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BROOKLYN, N.Y. , Dec. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This New Year's Eve, elevate your celebrations with the world's most luxurious cookie cake: The Dank Decadence Cookie Cake , by Laced Bakes , the innovative infusion bakery redefining indulgence. Designed for the adventurous palate, this decadent treat pairs rich chocolate flavors with customizable terpenes, offering a curated experience to elevate your mood, focus, or relaxation. Available in 250mg ($145) , 500mg ($275) , and 1000mg ($550) doses, the Dank Decadence Cookie Cake is crafted for enthusiasts who demand both flavor and function. Unlike overpriced and underwhelming competitors, this cookie cake doesn't just sit pretty—it delivers tangible effects tailored to you. Customize Your Experience: Sativa (Limonene): Uplifting and energizing for creativity and focus. Hybrid (Pinene): Balanced clarity for smooth energy. Indica (Myrcene): Relaxing and stress-relieving. Hybrid (Beta-Caryophyllene): Eases discomfort while calming. Indica (Linalool): Soothing tranquility for unwinding. "Why settle for empty luxury when you can have indulgence that actually does something?" says Crystal Grant , founder of Laced Bakes. "We wanted to create a cookie that doesn't just taste amazing but elevates your entire experience—whether it's a party or a quiet night in." Pre-Order Now: Pick up your Dank Decadence Cookie Cake on December 30th and 31st to kickstart your New Year's celebration on the perfect high note. Quantities are limited—don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind treat. Coming Soon: Stay tuned for the grand opening of Laced Bakes' members-only lounge in Brooklyn , offering exclusive events, infused menu items, and a community space for food and cannabis enthusiasts alike. For more details, visit www.lacedbakes.com or follow us on social media: Instagram: @laced.bakes | TikTok: @lacedbakes | Facebook: Laced Bakes | X: @lacedbakes | Discord: @lacedbakes Elevate your indulgence with Laced Bakes. Contact: Crystal Grant , Founder of Laced Bakes, press@lacedbakes.com Location : 1096 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11221 Website : www.LacedBakes.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/laced-bakes-launches-the-dank-decadence-cookie-cake-the-ultimate-luxury-treat-that-delivers-302339021.html SOURCE Laced Bakes
The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to get back into the win-column on Christmas Day as they be will hosting the Kansas City Chiefs. This certainly won't be an easy game as Pittsburgh will look to be just the second team during the 2024 season to take down the back-to-back Super Bowl champions. The Steelers desperately need a win after losing two games in a row, and if the organization still has hopes for winning the AFC North, the Steelers will need to find a way to win their final two games of the regular season, and that starts with Kansas City. The Chiefs are clearly one of the best teams in the NFL, although they haven't been dominating teams in 2024. Most of the Chiefs' wins have come in tight, one-score games that are usually decided near the end of the contest. Many NFL fans have accused the NFL of helping the Chiefs win some of these close games. The team has certainly gotten some favorable calls from the officials throughout the year. The person that will be in charge of the officiating at Acrisure Stadium on Wednesday is Craig Wrolstad, and his crew has shown some trends in how they call games. Wrolstad and his crew have not officiated a game involving either the Chiefs or the Steelers during the 2024 season, but the crew still has some tendencies. Aside from pre-snap penalties, the crew is a bit trigger-happy when it comes to throwing the flag for offensive holding. They have thrown the flag for offensive holding 35 times during the 2024 season. For context, their next closest penalty type has only been called on 19 occasions. This is obviously bad news for second-year tackle Broderick Jones , who has had his fair share of issues with being penalized during the 2024 season. Jones is the second-most penalized player on the Steelers, and he is by far the most penalized offensive lineman. He has been called for holding five times , while no other offensive lineman on the Steelers has more than four penalties total. There was a time when it looked like Jones' future in Pittsburgh may have been a little rocky. Rookie tackle Troy Fautanu took Jones' starting job in Week 2 and played well. Fautanu went down with a knee injury during practice the following week, and Jones has been back as the starter ever since. During that Week 2 game started by Fautanu, Jones took his place for one possession and single-handedly killed all of Pittsburgh's momentum. Jones had three penalties on one possession, two holding calls and one false start, and these penalties killed what should have been a scoring drive. He was also called twice for holding later in the year against the Baltimore Ravens. For the most part, Jones has been solid at right tackle as of late, and hopefully that continues on Wednesday. Pittsburgh won't be able to afford to lose much yardage due to penalties. Steelers Should Benefit From Officiating Tendencies On The Other Side Of The Ball While this officiating crew having an affinity for holding calls may hurt the Steelers' offense, it should help the Pittsburgh defense. Pittsburgh's edge-rushing group is arguably the best in the league, and TJ Watt , Alex Highsmith , Nick Herbig , and Preston Smith will all have the ability to draw some penalties. In addition to the edge rushers for the Steelers being elite, the Chiefs have some issues at both tackle spots. Starting right tackle Jawaan Taylor is questionable to play, and starting left tackle DJ Humphries has already been ruled out of the game. Pittsburgh will likely be squaring off against a backup right tackle and Joe Thuney, a natural guard, at left tackle. Are you worried about the officiating on Christmas Day? This article first appeared on SteelerNation.com and was syndicated with permission.Mongolia’s Parliament Chair on 100 Years of Constitutional Democracy
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LWMC holds Hajj balloting LAHORE : The Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC), as part of the Hajj policy launched in 2023, conducted its second annual electronic balloting at head office, Shaheen Complex on Saturday. LWMC Chief Executive Officer Babar Sahib Din announced the names of three lucky winners during the ceremony. Senior Manager Accounts Naveed Latif was selected from the head office staff, while two sanitation workers Abdul Rehman from Data Ganj Bakhsh Town and Salman Yousaf from Ravi Town were also chosen. CEO Babar Sahib Din emphasised the company's commitment to its employees, stating, "Our workers are our heroes, and we are taking all possible steps for their welfare." Under the Hajj policy, one officer and two workers are chosen annually through a draw to perform Hajj. The Hajj balloting ceremony was organised by GM HR Maj Altaf Ahmed and attended by departmental heads, union representatives and LWMC staff. The other welfare measures taken by the company include providing social security cards to over 10,000 workers, ensuring burial expenses for deceased workers, financial assistance in case of accidents, and offering technical training courses to the children of 100 workers.CHICAGO, Dec. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mondelēz International (Nasdaq: MDLZ) has entered a strategic partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to enhance digital innovation across the company. Mondelēz has designated AWS as its strategic cloud provider and has already migrated hundreds of workloads. Leveraging AWS’s industry leading cloud infrastructure and services, Mondelēz will achieve greater security, agility, and reliability for its operations including migrating its ERP landscape to SAP RISE powered by AWS. “A key focus of our growth strategy is our digital transformation,” said Kostas Georgakopoulos, Chief Technology Officer, and Chief Information Security Officer at Mondelēz. “AWS is a strategic partner complementing our own internal Cloud Platform Engineering capabilities to lead digital transformation across the Enterprise.” Key elements of the new partnership include: Enabling growth: Improves agility and cost efficiency, while advancing sustainability through AWS’s focus on renewable energy and energy efficient data centers. Accelerating ERP and digital transformation: Migrates on-premises SAP systems to SAP RISE on AWS to deliver improved performance, reliability, resiliency, security, and AI capabilities for Mondelēz business systems and insights. Enabling cutting-edge technology: Underscores Mondelēz’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance its internal platform engineering capabilities. AWS’s suite of cloud services aligns seamlessly with Mondelēz’s focus on automation, security, resiliency, and agility—key pillars in achieving the company’s strategic goals. “Mondelēz has a clear vision of how the cloud, AI, and systems like SAP RISE can fuel its growth, and it is truly impressive to see the company execute on that vision,” said Rich Geraffo, Vice President, AWS North America. “Our team is proud to have worked closely with their organization to implement the architecture, applications, and services that will serve as a foundation for continued innovation across their company.” About Mondelēz International Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) empowers people to snack right in over 150 countries around the world. With 2023 net revenues of approximately $36 billion, MDLZ is leading the future of snacking with iconic global and local brands such as OREO, RITZ, LU, CLIF BAR and TATE'S BAKE SHOP biscuits and baked snacks, as well as CADBURY DAIRY MILK, MILKA and TOBLERONE chocolate. Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Standard and Poor's 500, Nasdaq 100 and Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Visit www.mondelezinternational.com or follow the company on X at www.x.com/MDLZ .
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Please enable JavaScript to read this content. After several false starts, Raila Odinga’s ODM Party faces a litmus test today as it conducts its grassroots elections . The polls come amid reports of factional wars in its strongholds of Coast, Western and Nyanza regions. Election officials yesterday assured members that the exercise would be free from chaos, which forced the party to shelve past polls including the infamous 2014 exercise at the Kasarani Stadium. “Party members are requested to be at polling centres where they registered as by 10am. They will be taken through the process of elections by the presiding officer,” said Director of Communications Philip Etale. Positions to be contested include 10 members in the mainstream category, 10 in women category and another 10 in the youth category. But the party has urged voters to also consider persons with disabilities and the marginalised. Under the elections rules, leaders can be picked through consensus or by show of hands. “This means that registered party members assembled at the polling centre, in the event the method of consensus fails, will be allowed to take a vote by show of hands and this will be counted and tabulated,” said Etale. Only the party's registered members will be allowed to participate. Mombasa electoral officials, Brian Omondi and Charles Rambo, dismissed claims that the polls in the area had been predetermined. “We are going to conduct free and fair elections and we are urging ODM members to turn up in their numbers,” they said at the Little Theatre Club. Party members Odinga Randiki and Betty Sharon had warned that the polls were pre-rigged in favour of sitting officials. “We demand that the three election coordinators are removed even in the 11th hour to ensure fair and inclusive grassroots. They are proxies of elected politicians in this county,” Randiki said. ODM officials were addressing journalists in Homa Bay town on November 26, 2024. ODM officials in Homa Bay County have called for peace during the party grass root officials’ election which kicks off today. [James Omoro, Standard] In Kisumu, acting Party Leader Anyang’ Nyong’o urged members to come out in large numbers. Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletter “Let’s not forget about tomorrow as the members of the ODM party. Let’s come out in large numbers and participate in electing our grassroots officials.” said Prof Nyong’o in Kondele and Kisumu Bus Park when he accompanied President William Ruto. Kisumu branch chairman, Paul Akeyo, said all preparations have been put in place. “We gave notices to the police to help with security at the schools where these elections are to be done.” Similarly, Nairobi party chairperson, George Aladwa, met delegates and called for a free and fair exercise, even as he warned individuals he termed as outsiders being used to tamper with the polls. “We do not want people to come and interfere with our party elections. Those given the mandate to be in charge of the elections must ensure it is above board,” he said. The exercise will be held in over 20,000 polling centres, and is planned to close by 2pm. Elsewhere in Kilifi, the polls have split party members with some officials accused of trying to influence the outcome. In Rabai, some complained of a plot to impose leaders, and cautioned Governor Gideon Mung’aro not to interfere. Yesterday, Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi met Bungoma and Vihiga coordinating committees and branch chairpersons.
NoneCLAYTON — St. Louis County Clerk Diann Valenti tried to make it look like a staffer, hired in violation of a state ban on nepotism, was just a volunteer and not an employee, according to charges made public on Tuesday. Prosecutors accused Valenti of modifying personnel records and falsely stating Councilman Dennis Hancock’s stepdaughter, Hollie Galati, was only a volunteer. She didn’t act alone and did so “with the purpose to defraud,” county prosecutors alleged in charges. But after St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell resigns on Jan. 2, the county will have a new top prosecutor. Valenti’s lawyer said the case won’t go anywhere under Bell’s replacement. “Any normal prosecutor will dismiss this case,” said Joe Hogan, who represents the clerk. Valenti was just doing her job, he added. After Hancock and Galati realized her employment by Hancock was not allowed under Missouri law, Galati said she didn’t want to be paid for the few days she worked at the county as the councilman’s legislative assistant. Valenti tried to adjust personnel records to reflect the change. “These were people doing their daily jobs,” Hogan said. “Who did she defraud?” The indictment was kept under seal until Valenti was served a summons, with the charges, on Tuesday, Hogan said. Now, it’s public, and the case will appear in court records as soon as clerks can file it, he said. The Christmas holiday could delay the filing. A hearing is set for Jan. 15. Hogan said he’ll file a motion to dismiss the case. Valenti also works as the administrative director for the County Council, and its members vigorously defended her against an effort they said was coordinated by County Executive Sam Page. Council Chair Shalonda Webb, a Democrat from north St. Louis County, also accused the prosecuting attorney of unfairly targeting Valenti. “Sam Page is not acting alone,” Webb said at a special council meeting Friday morning. “Wesley Bell, someone I had come to trust, and the people of our community depended on, has found himself as a willing accomplice.” On Friday, Bell’s spokesman, Chris King, issued a statement on behalf of the prosecuting attorney: “It is disappointing and inappropriate for public officials to make public comments on evidence or matters that they have not seen. Every defendant has a right to their day in court, and anyone charged will have theirs.” On Tuesday, King declined to comment. Also on Tuesday, Page spokesman Doug Moore said, “We don’t comment on sealed indictments. We will let the legal process play out.” Valenti attended Friday’s special council meeting in her regular role. She serves as the custodian of records, reminds councilmembers of procedural rules and generally keeps the meetings on track. She also handles bills and other administrative responsibilities for the council. “She is the jewel of this council staff and should be treated that way,” Webb said. The council introduced legislation to pay for Valenti’s legal fees with taxpayer money. Six out of seven councilmembers, including two Democrats who frequently side with the county executive, supported the bill. Republican Councilman Ernie Trakas abstained because he feels the county shouldn’t pay anyone’s bills in a criminal case. But he said he was still “concerned and incensed” by the case against Valenti. “It has an odor of political gaming to it,” Trakas said. The bill could pass at the council’s next meeting on Jan. 7. On Friday, a judge ruled Gov. Mike Parson gets to pick a replacement for Bell, the county prosecuting attorney. Parson said he’ll pick Melissa Price Smith, who has worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney in the county since 2008. Valenti has worked for the county since 2015, according to her online resume. She started as a legislative assistant to former Councilman Kevin O’Leary and in 2017 began working as the deputy county clerk. She took her current job in August 2019. She has gained a reputation among councilmembers for her precision and consistency. Last year, Valenti won an award from the Missouri Press Association for dutifully filling open records requests. Valenti was indicted by a grand jury this week, and grand jury proceedings are private. When one is convened, the jury listens to evidence from a prosecutor and issues an indictment when its members feel there is enough evidence to charge a defendant. An indictment differs from other cases where prosecutors file the charges. The St. Louis County grand jury issued charges in over two dozen other cases this week.
WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop for the airline. The order, which prevented planes from taking off, was issued at the airline's request. The airline said in an email that the problem was caused by trouble with vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, said the airline told pilots at 7 a.m. Eastern that there was an outage affecting the system known as FOS. It handles different types of airline operations, including dispatch, flight planning, passenger boarding, as well as an airplane's weight and balance data, he said. Some components of FOS have gone down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said. Hours after the ground stop was lifted, Tajer said the union had not heard about any “chaos out there beyond just the normal heavy travel day.” He said officials were watching for any cascading effects, such as staffing problems. Flights were delayed across American's major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Out of the 3,901 domestic and international American Airlines flights scheduled for Tuesday, 19 were canceled. Cirium noted that the vast majority of flights were departing within two hours of their scheduled departure time. A similar percentage — 36% — were arriving at their destinations as scheduled. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 3,712 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed Tuesday, with 55 flights canceled. It did not show any flights from American Airlines. Cirium said Dallas-Fort Worth, New York’s Kennedy Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the greatest number of delays. Washington, Chicago and Miami experienced considerably fewer delays. Amid the travel problems, significant rain and snow were expected in the Pacific Northwest at least into Christmas Day. Showers and thunderstorms were developing in the South. Freezing rain was reported in the Mid-Atlantic region near Baltimore and Washington, and snow fell in New York. Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. And any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have “interline agreements” that let them put stranded customers on another carrier’s flights. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers an automatic cash refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. That’s because finding a last-minute flight on another airline tends to be expensive. An American spokesperson said Tuesday was not a peak travel day for the airline — with about 2,000 fewer flights than the busiest days — so the airline had somewhat of a buffer to manage the delays. The groundings happened as millions of travelers were expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. “Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday,” AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.04 a gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation’s highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. Boston, New York City, Seattle and Washington are the metropolitan areas primed for the greatest delays, according to the company. —— Associated Press writers David Koenig, Mae Anderson and Mike Pesoli contributed to this report.BOCA RATON, Fla. , Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Boca Woods Country Club is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its newly redesigned Woods golf course. This momentous occasion took place on Sunday, December 8th at 12:00 PM , with a celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony marking the culmination of a remarkable $9M transformation that has captivated the attention of golf enthusiasts far and wide. More than 450 Members and distinguished guests from industry and government joined the Club for the ribbon cutting ceremony, cocktails and hors d' oeuvres. Attendees included PGA Junior Club Members standing aside past Club Presidents, sharing a commitment to excellence demonstrated by the investment to fully renovate the Woods Course. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of a lifetime Boca Woods Country Club Membership accepted by Rees Jones . The outcome of this extensive renovation: a formidable championship golf course, meticulously designed by the renowned Rees Jones and delivered through the craftsmanship of LaBar Golf. Stretching to a maximum yardage of 7,043 yards, the course boasts key risk/reward decisions for the experienced golfer while offering better playable options for those less experienced. Some key highlights of the renovation include: " The Woods course is now a true championship layout, playing to a maximum yardage of 7,043 yards." Said Jeff Gullett , Director of Golf. He continued, " Rees Jones has incorporated a combination of green complexes and bunkering that will test every golfer's ability. We are confident that our Members will be delighted with the results." The Woods golf course offers an inspired blend of challenging greens and strategically placed bunkers, promising to test the mettle of even the most seasoned golfers. The harmonious fusion of design elements guarantees a truly exceptional and unforgettable round of golf. What truly distinguishes the Woods course is its serene and secluded setting. Nestled away from the luxury homes that dot the community, the course immerses players in the tranquility of South Florida's nature, offering a respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. " Bryce Swanson and I are pleased that the Woods Course at Boca Woods is reopening on time and on budget. The redesign of the golf course enhances the course's playability, strategy, and variety. The remodeled golf course will provide an enjoyable and thought-provoking experience for the Members and their guests on a continuing basis. It has been a pleasure to work with all involved in this project," said Rees Jones . This renovation is particularly significant due to Boca Woods' unique position in the golfing world. With 36 holes of championship golf and a limited Membership of only 590 golfers, Boca Woods provides an unparalleled level of exclusivity and access. The newly renovated Woods course further solidifies the club's reputation as a golfer's paradise, offering a rare combination of world-class amenities and a close-knit community of passionate enthusiasts. " It is amazing to witness the evolution taking place at this Club." Says David Sweet, General Manager/ COO. He continues, "In the last four years, Members have supported the development of modern amenities: a new Clubhouse with state-of-the-art virtual meeting spaces, a sports and wellness complex that offers 10,000 sq ft of fitness, modern racquet sports facilities including lights for night play, and now this championship course developed in partnership with the best names in the business. Rees has left his mark on Boca Woods, and the Club's future is bright!" Central to the course's allure is the masterful touch of Rees Jones , whose design philosophy seamlessly integrates the natural beauty of the surroundings with the strategic demands of the game. The result is a golfing experience that is both visually captivating and intellectually stimulating. "The Rees Jones' update to our Woods Course is inspirational. Coupled with renovations designed by Kipp Schulties on the Lakes Course, we offer a small community of players a wide range of golfing opportunities. As President of Boca Woods, I am proud of what we accomplished and the time frame we worked within. We listened to our players: men and women, scratch players and weekenders... the result is 36 holes of magnificent golf course architecture that challenges the best and offers playable options for every level. Our demographics say it all (reference the generations photo), and there are tee boxes for every player at every age to enjoy. Boca Woods is setting the standard" said Howard Mittleman , Board President for Boca Woods Country Club. The renovation of the Woods golf course represents a substantial investment in elevating the club's amenities, ensuring Members have exceptional golf experiences. The comprehensive project followed a $14.5M building and facilities renovation. For more information on the new Woods golf course or to inquire about membership opportunities, please visit bocawoodscc.com . The Club foresees many future investments, including the installation of TopTracer (technology owned and used by Top Golf Entertainment Group) on the driving range, sharing information about every shot for Members through fully integrated technology inclusive of ballistics scopes delivering multiple data points for every shot. About Boca Woods Country Club Boca Woods Country Club is an established residential country club community located in Boca Raton, Florida . Membership at Boca Woods offers extraordinary value in a golf community that features two championship golf courses and all the amenities that private country club living has to offer. Boca Woods Country Club is dedicated to providing a residential country club lifestyle featuring a community and club culture characterized by friendliness, civility and respect for its members and staff in an overall setting of refinement and casual elegance. Media Contact: membership@bocawoodscc.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/grand-opening-of-the-rees-jones-woods-golf-course-announced-at-boca-woods-country-club-302334242.html SOURCE Boca Woods Country Club
BREAKING NEWS: Israel, Hezbollah come to terms to pause fightingOverhauls of 'heritage brands' raise the question: How important are our products to our identities?Voting closed on Saturday evening in most polling centres throughout Ghana, bringing to an end the presidential and legislative elections poised to be a litmus test for democracy in a region shaken by extremist violence and coups. The capital, Accra, was almost a ghost town for much of the day. Even vibrant Oxford Street, one of the city’s commercial hubs, saw little activity on the day that Ghanaians went to the polls to elect a new president and 276 legislators. About 18.7 million people are registered to vote in the West African country hit by one of the worst economic crises in a generation. However, the two main candidates offer little hope for change for the nation. Early results were expected late on Saturday. The first official results will be released by Tuesday. A woman casts her ballot at a polling station in Jamestown, Accra (Misper Apawu/AP) It had also been an economic powerhouse, priding itself on its economic development. But in recent years, it has struggled with a profound economic crisis, including surging inflation and a lack of jobs. According to an opinion poll released earlier this year by Afrobarometer, a research group, 82% of Ghanaians feel their country is headed in the wrong direction. Although 12 candidates are running to become Ghana’s next president, Saturday’s election – like previous ones since the return of multiparty politics in 1992 – has emerged as a two-horse race. Vice president Mahamudu Bawumia is the candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party, or NPP, which has struggled to resolve the economic crisis. He faces off against former president John Dramani Mahama, the leader of the main opposition party National Democratic Congress, or NDC. He was voted out in 2016 after failing to deliver on promises for the economy. Opinion polls point at a potential comeback for Mr Mahama. A local research company, Global InfoAnalytics says he is projected to get 52.2% of the vote, followed by Mr Bawumia, with 41.4%.
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Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan has always loved his fans and media. However, the actor is angry with the media for the way they reported his elder son Aryan Khan's arrest in a 'drugs on cruise' case in 2021. Since then SRK has been spotted hiding his face either by wearing a cap or covering his face with a hoodie cap. There have been instances wherein his security has shielded the actor by covering his face with umbrellas. However, during his film promotions, the actor often greets the media. A post shared by Voompla (@voompla) Shah Rukh Khan bumps his head on the jetty ceiling while shielding his face in an oversized hoodie while holding his cute dog On Sunday, Shah Rukh Khan along with his family, Gauri Khan AbRam and Suhana Khan returned to Mumbai from Albaugh. Several videos of SRK, Gauri and Suhana walking towards the jetty have surfaced on social media. A post shared by Voompla (@voompla) In one of the videos, SRK was captured lovingly holding his furry friend, a pet dog, in his arms, as she stepped out of the car and made his way to the jetty. A post shared by Voompla (@voompla) While trying to enter the jetty, Shah Rukh accidentally banged his head on the ceiling due to his face being partially covered by his oversized hoodie Fans trolled SRK for covering his face to the extent that he couldn't even see properly to enter the jetty. While a section of netizens were concerned whether he got injured or not A user wrote, "After all the "protection" of hiding from cameras and being assisted onto the boat, SRK yet hit his head upon entering the boat, where was his protection gear then ?" Who wore what! SRK opted for a black t-shirt with a matching hoodie, and cargo jeans. Meanwhile, AbRam was seen in a blue jersey with white shorts. Gauri Khan looked stylish as ever in a white shirt layered with a bright yellow jacket and black jeans. Shah Rukh Khan's Alibaug farmhouse Two days ago, Suhana Khan and her rumoured boyfriend Agastya Nanda were spotted at the Gateway of India, as they headed to Shah Rukh Khan's lavish Alibaug farmhouse. A post shared by Manav Manglani (@manav.manglani) Why SRK is still hiding his face from the media? tor Shah Rukh Khan has been avoiding the media and paparazzi since 2021. During an interview, one of the paparazzi explained the reason behind the actor's act of dodging the cameras, hiding under umbrellas and not posing at events. Despite making a few rare appearances, he continues to shun the spotlight SRK's son Aryan was arrested in connection with the Mumbai cruise drugs case early in October 2021. It took several court hearings and nearly four weeks for Aryan Khan to be granted bail. Eight months later, the Narcotics Control Bureau gave him a clean chit in the drugs case. 'Is Kartik Aaryan mimicking Akshay Kumar': Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 drops on OTT; fans call it 'waste of time' Mom-to-be Athiya Shetty flaunts baby bump as she heads to watch Ind vs Aus match with Anushka Sharma 'Flirted for fun with Avinash': Kashish answers Salman Khan rudely; Bhai gets angry, says 'Don't be like that with me...'Julia Wick | (TNS) Los Angeles Times As California politicos look ahead to 2025, the biggest question looming is whether Vice President Kamala Harris — a native daughter, battered just weeks ago by presidential election defeat — will enter the 2026 California governor’s race. Related Articles National Politics | Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America National Politics | Trump invites China’s Xi to his inauguration even as he threatens massive tariffs on Beijing National Politics | Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump National Politics | What Americans think about Hegseth, Gabbard and key Trump Cabinet picks AP-NORC poll National Politics | Trump is named Time’s Person of the Year and rings the New York Stock Exchange’s opening bell Harris has yet to give any public indication on her thoughts and those close to her suggest the governorship is not immediately top of mind. But if Harris does ultimately run — and that’s a massive if — her entrée would seismically reshape the already crowded race for California’s highest office. Recent polling suggests Harris would have a major advantage, with 46% of likely voters saying they were somewhat or very likely to support her for governor in 2026, according to a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies survey co-sponsored by The Times. “If Vice President Harris were to choose to run, I am certain that that would have a near field-clearing effect on the Democratic side,” Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, said during a recent UC Irvine panel interview . Porter, a high-profile Democrat who has been eyeing the wide-open governor’s race, has yet to say whether she plans to run. Porter’s point was broadly echoed in conversations with nearly a dozen California political operatives and strategists, several of whom requested anonymity to speak candidly. Most speculated that a Harris entry would cause some other candidates in the race to scatter, creating further upheaval in down-ballot races as a roster of ambitious politicians scramble for other opportunities. “In politics, you always let the big dogs eat first,” quipped Democratic political consultant Peter Ragone. The current gubernatorial field is a who’s who of California politicians, but lacks a clear favorite or star with widespread name recognition. The vast majority of California’s 22 million voters have yet to pay attention to the race and have little familiarity with the candidates. The list of Democratic candidates includes Los Angeles’ first Latino mayor in more than a century ( Antonio Villaraigosa ); the first female and first out LGBTQ leader of the state Senate ( Toni Atkins ); the sitting lieutenant governor and first woman to hold that post ( Eleni Kounalakis ); the state superintendent of public instruction ( Tony Thurmond ) and the former state controller ( Betty Yee ). Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is serving his second term as California governor, meaning he is ineligible to run again. Several other Democrats, including Porter, outgoing Health and Human Services Director Xavier Becerra and state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta have also publicly toyed with the idea of a run. They could be less likely to enter the fray should Harris decide to run. What the billionaire mall mogul Rick Caruso — who has also been exploring a run — would choose to do is an open question, as Caruso might contrast himself with Harris as a more centrist candidate. The real estate developer was a registered Republican until November 2019. It’s unlikely that Harris will proffer a public decision in the immediate term, leaving plenty of time for political insiders to game out hypotheticals in the weeks and months to come. Harris’ office did not respond to a request for comment. “I think every candidate for governor is trying to get some kind of intel,” Mike Trujillo, a Los Angeles-based Democratic political consultant and former Villaraigosa staffer, said of a potential Harris run. Trujillo speculated that Harris’ current state was probably similar to Hillary Clinton’s hiking sojourns in the Chappaqua woods after losing to Donald Trump in 2016, or Al Gore growing a beard in the bruising aftermath of his 2000 defeat. “The first thing she’s probably thinking about is, ‘Well, can I run again for president in four years?’ Not, ‘Do I run for governor in two years?’” said one political operative who’s worked with Harris in the past. Harris maintains a home in Brentwood and previously served as California’s senator and attorney general. A successful run for governor in 2026 would almost certainly impede a grab for the presidency in 2028. (Though if history is any guide, an unsuccessful run for California governor does not definitively preclude a bid for the Oval Office: Two years after losing the White House to John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon lost the 1962 contest for governor to Pat Brown . The Yorba Linda native became the nation’s 37th president in 1969.) As the chief executive of a state that doubles as the world’s fifth-largest economy, Harris would have more power to steer policy and make changes as a California governor than she did as vice president, where her job required deference to President Biden. But leading a state, even the nation’s most populous, could feel like small potatoes after being a heartbeat (and a few dozen electoral votes) from the presidency. The protracted slog to November 2026 would also be a stark contrast to her ill-fated 107-day sprint toward the White House, particularly for a candidate whose 2020 presidential primary campaign was dogged by allegations of infighting and mismanagement. “I don’t think Kamala Harris has a deep psychological need to be governor of California, or to be in elective office in order to feel like she can contribute to society,” said the operative who’s worked with Harris in the past. “I think some of these people do, but she’s somebody who has enough prominence that she could do a lot of big, wonderful things without having to worry about balancing California’s budget or negotiating with Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel,” the Encino Democrat who chairs the Assembly’s budget committee. Technically, Harris has until March 2026 to decide whether she enters a race. But political strategists who spoke to The Times theorized that she probably would make a move by late spring, if she chooses to do so. “People will be more annoyed if she drops in in June,” a Democratic strategist involved with one of the gubernatorial campaigns said. Sending a clear signal by February would be more “courteous,” the strategist continued, explaining that such a move would give candidates more time to potentially enter other races. Kounalakis is a longtime friend and ally of Harris’ , and the vice president also has long-term relationships with some of the other candidates and potential candidates. California has eight statewide elected offices and campaign finance laws allow candidates to fundraise interchangeably for them, meaning money already raised for a candidate’s gubernatorial campaign could easily be redirected should they decide to run for, say, lieutenant governor instead. There are already a number of candidates running for lieutenant governor, including former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, former state Sen. Steven Bradford and former state Treasurer Fiona Ma. But that office probably would see even more interest should Harris enter the gubernatorial race. It’s a largely ceremonial position, but one that has served as a launching pad for the governorship. Still, even if Harris does enter the race, Republican political strategist Mike Murphy threw cold water on the idea that she would have an automatic glide path to the governor’s office. “It’s like Hollywood. Nobody knows anything. She’s famous enough to look credible in early polling. That’s all we know for sure,” Murphy said. “Does that predict the future? No. Are there a lot of downsides (to a potential Harris candidacy)? Totally, yes.” ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Ahmedabad: Educational institutions are now required to submit online applications for bicycle allocation to Class 9 girl students under the Saraswati Sadhana Scheme for the ongoing academic session. The submission process must be completed through a designated online portal. Schools that did not submit applications for the previous year's bicycle assistance have received official notifications. With the current year's application process now initiated, bicycle distribution is anticipated to conclude by the academic year's end. The Saraswati Sadhana Scheme, administered by the department of social justice and empowerment, provides free bicycles to Class 9 girls from socially disadvantaged backgrounds and economically weaker sections attending govt and grant-in-aid secondary schools. This programme aims to reduce their dropout rates. Applications for bicycle distribution to eligible students for the academic year 2024-25 are being accepted on the Digital Gujarat Portal within specified deadlines. The submission requires uploading caste documentation and parental income certificates. Following approval, school heads are tasked with ensuring proper distribution of bicycles to eligible ninth-grade female students at their respective institutions. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .Goldman Sachs analyst Eric Sheridan reiterated Alphabet Inc GOOG GOOGL with a Buy rating and a $210 price target . On Wednesday, Alphabet unveiled the latest version of its flagship multimodal AI model, Gemini 2.0. With Gemini 2.0, Alphabet has achieved a step-function improvement in model performance, the analyst says. Also Read: Google Quantum AI’s New Willow Chip Can Do in Minutes That Supercomputers Would Take 10 Septillion Years Alongside the launch, Alphabet showcased a wider array of capabilities powered by the new AI model. In addition to applying Gemini 2.0 to improve existing AI applications and use cases, several new announcements move Alphabet closer to its vision of offering agent-based systems. According to the analyst, these systems would able to fulfill a wider variety of tasks on a user’s behalf, which the company first laid out with Google Duplex at Google I/O 2018 and has iterated on in subsequent years. In addition, and while its potential impact is longer-lasting, earlier this week, Alphabet announced Willow, its new quantum computing chip that shows a significant improvement in performance and error rates while lacking economies of scale and well-defined consumer use cases at present. Willow represents a potential dramatic computing shift that will evolve in tandem with AI but over a long-term timeframe, the analyst writes. Sheridan came away from this series of announcements increasingly convinced that Alphabet is well positioned longer-term against the rise of AI across various aspects of the enterprise and consumer computing landscape. It remains at the forefront of all aspects of forward computing innovation. Gemini 2.0 showcases Google’s market leadership position as one of only a few large-scale LLMs with advanced multimodal capabilities. Despite some “commoditization” within the AI large language model layer, implementing and integrating AI into consumer-facing and enterprise-facing applications will be crucial for generating wide-scale adoption. Sheridan is positive on Google’s ability to capitalize on this theme longer-term and expects new AI developments to rapidly gain scale of adoption by leveraging its global user base and suite of apps and services. Sheridan projected fiscal 2024 revenue of $295.25 billion and EPS of $8. Price Action: GOOGL stock is down 0.44% at $194.45 at last check Thursday. Also Read: Match Group Faces Investor Scrutiny Over Tinder Woes, Hinge Expansion Plans Photo courtesy: Google © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
A recent study that recommended toxic chemicals in black plastic products be immediately thrown away included a math error that significantly overstated the risks of contamination, but its authors are standing by their conclusions and warn against using such products. Published in the peer-reviewed journal , experts from the nonprofit Toxic-Free Future said they detected flame retardants and other toxic chemicals in 85% of 203 items made of , take-out containers, children’s toys and hair accessories. The study initially said the potential exposure to chemicals found in one of the kitchen utensils approached the minimum levels the Environmental Protection Agency deemed a health risk. But in an update to the study, the authors say they made an error in their calculations and the real levels were “an order of magnitude lower” than the EPA’s thresholds. The error was discovered by Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society in Canada. Related Articles In a blog post, Schwarcz explained that the Toxin-Free Future scientists miscalculated the lower end of what the EPA considered a health risk through a multiplication error. Instead of humans being potentially exposed to a dose of toxic chemicals in black plastic utensils near the minimum level that the EPA deems a health risk, it’s actually about one-tenth of that. Though Schwarcz said the risks outlined in the study aren’t enough for him to discard his black plastic kitchen items if he had them, he agreed with the authors that flame retardants shouldn’t be in these products in the first place. “The math error does not impact the study’s findings, conclusions or recommendations,” said Megan Liu, a co-author of the study who is the science and policy manager for . She added that any traces of flame retardants or toxic chemicals in cooking utensils should be concerning for the public. Flame retardants are getting into commonly used items because black-colored products are being made from recycled electronic waste, such as discarded television sets and computers, that frequently contain the additives. When they’re heated, the flame retardants and other toxic chemicals can migrate out. If you’re wondering whether your old black plastic spoon or other utensils are a part of this group, Liu shared some more guidance. It’s nearly impossible to know whether a black plastic product is contaminated. That’s because these products that include recycled e-waste don’t disclose a detailed list of all ingredients and contaminants in the product. Liu said it’s also unclear how many types of flame retardants are in these black plastic products. Some of the products that researchers tested in this recent study “had up to nine different harmful chemicals and harmful flame retardants in them,” she said. Anytime you’re looking for the type of recycled plastic a product is made of you’re going to look for a number within the chasing arrows (that form a triangle) logo. Recycling symbols are numbered 1 to 7 and we commonly associate the numbers with what we can toss in our blue recycling bins. The polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene or Styrofoam, and miscellaneous plastics (including polycarbonate, polylactide, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene, styrene, fiberglass and nylon). The study found higher levels of toxic flame retardants in polystyrene plastic, which is labeled with the number 6, said Liu. There isn’t a definitively timeline of when recycled electronic-waste started to be incorporated into black plastic products specifically, but e-waste started to get recycled in the early 2000s, Liu said. The way computers, cellphones, stereos, printers and copiers were being disposed of previously was to simply add them to a landfill without reusing salvageable parts. But as the National Conference of State Legislatures notes, electronics production required a significant amount of resources that could be recovered through recycling. Recovering resources such as metals, plastics and glass through recycling used a fraction of the energy needed to mine new materials. However, the study pointed out that flame retardants and other chemical contaminates have been detected in and near e-waste recycling facilities, in indoor air and dust at formal e-waste recycling facilities in Canada, China, Spain and the U.S. It also noted contamination in soil samples surrounding e-waste recycling sites in China and Vietnam. The safest nontoxic material options for kitchen utensil are wood and stainless steel.LONDON — A woman who claimed mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor "brutally raped and battered" her in a Dublin hotel penthouse was awarded nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) on Friday by a civil court jury in Ireland. Nikita Hand said the Dec. 9, 2018, assault after a night of partying left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced the woman to do anything against her will and said she fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex. His lawyer had called Hand a gold digger. The fighter, once the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship but now past his prime, shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable for assault after deliberating about six hours in the High Court in Dublin. He was mobbed by cameras as he left court but did not comment. He later said on the social platform X that he would appeal the verdict and the "modest award." People are also reading... Hand's voice cracked and her hands trembled as she read a statement outside the courthouse, saying she would never forget what happened to her but would now be able to move on with her life. She thanked her family, partner, friends, jurors, the judge and all the supporters that had reached out to her online, but particularly her daughter. "She has given me so much strength and courage over the last six years throughout this nightmare to keep on pushing forward for justice," she said. "I want to show (her) and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served." The Associated Press generally does not name alleged victims of sexual violence unless they come forward publicly, as Hand has done. Under Irish law, she did not have the anonymity she would have been granted in a criminal proceeding and was named publicly throughout the trial. Her lawyer told jurors that McGregor was angry about a fight he had lost in Las Vegas two months earlier and took it out on his client. "He's not a man, he's a coward," attorney John Gordon said in his closing speech. "A devious coward and you should treat him for what he is." Gordon said his client never pretended to be a saint and was only looking to have fun when she sent McGregor a message through Instagram after attending a Christmas party. He said Hand knew McGregor socially and that they had grown up in the same area. She said he picked her and a friend up in a car and shared cocaine with them, which McGregor admitted in court, on the way to the Beacon Hotel. Hand said she told McGregor she didn't want to have sex with him and that she was menstruating. She said she told him "no" as he started kissing her but he eventually pinned her to a bed and she couldn't move. McGregor put her in a chokehold and later told her, "now you know how I felt in the octagon where I tapped out three times," referring to a UFC match when he had to admit defeat, she said. Hand had to take several breaks in emotional testimony over three days. She said McGregor threatened to kill her during the encounter and she feared she would never see her young daughter again. Eventually, he let go of her. "I remember saying I was sorry, as I felt that I did something wrong and I wanted to reassure him that I wouldn't tell anyone so he wouldn't hurt me again," she testified. She said she then let him do what he wanted and he had sex with her. A paramedic who examined Hand the next day testified that she had never before seen someone with that intensity of bruising. A doctor told jurors Hand had multiple injuries. Hand said the trauma of the attack had left her unable to work as a hairdresser, she fell behind on her mortgage and had to move out of her house. Police investigated the woman's complaint but prosecutors declined to bring charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely. McGregor, in his post on X, said he was disappointed jurors didn't see all the evidence prosecutors had reviewed. He testified that the two had athletic and vigorous sex, but that it was not rough. He said "she never said 'no' or stopped" and testified that everything she said was a lie. "It is a full blown lie among many lies," he said when asked about the chokehold allegation. "How anyone could believe that me, as a prideful person, would highlight my shortcomings." McGregor's lawyer told jurors they had to set aside their animus toward the fighter. "You may have an active dislike of him, some of you may even loathe him – there is no point pretending that the situation might be otherwise," attorney Remy Farrell said. "I'm not asking you to invite him to Sunday brunch." The defense said the woman never told investigators McGregor threatened her life. They also showed surveillance video in court that they said appeared to show the woman kiss McGregor's arm and hug him after they left the hotel room. Farrell said she looked "happy, happy, happy." McGregor said he was "beyond petrified" when first questioned by police and read them a prepared statement. On the advice of his lawyer, he refused to answer more than 100 follow-up questions. The jury ruled against Hand in a case she brought against one of McGregor's friends, James Lawrence, whom she accused of having sex with her in the hotel without consent. Be the first to knowNot a typo – Amazon's all-new Omni Mini-LED Fire TV is up to $320 off for Black Friday
Iowa cornerback Jermari Harris has opted out of the remainder of the 2024 season in order to prepare for the NFL draft, according to a report by 247Sports.com . The 6-foot-1 sixth-year senior from Chicago has recorded 27 tackles, three interceptions and a team-high seven pass breakups in 10 games for the Hawkeyes this season. That includes a pick-6 in a 38-21 win over Troy earlier this season. Iowa (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) plays at Maryland on Saturday before closing out its regular season at home against Nebraska on Nov. 29. The Hawkeyes are already bowl eligible, so Harris is likely opting out of three games in total. After missing the entire 2022 season due to an ankle injury, Harris was suspended for two games of the following season for his involvement in the gambling investigation into Iowa athletics. He later emerged as the Hawkeyes' top cornerback, earning the team's comeback player of the year award after compiling 42 tackles, one interception and eight pass breakups. Harris will finish his college career with 105 tackles and eight interceptions. --Field Level Media
The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) — Payton Sparks scored 20 points off of the bench to lead Ball State past Evansville 80-43 on Saturday. Sparks had five rebounds for the Cardinals (5-6). Jermahri Hill added 13 points while going 5 of 14 (1 for 5 from 3-point range) while he also had eight rebounds and four steals. Jeremiah Hernandez had 12 points and shot 3 of 9 from the field, including 2 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 5 from the line. Michael Day led the Purple Aces (3-9) in scoring, finishing with 13 points. Evansville also got 11 points and seven rebounds from Tanner Cuff. Gui Tesch also recorded five points. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
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In the wee hours Sunday at the United Nations climate talks, countries from around the world reached an agreement on how rich countries can cough up the funds to support poor countries in the face of climate change. It's a far-from-perfect arrangement, with many parties still unsatisfied but some hopeful that the deal will be a step in the right direction. Philadelphia news 24/7: Watch NBC10 free wherever you are World Resources Institute president and CEO Ani Dasgupta called it “an important down payment toward a safer, more equitable future,” but added that the poorest and most vulnerable nations are “rightfully disappointed that wealthier countries didn’t put more money on the table when billions of people’s lives are at stake.” The summit was supposed to end on Friday evening but negotiations spiraled on through early Sunday. With countries on opposite ends of a massive chasm, tensions ran high as delegations tried to close the gap in expectations. Here's how they got there: What was the finance deal agreed at climate talks? Rich countries have agreed to pool together at least $300 billion a year by 2035. It’s not near the full amount of $1.3 trillion that developing countries were asking for, and that experts said was needed. But some delegations said this deal is headed in the right direction, with hopes that more money flows in the future. The text included a call for all parties to work together using “all public and private sources” to get closer to the $1.3 trillion per year goal by 2035. That means also pushing for international mega-banks, funded by taxpayer dollars, to help foot the bill. And it means, hopefully, that companies and private investors will follow suit on channeling cash toward climate action. The agreement is also a critical step toward helping countries on the receiving end create more ambitious targets to limit or cut emissions of heat-trapping gases that are due early next year. It’s part of the plan to keep cutting pollution with new targets every five years, which the world agreed to at the U.N. talks in Paris in 2015. The Paris agreement set the system of regular ratcheting up climate fighting ambition as away to keep warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. The world is already at 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 degrees Fahrenheit) and carbon emissions keep rising. What will the money be spent on? The deal decided in Baku replaces a previous agreement from 15 years ago that charged rich nations $100 billion a year to help the developing world with climate finance. The new number has similar aims: it will go toward the developing world's long laundry list of to-dos to prepare for a warming world and keep it from getting hotter. That includes paying for the transition to clean energy and away from fossil fuels. Countries need funds to build up the infrastructure needed to deploy technologies like wind and solar power on a large scale. Communities hard-hit by extreme weather also want money to adapt and prepare for events like floods, typhoons and fires. Funds could go toward improving farming practices to make them more resilient to weather extremes, to building houses differently with storms in mind, to helping people move from the hardest-hit areas and to help leaders improve emergency plans and aid in the wake of disasters. The Philippines, for example, has been hammered by six major storms in less than a month, bringing to millions of people howling wind, massive storm surges and catastrophic damage to residences, infrastructure and farmland. “Family farmers need to be financed," said Esther Penunia of the Asian Farmers Association. She described how many have already had to deal with millions of dollars of storm damage, some of which includes trees that won't again bear fruit for months or years, or animals that die, wiping out a main source of income. “If you think of a rice farmer who depends on his or her one hectare farm, rice land, ducks, chickens, vegetables, and it was inundated, there was nothing to harvest,” she said. Why was it so hard to get a deal? Election results around the world that herald a change in climate leadership, a few key players with motive to stall the talks and a disorganized host country all led to a final crunch that left few happy with a flawed compromise. The ending of COP29 is "reflective of the harder geopolitical terrain the world finds itself in,” said Li Shuo of the Asia Society. He cited Trump's recent victory in the US — with his promises to pull the country out of the Paris Agreement — as one reason why the relationship between China and the EU will be more consequential for global climate politics moving forward. Developing nations also faced some difficulties agreeing in the final hours, with one Latin American delegation member saying that their group didn't feel properly consulted when small island states had last-minute meetings to try to break through to a deal. Negotiators from across the developing world took different tacks on the deal until they finally agreed to compromise. Meanwhile, activists ramped up the pressure: many urged negotiators to stay strong and asserted that no deal would be better than a bad deal. But ultimately the desire for a deal won out. Some also pointed to the host country as a reason for the struggle. Mohamed Adow, director of climate and energy think tank Power Shift Africa, said Friday that “this COP presidency is one of the worst in recent memory,” calling it “one of the most poorly led and chaotic COP meetings ever.” The presidency said in a statement, “Every hour of the day, we have pulled people together. Every inch of the way, we have pushed for the highest common denominator. We have faced geopolitical headwinds and made every effort to be an honest broker for all sides.” Shuo retains hope that the opportunities offered by a green economy “make inaction self-defeating” for countries around the world, regardless of their stance on the decision. But it remains to be seen whether the UN talks can deliver more ambition next year. In the meantime, “this COP process needs to recover from Baku,” Shuo said. ___ Associated Press reporters Seth Borenstein and Sibi Arasu contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.This is a good week to spend money on some high-end players on DraftKings and FanDuel. And Bucky Irving is worth his price in a great matchup against the Panthers in Week 17. Irving is $6,700 on DraftKings and $8,000 on FanDuel. And he'll be in several of my lineups for this scoring period. Carolina is No. 1 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and Irving already beat up the Panthers in Week 13 with 25 carries for 152 yards and a touchdown and three catches for 33 yards on three targets. He might get a big workload again after Rachaad White had a costly fumble in the Week 16 loss against Dallas. Irving scored 18.2 PPR points against the Cowboys , and he's now scored at least 17.7 PPR points in four of his past six games, with only one game below 13.3 PPR points over that span. He should have another dominant game in the rematch with the Panthers in Week 17, and I'm excited to put him in several DFS lineups. For more of my DFS plays for Week 17, click on this link to SportsLine . And good luck to your DFS lineups for this week.
ADDISON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 25, 2024-- Concentra Group Holdings Parent, Inc. (“Concentra,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) (NYSE: CON) today announced that Select Medical Holdings Corporation (“Select Medical”) (NYSE: SEM) has completed its previously announced distribution (the “Distribution”) of 104,093,503 shares of Concentra’s common stock owned by Select Medical Corporation (“SMC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Select Medical, representing approximately 81.7% of the outstanding shares of Concentra’s common stock. After the completion of the Distribution, Select Medical no longer owns any shares of Concentra’s common stock. The Distribution was made today to Select Medical’s stockholders as of the close of business on November 18, 2024 (the “Record Date”). The Distribution took place in the form of a pro rata common stock distribution to each of Select Medical’s stockholders on the Record Date. Based on the shares of Select Medical’s common stock outstanding on the Record Date, Select Medical’s stockholders received 0.806971 shares of Concentra’s common stock for every share of Select Medical’s common stock held as of the Record Date. No fractional shares of Concentra’s common stock were distributed. Instead, Select Medical’s stockholders will receive cash in lieu of any fraction of a share of Concentra’s common stock that they otherwise would have received. On November 19, 2024, Select Medical made available an information statement to its stockholders on the Record Date, which included details on the Distribution. The information statement is posted under the Investor Relations tab on Select Medical’s website at www.selectmedical.com/investor-relations/ . About Concentra Concentra is the largest provider of occupational health services in the United States by number of locations, with the mission of improving the health of America’s workforce, one patient at a time. Concentra’s 11,000 colleagues and affiliated physicians and clinicians support the delivery of an extensive suite of services, including occupational and consumer health services and other direct-to-employer care, to more than 50,000 patients each day on average across 45 states at our 549 occupational health centers, 156 onsite health clinics at employer worksites, and Concentra Telemed as of September 30, 2024. This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current management expectations. Numerous factors, including those related to market conditions and those detailed from time-to-time in Concentra’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, may cause results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Many of the factors that will determine Concentra’s future results are beyond the ability of Concentra to control or predict. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and, therefore, actual results may differ materially. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s views only as of the date hereof. Concentra undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125422840/en/ CONTACT: Investor inquiries: Bill Chapman Vice President, Strategy & Investor Relations 972-725-6488 ir@concentra.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA TEXAS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HEALTH TELEMEDICINE/VIRTUAL MEDICINE HEALTH TECHNOLOGY HEALTH INSURANCE MANAGED CARE GENERAL HEALTH SOURCE: Concentra Group Holdings Parent, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/25/2024 05:30 PM/DISC: 11/25/2024 05:28 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125422840/enHPH Announces Change to the Board of Directors
Kosmos Energy Ltd. stock falls Monday, underperforms marketMarket Movements: What You Need to Know About This Week’s Biggest Challenges and TriumphsResearchers in Canada are using artificial intelligence to monitor the ongoing mass extinction of insects, hoping to collect data that can help reverse species collapse and avert catastrophe for the planet. "Of all the mass extinctions we have experienced in the past, the one affecting insects is happening a thousand times faster," said Maxim Larrivee, director of the Montreal Insectarium. The decline is occurring so quickly it can't be properly monitored, making it impossible "to put in place the necessary actions to slow it down," he told AFP. For the Montreal-based project, called Antenna, some of the data collection is happening inside the insectarium under a large transparent dome, where thousands of butterflies, ants and praying mantises are being studied. Solar-powered camera traps have also been installed in several regions, from the Canadian far north to Panamanian rainforests, snapping photos every 10 seconds of insects attracted to UV lights. Larrivee said innovations like high-resolution cameras, low-cost sensors and AI models to process data could double the amount of biodiversity information collected over the last 150 years in two to five years. "Even for us, it sounds like science fiction," he said, a grin stretched across his face. Scientists have warned the world is facing its biggest mass extinction event since the dinosaur age. The drivers of insect species collapse are well understood -- including climate change, habitat loss and pesticides -- but the extent and nature of insect losses have been hard to quantify. Better data should make it possible to create "decision-making tools for governments and environmentalists" to develop conservation policies that help restore biodiversity, Larrivee said. There are an estimated 10 million species of insects, representing half the world's biodiversity, but only a million of those have been documented and studied by scientists. David Rolnick, a biodiversity specialist at the Quebec AI Institute working on the Antenna project, noted that artificial intelligence could help document some of the 90 percent of insect species that remain undiscovered. "We found that when we went to Panama and tested our sensor systems in the rainforest, within a week, we found 300 new species. And that is just the tip of the iceberg," Rolnick told AFP. At Antenna, testing to advance AI tools is currently focused on moths. With more than 160,000 different species, moths represent a diverse group of insects that are "easy to identify visually" and are low in the food chain, Rolnick explained. "This is the next frontier for biodiversity monitoring," he said. The Montreal project is using an open source model, aiming to allow anyone to contribute to enriching the platform. Researchers eventually hope to apply their modeling to identify new species in the deep sea and others harmful to agriculture. Meanwhile, the Montreal Insectarium is using its technology for educational purposes. Visitors can snap pictures of butterflies in a vivarium and use an app to identify the exact species French tourist Camille Clement sounded a note of caution, saying she supported using AI to protect ecology provided "we use it meticulously." For Julie Jodoin, director of Espace Pour La Vie, an umbrella organization for five Montreal museums including the Insectarium: "If we don't know nature, we can't ask citizens to change their behavior."
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The Police Force says necessary safety and security measures will be adopted over the next two days as Fiji Primary Schools Tuckers Ice Cream Games begins tomorrow. Police Chief of Operations, ACP Livai Driu is also criminal elements to stay clear of the games venue. ACP Driu says community policing officers have been liaising with school managements where participating schools will be billeted, regarding the safety and security of the visiting schools as most teams are in the capital city ahead of the tournament tomorrow. He is calling on parents, guardians and teachers to priorities children’s safety and security to avoid situations where students end up following the wrong crowd. The Police Chief of Operations says communication is important and children are young and can easily be influenced by their peers where they may end up in a regrettable situation. He says they will be implementing necessary security measures and coverage which will not only be limited to the games venues but also traffic control and outskirts in anticipation of the spill-over of people into Suva following the games. Drivers have also been advised to be extra cautious near the games venue and near school zones.ABILENE, Texas (AP) — Sam Hicks scored on a 53-yard run in the fourth quarter and finished with 171 yards on the ground to lead Abilene Christian to a 24-0 victory over Northern Arizona on Saturday in the first round of the FCS playoffs. The Wildcats (9-4), ranked No. 15 in the FCS coaches poll and seeded 15th, qualified for the playoffs for the first time and will travel to play No. 2 seed and nine-time champion North Dakota State (10-2) on Saturday at the Fargo Dome. The Bison had a first-round bye. Abilene Christian grabbed a 7-0 lead on its second possession when Carson Haggard connected with Trey Cleveland for a 37-yard touchdown that capped a 10-play 97-yard drive. Northern Arizona (8-5), ranked 17th but unseeded for the playoffs after winning five straight to get in, picked off Haggard on the Wildcats' next two possessions but could not turn them into points. NAU went for it on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line with 9:30 left before halftime, but Jordan Mukes tackled Ty Pennington for a 4-yard loss. That led to a 46-yard field goal by Ritse Vaes and a 10-0 lead at halftime. The score remained the same until Hicks' big run with 10:16 left to play. Haggard passed 6 yards to Blayne Taylor for the final score with 2:16 to go. Haggard completed 23 of 29 passes for 244 yards with three interceptions. Abilene Christian's defense allowed at least 20 points in every game during the regular season and yielded at least 30 six times. The Wildcats lost their season opener to FBS member Texas Tech 52-51 in overtime. Abilene Christian's last shutout came in a 56-0 victory over Lamar on Sept. 25, 2021. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballMystery disease kills dozens in Congo – what we know so far
High on the back of a very important win last weekend, Angers welcome in-form Lyon to the Stade Raymond-Kopa in Ligue 1 on Saturday night. Lyon extended their fine unbeaten run domestically to eight matches with an emphatic victory over Nice, moving them closer to the top four ahead of this weekend's action. © Imago An impressive 4-1 win over fellow European-chasers Nice saw Lyon move above them into fifth last time out. Alexandre Lacazette netted a hat trick for Pierre Sage 's side, who are now just one point behind Lille in fourth, after they dropped points against bottom-of-the-table Montpellier. Now eight games unbeaten in Ligue 1, this is Lyon's longest streak without defeat since late 2020, when they went on a run of 16 league games undefeated, and if they can get anywhere near replicating that, they will be battling for the automatic Champions League places in the spring. Despite all of the off-field troubles hanging over the club, with a possible demotion to Ligue 2 on the cards if they cannot clear their debts by the end of the season, Sage has done an incredible job at keeping the mood positive in the dressing room. So much so, this is Lyon's best start to a season since the 2020-21 campaign, and they will hope to build on that before their unbeaten run will seriously be put to test away to Paris Saint-Germain next weekend. Lyon have lost just once away to Angers since 1993, and only twice in their last 26 matches against newly-promoted opposition have they tasted defeat. Angers have faced Lyon more times than any other club in their Ligue 1 history, and unsurprisingly, they are also the club against whom they have suffered the most defeats - 30 in 61. More recent results give even less for the home support to be enthused about, considering they have lost 11 of their last 14 meetings with their upcoming opponents - winning only once. © IconSport However, confidence will be high after they returned to winning ways last weekend thanks to a 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Le Havre. Himad Abdelli scored the solitary goal to ensure Angers recorded a third win in five games, after failing to win any of their first eight on their return to the top flight. Three wins already is just one shy of the amount Le SCO managed when they were relegated with just 18 points in the 2022-23 season, suggesting this campaign will not be as painful as that one. The win took them above Le Havre and out of the relegation zone, but even though they have only conceded 21 goals in 13 games so far this, defensive stability remains a concern. Angers have kept one clean sheet in 15 home games in 2024 - against Dunkerque in Ligue 2 in May - despite ending 2023 with eight successive games without conceding, and they may need to record a first since promotion if they are to claim another win here. © IconSport Hosts Angers are set to be without Cedric Hountondji (thigh), Zinedine Ferhat (muscle) and Sidiki Cherif (thigh) for this one, while youngster Justin-Noel Kalumba remains out with a broken ankle. Midfielder Jean-Eudes Aholou has played a big role in some of their finer moments during this campaign, scoring in two of their three wins so far, and he also netted against upcoming opponents Lyon in a Strasbourg shirt last season. With no senior injuries of note, Sage should have a full Lyon side at his disposal for this one, and the manager has rotated often this season, especially further forward. Malick Fofana is arguably their most exciting talent at present, and all six of his goals this season have come away from home, but that does not mean he is exempt from potential rotation, especially with a game in Europe coming up. Hat trick-hero Lacazette could also sit this one out if Sage plans to use him from the start against Eintracht Frankfurt, despite his heroics last weekend. Angers possible starting lineup: Y Fofana; Arcus, Bamba, Lefort, Hanin; Aholou, Belkebla, Abdelli; Allevinah, Dieng, El Melali Lyon possible starting lineup: Lucas Perri; Clinton Mata, Caleta-Car, Niakhate, Tagliafico; Veretout, Matic, Tolisso; M Fofana, Mikautadze, Cherki Even though Angers have lost just three of their last 10 games, and beat Monaco on the road recently, their record against Lyon provides little to be excited about, especially given the current form of the visitors. Lyon are in the midst of their best run for four years, and even with some rotation, they will expect to get the job done against an Angers side who look likely to be fighting relegation this season. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here .
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NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart's sweeping rollback of its diversity policies is the strongest indication yet of a profound shift taking hold at U.S. companies that are revaluating the legal and political risks associated with bold programs to bolster historically underrepresented groups in business. The changes announced by the world's biggest retailer followed a string of legal victories by conservative groups that have filed an onslaught of lawsuits challenging corporate and federal programs aimed at elevating minority and women-owned businesses and employees. The risk associated with some of programs crystalized with the election of former President Donald Trump, whose administration is certain to make dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs a priority. Trump's incoming deputy chief of policy will be his former adviser Stephen Miller , who leads a group called America First Legal that has aggressively challenged corporate DEI policies. “There has been a lot of reassessment of risk looking at programs that could be deemed to constitute reverse discrimination,” said Allan Schweyer, principal researcher the Human Capital Center at the Conference Board. “This is another domino to fall and it is a rather large domino,” he added. Among other changes, Walmart said it will no longer give priority treatment to suppliers owned by women or minorities. The company also will not renew a five-year commitment for a racial equity center set up in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd. And it pulled out of a prominent gay rights index . Schweyer said the biggest trigger for companies making such changes is simply a reassessment of their legal risk exposure, which began after U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June 2023 that ended affirmative action in college admissions. Since then, conservative groups using similar arguments have secured court victories against various diversity programs, especially those that steer contracts to minority or women-owned businesses. Most recently, the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty won a victory in a case against the U.S. Department of Transportation over its use of a program that gives priority to minority-owned businesses when it awards contracts. Companies are seeing a big legal risk in continuing with DEI efforts, said Dan Lennington, a deputy counsel at the institute. His organization says it has identified more than 60 programs in the federal government that it considers discriminatory, he said. “We have a legal landscape within the entire federal government, all three branches -- the U.S. Supreme Court, the Congress and the President -- are all now firmly pointed in the direction towards equality of individuals and individualized treatment of all Americans, instead of diversity, equity and inclusion treating people as members of racial groups,” Lennington said. The Trump administration is also likely to take direct aim at DEI initiatives through executive orders and other policies that affect private companies, especially federal contractors. “The impact of the election on DEI policies is huge. It can’t be overstated,” said Jason Schwartz, co-chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group at law firm Gibson Dunn. With Miller returning to the White House, rolling back DEI initiatives is likely to be a priority, Schwartz said. “Companies are trying to strike the right balance to make clear they’ve got an inclusive workplace where everyone is welcome, and they want to get the best talent, while at the same time trying not to alienate various parts of their employees and customer base who might feel one way or the other. It’s a virtually impossible dilemma,” Schwartz said. A recent survey by Pew Research Center showed that workers are divided on the merits of DEI policies. While still broadly popular, the share of workers who said focusing on workplace diversity was mostly a good thing fell to 52% in the November survey, compared to 56% in a similar survey in February 2023. Rachel Minkin, a research associated at Pew called it a small but significant shift in short amount of time. There will be more companies pulling back from their DEI policies, but it likely won’t be a retreat across the board, said David Glasgow, executive director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at New York University. “There are vastly more companies that are sticking with DEI," Glasgow said. "The only reason you don’t hear about it is most of them are doing it by stealth. They’re putting their heads down and doing DEI work and hoping not to attract attention.” Glasgow advises organizations to stick to their own core values, because attitudes toward the topic can change quickly in the span of four years. “It’s going to leave them looking a little bit weak if there’s a kind of flip-flopping, depending on whichever direction the political winds are blowing,” he said. One reason DEI programs exist is because without those programs, companies may be vulnerable to lawsuits for traditional discrimination. “Really think carefully about the risks in all directions on this topic,” Glasgow said. Walmart confirmed will no longer consider race and gender as a litmus test to improve diversity when it offers supplier contracts. Last fiscal year, Walmart said it spent more than $13 billion on minority, women or veteran-owned good and service suppliers. It was unclear how its relationships with such business would change going forward. Organizations that that have partnered with Walmart on its diversity initiatives offered a cautious response. The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, a non-profit that last year named Walmart one of America's top corporation for women-owned enterprises, said it was still evaluating the impact of Walmart's announcement. Pamela Prince-Eason, the president and CEO of the organization, said she hoped Walmart's need to cater to its diverse customer base will continue to drive contracts to women-owned suppliers even if the company no longer has explicit dollar goals. “I suspect Walmart will continue to have one of the most inclusive supply chains in the World,” Prince-Eason wrote. “Any retailer's ability to serve the communities they operate in will continue to value understanding their customers, (many of which are women), in order to better provide products and services desired and no one understands customers better than Walmart." Walmart's announcement came after the company spoke directly with conservative political commentator and activist Robby Starbuck, who has been going after corporate DEI policies, calling out individual companies on the social media platform X. Several of those companies have subsequently announced that they are pulling back their initiatives, including Ford , Harley-Davidson, Lowe’s and Tractor Supply . Walmart confirmed to The Associated Press that it will better monitor its third-party marketplace items to make sure they don’t feature sexual and transgender products aimed at minors. The company also will stop participating in the Human Rights Campaign’s annual benchmark index that measures workplace inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees. A Walmart spokesperson added that some of the changes were already in progress and not as a result of conversations that it had with Starbuck. RaShawn “Shawnie” Hawkins, senior director of the HRC Foundation’s Workplace Equality Program, said companies that “abandon” their commitments workplace inclusion policies “are shirking their responsibility to their employees, consumers, and shareholders.” He said the buying power of LGBTQ customers is powerful and noted that the index will have “record participation” of more than 1,400 companies in 2025." Alexandra Olson And Cathy Bussewitz, The Associated PressThe hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's elusive killer yields new evidence, but few answers
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Sokoto State, Faruku Fada, has commenced the sponsorship of the annual mass circumcision for children in the state, targeting a minimum of 1,000 boys. The state chairman of the party, Hon. Bello Aliyu Goronyo, while speaking to newsmen at the circumcision venue at Alhuda College of Health Technology, Sama Road, on Saturday, said that Mr. Fada is reviving the age-long tradition and culture of Hausa-speaking communities. He explained that circumcision, in a traditional Hausa setting, is conducted on boys under the age of ten during the harmattan season. Also speaking after the exercise began, Mr. Fada, stated that the initiative was aimed at assisting less privileged parents who could not afford to circumcise their children when they reached the appropriate age. READ MORE: Suspected Terrorists Abduct Two Residents In Sokoto He said: “The mass circumcision will be carried out in all communities within Sokoto North and Sokoto South Local Government Areas, regardless of tribal or political affiliations. “We will do our best within our God-given resources to give back to society, especially in these times of economic hardship.”
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NEW YORK - An international shoplifting ring allegedly stole nearly $2 million worth of goods across three states, officials announced Tuesday. Five people were arrested and charged with fostering the sale of stolen goods. It was the first time an anti-shoplifting law passed by the legislature was used. The thieves allegedly made off with perfume, cosmetics, clothing and accessories. The group allegedly robbed high-end stores in New York, New Jersey and Maryland of $2 million worth of goods in a two year period. "The alleged ring specifically targeted Ulta Beauty, Sephora, Macy's, American Eagle and other well-known retailers," Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said. Katz said the ring was taken down in a joint effort with her office and New York State Police. When officials searched a number of Queens locations operated by the ring, they confiscated over 50,000 retail beauty products and items from manufacturers like Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, NARS, Versace, Valentino and Victoria's Secret. The products were allegedly sold in a variety of ways, including on the internet. Others were shipped to the Dominican Republic in large, blue barrels for sale in what officials described as a brick-and-mortar store. Gov. Kathy Hochul vowed to continue to use the law to stop the shoplifters that are plaguing local retailers. "We're not taking this anymore. There's more of us us than you, and we're going to make sure we have the resources and do everything at our disposal to shut you down once and for all," Hochul said. Hochul, who has been accused by some critics of being soft on crime, insisted she is doing everything she can to keep New Yorkers safe. "Every New Yorker deserves that foundational feeling of security," Hochul said. "And I want people to be able to buy toothpaste without having the store clerk have to unlock it for them. Those days should be over. We're investing the money, investing the resources, and delivering the commitment to solve this problem once and for all." With Black Friday coming up, officials warned consumers that if they see sales on the internet that appear too good to be true, they probably are. They could be shoplifted goods. Marcia Kramer joined CBS News New York in 1990 as an investigative and political reporter. Prior to CBS2, she was the City Hall bureau chief at the New York Daily News.
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani security forces launched an operation Tuesday night to disperse supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan who had gathered in the capital to demand his release from prison. The latest development came hours after thousands of Khan supporters, defying government warnings, broke through a barrier of shipping containers blocking off Islamabad and entered a high-security zone, where they clashed with security forces, facing tear gas shelling, mass detentions and gunfire. Tension has been high in Islamabad since Sunday when supporters of the former prime minister began a “long march” from the restive northwest to demand his release. Khan has been in a prison for over a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases that his party says are politically motivated. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, led the protest, but she fled as police pushed back against demonstrators. Hundreds of Khan’s supporters are being arrested in the ongoing nighttime operation, and police are also seeking to arrest Bibi. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters that the Red Zone, which houses government buildings and embassies, and the surrounding areas have been cleared. Leaders from Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, have also fled the protest site. Earlier Tuesday, Pakistan’s army took control of D-Chowk, a large square in the Red Zone, where visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is staying. Since Monday, Naqvi had threatened that security forces would use live fire if protesters fired weapons at them. “We have now authorized the police to respond as necessary,” Naqvi said Tuesday while visiting the square. Before the operation began, protester Shahzor Ali said people had taken to the streets because Khan had called for them. “We will stay here until Khan joins us. He will decide what to do next,” Ali said. “If they fire bullets again, we will respond with bullets,” he said. Protester Fareeda Bibi, who is not related to Khan’s wife, said people have suffered greatly for the last two years. “We have really suffered for the last two years, whether it is economically, politically or socially. We have been ruined. I have not seen such a Pakistan in my life,” she said. Authorities have struggled to contain the protest-related violence. Six people, including four members of the security services, were killed when a vehicle rammed them on a street overnight into Tuesday. A police officer died in a separate incident. Dozens of Khan supporters beat a videographer covering the protest for The Associated Press and took his camera. He sustained head injuries and was treated in a hospital. By Tuesday afternoon, fresh waves of protesters made their way unopposed to their final destination in the Red Zone. Most demonstrators had the flag of Khan’s party around their shoulders or wore its tricolors on accessories. Naqvi said Khan’s party had rejected a government offer to rally on the outskirts of the city. Information Minister Atta Tarar warned there would be a severe government reaction to the violence. He said the government did not want Bushra Bibi to achieve her goal of freeing Khan. “She wants bodies falling to the ground. She wants bloodshed,” he said. The government says only the courts can order Khan’s release. He was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. In a bid to foil the unrest, police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday and suspended mobile and internet services in some parts of the country. Messaging platforms were also experiencing severe disruption in the capital. Khan’s party relies heavily on social media and uses messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. The X platform, which is banned in Pakistan, is no longer accessible, even with a VPN. Last Thursday, a court prohibited rallies in the capital and Naqvi said anyone violating the ban would be arrested. Travel between Islamabad and other cities has become nearly impossible because of shipping containers blocking the roads. All education institutions remain closed. Pakistan's Stock Exchange lost more than $1.7 billion Tuesday due to rising political tensions, according to economist Mohammed Sohail from Topline Securities. Associated Press writers Munir Ahmed in Islamabad and Asim Tanveer in Multan, Pakistan, contributed to this report.
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Arsenal thrashed West Ham 5-2 on Saturday to climb up to second in the Premier League, while Justin Kluivert scored the first ever Premier League hat-trick of penalties in Bournemouth's 4-2 win at Wolves. The Gunners have struck 13 goals in a week to refind their form and cut the gap to runaway leaders Liverpool, who host struggling defending champions Manchester City in Sunday's blockbuster clash, to six points. "We are back to our best form. We look fluid and dynamic we are all enjoying football right now," said Bukayo Saka, who shone with a goal and two assists. "It has been a top week for us. We have built a lot of momentum and we want to go on to the next few games." Arsenal scored four times before the break in a 6-0 rout at the London Stadium last season and went one better this time as all the goals came in a manic first half, Gabriel Magalhaes' threat from set-pieces is well-known but the Brazilian was inexplicably not picked up to head in Saka's corner on 10 minutes. Saka then teed up Leandro Trossard to double the lead before he stepped aside for Martin Odegaard to score Arsenal's third from the penalty spot. Kai Havertz slotted in from Trossard's pass to make 4-0 after just 36 minutes. Another heavy home defeat increased the pressure on West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui. The Hammers flickered into life with two goals in two minutes through Aaron Wan-Bissaka and a brilliant Emerson Palmieri free-kick. But Saka restored the three-goal advantage from the spot after Gabriel was felled from another corner. Kluivert made history at Molineux to curtail Wolves' mini-revival. There were three goals inside eight minutes as the Dutchman opened the scoring, Jorgen Strand Larsen replied for Wolves before Milos Kerkez made it 2-1 for the visitors. Kluivert made it 3-1 just 10 minutes later and completed his hat-trick 16 minutes from time after Evanilson also set a record by winning a third penalty. "I was not completely sure I should allow him to take the third one," said Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola. "It is difficult, every time you shoot the first one, you give information to the keeper." Strand Larsen pulled another goal back for Wolves, but Gary O'Neil's men slip back into the relegation zone. Brentford continued their stunning home form to thrash Leicester 4-1 in front of the Foxes' in-coming manager Ruud van Nistelrooy. Facundo Buonanotte had put the visitors in front in west London. But Brentford roared back to make it six wins and one draw from seven home league games this season -- the best points return in the Premier League. Yoane Wissa started the comeback before Schade took centre stage. The German had only scored two Premier League goals since joining the Bees in 2023 but matched that tally before half-time to put the home side in front. Schade then rounded off the scoring to show Van Nistelrooy the scale of the task that awaits him ahead of his first game in charge at home to West Ham on Tuesday. "The shining star today was Kevin Schade," said Brentford manager Thomas Frank. "I celebrated so much his first because I know how hard it's been for him because he's had so many injuries and he's wanting to play in the team. Chris Wood's emphatically struck penalty was enough to get Forest back to winning ways and leave Ipswich still in the bottom three. Crystal Palace edged out of the relegation zone on goal difference thanks to late drama in a 1-1 draw against Newcastle. Marc Guehi, who had been the subject of multiple bids from Newcastle during the transfer window, put the Magpies in front early in the second half with an own goal. However, the England defender redeemed himself as from his cross Daniel Munoz powered home a header at the back post. (AFP)3D Systems Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial ResultsVoice cloning is an emerging technology powered by artificial intelligence and it's raising alarms about its potential misuse. Earlier this year, New Hampshire voters experienced this firsthand when a deepfake mimicking President Joe Biden’s voice urged them to skip the polls ahead of the primary. The deepfake likely needed only several seconds of the president's voice to create the clone. According to multiple AI voice cloning models, about 10 seconds of an actual voice is all that is needed to recreate it. And that can easily come from a phone call or a video from social media. "A person's voice is really probably not that information-dense. It's not as unique as you may think," James Betker, a technical staff member at OpenAI, told Scripps News. Betker developed TortoiseTTS, an open-source voice cloning model. "It's actually very easy to model, very easy to learn, the distribution of all human voices from a fairly small amount of data," Betker added. How AI voice cloning works AI models have been trained on vast amounts of data, learning to recognize human speech. Programs analyze the data and train repeatedly, learning characteristics such as rhythm, stress, pitch and tone. "It can look at 10 seconds of someone speaking and it has stored enough information about how humans speak with that kind of prosody and pitch. Enough information about how people speak with their processing pitch and its weights that it can just continue on," Betker said. Imagine a trained AI model as a teacher, and the person cloning the voice to be a student. When a student asks to create a cloned voice, it starts off as white noise. The teacher scores how close the student is to sounding correct. The student tries again and again based on these scores until the student produces something close to what the teacher wants. While this explanation is extremely simplified, the concept of generating a cloned voice is based on bit-by-bit, based on probability distributions. "I think, at its core, it's pretty simple," Betker said. "I think the analogy of just continuing with what you're given will take you pretty far here." There are currently some AI models that claim to only need two seconds of samples. While the results are not convincing yet, Betker says future models will need even fewer voice samples to create a convincing clone.Watch the latest Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 trailer to learn more about the story of Henry of Skalitz, and dive into the medieval world of this upcoming RPG sequel. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 follows Henry, a young man seeking justice for his murdered parents, as he embarks on an epic journey where his morality and integrity are tested. With blood feuds and political conspiracies unraveling, Henry’s choices will ultimately shape his destiny. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 will be available on PC, PS5 (PlayStation 5), and Xbox Series X|S on February 4, 2025.
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VANCOUVER - Brayden Point scored twice and added two assists, and the Tampa Bay Lightning edged the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 on Sunday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Starting at $14.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! VANCOUVER - Brayden Point scored twice and added two assists, and the Tampa Bay Lightning edged the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 on Sunday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? VANCOUVER – Brayden Point scored twice and added two assists, and the Tampa Bay Lightning edged the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 on Sunday. Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two helpers for the Lightning (14-9-3), while Jake Guentzel put away the game winner on a power play late in the third period. Captain Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood found the back of the net for the Canucks (14-8-4), who fell to 4-6-3 at home. Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 22 of the 24 shots he faced and Kevin Lankinen made 28 saves for Vancouver. TAKEAWAYS Canucks: Hughes took a stick to the face 55 seconds into the game, missed more than 11 minutes, then returned to open the scoring 16:08 into the first period. It was the 50th goal of the defenceman’s career and extended his points streak to seven games with three goals and 10 assists across the stretch. Lightning: Kucherov, who returned to the lineup Sunday after missing two games with a lower-body injury, added another potent piece to Tampa’s red-hot power play. The Lightning were 2-for-4 with the man advantage and scored a power-play goal for the sixth straight game. KEY MOMENT Tampa took the lead 6:29 into the second when Kucherov sliced a pass to Point at the bottom of the faceoff circle and the Lightning winger blasted it in past Lankinen for his 17th of the season. Kucherov put the visitors on the board just a minute and 49 seconds earlier. KEY STAT Point scored his league-leading 10th power-play goal of the season. He’s one away from becoming the third player to score 100 power-play goals for the Lightning UP NEXT Canucks: Continue a six-game homestand Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. Lightning: Visit the Oilers in Edmonton on Tuesday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2024. Advertisement
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — For the second straight season, the Philadelphia Eagles are headed to SoFi Stadium with a lengthy winning streak and a team that looks like one of the best in the NFC. The Los Angeles Rams (5-5) couldn't do much to slow them down last season, but they'll try again Sunday night with a young team that hopes to get where the Eagles (8-2) are already standing — atop their division with a six-game winning streak. Philadelphia also made this road trip in October 2023 for a meeting of the previous two NFC champions, and the unbeaten Eagles held on for a 23-14 victory despite failing to score a touchdown in the second half. Jalen Hurts passed for 303 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 72 yards and another score, while Jalen Carter sacked Matthew Stafford twice while the Eagles prevented LA from crossing midfield in the second half. “I just remember that they do a great job of controlling the game,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “They shortened the game, and that’s been a consistent theme that they do an excellent job of. I remember feeling like that’s a good team, and we had our chances, but they certainly made it difficult for us and they earned that win.” Philadelphia comes into the rematch on extra rest after beating Washington 26-18 in a Thursday night game. The young Rams have won four of their past five , but they haven't managed the consistency necessary to become an elite team. The Eagles’ NFL-best defense includes one of the league’s best cornerback duos in Darius Slay and rookie Quinyon Mitchell. The Rams’ offense is built around Stafford’s ability to get the ball to Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, two of the NFL’s top wideouts. That dual matchup should determine whether the Rams can score enough points to keep up with Philadelphia. “Their personnel is as good as it gets, as far as we’ve seen,” Stafford said of the Eagles defense. “I've just watched them from afar. It’s impressive what you see on tape. They do a really nice job of disguising their looks and giving you a bunch of things to look at.” The game also features the two front-runners for the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Mitchell is widely considered the top rookie cornerback in the league, but Los Angeles edge rusher Jared Verse is the consensus favorite for the award so far after his dynamic start to the season with 4 1/2 sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Hurts is expected to play Sunday after being limited in practice this week by an ankle injury. He said the limited practice was part of a program put together by the Eagles to strengthen his recovery with extra days off. He also cleared concussion protocol after his head was spiked into the ground against Washington. Hurts has 2,197 yards passing with 12 TDs and five interceptions. Thanks in large part to the “tush push,” Hurts has 11 rushing TDs. “It’s not necessarily about all health,” Hurts said. “I think it’s a mentality where we are. We’re in a phase of the year where things could have very easily, well, they didn’t end the way we wanted to (last season). So that’s in the back of my mind as we enter this phase and putting an emphasis on finishing strong, putting ourselves in a good place.” The Eagles remain confident in kicker Jake Elliott as he comes off perhaps the worst game of his career, missing two field goals and an extra point against Washington. Elliott signed a four-year, $24 million extension in March, but he has already missed five field-goal attempts this season. He holds the franchise record with seven field goals of 50 yards or more in a season, but has missed all four attempts from 50-plus in 2024. “It’s funny with Jake, he’s such a competitor and such a good kicker, you almost take it a little bit for granted when he’s out there; it’s an automatic,” special teams coach Michael Clay said. “But I have such supreme confidence in Jake. At times, it’s just not your day. We’d be probably a little bit more on edge if the ball was sprayed all over the place.” The Eagles are rolling with six straight wins out of the bye, and only Detroit has a better record in the NFC. But Philly fans know better than to expect good times ahead after the Eagles turned a 10-1 start last season into a 1-5 finish and a playoff loss in the wild-card round. So why should anyone expect the Eagles to keep it together this season instead of collapsing yet again? “I think we’ve got some really good teammates and coaches. Everyone is just so locked in to becoming better,” coach Nick Sirianni said. “I do feel like that, that everyone is locked in to becoming better. I felt that way last year, too. Don’t get me wrong. It didn’t work. There were things that happened last year that we feel like we’ve corrected, that we’re on the right track.” AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston in Philadelphia contributed. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
( MENAFN - Daily News Egypt) Damietta Port's new container terminal is nearing completion, with operational trials set to begin immediately after phase one is finished, according to officials. Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Vice Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of industry and transport Kamel El-Wazir recently inspected the project, currently under development by Modern Engineering Pioneers in partnership with Damietta Alliance. Mohamed Mohleb, CEO of Modern Engineering Pioneers, briefed Madbouly, El-Wazir, Damietta governorate leaders, and members of the House of Representatives and Senate on the project's progress. He stated that operational trials will commence upon completion of phase one. The 930,000-square-metre project, built under the LEED system for environmentally sustainable buildings, includes multiple port service buildings and incorporates eco-friendly management and handling systems. Funded by international development banks, the terminal adheres to environmental and sustainability standards, considering the surrounding ecosystem. Mohleb emphasised that the Tahya Misr 1 container terminal is equipped with the latest eco-friendly technology, aligning with Egypt's 2030 Sustainable Development Vision and aiming to reduce carbon emissions. The terminal features cutting-edge technology, including Shore to Ship (STS) cranes for handling the largest vessels in the region, and Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes capable of stacking containers six units high. This project marks Modern Engineering Pioneers' third container terminal, following successful projects at Sokhna Port and Algiers Port. The project's partnership with Damietta Alliance Container Terminals-a consortium including Eurogate (Germany), Contship (Italy), and Hapag-Lloyd (Global)-reflects the ministry's strategy to attract leading global operators to invest in Egyptian ports. Mohleb projected the terminal will significantly enhance Damietta's position as a global transit trade hub, creating a logistics centre with an annual capacity of 3.3 million TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units). He anticipates 80% of capacity will be dedicated to transit trade, with the remaining 20% for domestic trade. The project is also expected to generate numerous job opportunities during both construction and operation. MENAFN30112024000153011029ID1108941846 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.Will Kamala Harris run for California governor in 2026? The question is already swirling
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Juventus deal Manchester City huge Champions League blowDORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck was carried off on a stretcher with what seemed to be a severe ankle injury near the end of his team's loss to Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday. It leaves last season's Champions League runner-up without any fit central defenders. Schlotterbeck headed narrowly over the bar in the last action of the game as Dortmund lost 3-2 to Barcelona. He landed heavily and appeared to be in severe pain. The referee blew for full time while Schlotterbeck was being treated and he was later carried off on a stretcher, covering his face with his hands. Coach Nuri Sahin said Schlotterbeck was “obviously in low spirits” after the injury. “I'm waiting for the diagnosis and then we'll see, but I've watched the footage, too, and it doesn't look so good,” he told broadcaster DAZN. Dortmund already had to partner Schlotterbeck with midfielder Emre Can in the center of defense for the game because of injuries to Niklas Süle, who is expected to be out for several months with an ankle injury, and Waldemar Anton, who has not played since Nov. 30 with a reported muscle tear. Dortmund is sixth in the Bundesliga and plays Hoffenheim on Sunday before facing Wolfsburg on Dec. 22 in its last game before the winter break. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
- Tenorshare boasts 15 years of experience in the smartphone solutions industry - NEW YORK, N.Y., Dec. 12, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Recently, the Tenorshare website has received a major upgrade that focuses on providing a better user experience. “The upgrade is all about making life easier for our users. Our website now features our newest innovative products to enable users to solve more challenging problems from their daily walk of life,” says a Tenorshare spokesperson. So, what does the new upgrade beholds, let’s find out below! 1. Elevating the Brand Concept to New Heights Tenorshare boasts 15 years of experience in the smartphone solutions industry, specializing in advanced technology to create simple and easy-to-use products. So far, we’ve achieved 150M+ downloads, 142M+ happy users, and 100M+ views on YouTube . 2. Advancing Our Brand and Business Excellence Whatever problem you face, Tenorshare has the best software or platform solution for you. We offer repair and data recovery solutions for Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and all types of internal and external devices. Moreover, we also provide powerful tools like a new PDF editor and reader, DOC summarizer, OCR tools, smarter AI bypass solutions, and an AI Presentation Maker. 3. Tenorshare: Trusted by Experts, Loved by Users Tenorshare is trusted by major platforms such as TechRadar, Softpedia, pocket-lint, etc, and loved by users worldwide who value the company for its reliable and effective tools. With 13K+ reviews on Trustpilot, Tenorshare has earned an excellent 4.4 out of 5 rating. TENORSHARE’S CHRISTMAS EVENT: SHOP AND SAVE BIG! Tenorshare is launching a Christmas shopping event on December 13th, providing you with a huge chance to shop and save big on its products. You can enjoy AI-generated greeting cards for their friends and family, and take advantage of amazing deals like “Buy One, Get One Free” on new PDF products. There’s also a 30% OFF discount code: TS-XMAS24-30 which you can use when purchasing Tenorshare products. About Tenorshare: Tenorshare, a top smartphone solutions provider is trusted by 10+ million users worldwide for their innovative and user-friendly products. The company now offers data recovery & repair, and iOS and Android management solutions, OCR Office, and online AI tools under a single banner. With the motto “Better Software, Better Life,” Tenorshare is committed to creating products that boost productivity, creativity, and personalization. More information: https://www.tenorshare.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TenorshareOfficial/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/Tenorshare_Inc YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TenorshareOfficial/videos TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tenorshare_tech_tips . NEWS SOURCE: Tenorshare Co. Ltd. Keywords: Technology, Tenorshare, brnading, rebrand, tech, software, apps, Windows, macOS, NEW YORK, N.Y. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Tenorshare Co. Ltd.) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire . Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P122802 APDF15TBLLI To view the original version, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/elevating-excellence-the-all-new-tenorshare-brand-website-is-unveiled/ © 2024 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
49ers-Rams pregame: Greenlaw gets green light; nothing official yet on Guerendo, BosaDORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck was carried off on a stretcher with what seemed to be a severe ankle injury near the end of his team's loss to Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday. It leaves last season's Champions League runner-up without any fit central defenders. Schlotterbeck headed narrowly over the bar in the last action of the game as Dortmund lost 3-2 to Barcelona. He landed heavily and appeared to be in severe pain. The referee blew for full time while Schlotterbeck was being treated and he was later carried off on a stretcher, covering his face with his hands. Coach Nuri Sahin said Schlotterbeck was “obviously in low spirits” after the injury. “I'm waiting for the diagnosis and then we'll see, but I've watched the footage, too, and it doesn't look so good,” he told broadcaster DAZN. Dortmund already had to partner Schlotterbeck with midfielder Emre Can in the center of defense for the game because of injuries to Niklas Süle, who is expected to be out for several months with an ankle injury, and Waldemar Anton, who has not played since Nov. 30 with a reported muscle tear. Dortmund is sixth in the Bundesliga and plays Hoffenheim on Sunday before facing Wolfsburg on Dec. 22 in its last game before the winter break. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Nebraska has landed one of its most high-profile transfers of the portal era in a former five-star prospect who fills an immediate team need. Ex-Missouri defensive end Williams Nwaneri committed to the Huskers on Thursday afternoon after entering the portal earlier that morning. He has four years of eligibility remaining after redshirting his first college season — he appeared in four games and logged 38 defensive snaps and two tackles this fall. The 6-foot-7, 255-pounder from the Kansas City area held offers from most top schools in college football as the nation’s No. 1 edge rusher in the 2024 class. Nebraska’s connection begins with senior football assistant Jamar Mozee, who was Nwaneri’s high school coach at Lee’s Summit North. Mozee convinced the teenager to play football as a freshman and his stock soared soon after while playing for one of the area’s top programs. Nwaneri as a prep senior logged 50 tackles (13 for loss) in 11 games with 23 quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles. People are also reading... Spreading kindness one butterfly at a time At the courthouse, Dec. 7, 2024 Camper total loss after fire north of Beatrice BPS receives a "good" classification Hubbell native, Gage County Fair performer hosting Christmas concert Holiday lights travel through downtown Beatrice for annual parade Early names to know as Nebraska begins early shopping in the open transfer market Hit show ‘Yellowstone’ doesn’t just portray ranching in Montana. It has changed it. Amie Just: This recruiting class marks the beginning of a new era — one without walk-ons Orangemen wrestlers get their season started Now streaming and on DVD: 'Speak No Evil' scares the trip out of you Amie Just: A letter to Nebraska volleyball seniors ahead of their final match at Devaney "Shop with a Cop" held Lady O comes from behind to beat Crete P.E.O. sponsors Holiday Tour of Homes Mozee — who once went through the recruiting process as a K.C. high-school star running back and was part of Oklahoma’s 2000 national-title team — served as one of Nwaneri’s central advisors during his recruitment. Georgia and Oklahoma were the prospect’s other finalists then. Being close to home and an extensive family of supporters was key in his evaluation. “I feel like he wasn’t biased in any way,” Nwaneri said of Mozee a year ago when he signed with Missouri. “He was coming from a place of caring about me. I thank him a lot.” Mozee celebrated with Nwaneri at the time before leaving to join UCF in February 2024 as an off-field staffer. Nebraska coach Matt Rhule hired Mozee in July. At Nwaneri’s signing ceremony last year, Mozee said the player had “pro talent” he flashed daily. “You’ve got to be careful to say that as a high school coach but there’s just not many kids like him, just being honest,” Mozee said. “Physically, the way he’s made, the way he’s built. He’s different than everybody I’ve ever seen.” Nwaneri also played multiple seasons at Lee’s Summit North with incoming Nebraska receiver Isaiah Mozee, Jamar’s son. The younger Mozee has said he leaned on Nwaneri at times during his own recruiting process that included navigating 40-plus offers. Nwaneri drew national headlines as a prep senior when the state of Missouri passed a law allowing high schoolers to earn name-image-likeness benefits once they’ve signed with a school. The legislation applies only to Missouri residents. Rhule this month praised Nebraska’s formidable financial resources made available through its 1890 collective and what’s coming with revenue sharing. It allows the Huskers to be competitive with anyone for any player, he said. That includes Nwaneri, who arrives as the Huskers reset their defensive line with a new position coach and different starters for the entire front. “We are officially now a ‘have,’” Rhule said. “We’re going to have more (resources) than most people in college football.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Outcry as SNP unveils soft-touch 'Charter of Rights' for drug usersFunding fuels production ramp-up at U.S.-based facility, bringing advanced lead detection and smart home technology to market SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Notation Labs Inc. announced today the successful completion of a $2 million credit facility to scale up production of its innovative QwelTM smart home device. This funding provides the company with the financial flexibility and liquidity needed to expand manufacturing capacity and meet increasing customer demand as it prepares for market launch. The company has already initiated component procurement and manufacturing, including the order of 20,000 circuit boards from U.S.-based suppliers. Final assembly of the initial Qwel units will take place at the company's facility in Phoenix, Arizona . What Is Qwel TM ? QwelTM is a cutting-edge leak detection and prevention system designed to safeguard homes with advanced AI and machine learning technology. Its highly accurate sensors monitor critical factors like water pressure, temperature, flow rate and humidity to provide comprehensive protection. For more information about QwelTM or to stay updated on its release, visit https://www.qwel.io/ . About Notation Labs, Inc.: Notation Labs designs, engineers, and manufactures innovative smart water solutions to deliver high-quality products that empower homeowners. With a suite of advanced technologies, the company helps educate consumers on water conservation and equips them to make sustainable choices in their everyday lives. Driven by a mission to protect water resources for future generations, Notation Labs is at the forefront of water conservation efforts, leveraging breakthroughs in AI, machine learning, and Internet of Things (IoT) technology. The company is committed to making cutting-edge, water-saving devices that are not only highly effective but also affordable and accessible to households worldwide. By combining engineering excellence with a focus on sustainability, Notation Labs is redefining how consumers manage and conserve water. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/notation-labs-secures-2-million-credit-facility-to-accelerate-production-of-qwel-a-cutting-edge-lead-detection-and-prevention-system-302328185.html SOURCE Notation Labs, Inc.
President-elect Donald Trump is threatening to impose steep tariffs on America's biggest trading partners unless they do more to stop the flow of illegal drugs and immigrants. In social media posts Monday, Trump vowed to impose a 25% tax on all imports from Mexico and Canada, along with an additional 10% tax on imports from China , as one of his first orders on taking office. If he makes good on the threat, the impact would be felt in the U.S. too — from the supermarket to the car dealership. Here are three things to know about Trump's tariff proposal. Tariffs may be targeted at others — but Americans would also feel the impact President-elect's tariffs are intended to try to pressure Canada and Mexico on border policy — as well as to hit China economically. "It's time for them to pay a very big price," the president-elect wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform. But critics say if the threatened tariffs take effect, it's U.S. customers and businesses that would end up footing the bill. In just one high-profile example, the tariffs would raise the price of avocados less than three weeks before the Super Bowl — one of the biggest guacamole-eating days of the year. Shoppers would see higher prices throughout the produce department, since Mexico and Canada supply 32% of the fresh fruit and 34% of the fresh vegetables sold in the U.S. "One of President-elect Trump's signature pledges during the campaign was to tamp down inflation and to reduce prices at the grocery store," says Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, an importers trade group. "You would see an immediate spike [in prices] at the grocery store. You would see restaurants changing their menus so they could reduce the amount of produce that goes into their plates, or raising prices." Trump's proposed tariff would also likely increase gasoline prices — especially in the Midwest, where Canada supplies much of the crude oil used in U.S. refineries. American companies could suffer too It wouldn't just be American consumers feeling the impact. Businesses that operate across borders would suffer as well. "I don't think people quite grasp just how integrated the North American supply chain is," says Scott Lincicome, a trade expert a the libertarian CATO Institute. A key example is the U.S. auto industry, which has grown up under the North American Free Trade Agreement and the successor treaty that Trump signed in 2020. "These days, certain automotive parts like a car seat can travel across international borders five or six times before finally ending up in a made-in-America automobile," he adds. "That type of seamless trade would be utterly jeopardized by a 25% tariff, thus harming a lot of American manufacturers and manufacturing workers." But will Trump actually follow through? That's still unclear Under the law, the president has broad authority to impose tariffs. And Trump did slap taxes on many imports during his first term in the White House, typically after going through a lengthy review by the Commerce Department or by the U.S. Trade Representative. But Trump also threatened to impose many more tariffs than he actually did. "Donald Trump was willing to tweet out tariff threats, usually in the evening, after watching Fox news, and those tweets typically didn't come to much of anything," Lincicome says. The muted reaction in financial markets Tuesday suggests many investors are discounting the likelihood that the threatened tariffs will take effect. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he's already spoken to Trump by telephone. Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum sent a letter to the president-elect. Both foreign leaders have called for cooperation and dialogue. Whether that results in any meaningful drop in the volume of drugs or immigrants crossing the border remains to be seen. A spokesman for China's government cautioned, "No one will win in a trade war." But China may already be winning this first round. The additional 10% tariff on imports from China that Trump threatened Monday is a fraction of the 60% levy he called for during the campaign.
New York, NY, Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The world of cryptocurrency is a complex landscape, filled with opportunities but also fraught with risks. Today, Broker Complaint Alert (BCA) is proud to introduce its cutting-edge AI-driven solutions designed to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in the crypto space: the recovery of lost or stolen digital assets. Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing crypto recovery, enhancing security measures, and improving recovery efforts. Through advanced algorithms and real-time monitoring, AI can identify suspicious activities, predict, and even prevent future crypto scams. Services like BCA are at the forefront of this innovation, using AI to trace illicit crypto flows and restore investor confidence. Understanding the Intersection of AI and Crypto Recovery The combination of AI and crypto recovery represents a groundbreaking shift in digital asset security. 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This advanced technology is crucial for building robust defenses against digital threats. Broker Complaint Alert (BCA) and AI-Powered Recovery Efforts Broker Complaint Alert (BCA) leverages AI to revolutionize fund recovery processes. This platform uses AI technology to streamline recovery efforts and enhance protection for investors. By integrating advanced AI tools, BCA significantly improves the speed and efficiency of recovering lost digital assets. This approach has redefined how investors regain their funds. How BCA Utilizes AI to Protect Investors BCA employs AI algorithms to detect and prevent fraudulent activities. These tools monitor transactional data in real-time, identifying potential threats and protecting investments. Additionally, AI-powered analyses help BCA identify suspicious patterns swiftly. This proactive approach ensures investors can mitigate risks before they escalate. 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This advanced approach provides immediate alerts when potential threats are identified. It improves response times, enabling quicker actions to secure digital assets. Identifying Suspicious Activities with AI Identifying suspicious activities has become more precise with AI. AI tools are adept at recognizing potential fraud scenarios within transactions. By leveraging the power of machine learning, these tools can adapt to new patterns. This adaptability keeps them effective against evolving crypto scams, ensuring robust fund recovery strategies. The Future of Crypto Recovery: AI and Blockchain Synergy The future of crypto recovery lies in the synergy between AI and blockchain technology. AI's analytical abilities combined with blockchain's transparency can significantly enhance recovery processes. This integration opens new possibilities for tracing and retrieving lost digital assets. The collaboration of these technologies promises a more secure and trustworthy crypto environment. AI's Role in Enhancing Blockchain Transparency and Trust AI plays a crucial role in boosting blockchain transparency. By analyzing blockchain data, AI algorithms uncover hidden activities that may signal fraud. This transparency builds trust among investors and consumers. As AI identifies suspicious transactions, blockchain technology records them, providing an immutable audit trail for future reference. Preparing for Tomorrow: Continuous Learning and AI Adaptation Continuous learning is vital for AI in crypto recovery. AI systems must constantly evolve to stay ahead of cyber threats. Through regular updates, AI models can adjust to new fraud patterns. This adaptability is essential to maintain the efficiency and effectiveness of crypto recovery efforts in the ever-changing digital landscape. Conclusion: Embracing AI for a Safer Crypto Environment Embracing AI in crypto recovery is pivotal for a secure future. By leveraging AI's capabilities, we can protect digital assets and restore trust in the cryptocurrency market. As AI technologies continue to advance, they offer promising solutions to challenges in fund recovery, ensuring a safer crypto environment for all. About the company: Broker Complaint Alert (BCA) is a leading cryptocurrency recovery firm dedicated to helping individuals and businesses reclaim lost or stolen digital assets. Specializing in investigating fraudulent activities, including scams, hacks, and exchange failures, BCA leverages advanced blockchain forensics, AI technology, and legal expertise to locate and recover funds. Our team works closely with law enforcement, regulatory bodies, and industry experts to provide clients with transparent, reliable, and effective crypto asset recovery solutions. Whether you've fallen victim to a scam or lost access to your crypto holdings, BCA is here to help you navigate the complex process of recovery. Website: https://brokercomplaintalert.org Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. CONTACT: Costigliola Romualdo contact(at)brokercomplaintalert.orgSharks update: Mukhamadullin to play; should ‘heart and soul’ forward be re-signed?
Life in or Foothills December 2024 – Necessity Versus Accessory
Cardinals are average through 12 games and the frustration is it feels as if they could be betterOn Saturday, December 14th, Big Time Rush hosted a special one-night only experience for their fans at the Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Big Time Rush was able to kick off the holiday season on a high note with “Big Time Rush on Ice.” This event featured a first-of-its-kind, sold-out concert and skating spectacle from Carlos PenaVega, Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, and Logan Henderson that included plenty of surprises, fun, games, and other fun activities. James Maslow remarked about the experience, “Big Time Rush on Ice was a vibe...I bet ya’ll thought we were kidding. Should we do this again?” One of the biggest surprises from “Big Time Rush on Ice”, which elicited some of the loudest cheers, came at the start of the show when Carlos was presented with his infamous black hockey helmet. A nod to their hit Nickelodeon show, “Big Time Rush,” this was the first time that the hockey helmet made an appearance at a Big Time Rush concert. The band captivated their fans, some of whom traveled as far as the Netherlands to be there, with skating choreography by Adam Blake that included Big Time Rush and their “backup dancers” performing a pinwheel, a synchronized skating formation, as well as the choreography to their hit song, “Boyfriend,” on the ice, to end the evening. “This last show of the year felt like a movie! Big thanks to our band and crew for holding it down for us,” Logan Henderson said. Big Time Rush also brought out players from the Elite Hockey Academy in Bridgeport for a special “Pee Wee On Ice” scrimmage during the show. This marked the second annual Holiday Extravaganza for Big Time Rush. “This is truly one for the books. Thank you all for one of the funnest shows we’ve ever played,” the band concurred as a whole. Last year’s inaugural event was held in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and included a concert, Big Time Game Show with fan participation, surprises, on-stage antics that fans have come to love and even a surprise visit from Santa Claus. Closing out the year, this noteworthy night followed the band’s sold-out U.K. and European tour this summer as well as their first-ever tours in Australia and Asia. In 2023, Big Time Rush’s “Can’t Get Enough” Tour saw sold-out amphitheaters and arenas – selling out venues across America including Los Angeles’ KIA Forum and New York’s Jones Beach Theater. To learn more about Big Time Rush, follow them on Instagram . Markos Papadatos is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for Music News.Papadatos is a Greek-American journalist and educator that has authored over 22,000 original articles over the past 18 years. He has interviewed some of the biggest names in music, entertainment, lifestyle, magic, and sports. He is a 16-time "Best of Long Island" winner, where for three consecutive years (2020, 2021, and 2022), he was honored as the "Best Long Island Personality" in Arts & Entertainment, an honor that has gone to Billy Joel six times.
CHICAGO — Six years ago, Chicago Ald. Daniel Solis sat in House Speaker Michael Madigan’s office to break the news that he would not be seeking re-election to the City Council. But don’t worry, Solis told Madigan, he still had a few months left in office, and there were major new real estate developments going up in his ward, and that would mean plenty of tax-appeal business for the speaker’s private law firm. “There’s a couple more in the South Loop, and there’s some in the, in the West Loop. So, I figure I can still help you a lot,” Solis said in the Nov. 23, 2018, conversation, which was secretly recorded as part of Solis’ cooperation with the FBI. “I’m committed for that.” Madigan replied enthusiastically, “OK, thank you,” before moving almost immediately to something Solis had been wanting. “Do, do you want to go forward now on one of those state appointments?” Madigan asked. Prosecutors allege that the pivotal conversation, played Wednesday for the jury in Madigan’s corruption trial, is proof of a corrupt quid-pro-quo scheme in which Solis introduced the powerful Democratic speaker to developers in his ward in exchange for Madigan’s help securing him a six-figure state board appointment. The speaker appeared relaxed and jolly during the meeting, which took place three weeks after the 2018 general election in which Madigan’s bitter rival, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, had been vanquished by Democrat JB Pritzker. In the background in Madigan’s office was a life-size punching bag printed with Rauner’s face. Before getting down to business, the two exchanged some reaction to the election, including Jesus “Chuy” Garcia’s ascension to the U.S. House. “I like Chuy,” Madigan said. “But a progressive?” prompting them both to laugh. What Madigan did not know was that Solis had been cooperating with the FBI for more than two years and was recording the meeting with a hidden camera. Six days later, agents would raid the City Hall office suite of their Democratic colleague, then-Ald. Edward M. Burke. The video was played for jurors Wednesday toward the end of Solis’ direct examination, which in total lasted about 16 hours over four days of Madigan’s corruption trial. Solis is a crucial prosecution witness, and his cross-examination, slated to begin Monday after an extended break for Thanksgiving, is expected to be grueling. The trial, which began Oct. 8, is expected to last until mid-January. Madigan, 82, of Chicago, who served for decades as speaker of the Illinois House before stepping down in 2021, faces a wide array of racketeering charges alleging he ran his state and political operations like a criminal enterprise. He is charged alongside Michael McClain, 77, a former ComEd contract lobbyist from downstate Quincy, who for years was one of Madigan’s closest confidants. Both men have pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. For months before that November 2018 meeting, Solis had promised to connect Madigan with real estate developers in his 25th Ward who could give business to Madigan’s private tax law firm. At the direction of the FBI, Solis also asked Madigan if he could get Solis appointed to a lucrative seat on a state board or commission. Madigan told Solis to get him his resume. “I wanted to have a meeting with Pritzker the week after next,” Madigan said. “... (I want to) let Pritzker know what’s coming, doesn’t have to be in writing, and I’ll monitor what goes on with the boards and commissions.” Solis arranged to have his resume, along with his daughter’s, sent to Madigan a couple of weeks later. Then, in January 2019, Solis’ cover was blown. Thanks to a slip-up in the clerk’s office at the Dirksen U.S Courthouse, a 120-page FBI search warrant affidavit detailing Solis’ own misdeeds was left unsealed and made public, leading to Solis being outed as a mole. Did you ever hear from Madigan again? asked Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane MacArthur. “No,” Solis said. Solis has testified to a dizzying number of alleged schemes involving Madigan, all of which overlapped during his time as a cooperator. Madigan allegedly hoped to get legal business from a group of developers who would need a plot of land in Chinatown transferred from the state to the city, and tasked McClain with trying to get the supporting legislation through. He requested Solis’ help getting his son Andrew a job interview; he asked Solis for a connection to developers of West Loop real estate projects; and he apparently took steps to help Solis get a seat on a state board. All of that, prosecutors allege, is part of a long-running scheme of corruption in which Madigan used his own power to enrich himself and his allies. Defense attorneys, meanwhile, have framed it as perfectly legal political favor-trading. Solis’ credibility is sure to be under attack as soon as cross-examination begins Monday. The head of the powerful Zoning Committee began cooperating in 2016 only after FBI agents confronted him with evidence they’d gathered of his own extensive misdeeds. And in exchange for his lengthy and “singular” level of cooperation, prosecutors struck an equally unprecedented deal, in which Solis will avoid having a conviction on his record and can continue to draw his city pension. Recordings played Wednesday revealed just how strange Solis’ position was in 2018. He was a key cooperator in investigations against both Madigan and Burke, both of whom were Democratic powerhouses with side jobs as property tax attorneys, competing at times over the same big-time developers. Burke, as detailed in his corruption trial last year, was eager to get business from the New York-based group behind the renovation of the massive Old Post Office project in Solis’ ward. Lead developer Harry Skydell ended up promising Burke business on some of his other local properties instead, the evidence showed. In October 2018, Madigan called Solis and said he had read about Skydell’s company buying a building at 1 S. Wacker Drive. “That may be an opportunity for me,” Madigan told Solis in a recording played for jurors. “All right, I can call him right away,” Solis said. Solis reached Skydell a few days later, and told him Madigan had noticed he made a bid for the property on Wacker. “Yes, that’s the property that Burke has,” Skydell said. “Oh!” Solis said, and laughed out loud. Regardless, when Solis spoke to Madigan later that month, he said Skydell was eager to give Madigan the tax business. “I’ve got good news,” he told Madigan in a meeting secretly recorded on video. “... I talked to Harry, he’s on board, he’s gonna give you that project.” That was not true, Solis testified Wednesday, but the government had directed him to say it. And right after giving Madigan the “good news,” Solis asked about the state board seat. “Yeah, I’ve got it in my notes, I’m gonna sit down with Pritzker,” Madigan said. “Excellent, excellent,” Solis said. The board seat was another fiction, Solis has previously testified. He was not actually interested in a position on a state commission, but his government contacts directed him to ask Madigan for that favor to see how he would respond. Solis was outed as a cooperator before Madigan could make any successful moves to get him appointed. Burke, the city’s longest-serving alderman and powerful chairman of the Finance Committee, was convicted last year and is serving a two-year prison term. The jury Wednesday also heard the end game in the saga surrounding the transfer of a Chinatown parking lot in order for developers to proceed with a hotel project on the site. Solis has testified about efforts that Madigan orchestrated, mainly through McClain, to pass legislation in 2018 that would transfer the triangular-shaped parcel from the Illinois Department of Transportation to city control. In exchange, Madigan hoped to win business for his law firm from the developers, Solis has said. But the thorny political issues surrounding the transfer proved too much for even Madigan to overcome — in part because Rauner was likely to oppose it if Madigan’s fingerprints were on it. In a face-to-face meeting on Oct. 26, 2018, Solis confirmed with Madigan that they were going to push the Chinatown amendment in the upcoming veto session but warned the speaker that the local state representative, Democrat Theresa Mah, had taken a “neutral position.” A week later, Madigan and McClain talked about a potential sponsor for the bill, with the speaker recommending Ed Burke’s brother, then-Democratic state Rep. Dan Burke. That day, McClain left Dan Burke a voicemail saying they wanted him to pick up the bill as a favor to Solis. But more problems quickly arose. On Nov. 21, 2018, McClain left a voicemail for Solis saying a group of Chinese business people had circulated petitions opposing the deal and taken the 3,000 signatures they gathered to then-Secretary of State Jesse White, who “has made the decision to be with the Chinese people and against the development.” “I’m just letting you know we’ve got all of a sudden a huge hurdle I didn’t expect from the Chinese community,” McClain said on the voicemail, which was played in court. Two days later, Madigan called McClain and told him the Chinatown deal was “not gonna go forward.” “Yeah, I kind of figured that,” McClain said. “I left a message for Solis, but he hasn’t called me back.” “Yeah. He was here today to, to tell me,” Madigan said, asking later, “Why would they be against (it)?” McClain said “these Chinese business guys” don’t want the competition. “I know it’s hard to believe, but at the end of the day, it’s probably about money,” McClain said, sharing a chuckle with the speaker. ©2024 Chicago Tribune. Visit at chicagotribune.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Game of the Year: Best PS5 Indie Game of 2024
Juventus are considering moves for Liam Delap and Joshua Zirkzee, while Paris St-Germain might offer Randal Kolo Muani in part exchange for Christopher Nkunku. Juventus are considering a move for Ipswich's Liam Delap and have sent scouts to watch the 21-year-old English striker, who is also interesting Chelsea and Manchester United . (Mirror) , external The Italian club are also eyeing a loan move for Manchester United's Netherlands forward Joshua Zirkzee, 23. ( Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian , external ) Paris St-Germain are interested in Chelsea's 27-year-old France striker Christopher Nkunku and might offer France forward Randal Kolo Muani, 25, in part exchange. (TBR Football) , external Liverpool winger Federico Chiesa, 27, is an option that Napoli are considering to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia if the Georgia forward does not sign a new contract at the Serie A club. ( Il Napolista - in Italian , external ) Aston Villa may recall Louie Barry from his loan at Stockport in January and send him out on loan to a Championship club, with Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough leading the chase for the 21-year-old English striker. (The Star) , external Manchester United are unlikely to offer Christian Eriksen a new contract, with the 32-year-old Denmark midfielder's current deal expiring at the end of the season. (Florian Plettenberg) , external Crystal Palace are among a host of European clubs interested in Lecce's 20-year-old Denmark full-back Patrick Dorgu. (CaughtOffside) , external Manchester United have made 27-year-old England striker Marcus Rashford available for transfer. (Fichajes - in Spanish) , external Everton are unlikely to complete a deal for 29-year-old Roma defensive midfielder Bryan Cristante during the January transfer window. ( Football Insider , external ) Spain midfielder Dani Ceballos, 28, could be on his way out of Real Madrid with Real Betis interested in bringing the former Arsenal player back to the club. ( Fichajes - in Spanish , external )
Dana Hull | (TNS) Bloomberg News Jared Birchall, Elon Musk’s money manager and the head of his family office, is listed as the chief executive officer. Jehn Balajadia, a longtime Musk aide who has worked at SpaceX and the Boring Co., is named as an official contact. Related Articles National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own National Politics | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak National Politics | Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use But they’re not connected to Musk’s new technology venture, or the political operation that’s endeared him to Donald Trump. Instead, they’re tied to the billionaire’s new Montessori school outside Bastrop, Texas, called Ad Astra, according to documents filed with state authorities and obtained via a Texas Public Information Act request. The world’s richest person oversees an overlapping empire of six companies — or seven, if you include his political action committee. Alongside rockets, electric cars, brain implants, social media and the next Trump administration, he is increasingly focused on education, spanning preschool to college. One part of his endeavor was revealed last year, when Bloomberg News reported that his foundation had set aside roughly $100 million to create a technology-focused primary and secondary school in Austin, with eventual plans for a university. An additional $137 million in cash and stock was allotted last year, according to the most recent tax filing for the Musk Foundation. Ad Astra is closer to fruition. The state documents show Texas authorities issued an initial permit last month, clearing the way for the center to operate with as many as 21 pupils. Ad Astra’s website says it’s “currently open to all children ages 3 to 9.” The school’s account on X includes job postings for an assistant teacher for preschool and kindergarten and an assistant teacher for students ages 6 to 9. To run the school, Ad Astra is partnering with a company that has experience with billionaires: Xplor Education, which developed Hala Kahiki Montessori school in Lanai, Hawaii, the island 98% owned by Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison. Ad Astra sits on a highway outside Bastrop, a bedroom community about 30 miles from Austin and part of a region that’s home to several of Musk’s businesses. On a visit during a recent weekday morning, there was a single Toyota Prius in the parking lot and no one answered the door at the white building with a gray metal roof. The school’s main entrance was blocked by a gate, and there was no sign of any children on the grounds. But what information there is about Ad Astra makes it sound like a fairly typical, if high-end, Montessori preschool. The proposed schedule includes “thematic, STEM-based activities and projects” as well as outdoor play and nap time. A sample snack calendar features carrots and hummus. While Birchall’s and Balajadia’s names appear in the application, it isn’t clear that they’ll have substantive roles at the school once it’s operational. Musk, Birchall and Balajadia didn’t respond to emailed questions. A phone call and email to the school went unanswered. Access to high quality, affordable childcare is a huge issue for working parents across the country, and tends to be an especially vexing problem in rural areas like Bastrop. Many families live in “childcare deserts” where there is either not a facility or there isn’t an available slot. Opening Ad Astra gives Musk a chance to showcase his vision for education, and his support for the hands-on learning and problem solving that are a hallmark of his industrial companies. His public comments about learning frequently overlap with cultural concerns popular among conservatives and the Make America Great Again crowd, often focusing on what he sees as young minds being indoctrinated by teachers spewing left-wing propaganda. He has railed against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and in August posted that “a lot of schools are teaching white boys to hate themselves.” Musk’s educational interests dovetail with his new role as Trump’s “first buddy.” The billionaire has pitched a role for himself that he — and now the incoming Trump administration — call “DOGE,” or the Department of Government Efficiency. Though it’s not an actual department, DOGE now posts on X, the social media platform that Musk owns. “The Department of Education spent over $1 billion promoting DEI in America’s schools,” the account posted Dec. 12. Back in Texas, Bastrop is quickly becoming a key Musk point of interest. The Boring Co., his tunneling venture, is based in an unincorporated area there. Across the road, SpaceX produces Starlink satellites at a 500,000-square-foot (46,000-square-meter) facility. Nearby, X is constructing a building for trust and safety workers. Musk employees, as well as the general public, can grab snacks at the Boring Bodega, a convenience store housed within Musk’s Hyperloop Plaza, which also contains a bar, candy shop and hair salon. Ad Astra is just a five-minute drive away. It seems to have been designed with the children of Musk’s employees — if not Musk’s own offspring — in mind. Musk has fathered at least 12 children, six of them in the last five years. “Ad Astra’s mission is to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in the next generation of problem solvers and builders,” reads the school’s website. A job posting on the website of the Montessori Institute of North Texas says “While their parents support the breakthroughs that expand the realm of human possibility, their children will grow into the next generation of innovators in a way that only authentic Montessori can provide.” The school has hired an executive director, according to documents Bloomberg obtained from Texas Health and Human Services. Ad Astra is located on 40 acres of land, according to the documents, which said a 4,000-square-foot house would be remodeled for the preschool. It isn’t uncommon for entrepreneurs to take an interest in education, according to Bill Gormley, a professor emeritus at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University who studies early childhood education. Charles Butt, the chairman of the Texas-based H-E-B grocery chain, has made public education a focus of his philanthropy. Along with other business and community leaders, Butt founded “Raise Your Hand Texas,” which advocates on school funding, teacher workforce and retention issues and fully funding pre-kindergarten. “Musk is not the only entrepreneur to recognize the value of preschool for Texas workers,” Gormley said. “A lot of politicians and business people get enthusiastic about education in general — and preschool in particular — because they salivate at the prospect of a better workforce.” Musk spent much of October actively campaigning for Trump’s presidential effort, becoming the most prolific donor of the election cycle. He poured at least $274 million into political groups in 2024, including $238 million to America PAC, the political action committee he founded. While the vast majority of money raised by America PAC came from Musk himself, it also had support from other donors. Betsy DeVos, who served as education secretary in Trump’s first term, donated $250,000, federal filings show. The Department of Education is already in the new administration’s cross hairs. Trump campaigned on the idea of disbanding the department and dismantling diversity initiatives, and he has also taken aim at transgender rights. “Rather than indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual, and political material, which is what we’re doing now, our schools must be totally refocused to prepare our children to succeed in the world of work,” Trump wrote in Agenda 47, his campaign platform. Musk has three children with the musician Grimes and three with Shivon Zilis, who in the past was actively involved at Neuralink, his brain machine interface company. All are under the age of five. Musk took X, his son with Grimes, with him on a recent trip to Capitol Hill. After his visit, he shared a graphic that showed the growth of administrators in America’s public schools since 2000. Musk is a fan of hands-on education. During a Tesla earnings call in 2018, he talked about the need for more electricians as the electric-car maker scaled up the energy side of its business. On the Joe Rogan podcast in 2020, Musk said that “too many smart people go into finance and law.” “I have a lot of respect for people who work with their hands and we need electricians and plumbers and carpenters,” Musk said while campaigning for Trump in Pennsylvania in October. “That’s a lot more important than having incremental political science majors.” Ad Astra’s website says the cost of tuition will be initially subsidized, but in future years “tuition will be in line with local private schools that include an extended day program.” “I do think we need significant reform in education,” Musk said at a separate Trump campaign event. “The priority should be to teach kids skills that they will find useful later in life, and to leave any sort of social propaganda out of the classroom.” With assistance from Sophie Alexander and Kara Carlson. ©2024 Bloomberg News. Visit at bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
New York Giants (2-9) at Dallas (4-7) Thursday, 4:30 p.m. EST, Fox BetMGM NFL Odds: Cowboys by 4. Against the spread: Giants 3-8; Cowboys 3-8. Series record: Cowboys lead 76-47-2. Last meeting: Cowboys beat Giants 20-15 on Sept. 26, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Last week: Giants lost to Buccaneers 30-7; Cowboys beat Commanders 34-26. Giants offense: overall (24), rush (19), pass (28), scoring (32) Giants defense: overall (19), rush (30), pass (7), scoring (17) Cowboys offense: overall (21), rush (31), pass (8), scoring (T22) Cowboys defense: overall (27), rush (31), pass (21), scoring (31) Turnover differential: Giants minus-6; Cowboys minus-9. Giants player to watch WR Malik Nabers. The No. 6 overall pick in the draft had a team-high six receptions for 64 yards despite not being targeted in the first half as the Giants fell behind the Bucs 23-0. Coach Brian Daboll said he is not going to let that happen again. Against Dallas in Week 4, Nabers had a season-high 12 catches for 115 yards, with a long of 39 yards. He was targeted 15 times by Daniel Jones. He sustained a concussion on the last attempt and missed the next two games. Cowboys player to watch RB Rico Dowdle just had his second game of at least 85 yards, finishing with 86 on the road against the Commanders. The undrafted fifth-year player who has taken over as the lead back is looking to sustain momentum for the first time. After finishing with 87 yards in a victory at Pittsburgh, Dowdle came home and was held to a season-low 25 yards in a 47-9 loss to Detroit. Dallas' 31st-ranked run game has been marked by that kind of inconsistency, or worse, all season. Key matchup Giants DL Dexter Lawrence vs. Cowboys OL. Lawrence is tied for sixth in the NFL with a career-high nine sacks, and the Dallas offensive front has been in flux most of the season. Injuries and youth have kept the Cowboys from establishing a rushing attack in most games. Dallas is coming off an effective showing on the ground and Cooper Rush's best performance in three starts filling in for injured star QB Dak Prescott. Lawrence will test the Cowboys' ability to get the run game going and protect Rush. Key injuries Giants QB Tommy DeVito emerged with a sore throwing arm from his first start replacing the benched and subsequently released Jones. Daboll said it was uncertain whether DeVito would play and that Drew Lock would get extra reps in practice just in case. ... OLB Azeez Ojulari, who has six sacks and 10 QB hits, was placed on injured reserve with a toe injury. ... LT Jermaine Eluemunor, who started the first 11 games, was ruled out with a quad injury. ... DL Armon Watts won't play because of a shoulder issue. ... The Cowboys will be without perennial All-Pro RG Zack Martin for a second consecutive game with ankle and shoulder injuries. ... CB Trevon Diggs, a 2021 All-Pro, is questionable with groin and knee issues after also missing the Washington game. ... LG Tyler Smith, who injured an ankle about the same time Martin did late in the game against Houston on Nov. 18, says he will play after sitting against the Commanders. ... TE Jake Ferguson has been ruled out with a concussion for the second week in a row. ... WR Brandin Cooks was activated off IR. He hasn't played since the first meeting with the Giants because of a knee issue. Series notes The Cowboys have won 14 of the past 15 meetings with the Giants. Matching seven-game winning streaks for Dallas are separated by a New York victory in the 2020 season finale. ... This is the second Thanksgiving meeting in three seasons for the NFC East rivals. There had been just one before that, a 30-3 Dallas victory in 1992. The Cowboys won 28-20 two years ago. The Giants are 0-4 on the holiday since a 13-6 win at Detroit in 1982. Stats and stuff The 16 combined losses for New York and Dallas are the most going into a Cowboys Thanksgiving game, according to Sportradar. The previous high was 14 three times, most recently in 2020 when Washington beat Dallas 41-16 in a matchup of seven-loss teams. Washington made the playoffs that season as the NFC East champ at 7-9. ... The first Dallas-New York meeting also was on Thursday. That happened last season with Green Bay and Detroit. The previous — and only other — time was 1923 with the Chicago Bears and Chicago Cardinals. ... The Giants' six-game losing streak is their longest since a nine-game skid, the franchise record, in 2019. ... The Cowboys ended a five-game losing streak with the victory at Washington but are 0-5 at home. It’s the worst home start since Dallas lost all eight games at old Texas Stadium while finishing 1-15 in 1989, the year owner Jerry Jones bought the team. The home losing streak is six going back to a wild-card loss to Green Bay in January. Before losing to the Packers, the Cowboys had won 16 in a row at AT&T Stadium. ... DeVito was 21 of 31 for 189 yards in his first action this season against the Buccaneers. He was sacked four times. ... WR Wan’Dale Robinson has 61 catches, surpassing his career high of 60 in 2023. ... Nabers has 67 catches, the most by a player in his first nine games. Puka Nacua of the Rams set the record of 64 last season. ... WR Darius Slayton had his streak of catching a pass snapped at 26 games against Tampa Bay. ... New York has gone 11 consecutive games without a positive turnover differential, extending the longest single-season streak in franchise history. ... The Giants have not intercepted a pass in 10 consecutive games, tying the NFL record held by the 1976-77 San Francisco 49ers and the 2017 Oakland Raiders. ... New York has one sack in the past three games after getting an NFL-high 35 through the first eight games. ... The Giants have the fewest points in the league (163) and they have played seven games without scoring a first-half touchdown. ... Rookie S Tyler Nubin has led New York with 12 tackles each of the past two games. ... Rush had his highest passer rating as the Dallas starter at 117.6 against the Commanders. He threw for two touchdowns with no interceptions. Rush beat the Giants for one of his victories when he went 4-1 filling in for Prescott early in 2022. He had a TD with no picks in a 23-16 win. ... WR CeeDee Lamb leads the NFL with 77 catches. He and Jarvis Landry are the only players in league history with at least 70 catches in each of their first five seasons. Lamb led the NFL last season with a career-high 135 grabs. ... Star pass rusher Micah Parsons had two sacks against the Commanders and has a sack in each of his three Thanksgiving games. ... WR/KR KaVontae Turpin, who returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown against Washington, is the fifth player since the 1970 merger to have TDs on punt and kickoff returns along with a scoring catch of at least 60 yards. The most recent was Chicago's Devin Hester in 2007. Fantasy tip Lamb has averaged 91 yards receiving per game against the Giants in his career, but without a bunch of touchdowns (four). While the Giants lag in most team statistical categories, they do have the seventh-best pass defense in the NFL. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl The Associated PressWoolworths strike deal no closer, White House defends Biden backflip, manhunt continues after two bodies foundA fire broke out Wednesday in the Tokyo apartment building where Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Kuniko Inoguchi lives with her family, and two unidentified bodies have been found at the scene, police said, noting that her husband and one of their daughters remain unaccounted for. Four people were living in the 72-year-old House of Councillors member's residence and contact was made with Inoguchi and her other daughter, the metropolitan police said. Inoguchi's husband, Takashi, 80, is a professor emeritus of politics and international relations at the University of Tokyo. A report was made after 7 p.m. that a fire had started at the six-story apartment building in Bunkyo Ward of the Japanese capital. More than 30 firetrucks and other emergency vehicles were dispatched to the scene, located in an area lined with apartment buildings and houses, about 500 meters north of Tokyo Dome. The fire was subdued before 1 a.m. Thursday. Inoguchi was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2005 after being a professor at Sophia University. She served as minister in charge of addressing the declining birthrate and promoting gender equality. She has been a member of the House of Councillors since 2010 and is currently in her third term.
NYT Connections Dec 28 Answers and hints to decipher today’s challenge
ATLANTA — Already reeling from their November defeats, Democrats grappled Monday with President Joe Biden's pardoning of his son for federal crimes, with some calling the move misguided and unwise after the party spent years slamming Donald Trump as a threat to democracy who disregarded the law. The president pardoned Hunter Biden late Sunday evening, reversing his previous pledges with a grant of clemency that covers more than a decade of federal crimes his son might have committed. The president said in a statement his son's prosecution on charges of tax evasion and falsifying a federal weapons purchase form were politically motivated. “He believes in the justice system, but he also believes that politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday. She, along with Biden and other White House officials, insisted for months that Hunter Biden would not get a pardon. That explanation did not satisfy some Democrats, angry that Biden's reversal could make it harder to take on Trump, who argues that multiple indictments and a conviction against him were a matter of Biden and Democrats turning the justice system against him. "This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation," Colorado Gov. Jared Polis wrote of Biden on social media. "Hunter brought the legal trouble he faced on himself, and one can sympathize with his struggles while also acknowledging that no one is above the law, not a President and not a President's son." Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., said on social media: "This wasn't a politically motivated prosecution. Hunter committed felonies and was convicted by a jury of his peers." Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Biden "put personal interest ahead of duty" with a decision that "further erodes Americans' faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all." Michigan Sen. Gary Peters said the pardon was "an improper use of power" that erodes faith in government and "emboldens others to bend justice to suit their interests." Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., called the pardon "understandable" if viewed only as the "action of a loving father." But Biden's status as "our nation's Chief Executive," the senator said, rendered the move "unwise." Certainly, the president has Democratic defenders who note Trump's use of presidential power to pardon a slew of his convicted aides, associates and friends, several for activities tied to Trump's campaign and first administration. "Trump pardoned Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn and Paul Manafort, as well as his son-in-law's father, Charles Kushner — who he just appointed US ambassador to France," wrote prominent Democratic fundraiser Jon Cooper on social media. Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison said there "is no standard for Donald Trump, and the highest standard for Democrats and Joe Biden." Harrison pointed to Trump's apparent plans to oust FBI Director Christopher Wray and replace him with loyalist Kash Patel and suggested the GOP's pursuit of Hunter Biden would not have ended without clemency. "Most people will see that Joe Biden did what was right," Harrison said. First lady Jill Biden said Monday from the White House, "Of course I support the pardon of my son." But Biden’s decision to go back on his word and issue a categorical pardon for his son was a surprise that wasn't all that surprising. Not to those who had witnessed the president’s shared anguish over his two sons after the boys survived a car crash that killed Biden's first wife and a daughter more than a half-century ago. Or to those who heard the president regularly lament the death of his older son, Beau, from cancer or voice concerns — largely in private — about Hunter’s sobriety and health after years of deep addiction. But by choosing to put his family first, the 82-year-old president — who had pledged to restore a fractured public’s trust in the nation’s institutions and respect for the rule of law — raised new questions about his already teetering legacy. Biden aides and allies were already resigned to the prospect of the president using his extraordinary power in the waning days of his presidency to ensure his son wouldn't see time behind bars, especially after Donald Trump's win. The president's supporters have long viewed Biden's commitment to his family as an asset overall, even if Hunter's personal conduct and tangled business dealings were seen as a persistent liability. Democrats already are facing the prospects of a Republican trifecta in Washington, with voters returning Trump to the White House and giving the GOP control of the House and Senate. Part of their argument against Trump and Republican leaders is expected to be that the president-elect is violating norms with his talk of taking retribution against his enemies. Before beating Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump faced his own legal troubles, including two cases that stemmed from his efforts to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. Those cases, including Trump's sentencing after being convicted on New York state business fraud charges, have either been dismissed or indefinitely delayed since Trump's win on Nov. 5, forcing Democrats to recalibrate their approach to the president-elect. In June, President Biden firmly ruled out a pardon or commutation for his son, telling reporters as his son faced trial in the Delaware gun case: "I abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him." As recently as Nov. 8, days after Trump's win, Jean-Pierre ruled out a pardon or clemency for the younger Biden, saying: "We've been asked that question multiple times. Our answer stands, which is no." Get local news delivered to your inbox!Best refrigerators under 10000: Affordable cooling solutions for every budgetThe AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . HOUSTON (AP) — Kavion McClain scored 14 points as Texas Southern beat Texas A&M-Kingsville 80-72 on Wednesday. McClain added six assists for the Tigers (2-5). Grayson Carter scored 13 points, shooting 6 of 7 from the field. Kenny Hunter and Alex Anderson both added 12. The Javelinas were led by Isaiah Payne, who recorded 18 points and four assists. Texas A&M-Kingsville also got 16 points from Allen Singleton. Nate Lacewell also had 13 points and seven rebounds. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Tehran's support for Lebanon highlighted in phone call between parliamentary leadersWith the holidays comes festive feasts, and those often feature turkey. However, cooking a whole turkey isn’t the easiest thing in the world, as proven by the popularity of the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line. Since 1981, turkey company Butterball has offered a hotline for home chefs to call and ask experts for advice as they prepare their turkeys. Over the years, they've answered millions of questions and have expanded beyond just a phone line to accepting queries over text, email and social media as well. According to Butterball, the most common question they receive is when and how to thaw a turkey – a guide to which can be found here . This year, the hotline will be open from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24 and staffed by more than 50 experts, reachable via call at 1-800-BUTTERBALL or text at 844-877-3456. They're even open on Thanksgiving Day, fielding questions from across the country. Butterball shared that last Thanksgiving, the state they received the most calls from was California, and the top city was New York City, followed by Chicago and Nassau, New York. Check out the maps below to see the 10 cities and states that made the most calls last year.
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The world’s biggest (PE) have been unable to sell or list their portfolio companies this year, as Beijing’s crackdown on (IPOs) and a slowing economy leave foreign investors’ capital trapped in the country. Among the 10 largest global private equity groups with operations in China, there is no record of any having listed a Chinese company this year or fully sold their stake through a , figures from Dealogic show. It is the first year for at least a decade where this has been the case, though the pace of exits has been slow since Beijing introduced restrictions on Chinese companies’ ability to list in 2021. Buyout groups rely on being able to sell or list companies, typically within three to five years of buying them, in order to generate returns for the pension funds, insurance companies and others whose money they manage. The difficulties in doing so have in effect left those investors’ funds locked away, with future returns uncertain. “There’s a growing sense among PE investors that China may not be as systemically investable as once thought,” said Brock Silvers, chief executive of Hong Kong private equity group Kaiyuan Capital. He said firms were facing “weakened exit strategies on multiple fronts” in China, including being affected by a slower economy and domestic regulatory pressure. Many private equity groups expanded their presence in the world’s second-biggest economy as it grew rapidly over the past two decades. and others plowed capital into the country, hoping to gain exposure to its economic boom. The 10 firms invested US$137 billion over the past decade, but total exits amount to just US$38 billion, Dealogic data shows. New investment by those groups has collapsed to just US$5 billion since the start of 2022. The pace of buyout groups’ exits from deals globally has also been slowing. It was down 26 per cent in the first half of this year, according to a report by S&P Global. But the halt in China exits is particularly stark. It has helped make some pension funds that allocate cash to private equity groups warier of exposure to the country. “In theory, you could buy cheaply [in China] now but you need to ask what would happen if you can’t exit or if you have to hold it for longer,” said a private markets specialist at a large pension fund that is not currently investing in the country. A senior executive at a major investment group that commits cash to private equity funds said they were “not expecting a lot of exits for the next couple of years at least” in China. The data covers Blackstone, KKR, CVC, TPG, Warburg Pincus, Carlyle Group, Bain Capital, EQT, Advent International and Apollo, the 10 largest buyout groups by funds raised for private equity over the past decade, excluding those that have done no deals in China. The data does not include Blackstone real estate deals. Private equity firms sometimes buy or sell companies without disclosing it, and any such exits may be missing from the data. The firms declined to comment. The difficulty in cashing out has been one of the main factors deterring international buyout groups from making investments in the country, in addition to Chinese-United States tensions and the economic slowdown. Jean Salata, founder of Barings Private Equity Asia, which Stockholm-based EQT bought in 2022, told the Financial Times in June that one reason the “bar is high” for China deals was that investors were asking: “How easy will it be to get liquidity on those investments five years from now?” Foreign buyout groups used to rely on taking Chinese companies public in the US or other countries in order to exit their investments after a few years. But Beijing has introduced new restrictions on offshore listings since cracking down on the ride-hailing app DiDi, in the wake of its New York IPO in 2021. Listings have slowed significantly since. In total this year, there have been just US$7 billion of domestic IPOs in China as of late November, compared with US$46 billion last year, which was already the lowest total since 2019. The crackdown has left buyout groups searching for other options, such as selling their stakes to domestic and multinational companies and to other buyout groups. But overseas buyers are sometimes reluctant, in part because of closer U.S. political scrutiny of the mainland. One of the few recent exits among the 10 firms came when Carlyle sold its minority stake in the back to the U.S. fast-food retailer last year. In China’s boom years before the Covid-19 pandemic, there were dozens of exits through both listings and mergers and acquisitions, and foreign private equity played a much bigger role in driving mainland activity. chief executive David Solomon said at a Hong Kong conference in November that one of the reasons investors were “predominantly on the sidelines” over deploying funds in China was that “it’s been very difficult...to get capital out”.
Spears and UTSA knock off Merrimack 76-74
