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Billionaire Elon Musk, tapped by US President-elect Donald Trump to slash federal government spending, lashed out at modern fighter jets on Monday, saying that drones were the future of air combat. "Manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones anyway. Will just get pilots killed," said the head of SpaceX, Tesla and X, in a post on his social media platform. Musk singled out the F-35 -- a next-generation fighter jet manufactured by US-based Lockheed Martin that entered service in 2015 -- for criticism. "Meanwhile, some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35," he posted, alongside a video of hundreds of drones hovering in formation in the sky. The F-35, the world's most advanced fighter, is stealth capable and can also be used to gather intelligence. Germany, Poland, Finland and Romania have all recently signed deals for the aircraft. Its development, however, has suffered from issues, notably in the design of its computer programs, and its very high operating costs are regularly criticized by its detractors. "The F-35 design was broken at the requirements level, because it was required to be too many things to too many people," said Musk on Monday, calling it "an expensive (and) complex jack of all trades, master of none." For Mauro Gilli, a researcher at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, "what makes the F-35... expensive is the software and the electronics, not the pilot per se." This is significant "because a reusable drone would need to get all that flashy electronics of an F-35," he said on X. He also pointed out that the existence of the F-35 had forced US rivals to develop their own aircraft and advanced radar to match it. "By simply existing, the F-35 and the B-1 force Russia and China into strategic choices they would not have to make otherwise (i.e. budget allocations)," Gilli said, referring to B-1 heavy bomber aircraft. "Even if Musk were right (and he is not), deleting the programs would relax these constraints on them." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Share Tweet Share Share Email Cryptocurrency. The word alone gets people talking—whether it’s your buddy who just cashed out for a down payment on a house or your uncle who can’t stop rambling about “digital gold.” The world of crypto is more than just an internet buzzword; it’s a financial revolution that’s turning everyday people into savvy investors. With December 2024 bringing fresh opportunities, the best cryptos to buy now promise steady growth and jaw-dropping returns. Enter Qubetics ($TICS), a name that’s shaking up the game. This isn’t just another token in the market—it’s a movement. Right now, Qubetics is in Presale Phase 11, offering a chance to grab $TICS tokens for just $0.0282. Over 255 million tokens have already been sold, and $4.1 million has been raised, signalling major interest. With prices set to climb by 10% weekly and a post-presale price projection of $0.25, early investors are looking at a potential ROI of 783%. If you’re tired of waiting for the next big thing, this might just be it. But let’s not stop here—there are other contenders worth your attention this month. 1. Qubetics ($TICS): The 783% ROI Contender Let’s not beat around the bush—Qubetics is a beast. This isn’t just a cryptocurrency; it’s a full-on blockchain solution tackling the hurdles of scalability, speed, and accessibility. Imagine sending money across the globe in seconds without paying an arm and a leg in fees. That’s the world Qubetics is building. What makes it stand out? For starters, the presale numbers are bananas. With over 5,700 holders already in the fold, Qubetics is gaining traction faster than a meme coin on Twitter. And the timing? Perfect. If you’ve been hunting for the best cryptos to buy in December 2024, it’s hard to ignore the potential ROI here. 2. Bitcoin (BTC): The OG That Keeps Delivering Ah, Bitcoin—the granddaddy of crypto. Some folks like to call it “digital gold,” and honestly, they’re not wrong. Sure, it might not promise the wild ROI numbers of newer projects, but there’s a reason BTC still dominates the market. With institutional investors diving in and ETFs making Bitcoin even more accessible, the demand for BTC isn’t slowing down. Whether you’re looking to hold long-term or make a quick flip during its next rally, Bitcoin remains a staple for any serious crypto investor. 3. Ethereum (ETH): The Powerhouse of Innovation If Bitcoin is the king, Ethereum is the crown prince driving innovation. This blockchain does more than store value; it’s the backbone of smart contracts, DeFi, and NFTs. Every major trend in crypto over the last five years? Ethereum played a role. The Ethereum network continues to evolve, with upgrades like proof-of-stake making it faster and more energy-efficient. Plus, its ecosystem is massive, supporting thousands of projects that drive real-world use cases. When it comes to versatility and growth potential, ETH is a no-brainer on any list of the best cryptos to buy in December 2024. 4. Polygon (MATIC): The Layer-2 Star Let’s talk about scalability. Ethereum might be amazing, but it’s not always the fastest or cheapest. That’s where Polygon comes in. As a Layer-2 scaling solution, it makes Ethereum’s ecosystem more efficient, paving the way for smoother transactions and lower fees. Why is it hot right now? Big partnerships and increasing adoption. Polygon isn’t just a tech solution; it’s a thriving ecosystem of dApps, DeFi platforms, and gaming projects. If you’re looking for a token with real utility and promising ROI, MATIC is one to watch. 5. Ripple (XRP): The Comeback Kid Ripple has had its fair share of drama with regulators, but let’s be real—that’s part of what makes it exciting. With legal clarity finally emerging and Ripple’s focus on cross-border payments, XRP is back in the spotlight. This isn’t just speculation, either. Banks and financial institutions are actively using Ripple’s technology to revolutionize global payments. For investors, that means a crypto with a growing network of real-world adoption. If you’re looking for a coin that could surprise you with substantial ROI, Ripple might just be your dark horse. Why These Are the Best Cryptos to Buy in December 2024 Here’s the deal: The crypto market is crowded, but the winners are the ones solving real problems, building strong communities, and delivering results. From Qubetics’ game-changing blockchain solution to Ripple’s cross-border payment revolution, these five projects stand out for their potential to deliver impressive returns. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or a newbie, this list offers a mix of high-risk, high-reward opportunities (looking at you, Qubetics) and safer bets with steady growth (Bitcoin and Ethereum). The key is timing—act now while the market is buzzing and before these projects hit their next big milestones. Crypto isn’t just an investment; it’s a chance to be part of a financial revolution. If you’re ready to make a move, start by checking out the Qubetics presale—it’s a rare opportunity with massive upside. Don’t forget about the classics like Bitcoin and Ethereum or the rising stars like Polygon and Ripple. Based on the latest research, we recommend Qubetics ($TICS), Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Polygon (MATIC), and Ripple (XRP) as the best cryptos to buy in December 2024 . What are you waiting for? Dive in! For More Information: Qubetics: https://qubetics.com Telegram: https://t.me/qubetics Twitter: https://x.com/qubetics Related Items: Blockchain , Qubetics Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you 5 Best Cryptos Experts Predict to Soar in 2024: Don’t Miss Out Blockchain-Based App Uses Wordle-Inspired Puzzles to Solve Private Keys How BTFD Coin Raised $150K in 24 Hours While Simon’s Cat’s $282M Market Cap and Goatseus Maximus’s $345M Trading Volume Keep Investors Hooked Comments

Asia markets kickstart data-heavy week on strong note with Aussie stocks hitting record highs

Apple AirPods Max are the over-ear AirPods. First released in late 2020, a new version was revealed in September this year. But the only updates to the new headphones were a (welcome) update from Lightning to USB-C connectivity and updated colors. So, when’s the sequel coming? Put it this way, don’t hold your breath, as a new report claims there are “no concrete plans” to update the headphones again soon, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter . The new comments from Gurman suggest that the current model will be around for a while. This will disappoint many who hoped that the new colors were a stopgap before a completely different pair of over-ear headphoens were released. After all, the processor that powers the AirPods Max is the H1 first seen in 2019, meaning that the latest and most affordable AirPods 4 have some features the AirPods Max don’t. That said, the switch to USB-C was a great update and the new colors are fierce, with a feisty orange and lip-smacking purple alongside the eye-catching starlight and more demure blue and midnight options. And the nature of the over-ear headphones is that the noise isolation they offer is exceptional, so maybe the need for improvements to the current excellent noise cancellation isn’t as urgent as it might have been for in-ears. Even so, the lack of adaptive audio has been noted by some critics. "I expect the company to keep the Max headphones around for the foreseeable future in their current form," Gurman said, which sounds to me like a year or two at the least before there’s an update “in a meaningful way,” as he puts it. It’s thought that the sales of AirPods Max, though decent, are not enough to justify R&D spending enough to bring an update soon. And, to be fair, if you’d just bought the new AirPods Max and a second-gen version appeared soon, you might be a bit put out. Take heart: assuming Gurman is right, you can splash out on Apple’s priciest headphones safe in the knowledge that they’re not going to be updated soon. And that little thing called Black Friday is already showing discounts on the new models.(BPT) - Has it been a while since you purchased a new TV? You might be surprised by how far TV technology has come since you bought your last set! Today's smart televisions offer dramatic improvements in picture quality and home screens that are far easier to navigate. Plus, they come with a host of cool features like voice control that you may not even know about. It's time to discover what you've been missing — and if you're asking yourself where to start, the Fire TV Buyer Insights Report can help. This independent study surveyed over 2,000 recent purchasers of smart TVs to learn everything from where they did their product research to why they decided to buy. With the holidays almost upon us, the insights in this report can help guide you as you kick off your seasonal shopping. Whether you're buying a gift, hosting a holiday gathering or looking for the perfect game-day screen, read on to find the best TV for your needs. How do you find the right TV? Here's how recent purchasers did it. When it comes to buying a new TV, there are several factors you'll want to consider, starting with who's going to be using it. The study found that spouses (36%), kids (13%), and even grandparents (1%) were involved in the purchase process, so be sure to keep your home's audience in mind. Beyond that, you'll also want to think about: Room size Smart TVs range in size from a 32-inch screen all the way up to a whopping 100 inches or more. To determine the right screen size for your room, follow this guideline: Small rooms: 32"–43" screen Medium rooms: 43"–55" screen Large rooms: 55+" screen As for viewing distance, divide the screen's diameter by 8 to get the ideal viewing distance in feet. For example, a 32-inch screen should be watched from about 4 feet away, while you'll want to be about 8 feet away from a 65-inch screen. Usage How you plan to use your new TV should play a large part in your decision-making process. If you're always looking for the latest show or movie to watch, your smart TV should offer optimal access to the latest streaming services. Gamers will experience better play on a TV with a high refresh rate, while sports enthusiasts will want to watch the big game on a set with smooth motion handling. Connected TV experience One of the most important considerations is how you'll use TV. In the study, 83% of TV purchasers said that easy access to content was one of the things they liked best about their new TV. But beyond being an all-in-one source for entertainment, your smart TV should also play well with other smart home devices. For instance, Fire TV allows you to pair compatible devices seamlessly like video doorbells, smart home devices, and more. And with select models, Fire TV's Ambient Experience can turn the biggest screen in your home into a beautiful, always-on smart display rotating through beautiful art, personal photos, and glanceable information like calendars and reminders. Knowledge is power Before you land on the perfect TV, you'll need to do a little research first. The study found that only 12% of shoppers bought their TV on an impulse, while 65% engaged in some form of product research. Most (82%) respondents conducted some or all of their research online for instant access to smart TV reviews and feature comparisons. In fact, over half of respondents who searched online mentioned digital retailers like Amazon as a great source for honest ratings and buyer reviews. Timing is everything According to the study, the time from research to purchase takes about two weeks, so plan ahead — especially if you're thinking about giving a TV as a holiday gift. There are also some great deals available during this time of year, so keep an eye out for sales and promotional offers. The big picture A new TV is a big purchase, so don't make it an impulsive one. Take the time to do your research and remember that everyone takes a different path to finding the perfect TV. Whether your search begins online, offline, or with a mix of both, it will end with a next-level viewing experience that's just right for the way you watch.

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No. 5 UCLA stuns No. South Carolina, ends 43-game streakUS Steel Drops 8% After Trump Says He'll Block Deal

LOS ANGELES — Top-ranked South Carolina felt something it hasn't known in over 2 1/2 years. The sting of defeat after being thoroughly dominated in a 77-62 loss to No. 5 UCLA on Sunday. Gone was the overall 43-game winning streak. Done was the run of 33 consecutive road victories. And the No. 1 ranking it's held for 23 consecutive polls will disappear Monday. "This is what we usually do to teams," coach Dawn Staley said. "We were on the receiving end of it." South Carolina hadn't lost since April 2023, when Caitlin Clark and Iowa beat the Gamecocks in the national semifinals of the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins (5-0) shot 47% from the floor and 3-point range, hit 11 of 14 free throws and had five players in double figures. "They actually executed our game plan to a T," Staley said. People are also reading... The Gamecocks (5-1) were held to 36% shooting, had just two players in double figures and neither was leading scorer Chloe Kitts, who was held to 2 points on 1 of 7 shooting. They never led, got beat on the boards, 41-34, and were outscored 26-18 in the paint and 8-1 in fast break points. They only made eight trips to the free throw line. "Our kids fought," Staley said, "but we ran into a buzzsaw." South Carolina did manage to limit 6-foot-7 UCLA star Lauren Betts, who had 11 points and 14 rebounds, despite no longer having a dominant center of their own. The Bruins responded by getting the ball to others and eight of their 10 players scored. "We did an excellent job on Betts and we got killed by everyone else," Staley said. Tessa Johnson was the only other Gamecock in double figures with 14. "We needed a lot more than Tessa today," Staley said. The Gamecocks never got their offense in gear, starting the game 0 for 9 before trailing 20-10 at the end of the first quarter. They were down 43-22 at halftime. "Our shot selection is something we're dealing with on a daily basis," Staley said. The Gamecocks outscored UCLA 40-34 in the second half, but the Bruins' big early lead easily held up. "Beautiful basketball by UCLA," Staley said. "You can't help but to love up on it cause it was fluid on both sides of the ball." Given that it's only late November, the Gamecocks have plenty of time to figure things out. "We had some really good contributions from people that don't play a whole lot and we could probably give a little bit more minutes to," Staley said. "Taking a loss will help us focus on anybody that we play." Get local news delivered to your inbox!OTTAWA - The union representing rank-and-file Mounties is welcoming a federal plan to spend $1.3 billion to bolster border security and ensure the integrity of the immigration system. In its fall economic update Monday, the Liberal government said it would invest in cutting-edge technology for law enforcement, so that only people who are eligible to remain in Canada do so. The money, to be spread over six fiscal years, is earmarked for the RCMP, Public Safety Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency and the cyberspies at the Communications Security Establishment. RCMP members enforce laws between official points of entry and investigate criminal activities related to the border. National Police Federation president Brian Sauvé says members have been protecting the border with limited resources, and the new money will allow them to continue delivering on their mandate. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc is expected to join other ministers this afternoon to provide more details on the plan. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 17, 2024.Democrats push possible Trump response, other state legislative matters to New YearBuy Smarter: The Consumer Guide to Smart TVs

poker game with dice Olivia Olson scored 18 points, including eight straight to open the fourth quarter, as the No. 23 Michigan Wolverines survived a 60-54 scare from the Northwestern Wildcats in the Big Ten opener for each team in Ann Arbor, Mich. Northwestern (4-4, 0-1 Big Ten) led throughout the third quarter and took a four-point lead into the fourth, but Olson capped her 8-0 burst with a 3-pointer, and Syla Swords also nailed a trey to put the Wolverines (8-1, 1-0) ahead 50-44. Michigan has won eight straight games since opening the season with a six-point loss to then-No. 1 South Carolina. Caileigh Walsh's 3-pointer put the Wildcats back in front 53-52 with 3:36 to go. Michigan responded by scoring eight of the game's last nine points, six by Jordan Hobbs. Hobbs finished with 16 points and teammate Mila Holloway had 10. Kyla Jones led Northwestern with 14 points and Walsh notched 10 before fouling out. No. 4 Texas 93, James Madison 62 Madison Booker, Jordan Lee and Rori Harmon dominated the first half as the Longhorns clobbered the host Dukes in Harrisonburg, Va. Booker scored 21 points, Lee added 20 and Harmon 19 by combining on 25-of-33 shooting. They had 49 of their points in the first half as Texas (7-1) piled up a 58-29 halftime lead. The Longhorns, who entered seventh in the nation in scoring at 90 points per game, shot 54 percent for the game to 40 percent for the Dukes. Roshala Scott led James Madison (7-3) with 22 points and Peyton McDaniel and Ashanti Barnes had 12 apiece. McDaniel added eight rebounds for the Dukes, who had 24 turnovers. No. 10 Notre Dame 93, Syracuse 62 The Fighting Irish pulled away from a seven-point halftime lead to demolish the host Orange in the ACC opener for both schools. The trio of Sonia Citron, Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles led Notre Dame's win with double-doubles. Citron had 25 points and 11 rebounds, Hidalgo racked up 24 and 10, respectively, and Miles shone with 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Hidalgo, third in Division I in scoring (24.6 ppg), netted nine points and Citron had eight in the third quarter, as Notre Dame (7-2, 1-0 ACC) outscored Syracuse (4-6, 0-1) 29-13 to pull away. Keira Scott posted 16 points and Sophie Burrows tacked on 13 for the Orange, who shot only 32.5 percent. The Irish shot 50 percent and thrived despite 20 turnovers. No. 16 North Carolina 72, Coppin State 46 The Tar Heels built a comfortable halftime lead and used its bench players freely in devouring the Eagles in Chapel Hill, N.C. North Carolina (9-1) entered second-best in the nation in scoring defense at 49.1 points per game and excelled again, holding Coppin State to 27.3 percent shooting. Meanwhile, the Tar Heels shot 44.4 percent while having 12 players enter the scoring column, led by Maria Gakdeng's 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Reniya Kelly scored six of her eight points in the first quarter as North Carolina took a 23-13 lead. The Tar Heels grew the lead to 46-27 by intermission. Tiffany Hammond and Angel Jones scored 12 points apiece for Coppin State (6-5), and Laila Lawrence added 10 points with 10 rebounds. No. 18 Ole Miss 85, Tennessee State 38 The Rebels had more points by halftime than the Lady Tigers scored in the game after jumping out to a 14-2 lead in the first quarter and 44-19 by intermission. Kennedy Todd-Williams led Ole Miss (6-3) with 15 points and seven rebounds, and Sira Thienou added 12 and six, respectively. The Rebels shot 46 percent for the game. Ole Miss began the day seventh in the nation in scoring defense at 49.8 points allowed per game, and it punished Tennessee State to the tune of 23.6 percent shooting and 22 forced turnovers. XaiOnna Whitfield led the Lady Tigers (4-6) with 10 points. No. 20 Iowa State 82, Central Michigan 56 Audi Crooks scored 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting and added 10 rebounds as the Cyclones slammed the Chippewas in Ames, Iowa. Emily Ryan netted 10 of her 12 points in the first quarter and Crooks scored nine in the period as Iowa State (8-2) jumped out to a 31-13 lead and enjoyed a cushion of at least 18 points the rest of the way. Addy Brown added 18 points for the Cyclones, who shot 52.5 percent and rolled despite having 20 turnovers. Jayda Mosley led Central Michigan (3-6) with 11 points and Madi Morson and Ayanna-Sarai Darrington added 10 apiece. The Chippewas shot only 33.3 percent from the floor and had 26 turnovers. No. 24 Michigan State 89, DePaul 61 The unbeaten Spartans put four scorers in double figures as they systematically disposed of the Blue Demons in East Lansing, Mich. Jaddan Simmons finished with 18 points, five rebounds and five assists, and Julia Ayrault stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals for Michigan State (9-0). Emma Shumate and Jocelyn Tate had 12 and 10 points, respectively. Jorie Allen put up 15 points, 11 boards, seven assists and three steals and Grace Carstensen also notched 15 points for DePaul (3-7), which shot just 28.8 percent despite hitting 9 of 18 of its 3-point attempts. The Spartans led by seven after one quarter and 17 at halftime before coasting through the second half. No. 25 Nebraska 84, Minnesota 65 Strong first quarters by Callin Hake and Amiah Hargrove sent the Cornhuskers on their way to pinning the first loss on the Golden Gophers in the Big Ten Conference opener for each team. Hake scored eight of her 11 points in the first period and Hargrove eight of her 10 as Nebraska (8-1, 1-0 Big Ten) seized a 27-11 lead and never looked back. Hargrove scored eight of the Cornhuskers' 10 straight points to end the quarter. Alberte Rimdal led the winners with 12 points and Alexis Markowski added 11 with nine rebounds. Mallory Heyer collected 12 points and eight rebounds for Minnesota (10-1, 0-1). Tori McKinney scored 11 points and Grace Crocholski and Alexsia Rose 10 apiece, but the Golden Gophers hit just 35.2 percent of their shots. --Field Level MediaXencor CEO Bassil Dahiyat sells $1.19 million in stock

Jon Coupal: The Gann Limit is back in the news

Puerto Rican boxer Paul Bamba dies aged 35, six days after last fightSeveral social media users posted a photo of Bashar al-Assad, claiming the ouster Syrian president was spotted in Moscow after he fleed Damascus on Sunday. According to Russian state agency Tass, President Vladimir Putin has agreed to give asylum to al-Assad and his family after rebels took over Syria. Soon after the report was out, social media users shared a photo of the Syrian president. However, it was not from Moscow. It was taken during Assad’s visit to earthquake hit areas in Syria in 2023. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from World and around the world.

Scotland defender Kieran Tierney has ended a five-month injury absence after being named in Arsenal's first-team squad for the London's club's Champions League visit to Sporting on Tuesday. The 27-year-old has been sidelined since June after suffering a hamstring tear against Switzerland at Euro 2024 but has been out of favour under manager Mikel Arteta since summer 2023. The Spaniard told Monday's media conference in Lisbon: "We have Kieran Tierney with us after a long injury. "It’s great news that he is back. He's been training with us and he is available to participate." Tierney has not played for Arsenal since a substitute appearance in their penalty shoot-out Community Shield victory over Manchester City after a 1-1 draw in August 2023. Having fallen out of the first-team picture, he spent the rest of the season on loan to Real Sociedad, making 26 appearances for the La Liga side, but remains under contract with Arsenal until 2026. Tierney has missed seven Scotland games since his latest injury, including all their Nations League group games. The news of his return from injury comes two days after Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn's return to the Norwich City side after missing six club games and four internationals. The 28-year-old helped the Canaries to a 2-2 draw away to West Bromwich Albion in the Championship after recovering from his rib injury. Scotland next face a double header play-off against Greece in March as they aim to retain their place in League A.

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Stocks closed higher on Wall Street as the market posted its fifth straight gain and the Dow Jones Industrial Average notched another record high. The S&P 500 rose 0.3%. The benchmark index’s 1.7% gain for the week erased most of its loss from last week. The Dow rose 1% as it nudged past its most recent high set last week, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2%. Markets have been volatile over the last few weeks, losing ground in the runup to elections in November, then surging following Donald Trump’s victory, before falling again. The S&P 500 has been steadily rising throughout this week to within close range of its record. It’s now within about 0.5% of its all-time high set last week. “Overall, market behavior has normalized following an intense few weeks,” said Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide, in a statement. Several retailers jumped after giving Wall Street encouraging financial updates. Gap soared 12.8% after handily beating analysts’ third-quarter earnings and revenue expectations, while raising its own revenue forecast for the year. Discount retailer Ross Stores rose 2.2% after raising its earnings forecast for the year. EchoStar fell 2.8% after DirecTV called off its purchase of that company’s Dish Network unit. Smaller company stocks had some of the biggest gains. The Russell 2000 index rose 1.8%. A majority of stocks in the S&P 500 gained ground, but those gains were kept in check by slumps for several big technology companies. Nvidia fell 3.2%. Its pricey valuation makes it among the heaviest influences on whether the broader market gains or loses ground. The company has grown into a nearly $3.6 trillion behemoth because of demand for its chips used in artificial-intelligence technology. Intuit, which makes TurboTax and other accounting software, fell 5.7%. It gave investors a quarterly earnings forecast that fell short of analysts’ expectations. Facebook owner Meta Platforms fell 0.7% following a decision by the Supreme Court to allow a multibillion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit to proceed against the company. It stems from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm. All told, the S&P 500 rose 20.63 points to 5,969.34. The Dow climbed 426.16 points to 44,296.51, and the Nasdaq picked up 42.65 points to close at 2,406.67. European markets closed mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Crude oil prices rose. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.41% from 4.42% late Thursday. In the crypto market, bitcoin hovered around $99,000, according to CoinDesk. It has more than doubled this year and first surpassed the $99,000 level on Thursday. Retailers remained a big focus for investors this week amid close scrutiny on consumer spending habits headed into the holiday shopping season. Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, reported a quarter of strong sales and gave investors an encouraging financial forecast. Target, though, reported weaker earnings than analysts’ expected and its forecast disappointed Wall Street. Consumer spending has fueled economic growth, despite a persistent squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. Inflation has been easing and the Federal Reserve has started trimming its benchmark interest rates. That is likely to help relieve pressure on consumers, but any major shift in spending could prompt the Fed to reassess its path ahead on interest rates. Also, any big reversals on the rate of inflation could curtail spending. Consumer sentiment remains strong, according to the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index. It revised its latest figure for November to 71.8 from an initial reading of 73 earlier this month, though economists expected a slight increase. It’s still up from 70.5 in October. The survey also showed that consumers’ inflation expectations for the year ahead fell slightly to 2.6%, which is the lowest reading since December of 2020. Wall Street will get another update on how consumers feel when the business group The Conference Board releases its monthly consumer confidence survey on Tuesday. A key inflation update will come on Wednesday when the U.S. releases its October personal consumption expenditures index. The PCE is the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation and this will be the last PCE reading prior to the central bank’s meeting in December. Stocks closed higher on Wall Street as the market posted The owners of a Colorado funeral home who let nearly The Supreme Court on Friday stepped into a major legal Oil company Phillips 66 has been federally indicted in connectionWINNIPEG - Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew offered condolences Monday to the families affected by two fatal police shootings in the province and spoke to the challenge faced by officers on the front lines. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * WINNIPEG - Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew offered condolences Monday to the families affected by two fatal police shootings in the province and spoke to the challenge faced by officers on the front lines. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? WINNIPEG – Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew offered condolences Monday to the families affected by two fatal police shootings in the province and spoke to the challenge faced by officers on the front lines. “I want to take the opportunity to thank police officers across this province who go to work and keep us safe each and every day,” Kinew said while at the convention for the Association of Manitoba Municipalities. The night before, a street standoff involving police left one man dead and an officer recovering from a stab wound to the throat. Kinew told reporters no one wants to see a person die after an altercation with police but officers are often tasked with responding to high-risk situations. “Police officers have a difficult job to do, that’s at the best of times, so I support law enforcement,” he said. “When we’re thinking about the holidays and people going to the malls and people going to the shopping areas around the province, people have got to be safe.” Police were called early Sunday evening to the Unicity shopping area in the city’s far west about an officer who had been stabbed in the throat and a suspect who had been shot. Acting police Chief Art Stannard later told reporters that officers had been in the area as part of a retail theft initiative, which sees police work in hot spots in the city that have seen a rise in retail theft and violent crime. Police said the man who was shot was given CPR at the scene before he was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. They said the injured officer was also transported to hospital and treated for his injury. Police declined to provide more details about what happened, including the age or identity of the man killed, noting the case is being reviewed by the police watchdog agency — the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba. The agency confirmed it’s investigating the death of the man but did not provide any other details. Videos circulating on social media appear to show a man being shot outside a bus shelter. In a 24-second clip, two police officers tell a person “to put it down” and “to drop it.” The man appears to advance toward the officers and at least one officer begins shooting. It’s not clear in the video whether the man who was shot was holding a weapon. Stannard told reporters Sunday he’s aware of the video and asked the public to avoid rushing to judgment. Coun. Markus Chambers, chair of the Winnipeg Police Board, said Sunday’s incident is tragic for all involved and noted it could renew calls for the board to implement body cameras. “Body-worn cameras likely wouldn’t have resulted in this not happening, but it is a mechanism of looking at the accountability around what happened,” Chambers said. 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. The councillor said the board would be monitoring the rollout of body cameras in RCMP detachments across the province to see if they’re effective. It was the second fatal police shooting in three days. A 17-year-old boy from Norway House Cree Nation was shot and killed by an RCMP officer on Friday. Mounties said they received a report that a man was agitated and armed with an edged weapon in a home on the First Nation, north of Winnipeg. RCMP said the teen was outside with the weapon when officers arrived and, despite numerous orders to drop it, he moved toward them and was shot. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement

(The Center Square) – The U.S. Government Accountability Office says leadership is needed to fully define quantum threat mitigation strategy. A new report released by the agency emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive federal leadership to address the emerging cybersecurity risks posed by quantum computing, warning that without prompt and coordinated action, adversarial nations might exploit quantum technology to undermine national security.texas poker game 。

F5 Inc. stock underperforms Friday when compared to competitors despite daily gainsRuud van Nistelrooy ‘disappointed’ and ‘hurt’ after cutting ties with Man Utd

WASHINGTON , Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- With a look back at 2024, NASA is celebrating its many innovative and inspiring accomplishments this year including for the first time, landing new science and technology on the Moon with an American company, pushing the boundaries of exploration by launching a new mission to study Jupiter's icy moon Europa; maintaining 24 years of continuous human exploration off the Earth aboard the International Space Station, and unveiling the first look at its supersonic quiet aircraft for the benefit of humanity. The agency also shared the wonder of a total eclipse with millions of Americans, conducted the final flight of its Ingenuity helicopter on the Red Planet, demonstrated the first laser communications capability in deep space, tested the next generation solar sail in space, made new scientific discoveries with its James Webb Space Telescope, completed a year-long Mars simulation on Earth with crew, announced the newest class of Artemis Generation astronauts, and much more. "In 2024, NASA made leap after giant leap to explore, discover, and inspire – all while bringing real, tangible, and substantial benefits to the American people and to all of humanity," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson . "We deepened the commercial and international partnerships that will help NASA lead humanity back to the Moon and then to the red sands of Mars. We launched new missions to study our solar system and our universe in captivating new ways. We observed our changing Earth through our eyes in the sky – our ever-growing fleet of satellites and instruments – and shared that data with all of humanity. And we opened the doors to new possibilities in aviation, new breakthroughs on the International Space Station, and new wonders in space travel." Through its Moon to Mars exploration approach, the agency continued moving forward with its Artemis campaign, including progress toward its first mission around the Moon with crew in more than 50 years and advancing plans to explore more of the Moon than ever before. So far in 2024, 15 countries signed the Artemis Accords, committing to the safe, transparent, and responsible exploration of space with the United States . As part of efforts to monitor climate change, the agency launched multiple satellites to study our changing planet and opened its second Earth Information Center to provide data to a wider audience. With the release of its latest Economic Impact Report , NASA underscored the agency's $75.6 billion impact on the U.S. economy, value to society, and return on investment for taxpayers. "To invest in NASA is to invest in American workers, American innovation, the American economy, and American economic competitiveness. Through continued investments in our workforce and our infrastructure, NASA will continue to propel American leadership on Earth, in the skies, and in the stars," said Nelson. Key 2024 agency highlights across its mission areas include: Preparing for Moon, Mars This year, NASA made strides toward the Artemis Generation of scientific discovery at the Moon while validating operations and systems to prepare for human missions to Mars. The agency advanced toward Artemis II, the first crewed flight under Artemis: Observing, Learning About Earth NASA collects data about our home planet from space and on land, helping understand how our climate on Earth is changing. Some of the agency's key accomplishments in Earth science this year include: Exploring Our Solar System, Universe NASA's Europa Clipper embarked Oct. 14 on its long voyage to Jupiter , where it will investigate Europa, a moon with an enormous subsurface ocean that may have conditions to support life. NASA collaborated with multiple partners on content and social media related to the launch, including engagements with the National Hockey League, U.S. Figure Skating, 7-Eleven, e.l.f., Girl Scouts, Crayola, Library of Congress, and others. NASA's 2024 space exploration milestones also include: Living, Conducting Research in Space In 2024, a total of 25 people lived and worked aboard the International Space Station, helping to complete science for the benefit of humanity, open access to space to more people, and support exploration to the Moon in preparation for Mars. A total of 14 spacecraft visited the microgravity laboratory in 2024, including eight commercial resupply missions from Northrop Grumman and SpaceX, as well as international partner missions, delivering more than 40,000 pounds of science investigations, tools, and critical supplies to the space station. NASA also helped safely return the uncrewed Boeing Starliner spacecraft to Earth, concluding a three-month flight test to the International Space Station. In addition: Imagining Future Flight NASA researchers worked to advance innovations that will transform U.S. aviation, furthering the Sustainable Flight National Partnership and other efforts to help the country reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. NASA also unveiled its X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft, the centerpiece of its Quesst mission to make quiet overland supersonic flight a reality. NASA aeronautics initiatives also worked to bring air taxis, delivery drones, and other revolutionary technology closer to deployment to benefit the U.S. public and industry. Over the past year, the agency: Improving Life on Earth, in Space with Technology NASA develops essential technologies to drive exploration and the space economy. In 2024, NASA leveraged partnerships to advance technologies and test new capabilities to help the agency develop a sustainable presence on the lunar surface and beyond, while benefiting life on our home planet and in low Earth orbit. The following are 2024 space technology advancements: Growing Global Partnerships Through the Artemis Accords , almost 50 nations have joined the United States , led by NASA with the U.S. State Department, in a voluntary commitment to engage in the safe, transparent, and responsible exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The Artemis Accords represent a robust and diverse group of nation states, representing all regions of the world, working together for the safe, transparent, and responsible exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond with NASA. More countries are expected to sign the Artemis Accords in the weeks and months ahead. Celebrating Total Solar Eclipse During the total solar eclipse on April 8 , NASA helped the nation enjoy the event safely and engaged millions of people with in-person events, live online coverage, and citizen science opportunities. NASA also funded scientists around North America to take advantage of this unique position of the Sun, Moon, and Earth to learn more about the Sun and its connection to our home planet. Highlights of the solar celebration include: Building Low Earth Orbit Economy In August, NASA announced the development of its low Earth orbit microgravity strategy by releasing 42 objectives for stakeholder feedback. The strategy helps to guide the next generation of human presence in low Earth orbit and advance microgravity science, technology, and exploration. NASA is refining the objectives with collected input and will finalize the strategy before the end of the year. Additional advancements include: Inspiring Artemis Generation of STEM Students NASA continues to offer a wide range of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) initiatives and activities, reaching and engaging the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers. The agency's STEM engagements are enhanced through collaborations with partner organizations, the distribution of various grants, and additional strategic activities. Key 2024 STEM highlights include:CGI expands operations in multiple U.S. metro markets with Daugherty

NoneNASA Accelerates Space Exploration, Earth Science for All in 2024

Massachusetts Working Class Dramatically Shifted for Trump, Dems Wondering WhyRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina lawmakers on Wednesday enacted a law over the governor’s veto that would diminish the powers afforded to his successor and other other Democratic statewide winners in the Nov. 5 elections. In a 72-46 vote, the Republican-dominated House overrode Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto a week after the GOP-controlled Senate voted to do the same. Like during the Senate vote, opponents to the power-shifting bill sat in the gallery and disrupted the chambers’ floor proceedings. More than 150 people gathered on the third floor — more than the House gallery could seat. They chanted “shame” as the override vote completed and continued to yell as they were escorted out. After warning disruptors they would face arrest if they didn’t quiet down and leave the building, General Assembly police arrested one woman who refused to leave, said police Chief Martin Brock, adding that she would face charges of trespassing, resisting arrest and violating building rules. Many provisions within the 132-page law seek to diminish powers afforded to Gov.-elect Josh Stein, incoming attorney general Jeff Jackson, the next Democratic lieutenant governor and the schools superintendent. They all take office early next month. One of the most significant changes shifts the power to appoint State Board of Elections members from the governor to the state auditor, who will be a Republican next year. RELATED COVERAGE Republican-led states are rolling out plans that could aid Trump’s mass deportation effort Election Day has long passed. In some states, legislatures are working to undermine the results Tight race for the North Carolina Supreme Court is heading to another recount For decades, the governor has selected its five members, with the governor’s party usually taking three seats. The enacted law transfers that power to the state auditor starting in spring. This, in turn, means Republicans will likely hold majorities on the state board and the county election boards. The legislation also weakens the governor’s authority to fill vacancies on the state Court of Appeals and Supreme Court and prevents the attorney general from taking legal positions contrary to the General Assembly in litigation challenging a law’s validity. Several post-election deadlines will move up under the law after Republican complaints that counties took too long to count provisional and absentee ballots, especially in light of an extremely close Supreme Court race . The veto override took place in the final days of a lame-duck General Assembly session where Republicans hold exactly the number of seats necessary to override vetoes without help from Democrats. That won’t be the case much longer — barring a successful election protest that would flip a race’s result — after Democrats picked up one more House seat in the general elections. Despite ultimately succeeding in their override, House Republicans had some difficulty staying unified. Some GOP lawmakers from western North Carolina — where Hurricane Helene caused historic flooding — initially voted against the measure last month. But all three — Reps. Mike Clampitt, Karl Gillespie and Mark Pless — ended up voting to override the veto. Part of the criticism levied against the bill centered on the $252 million of Helene recovery funds attached to it, most of which can’t be spent until the General Assembly acts again. In his veto message , Cooper called the bill a sham in which Republicans used Helene and “disaster relief” in its title to mask unconstitutional political power grabs — a message repeated by House Democrats and Stein. “It is despicable for the Republicans in the General Assembly to use folks’ incredible need for aid to cloak their political pettiness,” Stein said in a statement after Wednesday’s vote. Other opponents to the bill said at a Wednesday news conference that GOP lawmakers weren’t serving western North Carolinians and instead were undermining democracy. “Western North Carolina is not a toy to be played with. It is not an opportunity to exploit. It is not a place to be so violently disrespected,” said Sam Stites, a Transylvania County staff member from advocacy group Just Economics of Western North Carolina. Republicans point out they had already allocated more than $900 million to Helene relief since October, with plans for more funding next session. Caldwell County Republican Rep. Destin Hall, who is expected to be the House speaker next year, further defended the bill’s executive power shifts as the legislature’s constitutional right. “This body is entirely committed to helping folks in this state with storm relief,” Hall said. “So, in my opinion, what’s happened is political football has been made out of this bill.” It’s likely the new law will soon be mired in litigation — just like eight years ago, after Republicans passed laws weakening Cooper’s powers just before he took office. “Of course it’s going to go to court,” outgoing House Speaker Tim Moore, a congressman-elect, told reporters after the vote. “That’s just the way it is.” The House also secured for the November 2026 statewide ballot a proposed constitutional amendment to require all North Carolina voters show photo identification before voting. The constitution currently only specifies that it’s required for in-person voting. ID exceptions are afforded now and would continue with the amendment, and laws separate from the state constitution already direct voters to provide a photo ID copy when voting by mail.The Ravens announced that tickets for a potential home wild-card playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium will go on sale Thursday at 10 a.m.

ENERGY SERVICES OF AMERICA COMPLETES ACQUISITIONThe Trump and Biden teams insist they're working hand in glove on foreign crisesWhy Accenture Stock Flew Higher on Friday

Noninvasive imaging method can penetrate deeper into living tissue December 11, 2024 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Researchers developed a non-invasive imaging technique that enables laser light to penetrate deeper into living tissue, capturing sharper images of cells. This could help clinical biologists study disease progression and develop new medicines. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email Metabolic imaging is a noninvasive method that enables clinicians and scientists to study living cells using laser light, which can help them assess disease progression and treatment responses. But light scatters when it shines into biological tissue, limiting how deep it can penetrate and hampering the resolution of captured images. Now, MIT researchers have developed a new technique that more than doubles the usual depth limit of metabolic imaging. Their method also boosts imaging speeds, yielding richer and more detailed images. This new technique does not require tissue to be preprocessed, such as by cutting it or staining it with dyes. Instead, a specialized laser illuminates deep into the tissue, causing certain intrinsic molecules within the cells and tissues to emit light. This eliminates the need to alter the tissue, providing a more natural and accurate representation of its structure and function. The researchers achieved this by adaptively customizing the laser light for deep tissues. Using a recently developed fiber shaper -- a device they control by bending it -- they can tune the color and pulses of light to minimize scattering and maximize the signal as the light travels deeper into the tissue. This allows them to see much further into living tissue and capture clearer images. Greater penetration depth, faster speeds, and higher resolution make this method particularly well-suited for demanding imaging applications like cancer research, tissue engineering, drug discovery, and the study of immune responses. "This work shows a significant improvement in terms of depth penetration for label-free metabolic imaging. It opens new avenues for studying and exploring metabolic dynamics deep in living biosystems," says Sixian You, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), a member of the Research Laboratory for Electronics, and senior author of a paper on this imaging technique. She is joined on the paper by lead author Kunzan Liu, an EECS graduate student; Tong Qiu, an MIT postdoc; Honghao Cao, an EECS graduate student; Fan Wang, professor of brain and cognitive sciences; Roger Kamm, the Cecil and Ida Green Distinguished Professor of Biological and Mechanical Engineering; Linda Griffith, the School of Engineering Professor of Teaching Innovation in the Department of Biological Engineering; and other MIT colleagues. The research will appear in Science Advances . Laser-focused This new method falls in the category of label-free imaging, which means tissue is not stained beforehand. Staining creates contrast that helps a clinical biologist see cell nuclei and proteins better. But staining typically requires the biologist to section and slice the sample, a process that often kills the tissue and makes it impossible to study dynamic processes in living cells. In label-free imaging techniques, researchers use lasers to illuminate specific molecules within cells, causing them to emit light of different colors that reveal various molecular contents and cellular structures. However, generating the ideal laser light with certain wavelengths and high-quality pulses for deep-tissue imaging has been challenging. The researchers developed a new approach to overcome this limitation. They use a multimode fiber, a type of optical fiber which can carry a significant amount of power, could couple it with a compact device called a "fiber shaper." This shaper allows them to precisely modulate the light propagation by adaptively changing the shape of the fiber. Bending the fiber changes the color and intensity of the laser. Building on prior work, the researchers adapted the first version of the fiber shaper for deeper multimodal metabolic imaging. "We want to channel all this energy into the colors we need with the pulse properties we require. This gives us higher generation efficiency and a clearer image, even deep within tissues," says Cao. Once they had built the controllable mechanism, they developed an imaging platform to leverage the powerful laser source to generate longer wavelengths of light, which are crucial for deeper penetration into biological tissues. "We believe this technology has the potential to significantly advance biological research. By making it affordable and accessible to biology labs, we hope to empower scientists with a powerful tool for discovery," Liu says. Dynamic applications When the researchers tested their imaging device, the light was able to penetrate more than 700 micrometers into a biological sample, whereas the best prior techniques could only reach about 200 micrometers. "With this new type of deep imaging, we want to look at biological samples and see something we have never seen before," Liu adds. The deep imaging technique enabled them to see cells at multiple levels within a living system, which could help researchers study metabolic changes that happen at different depths. In addition, the faster imaging speed allows them to gather more detailed information on how a cell's metabolism affects the speed and direction of its movements. This new imaging method could offer a boost to the study of organoids, which are engineered cells that can grow to mimic the structure and function of organs. Researchers in the Kamm and Griffith labs pioneer the development of brain and endometrial organoids that can grow like organs for disease and treatment assessment. However, it has been challenging to precisely observe internal developments without cutting or staining the tissue, which kills the sample. This new imaging technique allows researchers to noninvasively monitor the metabolic states inside a living organoid while it continues to grow. With these and other biomedical applications in mind, the researchers plan to aim for even higher-resolution images. At the same time, they are working to create low-noise laser sources, which could enable deeper imaging with less light dosage. They are also developing algorithms that react to the images to reconstruct the full 3D structures of biological samples in high resolution. In the long run, they hope to apply this technique in the real world to help biologists monitor drug response in real-time to aid in the development of new medicines. "By enabling multimodal metabolic imaging that reaches deeper into tissues, we're providing scientists with an unprecedented ability to observe nontransparent biological systems in their natural state. We're excited to collaborate with clinicians, biologists, and bioengineers to push the boundaries of this technology and turn these insights into real-world medical breakthroughs," You says. This research is funded, in part, by MIT startup funds, a U.S. National Science Foundation CAREER Award, an MIT Irwin Jacobs and Joan Klein Presidential Fellowship, and an MIT Kailath Fellowship. Story Source: Materials provided by Massachusetts Institute of Technology . Original written by Adam Zewe. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Related Multimedia : Journal Reference : Cite This Page :

Rutgers 77, Georgia Southern 60

ASU course aims to empower students to think critically about AI

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AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:46 p.m. EST

ServiceTitan, a provider of cloud software to contractors, priced its IPO at $71 a share on Wednesday, above the expected range. > Philadelphia news 24/7: Watch NBC10 free wherever you are The company is set to debut on the Nasdaq on Thursday under ticker symbol "TTAN." ServiceTitan previously raised its price range to between $65 and $67. ServiceTitan sold 8.8 million shares in the offering, which would amount to a raise of almost $625 million. At the IPO price, ServiceTitan is worth about $6.3 billion. Technology IPOs have been sparse since late 2021, when inflation and rising interest rates pushed investors out of riskier assets. Cloud software stocks quickly went out of favor after remote work during the pandemic had accelerated their growth. In March of this year, social network Reddit went public, followed by data management company Rubrik the following month . In September, less than two weeks after the Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark rate for the first time since 2020, chipmaker Cerebras filed for an IPO. However, the company has yet to debut on the market. ServiceTitan, based in Glendale, California, filed to go public on Nov. 18 . The company has said some proceeds would go toward redeeming all outstanding shares of its non-convertible preferred stock. It had issued that stock in 2022 to repay loans to finance the $577 million acquisition of pest control software provider FieldRoutes. While raising money in 2022, ServiceTitan agreed to "compounding ratchet" terms that encourage the company to quickly go public and prevent unnecessary dilution, according to an analysis from venture firm Meritech Capital. Bessemer Venture Partners, TPG and Iconiq are among the company's top shareholders, alongside founders Vahe Kuzoyan and Ara Mahdessian. Mahdessian's father had a contracting business, and Kuzoyan's father dealt in plumbing, according to the Los Angeles Times . The founders said in a pre-recorded IPO roadshow that they saw technology as a way to modernize their family businesses. Their software can help with marketing, sales, scheduling and customer service. ServiceTitan's preliminary results for the October quarter show a net loss of about $47 million on $198.5 million in revenue. That suggests approximately 24% year-over-year revenue growth, the highest rate since mid-2023. But the company's net loss widened from around $40 million in the October quarter last year. WATCH: Many tech companies have effectively completed IPOs as private businesses, says Mitchell GreenNone

PETROAN, Dangote Refinery Sign Deal on Direct Petrol SaleWASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump offered a public show of support Friday for Pete Hegseth, his choice to lead the Defense Department, whose confirmation by the Senate is in doubt as he faces questions over allegations of excessive drinking, sexual assault and his views on women in combat roles. Hegseth, a former Fox News host, Army National Guard major and combat veteran, spent much of the week on Capitol Hill trying to salvage his Cabinet nomination and privately reassure Republican senators that he is fit to lead Trump's Pentagon. "Pete Hegseth is doing very well," Trump posted on his social media site. "He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense." The president added that "Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!" The nomination battle is emerging not only as a debate about the best person to lead the Pentagon, but an inflection point for a MAGA movement that appears to be relishing a public fight over its hard-line push for a more masculine military and an end to the "woke-ism" of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be defense secretary, responds to reporters during a meeting with Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Military leaders are rattled by a list of “woke” senior officers that a conservative group urged Pete Hegseth to dismiss for promoting diversity in the ranks if he is confirmed to lead the Pentagon. The list compiled by the American Accountability Foundation includes 20 general officers or senior admirals and a disproportionate number of female officers. It has had a chilling effect on the Pentagon’s often frank discussions as leaders try to figure out how to address the potential firings and diversity issues under Trump. Those on the list in many cases seem to be targeted for public comments they made either in interviews or at events on diversity, and in some cases for retweeting posts that promote diversity. Tom Jones, a former aide to Republican senators who leads the foundation, said Friday those on the list are “pretty egregious” advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, policies, which he called problematic. “The nominee has been pretty clear that that has no place in the military,” Jones said of Hegseth. Hegseth embraced Trump’s effort to end programs that promote diversity in the ranks and fire those who reflect those values. Other Trump picks, like Kash Patel for FBI director, have suggested targeting those in government who are not aligned with Trump. Trump's allies forcefully rallied around Hegseth — the Heritage Foundation's political arm promised to spend $1 million to shore up his nomination — as he vows to stay in the fight, as long as the president-elect wants him to. Vice President-elect JD Vance offers a public show of support for Pete Hegseth, the embattled choice to lead the Defense Department. "We're not abandoning this nomination," Vance told reporters during a tour of western North Carolina. "We're not abandoning this nomination," Vice-President-elect JD Vance said as he toured post-hurricane North Carolina. He said he spoke with GOP senators and believes Hegseth will be confirmed. The effort became a test of Trump's clout and of how far loyalty for the president-elect goes with Republican senators who have concerns about his nominees. Two of Trump's other choices stepped aside as they faced intense scrutiny: former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., his first choice for attorney general, and Chad Chronister, a Florida sheriff who was Trump's first choice to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration. Thanking the president-elect for the support, Hegseth posted on social media, "Like you, we will never back down." Hegseth faces resistance from senators as reports emerged about his past, including the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. He promised not to drink on the job and told lawmakers he never engaged in sexual misconduct, even as his professional views on female troops came under intensifying scrutiny. He said as recently as last month that women "straight up" should not serve in combat. He picked up one important endorsement from Republican Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama, whose support was seen as a potentially powerful counterweight to the cooler reception Hegseth received from Sen. Joni Ernst, a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel. Ernst, who is also a sexual assault survivor, stopped short of an endorsement after meeting with Hegseth this week. On Friday, Ernst posted on X that she would meet with him again next week. “At a minimum, we agree that he deserves the opportunity to lay out his vision for our warfighters at a fair hearing,” she wrote. On Friday, Trump put out the statement in response to coverage saying he lost faith in Hegseth, according to a person familiar with his thinking who was not authorized to discuss it publicly. The president-elect and his team were pleased to see Hegseth putting up a fight and his performance this week reiterates why he was chosen, the person said. They believe he can still be confirmed. Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be defense secretary, left, joined by his wife Jennifer Rauchet, attends a meeting with Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) If Hegseth goes down, Trump's team believes the defeat would empower others to spread what they cast as "vicious lies" against every candidate Trump chooses. Still, Trump's transition team is looking at potential replacements, including former presidential rival Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. DeSantis plans to attend the Dec. 14 Army-Navy football game with Trump, according to a person familiar with the Florida governor's plans who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. DeSantis and Trump spoke about the defense secretary post Tuesday at a memorial service for sheriff deputies in West Palm Beach, Fla., according to people familiar with the matter who said Trump was interested in DeSantis for the post, and the governor was receptive. DeSantis is poised to select a replacement for the expected Senate vacancy to be created by Marco Rubio becoming secretary of state, and Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump is seen as the preferred choice by those in Trump's orbit. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Kash Patel spent several years as a Justice Department prosecutor before catching the Trump administration’s attention as a staffer on Capitol Hill who helped investigate the Russia probe. Patel called for dramatically reducing the agency’s footprint, a perspective that sets him apart from earlier directors who sought additional resources for the bureau. Though the Justice Department in 2021 halted the practice of secretly seizing reporters’ phone records during leak investigations, Patel said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters. Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. “He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The commission oversees U.S. securities markets and investments and is currently led by Gary Gensler, who has been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Gensler, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, announced last month that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated — Jan. 20, 2025. Atkins began his career as a lawyer and has a long history working in the financial markets sector, both in government and private practice. In the 1990s, he worked on the staffs of two former SEC chairmen, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt. Jared Isaacman, 41, is a tech billionaire who bought a series of spaceflights from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk . He is the founder and CEO of a card-processing company and has collaborated closely with Musk ever since buying his first chartered SpaceX flight. He took contest winners on that 2021 trip and followed it in September with a mission where he briefly popped out the hatch to test SpaceX’s new spacewalking suits. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. President-elect Donald Trump tapped former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia to be ambassador to China, saying in a social media post that the former CEO “brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China.” Perdue lost his Senate seat to Democrat Jon Ossoff four years ago and ran unsuccessfully in a primary against Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Perdue pushed Trump's debunked lies about electoral fraud during his failed bid for governor. A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. “In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice. “He did an outstanding job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands during our first four years, and I am confident that he will continue to represent our Country well in this new role.” Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Former Rep. Billy Long represented Missouri in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2023. Since leaving Congress, Trump said, Long “has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities of complying with the IRS Rules and Regulations.” Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed in January 2020 by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and then lost a runoff election a year later. She started a conservative voter registration organization and dived into GOP fundraising, becoming one of the top individual donors and bundlers to Trump’s 2024 comeback campaign. Even before nominating her for agriculture secretary, the president-elect already had tapped Loeffler as co-chair of his inaugural committee. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration Makary is a Johns Hopkins surgeon and author who argued against pandemic lockdowns. He routinely appeared on Fox News during the COVID-19 pandemic and wrote opinion articles questioning masks for children. He cast doubt on vaccine mandates but supported vaccines generally. Makary also cast doubt on whether booster shots worked, which was against federal recommendations on the vaccine. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Surgeon General Nesheiwat is a general practitioner who serves as medical director for CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey. She has been a contributor to Fox News. Dr. Dave Weldon, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Weldon is a former Florida congressman who recently ran for a Florida state legislative seat and lost; Trump backed Weldon’s opponent. In Congress, Weldon weighed in on one of the nation’s most heated debates of the 1990s over quality of life and a right-to-die and whether Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent vegetative state after cardiac arrest, should have been allowed to have her feeding tube removed. He sided with the parents who did not want it removed. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

Friends and family of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson remembered the 50-year-old father of two as he was laid to rest during a private funeral service in Maple Grove, Minnesota on Monday, the same day that the arrest of his alleged assassin drew the nation's attention. As Luigi Mangione was being detained in Pennsylvania amid an outpouring of online support for the suspected killer, those close to Thompson quietly mourned his loss at a Lutheran church in his Minnesota hometown. Thompson was fatally shot outside a Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan as he was on his way to an investor conference the morning of December 4. Despite the shock of the brazen public execution, his death has spurred widespread anger at the health insurance industry and its top officials, with many even defending the gunman as a folk hero who was justified in his violence. But those who were close to Thompson during his life say the picture being painted of the 50-year-old husband and father does not reflect the man they knew. Matt Burns, a former colleague at UnitedHealthcare, told Newsweek that while he wasn't Thompson's closest friend or colleague, "I, like many, was lucky to know him because he had a unique way of expressing how much he valued and appreciated those around him in a way that was authentic and personal." Burns described Thompson, who colleagues knew as "BT," as "whip-smart and affable," a man "who could grasp the complexities of health care and explain them in simple, relatable terms true to his Iowa upbringing." "In his plainspokenness, he wasn't shy about using four-letter words nor did he suffer fools lightly, sizing up people quickly," Burns said. "He commanded respect and advanced without sharp elbows common in corporate settings. I have little doubt that eventually he would have ascended to the top role at UnitedHealth Group had his life not ended so tragically." Thompson grew up in a working-class family in Jewell, Idaho, where friends remember him as a farm kid who was well-liked by everyone. His mother was a beautician and his father was employed at a local grain elevator, according to an obituary . The elder Thompson passed away last year at 75. "He was one of the smartest kids, if not the smartest, and I would say the smartest person I've ever known," Taylor Hill, a close friend of Thompson's from childhood, told the Des Moines Register . "He was probably smarter than half our teachers. And the thing with our teachers is they knew it, too." Hill recalled him and Thompson being inseparable while growing up in rural Idaho, where they both graduated from South Hamilton High School in 1993. In a statement released last week, the school remembered Thompson as his class valedictorian, "a star student, athlete, homecoming king, and a respected leader." "The fact that he came from small town Iowa and still was able to achieve what he achieved, that says a lot about his drive," Todd Coy, the principal of South Hamilton Middle and High School, told KKCI, a local television station in Des Moines. "If you would look at his '93 classmates, they would all tell you that they knew he was going to strive to be something big," Coy said. "Being a CEO of a large health insurance company does not surprise any of them." Thompson would go onto attend the University of Iowa, where he met his wife, Paulette. He graduated with a degree in business administration in 1997 near the top of his class. The couple had two children together and settled in Maple Grove, a leafy suburb of Minneapolis near where UnitedHealth is based. According to colleagues who spoke to the New York Times , Thompson kept a low profile at home and was down-to-earth and funny in his personal life. He went to his sons' soccer games and liked to take them out on the golf course. "Brian was an incredibly loving husband, son, brother and friend," Thompson's family said in a statement after his death. "Most importantly, Brian was a devoted father to our two sons, and we will miss him for the rest of our lives. We appreciate the overwhelming outpouring of kind words and support we have received." Thompson joined UnitedHealth Group in 2004. After two decades rising through the ranks, he was named chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, the conglomerate's insurance division, in 2021. "His star ascended rapidly and yet I don't recall him forgetting those he worked with in the trenches along the way," Burns told Newsweek . "He toggled between his leadership role and relatable Joe as effectively and easily as anyone I've encountered professionally." Under his leadership, the company's profits rose to more than $16 billion last year from $12 billion in 2021. During that time, the company was also accused of systematically denying claims, and Thompson was named in a class-action lawsuit filed earlier this year that accused him and other executives of dumping stock before the Department of Justice announced an antitrust investigation into UnitedHealth Group. Newsweek reached out to UnitedHealth via email for comment. Betuchy Galeano, a Florida-based UnitedHealth employee, called Thompson "a truly remarkable person" who was "so humble, kind, cheerful, and full of life" in a Facebook post remembering her colleague. "BT was always fighting for the employees and members, making sure everyone understood the importance of compassion and appreciation," Victoria Claire, a medical coder in Wisconsin, also wrote. "Rest peacefully, BT, you will be missed." In a post on X, formerly Twitter , disability rights activist and former educator Timothy Shriver wrote, "Brian Thompson was a friend, an ally, and a believer in the power and importance of the athletes of Special Olympics . His sudden and horrifying death has left all of us in Special Olympics in shock and heartbreak. We will hold his spirit as we run our races for justice and joy and pray for his rest."Montage Health Announces Future President and CEO to Lead Next Chapter After Retirement of Dr. Steven Packer in Spring 2025

what is poker game DALLAS -- The Hilton Anatole has become Major League Baseball's top destination this week as teams converge for the winter meetings with writers, agents and even some fans circling the vast lobby floors. The biggest offseason news came down Sunday night, when the New York Mets and star free agent slugger Juan Soto reportedly agreed on a 15-year, $765 million deal, which would be the largest contract ever given to a professional athlete. That was a key talking point when managers started meeting with the media on Monday. Nationals manager Dave Martinez reflected on when he was Soto's first manager in the big leagues back in 2018. "This kid, he was different," Martinez said. "The ball comes off his bat differently. The way he approaches the hitting was way different than a lot of kids I've seen. But the one thing that I always remember about him, the first conversation I had, the first thing that came out of his mouth when I asked him what motivates him, what drives him, and he just came out and said, 'I love baseball.' Truly you can see it in him. He loves playing the game." The Red Sox were among the clubs in the mix for Soto. Boston manager Alex Cora didn't get into specific details, but he enjoyed the organization's pursuit of the four-time All Star. "It was fun in a way, you know, to get to know people and players of that status," Cora said. "It's amazing. The kid, he gets it. He gets it. Let me put it that way." Royals manager Matt Quatraro, meanwhile, spoke about the impact such a monumental contract may have on smaller market teams in order to compete in today's market. "We have to be creative. We have to put the best 26 guys on a roster or the best 40 guys on a roster, not the best one or two," Quatraro said. "At the end of the day, you have a chance to compete against those guys. Soto is going to hit four to five times a night. Those are impactful at-bats, but there's other ways to combat that with a full 26-man roster." Sasaki Posted Outside of the Soto reaction, Monday's other main storyline - at least going into the afternoon hours - centered on Japanese ace right-hander Roki Sasaki officially being posted. The 23-year-old phenom is available to sign as a free agent from Tuesday through 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 23. The rumor mill was churning with plenty of speculation and talk about where Sasaki might sign. He was just one of many big-name players being discussed on Monday. The list of top free agents behind Soto includes pitchers Corbin Burnes and Max Fried and infielders Alex Bregman, Pete Alonso and Christian Walker. On the trade front, much attention is being placed on White Sox left-handed starter Garrett Crochet. It was a relatively quiet Day 1 through the standard working hours, although things are always subject to change at meetings of this nature. Tito is Back Terry Francona joked that his desire to manage again resurfaced when his daughters went on a 10-day trip to Europe. "I watched the grandkids. That was the one day I thought maybe I'll go back to baseball," Francona said, laughing. All joking aside, Francona said it simply happened that when the Reds reached out, the timing felt right. He's healthy and refreshed as he's set to enter his 24th season as a manager. "I had a really good year and maybe I just needed that," Francona, 65, said. "Then, when these guys called, it just felt right." Honoring Mays The winter meetings kicked off with MLB announcing that its annual charity auction during the event would help revitalize Willie Mays Park in the late Hall of Famer's hometown of Fairfield, Ala. At a news conference, April Brown, MLB's senior vice president of social responsibility and diversity, said the vision for the project includes access for all levels of players, from youth leagues to advanced levels. "This effort will not just be MLB alone," Brown said. "We have the blessing of so many connected to his legacy and that have the mission to instill the love of our game that Willie had to all of the youth in the area growing up in the neighborhood where he grew up." The auction, which features items from every major league club, runs through Thursday. --Drew Davison, Field Level Media

​Tarot Card Reading For All Zodiac Signs: 10th December, 2024Warner Bros. Discovery: Reshuffling The Deck

Leny Yoro finally made his official Manchester United debut on Wednesday night when he came off the bench in the second half of their 2-0 loss to Arsenal. The two teams met at the Emirates in a Premier League clash and goals from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba handed Ruben Amorim his first defeat since taking charge of the Red Devils last month. After a solid first half from United, they were undone by two corners from the Gunners in the second half. Mikel Arteta's men have had tremendous success from set-pieces so far this campaign and that was the case again during their victory over Amorim's side. There were some positives for United to take away from the game, though. Aside from their solid showing in the first half that offered glimpses of who United can be under Amorim, Yoro finally made his debut for the club too and it's had fans talking on social media. Goals from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba see Arsenal close the gap to Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table. What United Fans Are Saying About Yoro Yoro joined United in the summer as a promising 18-year-old from Lille and plenty of fans were excited to see what he could do in the Premier League. He's one of the best teenagers in football , but an injury against Arsenal in a pre-season friendly put him on the shelf for months. Fans finally got to see their new star in action on Wednesday, though, when he came off the bench to make his debut against the team he'd picked up his injury against all those months earlier. Yoro was brought into the fold while his side were trailing the contest 1-0 and it wasn't the most ideal situation for the 19-year-old to make his first official appearance for the team. They went on to lose 2-0, but the centre-back managed to shine during his 35-minute cameo. During his limited time on the pitch, the Frenchman recorded three tackles, two clearances and an interception for his side. It was a taste of what he has to offer and United fans are very happy with what they saw. One supporter quickly took to X (Twitter) and highlighted the defender's showing, despite the unfavourable circumstances, saying: "Leny Yoro has been excellent. He's been thrown into the lion's den, but his defending & timing in the tackle has been superb." Another fan praised Yoro for the issues he causes his opponents and posted: "Leny Yoro, this is quite a decent cameo. Not easy to beat at all." Overall, it was a tough night for the Red Devils, but one fan took positives out of Yoro's appearance. They said: "At least Leny Yoro isn’t all hype. He’s the real deal." Finally, another supporter couldn't hide his joy about the defender's debut and is already convinced that United made the right decision signing him, posting: "It'll get ignored because fans are silly, but Leny Yoro looked VERY accomplished given the circumstances of his Premier League debut. We've bagged a good one here." Shortly after the match, highlights of Yoro's performance surfaced on social media. Check them out below. All statistics courtesy of SofaScore and accurate as of 04/12/24

Around 180 people were killed over the weekend in Haiti's Cite Soleil area, Haiti's prime minister's office said on Monday, after attacks that an NGO said were ordered by a gang leader who suspected his child had been made ill using witchcraft. "A red line has been crossed," the office said in a statement, adding it would "mobilize all forces to track down and annihilate" those responsible, including Wharf Jeremie gang leader Monel "Mikano" Felix, whom it accused of planning the attack. It said the victims were mostly elderly. The National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH), an NGO in Haiti that monitors state institutions and promotes human rights education, said on Sunday at least 110 people - all aged over 60 - had been killed in Cite Soleil over the weekend. It later said the death toll could be higher and cited witnesses as saying that "mutilated bodies were burned in the streets, including several young individuals who were killed attempting to save residents." RNDDH said Felix had ordered the violence after his child became sick, and after seeking advice from a voodoo priest who accused elderly people in the area of harming the child through witchcraft. The group said Felix's child had died on Saturday afternoon. Reuters was not able to independently verify the events outlined by RNDDH. Felix did not immediately comment on the accusations. Cite Soleil, a densely populated slum by the port of the capital Port-au-Prince, is among the poorest and most violent areas of Haiti. Tight gang control, including the restriction of mobile phone use, has limited residents' ability to share information about the massacre. The government, riven with political infighting, has struggled to contain gangs' growing power in and around the capital. The armed groups are accused of indiscriminate killings, gang rapes, ransom kidnappings and fueling critical food shortages. In October, the Gran Grif gang took responsibility for the killing of at least 115 people in Pont-Sonde, a town in Haiti's breadbasket Artibonite region. They said it was retaliation for residents helping a self-defense group hinder their road toll operations. Calls for UN peacekeepers A UN-backed security mission was requested by Haiti in 2022 and approved a year later but so far has just partially deployed and remains deeply under-resourced. Haitian leaders have called for the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support mission to be converted into a UN peacekeeping force to ensure it is better supplied, but the plan stalled amid opposition from China and Russia in the Security Council. Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, said the weekend's death count was at least 184, including 127 elderly people. "The Secretary-General reiterates his pressing call to Member States to provide the Multinational Security Support mission the financial and logistical support required to successfully assist the Haitian National Police," he said. A White House security spokesperson echoed the call for urgent international support for the mission and said the United States was "appalled." Dujarric also called for an acceleration of the political transition within Haiti. Haiti's transitional government has said it plans to hold long-awaited elections in 2025, provided there is sufficient security for a free and fair vote. The security situation has, however, continued to deteriorate, and many countries have yet to deliver on pledges of support. Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, urged countries to improve efforts to stop arms trafficking to Haiti. The UN estimates the gangs' increasingly modern arsenals are largely trafficked from the United States. "These latest killings bring the death toll just this year in Haiti to a staggering 5,000 people," he said.None

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Jaland Lowe flirted with a triple-double as Pitt improved to 6-0 with a 74-63 win over LSU on Friday afternoon at the Greenbrier Tip-Off in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. Lowe finished with a game-high 22 points to go along with eight rebounds and six assists for the Panthers, who have won their first six games of a season for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign. It would have been the second straight triple-double for Lowe, who had 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against VMI Monday. Ishmael Leggett chipped in 21 points and Cameron Corhen supplied 14, helping Pitt outshoot the Tigers (4-1) 44.4 percent to 37.3 percent overall. Vyctorius Miller and Jalen Reed recorded 14 points apiece for LSU, with Reed also snatching seven boards. Cam Carter contributed 11 points. Pitt took control in the first four-plus minutes of the second half, opening the period on a 13-0 run to build a 40-28 lead. The Tigers were held scoreless following the break until Carter converted a layup with 13:13 to go. It was still a 12-point game after Zack Austin hit a pair of free throws with 12:50 remaining, but LSU then rallied. Corey Chest, Reed and Jordan Sears each had a bucket down low for the Tigers during an 8-1 spurt that made it 43-38. However, Lowe stemmed the tide, answering with back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Panthers up 49-38 with 9:31 left. Miller did everything he could to keep LSU in contention, scoring eight points in a span of 1 minute, 23 seconds, with his four-point play getting the Tigers within 56-52 with 6:03 to play. But Pitt never let LSU get the upper hand, and it led by at least six for the final 5:05 of the contest. The Tigers had a 28-27 edge at intermission after ending the first half on an 8-2 run. LSU overcame a quick start by the Panthers, who raced out to a 12-6 advantage and led by as many as eight in the first 20 minutes of action. --Field Level MediaWhat you need to know about frostbite and its effects on your body

( MENAFN - GetNews) After a four-year hiatus, bauma CHINA 2024, a premier global event for the construction machinery industry, has returned with grandeur at the Shanghai New International expo Center from November 26-29. This highly anticipated event brought together over 3,400 exhibitors from 32 countries and regions, presenting groundbreaking innovations and setting new benchmarks for the industry. OTURN Machinery made a prominent appearance at booth E2-148, showcasing its advanced special processing equipment for the construction machinery sector. We captivated attendees with its focus on CNC double-sided boring and milling machining centers, alongside a comprehensive display of CNC machining centers designed to deliver one-stop solutions for drilling, milling, tapping, and boring. Showcasing Innovation and Expertise OTURN's CNC solutions are tailored for a wide array of industries, including construction machinery, wind power, high-speed rail, petroleum, chemical, and metallurgy. At the exhibition, our advanced machines demonstrated their ability to meet the industry's increasing demands for precision, efficiency, and versatility. Visitors at the booth were drawn to the live demonstrations, where our team provided detailed explanations and engaged in meaningful discussions with domestic and international attendees. Our goal is to Promote Good CNC Machine To Be Seen By The World.“Our participation in bauma CHINA 2024 underscores what OTURN has always strived for, and is committed to elevating the reputation of high-quality Chinese machine tools on the international stage.” CNC Equipment: The Backbone of Manufacturing As the“mother machine of industry,” machine tools play a critical role in shaping the future of manufacturing. With the industry's shift toward high-quality development, our CNC equipment stands out for its ability to handle high loads, high torque, and complex processing tasks. The CNC double-sided boring and milling machining centers, in particular, have garnered attention for their ability to process symmetrical workpieces efficiently. Capable of performing drilling, boring, and milling operations on a single head, these machines exemplify both productivity and cost-effectiveness. Meeting Industry Needs Designed to meet the diverse and high standards of modern manufacturing, OTURN's solutions have become indispensable tools in the construction machinery sector and beyond. By addressing the industry's evolving challenges, we has reinforced its position as a leading provider of innovative CNC technology. With a strong presence at bauma CHINA 2024, OTURN Machinery will continue to push the boundaries of the manufacturing industry and bring more quality CNC lathes and CNC machining centers to the world. MENAFN19122024003238003268ID1109014535 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

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By MIKE CATALINI CHATHAM, N.J. (AP) — That buzzing coming out of New Jersey? It’s unclear if it’s drones or something else, but for sure the nighttime sightings are producing tons of talk, a raft of conspiracy theories and craned necks looking skyward. Cropping up on local news and social media sites around Thanksgiving, the saga of the drones reported over New Jersey has reached incredible heights. This week seems to have begun a new, higher-profile chapter: Lawmakers are demanding (but so far not getting) explanations from federal and state authorities about what’s behind them. Gov. Phil Murphy wrote to President Joe Biden asking for answers. New Jersey’s new senator, Andy Kim, spent Thursday night on a drone hunt in rural northern New Jersey, and posted about it on X. But perhaps the most fantastic development is the dizzying proliferation of conspiracies — none of which has been confirmed or suggested by federal and state officials who say they’re looking into what’s happening. It has become shorthand to refer to the flying machines as drones, but there are questions about whether what people are seeing are unmanned aircraft or something else. Some theorize the drones came from an Iranian mothership. Others think they are the Secret Service making sure President-elect Donald Trump’s Bedminster property is secure. Others worry about China. The deep state. And on. In the face of uncertainty, people have done what they do in 2024: Create a social media group. The Facebook page, New Jersey Mystery Drones — let’s solve it , has nearly 44,000 members, up from 39,000 late Thursday. People are posting their photo and video sightings, and the online commenters take it from there. One video shows a whitish light flying in a darkened sky, and one commenter concludes it’s otherworldly. “Straight up orbs,” the person says. Others weigh in to say it’s a plane or maybe a satellite. Another group called for hunting the drones literally, shooting them down like turkeys. (Do not shoot at anything in the sky, experts warn.) Trisha Bushey, 48, of Lebanon Township, New Jersey, lives near Round Valley Reservoir where there have been numerous sightings. She said she first posted photos online last month wondering what the objects were and became convinced they were drones when she saw how they moved and when her son showed her on a flight tracking site that no planes were around. Now she’s glued to the Mystery Drones page, she said. “I find myself — instead of Christmas shopping or cleaning my house — checking it,” she said. She doesn’t buy what the governor said, that the drones aren’t a risk to public safety. Murphy told Biden on Friday that residents need answers. The federal Homeland Security Department and FBI also said in a joint statement they have no evidence that the sightings pose “a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.” “How can you say it’s not posing a threat if you don’t know what it is?” she said. “I think that’s why so many people are uneasy.” Then there’s the notion that people could misunderstand what they’re seeing. William Austin is the president of Warren County Community College, which has a drone technology degree program, and is coincidentally located in one of the sighting hotspots. Austin says he has looked at videos of purported drones and that airplanes are being misidentified as drones. He cited an optical effect called parallax, which is the apparent shift of an object when viewed from different perspectives. Austin encouraged people to download flight and drone tracker apps so they can better understand what they’re looking at. Nonetheless, people continue to come up with their own theories. “It represents the United States of America in 2024,” Austin said. “We’ve lost trust in our institutions, and we need it.” Federal officials echo Austin’s view that many of the sightings are piloted aircraft such as planes and helicopters being mistaken for drones, according to lawmakers and Murphy. That’s not really convincing for many, though, who are homing in on the sightings beyond just New Jersey and the East Coast, where others have reported seeing the objects. For Seph Divine, 34, another member of the drone hunting group who lives in Eugene, Oregon, it feels as if it’s up to citizen sleuths to solve the mystery. He said he tries to be a voice of reason, encouraging people to fact check their information, while also asking probing questions. “My main goal is I don’t want people to be caught up in the hysteria and I also want people to not just ignore it at the same time,” he said. “Whether or not it’s foreign military or some secret access program or something otherworldly, whatever it is, all I’m saying is it’s alarming that this is happening so suddenly and so consistently for hours at a time,” he added. Associated Press reporter Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed to this report.NEW YORK , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report on how AI is redefining market landscape - The global non- fungible token (NFT) market size is estimated to grow by USD 68.16 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 30.23% during the forecast period. Increasing demand for digital art is driving market growth, with a trend towards growing interest in nfts among major brands. However, uncertainty in nfts poses a challenge. Key market players include AirNFTs Platform, Asynchronous Art Inc., Binance Holdings Ltd., Blockchain App Factory, Celer Network, Chaincella, Decentraland Foundation, Enjin Pte. Ltd., Foundation Labs Inc., Funko Inc., Gemini Trust Co. LLC, Mintable.app, Ozone Networks Inc., Out The Mud Ventures Inc., Rarible Inc., Sky Mavis , SuperRare Labs Inc., Tiki Labs Inc., Yellowheart LLC, Axie Infinity.Cloudflare, Inc.; PLBY Group, Inc.; Dolphin Entertainment, Inc.; Takung Art Co., Ltd.; Dapper Labs, Inc.; Onchain Labs, Inc Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF Market Driver NFTs, or Non- Fungible Tokens, have taken the art, athletes, and celebrities worlds by storm. These digital assets, representing unique items like artworks, collectibles, and even virtual real estate, are creating buzz in various industries. Blockchain technology powers NFTs, ensuring transparency, ownership, and scarcity. The gaming industry and media & entertainment sector are leveraging NFTs for tokenizing games, trading cards, and virtual items. Artists and athletes are minting NFTs of their digital artworks and collectibles, offering fans exclusive ownership. Augmented Reality (AR) and Extended Reality (XR) are enhancing the NFT experience, making it more interactive. The NFT community is growing, with online platforms enabling easy buying, selling, and trading. However, regulatory considerations, consumer protection, and legal frameworks are crucial. Fraud and taxation are concerns, with securities laws and intellectual property rights coming into play. Blockchain networks like Ethereum and proof-of-work/stake mechanisms ensure secure transactions. The NFT market is evolving, with potential applications in decentralized finance, music, and even virtual vehicles. The future looks promising, with the metaverse and virtual reality (VR) offering new possibilities. The White House and third parties are exploring NFTs, signaling mainstream adoption. Big brands, such as Visa Inc. And Budweiser, are increasingly exploring the Non- Fungible Token (NFT) market for potential earnings. In August 2021 , Visa Inc. Made a significant investment by purchasing a CryptoPunk NFT for approximately USD165,000 . This acquisition expanded Visa's historic commerce artifacts collection. The primary motivation for these corporations is the opportunity to generate additional revenue. Furthermore, they are focusing on utilizing NFTs as incentives for consumers. For instance, NFTs can serve as innovative rewards, offering exclusive gifts to loyal customers. Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution! Non- Fungible Tokens (NFTs) have disrupted the art, collectibles, and entertainment industries by allowing unique digital assets to be bought and sold as property. Artists, athletes, celebrities, and even the White House have joined the NFT community, creating digital artworks, collectibles, and virtual items backed by blockchain technology. NFTs provide proof of ownership, scarcity, and authenticity, making them attractive to investors. However, challenges persist, such as regulatory considerations under securities laws, consumer protection, and fraud . Distributed networks like Ethereum facilitate NFT trading, but logistical issues and taxation remain unclear. The gaming industry, media & entertainment, and decentralized finance are exploring NFTs for tokenization of games, virtual items, and digital property. Augmented Reality (AR) and Extended Reality (XR) are expected to enhance the NFT experience. However, legal frameworks and regulatory considerations need to address intellectual property, third-party rights, and securities laws. Ultimately, NFTs offer a new way to monetize and trade digital assets, but careful planning and regulation are crucial to ensure a fair and secure marketplace. The Non- Fungible Token (NFT) market presents both opportunities and challenges for sellers. Valuation of NFTs is uncertain due to the difficulty in determining future demand and pricing. Factors such as scarcity, uniqueness, and buyer perception play a significant role in determining NFT value. New sellers face challenges in anticipating buyer identity and purchase drivers. As the market continues to evolve, predicting future trends in NFT pricing remains difficult for new investors. The value of NFTs is subjective and dependent on buyer perception, leading to price fluctuations. Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now! This non- fungible token (nft) market report extensively covers market segmentation by 1.1 Collectibles 1.2 Sports 1.3 Arts 1.4 Others 2.1 Personal 2.2 Commercial 3.1 APAC 3.2 North America 3.3 South America 3.4 Europe 3.5 Middle East and Africa 1.1 Collectibles- Non- Fungible Tokens (NFTs) refer to unique digital collectibles, minted on the Blockchain. These collectibles are limited-edition and cannot be exchanged or replicated. Vendors offer online platforms for buying and selling NFTs. Key features include the owner's exclusive right to sell, royalty payments on future sales, and protection against unauthorized use or copying. The NFT market's expansion is fueled by the increasing demand for digital assets worldwide. Industries are going digital, and the Internet's ubiquity, along with rising usage, encourages investments in digital assets. Tokenization, which creates digital tokens representing asset ownership, further boosts market growth. These factors are expected to significantly contribute to the growth of the global NFT market. Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics The Non- Fungible Token (NFT) market is revolutionizing the way we buy, sell, and own digital assets. This innovative technology allows for the unique representation and ownership of electronic artworks, gaming items, and collectibles on the blockchain. The gaming industry has embraced NFTs, enabling tokenization of in-game items and creating new revenue streams. NFTs on Ethereum network provide scarcity and ownership, making digital artworks valuable and collectible. Legal frameworks are evolving to accommodate this new asset class, while AR, VR, and XR technologies enhance the NFT experience. Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies power the NFT market, with Web 3 enabling decentralized finance and creating new distribution networks. Fraud prevention is crucial in this market, with NFT suppliers ensuring authenticity and ownership. The NFT market offers a new frontier for creators, collectors, and investors, with Magic Eden and other platforms serving as marketplaces for these unique digital assets. The Non- Fungible Token (NFT) market is a revolutionary digital ecosystem where Art, Digital Artworks, and Collectibles come to life as unique, verifiable, and tradable assets on the blockchain. This decentralized platform allows Artists, Athletes, and Celebrities to monetize and showcase their Intellectual Property in the form of NFTs, including Painting, Music, and even Virtual Real Estate. Blockchain technology enables Ownership and Transfer of these Digital Assets with transparency and Security. NFTs are not limited to the Art World but extend to Gaming Industry, Sports Collectibles, Trading Cards, and Virtual Items. The market also includes Decentralized Finance, Cryptocurrencies , and Cryptocurrencies /assets. Regulatory considerations and Consumer Protection are essential aspects of this emerging market, with legal frameworks and Taxation being crucial. NFTs can be traded on various Online Platforms, and the market is expanding into Extended Reality (XR) and Metaverse, offering new opportunities for creators and investors. However, Fraud and Scam risks exist, highlighting the need for careful consideration and due diligence. NFTs represent a new frontier in the Digital Economy, with potential applications in various industries, including Media & Entertainment, Logistics, and even House and Vehicle ownership. Smart Contracts and Proof of Work or Stake are essential components of the NFT market, enabling seamless Transactions and Distribution Networks. The NFT community continues to grow, with various Third Parties offering services and solutions to facilitate the creation, trading, and management of NFTs. The NFT market is a dynamic and evolving space, offering endless possibilities for creators, investors, and consumers alike. 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Application Collectibles Sports Arts Others End-user Personal Commercial Geography APAC North America South America Europe Middle East And Africa Type 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavioworld series of poker game 。

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Qatar’s extensive investments help maintain ‘high levels of satisfaction’ with digital services: ReportPASADENA, Texas (KTRK) -- Police warn that scammers are tricking seniors with deceptive computer pop-ups, posing as federal agents and convincing them to give up tens of thousands of dollars to protect their money. Unlike scams in which thieves gain direct access to a victim's bank account and drain it, in these cases, the victims hand over cash to someone who comes to collect it in person. "It's just horrific," Pasadena Police Department Detective Donna Wright said. "(The older community) have more invested, whatever it may be - life insurance payouts, maybe from a deceased loved one, so they have more money in the bank, and I feel like that is why they're targeted. Plus, they are more vulnerable because they believe the stories." In one case Wright is working on, she said a woman in her 80s was looking up a Thanksgiving recipe online on Nov. 19 when she received a pop-up aimed at causing her to panic. RELATED: 84-year-old woman who lost life savings to scammer thought she was 'helping the government' "She went to print, and all of a sudden, her computer locks up; it has a siren blaring loudly and has a pop-up," Wright said. "After trying to shut her computer down, nothing was working for her, so she contacted the number (on the pop-up)." Wright said the scam stretched three days, with the victim getting passed around from person to person, including some scammers posing as government employees. Ultimately, Wright said, the woman was convinced her information was compromised and she should move her money out of her bank while she awaits a new Social Security number. "She's very bright," Wright said. "But they made this story so convincing, it made the person least likely to do this, actually do this." She said the victim told police she met with two people who collected about $75,000 in cash each, causing her to lose $150,000 to the scam. When she met up with the first person to give them $75,000, Wright said the victim told police she took a photo of the man wearing a face mask, sunglasses, and a ball cap. RELATED: 'That was everything I had': Grandmother trying to buy puppy for grandson loses life savings to scam "She actually takes a photo of the first guy. I guess she was not wanting to give her money away," Wright said. Wright said the woman told the scammer that she took a photo during the dropoff, but the scammer told her she was not supposed to photograph an undercover agent, so she didn't get a picture of the second guy. Wright encourages families to talk to their loved ones around the dinner table this holiday about the warning signs that they're being scammed. When it comes to the online scam her victim was targeted with, she said never to call a phone number on a pop-up. "Hang up the phone. Don't panic if you get a pop-up on your computer. Close it, shut it down," Wright said. "Take it to a professional. Call your family. You have not been compromised, and if you have, let a computer expert handle that." Another case that Pasadena PD Detective Jonathan Jernigan is working on involves a woman in her 80s who was scammed out of $95,000. That scam also started with a pop-up warning on her computer, which led her to call a number and eventually resulted in her speaking with someone posing as a U.S. Department of the Treasury employee. RELATED: Grandma tricks alleged scammer into coming to her house where police pounce, make arrest "She was told that the stock market was going to crash and the banks were going to crash, basically, and that she needed to withdraw her money and send it to a third party so it would be safe until this financial crisis passes, and then she would get her money back, even with some interest," Jernigan said. Jernigan said that the victim withdrew $95,000 in a cashier's check and mailed it via UPS to someone in Tennessee. "Later on, the people, the scammers would actually call her and say, 'Everything's fine. We received your money. It's safe with us. Here's proof that your money's safe with us.' They would send additional emails. They would go a long way to try to ease these people into not disclosing what had happened," Jernigan said. He said that oftentimes, victims are told not to contact the police, their banks, or their loved ones. "Their purpose is to get them isolated from contacting anybody outside who can maybe talk some sense into them or maybe investigate a bit further," he said. Jernigan said that the victim went to the bank and withdrew another $35,000 to send the scammer, but the victim's legitimate bank was suspicious and tried to warn her that something was wrong. The woman, in that case, was eventually able to intercept her second payment and get her $35,000 back from the UPS store. However, Jernigan said it's unlikely she'll ever see the initial $95,000 she gave again. "I believe it was the bank manager who convinced her to contact us," he said. Jernigan also reiterates that if there's a pop-up on your computer warning that it's been compromised, do not call the number listed. "Unplug your computer. That's the best you can do. You may lose data that's on there like you're working on something like a Word document or an email, but at the end of the day, that's a lot better than losing hundreds of thousands of dollars potentially," he said. "Be very suspicious of anything unsolicited. If you get a call from a tech company, tech companies don't reach out just randomly to people, or they don't have access to your computer to see that you need any type of help." For updates on this story, follow Kevin Ozebek on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . Contact 13 Investigates Have a tip? A problem to solve? Send a tip below. If you don't have a photo or document to include, just hit 'skip upload' and send the details. (On mobile? You can open our form by tapping here.)

Inconsistent rainfall across much of Iowa, Illinois and Missouri did not inhibit overall strong soybean production based on the 2024 Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies trials. For top soybean honors in the three-state area, a Winterset, Iowa, plot hit 85.6 bu./acre, FIRST reports showed. Soybeans emerged well with excellent soil conditions at planting in Winterset, said Randy Meinsma, a FIRST manager who oversees plots in southern and central Iowa. “The plot received some good rains in June, July and August, which helped plants grow to 30 to 43 inches with very tight pod sets, filled well,” Meinsma said. “Plants matured and shelling was easy. This area like others had a quick dry down which made pods dry and caused a slight head shatter. There was no weed pressure, and the plants stood strong with very little lodging.” The Iowa South Region did quite well at nearly 80 bu./acre average, Meinsma said. The area arrived at that bountiful mark with Washington (81.2 bu./acre) and Oakland (81.7 bu./acre) plots close behind Winterset’s top mark and Cambria averaging 61.8 bu./acre, he said. The Iowa South Central Region averaged about 80 bu./acre, a spike from a 66.52 average yield over 21 years, FIRST reported. That came from the 80.6 bu./acre yield in Central City, 72.2 at Hamlin and 78.1 bu./acre in Victor. The Slater plot had issues that caused it to not be included in the regional bushels per acre report. “The plot had a very wet start and ponding was seen in the area which affected emergence. Then the plot was mistakenly sprayed with Enlist and damaged the Xtendflex soybeans,” Meinsma said. The Iowa North Central Region report showed Moorland at 67.8 bu./acre, Laurens hit 62.1 bu./acre, Iowa Falls produced 56 bu./acre, and Waterloo knocked at the door of 50, with a 49.7 bu./acre average. The North Iowa Region had the low-end of soybean yield averages with a 63.5 bu./acre. Area plots showed a 68.1 bu./acre average in LuVerne, 52.8 in New Hampton and 69.8 in Osage, area FIRST manager Corey Rozenboom said. Britt was marked a loss because of excessive rain with poor stands, he said. Frequent rainfall in April and May delayed planting there, then planting done in mid-May was followed by storms that left soil saturated for weeks. More rain in June exacerbated the situation. It was the most water the field had ever sustained, Rozenboom reported. Sioux Center brought top yields of 74 bu./acre average in the Iowa Northwest Region, FIRST area manager Nick Hoffman said. Other plots included Kingsley at 66.2 bu./acre average, Hartley at 52.3 bu./acre and Webb at 65.5 bu./acre. The region averaged 64.5 bu./acre, Hoffman said. The Webb site had good emergence and stronger stands despite heavy early spring rainfall, Hoffman said. The Hartley plot challenges included unprecedented rainfall, saturated soils, thin stands and washed or crushed sections spread out through the fields, he said. Illinois In Illinois, FIRST manager Jason Beyers reported Winnebago as the north central region leader at 78.6 bu./acre. Janesville and Monroe plots were close at 67.3 bu./acre and 70.8 bu./acre, Beyers said. Winnebago was planted with an excellent soil situation on May 16, he said. “Emergence during stand counts looked good considering the little rain this plot received until then. Rainfall picked up in mid-July to early September when it began to taper off,” Beyers said. “During harvest, there was no sign of disease and beans stood tall. The pods were full resulting in a wonderful yield.” Plot farmer Eric Swanson told Beyers it was “the best yield he’s had on that land.” Beyers marked the Lanark plot in the area as a loss because of an herbicide misapplication. The Illinois South Region featured Belleville at 58.3 bu./acre, Nashville at 77 bu./acre, Flora at 62.4 bu./acre and Effingham at 68.3 bu./acre, just shy of the area 66.5 bu./acre average, FIRST area manager Klint Tucker reported. Tucker said Nashville experienced perfect seedbed conditions with a mid-May planting. “Plant heights were normal to above normal. No lodging was witnessed in the trial, even though some varieties were very tall,” he said. “Yields were excellent. A great location with a great cooperator.” The Illinois South Central Region report showed numbers going up with Forysthe at 82.7 bu./acre, Tuscola at 75 bu./acre, and Williamsville and Virden at 74.8 and 73.2 bu./acre, respectively, area FIRST manager Nathan Roux reported. “The (Forysthe) plot was planted in ideal soil conditions and had almost perfect emergence — nearly every seed planted came up. Good vegetative growth and an excellent reproductive cycle happened here,” Roux said. “An extremely gorgeous plot!” Further north, FIRST Field Manager Nathan Roux noted a mixed result at the Henry plot. Despite an herbicide misapplication, surviving plants performed well and had strong yields, he said. Henry hit an 85.4 bu./acre average, although the spot did not get included in the regional summary because of the herbicide damage, he said. “This location was planted later and had good emergence,” he said. For the north-central Illinois region, the Henry plot was followed by Macomb with 77.6 bu./acre, Gridley’s 75.5 bu./acre and Dwight at 60 bu./acre, Roux said. The Illinois Northern Region showed yield at Dixon with an 82.1 bu./acre average, Seneca at 78 bu./acre, Thomson at 75 bu./acre and Malta averaged 69.5. Missouri Two FIRST plots in the Missouri Northern Region, Greentop and St. Joseph, were rejected from inclusion. A spraying mistake damaged Xtendflex seed soybeans in the Greentop plot, FIRST Regional Field Manager Bill Schelp said. “Plants were short with no lodging at harvest. This trial location and these soil types are not a garden spot — especially when not receiving rainfall,” Schelp said in his report. “Yet it is uniform and representative of many tough Missouri acres being farmed. This specific site rotation has provided tough, real-world Missouri data for years.” The St. Joseph plot was a new field for the FIRST soybean tests. It had a 59.08 bu./acre historical yield in seven previous years. “The plot was planted in a tilled seedbed and had even emergence. ... Height observations did vary from one end of the trial to the other,” Schelp said. “Unfortunately, the hot and dry weather in mid- and late-season exaggerated slight soil differences across the trial area.” Test results were rejected because yield variability led to no significant differences in yield among varieties. The two remaining plots were Cairo and Trenton. Cairo hit a 64.9 bu./acre average and Trenton harvested 71.1 bu./acre average. “It rained when the crop needed it. It was an especially dry fall that dried grain quickly. Great trial,” Schelp said. Elsewhere in Missouri, New Franklin brought in a 73.9 bu./acre average, which contrasted the 55 bu./acre average in the Central East at Concordia, he said. Full results can be found online at first seedtests.com/reports/soybeans .

OTTAWA — The Liberal government has outlawed another 324 firearm varieties — guns it says belong on the battlefield, not in the hands of hunters or sport shooters. The move follows the May 2020 ban of 1,500 makes and models of firearms, a number that grew to more than 2,000 by November of this year as new variants were identified. The latest prohibition of hundreds more, announced today at a news conference, follows expressions of concern from gun-control advocates that many assault-style firearms were not covered by the 2020 ban. The federal government says it is working with provinces, territories and police on a planned buyback of prohibited weapons from individual owners. Ottawa also says it has committed to the Ukrainian government to work with firearms businesses and identify how these guns could be donated to support the fight against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The newly announced measures come on the eve of the 35th anniversary of a gunman's murder of 14 women at the École Polytechnique in Montreal. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec.5, 2024. Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press

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A year is too short a time to assess a government’s performance, but it is still long enough to ascertain its commitment to fulfil its promises. The first Congress government in Telangana led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy rode on the back of six guarantees , with a focus on widespread corruption allegations against Mr. Reddy’s predecessor, K. Chandrashekar Rao, who was perceived as being inaccessible and lording over a family-run fiefdom. The guarantees were directed at women, farmers, youth, and the elderly, aiming to enhance disposable incomes, social securities, and to provide employment. They range from providing ₹2,500 a month for women who are heads of below-poverty-line families, to doubling retirement pension for the disabled, and the poor among the elderly. A year on, some of these measures implemented include free public transport for women and increased medical insurance cover per family of up to ₹10 lakh, as well as fiscally expensive decisions such as 200 units of free power per household and writing off farmers’ loans up to ₹2 lakh. Some of the unfulfilled measures include raising input support for farmers from ₹10,000 annually — provided by the predecessor Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government — to ₹15,000, and filling two lakh government job vacancies. The government has cited a fiscal crisis caused by the Chandrashekar Rao government as the reason for this. Days after Mr. Reddy was sworn in on December 7, 2023, his government released a “white paper on the State’s finances” , which detailed a “more than ten times” jump in Telangana’s debt from ₹72,658 crore to over ₹6.71 lakh crore under the 10 year-long reign of the BRS, and that debt servicing alone constituted more than a third of the State’s budget, leaving “very little fiscal space” to implement the Congress guaranteed welfare measures. Since Mr. Reddy rode to power on the popular sentiment of familial corruption, judicial commissions have been set up to probe financial malfeasance in projects ranging from the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme to the power purchase agreement with Chhattisgarh. Mr. Reddy has also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government of giving the State short-shrift in tax devolutions and the implementation of centrally funded projects. One promise that Mr. Reddy has worked on is the conduct of a caste census. While it has run into controversy, with complaints of a duplication of information provided to the earlier government, the outcome of the survey and the changes to reservations in government jobs and employment are being keenly watched. Mr. Reddy’s hurdles are daunting, but what appears to be lacking is a transparent plan and a candid admission on what to expect, given the situation, over the next four years. Published - December 09, 2024 12:10 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit politics / political parties / Telangana / Indian National Congress / gender / agriculture / senior citizens / personal income / social security / employment / retirement / pension and welfare / public transport / electricity production and distribution / loans / economy (general) / Bharat Rashtra Samithi / government debt / corruption & bribery / budgets and budgeting / Caste / Socio Economic And Caste Census / water / welfare / government / ChhattisgarhVertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. stock rises Friday, still underperforms market

SANTA ANA, Calif., Dec. 13, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — In a groundbreaking move for the property management and inspection industry, ( ) introduces its cutting-edge app, a pioneering digital platform designed to revolutionize the balcony inspection process. This innovative tool empowers homeowners, property managers, and Homeowner Associations (HOAs) with a streamlined, intuitive experience, eliminating inefficiencies and redefining how inspections are managed. With a user-friendly interface and advanced features, the transforms what was once a complex, time-consuming process into one that is seamless and efficient. Users can now obtain instant quotes, create and manage projects, and schedule inspections—all with just a few taps on their devices. “At DrBalcony, we are passionate about reimagining property management through technology,” said Greg, VP of Sales of DrBalcony. “The app reflects our dedication to simplifying inspections while upholding safety and compliance standards. With over 2,500 inspections completed, we’re proud to offer a solution that sets a new benchmark for convenience and reliability.” FEATURES THAT SET THE DRBALCONY APP APART The DrBalcony App is tailored to meet the specific needs of California property owners, offering features designed to ensure the integrity of balcony structures while making compliance with state laws like and more accessible than ever. Learn more: A SOLUTION BACKED BY REAL RESULTS “For years, the balcony inspection process has been frustrating and inefficient,” shared Omid, CEO of DrBalcony. “This app eliminates unnecessary complications. From instant quotes to straightforward scheduling, it’s a game-changer.” DOWNLOAD THE DRBALCONY APP TODAY The DrBalcony App is now available for download and marks a significant leap forward in property management. By addressing common pain points in the inspection process, DrBalcony ensures peace of mind for property owners, engineers, and HOAs, all while maintaining safety and compliance with California’s strict . About DrBalcony: DrBalcony leverages innovative technology to enhance balcony inspection, focusing on efficiency, safety, and customer-centric solutions. With a mission to simplify the complex, DrBalcony has become a trusted name in the balcony inspection industry, ensuring compliance and safety standards are met with ease. Learn more: . Your property’s safety has never been simpler—download the DrBalcony App today! NEWS SOURCE: DrBalcony Keywords: Real Estate, DrBalcony, Balcony Inspections, home inspection, safety, app, solution, service, SB 326, SB 721, SANTA ANA, Calif. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (DrBalcony) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by . Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P122836 APDF15TBLLI To view the original version, visit: © 2024 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA.Police release two more photos of UnitedHealthcare CEO’s shooterFears for Gaza hospitals as fuel and aid run low

2 card poker game “Men often suffer in silence...”: #MenToo and #JusticeForAtulSubhash trend after Bengaluru techie’s heartbreaking deathShe was at the scene within 20 minutes A washed-up dolphin drew crowds of anxious onlookers to Llandudno promenade as marine medics battled to save its life. The bloodied dolphin left many distressed as it was tended to at a nearby prom shelter. Medics made the decision to euthanise the young dolphin following an operation that lasted almost nine hours. As well as suffering multiple injuries after Storm Darragh, the dolphin was found to have an "underlying condition". Perilous sea conditions during the storm also prevented any attempt to refloat the dolphin. The Llandudno Coastguard rescue was first on the scene at around 10.45am on Sunday, December 8, after being alerted by members of the public. Volunteers from British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) were also called to Llandudno’s North Shore beach following reports of a dolphin stranded near the water’s edge, North Wales Live reports . By the time they arrived, they found the animal had been moved back into the water by well-meaning members of the public. Gem Simmons, BDMLR North Wales rescue coordinator, said stranded animals - seals, whales, porpoises and dolphins - should always be left untouched on the shoreline. She said: “The initial report described the animal as a porpoise. Given the stormy conditions, we assessed whether it was safe to attend. Ths incident was considered urgent, so a team was gathered. “First team member there, within 20 minutes, was a volunteer doing her Christmas shopping. She liased with the Coastguard until other medics arrived. Unfortunately the dolphin had been placed back in the sea. Being ill, it needed to strand but it was struggling to reach the shore again as it wasn’t strong enough. “We knew it would eventually make it to shore but it was buffeted by the surf for almost an hour before it managed to do so. As the tide was coming in, and because the large waves were throwing rocks, we decided to move the dolphin to a promenade shelter so the medics could get to work safely.” The animal was a young common dolphin. It was found to have deep cuts to its tail, beak and above both eyes. It wasn't overly thin but BDMLR diagnosed an underlying illness that had left it weak and in need of resting up on land. Anxious passersby gathered to watch and they were asked not to share photos or videos as it fought for its life. Local businesses kept the rescue team supplied with hot drinks. The rescue brought mixed emotions for those watching on. “Couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw a dolphin on the prom today!” said one woman, not realising the circumstances. “That must have been one heck of a wave!” Others, seeing blood pouring from the injured animal, said they found it “quite upsetting”. Two more marine mammals were also reported stranded at Prestatyn, Denbighshire, over the weekend. One was on the beach near the Nova Centre, the other on the resort’s promenade by the Beaches Hotel. An adult female harbour porpoise was also washed ashore in Prestatyn during Storm Bert a fortnight ago. Last week, a dead stranded porpoise was found on the beach at Deganwy, Conwy. Gem said options to refloat Llandudno’s dolphin were explored. North Shore beach was considered unsuitable for an operation that can take up to an hour. “We need a gently sloping beach – and not 10ft waves!” she said. Options to relocate the dolphin to another beach were considered. But none within the maximum allowable 30-minute radius were suitable in the stormy conditions. “Given that the dolphin had twice stranded, the extent of its injuries and its underlying condition, the decision was taken to put it to sleep,” said Gem. "It’s probable the injuries were caused as the animal was tossed in the surf. "Putting stranded animals back into the sea is not helpful. Dolphins and porpoises are not fish, they can stay on land for some time if they are made comfortable.” The carcase was collected by Natural Resources Wales and is being held in cold storage pending collection by Wales-based Marine Environmental Monitoring (MEM). Port-mortem analysis helps shed light on the state of Britain's seas. Gem thanked Llandudno for its support during the rescue operation. “Everyone was fantastic,” she said. “We were offered teas and coffees throughout the day and everyone was very helpful and respectful. "We asked people not to post photos and videos on social media as we wanted to protect the dolphin’s dignity until she drew her final breath. Other than one TikTok video, this request was observed, so I’d like to thank Llandudno’s residents for their support.”

### Improved Sleep

By FARNOUSH AMIRI, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Rep. Matt Gaetz said Friday that he will not be returning to Congress after withdrawing his name from consideration to be attorney general under President-elect Donald Trump amid growing allegations of sexual misconduct. “I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress,” Gaetz told conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, adding that he has “some other goals in life that I’m eager to pursue with my wife and my family.” The announcement comes a day after Gaetz, a Florida Republican, stepped aside from the Cabinet nomination process amid growing fallout from federal and House Ethics investigations that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officer. The 42-year-old has vehemently denied the allegations against him. Gaetz’s nomination as attorney general had stunned many career lawyers inside the Justice Department, but reflected Trump’s desire to place a loyalist in a department he has marked for retribution following the criminal cases against him. Hours after Gaetz withdrew, Trump nominated Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, who would come to the job with years of legal work under her belt and that other trait Trump prizes above all: loyalty. It’s unclear what’s next for Gaetz, who is no longer a member of the House. He surprised colleagues by resigning from Congress the same day that Trump nominated him for attorney general. Some speculated he could still be sworn into office for another two-year term on Jan. 3, given that he had just won reelection earlier this month. But Gaetz, who has been in state and national politics for 14 years, said he’s done with Congress. “I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress,” he said.

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump used his image as a successful New York businessman to become a celebrity, a reality television star and eventually the president. Now he will get to revel in one of the most visible symbols of success in the city when he rings the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday as he's also named Time Magazine's Person of the Year. Trump is expected to be on Wall Street to mark the ceremonial start of the day's trading, according to four people with knowledge of his plans. He will also be announced Thursday as Time's 2024 Person of the Year , according to a person familiar with the selection. The people who confirmed the stock exchange appearance and Time award were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. It will be a notable moment of twin recognitions for Trump, a born-and-bred New Yorker who at times has treated the stock market as a measure of public approval and has long-prized signifiers of his success in New York's business world and his appearances on the covers of magazines — especially Time. Trump was named the magazine's Person of the Year in 2016, when he was first elected to the White House. He had already been listed as a finalist for this year's award alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, X owner Elon Musk, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Kate, the Princess of Wales. Time declined to confirm the selection ahead of Thursday morning's announcement. “Time does not comment on its annual choice for Person of the Year prior to publication,” a spokesperson for the magazine said Wednesday. The ringing of the bell is a powerful symbol of U.S. capitalism — and a good New York photo opportunity at that. Despite his decades as a New York businessman, Trump has never done it before. It was unclear whether Trump, a Republican, would meet with New York's embattled mayor, Democrat Eric Adams , who has warmed to Trump and has not ruled out changing his political party. Adams has been charged with federal corruption crimes and accused of selling influence to foreign nationals; he has denied wrongdoing. Trump himself was once a symbol of New York, but he gave up living full-time in his namesake Trump Tower in Manhattan and moved to Florida after leaving the White House. CNN first reported Wednesday Trump’s visit to the stock exchange and Politico reported that Trump was expected to be unveiled as Time's Person of the Year. The stock exchange regularly invites celebrities and business leaders to participate in the ceremonial opening and closing of trading. During Trump’s first term, his wife, Melania Trump, rang the bell to promote her “Be Best” initiative on children’s well-being. Last year, Time CEO Jessica Sibley rang the opening bell to unveil the magazine's 2023 Person of the Year: Taylor Swift . After the Nov. 5 election, the S&P 500 rallied 2.5% for its best day in nearly two years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 1,508 points, or 3.6%, while the Nasdaq composite jumped 3%. All three indexes topped records they had set in recent weeks. The U.S. stock market has historically tended to rise regardless of which party wins the White House, with Democrats scoring bigger average gains since 1945. But Republican control could mean big shifts in the winning and losing industries underneath the surface, and investors are adding to bets built earlier on what the higher tariffs, lower tax rates and lighter regulation that Trump favors will mean. Trump has long courted the business community based on his own status as a wealthy real estate developer who gained additional fame as the star of the TV show “The Apprentice” in which competitors tried to impress him with their business skills. He won the election in part by tapping into Americans' deep anxieties about an economy that seemed unable to meet the needs of the middle class. The larger business community has applauded his promises to reduce corporate taxes and cut regulations. But there are also concerns about his stated plans to impose broad tariffs and possibly target companies that he sees as not aligning with his own political interests. Trump spends the bulk of his time at his Florida home but was in New York for weeks this spring during his hush money trial there. He was convicted, but his lawyers are pushing for the case to be thrown out in light of his election. While he spent hours in a Manhattan courthouse every day during his criminal trial, Trump took his presidential campaign to the streets of the heavily Democratic city, holding a rally in the Bronx and popping up at settings for working-class New Yorkers: a bodega, a construction site and a firehouse. Trump returned to the city in September to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Manhattan tower and again in the final stretch of the presidential campaign when he held a rally at Madison Square Garden that drew immediate blowback as speakers made rude and racist insults and incendiary remarks . At the stock exchange, the ringing of the bell has been a tradition since the 1800s. The first guest to do it was a 10-year-old boy named Leonard Ross, in 1956, who won a quiz show answering questions about the stock market. Many times, companies listing on the exchange would ring the bell at 9:30 a.m. to commemorate their initial offerings as trading began. But the appearances have become an important marker of culture and politics -- something that Trump hopes to seize as he’s promised historic levels of economic growth. The anti-apartheid advocate and South African President Nelson Mandela rang the bell, as has Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone with his castmates from the film “The Expendables.” So, too, have the actors Robert Downey Jr. and Jeremy Renner for an “Avengers” movie and the Olympians Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin. In 1985, Ronald Reagan became the first sitting U.S. president to ring the bell. “With tax reform and budget control, our economy will be free to expand to its full potential, driving the bears back into permanent hibernation,” Reagan said at the time. “We’re going to turn the bull loose.” The crowd of traders on the floor chanted, “Ronnie! Ronnie! Ronnie!” The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed in 1985 and 1986, but it suffered a decline in October 1987 in an event known as “Black Monday.” Long reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.In a significant move that underscores its commitment to global connectivity and industry best practices, JD Airline has officially announced its membership in the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This strategic decision not only showcases JD Airline's dedication to upholding the highest standards of safety and operational efficiency but also paves the way for expanded flight offerings and enhanced customer experiences.

In response to the raid, the Defense Ministry has issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity and security. It has vowed to cooperate fully with the investigation and take all necessary steps to ensure that any individuals found guilty of espionage will be brought to justice.As the winter transfer window draws near, football clubs across Europe are gearing up to make key signings to strengthen their squads for the remainder of the season. Among those facing significant challenges in securing suitable players are Spanish giants Real Madrid and English powerhouse Manchester City. Both clubs are eyeing potential recruits from La Liga, Spain's top-flight league known for producing top-quality talent. However, navigating the complexities of the transfer market in Spain poses a formidable task for both clubs, requiring astute planning, negotiation skills, and a bit of luck.None

As a leader in the cleaning technology industry, Refresh Cleaning Solutions is committed to innovation and excellence. The launch of the H40 Ultra Floor Scrubber is a testament to our dedication to providing our customers with the best-in-class solutions that meet their evolving needs. With the H40 Ultra, we are setting a new standard in cleaning technology and revolutionizing the way we approach floor maintenance.

Of course, the decision to sell a player like Rashford is not one to be taken lightly. He has been a fan favorite and a valuable asset to the team. However, in the cutthroat world of professional football, tough decisions sometimes have to be made for the long-term benefit of the club.As investigations continue, the authorities are urging bathhouse owners to conduct thorough checks on their heating systems and exhaust vents to prevent the release of harmful gases. It is crucial for businesses to prioritize the safety and well-being of their customers and employees by implementing proper safety protocols and training staff members on emergency procedures.

While the potential remake of "Need for Speed 9" is still in the consideration stage, the rumors have already generated excitement and speculation among gaming communities. Fans are eager to see how EA will approach modernizing this classic title and what new elements they may introduce to revitalize the experience. Whether it's revisiting iconic races, outmaneuvering the police, or cruising through dynamic open-world environments, the remake of "Need for Speed 9" has the potential to reignite the passion for high-octane racing in the hearts of players worldwide.In conclusion, the Chinese yuan's direct ascent and its breakthrough of the 7.25 threshold underscore the dynamic nature of the global financial landscape and the interconnectedness of economies around the world. The implications of the yuan's surge extend far beyond China's borders, shaping the dynamics of international trade, finance, and investment. As we continue to monitor developments in the currency markets, one thing remains clear: the Chinese yuan's ascendancy is a force to be reckoned with in the new world of global finance.

The accelerated growth of the HarmonyOS ecosystem in Fujian can be attributed to several key factors. Firstly, the region's robust technology infrastructure and strong support for innovation have created a fertile ground for the development and adoption of next-generation technologies. Huawei's strategic focus on establishing partnerships with local developers and businesses has further fueled the expansion of the HarmonyOS ecosystem in Fujian. By actively engaging with the local tech community and providing resources and support, Huawei has been successful in driving the development and deployment of native apps tailored for the HarmonyOS platform.The chemistry between Fei Xiang, Ma Dongxi, and Song Xiaobao is palpable on screen, as the trio's dynamic performances inject a sense of joy and spontaneity into every scene. From witty banter to physical comedy, the actors showcase their versatility and comedic chops with aplomb, keeping audiences entertained and engaged from start to finish. With their infectious energy and genuine camaraderie, they bring a sense of authenticity and relatability to their characters, making them all the more endearing and memorable.

Shares of industrial and transportation companies outperformed the broader market. Industrials and small caps tend to be economically sensitive, and traders are hoping both will benefit from positive business sentiment and looser regulations during the second Trump administration. Honeywell International has agreed to sell its personal-protective-equipment business to a private-equity firm's portfolio company for $1.33 billion in cash. The industrial conglomerate said it would sell the PPE unit to Protective Industrial Products, a portfolio company of Odyssey Investment Partners. An investment vehicle co-led by the head of Roadrunner Transportation Systems is buying most of activist Elliott Investment Management's stake and returning the trucker to the mergers and acquisitions game that hobbled it a decade ago. Write to Patrick Sullivan at patrick.sullivan@wsj.comFrance says it is too early to discuss lifting EU sanctions on Syria

Qatar tribune Agencies In a working class neighborhood of Bucharest, pensioners like Ana Sandu wait for the afternoon to buy food when prices are lower, as inflation dampens hopes of a better life in the EU state heading into key elections. Traditionally loyal to the Social Democrats, the 65-year-old Sandu has little faith that any government will offer a remedy. She hinted at favoring far-right contender Calin Georgescu in a presidential runoff vote on December 8. Living on a monthly pension of about $400, suffering from diabetes and with a husband suffering from Parkinson’s disease, Sandu depends on money sent by her son working abroad. Romania is one of Europe’s poorest countries and she spends more than 300 lei ($60) just on medicine and at least $150 on electricity, water and other utilities. “I don’t even think about buying meat. I buy vegetables,” she said. “I come to the bazaar in the afternoon because it’s cheaper,” she said showing a bag of grapes that cost just 6 lei ($1). While Romania’s inflation has fallen from 10 percent last year, it remains high with consumer prices at an annual rate of 5.1 percent in October, according to the EU statistics office. Far-right politicians are banking on voter anger about the economy amid the political uncertainty after Georgescu’s shock win in the first-round of the presidential election. Romania is bracing for a legislative election on Sunday plus the run-off vote between Georgescu, an admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and a pro-European centrist contender. Romania’s constitutional court could still cancel the December 8 vote. “All these elections are very important for the future and for solving one of the key economic problems of Romania these days, that is inflation,” Cristian Valeriu Paun, professor of international finance at the University of Economic Studies in Bucharest, told AFP. He said inflation was deeply linked to Romania’s excessive deficit. The debt to GDP ratio is close to 55 percent now and worsening day by day. There are solutions like clamping down the limitation of tax evasion and the acceleration of reforms as well as market liberalization and privatization of state-owned companies, he said. “Unfortunately, all these logical solutions need more time than Romania has and a very determined government and parliament that could implement them with determination.” Radu Burnete, executive director at the Concordia confederation of private companies in Romania, said Romania’s budget deficit must be dealt with “urgently” but added “no candidate spoke openly about this elephant in the room”. For Burnete, Georgescu’s first-round win was driven by economic woes and factors ranging from the poor quality of public services, to the weak bureaucracy and poor management of state-owned companies. “As frustration mounted and mainstream candidates failed to convince, a new face became appealing to a large segment of the population, despite the complete lack of economic sense in their political platform,” he said. He said Romania’s future lies in the EU and NATO but it must also better handle its economy. “Romania urgently needs reforms that require political will and commitment to navigate the current economic challenges,” he told AFP. Back in the market, Adrian Dragnea, married with a three-year-old son, also wanted a better life. “We are not on the edge of survival but certainly this is not what we want out of life,” he said. The 39-year-old said he understood that Romania’s economic problems would not be solved overnight. “We will go through a rough patch ... People expect everything will be rosy in one day but that’s a long-term thing,” he said. “It’s certainly not easy to see others living from one day to the next in a precarious situation, but you can’t really help other than going to the polls and hoping for better.” Copy 03/12/2024 10

So mark your calendars and get ready to speed into action with Sonic and his friends when "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" hits theaters in Mainland China on January 10 next year. It's a movie that is sure to delight and entertain audiences of all ages, making it a must-see for fans of the iconic blue hedgehog.Setien wasted no time in making his mark on Beijing Guoan, as the club quickly secured the signings of four new players from La Liga to bolster their squad for the upcoming campaign. These signings are expected to play a pivotal role in helping the team compete at the highest level and challenge for top honors in both domestic and international competitions.Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould spent last weekend watching the conference championship games, making mental notes of what she liked and didn’t like, what worked for fans and for TV viewers — all with an eye to December 2026. Will the rebuilt Pac-12 stage its own title game? The answer likely will come in several months. The conference office is discussing the issue with the two current members, Washington State and Oregon State, and the five schools moving over from the Mountain West in the summer of 2026. “The conversations are around what it should look like in the next Pac-12,” Gould said. “It has tremendous value on a lot of levels.” That doesn’t make the renewal of the Pac-12 championship game inevitable. The issue is complex and, to a certain degree, dependent on external factors. Some clarity could begin to emerge next month when the College Football Playoff management committee, which includes all the conference commissioners, meets in Atlanta to discuss the inaugural edition of the 12-team event. There is no codified format for the CFP starting in the fall of 2026. Changes to access — the at-large berths could be reduced or eliminated — might undermine the relevance of the conference championship games. Another possibility: CFP changes make title games critical for some conferences and unnecessary for others. “It’s going to be an interesting conversation,” Gould said. She added that the number of teams in the rebuilt Pac-12 won’t impact the decision. (At least one more football-playing school must be added for 2026 to comply with NCAA rules.) “Brand elevation is really important in the rebuilt conference,” she said. “We don’t want a football championship game that has a bad atmosphere for athletes and bad optics on television. We want it to look, feel and sound like an exciting environment.” Discussions with potential host cities are expected to “accelerate,” she said. “Accessibility for tickets, location, airports, hotels — a lot of variables go into it. We want fans to be able to get there.” The rebuilt conference could stage its championship game on the home field of the higher seed, mirroring the model currently used by the Mountain West. Or the event could be played at a neutral field, as was the case with the Pac-12 championship from 2014-23. “Our Mountain West members haven’t had an event of the caliber we put on,” Gould said. “The experience for the student-athletes is important.” Ultimately, the same force driving the Pac-12’s next expansion move could frame the merits of a championship game: the outcome of media rights negotiations. The conference and its media consultant, Octagon, are discussing a long-term partnership with media companies. Gould prefers multiple partners and content on both linear and streaming platforms. Negotiations could last into the spring. The market will dictate: — Which school(s) receive membership invitations to join the conference for 2026. — The degree to which the rebuilt Pac-12 emphasizes basketball. — The number of conference games on the football schedule and the days of competition. (Expect some games to be played on weekdays.) — The value of a football championship game. Once the media rights piece takes shape, Gould and campus officials will finalize membership plans and the structure of the football season. “Those conversations will inform our decisions,” she said.

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Global stocks mostly cheer Nvidia results as bitcoin gainsColandrea announced Monday on social media that he’d be leaving UVa and that he’d enter the portal on Dec. 9 when it opens for undergraduate athletes. It was first reported on Sunday that Colandrea was on his way out . His choice to leave came on the heels of Elliott’s move to start veteran Tony Muskett against rival Virginia Tech this past Saturday. “Unfortunate situation with [Colandrea],” Elliott said Wednesday during his signing day press conference. “The intention was never for him to — with the decision I made — entertain or think about the portal. I was planning on him coming back and being the guy for us going forward. “But, things change,” Elliott continued, “so we now, we will have to go find a veteran guy in the portal.” Muskett is out of eligibility, too, so he’s no longer around, leaving New Mexico State transfer Gavin Frakes as the only scholarship signal-caller on the Cavaliers’ roster currently. He joined the Hoos last offseason, but had started five times in 2022 for New Mexico State and served as the backup in 2023 to Diego Pavia there. Walk-on Grady Brosterhous, who had a role as a short-yardage, running quarterback this past season, is still on the roster as well. The two quarterbacks UVa signed on Wednesday as part of its 2025 class in Deerfield Academy’s (Mass.) Cole Geer and Bishop Moore Catholic’s (Orlando, Fla.) Bjorn Jurgensen don’t arrive in Charlottesville until the summer. “I wish [Colandrea] well,” Elliott said. “He’s leaving here on good terms from my perspective. But it’s unfortunate because my intent was not for [Colandrea] to leave the program. I was excited about getting back to work this offseason and helping to get him to a place of getting his confidence back at the highest level. I knew I had a responsibility this offseason to put some more pieces in place around him, but unfortunately, we’ll be doing that with another veteran quarterback.” There are graduate transfers already in the transfer portal, and undergraduate portal recruiting can begin as soon as those players officially enter next week. As for Geer and Jurgensen, they complement each other well, according to Elliott who praised Geer’s toughness and athleticism, and lauded Jurgensen’s production. Jurgensen threw for 5,175 yards and 56 touchdowns compared to only 12 interceptions over the last two years. “We had to work hard to keep some of the bigger [schools] off of him,” Elliott said of Jurgensen. He initially committed to UVa over Appalachian State, Florida Atlantic and James Madison, and at the time of his commitment, Big 12 programs Baylor and Houston were recruiting him also. Geer chose the Hoos over other offers from Boston College, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Virginia Tech. Elliott said he was transparent with both players that he’d be taking two quarterbacks in the class. “You just got to be honest,” Elliott said when asked about how he’ll handle dealing with the two QBs, “give them a fair opportunity to compete and then go compete. “And I think we had a great example in Tony Muskett and what it should be all about,” Elliott said. “As big of a competitor as he is and even though he only started one game for us this year, he had a tremendous impact on our roster. I met with him this morning and told him that. I said I don’t think you can understand and comprehend what you did for this program with the way you conducted yourself. So, both of these guys [Geer and Jurgensen] knew on the front end.”

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OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC reduced its position in Bruker Co. ( NASDAQ:BRKR – Free Report ) by 25.5% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 3,640 shares of the medical research company’s stock after selling 1,246 shares during the period. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC’s holdings in Bruker were worth $251,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Marshall Wace LLP raised its holdings in Bruker by 127.8% in the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 1,389,537 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $88,666,000 after acquiring an additional 779,549 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. bought a new stake in shares of Bruker in the 2nd quarter worth about $36,472,000. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Bruker by 123.6% in the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 555,468 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $35,444,000 after purchasing an additional 307,021 shares in the last quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. lifted its position in shares of Bruker by 78.3% during the second quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. now owns 593,091 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $37,845,000 after purchasing an additional 260,363 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Point72 Europe London LLP grew its stake in Bruker by 262.9% in the second quarter. Point72 Europe London LLP now owns 333,997 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $21,312,000 after purchasing an additional 241,959 shares in the last quarter. 79.52% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Insider Buying and Selling at Bruker In other news, CEO Frank H. Laukien bought 100,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 18th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $50.14 per share, for a total transaction of $5,014,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 38,439,563 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,927,359,688.82. This trade represents a 0.26 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink . 28.30% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Bruker Price Performance Bruker ( NASDAQ:BRKR – Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, November 5th. The medical research company reported $0.60 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.61 by ($0.01). Bruker had a net margin of 9.41% and a return on equity of 21.52%. The business had revenue of $864.40 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $866.46 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.74 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 16.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Bruker Co. will post 2.4 earnings per share for the current year. Bruker Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Investors of record on Monday, December 2nd will be given a $0.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 2nd. This represents a $0.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.35%. Bruker’s dividend payout ratio is presently 9.62%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have commented on BRKR shares. TD Cowen reduced their target price on Bruker from $72.00 to $70.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Wolfe Research cut Bruker from an “outperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a research note on Monday, September 30th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Bruker from $78.00 to $75.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Bruker from $80.00 to $75.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Bruker from $75.00 to $69.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Bruker currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $79.36. Get Our Latest Report on Bruker About Bruker ( Free Report ) Bruker Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and distributes scientific instruments, and analytical and diagnostic solutions in the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Bruker Scientific Instruments (BSI) BioSpin, BSI CALID, BSI Nano, and Bruker Energy & Supercon Technologies. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BRKR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bruker Co. ( NASDAQ:BRKR – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Bruker Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bruker and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has revealed that Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue generated in the southern states of Nigeria significantly exceeded the allocation received by these states from the VAT pool in August 2024. According to recent data released by the FIRS, the nationwide VAT revenue for August stood at N444.19 billion, with southern states contributing an impressive N387.06 billion. However, despite this significant contribution, the southern states received just N149.09 billion in VAT allocation. This contrasts sharply with the situation in ten northern states , which contributed a combined N13.69 billion but received a substantial N59.17 billion in allocations. For instance, Zamfara State, a northern state, contributed only N432.80 million but received N5.65 billion, while Lagos State , which contributed a staggering N249.77 billion, received just N40.22 billion in return. Tribune Online reports that Nigeria’s proposed tax reform bill, introduced by the Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Tax Reform chaired by Taiwo Oyedele, sparked widespread debate recently. The reform bill seeks to streamline the tax system by harmonising multiple levies, unifying revenue collection processes, and integrating technology to enhance efficiency. A key proposal is the adoption of the derivation principle for distributing VAT revenues. Under this principle, VAT revenue would be distributed based on where goods and services are consumed rather than pooled centrally and redistributed. The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, clarified the rationale for this shift, emphasising that VAT is fundamentally a consumption tax. While the proposed reforms aim to ensure fairer revenue distribution, they have faced strong opposition from some northern stakeholders , who argue that the bill undermines the interests of the North and other sub-national entities. The recent data from the FIRS highlights the disparity in VAT contributions and allocations, with southern states receiving significantly less in allocation compared to their contributions, while some northern states received allocations exceeding their contributions. Below is a breakdown of VAT contributions and allocations for the southern states in August 2024: Contributed: N278.52bn Allocated: N73.09bn Contributed: N100.38bn Allocated: N46.97bn Contributed: N8.16bn Allocated: N29.03bn Total Contribution: N387.06 billion Total Allocation Received: N149.09 billion Contributed: N249.77bn Allocation: N40.22bn Contributed: N70.54bn Allocation: N15.54bn Contributed: N20.11bn Allocation: N9.46bn Contributed: N18.17bn Allocation: N5.34bn Contributed: N13.09bn Allocation: N7.82bn Contributed: N7.12bn Allocation: N5.58bn Contributed: N4.65bn Allocation: 9.71bn Contributed: N4.49bn Allocation: N6.54bn Contributed: N4.28bn Allocation: N6.66bn Contributed: N4.05bn Allocation: N6.08bn Contributed: N3.66bn Allocation: N5.54bn Contributed: N3bn Allocation: N6.48bn Contributed: N2.89bn Allocation: N5.44bn Contributed: N2.59bn Allocation: N5.86b Contributed: N2.58bn Allocation: N5.87bn Contributed: N2.56bn Allocation: N6.47bn Contributed: N2.55bn Allocation: N5.38bn Contributed: N2.43bn Allocation: N5.91bn Contributed: N2.03bn Allocation: N7.48bn Contributed: N1.90bn Allocation: N5.20bn Contributed: N1.88bn Allocation: N5.27bn Contributed: N1.84bn Allocation: N6.07bn Contributed: N1.81bn Allocation: N5.91bn Contributed: N1.74bn Allocation: N6.08bn Contributed: N1.73bn Allocation: N6.21bn Contributed: N1.71bn Allocation: N5.26bn Contributed: N1.68bn Allocation: N7.27bn Contributed: N1.59bn Allocation: N6.42bn Contributed: N1.47bn Allocation: N4.97bn Contributed: N1.45bn Allocation: N5.88bn Contributed: N1.08bn Allocation: N5.73bn Contributed: N1.08bn Allocation: N5.51bn Contributed: N691.28m Allocation: N6.48bn Contributed: N665.17m Allocation: N5.66bn Contributed: N663.42m Allocation: N5.43bn Contributed: N432.80m Allocation: N5.65bn 37. Imo Contributed: N235.41m Allocation: N6.01bn Total VAT Generated: N444.19bn Total Allocation Distributed: N272.29bn ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE Get real-time news updates from Tribune Online! Follow us on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive stories and interviews, and much more. Join our WhatsApp Channel nowNoneLOS ANGELES (AP) — Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfield scored in the second period, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Seattle Kraken 2-1 on Saturday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfield scored in the second period, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Seattle Kraken 2-1 on Saturday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfield scored in the second period, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Seattle Kraken 2-1 on Saturday. David Rittich made 19 saves for the Kings, who improved to 6-2-1 at home. Kempe and Byfield scored 1:44 apart in the second period. Byfield buried a sharp-angle slap shot on a power play while dropping to a knee. It was his 98th career point in 200 games. Brandon Montour got the Kraken on the board with 1:26 left in the game. He converted a long shot with Joey Daccord off for another skater, but Los Angeles held on. Daccord finished with 19 stops for Seattle. Takeaways Kraken: Jordan Eberle will miss at least three months after undergoing surgery on his pelvis. He had six goals and five assists in 17 games before he got hurt against Chicago on Nov. 14. Kings: The power play had been in a 1-for-16 rut (6.25%) over the previous six games before Byfield found the net. It was the Kings’ lone opportunity with the man-advantage. Key moment After following its 1-0 loss to Buffalo on Wednesday with a fourth straight period of extreme low-event hockey, Los Angeles created a lot more activity and offense to start the second and generate its two goals. Key stat 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. The Kings know how to close out games, improving to 9-0-1 when leading after two periods. Up next The Kraken visit Anaheim on Monday, and the Kings play at San Jose on Monday. ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl Advertisement Advertisement

GEELONG, Australia, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carbon Revolution plc (Nasdaq: CREV) (the "Company”), a Tier 1 OEM supplier and the leading global manufacturer of lightweight advanced technology automotive carbon fiber wheels, today announced that the Company has received a notification letter (the "Letter”) from the Listing Qualifications Department of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ("Nasdaq”) indicating that the Company is not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) as a result of the Company's delay in filing its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024 (the "Annual Report”). The Letter has no immediate effect on the listing or trading of the Company's ordinary shares or warrants on Nasdaq. The Letter stated that, under Nasdaq rules, the Company has until 60 calendar days after receipt of the Letter, which is January 21, 2025, to submit a plan to regain compliance, and that if a plan is submitted and accepted, Nasdaq could grant the Company an exception of up to 180 calendar days from the filing's due date, or until May 14, 2025, to regain compliance. If Nasdaq does not accept the Company's plan, then the Company will have the opportunity to appeal that decision to a Nasdaq hearings panel. The Company continues to work diligently to file its Annual Report as promptly as practical to regain compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1). About Carbon Revolution plc Carbon Revolution plc (Nasdaq: CREV) (the "Company” or "Carbon Revolution”) is the parent of Carbon Revolution Pty Ltd, an early-stage growth company which has successfully innovated, commercialized and industrialized the advanced manufacture of carbon fiber wheels for the global automotive industry. The Company has progressed from single prototypes to designing and manufacturing lightweight wheels for cars and SUVs in the high performance, premium and luxury segments, for the world's most prestigious automotive brands. Carbon Revolution is creating a significant and sustainable advanced technology business that supplies its lightweight wheel technology to automotive manufacturers around the world. For more information, visit carbonrev.com Forward Looking Statements All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this communication are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use of words such as "believe,” "may,” "will,” "estimate,” "continue,” "anticipate,” "intend,” "expect,” "should,” "would,” "plan,” "project,” "forecast,” "predict,” "potential,” "seem,” "seek,” "future,” "outlook,” "target” or other similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expectation of continued listing of Carbon Revolution's ordinary shares and warrants on Nasdaq, the Company's ability to file its Annual Report and promptly regain compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1), the future financial performance, business strategies, financings and expectations for the Company's business. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this communication, and on the current expectations of Carbon Revolution's management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and may differ from such assumptions, and such differences may be material. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Carbon Revolution. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including (i) the ability to maintain the listing of Carbon Revolution's securities on Nasdaq or any other exchange on which such securities may be listed in the future; (ii) the failure to realize the benefits of being listed on a U.S. securities exchange and publicly-traded in the United States; (iii) Carbon Revolution's liquidity, including its ability to pay its obligations and to issue equity, refinance its indebtedness or otherwise obtain financing at all or on acceptable terms, (iv) risks related to its ability to meet financial covenants and other key covenants under existing financing arrangements or to obtain waivers or forbearance from compliance with such covenants, which could result in the acceleration of outstanding indebtedness, (v) changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; (vi) risks related to the rollout of Carbon Revolution's business strategy and the timing of expected business milestones; (vii) the effects of competition on Carbon Revolution's future business and the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth, establish and maintain relationships with customers and retain its management and key employees; (viii) risks related to domestic and international political and macroeconomic uncertainty, including the Russia-Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East; (ix) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Carbon Revolution; (x) the impact of pandemic and governmental responses on any of the foregoing risks; (xi) risks related to Carbon Revolution's industry; (xii) changes in laws and regulations; and (xiii) those factors discussed in the documents Carbon Revolution filed with the SEC, including the Shell Company Report on Form 20-F. If any of these risks materialize or Carbon Revolution's assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that Carbon Revolution does not presently know or that Carbon Revolution currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Carbon Revolution's expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Carbon Revolution anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Carbon Revolution's assessments to change. However, while Carbon Revolution may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Carbon Revolution specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, unless required by applicable law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Carbon Revolution's assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. For further information, please contact: Investors [email protected] Media [email protected]Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States Highlights: The Private Placement is undertaken in the context of a broader strategic review process the Company is conducting with the authorization of its Board of Directors, to explore and evaluate a range of potential alternatives for the Company to maximize shareholder value, with the assistance of ECM Capital Advisors, Eight Capital and Haywood Securities Inc. The potential initiatives may include, but are not limited to financings, corporate reorganization, strategic partnerships, acquisitions, divestitures and/or farm-outs, sale, and other forms of business combination. Pablo Navarro, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LNG Energy Group commented, "It has been a challenging year. Many issues have arisen with which we are dealing. Changes are being made and solutions are being implemented. Bottom line, the asset base is exceptional, and the future is bright. The turnaround is working, and we will work relentlessly to catapult the trajectory of the Company through a series of strategic initiatives that should ultimately contribute to meeting Colombia's need for natural gas.” Strategic Initiatives Drilling Campaign Upon a successful Private Placement, farm-out and/or JV Contribution (as defined herein), the Company will commence a drilling and recompletion campaign in Colombia. Chemical Stimulations The Company completed successfully the workover of the BN-1 well consisting of a chemical stimulation that increased the well's production by approximately 3x, offsetting losses caused by the presence of asphaltenes, fines and residues from drilling fluids. Prior to the stimulation, the well was producing at an average production of approximately 112 Mcf/d with a WHP of 72 psi on a 36/64” choke. Initial results of the stimulation showed an immediate production increase to 822 Mcf/d with a WHP of 328 psi on a 26/64” choke. The well is currently producing 350 Mcf/d with 114 psi in WHP and on a 22/64” choke. The Company intends to apply this technology to several other wells that also experienced a production decline due to the same root causes. Costs Optimization In order to reduce costs, the Company has implemented a corporate reorganization initiative which is expected to result in savings of approximately $1.5 to $2.0 million per annum. The Company continues to review ways to optimize its business and operations, including strategic partnerships with vendors, and rationalization of suppliers, inventory optimization, and adjusting the organizational structure of the Company to the current production context. Capital Strengthening The Company is in the process of farming out a part of its participating interest in the VIM-41 Block located onshore Colombia and pursuing a well development financing (the " JV Contribution ”) to raise capital to initiate the drilling of the B5 well located onshore Colombia. Furthermore, the Company intends to review options to optimize cash flow available for drilling vis a vis its financial obligations. Secured Convertible Debenture Financing In conjunction with its near-term development plans, the Company is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Eight Capital, as lead agent and bookrunner, on behalf of a syndicate of agents including Eight Capital, Haywood Securities Inc. and ECM Capital Advisors, (together, the " Agents ”) pursuant to which the Company has launched a proposed Private Placement on a "best efforts” agency basis in the aggregate principal amount of up to U.S.$15 million (the " Offering ”) senior secured convertible debentures (the " Convertible Debentures ”) to eligible investors. The terms and any applicable conditions precedent for the Convertible Debentures will be defined within the context of the market and should present a competitive opportunity for investors while unlocking shareholder value. Upon closing of the Offering, the Company will pay to the Agents a cash commission equal to 6% of the gross proceeds of the Offering. The Company is entitled to a President's List in the amount of up to U.S.$2 million pursuant to which no fees shall be paid to the Agents. The net proceeds of the Offering will be primarily used for the Company's next phase of drilling, workover and stimulation activities as well as for general working capital purposes. The Company expects that insiders and current stakeholders will participate in the Offering and, to date, has received interest from potential investors in the Offering. The insiders' participation in the Offering constitutes a "related party transaction” as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (" MI 61-101 ”). Such participation is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the securities anticipated to be acquired by insiders, nor the consideration for the securities paid by such insiders, exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. As the specific participation of each related party that the Company expects will participate in the Offering has not been confirmed as of the date of this news release, additional information required under MI 61-101 will be provided in the Company's material change report with respect to the Offering, including a description of the interest of all related parties in the Offering, and where applicable, a description of the effect on the percentage of the securities of the Company held by related parties participating. The securities being offered have not, nor will they be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons in the absence of U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This mews release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities in the United States. The Offering is scheduled to close at a date the Company and the Agents deem appropriate and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the execution of an agency agreement and the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals including that of the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities (and underlying securities) issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation. Other Initiatives The Board of Directors, in consultation with its legal and business advisors, are actively considering other initiatives to enhance shareholder value. The Company may initiate a share consolidation or other capital reorganizations. Certain of the foregoing initiatives may require approval from the Company's senior lenders. Existing Asset Base The Company's current assets consist of the following: (1) Based upon a U.S.$ to C$ exchange rate of 1.00 : 1.41. (2) Calculated by dividing the Before-Tax NPV10 value of the Proved reserves as at December 31, 2023 by 155,534,426 common shares issued and outstanding as at December 31, 2023 and using a U.S.$:C$ exchange rate of $1.41. The per share valuation excludes the value of the Company's non-oil and gas assets and net indebtedness. (3) Calculated by dividing the Before-Tax NPV10 value of the Proved reserves as at October 29, 2024 by 155,534,426 common shares issued and outstanding as at October 29, 2024 and using a U.S.$:C$ exchange rate of $1.41. Please see the Company's news release dated November 25, 2024 for more information. The per share valuation excludes the value of the Company's non-oil and gas assets and net indebtedness. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. About LNG Energy Group The Company is focused on the acquisition and development of natural gas production and exploration assets in Latin America. For more information, please visit www.lngenergygroup.com . For more information please contact: Angel Roa, Chief Financial Officer LNG Energy Group Corp. Website: www.lngenergygroup.com Email: [email protected] Find us on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lng-energy-group-inc/ Instagram: @lngenergygroup X: @LNGEnergyCorp CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains "forward-looking information” and "forward-looking statements” (collectively, "forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance, often using phrases such as "expects”, "anticipates”, "plans”, "budget”, "scheduled”, "forecasts”, "estimates”, "believes” or "intends”, or variations of such words and phrases, or stating that certain actions, events or results "may” or "could”, "would”, "should”, "might” or "will” be taken to occur or be achieved, are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Specifically, this news release includes, but is not limited to, forward-looking statements relating to: the Company's business plans, strategies, priorities and development plans, including the strategic initiatives being considered by the Company and the corporate reorganization and anticipated annual savings therefrom; the application of the stimulation technology used for the BN-1 well workover on other wells of the Company; the anticipated benefits of the completion of various strategic initiatives being considered by the Company; the completion of the JV Contribution and completion of other options to optimize cash flow; the ability of the Company to book additional reserves in the future; the completion of the Offering; receipt of all regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSXV, in connection with the Offering; the anticipated insider participation in the Offering; and the anticipated use of proceeds from the Offering. The Company's actual decisions, activities, results, performance, or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements and accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur or, if any of them do, what benefits that the Company will derive from them. Information and statements relating to reserves are by their nature forward-looking statements as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, that the reserves described exist in the quantities predicted or estimated, and can be profitably produced in the future. The recovery and reserve estimates of the Company's reserves provided herein are estimates only, and there is no guarantee that the estimated reserves will be recovered. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements (see the other advisories contained in this news release). Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include: the Company's ability to complete the Offering on the terms described herein or at all or to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; and the delay or failure to receive regulatory or other approvals, including any approvals of the TSXV and the Company's senior lenders, for the Offering; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; risks related to the Company's ability to complete any of the proposed strategic initiatives described in this news release on the terms described herein or at all; risks related to commodity prices; delay or failure to receive any necessary board, shareholder or regulatory approvals, factors may occur which impede or prevent LNG Energy Group's future business plans; and other factors beyond the control of LNG Energy Group. The intended use of the proceeds of the Offering by the Company might change if the Board of Directors of the Company determines that it would be in the best interests of LNG Energy Group. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Except as required by law, LNG Energy Group assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, whether they change as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. CPPs Please see the Company's news releases dated April 24, 2024 and October 21, 2024 for additional information with respect to the CPPs. There can be no guarantee that the Company or LNG Venezuela shall be able to complete the acquisition terms required by PPSA. The CPPs were executed within the term of General License 44 issued by OFAC. The Company intends to operate in full compliance with the applicable U.S. economic sanctions laws. Advisory Note Regarding Oil and Gas Information The reserves information contained in this news release has been prepared in accordance with NI 51-101, but only presents a portion of the disclosure required thereunder. Complete reserves disclosure required in accordance with NI 51-101 in respect of the Company's Colombian assets for the year ended December 31, 2023 is available in the AIF. Complete reserves disclosure required in accordance with NI 51-101 in respect of the Company's Venezuelan assets will be available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca concurrently with or before the filing of the Company's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024. Actual oil and natural gas reserves and future production may be greater than or less than the estimates provided in this news release. There is no assurance that forecast prices and costs assumed in the reserves reports referred to in this news release and presented in this news release, will be attained and variances from such forecast prices and costs could be material. The estimated future net revenue from the production of the disclosed oil and natural gas reserves in this news release does not represent the fair market value of these reserves. The estimates of reserves and future net revenue for individual properties may not reflect the same confidence level as estimates of reserves and future net revenue for all properties, due to the effects of aggregation. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of crude oil, reserves and the future cash flows attributed to such reserves. The reserve and associated cash flow information set forth above are estimates only. In general, estimates of economically recoverable crude oil and natural gas reserves and the future net cash flows therefrom are based upon a number of variable factors and assumptions, such as historical production from the properties, production rates, ultimate reserve recovery, timing and amount of capital expenditures, marketability of oil and natural gas, royalty rates, the assumed effects of regulation by governmental agencies and future operating costs, all of which may vary materially. For those reasons, estimates of the economically recoverable crude oil and natural gas reserves attributable to any particular group of properties, classification of such reserves based on risk of recovery and estimates of future net revenues associated with reserves prepared by different engineers, or by the same engineers at different times, may vary. The Company's actual production, revenues, taxes and development and operating expenditures with respect to its reserves will vary from estimates thereof and such variations could be material. All evaluations and reviews of future net revenue are stated prior to any provisions for interest costs or general and administrative costs and after the deduction of estimated future capital expenditures for wells to which reserves have been assigned. The tax calculations used in the preparation of the reserves reports referred to in this news release are done at the field level in accordance with standard practice, and do not reflect the actual tax position at the corporate level which may be significantly different. Light crude oil is crude oil with a relative density greater than 31.1 degrees API gravity, medium crude oil is crude oil with a relative density greater than 22.3 degrees API gravity and less than or equal to 31.1 degrees API gravity, and heavy crude oil is crude oil with a relative density greater than 10 degrees API gravity and less than or equal to 22.3 degrees API gravity. 2 Reserves included herein are stated on a company gross basis (working interest before deduction of royalties without including any royalty interests). Information presented herein in respect of reserves and related information in respect of the Company's Venezuela assets is based on the Company's independent reserves evaluation dated October 28, 2024, with an effective date of April 30, 2024 prepared by Petrotech Engineering Ltd., details of which were provided in our press release issued on November 25, 2024.

The comments from Adams, the top Democrat in one of the country's most liberal cities, riled critics who have grown concerned over the mayor's increasing willingness to throw his support behind Trump and his hardline immigration policies. Adams, who faces federal corruption charges , was a registered Republican in the 1990s and early 2000s but has spent his political career as a Democrat. In a Friday morning interview with the local cable news station NY1, Adams was asked if he would consider a return to the GOP. The Democrat appeared to leave open the possibility of a switch. “The party that’s the most important for me is the American party,” he said. “I’m a part of the American party. I love this country. This is the home of the free, the land of the brave.” In another interview about a half-hour later on PIX11, Adams said he would run for reelection as a Democrat but still appeared to leave some wiggle room for his future. “So no matter what party I’m on or vote on, I’m going to push for the American values," he said. "And I think America has told us, stop the squabbling, leaders, and start leading us out of the crisis that we’re facing.” Adams won office on a centrist platform and has spent significant time as mayor quarreling with the progressive wing of his party. But his rhetoric has taken a noticeable rightward turn in the weeks since Trump's election victory, particularly on immigration, with Adams boosting the president-elect's platform and appearing enthusiastic about the incoming administration. Rather than restricting cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as he once promised, Adams recently expressed a willingness to roll back the city’s so-called sanctuary policies, and he plans to meet with Trump’s top border official over concerns about what the mayor said was the “rising illegal alien crime rate in New York City.” He has also praised those in Trump’s orbit, including Elon Musk, who has claimed falsely that Democrats are illegally “importing” migrants to garner votes. “This is a racehorse that wanted to run its right pace and we’ve been holding back that racehorse out of fear of being canceled,” Adams said of the country Tuesday. “And now you have a bunch of people who are not afraid of being canceled.” The shift comes as Adams is trying to fight off an indictment on federal corruption charges while governing the city and gearing up to run for a second term. Adams has pleaded not guilty in his criminal case, in which he has been accused of accepting free or discounted overseas trips and illegal campaign contributions from people looking to gain his influence, including people connected to Turkey or the Turkish government. Adams’ critics have seized on his recent comments about the Trump administration as a move toward self-preservation, accusing the mayor of cozying up to the next president in an effort to secure a pardon in his corruption case. “Eric Adams continues to sound more like he is auditioning for a job in right-wing media than running for reelection in a Democratic primary,” said Zohran Mamdani, a state assembly member who is challenging against Adams in the mayoral primary. “Eric Adams is in City Hall because Democratic voters sent him there. To serve his own narrow self-interests, he is clearly prepared to betray them.” Zellnor Myrie, a state senator who is also challenging Adams in the primary, said “at a time when the Republican Party has never been more out of line with New York values, we need a mayor who isn’t scared to call himself a Democrat.” “Instead of playing footsie with the next president, we need a mayor with the courage to stand up for our city,” Myrie wrote on X. Adams on Friday did distance himself from the Trump administration's potential plans to carry out mass deportations, saying, “You know, I’m not for mass deportation, but I’m not for mass saturation.” Still, the mayor's recent remarks are a major departure from his stance before he took office. In June of 2021, a few weeks before winning the Democratic mayoral primary, Adams spoke to a room full of immigrant New Yorkers about the challenges facing city residents who are in the country illegally. “Too many of our neighbors live in the shadows,” he said at the time, “scarred by the abusive rhetoric and tactics of the Trump era and fearing a denial of their rights.” Izaguirre reported from Albany.NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The largest artificial intelligence data center ever built by Facebook’s parent company Meta is coming to northeast Louisiana, the company said Wednesday, bringing hopes that the $10 billion facility will transform an economically neglected corner of the state. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry called it “game-changing” for his state's expanding tech sector, yet some environmental groups have raised concerns over the center's reliance on fossil fuels — and whether the plans for new natural gas power to support it could lead to higher energy bills in the future for Louisiana residents. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is expanding its existing supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, the city's chamber of commerce said Wednesday. The chamber also said that Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer will be “establishing operations in Memphis,” without offering further details. Louisiana is among a growing number of states offering tax credits and other incentives to lure big tech firms seeking sites for energy-intensive data centers. The U.S. Commerce Department found that there aren’t enough data centers in the U.S. to meet the rising AI-fueled demand, which is projected to grow by 9% each year through 2030, citing industry reports. Meta anticipates its Louisiana data center will create 500 operational jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs, said Kevin Janda, director of data center strategy. At 4 million square feet (370,000 square meters), it will be the company's largest AI data center to date, he added. “We want to make sure we are having a positive impact on the local level,” Janda said. Congressional leaders and local representatives from across the political spectrum heralded the Meta facility as a boon for Richland parish, a rural part of Louisiana with a population of 20,000 historically reliant on agriculture. About one in four residents are considered to live in poverty and the parish has an employment rate below 50%, according to the U.S. census data. Meta plans to invest $200 million into road and water infrastructure improvements for the parish to offset its water usage. The facility is expected to be completed in 2030. Entergy, one of the nation's largest utility providers, is fast-tracking plans to build three natural gas power plants in Louisiana capable of generating 2,262 megawatts for Meta's data center over a 15-year period — nearly one-tenth of Entergy's existing energy capacity across four states. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is weighing Entergy's proposal as some environmental groups have opposed locking the state into more fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure. Meta said it plans to help bring 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy onto the grid in the future. Louisiana residents may ultimately end up with rate increases to pay off the cost of operating these natural gas power plants when Meta's contract with Entergy expires, said Jessica Hendricks, state policy director for the Alliance for Affordable Energy, a Louisiana-based nonprofit advocating for energy consumers. “There’s no reason why residential customers in Louisiana need to pay for a power plant for energy that they’re not going to use," Hendricks said. "And we want to make sure that there’s safeguards in place.” Public service commissioner Foster Campbell, representing northeast Louisiana, said he does not believe the data center will increase rates for Louisiana residents and views it as vital for his region. “It’s going in one of the most needed places in Louisiana and maybe one of the most needed places in the United States of America,” Foster said. “I’m for it 100%.” Environmental groups have also warned of the pollution generated by Musk's AI data center in Memphis. The Southern Environmental Law Center, among others, says the supercomputer could strain the power grid, prompting attention from the Environmental Protection Agency. Eighteen gas turbines currently running at xAI’s south Memphis facility are significant sources of ground-level ozone, better known as smog, the group said. Patrick Anderson, an attorney at the law center, said xAI has operated with “a stunning lack of transparency” in developing its South Memphis facility, which is located near predominantly Black neighborhoods that have long dealt with pollution and health risks from factories and other industrial sites. “Memphians deserve to know how xAI will affect them,” he said, “and should have a seat at the table when these decisions are being made.” Sainz reported from Memphis, Tennessee. Associated Press writer Matt O’Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report. Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96

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NoneST. PAUL — Former Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic died Friday following a battle with cancer. She was 62. Her family said she died surrounded by loved ones. “She had a heart of gold, willing to go to any measure to help those she loved,” they said in a statement. ADVERTISEMENT Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chair Ken Martin the Minneapolis Democrat was committed to working for Minnesotans. She served in the Minnesota Senate for more than a decade. “It is impossible to overstate the positive impact that Senator Dziedzic’s leadership has had on our state,” Martin said in a statement. “She devoted her life to making her fellow Minnesotans’ lives better, and she refused to allow cancer to get in her way. Minnesota has lost a giant, but her extraordinary legacy will outlast us all.” Dziedzic was instrumental in holding together the Senate DFL caucus in 2023 as they passed, with a one-vote majority, a variety of Democratic priorities like funding universal school meals for students, approving a paid family and medical leave program, cementing legal protections for abortion and gender-affirming care and legalizing cannabis for recreational use. She was respected on both sides of the political aisle and her demeanor was always steady, even amid tense times in the Senate. Dziedzic’s laid-back style made her a surprising pick for majority leader after the 2022 election. Leaders from both major political parties said they were heartbroken by her death. “Senator Kari Dziedzic was a passionate legislator, a respected leader, and a trusted colleague and friend. She will be remembered for her integrity and her compassion for Minnesotans, something that we all saw as she continued to serve even as she battled cancer,” said Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, an East Grand Forks Republican. “I’m deeply saddened at her passing and am praying for her family and friends as we all mourn this loss.” House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, said she was “one of the most skilled diplomats ever to serve in elected office.” ADVERTISEMENT “Her legacy includes significant achievements in policy and investment in Minnesota, but more importantly she will be remembered for treating people with dignity and respect and never giving up on finding workable compromises,” Hortman said. “She had an incredible ability to work diligently through the most arcane and difficult policy issues to find resolution.” Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, agreed, saying she was “an uncommon leader.” “Her talents as a consequential and thoughtful leader made us all better legislators, and her examples of kindness humor, and selflessness made us all better people,” Murphy said. Former Senate DFL Leader Melisa López Franzen praised Dziedzic as a hard worker. “The last time I spoke to Kari a few weeks ago she was still serving her constituents,” she wrote on social media. “That’s Senator Dziedzic, the hardest working legislator I have ever had the honor to serve with. Rest in peace my friend.” Dziedzic was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2023 and underwent emergency surgery to limit its spread. She stepped down from her leadership position in February after her cancer recurred. The Senate will now stand in a 33-33 tie between Democrats and Republicans heading into the 2025 legislative session. Gov. Tim Walz has not yet said when he might call for a special election in the Minneapolis district. ADVERTISEMENT Dziedzic had a degree in engineering but couldn’t resist the family pull into public service. Her father, Walt, was a colorful Minneapolis city council member who later served on the park board. Dziedzic told MPR News that she felt drawn into politics after watching her father’s example. “I knew the long hours. I knew the phone calls at home. I knew what I was walking into,” she said. “But I also knew the opportunity that you have to help other people. And it’s about helping people and making your community better.” Dziedzic began a career in public service as a campaign volunteer and later moved on to become a scheduling aide for former U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone. After a stint working for a Hennepin County commissioner, she was nudged to run for a state Senate seat when longtime lawmaker Larry Pogemiller stepped down to take another government job. Gov. Tim Walz called Dziedzic a “one-of-a-kind leader.” He added, “Her legacy should inspire all of us in elected office to be better public servants.” Details for a memorial service have not yet been announced. ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .

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Lucknow: Taking cognisance of the viral video showing sanitation workers sprinkling water on platform as part of cleaning process causing inconveinence to passengers sleeping there, the railway authorities on Sunday summoned the concerned staff and counselled them. The footage, captured on Dec 25 by volunteers distributing refreshments and blankets to homeless individuals, showed cleaning staff using mugs to throw water on the platform as part of a cleaning routine. The cleaning process led to "inconveinence" to the sleeping passengers, including women and children, forcing them to vacate the area. The incident sparked widespread criticism and outrage on social media platforms regarding the staff's inconsiderate behaviour. The Lucknow division Northern Railway's public relations office responded on Sunday through the DRM's official ‘X' account, stating: "The staff had been counselled on the matter, and railway has also advised passengers to avoid sleeping on platforms. Charbagh station provides adequate facilities, including waiting halls, dormitories and retiring rooms, which passengers are encouraged to utilize. Railway staff clean platforms when the passenger movement is low." A railway representative explained that Charbagh station's nine platforms, each spanning 600-700 metres, require cleaning during night hours when footfall is minimal. The maintenance staff must complete their duties within this limited time frame when passenger movement is reduced. Lucknow: Taking cognisance of the viral video showing sanitation workers sprinkling water on platform as part of cleaning process causing inconveinence to passengers sleeping there, the railway authorities on Sunday summoned the concerned staff and counselled them. The footage, captured on Dec 25 by volunteers distributing refreshments and blankets to homeless individuals, showed cleaning staff using mugs to throw water on the platform as part of a cleaning routine. The cleaning process led to "inconveinence" to the sleeping passengers, including women and children, forcing them to vacate the area. The incident sparked widespread criticism and outrage on social media platforms regarding the staff's inconsiderate behaviour. The Lucknow division Northern Railway's public relations office responded on Sunday through the DRM's official ‘X' account, stating: "The staff had been counselled on the matter, and railway has also advised passengers to avoid sleeping on platforms. Charbagh station provides adequate facilities, including waiting halls, dormitories and retiring rooms, which passengers are encouraged to utilize. Railway staff clean platforms when the passenger movement is low." A railway representative explained that Charbagh station's nine platforms, each spanning 600-700 metres, require cleaning during night hours when footfall is minimal. The maintenance staff must complete their duties within this limited time frame when passenger movement is reduced. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss the yearly horoscope 2025 and Chinese horoscope 2025 for Rat , Ox , Tiger , Rabbit , Dragon , Snake , Horse , Goat , Monkey , Rooster , Dog , and Pig zodiac signs. Spread love this holiday season with these New Year wishes and messages .If you think you are going to owe the Internal Revenue Service (I.R.S.) for this year 2024, you might consider donating to your favorite charities, as always you can donate by cash or writing a check. Depending on your tax burden you might consider donating bonds, stocks, and mutual funds that have appreciated over time. Giving shares of company stock can help with donating goals and help with your capital gains tax. You can donate cars, boats, and real estate as well. Talk to your financial advisor about a (DAF) a Donor Advised Fund. The way a DAF works is that you donate to an irrevocable charity contribution for a public charity. If you are 70 1⁄2 years old or older and have an IRA, you can set up what is called a Qualified Charitable Distribution. An QCD allows you to donate from your IRA without you having to pay taxes on the money drawn. For 2024, the deduction to charitable organizations is generally limited to 30% to 60% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). It all depends on whether you are giving cash or giving a non-cash contribution that will affect your deductions. Like any other transactions you must keep good records for proof of your donations. Great record keeping will help you if you are ever to be audited. When you donate now, it allows you to see the impact that your giving has today. As always, follow the rules of the Internal Revenue Service. If you are giving non-cash contributions of $500.00 or more, you must fill out I.R.S. form 8283. This will allow you to itemize these deductions on your taxes. I.R.S. Publication 561 provides you with information on how to decide the reasonable value for assets donated to a qualified charitable organization. Gifts to individuals are not deductible. Only qualified charitable organizations are eligible to receive tax deductible contributions, when giving cash, check, or other monetary gifts you must keep good records of the contributions. You need to have bank records, or a written communication from the qualified organization that has the name of the organization, the amount, and the date of the contribution. I hope this helps you with your yearend giving. December 31, of this year is the last day you can give to help reduce your taxes for 2024. Jimmy D. Henry is a former Walker County Commissioner. He is a lifelong businessman with management in retail sales. Henry is a published author of The Key to Understanding Credit. His book is available in print and digital on amazon.com .