ubet 63 com MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin public worker and teachers unions scored a major legal victory Monday with a ruling that restores collective bargaining rights they lost under a 2011 state law that sparked weeks of protests and made the state the center of the national battle over union rights. That law, known as Act 10, effectively ended the ability of most public employees to bargain for wage increases and other issues, and forced them to pay more for health insurance and retirement benefits. Under the ruling by Dane County Circuit Judge Jacob Frost, all public sector workers who lost their collective bargaining power would have it restored to what was in place prior to 2011. They would be treated the same as the police, firefighter and other public safety unions that were exempted under the law. Republicans vowed to immediately appeal the ruling, which ultimately is likely to go before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. That only amplifies the importance of the April election that will determine whether the court remains controlled 4-3 by liberal justices. Former Gov. Scott Walker, who proposed the law that catapulted him onto the national political stage, decried the ruling in a post on the social media platform X as “brazen political activism.” He said it makes the state Supreme Court election “that much more important.” Supporters of the law have said it provided local governments more control over workers and the powers they needed to cut costs. Repealing the law, which allowed schools and local governments to raise money through higher employee contributions for benefits, would bankrupt those entities, backers of Act 10 have argued. Democratic opponents argue that the law has hurt schools and other government agencies by taking away the ability of employees to collectively bargain for their pay and working conditions. Union leaders were overjoyed with the ruling, which affects tens of thousands of public employees. “We realize there may still be a fight ahead of us in the courts, but make no mistake, we’re ready to keep fighting until we all have a seat at the table again,” said Ben Gruber, a conservation warden and president of AFSCME Local 1215. The law was proposed by Walker and enacted by the Republican-controlled Legislature in spite of massive protests that went on for weeks and drew as many as 100,000 people to the Capitol. The law has withstood numerous legal challenges over the years, but this was the first brought since the Wisconsin Supreme Court flipped to liberal control in 2023. The seven unions and three union leaders that brought the lawsuit argued that the law should be struck down because it creates unconstitutional exemptions for firefighters and other public safety workers. Attorneys for the Legislature and state agencies countered that the exemptions are legal, have already been upheld by other courts, and that the case should be dismissed. But Frost sided with the unions in July, saying the law violates equal protection guarantees in the Wisconsin Constitution by dividing public employees into “general” and “public safety” employees. He ruled that general employee unions, like those representing teachers, can not be treated differently from public safety unions that were exempt from the law. His ruling Monday delineated the dozens of specific provisions in the law that must be struck. Wisconsin Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said he looked forward to appealing the ruling. “This lawsuit came more than a decade after Act 10 became law and after many courts rejected the same meritless legal challenges,” Vos said in a statement. Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state's largest business lobbying organization, also decried the ruling. WMC President Kurt Bauer called Act 10 “a critical tool for policymakers and elected officials to balance budgets and find taxpayer savings." The Legislature said in court filings that arguments made in the current case were rejected in 2014 by the state Supreme Court. The only change since that ruling is the makeup of Wisconsin Supreme Court, attorneys for the Legislature argued. The Act 10 law effectively ended collective bargaining for most public unions by allowing them to bargain solely over base wage increases no greater than inflation. It also disallowed the automatic withdrawal of union dues, required annual recertification votes for unions, and forced public workers to pay more for health insurance and retirement benefits. The law was the signature legislative achievement of Walker, who was targeted for a recall election he won. Walker used his fights with unions to mount an unsuccessful presidential run in 2016. Frost, the judge who issued Monday's ruling, appeared to have signed the petition to recall Walker from office. None of the attorneys sought his removal from the case and he did not step down. Frost was appointed to the bench by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who signed the Walker recall petition. The law has also led to a dramatic decrease in union membership across the state. The nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum said in a 2022 analysis that since 2000, Wisconsin had the largest decline in the proportion of its workforce that is unionized. In 2015, the GOP-controlled Wisconsin Legislature approved a right-to-work law that limited the power of private-sector unions. Public sector unions that brought the lawsuit are the Abbotsford Education Association; the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Locals 47 and 1215; the Beaver Dam Education Association; SEIU Wisconsin; the Teaching Assistants’ Association Local 3220 and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 695.Directives issued: Cops participating in PTI march to face action IGP issues directives to all regional and district police officers as well as heads of different wings PESHAWAR: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Akhtar Hayat Khan on Friday directed all the regional and district police officers to take departmental action against the cops participating in any political gathering. The IGP issued directives to all the regional and district police officers as well as heads of different wings. It was done to ensure that no policeman accompanied any political leader in rallies outside the province and only performed lawful duties. The RPOs and DPOs issued similar instructions to their deputies to ensure that all those policemen deployed with political leaders do not attend any political activity outside the KP. The cops were directed that no police resources, including vehicles, should be used for political activities. "All the policemen deployed for security with politicians are directed not to participate in any political event outside KP. Also, all gunmen are directed not to accompany these politicians for any such event outside the province," stated different circulars issued by the police regional heads. The instructions were issued to stop policemen and official police cars from being part of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) march towards the federal capital. The march, slated for November 24, is to be led by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. Meanwhile, the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway was closed from Friday night 'for maintenance'. This will block the main route between the KP and Islamabad that was to be used by the PTI workers for the march towards the federal capital. It will be interesting to see whether the policemen deployed with the chief minister, cabinet members and other lawmakers comply with the orders or continue to guard these political leaders during the march. "It will be difficult for police officers and junior cops to refuse orders of the chief minister, who is the chief executive of the province. On the other hand, they cannot afford to disregard the circular issued by their bosses," said an official. This is the first time in the last many months that cops have been banned from such events. In recent months, police contingents including senior officers accompanied the chief minister, other cabinet members and lawmakers when they marched towards Islamabad to pressure the federal government to release former prime minister Imran Khan. The chief minister was seen riding a police van in different videos. Many policemen and officials of other departments of KP were arrested by the Islamabad and Punjab Police later for creating a law and order situation. Apart from arresting several government employees in the previous march, police in Punjab and Islamabad impounded official vehicles and machinery that accompanied the PTI leadership. Earlier, a letter from the office of the KP chief Secretary to all the heads of the departments also instructed government officials and employees to avoid political events. They were directed to remain neutral and perform duties in a professional way.Companies tighten security after a health care CEO's killing leads to a surge of threats

Thousands attend funeral of Afghan ministerCJ Simon has had a unique college search, but has found his home in the Sun Bowl. Simon, Tuttle football’s leading wide receiver, announced Monday his commitment to University of Texas-El Paso. UTEP, a NCAA Division-I team in the Conference USA, had Simon for a visit this past weekend and had a quick turnaround for a commitment from Simon. Simon has had a windy road to end up in El Paso, Texas. A year before Simon’s commitment to UTEP, Simon committed to Nebraska. Since then, Simon has changed schools and decommitted from Nebraska. It might seem like Simon downgraded from a Big Ten school to a C-USA university, but Simon said he believes the plan and what the Miners have planned for him is what’s best for his future. “They are looking for change and the change they want is what I want,” Simon said. “They have a standard that is really high and they are going to hold you to that standard and that’s what really stuck out to me. The energy there is crazy, man. Their record isn’t there right now, but the coaching staff is positive and they know that it’s going to be big. “They see I can fit into that program. Especially the offensive coordinator. He’s got a plan for me for the offense, so that really stood out to me the most, for sure.” Simon visited El Paso for the first time and was surprised at the views of the Sun Bowl, UTEP’s famous stadium that is situated less than a mile east of the Texas-Mexico border and has a stunning mountain backdrop. “It’s beautiful,” Simon said. “I didn’t expect that when I got there. I thought it was really nice. They also got some sweet jerseys, for sure. (The throwback miner logo) is tough, for sure.” Simon moved from Moore to Tuttle this offseason and it has brought both sides a big improvement. For Tuttle, the Tigers received a massive piece to the team, in which the Tigers are 12-0 and playing in the 4A semifinals Friday against Bethany. For Simon, he’s elevated his game at a tradition-rich program. This season, Simon has 54 receptions for 876 yards and 11 touchdowns. Simon has been an important addition to the Tigers and Simon has reaped the benefits of the program Tuttle coach Brad Ballard has continued to build. Ballard said UTEP is getting a player who loves to work, get better each day and is the light of the locker room. “He’s fired up and we’re excited for him. He’s a great kid and he’s got an unlimited ceiling and has all the tools in the world,” Ballard said. “He’s a kid that has the heart to work and improve. He’s been a great addition to our team on the field, but also off the field. He carries a lot of juice, a lot of energy, a lot of positive vibes in the locker room. He’s a great kid and a good teammate. He’s got a big future and it’s gonna be fun to watch him.”

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ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — PGA Tour rookie Patrick Fishburn played bogey-free for an 8-under 64 for his first lead after any round. Joel Dahmen was 10 shots behind and had a bigger cause for celebration Friday in the RSM Classic. Dahmen made a 5-foot par putt on his final hole for a 2-under 68 in tough conditions brought on by the wind and cold, allowing him to make the cut on the number and get two more days to secure his PGA Tour card for next year. He is No. 124 in the FedEx Cup. "I still got more to write this weekend for sure," said Dahmen, who recently had said his story is not yet over. "But without having the opportunity to play this weekend, my story would be a lot shorter this year." Fishburn took advantage of being on the easier Plantation course, with trees blocking the brunt of the wind and two additional par 5s. He also was helped by Maverick McNealy, who opened with a 62 on the tougher Seaside course, making two bogeys late in his round and having to settle for a 70. People are also reading... Fishburn, who already has locked up his card for next year, was at 11-under 131 and led McNealy and Lee Hodges (63) going into the weekend. Michael Thorbjornsen had a 69 and was the only player who had to face Seaside on Friday who was among the top five. What mattered on this day, however, was far down the leaderboard. The RSM Classic is the final tournament of the PGA Tour season, and only the top 125 in the FedEx Cup have full status in 2025. That's more critical than ever with the tour only taking the top 100 for full cards after next season. Players like Dahmen will need full status to get as many playing opportunities as they can. That explains why he felt so much pressure on a Friday. He didn't make a bogey after his opening hole and was battling temperatures in the low 50s that felt even colder with the wind ripping off the Atlantic waters of St. Simons Sound. He made a key birdie on the 14th, hitting a 4-iron for his second shot on the 424-yard hole. Dahmen also hit wedge to 2 feet on the 16th that put him on the cut line, and from the 18th fairway, he was safely on the green some 40 feet away. But he lagged woefully short, leaving himself a testy 5-footer with his job on the line. "It was a great putt. I was very nervous," Dahmen said. "But there's still work to do. It wasn't the game-winner, it was like the half-court shot to get us to halftime. But without that, and the way I played today, I wouldn't have anything this weekend." His playing partners weren't so fortunate. The tour put three in danger of losing their cards in the same group — Zac Blair (No. 123), Dahmen and Wesley Bryan (No. 125). The cut was at 1-under 141. Blair and Bryan came to the 18th hole needing birdie to be assured of making the cut and both narrowly missed. Now they have to wait to see if anyone passes them, which is typically the case. Thorbjornsen in a tie for fourth and Daniel Berger (66 at Plantation) in a tie for 17th both were projected to move into the top 125. Dahmen, indeed, still has work to do. Fishburn gets a weekend to see if he can end his rookie year with a win. "I've had a lot of experience playing in cold growing up in Utah, playing this time of year, kind of get used to playing when the body's not moving very well and you've got to move your hands," said Fishburn, who played college golf at BYU. "Just pretty happy with how I played." Ludvig Aberg, the defending champion and No. 5 player in the world competing for the first time in more than two months because of knee surgery, bounced back with a 64 on Plantation and was back in the mix. Aberg played with Luke Clanton, the Florida State sophomore who looks like he belongs each week. Clanton, the No. 1 player in the world amateur ranking who received a sponsor exemption, had a 65 at Plantation and was two shots off the lead. Clanton already has a runner-up and two other top 10s since June. "Playing with him, it's pretty awesome to watch," Clanton said. "We were kind of fanboying a little it. I know he's a really good dude but to be playing with him and to see what he's done over the last couple years, it's pretty inspirational." Be the first to know

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Tesla hasn’t unveiled its next generation human robot in the form of the app named GEN-3 Teslabot, bringing with it significant advancements in the field of humanoid robotics, merging state-of-the-art engineering with a design inspired by human anatomy. This next-generation robot demonstrates exceptional and , setting a new benchmark for what can accomplish. From catching a tennis ball mid-air to envisioning tasks like threading a needle, the Teslabot is poised to reshape how robots interact with and adapt to the world around them. Wouldn’t it be great if robots didn’t just assemble cars or vacuum your living room but perform tasks requiring the finesse of human hands—threading a needle, playing a piano, or even catching a tennis ball mid-air. It sounds like science fiction, doesn’t it? Yet, Tesla’s latest innovation, the GEN-3 Teslabot, is bringing us closer to that reality. With its human-inspired design and new engineering, this robot is redefining what we thought machines could do. But what makes the so extraordinary? It’s not just the flashy demonstrations or its sleek design. It’s the way Tesla has managed to replicate human dexterity and precision in a machine, giving it the potential to tackle tasks we once thought only humans could handle. From its 22 degrees of freedom in the hand to its vision-driven precision, it’s a glimpse of what’s to come. Let’s dive into the details of Tesla’s GEN-3 Teslabot and explore how it’s pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. The GEN-3 Teslabot showcases exceptional dexterity, including the ability to catch a tennis ball mid-air, highlighting its precise hand coordination and dynamic task handling capabilities. Its robotic hand features 22 degrees of freedom, mimicking human anatomy for natural movements and allowing manipulation of objects with high precision and adaptability. Vision-driven precision, powered by advanced sensors and algorithms, allows the Teslabot to autonomously perform intricate tasks like threading a needle or playing musical instruments. Custom-designed actuators and sensors balance complexity with scalability, making sure the Teslabot is both highly capable and practical for mass production. With a focus on scalability and versatility, the Teslabot is designed for real-world applications, from industrial tasks to household assistance, positioning it as a fantastic technology for human-robot collaboration. One of the most striking demonstrations of the Teslabot’s capabilities is its ability to catch a tennis ball mid-air, a feat it achieved twice during a live presentation. Although this task was teleoperated, it highlights the robot’s and . This achievement underscores Tesla’s success in translating human-like movements into robotic actions with impressive accuracy. Such capabilities suggest the Teslabot’s potential to handle in unpredictable environments, paving the way for its application in scenarios requiring quick reflexes and adaptability. At the core of the Teslabot’s dexterity is its robotic hand, which features , closely mirroring the complexity of a human hand. This advanced design enables the robot to perform and manipulate objects of various shapes and sizes with ease. The actuators, strategically housed in the forearm, are modeled after human anatomy to optimize both control and efficiency. This human-inspired engineering not only enhances the robot’s functionality but also equips it to perform tasks that demand and , such as assembling intricate components or handling delicate objects. Gain further expertise in humanoid robots by checking out these recommendations. Tesla envisions the Teslabot taking on increasingly intricate tasks in the future, such as threading a needle or playing musical instruments like the piano. These activities require , , and , all of which are made possible by the robot’s vision-based task execution. Equipped with advanced sensors and algorithms, the Teslabot can autonomously navigate and interact with its surroundings. This capability positions it as a for tasks requiring both fine motor skills and complex coordination, opening up possibilities for its use in fields ranging from manufacturing to healthcare. The Teslabot’s impressive performance is powered by that draw inspiration from human anatomy. These components are carefully engineered to balance with , making sure that the robot remains scalable for mass production without compromising on performance. By integrating these innovative technologies, Tesla has created a robot that is not only highly capable but also practical for widespread use. This approach reflects Tesla’s commitment to advancing robotics in a way that is both innovative and accessible. Tesla’s focus on scalable manufacturing underscores its ambition to integrate humanoid robots into everyday life. The Teslabot is designed to perform a diverse range of tasks, from to . Its combination of dynamic movement and precise execution makes it adaptable to various environments, whether in a factory, an office, or a home. This versatility positions the Teslabot as a with the potential to transform industries and redefine the way humans collaborate with robots. The GEN-3 Teslabot represents a pivotal step forward in the evolution of humanoid robotics. Its ability to perform both and narrows the gap between human and machine capabilities. As Tesla continues to refine its design, the Teslabot could unlock new possibilities for robotics in workplaces, homes, and beyond. This rapid progress signals a future where humanoid robots play an integral role in society, reshaping industries and enhancing daily life through seamless human-robot collaboration. Media Credit:

Islamists on Facebook and X are sharing pictures bearing the religious slur TMD or Total Malaun Death, with Malaun being a dehumanising reference to Hindus in line with 'kaafir' as the Muhammad Yunus government fails to act amidst the ongoing orgy of violence directed at minorities, especially Hindus. Amidst the ongoing persecution of minorities in Bangladesh, social media platforms are rife with posts calling for the total annihilation of Hindus. Islamists on Facebook and X are sharing pictures bearing the religious slur TMD or Total Malaun Death, with Malaun being a dehumanising reference to Hindus. More than 200,000 posts with hashtag ‘TMD’ have already been made in Bangladesh, the South East Asian nation that has been marred with anti-minority violence since the ouster of Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina in August this year. A raft of Islamists in Bangladesh are calling for the destruction of Malaun, a derogatory slang equivalent to kaafir that Islamists often use to degrade non-Muslims and normalise atrocities against them. One of the posts going viral on Facebook endorses TMD while insulting the Indian flag. Not just Facebook, but Islamists from Bangladesh have also leveraged the microblogging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to trend #TMD and rally extremists against the beleaguered Hindu minorities. As witnessed in the past, social media platforms have the power to mobilise like-minded people towards a common goal and have often been employed by religious bigots to push their ulterior motives. #TMD or Total Malaun Death. Malaun is a religious slur for Hindus in Bangladesh. Insanely viral Facebook posts in the last 24 hours by Bangladeshi Facebook users. Some screenshots. pic.twitter.com/cfFxyJblvF Many on X have raised alarm over the deteriorating situation in Bangladesh, haplessly exhorting its interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus to take concrete action to stop attacks against Hindus and other minorities. But the government, propped up by Islamists themselves, has found little political will to act against its benefactors, turning a blind eye to the predicament of religious minorities as extremist mobs go on a rampage attacking commercial establishments, places of worship, and residential colonies. But the explicit calling of the annihilation of Hindus in Bangladesh has heightened concerns, especially in the aftermath of the arrest of prominent Hindu leader and ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das earlier this week. Besides, the Bangladesh government, in its affidavit in the High Court, referred to ISKCON as a “religious fundamentalist group”—providing a grim picture of the plight of Hindus in the country. Das was arrested following his emergence as the champion of minority rights in a nation convulsed by Islamist supremacism. Even as the interim government in Bangladesh has opened a front against ISKCON, the persecution of Hindus has been going on unabated since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, a leader who had managed to leash the Islamist impulses of the extremists with her strict policing controls. But minorities, especially Hindus, have been at the receiving end of Islamic wrath, with their shops, temples, and houses attacked by fundamentalists who seek to purge the country of its non-Muslim minorities, following her departure and installation of Yunus at the Centre. On Friday (22nd November), a frenzied Muslim mob attacked Hindus who were en route to the Mahiganj College ground in the Rangpur division of Bangladesh. The victims wanted to participate in a protest rally organised by the ‘Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatani Jagran Jot’, seeking the implementation of 8 demands by the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government. Similar attacks against Hindus have taken place in different parts of the country, underscoring threats faced by minorities in a country where Islamists appear to have established their stranglehold. While Hindus have been an existential threat in Bangladesh, the Muhammad Yunus government had gone into an overdrive to appease the Islamists back home, chiefly with the release of the chief of the Al-Qaeda-inspired terrorist organisation Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) chief Mufti Jashimuddin Rahamani from jail, prioritising appeasement of extremist components over the safety of country’s minorities.What Dabo Swinney said after Clemson’s rivalry game loss to South Carolina

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The Kremlin fired a new intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine on Thursday in response to Kyiv's use this week of American and British missiles capable of striking deeper into Russia, President Vladimir Putin said. In a televised address to the country, the Russian president warned that U.S. air defense systems would be powerless to stop the new missile, which he said flies at ten times the speed of sound and which he called the Oreshnik — Russian for hazelnut tree. He also said it could be used to attack any Ukrainian ally whose missiles are used to attack Russia. “We believe that we have the right to use our weapons against military facilities of the countries that allow to use their weapons against our facilities,” Putin said in his first comments since President Joe Biden gave Ukraine the green light this month to use U.S. ATACMS missiles to strike at limited targets inside Russia. RELATED STORY | Russia says Ukraine fired 6 US-made missiles at the Bryansk region, days after Biden policy shift Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed that Russia’s missile was a new, experimental type of intermediate-range missile based on its RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. “This was new type of lethal capability that was deployed on the battlefield, so that was certainly of concern," Singh said, noting that the missile could carry either conventional or nuclear warheads. The U.S. was notified ahead of the launch through nuclear risk reduction channels, she said. The attack on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro came in response to Kyiv's use of longer-range U.S. and British missiles in strikes Tuesday and Wednesday on southern Russia, Putin said. Those strikes caused a fire at an ammunition depot in Russia's Bryansk region and killed and wounded some security services personnel in the Kursk region, he said. RELATED STORY | Biden authorizes Ukraine's use of US-supplied long-range missiles for deeper strikes inside Russia “In the event of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond decisively and in kind,” the Russian president said, adding that Western leaders who are hatching plans to use their forces against Moscow should “seriously think about this.” Putin said the Oreshnik fired Thursday struck a well-known missile factory in Dnipro. He also said Russia would issue advance warnings if it launches more strikes with the Oreshnik against Ukraine to allow civilians to evacuate to safety — something Moscow hasn’t done before previous aerial attacks. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov initially said Russia hadn’t warned the U.S. about the coming launch of the new missile, noting that it wasn't obligated to do so. But he later changed tack and said Moscow did issue a warning 30 minutes before the launch. Putin's announcement came hours after Ukraine claimed that Russia had used an intercontinental ballistic missile in the Dnipro attack, which wounded two people and damaged an industrial facility and rehabilitation center for people with disabilities, according to local officials. But American officials said an initial U.S. assessment indicated the strike was carried out with an intermediate-range ballistic missile. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post that the use of the missile was an "obvious and serious escalation in the scale and brutality of this war, a cynical violation of the UN Charter.” He also said there had been “no strong global reaction” to the use of the missile, which he said could threaten other countries. “Putin is very sensitive to this. He is testing you, dear partners,” Zelenskyy wrote. “If there is no tough response to Russia’s actions, it means they see that such actions are possible.” The attack comes during a week of escalating tensions, as the U.S. eased restrictions on Ukraine's use of American-made longer-range missiles inside Russia and Putin lowered the threshold for launching nuclear weapons. The Ukrainian air force said in a statement that the Dnipro attack was launched from Russia’s Astrakhan region, on the Caspian Sea. “Today, our crazy neighbor once again showed what he really is,” Zelenskyy said hours before Putin's address. “And how afraid he is.” Russia was sending a message by attacking Ukraine with an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of releasing multiple warheads at extremely high speeds, even if they are less accurate than cruise missiles or short-range ballistic missiles, said Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank. “Why might you use it therefore?” Savill said. "Signaling — signaling to the Ukrainians. We’ve got stuff that outrages you. But really signaling to the West ‘We’re happy to enter into a competition around intermediate range ballistic missiles. P.S.: These could be nuclear tipped. Do you really want to take that risk?’” Military experts say that modern ICBMs and IRBMs are extremely difficult to intercept, although Ukraine has previously claimed to have stopped some other weapons that Russia described as “unstoppable,” including the air-launched Kinzhal hypersonic missile. David Albright, of the Washington-based think tank the Institute for Science and International Security, said he was “skeptical” of Putin’s claim, adding that Russian technology sometimes “falls short.” He suggested Putin was “taunting the West to try to shoot it down ... like a braggart boasting, taunting his enemy.” Earlier this week, the Biden administration authorized Ukraine to use the U.S.-supplied, longer-range missiles to strike deeper inside Russia — a move that drew an angry response from Moscow. Days later, Ukraine fired several of the missiles into Russia, according to the Kremlin. The same day, Putin signed a new doctrine that allows for a potential nuclear response even to a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power. The doctrine is formulated broadly to avoid a firm commitment to use nuclear weapons. In response, Western countries, including the U.S., said Russia has used irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and behavior throughout the war to intimidate Ukraine and other nations. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that Russia’s formal lowering of the threshold for nuclear weapons use did not prompt any changes in U.S. doctrine. She pushed back on concerns that the decision to allow Ukraine to use Western missiles to strike deeper inside Russia might escalate the war. ′′They’re the ones who are escalating this,” she said of the Kremlin — in part because of a flood of North Korean troops sent to the region. More than 1,000 days into war, Russia has the upper hand, with its larger army advancing in Donetsk and Ukrainian civilians suffering from relentless drone and missile strikes. Analysts and observers say the loosening of restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western missiles is unlikely to change the course of the war, but it puts the Russian army in a more vulnerable position and could complicate the logistics that are crucial in warfare. Putin has also warned that the move would mean that Russia and NATO are at war. “It is an important move and it pulls against, undermines the narrative that Putin had been trying to establish that it was fine for Russia to rain down Iranian drones and North Korean missiles on Ukraine but a reckless escalation for Ukraine to use Western-supplied weapons at legitimate targets in Russia,” said Peter Ricketts, a former U.K. national security adviser who now sits in the House of Lords.

Heisman Trophy finalist and two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter was named The Associated Press Big 12 defensive player of the year while also being a first-team selection at wide receiver on Thursday. Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders is the league's top offensive player. Kenny Dillingham, the 34-year-old in his second season at Arizona State, was the unanimous choice as Big 12 coach of the year after leading his alma mater to a championship and a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff. The Sun Devils (11-2) went into their league debut as the preseason pick to finish last among the 16 teams. At cornerback, Hunter had 31 tackles, tied for the Big 12 lead with 11 pass breakups and was tied for second with four interceptions. On offense, he leads the Big 12 with 92 receptions and 14 receiving touchdowns, and is second with 1,152 yards receiving. His 21 catches of at least 20 yards are the most nationally. He is also the AP's player of the year. Sanders is the Big 12 passing leader, completing 337 of 454 passes (74.2%) for 3,926 yards and a school-record 35 touchdowns with eight interceptions for the Buffaloes (10-2) Arizona State freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt, who is 11-1 as a starter, is the league’s top newcomer. The Michigan State transfer has 2,663 yards passing with 24 touchdowns and only five picks in 304 attempts. Mullen picked as UNLV coach LAS VEGAS — UNLV is reaching into the Southeastern Conference to keep momentum going for its 24th-ranked football team, hiring former Florida and Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen on Thursday. He will be introduced in a news conference Friday morning. UNLV athletic director Erick Harper, in a news release, called Mullen "an innovator and nationally respected leader.” “The momentum of UNLV football continues to skyrocket with Coach Mullen coming aboard and is even more proof that our university is serious about success," Harper said. "Rebel Nation came alive while watching this program reach new heights the last two seasons and we are excited to keep it moving forward under the leadership of someone the caliber of Dan Mullen.” The 52-year-old Mullen replaces Barry Odom, who left for Purdue on Sunday after going 19-8 and helping the Rebels receive back-to-back bowl invitations for the first time in program history. UNLV will play California in the LA Bowl on Wednesday. Mullen, most recently an ESPN college football analyst, went 103-61 at Florida and Mississippi State. Rich Rodriguez back at West Virginia Rich Rodriguez is returning to West Virginia for a second stint as head coach at his alma mater. Athletic director Wren Baker announced the hiring on Thursday, 17 years after Rodriguez made a hasty exit for what became a disastrous three-year experiment at Michigan. “We are thrilled to welcome Coach Rich Rodriguez and his family back home,” Baker said in a statement. “Coach Rodriguez understands what it takes to win at West Virginia, and I believe he will pour his heart, soul and every ounce of his energy into our program. I am convinced Coach Rodriguez wants what is best for West Virginia, WVU and West Virginia football, and I am excited about the future of our program.” Rodriguez, who is the current coach at Jacksonville State, an architect of the spread offense and a polarizing figure in his home state, replaces Neal Brown, who was fired on Dec. 1 after going 37-35 in six seasons, including 6-6 this year. Arizona WR McMillan declares for draft TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona star receiver Tetairoa McMillan declared for the NFL draft following three stellar seasons. McMillan announced his decision Thursday on Instagram. “Now, it’s time to take the next step. ... I’m officially declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft,” McMillan posted. “This is only the beginning.” McMillian is Arizona's all-time leader in receiving yards, finishing with 3,423 in three seasons, and is projected to be a first-round NFL draft pick. The NCAA is taking its Football Championship Subdivision title game back to Tennessee. The FCS championship games at the end of the 2025 and 2026 seasons will be played in Nashville on the Vanderbilt campus. This season’s game will be played Jan. 6 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, which will host the game for a record 15th season in a row and was set for at least two more. UCLA announced Tino Sunseri’s hiring as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Sunseri replaces Eric Bieniemy, who was fired on Dec. 5 after fielding one of the nation’s worst offenses this season. Sunseri spent one season as Indiana’s co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after following Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti from James Madison.Bangladesh: Islamists make genocide calls against Hindus with religious slurs, trend #TMD or ‘Total Malaun Death’ on SM platforms to rally extremists'Squid Game' S2, 'Mismatched 3': Netflix's top December releases

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau flies to Florida to meet with Trump after tariffs threat WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has flown to Florida to have dinner with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club after Trump threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products. Joining Trump and Trudeau at dinner were Trump's picks for commerce secretary, interior secretary and national security adviser, and the three men's wives. From the Canadian side, the dinner guests included Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, whose responsibilities include border security. Trump’s transition did not respond to questions about what they had discussed or whether the conversation alleviated Trump’s concerns about the border. A smiling Trudeau declined comment upon returning to his West Palm Beach hotel late Friday. Emboldened 'manosphere' accelerates threats and demeaning language toward women after US election CHICAGO (AP) — An emboldened fringe of right-wing “manosphere” influencers has seized on Donald Trump’s presidential win to justify and amplify misogynistic derision and threats online. Many have appropriated a 1960s abortion rights rallying cry, declaring “Your body, my choice,” and have been using it publicly on college campuses and even in public schools. While none of the current online rhetoric is being amplified by Trump, experts say many young men see the former president’s return to the White House as vindication of their views on women. For many women, the words are a worrying sign of what might lie ahead as some men perceive the election results as a rebuke of reproductive rights and women’s rights. Syrian insurgents are inside Aleppo in a major setback for Assad as government forces regroup BEIRUT (AP) — Thousands of Syrian insurgents have fanned out inside Syria's largest city Aleppo a day after storming it with little resistance from government troops. Syria's army said troops have redeployed to prepare for a counteroffensive. Witnesses said insurgents were seen Saturday at landmarks in Aleppo for the first time since 2016, when they were expelled by government forces backed by Russia and Iran. The surprise offensive is a major embarrassment for Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has regained total control of the city eight years ago. An Israeli strike in Gaza kills workers with World Central Kitchen charity DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli airstrike on a car in the Gaza Strip on Saturday killed five people including employees of World Central Kitchen. The charity says it is “urgently seeking more details” after Israel’s military said it targeted a WCK worker who had been part of the Hamas attack that sparked the war. The charity in an email says it is “heartbroken” by the airstrike and that it had no knowledge anyone in the car had alleged ties to the Oct. 7, 2023 attack, saying it is “working with incomplete information.” It says it is pausing operations in Gaza. Lebanese fisherman hope ceasefire with Israel means normal life returning TYRE, Lebanon (AP) — The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is bringing hope for normality back to many in southern Lebanon. That includes fishermen who’ve long launched their single-engine wooden boats into the Mediterranean at dawn. For months, Israel imposed a siege that kept hundreds of fishermen at this ancient Phoenician port ashore. That upended their lives and dealt the industry a major blow. The port siege also cut people off from key ingredients for traditional Lebanese dishes. As war devastated their country, the loss of fish damaged a deep association with home. Now, the possibility of renewed fishing is helping fuel hope. How Brazilian police say Bolsonaro plotted a coup to stay in office SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s Federal Police have formally accused former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others of plotting a coup to keep him in office. The plot was allegedly comprised of several components and substantiated by evidence and testimony in the agency's 884-page report. The pieces of the puzzle include laying the groundwork by systematically sowing distrust of the electoral system among the populace. It also includes drafting a decree to give the plot a veneer of legal basis and pressuring top military brass to go along with the plan. Bolsonaro and his main allies have denied any wrongdoing or involvement and accuse authorities of political persecution. More than 100 arrested as Georgian police clash with protesters over suspension of EU talks TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — More than 100 demonstrators were arrested overnight in Georgia as protesters clashed with police following the government’s decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union, the country’s Interior Ministry said. Friday marked the second straight night of protests after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the country’s ruling Georgian Dream party announced the suspension the previous day. The Associated Press saw protesters in Tbilisi being chased and beaten by police as demonstrators rallied in front of the country's parliament building. The violence follows Georgian Dream’s disputed victory in the Oct. 26 election, which was widely seen as a referendum on the country’s aspirations to join the European Union. Romania's parliamentary vote risks being overshadowed by presidential race chaos BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romanians are preparing to go to the polls in a parliamentary vote that will determine a new government and prime minister to lead the European Union and NATO member country. However, Sunday's vote is sandwiched between a two-round presidential race and is overshadowed by controversies and chaos following the outcome of the first vote. While the president has significant decision-making powers in areas such as national security and foreign policy, the prime minister is the head of the nation’s government. Sunday’s vote will determine the formation of the country’s 466-seat legislature. North Korea's Kim vows steadfast support for Russia’s war in Ukraine SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country will “invariably support” Russia’s war in Ukraine as he met Russia's visiting defense chief. A Russia military delegation led by Defense Minister Andrei Belousov arrived in North Korea on Friday as international concerns about the two countries’ expanding cooperation deepened after North Korea sent thousands of troops to Russia. During a Friday meeting, Kim and Belousov reached “a satisfactory consensus” on issues on how to further boost strategic partnership and defend each country’s sovereignty and security interests, state media said. Great Lakes, Plains and Midwest forecast to be hit with snow and dangerous cold into next week BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The first big snowfall of the season is threatening to bury towns in New York along lakes Erie and Ontario as the hectic holiday travel and shopping weekend winds down. Numbing cold and heavy snow could persist into next week and cause hazards in the Great Lakes, Plains and Midwest regions. A state of emergency was declared for parts of New York, making it problematic for scores of Thanksgiving travelers trying to return home. This week’s blast of frigid Arctic air also brought bitterly cold temperatures of 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit below average to the Northern Plains. Cold air was expected to move over the eastern third of the U.S. by Monday, the weather service said, with temperatures about 10 degrees below average.

In Manitoba, the two main parties take turns running government for extended time periods. There seems to be a natural lifespan for governments of at least a decade. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * In Manitoba, the two main parties take turns running government for extended time periods. There seems to be a natural lifespan for governments of at least a decade. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Opinion In Manitoba, the two main parties take turns running government for extended time periods. There seems to be a natural lifespan for governments of at least a decade. In all of Manitoba history, there has been only one single term government led by Progressive Conservative (PC) premier Sterling Lyon (1977-1981) who campaigned and governed under the slogan “acute protracted restraint.” The usual pattern is for governing parties to remain in power for at least two terms. Under Gary Filmon, the PCs went from a minority to two majority governments over the 11-year period from 1988 to 1999. Similarly, under leader Gary Doer (1999-2009), the NDP won three consecutive majorities before being replaced by Greg Selinger, who won big in the 2011 election before losing big in 2016. In total, the NDP ran the province for nearly 17 years. Two consequences of this pattern of long-serving governments often go unnoticed. First, it means that when a party regains power, only a few of its elected MLAs have prior governing experience. For example, in October 2023, Wab Kinew became a first-time premier and only one of his 14 ministers had served in a cabinet. Second, in opposition there is no direct access to the expertise of the public service, which means that the knowledge and skills to set policy directions and oversee the bureaucracy must be learned on the job. New ministers must work with public servants they do not know. Unlike the U.K., the opposition has no pre-election meetings with senior public servants which support a smoother transition process when governments change. There are two main parts to the role of the opposition. The first is to provide a rigorous critique of government as part of what is essentially an ongoing election campaign conducted within the legislature and beyond. The second is to present an agenda of policy ideas different from those of the governing party which signals there is an alternative government in waiting. The importance of opposition is recognized by the fact that the leader of the official Opposition receives a cabinet-level salary; has extra budget and staff; and has certain procedural rights under the rules of the legislature. In the current Manitoba context, the weakened status of the PC party has contributed to the largely unscathed status of the NDP government. The PCs are recovering from the legacy of a domineering, ideological leader committed to limited government. Under his successor, the party ran a negative, divisive campaign which disgusted even some of its supporters. It now operates with a smaller caucus, with only a few experienced MLAs, and is led by an interim leader. There are only two candidates for the job as leader on a permanent basis. It seems likely that Fort Whyte MLA Obby Khan will prevail over the relative outsider Wally Daudrich, a Churchill hotelier, in the April 2025 leadership vote. Either way, the new leader faces numerous challenges to forge the elected MLAs into an effective opposition. History and present circumstances make it probable that the NDP will govern for at least two terms. This gives the PCs time to clarify what they stand for in terms of an overall approach to governing. Put simply, will a future election platform place more emphasis on the “progressive” or the “conservative” side of the party’s hybrid label? The PCs have a history of infighting over leadership, so the new leader will have to pay close attention to the internal dynamics of the party. A key step will be the appointment from among his MLAs of a shadow cabinet of designated critics of NDP ministers. If Khan wins, he will not have to face the dilemma of what to do with unsuccessful contenders for the leadership within the existing caucus. Formation of the shadow cabinet is usually the first chance that a new leader has to signal the direction they want to take their party. There is no set formula for choosing its members and making the assignments. Experience, communications skills, gender, geography, ideological orientation and stature within the party are among the factors to be considered. Giving all MLAs a sense of belonging to a cohesive team with a shared purpose is crucial. Without access to the public service, development of a party platform depends on work by shadow ministers, party members with specialized knowledge, consultants, think tanks and stakeholders in various policy fields. Testing platform planks for their soundness and acceptability is a wise move. The opposition leader must run an efficient and effective office, with experienced staff at the top. The office must keep in touch with caucus and the wider party. It must develop effective communications strategies which engage productively with the media, make use of social media and demonstrate responsiveness to public opinion. Providing vigorous opposition and preparing to govern can make an important contribution to accountable and responsive governing. Paul G. Thomas is professor emeritus of Political Studies at the University of Manitoba. Advertisement Advertisement

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ubet63 app download HICKSVILLE, N.Y. , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Flagstar Financial, Inc. (NYSE: FLG) (the "Company") today announced the appointment of Brian Callanan , Senior Managing Director and General Counsel at Liberty Strategic Capital ("Liberty"), to its Board of Directors, effective December 16, 2024 . Commenting on the appointment, Joseph M. Otting , Chairman, President, and CEO said, "I'm pleased to have Brian join our Board. His proven track record and expertise in financial services, along with his strategic insights will be instrumental as we continue to execute on our transformation and long-term vision. Brian's perspectives will provide valuable guidance, and his leadership will play a critical role in driving sustainable growth, ensuring we achieve long-term success and maximize the value we deliver to our shareholders, employees, and clients." Callanan is a distinguished lawyer with extensive experience in financial regulation, regulatory compliance, and financial technology. At Liberty, Callanan leads the firm's legal function, serves on its Investment Committee, and focuses on financial sector investments. Prior to joining Liberty, he served as General Counsel of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, overseeing 2,000 lawyers across the department. As Chief General Counsel, he played a key role in major initiatives such as economic rescue programs during COVID-19, the design of new economic sanctions, and the implementation of tax reform. While serving as Deputy General Counsel, Callanan managed major litigation and advised on regulatory reform efforts, among other responsibilities. For his service, he received the Alexander Hamilton Award, the department's highest honor. This appointment aligns with the $1.05 billion equity investment in March 2024 , which stipulated that two Board seats would be granted to lead investor Liberty Strategic Capital. With Callanan's addition, the Company's Board of Directors, which was reconstituted earlier in 2024, expands to nine members, including Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph M. Otting , Milton Berlinski , Alessandro P. DiNello , Alan Frank , Marshall Lux , Lead Independent Director Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin , Allen Puwalski , and Jennifer Whip. About Flagstar Financial, Inc. Flagstar Financial, Inc. is the parent company of Flagstar Bank, N.A., one of the largest regional banks in the country. The Company is headquartered in Hicksville, New York . At September 30, 2024, the Company had $114.4 billion of assets, $73.0 billion of loans, deposits of $83 .0 billion, and total stockholders' equity of $8 .6 billion. Flagstar Bank, N.A. operates over 400 branches, including a significant presence in the Northeast and Midwest and locations in high growth markets in the Southeast and West Coast. In addition, the Bank has approximately 80 private banking teams located in over 10 cities in the metropolitan New York City region and on the West Coast, which serve the needs of high-net worth individuals and their businesses. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This release may include forward‐looking statements by the Company and our authorized officers pertaining to such matters as our goals, beliefs, intentions, and expectations regarding (a) revenues, earnings, loan production, asset quality, liquidity position, capital levels, risk analysis, divestitures, acquisitions, and other material transactions, among other matters; (b) the future costs and benefits of the actions we may take; (c) our assessments of credit risk and probable losses on loans and associated allowances and reserves; (d) our assessments of interest rate and other market risks; (e) our ability to execute on our strategic plan, including the sufficiency of our internal resources, procedures and systems; (f) our ability to attract, incentivize, and retain key personnel and the roles of key personnel; (g) our ability to achieve our financial and other strategic goals, including those related to our merger with Flagstar Bancorp, Inc., which was completed on December 1, 2022, our acquisition of substantial portions of the former Signature Bank through an FDIC-assisted transaction, and our ability to fully and timely implement the risk management programs institutions greater than $100 billion in assets must maintain; (h) the effect on our capital ratios of the approval of certain proposals approved by our shareholders during our 2024 annual meeting of shareholders; (i) the conversion or exchange of shares of the Company's preferred stock; (j) the payment of dividends on shares of the Company's capital stock, including adjustments to the amount of dividends payable on shares of the Company's preferred stock; (k) the availability of equity and dilution of existing equity holders associated with amendments to the 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan; (l) the effects of the reverse stock split; and (m) transactions relating to the sale of our mortgage business and mortgage warehouse business. Forward‐looking statements are typically identified by such words as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "outlook," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "should," "confident," and other similar words and expressions, and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, which change over time. Additionally, forward‐looking statements speak only as of the date they are made; the Company does not assume any duty, and does not undertake, to update our forward‐looking statements. Furthermore, because forward‐looking statements are subject to assumptions and uncertainties, actual results or future events could differ, possibly materially, from those anticipated in our statements, and our future performance could differ materially from our historical results. Our forward‐looking statements are subject to, among others, the following principal risks and uncertainties: general economic conditions and trends, either nationally or locally; conditions in the securities, credit and financial markets; changes in interest rates; changes in deposit flows, and in the demand for deposit, loan, and investment products and other financial services; changes in real estate values; changes in the quality or composition of our loan or investment portfolios, including associated allowances and reserves; changes in future allowance for credit losses, including changes required under relevant accounting and regulatory requirements; the ability to pay future dividends; changes in our capital management and balance sheet strategies and our ability to successfully implement such strategies; recent turnover in our Board of Directors and our executive management team; changes in our strategic plan, including changes in our internal resources, procedures and systems, and our ability to successfully implement such plan; changes in competitive pressures among financial institutions or from non‐financial institutions; changes in legislation, regulations, and policies; the imposition of restrictions on our operations by bank regulators; the outcome of pending or threatened litigation, or of investigations or any other matters before regulatory agencies, whether currently existing or commencing in the future; the success of our blockchain and fintech activities, investments and strategic partnerships; the restructuring of our mortgage business; our ability to recognize anticipated expense reductions and enhanced efficiencies with respect to our recently announced strategic workforce reduction; the impact of failures or disruptions in or breaches of the Company's operational or security systems, data or infrastructure, or those of third parties, including as a result of cyberattacks or campaigns; the impact of natural disasters, extreme weather events, military conflict (including the Russia / Ukraine conflict, the conflict in Israel and surrounding areas, the possible expansion of such conflicts and potential geopolitical consequences), terrorism or other geopolitical events; and a variety of other matters which, by their nature, are subject to significant uncertainties and/or are beyond our control. Our forward-looking statements are also subject to the following principal risks and uncertainties with respect to our merger with Flagstar Bancorp, which was completed on December 1, 2022 , and our acquisition of substantial portions of the former Signature Bank through an FDIC-assisted transaction: the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the transactions will not be realized when expected or at all; the possibility of increased legal and compliance costs, including with respect to any litigation or regulatory actions related to the business practices of acquired companies or the combined business; diversion of management's attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; the possibility that the Company may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies in or as a result of the transactions within the expected timeframes or at all; and revenues following the transactions may be lower than expected. Additionally, there can be no assurance that the Community Benefits Agreement entered into with NCRC, which was contingent upon the closing of the Company's merger with Flagstar Bancorp, Inc., will achieve the results or outcome originally expected or anticipated by us as a result of changes to our business strategy, performance of the U.S. economy, or changes to the laws and regulations affecting us, our customers, communities we serve, and the U.S. economy (including, but not limited to, tax laws and regulations). More information regarding some of these factors is provided in the Risk Factors section of our Annual Report on Form 10‐K/A for the year ended December 31, 2023, Quarterly Report on Forms 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024 , June 30, 2024 , and September 30, 2024 , and in other SEC reports we file. Our forward‐looking statements may also be subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those we may discuss in this news release, on our conference call, during investor presentations, or in our SEC filings, which are accessible on our website and at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov . Investor Contact: Salvatore J. DiMartino (516) 683-4286 Media Contact: Nicole Yelland (248) 219-9234 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/flagstar-financial-inc-appoints-brian-callanan-to-board-of-directors-302331692.html SOURCE Flagstar Financial, Inc.

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Pennsylvania Lawmakers Push To Legalize Marijuana Yet Again, Here's Who's Behind Latest AttemptA jury has found Santa Clara Vice Mayor Anthony Becker guilty of perjury and failing to uphold his duties as a public official by leaking a 2022 Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury report. The verdict ends Becker’s month-long trial , which covered accusations that he leaked the 2022 report to San Francisco 49ers executive Rahul Chandhok and lied to the grand jury about it during their investigation. Jurors reached their decision after just three hours of deliberating. Deputy Public Defender Chris Montoya, one of Becker’s lawyers, declined to comment on the verdict. Related Stories The trial has been littered with disagreements between Becker’s lawyers and the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, who indicted Becker in April 2023. Becker’s lawyers filed four motions Tuesday, including a motion to declare a mistrial, which was denied by Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Javier Alcala on Wednesday. During closing arguments , Deputy District Attorney Jason Malinsky argued there’s ample evidence showing Becker lied about leaking the report, including testimony from Chandhok and fellow Councilmember Suds Jain. Montoya questioned Chandhok’s credibility and argued the DA’s investigation wasn’t thorough enough. Throughout the trial, Becker’s lawyers pursued information about the report’s contents and Santa Clara’s tense political scene, but the judge upheld multiple objections on the grounds the information was “irrelevant” to the case. Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen has kept tabs on his office’s investigation into who leaked the 2022 report and attended court on Thursday. He said his office conducted a thorough investigation into Becker and the leak. A perjury charge can carry up to four years in state prison, but Rosen said he doesn’t think Becker will get the maximum sentence. He added he wants to see some penalty levied, and the extent of Becker’s penalty is for the probation officer to decide. “I think there does need to be some accountability, whether that’s a combination of jail time and fines, because this is very serious, what the defendant did,” Rosen said. Becker will be sentenced on Jan. 31 at 9 a.m. Last updated Dec. 5 at 2:14 p.m. Original story published Dec. 5 at 1:08 p.m. Contact B. Sakura Cannestra at [email protected] or @SakuCannestra on X, formerly known as Twitter.LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Pittsburgh quarterback Eli Holstein was carted off the field and taken to a hospital with a left leg injury sustained while being sacked in the first quarter of Saturday's Atlantic Coast Conference game at Louisville. The redshirt freshman's left ankle was caught at an awkward angle beneath Louisville defensive end Ashton Gillotte's hip on a twisting tackle for a 4-yard loss at midfield. Panthers medical personnel rushed to Holstein's aid, with a cart arriving quickly on the field within minutes. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Chinese money given to the Duke of York is being investigated by the security services, The Telegraph can disclose. Prince Andrew’s business venture is understood to have received money from Chinese donors with links to an alleged Communist party spy. The disclosure comes after it emerged on Thursday that the alleged spy, in court documents, had been banned from the UK on national security grounds. In his first comments on the scandal on Friday night, the Duke insisted that he “ceased all contact” with after concerns were raised, with “nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed”. However, the case over how he funds a lavish lifestyle that includes the upkeep on Royal Lodge, his 30-room home at Windsor, and The Telegraph can disclose that Buckingham Palace has no way of including the money used for the upkeep of Royal Lodge, which is owned by the Crown Estate. Sources said the palace had “no power, authority or legal right” to do so and that all palace officials could do was seek assurances that the Duke’s money was “legitimately earned”. It can also be revealed that the King was made aware of the MI5 investigation into his brother and his links to the alleged Chinese agent before the bombshell judgment which exposed their friendship. The latest scandal to beset the Duke is likely to have contributed to the King’s decision earlier in the year Buckingham Palace declined to say when the King was told about the MI5 investigation into the alleged spy but royal sources pointed out that the Duke was “no longer privately supported by the King”. It is likely that the domestic intelligence agency informed the Royal household through who was Lord Chamberlain up until a month ago and before that MI5’s director general. The alleged spy, known only as H6, is a former junior civil servant in China who is accused of working for the United Front Work Department (UFWD), an arm of the Chinese state used to gather intelligence, recruit agents and buy influence abroad. Whitehall sources have told The Telegraph that the UFWD used financial inducements to gain access and buy influence in the West, engaging in “deceptive” acts. A source said: “The UFWD does influence. This is much more than just gathering sensitive information.” The Telegraph has been told that money received by Prince Andrew was being investigated. The alleged Chinese spy was also invited into Buckingham Palace by the Duke of York, according to reports. The suspected spy attended the Palace on two occasions. He also attended a function at St James’s Palace and an event at Windsor Castle, reported. The Prince launched an initiative across China called which ran Dragons’ Den-style business competitions operated for profits. The Telegraph can disclose that H6 was connected to Pitch@Palace’s Chinese operations. Any profits made from the business venture are subject to scrutiny by the security services. Prince Andrew launched Pitch@Palace in the UK on a not-for-profit basis in 2014. Two years later, he launched overseas versions, including in China, which were run to make to money. It is unclear when he met H6. But sources have pointed to a series of speeches and comments given by Prince Andrew in which he encouraged H6 was so close to Prince Andrew that he had been told he could act on the Duke’s behalf when dealing with potential investors in China, according to court documents. He was even invited to the Duke’s birthday party in 2020, and was described by the judges overseeing the case as a “close confidant of the Duke”. Buckingham Palace has let its despair be known over the latest scandal. Royal sources said they were made aware of the court case against H6 and that his close association with the Duke was eventually going to emerge. The King was told “at the appropriate juncture through appropriate government channels”. The cost of maintenance on Royal Lodge and Prince Andrew’s security bill is thought to add up to millions of pounds a year. The Duke has had longstanding money problems, including the convicted child sex offender who killed himself while awaiting trial on fresh charges in 2019. On Friday night, a statement was released from the Duke’s office insisting he had cut off all contact with H6 after receiving advice from the Government. It said: “The Duke of York followed advice from HMG [the Government] and ceased all contact with the individual after concerns were raised. “The Duke met the individual through official channels, with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed. He is unable to comment further on matters relating to national security.” The Home Office decided to ban H6, who is 50, from the UK in July 2023 after MI5 deemed him to be an agent who had engaged in “covert and deceptive activity” on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and that he likely posed a threat to national security. Two judges for the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) on Thursday ruled that the Home Office was justified in keeping him out of the country. H6 is contesting that decision and denies he is a spy or agent for the CCP. However, his identity has remained secret. SIAC initially granted H6 anonymity but this was lifted by the judges to take effect from Thursday. H6 appealed the lifting of the anonymity order and was granted “interim relief”, meaning the High Court could decide at a future date whether he should be named. A hearing could be as early as next week. On Friday night, senior Tories including Suella Braverman, the former Home Secretary, Mrs Braverman was Home Secretary when H6 was barred from entry in 2023. Mrs Braverman said: “We know that China is using all means necessary, particularly espionage and exploiting vulnerabilities in the UK to get access to state secrets and other sensitive information that can harm our national security. “So disclosing the identity of this person will have a deterrent effect on others taking part in similar activities but it will also ensure full transparency is afforded to this issue of utmost national security importance.” The Duke’s precarious position was further undermined when Tom Tugendhat, the former security minister, said his involvement with H6 was , and demonstrated how the Chinese state was trying to seek influence and interfere in Britain’s affairs. “The United Front Work Department, which is a branch of the Communist Party, is seeking influence across the UK in everything across social, academic, financial, industrial, and various other ways,” Mr Tugendhat said. A spokesman for the Chinese embassy said: “Some people in the UK are so keen on making up all kinds of spy stories against China. This again is a typical case of the thief crying ‘catch thief’. Their purpose is to smear China and sabotage normal people-to-people exchanges between China and the UK. We strongly condemn this.”FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Drake Maye’s arrival in New England coincided with a wholesale reset for the Patriots franchise following the departure of coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Mac Jones this past offseason. In his eight starts since assuming the reins from veteran Jacoby Brissett, the rookie quarterback has provided encouraging examples of what the Patriots’ revamped front office saw in selecting him third overall in the draft last April. While the Patriots enter their bye week with a 3-10 record and just 2-6 with Maye as the starter, both the coaching staff and his teammates feel they have a quarterback they can build around going forward. “I’m just trying to take it one day at a time, one game at a time,” Maye said this week. “I’m trying to learn from negative experiences or negative plays, learn from turnovers, learn from sacks that I take and see if I can get the ball out and do something better. That’s probably the biggest thing. "Hopefully, the work that we’re putting in and the product that we’re putting out can lead to some positive plays and some positive wins down the road.” Maye is coming off his best statistical performance of the season, completing a season best 80% of his passes (24 of 30) for a season-high 238 yards and a touchdown in New England’s 25-24 loss to Indianapolis. He also had a 41-yard run, showing off a running ability that has him averaging 9.1 yards per carry – best among quarterbacks who have played at least nine games. Maye did have one interception off a tipped ball, but showed his best command of offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt’s scheme to date, spreading the ball around to six different players and consistently getting the Patriots into the red zone. The rub is that the Patriots were just 2 of 6 once they got there, including four trips inside the 10-yard line that yielded only one TD. Lackluster play in the red zone has been a hindrance for a unit that ranks 30th in the NFL in scoring touchdowns inside the 20. Maye said it will be one of his main focal points over the final four games. “It’s tough to go out like that,” Maye said. “You can’t win games going four drives in the red zone that end in field goals. We’ve got to focus in on that. I think that’s been an emphasis of improvement for this offense. We know you have to score touchdowns to win in this league.” Though coach Jerod Mayo agrees there is room for improvement for Maye, he also pointed out that the pieces around him need to do a better job supporting him as well. He pointed specifically to the offensive line, singling out rookie left guard Layden Robinson and rookie tackle Caedan Wallace, as well as fellow lineman and 2022 first-round pick Cole Strange, who is working his way back from a knee injury. “You need a guy like Layden Robinson to show what he can do. We need a guy like Cole Strange before the end of the season to see what he can do,” Mayo said. “You can use Caedan in that same bucket. We need to see what the receivers can do and what they’re going to look like going forward, and that’s the hard part for me. You want to win right now, but at the same time, I think it would be a disservice to go to the end of the season and not know exactly what we have.” That’s not lost on Robinson, who wants to play better for his quarterback who he said has grown exponentially as a leader since earning the starting job. “He always has that confidence about him and you know how he takes control of the huddle,” Robinson said. “He gets in there, and he’s like, ‘All right, let’s go to work,’ basically. We rally behind him.” Results aside, Van Pelt said there are no regrets about initially waiting to elevate Maye to the starting job. “Absolutely not. I think we had the plan going into place, and I think that it’s showing now that that was a good decision for us,” Van Pelt said. “Would he be as developed had he started the first game? Maybe. Could’ve gone the other way as well. I stated in the spring, this is a marathon, it’s not a sprint. "This is about a career, franchise quarterback, and we’re trying to develop him in the right way. And I feel like we did it that way.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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The midseason four-game winning streak that lifted the Arizona Cardinals into the playoff picture seemed as though it happened fast. Their subsequent free fall has been even more jarring. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.Elon Musk, the world's richest person and one of Donald Trump's closest allies, met with US lawmakers Thursday on his plans for overseeing radical government spending cuts under the incoming administration. President-elect Trump rewarded the Tesla, X and SpaceX chief for his support during the White House campaign by naming him head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, along with another wealthy ally, Vivek Ramaswamy. Although the office, dubbed DOGE, has a purely advisory role, Musk's star power and intense influence in Trump's inner circle bring political clout. As Musk and Ramaswamy strode into the Capitol for meetings with lawmakers, Republican Speaker Mike Johnson touted "a new day in America." "There's an enormous amount of waste, fraud and abuse," he told reporters. "Government is too big, it does too many things, and it does almost nothing well." Musk and Ramaswamy have said they can identify billions of dollars of cuts in spending, sparking questions about whether Republicans will even try to slash politically popular social security programs. - Wave of terminations - Writing in the Wall Street Journal last month, the two businessmen laid out plans for the White House to cut staff, trim government programs and reduce federal regulations, even if it means bypassing Congress, which holds budgetary power. "The entrenched and ever-growing bureaucracy represents an existential threat to our republic, and politicians have abetted it for too long," Musk and Ramaswamy wrote. "We're doing things differently. We are entrepreneurs, not politicians. During Trump's election campaign, Musk vowed to reduce federal spending by $2 trillion. This would represent cutting total US spending by a third, almost certainly meaning devastation of social support programs -- something that has never garnered strong political backing. Musk's emphasis on firing large numbers of government employees, however, echoes Republican talking points about the need to take on an overbearing state and may garner more support. Musk says he is seeking "mass head-count reductions across the federal bureaucracy." Musk suggested banning government employees from working at home as an opening tactic. "Requiring federal employees to come to the office five days a week would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome." Cuts will also target subsidies to public broadcasters and groups such as Planned Parenthood, which campaigns for abortion access and offers an array of reproductive health services. - Social welfare - But DOGE is unlikely, at least initially, to go after welfare programs such as Social Security or health insurance for the poor and seniors, Ramaswamy said in an interview with Axios on Wednesday. Such cuts should be "a policy decision that belongs to the voters" and their representatives in Congress, Ramaswamy said. A reduction in military spending, which climbed to $820 billion in 2023, is also unlikely to be on the table. Musk's new role raises the question of potential conflicts of interest, since he could be issuing policy recommendations that impact directly on his own business empire. Underlining the close connection to DOGE, Musk's favorite cryptocurrency is called Dogecoin. rle/ev/md/sms/md

MADRID , Dec. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Under the theme “ Collective Action for One Future ,” the ninth edition of the Imperial Springs International Forum co-organised by Club de Madrid and held in Madrid , for the first time outside China , has addressed the profound transformations shaping the international system. The Forum has reaffirmed its commitment to multilateral dialogue, engaging a wider range of stakeholders towards a more inclusive and collaborative global order, and called for joint action to reduce prevailing antagonism and prevent the escalation of strategic tensions, including nuclear threats, trade wars, and unresolved regional conflicts. Over 130 leaders, including former Heads of State and Government (Members of Club de Madrid ), scholars, dignitaries, and representatives from more than 40 countries, as well as Chinese and Spanish authorities, have agreed on measures to revitalise multilateralism, strengthen international cooperation and rebuild trust among nations. Hu Chunhua, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the 14 th CPPCC, delivered a message from President Xi Jinping, highlighting “ since its establishment, the Forum has adhered to advocating multilateralism, conducted in-depth discussions on global governance issues, and actively shared China’s propositions .” Diego Martínez Belío, Spain’s Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs, added: “ The responsibility to generate inclusive economic growth transcends borders, and Spain defends and will continue to advocate for a constructive role between our country and China .” Discussions have focused on global challenges, including inflation, protectionism, and fragile supply chains. Leaders have called for reforming the WTO, stabilising international trade, and bolstering multilateral financial institutions like the G20 and development banks to promote financial stability and reduce debt in low- and middle-income countries. The Forum has underscored the need for equitable international tax systems, debt restructuring for vulnerable countries, and inclusive financial frameworks. It has called for global governance frameworks for artificial intelligence and green technologies, ensuring fair access and preventing monopolisation. Participants have prioritised implementing the Pact for the Future, adopted at the United Nations Summit on the Future in 2024. This Pact addresses sustainable development, security, climate action, and digital cooperation, emphasising accountability and resource mobilisation. Danilo Türk, President of Club de Madrid , concluded: “ This edition has illustrated that, even in a fragmented world, dialogue and cooperation remain our most effective tools for addressing shared challenges. The collective action we take today will shape the global governance of tomorrow.” SOURCE Club de Madrid

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A graffiti attack has been condemned as the latest hate crime designed to strike fear into Jewish communities, as leaders worry about how the attacks could escalate. or signup to continue reading The overnight incident in Sydney's eastern suburbs is an "abhorrent anti-Semitic hate crime" following similar incidents across the country, the prime minister says. Graffiti including 'Kill Israiel' (sic) was sprayed on buildings and footpaths in Woollahra, a suburb known for its Jewish community, in the early hours of Wednesday. A car, believed to be stolen, which the perpetrators drove to the scene was set on fire on Magney Street, NSW police said. Resources have been increased as officers follow all leads, Commissioner Karen Webb told reporters. "What happened last night is disgusting, and there's no place for hate of this nature in Sydney or anywhere in Australia," she said. Premier Chris Minns said it was a hate crime. "A violent act of destruction, clearly anti-Semitic, designed to strike fear into the community that lives in this part of Sydney," he told reporters. The perpetrators, believed to be two males of slim build, aged between 15 and 20, wore face coverings and dark clothing. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was an "anti-Semitic attack". "This isn't an attack on a government, this is an attack on people because they happen to be Jewish," he told ABC radio. "This is a hate crime, it's as simple as that." Mr Albanese said the perpetrators committed "abhorrent criminal behaviour". "This does not change anything that is occurring on the ground in the Middle East," he said. "This is an attack against their fellow Australians." Foreign Minister Penny Wong said acts of hate had no place in Australia and anti-Semitism was condemned wherever it occurred. "Australian Jewish communities have a right to be and feel safe," she said on social media. The attack comes after the Adass Israel Synagogue at Ripponlea in Melbourne's southeast was set alight in a pre-dawn attack on Friday while a number of people were inside. Australian Federal Police have set up a special operation in response to the "likely" act of terrorism, which will investigate threats, violence and hatred towards the Jewish community and parliamentarians. It will also investigate Wednesday's attack, the second recent incident in Woollahra after buildings and vehicles were targeted in November. A ute was set on fire, and multiple cars, a restaurant and other buildings were graffitied with anti-Israel messages. Two men are in custody, charged over that attack. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said it was designed to terrorise Jewish Australians. "The Jewish community again wakes to scenes of terror and devastation," he said. "How long will this continue and with what horrors will it end?" DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisementubet63 biz 。

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SAN ANTONIO — Colorado secured what it said was record insurance coverage for quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter as the star duo opted to complete their college careers in the Alamo Bowl rather than sit out and prepare for the NFL draft. Colorado would not disclose the amount of insurance coverage each received, citing privacy laws. Coach Deion Sanders and athletic director Rick George both said it was the largest in college football history. "We happen to have two players that are probably going to be the first two picks of the NFL draft," Sanders said Monday. "We all know who those two are and they have received, I think, the highest number of coverage that has ever been covered in college football. It far exceeds anyone that has ever played this game of college football." While college programs maintain insurance policies for their athletes in case of injury, Colorado increased disability coverage for its entire roster in the Alamo Bowl. Sanders, the coach of the No. 20 Buffaloes, ensured his QB son and two-way star Hunter received larger policies since both are expected to be among the top 10 selections in the upcoming NFL draft. "It was his idea we should get disability insurance for our athletes for this game to ensure that they played and if there was some kind of injury that they would be well taken care of," George said. "So, we worked together on that. We're excited about it. We think it's great that all our players are playing in the game. That's what all bowl games should be like." Colorado (9-3, No. 23 CFP) will face the 17th-ranked BYU Cougars (10-2, No. 17 CFP) in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday. While most teams are scrambling with starters opting out of bowl games this year to enter the transfer portal or NFL draft, the Buffaloes did not lose any player on their two-deep roster. "It's more than what I got (when he played at Kansas State)," Colorado linebackers coach Andre' Hart said. "They gave us a helmet and said pop this on your leg and get out there and play. For them to get that (increased insurance coverage), I just think it's beneficial. To talk about where the game is, where it's going and how leadership is taking care of the players, I thought that's excellent." Shedeur Sanders completed 337 of 454 passes for 3,926 yards and 35 touchdowns this season. Many scouting services have Sanders rated as the top quarterback in this year's draft. Hunter received the Heisman Trophy as a two-way standout at cornerback and wide receiver. He had 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns and as a cornerback had four interceptions, broke up 11 passes and limited the opposition to 22 receptions on 688 defensive snaps. "They've taken care of us, everybody," Colorado running back Micah Welch said. "It really means a lot to have every teammate up here. That's a big thing. What I like about Coach Prime, they're taking care of us."

AP News Summary at 2:05 p.m. ESTGameStop Discloses Third Quarter 2024 Results

Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100

Assad exit puts US at perilous crossroads in Syria

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.UFC Macau Preview: Mingyang Zhang vs Ozzy Diaz | Sporting News

Washington, Dec 9 (AP) President Joe Biden said on Sunday that the sudden collapse of the Syrian government under Bashar Assad is a “fundamental act of justice” after decades of repression, but it was “a moment of risk and uncertainty” for the Middle East. Biden spoke at the White House hours after after rebel groups completed a takeover of the country following more than a dozen years of violent civil war and decades of leadership by Assad and his family. Biden said the United States was monitoring reports of the whereabouts of Assad, with Russian state media saying he had fled to Moscow and received asylum from his longtime ally. The outgoing Biden administration and President-elect Donald Trump were working to make sense of new threats and opportunities across the Middle East. Biden credited action by the US and its allies for weakening Syria's backers — Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. He said “for the first time” that they could no longer defend Assad's grip on power. “Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East," Biden said, after a meeting with his national security team. Trump said on Sunday that Assad had fled because close ally Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, “was not interested in protecting him any longer". Those comments on Trump's social media platform came a day after he used another post to decry the possibility of the US intervening militarily in Syria to aid the rebels, declaring, “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT." The Biden administration said it had no intention of intervening. The US has about 900 troops in Syria, including forces working with Kurdish allies in the opposition-held northeast to prevent any resurgence of the Islamic State group. Biden said he intended for those troops to remain, adding that US forces on Sunday conducted “precision air strikes" on IS camps and operations in Syria. US Central Command said the operation hit more than 75 targets. “We're clear-eyed about the fact that ISIS will try and take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish its credibility, and create a safe haven," Biden said, using a different acronym for the group. "We will not let that happen.” The Syrian opposition that brought down Assad is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which the US says is a terrorist organisation with links to al-Qaida, although the group says it has since broken ties with al-Qaida. “We will remain vigilant,” Biden said. “Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human rights abuses.” He added that the groups are “saying the right things now”. “But as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words, but their actions,” Biden said. A senior Biden administration official, when asked about contact with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leaders after Assad's departure, said Washington was in contact with Syrian groups of all kinds. The official, who was not authorised to publicly discuss the situation and spoke on condition of anonymity, also said the US has focused over the past several days on chemical weapons that had been controlled by the Assad government, aiming to ensure they were secured. Still, Assad's fall adds to an already tense situation throughout much of region on many fronts — including Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza and its fragile cease-fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Like Biden, Trump, who takes office in five-plus weeks, made a connection between the upheaval in Syria and Russia's war in Ukraine, noting that Assad's allies in Moscow, as well as in Iran, the main sponsor of Hamas and Hezbollah, “are in a weakened state right now”. Vice President-elect JD Vance, a veteran of the US-led war in Iraq, wrote on own social media on Sunday to express skepticism about the insurgents. “Many of the rebels' are a literal offshoot of ISIS. One can hope they've moderated. Time will tell,” he said, using another acronym for the group. Trump has suggested that Assad's ouster can advance the prospects for an end to fighting in Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia in February 2022. The president-elect wrote that Putin's government “lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine” and the Republican called for an immediate cease-fire, a day after meeting in Paris with the French and Ukrainian leaders. Daniel B. Shapiro, a deputy assistant secretary of defence for the Middle East, said the American military presence will continue in eastern Syria but was “solely to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS and has nothing to do with other aspects of this conflict”. “We call on all parties in Syria to protect civilians, particularly those from Syria's minority communities to respect international military norms and to work to achieve a resolution to include the political settlement,” Shapiro said. “Multiple actors in this conflict have a terrible track record to include Assad's horrific crimes, Russia's indiscriminate aerial bomb bombardment, Iranian-back militia involvement and the atrocities of ISIS," he added. Shapiro, however, was careful not to directly say Assad had been deposed by the insurgents. “If confirmed, no one should shed any tears over the Assad regime,” he said. As they pushed toward the Syrian capital of Damascus, the opposition freed political detainees from government prisons. The family of missing US journalist Austin Tice renewed calls to find him. “To everyone in Syria that hears this, please remind people that we're waiting for Austin,” Tice's mother, Debra, said in comments that hostage advocacy groups spread on social media. "We know that when he comes out, he's going to be fairly dazed and he's going to need lots of care and direction. Direct him to his family please!” Tice disappeared in 2012 outside Damascus, amid intensification of what became a civil war stretching more than a decade. "We've remained committed to returning him to his family,” Biden said at the White House. "We believe he's alive, we think we can get him back but we have no direct evidence to that yet. And Assad should be held accountable.” The president added: “We have to identify where he is." The US has no new evidence that Tice is alive but continues to operate under the assumption that he is, according to a US official. The official, who was not authorised to comment publicly, added that the US will continue to work to identify Tice's whereabouts and to try to bring him home. (AP) PY PY (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)

From the baseball diamond to the soccer pitch, from Vancouver to Paris, 2024 was a historic year for Jews in sports. Jewish athletes distinguished themselves across events, venues and tiers of competition — from the Olympics to the major leagues to college ball. This year also saw notable sports moments off the field, be they in the front office or during the commercial breaks. Some of the year’s top moments featured familiar stars in the Jewish sports world, like ace pitcher Max Fried, Olympian Jessica Fox and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Fans also met some up-and-coming Jewish athletes, like college football player Sam Salz, or watched familiar faces like BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff and USC basketball coach Lindsay Gottlieb reach new heights. Here are our top Jewish sports moments of 2024, presented chronologically — including two on the same day! The fight against antisemitism gets the spotlight in a Super Bowl ad As more than 100 million people tuned in to watch Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11, they saw what is believed to be the first-ever Super Bowl ad focused on antisemitism. The New England Patriots weren’t in the big game, but their owner, Robert Kraft, paid an estimated $7 million for the 30-second spot by his charity, the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism. The ad featured Clarence B. Jones, the former lawyer and advisor to Martin Luther King Jr. who drafted King’s famous 1963 “I Have A Dream” speech. It drew mixed reviews. The ad was one of a series by FCAS, which is known for its “#StandUpToJewishHate” campaign, that sought to promote the fight against antisemitism by connecting it to other forms of discrimination. The group placed a number of TV ads during popular televised events this year, including one spot depicting a real-life synagogue bomb threat, which aired during the Oscars. Another, about antisemitism at campus protests, aired during the NBA playoffs. And a recent ad calling for a “timeout against hate” featured sports icons including Shaquille O’Neal and Billie Jean King. Jessica Fox, with two more golds, steals the show in Paris Jewish and Israeli athletes won a slew of medals in Paris this summer — 18 at the Olympics and 13 more at the Paralympics. Jews took home medals in rugby, fencing, track, swimming and numerous other competitions, while Israel returned to Olympic soccer for the first time since 1976. One of the brightest Jewish stars of the Games was Australian paddling legend Jessica Fox, who won two gold medals in three days, bringing her career total to six, half of them golds. She won gold in both the canoe single and the kayak slalom. Fox is the most decorated Olympic canoe slalom competitor ever, and the only Australian Olympian in history with six individual medals. She had served as one of Australia’s flag bearers at the Paris opening ceremony. And the magic didn’t stop there. Fox’s younger sister, Noemie Fox, earned a gold medal of her own in the inaugural kayak cross event. The win put the Fox sisters in rare company among Jewish siblings to medal at the same Olympics. Amit Elor wrestles her way to Olympic history A Jewish Olympian dominated on the wrestling mat as well as the water: Amit Elor, a California native with Israeli parents, entered Paris as the youngest U.S. Olympic wrestler in history, and left as its youngest medalist in the sport. Elor, an eight-time world champion, made quick work of her opponents, extending her undefeated streak of five years with a gold medal win. Elor, the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors who moved to Israel, experienced both online antisemitism and the sudden deaths of both her father and a brother during the years when she broke into the elite ranks of U.S. women’s wrestling. She wrestles at the 68-kilogram weight class and in October 2023 became the youngest American wrestler — male or female — ever to win a senior world title. After her win, Elor spoke out against antisemitism — something she had largely avoided in the lead-up to Paris. “Eighty years ago my grandparents survived the Holocaust, but antisemitism is still all around us,” Elor said in a video posted on social media. The clip showed a comment directed against her saying “you belong in the gas chamber.” 3 Jewish players appear in one MLB at-bat Pitcher Max Lazar’s first career strikeout on Aug. 10 was special for more than one reason. Lazar, a Jewish Philadelphia Phillies rookie, was pitching to Jewish catcher Garrett Stubbs and struck out Diamondbacks designated hitter Joc Pederson, who is also Jewish. The moment marked a rare trifecta — in which the pitcher, catcher and batter were all Jewish. (Stubbs and Pederson both played for Team Israel at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.) According to the Jewish Baseball Museum, it was only the third instance of a Jewish pitcher-catcher-batter combination in MLB’s more than 100-year history. And Stubbs and Lazar made up only the eighth-ever Jewish pitcher-catcher pairing, known as a battery. It wasn’t Stubbs’ first historic moment of the season. In July, with the Phillies trailing the Oakland Athletics, Stubbs took the mound, faced fellow Team Israel alum Zack Gelof — and gave up a grand slam. It was the first-ever grand slam hit by a Jewish batter off a Jewish pitcher. USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb notches her 300th career basketball win University of Southern California women’s basketball coach Lindsay Gottlieb has established herself as one of the sport’s best. Gottlieb, who in 2019 became the first women’s collegiate head coach to join an NBA staff, led USC to the No. 1 seed in the NCAA March Madness tournament this year after winning the Pac-12 Conference’s last-ever women’s championship (the conference since dissolved). USC made it to the Elite Eight in the Big Dance before losing to the University of Connecticut. In April, Gottlieb signed a contract extension with USC that will keep her at the helm through the 2029-2030 season. And this season, USC is off to another strong start, now in the Big Ten. On Nov. 12, Gottlieb reached another milestone: her 300th career coaching win, a 124-39 rout over Cal State Northridge. The victory set USC records for points scored in a single game and widest margin of victory. Gottlieb is a member of the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame of Northern California. Following WNBA legend Sue Bird’s retirement in 2022, some fans turned to Gottlieb as the new face of Jewish basketball. “I wondered if there would be someone to assume [Bird’s] place as basketball’s Jewish role model,” Sophie Bravo wrote for JTA’s partner site Hey Alma in April. “Lindsay seems to have stepped into the role seamlessly, balancing success, humility and determination, using her actions to guide and inspire.” Sam Salz blazes a trail for Orthodox Division I athletes Speaking of Jewish firsts, Texas A&M’s Sam Salz became likely the first-ever Orthodox Jew to appear in a Division I college football game when he took the field Nov. 16 with the Aggies. Salz’s debut marked the culmination of a years-long journey, one that took him from Kohelet Yeshiva High School — a Modern Orthodox school in Philadelphia with roughly 100 students and no football team — to a legendary college football program that peaked at No. 15 in the national rankings this season and plays in the vaunted Southeastern Conference. Salz, who had never played a snap of organized football in his life, let alone DI college ball, had walked onto the team in 2022 but had yet to appear in a game — in part because most college football games take place on Shabbat, when Salz doesn’t play. But on the school’s senior night, with 42 seconds left in the game, he heard his name called and ran out on the gridiron. “There’s probably a Jewish kid, and maybe even especially an Orthodox kid, who wants to play football, or wants to play sports, and is sitting somewhere confused about what he should do, or who’s told that he’ll never be able to do it,” Salz said in an interview. “Even getting to see me run down on that field, successful play or not, could have given him all the hope that he wanted.” Jake Retzlaff enjoys a breakout season — and celebrates with some matzah It sounds almost like the opening of a comedy routine: A proudly Jewish player at the flagship university of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints becomes a household name for college football fans. But it’s no joke. For Brigham Young University quarterback Jake Retzlaff, this was a breakout season. Retzlaff goes by “BY-Jew” and made national headlines both for his on-field play and for how he publicly embraced his Jewish identity. Retzlaff, who grew up attending a Reform synagogue in Pomona, California, is BYU’s first Jewish starting quarterback and one of only three Jewish students at the Utah school. He threw 20 touchdowns this season as he led BYU to a 10-2 record in the Big-12 Conference and a top-25 national ranking — peaking at No. 9 on Nov. 5, a program record. And earlier this month, Retzlaff inked a sponsorship deal with Manischewitz, the Jewish food company’s first-ever sports deal. The package is set to include special-edition boxes of Manischewitz matzah emblazoned with Retzlaff’s likeness. Max Fried signs the largest contract in Jewish baseball history Retzlaff isn’t the only Jewish athlete with a landmark deal. Pitcher Max Fried entered the MLB offseason as one of the most coveted free agents on the market. And on Dec. 10, he got his payday. Fried signed an eight-year, $218 million contract with the New York Yankees, the largest contract ever for a Jewish player as well as for a left-handed pitcher (topping David Price’s 2015 deal by $1 million in raw terms). Fried, who turns 31 in January, has a 3.07 ERA in 151 career starts, all with the Atlanta Braves, and is a two-time All-Star, a three-time Gold Glove winner, a Silver Slugger winner and a 2021 World Series champion. In 2024, Fried posted an 11-10 record with a 3.25 ERA and 166 strikeouts in 174.1 innings. Now, the Los Angeles native, who grew up worshipping Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, will likely spend the rest of his career playing in the city with the most Jews in the world. Fried joins fellow Jewish pitcher Scott Effross, who was traded to the Yankees in 2022 but missed all of 2023 and most of 2024 with multiple injuries. Jewish Yankees pitching prospect Eric Reyzelman is working his way through the minor leagues. Brad Ausmus, the team’s bench coach, is also Jewish. Aerin Frankel and Quinn Hughes headline a banner year for Jewish hockey On the same day Fried signed his massive deal with the Yankees, the Vancouver Canucks became the first team in NHL history to feature three Jewish players in the same game. Defensemen Quinn Hughes and Mark Friedman and forward Max Sasson all played for the Canucks as they lost to the St. Louis Blues 4-3 in overtime. The Jewish hat trick capped a banner year for Jews in hockey. Jews featured prominently in the inaugural season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League, which dropped the puck on New Year’s Day, led by Boston Fleet goalie Aerin Frankel, who is arguably the best Jewish player in the league. Frankel posted a .929 save percentage in 18 games last season, but her breakout came in the playoffs, when the Northeastern alum saved over 95% of shots and earned the moniker “Green Monster” — an homage to another formidable Boston sports presence — for her clutch performances. Boston lost to Minnesota in the finals in May despite Frankel’s brick wall. In the NHL, Edmonton Oilers star Zach Hyman put on a career performance last season, tallying 54 goals, the third-most in the NHL, plus 16 more in the playoffs. And Hughes finished with 75 assists, the third-most in the league, and won the James Norris Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL’s best defender. During the offseason this summer, Ryan Warsofsky became the first Jewish NHL head coach in three decades, University of Denver star Zeev Buium was selected 12th overall in the NHL Entry Draft and Jack, Luke and Quinn Hughes became the first brothers to grace the cover of the flagship NHL video game. Israeli Yaniv Bazini leads UVM to its first-ever NCAA soccer championship Before this month, the University of Vermont had won six national championships in the school’s history — all in skiing. On Dec. 16, the Catamounts captured the NCAA Division I soccer championship, thanks in large part to Israeli star Yaniv Bazini. Bazini, a senior from Ness Ziona in central Israel, joined UVM in 2022 and became an anchor of Vermont’s offense. This season, Bazini led the team with 14 goals — including six scored in postseason games — which is the second-most in a single season in program history. His 30 points were third-best in the UVM record books. Beyond his offensive prowess, Bazini was also known for his proud embrace of his Israeli and Jewish identity. Last October, Bazini draped himself in an Israeli flag after scoring his first goal following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. He brought the flag back out to celebrate the national title. Bazini told JTA he cherishes the opportunity to represent Jews on the pitch — which he hopes to do professionally, either in the MLS or abroad. “It means everything,” he said. “I got so many messages in the past couple days of kids that are impacted, and not only my soccer, but how I show that I’m Jewish and not afraid of it. By doing ‘Shema Yisrael’ at every beginning of the game or halftime, or every time I score, every time to thank God.” Honorable mentions Here are a few other Jewish sports stories from the past year that are worth noting: Assaf Lowengart made history as the first Israeli-born position player to sign a professional baseball contract in the U.S. when he joined the Frontier League’s New York Boulders in February. Hapoel Jerusalem honored slain hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whom they called “our friend in the stands.” Orthodox MLB prospect Jacob Steinmetz continued his ascent through the minor leagues, joining the Hillsboro Hops, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ High-A affiliate. MLB veteran Kevin Pillar enjoyed a late-career resurgence with the Los Angeles Angels — and embraced his role as a Jewish ballplayer. Team Israel launched an American organization to strengthen its national team pipeline and support baseball’s growth in Israel. Náutico Hacoaj became the first Jewish soccer club to compete in Argentina’s Amateur Promotional Tournament since 1967. Israeli fencer Yuval Freilich won a gold medal at the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix on Jan. 31, while wearing a uniform with an Israeli flag and the message “Am Israel Chai,” Hebrew for “the people of Israel lives,” written on his shoulder. Qatar, which does not have diplomatic ties with Israel, has played home to Hamas’ leadership. And last but not least, Jewish wrestling promoter Paul Heyman and boxing publicist Fred Sternburg were each inducted into their sport’s respective halls of fame. And the Jewish world mourned the deaths of Ken Holtzman , the winningest Jewish pitcher in MLB history, and Hall of Fame jockey Walter Blum , who rode to victory in the Belmont Stakes. For more content, go to jta.org.

Report tracks trends in Massachusetts birthsThe Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East division title on Sunday, handing the Dallas Cowboys a humiliating 41-7 defeat while the Buffalo Bills secured the second seed in the AFC with a 40-14 crushing of the New York Jets. The Cowboys were already eliminated from playoff contention and without top receiver CeeDee Lamb with a shoulder injury, but it was their defense that struggled. Eagles starting quarter-back Jalen Hurts missed the game due to concussion. Kenny Pickett got the start but had to leave the game in the third quarter with a rib injury with Philadelphia 24-7 up. That meant third-choice Tanner McKee took over under the center and two of his four passes were for touchdowns. The real damage to the Cowboys, who gave up four turnovers, was done by the Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley who put up 167 yards on 31 carries to pass the 2,000 yard mark for the season. Barkley, who has 2,005 yards needs to put up 101 yards next week to break Eric Dickerson's record for the most rushing yards in a season, set for the Los Angeles Rams in 1984. The win means the Eagles are guaranteed at least the number two seed in the NFC. The Bills take the second seed in the AFC, behind the Kansas City Chiefs, after taking care of business against the New York Jets. The Bills led 12-0 at the half before their quarterback Josh Allen took total control of the game with touchdown passes to Amari Cooper and Keon Coleman either side of a rushing score from James Cook. Allen, who threw for 182 yards, had opened the scoring with a one-yard rush. Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw two interceptions and was sacked four times. The Indianapolis Colts were eliminated from playoff contention after falling 45-33 to the 3-13 New York Giants. While the Giants had nothing to play for, quarterback Drew Lock enjoyed himself -- he matched his career high of four touchdown passes and rushed for another score as the Giants ended their 10-game losing streak. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers kept their post-season hopes alive as Baker Mayfield threw for 359 yards and five touchdowns in a 48-14 rout of the Carolina Panthers. Later on Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings, searching for the top seed in the NFC, take on NFC North divisional rivals the Green Bay Packers. The Washington Commanders would book a playoff berth if they can beat the Atlanta Falcons in Sunday night's game. sev/bb

Chelsea, led by the tactical genius Thomas Tuchel, have also been impressive this season, with their solid defensive structure and formidable attacking options making them a force to be reckoned with. Players like Romelu Lukaku, Mason Mount, and N'Golo Kante have been instrumental in Chelsea's success, and they will be looking to close the gap on Liverpool in the coming weeks.Interestingly, the story took a surprising twist when it was revealed that the woman who had rejected Lin Jing En's plea for food was none other than the former lead actress of "Grandpa-Lover," his co-star and rumored love interest. The once inseparable duo, known for their on-screen chemistry and off-screen romance, now stood worlds apart, with one struggling to survive on the streets while the other enjoyed fame and fortune.ubet63 cc 。

The prospect of the United States withdrawing from NATO raises significant concerns about the implications for European security and stability. The alliance serves as a cornerstone of deterrence against potential adversaries, such as Russia, and provides a framework for cooperation and coordination in addressing shared security challenges. A U.S. withdrawal could undermine the credibility and effectiveness of NATO as a collective defense alliance.

Why we can’t VERIFY a chart showing UnitedHealthcare denies more claims than other insurers

In conclusion, the dramatic decline in oil prices and the consequent reduction in 92-octane gasoline costs represent a pivotal moment in the global economy. As stakeholders across various sectors brace for the impact of these developments, proactive measures and thoughtful planning will be crucial in navigating the uncertainties and opportunities that lie ahead in this new era of fluctuating fuel prices.

ubet63 club Russian police raid Moscow nightclubs in LGBTQ+ crackdownColorado is gearing up for the rugged Big 12 schedule, but first the Buffaloes wrap up their nonconference slate with two more games, starting Friday night when they host South Dakota State in Boulder, Colo. Colorado (7-2) has won two straight after competing in the Maui Invitational, most recently a 72-55 win over in-state rival Colorado State. Now the focus turns to South Dakota State and shoring up issues before conference play. "Defensively, we're understanding what our jobs are. Now, we're not where we need to be for sure," coach Tad Boyle said. "But we're making strides in that area. And I think the guys are getting used to playing with each other, understanding each other." The Buffaloes lost a lot of talent from last year's NCAA Tournament team but boast some quality players. Andrej Jakimovski (13.0 points per game), Julian Hammond III (12.3 ppg) and Elijah Moore (12.0 ppg) lead the team in scoring. Sophomore big man Bangot Dak has shown he can be a force after scoring a career-high 16 points in the win over Colorado State. The Jackrabbits (8-4) are coming off a 77-63 loss at Nevada on Wednesday night and complete a two-game trip in Boulder. South Dakota State is led by senior center Oscar Cluff, who tops the team in scoring (17.3 points) and rebounding (11.0) but had a subpar night against Nevada when he scored a season-low six points while battling an ankle injury. "I wish he was feeling a little better," coach Eric Henderson said of Cluff. "He's going to be fine, but he's still nursing that ankle a little bit." Freshman Joe Sayler is second on the team in scoring at 12.8 ppg and has reached double figures in each of the last three games. Sophomore Kalen Garry is third on the Jackrabbits in scoring at 9.6 per contest, an average that has been hurt by his last three games when he has averaged just 5.3 points. --Field Level Media

Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights

AP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:21 p.m. ESTThey can cover a wide variety of topics that may impact your life. They can include planning applications and appeals, road closures or proposals by pubs or nightclubs hoping to change their opening hours or make other variations. The purpose of a public notice is to make sure anybody - either an individual or a group - with an interest has an opportunity to find out about and comment on the proposal before a decision is made on whether to allow it to go ahead. The Eagle and Child planning application: The historic Eagle and Child in St Giles shut in 2020. The famous watering hole formerly owned by St John's College was frequented by The Inklings, a writers' group including fantasy authors JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis, and has high cultural significance as well as being a popular tourist destination. It was bought by the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) established in Los Angeles by billionaire Larry Ellison, last October. EIT has lodged an early works planning application with Oxford City Council (Image: EIT) EIT has lodged an early works planning application and listed building consent application with Oxford City Council. Work includes repairing and restoring existing windows and... Miranda Norris

Miami of Ohio and Colorado State will try to overcome notable transfer-portal defections during Saturday's Arizona Bowl at Tucson, Ariz. Miami (8-5) enters the game without its top two wide receivers Javon Tracy and Reggie Virgil after the duo elected to play elsewhere. Tracy, a redshirt sophomore who caught 57 passes for 818 yards with seven touchdowns, is moving on to Minnesota. Virgil, a junior who tallied 816 yards on 41 receptions with nine touchdowns, is bound for Texas Tech. "It's kind of insane, to be honest," Miami coach Chuck Martin said. "We'll lose some real good kids in the portal, but we'll also gain some good ones. It's just crazy. "In some ways, it stinks, but in some ways, it's fun, too. We're looking at a lot of some good ones." Miami has also lost two cornerbacks, including sophomore Raion Strader to Auburn. Strader had 53 tackles with two interceptions and a team-best 17 passes broken up. Will Jados, a redshirt junior offensive tackle who started 38 games for Miami, is transferring to Texas Tech. Colorado State (8-4) also lost its two top receivers in the portal. Sophomore Caleb Goodie committed to Cincinnati and sophomore Jamari Person remains undecided. Goodie caught 21 passes for 436 yards with four touchdowns, and Person had 36 receptions for 386 yards and a touchdown. Another sophomore, linebacker Buom Jock, also is in the transfer portal after he led the Rams with 100 tackles. "They lost a couple receivers in the portal, just like us, so they've adjusted, just like most teams in the bowl season have adjusted to the team that they have available," Colorado State coach Jay Norvell said. Redshirt sophomore Armani Winfield, who had 37 catches for 338 yards and two touchdowns, is the top available receiver for the Rams. Miami's leading receiver entering the game is fifth-year senior Cade McDonald (49 catches for 606 yards and three touchdowns). Miami won seven straight games before losing to Ohio in the MAC championship game behind sixth-year quarterback Brett Gabbert, who has completed 57.6 percent of his passes (204 of 354) for 2,737 yards and 21 touchdowns. Gabbert has been prone to throw interceptions, with 11, including one against Ohio in the conference title game. He did not throw an interception in a 30-20 victory over Ohio earlier this season. Keyon Mozee is Miami's featured running back with 1,073 yards on 170 carries with four touchdowns. Matt Salopek, a sixth-year linebacker, leads Miami with 113 tackles. He is the first player in program history with four 100-tackle seasons. Colorado State won six of its last seven games -- committing only seven turnovers in that span. Senior running back Avery Morrow has 956 yards on 166 attempts with nine touchdowns. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, a redshirt sophomore, has thrown for 2,475 yards while completing 207 of 335 attempts (61.8 percent) with 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Chase Wilson, a fifth-year senior linebacker, has 91 tackles this season, three for loss. --Field Level MediaMeghan Markle's decision to 'withdraw' from public life laid bare after failed projectsPfizer Declares First-Quarter 2025 Dividend

Holiday gift ideas for the movie lover, from bios and books to a status toteMIAMI — Lionel Messi, fresh off accepting his MLS MVP trophy, kicked off the holiday season by traveling 6,870 miles to Azerbaijan this week and brought along teammates Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba for a private charity event in the capital city of Baku. Azerbaijan is a landlocked country in Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, Iran, Russia, Georgia, and Turkey. Messi and his friends attended a gathering on Wednesday at the Crystal Hall, a famous music and sports venue. The event included a concert featuring French singer Willy William and Romanian group Morandi. The Argentine legend received a personalized rug with an image of himself lifting the World Cup trophy. “I have discovered the culture and the people of Azerbaijan,” Messi said. “Thank you for the warm greeting. Thank you very much for the support.” Messi, Suárez, Busquets and Alba also paid a visit and laid flowers at the tomb of former Azerbaijani leader Heydar Aliyev, on the eve of the 21st anniversary of his death Dec. 12, 2003. That part of the visit drew some criticism on social media from opponents of Aliyev’s regime. Inter Miami vs. Club America in Las Vegas? Speaking of travel, Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas said last week that the club is not planning another four-country, seven-game globetrotting preseason tour, as it did last year. The team played in El Salvador, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Japan in early 2024 and wound up dealing with injuries to a few players and a controversy when Messi sustained an injury and was unable to play in Hong Kong. Mas said the team does plan a trip abroad in early 2025, but it will be a more compact itinerary, and that a high-profile game was being planned in the United States. Deporte Total USA reported that Inter Miami will play Mexican power Club America in Las Vegas and that the game is tentatively set for Jan. 18. An MLS source confirmed that Inter Miami and Club America are in talks about a game, but details had not been finalized. Also, the club announced it will play a friendly match against Orlando City in Tampa on Feb. 14. CJ Dos Santos traded to San Diego FC Inter Miami traded backup goalkeeper CJ dos Santos to expansion club San Diego FC in exchange for $100,000 in 2025 general allocation money (GAM). Dos Santos, 24, signed for Inter Miami ahead of the 2022 MLS season. He made three appearances for the first team — two in MLS and one in the Leagues Cup, in which he kept a clean sheet against Mexican side Club Puebla in 2024 — and 28 matches for Inter Miami II in MLS NEXT Pro. New ‘Fortitude’ jersey unveiled Inter Miami on Thursday released its new “Fortitude” away jersey for the 2025 season. It has black and granite-gray blocks with the trademark pink trim. The club explained in a press release that the name came from the Latin word “Fortis,” which means strength, and the Spanish word “Fortaleza,” which stands for resilience and determination. This shirt also serves as a tribute to Fort Lauderdale, “a city that has become a fortress for Inter Miami CF and the stage for some of the Club’s most significant milestones”. This coming season will be the team’s final season in Fort Lauderdale before moving to Miami Freedom Park in 2026. The new kits are on sale at the team store at Chase Stadium beginning Thursday (Dec. 12), while supplies last. It is also available online at MLSstore.com and adidas.com . Royal Caribbean, the club’s official jersey partner, will soon have the jersey available for purchase on its ships. ©2024 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

During the 37 th Awit Awards at the Music Museum last December 4, Parokya ni Edgar was conferred the Gawad ng Musikang Pilipino Award. Guitarist Gab Chee Kee first spoke thanking people followed by drummer Dindin Moreno who came on “in case (Gab) forgot to mention other people.” In Moreno’s short spiel, he recounted how Parokya ni Edgar was nominated for several awards during the 1996 edition held at the AFP Theater inside Camp Aguinaldo. But the band did not win anything. Two women behind them consoled them, “Huwag kayong susuko. Mananalo rin kayo.” Moreno offered the same advice to today’s young bands – “huwag kayong susuko.” I had left the Music Museum by the time Parokya ni Edgar received the deserved award. Learning about it, my heart swelled with pride. In the early 1990s, after the Eraserheads led the alternative band explosion in the country, every record company was in search of the next big thing. I was working for Universal Records at that time handling the company’s jazz and classical labels. It was rather surprising that my old boss, Ramon Chuaying, hired someone who loved rock music and all its sub-genres to handle jazz and classical music The manager who previously handled the position was asked to do something else. Chuaying had a radical idea – what if we hired someone who didn’t appreciate the music to market and sell it? If it didn’t work, then it was worth a try. If it did, then Chuaying was a genius. Me? I wanted to show the disbelievers that it would work. Of course, it was a gamble but I turned sales around by approaching jazz and classical as if I were promoting pop acts. Anyways, sales jumped when I took over. By late 1993, the person in charge of getting bands could not get anyone. My Ateneo batchmate and Cubao neighbor, Dominic Gamboa of the reggae band Tropical Depression, gave me a demo tape (recorded at Stephen Lu’s Loudhouse Productions), but UR bosses supposed that the only reggae people listened to is from Bob Marley and the Wailers. Much to my disappointment, they gave the thumbs down. Then Je Bautista, one year ahead of me at the Ateneo, bassist for Betrayed, fellow Rush and baseball fan, called me at home, and invited me to watch his band, “Put3ska.” “Ska sila,” Je said over the phone like magic words. We were both weaned on 2-Tone ska; that is all I needed to hear. So I went down to Malabon, loath as I was to go there. When I saw them, I was entranced. “Game,” I said to Je. Except my bosses were not impressed. “No one in the Philippines likes Mexican music,” was their reason. Sic, right? When we missed out on Color It Red, I was now upset. I was such a fan of the band. So I asked permission to sign some bands. After all, I was the one in the band scene. There were initially two bands I targeted from a list of seven bands. The first was Datu’s Tribe, followed by Parokya ni Edgar. Then came Fatal Posporos, Indio I, Sugar Hiccup, Sonnet 58, and Keltscross. Datu’s was easy to sign. The problem came after the first two songs they recorded, one of which was “Sarsa Platoon.” My bosses and the other manager look on with disdain. “No one listens to hard rock,” my boss yelled at me. “But we just sold 30,000 cds of Bon Jovi’s ‘Slippery When Wet.’” That’s different. I was rebutted, they are international stars. UR was willing to cut their early losses and run. For me to get Datu’s Tribe back on track, WLS and Triggerman. I called up Triggerman and placed the phone next to the speaker for him to listen to “Sarsa Platoon.” “Oo, pare,” enthused Milo (aka Triggerman), “Dalhin mo sila sa acoustic live show sa Sunday. Tugtog sila.” I called up their manager, Patrick Reidenbach, my Ateneo classmate who also owned Club Dredd, and informed him about the developments. When we performed on WLS that Sunday, the station was bombarded with calls about their upcoming recordings. I got a message on my pager about this live stunt as “preempting any marketing plans.” I was incensed. The chip on my shoulder was back. Anyways, Datu’s Tribe’s debut album went gold (20,000 units sold; we actually sold 22,000) as we proved their music – and Filipino hard rock would sell. And that was the first time Filipino hard rock sold that many units. Then came Paroka ni Edgar. Having struck out on Tropical Depression and Put3ska, Reidenbach called me at home (via the telephone because we never called them landlines back in the day). “Ricky,” Pat said, “Come over to Dredd because we have this band from Ateneo playing. And (our classmate) Ricky Santillan was managing them.” Ricky was invited by Patrick to have a look-see at the band at Dredd. “Maybe you can manage them so no one screws them over,” Ricky recalled Pat telling him. Those were the days when they covered Hagibis’ “Katawan” and dressed in dusters (Chito wearing a blue floral duster to go with boots). When I reunited with my old classmates, Ricky handed me his calling card which had the nickname “Rastaman”. Like me, we had gone into advertising. Tokayo stayed in the game when I got tired of clients calling me at home or paging me at midnight. When I saw them at Dredd, I fell in love with the band from the get-go. I saw them a few more times – not just at Dredd, but also 70s Bistro, at some shows in Ateneo and UP, that confirmed what I first felt. These guys had songs that would have crowds singing along as well as playable on radio, and they had magnetism and engaged the crowd. Plus, they kept the crowd in stitches. That is always a plus in my book. There was some affinity as well. Gab’s mom, Ching, was my English and homeroom teacher during fourth-year high school Ateneo. Mam Chee Kee was instrumental in getting me to take writing seriously. I remember that day when I brought Bella Tan for that Club Dredd audition. We left the office at Grace Park early to have an early dinner at her Talayan Village residence then got to Dredd (in her white Mercedes Benz) at exactly 6pm. Dredd opened early specifically for us. Just for the audition. Besides, the crowds did not arrive until past 8pm. It was just Bella, Ricky, my cousin John who lived with us then and asked if he could attend, and me. The band of course. They sang two songs – “Pangarap Ko Sa Buhay” – and Bella began giggling. That’s a good sign, I mused. By “Chikinini”, she was up and applauding. The third song that Tokayo and I lined up was “Nakaw ang Wallet Ko” but we never got there. The audition was over. Bella met with all and agreed to sign them. A day later, Bella met us managers at the office to discuss “the new signing”. While I was excited, my heart sank when the collective agreed to record only one song for a compilation. At that point, Datu’s Tribe hadn’t finished recording their debut, and we had nothing to show. I couldn’t hold back and reasoned that they had enough strong material for two whole albums. I pushed my luck, “If you don’t believe in them, I will take them to BMG.” “You can’t do that,” blurted out one manager. “I can,” I shot back. “We haven’t signed them anyways.” But I got what I wanted – a full album. I sat down with Santillan and the band to tell them what transpired. About two months later, now with other labels sniffing around Parokya’s shows, we signed the band. At the same time, some naysayers thought that novelty bands were not going to sell. If you look at the photo during that contract signing from the standing left, it’s Gab Chee Kee, Vinci Montaner, Chito Miranda, UR’s Jesse Saclo, me in the middle wearing a t-shirt of alt band the Youth, Dindin Moreno, Buwi Meneses, and Darius Semana. Seated are Ricky Santillan and Bella Tan. I was pretty pleased with myself. I shook hands with Tokayo and said, “Now, we prove people wrong.” Except a few weeks later, Santillan came over to the office for one of those early creative meetings for the upcoming recording, to inform us that he was moving to Singapore to join Bates Advertising in Jakarta. Ricky and Bella asked if I wanted to manage the band. I thought about it for a good 30 minutes and then declined. I had just gotten married and was on the family way. We didn’t have any house helpers and the prospect of being away on gigs as well as out-of-town shows was going to be a problem. At that time, Robert Javier was recommended by Ito Rapadas to produce their debut album. When I declined, he recommended Richard Tan, who was his manager with the Youth. Then Khangkhungkherrnitz , the debut album, was a massive hit. Barely a year later, the sophomore release, Buruguduystunstugudunstuy followed; once more a massive hit album. And Parokya was like a runaway freight train scoring one hit song, one hit album after another. The success of Parokya ni Edgar and Datu’s Tribe opened the door for other bands to join Universal Records – Kamikazee, Orange & Lemons, Sponge Cola, Rivermaya (for one album), and some others. Parokya? They were doing quite nicely for themselves. I remember after one US tour, I had coffee with Dindin somewhere in Maginhawa Street (he had some CDs for me as pasalubong) and he told me that since graduation, he never had a corporate job since the band paid well. When I met up with the band during a show at the Metrotent in October 2019 for what would be my first ever Parokya ni Edgar article, Chito sat next to me and showed me their schedule for the next three months. They were playing like every two or three nights. “Wow,” was all I could say. As we reminisced about the good old days, Chito asked me on the side if I ever regretted not managing them. My answer was this, “No. Not at all. Not once. In fact, I have followed you guys from afar and have been very happy for the band’s success.” Chito gave me a fist bump and a bro hug. When they received their Awit Award, like a proud distant relative, I cheered them as always from afar. Their sustained success is well-deserved and a product of their hard work. And my mind raced back to those early days at Club Dredd along Edsa. Image credits: Rick OlivaresPresident Ruto Takes Over as East African Community Chairperson

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – President-elect Donald Trump promised on Tuesday to “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole, arguing that it was senseless and insulted the families of their victims. Biden said converting their punishments to life imprisonment was consistent with the moratorium imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. Recommended Videos “Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country,” he wrote on his social media site. “When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!” Presidents historically have no involvement in dictating or recommending the punishments that federal prosecutors seek for defendants in criminal cases, though Trump has long sought more direct control over the Justice Department's operations. The president-elect wrote that he would direct the department to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated,” but was vague on what specific actions he may take and said they would be in cases of “violent rapists, murderers, and monsters.” He highlighted the cases of two men who were on federal death row for slaying a woman and a girl, had admitted to killing more and had their sentences commuted by Biden. Is it a plan in motion or more rhetoric? On the campaign trail, Trump often called for expanding the federal death penalty — including for those who kill police officers, those convicted of drug and human trafficking, and migrants who kill U.S. citizens. “Trump has been fairly consistent in wanting to sort of say that he thinks the death penalty is an important tool and he wants to use it,” said Douglas Berman, an expert on sentencing at Ohio State University’s law school. “But whether practically any of that can happen, either under existing law or other laws, is a heavy lift.” Berman said Trump’s statement at this point seems to be just a response to Biden’s commutation. “I’m inclined to think it’s still in sort of more the rhetoric phase. Just, ‘don’t worry. The new sheriff is coming. I like the death penalty,’” he said. Most Americans have historically supported the death penalty for people convicted of murder, according to decades of annual polling by Gallup, but support has declined over the past few decades. About half of Americans were in favor in an October poll, while roughly 7 in 10 Americans backed capital punishment for murderers in 2007. Death row inmates are mostly sentenced by states Before Biden's commutation, there were 40 federal death row inmates compared with more than 2,000 who have been sentenced to death by states. “The reality is all of these crimes are typically handled by the states,” Berman said. A question is whether the Trump administration would try to take over some state murder cases, such as those related to drug trafficking or smuggling. He could also attempt to take cases from states that have abolished the death penalty. Could rape now be punishable by death? Berman said Trump's statement, along with some recent actions by states, may present an effort to get the Supreme Court to reconsider a precedent that considers the death penalty disproportionate punishment for rape. “That would literally take decades to unfold. It’s not something that is going to happen overnight,” Berman said. Before one of Trump's rallies on Aug. 20, his prepared remarks released to the media said he would announce he would ask for the death penalty for child rapists and child traffickers. But Trump never delivered the line. What were the cases highlighted by Trump? One of the men Trump highlighted on Tuesday was ex-Marine Jorge Avila Torrez, who was sentenced to death for killing a sailor in Virginia and later pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of an 8-year-old and a 9-year-old girl in a suburban Chicago park several years before. The other man, Thomas Steven Sanders, was sentenced to death for the kidnapping and slaying of a 12-year-old girl in Louisiana, days after shooting the girl's mother in a wildlife park in Arizona. Court records show he admitted to both killings. Some families of victims expressed anger with Biden's decision, but the president had faced pressure from advocacy groups urging him to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The ACLU and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were some of the groups that applauded the decision. Biden left three federal inmates to face execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. _______ Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Michelle L. Price and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.

SYM Stock News: Shareholder Rights Law Firm Robbins LLP Urges Symbotic Inc. Stockholders with Large Losses to Seek Legal Counsel in Connection with the Class Action LawsuitHeavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights

ubet63 free 100 apk The United States Postal Service might have found a way to unite a nation bitterly divided after this month's election: It will release a Betty White stamp. The beloved actor known for roles in "The Golden Girls," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Boston Legal" and others will be on a 2025 Forever stamp, USPS announced this past week. White died in late December 2021 , less than three weeks before her 100th birthday. The Postal Service hasn't announced a release date for the stamp. Betty White speaks Sept. 17, 2018, at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. “An icon of American television, Betty White (1922–2021) shared her wit and warmth with viewers for seven decades,” the Postal Service said in announcing the stamp, which depicts a smiling White based on a 2010 photograph by celebrity photographer Kwaku Alston . “The comedic actor, who gained younger generations of fans as she entered her 90s, was also revered as a compassionate advocate for animals.” Boston-based artist Dale Stephanos created the digital illustration from Alston's photo. "I'd love to send a letter back to my 18-year-old self with this stamp on it and tell him that everything is going to be OK," Stephanos posted on Facebook . Regardless of personal politics, self-proclaimed supporters of Republican President-elect Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris reacted with delight on social media. "Betty White was my hero, all of my life! I actually had a doll when I was a little girl I named Betty White," one Trump supporter posted on X , formerly Twitter. “Something to make this awful week a little better: We’re getting a Betty White stamp,” a pro-Harris X account posted. White combined a wholesome image with a flare for bawdy jokes . Her television career began in the early 1950s and exploded as she aged. “The only SNL host I ever saw get a standing ovation at the after party," Seth Meyers posted on Twitter after her death. "A party at which she ordered a vodka and a hotdog and stayed til the bitter end.” Allen Ludden and his wife Betty White, who love to play games, continue a two year gin rummy battle in which she's ahead by a cumulative 6,000 points in Westchester, N.Y. on April 29, 1965. They do it professionally on TV. He's the master of ceremonies on "Password," and she makes frequent guest appearances on game shows. They play games to relax at home. (AP Photo/Bob Wands) Allen Ludden and his wife Betty White admire magnolia blossoms on the lawn of their country home in Westchester, N.Y. on May 14, 1965. (AP Photo/Bob Wands) Actress Betty White in 1965. (AP Photo) Betty White shares a moment backstage at the 28th annual Emmy Awards with Ted Knight after they each won an Emmy for their supporting roles in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." On the series Miss White played Sue Ann Nivens while Knight played newscaster Ted Baxter. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon) LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 17, 1976: (L-R) "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" co-stars - Ed Asner, Betty White, Mary Tyler Moore and Ted Knight - all won awards at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 28th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Shubert Theatre on May 17, 1976 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by TVA/PictureGroup/Invision for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences/AP Images) Actress Betty White with Ted Knight at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, Sept. 13, 1981. (AP Photo/Randy Rasmussen) Betty White and Anson Williams don't seem to faze Buckeye, a St. Bernard, during an awards ceremony during which Williams was honored by the Los Angeles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as a friend and lover of animals. Ms. White presented a humanitarian plaque to Williams at the event, which was held in Hollywood, California, Friday, May 1, 1982. (AP Photo/Marc Karody) Actress Betty White with actor John Hillerman arriving at Emmy Awards, Sept. 22, 1985 in Pasadena, California. (AP Photo/LIU) Actresses Betty White Ludden, left, and Mary Tyler Moore, right, smile at each other in Los Angeles, Friday, June 22, 1985 during Annual Meeting of Morris Animal Foundation, at which Ludden announced her retirement as President of the animal health group, held at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) These four veteran actresses from the television series "The Golden Girls" shown during a break in taping Dec. 25, 1985 in Hollywood. From left are, Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur and Betty White. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) Actress Betty White poses in Los Angeles, Ca. in June, 1986. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon) Betty White stands backstage at the NBC TV Bob Hope "I Love Lucy" special on Sept. 16, 1989. (AP Photo/Djansezian) Michael J. Fox and Betty White, winners of Emmys for best actor and actress in a comedy series, stand backstage at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California, Sunday, Sept. 21, 1986 after receiving their honors. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac) Comedienne Betty White places her hand on the star that was presented posthumously to her husband, Allen Ludden, during ceremonies inducting him into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Thursday, March 31, 1988. Ludden was honored with the 1,868th star of the famed walkway — between those of White and Tyrone Power. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) Estelle Getty, who plays Sophia, poses with her new husband, who plays Max, and the other "Golden Girls" after taping of episode on Friday, night, Nov. 5,1988 in Hollywood. Left to right are Rue McCLanahan (Blanche), Getty, Gilford, Bea Arthur (Dorothy) and Betty White. (AP Photo/Ira Mark Gostin) Former cast members of the Mary Tyler Moore Show, sans Mary Tyler Moore, are reunited for the Museum of Television and Radio's 9th annual Television Festival in Los Angeles Saturday, March 21, 1992. From left are Gavin MacLeod, Valerie Harper, Cloris Leachman, Betty White and Ed Asner. (AP Photo/Craig Fujii) Actress Betty White, left, writer/producer David E. Kelley, actress Bridget Fonda, and actor Oliver Platt pose at the premiere of their movie "Lake Placid," Wednesday night, July 14, 1999, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Betty White, from "Golden Girls," and Mr. T, Lawrence Tureaud, from "The A Team," pose for photographers at NBC's 75th Anniversary Party, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Rene Macura) Actors Betty White, left, Georgia Engel, second left, Gavin MacLeod, center, Valerie Harper, second right, and John Amos pose for photographers during arrivals at CBS's 75th anniversary celebration Sunday, Nov. 2, 2003, in New York. (AP Photo/Louis Lanzano) Actress Betty White laughs as an African eagle roosts overhead at the Los Angeles Zoo Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, in Los Angeles, where White was honored as Ambassador to the Animals by the city for her decades of dedication to the humane treatment of animals. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) Betty White poses for photographers on the red carpet before Comedy Central's "Roast of William Shatner," Sunday, Aug. 13, 2006, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Rene Macura) Betty White arrives at the 34th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, on Friday, June 15, 2007. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Beatrice Arthur, left, Betty White, center, and Rue McClanahan, of the Golden Girls, arrive at the TV Land Awards on Sunday June 8, 2008 in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Actor Henry Winkler, center, is seen Beatrice Arthur, right, and Betty White at the TV Land Awards on Sunday June 8, 2008 in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) In this Nov. 24, 2009 file photo, actress Betty White poses for a portrait following her appearance on the television talk show "In the House," in Burbank, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File) Actress Betty White poses for a portrait on the set of the television show "Hot in Cleveland" in Studio City section of Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Actress Betty White is seen on stage at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010 in Universal City, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Betty White, a cast member in "You Again," poses with fans holding Betty White masks at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Actress Betty White wears a U.S. Forest Ranger hat after being named an Honorary Forest Ranger by the US Forest Service, at the Kennedy Center in Washington Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010. White has stated in numerous interviews that her first ambition as a young girl was "to become a forest ranger, but they didn't allow women to do that back then". (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) Betty White, left, Bradley Cooper and Scarlett Johansson arrive at the MTV Movie Awards in Universal City, Calif., on Sunday, June 6, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Betty White, left, Kristen Bell, center, and Jamie Lee Curtis, cast members in "You Again," pose together at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Betty White, left, accepts the Life Achievement Award from Sandra Bullock at the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) From left, actresses Betty White, Wendie Malick, Valerie Bertinelli, and Jane Leeves pose for a portrait on the set of the television show "Hot in Cleveland" in Studio City section of Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Alec Baldwin, left, and Betty White are seen on stage at the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Betty White attends a book signing for her book 'If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't)' at Barnes & Noble in New York, Friday, May 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes) Actress Betty White attends a press conference prior to the taping of "Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute To America's Golden Girl" on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Vince Bucci) Actress Betty White arrives on a white pony as she is honored at a Friars Club Roast sponsored by Godiva, Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at the Sheraton Hotel in New York. (AP Photo/Starpix, Marion Curtis) Betty White, at left, attends her wax figure unveiling at Madame Tussauds on Monday, June 4, 2012 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Katy Winn/Invision/AP) From left, Sgt. 1st Class Chuck Shuck, Actress Betty White and The 2012 American Hero Dog Gabe pose during 2012 American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Invision/AP) Betty White and Cloris Leachman onstage at the 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at the JW Marriott on Saturday, April 20, 2013 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Invision/AP) Ellen DeGeneres, left, presents Betty White with the award for favorite TV icon at the People's Choice Awards at the Nokia Theatre on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) Betty White, left, speaks at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Looking on from right are Alec Baldwin and Kate McKinnon. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!Trump taps authors and influencers of Project 2025 for key roles in new administrationFollowing on with some more crime news, a 23-year-old man has been arrested after threatening a driver with a knife, stealing their car and then leading police on a high-speed chase through multiple suburbs. Armadale detectives have charged the man from Harrisdale, who is due to appear in court today, with armed robbery, failing to stop, reckless driving, no authority to drive, giving false details to police and possessing cannabis. The man was riding his bike when he allegedly approached a man driving a Nissan Pulsar sedan on Campbell Road in Armadale near the intersection of Masuli Way. He was allegedly armed with a knife and threatened the driver, who exited the vehicle before the accused drove away with the victim’s car. About 6pm, police sighted the stolen vehicle and immediately activated the emergency lights and siren on an unmarked Police vehicle and tried to block the path of the car. The accused allegedly drove the car over a verge and around some low fencing and onto Harbour Road, then failed to stop, and drove in a reckless manner through the suburbs of Armadale, Haynes, Camillo and Champion Lakes before losing control of the vehicle and hitting a tree on Railway Avenue in Kelmscott. He was taken into custody. A woman living near the Great Southern town of Albany has been arrested by police over an alleged fraudulent plan to claim close to $2.3 million from her insurance company. The 50-year-old owned and worked in a bakery in Spencer Park, which burned down in October. Police and firefighters were called to the scene and extinguished the flames, but it was too late to save the building. A staff member was taken to hospital and treated for smoke inhalation. There was significant structural and roofing damage to the premises, as well as extensive smoke damage. The damage cost was estimated at $955,000. The woman then lodged an insurance claim. Her policy stated she was entitled to $500,000 for contents insurance, and a further $2.2 million in business interruption compensation. Police have alleged she deliberately set the fire to claim this money. She has been charged with criminal damage by fire and attempting to gain benefits by fraud, and is due to appear before the Albany Magistrates Court on December 12. To some health news first and WA has recorded hundreds of cases of whopping cough in October, the largest number recorded since 2015. There were 220 reported cases that month, predominantly among school aged children. Those figures come after record low levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. The community has been urged to check they are up-to-date with vaccines. Credit: Louise Kennerley Director of communicable diseases Dr Paul Armstrong said vaccination was the best way for people of all ages to protect themselves and others against whooping cough. “If you are pregnant, it’s important to get vaccinated to help protect your baby as infants are at greatest risk of severe illness from whooping cough,” he said. “Antibodies produced from vaccination during pregnancy are transferred to your unborn baby and help protect infants against whooping cough until they can receive their own vaccinations starting at six to eight weeks old.” Armstrong said it was also important for parents and carers to get children and adolescents vaccinated on time. “Although we are seeing an increase in whooping cough across all age groups, cases are highest in school-aged children – older children and adults are often the source of infection for infants,” he said. Whooping cough causes a respiratory illness which normally starts with common cold-like symptoms such as a blocked or runny nose, tiredness, mild fever and an occasional cough. People with whooping cough can spread the infection in the first three weeks of showing symptoms. Here’s what’s making headlines today: Protesters against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol call for his impeachment. Credit: Bloomberg A cool 24 degrees today, with a clearing shower. Good morning, readers and welcome to our live blog for Wednesday, December 4. Today, the state’s high-achieving schools in the 2024 NAPLAN testing can be revealed. The students at those schools showed above-average literacy and numeracy results when compared to others with a similar background. Read more from education reporter Holly Thompson here. Charlie Jaques (left), Chianna Taylor, Sharnicqua Mills, Lisa Ledger, and Eric Yang from Baynton West Primary School. Residents living on a quiet cul-de-sac in Ascot have raised concerns over a proposal by Perth Racing to build a three-storey complex for 400 horses just 10 metres from their homes. Bruce Hunt says he bought his home 24 years ago for the tranquillity. That peace could soon be shattered. In some good news for those looking to buy in Perth, the median time a home takes to sell has finally increased – up to 13 days from the nine-day low recorded for most of the year. REIWA chief executive Cath Hart said this was because there were (finally!) more new listings on the market. And, some humour for your mid-week slump, contributor Brendan Foster has written an opinion piece about the summer holidays. While public schools still have a week to go, Foster writes the school he sends his child to will finish for the year on Thursday. “I adore my son. But eight weeks of trying to keep my newly minted teenager cheerful and engaged while my partner and I hold down full-time jobs is going to take more planning than the Battle of Stalingrad,” he writes. How many of you agree? Stick with us as more news breaks. We’ll also let you know when we hear more about WA grandmother Donna Nelson, who is being sentenced in Japan today.

Andrew Luck returns to Stanford as the GM of the football programKeir Starmer’s first Christmas as Prime Minister is likely to go a little different than planned. Forget, feet in front of the fire at Chequers as he basks in a post-election victory glow. Instead, for the first time in years, people will be delighted to get coal in their stockings – as pensioners struggle without winter fuel allowance. Meanwhile, Starmer had best avoid getting his turkey from a farm shop – with farmers in revolt over Rachel Reeves’s Budget. On the upside, Santa may in his sack give Starmer the only gift this year he doesn’t have to declare. In truth, the Prime Minister should still be riding a post-election high having just a few months ago brought Labour back into government after 14 years out in the cold. The only negative on election night was that Starmer fell 7 seats short of matching Tony Blair’s 1997 landslide – a cause of mild irritation to both Starmer and his senior adviser Morgan McSweeney. But it’s not just on seat count that Starmer is falling short of Blair these days. After 1997, it was unfathomable that Blair would be embarking on a ‘reset’ before the year is out. Yet this is what Keir Starmer is having to do as his team try to turn the page on a rocky start to government that has seen a row over freebies, major staff changes, tax rises no-one mentioned during the election campaign – and just this week his first cabinet resignation – over a fraud conviction he knew about when he appointed her. Most read in The Sun For all the talk of change during the election, it often feels rather like the government that came before: infighting, psychodrama and sleaze. So, Starmer is having to recalibrate. Next week he will take the first step in project ‘new year new Keir’ as he uses a speech to try to put the flesh on the bones of his government agenda – and try to show that he does have the people’s priorities at the heart of it. Expect more specific targets with McSweeney carrying out polling to refine the government message. That’s just the beginning as Starmer’s new look No. 10 try to change the narrative around the beleaguered PM. Too often Starmer looks as though he is a passenger rather than the one making the political weather . In No. 10, civil servants have been surprised at how different he is to Rishi Sunak – who would send them into a spin with notes on everything put in his red box. Starmer is said to have a more hands off approach. But now he needs to get a grip. So, what else should Starmer do? Going into the new year No. 10 staff are going to have to do more than blame everything that has gone wrong on Sue Gray, the former civil servant – which has been a go-to excuse in recent months. ‘There is nowhere to hide now,’ says a minister of Starmer’s new No. 10 – led by McSweeney. The Prime Minister and his team are looking at the return of Donald Trump across the pond and the rise of Reform, and take the lesson that they need to get back to talking about people’s priorities. They want to show they can move to the issues that see voters often look to the right. Even good news – like the fall in immigration figures announced this week can’t be attributed to his decisions, they are a Conservative legacy. In No. 10, aides are taking comfort from the fact that they have time to turn things around. ‘We have four years,’ says a senior Labour figure on the need not to panic. But with the Tories edging ahead in the polls, even government figures admit that the party might start to panic if things look this bleak in the new year. ‘I know we’ve got time,’ says a member of the government. ‘But I give it a few months before ministers start to speak out. A lot of us are wondering what’s the point of the government’. So, Starmer needs an agenda. There have been some promising signs – the employment white paper – and there will be more on NHS reform. Then there’s the economy. Starmer and Reeves need to shake off the negativity – and they need to learn from the States and the mistakes of the Democrats – everyone said the economy was going gangbusters, but voters didn’t feel it. They need to find ways to make wide mission concepts something voters can chart in their every day lives. Starmer may have a big majority but the vote share is small. To move the dial, he needs to govern for the whole country – including those that didn’t vote for him. READ MORE SUN STORIES That means a focus on the things voters are most worried about: cost of living , borders and security. If he can do that, he’ll have reason for some Christmas cheer this time next year. Or else Starmer might next year find he’s be the one worried about getting the sack.

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TORONTO — Canada's main stock index rose Wednesday, helped by strength in telecommunication and utility stocks, while U.S. stock markets moved lower. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 83.16 points at 25,488.30. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 138.25 points at 44,722.06. The S&P 500 index was down 22.89 points at 5,998.74, while the Nasdaq composite was down 115.10 points at 19,060.48. The Canadian dollar traded for 71.25 cents US compared with 71.01 cents US on Tuesday. The January crude oil contract was down five cents at US$68.72 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was down 27 cents at US$3.20 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was up US$18.50 at US$2,664.80 an ounce and the March copper contract was up two cents at US$4.14 a pound. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) The Canadian PressOne of the hottest tech stocks cruising atop the market these days is Reddit ( RDDT -7.18% ) . The company has seen its share price balloon by over 170% since its March initial public offering (IPO), with much of that rise coming after its late-October earnings release. The stock's momentum has pushed it to a market cap of over $24 billion. Such an advancement is reminiscent of the (admittedly far more long-term) rise of mighty Apple ( AAPL 0.59% ) . Yes, Apple is a nearly $3.5 trillion company these days, but if Reddit continues to rise in popularity, maybe it could match or even exceed the tech powerhouse's market value by the end of this decade. A sharply rising social media star For those who might not be familiar, Reddit operates an online forum in which users post about, and react to, a dizzying number of topics. This neatly fills a niche opened by search engines like Alphabet 's Google, which can provide results that are quick-hit answers to queries, but typically offer little depth or discussion. Reddit has taken that simple concept and built a quickly scaling business from it. The company derives revenue from advertising, which is standard in the social media world, but also earns a buck by licensing the data it harvests from users and offering paid "premium" memberships to the user base, among other activities. Those third-quarter results that got the market so excited revealed that Reddit grew a meaty 68% year over year to more than $348 million. Better, on the bottom line, it flipped to a profit of almost $30 million from a loss of $7 million and change in the year-ago time frame. Investors got excited about these results, not only because of the hearty growth numbers, but also how they were achieved. Reddit very successfully managed to expand its user base, with daily average uniques (DAUs; better known as daily average users in the broader social media sphere) rocketing 47% higher to over 97 million people. More impressively, the growth rates and total DAUs in both the company's native U.S. and abroad were roughly equal. Reddit as a product is scaling admirably well across the planet, it seems. Operational metrics like DAUs matter greatly for advertisers, and all things being equal, a wider, regular user base means more dollars for the site offering the advertising. Additionally, while average revenue per user (ARPU) didn't grow as impressively, it still grew by 14% on a global basis to $3.58. Here's another sweet opportunity for the company, as its third-quarter ARPU on our shores far exceeded that of the international take, by $5.88 to $1.32. As Reddit's popularity continues to rise abroad, its ARPU should experience a commensurate lift. Another rather promising revenue source for Reddit is data licensing. Advertising was responsible for the bulk (89%) of the top line in the third quarter, yet the "other" revenue category -- containing data licensing -- zoomed 547% higher. While we shouldn't continue to expect such fat numbers, Reddit has a trove of data thanks to its users, and the licensing of this to train artificial intelligence (AI) is still a business in its infancy. It surely has vast potential for the future. A sky-high mountain to climb With those considerable headwinds pushing hard at its back, it's no surprise that Reddit is such a hot item for investors now. Yet becoming the next Apple -- the dream of many a tech entrepreneur -- is like scaling the world's largest mountain. That $3.5 trillion price tag comes from decades of Apple building brand recognition , to the point where almost everyone on our globe has not only heard of the company, but is instantly familiar with its products. It also derives from the long-tail success of what was a revolutionary product on its debut -- the iPhone -- and the development of a lucrative ecosystem built around it. Building a business in these ways isn't cheap, easy, or quick; it takes plenty of vision and capital -- not to mention luck. So even if we give Reddit a generous stretch of time to reach Apple's lofty perch, I don't think it'll quite scale those heights. Management has done a fine and clever job of locking into business opportunities and leveraging them, but advertisers are fickle and prone to shifting to the Next Cool Thing in order to capture potential customers. Data licensing is a high-potential business, sure, yet it remains to be seen how well Reddit will exploit the opportunity. Ultimately, Apple will continue to be a monster next to the modest size of Reddit in both the immediate and mid-/long-term future. That doesn't mean that Reddit is a stock to ignore, though. Quite the opposite -- it has attracted the market's notice for all the right reasons. It's a future social media giant in the making if it continues on its current path, and well worth consideration as a buy.

FALLS CHURCH, Va., Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) announced today that its board of directors has authorized an additional $3 billion for the repurchase of the company's common stock, increasing the outstanding authorized amount to approximately $4.2 billion. Share repurchases will take place from time to time, subject to market conditions and management's discretion, in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers' toughest problems, our employees define possible every day. Note: Statements in this press release contain or may contain statements that constitute "forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "will,” "expect,” "anticipate,” "intend,” "may,” "could,” "should,” "plan,” "project,” "forecast,” "believe,” "estimate,” "guidance,” "outlook,” "trends,” "goals” and similar expressions generally identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date when made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date of this release, except as required by applicable law. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and inherently involve a wide range of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. A discussion of these risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Contact: Todd Ernst 703-280-4535 [email protected] [email protected] This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.By BILL BARROW, Associated Press PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — Newly married and sworn as a Naval officer, Jimmy Carter left his tiny hometown in 1946 hoping to climb the ranks and see the world. Less than a decade later, the death of his father and namesake, a merchant farmer and local politician who went by “Mr. Earl,” prompted the submariner and his wife, Rosalynn, to return to the rural life of Plains, Georgia, they thought they’d escaped. The lieutenant never would be an admiral. Instead, he became commander in chief. Years after his presidency ended in humbling defeat, he would add a Nobel Peace Prize, awarded not for his White House accomplishments but “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” The life of James Earl Carter Jr., the 39th and longest-lived U.S. president, ended Sunday at the age of 100 where it began: Plains, the town of 600 that fueled his political rise, welcomed him after his fall and sustained him during 40 years of service that redefined what it means to be a former president. With the stubborn confidence of an engineer and an optimism rooted in his Baptist faith, Carter described his motivations in politics and beyond in the same way: an almost missionary zeal to solve problems and improve lives. Carter was raised amid racism, abject poverty and hard rural living — realities that shaped both his deliberate politics and emphasis on human rights. “He always felt a responsibility to help people,” said Jill Stuckey, a longtime friend of Carter’s in Plains. “And when he couldn’t make change wherever he was, he decided he had to go higher.” Carter’s path, a mix of happenstance and calculation , pitted moral imperatives against political pragmatism; and it defied typical labels of American politics, especially caricatures of one-term presidents as failures. “We shouldn’t judge presidents by how popular they are in their day. That’s a very narrow way of assessing them,” Carter biographer Jonathan Alter told the Associated Press. “We should judge them by how they changed the country and the world for the better. On that score, Jimmy Carter is not in the first rank of American presidents, but he stands up quite well.” Later in life, Carter conceded that many Americans, even those too young to remember his tenure, judged him ineffective for failing to contain inflation or interest rates, end the energy crisis or quickly bring home American hostages in Iran. He gained admirers instead for his work at The Carter Center — advocating globally for public health, human rights and democracy since 1982 — and the decades he and Rosalynn wore hardhats and swung hammers with Habitat for Humanity. Yet the common view that he was better after the Oval Office than in it annoyed Carter, and his allies relished him living long enough to see historians reassess his presidency. “He doesn’t quite fit in today’s terms” of a left-right, red-blue scoreboard, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who visited the former president multiple times during his own White House bid. At various points in his political career, Carter labeled himself “progressive” or “conservative” — sometimes both at once. His most ambitious health care bill failed — perhaps one of his biggest legislative disappointments — because it didn’t go far enough to suit liberals. Republicans, especially after his 1980 defeat, cast him as a left-wing cartoon. It would be easiest to classify Carter as a centrist, Buttigieg said, “but there’s also something radical about the depth of his commitment to looking after those who are left out of society and out of the economy.” Indeed, Carter’s legacy is stitched with complexities, contradictions and evolutions — personal and political. The self-styled peacemaker was a war-trained Naval Academy graduate who promised Democratic challenger Ted Kennedy that he’d “kick his ass.” But he campaigned with a call to treat everyone with “respect and compassion and with love.” Carter vowed to restore America’s virtue after the shame of Vietnam and Watergate, and his technocratic, good-government approach didn’t suit Republicans who tagged government itself as the problem. It also sometimes put Carter at odds with fellow Democrats. The result still was a notable legislative record, with wins on the environment, education, and mental health care. He dramatically expanded federally protected lands, began deregulating air travel, railroads and trucking, and he put human rights at the center of U.S. foreign policy. As a fiscal hawk, Carter added a relative pittance to the national debt, unlike successors from both parties. Carter nonetheless struggled to make his achievements resonate with the electorate he charmed in 1976. Quoting Bob Dylan and grinning enthusiastically, he had promised voters he would “never tell a lie.” Once in Washington, though, he led like a joyless engineer, insisting his ideas would become reality and he’d be rewarded politically if only he could convince enough people with facts and logic. This served him well at Camp David, where he brokered peace between Israel’s Menachem Begin and Epypt’s Anwar Sadat, an experience that later sparked the idea of The Carter Center in Atlanta. Carter’s tenacity helped the center grow to a global force that monitored elections across five continents, enabled his freelance diplomacy and sent public health experts across the developing world. The center’s wins were personal for Carter, who hoped to outlive the last Guinea worm parasite, and nearly did. As president, though, the approach fell short when he urged consumers beleaguered by energy costs to turn down their thermostats. Or when he tried to be the nation’s cheerleader, beseeching Americans to overcome a collective “crisis of confidence.” Republican Ronald Reagan exploited Carter’s lecturing tone with a belittling quip in their lone 1980 debate. “There you go again,” the former Hollywood actor said in response to a wonky answer from the sitting president. “The Great Communicator” outpaced Carter in all but six states. Carter later suggested he “tried to do too much, too soon” and mused that he was incompatible with Washington culture: media figures, lobbyists and Georgetown social elites who looked down on the Georgians and their inner circle as “country come to town.” Carter carefully navigated divides on race and class on his way to the Oval Office. Born Oct. 1, 1924 , Carter was raised in the mostly Black community of Archery, just outside Plains, by a progressive mother and white supremacist father. Their home had no running water or electricity but the future president still grew up with the relative advantages of a locally prominent, land-owning family in a system of Jim Crow segregation. He wrote of President Franklin Roosevelt’s towering presence and his family’s Democratic Party roots, but his father soured on FDR, and Jimmy Carter never campaigned or governed as a New Deal liberal. He offered himself as a small-town peanut farmer with an understated style, carrying his own luggage, bunking with supporters during his first presidential campaign and always using his nickname. And he began his political career in a whites-only Democratic Party. As private citizens, he and Rosalynn supported integration as early as the 1950s and believed it inevitable. Carter refused to join the White Citizens Council in Plains and spoke out in his Baptist church against denying Black people access to worship services. “This is not my house; this is not your house,” he said in a churchwide meeting, reminding fellow parishioners their sanctuary belonged to God. Yet as the appointed chairman of Sumter County schools he never pushed to desegregate, thinking it impractical after the Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board decision. And while presidential candidate Carter would hail the 1965 Voting Rights Act, signed by fellow Democrat Lyndon Johnson when Carter was a state senator, there is no record of Carter publicly supporting it at the time. Carter overcame a ballot-stuffing opponent to win his legislative seat, then lost the 1966 governor’s race to an arch-segregationist. He won four years later by avoiding explicit mentions of race and campaigning to the right of his rival, who he mocked as “Cufflinks Carl” — the insult of an ascendant politician who never saw himself as part the establishment. Carter’s rural and small-town coalition in 1970 would match any victorious Republican electoral map in 2024. Once elected, though, Carter shocked his white conservative supporters — and landed on the cover of Time magazine — by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.” Before making the jump to Washington, Carter befriended the family of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., whom he’d never sought out as he eyed the governor’s office. Carter lamented his foot-dragging on school integration as a “mistake.” But he also met, conspicuously, with Alabama’s segregationist Gov. George Wallace to accept his primary rival’s endorsement ahead of the 1976 Democratic convention. “He very shrewdly took advantage of his own Southerness,” said Amber Roessner, a University of Tennessee professor and expert on Carter’s campaigns. A coalition of Black voters and white moderate Democrats ultimately made Carter the last Democratic presidential nominee to sweep the Deep South. Then, just as he did in Georgia, he used his power in office to appoint more non-whites than all his predecessors had, combined. He once acknowledged “the secret shame” of white Americans who didn’t fight segregation. But he also told Alter that doing more would have sacrificed his political viability – and thus everything he accomplished in office and after. King’s daughter, Bernice King, described Carter as wisely “strategic” in winning higher offices to enact change. “He was a leader of conscience,” she said in an interview. Rosalynn Carter, who died on Nov. 19 at the age of 96, was identified by both husband and wife as the “more political” of the pair; she sat in on Cabinet meetings and urged him to postpone certain priorities, like pressing the Senate to relinquish control of the Panama Canal. “Let that go until the second term,” she would sometimes say. The president, recalled her former aide Kathy Cade, retorted that he was “going to do what’s right” even if “it might cut short the time I have.” Rosalynn held firm, Cade said: “She’d remind him you have to win to govern.” Carter also was the first president to appoint multiple women as Cabinet officers. Yet by his own telling, his career sprouted from chauvinism in the Carters’ early marriage: He did not consult Rosalynn when deciding to move back to Plains in 1953 or before launching his state Senate bid a decade later. Many years later, he called it “inconceivable” that he didn’t confer with the woman he described as his “full partner,” at home, in government and at The Carter Center. “We developed a partnership when we were working in the farm supply business, and it continued when Jimmy got involved in politics,” Rosalynn Carter told AP in 2021. So deep was their trust that when Carter remained tethered to the White House in 1980 as 52 Americans were held hostage in Tehran, it was Rosalynn who campaigned on her husband’s behalf. “I just loved it,” she said, despite the bitterness of defeat. Fair or not, the label of a disastrous presidency had leading Democrats keep their distance, at least publicly, for many years, but Carter managed to remain relevant, writing books and weighing in on societal challenges. He lamented widening wealth gaps and the influence of money in politics. He voted for democratic socialist Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton in 2016, and later declared that America had devolved from fully functioning democracy to “oligarchy.” Yet looking ahead to 2020, with Sanders running again, Carter warned Democrats not to “move to a very liberal program,” lest they help re-elect President Donald Trump. Carter scolded the Republican for his serial lies and threats to democracy, and chided the U.S. establishment for misunderstanding Trump’s populist appeal. He delighted in yearly convocations with Emory University freshmen, often asking them to guess how much he’d raised in his two general election campaigns. “Zero,” he’d gesture with a smile, explaining the public financing system candidates now avoid so they can raise billions. Carter still remained quite practical in partnering with wealthy corporations and foundations to advance Carter Center programs. Carter recognized that economic woes and the Iran crisis doomed his presidency, but offered no apologies for appointing Paul Volcker as the Federal Reserve chairman whose interest rate hikes would not curb inflation until Reagan’s presidency. He was proud of getting all the hostages home without starting a shooting war, even though Tehran would not free them until Reagan’s Inauguration Day. “Carter didn’t look at it” as a failure, Alter emphasized. “He said, ‘They came home safely.’ And that’s what he wanted.” Well into their 90s, the Carters greeted visitors at Plains’ Maranatha Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School and where he will have his last funeral before being buried on family property alongside Rosalynn . Carter, who made the congregation’s collection plates in his woodworking shop, still garnered headlines there, calling for women’s rights within religious institutions, many of which, he said, “subjugate” women in church and society. Carter was not one to dwell on regrets. “I am at peace with the accomplishments, regret the unrealized goals and utilize my former political position to enhance everything we do,” he wrote around his 90th birthday. The politician who had supposedly hated Washington politics also enjoyed hosting Democratic presidential contenders as public pilgrimages to Plains became advantageous again. Carter sat with Buttigieg for the final time March 1, 2020, hours before the Indiana mayor ended his campaign and endorsed eventual winner Joe Biden. “He asked me how I thought the campaign was going,” Buttigieg said, recalling that Carter flashed his signature grin and nodded along as the young candidate, born a year after Carter left office, “put the best face” on the walloping he endured the day before in South Carolina. Never breaking his smile, the 95-year-old host fired back, “I think you ought to drop out.” “So matter of fact,” Buttigieg said with a laugh. “It was somehow encouraging.” Carter had lived enough, won plenty and lost enough to take the long view. “He talked a lot about coming from nowhere,” Buttigieg said, not just to attain the presidency but to leverage “all of the instruments you have in life” and “make the world more peaceful.” In his farewell address as president, Carter said as much to the country that had embraced and rejected him. “The struggle for human rights overrides all differences of color, nation or language,” he declared. “Those who hunger for freedom, who thirst for human dignity and who suffer for the sake of justice — they are the patriots of this cause.” Carter pledged to remain engaged with and for them as he returned “home to the South where I was born and raised,” home to Plains, where that young lieutenant had indeed become “a fellow citizen of the world.” —- Bill Barrow, based in Atlanta, has covered national politics including multiple presidential campaigns for the AP since 2012.In recent years, a new trend has emerged in China known as the "lying flat" movement, which advocates for individuals to reject the relentless pursuit of career success and material wealth, and instead, embrace a more laid-back lifestyle. This movement has had significant implications for various aspects of society, including the way people approach saving and spending money.ubet63 free 100 no deposit 。

For first-time homebuyers, the current market conditions in Guiyang present both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, the availability of affordable housing options and favorable financing terms make it easier for young families to realize their dreams of homeownership. On the other hand, the intense competition and rising prices pose challenges for buyers in finding a suitable property within their budget. Many first-time homebuyers are turning to new developments and emerging neighborhoods in Guiyang to find more affordable housing options.

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

Rounding out the trio of double nominees is the visionary director Ava DuVernay. With her unparalleled storytelling abilities and unique cinematic vision, DuVernay has been recognized for her outstanding work in both a limited series and a feature film. Her dedication to highlighting important social issues and underrepresented voices in her work has earned her widespread praise and admiration from audiences and critics alike.

BOOZE-fuelled yobs are bringing terror to a Scots council area - with a 13-year-old lad stabbed by a blade-wielding gang. Spooked locals claim lawless young teams are running riot in North Lanarkshire , where a schoolboy was knifed in Moodiesburn last week by a masked mob . 8 Chilling pics show youngsters posing with machetes, axes and other deadly weapons 8 Rival gangs have been posting armed taunts on social media 8 It is understood rival gangs from Cumbernauld, Moodiesburn, Chryston and Croy, in Lanarkshire, are embroiled in the feuds Credit: The Sun Glasgow 8 Cops have increased patrols and are working in schools to address the issue Credit: Alamy 8 It comes as a gang of armed thugs stabbed a teenage boy in Moodiesburn Credit: Google Maps It comes as chilling images from the areas show boozed-up rival young teams posing with a terrifying arsenal of weapons, including machetes and axes. Armed gangs have left frightened residents too scared to leave their homes at night — amid fears someone will be killed. Terrified townsfolk are urging cops to crack down on the booze-fuelled yobs who have flaunted their array of deadly weapons on social media . One chilling picture showed thugs — some in surgical gloves — lurking in an alley brandishing machetes, metal bars , a hammer and baton. MORE SCOTTISH CRIME EXCLUSIVES HITMAN HUNT Scotland's top cold case expert leading hunt for Alastair Wilson's murderer ISLAND SHOCK Skye locals refused killer’s gun bid as he was ‘too unstable to own weapon’ In another snap, 20 masked louts from the “Carbrain Fleeto” pose in an underpass with axes, knives and a spiked baseball bat. It is understood rival gangs from Cumbernauld, Moodiesburn, Chryston and Croy, in Lanarkshire , are embroiled in the feuds. On Friday night, masked yobs aged between 12 and 20 knifed a boy of 13 near shops in Moodiesburn. The lad was rushed to hospital following the savage attack on Friday — and police are still hunting the attackers. Most read in The Scottish Sun WARMING UP Scots set for 21C swing as temperature rise to bring an end to sub zero freeze SEARCH ENDS Missing traveler is found after month-long search that led to dad's suicide GET OUT I'm an ex-Gers star who was sacked after one game - I was surprised I got that long JUNGLE WINNINGS Coleen Rooney signs first big money deal after I’m A Celeb success Residents took to social media to call for tough action amid concerns of further violence . One wrote: “All I’ve seen on Facebook over the last week is about gangs of youths causing chaos in Cumbernauld and surrounding areas. Moment cops swoop on Glasgow man nicked during UK's 'biggest ever' drugs bust “I hope they’re all held accountable. The police really need to do something before a young kid’s life is taken. It is getting worse.” Another worried local suggested free bus travel made it easier for the gangs to reach rivals’ turf. They said: “They can hop on and off buses to different areas which brings its own problems. “The weapons being openly flaunted are terrifying. 8 MSP Sharon Dowey said police need more resources Credit: Alamy 8 Cumbernauld councillor Ann Ballinger said some residents have expressed concerns to her Credit: Facebook 8 Alex Cole-Hamilton said the situation must be "a living nightmare" for locals Credit: Alamy “Neds barely in their teens are arming themselves with axes and machetes. Where are their parents ? “Strong action is needed as people don’t feel safe at night.” Politicians in Cumbernauld last night admitted residents’ concerns about the yobs have grown. Councillor Ann Ballinger said: “People have told me they’re worried about walking on footpaths in the town centre, especially at night. “The police are working hard to deal with it.” "The police really need to do something before a young kid’s life is taken. It is getting worse." Cops have upped patrols and visited schools to gain information about the gangs. But there were calls for more resources for over-stretched officers. Tories’ shadow community safety minister Sharon Dowey said: “The SNP need to give our hardworking police the resources they need to crack down on those responsible and help keep communities safe.” Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton weighed in: “Anti-social behaviour is a blight on our society. “It can be a living nightmare for the communities affected by it. They will be praying for more police on their streets. Cops still probing knife attack BY HARRY WILLIAMSON COPS are continuing to investigate the stabbing of a 13-year-old schoolboy in Moodiesburn. Detectives have been scouring CCTV and going door-to-door in their relentless bid to bring the attackers to justice. They have urged anyone with information about what happened to call the police. Officers say a woman rushed to the aid of the young assault victim and took him home before he went to hospital. CID cops have urged the woman to come forward to help them with their probe. Detective Constable Craig Hartley of Coatbridge CID said: “Our investigation in this serious assault is ongoing. “We are reviewing CCTV footage and carrying out door-to-door enquiries to identify those responsible. "I would appeal to motorists who were in the area and have dash-cam footage to come forward, you may have captured something that can assist our enquiries. “We are keen to trace a woman who came to the aid of the victim. She took him home before he went to hospital for treatment. "It’s important that she comes forward to assist our investigation.” “The government must do much more. That involves both cracking down hard on criminality, but also investing in youth work and training opportunities to divert young people from destructive behaviour.” Campaigners warned that weapons-wielding thugs bring “real fear and concern” to communities. Will Linden, of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, added: “Whilst we recognise that the overwhelming majority do not get involved in violence, some young people do and sometimes with devastating consequences. "Neds barely in their teens are arming themselves with axes and machetes." “What is important is understanding the complex reasons behind weapon carrying — identifying why young people pick up a weapon in the first place and the specific risk factors.” Council chiefs in North Lanarkshire urged residents worried about attacks to contact cops. A spokesman said: “We are aware of reports of anti-social behaviour, and we have been working with the police to support their investigations. Our schools work hard to educate our pupils about the dangers of carrying weapons. “Anyone with information should contact the police.” Read more on the Scottish Sun SNOW JOKE Snow maps reveal the Scotland areas forecast to have a white Christmas OFF THE AIR 'Gutted to hear this', fans cry as BBC Scotland series axed after 19 years Last night, Inspector Barry Maguire said: “We have allocated visible patrols across Cumbernauld and Moodiesburn and our Community Policing Team are actively engaging with schools across Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and surrounding towns to gather as much information as we can to identify those involved. “Anyone concerned about anti-social behaviour is encouraged to contact police by calling 101 as promptly as possible.”In conclusion, the continued expansion of the price drop for 92 octane gasoline reflects the complex and interconnected nature of the global oil market. While consumers may benefit from lower fuel costs in the short term, the long-term implications of this downward trend remain uncertain. As the world navigates through a period of unprecedented challenges and transformations, it is essential for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and consumers to collaborate and devise sustainable solutions that ensure a stable and secure energy future for all.

However, after a series of personal and professional setbacks, Lin Jing’en disappeared from the spotlight. Rumors swirled about her struggles with mental health and financial troubles. Fans were left wondering what had happened to their beloved star.

In conclusion, the proposal to exempt the land value added tax on the sale of ordinary residential properties in Henan Province has the potential to reshape the local housing market and improve housing affordability for residents. Through open dialogue and collaborative decision-making, policymakers can navigate the complexities of the real estate sector and create policies that support sustainable development and economic growth in the region.