FC Barcelona once again leverages its brand power by launching a new initiative, offering VIP box pre-sales that are expected to generate a revenue of 1-2 billion euros over the next 20 years. The club aims to raise funds to register their women's team in the Primera División club Almo C.F.jili golden empire 。

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REIFFTON – Coach Calvin Everett was right. This isn’t the same Harrisburg Cougars assembly who opened the season with myriad questions and a lopsided defeat. Fortunately, the same defense that helped lean the Cougars toward another District 3 football title showed up Saturday at Don Thomas Stadium. • Sign up for PennLive’s daily high school sports newsletter Messiah Mickens scored twice and quarterback Jaiyon Lewis connected with Quincy Brannon and Elias Coke for touchdowns as Harrisburg slammed Wilson 42-14 to claim the program’s fourth consecutive 6A championship. The Bulldogs trailed 21-0 midway through the second quarter and was allowed minimal yardage no matter down and distance throughout. Mickens, from his post on the edge, registered three of Harrisburg’s four sacks, keeping talented Bulldogs QB Madyx Gruber busy throughout. And Wilson’s rushing attack? Doug Dahms’ troops carried 30 times for 37 yards. The Cougars (11-2) will travel West to meet WPIAL champion Pittsburgh Central Catholic in the state semifinal round. A venue and time will be announced. The Vikings dispatched State College 41-19 Friday in Altoona. The stars Coke provided a handful of big plays, including a 37-yard TD reception from in Harrisburg’s dominating third quarter. The Cougars rang up 21 points in just over a four-minute span to overwhelm the Bulldogs. D’Antae Sheffey’s 10-yard scoring run, which followed Wilson’s failed fake punt at its own 10, and Brannon’s 30-yard touch pass from Lewis added to the highlights. Earlier, RB Nehemiah Ewell’s 52-yard TD run helped the Cougars secure a 21-6 halftime edge. Lewis was 7 of 9 for 168 yards. Coke, who finished with three catches and 111 yards, was injured late in the third quarter while making a stop on Gruber’s scramble out of the pocket. Coke did not return. • What went into Harrisburg’s fourth straight D3 title? Brannon added 57 receiving yards. Gruber, meanwhile, was 12 of 20 with a pair of interception, one each by Trays Walker and Keijuan Sinkler. Walker’s pick came in the Harrisburg end zone on Wilson’s fourth-and-goal attempt in the second quarter. Game-winning moment Following Walker’s interception, Sheffey rushed three straight times for a combined 28 yards to push the Cougars near midfield. After a timeout, Ewell shot through the line of scrimmage and outraced the Bulldogs for a 21-0 edge. A sack by Mickens on Wilson’s third play of the second half handed possession right back to the Cougars. This time, Lewis found Coke to put the Bulldogs out of reach. They said it: “I saw green. I was reading the linebacker the whole team and he overflowed. I was out. Honestly, this title feels greater than the others. Earlier in the season, we lost my right hand, Shawn Lee Jr., and everybody knew it was going to be more difficult for us. Everybody doubted us, but I told them we have the pieces to the puzzle and we’re going to make it work.” – Harrisburg RB-LB Nehemiah Ewell “Our guys are, well, their emotions are running wild right now. This was an intense game, but we’ll come down and focus and be ready for next week.” – Harrisburg coach Calvin Everett Wilson 0-6-0-8 – 14 Harrisburg 7-14-21-0 – 42 First quarter H-Messiah Mickens 7 run (Gideon Fasanya kick), 2:59 Second quarter H-Mickens 4 run (Fasanya kick), 11:54 H-Nehemiah Ewell 52 run (Fasanya kick), 4:22 W-Madyx Gruber 1 run (kick failed), :14 Third quarter H-Elias Coke 37 pass from Lewis (Fasanya kick), 8:12 H-D’Antae Sheffey 10 run (Fasanya kick), 6:42 H-Quincy Brannon 30 pass from Lewis (Fasanya kick), 3:59 Fourth quarter W-Michael Glover 22 pass from Gruber (Monty Greer run), 10:56 Team statistics W H First downs: 13 13 Rush-yards: 30-37 30-143 Passing: 130 168 Comp-Att-Int: 13-21-2 7-10-0 Fumbles-lost: 0-0 0-0 Punts-Avg.: 3-34.5 0-0 Penalties-yards: 6-62 3-22 Individual statistics RUSHING: Wilson, Monty Greer 6-37, Correll Akings 10-24, Madyx Gruber 13-(minus-8), Team 1-(minus-16); Harrisburg, Nehemiah Ewell 1-52, D’Antae Sheffey 5-38, Messiah Mickens 8-34, Ja’auan Johnson 10-12, Jaiyon Lewis 4-7, Team 1-0. PASSING: Wilson, Gruber 12-20-2—134, Christo Hunsicker 1-1-0—(minus-4); Harrisburg, Lewis 7-10-0—168, Mikal Shank Jr. 0-1-0—0. RECEIVING: Wilson, Monty Greer 2-26, Christo Hunsicker 3-24, Correll Akings 3-27, Cam Zullinger 2-23, Michael Glover 1-22, Brady Kline 1-12, Ethan Harding, 1-(minus-4); Harrisburg, Elias Coke 3-111, Quincy Brannon 4-57. Follow Eric Epler on X/Twitter — @threejacker Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. ©2024 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit pennlive.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

A California senator has said that the state won’t aid the incoming Trump administration in its mass deportation efforts because it would be legally unable to. Sen. Alex Padilla of the Golden State appeared on CBS’s Face the Nation on Sunday, saying that he would work to block state resources from boosting deportation efforts by pushing for the government to follow the constitutional requirement that it’s up to the federal government to control the border. “There’s an important distinction here. No state’s government, not Texas, not California, not any state in the nation, has a constitutional authority to impose federal immigration law,” the Democrat said. “That is the responsibility of the federal government.” Trump has insisted that he will declare a national emergency and utilize the military to conduct the mass deportations, a proposed effort that has faced criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans. “Let the federal government do the federal government’s job, but have state and local officials do the state and local officials’ job,” Padilla added. “There doesn’t have to be a conflict unless that’s what Trump wants.” A law from 2017, California Senate Bill 54, prohibits the use of state and local resources to aid the federal government in immigration enforcement, Politico noted . Tom Homan, Trump’s appointed border czar, has said that local law enforcement who don’t work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to conduct deportations would be prosecuted. “Some states like Texas want to push the envelope and try to find a way to assist, but there’s no obligation to do so,” Padilla noted. Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has said that if the federal government doesn’t do its job in protecting the border, the state has the right to step in, such as by installing razor wire on its border with Mexico. California will not “utilize state and local resources to do the federal government’s job for them,” Padilla vowed Sunday. The state’s Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas has said that he will “ensure that people feel protected and they feel welcomed.” Meanwhile, Governor Gavin Newsom has indicated that his state will resist the new Trump administration. “California is the most populous state in the nation, the most diverse state in the nation, home to more immigrants than any state in the nation,” Padilla told CBS. “The last thing you want to do is have immigrants who are victims of crime afraid to come forward to report the crime. The last thing you want is immigrants who may be witnesses to crime be afraid to come forward and share any information they have in the investigation and prosecution of crimes.” The senator also shared his worries about Trump’s relationship with California more generally. “If the federal government will continue to support California in its leadership and so many policy areas, there’s a lot of good work to be done there. But Donald Trump has made it no secret he has it in for California,” Padilla said in reference to FEMA funds that Trump “tried to keep from not the government of California but from California families simply because it’s a state that did not vote for him in the presidential election.” “We’re trying to inoculate ourselves from those types of threats,” Padilla said on Face the Nation.

By HILLEL ITALIE NEW YORK (AP) — Even through a year of nonstop news about elections, climate change, protests and the price of eggs, there was still time to read books. U.S. sales held steady according to Circana, which tracks around 85% of the print market, with many choosing the relief of romance, fantasy and romantasy. Some picked up Taylor Swift’s tie-in book to her blockbuster tour, while others sought out literary fiction, celebrity memoirs, political exposes and a close and painful look at a generation hooked on smartphones. Here are 10 notable books published in 2024, in no particular order. Asking about the year’s hottest reads would basically yield a list of the biggest hits in romantasy, the blend of fantasy and romance that has proved so irresistible fans were snapping up expensive “special editions” with decorative covers and sprayed edges. Of the 25 top sellers of 2024, as compiled by Circana, six were by romantasy favorite Sarah J. Maas, including “House of Flame and Shadow,” the third of her “Crescent City” series. Millions read her latest installment about Bryce Quinlan and Hunter Athalar and traced the ever-growing ties of “Maasverse,” the overlapping worlds of “Crescent City” and her other series, “Throne of Glass” and “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” If romantasy is for escape, other books demand we confront. In the bestselling “The Anxious Generation,” social psychologist Jonathan Haidt looks into studies finding that the mental health of young people began to deteriorate in the 2010s, after decades of progress. According to Haidt, the main culprit is right before us: digital screens that have drawn kids away from “play-based” to “phone-based” childhoods. Although some critics challenged his findings, “The Anxious Generation” became a talking point and a catchphrase. Admirers ranged from Oprah Winfrey to Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee, who in a letter to state legislators advocated such “commonsense recommendations” from the book as banning phones in schools and keeping kids off social media until age 16. Bob Woodward books have been an election tradition for decades. “War,” the latest of his highly sourced Washington insider accounts, made news with its allegations that Donald Trump had been in frequent contact with Russian leader Vladimir Putin even while out of office and, while president, had sent Putin sophisticated COVID-19 test machines. Among Woodward’s other scoops: Putin seriously considered using nuclear weapons against Ukraine, and President Joe Biden blamed former President Barack Obama, under whom he served as vice president, for some of the problems with Russia. “Barack never took Putin seriously,” Woodward quoted Biden as saying. Former (and future) first lady Melania Trump, who gives few interviews and rarely discusses her private life, unexpectedly announced she was publishing a memoir: “Melania.” The publisher was unlikely for a former first lady — not one of the major New York houses, but Skyhorse, where authors include such controversial public figures as Woody Allen and Trump cabinet nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. And its success was at least a minor surprise. Melania Trump did little publicity for the book, and offered few revelations beyond posting a video expressing support for abortion rights — a break from one of the cornerstones of GOP policy. But “Melania” still sold hundreds of thousands of copies, many in the days following her husband’s election. Taylor Swift was more than a music story in 2024. Like “Melania,” the news about Taylor Swift’s self-published tie-in to her global tour isn’t so much the book itself, but that it exists. And how well it sold. As she did with the “Eras” concert film, Swift bypassed the established industry and worked directly with a distributor: Target offered “The Eras Tour Book” exclusively. According to Circana, the “Eras” book sold more than 800,000 copies just in its opening week, an astonishing number for a publication unavailable through Amazon.com and other traditional retailers. No new book in 2024 had a better debut. Midnight book parties are supposed to be for “Harry Potter” and other fantasy series, but this fall, more than 100 stores stayed open late to welcome one of the year’s literary events: Sally Rooney’s “Intermezzo.” The Irish author’s fourth novel centers on two brothers, their grief over the death of their father, their very different career paths and their very unsettled love lives. “Intermezzo” was also a book about chess: “You have to read a lot of opening theory — that’s the beginning of a game, the first moves,” one of the brothers explains. “And you’re learning all this for what? Just to get an okay position in the middle game and try to play some decent chess. Which most of the time I can’t do anyway.” Lisa Marie Presley had been working on a memoir at the time of her death , in 2023, and daughter Riley Keough had agreed to help her complete it. “From Here to the Great Unknown” is Lisa Marie’s account of her father, Elvis Presley, and the sagas of of her adult life, notably her marriage to Michael Jackson and the death of son Benjamin Keough. To the end, she was haunted by the loss of Elvis, just 42 when he collapsed and died at his Graceland home while young Lisa Marie was asleep. “She would listen to his music alone, if she was drunk, and cry,” Keough, during an interview with Winfrey, said of her mother. Meanwhile, Cher released the first of two planned memoirs titled “Cher” — no further introduction required. Covering her life from birth to the end of the 1970s, she focuses on her ill-fated marriage to Sonny Bono, remembering him as a gifted entertainer and businessman who helped her believe in herself while turning out to be unfaithful, erratic, controlling and so greedy that he kept all the couple’s earnings for himself. Unsure of whether to leave or stay, she consulted a very famous divorcee, Lucille Ball, who reportedly encouraged her: “F— him, you’re the one with the talent.” A trend in recent years is to take famous novels from the past, and remove words or passages that might offend modern readers; an edition of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” cuts the racist language from Mark Twain’s original text. In the most celebrated literary work of 2024, Percival Everett found a different way to take on Twain’s classic — write it from the perspective of the enslaved Jim. “James,” winner of the National Book Award, is a recasting in many ways. Everett suggests to us that the real Jim was nothing like the deferential figure known to millions of readers, but a savvy and learned man who concealed his intelligence from the whites around him, and even from Twain himself. Salman Rushdie’s first National Book Award nomination was for a memoir he wished he had no reason to write. In “Knife,” he recounts in full detail the horrifying attempt on his life in 2022, when an attendee rushed the stage during a literary event in western New York and stabbed him repeatedly, leaving with him a blinded eye and lasting nerve damage, but with a spirit surprisingly intact. “If you had told me that this was going to happen and how would I deal with it, I would not have been very optimistic about my chances,” he told The Associated Press last spring. “I’m still myself, you know, and I don’t feel other than myself. But there’s a little iron in the soul, I think.”Title: Man Participates in Self-Discipline Challenge for $800k Prize, Loses $20k - Legal Dispute Sparks Attention

Ronald Araujo, a rising star in the world of football, was a vital player for Barcelona, known for his defensive prowess and leadership on the pitch. However, a series of unfortunate injuries kept him out of action for an extended period, much to the disappointment of both the player and the club.What US buyers (and investors) can expect from the auto industry in 2025

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French Prime Minister Faces No-Confidence Vote After Austerity BudgetBy publicly stating their readiness to address any queries or concerns raised by regulators, Nvidia is sending a clear signal that they are open to constructive dialogue and are committed to working collaboratively towards finding mutually beneficial solutions. This kind of proactive engagement with regulatory authorities is crucial for maintaining trust, ensuring compliance, and fostering a positive regulatory environment for the tech industry as a whole.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers activated linebacker Dre Greenlaw to play Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams for his first action since tearing his left Achilles tendon in last season's Super Bowl . Greenlaw had been practicing the past few weeks and was activated from the physically unable to perform list on Thursday. San Francisco placed offensive lineman Ben Bartch on injured reserve with an ankle injury to make room on the roster. Greenlaw was one of the emotional leaders of San Francisco's defense before the freak injury in the first half of the Super Bowl loss to Kansas City. Greenlaw bounced up and down on the sideline and then started to run onto the field with a few teammates when he collapsed holding his left leg. He was then helped off in a cart. Greenlaw was drafted in the fifth round in 2019 and emerged as one of the key defenders for San Francisco in 2022. He started 30 games the past two seasons with 247 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 10 passes defensed and three takeaways. The Niners have missed his intensity and physical play this season, especially against the run. The Rams and 49ers both promoted players from the practice squad for the game with Los Angeles adding defensive back Charles Woods and San Francisco promoting running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLTitle: US Military Bombs 75 Targets Inside Syria, Targeting ISIS ForcesHealthy competition as 10 teams join bowling tournament

As the winter season approaches, it is essential to stay warm and comfortable in our homes. However, there is a silent threat that can lurk in our living spaces during this time of the year - carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that can be deadly when inhaled in high concentrations. In order to prevent this dangerous situation, it is crucial to be aware of the common scenarios that can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning:Ultimately, regardless of where Jonathan Davies ends up, one thing is clear – his talent and potential are undeniable, and he has the ability to make a significant impact at the highest levels of European football. As the football world watches eagerly to see how this transfer saga plays out, one thing is for certain – the future looks bright for a player of Davies's caliber.

HOUSTON (AP) — E.J. Warner threw three touchdown passes and Rice survived a late rally by South Florida to take a 35-28 victory on Saturday in a regular-season finale. Warner was 27-of-42 passing for 430 yards and had 294 yards and two TD throws in the first half when the Owls (4-6, 3-5 American Athletic Conference) rolled up 367 yards offense and 19 first downs for a 27-7 lead at the break. Trailing 35-14 with five minutes left, USF quarterback Bryce Archie had to leave the game after taking a late hit. Backup Israel Carter threw two touchdown passes in the final three minutes to cut the lead to seven. Rice recovered an onside kick and got the clock down to 27 seconds on six straight Christian Francisco runs before turning the ball over on downs at the USF 28. A final hook-and-lateral play loaded with laterals went deep into Rice territory but was nullified in any case by a penalty. Rice’s Matt Sykes had 118 yards receiving and Dean Connors 91 yards and a score. The other TD passes went to Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman and Drayden Dickmann. Archie was 19 of 35 for 227 yards passing with a touchdown and an interception for USF (6-6, 4-4). Sean Atkins with 110 went over 2,000 career receiving yards and Keshaun Singleton had 107 yards receiving with a score. USF came in having four of its last five games but was outgained by Rice 550-431. With the game tied at 7-all, Quinton Jackson scored on a 12-yard run three plays after Francisco returned a kickoff 45 yards to the USF 38. Tim Horn added a field goal in the final minute of the first quarter for a 17-7 lead after Josh Pearcy recovered a fumble in USF territory. Connors’ 23-yard scoring reception and another field goal with 12 seconds left in the half made it a 20-point lead. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati have called on the central government to steer clear of political controversy in the wake of former prime minister Manmohan Singh's passing. Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms, died at AIIMS in Delhi at 92. The nation prepares to honor him with full state honors at Nigambodh Ghat, New Delhi. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to organize Singh's funeral at a site where a memorial can be erected. Leaders stress the importance of respecting Singh's family and fostering unity during this time of mourning. (With inputs from agencies.)THE Philippine Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) recognized five higher education institutions (HEIs) – three in the secondary level and two in the elementary level, as top performing schools in the September 2024 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT) as released on Dec. 13, 2024. For the secondary level, Cebu Normal University (CNU) topped the schools with 300 or more examinees with 797 passers out of 845 takers or 94.32 percent passing rate; Philippine Normal University Manila (PNU-Manila) topped those with 100 to 299 examinees with 97.75 percent; and Bohol Wisdom College (BWC) for schools with 50 to 99 examinees or 98.31 passing percentage or 58 passers out of out 59 takers. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.golden empire jili 。

Trump asks Supreme Court to halt TikTok ban from taking effectBrian Stanley’s wife has resigned from Sinn Féin with “immediate effect” as she claimed the party organisation in Laois is “not a safe place to be”. In a lengthy post on Facebook, Caroline Dwane-Stanley, a councillor in Laois, suggested there had been “outright attacks” on her and her family. Brian Stanley resigned from Sinn Féin in October following an investigation into allegations and counter allegations. READ MORE - Woman, 70s, killed in horror collision with car READ MORE - Tears as first pictures of husband and wife killed in St Stephen's Day hit-and-run tragedy released The matter was referred to the gardaí, with Mr Stanley likening the internal Sinn Féin investigation to a “kangaroo court”. He welcomed the referral to gardai. He was re-elected as an independent TD for Laois in November’s general election. In a post on Facebook, Ms Dwane Stanley, confirmed she had resigned from Sinn Féin with “immediate effect” after 27 years in the party. She said: “I have come to the conclusion that Laois Sinn Féin is not a safe place to be. “I had hoped that the party at leadership level would have made the effort to engage with me directly and give some support and assistance to me to try and deal with these matters. “However, no contact has been made by the leadership with me over the past five months. “While the party has always prided itself on the values of equality and in particular supports for women in politics, in my case this has proven to be a fallacy. “With this in mind I have decided that the time is right for me to draw a line on 2024 and resign, look to the future and embrace what I hope will be a better political future in the time ahead.” A Sinn Féin spokesperson said: “Cllr Caroline Dwane-Stanley this evening tendered her resignation from the party. This decision was not unexpected.” In October, Ms Stanley was appointed to the EU Committee of the Regions for a five year term, which was due to start next month. Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .

Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce was the in his Leawood, Kansas home on Oct. 7, just hours before their game against the New Orleans Saints. The All-Pro tight end reportedly lost an assortment of valuable items, which included his Super Bowl jersey from the Chiefs' first trip to the championship game back in 2019 when they defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 31-20, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. Kelce has since to beef up his security and ensure that another break-in does not happen again. At the same time, however, there have been no reports indicating that the nine-time Pro Bowler has recovered the priceless memorabilia he lost during the robbery. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.Archaeologists have discovered the remains of an ancient city road dating back over 3,000 years at Yinxu, or the Yin Ruins, in central China’s Henan Province. – Xinhua photo BEIJING (Dec 28): Archaeologists have discovered the remains of an ancient city road dating back over 3,000 years at Yinxu, or the Yin Ruins, in central China’s Henan Province. The archaeologists have carried out excavations and confirmed the presence of a north-south main road, featuring a 1.6-kilometre-long ditch and dense wheel ruts on its surface. This discovery marks the longest urban thoroughfare ever found at the site, which had been the capital of the late Shang (Yin) Dynasty (1600 BC-1046 BC). The new discovery was revealed at a briefing held by the National Cultural Heritage Administration on Thursday, highlighting the latest progress in a project exploring archaeology in China. Fine sand mixed with fragments of pottery and small stones was found on the road surface. Cultural relics such as bronze horse bits and stone axes have also been unearthed from the surrounding soil, according to Niu Shishan, a researcher at the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences who is in charge of the excavation work. “Over 3,000 years ago, this road was likely bustling with carriages and horses, teeming with the constant flow of traffic,” Niu said. This new discovery, along with previously uncovered remains of multiple roads and ditches, reveals an urban road network pattern of the Shang Dynasty capital, featuring a grid of three main east-west roads and three main north-south roads. The newly discovered network of roads and ditches, confirmed this year, fills a gap in the large-scale linear remains on the north bank of the Huanhe River at the Yin ruins, Niu said, adding that these findings have provided archaeologists with a preliminary understanding of the urban framework in this area, marking a significant breakthrough in the study of the urban planning and layout of the capital city of Shang Dynasty. The study of the scale, layout and functional zoning of the Yin Ruins has long been a key focus for archaeologists in the field. After years of excavation on the north bank of the river, archaeologists in 2024 discovered multiple roads and associated ditches in the area. Some of these roads are more than 15 metres wide, with the widest point stretching nearly 30 metres, indicating that they were major thoroughfares in the capital at the time. The main roads discovered in this area are spaced 320 to 550 metres apart, while some intermediate-level roads are located about 100 metres apart. These roads are interconnected, showing clear evidence of intentional human planning, according to Niu. Based on previous findings of archaeological excavations, it has been confirmed that the roads in the Shang capital city can be generally classified into three levels according to their width, or referred to as main roads, streets and alleys, Niu said. Situated in Henan’s Anyang City, the 3,300-year-old Yin Ruins is the first documented late Shang Dynasty capital site in China, as confirmed by archaeological excavations and oracle bone inscriptions. – XinhuaThe German government pledged Sunday to fully investigate whether there were security lapses before the Christmas market car-ramming attack that killed five people and injured over 200. Political pressure has built on the question of potential missed warnings about Saudi suspect Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old psychiatrist who had made online deaths threats and previously had trouble with the law. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and the heads of Germany's domestic and foreign intelligence services are due to answer questions at parliamentary committee hearings on December 30, a senior lawmaker told AFP. Faeser vowed Sunday that "no stone will be left unturned" in shedding light on what information had been available to security services ahead of last Friday's bloody attack in the eastern city of Magdeburg. She stressed that the attacker did "not fit any previous pattern" because "he acted like an Islamist terrorist although ideologically he was clearly an enemy of Islam". Abdulmohsen has in the past called himself a "Saudi atheist" who helped women flee Gulf countries and charged Germany was doing too little to help them. In online posts, he also strongly criticised Germany for allowing in too many Muslim refugees and backed far-right conspiracy theories about the "Islamisation" of Europe. In one post, he wrote: "Is there a path to justice in Germany without blowing up a German embassy or randomly slaughtering German citizens?... If anyone knows it, please let me know." News magazine Der Spiegel, citing security sources, said the Saudi secret service had warned Germany's spy agency BND a year ago about a tweet in which Abdulmohsen threatened Germany would pay a "price" for how it treated Saudi refugees. Die Welt daily reported, also citing security sources, that German state and federal police had carried out a "risk assessment" on Abdulmohsen last year but concluded that he posed "no specific danger". The city of Magdeburg has been in deep mourning over the mass carnage on Friday evening, when an SUV smashed through a crowd at its Christmas market, killing four women and a nine-year-old child and injuring 205 people. Surgeons at overwhelmed hospitals have worked around the clock, and one health worker told local media of "blood on the floor everywhere, people screaming, lots of painkillers being administered". Scholz on Saturday condemned the "terrible, insane" attack and made a call for national unity, at a time Germany is headed for early elections on February 23. But as German media dug into Abdulmohsen's past, and investigators gave away little, criticism rained down from opposition parties. Conservative CDU lawmaker Alexander Throm charged that "many citizens feel... that the Scholz government has completely failed in terms of internal security". He demanded greater police powers to monitor and analyse data from social media platforms, telecommunications and surveillance cameras with facial recognition technology. The far-right AfD called for a special session of parliament, and the head of the far-left BSW party, Sahra Wagenknecht, demanded that Faeser explain "why so many tips and warnings were ignored beforehand". Mass-circulation daily Bild asked: "Why did our police and intelligence services do nothing, even though they had the Saudi on their radar?... And why were the tips from Saudi Arabia apparently ignored?" It charged that "German authorities usually only find out about attack plans in time when foreign services warn them" and called for sweeping reforms after the election for a complete "turnaround in internal security". Senior MP Dirk Wiese of Scholz's Social Democrats said the December 30 hearings will summon the heads of the BND, the domestic intelligence service BfV and the Office for Migration and Refugees. Media meanwhile reported more details on Abdulmohsen, who had worked at a clinic that treats offenders with substance addiction problems, but had been on sick leave since late October. Der Spiegel reported that in 2013 a court fined him for "disturbing the public peace by threatening to commit crimes" after he had darkly referenced the deadly attack on the Boston marathon. The chairwoman of the group Central Council of Ex-Muslims, Mina Ahadi, said Abdulmohsen "is no stranger to us, because he has been terrorising us for years". She labelled him "a psychopath who adheres to ultra-right conspiracy ideologies" and said he "doesn't just hate Muslims, but everyone who doesn't share his hatred." bur/fz/gv

Rice builds up big lead early, hangs on to beat USF 35-28House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of the House of Representatives of the Philippines Speaker Martin Romualdez on Thursday chided Vice President Sara Duterte for sending her officials to explain how she spent P612.5 million in confidential funds for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) instead of doing this herself before a congressional inquiry. It was the first time that the leader of the 300-member House of Representatives, who has been described pejoratively by the Vice President, spoke publicly and critically about her continued refusal to appear before lawmakers inquiring into her alleged misuse of public funds. “She should now appear, take the oath, speak and explain,” Romualdez said. “She shouldn’t let her officials at the OVP and DepEd handle (the explanations). She should be the one to speak.” Romualdez said Duterte was “maybe the only one who knows what happened to the funds, so she should explain.” He spoke with reporters on the sidelines of the Albay leg of Thursday’s “Tabang Bicol-Tindig Oragon” typhoon assistance rollout. The House committee on good government and public accountability is looking into the use of the confidential funds allocated to the OVP and DepEd, both of which have no direct law enforcement and national security mandates. READ: Sara Duterte’s secret fund spending ‘a violation twice over’ It has been established in previous hearings that the OVP spent confidential funds totaling P125 million in just 11 days in December 2022. It spent another P375 million of the P500 million it was allocated in 2023 and P112.5 million of DepEd’s P150 million in confidential funds in the same year when she was still the education secretary. Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe called out the Vice President for using her officials as “human shields” in avoiding accountability for the alleged misuse of confidential funds. “It is about time she faces Congress, answer the questions, and stop blaming others for her failures and fear of accountability,” the Zamboanga City lawmaker said. He dismissed as “yet another budol (scam) tactic” Duterte’s claim that her staff and officials did not deserve the scrutiny of the House. “The Vice President has been hiding while letting her staff take the heat. This is pure cowardice disguised as victimhood,” he said. Duterte only attended one hearing, where she refused to take the truth-telling oath and promptly left after reading a prepared statement from her mobile phone. “Instead of addressing the questions head-on, Vice President Duterte spins a narrative to paint herself as a victim of political persecution,” Dalipe said. “The truth is, this isn’t about politics—it’s about accountability. ... The continuous evasion and attempts to shield her actions only prove there’s something Duterte doesn’t want the public to know.” The Vice President’s most senior aide, OVP Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez, is being detained at the House for contempt for alleged “undue interference” in the House’s oversight function on the use of the OVP’s confidential funds by telling the Commission on Audit (COA) not to hand over audit reports to the House inquiry. Arrest orders had been sent out for four other senior OVP officials for snubbing the committee hearings. The supposed rift between Duterte and Romualdez began last year after her close ally, Pampanga Rep Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was removed as senior deputy Speaker. Duterte promptly left the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats Party, which Romualdez heads, after Arroyo was stripped of the title. The House subsequently blocked the allocation of confidential funds to civilian offices, particularly the OVP and DepEd, in the 2024 budget. Since then, Duterte has taken potshots at Romualdez and the House. During a press conference in October, she accused the Speaker and Ako Bicol Rep. Elizalde Co, the head of the House appropriations committee, of “meddling” with the national budget. She said Romualdez had received a bribe from another country. “So shameful,” she said, without elaborating. On Wednesday night, the House said Lopez will remain in detention until Nov. 25. It reiterated its directive to arrest the OVP bids and awards committee head Lemuel Ortonio, special disbursing officer (SDO) Gina Acosta, and spouses Sunshine Charry and Edward Fajarda, who had all skipped the inquiry since it began. Edward Fajarda was the DepEd’s special disbursing officer, tasked with handling the agency’s P112.5 million confidential funds in the first three quarters of 2023. His wife, Sunshine Charry, was assistant secretary when Duterte was the education secretary. The Fajarda couple transferred to the OVP when Duterte resigned as education secretary in July this year. Ortonio was the signatory to the OVP’s confidential fund disbursement vouchers and checks cashed every quarter from December 2022 to September 2023 and disbursed by Acosta. Manila Rep. Joel Chua, the good government panel chair, cited Lopez in contempt for “undue interference in the conduct of the proceedings” through her alleged evasive answers to queries throughout Wednesday’s 10-hour hearing. He also cited her Aug. 21 letter asking the COA to defy a House subpoena for its audit reports on the OVP’s P500-million confidential funds from the last quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2023. Other committee members expressed frustration over Lopez’s claim that she was not privy to key matters, including the use of confidential funds, in the OVP despite being Duterte’s most senior aide. READ: Makabayan bloc vows to question Sara Duterte over confidential fund use Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop observed that her correspondence with the COA showed familiarity with the details of the transactions. Lopez maintained that only Duterte and her designated SDO, Acosta, knew how the OVP’s confidential funds were used, claiming that the OVP was so “compartmentalized” that one office did not necessarily know what another office was doing. “In the OVP, although I am the undersecretary and the chief of staff, I am purely handling operational concerns. There are areas, for example, that I am not privy to, one of which is the matter of confidential expenses,” she said. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . In a statement on Thursday, Deputy Minority Leader France Castro said Lopez was “directly knowledgeable” about how confidential funds were used and her letter to the COA was “a categorical objection to the House investigation, showing their determination to impede our constitutional mandate of oversight.” —WITH REPORTS FROM KATHLEEN DE VILLA AND DEMPSEY REYESHow Gen X and millennials are changing the face of the traditional family office as they inherit over $80 trillion

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The U.S. Navy is transforming a costly flub into a potent weapon with the first shipborne hypersonic weapon, which is being retrofitted aboard the first of its three stealthy destroyers. The USS Zumwalt is at a Mississippi shipyard where workers have installed missile tubes that replace twin turrets from a gun system that was never activated because it was too expensive. Once the system is complete, the Zumwalt will provide a platform for conducting fast, precision strikes from greater distances, adding to the usefulness of the warship. The USS Zumwalt is seen at the Huntington Ingalls shipyard Nov. 21 in Pascagoula, Miss. “It was a costly blunder. But the Navy could take victory from the jaws of defeat here, and get some utility out of them by making them into a hypersonic platform,” said Bryan Clark, a defense analyst at the Hudson Institute. The U.S. has had several types of hypersonic weapons in development for the past two decades, but recent tests by both Russia and China have added pressure to the U.S. military to hasten their production. Hypersonic weapons travel beyond Mach 5, five times the speed of sound, with added maneuverability making them harder to shoot down. Last year, The Washington Post reported that among the documents leaked by former Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira was a defense department briefing that confirmed China had recently tested an intermediate-range hypersonic weapon called the DF-27. While the Pentagon previously acknowledged the weapon's development, it had not recognized its testing. One of the U.S. programs in development and planned for the Zumwalt is the “Conventional Prompt Strike." It would launch like a ballistic missile and then release a hypersonic glide vehicle that would travel at speeds seven to eight times faster than the speed of sound before hitting the target. The weapon system is being developed jointly by the Navy and Army. Each of the Zumwalt-class destroyers would be equipped with four missile tubes, each with three of the missiles for a total of 12 hypersonic weapons per ship. In choosing the Zumwalt, the Navy is attempting to add to the usefulness of a $7.5 billion warship that is considered by critics to be an expensive mistake despite serving as a test platform for multiple innovations. The USS Zumwalt is seen at the Huntington Ingalls shipyard Nov. 21 in Pascagoula, Miss. The Zumwalt was envisioned as providing land-attack capability with an Advanced Gun System with rocket-assisted projectiles to open the way for Marines to charge ashore. But the system featuring 155 mm guns hidden in stealthy turrets was canceled because each of the rocket-assisted projectiles cost between $800,000 and $1 million. Despite the stain on its reputation, the three Zumwalt-class destroyers remain the Navy’s most advanced surface warship in terms of new technologies. Those innovations include electric propulsion, an angular shape to minimize radar signature, an unconventional wave-piercing hull, automated fire and damage control and a composite deckhouse that hides radar and other sensors. The Zumwalt arrived at the Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, in August 2023 and was removed from the water for the complex work of integrating the new weapon system. It is due to be undocked this week in preparation for the next round of tests and its return to the fleet, shipyard spokeswoman Kimberly Aguillard said. A U.S. hypersonic weapon was successfully tested over the summer and development of the missiles is continuing. The Navy wants to begin testing the system aboard the Zumwalt in 2027 or 2028, according to the Navy. The U.S. weapon system will come at a steep price. It would cost nearly $18 billion to buy 300 of the weapons and maintain them over 20 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Critics say there is too little bang for the buck. “This particular missile costs more than a dozen tanks. All it gets you is a precise non-nuclear explosion, some place far far away. Is it really worth the money? The answer is most of the time the missile costs much more than any target you can destroy with it,” said Loren Thompson, a longtime military analyst in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Navy intercepted Houthi missiles and drones targeting two warships and three merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden. But they provide the capability for Navy vessels to strike an enemy from a distance of thousands of kilometers — outside the range of most enemy weapons — and there is no effective defense against them, said retired Navy Rear Adm. Ray Spicer, CEO of the U.S. Naval Institute, an independent forum focusing on national security issues, and former commander of an aircraft carrier strike force. Conventional missiles that cost less aren’t much of a bargain if they are unable to reach their targets, Spicer said, adding the U.S. military really has no choice but to pursue them. “The adversary has them. We never want to be outdone,” he said. The U.S. is accelerating development because hypersonics have been identified as vital to U.S. national security with “survivable and lethal capabilities,” said James Weber, principal director for hypersonics in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Critical Technologies. “Fielding new capabilities that are based on hypersonic technologies is a priority for the defense department to sustain and strengthen our integrated deterrence, and to build enduring advantages,” he said. Image Credit: Jacob Lund / Shutterstock The financial challenges facing U.S. military households are a significant concern throughout the year. Holidays such as Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, or Veterans Day highlight the ongoing struggles that service members face, particularly amid rising costs for everyday essentials. Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey shows a troubling trend: Military personnel and their families are finding it more difficult to cover basic household expenses such as food, housing, and transportation than the average American. Our analysis examines how service members are faring in today’s economy compared to civilian households, highlighting the states where military families report the greatest challenges in managing their finances. As we enter Giving Season, we’ve also highlighted meaningful ways to support service members and their families through charitable contributions, offering an opportunity to make a direct impact on those who serve our nation. Service members are struggling more financially than the average American. Image Credit: Upgraded Points According to recent Household Pulse Survey data, members of the armed services are experiencing financial strain at higher rates than the general U.S. population. Over 40% of service members report difficulty covering their usual household expenses, compared to 36.6% of all U.S. adults. The data also shows heightened anxiety among service members regarding rising prices. Nearly 80% of military personnel express stress about recent price increases, significantly higher than the 71.8% of all U.S. adults who share similar feelings. Furthermore, 81.8% of service members are concerned about future price hikes, reflecting widespread uncertainty about inflation’s long-term impact on household budgets. More than half of service members in certain states have difficulty covering basic household expenses. Image Credit: Upgraded Points Across the U.S., the financial burden on service members varies significantly from state to state, primarily influenced by local economic conditions. According to the most recent data, Utah leads with 53.7% of service members reporting difficulty covering basic household expenses, closely followed by Louisiana (52.9%) and Alaska (52.8%). Other states where over half of service members are struggling include Indiana (52.0%), Tennessee (51.2%), New York (50.8%), and Florida (50.3%). A key issue service members frequently raise is that their Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) has not kept pace with the rapidly rising cost of housing. In states where service members face the greatest financial difficulties, such as Utah, Indiana, Tennessee, and Florida, home price increases have far exceeded the national average, exacerbating the strain on household budgets. Another critical factor affecting military families is the employment challenges military spouses face. According to the Department of Defense, the military spouse unemployment rate was 21% in 2023, compared to a national rate of 3.6% that year. Many military bases are located in rural or remote areas, limiting job opportunities for spouses, particularly in specialized fields. Additionally, frequent relocations make it difficult for spouses to sustain long-term careers, especially for those in professions requiring state-specific occupational licenses that can be difficult to transfer. Service members are also more likely to report financial struggles in states with higher-than-average unemployment rates, such as Louisiana, Alaska, and New York. Conversely, the state unemployment rate is below average in 9 of the 10 states where service members report the least financial difficulty. This suggests that strong local employment opportunities, particularly for spouses, significantly ease the financial burden on military households. Photo Credit: Bumble Dee / Shutterstock One of the most impactful ways to support service members, veterans, and their families who are facing financial hardships is through donations to reputable charities. These organizations are dedicated to addressing the unique challenges faced by military families and veterans, providing vital assistance in areas like housing, medical expenses, scholarships, and career training. To help guide your generosity, we’ve compiled a list of top-rated charities based on scores from Charity Navigator , CharityWatch , and GuideStar , which assess organizations on criteria such as impact, efficiency, accountability, and transparency. Here are some of the best charities supporting military families and veterans in need: 1. USO For over 80 years, the USO has provided crucial support to active-duty service members and their families. From financial assistance programs to community-building initiatives, the USO helps service members stay connected to loved ones while addressing their most pressing needs during deployments and transitions. 2. Homes For Our Troops This charity is focused on providing specially adapted homes for severely injured post-9/11 veterans. It helps veterans regain independence. Homes For Our Troops also provides financial planning and household budgeting to ensure long-term stability for the recipients. 3. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Dedicated to advocating for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, IAVA works to improve government policies and programs that support military families. Its advocacy ensures veterans have access to financial resources, healthcare, and education opportunities. 4. Fisher House Foundation This foundation builds “comfort homes” near military and VA medical centers, allowing families to stay free of charge while a loved one is hospitalized. By reducing travel and lodging expenses, Fisher House eases financial stress during difficult times. 5. Hope For The Warriors Offering a range of programs focused on financial stability, wellness, social support, and education, Hope For The Warriors provides critical support to service members, veterans, and their families. Its services include direct financial assistance for transitioning service members and veterans in need, career training and job placement, and scholarships for spouses. 6. Semper Fi & America’s Fund Semper Fi & America’s Fund assists wounded, ill, and injured service members and their families through direct financial assistance and case management during hospitalization and recovery. The organization also provides educational support, career assistance, and health and wellness services. 7. Wounded Warriors Family Support (WWFS) WWFS supports families of those wounded or killed in combat through programs like medical travel grants, meal and housekeeping assistance, in-home care services, and family retreats. By addressing these families' immediate and ongoing needs, WWFS alleviates the financial burdens of those suffering from recent tragic events. For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, see Rising Costs Hit Military Families Hard: Here’s How You Can Help on Upgraded Points . Photo Credit: Jacob Lund / Shutterstock Upgraded Points conducted the analysis using the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey Phase 4.0–4.2 , covering the period from January 9, 2024, to September 16, 2024. Service members were defined as adults currently serving in the U.S. armed forces (Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard) and their spouses. This analysis focuses on 3 key questions from the survey: Statistics with fewer than 50 survey responses were omitted from the analysis. Additional statistics on home prices were sourced from Zillow’s Home Value Index , and unemployment rates were sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates . For complete results, see Rising Costs Hit Military Families Hard: Here’s How You Can Help on Upgraded Points. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Modi's party heads for victory in Maharashtra state election while opposition wins JharkhandThe German government pledged Sunday to fully investigate whether there were security lapses before the Christmas market car-ramming attack that killed five people and injured over 200. Political pressure has built on the question of potential missed warnings about Saudi suspect Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old psychiatrist who had made online deaths threats and previously had trouble with the law. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and the heads of Germany's domestic and foreign intelligence services are due to answer questions at parliamentary committee hearings on December 30, a senior lawmaker told AFP. Faeser vowed Sunday that "no stone will be left unturned" in shedding light on what information had been available to security services ahead of last Friday's bloody attack in the eastern city of Magdeburg. She stressed that the attacker did "not fit any previous pattern" because "he acted like an Islamist terrorist although ideologically he was clearly an enemy of Islam". Abdulmohsen has in the past called himself a "Saudi atheist" who helped women flee Gulf countries and charged Germany was doing too little to help them. In online posts, he also strongly criticised Germany for allowing in too many Muslim refugees and backed far-right conspiracy theories about the "Islamisation" of Europe. In one post, he wrote: "Is there a path to justice in Germany without blowing up a German embassy or randomly slaughtering German citizens?... If anyone knows it, please let me know." News magazine Der Spiegel, citing security sources, said the Saudi secret service had warned Germany's spy agency BND a year ago about a tweet in which Abdulmohsen threatened Germany would pay a "price" for how it treated Saudi refugees. Die Welt daily reported, also citing security sources, that German state and federal police had carried out a "risk assessment" on Abdulmohsen last year but concluded that he posed "no specific danger". The city of Magdeburg has been in deep mourning over the mass carnage on Friday evening, when an SUV smashed through a crowd at its Christmas market, killing four women and a nine-year-old child and injuring 205 people. Surgeons at overwhelmed hospitals have worked around the clock, and one health worker told local media of "blood on the floor everywhere, people screaming, lots of painkillers being administered". Scholz on Saturday condemned the "terrible, insane" attack and made a call for national unity, at a time Germany is headed for early elections on February 23. But as German media dug into Abdulmohsen's past, and investigators gave away little, criticism rained down from opposition parties. Conservative CDU lawmaker Alexander Throm charged that "many citizens feel... that the Scholz government has completely failed in terms of internal security". He demanded greater police powers to monitor and analyse data from social media platforms, telecommunications and surveillance cameras with facial recognition technology. The far-right AfD called for a special session of parliament, and the head of the far-left BSW party, Sahra Wagenknecht, demanded that Faeser explain "why so many tips and warnings were ignored beforehand". Mass-circulation daily Bild asked: "Why did our police and intelligence services do nothing, even though they had the Saudi on their radar?... And why were the tips from Saudi Arabia apparently ignored?" It charged that "German authorities usually only find out about attack plans in time when foreign services warn them" and called for sweeping reforms after the election for a complete "turnaround in internal security". Senior MP Dirk Wiese of Scholz's Social Democrats said the December 30 hearings will summon the heads of the BND, the domestic intelligence service BfV and the Office for Migration and Refugees. Media meanwhile reported more details on Abdulmohsen, who had worked at a clinic that treats offenders with substance addiction problems, but had been on sick leave since late October. Der Spiegel reported that in 2013 a court fined him for "disturbing the public peace by threatening to commit crimes" after he had darkly referenced the deadly attack on the Boston marathon. The chairwoman of the group Central Council of Ex-Muslims, Mina Ahadi, said Abdulmohsen "is no stranger to us, because he has been terrorising us for years". She labelled him "a psychopath who adheres to ultra-right conspiracy ideologies" and said he "doesn't just hate Muslims, but everyone who doesn't share his hatred." bur/fz/gvHDK promises to pursue demand for IIT in Mandya

Rice builds up big lead early, hangs on to beat USF 35-28Ezra Mam will have to pay $120,000 in fines to Brisbane and the NRL, after the under-fire five-eighth accepted his nine-game ban for driving offences. The Broncos confirmed late on Friday evening that Mam would accept his NRL sanctions, which included a $30,000 fine. Brisbane have slapped the 22-year-old with an additional $90,000 fine for being caught drug driving while unlicensed after crashing his ute into an oncoming car in October. In a statement, the Broncos said Mam would also have to complete a safe-driving program, work or study placement and commit to ongoing wellbeing support. Mam was also fined $850 and had his license suspended for nine months in court last week , with a magistrate telling Mam he had a “cocktail of cocaine and other matters” in his system, and that he “could’ve injured or killed” someone. That punishment was widely been criticised as too lenient, after a woman and her young daughter were injured in the collision. Ezra Mam leaves Brisbane Magistrates Court after a hearing earlier this month. Credit: William Davis “Whilst we are extremely disappointed that we have been placed in this position, we believe both the NRL and club-imposed penalties adequately reflect the gravity of what’s transpired and should act as a deterrent from this type of risky and anti-social behaviour,” Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy said in a statement. “Ezra clearly did the wrong thing, but he has taken responsibility for his actions and shown genuine remorse towards those involved. “He understands the impact this has had on everyone around him, and the game. Ezra has taken steps to get his life back on track since this incident and that must continue. We have been very clear about that. “We believe the additional measures in place are important and will go hand in hand with integrating Ezra back into the work underway at the Broncos.” Mam will not be able to include the Indigenous All-Stars fixture to his ban, meaning he will not be able to return until Brisbane play South Sydney in round 10 of 2025. Ben Hunt is set to partner Adam Reynolds in the Broncos’ halves for the first two months of the season after his move from St George Illawarra. It is then possible Hunt could shift to hooker if Mam and Reynolds are fit, allowing him to share dummy-half duties with Billy Walters under new coach Michael Maguire. Hunt will also need to bring significant leadership to Brisbane, with Broncos bosses admitting it is lacking. Mam was one of their best players in 2023 as they went within a few minutes of ending a 17-year premiership drought, scoring a hat-trick in the grand-final loss to Penrith. But off-field issues returned to Red Hill in 2024, with co-captains Pat Carrigan and Reynolds involved in a scuffle outside of a bar following a pre-season fan day. Mam and Reece Walsh were then investigated by the NRL’s integrity unit over a post-season interaction with a fan, weeks before Mam’s driving offence. AAPDarts star Chris Dobey issues grovelling public apology for ‘absolute s*** show’ at Players ChampionshipIndia on cusp of 6G boom, but 91% Telangana government schools lurk in digital dark age

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golden empire jili png First 12-team CFP set: Oregon seeded No. 1, SMU edges Alabama for final spotPresident Joe Biden mourns Jimmy Carters death, orders official state funeral to honor him

President-elect Donald Trump is weighing in on an immigration program for skilled workers that has divided his supporters in a social media feud. The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations. In an interview with the New York Post on Saturday, Trump said he has “always been in favor of the visas” and that he has used the program to hire for his businesses. “I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great program,” Trump added. Trump is appearing to side with billionaire Elon Musk, who was once on a H-1B visa, and other tech industry allies who support the program. “The number of people who are super talented engineers AND super motivated in the USA is far too low,” Musk wrote Wednesday in a post on his social media platform X. “Think of this like a pro sports team: if you want your TEAM to win the championship, you need to recruit top talent wherever they may be. That enables the whole TEAM to win.” But others in Trump’s base want to curtail the H-1B program. Critics argue it undercuts American workers and leads to lower wages. Trump himself has previously been critical of the program. During his first term, he backed several policies limiting foreign worker visas. “I will end forever the use of the H-1B as a cheap labor program, and institute an absolute requirement to hire American workers first for every visa and immigration program. No exceptions,” Trump said in 2016. The political rift is a preview of the debate that’s likely to play out within the GOP in the early days of the Trump administration, as a Republican-controlled Congress is expected to take on immigration reform. Trump didn’t appear to address plans for H-1B visas in his interview Saturday. Trump’s transition team didn’t directly address emailed questions about potential reforms and whether Trump’s tech industry allies have swayed his views on the program. Instead, they referred to a speech Trump gave in 2020 about prominent figures in American history. The online clash about foreign worker visas was fueled by Trump’s choice to name technology entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan as his senior policy adviser on artificial intelligence. Krishnan has previously called for removing caps on green cards and other policies to “unlock skilled immigration.” During his most recent campaign, Trump said during a podcast interview that he would support automatic green cards for international students who graduate from American colleges and universities. It comes as foreign-born workers are playing a big role in the development of AI. According to an analysis from the National Foundation for American Policy, immigrants co-founded more than half of the top AI companies in the United States.

ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023, spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 “White House Diary” that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors. He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners. He acknowledged America’s historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. “I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,” Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. “He was not a great president” but also not the “hapless and weak” caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was “good and productive” and “delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.” Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton’s secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat’s forward that Carter was “consequential and successful” and expressed hope that “perceptions will continue to evolve” about his presidency. “Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,” said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for “an epic American life” spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. “He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,” Alter told The Associated Press. James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter’s political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery’s tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian, would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it “inconceivable” not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board.”My wife is much more political,” Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn’t long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist “Dixiecrats” as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as “Cufflinks Carl.” Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader’s home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats’ national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: “Jimmy Who?” The Carters and a “Peanut Brigade” of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter’s ability to navigate America’s complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared “born-again Christian,” Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC’s new “Saturday Night Live” show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter “Fritz” Mondale as his running mate on a “Grits and Fritz” ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady’s office. Mondale’s governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname “Jimmy” even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band’s “Hail to the Chief.” They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington’s social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that “he hated politics,” according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation’s second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon’s opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn’t immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his “malaise” speech, although he didn’t use that word. He declared the nation was suffering “a crisis of confidence.” By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he’d “kick his ass,” but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with “make America great again” appeals and asking voters whether they were “better off than you were four years ago.” Reagan further capitalized on Carter’s lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: “There you go again.” Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages’ freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with “no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.” Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. “I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,” Carter told the AP in 2021. “But it’s turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.” Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said in 2015. “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.”UTICA — Woodland Farm Brewery opened in January 2016 in Marcy with the goal of brewing great beer, creating a space for community and giving people a place to escape the craziness of the world with good company and a pint. They will celebrate nine years of brewing in Marcy on Saturday, Jan. 4, with get-togethers, music and new beer at the brewery. Woodland has made a few memories and a few gallons of beer over the years and it only makes sense to celebrate with a couple of their musical staples and some tasty brews. Since opening, Woodland has added a kitchen, expanded the size of their taproom and brewing capacity, and opened a second taproom at the historic Hulbert House in Boonville — bringing back to life a taproom with 210 years of history. They’ve focused on easy-drinking and approachable beers that can be enjoyed by newcomers to craft beer and experienced drinkers with everything from crisp, clean, German-inspired lagers to barrel-aged beers and everything in between. Remsen Social Club will be bringing the “brewgrass” to the party at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, filling the taproom with strings and howls. Foot-stomping punk rock bluegrass pairs especially well with Woodland’s beers. Uncle Charlie and the Meatballs rock the taproom at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5 with their own brand of blues and rock jams. A Woodland anniversary isn’t complete without some barrel-aged goodness, so they’ll be releasing Honey Bourbon Batch on Saturday. This Scottish Wee-Heavy was aged for three years in a honey bourbon barrel for plenty of caramel, sweet honey, warm bourbon and oak. Taste it on tap along with some of their favorite anniversary beers from the cellar that will also be on tap.UPDATE 3:24 PM PT -- TMZ Sports has obtained more footage from the incident ... which shows the two ladies chatting with cops as they were escorted off the field. It's rather funny -- one of the women begs an officer to not "hate" her -- but based on his reaction, that probably wasn't the case. The cop was a good sport over it all, saying they weren't going to get in too much trouble ... and admitted the crowd probably "appreciated" the whole ordeal. As for whether the stunt made it to the Prime Video broadcast ... they got the bad news that the league makes an effort to keep acts like thee off the air. Two models made the 49ers vs. Rams game a bit more memorable -- hopping a fence and running around on the field in some skimpy Santa-ish outfits, and naturally, the stunt got 'em on the "naughty" list ... with cops. The ladies -- Toochi Kash and Amberghini -- had lower-level seats Thursday night for the NFC West showdown ... but at one point in the action, they took matters into their own hands to get a field-level view. The models -- who have social media followings in the millions -- rocked festive one-piece ensembles, white snow boots and Santa hats ... with the word "$treak" written on the back. We're told the stunt was meant to make some noise for a meme coin that recently launched ... but stadium staffers on site were a bunch of Grinches. Amber tried to dash onto the field first after jumping over the railing, but Levi's Stadium security chased her down right before she reached the playing field. Toochi was caught rather quickly and held up a sign while security restrained her ... but she remained jolly like St. Nick himself through it all. We reached out to law enforcement to get more details on the legal trouble they'll be in -- as far as the North Pole goes, though, they can expect coal under their trees this year.Jimmy Carter, the 39th US President, Has Died at 100

NoneJAMAICA, N.Y. , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) today announced that Turkish Airlines will begin operations at the new terminal when it opens in 2026. Turkish Airlines will also unveil a brand new, state-of-the-art lounge for its premium customers, launching the next phase of the award-winning airline's growth at its top U.S. gateway. The New Terminal One, set to be the largest international terminal in the United States , will offer best-in-class amenities and innovative technology for a transformational and efficient travel experience. The New Terminal One is a key component of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's $19 billion transformation of JFK Airport into a world-class gateway, which will include two new terminals, the modernization and expansion of two existing terminals, a new ground transportation center, and an entirely new, simplified roadway network. Turkish Airlines, which currently flies 19 times weekly from JFK Airport to its hub at Istanbul , providing seamless connections to its extensive global network, will continue to offer top-tier service from the new terminal. As part of its expansion in the JFK market, Turkish Airlines will open an 11,000-square-foot lounge in the New Terminal One – twice the size of the airline's lounge at the existing Terminal 1. The new lounge will feature premium amenities, expansive views of JFK Airport's airfield and provide direct boarding access to aircraft, offering unmatched convenience for Turkish Airlines' business class customers and top-tier frequent flyers. Recognized for its exceptional in-flight service, Turkish Airlines recently received the World Class Award from the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) for the fourth consecutive year, placing it among just 10 airlines in the world to have received this prestigious recognition. Turkish Airlines was also chosen as the Best Airline in Europe nine times by Skytrax. Over the years Turkish Airlines also received accolades from Skytrax and other prestigious organizations numerous times for its Business and Economy Class offerings and Lounges. Turkish Airlines offers service to 351 destinations, including 25 in the Americas. Turkish is a member of the Star Alliance and will join other alliance members at the New Terminal One: LOT Polish Airlines, EVA Air and Air China. "We are thrilled to welcome Turkish Airlines to the New Terminal One at JFK, where their commitment to world-class customer service aligns perfectly with our mission to provide an unparalleled customer experience," said The New Terminal One Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Aument . "We look forward to working closely with our colleagues at Turkish Airlines to elevate the travel experience for customers from 2026 and beyond." Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee Prof. Ahmet Bolat stated: "We are excited to bring Turkish Airlines' world-class service to the New Terminal One at JFK, further enhancing our passengers' travel experience with a state-of-the-art-lounge. This move underlines our commitment to continue our growth in the U.S market." In addition to Turkish Airlines, the New Terminal One has partnered with several other global carriers, including Air France, KLM, Etihad, LOT Polish Airlines, Korean Air, EVA Air, Air Serbia, SAS, Neos and Philippine Airlines. Air China is also partnering with the terminal on elevating the travel experience for Chinese customers visiting New York . The New Terminal One is focused on improving the customer experience by collaborating with potential airline partners. This includes working with airline teams across all customer journey touchpoints. Set to be JFK Airport's largest terminal when complete, the New Terminal One will offer a world-class customer experience and additional widebody aircraft gate capacity – providing international airlines a unique opportunity to grow their service at JFK, the top global gateway to the U.S. About The New Terminal One The New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport is a bold and exciting project to develop a world-class international terminal that will serve as an anchor terminal in the Port Authority's $19 billion transformation of JFK into a global gateway to the New York metropolitan area and the United States . The New Terminal One will set a new standard for design and service, aspiring to obtain a Top 5 Skytrax ranking and be considered one of the finest airport terminals in the world. The New Terminal One is being built on sites now occupied by Terminal 1 and the former Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, where it will anchor JFK's south side. Construction is taking place in phases. The first phase, including the new arrivals and departures halls and first set of 14 new gates, is expected to open in 2026. At completion, anticipated in 2030, the New Terminal One will be 2.6 million square feet, making it the largest terminal at JFK and nearly the same size as LaGuardia Airport's two new terminals combined. The New Terminal One will be a 23-gate, state-of-the-art, international-only terminal. Sustainably designed and future-focused, the terminal will feature expansive, naturally lit public spaces, cutting-edge technology, and an array of amenities, all designed to enhance the customer experience and compete with some of the highest-rated airport terminals in the world. The New Terminal One consortium of labor, operating, and financial partners is led by Ferrovial, JLC Infrastructure, Ullico, and Carlyle. The New Terminal One is being built by union labor and is committed to local inclusion and labor participation, focusing on diversity and capacity-building opportunities, including ambitious participation goals of 30% for minority and women-owned enterprises, 10% for local business enterprises and 3% for service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. To learn more about the New Terminal One at JFK International Airport, visit https://www.anewjfk.com/projects/the-new-terminal-one/ About Turkish Airlines Established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines has a fleet of 491 (passenger and cargo) aircraft flying to 351 worldwide destinations in 130 countries (298 international destinations and 53 domestic destinations within Turkiye). More information about Turkish Airlines can be found on its official website www.turkishairlines.com or its social media accounts on Facebook, X, YouTube, LinkedIn and Instagram. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/turkish-airlines-to-begin-operations-at-the-new-terminal-one-at-jfk-and-unveil-world-class-lounge-302331710.html SOURCE The New Terminal One at JFK Stay Informed: Subscribe to Our Newsletter Today

The new, 12-team College Football Playoff brings with it a promise to be bigger, more exciting, more lucrative. Perfect or 100% fair? Well, nobody ever believed that. The first expanded playoff bracket unveiled Sunday left a presumably deserving Alabama team on the sideline in favor of an SMU squad with a better record after playing a schedule that was not as difficult. It ranked undefeated Oregon first but set up a possible rematch against Ohio State, the team that came closest to beating the Ducks this year. It treated underdog Boise State like a favorite and banged-up Georgia like a world beater at No. 2. It gave Ohio State home-field advantage against Tennessee for reasons it would take a supercomputer to figure out. It gave the sport the multiweek tournament it has longed for, but also ensured there will be plenty to grouse about between now and when the trophy is handed out on Jan. 20 after what will easily be the longest college football season in history. All of it, thankfully, will be sorted out on the field starting with first-round games on campuses Dec. 20 and 21, then over three succeeding rounds that will wind their way through traditional bowl sites. Maybe Oregon coach Dan Lanning, whose undefeated Ducks are the favorite to win it all, put it best when he offered: "Winning a national championship is not supposed to be easy.” Neither, it turns out, is figuring out who should play for it. SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings passes the ball in the first half of the ACC championship game against Clemson on Saturday in Charlotte, N.C. The Big Ten will lead the way with four teams in the tournament, followed by the SEC with three and the ACC with two. The lasting memory from the inaugural bracket will involve the decision that handed the ACC that second bid. Alabama of the SEC didn't play Saturday. SMU of the ACC did. The Mustangs fell behind by three touchdowns to Clemson before coming back to tie. But they ultimately lost 34-31 on a 56-yard field goal as time expired. “We were on pins and needles,” SMU coach Rhett Lashley said. “Until we saw the name ‘SMU’ up there, we were hanging on the edge. We're really, really happy and thankful to the committee for rewarding our guys for their total body of work." The Mustangs only had two losses, compared to three for the Crimson Tide. Even though SMU's schedule wasn't nearly as tough, the committee was impressed by the way the Mustangs came back against Clemson. “We just felt, in this particular case, SMU had the nod above Alabama,” said Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, the chairman of the selection committee. “But it’s no disrespect to Alabama’s strength of schedule. We looked at the entire body of work for both teams.” Oregon offensive lineman Iapani Laloulu celebrates after winning the Big Ten championship game against Penn State on Saturday in Indianapolis. Georgia, the SEC champion, was seeded second; Boise State, the Mountain West champion, earned the third seed; and Big 12 titlist Arizona State got the fourth seed and the fourth and final first-round bye. All will play in quarterfinals at bowl games on Dec. 31-Jan. 1. Clemson stole a bid and the 12th seed with its crazy win over SMU, the result that ultimately cost Alabama a spot in the field. The Tigers moved to No. 16 in the rankings, but got in as the fifth-best conference winner. Automatic byes and bids made the bracket strange The conference commissioners' idea to give conference champions preferable treatment in this first iteration of the 12-team playoff could be up for reconsideration after this season. The committee actually ranked Boise State, the Mountain West Champion, at No. 9 and Big 12 champion Arizona State at No. 12, but both get to skip the first round. Another CFP guideline: There’s no reseeding of teams after each round, which means no break for Oregon. The top-seeded Ducks will face the winner of Tennessee-Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Oregon beat Ohio State 32-31 earlier this year in one of the season’s best games. Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. hits Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton during the second half of the SEC championship game on Saturday in Atlanta. No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas, Dec. 21: Clemson is riding high after the SMU upset, while Texas is 0-2 against Georgia and 11-0 vs. everyone else this season. The winner faces ... Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. Huh? No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State, Dec. 21: The biggest knock against the Mustangs was that they didn't play any big boys with that 60th-ranked strength of schedule. Well, now they get to. The winner faces ... Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. Yes, SMU vs. Boise was the quarterfinal we all expected. No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame, Dec. 20: Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti thought his team deserved a home game. Well, not quite but close. The winner gets ... Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. The Bulldogs got the No. 2 seed despite a throwing-arm injury to QB Carson Beck. But what else was the committee supposed to do? No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State, Dec. 21: The Buckeyes (losses to Oregon, Michigan) got home field over the Volunteers (losses to Arkansas, Georgia) in a matchup of programs with two of the biggest stadiums in football. The winner faces ... Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Feels like that matchup should come in the semifinals or later. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, foreground right, dives toward the end zone to score past San Francisco 49ers defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (51) and linebacker Dee Winters during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green goes up for a dunk during the second half of an Emirates NBA cup basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel (1) drives to the basket against UCLA forward Janiah Barker (0) and center Lauren Betts (51) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Mari Fukada of Japan falls as she competes in the women's Snowboard Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) LSU punter Peyton Todd (38) kneels in prayer before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. LSU won 37-17. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma misses a catch during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, left, is hit by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, center, as Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell (80) looks on during a touchdown run by Barkley in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, left, trips San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, center, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Olympiacos' Francisco Ortega, right, challenges for the ball with FCSB's David Miculescu during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Olympiacos at the National Arena stadium, in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Brazil's Botafogo soccer fans react during the Copa Libertadores title match against Atletico Mineiro in Argentina, during a watch party at Nilton Santos Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) Seattle Kraken fans react after a goal by center Matty Beniers against the San Jose Sharks was disallowed due to goaltender interference during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Seattle. The Sharks won 4-2. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27), center, fight for the puck with Boston Bruins defensemen Parker Wotherspoon (29), left, and Brandon Carlo (25), right during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Jiyai Shin of Korea watches her shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the Australian Open golf championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland competes in the women's Freeski Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Lara Gut-Behrami, of Switzerland, competes during a women's World Cup giant slalom skiing race, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin cools off during first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Brazil's Amanda Gutierres, second right, is congratulated by teammate Yasmin, right, after scoring her team's first goal during a soccer international between Brazil and Australia in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher) Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) tries to leap over Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams (2) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Luiz Henrique of Brazil's Botafogo, right. is fouled by goalkeeper Everson of Brazil's Atletico Mineiro inside the penalty area during a Copa Libertadores final soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) England's Alessia Russo, left, and United States' Naomi Girma challenge for the ball during the International friendly women soccer match between England and United States at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Gold medalists Team Netherlands competes in the Team Sprint Women race of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Beijing 2024 held at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) reaches for an incomplete pass ahead of Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Melanie Meillard, center, of Switzerland, competes during the second run in a women's World Cup slalom skiing race, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Get local news delivered to your inbox!Jimmy Carter, the 39th US President, Has Died at 100

NEW YORK — If anybody knows Deion Sanders’ mind, it might be Travis Hunter. And the two-way Colorado star says Coach Prime is staying put with the Buffaloes. “I got a lot of insight. He ain’t going nowhere. He’s going to be right where he’s at right now,” Hunter said Friday in Manhattan, where he’s a heavy favorite to win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night. In his second season at the school, Sanders coached No. 20 Colorado to a 9-3 record this year and its first bowl bid since 2020. Hunter, Sanders and the Buffaloes will face No. 17 BYU (10-2) in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28. Sanders’ success and popularity in Boulder has led to speculation the flashy and outspoken former NFL star might seek or accept a coaching job elsewhere this offseason. Sanders, however, has dismissed such talk himself. Hunter followed Sanders from Jackson State to the Rocky Mountains and has already racked up a string of individual accolades this week, including The Associated Press player of the year. The junior wide receiver and cornerback plans to enter the 2025 NFL draft and is expected to be a top-five pick — perhaps even No. 1 overall. But he backed up assertions from Sanders and his son, star Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, that both will play in the Alamo Bowl rather than skip the game to prepare for the draft and prevent any possible injury. “It’s definitely important because, you know, I started this thing with Coach Prime and Shedeur and most of the coaches on the coaching staff, so I want to finish it off right,” Hunter said. “I didn’t give them a full season my first year (because of injury), so I’m going to go ahead and end this thing off right.”Faith & Insight: Celebrating Christmas

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Right when the Los Angeles Rams’ offense has dropped into a disconcerting slump, their defense has held three straight opponents under 10 points for the first time in decades. Although the Rams (10-6) are closing in on an NFC West title and another playoff berth with a five-game winning streak, the way they’re doing it makes their postseason prospects quite unpredictable. The methodology has been strange, but the results are not: After holding off Arizona 13-9 on Saturday night, Los Angeles has won nine of 11 and is very close to claiming its fourth division title and sixth playoff berth in coach Sean McVay’s eight seasons. “I’m proud of this group and the way they battled back,” Matthew Stafford said. “A lot of people doubted us, and a lot of people wrote us off at 1-4. To be able to sit here with our record what it is right now, I feel proud of this group.” The Rams hadn’t held three straight opponents to single-digit scoring since 1975, but rookie coordinator Chris Shula’s defense has done it with a strong front and a little luck on the back end, including the last-minute interception by Ahkello Witherspoon on a pass that deflected off star Arizona tight end Trey McBride’s head at the goal line. Kyler Murray threw it before McBride was probably ready because Shula had called a zero blitz on first down at the Los Angeles 5. “I want to make more plays to make sure they don’t have to do as much as they did (against Arizona), but I’m proud of them,” Stafford said of the Rams’ defense. “It’s awesome to watch where they were in training camp to where they are now. Shula is doing a hell of a job. We all knew he would. Those guys are playing hard for him.” But the Rams have scored more than 21 points just once during their five-game winning streak, their longest since their Super Bowl championship season in 2021. They’ve managed only three touchdowns in their last three games while scoring fewer than 20 points each time out, although that stretch includes games played in the rain (San Francisco) and in subfreezing temperatures (New York Jets). Against the Cardinals in Inglewood’s ideal weather, the Rams’ offense still produced one TD, a season-worst 12 first downs and only 257 total yards — 139 fewer than Arizona. The running game struggled again, as it often does when all five starting offensive linemen aren’t healthy, while the entire roster aside from Puka Nacua combined for just seven receptions for 60 yards — a surprising number for a McVay offense. “I don’t think there’s one thing I can point to,” McVay said Sunday. “I could go on and on about some of the things, starting with me, but then also about our execution in terms of getting connected in the run game, targeting the right way, making sure that the ball is going where it should go, and guys that I know are capable of playing the way that we’ve seen. If they do that, then I know that it’s not as far as sometimes it can feel like. But ultimately, we’ve got to do it.” What’s working The young front four remains the strength of the defense. Jared Verse had a tremendous game on the edge against Murray and Arizona’s running game, while fellow rookie Braden Fiske and second-year pros Kobie Turner and Byron Young all recorded sacks. What needs help The Rams again failed to establish the running game despite never trailing Arizona. Kyren Williams got his second-fewest carries of the season (13, with just five in the second half), while rookie Blake Corum was barely involved. Los Angeles’ 3.9 yards per rush is the second-lowest mark in the NFL even though Williams began Sunday third in the league with 1,299 yards. Stock up Witherspoon not only made the game-saving interception, but the eight-year veteran who went unsigned until September also has seized the starting cornerback job from Cobie Durant, who didn’t play on defense against the Cards despite being healthy again. McVay said Witherspoon’s play during Durant’s brief injury absence resulted in the change. Stock down Cooper Kupp had one catch against Arizona, and he has just 12 receptions in the past five games, matching the least productive five-game stretch of his eight-year career. Stafford has said the Rams need to get their Super Bowl 56 MVP more involved, and Kupp says he’s healthy — yet it isn’t happening. Injuries McVay believes the Rams stayed healthy outside of a stinger for rookie safety Kam Kinchens, but they felt the absence of RT Rob Havenstein, who injured his shoulder last week during an unpadded practice. Backup Joe Noteboom committed three holding penalties and got beaten repeatedly. Key number 4 — Stafford’s consecutive games without taking a sack. That’s the longest streak of his 16-year career, yet he has only one 200-yard passing game in that stretch. Next steps The Rams began Sunday preparing as if they’ll play the Seahawks (9-7) next Saturday, although the game could happen a day later. McVay won’t show his cards, but if the Rams have clinched, they seem likely to rest several regulars for the playoffs. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFLTOKYO, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: MRM) announces that its subsidiary MEDIROM MOTHER Labs Inc. raised to date an aggregate total of 260.3 million yen (approximtaely USD $ [1.7] million calculated at an exchange rate of JPY[153.64] to US$1) at a pre-money equity valuation of JPY9 billion (approximately USD $ [58.6] million calculated at an exchange rate of JPY[153.64] to US$1) in its Series A equity financing. NFES Technologies Inc. is the lead investor in the financing round, and several public companies in Japan, including M3, Inc. (TOKYO PRIME: 2413) and Elematec Corporation (TOKYO PRIME: 2715), as well as certain individual investors are also participating. The Series A equity financing round is still ongoing. MEDIROM MOTHER Labs has closed financings with six investors to date and intends to conclude the financing round by December 31, 2024. “We are very excited that our MEDIROM MOTHER Labs subsidiary has received such significant validation from strategic partners as our lead investor NFES Technologies Inc. as well as M3,Inc and Elematec Corporation. The pre money valuation of 9 billion yen is approximately multiples of MEDIROM’s current NASDAQ listing market capitalization which I believe further validates our technology, business model and growth potential.” said Kouji. The MOTHER Bracelet® is currently in commercialization. From July 1, 2024 through October 31, 2024, MEDIROM MOTHER Labs received purchase orders for an aggregate of over 25,000 units from its B2B sales channel. “We believe the MOTHER Bracelet® to be the world’s first fitness tracker that requires no electric charging by utilizing an innovative technology that enables the user’s body heat to generate electricity. We co-developed it with Matrix Industries, based in Silicon Valley and believe its features are cutting-edge technology with rich features and ease of use to track fitness levels, sleep patterns, pulse and body temperature We will continue to target markets such as hospitals, nursing homes and gyms, where such data is vital,” said Yoshio Uekusa, CEO of MEDIROM MOTHER Labs. ABOUT MEDIROM MOTHER Labs Inc. A subsidiary of MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: MRM) (“MEDIROM”), MEDIROM Mother Labs Inc. focuses on the health-tech sector. The company’s core activities include the "Specific Health Guidance Program" offered through the "Lav" health application and development and sales of the 24/7 recharge-free MOTHER Bracelet®︎ smart tracker. By leveraging the features of the recharge-free MOTHER Bracelet®︎, MOTHER Labs offers customizable health management solutions across diverse sectors, including caregiving, logistics, manufacturing, and similar industries. Forward-Looking Statements Regarding MEDIROM and MOTHER Labs Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may include estimates or expectations about MEDIROM’s possible or assumed operational results, financial condition, business strategies and plans, market opportunities, competitive position, industry environment, and potential growth opportunities. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “design,” “target,” “aim,” “hope,” “expect,” “could,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “goal,” or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These statements relate to future events or to MEDIROM’s future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause MEDIROM’s actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond MEDIROM’s control and which could, and likely will, affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects MEDIROM’s current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to MEDIROM’s operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this press release include: More information on these risks and other potential factors that could affect MEDIROM’s business, reputation, results of operations, financial condition, and stock price is included in MEDIROM’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including in the “Risk Factors” and “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” sections of MEDIROM’s most recently filed periodic report on Form 20-F and subsequent filings, which are available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov . MEDIROM assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. NASDAQ Symbol: MRM Tradepia Odaiba, 2-3-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan Web https://medirom.co.jp/en Contact: ir@medirom.co.jp MEDIROM MOTHER Labs Inc. Tradepia Odaiba, 2-3-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan For more information visit: https://mother-bracelet.com

Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100“A secure border saves lives, not just of our citizens, but of migrants themselves,” incoming border chief Tom Homan told Breitbart News. That message must be broadcast widely because President-elect Donald Trump’s deputies must keep the trust of the American people as they enforce the nation’s popular migration laws, Homan said. “We will be very transparent,” Homan said, adding, “We’ll be sending a lot of information out every week on exactly what we’re doing, do a lot of videos, a lot of interviews. We need to control the narrative so we keep the trust of American people.” Homan has a tough enemy. Pro-migration advocates have their own poll-tested narratives, and boatloads of cash, many advocacy groups , skewed polls , and media support to push their messages via many channels. “I think it’s really important to pin this [deportation fight] on Donald Trump” because he does not want to be blamed for the drama of deportations, said a leading advocate for more migration. These pro-migration groups cite the economic gains from their Extraction Migration economic strategy — but they ignore the domestic economic losses , civic damage , and national risks , and the vast civic damage done to the migrants’ home countries, such as Haiti and Nicaragua . They raise alarms about separated families, crying mothers, border chaos, and military-style enforcement — but they ignore Americans’ civil right to secure borders , the many migration-caused crimes in the United States , as well as the migrants’ deaths , the child labor , and the migrants’ left-behind families . “There’s never been a bigger separator of families than [Joe Biden’s border chief, Alejandro] Mayorkas,” said Jay Palmer, an expert in labor trafficking expert and former advisor to President Donald Trump. “What he did was he ripped [foreign] families apart, left the kids there and brought the men to the United States to work as cheap labor”: Homan’s Message “The American people need to hear the tragedy” of mass migration, Homan said. Biden’s migration has killed thousands of migrants, Homan said, adding: I was down in Texas last year, and I was with a sheriff. I was with him for four hours. We found two dead bodies. He told me he’s lucky to find 10 percent of the bodies because ... the animals have taken them. They won’t find a lot of them who drowned in the river. ... I stood on the back of a [smuggler’s] tractor trailer and 19 dead aliens that were baked to death, including a five year old little boy ... So if people wore my shoes for 34 years and seen the tragedies, the senseless deaths, that I’ve seen, they understand me that a secure border saves lives. Many more migrants die on their way to the U.S. border, Homan said, adding, “The Darien Gap [in Panama] has thousands [of deaths] a year.” Many more migrants are raped and sexually assaulted by the Democrats’ easy-migration policies, he said: “I talked to girls as young as nine that were raped multiple times by members of the cartels [that manage the migrant flow]. ... Everything innocent, pure was ripped from her soul, she’ll never be the same, her life will never be the same. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have been killed by drugs smuggled amid the chaos of mass migration, he said. Aspiring nurse Laken Riley is just one of many Americans killed by the migrants who have been imported, housed, and transported by Democrat party officials and their allied nonprofit groups: The enforcement-save-lives message has to be presented in several ways, Homan said. “Sometimes you’ve got to slow roll it, but other times, I think, the shock of it will move people.” “We’re going to send out our message through various media outlets to let American people know about the children we save, about the victims of trafficking. ... We want to tell that story.” “We can’t count on newspapers,” Homan added. North of the border, the repatriation process for migrants will be conducted carefully and humanely, he added. “We have committed to this being a humane process,” he said: This won’t be neighborhood sweeps. This is a targeted enforcement operation. We know exactly who we’re going to arrest before we leave office. ... Every arrest we make has been approved by a supervisor. We know exactly who we’re looking for. We have a pretty good idea where we’re going to find them. They got to get approval to do it. So it’s going to be well, well-planned, humane operation. Officials will start by focusing on the hundreds of thousands of migrants who are criminals and the roughly 1.3 million migrants who have used all their legal appeals, he said: If a judge says, “No, you don’t qualify [for asylum]. You must go home,” then we must execute those orders, remove those people. If we don’t ... [then] just abolish the immigration court because [judges] orders obviously don’t mean anything anymore. Migrants know the law and often take many steps to evade enforcement, he said. So “if you come to this country illegally and you get an order of removal [from a judge], but you hide out, [and if] you decide to have a child that becomes a U.S. citizen, that’s on you,” he said. “Having a child in the United States does not give you amnesty.” One migrant displayed his use of his infant as a shield against repatriation: “He can’t hold this country hostage,” Homan said when Breitbart cited the video and added, “The bottom line is: He’s the one who broke the law, he put himself in that position, he put his child in that position ... knowing he was in the country illegally, knowing that he had an order for deportation.” Homan’s message is applauded by immigration reformers. By first repatriating criminals and migrants who have been ordered home, it will be a “long, long time before you start getting to the people who might evoke sympathy,” said Ira Mehlman, the spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, adding: We didn’t get into this overnight. We’re not going to get out of it tomorrow. It is going to be a process, a long process, and you just go after it in some kind of rational way that sends a signal that we are not going to tolerate this anymore. Once in power, Trump’s deputies will be able to lift the lid on the many semi-secret scandals and disasters created by Biden’s migration deputies. The exposure of the abuse and harm done to migrants, to U.S. blue-collar families , and to U.S. college graduates by the investor-led progressives may temporarily deflate many progressives’ claims of moral superiority: Anti-Enforcement Narratives Trump’s enforcement campaign — and Homan’s good-cop narrative — will face a lavishly funded, sophisticated, and emotional PR campaign of emotional attack ads and counter-narratives. Much of the elite pushback will be conducted by eager reporters and social media managers. Many prefer to see themselves as progressive champions for vulnerable migrants and innocent children against powerful “racists” and mean “xenophobes.” But their pushback is being guided by the West Coast investors at Mark Zuckerberg’s FWD.us , which has been closely allied with Mayorkas since at least 2020. The FWD.us group was formed in 2013 by Mark Zuckerberg and other wealthy West Coast consumer-economy investors . The investors gain roughly $20 in stock value for every extra $1 earned in profit when the government extracts welfare-aided consumers , apartment-sharing renters, and low-wage workers from poor countries. Those consumer-economy investors fund many progressive groups in Washington, DC, and around the nation. This Astroturf Empire distracts politicians, officials, judges, and the media from recognizing the huge economic impact caused by the investors’ policy of extracting more consumers, renters, and workers from poor countries. The network has funded many astroturf campaigns , urged Democrats not to talk about the economic impact of migration, and manipulated and steered coverage by the TV networks and the print media . The result is that many progressives and media people stay silent about migration’s civic and economic damage. For example, migration inflates the cost of housing, deflates both salaries and wages, reduces automation and productivity , and gives C-Suite executives more power over professionals . These investor groups developed many of their major poll-tested narrative themes during the first Trump administration. Those themes frame the repatriation issue as the hate-driven, chaotic, and wasteful infliction of pain on children and families — but not the rational, popular, decent, and legitimate defense of a nation’s citizens from a mass inflow of poor foreign workers and their dependents. Rolling Stone parroted the corporate narrative on November 19: In the corner of the center, one young Haitian girl was flipping through a children’s book and playing with a small, blonde doll. She wasn’t bothering anyone or hurting anyone in any way. Yet, she is, to the President Trumps of the world, a quintessential example of someone who should be easily demagogued for electoral gain, rounded up, and purged from our country. These talking points portray the enforcement of immigration laws as fueled by irrational and chaotic personal bigotry. “ Cruelty is the point ,” says Douglas Rivlin, the spokesman for America’s Voice, which is backed by the FWD.us investor group, said . “The Trump team [will] implement anti-immigrant policies,” not enforcement of immigration laws, Lee Gelernt, the deputy director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, told ABC News. Democrats wrap their pro-migration policies in family values rhetoric and imagery of military-style enforcement. Under Trump, “taxpayer dollars could be used to fund deportation flights that would tear apart ... families , but also our communities,” said Eva Bitran, director of immigrants’ rights at the ACLU in Southern California. “They’re talking about rounding up people who are law-abiding, undocumented immigrants in this country, many of whom are working, paying taxes [to state and local governments],” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker told MSNBC . Pro-migration advocates are also expanding the definition of families to include distant relatives, citizen families with migrant relatives , and unrelated migrants living in the same apartment or house. “Mass deportation is family separation by another name,” NBC journalist Jacob Soboroff said on November 19, adding: “It’s not separating [parents from] children at the border ... [it is separating illegal-migrant] parents from the [US-born] children and the children from their schools in the interior.” His comment came at a November 19 screening of a Hollywood-produced documentary about border security, which was supported and promoted by FWD.us. The documentary explained how advocates used the “kids in cages” and “family separation” themes to create a media uproar that pressured Trump to end “zero tolerance” border enforcement in June 2018. The D.C. audience consisted largely of pro-migration activists, most of whom were older women eager to embrace the FWD.us narrative about cruel treatment of migrant families. One woman shouted: They got away with this one time. We’re not going to let him [Trump] do it again. We’re not going to let him make our federal government the Third Reich of the US. We’re not going to let them make our National Guard the Gestapo [Nazi secret police] of the U.S. We are not going to let that happen. They want to send out National Guards ... We’ll bring their fathers, their mothers, their teachers, and they’ll have to look them in the eye before they take these [migrants] people out of their home. “Thank you for speaking out — it is what everybody feels,” responded Jen Psaki, an MSNBC host at the event. “Your spirit, I hope, is what many, many people have.” But Psaki also admitted that the public is backing Trump : “If you look at polling, which is imperfect, there is a large percentage of the American public who is concerned about border security, concerned about security in their communities.” The FWD.us narrative also includes threats against Americans’ economy and pocketbooks. The repatriation of migrants will cause inflation and economic harm to Americans, insist Democrat-aligned economists. Axios.com posted a laundry list of employers’ objections under the headline “The industries that could be hardest hit by Trump’s immigration crackdown.” But these threats of economic turmoil ignore the gains for low-wage Americans — higher wages, cheaper housing, more high-tech investment, and more cooperative employers . The themes of military-style enforcement, cruelty, economic turmoil, and crying children, are wrapped together by the primary theme of “ chaos .” “Mass exclusion ... feeds chaos at the border,” economist Michael Clemens claimed. “It will cause chaos , and that will be bad for local law enforcement to have that type of chaos , where people are afraid to go to their local police officers. ... that’s what causes an archy in societies,” Rep. Tom Suozzi, told CNN on November 18. “There’s a lot of people who are committed to spurring chaos for their own means,” Todd Schulte, the president of Zuckerberg’s FWD.us lobby, told the theater audience. “I think a lot on that question of chaos,” said Shulte as he urged the audience of shabbily dressed progressives to blame Trump, not his deputies such as Homan and Stephen Miller: I think it’s really important to pin this on Donald Trump ... it is actually really important to me that he is the person who feels the pressure when he does things well, and he is the person for when he tried to end DACA, there was this huge blowback from [young illegal migrants] “dreamers” to the Pope to the CEOs. And he said, “Oh no, no, no, Congress should act!” ... He got pinned into a corner ... he was eating shit politically for this. I don’t believe he was doing this because he thought it was the right thing in his heart. And that, to me, is a really important lesson for those of us on the outside But he admitted, “I do think that where we are heading is really hard, and it’s going to be really challenging.”

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Enter AI, Exit ‘G’: Freshworks After Girish MathruboothamTeaching Strategies listed to GSV 150 for fifth consecutive year; one of six early childhood companies to earn a spot for 2025 WASHINGTON , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Teaching Strategies, the country's leading developer of early childhood curriculum, assessment, professional learning, and family engagement solutions, has been named to the GSV 150, an annual list of the top 150 private companies transforming digital learning and workforce skills, for the fifth year in a row. Selected from over 2,500 private education technology companies, Teaching Strategies is one of six early childhood education companies to receive the recognition. "We're honored to again be recognized by GSV, and alongside these transformative companies, for leading the field in digital solutions that support early childhood educators, young learners and their families," said Teaching Strategies CEO John Olsen . "This recognition is a great way to close 2024–a year defined by innovations to our early childhood curricula , by improvements to our learning assessments , and by an expansion of professional development opportunities for our hardworking educators—and we look forward to 2025." "The rapid rise of generative AI is fueling knowledge and creating opportunities we had not imagined before," says Luben Pampoulov, Partner at GSV Ventures. "Multi-modality is making education more engaging, AI tools are driving personalization and productivity, and learning is happening at the speed of light. Effectively everyone across the 2025 GSV 150 has generative AI deeply embedded in their offering." To arrive at its listing, GSV evaluated venture capital and private equity-backed private for-profit companies using their proprietary rubric of revenue scale, revenue growth, user reach, geographic diversification, and margin profile. The selected companies are collectively reaching approximately 3 billion learners and generating $25 billion in annual revenue. By sector, 48% of the 2025 GSV 150 are K-12 companies, followed by 46% workforce learning, 31% higher education, 12% adult consumer learning, and 4% early childhood. A quarter of the companies stretch across multiple "PreK to Gray" sectors. See the full GSV 150 list. Many of the companies will attend the ASU+GSV Summit April 6-9 in San Diego . About Teaching Strategies Teaching Strategies ® is the leading provider of early childhood curriculum, assessment, professional development, and family engagement solutions. Its products, including the most widely used curriculum and assessment solutions, The Creative Curriculum ® and GOLD ® , reach over 4 million children each year in more than 80 countries around the world. A trusted partner and advocate for the early education community for 45 years, today Teaching Strategies connects teachers, children and families to inspired teaching and learning experiences, insightful data, stronger family partnerships, and robust professional learning through SmartTeachTM, the leading early learning platform. Learn more at www.teachingstrategies.com . A bout GSV Founded in 2011, GSV is a global platform that drives education and workforce skills innovation. Our mission is that ALL people have equal access to the future, and we believe that scaled innovations in " PreK to Gray" learning and skills are crucial to achieving this goal. The GSV platform includes the ASU + GSV Summit, hosted annually in San Diego with 7,000+ attendees; the India -based ASU + GSV & Emeritus Summit, now entering its third year; and The AI Show @ ASU + GSV , an immersive exploration of the AI Revolution in education, which welcomed 10,000+ attendees this year. GSV Ventures, GSV's investment arm founded in 2015, is a multi-stage venture fund investing in the most transformational companies across the global " PreK to Gray" landscape. SOURCE Teaching Strategies

US sex-abuse watchdog fires investigator after learning of his arrest for stealing drug money DENVER (AP) — The U.S. Center for SafeSport abruptly fired one of its investigators last month after learning he’d been arrested for stealing money confiscated after a drug bust he was part of during his previous job as a police officer. Jason Krasley left his job with the Allentown Police Department in Pennsylvania in 2021 and was hired by the Denver-based SafeSport center to look into sensitive cases involving sex abuse and harassment. The center said it conducts multiple interviews and a “comprehensive background check” of potential employees. The center said it was looking into cases Krasley handled to make sure they were dealt with appropriately. Jim Larrañaga steps down at Miami, Bill Courtney takes over to finish season CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Jim Larrañaga has stepped down as Miami’s men’s basketball coach effective immediately. Larrañaga will be replaced by associate head coach Bill Courtney — one of Larrañaga’s best friends for the past three decades or so — for the remainder of the season. The now-former coach says he loves the university but believes it's the right time to step away. Larrañaga says "I’ve tried every which way to keep this going.” Larrañaga joins a long line of prominent college basketball coaches who have left their jobs in recent years citing the changes in the game and the challenge of coaching in the name, image and likeness era. Cowboys shutting down CeeDee Lamb with 2 games to go over receiver's shoulder issue FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys are shutting down CeeDee Lamb with two games remaining after their 2023 All-Pro receiver spent the second half of the season dealing with a sprained right shoulder. The team says additional exams revealed enough damage to keep Lamb off the field Sunday at Philadelphia and in the final game at home against Washington. The team says surgery isn't expected to be required. Dallas was eliminated from playoff contention a few hours before last weekend’s 26-24 victory over Tampa Bay. NBA's Christmas Day ratings skyrocket, even going up against NFL games The NBA got viewers for Christmas, even while going up against NFL games. The NBA’s five-game Christmas lineup was the league’s most-watched in five years, with the games averaging about 5.25 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN and its platforms, the league said Thursday based on Nielsen’s preliminary numbers. It’s an 84% rise over the NBA’s Christmas numbers from 2023. Pat Riley says the Miami Heat will not trade Jimmy Butler ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — If Jimmy Butler wants a trade, the Miami Heat have no plans to make him happy. Heat President Pat Riley — in a rare move — spoke out to address rumors Thursday, saying the team has no plans to trade Butler. It’s a clear sign that, if necessary, the team will be willing to let Butler leave as a free agent and get nothing in return. Riley says in a release distributed by the team "we usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches.” Penn State offensive coordinator Kotelnicki's creativity has the Nittany Lions humming in the CFP Penn State's offense is thriving under first-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. The Nittany Lions are one of a handful of Power Four schools averaging 200 yards per game rushing and receiving heading into their College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Boise State. Penn State has one of the most unique offensive weapons in the country in tight end Tyler Warren. Warren has 92 receptions this season and has become a threat out of the backfield, rushing for 197 yards and two touchdowns. Organizers say two sailors have died in Sydney to Hobart yacht race amid wild weather conditions SYDNEY (AP) — Organizers said that two Sydney to Hobart sailors have died at sea amid wild weather conditions that forced line honors favorite Master Lock Comanche to withdraw among mass retirements. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, which administers the yacht race, has said that one sailor each on entrants Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline were killed after being struck by the boom, a large horizontal pole at the bottom of the sail. The race will continue as the fleet continues its passage to Constitution Dock in Hobart, with the first boats expected to arrive later on Friday or early Saturday morning. Haaland penalty failure and Fernandes red card pile on woes for City and United in Premier League Erling Haaland’s failure from the penalty spot and Bruno Fernandes’ latest red card have compounded the woes of Manchester City and Manchester United on another tough day for the two Premier League giants. City dropped more points in its improbably poor run of form by drawing 1-1 at home to Everton. Haaland had a spot kick saved by England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. The defending champions have only won one of its last 13 games in all competitions. City is languishing in seventh place while United is 14th after a 2-0 loss at Wolverhampton. Fernandes was sent off in the 47th. First-place Liverpool beat Leicester 3-1 in foggy conditions at Anfield and leads by seven points. Simona Halep withdraws from Australian Open qualifying because of knee and shoulder pain MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has pulled out of Australian Open qualifying and a tuneup tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, because of pain in her knee and shoulder. Thursday's news represents the latest interruption of her comeback from a drug suspension. Halep posted on social media that she was feeling poorly after participating in an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi. The 33-year-old Romanian said she is planning to next enter the Transylvania Open in her home country, where play begins Feb. 3. Halep was granted a wild-card entry for qualifying in the Australian Open last week. Mahomes throws 3 TDs as Chiefs clinch AFC's top seed by breezing past the skidding Steelers 29-10 PITTSBURGH (AP) — Patrick Mahomes passed for 320 yards and three touchdowns and the Kansas City Chiefs locked up the top seed in the AFC for the fourth time in seven seasons with a 29-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The two-time defending Super Bowl champions raced to an early 13-point lead and were never really threatened by the Steelers (10-6). Pittsburgh has dropped three straight to see its chances of capturing the AFC North take another hit. Travis Kelce caught eight passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. Kelce also became the third tight end in NFL history to reach 1,000 receptions, joining Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten.By BASSEM MROUE and ZEINA KARAM BEIRUT (AP) — The head of a Syrian opposition war monitor said early Sunday that President Bashar Assad left the country for an undisclosed location, fleeing ahead of insurgents who said they had entered Damascus after a stunning advance across the country. Rami Abdurrahman of the Syrian Observatory for [...]Man City blow three-goal lead in Champions League, Bayern beat PSGTransforming Businesses With Enterprise Architecture: Driving Agility, Efficiency, And Growth

Manchester City's struggles continued as Pep Guardiola's side remarkably blew a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Bayern Munich beat Paris Saint-Germain to leave the French club in danger of elimination. There were also big wins for Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen, while Inter Milan went top of the standings after five games and Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski reached a century of Champions League goals. However, the biggest drama came at the Etihad Stadium, where City were cruising early in the second half with a three-goal advantage as they sought to end a run of five successive defeats in all competitions. Erling Haaland opened the scoring from a penalty just before half-time, and Ilkay Gundogan's deflected shot made it 2-0 in the 50th minute. Haaland struck again to make it 3-0, but Feyenoord's comeback began on 75 minutes when Anis Hadj Moussa took advantage of hapless defending to round goalkeeper Ederson and pull one back. Substitute Santiago Gimenez bundled in to make it 3-2 on 82 minutes and the equaliser arrived a minute from the end. Ederson was again caught out with Igor Paixao going around the goalkeeper and crossing for Slovak international David Hancko to head in. "We concede a lot of goals because we are not stable," complained Guardiola. "We lost a lot of games lately. We are fragile and of course we need a victory." It is the first time that a team has gone into the last 20 minutes of a Champions League game trailing by three goals and still avoided defeat, as the point boosts the Dutch side's hopes of progressing. City are two points outside the top eight places which offer direct qualification for the last 16, while Bayern moved above them by beating PSG 1-0 in Munich. South Korean defender Kim Min-jae scored the only goal seven minutes before half-time, heading in after goalkeeper Matvei Safonov failed to clear a corner. PSG had Ousmane Dembele sent off in the second half and the French champions have just four points, and three goals, from five games. They are a lowly 26th in the 36-team league, a point adrift of the positions which offer a place in the play-off round in February. "We need to win our last three matches, otherwise we risk being eliminated," admitted PSG coach Luis Enrique. Lewandowski notched his 100th goal in the competition with an early penalty in Barcelona's 3-0 home win over French side Brest. Dani Olmo netted midway through the second half before Lewandowski sealed Barca's win at the death, his 101st goal in the Champions League -- only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have scored more. Inter lead the standings with 13 points, a point ahead of Barcelona and Liverpool, after a 1-0 win at home to RB Leipzig which means they are also still yet to concede a goal. Castello Lukeba's own goal made the difference at San Siro, and Leipzig are one of only three teams to have lost five games out of five. Arsenal romped to a 5-1 victory away to Sporting in Lisbon, as the Portuguese side adapt to life without coach Ruben Amorim, who has departed for Manchester United. Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes all scored in the first half for Arsenal, before Goncalo Inacio pulled one back shortly after the restart. Bukayo Saka converted a penalty on 65 minutes after Martin Odegaard had been brought down, and Leandro Trossard headed in to seal Arsenal's win late on. Atalanta romped to a 6-1 win over rock-bottom Young Boys in Switzerland, with Mateo Retegui and Charles De Ketelaere both scoring braces. Sead Kolasinac and Lazar Samardzic also netted for the Italians, with Silvere Ganvoula getting the hosts' reply. Florian Wirtz struck twice, including a penalty, as Leverkusen crushed Red Bull Salzburg 5-0, with Alejandro Grimaldo scoring a superb free-kick and Patrik Schick and Aleix Garcia also netting. Julian Alvarez and substitute Angel Correa each scored twice and Marcos Llorente and Antoine Griezmann once as Atletico romped to a 6-0 win away to Sparta Prague. Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leao and Tammy Abraham were the scorers in AC Milan's 3-2 win at Slovan Bratislava, whose goals came from Tigran Barseghyan and Nino Marcelli. Marko Tolic saw red at the end for Slovan, who are without a point. as/nf49ers activate Dre Greenlaw from the PUP list

Harlequins orchestrated two fantastic French fêtes last season - against Bordeaux-Bègles and Racing 92 - but on Saturday these great showmen were doused in the opening round of the Champions Cup on a gruesome Parisian evening. Stuart Lancaster’s French aristocrats - fighting a bout of flu this week - were displaced from their usual abode. La Défense Arena is still being disassembled after the Olympics, so the match took place in less glamorous surroundings, in Créteil, the home of a French fourth-tier football club. The outstanding Nolan Le Garrec aside, Racing 92 hardly put on the model of a wet-weather performance, but in the end their three handsome tries were enough to defeat Harlequins, whose French exploits of late have tended to be more successful in the warm and dry. That being said, the weather in Paris was abysmal. For evidence look no further than Adam Jones, that battle-hardened warhorse of 100 caps in the Welsh front row, who was forced to wear gloves. Double-takes all round. Marcus Smith returned at fly-half after an autumn rest last week but we were robbed of a tantalising head-to-head at No 10 owing to Owen Farrell’s groin injury which was operated on last month. Farrell was present in Créteil, however, watching from the stands alongside former Saracens and England team-mate Mako Vunipola, himself now at Vannes in the Top 14, and Racing 92’s Henry Arundell. It would be churlish to be too critical given the conditions, but the match was pockmarked by elementary handling errors and general clumsiness as both teams slipped and slid about in the sodden Parisian night. Harlequins were certainly the more sensible of the two sides as far as a wet-weather strategy was concerned - by default, given that Racing 92 appeared not to have one at all - but the visitors lost a little of their pragmatism in the opposing 22 after showing plenty of it to get there. Alex Dombrandt, captain on the night, gave the visitors the lead after jinking past opposite number Jordan Joseph - whose appalling attempted tackle could, perhaps, kindly, be attributed to the conditions - at the back of a maul and Harlequins will be ruing several more points-scoring opportunities. The Premiership side have made their name on the back of their devil-may-care nature but they turned down a handful of kickable opportunities in the first half in favour of going for the try, and failed to convert all of them except for Dombrandt’s opener. One kickable shot was spurned in favour of a phase attack which ended in a scuffed Smith drop-goal attempt, which seemed ill-conceived in the extreme. In such inclement weather, away at French heavyweights, under the floodlights? Take the points. It meant that when Racing 92 did ignite - as, with such individual firepower, they always have a tendency to do - they had earnt a two-score lead by half time. At no point did the hosts give even the slightest hint that they were planning on adjusting their tactics to suit the conditions and both of their tries, incredibly, came in the most stylish of fashion. First, Vinaya Habosi got on the end of an Antoine Gibert cross-kick, before offloading inside to Cameron Woki, with the flanker popping up to Le Garrec; second, Josua Tuisova cannoned through Jack Kenningham before offloading deftly to Habosi, who managed to free his arms to Woki and two pairs of hands later Wame Naituvi was sliding over in the corner. The half-time deficit and lack of ruthlessness did not stop Harlequins, however. Will Porter’s snipe from the base - and Smith’s conversion - levelled the scores but their resurgence was hampered by a Lennox Anyanwu sin-binning, for a tip-tackle on Ibrahim Diallo. It looked utterly hideous but Diallo was leaping and how much of a role Anyanwu actually played was up for debate. Le Garrec nudged the hosts in front for a Harlequins offside before Racing 92 struck again in style. Naituvi went on a mazy run and Gibert’s sumptuous crossfield kick found Max Spring unmarked, and the full-back cantered home to score. Jordan Joseph was held up by a Harlequins boot but Le Garrec stretched Racing 92’s lead further off the tee, and not even two late yellow cards could stop the hosts avenging last season’s defeat and washing Harlequins away into the night. 0-5 Dombrandt try, 5-5 Le Garrec try, 7-5 Le Garrec con, 12-5 Naituvi try, 12-10 Porter try, 12-12 Smith con, 15-12 Le Garrec pen, 20-12 Spring try, 23-12 Le Garrec pen. 12-5 M Spring; V Habosi (Tedder 53), G Fickou (c), J Tuisova, W Naituvi; A Gibert, N Le Garrec; G Gogichashvili (Julien 52), J Tarrit (Chat 52), L-M Mazibuko (Kharaishvili 52), B Palu (Sanconnie 54), F Sanconnie (Baudonne 46), C Woki, I Diallo, J Joseph (Zinzen 68). Le Bail, Lancaster. Yellow card: Tuisova 78, Diallo 79 L Halfpenny; C Murley, L Northmore, L Anyanwu (Beard 61), N David; M Smith (J Evans 68), W Porter (Care 59); W Jones (Els 66), J Walker, S Kerrod (Lamositele 57), D Lamb, S Lewies (W Evans 68), C Cunningham-South (Chisholm 58), J Kenningham, A Dombrandt (c). Riley. Yellow card: Anyanwu 51 C Busby 5,497 10:00 PM GMT FT: Racing 92 23 Harlequins 12 A perfect start to the Champions Cup campaign for hopefuls Racing 92 although it was far from a flawless performance by the Parisiens who failed to go for the jugular and get the bonus point even though the opportunities presented themselves. For Harlequins it was a disappointing night, especially considering they were all over the French outfit in the first half. The bottom line was that the hosts took their chances even when things weren’t going their way. After that early second half try from Will Porter, everyone must have thought that was the catalyst for a Quins resurgence but Racing held firm, stayed organised and got the win they ultimately deserved. 09:53 PM GMT 79 mins: Racing 92 23 Harlequins 12 Diallo also sent to sin bin. 13-man Racing only need to hold tough for another minute as Quins go searching for the losing bonus point. They knock it on though and that’s it. Game over. Full time and its a hard faught victory for Racing. 09:51 PM GMT 77 mins: Racing 92 23 Harlequins 12 Dombrandt heads for the corner flag in a last ditch attempt to salvage something from the game but Racing hold strong once again. Time is of the essence. Quins get a penalty. Tuisova in the sin bi. The visitors kick it into touch. This is their last shot. 09:39 PM GMT 66 mins: Racing 92 23 Harlequins 12 It’s all going Racing’s way now...or is it? The Parisiens think they have another try but there is a foot underneath the ball and it’s chalked off. Le Garrec puts it between the posts anyway from the penalty to extend the Racing advantage. By the way the hosts are one try away from a bonus point. 09:32 PM GMT TRY! Racing 92 20 Harlequins 12 It had been coming. And what a move it was. Max Spring gets on the end of a flowing sumptuous sequence of play to put distance between the sides. Le Garrec misses the conversion. 09:28 PM GMT 59 mins: Racing 92 15 Harlequins 12 Racing edge back in front thanks to the accuracy from the penalty of Le Garrec, who will be plying his trade at La Rochelle next season. 09:25 PM GMT 57 mins: Racing 92 12 Harlequins 12 The momentum is ebbing and flowing but neither side is budging. Racing looking dangerous but failing to take advantage of the extra man. 09:24 PM GMT 55 mins: Racing 92 12 Harlequins 12 Racing are definitely imposing themselves on the opposition more now. Racing win a penalty after attacking Quins around the ruck. They kick it into touch. 09:17 PM GMT 51 mins: Racing 92 12 Harlequins 12 It’s going to be a yellow card and 10 minutes in the bin for Quins’ Anwanyu who seems to have lifted Racing’s Diallo up and almost spear tackled him to the ground. Dangerous tackle. 09:11 PM GMT 48 mins: Racing 92 12 Harlequins 12 Quins are applying some serious pressure but Racing are holding strong. Le Garrec clears to relieve some of it but Quins keep on coming. They’ve had to defend for their lives for the first 10 minutes of the second period. 09:07 PM GMT 47 mins: Racing 92 12 Harlequins 12 Smith takes off down the right flank, beating one man, and another. He lays it off to Cunningham-South who fumbles but it hits the ref in the process so he calls for a scrum. 09:05 PM GMT TRY! 43 mins: Racing 92 12 Harlequins 12 Second half underway in Paris. And it’s a fast start for Quins. Will Porter picks it from the maul, fakes a pass and he’s off towards the paint where crashes down between two Racing players for Quins’ second try. Smith makes the conversion. All square. "Like a matador, he's sold them all!" 🎙️ Will Porter finds a gap, races through it and scores a fantastic try for 🃏 — Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) 08:51 PM GMT HT: Racing 92 12 Harlequins 5 Hard to say the lead is deserved by Racing but unlike Quins they have taken their opportunities, even though there has been few. Quins have looked promising until the final pass. They’ll need to tidy up their game in the second period. 08:49 PM GMT TRY! 39 mins: Racing 92 12 Harlequins 5 It’s been basically all Quins in this first half but whenever Racing have had an opportunity they’ve taken it. From one end to the other, you might even say it was completely against the run of play, Racing score their second try of the game. Fijian winger Wame Naituvi goes over for the hosts’ second try on 39 minutes. Conversion missed by Le Garrec. Racing 92 extend their lead! 🔵⚪ Wame Naituvi scores a brilliant try for the home side just before the break 👏 — Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) 08:41 PM GMT 37 mins: Racing 92 7 Harlequins 5 In case you’re watching and wondering why Racing’s spectacular La Defense Arena looks a little, er, underwhelming, it’s because the game is not at Racing’s magnificent indoor theatre in Nanterre with the enhanced acoustics. It has been out of commission since its use for the Paris Olympics in the summer. For the moment, Racing are playing at the slightly less salubrious surrounds of the 12,000-capacity Stade Dominique-Duvauchelle in the south-eastern suburb of Creteil. 08:39 PM GMT 35 mins: Racing 92 7 Harlequins 5 I think, since Le Garrec’s sumptuous score, it would be fair to label this as “one for the purists”... 08:38 PM GMT 33 mins: Racing 92 7 Harlequins 5 It looked like another Quins try might be looming but Racing pinch it from the lineout and halt the momentum. Quins not be accurate or ruthless enough with the amount of ball they’ve had so far. 63% possession to be precise. 08:34 PM GMT 28 mins: Racing 92 7 Harlequins 5 Racing can’t seem to get away from their own end line though... Another scrum opportunity for Quins coming up. The players set. the ball eventually rolls out to Smith who throws it to Porter. They switch the play. Harlequins move the bal nicely but meet a Racing wall once more 08:31 PM GMT 27 mins: Racing 92 7 Harlequins 5 Quins push Racing towards their own end line in the maul but Racing hold the momentum and celebrate the turnover like they’ve just scored a try 08:29 PM GMT 25 mins: Racing 92 7 Harlequins 5 Dombrandt attempts to bulldoze through the Racing wall near the 22. The ref deems the challenge of the Racing player to be illegal and Quins get a penalty. 08:27 PM GMT TRY! 16 mins: Racing 92 7 Harlequins 5 Racing 92 have just made a mockery of this Parisian tempest scoring a try which was as delicate as it was devastating. It came largely against the run of play, too; in terms of wet-weather management, Harlequins have started the better and look sturdier at the set piece. Nolan Le Garrec’s try has shown that, regardless of the weather, the hosts can strike from anywhere. But there’s more than one way to skin a cat and if Quins’ foundations remain solid then the visitors will believe. Conversion made too. 08:19 PM GMT TRY! 10 mins: Racing 92 0 Harlequins 5 The first ten minutes here saw Quins dominate proceedings but Racing have settled into the game now a little. Opening try for Harlequins after a massive effort from the pack The lineout is well executed and is Alex Dombrandt who breaks a tackle and crashes over the line for the first try of the night. No conversion though 0-5 it is. "Great footwork! What a finish!" 🎙️ Alex Dombrandt with the opening try of the game for in France 🃏 — Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) 07:49 PM GMT Around the grounds Around the European grounds there were some interesting results to kickstart the 2024/2025 Investec Champions Cup campaign. Bath 20 La Rochelle 24 (yesterday) Sharks 39 Exeter Chiefs 21 Clermont 28 Benetton 0 Stormers 14 Toulon 24 Northampton 38 Castres 8 Munster 33 Stade Francais 7 Saracens 27 Bulls 5 07:35 PM GMT The stats Before these two heavyweights go toe-to-toe in Paris, here are some eyebrow raising stats to ponder... Racing averaged the most metres per possession (12.6), second-most metres per carry (4.4), and third-most post-contact metres per carry (1.1). They had the best gain line success rate (50.8%) last season. They made the most carry metres (563) and post-contact metres (140) per game. Max Spring has made more carry metres than any other player in the French Top 14 so far this season, a total of 721. He has also made 12 clean breaks in his eight appearances for the club this season. Marcus Smith was the top point-scorer (85) in last year’s Champions Cup. He also assisted the most line breaks (14) and beat the most defenders (24) for Harlequins. Will Evans won the joint-most turnovers (13) last season, including nine jackals, putting him first on that particular leaderboard. Harlequins made 84 visits to the 22 metre line (3rd) last season, and scored an average of 2.88 points per entry (3rd). However, they also conceded the most 22 metre line entries (89). 07:02 PM GMT The teams Spring; Habosi, Fickou (capt), Tuisova, Naituvi; Gibert, Le Garrec; Gogichashvili, Tarrit, Mazibuko, Palu, Sanconnie, Woki, Diallo, Joseph. Chat, Julien, Kharaishvili, Baudonne, Zinzen, Le Bail, Lancaster, Tedder. Halfpenny; Murley, Northmore, Anyanwu, David; Smith, Porter; Jones, Walker, Kerrod, Lamb, Lewies, Cunningham-South, Kenningham, Dombrandt (capt). Riley, Els, Lamositele, Chisholm, Evans, Care, Evans, Beard. 06:54 PM GMT Racing 92 v Harlequins live blog Good evening all and welcome to the first round of the Investec Champions Cup where Racing 92 take on the Harlequins. I’ll be taking you through all of the action on the Telegraph’s live blog so make sure to tune in. In team news, Harlequins have recalled England stars Marcus Smith and Chandler Cunningham-South for the opener. Fly-half Smith and flanker Cunningham-South are back in the fold after a granted rest period following England’s Autumn Nations Series. Lock Dino Lamb is also set to make his 100th appearance the club. Meanwhile, Racing 92 - finalists in 2016, 2018 and 2020 - will have to do without fly-half Owen Farrell who misses this game through injury. France centre Gael Fickou will captain the side at number 13. Director of Rugby Stuart Lancaster emphasised this week the importance of a European run for the French outfit. “The Champions Cup is an important goal for all of us, the players and the club,” said Lancaster. “We came close to winning this competition in 2018 and 2021. We look forward to it. “Last week, our poor start to the game cost us dearly, we are determined not to repeat the same mistake this weekend. “We were hit by a small flu epidemic this week so Will Rowlands and Thomas Laclayat had to withdraw, but as always it creates opportunities for other players such as Lee-Marvin Mazibuko who has been patiently waiting for his chance.” On the topic of form, Quins lost against Bristol Bears in their last Premiership game while the hosts have also lost their past two matches, including a narrow defeat at the hands of Toulouse.Riley scores 18, Utah Tech beats Denver 68-54Prospects for President Yoon's impeachment are dim with ruling party boycotting vote

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ATLANTA — On Jan. 18 and 19 the AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! will be held at State Farm Arena in advance of the College Football Playoff national championship on Jan. 20. The star-studded lineup was announced Thursday at a news conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Performances will include Lil Wayne and GloRilla on Saturday; and Camila Cabello, Myles Smith and Knox on Sunday. On game day, the Allstate Championship Tailgate, taking place just outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the Home Depot Backyard, will feature country acts on the Capital One Music Stage, including global superstar Kane Brown and iHeartCountry “On The Verge” artist Ashley Cooke. The concerts are just two of the festivities visiting fans can enjoy in the days leading up to the big game. The fan experience for both ticket holders and the general public has been a focus for event planners. All weekend long, an estimated 100,000 people from across the country are expected to attend fan events preceding kickoff. “It will be an opportunity for fans of all ages to come together to sample what college football is all about, and you don’t have to have a ticket to the game to be a part of it,” said Bill Hancock, executive director of the CFP in a press release. “We’ve worked closely with the Atlanta Football Host Committee to develop fan-friendly events that thousands will enjoy come January.” On Saturday, Jan. 18, Playoff Fan Central will open at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. The free, family-friendly experience will include games, clinics, pep rallies, special guest appearances, autograph signings and exhibits celebrating college football and its history. That day, fans can also attend Media Day, presented by Great Clips, which will feature one-hour sessions with student-athletes and coaches from each of the College Football Playoff national championship participating teams. ESPN and social media giants X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will be taping live broadcasts from the event. On Sunday, Jan. 19, the Trophy Trot, both a 5K and 10K race, will wind its way through the streets of downtown Atlanta. Each Trophy Trot participant will receive a T-shirt and finisher’s medal. Participants can register at atlantatrackclub.org . On Sunday evening, the Georgia Aquarium will host the Taste of the Championship dining event, which offers attendees the opportunity to indulge in food and drink prepared by local Atlanta chefs. This premium experience serves as an elevated exploration of local cuisine on the eve of the national championship. Tickets to the Taste of the Championship event are available on etix.com . Atlanta is the first city ever to repeat as host for the CFP national championship. The playoff was previously held in Atlanta in 2018. “We are honored to be the first city to repeat as host for the CFP national championship and look forward to welcoming college football fans from around the country in January,” said Dan Corso, president of the Atlanta Sports Council and Atlanta Football Host Committee. “This event gives us another opportunity to showcase our incredible city.” The College Football Playoff is the event that crowns the national champion in college football. The quarterfinals and semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games — the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. This year’s quarterfinals will take place on Dec. 31, 2024 and Jan. 1, 2025, while the semifinals will be Jan. 9-10, 2025. The CFP national championship will be Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For additional information on the College Football Playoff, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com .Bam Adebayo scores 25, Jimmy Butler adds 24 and Heat hold off Suns 121-111Are chicken sandwiches a) a tasty lunch? Or b) the ultimate symbol of gen Z wokeness? | Arwa Mahdawi

By HILLEL ITALIE NEW YORK (AP) — Even through a year of nonstop news about elections, climate change, protests and the price of eggs, there was still time to read books. U.S. sales held steady according to Circana, which tracks around 85% of the print market, with many choosing the relief of romance, fantasy and romantasy. Some picked up Taylor Swift’s tie-in book to her blockbuster tour, while others sought out literary fiction, celebrity memoirs, political exposes and a close and painful look at a generation hooked on smartphones. Here are 10 notable books published in 2024, in no particular order. “House of Flame and Shadow,” by Sarah J. Maas Asking about the year’s hottest reads would basically yield a list of the biggest hits in romantasy, the blend of fantasy and romance that has proved so irresistible fans were snapping up expensive “special editions” with decorative covers and sprayed edges. Of the 25 top sellers of 2024, as compiled by Circana, six were by romantasy favorite Sarah J. Maas, including “House of Flame and Shadow,” the third of her “Crescent City” series. Millions read her latest installment about Bryce Quinlan and Hunter Athalar and traced the ever-growing ties of “Maasverse,” the overlapping worlds of “Crescent City” and her other series, “Throne of Glass” and “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” “The Anxious Generation,” by Jonathan Haidt If romantasy is for escape, other books demand we confront. In the bestselling “The Anxious Generation,” social psychologist Jonathan Haidt looks into studies finding that the mental health of young people began to deteriorate in the 2010s, after decades of progress. According to Haidt, the main culprit is right before us: digital screens that have drawn kids away from “play-based” to “phone-based” childhoods. Although some critics challenged his findings, “The Anxious Generation” became a talking point and a catchphrase. Admirers ranged from Oprah Winfrey to Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee, who in a letter to state legislators advocated such “commonsense recommendations” from the book as banning phones in schools and keeping kids off social media until age 16. “War,” by Bob Woodward Bob Woodward books have been an election tradition for decades. “War,” the latest of his highly sourced Washington insider accounts, made news with its allegations that Donald Trump had been in frequent contact with Russian leader Vladimir Putin even while out of office and, while president, had sent Putin sophisticated COVID-19 test machines. Among Woodward’s other scoops: Putin seriously considered using nuclear weapons against Ukraine, and President Joe Biden blamed former President Barack Obama, under whom he served as vice president, for some of the problems with Russia. “Barack never took Putin seriously,” Woodward quoted Biden as saying. “Melania,” by Melania Trump Former (and future) first lady Melania Trump, who gives few interviews and rarely discusses her private life, unexpectedly announced she was publishing a memoir: “Melania.” The publisher was unlikely for a former first lady — not one of the major New York houses, but Skyhorse, where authors include such controversial public figures as Woody Allen and Trump cabinet nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. And its success was at least a minor surprise. Melania Trump did little publicity for the book, and offered few revelations beyond posting a video expressing support for abortion rights — a break from one of the cornerstones of GOP policy. But “Melania” still sold hundreds of thousands of copies, many in the days following her husband’s election. “The Eras Tour Book,” by Taylor Swift Taylor Swift was more than a music story in 2024. Like “Melania,” the news about Taylor Swift’s self-published tie-in to her global tour isn’t so much the book itself, but that it exists. And how well it sold. As she did with the “Eras” concert film, Swift bypassed the established industry and worked directly with a distributor: Target offered “The Eras Tour Book” exclusively. According to Circana, the “Eras” book sold more than 800,000 copies just in its opening week, an astonishing number for a publication unavailable through Amazon.com and other traditional retailers. No new book in 2024 had a better debut. “Intermezzo,” by Sally Rooney Midnight book parties are supposed to be for “Harry Potter” and other fantasy series, but this fall, more than 100 stores stayed open late to welcome one of the year’s literary events: Sally Rooney’s “Intermezzo.” The Irish author’s fourth novel centers on two brothers, their grief over the death of their father, their very different career paths and their very unsettled love lives. “Intermezzo” was also a book about chess: “You have to read a lot of opening theory — that’s the beginning of a game, the first moves,” one of the brothers explains. “And you’re learning all this for what? Just to get an okay position in the middle game and try to play some decent chess. Which most of the time I can’t do anyway.” “From Here to the Great Unknown,” by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough Lisa Marie Presley had been working on a memoir at the time of her death , in 2023, and daughter Riley Keough had agreed to help her complete it. “From Here to the Great Unknown” is Lisa Marie’s account of her father, Elvis Presley, and the sagas of of her adult life, notably her marriage to Michael Jackson and the death of son Benjamin Keough. To the end, she was haunted by the loss of Elvis, just 42 when he collapsed and died at his Graceland home while young Lisa Marie was asleep. “She would listen to his music alone, if she was drunk, and cry,” Keough, during an interview with Winfrey, said of her mother. “Cher: The Memoir, Part One,” by Cher Meanwhile, Cher released the first of two planned memoirs titled “Cher” — no further introduction required. Covering her life from birth to the end of the 1970s, she focuses on her ill-fated marriage to Sonny Bono, remembering him as a gifted entertainer and businessman who helped her believe in herself while turning out to be unfaithful, erratic, controlling and so greedy that he kept all the couple’s earnings for himself. Unsure of whether to leave or stay, she consulted a very famous divorcee, Lucille Ball, who reportedly encouraged her: “F— him, you’re the one with the talent.” “James,” by Percival Everett A trend in recent years is to take famous novels from the past, and remove words or passages that might offend modern readers; an edition of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” cuts the racist language from Mark Twain’s original text. In the most celebrated literary work of 2024, Percival Everett found a different way to take on Twain’s classic — write it from the perspective of the enslaved Jim. “James,” winner of the National Book Award, is a recasting in many ways. Everett suggests to us that the real Jim was nothing like the deferential figure known to millions of readers, but a savvy and learned man who concealed his intelligence from the whites around him, and even from Twain himself. “Knife,” by Salman Rushdie Salman Rushdie’s first National Book Award nomination was for a memoir he wished he had no reason to write. In “Knife,” he recounts in full detail the horrifying attempt on his life in 2022, when an attendee rushed the stage during a literary event in western New York and stabbed him repeatedly, leaving with him a blinded eye and lasting nerve damage, but with a spirit surprisingly intact. “If you had told me that this was going to happen and how would I deal with it, I would not have been very optimistic about my chances,” he told The Associated Press last spring. “I’m still myself, you know, and I don’t feel other than myself. But there’s a little iron in the soul, I think.”The San Carlos City Council voted unanimously on Monday evening to pass a resolution of “no confidence” in embattled San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus , a move that follows the release of a scathing 400-plus page independent audit that details allegations of corruption and misconduct, fueling growing calls for her resignation. San Carlos, a city of about 29,000 residents, is one of five in San Mateo County that contract police services from the sheriff’s office. It is the first among them to pass a no-confidence vote against Corpus. The other cities with similar contracts include Millbrae, Woodside, Portola Valley, and Half Moon Bay. “They respond to our worst days, and it’s a tough job. They’re calling for help,” said Jeff Maltbie, San Carlos city manager. “If these were our own city staff, we could address the issue directly. But since they’re not our employees, we can only amplify their voices with another microphone, another outlet.” The council said the resolution is focused solely on Corpus’ leadership and that it continues to have confidence in Mark Myers, the city’s chief of police and one of Corpus’ captains who has formally called for her to step down. “I remain fully confident in Chief Myers and the deputies who serve and protect San Carlos every day,” Mayor John Dugan said. According to documents from San Mateo County, San Carlos was charged $12 million for police services from July 2023 to June 2024 . The contract with the sheriff’s office, continuously renewed since 2010, covers police management, patrol, investigations, traffic enforcement, as well as community and school services, among other responsibilities. Prior to Monday night’s council meeting, the Organization of Sheriff Sergeants of San Mateo County, which represents sergeants and lieutenants, announced a vote of no confidence in Corpus and her remaining executive team, including Chief of Staff Dan Perea and Victor Aenlle. “This decision is not the result of some ‘good old boys’ club’ or subversive efforts by an ‘entrenched resistance,'” the organization said in a press release Monday. “Rather, it reflects the collective opinion of the frontline leadership of the sheriff’s office, a diverse group of experienced law enforcement professionals. We have reviewed the report by the Honorable LaDoris Cordell, which outlines the racism, homophobia, and corruption linked to this Sheriff and her administration.” Aenlle is a key figure in much of the alleged misconduct outlined in Cordell’s report, including an alleged inappropriate relationship with Corpus, a claim they both deny. Last Thursday, San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller revealed a bombshell memo from Corpus’ second-in-command, Perea, detailing an alleged scheme to conceal weapons stored in the department’s executive office . The memo, dated Nov. 14, was sent just two days after the publication of Cordell’s report, which claimed that Aenlle, Corpus’ former chief of staff, had improper access to three rifles equipped with silencers. The report noted that, as a civilian, Aenlle’s possession of the rifles could constitute a felony offense. In his first public interview, Aenlle, who was previously in the real estate and private security and investigations business, denied all the findings in Cordell’s report. He claimed that the 40 people interviewed for the report were supporters of former Sheriff Carlos Bolanos, whom Corpus unseated in 2022. “A few of them are scared for their jobs because if you don’t kiss the ring in this county, they’ll push you out immediately,” Aenlle told ABC 7 News. Last week, San Mateo County Supervisors voted to put a measure on the ballot next year that would give the county authority to remove an elected sheriff from office until 2028, the end of Corpus’ term. This is only one of three methods being explored by county officials to remove Corpus from office. In addition to granting supervisors the authority to remove a sheriff, a recall election and a civil grand jury were among the mechanisms discussed. In a letter dated Tuesday, Corpus described efforts to oust her as “polarizing” and reiterated her refusal to step down. “While these past weeks have been tough, I remain committed to fulfilling the responsibilities I swore to uphold,” Corpus wrote. Corpus said that she is “moving forward” with a restructured leadership team, which, alongside Perea, will focus on “restoring internal and external relationships” while advancing strategic initiatives. “I have every confidence in the new leadership team to oversee our daily operations and foster a culture of accountability and respect,” she said. The letter made no mention of Aenlle, whom she promoted to assistant sheriff earlier this month. San Carlos resident Liz Lange said Monday she was against any action that would overstep voters, who elected Corpus into office. “I urge the council not to take a stance or position and not adopt,” Lange said. “It’s not for the council to decide, but for voters to decide. County supervisors are trying to remove the sheriff themselves. This is meant to circumvent the voters, undermining our democracy.” Lange said Corpus’ removal should “solely be left to the people who hired the sheriff — the voters.” San Carlos Councilmember Ron Collins, however, warned that the longer the controversy continues with Corpus refusing to step down, the more public trust will be eroded. “The findings by Cordell are serious and undeniable,” Collins said. “The sheriff continues to deny any wrongdoing or offer contrition. ... I’ve seen enough, and it’s time for her to acknowledge the damage being done to public trust, safety, and the county’s finances.”SAN DIEGO (AP) — U.S. authorities made about 46,700 arrests for illegally crossing the border from Mexico in November, down about 17% from October to a new low for Joe Biden's presidency, an official said Tuesday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * SAN DIEGO (AP) — U.S. authorities made about 46,700 arrests for illegally crossing the border from Mexico in November, down about 17% from October to a new low for Joe Biden's presidency, an official said Tuesday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? SAN DIEGO (AP) — U.S. authorities made about 46,700 arrests for illegally crossing the border from Mexico in November, down about 17% from October to a new low for Joe Biden’s presidency, an official said Tuesday. The arrest tally marked a decline of more than 80% from an all-time high of nearly 250,000 in December and casts doubt on predictions of an increase ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration Jan. 20. U.S. authorities made about 700 arrests on the Canadian border in November, down from 1,283 in October, according to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the figures are preliminary and not made public. Last week, Trump promised sweeping new tariffs on Mexico and Canada, as well as China, as soon as he takes office as part of his effort to combat illegal immigration and drugs. He railed against an influx of migrants entering the U.S. illegally, eliciting a sharp response from President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, who highlighted the steep drop this year. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. U.S. arrests on the Mexican border fell by about half after Mexican authorities increased enforcement within their own borders in December, then plunged by about half again after the Biden administration introduced severe restrictions on seeking asylum at the border. The November tally was down 16% from 56,530 in October and the lowest mark since July 2020, when there were 38,536 arrests. It was also below each month from October 2018 to August 2019, during Trump’s first term as president. Advertisement

Stock indexes drifted to a mixed finish on Wall Street on Thursday as some heavyweight technology and communications sector stocks offset gains elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 fell less than 0.1% after spending the day wavering between small gains and losses. The tiny loss ended the benchmark index’s three-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1% and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as US markets reopened following the Christmas holiday. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, slipped 0.2%. Meta Platforms fell 0.7%, and Amazon and Netflix each fell 0.9%. Tesla was among the biggest decliners in the S&P 500, finishing 1.8% lower. Some tech companies fared better. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.4%, Micron Technology added 0.6% and Adobe gained 0.5%. Health care stocks were a bright spot. CVS Health rose 1.5% and Walgreens Boots Alliance added 5.3% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Several retailers also gained ground. Target rose 3%, Ross Stores added 2.3%, Best Buy rose 2.9% and Dollar Tree gained 3.8%. Traders are watching to see whether retailers have a strong holiday season. The day after Christmas traditionally ranks among the top 10 biggest shopping days of the year, as consumers go online or rush to stores to cash in gift cards and raid bargain bins. US-listed shares in Honda and Nissan rose 4.1% and 16.4% respectively. The Japanese car makers announced earlier this week that the two companies are in talks to combine. All told, the S&P 500 fell 2.45 points to 6,037.59. The Dow added 28.77 points to 43,325.80. The Nasdaq fell 10.77 points to close at 20,020.36. Wall Street also got a labour market update. US applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years, the Labour Department reported. Treasury yields mostly fell in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 4.58% from 4.59% late on Tuesday. Major European markets were closed, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar.

Northern California Braces for Continued High Surf, Dangerous ConditionsNone

The transition of players from the title-winning squad to retirement or other pursuits serves as a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of a footballer's career. While the glory days of that Manchester United team may be a distant memory, the legacy they left behind continues to inspire and influence the next generation of players and fans.UEFA Champions League Preview: Bayer Leverkusen vs. Inter Milan - Who's in Hotter Form?Furthermore, the introduction of new technology has also played a significant role in enhancing the public transportation experience in Fangshan. For instance, the implementation of digital ticketing systems and mobile apps has made it easier for passengers to purchase tickets, track bus arrival times, and receive updates on service disruptions. This digital transformation not only improves the overall efficiency of the bus services but also empowers passengers with more control over their travel plans.In addition to promoting collaboration and ownership, Huang Renxun has also fostered a culture of continuous innovation within the company. By removing bureaucratic hurdles and streamlining processes, he has created an environment where new ideas can be easily implemented and tested. This culture of innovation has allowed the company to stay ahead of the competition and adapt to the ever-changing market dynamics.golden empire jili slot 。

As we look towards the future, Ma's speech serves as a timely reminder of the transformative power of AI and the strategic imperative for businesses to harness its potential. In an era marked by rapid technological advancement and digital disruption, organizations that embrace AI with foresight and ingenuity will be well-positioned to thrive in the age of artificial intelligence. Ma's vision for the future challenges us to rethink conventional paradigms, embrace innovation, and seize the opportunities that AI presents for growth and development.NEWCASTLE, England (AP) — Newcastle’s winning run in the English Premier League came to an abrupt end when goals from Thomas Souček and Aaron Wan-Bissaka gave West Ham a surprise 2-0 win at St. James’ Park on Monday. The Hammers rose into 14th place and the pressure on coach Julen Lopetegui was eased. The London club has been inconsistent all season and Monday’s win was just its fourth in 12 league games. West Ham was worth it in the end but the three points came courtesy of slack defending by the home side. Emerson whipped in an out-swinging corner after 10 minutes and, with Newcastle defenders rooted to the spot, Souček stole in to nod home the opener. Then eight minutes into the second half, captain Jarrod Bowen found Wan-Bissaka in the penalty box and he was left unchallenged and had time to fire an angled drive past Nick Pope. “The second goal ... if you settle on a lead it can come back to haunt you,” Bowen said. Newcastle brought on Harvey Barnes, and then Callum Wilson returned from a long-term back injury to make his first appearance of the season, but to no avail. “I said we needed a performance and we did that,” Bowen said. “Newcastle always score at home so to keep them to a clean sheet and score twice ... it’s a tough place to come to. We did that perfectly.” The defeat ended a three-game winning streak for Newcastle and left the Saudi Arabia-owned club in ninth place, four points outside the top four. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerATTIKI, GREECE / ACCESSWIRE / December 23, 2024 / Elvictor Group, Inc. (the "Company" or "Elvictor") (OTCPK:ELVG), reported today that it has entered into an engagement agreement with CIM Securities, LLC, a FINRA member broker-dealer as the Managing Placement Agent to raise up to $7,000,000 in a Regulation D, Rule 506(c) offering open only to verified accredited investors and subject to securing a Lead Investor. The securities sold in this Offering will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in reliance upon an exemption from securities registration afforded by the provisions of Regulation D, and Rule 506(c), as promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act. Regulation D Rule 506(c) is for accredited investors only. THE PRELIMINARY OFFERING MATERIALS BEING USED BY CIM SECURITIES CAN BE ACCESSED AT OUR WEBSITE, AS FOLLOWS: Link to Investor Deck https://www.elvictorgroup.com/downloads/ElvictorDeck-FINAL.pdf Link to Introductory Email https://www.elvictorgroup.com/downloads/ELVICTOR_CIM_SECURITIES_SHORT_EMAIL_DEC2024.pdf About Elvictor Group, Inc.: Prior to becoming a publicly traded company in 2017, Elvictor operated as a private Greece corporation since 1977. The Company's common stock is publicly traded (OTCPK: ELVG). The Company operates a global marine crew management/staffing company that provides innovative maritime solutions. Since 2001, under the direction of CEO Konstantinos Galanakis, the Company has adopted a cloud-based system to enhance crew management and streamline recruitment. Elvictor provides various marine services, including crew management, training, consulting, and ship management. The Company emphasizes crew welfare through ongoing training and boosting employee satisfaction and productivity. Based in Vari, Greece, Elvictor believes it has a strong Europe & Asia Pacific presence, serving a diverse clientele in key locations, including Ukraine, Georgia, the Philippines, Russia, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Indonesia. Safe Harbor Statement The press release may include certain statements that are not descriptions of historical facts but are forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements may include the description of our plans and objectives for future operations, assumptions underlying such plans and objectives, and other forward-looking terminology such as "may," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "projects," or similar terms, variations of such terms or the negative of such terms. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein. Such information is based upon various assumptions made by, and expectations of, our management that were reasonable when made but may prove to be incorrect. All of such assumptions are inherently subject to significant economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies beyond our control and upon assumptions with respect to the future business decisions which are subject to change. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that actual results will meet expectations and actual results may vary (perhaps materially) from certain of the results anticipated herein. No information in this press release should be construed in any way whatsoever as an indication of the Company's future revenues, results of operations, or revenues. Contact Information: Elvictor Group, Inc. Konstantinos Galanakis - CEO management@elvictorgroup.com +3021 0422 4220 SOURCE: Elvictor Group Inc. View the original on accesswire.com

The A-share market in China has seen a remarkable start to the day as it edges closer to the 3500-point mark, influenced by significant positive developments across various sectors. The surge in stock prices has been primarily driven by a series of favorable macroeconomic and corporate news, bolstering investor confidence and fueling market optimism.

In recent news, a controversy has surfaced regarding the filling material used in the winter uniforms provided by a local school. Several parents have raised concerns, alleging that the inner filling of the school uniforms is actually scrap cloth rather than the high-quality material promised by the school. This accusation has sparked a wave of criticism and doubt among the school's community members.Elvictor Group, Inc. Inc Enters Into an Agreement with CIM Securities to Raise Up to $7,000,000 in FundingHome Services Market size is set to grow by USD 6.54 trillion from 2024-2028, increasing influence of digital media boost the market- TechnavioA civil jury in Ireland finds that mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor assaulted a woman in a hotel. (CORRECTS: A previous APNewsAlert misstated the claim the jury found him liable for.)

The University Roadshow, which has been launched in partnership with leading academic institutions across China, serves as a platform for aspiring filmmakers and students to immerse themselves in the world of AI-powered storytelling. Through a series of workshops, seminars, and hands-on activities, participants have the opportunity to learn about the creative potential of AI technology, explore its applications in film and television production, and engage with industry experts and thought leaders who are at the forefront of this burgeoning field.golden empire jili tricks 。

However, challenges still remain, such as uncertainties in the global economic environment, structural imbalances in the domestic economy, and the need for further reforms and opening up. It is crucial for policymakers to maintain a proactive stance, address these challenges effectively, and continue to implement targeted and coordinated policies to ensure the steady and sustainable development of the economy.

In the end, the Wolves' disappointment may linger, but the game must go on. As for Boly and Traoré, they will continue to ply their trade on the pitch, knowing that in the beautiful game of football, controversy and drama are never too far away.

The debate rages on among plant enthusiasts and experts alike. Some argue that fall and winter pruning can indeed be beneficial if done judiciously, allowing plants to rejuvenate and thrive in the seasons to come. Others caution against hasty pruning decisions, highlighting the potential risks of disrupting nature's delicate equilibrium.

With its participation in TGA, Pala: The Mythical Beast is poised to make a significant impact on the gaming industry and establish itself as a frontrunner for Game of the Year. The game's developers have hinted at some exciting new revelations that will be unveiled during the TGA event, promising fans an exclusive look at never-before-seen gameplay footage, behind-the-scenes insights, and possibly even a new trailer that will leave them on the edge of their seats.The upcoming AI big model shuffle is expected to bring about several key changes in the market dynamics. Firstly, we are likely to see increased competition and collaboration among different players in the AI ecosystem. Smaller companies and startups with innovative ideas and niche expertise may challenge the dominance of established tech giants by offering unique solutions and services. Collaborations between academia, industry, and government institutions may also drive the development of more diverse and inclusive AI models.1. Idi Amin (Uganda)

Bristol Myers Squibb Co. stock underperforms Monday when compared to competitorsIn conclusion, the use of large-scale models in e-commerce represents a significant opportunity for businesses to drive growth and stay ahead of the competition. By harnessing the power of advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence, companies can unlock hidden potential and make more informed decisions that lead to sustainable success. As the e-commerce landscape continues to evolve, businesses that embrace large-scale models will be well-positioned to thrive in this dynamic and competitive industry.In conclusion, the collective surge of the three major stock indexes, coupled with the remarkable performance of the GEM Index and the significant gains in the A-shares market, have set a positive tone for the trading day. With investor confidence on the rise and market optimism prevailing, the Chinese stock market continues to show resilience and potential for further growth in the near term.

In a significant display of military force, the United States conducted a series of airstrikes in Syria targeting 75 ISIS strongholds. The operation, aimed at dismantling the terrorist organization's infrastructure and weakening its grip on the region, marks a decisive effort by the U.S. military to combat the threat posed by ISIS.UT Board of Regents agrees to sell piece of property formerly used by UTRGV to SpaceX

The U.S. response to the airstrike reflects its delicate balancing act in the Middle East, where it seeks to maintain close ties with Israel while also engaging in diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region. The U.S. has been actively involved in diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in Syria, including supporting peace talks and providing humanitarian assistance to the war-torn country.Furthermore, the school emphasized that extensive testing and quality control measures have been implemented to guarantee that the shredded cloth filling meets the necessary standards for warmth, durability, and safety. The school assured parents that the winter uniforms undergo rigorous inspection processes to verify the quality and integrity of the materials used in their production. Additionally, the school emphasized that no compromises have been made in ensuring the comfort, functionality, and longevity of the uniforms.

golden empire jili download Boots could return to London market as US owner enters talks with private equity outfit Sycamore Partners By EMILY HAWKINS Updated: 22:00, 11 December 2024 e-mail 1 View comments Speculation over the future of the owner of Boots has rekindled hopes it could return to the London stock market. US giant Walgreens Boots Alliance, which owns the chemists chain, is in talks about selling itself to private equity group Sycamore Partners. New York-listed Walgreens is valued at around £5billion. Sycamore is thought to be keen to ditch Boots, which would put a London listing on the cards. This would be a major boost for the City amid concerns over the health of the UK market. And analysts think Boots is more attractive to buyers and investors now than when it was up for sale two years ago. US giant Walgreens Boots Alliance, which owns the Boots chemists chain, is in talks about selling itself to private equity group Sycamore Partners Sycamore and Walgreens have been discussing a deal that could complete early next year, according to the Wall Street Journal. Pharmacy tycoon Stefano Pessina, the chairman of Walgreens who owns a 17 per cent stake, could end up as the owner of Boots, Sky News reported. Another option would see Boots spun off and listed on the London Stock Exchange. Independent retail analyst Nick Bubb said: ‘The question is: could Boots be floated now? And I was sceptical about that a year ago, as the recovery of the business didn’t seem sustainable, but Boots has continued to outperform in 2024. ‘Investors should want to back a big play on that market and the general retail sector could do with another big quoted company in it. So, yes, I think Boots could end up being listed again.’ RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next UK in slow lane to rate cuts: Bank of England's caution is... Pound on course to return to pre-Brexit levels after hitting... Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to choose the best (and cheapest) stocks and shares Isa and the right DIY investing account Back in 2022, Walgreens abandoned the sale of Boots after blaming an ‘unexpected and dramatic change’ in market conditions. Jonathan De Mello, founder and chief executive of JDM Retail, said: ‘The fact that Boots offloaded the pension scheme, and posted consistently good results over the past few trading quarters, will likely lead to a far more successful listing than it would a couple of years ago.’ Should Boots, which began as a family herbal medicine shop in Nottingham in 1849, return, it would be a desperately needed vote of confidence as firms switch their London listing to New York or become takeover targets due to their low valuations. Walgreens bought the chemist in 2014. DIY INVESTING PLATFORMS AJ Bell AJ Bell Easy investing and ready-made portfolios Learn More Learn More Hargreaves Lansdown Hargreaves Lansdown Free fund dealing and investment ideas Learn More Learn More interactive investor interactive investor Flat-fee investing from £4.99 per month Learn More Learn More Saxo Saxo Get £200 back in trading fees Learn More Learn More Trading 212 Trading 212 Free dealing and no account fee Learn More Learn More Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence. Compare the best investing account for you Share or comment on this article: Boots could return to London market as US owner enters talks with private equity outfit Sycamore Partners e-mail Add comment Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence. More top storiesNORMAL, Ill. (AP) — Sasa Ciani had 16 points in UIC's 73-67 victory over Illinois State on Sunday. Ciani had nine rebounds for the Flames (9-4, 1-1 Missouri Valley Conference). Javon Jackson scored 14 points while going 4 of 10 from the floor, including 2 for 3 from 3-point range, and 4 for 6 from the line. Ahmad Henderson II shot 4 of 7 from the field, including 1 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 3 for 3 from the line to finish with 12 points. The Redbirds (8-5, 0-2) were led by Malachi Poindexter, who posted 20 points. Ty Pence added 10 points and Dalton Banks pitched in with nine points, five assists and two steals. Jackson scored nine points in the first half and UIC went into the break trailing 35-33. UIC outscored Illinois State by eight points in the second half. Ciani led the way with 14 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .How Trump's 'border czar' is envisioning his mass deportation plan: From the Politics Desk

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Ognacevic added 12 rebounds for the Bisons (8-5). Charlie Williams scored 16 points while shooting 7 for 8, including 2 for 3 from beyond the arc. Will Pruitt shot 4 for 10, including 2 for 6 from beyond the arc to finish with 10 points. The Eagles were led in scoring by Cameron Jones, who finished with 19 points and seven rebounds. Johnathan Combs added 11 points for Asbury. Ben McNew also put up seven points. Lipscomb scored its most points since a 113-74 win over Asbury on Nov. 11, 2023. The Bisons topped the 100-point plateau four times last season. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Princely Umanmielen’s return to the Swamp ended with a police escort . Umanmielen, who spent three years at Florida before transferring to Ole Miss, left the stadium with a number of officers surrounding him. And the defensive end still tried to get at heckling fans. It started when Umanmielen left the sideline in the waning seconds of a 24-17 loss to the Gators . He was walking toward the visiting locker room when at least one fan yelled at him from a ramp that leads into the stadium. Umanmielen clearly didn’t like what he heard and started jogging up the ramp. Officers followed and escorted Umanmielen toward the team’s waiting busses, but more fans were in the path and shouted at him again. Umanmielen turned and started to dart toward them before officers stepped in and stopped him again. It was the latest bit of oddness for Umanmielen, who wore an orange, Gators ski mask through Ole Miss’ practice facility late in the week. He finished the game with seven tackles, including a sack. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Submitted by QTR's Fringe Finance Those who have been following me for a long time know that the term “animal spirits,” often used to describe the appetite for risk-taking in markets, is on my list of the financial world’s bullshit overused phrases and sayings perpetually invoked to explain to the commonfolk why markets only go up in our rigged, inflation and debt-based monetary policy system. I’ve taken similar exception to terms like “Santa Claus rally,” which we are undoubtedly going to hear no less than a trillion times between now and 2025, as financial commentators and analysts scramble for public relations lipstick to slap on top of a 30x price-to-earnings pig. Because, after all, according to “economists,” central bankers, and equity strategists, we should pay no attention to inflation or the purchasing power of the dollar — only the stock market and spending. The stock market always goes up and it should always have a reason to do so, according to them. By their logic, it’s never overvalued, there are never any bubbles, there is never any malinvestment and there’s nothing to worry about. Stop worrying about subprime housing—“subprime is contained,” Ben Bernanke told me. Stop worrying about inflation—“inflation is transitory,” Janet Yellen told me. Stop worrying about Enron — dozens of magazines in the 90’s said it was the best company on the planet. Elizabeth Holmes was “the next Steve Jobs”. Sam Bankman-Fried was the next Warren Buffett. And so on and so forth we fly into the perpetually euphoric and unprecedented monetary debasement experiment that will yield results that nobody can time or predict. A couple of years ago, the S&P 500 was at 3,000, and analysts set price targets for the next year at 3,500. The year after that, the S&P was at 4,000, and analysts set price targets for the following year at 4,500. The year after that, the market was at 5,000, and analysts set price targets for the next year at 5,500. The number keeps going up, the money printer keeps printing, the wealth inequality gap keeps widening, the market becomes further and further micromanaged by central banks, the ATMs of the country keep spitting out Federal Reserve notes, society continues to function, our US Dollar continues to “lead” the world economically. All the while, the Earth keeps spinning inside our solar system, which is inside a galaxy, which is inside a universe that, according to scientists, continues to expand into nothingness. And then one day you wake up at 3AM, like I did today, and the Shiller PE is a nosebleed 38x. And, with the uncertainty of this unprecedented experiment ahead, it isn’t just equity markets right now that personify the “animal spirits” in the market; it’s cryptocurrencies, which are now collectively worth over $3 trillion. The emerging asset class, still not understood by a majority of people on Earth, has been ground zero for risk-taking over the last couple of years. And if you’re in the mood for risk, why waste time trying to capture a pedestrian 30% in the stock market when Bitcoin feels like it’s doubling every other day? On top of that, there are options, futures, and leverage in all different types of ways to double, triple, quadruple, and 10x that double many times over. For risk-takers, cryptocurrency is like catnip. A lot of the discussion on Bitcoin and the cryptocurrency universe has revolved around when the digital asset, now worth about $1.7 trillion will reach parity with gold, which commands a market cap of about $19 trillion right now. And at the rate things are going, it might not be too much longer before Bitcoin is a $5 trillion asset. We have a new incoming presidential administration that is favorable towards crypto, and the FOMO is palpable right now across the financial industry, with basically everybody except Vanguard capitulating and giving in to either buying Bitcoin, custodying it, trading it, or otherwise figuring out a way to make money off of it. Bitcoin adoption is surging, and this could mean one of two things: it’s either becoming a deeply rooted part of the financial system or we’re in a $3 trillion bubble that could burst. Once a skeptic, I’ve come to embrace Bitcoin, though I remain cautious about the unprecedented risks it carries. Gaining a better understanding of its mechanics and evaluating its risks helped shift my perspective. With Bitcoin nearing a $2 trillion market cap and other cryptocurrencies like Dogecoin holding significant valuations, it’s a good moment to revisit the key risks involved. While bullish takes on crypto are everywhere, I prefer to examine the potential downsides. Years ago, I believed a crypto collapse could trigger a financial crisis. Although I’ve moved away from that view as adoption has grown, the larger Bitcoin gets, the bigger the potential economic shock if things go south. It’s not a prediction, but it’s a risk worth considering. 🔥 BLACK FRIDAY - 50% OFF FOR LIFE: Using this coupon entitles you to 50% off an annual subscription to Fringe Finance for life: Get 50% off forever Then there’s the question of what could go wrong. Bitcoin is an unprecedented asset class with unique risks, many of which are still unknown. For example, if Satoshi’s dormant coins suddenly moved, it could trigger a sharp price drop, with significant consequences for a market driven by leverage and speculation. Even if Bitcoin survives long-term, a $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion loss in value could ripple through the economy. As Bitcoin’s market cap grows, so does its systemic risk. I’ve also often raised the question of what comes next after SHA-256 hash functions and whether or not Bitcoin will be safe amidst the jump to quantum computing. The prevailing sentiment has always been that to protect the Bitcoin network, miners and those invested in developing the network will have to stay on the forefront of technological change and encryption capabilities to ensure the network doesn’t lose a beat as the world of microprocessing advances. The ‘bull case’ thoughts about this risk, at least according to Michael Saylor the last time I talked to him, was that if you had the power to crack SHA-256 encryption right now, there would be much bigger potential targets to go after than the Bitcoin network, seeing as how the very same encryption ensures the integrity of almost all major, consequential defense, military, and government computer networks worldwide. Saylor makes a valid point, but as Bitcoin's market cap grows, so does the incentive to hack or compromise its network. With a $1.8 trillion bounty effectively on the line, the temptation for bad actors increases. Fortunately, Bitcoin’s network is built with significant redundancy and safeguards, but the true risks, especially from quantum computing, will only become clear as technology advances. I will continue to watch cryptocurrency very closely, if not for any other reason, then as a gauge for risk-on sentiment starting to falter. When investors move to risk-off strategies, they tend to sell the riskiest assets first—starting with cryptocurrencies, then equities, bonds, and eventually autos and real estate. Since crypto markets are highly leveraged, their movements can serve as a key signal for broader market and economic downturns. There’s a reason the saying “stocks take the stairs up and the elevator down” exists. There’s also a reason for the saying “the bigger they are, the harder they fall.” There’s also a reason market panics often shock and scare market participants: they happen when people least expect them. And all I’m saying today is when euphoria and speculation have hit their peak, when you least expect it, that ‘animal spirits’ can become ‘cannibal spirits’ very quickly. Despite three years of rate hikes, the stock market has remained resilient. This could be due to excess liquidity, strong investor optimism, confidence in Fed policies, or even anticipation of lower taxes and deregulation following Trump’s reelection. Everyone is breathing a sigh of relief right now, me included, as it relates to the economy. As I wrote earlier this month in my article , The Dam Has Burst, The Floodgates Of Liberty Just Opened, it feels like the nation’s soul can breathe a little bit. Many feel relieved, believing the Fed may achieve a "soft landing." Inflation concerns are easing, even though prices remain above the 2% target, and optimism about the stock market persists despite signs of a strained consumer and a fragile economy. A final reminder, as the nation feels awash with liberty — liberty is an ally of freedom. And freedom in markets means that prices go both up and down. QTR’s Disclaimer : Please read my full legal disclaimer on my About page here . This post represents my opinions only. In addition, please understand I am an idiot and often get things wrong and lose money. I may own or transact in any names mentioned in this piece at any time without warning. Contributor posts and aggregated posts have been hand selected by me, have not been fact checked and are the opinions of their authors. They are either submitted to QTR by their author, reprinted under a Creative Commons license with my best effort to uphold what the license asks, or with the permission of the author. This is not a recommendation to buy or sell any stocks or securities, just my opinions. I often lose money on positions I trade/invest in. I may add any name mentioned in this article and sell any name mentioned in this piece at any time, without further warning. None of this is a solicitation to buy or sell securities. I may or may not own names I write about and are watching. Sometimes I’m bullish without owning things, sometimes I’m bearish and do own things. Just assume my positions could be exactly the opposite of what you think they are just in case. If I’m long I could quickly be short and vice versa. I won’t update my positions. All positions can change immediately as soon as I publish this, with or without notice and at any point I can be long, short or neutral on any position. You are on your own. Do not make decisions based on my blog. I exist on the fringe. The publisher does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided in this page. These are not the opinions of any of my employers, partners, or associates. I did my best to be honest about my disclosures but can’t guarantee I am right; I write these posts after a couple beers sometimes. I edit after my posts are published because I’m impatient and lazy, so if you see a typo, check back in a half hour. Also, I just straight up get shit wrong a lot. I mention it twice because it’s that important.

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NC lawmakers vote to override veto of controversial relief bill which weakens powers of NC's governor, among othersSymbotic Inc. Announcement: If You Have Suffered Losses in Symbotic Inc. (NASDAQ: SYM), You Are Encouraged to Contact The Rosen Law Firm About Your Rights

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / December 6, 2024 / Signal Gold Inc. ("Signal Gold" or the "Company") (TSX:SGNL)(OTCQB:SGNLF) is pleased to announce that the shareholders of the Company ("Shareholders") have overwhelmingly approved the special resolutions authorizing the plan of arrangement of the Company under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) (the "Arrangement") and a related private placement, at the special meeting of Shareholders held earlier today (the "Meeting"). Pursuant to the Arrangement, previously announced on October 10, 2024, NexGold Mining Corp. ("NexGold") will acquire all the issued and outstanding common shares of Signal Gold to create a top near-term gold developer advancing NexGold's Goliath Gold Complex Project in Northern Ontario and the Goldboro Project in the historic Goldboro Gold District in Nova Scotia. The purpose of the Meeting was to consider and vote upon the Arrangement Resolution authorizing the Arrangement and approving the transactions contemplated in the arrangement agreement dated October 9, 2024 between Signal Gold and NexGold, pursuant to which, among other things, NexGold will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement, and in exchange, Shareholders will be entitled to receive 0.1244 of a common share of NexGold for each common share of Signal Gold held. In approving the Arrangement Resolution, Shareholders also approved the Debt Restructuring (as described in the management information circular of Signal Gold dated November 5, 2024). At the Meeting, an ordinary resolution was also considered and voted on with respect to a Private Placement Resolution, authorizing and approving, among other things, the issuance by Signal Gold of common shares in connection with a non-brokered private placement of up to 120,075,840 subscription receipts of Signal Gold ("Subscription Receipts"), at a price of $0.08705 per Subscription Receipt for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $10,452,601.87 (the "Private Placement"). Prior to the completion of the Arrangement, Signal Gold may exercise its option to issue up to an additional 6,003,792 Subscription Receipts for additional gross proceeds of up to $522,630.10. A total of 126,970,057 common shares were represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting, representing approximately 49.779% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Signal Gold. Approval of the Arrangement For the Arrangement to proceed, the Arrangement Resolution required the approval of at least two-thirds (662⁄3%) of the votes cast at the Meeting, by the Shareholders attending in person or voting by proxy, and a simple majority of the votes cast on the Arrangement Resolution by Shareholders present or represented by proxy at the Meeting, excluding, for this purpose, votes attached to shares held by persons described in items (a) through (d) of Section 8.1(2) of MI 61-101. At the Meeting, the Arrangement Resolution was overwhelmingly approved by 121,602,757 votes cast at the Meeting, representing approximately 95.773% of the shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting. The Arrangement Resolution was also approved by 95.501% of the Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting, excluding, for this purpose, votes attached to shares held by persons described in items (a) through (d) of Section 8.1(2) of MI 61-101. Accordingly, the Shareholder approval required to proceed with the Arrangement has been obtained. Private Placement Financing For the Private Placement to proceed, the Private Placement Resolution must be approved by a simple majority of the votes cast by Shareholders present. At the Meeting, the Private Placement Resolution was overwhelmingly approved by 121,562,732 votes cast at the Meeting, representing approximately 95.741% of the shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting. Accordingly, the Shareholder approval required in order to proceed with the Private Placement has been obtained. Transaction Update Having obtained the requisite approval of the Arrangement Resolution and Private Placement Resolution at the Meeting, the parties are continuing to work diligently towards closing the Arrangement. The Arrangement is expected to become effective on December 13, 2024, subject to, among other things, the Company obtaining a final order from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) in respect of the Arrangement and the satisfaction or waiver of certain other customary closing conditions. The hearing for the final order of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) to approve the Arrangement is scheduled to take place on December 11, 2024. Following the completion of the Arrangement, it is expected that the Signal Gold shares will be delisted from the TSX and OTCQB. Further details regarding the Arrangement and on the above matters are set out in the management information circular of Signal Gold dated November 5, 2024, which is available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under Signal Gold's issuer profile. For detailed voting results on each resolution, please refer to the Company's Report of Voting Results filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com . ABOUT SIGNAL GOLD Signal Gold is advancing the Goldboro Gold Project in Nova Scotia, a significant growth project subject to a positive Feasibility Study which demonstrates an approximately 11-year open pit life of mine ("LOM") with average gold production of 100,000 ounces per annum and an average diluted grade of 2.26 grams per tonne gold. (Please see the ‘NI 43-101 Technical Report and Feasibility Study for the Goldboro Gold Project, Eastern Goldfields District, Nova Scotia' on January 11, 2022, for further details). On August 3, 2022, the Goldboro Project received its environmental assessment approval from the Nova Scotia Minister of Environment and Climate Change, a significant regulatory milestone, and the Company has now submitted all key permits including the Industrial Approval, Fisheries Act Authorization and Schedule II Amendment, and the Mining and Crown Land Leases. The Goldboro Project has significant potential for further Mineral Resource expansion, particularly towards the west along strike and at depth, and the Company has consolidated 27,200 hectares (~272 km2) of prospective exploration land in the Goldboro Gold District. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation, including, but not limited to, the timing of the hearing for the final order of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) to approve the Arrangement and the timing of the completion of the Arrangement. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "does not anticipate", or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will be taken", "occur", or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is made, and is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Signal Gold to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including risks associated with the exploration, development and mining such as economic factors as they effect exploration, future commodity prices, changes in foreign exchange and interest rates, actual results of current production, development and exploration activities, government regulation, political or economic developments, environmental risks, permitting timelines, capital expenditures, operating or technical difficulties in connection with development activities, employee relations, the speculative nature of gold exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of resources, contests over title to properties, and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined as well as those risk factors discussed in Signal Gold's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2023, available on www.sedarplus.ca . Although Signal Gold has attempted to identify important factors, assumption and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors, assumptions and risks that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Signal Gold does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. This news release has been reviewed and approved by Kevin Bullock, P. Eng., President and CEO with Signal Gold Inc., a "Qualified Person", under National Instrument 43-101 Standard for Disclosure for Mineral Projects. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Signal Gold Inc. Kevin Bullock President and CEO (647) 388-1842 kbullock@signalgold.com Robert Dufour Chief Financial Officer (647) 921-7751 rdufour@signalgold.com SOURCE: Signal Gold Inc. View the original on accesswire.com

Profound Medical Announces Proposed Public Offering of Common Shares