234 karaoke What to know about Brooke Rollins, Trump's pick for agriculture secretaryOusted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus, Russian state media say

A large area of land of Bharani canal has allegedly been grabbed illegally in front of the Begum Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mahila Kamil Madrasa in Mirukhali union under Pirojpur's Mathbaria upazila for setting up a market. Locals alleged that Abul Kalam Sharif, former principal of the madrasa, is behind the land grabbing. Kalam also allegedly constructed a permanent road and iron bridge in front of the madrasa and another concrete bridge nearby. He has been encroaching on the canal since 2010, after a cross dam was constructed on the canal around 20 years back by Mosharraf Hossain Akan, former chairman of Dhanisafa union parishad, to connect the Phuljhuri and Patakata villages. Later, Local Government Engineering Department constructed a paved road on the embankment, and another by Roads and Highways Department. A total of four such cross dams have been constructed on the Bharani canal, and several more dams on other connecting canals, which have been hindering flow of water through the canals and thereby causing shortage of water for irrigating the Aman paddy fields there. Despite protests from local farmers, local authorities went on with constructing the dams over the years. The local farmers have since then been facing untold sufferings with their paddy cultivation. "The dams remain closed all year round. During dry season, we don't get any water in the canal, while in monsoon, the dams cause waterlogging in the adjacent croplands. As such, we face difficulties to cultivate paddy on our lands," said Shahid Farazi, a local farmer. According to locals, Kalam was among those on the forefront demanding construction of the dams. He did so in a planned move to eventually grab the canal's land, they alleged. Mahbubur Rahman, another local, alleged that Kalam used his political influence during the then Awami League government to get the dam constructed with a motive to grab the canal's land. "After the dam's construction, Kalam began grabbing land on the embankment by planting betel nut and timber trees. Now he has taken hold of a good chunk of land to set up a market," he also alleged. Omar Faruq, another local, echoed him. Kalam, who had previously claimed his madrasa will sustain damages due to erosion unless the dams are constructed, later changed his tone after the fall of the AL government. Acknowledging the fact that many people are facing trouble for the dam, he said, "I have requested Mathbaria's upazila nirbahi officer for constructing a box-culvert in place of the dam." Kalam, however, denied grabbing the canal's land, adding that he earlier planted trees to protect the embankment from erosion. Contacted, Abdul Kaium, UNO of Mathbaria, said he was aware of the issue. "We are planning to construct a bridge on the canal to replace the dam. This will keep the connectivity unaffected while mitigate the adverse impact of the dam on agriculture. Higher authorities of LGED and RHD have been informed in this regard," he said. The UNO, however, could not confirm when the plan will be implemented.Apiaries abuzz over ruling against widening cross-border trade in live honeybees

Knight stops 20 shots, Florida rolls past Carolina 6-0 for 2nd win over 'Canes in as many daysNational interest must prevail over politics: Barrister Aqeel

Boosting volunteer numbers key to addressing hunger in Virginia, Youngkin says

New on Hulu November 23-29: our expert's picks for 7 TV shows and movies coming to Hulu this weekNone

‘WHAT is his problem?’ screamed I’m a Celebrity fans as they demanded Dean McCullough is axed after his shock heated bust-up. Tensions erupted in the jungle on tonight as Dean , 32, found himself in a heated argument with Coronation Street star Alan Halsall, 42. Alan became frustrated with Dean after the Radio 1 DJ, 32, skipped his chores and opted for a nap. Dean had indulged in a feast of junk food earlier, which had been won by Maura Higgins and Reverend Richard Coles during a secret mission. Alan’s frustration boiled over when Loose Women panellist Jane Moore was left to collect firewood alone. Jane said, “I can’t do it on my own.” Alan, who plays Tyrone Dobbs in the ITV soap, attempted to wake Dean, but the presenter barely moved. Alan asked, “You don’t fancy it? No?” before walking off to help Jane himself. Dean eventually joined the pair but wasn’t pleased with Alan’s earlier approach. He said, “Listen to me. If you’re gonna wake me up, you need to give me a minute, alright? It takes a couple of minutes for my contact lenses to get back working again, alright? "So you don’t need to turn around to me and say, ‘Do you not fancy it, OK?’ And then turn around and walk away.” Alan responded, “I’ve listened to you. Jane was halfway down here, that’s why I went.” ITV viewers were left fuming as they rushed to X, formerly Twitter, to slam Dean. One wrote: "dean sir what is your problem???????" while another added: "Hopefully Dean McCullough will walk out, he’s insufferable." A third commented: "Dean screwed himself on tonight’s show going after Tyrone. #ImACeleb. He has been beyond useless in the trials and then scolds Tyrone like a bold child." One more concluded: "Well Dean can f**k the right off after talking to Alan like that! Shame you don’t put that much emotion into your trials. D**khead." Yesterday, host Ant McPartlin broke his silence after viewers accused him of being in a feud with Dean. Ant and Dec appeared on ITV2 spin-off show Unpacked on Thursday as they discussed the latest Bushtucker Trial. Ant admitted he was "annoyed" at Dean for screaming 'I'm A Celeb' and quitting the task early - and being "unprofessional" in how he dealt with it. Unpacked presenter Joel Dommett said: "It's going to be so nice seeing someone new do a trial tomorrow." Dec replied: "Also Danny is determined, he's enthusiastic, so there's no hiding for Dean - he's going to have to step up." Ant said: "You kind of hope that he's going to raise his game a little bit, I thought he was going to do that today." While Sam Thompson, who won the jungle show last year, admitted he was disappointed by Dean's efforts. He piped up saying: "Fish guts mates, he had a spider on his head." An irritated Ant responded: "I told you not to talk to me about it Sam. My annoyance came across on screen and it was quite unprofessional and I'm not happy about it." Dec sarcastically said: "I think you hid it quite well, Ant...I think you hid it quite well." Ant went on: "You get to the point when you think 'what are you doing?'" He then admitted that he's "going to be kind to him [Dean] today...I'll be good cop today." Dean returned to camp last night, announcing that he’d won just four stars after a gruesome trial. Earlier this week, viewers were convinced that Ant was secretly furious with Dean after he called time on Wednesday's challenge and failed to secure any stars. Ant, known for his playful banter with co-host Dec, appeared unusually stern, hinting at his frustration as he greeted Dean for yet another trial, Lethal Lab. He even warned Dean that he was the "bad cop" in their hosting duo. Dean’s upbeat demeanor after the trial seemed to catch Ant off guard. As the DJ bowled into the clearing, Ant quipped: "Hello, Dean. I didn’t expect that. I thought you’d be a little bit forlorn, a little bit sad. It looks like you’re loving life. Have you been to the pub?" Dean laughed it off, replying: "No, no, I’ve just had a cold shower." Ant then shifted to a more serious tone, confronting Dean about his recent failures, saying: "Now, Dean, I want to have a word with you. What happened yesterday? No stars. What happened the day before? You said, 'I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here.'" Dean admitted: "Oh, it’s not good, but that’s why I’m ready for it today, because we’re going to change the narrative." But Ant didn’t let him off the hook, firmly responding: "You can only change the narrative by sticking with it and getting on with it." The exchange left Dean momentarily stunned. "I feel like I’m being told off by Ant and Dec," he joked. Ant was quick to clarify: "Well, by me," while Dec chimed in to reassure, "I’m good cop." i'm A Celebrity is back for its 24th series, with a batch of famous faces living in the Aussie jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars on the show this year.. Coleen Rooney - Arguably the most famous name in the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney , has made a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to be on the show this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever. Tulisa - The popstar and former X Factor judge has made her triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year's I'm A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal. Alan Halsall - The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he has become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities. Melvin Odoom - The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. Melvin has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet - the Aussie jungle . GK Barry - The UK's biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even gone on to endorse popular brands such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers. Dean McCullough - A rising star amongst this year's bunch of celebs , Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live. Oti Mabuse - The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She originally found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV's Dancing On Ice . Danny Jones - The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle , after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he's now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice , along with bandmate Tom Fletcher. Jane Moore - The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist is braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge - having recently split from her husband . It will be Jane's first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past. Barry McGuigan - Former pro boxer Barry is the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to bowel cancer . He told The Late Late Show in 2021: "She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache." Maura Higgins - The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard . Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year. Rev. Richard Coles - Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is a late arrival on I’m A Celebrity , and he's ready to spill the beans on his former employer. The former Communards and Strictly star , said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year. An insider said: "Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth."

234 mini games On paper, Luigi Mangione had it all: wealth, intellect, athleticism, good looks. But the child of a prominent Maryland family may have spurned it all in a spasm of violence, in a killing that has mesmerized Americans. The 26-year-old was arrested Monday and charged with the murder of Brian Thompson, a health insurance chief executive and father of two who was gunned down in Manhattan last week by someone who, evidence suggests, has endured his own debilitating health crises and grew angry with the privatized US medical system. The cold-blooded killing has laid bare the deep frustration many Americans feel toward the country's labyrinthine health care system: while many have condemned the shooting, others have praised Mangione as a hero. It has also prompted considerable interest in how a young engineer with an Ivy League education could have gone off the rails to commit murder. News of his capture at a Pennsylvania McDonald's triggered an explosion of online activity, with Mangione quickly amassing new followers on social media as citizen sleuths and US media tried to understand who he is. As Americans have looked for clues about a political ideology or potential motive, a photo on his X account (formerly Twitter) includes an X-ray of an apparently injured spine. Mangione lived in Hawaii in 2022 and, according to his former roommate R.J. Martin, suffered from back pain, and was hoping to strengthen his back. After a surfing lesson, Mangione was "in bed for about a week" because of the pain, Martin told CNN. Earlier this year, Martin said, Mangione confirmed he'd had back surgery and sent him photos of the X-rays. Police said the suspect carried a hand-written manifesto of grievances in which he slammed America's "most expensive health care system in the world." "He was writing a lot about his disdain for corporate America and in particular the health care industry," New York police chief detective Joseph Kenny told ABC. According to CNN, a document recovered when Mangione was arrested included the phrase "these parasites had it coming." Meanwhile, memes and jokes proliferated, many riffing on his first name and comparing him to the "Mario Bros." video game character Luigi. Many expressed at least partial sympathy, having had their own harrowing experiences with the US health care system. "Godspeed. Please know that we all hear you," wrote one user on Facebook. Mangione hails from the Baltimore area. His wealthy Italian-American family owns local businesses, including the Hayfields Country Club, according to local outlet the Baltimore Banner, and cousin Nino Mangione is a Maryland state delegate. A standout student, Luigi graduated at the top of his high school class in 2016. A former student who knew Mangione at the elite Gilman School told AFP the suspect struck him as "a normal guy, nice kid." "There was nothing about him that was off, at least from my perception," the person said. Mangione attended the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, where he completed both a bachelor's and master's degree in computer science by 2020, according to a university spokesperson. While at Penn, Mangione co-led a group of 60 undergraduates who collaborated on video game projects, as noted in a now-deleted university webpage. On Instagram Mangione shared snapshots of his travels, and shirtless images of himself flaunting a six-pack. X users have scoured Mangione's posts for potential motives. His header photo includes an X-ray of a spine with bolts attached. Finding a political ideology that fits neatly onto the right-left divide has proved elusive, though he had written a review of Ted Kaczynski's manifesto on online site Goodreads, calling it "prescient." Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, carried out multiple bombings in the United States from 1978 to 1995, in a campaign he said was aimed at halting the advance of modern society and technology. Mangione has also linked approvingly to posts criticizing secularism as a harmful consequence of Christianity's decline, and retweeted posts on the impact mobile phones and social media have on mental health. ia/abo-mlm/nroJohnson 0-1 0-0 0, Lampkin 7-13 3-3 17, Deck 5-7 2-3 13, Hardaway 3-5 2-4 9, Wooten 9-13 3-6 23, Talley 3-5 0-0 7, Brackens 0-0 0-0 0, Brannon 0-0 0-0 0, McGrew 0-2 0-0 0, Moore 0-1 0-0 0, Price 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 27-48 10-16 69 Augmon 1-2 0-0 2, McFarland 0-1 0-0 0, Blair 4-12 7-7 18, Cooke 2-8 1-2 5, Love 6-16 6-6 19, Bostock 0-4 0-0 0, Chevalier 1-2 0-0 2, Merchant 3-11 1-4 7, Totals 17-56 15-19 53 3-Point Goals_North Texas 5-13 (Deck 1-2, Hardaway 1-2, Wooten 2-5, Talley 1-1, McGrew 0-2, Price 0-1), Houston 4-20 (Blair 3-6, Cooke 0-2, Love 1-6, Bostock 0-2, Chevalier 0-1, Merchant 0-3). Assists_North Texas 17 (Hardaway 5), Houston 3 (Love 2). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_North Texas 38 (Lampkin 10), Houston 26 (Love 8). Total Fouls_North Texas 18, Houston 18. Technical Fouls_None. A_864.Summary . In a year of febrile politics, rising popular frustration with institutions, and two separate attempts to assassinate President Trump, the risks to executives in just about any industry cannot be minimized. The presence of an estimated more than 400 million firearms in the United States,... Paul R. Kolbe , Is The Former Director Of The Intelligence Project At The Harvard Kennedy School S Belfer Center For Science , International Affairs. Kolbe Previously Led Bp S Global Intelligence Team Supporting Threat Warning , Risk Mitigation , Crisis Response. Kolbe Served Years As An Officer , Executive In The Cia S Operations Directorate.

NC State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson is named head coach at MarshallFortune: U.S. Government Debt Load Now Seen As the Biggest Risk to Financial Stability

Daily Post Nigeria NPFL: Remo Stars back on top Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport Sport NPFL: Remo Stars back on top Published on December 8, 2024 By Mike Oyebola Remo Stars roared back to the summit of the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, after a comfortable 2-0 home win over El-Kanemi Warriors. Peter Onuoha and Franck Mawuena scored both goals for the hosts. Remo Stars top the standings with 29 points from 16 games. Holders Rangers extended their unbeaten streak to 10 games after a 1-0 victory over Rivers United. Collins Ugwueze’s 15th-minute strike separated both teams on the night. The Flying Antelopes are third on the table with 27 points. At the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, Bayelsa United put an end to Ikorodu City’s unbeaten run with a 1-0 victory. FULL RESULTS Rangers 1-0 Rivers Utd Kano Pillars 1-0 Katsina Utd Abia Warriors 2-1 Tornadoes Bayelsa Utd 1-0 Ikorodu City Remo Stars 2-0 El-Kanemi Plateau Utd 3-2 Heartland Related Topics: NPFL Remo Stars Don't Miss EPL: ‘They’re Liverpool’s biggest threat’ – Merson snubs Arsenal, Man City in title race You may like NPFL: Adegoke vows to score more goals for Nasarawa United NPFL: Dogo commends Nasarawa United players for win over Lobi Stars NPFL: 3SC outshine Sunshine Stars in Ikenne NPFL: Nasarawa United overcome Lobi Stars in North Central derby NPFL: Tornadoes duo ruled out of Abia Warriors clash NPFL: Okwuchukwu keen to face former club, Abia Warriors Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media Ltd

AI Progress From Microsoft – Phi-4 Outperforms Human-like reasoner AI Model GPT-4o, Bitcoin RumorNoneSurprise Visits are Normal, Honorable Suleiman Doesn’t Owe Anyone an Explanation

8 Weirdest Street Foods Of 2024 That Made The Netizens Go CrazyCowboys Star CeeDee Lamb Thanks Commanders Kicker After Upset

AN POST have given a major update following Storm Darragh disruption as deadline for Xmas delivery closes in. Storm Darragh has caused major disruption to An Post services over the past few days. Ireland's national postal service has now confirmed in a statement that they are gradually returning to normal today. Deliveries are underway across many parts of the country, though some areas affected by the storm will see staff delivering as soon as it is safe to do so. An Post said the situation is an important reminder to customers to post their holiday cards and parcels early, especially when sending to distant destinations. They said: "An Post is making deliveries in many parts of the country today, following yesterday’s storm disruption to national and local services. "In badly impacted areas, local staff will deliver as soon as it’s safe to do so. "Weather disruption is a reminder to get posting early, particular to far flung destinations." If you're planning to send Christmas cards to the United States, the last recommended posting date is Tuesday, December 10 to ensure timely delivery. For parcels being sent across Europe , An Post advises that they should be posted by Thursday, December 12. With the busy Christmas period ahead, An Post expects to deliver up to 3 million parcels this week alone. Following the restoration of power in affected areas by the ESB , all post offices are expected to open for business tomorrow. The postal service also said that Santa has asked children across Ireland to post their letters to him as soon as possible, as it will allow time for the postal elves to send replies from the North Pole. To ensure a quick reply, children should be sure to include their full name and address in their letters. As the Christmas season approaches, the postal service said they are working hard to ensure all holiday mail reaches its destination on time despite any weather challenges. Meanwhile over 20,000 homes still without power as thousands more to go without water following Storm Darragh chaos. Power restoration could take days to come back for thousands of households. ESB Networks announced that its teams and partner contractors will resume work today to restore power to thousands of customers affected by Storm Darragh. The storm caused widespread and major damage to the electricity network, affecting power lines and infrastructure across the country. The number of customers without power has decreased from a peak of 395,000 yesterday, but some areas may remain without electricity for several days due to the extent of the damage. ESB Networks warned that restoration times will vary depending on the severity of the damage in each location. The company will continue to update customers on estimated restoration times, and they can check www.PowerCheck.iefor real-time information.‘Ice cold’: TV host recalls brutal Meghan Markle rejection

234 player games offline Rockingstone Advisors LLC Raises Stock Position in Microsoft Co. (NASDAQ:MSFT)

Many netizens expressed concerns over the true intentions behind the "Self-Discipline Challenge," suggesting that the organizers may have been more focused on profiting from participants' registration fees rather than genuinely promoting self-improvement and rewarding success. Some went as far as accusing the challenge of being a scam or a ploy to exploit individuals' aspirations for personal growth and monetary gain.Scanlan: Time for legislators to protect womenEmpowered Funds LLC raised its stake in shares of Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc. ( NASDAQ:HWBK – Free Report ) by 5.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 27,169 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,340 shares during the quarter. Empowered Funds LLC’s holdings in Hawthorn Bancshares were worth $680,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Hawthorn Bancshares by 4.8% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 278,318 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $5,686,000 after acquiring an additional 12,800 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its stake in Hawthorn Bancshares by 36.5% in the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 25,043 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $496,000 after purchasing an additional 6,700 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Alexander Labrunerie & CO. Inc. purchased a new position in Hawthorn Bancshares in the first quarter valued at about $381,000. Institutional investors own 30.73% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, StockNews.com lowered shares of Hawthorn Bancshares from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Hawthorn Bancshares Price Performance Shares of HWBK opened at $30.42 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $26.02 and a two-hundred day moving average of $22.63. The company has a quick ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00. Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc. has a twelve month low of $17.86 and a twelve month high of $34.00. The company has a market cap of $212.64 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.80 and a beta of 0.53. Hawthorn Bancshares Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 1st. Stockholders of record on Sunday, December 15th will be given a $0.19 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 13th. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.50%. Hawthorn Bancshares’s payout ratio is 84.44%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Hawthorn Bancshares news, Director Jonathan Holtaway sold 5,053 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.57, for a total transaction of $144,364.21. Following the sale, the director now owns 402,460 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $11,498,282.20. The trade was a 1.24 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link . 23.40% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Hawthorn Bancshares Company Profile ( Free Report ) Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Hawthorn Bank that provides various banking services in the United States. It accepts checking, savings, money market, individual retirement, and other time deposit accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. The company also offers commercial and industrial, single payment personal, installment, commercial and residential real estate, and consumer loans, as well as equipment, operating, and small business administration loans; and debit and credit cards. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HWBK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc. ( NASDAQ:HWBK – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Hawthorn Bancshares Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hawthorn Bancshares and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Moreover, living in the countryside allows young people to reconnect with their roots and embrace a simpler way of life. They have the chance to learn new skills such as farming, woodworking, or traditional crafts, which can be both fulfilling and rewarding. In addition, the sense of community and camaraderie that exists in rural areas fosters a strong sense of belonging and support, something that is often lacking in the anonymity of city living.

Cavco Industries director Kerley sells $258,135 in stock'There is a fear.' Students at Sullivan give thanks in gathering political gloom0 bypoll wins, bastion Samaguri lost, bleak outlook for Congress in Assam amid murmurs of ‘arrogance’234 to win 。

NEW YORK — Juan Soto put on a New York Mets jersey and cap for the first time Thursday after his record $765 million, 15-year contract was finalized and talked about what made the difference in his decision. “They showed me a lot of love. ... How they're going to make it comfortable for me,” he said. "That's one of the things I was looking for." Soto was introduced at Citi Field a day after his deal was finalized. Speaking in the Piazza 31 Club, he was flanked by Mets owner Steve Cohen, president of baseball operations David Stearns and his agent, Scott Boras. “They always talk about family. They always talk about stick(ing) together,” Soto said. “That's one of the things that opened my eyes.” Security men in gray suits wearing earpieces were off to the side. Soto walked in led by Boras, wearing a dark suit, black turtle neck shirt and gold chain with his No. 22. “I’m excited by the Mets future,” Cohen said. “I think this accelerates our goal of winning championships.” Soto chose the Mets' offer on Sunday, deciding to leave the Yankees after helping them reach the World Series in his only season in the Bronx. SAN FRANCISCO — Willy Adames wasted little time making one thing clear: He wants to play all 162 games for the San Francisco Giants. So when introduced as their new shortstop Thursday, Adames looked to his left and gently put a hand on manager Bob Melvin's right shoulder, smiled and said, “if he lets me.” Melvin might not need much convincing, thrilled to suddenly have stability at a position that lacked continuity this year in his first season as skipper. Adames didn't hesitate to also offer a thought to new boss Buster Posey: He plans to win a few championships with the Giants just like the catcher-turned-executive did here. Surrounded by his parents and other family and friends, Adames was formally introduced and welcomed at Oracle Park after signing a $182 million, seven-year contract — the first big, splashy move made by Posey since he became President of Baseball Operations in late September. “There’s no words to describe my feeling right now to be here in this beautiful city, I’m just so happy to be here,” Adames said. "... This is a dream come true for me. I’m thrilled to be here, I’m so excited. Hopefully we can win a few championships like you did, and that’s one of the main reasons I’m here.” PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, was postponed on Thursday and scheduled to resume June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Only three out of 31 witnesses arrived to the hearing on Thursday. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. “There is no case against Wander, for as many witnesses as they present, there is no case now,” Franco's lead lawyer Teodosio Jáquez told The Associated Press after the hearing. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

None

The U.S. Counties Most at Risk From a Tsunami

NoneGarzon 7-11 3-3 19, Masogayo 6-14 1-3 13, Formann 4-15 0-0 10, Smith 8-13 2-2 21, Wetta 4-6 0-0 8, Betson 1-5 0-0 2, Diew 3-8 0-0 8, Oliver 0-0 1-2 1, Sanders 0-1 0-0 0, Teder 1-1 0-0 3, Totals 34-74 7-10 85 Isaacson 5-10 1-1 13, Willardson 1-4 2-2 4, Crittendon 6-11 0-0 14, Hartley 4-13 5-8 14, Taylor 1-3 2-2 5, Crocker 0-0 0-0 0, Dallas 0-2 2-2 2, Graham 3-5 0-0 6, Ibarra 6-12 0-0 15, Young 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 26-60 12-15 73 3-Point Goals_Colorado 10-24 (Garzon 2-5, Formann 2-8, Smith 3-4, Wetta 0-1, Diew 2-5, Teder 1-1), Utah Tech 9-25 (Isaacson 2-5, Willardson 0-2, Crittendon 2-4, Hartley 1-3, Taylor 1-1, Dallas 0-2, Graham 0-1, Ibarra 3-7). Assists_Colorado 22 (Wetta 8), Utah Tech 21 (Hartley 10). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Colorado 39 (Smith 10), Utah Tech 37 (Hartley 6, Isaacson 6). Total Fouls_Colorado 19, Utah Tech 10. Technical Fouls_None. A_467.BELLARMINE 80, BOWLING GREEN 68

Arne Slot explains why Real Madrid were a ‘pain in the a**’ after Liverpool winChargers’ leading rusher J.K. Dobbins sidelined by sprained kneeDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks won her reelection bid Wednesday after a recount confirmed her lead, helping her party pad its thin majority in the U.S. House and retain control of all four of Iowa’s congressional seats. Miller-Meeks said in a post on the social platform X that she was “deeply honored” after she defeated Democrat Christina Bohannan in a rematch of 2022, when Miller-Meeks won by 7 percentage points. The margin this year was much tighter — Miller-Meeks’ lead over Bohannan was less than a percentage point, or fewer than 1,000 votes. “I am now looking forward to getting back to work in Washington to lower prices at the gas pump, grocery store and on prescription drugs, secure the border and help farmers,” said Miller-Meeks, who represents the 1st District, which includes the eastern part of the state and a swath of south-central Iowa, including Johnson County, home to University of Iowa in Iowa City. Miller-Meeks earned a first term in Congress representing Iowa’s 2nd District when she defeated Democrat Rita Hart by just six votes in 2020. The Associated Press called this year’s race at 4:02 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Miller-Meeks had declared victory earlier, but the AP had not yet called the race because the margin was close enough that it could prompt a recount. More election coverage Trump won about 2.5M more votes this year than he did in 2020. This is where he did it Schools are bracing for upheaval over fear of mass deportations Democrats in Pennsylvania had a horrible 2024 election. They say it’s still a swing state Bohannan’s campaign on Nov. 14 requested a recount , as any candidate is allowed to do, saying in a statement that the recount will make certain “that every voter is heard.” She congratulated Miller-Meeks in a message on X after the vote count was completed. What to know about Trump’s second term: Staffing the administration: Here are the people Trump has picked for key positions so far. Plus, a look at recess appointments and how could Trump use them to fill his Cabinet. Follow all of our coverage as Donald Trump assembles his second administration. “Although this is not the result we wanted, I am so proud of our campaign,” she wrote. “We exceeded all expectations and turned a district that many pundits thought was unwinnable into one of the very closest races in the country.” The request was made for a recount in each of the district’s 20 counties. Because the margin was less than a percentage point, the state — not the candidate — pays for the costs associated with the recount. Miller-Meeks’ campaign accused Bohannan and other Democrats of being “election deniers,” and Republicans have said Bohannan is wasting taxpayer dollars. “This is a delaying tactic to thwart the will of the people,” the Miller-Meeks campaign said in a Nov. 14 statement. “A recount won’t meaningfully change the outcome of this race as the congresswoman’s lead is mathematically impossible to overcome.” Republican incumbents held onto Iowa’s three other congressional seats, maintaining GOP control over the entirety of Iowa’s congressional delegation. The sweep in 2022 represented the first time in three decades that Iowa had an all-Republican delegation, emblematic of the sharp rightward shift in the state not long after former President Barack Obama carried Iowa in 2008 and again in 2012. Obama won with solid support from the eastern counties along the Mississippi River that have mostly backed Trump since and bolster Miller-Meeks’ in her district as well. Two competitive congressional races in Iowa this year — the 1st and 3rd Districts — brought millions of dollars in paid advertising to the state from national campaign arms for House Republican and Democrats. Zach Nunn fought off the challenge from Democrat Lanon Baccam in the 3rd District, which includes much of the Des Moines metro area. Republican incumbents Ashley Hinson in the 2nd District and Randy Feenstra in the 4th District won decisively. Hinson defeated Democrat Sarah Corkery. Feenstra defeated Democrat Ryan Melton.

Keke Palmer Sends Shannon Sharpe Into Hysteria By Bringing Up Sex Tape MishapBucks' Khris Middleton likely to make season debut vs. Celtics

North Carolina has interviewed former New England Patriots coach and six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick for its head coaching position, two people with knowledge of the situation said Thursday. Both people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the school isn't commenting publicly on its search. Belichick's interview, first reported by Inside Carolina, comes a week after the school fired its winningest coach in College Football Hall of Famer Mack Brown. The school announced Nov. 26 that Brown in his second stint at the school, with Brown to N.C. State. Former Cleveland Browns coach Freddie Kitchens is working as the interim coach for an upcoming bowl game as UNC conducts it search. Moving on from the 73-year-old Brown to hire the 72-year-old Belichick would mean UNC is turning to a coach who has never worked at the college level, yet had incredible NFL success alongside quarterback Tom Brady throughout most of his 24-year tenure with the Patriots . In the time since, he , notably the Atlanta Falcons in January. UNC’s opening comes at a time of rapid changes in college athletics with free player movement through the transfer portal and players able to cash in on their athletic fame with endorsement opportunities. There’s also the impending arrival of revenue sharing, part of a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement proposal that by a judge in October. “I think it's a great time for me to get out,” Brown said after Saturday's loss to the Wolfpack. “This isn't the game that I signed up for. It's changed so much.” In an earlier this week, athletic director Bubba Cunningham said all the coaches the school is talking with about its job “are playing,” with college football having reached its conference title games before unveiling the 12-team College Football Playoff and bowl assignments. Cunningham said then that “fit” was the most important thing in finding Brown’s successor. “There's a certain person that’s best suited at the right time, at the right place,” he said. “And right now, that’s we’re looking for: Where are we today, who can lead us in the next three, five, 10 years?” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP college football: and

Grand Chief Jerry Daniels of the Southern Chiefs Organization (SCO) is on leave for an undetermined length of time, the organization says. SCO told Global Winnipeg on Thursday that Daniels, who was re-elected to a third term in June, is taking leave for health reasons. Daniels was hospitalized after an altercation in Ottawa last week, where he was participating in a three-day Assembly of First Nations special chiefs’ assembly. In his stead, SCO said Cornell McLean of Lake Manitoba First Nation — longtime member of the organization’s executive committee — will be serving as Acting Grand Chief. SCO says it’s ‘business as usual’ for the services and programming it provides.

NEW YORK — Juan Soto put on a New York Mets jersey and cap for the first time Thursday after his record $765 million, 15-year contract was finalized and talked about what made the difference in his decision. “They showed me a lot of love. ... How they're going to make it comfortable for me,” he said. "That's one of the things I was looking for." Soto was introduced at Citi Field a day after his deal was finalized. Speaking in the Piazza 31 Club, he was flanked by Mets owner Steve Cohen, president of baseball operations David Stearns and his agent, Scott Boras. “They always talk about family. They always talk about stick(ing) together,” Soto said. “That's one of the things that opened my eyes.” Security men in gray suits wearing earpieces were off to the side. Soto walked in led by Boras, wearing a dark suit, black turtle neck shirt and gold chain with his No. 22. “I’m excited by the Mets future,” Cohen said. “I think this accelerates our goal of winning championships.” Soto chose the Mets' offer on Sunday, deciding to leave the Yankees after helping them reach the World Series in his only season in the Bronx. SAN FRANCISCO — Willy Adames wasted little time making one thing clear: He wants to play all 162 games for the San Francisco Giants. So when introduced as their new shortstop Thursday, Adames looked to his left and gently put a hand on manager Bob Melvin's right shoulder, smiled and said, “if he lets me.” Melvin might not need much convincing, thrilled to suddenly have stability at a position that lacked continuity this year in his first season as skipper. Adames didn't hesitate to also offer a thought to new boss Buster Posey: He plans to win a few championships with the Giants just like the catcher-turned-executive did here. Surrounded by his parents and other family and friends, Adames was formally introduced and welcomed at Oracle Park after signing a $182 million, seven-year contract — the first big, splashy move made by Posey since he became President of Baseball Operations in late September. “There’s no words to describe my feeling right now to be here in this beautiful city, I’m just so happy to be here,” Adames said. "... This is a dream come true for me. I’m thrilled to be here, I’m so excited. Hopefully we can win a few championships like you did, and that’s one of the main reasons I’m here.” PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, was postponed on Thursday and scheduled to resume June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Only three out of 31 witnesses arrived to the hearing on Thursday. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. “There is no case against Wander, for as many witnesses as they present, there is no case now,” Franco's lead lawyer Teodosio Jáquez told The Associated Press after the hearing. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Stock market today: Rising tech stocks pull Wall Street to another record

Though Evanston voters heartily approved a 2022 referendum to adopt ranked choice voting, also called instant runoff voting, starting with its April 2025 local election, a Cook County judge scuttled those plans with a Nov. 12 ruling. A nonprofit group called Reform for Illinois sued Cook County Clerk Cedric Giles’ office, arguing that it was not taking steps to bring ranked choice voting into effect, and Judge Maureen Ward Kirby ruled that the clerk’s office does not have the authority to execute ranked-choice voting. She dismissed the lawsuit. “There is currently no certified voting system that exists that would enable the Clerk’s Office to implement ranked choice voting,” Sally Daly, a spokesperson for the clerk’s office, said in an email to the Chicago Tribune/Pioneer Press. “The implementation of ranked choice voting would require statutory changes to the state’s existing election code,” she said. Ranked choice voting requires voters to rank their selections of candidates for public office. If a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, they are declared the winner. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, then the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated from the tabulation of votes, and election officials perform a recount. Multiple candidates could end up being eliminated through the process until one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote. David Melton, the board president of Reform for Illinois and an attorney, sued Giles’ office in July after what he saw as inaction from the clerk in implementing ranked choice voting in Evanston, a measure approved by a whopping 82% of Evanston voters in 2022. Melton said that after voters approved the referendum, his group, officials from the city of Evanston and the clerk’s office were in communication on how the city could implement ranked-choice voting for Evanston’s municipal elections. “Those discussions were stalled after (former Cook County clerk) Karen Yarbrough died (on April 7), but after that, we resumed with then her interim successor, Mr. Giles, and we got nowhere,” he said. “Eventually, our patience ran out,” Melton said. In July, Melton and Reform for Illinois filed the lawsuit against the clerk’s office in the Cook County Circuit Court with the aim of enacting ranked choice voting in Evanston. In her recent dismissal of the case, Ward Kirby ruled that Evanston’s ranked choice voting is “vague, ambiguous, and not self-executing,” effectively blocking the city from moving ahead with the new voting concept. In Ward Kirby’s dismissal, she said that the clerk’s office could not implement a voting system not approved by the Illinois State Board of Elections and that it was cost prohibitive to do ranked choice voting with paper ballots. Melton contends that because Cook County uses Dominion Voting Systems to provide its voting machines and equipment, the Cook County clerk has the authority under the Illinois Constitution to purchase a ranked choice voting system from Dominion without the need to purchase sets of hardware that would be only used by Evanstonians. Melton said he is considering appealing the court’s decision, but that doing so most likely won’t have an impact before the 2025 municipal elections. Former Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan wrote in an opinion in 2005 that municipalities that have home rule have the authority to adopt ranked choice voting through referendum for municipal officers, which in Evanston would be the mayor, city council and city clerk, Melton said. Evanston has home rule, a type of local government that grants greater powers and is typically in effect in municipalities with more than 30,000 inhabitants, Evanston’s response Other suburban municipalities in the Chicago area have also approved ranked choice voting through referendum or are considering a referendum for it, including Skokie , Oak Park, Berwyn and Naperville . In June, after Yarbrough’s death, the Evanston City Council passed an ordinance to push the clerk’s office to work with the city to troubleshoot a ranked choice voting ballot before the April 2025 municipal election. At the time, Mayor Daniel Biss said the clerk’s office did not raise any concerns on ranked choice voting. According to previous reporting, Biss was against the idea of suing the clerk’s office in favor of pursuing a working relationship. Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss was opposed to the city suing the Cook County Clerk’s Office to enact ranked-choice voting for municipal elections, according to previous reporting. Pictured here, Biss attends a City Council meeting on Nov. 13, 2023. A letter obtained by Chicago Tribune/Pioneer Press from the clerk’s office to Melton on July 22 reveals that the clerk’s office “informed Evanston officials in both oral and written communications (in December 2023) that ranked choice voting is not currently provided for under the Illinois Election Code and that there is no voting system that exists that is certified by the Illinois State Board of Elections that would enable the Cook County Clerk’s Office to conduct ranked choice voting.” In response to the court’s dismissal of ranked-choice voting, Evanston’s Communications and Engagement Manager Cynthia Vargas said, “The City of Evanston is reviewing the court’s ruling and looking into the city’s next available steps for ranked choice voting, including potential legal action to defend our rights as a home-rule municipality.” Possible political implications? Melton said he suspects that the clerk’s office’s refusal to introduce ranked choice voting for Evanston could be political. Giles is past chair of the Proviso Township Democratic Organization. “The main reason they’re not doing so, and I’m just speculating here, but I believe that the Democratic Party of Cook County is against ranked choice voting because they feel it would undercut the party’s ability to obtain fees from candidates for slating and undercut their power in primary elections,” Melton said. “I believe the clerk is opposing this on orders from the Democratic Party of Cook County,” he said. Daly, of the County Clerk’s office, responded, “The accusation from the party who lost on the legal merits of the case is baseless. The Clerk’s office followed the law, as the Court ruled.”

“We were gonna see where it goes. But we were just gonna play the four of us" The surviving members of the Grateful Dead have revealed that they were working on plans for a 60th-anniversary reunion before the passing of Phil Lesh. Lesh, the co-founder and bassist of the San Francisco band, died back in October at the age of 84 . A statement shared on social media at the time said that he “passed peacefully” and was “surrounded by his family and full of love”. In an interview with Anthony Mason of CBS This Morning , Grateful Dead members Bobby Weir, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart opened up about how they were considering a reunion to celebrate the band’s 60th anniversary next year with Lesh and had scheduled time to rehearse. The interview took place only five days after the passing of the bassist. “I was hoping that we could play with him again one more time,” Kreutzmann said. “So that, that was my sadness...’Cause I know he wanted to play with us again too.” “We were kickin’ it around,” Weir added. “In fact, we were gonna, we were gonna get together and, and kick some songs around tomorrow.” “I was hopin’ that we could do it,” Kreutzmann said, with Weir adding, “We were gonna see where it goes. But we were just gonna play the four of us.” Next month, the Grateful Dead will be recognized as part of the 2024 Kennedy Center Honors. In other news, the band’s late frontman Jerry Garcia’s voice has been recreated with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for books, articles, PDFs and more. The late icon’s estate partnered with ElevenLabs – an AI voice company and an app – to recreate Garcia’s voice and read out audiobooks, e-books, articles, poetry, fan stories, PDFs and more in 32 different languages. Related Topics Grateful Dead Psychedelia RockTOM LEONARD: Chilling words on bullets fired at murdered health insurance boss that hint at why he was targeted

234 twin flame Ultimately, the case of these two internet celebrities serves as a reminder that fame gained through exploiting base instincts and catering to the lowest common denominator is hollow and fleeting. True success and influence in the digital age come from creating meaningful and authentic content that resonates with audiences in a positive and constructive way.

LeBlanc and Joly offer little details about visit with Trump's team in FloridaThe Argentine government will allow universities and hospitals nationwide to charge non-resident foreigners, presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni said in his usual press conference. However, critics told the Herald that university students are already required to be residents to sign up for undergraduate degrees and that the number of international students in public universities is minimal. “The goal of the measures is to move forward, as in all the measures we take, toward an orderly country and, in this case, a country that takes care of its borders and protects Argentine citizens,” Adorni said during the conference. He added that charging fees to non-resident foreigners will “represent a source of financing” for universities. State universities have not charged students for undergraduate degrees since 1949 . “Just to give an example: one out of every three medical students is a foreigner,” Adorni said. However, a spokesperson for the National University of Córdoba (UNC) told the Herald that foreign students already need Argentine ID cards (“DNI” for their Spanish initials) to sign up for careers in national universities. Those ID cards are only issued to residents in Argentina, and foreigners usually get temporary residence permits (called precarias ) before getting a definitive one. That means that there are no “non-resident foreigners” studying in Argentina. There are two exceptions: exchange students who come “usually for a semester,” but the fees they pay are low enough to be considered “symbolic.” Another one could be the CBC, Buenos Aires University’s entry course, which international students can sign up for with their country’s ID card or their passports. However, once they are accepted into their degree of choice, they must present an Argentine DNI. The UNC spokesperson added that university authorities are not planning to charge international students, and that, even if the government’s announcement were applicable, universities would be allowed, and not forced to, charge them. “Universities are autonomous,” the spokesperson added. “The government is diverting the discussion. The issue that worries the universities is what budget they will have next year.” A series of austerity measures implemented by the Milei administration have hit public universities hard , sparking nationwide protests and months of tensions. Adorni added that the government aims to ” end free medical care for foreigners,” including “national, provincial or municipal agencies.” He added that the province of Salta, which borders Bolivia, is charging foreign patients, and “the number of foreigners treated was reduced by 95% and a savings of AR$60 million was generated.” Yamila Pereyra, a social worker from the Bonaparte Hospital , said that the health center’s authorities have not released an official communiqué on the topic. “There has never been any refusal to treat foreigners; we have always treated every person without restrictions regardless of their immigration status in the country,” she added. Rodolfo Arrechea, the Health Secretary for the state workers’ union ATE, told the Herald that they always supported “universal health care,” and that a patient’s nationality is not a factor. “In Buenos Aires, there is a percentage, albeit minimal, of foreigners [that use public hospitals,] but they are a vulnerable population,” Arrechea said. The union leader said the government is trying to make excuses, as it is defunding hospitals and looking for “the state not to be present.” “[Foreigners going to public hospitals] do not move the needle, but that person is going to stop going to the hospital, and you can buy yourself a bigger health issue — for example, cases of tuberculosis or HIV.” Adorni said both changes will be made by modifying the immigration law. He added that the reform will also “incorporate more crimes as causes to prevent entry or as justification to expel an immigrant from the country.” “Therefore, if a criminal is caught in flagrante delicto , that is, if he is caught committing the crime or if he is arrested for violating the democratic system, attacking the institutions, for example, he will be expelled and will be prohibited from re-entering the country,” he said. Three weeks ago, Federal Judge Daniel Rafecas requested the arrest of 61 Brazilians living in Argentina who were convicted in Brazil for participating in the January 2023 storming of government buildings. Four have been detained so far.However, amidst the celebrations and accolades, former NBA player and current analyst Huo Nan voiced his concerns about Jokic's workload and the potential long-term consequences of such a high-scoring output. Nan highlighted the importance of player health and wellness, emphasizing that pushing too hard in such a short span of time could lead to fatigue, injuries, and burnout.

Moreover, the content of the inscriptions provides valuable historical and cultural information about the society in which the tablets were created. They offer insights into political structures, daily life, and belief systems of ancient Koreans. Scholars are eager to decipher the inscriptions further to uncover more about the people who created them and the context in which they were used.

Mass Education Was Designed to Quash Critical Thinking

During the Forum, participants acknowledged the significant progress made in China-Latin America relations over the past few years. China has become one of Latin America's major trading partners, with bilateral trade reaching new heights. Moreover, Chinese investments in Latin America have played a crucial role in promoting economic development and creating job opportunities in the region.

Stay tuned for what promises to be an unforgettable day of football action as these top European clubs go head to head in the quest for success in the UEFA Champions League. The drama, excitement, and passion of the beautiful game will be on full display as the best teams in Europe compete for glory on the grandest stage of them all.

Video: NY prison guards beat Robert Brooks from moment he arrived. He died 6 hours laterNighdive Studios seems to have quietly announced a The Thing: Remastered release date of December 5, 2024. It’s a launch plan that will see the survival horror reimagining arriving later this week if the release date promised in a recent is accurate. The post, which was published late last week, specifically covers new Xbox game releases from December 2 through December 6, mentioning titles such as The Thaumaturge, Marvel Rivals, and early access for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Considering Nightdive has yet to announce a proper date and its still says launch is simply “coming soon,” The Thing: Remastered’s inclusion should raise some eyebrows. Nightdive at IGN Live in June of this year, promising to deliver a bone-chilling upgrade for the classic 2002 adaptation before 2024 came to a close. from the studio’s X/Twitter account promised that the release date is in December earlier today but did not clarify whether the December 5 date shown in the Xbox Wire post is accurate. If it is, then we shouldn’t have to wait much longer before the full experience is available for everyone to play for themselves. In addition to Xbox One and Xbox Series X | S, The Thing: Remastered is currently set to come to PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. Nightdive has made a name for itself as an experienced remaster studio throughout the last few years. Other titles in its catalog include remasters for the Turok trilogy, Star Wars: Dark Forces, System Shock, Shadow Man, and more. The Thing: Remastered promises a suite of additions to help bring the original experience to modern platforms. These include dynamic lighting, up to 144fps, 4K resolution, antialiasing, and other general gameplay improvements. While we wait for Nightdive to share more about its plans for The Thing: Remastered, you can read about , another one of its projects that launched earlier this year. You can also read up on , and .

Early National Signing Day 2024 schedule: Top college football recruits, potential flips

234 x 2

Where to buy GK Barry’s personalised necklace that she’s been spotted wearing in the I’m A Celeb jungle

Japanese Former PM Expressed Warnings Over China’s Military Ambitions in 1993; Miyazawa Shared Views During Japan-U.S. SummitNone

“We have more students who are coming to school who are not potty-trained.” Marie Wiles was blunt about the increasingly basic needs of her pupils. She has served as superintendent of the Guilderland Central Schools, a suburb of Albany, for 14 years. “It’s a big discussion. Toileting needs are a part of the conversation now along with managing behaviors. It’s generally taking students longer to learn school behaviors. It’s a reality of our day to day. It’s everywhere, not just here," she said. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, educators from urban, suburban and rural school districts tell Capital Tonight that the array and depth of student needs have increased substantially. “Our students have greater needs, and our costs are greater than they used to be,” according to David Little, executive director of the Rural Schools Association. Jennifer Pyle, executive director of the Conference of Big 5 School Districts, which represents New York City, Yonkers, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo as well as Albany, Mount Vernon and Utica, said some districts chose to spend one-time COVID grant funding on recurring expenses like social workers, counselors and psychologists. “We receive criticism, of course, for doing that...but it was something where we didn’t have a choice. This is what our kids needed,” she said. “And a lot of those positions are now on the chopping block.” As 2025 approaches, educators are facing a trifecta of change: the loss of COVID-era money; the retooling of the Foundation Aid formula — the primary formula for distributing state aid — and possible disruption from the incoming Trump administration. Wiles is worried. “We may be on the brink of a perfect storm,” she said. Regarding changes discussed by the Trump administration, Robert Lowry, the long-time deputy director of the New York State Council of School Superintendents, agrees there’s a lot for school districts in liberal states like New York to be concerned about. But he warns against pre-panicking. “The president-elect has proposed eliminating the U.S. Education Department, something that I will emphasize to school officials, doesn’t mean that all the programs administered by the Education Department would go away,” Lowry said. The elimination of the department would require congressional action. Lowry noted that the country didn’t have a federal Education Department until 1979. Instead, major federal education funding programs like Title I, which provides compensatory education targeted to disadvantaged children; Title III, which provides support for multilingual students and Title VII, which provides support for civil rights issues, were administered through other agencies. “What we’re hearing is troubling. Obviously, Title I funding for schools with low-income students, IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) funding for special needs students, those are two huge areas,” said Jennifer Pyle. "Fifty percent of the kids in special ed [in New York state] are in my eight districts. Sixty-seven percent of the English language learners are in my eight districts. Forty-three of the kids in the state are in my eight districts, and the bulk of them are poor.” Pyle is also keeping an ear out for information about the future of the school lunch program and the possible elimination of the summer meal program for children who are not enrolled in school. Asked to speculate how changes in federal funding could impact New York, NYSCOSS’ Lowry said administrators in Washington have a variety of levers at their disposal. “Cuts to the program, changes in how the funding is allocated among states; potentially, changes in how funding is allocated among districts. Is there some sort of block grant initiative?” Lowry wondered. “The campaign also made statements to the effect that the (Trump) administration would attempt to withhold funding to schools which are teaching critical race theory or are somehow being overly supportive of transgender children.” Rick Timbs, executive director of the Statewide School Finance Consortium, agrees with Lowry. “They’re going to say, if you want money, you better be emphasizing this and not this, whether it’s regarding migrants, LGBTQ+ issues, or transgender rights," Timbs sai. According to Pyle, there is also heightened concern among migrant students’ families. “Anecdotally, there are parents coming into school expressing their concerns about the safety of their children. Sending their children to school and what the implications will be for their families,” Pyle said. “They want to keep their families intact and not knowing what will happen, which is deeply troubling. Their fears are reasonable given the rhetoric that we’re hearing.” Timbs states that underlying these changes is a battle for control. “It’s not just local control. It’s parental control, it’s educational control,” he explained. Timbs believes that many cultural issues that people had thought were “settled” have turned into micro-movements. “Look at the movement, for example, to ban certain books in school libraries. What’s actually happening is that there are attempts across states, including New York state, for more local control, more local say on what happens and what doesn’t happen, what’s allowed or not allowed, what is taught, what is not taught, what inferences are made or not made within public schools.” He sees the New York state Board of Regents’ “New Pathways to Graduation” as one response to these currents. To some conservatives, the changes need to go further. “I’m a fairly moderate conservative. I have three daughters, the last one is in college and just started. But I found myself having to deprogram them every day coming back from school. And I’m not extreme in that sense at all,” Bill O’Reilly, a newspaper columnist and Republican strategist for the November Team, told Capital Tonight. “For example, I might talk about the Rockefellers, and immediately it came out ‘those bastards.’ Everything was negative. ‘Those robber barons.' And now we are at the point where you’re questioned if you question that a boy could turn into a girl,” he said. “I am not uncommon. All my friends with children, we have had the same conversations for years and these are not very political people.” While O’Reilly supports educational change, he thinks New York should have a lot more autonomy under the Trump administration because states’ rights is a core conservative principle. “On paper, it’s probably less of a freakout than people think. The other thing is, how much could they actually pull off? There are so many issues out there to go after,” he said. O’Reilly, Timbs and Lowry all agree that the incoming Trump administration will likely push for more charter, voucher and religious schools. “I think it will end up back in court,” O’Reilly said, referring to Blaine Amendment battles from the past which prohibit state legislatures from appropriating funds to religious schools. Health care and the state Department of Education NYSCOSS’ Lowry is also concerned about two other issues that have been somewhat under the radar: the federal funding utilized by the New York state Education Department and health care. “I’m no expert in health care, but if I add it up correctly, we use over $75 billion in federal money to support Medicaid, Child Health Plus and the Essential Plan.” Lowry wonders aloud what the ripple effect might be for schools if that money were to be slashed at the federal level. “I do not believe that if you’re hit with something of that magnitude that the impact would be restricted just to health care,” he said. “The state would try and preserve some services and the greater the impact on the state budget, the greater the possible impact on school districts. And it wouldn’t be just wealthy districts because wealthy districts don’t get that much aid. So the deeper need for cuts, whether it’s some federal action or a downturn in the economy, the harder it is to spare school aid.” According to Lowry, the New York state Education Department is another issue to keep an eye on considering that federal funds support 57% of the department’s total operating budget. “Of course, NYSED does more than P-12 education. They do a lot with adult vocational rehabilitation services for adults with disabilities which involves federal money. But their office of P-12 education, the part that I have the most interaction with, about 2/3rds of the staff in that office are funded with federal dollars.” Federal funds for aid to school districts and other P-12 institutions totals $5.39 billion in New York state. For perspective, state-funded school aid totals $35.89 billion. Federal funding for staff and non-personnel costs of SED’s Office of P12 Education totals $234 million and funds nearly two-thirds of the staff positions in that office. NYSED did not grant an interview request to Capital Tonight about this issue. Foundation Aid “My biggest worry honestly is about Foundation Aid because that is a much bigger part of our operating budget than our federal dollars are. We have, you know, monies connected to the Titles I, II, III, IV. We have two grants connected to special education, but they are a relatively small part of the dollars that we have. Foundation Aid changes could potentially be much more devastating,” Guilderland’s Marie Wiles explained. “We’re kind of in a wait and see mode.” When this year’s budget was finally enacted by the state Legislature and signed into law by the governor, New York had invested a record $35.9 billion into school aid, including $24.9 billion in Foundation Aid alone. But there was something else in the budget that schools around the state took notice of. The governor had commissioned the Rockefeller Institute of Government, headed by former state Budget Director Robert Megna, to study the outdated Foundation Aid formula. It wasn’t a surprise. Earlier in the session, in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive budget, she had eliminated "Save Harmless," a provision in the aid formula that prevents any schools from receiving less aid than it did the year before. The governor argued that student populations were shrinking, and that school budgets needed to be “right-sized." The Legislature and education advocates argued that before making any big changes, the state needed to take a more holistic look at the formula. A compromise was reached. While the enacted budget didn’t include the elimination of "Save Harmless," the governor successfully lowered the inflation factor in the education budget from 3.4% to 2.8% and asked the Rockefeller Institute to come up with Foundation Aid recommendations by Dec. 1, which is this coming Sunday. Districts could feel a big financial hit from even the smallest changes to the 26-year-old Foundation Aid formula. “Buffalo receives 73% of their money from the state, 16% from federal. Their local share is so low. If the state doesn’t come through with the funding and the federal government fails to deliver or cuts back, there will be nowhere to go,” the Conference of Big 5’s Jennifer Pyle explained. Pyle’s concerns are echoed by David Little of the Rural Schools Association. “The governor is fond of asking why should we be paying for students that aren’t there anymore. Well, for the same reason that New York is paying more in its budget despite the fact that it has fewer residents,” Little said, pointedly. Additionally, according to Wiles, the number of students with disabilities that Guilderland serves is rising, which means the district’s costs are rising too. “We’ve had to expand the number of classrooms to meet the needs of additional students [with disabilities] who have either moved into Guilderland or who are newly identified,” she said. “So, we had to add another classroom and next year, it looks like we’re going to need a fifth elementary self-contained classroom. And they’re all full. School districts may have fewer students, but we have a greater percentage of students with significant needs.” All of these competing pressures have members of New York state Conference of School Superintendents feeling a rise in pessimism, according to Bob Lowry. “Every year since 2016, we’ve asked how optimistic or pessimistic are you...regarding your district’s ability to maintain adequate services for students and this year it was 82% pessimistic and 16% optimistic,” Lowry said. “Two years ago, it was 55% optimistic. And this survey was done back in August before the election.” Wiles may have summed up how educators in New York feel about 2025. “There’s just a long list of unknowns and they’re all about big things,” she said.

Natixis Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Glaukos Co. ( NYSE:GKOS – Free Report ) by 1.2% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 37,738 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after acquiring an additional 441 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors LLC’s holdings in Glaukos were worth $4,917,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of GKOS. Values First Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Glaukos during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its stake in shares of Glaukos by 68.8% during the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,192 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $141,000 after buying an additional 486 shares in the last quarter. KBC Group NV lifted its stake in shares of Glaukos by 16.2% during the 3rd quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 1,445 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $188,000 after buying an additional 201 shares in the last quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Glaukos during the 2nd quarter valued at $187,000. Finally, Procyon Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Glaukos during the 3rd quarter valued at $210,000. Institutional investors own 99.04% of the company’s stock. Glaukos Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:GKOS opened at $144.00 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $7.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -47.86 and a beta of 1.02. Glaukos Co. has a 12 month low of $59.22 and a 12 month high of $146.09. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $132.05 and its 200 day moving average is $123.31. The company has a current ratio of 5.54, a quick ratio of 4.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on shares of Glaukos from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 3rd. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Glaukos from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, October 21st. Piper Sandler set a $140.00 price target on shares of Glaukos in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Glaukos from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price target on shares of Glaukos from $145.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 14th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $134.55. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Glaukos Insiders Place Their Bets In other Glaukos news, Director Gilbert H. Kliman sold 3,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.67, for a total value of $392,010.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 32,336 shares in the company, valued at $4,225,345.12. This represents a 8.49 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink . Also, COO Joseph E. Gilliam sold 2,275 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.97, for a total transaction of $316,156.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 102,169 shares in the company, valued at $14,198,425.93. This represents a 2.18 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders own 6.40% of the company’s stock. About Glaukos ( Free Report ) Glaukos Corporation, an ophthalmic pharmaceutical and medical technology company, focuses on the development of novel therapies for the treatment of glaucoma, corneal disorders, and retinal diseases. It offers iStent and iStent inject W micro-bypass stents that enhance aqueous humor outflow inserted in cataract surgery to treat mild-to-moderate open-angle glaucoma. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GKOS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Glaukos Co. ( NYSE:GKOS – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Glaukos Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Glaukos and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Trump raced to pick many Cabinet posts. He took more time to settle on a treasury secretary WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump launched a blitz of picks for his Cabinet, but he took his time settling on billionaire investor Scott Bessent as his choice for treasury secretary. The Republican not only wanted someone who jibes with him, but an official who can execute his economic vision and look straight out of central casting while doing so. With his Yale University education and pedigree trading for Soros Fund Management before establishing his own funds, Bessent will be tasked with a delicate balancing act. Trump expects him to help reset the global trade order, enable trillions of dollars in tax cuts, ensure inflation stays in check, manage a ballooning national debt and still keep the financial markets confident. Trump chooses Bessent to be treasury secretary, Vought as budget chief, Chavez-DeRemer for Labor WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has chosen hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, an advocate for deficit reduction, to serve as his next treasury secretary. Bessent, 62, is founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management. He previously had worked on and off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. Trump also said he would nominate Russell Vought, 48, to lead the Office of Management and Budget, a position he held during Trump's first term. And Trump chose Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, an Oregon Republican, as his labor secretary, and Scott Turner, a former football player who worked in Trump’s first administration, as his housing secretary. Afraid of losing the US-Canada trade pact, Mexico alters its laws and removes Chinese parts MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico has been taking a bashing for allegedly serving as a conduit for Chinese parts and products into North America. Officials here are terrified that a re-elected Donald Trump or politically struggling Justin Trudeau could simply expel their country from the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement. Mexico's ruling Morena party is so afraid its has gone on a campaign to get companies to replace Chinese parts with locally made ones. And its legislators are consciously tweaking the wording of major laws to try to make them compatible with the trade pact's language. Mexico hopes the rules of the trade pact would prevent the U.S. or Canada from simply walking away. US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems? DALLAS (AP) — Delta and United Airlines have become the most profitable U.S. airlines by targeting premium customers while also winning a significant share of budget travelers. That is squeezing smaller low-fare carriers like Spirit Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday. Some travel industry experts think Spirit’s troubles indicate less-wealthy passengers will have fewer choices and higher prices. Other discount airlines are on better financial footing but also are lagging far behind the full-service airlines when it comes to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Most industry experts think Frontier and other so-called ultra-low-cost carriers will fill the vacuum if Spirit shrinks, and that there's still plenty of competition to prevent prices from spiking. What to know about Scott Bessent, Trump's pick for treasury secretary WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has chosen money manager Scott Bessent, an advocate for deficit reduction and deregulation, to serve as his next treasury secretary. Bessent is a past supporter of Democrats who has become an enthusiastic supporter of Trump. He’s an advocate of cutting spending while extending the tax cuts approved by Congress in Trump’s first term. He has said tariffs imposed during a second Trump administration would be directed primarily at China. What to know about Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Trump's pick for labor secretary WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has named Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer to lead the Department of Labor, elevating a Republican congresswoman who has strong support from unions in her district but lost reelection in November. Chavez-DeRemer has a legislative record that has drawn plaudits from unions, but organized labor leaders remain skeptical about Trump's agenda for workers. Trump, in general, has not supported policies that make it easier for workers to organize. Chavez-DeRemer is a one-term congresswoman, having lost reelection in her competitive Oregon district earlier this month. She joins Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio, the Florida senator, as the second Latino pick for Trump’s second Cabinet. Trump taps a Fox News personality, a surgeon and a former Congressman to lead public health agencies WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has nominated a critic of COVID-19 health measures to lead the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Marty Makary came to national attention for opposing mask mandates and other steps during the pandemic. He is a surgeon, author and professor at Johns Hopkins University. Makary is the latest of a string of Trump nominees who are deeply critical of government health regulators and experts. If confirmed, Makary would be expected to report to anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick to oversee the nation’s health agencies. Bitcoin ticks closer to $100,000 in extended surge following US elections NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin is jumping again, setting another new high above $99,000. The cryptocurrency has been shattering records almost daily since the U.S. presidential election, and has rocketed more than 40% higher in just two weeks. It's now at the doorstep of $100,000. Cryptocurrencies and related investments like crypto exchange-traded funds have rallied because the incoming Trump administration is expected to be more “crypto-friendly.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is hard to predict. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. Supreme Court steps into fight over FCC's $8 billion subsidies for internet and phone services WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has stepped into a major legal fight over the $8 billion a year the federal government spends to subsidize phone and internet services in schools, libraries and rural areas, in a new test of federal regulatory power. The justices on Friday agreed to review an appellate ruling that struck down as unconstitutional the Universal Service Fund. The Federal Communications Commission collects money from telecommunications providers, who then pass the cost on to their customers. The Biden administration appealed the lower court ruling, but the case probably won’t be argued until late March. At that point, the Trump administration will be in place and it is not clear whether it will take a different view of the issue. Charlotte airport workers voting on whether to strike during busy Thanksgiving travel week CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Service workers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport are voting on whether to go on a 24-hour strike around Thanksgiving amid complaints about low wages and poor working conditions. The vote is being taken by employees of two airport contractors who provide cabin cleaning services, trash removal and other services. The airport expects over 1 million passengers to depart from it the weekend before the holiday. The date of the proposed strike has not been announced.The Traitors' Charlotte Chilton shares worrying update on newborn daughter's health

234+8 GOODYEAR, Ariz. — One person was shot and another two people were hit by a car at a party in Goodyear Saturday night. >> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone. Officers were called to the 303 Reception Hall on North Sarival Avenue around 10:19 p.m. Saturday for reports of a shooting, according to the Goodyear Police Department. When officers arrived on scene they found more than 100 people at the reception hall where a party had been held. After speaking with witnesses, officers say they learned two people had gotten into an argument that escalated into a shooting. After the shooting, someone hit the suspected shooter and another person with a car. Three people are in critical condition. Watch 12News for free You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12+ app! The free 12+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV . 12+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona. Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives. Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX." Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12+ app to add to your account , or have the 12+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.49ers QB Brock Purdy, DE Nick Bosa out, Brandon Allen to start at Green Bay

Financial sector should shoulder heavy burden on promoting growth via new market productsCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Known across the globe as the stuck astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams hit the six-month mark in space Thursday with two more to go. The pair rocketed into orbit on June 5, the first to ride Boeing’s new Starliner crew capsule on what was supposed to be a weeklong test flight. They arrived at the International Space Station the next day, only after overcoming a cascade of thruster failures and helium leaks . NASA deemed the capsule too risky for a return flight, so it will be February before their long and trying mission comes to a close. While NASA managers bristle at calling them stuck or stranded, the two retired Navy captains shrug off the description of their plight. They insist they’re fine and accepting of their fate. Wilmore views it as a detour of sorts: “We’re just on a different path.” “I like everything about being up here,” Williams told students Wednesday from an elementary school named for her in Needham, Massachusetts, her hometown. "Just living in space is super fun.” Both astronauts have lived up there before so they quickly became full-fledged members of the crew, helping with science experiments and chores like fixing a broken toilet, vacuuming the air vents and watering the plants. Williams took over as station commander in September. “Mindset does go a long way,” Wilmore said in response to a question from Nashville first-graders in October. He’s from Mount Juliet, Tennessee. “I don’t look at these situations in life as being downers.” Boeing flew its Starliner capsule home empty in September, and NASA moved Wilmore and Williams to a SpaceX flight not due back until late February. Two other astronauts were bumped to make room and to keep to a six-month schedule for crew rotations. Like other station crews, Wilmore and Williams trained for spacewalks and any unexpected situations that might arise. “When the crews go up, they know they could be there for up to a year,” said NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio found that out the hard way when the Russian Space Agency had to rush up a replacement capsule for him and two cosmonauts in 2023, pushing their six-month mission to just past a year. Boeing said this week that input from Wilmore and Williams has been “invaluable" in the ongoing inquiry of what went wrong. The company said in a statement that it is preparing for Starliner's next flight but declined comment on when it might launch again. NASA also has high praise for the pair. “Whether it was luck or whether it was selection, they were great folks to have for this mission,” NASA's chief health and medical officer, Dr. JD Polk, said during an interview with The Associated Press. On top of everything else, Williams, 59, has had to deal with “rumors,” as she calls them, of serious weight loss. She insists her weight is the same as it was on launch day, which Polk confirms. During Wednesday's student chat, Williams said she didn't have much of an appetite when she first arrived in space. But now she's “super hungry” and eating three meals a day plus snacks, while logging the required two hours of daily exercise. Williams, a distance runner, uses the space station treadmill to support races in her home state. She competed in Cape Cod’s 7-mile Falmouth Road Race in August. She ran the 2007 Boston Marathon up there as well. She has a New England Patriots shirt with her for game days, as well as a Red Sox spring training shirt. “Hopefully I’ll be home before that happens -- but you never know,” she said in November. Husband Michael Williams, a retired federal marshal and former Navy aviator, is caring for their dogs back home in Houston. As for Wilmore, 61, he's missing his younger daughter's senior year in high school and his older daughter's theater productions in college. “We can’t deny that being unexpectedly separated, especially during the holidays when the entire family gets together, brings increased yearnings to share the time and events together,” his wife, Deanna Wilmore, told the AP in a text this week. Her husband “has it worse than us” since he's confined to the space station and can only connect via video for short periods. “We are certainly looking forward to February!!” she wrote. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Lexus: A guide to everything you need to knowArts quango that funded porn film handed extra £28million of YOUR money in SNP Budget Creative Scotland will be subject to a review after a series of controversies They include funding a sex film and 'censoring' gender-critical feminists Click here to visit the Scotland home page for the latest news and sport By GEORGIA EDKINS SCOTTISH POLITICAL EDITOR FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY Published: 18:42 GMT, 7 December 2024 | Updated: 18:48 GMT, 7 December 2024 e-mail View comments Scotland's beleaguered arts quango has landed a windfall from the SNP ’s disastrous Budget – despite facing criticism for funding a pornographic sex show. Creative Scotland received a £28 million public cash boost on Wednesday, even though it is understood to be facing the axe. The arts body will be at the centre of a government review after it was found to have funded a porn film. It is also alleged to have censored gender-critical feminists. Artists have lined up to condemn Creative Scotland as ‘secretive’ and ‘ideologically driven’, while Harry Potter author JK Rowling said it was rife with ‘illiberalism and cronyism’. Finance Secretary Shona Robison appeared to disregard such concerns as she delivered her Budget last week. Official documents show it will receive £80 million next year, compared to £51.4 million this year. Last night a writer who was targeted by a member of Creative Scotland’s staff over her gender- critical views hit out at the move. Harry Potter author JK Rowling slammed the ‘illiberalism and cronyism' at Creative Scotland Jenny Lindsay, author of Hounded: Women, Harms and the Gender Wars, said: ‘I welcome the funding boost to the sector. ‘But without significant reform and engagement with those of us who have been highlighting our concerns about the climate of fear and self-censorship around certain issues, this will be a lost opportunity. 'What is actually happening with the proposed review?’ Scottish Tory culture spokesman Murdo Fraser said: ‘Given the controversy surrounding funding Creative Scotland, SNP Ministers must ensure they deliver value for money for the taxpayer. ‘It is just common sense that taxpayer funds shouldn’t have been squandered on a porn film at a time when the SNP’s financial incompetence has left Scotland’s finances in a shocking state.’ In September, Culture Secretary Angus Robertson announced a review of Creative Scotland to ‘ensure its operations are optimal to the needs of the culture sector’. This came in the wake of Mail on Sunday investigations which uncovered concerns over alleged mismanagement at the quango. We disclosed how an employee tasked with helping authors tried to prevent at least one bookshop from stocking Ms Lindsay’s book as she deemed it transphobic. Another incident involved arts worker Rosie Aspinall Priest, who is the partner of a Creative Scotland official who helps make decisions on grants for projects. Poet Jenny Lindsay has called for reform of the arts quango after she was targeted for her views Scottish Conservative Murdo Fraser has demanded the body deliver value for the taxpayer She accused David Greig – the artistic director of Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum Theatre – of voicing support for allegedly transphobic views on social media posts, while he was awaiting the outcome of a funding application. Click here to visit the Scotland home page for the latest news and sport Advertisement Earlier this year, Creative Scotland handed £84,000 of public money to a sex show. After an outcry over the decision, bosses claimed there had been confusion over ‘terminology’ used in the funding process. They said the application by the film’s director Leonie Rae Gasson did not make clear live sex acts would be featured – despite the mention of ‘genital contact’ – but agreed to withdraw the funding. Mr Robertson last week said the review into the quango will begin early next year and will aim to publish its recommendations in the summer. A government source previously said: ‘This will not be a review to fix Creative Scotland – Creative Scotland is over.’ Creative Scotland last night welcomed the funding boost. A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘It is routine for public bodies to undergo reviews and while that process is ongoing we expect their work to continue.’ SNP Share or comment on this article: Arts quango that funded porn film handed extra £28million of YOUR money in SNP Budget e-mail Add commentNASA's stuck astronauts hit 6 months in space. Just 2 more to go

SINGAPORE: Every month, corporate employee Ms Xianggui from China's Jiangsu province generously sets aside a fifth of her 10,000 yuan salary (US$1,371) towards her ageing parents’ retirement fund. Like other single adults living in China without siblings, the 29-year-old, who asked to have her full name kept private, bears the weight of being the sole financial provider for her parents, both in their 50s. She began setting aside more money after learning that her parents would only receive around 300 yuan each month, post-retirement and now hopes to save at least 200,000 yuan in the next 10 years. Hers is a predicament faced by many “single-child families” in China, which comes as a result of the one-child policy and has riddled the country with demographic problems. “Many families in my village only had one child in response to national policies,” she told CNA, adding that she hopes the national scheme could soon be improved to increase payouts and reduce financial burdens faced by adult only-children. China’s pension system has been facing immense pressure in coping with a rapidly ageing population and declining birth rates, which has resulted in a declining pool of working-age people funding the system and more retirees looking to receive payments. While the government’s move to raise the retirement age from January 2025 is a step in the right direction, experts say that it is still not enough and more clearly needs to be done to support the national pension scheme. There is little money left over for Ms Xianggui after deducting living expenses, retirement savings and allowances for her parents so she has had to postpone personal plans like buying her own house and getting married. "My parents’ monthly pensions are far too low, which deeply concerns me," she said, adding: "As an only child, the entire burden falls on me." A FRAMEWORK UNDER PRESSURE China ranked 31st in the world for pension systems, out of 48 countries, according to the 2024 Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index, scoring 56.5 with an overall C grade – a marginally better score than the 55.3 it received the previous year. But it received a dismal D for sustainability, highlighting concerns about the system’s ability to provide sufficient retirement income and maintain long-term financial viability. In comparison, Nordic countries like Sweden, Iceland and Denmark, known for their robust and well-balanced pension schemes, scored 74.3, 83.4 and 81.6 respectively, while Singapore’s Central Provident Fund system came in 5th with a score of 78.7. According to official statistics, China’s pension system covers more than 1.07 billion people across the country and is made up of three pillars. The basic pension system is led by the state, covering urban employees as well as urban residents and rural residents. Then, there's the voluntary employee pension plan from employers which has relatively limited reach. Finally, a private voluntary scheme was launched in 2022 and continues to see low participation rates as of June 2024, with just over 60 million people opening new accounts. But despite the broad coverage, the difference in payouts among working classes remains huge, analysts said, noting that only around 503 million people, half of the more than 1.07 billion people, were considered eligible for generous urban pension plans. Average monthly payouts for urban workers and business owners amounted to around 3,326 yuan as compared to only 179 yuan which workers and residents in rural areas received. Ms Zongyuan Zoe Liu, a Maurice R Greenberg senior fellow for China studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), told CNA that the sufficiency of payouts “still needed to be improved”. “The coverage ratio is impressive but the amount (that) people can withdraw is small,” she said. Those in prestigious fields, like former civil servants, doctors and schoolteachers, received the most generous benefits. On the other hand, migrant workers and others from rural areas were often excluded from higher-paying employment-based pension schemes, even if they had lived and worked in other cities for a long time. “Peasants and rural-to-urban migrants are the most disadvantaged in the pension system as most of them are enrolled in the resident-based track with the lowest benefit rate,” said Dr Huang Xian, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at Rutgers University. “Individuals with rural roots are always placed at the bottom of the hierarchy for benefit distribution as they are the most distant from the regime in socio-political status.” PENSION POT RUNNING DRY? Besides inequality and insufficient support particularly for migrant and rural workers, the entire pension system is facing a major challenge because the pot is believed to be running dry soon. In 2019, the state-run Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) warned about a potential depletion of pension funds for urban employees by 2035. That estimate was however made before the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, so analysts say the bomb may be ticking even faster. “A lot of the COVID-19 era pension or insurance health care deficits created negative shocks,” said Ms Liu, adding that there was also a chance the national social security fund could be depleted even before 2035. According to a 2021 government report, China’s social insurance funds recorded the first annual deficit in 2020, after authorities cut corporate contributions to help companies offset the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic. The funds’ combined revenues fell 13.3 per cent in 2020 while expenditures rose 5.5 per cent. The shift toward gig and informal workers also raises challenges for pension revenue collection, experts said. “The ability to collect revenue for social insurance is becoming very difficult because social insurance assumes that most of your workforce is formally employed and generally long-term employed under legal, contractual arrangements,” said Mr Mark W Frazier, a politics professor at The New School in New York City. Public pension expenditure in China accounted for about 5.4 per cent of its total GDP in 2023, an increase from 5.2 per cent in 2022 and 2021, according to data from Statista. Analysts say this figure, while seemingly moderate compared to advanced economies, is substantial for a developing economy like China. “The sustainability of that level of collection and payment depends on the future of the Chinese economy,” said Mr Frazier. “You can always lower the 5.4 per cent expenditure figure if you have a larger economy, but the absolute number of pension expenditures will keep increasing year by year.” Further faltering of the pension system also risks eroding public trust in the government’s ability to meet its obligations, analysts said, potentially destabilising societal equilibrium. China’s rapidly ageing population has been affecting the pension system’s sustainability – with more elderly citizens claiming retirement benefits and fewer working adults contributing to the pension fund. The population aged 60 years and above reached 297 million in 2023, accounting for more than 20 per cent of the total population. This percentage is projected to increase to an astounding high of over 52 per cent by 2100 – meaning more than half the population will be elderly. The labour force has also been shrinking as the country’s declining fertility rate is now among the lowest in the world, at 1.1 children per woman. The imbalance has directly affected the country’s dependency ratio, the number of workers supporting each retiree, which is projected to fall from the current 2.95 to just 0.69 in less than 80 years, based on UN population projections, according to Mr Dudley L Poston Jr, a sociology professor at Texas A&M University. “As a result, financial risk and pressure are overwhelming,” said Dr Huang. In the meantime, pressure still remains on only children to shoulder the financial burden of their parents’ retirement. “The idea that a child is supposed to take care of the elderly, is a classic family value – not just China in particular but in a lot of (other) Asian countries,” said Ms Liu. "THE ENTIRE BURDEN FALLS ON ME" ‘Yang er fang lao’, a common Chinese saying, refers to the practice of bearing and raising children to look after you in your old age. But with the one-child policy implemented between 1980 and 2015, and the current low fertility rate, a whole generation of single-child families is bearing the weight of financially supporting ageing parents on their own. Ms Xianggui worries about her ability to support her parents long-term and has been conducting her own research on online platforms like Xiaohongshu about increasing pension contributions. She believes that it is “still possible” to increase her pension contributions to the maximum tier of 4,000 yuan annually. “Under this new plan (that I came up with), my father would contribute 8,000 yuan annually, and my mother 4,000 yuan into their individual pension accounts. Together, this could raise their combined pensions to over 1,000 yuan per month,” she said. While it’s a modest amount, she thinks the adjustment is “better than nothing” and “within” her financial capacity. The youngest of three children, Dove Long, an unmarried 41-year-old living in the city of Changsha, gives both her retired parents a fixed monthly allowance and even goes the extra mile to buy them supplementary private health insurance to “mitigate financial stress in case of major illnesses”. But despite earning a comparatively higher than average income of around 20,000 yuan (US$2743) per month, Ms Long said she still worries about her own retirement. For her, long-term financial security remains elusive. “Society generally expects children to take on the primary responsibility for their parents’ retirement,” she told CNA. “With the rising standard of living, I hope to have enough funds to enjoy a rich cultural and recreational life after retirement, such as frequent travel and participating in various interest classes,” she said. “My employer contributes to my pension insurance as required ... but relying solely on social security pensions may not fully meet my future aspirations for a quality retirement,” she added. “Under the current system, the estimated pension (I get) might only cover basic living expenses, which falls short of fulfilling all my needs.” Life expectancy in China has risen to 78 years as of 2021, from about 44 years in 1960, and is projected to exceed 80 years by 2050. And longer life expectancies will mean more financial strain like the increasing costs of elder support and care. “As people grow older, it’s natural to expect that they might need more medical (help) so expenses will increase,” said Ms Liu. “That added cost will be another financial burden to the family.” Young adults also grapple with other ongoing financial burdens like stagnant wages and high living costs. Competition in the job market remains stiff and pressures are high, Ms Liu added. “The cost of childcare is (also) high,” she said. “This basically means (people) have to spend if they decide to have (a) child, so it’s a lot of expenditure. But the wage growth has stagnated.” SPEND OR SAVE? The financial realities have impacted many major life decisions for Ms Xianggui, who shared that she had been planning to buy a house with her fiancé in Hefei, one of China’s fastest-growing cities famed for its blend of historical heritage and sci-tech innovations. The situation has been stressful, she said, adding that the couple has had to postpone their wedding in order to support her family. “My fiancé’s family is contributing the majority of (our) down payment while I can only provide 200,000 yuan as my parents are unable to support me financially,” she said. “He wants to work for a few more years to save up.” Rutgers University’s Dr Huang noted that citizens born under China’s one-child policy grew up in a relatively open and liberal era, different from their parents and have “a different approach to navigating challenges”. “They have better education and more exposure to new media in general, hold less trust in the government or lower expectations for the government’s social welfare responsibility,” she said, adding that they might seek alternative financial services instead of relying solely on state support. “However, they face similar challenges in balancing elder care and personal financial priorities compared to the older generations.” The unreliability of the pension safety net means most people “have no choice but to live on personal and family savings and assets after retirement”, said Dr Huang. “Older people ... want to save, to prepare for either retirement or emergencies,” said Ms Liu. “This propensity to save discourages people from consuming, and the lack of household consumption is a very big problem dragging the Chinese economy now.” She noted that a failure to stabilise China’s pension system could stifle domestic consumption, with global repercussions. “If families realise they have better healthcare or broadly speaking, better social security, then Chinese families or consumers are willing to spend, rather than just save for the future,” she said. “The increase in consumption is also going to stimulate the economy.” NAVIGATING THE ROAD AHEAD China’s pension system remains at a crossroads and in September 2024, the government announced incremental reforms to raise the retirement age, aiming to ease financial pressures on the pension system. The move was long overdue, given that China’s retirement age – 60 for men, 55 for women in white-collar jobs, and 50 for women in blue-collar jobs – had not changed since the 1950s, analysts said. “Extending the retirement age will allow the pension funds to last for some additional years,” said Mr Poston. However, he cautions that it is not a silver bullet. “This will not be a permanent fix. It will only partly address the extremely serious demographic problems now facing China.” Mr Frazier, who also authored a book titled "Socialist Insecurity: Pensions and the Politics of Uneven Development in China", noted limitations of this measure and said long-term effects would not be felt until 2040 or 2050. “The costs of pensions are never placed directly on people in the current moment, but they are postponed decades into the future,” he said. The Chinese government has in recent years also sought to diversify the pension system with the introduction of private retirement savings schemes in November 2022. The introduction of individual retirement accounts (IRA) is a key component of this effort. These accounts, modelled after 401(k) plans in the United States, allow individuals to make voluntary contributions of up to 12,0000 yuan annually to supplement their public pensions. According to Dr Huang, who is also affiliated with the Rutgers Center for Chinese Studies, the IRA is a personal savings account, and not social insurance, “because it has no social pooling or risk sharing among individuals”. “By May 2023, more than 900 million households have participated in IRA, but the average savings put into it is less than 2,000 yuan per household.” It’s clear that there’s more to be done, with experts emphasising comprehensive reforms being essential to ensure its sustainability, with proposed solutions spanning structural changes, fiscal reforms, and innovative labour policies. Mr Frazier says the fragmentation in China’s pension system, with over 2,000 local governments managing funds independently, has led to administrative expenses being wasted. “If you centralise or even bring it to 31 provincial-level pensions, then you're going to save a tremendous amount of administrative costs,” he added. The Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index 2024 suggests increasing the minimum level of support for the poorest individuals. Another policy solution is to relax the country’s hukou household registration system , which experts say would improve eligibility and support for migrant workers and rural residents. Meanwhile, China’s reliance on payroll taxes to fund pensions is increasingly unsustainable as the workforce shrinks. To increase contributions to the pension pot, Ms Liu pointed to untapped revenue sources. "Right now, China doesn't really have property tax, for example, and I think capital gain tax in China is fairly minimal or is completely non-existent," she said. Dr Huang emphasised the urgency of broader fiscal measures. "The demographic crisis can easily turn into a fiscal crisis for the government," he said. "Redistribution and changing the taxation system are crucial to managing these challenges." A more radical approach, as suggested by Mr Frazier, is to delink pensions from employment to create a universal basic pension. “You have to consider ways to introduce reforms that would guarantee pensions for people in an economy in which, over 40 years, there may be 40 different jobs, 40 different employers,” he said. China’s demographic decline has led others like Mr Poston to propose immigration as “the only answer” to replenish the labour force and alleviate pension funding pressures. “China needs to turn to immigration to get them out of this quagmire. The country’s several attempts to implement policies to increase the birth rate have not worked, and they will not work.” However, he also acknowledges the challenges. “It will not be easy to introduce and implement an active immigration policy in a country with little experience with immigration, few preferences for immigrants, and a seemingly deep-rooted belief in racial purity held by many leaders in the Chinese Communist Party.” For millions of Chinese citizens, the stakes are high, and the path forward remains fraught with challenges. “To be honest, I do have concerns,” said Ms Long. "I worry that by the time I retire, there might be insufficient pension funds or a decline in the quality of services." "However, I hope the government and society will continue to address these issues and improve the system to ensure it remains reliable."Labor has poured cold water on a Greens proposal to agree on the next parliament's priorities, in case Labor falls short of forming a majority government at the next election. Login or signup to continue reading Greens Leader Adam Bandt pitched the idea on Tuesday, arguing there "would be merit" in knowing what reforms a hung parliament would prioritise. "I think the priority for us in that situation, if that is what the Australian people choose, and many commentators say it is very likely, is that it should be a stable, effective and progressive parliament," he told ABC TV. "I think working that out in advance, working out what the benefits will actually be for people and knowing how then the next three years would map out, that is probably the priority." Asked if she would consider a formal power-sharing arrangement with the Greens, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher was dismissive. "I think, again, we've seen Adam Bandt get ahead of himself a number of times in the last year," she told ABC TV on Wednesday. "We are campaigning for majority government. We think that's what brings stability and certainty to the parliament. "We'll campaign on our record and on the policies we want to do, and really, I think, continue to ignore some of this commentary from the side, from Adam Bandt." Mr Bandt has conceded a coalition governance arrangement was very unlikely. "But the onus would be on all of us to make sure that it is stable, effective and progressive and really delivers and keeps (Opposition Leader) Peter Dutton out, and I think we can do that," he said. The comments align with a more conciliatory tack taken by the Greens in the final weeks of parliament, when they dropped demands on housing, RBA reforms and several other pieces of legislation to help the government pass large parts of its stalled agenda. The Greens change in approach follows criticism of the party for standing in the way of reforms amid fears of a coalition government prevailing at the election, due by May. Mr Bandt said the Greens would look to rekindle their approach from the shared-power parliament elected in 2010, when they helped get dental for children included in Medicare. "As we go to the next election, the Greens' position will be keep Peter Dutton out and push the next government to act on things like health and housing and climate and environment," he said. Mr Bandt dismissed a suggestion the Greens would tie their support to Anthony Albanese continuing as Labor leader. "The Labor Party gets to choose their leader and we deal with whoever they choose, and so presuming that's who they choose, we would of course continue to work with him as the prime minister in good faith and reach some outcomes I hope." Australian Associated Press DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. 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 Get the latest property and development news here. 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. WEEKLY Follow the Newcastle Knights in the NRL? Don't miss your weekly Knights update. 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!

Billionaires have seen their combined wealth shoot up 121 percent over the past decade to $14 trillion, Swiss bank UBS said Thursday, with tech billionaires' coffers filling the fastest. Switzerland's biggest bank, which is among the world's largest wealth managers, said the number of dollar billionaires increased from 1,757 to 2,682 over the past 10 years, peaking in 2021 with 2,686. The 10th edition of UBS's annual Billionaire Ambitions report, which tracks the wealth of the world's richest people, found that billionaires have comfortably outperformed global equity markets over the past decade. The report documents "the growth and investment of great wealth, as well as how it's being preserved for future generations and used to have a positive effect on society", said Benjamin Cavalli, head of strategic clients at UBS global wealth management. Between 2015 and 2024, total billionaire wealth increased by 121 percent from $6.3 trillion to $14.0 trillion -- while the MSCI AC World Index of global equities rose 73 percent. The wealth of tech billionaires increased the fastest, followed by that of industrialists. Worldwide, tech billionaires' wealth tripled from $788.9 billion in 2015 to $2.4 trillion in 2024. "In earlier years, the new billionaires commercialised e-commerce, social media and digital payments; more recently they engineered the generative AI boom, while also developing cyber-security, fintech, 3D printing and robotics," UBS said. The report found that since 2020, the global growth trend had slowed due to declines among China's billionaires. From 2015 to 2020, billionaire wealth grew globally at an annual rate of 10 percent, but growth has plunged to one percent since 2020. Chinese billionaire wealth more than doubled from 2015 to 2020, rising from $887.3 billion to $2.1 trillion, but has since fallen back to $1.8 trillion. However, North American billionaire wealth has risen 58.5 percent to $6.1 trillion since 2020, "led by industrials and tech billionaires". Meanwhile billionaires are relocating more frequently, with 176 having moved country since 2020, with Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore and the United States being popular destinations. In 2024, some 268 people became billionaires for the first time, with 60 percent of them entrepreneurs. "The year's new billionaires were mainly self-made," said UBS. The report said US billionaires accrued the greatest gains in 2024, reinforcing the country's place as the world's main centre for billionaire entrepreneurs. Their wealth rose 27.6 percent to $5.8 trillion, or more than 40 percent of billionaire wealth worldwide. Billionaires' wealth from mainland China and Hong Kong fell 16.8 percent to $1.8 trillion, with the number of billionaires dropping from 588 to 501. Indian billionaires' wealth increased 42.1 percent to $905.6 billion, while their number grew from 153 to 185. Western Europe’s total billionaire wealth rose 16.0 percent to $2.7 trillion -- partly due to a 24 percent increase in Swiss billionaires. UAE billionaires' aggregate wealth rose 39.5 percent to $138.7 billion. UBS said billionaires faced an "uncertain world" over the next 10 years, due to high geopolitical tensions, trade barriers and governments with mounting spending requirements. Billionaires will therefore need to rely on their previous distinctive traits: "smart risk-taking, business focus and determination". "Risk-taking billionaires are likely to be at the forefront of creating two technology-related industries of the future already taking shape: generative AI and renewables/electrification," UBS predicted. And more flexible wealth planning will be needed as billionaire families move country and spread around the world. The heirs and philanthropic causes of baby boom billionaires are set to inherit an estimated $6.3 trillion over the next 15 years, UBS said. rjm/gvAre you looking for an engaging and educational gift for your young one? Look no further than the , currently available at a 27% discount on . This kit offers an exciting and interactive way to explore the principles of engineering, physics, and robotics. The kit provides everything your child needs to build eight kinetic creatures using LEGO Technic bricks and papercraft. It's not just about assembly; it's an opportunity for young minds to delve into concepts of axles, cams, and cranks, all essential components in engineering everyday machines. With a 64-page instructional book, packed with step-by-step guides and educational STEM content, your child will engage in hours of learning and creative exploration. Why should you buy the today? Firstly, the kit is a brilliant way to support STEM education, which is increasingly important in today’s technologically driven world. Children between the ages of 8 to 12 are at the perfect developmental stage to grasp these crucial concepts through play and hands-on activities. Secondly, this kit includes all the LEGO elements required to bring these innovative designs to life. This means no additional purchases are necessary, making it a comprehensive and convenient set for young builders. Not only will it keep them occupied, but it will also challenge and enhance their problem-solving skills. Moreover, the kit is perfect for both individual and group activities. It’s an excellent tool for fostering team collaboration and communication skills as kids can share ideas and work together to create their unique mechanical builds. Buying this kit on not only benefits your child's educational growth but also takes advantage of the current 27% discount, ensuring you’re getting excellent value for your money. Don’t miss this opportunity to provide your child with a fun and rewarding learning experience. Get the today and watch your child's imagination and technical skills soar.

After facing criticism for not standing with in Baltimore, Carroll and Frederick counties over the controversial Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project, Gov. Wes Moore announced plans Friday to take a more proactive approach with the power companies behind the initiative. Moore plans to meet with leadership from PJM Interconnection and the Public Service Enterprise Group, the companies in charge of this project, to discuss “serious reservations” about how this process has been conducted thus far. Hundreds of opposed to the massive project have attended public hearings in those three counties. Officials with New Jersey-based Public Service Enterprise Group, which was contracted by PJM for the development, have faced backlash from citizens. Many residents fear the project would utilize eminent domain to seize property along the installation route to feed data centers in Northern Virginia. Moore, a Democrat, echoed their concerns Friday. “As I have said from the start, I share grave concerns about how the study area for this project was determined, the lack of community involvement in the planning process, and the lack of effective communication about the impacts of this project,” he said in a news release. “The single most important factor remains wholly unclear: the project’s comprehensive benefit to Marylanders.” Del. Nino Mangione, a Baltimore County Republican, hosted a night in Parkton where residents could voice concerns and learn about their rights regarding the project — a proposed 70-mile, high-voltage transmission line set to cut through Carroll, Frederick and Baltimore counties. Mangionen has also been critical of Moore, who has said he . Mangione implored Moore to side with Maryland residents on the issue. “The only person not standing with Maryland right now is Governor Moore,” Mangione said. “We need him to step forward and be a leader here. We need him to know that his constituents are under threat by an out-of-state company. We need him to be bold, strong and forceful in his opposition to help us with the project.” In October, Moore, along with the governors of Illinois, Delaware and New Jersey, sent a letter to PJM asking them “to embrace, without delay, opportunities to work collaboratively on transmission planning.” “Together, we recognize that energy and economic development goals are not mutually exclusive and that progress depends upon true partnership to achieve growth,” Moore said. The power line could be fully operational by June 2027 if there are no setbacks. The Maryland Public Service Commission has the authority to decide if the project can move forward and has created an email address — piedmontcomments.psc@maryland.gov — where residents can provide feedback. Despite the controversy, Moore reiterated the state’s need for sustainable and cost-effective energy. “But the approach must be one that puts people first,” he said.X’s Yaccarino praises child safety bill and urges House backing

Political Turmoil in South Korea: The Push for Impeachment

Coleen Rooney reveals Wayne wasn't her first boyfriend as she makes camp confession

234+89 NoneFruster scores 15, Eastern Illinois beats Blackburn 99-55

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Carson Beck’s collegiate career has officially come to an end. The Georgia quarterback took to social media Saturday to announce his decision to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft, just five days after Beck underwent season-ending elbow surgery. Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) runs the ball during the Aflac Kickoff Game against the Clemson Tigers Aug. 31, 2024, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) "The past five years at the University of Georgia have been nothing short of a dream come true and I will forever cherish the memories that have been made," Beck said in a post on Instagram. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "Thank you Dawg Nation for the time I've been here and to those who’ve supported and believed in me, thank you. It’s been an incredible journey and all these moments have ultimately led me to take the next step in my football career. With that being said, I will be declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft. Go Dawgs!" Beck was injured in the first half of the Bulldogs' overtime victory over Texas in the SEC championship game earlier this month. He underwent surgery Monday to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing arm and is expected to begin throwing in the spring. Georgia quarterback Carson Beck goes down after a hit on his throwing shoulder during the first half of the SEC championship game against Texas in Atlanta Dec. 7, 2024. (Imagn) NO. 2 GEORGIA LOSES STARTING QB CARSON BECK TO SEASON-ENDING ELBOW SURGERY Despite having another year of eligibility, Beck declared for the draft after back-to-back seasons as Georgia’s starter with a 24-3 record. "I want to thank God, for blessing me with the opportunity to play the game I love. Through the ups and downs, the highs and lows, everything that this game produces and provides I'm eternally grateful for. Football has taught me lessons that will last a lifetime and has grown me into the person I am today," his statement said. "I’m so grateful for my family and those close to me for the support they’ve provided me during this Journey. They’ve always had my back no matter what the circumstance, and I can’t thank them enough for that." Carson Beck of the Georgia Bulldogs passes during the first quarter against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Sanford Stadium Nov. 29, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Gunner Stockton took over in Beck’s absence with hopes of leading Georgia to another national championship. The Bulldogs face Notre Dame in the CFP quarterfinals in the Sugar Bowl Wednesday. The Associated Press contributed to the report. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X , and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter . Paulina Dedaj is a Sports Reporter for Fox News Digital.Trump backers battle online over skilled immigrants( ) stock tumbled late Tuesday despite the computer hardware company reporting fiscal fourth quarter earnings that met expectations and better-than-expected sales. The company's profit guidance was lower than expected. HP said in a news release that it earned an adjusted 93 cents per share on sales of $14.05 billion, up 1.7% year-over-year, for the October-ended quarter. Analysts polled by FactSet projected the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company would post adjusted earnings of 93 cents per share on sales of $13.99 billion. For the same period a year earlier, HP posted adjusted earnings of 90 cents per share on sales of $13.82 billion. "We are pleased with our Q4 performance where we saw revenue growth for the second consecutive quarter, driven by steady progress in Personal Systems and Print," President and CEO Enrique Lores said in a news release. For the current quarter, HP guided for adjusted earnings of 73 cents per share at the midpoint of its range. Analysts were projecting 85 cents per share adjusted earnings for the January-ending quarter, according to FactSet. HP said in a news release that its guidance excludes 13 cents per share "primarily related to restructuring and other charges." On the , HP stock shed more than 7% to 36.09 in recent after-hours action. HP Stock Up 30% This Year Prior to earnings, HP stock fell a half-percent in regular Tuesday trading. Shares have gained 30.4% this year, helped by optimism that AI will help restart following an industry slump in 2022 and . HP's previous July-ended quarter ended a streak of eight quarters where sales declined. Coming into the report, HP stock had an IBD Composite Rating of 55 out of 99, according to . The score combines five separate proprietary ratings into one rating. The best growth stocks have a Composite Rating of 90 or better. Further, HP's IBD Relative Strength Rating was 81 out of 99. The RS Rating means that HP has outperformed 81% of all stocks in IBD's database over the past year. HP stock broke out above a 39.52 consolidation pattern buy point on Monday but closed below that level Tuesday, according to .

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Notre Dame forward Danny Nelson scored twice, Western Michigan’s Hampton Slukynsky made 25 saves and the defending champion United States beat Latvia 5-1 on Saturday in the world junior hockey championship. The United States improved to 2-0 in Group A play, while Latvia dropped to 1-1 a day after stunning Canada with a 3-2 victory in a shootout. Boston College’s Ryan Leonard, Denver’s Zeev Buium and Minnesota Duluth’s Max Plante also scored for the Americans. They will be back in action Sunday at Canadian Tire Centre against Finland, then close group play Tuesday night against Canada. Davids Livsics scored for Latvia. Linards Feldbergs stopped 36 shots after making 55 saves against Canada and stopping all eight attempts in the shootout. In the only other game of the day, Czechia beat Kazakhstan 14-2 at TD Place. Czechia and Sweden are both 2-0 in Group B. Matej Mastalirsky, Vojtech Hradec and Jakub Stancl had hat tricks, with Hradec and Stancl also each assisting on two goals. AP sports: https://apnews.com/sportsWade Taylor IV helps No. 13 Texas A&M rout Abilene Christian

Church of Scientology Food Drive Makes Thanksgiving Special for 300 Local Families

Hard-hit by rising imports, steel sector eyeing policy initiatives to safeguard its interests in 2025

For Black Friday, Babbel Is The Smartest Purchase You Can Make (78% Off Lifetime)Oliver Glasner: Crystal Palace are heading in right direction after Ipswich winAlongside our Game of the Year top 10 list and personal picks from the Push Square editorial team, we are recognising the best PS5 games of 2024 in select categories. Today is the turn of the best PS5 story game of 2024 . Bronze Trophy: Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden The original Life Is Strange developer DON'T NOD is best known for its spectacular narratives all about teenagers, but in Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, it's grown up a little to create its most mature — and possibly greatest — story to date. You play as the ghost-hunting couple Red and Antea, who travel to New Eden at the height of a haunting in 1695. When his partner is killed by the curse, Red faces a dilemma while trying to rid the town of the ghosts possessing it: does he use their spirits to bring back Antea from the dead or perform the job he's there to do and banish the spirits? You get to dictate that with your actions throughout the story, and it results in one of the best narrative campaigns on PS5. Read our Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden PS5 review through the link. Silver Trophy: Silent Hill 2 A faithful remake of the PS2 original, Bloober Team has brought back the story of James Sunderland and his quest to find his dead wife somewhere in the town of Silent Hill. Back in 2002, the plot was one of the most hard-hitting around, particularly as you approached the conclusion and worked out the real dynamics of James' relationship with his wife. 22 years later, it's still gut-wrenching. Bloober Team hasn't messed with the gripping narrative whatsoever, which means it's one of 2024's best — just as it was all those years ago. The Polish developer has only added to the lore, in actual fact, creating two new endings that tap into fan theories created in the decades since the original's launch. It's a superb way to handle a remake, and from a plot perspective, Silent Hill 2 is still one of the very best in the survival horror genre. Read our Silent Hill 2 PS5 review through the link. Gold Trophy: Metaphor: ReFantazio In a political break from Persona , developer Atlus has crafted another memorable story, universe, and cast of characters in Metaphor: ReFantazio. Following the murder of the king, you'll embark on a campaign to take the throne for yourself, recruiting supporters and fending off evil that might use such power for their personal gain. The main story comfortably competes with previous Atlus efforts, delivering twists, turns, double-crosses, and all the intrigue and suspense you'd expect to maintain your interest through an 80-hour story. Surrounding the narrative is a group of tight-knit friends you recruit and develop friendships with, and levelling up the bond you share opens up new scenarios and heartfelt situations. To see the likes of Maria develop is an utter joy, and helping characters such as Heismay and Eupha leads to some of the best scenes in the game. Making an effort with both the core narrative and the stories off to the side helps create one of the very best storytelling experiences of 2024. Consistently excellent and heartfelt, Metaphor: ReFantazio is an essential playthrough for anyone who considers the story critical to their video game-playing experience. Read our Metaphor: ReFantazio PS5 review through the link. Platinum Trophy: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth With two main characters at once, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth kind of feels like two games worth of stories in one. As Ichiban Kasuga is searching for his mother in Hawaii, the veteran Kazuma Kiryu has his own personal problems to deal with. The two regularly come together for the same narrative beats, but this 70+ hour journey is so very rich in plot that nothing else released in 2024 could even come close to challenging it. Alongside the sublime main narrative are the wild and wacky side stories you'd expect of a Like a Dragon entry, and they provide some light-hearted breaks from the serious nature of Ichiban's and Kiryu's efforts. This mixture of contrasting tones gives Infinite Wealth its unique charm, forming an overall plot direction that's just as emotional as it is serious and comedic. Nothing else does it quite like Yakuza / Like a Dragon, and that's why it's consistently one of the best. Read our Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth PS5 review through the link. Do you agree with our picks for the best PS5 story game of 2024 ? Post your thoughts in the comments below and check out more of our Game of the Year coverage through the link.

NEW YORK, Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Results from the 2024 Travelers Risk Index highlight a concerning increase in distracted driving, with many risky behaviors surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Recently, Jessica Kearney and Ginny Brzezinski from the Travelers Institute, along with Ryan McMahon from Cambridge Mobile Telematics, partnered with D S Simon Media on a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss the dangers of distracted driving, tips to navigate the holidays, and the growing use of telematics to offer solutions. Millions of Americans will be hitting the road this holiday season, and with that comes a rise in distracted driving. While traffic fatalities decreased by 4% last year to 44,450, distracted driving remains a growing issue. According to the 2024 Travelers Risk Index, 78% of consumers believe distracted driving is worse now than a few years ago, with many drivers admitting to risky behaviors: close to 60% are reading texts or emails while driving; 26% are updating or checking social media; and 24% are taking photos or videos. Young drivers, particularly Gen Z, are especially at risk. Compared to overall averages, drivers ages 16-20 engage in some hazardous driving behaviors more frequently, like texting/emailing, scrolling and GPS navigation. Additionally, 41% of parents surveyed said they don’t feel like distracted driving is emphasized enough in drivers ed, so they are taking matters into their own hands. Here are some important tips to help prevent distracted driving: Activate the “Do Not Disturb” feature on your phone to block notifications while driving. Before starting your trip, program your GPS and review the route to avoid distractions while on the road. Consider signing up for a telematics program to promote safe driving habits beyond the holiday season. Finally, don't hesitate to speak up if you see a friend or loved one driving distracted—encourage them to focus on the road. If you're on the phone with someone who's driving, ask them to call you back once they've safely reached their destination. Telematics technology is playing a key role in promoting safer driving by collecting data from connected vehicles, IoT devices, and smartphones. It tracks behaviors such as speeding, hard braking, and distraction, and provides users with feedback to help improve their driving habits. By monitoring performance and encouraging safer choices, telematics helps drivers adopt better habits beyond the holiday season. To learn more about the Travelers Institute, visit travelersinstitute.org . To learn more about Cambridge Mobile Telematics, visit cmt.ai . About Jessica Kearney Jessica Kearney is Vice President for Public Policy at the Travelers Institute, the public policy division of Travelers. In this role, she leads corporate thought leadership initiatives on policy issues of interest to the property casualty insurance sector, as well as the financial services industry more broadly. Her portfolio has included work addressing the economy, cybersecurity, small business advocacy, auto safety, autonomous vehicles and disaster preparedness. She also serves as a member of the company’s Autonomous Vehicles and Electric Vehicles Working Groups. Kearney is co-creator, producer and guest host for the Travelers Institute’s webinar series, which seeks to help business and risk professionals navigate today’s biggest challenges in insurance, business and leadership. She leads operations and initiatives for the Travelers Institute, presents at client and industry conferences, and was named to Insurance Business America’s annual Hot 100 list for 2022. About Ginny Brzezinski Ginny Brzezinski is Assistant Vice President for Public Policy Initiatives at the Travelers Institute, the public policy division of Travelers. In this role, she works on corporate thought leadership initiatives on policy issues of interest to the property casualty insurance sector, as well as the financial services industry more broadly. Brzezinski is a producer for the Travelers Institute’s webinar series, which seeks to help business and risk professionals navigate today’s biggest challenges in insurance, business and leadership. Her portfolio also includes work on the Institute’s podcast and social media. Prior to joining Travelers, Brzezinski worked for more than a decade on Capitol Hill, including as Communications Director for the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, the U.S. Senate Government Affairs Committee and Press Secretary for U.S. Senator Bill Roth. She is the co-author of Comeback Careers, a blueprint for women looking to reinvent, reboot or reimagine careers at 40, 50 and beyond. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History from Brown University and completed Masters studies in communications at Boston University. About Ryan McMahon Ryan McMahon is the Senior Vice President of Strategy & Corporate Development at Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT), the world’s largest telematics provider. Ryan joined CMT from the insurance industry where he held several leadership roles, introducing new products and insurance services to personal and commercial markets. Ryan is a member of CMT's executive team with responsibilities overseeing corporate development, government, and public affairs. Ryan holds a BA in Psychology from SUNY Potsdam and an MBA from Worcester Polytechnic University. About D S Simon Media: The firm is well known as a leader in the satellite media tour industry and produces tours from its studio and multiple control rooms at its New York headquarters. Clients include top brands in healthcare, technology, travel, financial services, consumer goods, entertainment, retail and non-profits. Established in 1986 the firm has won more than 100 industry awards. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a property of D S Simon Media. The video included and release was part of a media tour that was produced by D S Simon Media on behalf of the Travelers Institute. Dante Muccigrosso Director of Media Integration & Client Reporting E: dantem@dssimon.com C: 973.524.0104 A video accompanying this release is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/96ea9c3b-7434-4a89-83c4-2cdbdf2ccd2bWade Taylor IV scored 15 points and dished out 10 assists and C.J. Wilcher added 14 points as No. 13 Texas A&M throttled Abilene Christian 92-54 on Saturday afternoon in College Station, Texas. The Aggies (11-2) were in charge from the jump, forging a 19-point lead at halftime and never looking back. Texas A&M scored the first points of the second half, was up by 28 with 13:23 to play and cruised to the finish line while winning its seventh straight game. Taylor's output moved him into second place in the Aggies all-time scoring list. His 1,779 points are now behind only Bernard King, who had 1,990 from 1999-2003. Andersson Garcia and Zhuric Phelps added 12 points each for Texas A&M, which appears to be hitting on all cylinders heading into its Southeastern Conference opener at home against rival Texas on Jan. 4. Phelps added 10 rebounds for the Aggies. Quion Williams led the Wildcats (8-6) with 14 points. Abilene Christian missed its final six shots and went the last 5:24 of the game without a point. The Aggies made a statement in the early going by scoring the game's first nine points over the initial 3 1/2 minutes, with seven of those coming from Coleman. Abilene Christian fought back to within 16-12 after Dontrez Williams' layup with 12:12 left in the half. But A&M swung back, producing a 14-0 run capped by Garcia's layup with 8:51 to play in the half to pull away to a 30-12 advantage. The Wildcats again cut into their deficit, pulling to 30-19 when Cade Hornecker hit a layup with 6:26 to play until halftime. A&M boosted the lead back to 17 points after a pair of free throws by Taylor and got two more from the charity stripe to take a 48-29 edge to the break. Wilcher led all scorers in the half with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc while Garcia hit for 10 points for A&M while making all four of his shots from the floor. The Aggies outshot Abilene Christian 61.5 percent to 40.7 percent before halftime. Quion Williams and Leonardo Bettiol paced the Wildcats with seven points each in the first half. --Field Level Media

Church of Scientology Food Drive Makes Thanksgiving Special for 300 Local FamiliesRuud van Nistelrooy enjoys winning start with Leicester

X Financial Reports Third Quarter 2024 Unaudited Financial ResultsKochi, Dec 28: In recognition to the ICAR Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute’s (CMFRI) pivotal role in advancing fisheries science, two of its scientists have been honoured by the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) for their exceptional contributions. Established in 1990, NAAS is dedicated to promoting excellence in agricultural sciences, encompassing other areas such as crop and animal husbandry, fisheries, agroforestry, and the agriculture industry interface. Dr Eldho Varghese, senior Scientist at CMFRI, has been elected as a NAAS Fellow, while Dr T.G. Sumithra has been selected as a NAAS Associate. These prestigious recognitions underline their contributions to agricultural research in their respective domains. NAAS Fellowships are awarded to distinguished scientists from India and abroad for outstanding contributions to agriculture and allied sciences. The Associateship program, introduced to recognise young scientists under 40 years of age working in agriculture related disciplines in India, highlights emerging talent in the field. Dr Eldho Varghese was honoured for his innovative contributions to statistics, particularly in designing experiments for agricultural and fisheries research. His work includes statistical and ecosystem modelling, fish stock assessment, applying deep learning models in marine fisheries research, and developing computational tools for advanced data analysis. Dr T.G. Sumithra was recognized for her groundbreaking research in fish health and marine microbiology. Her studies focus on the marine fish microbiome, fish diseases, and antimicrobial resistance. Her work has led to the creation of guidelines for responsible antibiotic use in aquaculture and eco-friendly technologies for bioethanol production and sustainable fish waste management. NAAS, a national body devoted to agricultural sciences, serves as a premier platform for agricultural scientists to deliberate on pressing issues in research, education, and extension. It provides policy recommendations to planners and decision makers while fostering cutting edge research across diverse fields of agricultural sciences.

Opinion: Australia is banning social media for teens. Should Canada do the same?