shaping the final decision on whether to proceed with the tax exemption.

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In conclusion, the latest developments in the technology and automotive sectors underscore the complexities and challenges that companies face in a rapidly evolving business environment. As companies like NVIDIA, Bai Chuan Intelligent, and Xiaomi navigate regulatory scrutiny, internal challenges, and external competition, they must prioritize transparency, integrity, and innovation to sustain their market position and reputation. The outcomes of these ongoing investigations and product launches will undoubtedly shape the future trajectory of these companies and their impact on the global marketplace.

As the media highlights the end of the "lying flat era" for savings, there is a growing recognition of the need to strike a balance between living in the moment and planning for the future. While it is important to prioritize personal well-being and happiness, it is equally crucial to ensure that we are financially prepared for any unforeseen circumstances or emergencies. By embracing rational consumption and tightening our pockets, we can create a more sustainable and secure financial future for ourselves.Government Spending Shock: US Budget Deficit Soars In Worst Start To Year On Record

US President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by January 19 while the government emphasised its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk. “President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the court consider staying the Act’s deadline for divestment of January 19 2025, while it considers the merits of this case,” said Mr Trump’s amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case. The filings come ahead of oral arguments scheduled for January 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. Earlier this month, a panel of three federal judges on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the statute, leading TikTok to appeal to the Supreme Court. The brief from Mr Trump said he opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office”.bet999 fun 。

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Sunday that the U.S. government believes missing American journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared 12 years ago near the Syrian capital, is alive and that Washington is committed to bringing him home after Bashar Assad’s ouster from power in Damascus . “We think we can get him back," Biden told reporters at the White House, while acknowledging that “we have no direct evidence” of his status. "Assad should be held accountable.” Biden said officials must still identify exactly where Tice is after his disappearance in August 2012 at a checkpoint in a contested area west of Damascus. “We've remained committed to returning him to his family,” he said. Tice, who is from Houston and whose work had been published by The Washington Post, McClatchy newspapers and other outlets. A video released weeks after Tice went missing showed him blindfolded and held by armed men and saying, “Oh, Jesus.” He has not been heard from since. Syria has publicly denied that it was holding him. The United States has no new evidence that Tice is alive, but continues to operate under the assumption he is alive, according to a U.S. official. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the U.S. will continue to work to identify where he is and to try to bring him home. His mother, Debra, said at a news conference Friday in Washington that the family had information from a “significant source,” whom she did not identify, establishing that her son was alive. “He is being cared for and he is well — we do know that,” she said. The Tice family met this past week with officials at the State Department and the White House. “To everyone in Syria that hears this, please remind people that we’re waiting for Austin,” Debra Tice said in comments that hostage advocacy groups spread on social media Sunday. “We know that when he comes out, he’s going to be fairly dazed & he’s going to need lots of care & direction. Direct him to his family please!”A voting machine firm suing Fox News now wants to probe Murdoch family trust fightA voting machine firm suing Fox News now wants to probe Murdoch family trust fight

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Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes office