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Doug Meacham returning to Oklahoma State as offensive coordinatorFish and Game investigates 43 dead ducks dumped on Pine Creek PassWASHINGTON , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bridge Defense, a defense-technology company, has made a strategic investment in Federated IT, a trusted provider of mission-critical services to the U.S. government. Founded in 2002, Federated IT has built a reputation as a trusted partner to the U.S. Intelligence Community and the Department of Defense. With expertise optimizing cloud computing, data center operations and migration, enterprise architecture, scientific research and analyses, and cybersecurity solutions, Federated IT consistently delivers technically excellent, secure, and reliable solutions that empower national security clients to achieve their objectives. "This investment represents a pivotal step in Bridge Defense's mission to create the next-generation systems integrator," said Jack Kilcoyne , co-founder of Bridge Defense. "We will combine the critical services Federated IT provides with in-house software development capabilities to build a hybrid organization capable of delivering exceptional services and developing innovative solutions that address our customers' most pressing challenges." Kyle von Bucholz , CEO of Federated IT, added: "For over 20 years, Federated IT has focused on solving our clients' most complex challenges with integrity and technical excellence. Partnering with Bridge Defense will enable us to take that commitment to the next level by leveraging cutting-edge development capabilities and delivering an even greater impact for the federal agencies we serve." About Bridge Defense Bridge Defense is focused on delivering mission-critical services and innovative software solutions to national security customers. A hybrid systems integrator, Bridge Defense combines excellence in technical services with native development capabilities to deliver comprehensive and transformative solutions to address the rapidly evolving needs of national security customers. Bridge Defense is led by a team of Special Operations veterans with deep expertise in technology and government services. The company is headquartered in the Northeast, with a growing presence in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit Bridge-Defense.com . About Federated IT Federated IT is a leading provider of mission-critical IT and cybersecurity services to the U.S. government. Federated IT enables defense, national security, and federal law enforcement clients to expand, improve, and strengthen critical IT infrastructure and mission system capabilities within the Tier Ill - IV Enterprise IT Operations and Cyber Security domains. Federated IT's project portfolio includes the customization and delivery of optimized cloud computing, data center operations and migration, enterprise architecture, scientific research and analyses, and cybersecurity solutions. Federated IT is headquartered in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit FederatedIT.com . View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bridge-defense-announces-strategic-investment-in-federated-it-302314581.html SOURCE Bridge Defense
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10 tips from experts to help you change your relationship with money in 2025All is quiet during the changing of the guard outside Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei before the gathered crowd erupts. Login or signup to continue reading Taiwanese flags line Democracy Boulevard as cheering locals and tourists alike encircle the strictly choreographed ceremony. Women in short skirts stand side-by-side with those wearing conservative religious garments. China claims self-governed Taiwan as a breakaway province. The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) fled to the island in 1949 during the civil war with the Chinese Communist Party. Cultural artefacts including the prized Jade Cabbage, given as a dowry gift to an emperor's consort in the 19th century, is one of the many treasures that were taken across the Taiwan Strait. Officials from Beijing say they are not bothered by the objects being on display in Taiwan, as it is a part of China. Many Taiwanese people speak about their shared ancestry with the mainland but consider themselves culturally distinct. Only a dozen nations recognise Taiwan as a state. Australia is part of the overwhelming majority that does not. Canberra continued to recognise the Republic of China until diplomatic relations were set up with the People's Republic of China - established by the communist party - in 1972. Taipei's representative offices in Australia do not have diplomatic status and dealings take place unofficially. But trade between the two is worth billions and a number of travel and academic exchanges take place. Taiwan became the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage in 2019 and Taipei is adorned with pride flags and rainbow road crossings. About 170,000 people took part in the pride parade in October, which has been celebrated annually since 2003. China has meanwhile increasingly conducted military drills around Taiwan, with more than 150 aircraft swarming the island in mid-October. A declaration of independence is a clear red line many Taiwanese officials say they will not cross. A survey completed earlier this year showed more than 80 per cent of Taiwanese respondents wanted to maintain the status-quo with China. The number of those wanting independence has been dropping since 2020. Department of International Information Services Director General Catherine Hsu says Taipei is not fearful of an invasion by China. However I-Chung Lai, president of government-funded think tank Prospect Foundation, insists the majority of Taiwanese are ready to take a stand to protect their freedom and democracy. Asked what he would advise in the face of an invasion, he says: "That's a very easy answer, we'll go to war. We'll fight to the death." Dr Lai says despite concerns about an invasion, officials are also considering a blockade or an "anaconda" strategy, where Taiwan would be strangled into submission. "We need to prepare ourselves (so) we can fight tonight and win, that China cannot prevail in a successful military operation," he says. Taiwanese factcheckers say the island is a target for serious disinformation campaigns, often aimed at undermining democracy as a form of government. According to Taiwan FactCheck Center chief executive Eve Chiu shared-language across the strait means lots of fake news floods Taiwanese feeds. Doctored images showing US Vice-President Kamala Harris in a bikini and embracing disgraced American pedophile Jeffrey Epstein on a beach with a caption "this is real," have been picked up via monitoring of the online space. Ms Chiu says another area malicious groups would target include fuelling US scepticism among the general public. A deepfake appeared online, showing a heavily-edited video of a US politician falsely saying Washington was keen to arm Taiwan for a coming war with Beijing. In fact, the original video showed him being questioned by American reporters about the state of the US economy. Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Francois Wu has told journalists it is sometimes "lonely" being Taiwanese, as many countries prioritise good economic relations with Beijing. Despite the uncertainty, he was defiant in the face of questions Taiwan might capitulate. "We have to be careful but that does not mean that we have to be intimidated by China," he said. "They said they (have) wanted to occupy Taiwan since 1949 and look at what has happened. We are still here, standing alive." The AAP reporter travelled to Taipei with the assistance of the Taiwanese government. Australian Associated Press DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. 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Options Corner: A Poor Performance By Micron May Signal An Incoming ReboundDonald Trump , the president-elect of the United States , stated that his administration will attempt to retake control of the Panama Canal . The issue was brought up by Mr Trump during AmericaFest on Sunday (December 22), an annual gathering hosted by the conservative organisation Turning Point. The US “foolishly gave it away”, he claimed at the Arizona event, adding, “W’'re being ripped off at the Panama Canal like we're being ripped off everywhere else.” Mr Trump captioned a photo of the US flag flying over a small body of water on his Truth Social platform and Instagram after AmericaFest, saying, “Welcome to the United States Canal!”. As the name suggests, Panama owns the canal. Opening in 1914, the US-built canal was under US administration until a 1977 agreement called for its ultimate transfer to Panama. Both nations worked together to operate the canal until 1999, when the Panamanian government took exclusive authority. Ships soon outnumbered the canal's capacity once the Panamanians regained exclusive control of it in 2000. Beginning in 2007, a significant enlargement project was finished almost 10 years later. However, the canal's ability to operate effectively has been hampered by the severe droughts that have been plaguing the surrounding area. Canal officials have increased the cost of using the canal and placed limits on traffic. These expenses seem to be a contributing factor in Mr Trump's canal grievance. The president-elect said on Sunday that it is, “highly unfair, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama, I say, very foolishly, by the United States”. Additionally, Mr Trump's other assertion is that China is attempting to increase its influence over Panama and the Canal Zone. A joint declaration agreed by Panama and China in 2017 emphasised that the two countries will not have any formal relations with Taiwan , the self-governing democracy claimed as its own territory by China's ruling communist party. Since then, China has become more influential in the region surrounding the canal. In light of what he said was the unprecedented generosity the US has shown Panama, the president-elect called them “ridiculous” and “highly unfair” on Sunday. The Panamanian administration is opposed to Mr Trump's proposal. In a statement released on Sunday, president José Raúl Mulino stated, “As president, I want to express precisely that every square metre of the Panama Canal and its adjacent area belong to PANAMA, and will continue to be.” He went on to say, “The sovereignty and independence of our country are not negotiable.”
NEW YORK (AP) — With the end of 2024 around the corner, you might be reflecting on financial goals for 2025. Whether you’re saving to move out of your parents’ house or pay off student loan debt, financial resolutions can help you stay motivated, said Courtney Alev, consumer advocate for Credit Karma. “Entering a new year doesn’t erase all our financial challenges from the prior year,” Alev said. “But it can really help to bring a fresh-start mentality to how you’re managing your finances.” If you’re planning to make financial resolutions for the new year, experts recommend that you start by evaluating the state of your finances in 2024. Then, set specific goals and make sure they’re attainable for your lifestyle. Here are some tips from experts: Change your relationship with money Think about how you currently deal with finances — what’s good, what’s bad, and what can improve. “Let this be the year you change your relationship with money,” said Ashley Lapato, personal finance educator for YNAB, a budgeting app. If you feel like money is a chore, that there’s shame surrounding the topic of money, or like you were born being “bad at money,” it’s time to change that mentality, Lapato said. RELATED COVERAGE How to avoid financial stress during the holiday season Stock market today: Wall Street ends mixed after a bumpy week The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees To adjust your approach, Lapato recommends viewing money goals as an opportunity to imagine your desired lifestyle in the future. She recommends asking questions like, “What do my 30s look like? What do my 40s look like?” and using money as a means to get there. Liz Young Thomas, head of SoFi Investment Strategy, added that it’s key you forgive yourself for past mistakes in order to move into the new year with motivation. Know your “why” When setting your financial resolutions for 2025, it’s important to establish the “why” of each, said Matt Watson, CEO of Origin, a financial tracking app. “If you can attach the financial goal to a bigger life goal, it’s much more motivating and more likely you’ll continue on that path,” Watson said. Whether you’re saving to buy a house, pay off credit card debt or take a summer vacation, being clear about the goal can keep you motivated. Watson also recommends using a tool to help you keep track of your finances, such as an app, spreadsheet, or website. Budget, budget, budget “After three years of inflation, your pay increases are likely still playing catch up to your monthly expenses, leaving you wondering where all the money is going,” said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate. “Make that monthly budget for 2025 and resolve to track your spending against it throughout the year.” McBride said that you may need to make adjustments during the year as certain expenses increase, which would require cutting back in other areas. “Calibrate your spending with your income, and any month you spend less than budgeted, transfer the difference into your savings account, ideally a high-yield savings account,” he said. Pay down outstanding debt “Interest rates aren’t likely to come down very fast, so you’re still going to have to put in the hard work of paying down debt, especially high-cost credit card debt, and do so with urgency,” McBride said. Start by taking stock of how much debt you have now relative to the beginning of the year. Hopefully you’ve made steady progress on paying it down, but, if you’ve gone in the other direction, McBride encourages making a game plan. That includes looking into 0% balance transfer offers. Take control of your credit card interest rate “You have more power over credit card interest rates than you think you do,” said Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree. “Wielding that power is one of the best moves you can make in 2025.” A 0% balance transfer credit card is “a good weapon” in the fight against high card APRs, or annual percentage rates, he said. A low-interest personal loan is an option as well. You may simply be able to pick up the phone and ask for a lower interest rate. LendingTree found that a majority of people who did that in 2024 were successful, and the average reduction was more than 6 points. Set realistic, practical goals When planning for your financial resolutions, it’s important to consider how you’re going to make your goals sustainable for your lifestyle, said Credit Karma’s Alev. “It really is a marathon, not a sprint,” Alev said. Alev recommends setting realistic, practical goals to make it easier to stick with them. For example, instead of planning to save thousands of dollars by the end of the year, start by saving $20 a paycheck. Even when your plans are achievable, there are times you’ll get derailed. Maybe it’s an unexpected medical bill or an extraordinary life event. When these situations happen, Alev recommends trying not to feel defeated and working to get back on track without feeling guilty. Don’t ‘flamingo’ or bury your head in the sand “You can’t manage what you can’t see, so set a New Year’s resolution to check your credit score monthly in 2025,” said Rikard Bandebo, chief economist at VantageScore. “Be sure to pay more than the minimum on your credit accounts, as that’s one of the best ways to boost your credit score.” Bandebo also advises student loan borrowers to make all payments on time, as servicers will begin to report late payments starting in January, and missed payments will affect borrowers’ credit scores. Automate savings, where possible Automated changes, like increasing workplace 401(k) plan contributions, setting up direct deposits from paychecks into dedicated savings accounts, and arranging for monthly transfers into an IRA and/or 529 college savings accounts all add up quickly, McBride said. Slow down Your financial goals can encompass more than just managing your money better — they can also be about keeping your money safe from scams . A golden rule to protect yourself from scams is to “slow down,” said Johan Gerber, vice president of security solutions at Mastercard. “You have to slow down and talk to other people if you’re not sure (whether or not) it’s scam,” said Gerber, who recommends building an accountability system with family to keep yourself and your loved ones secure. Scammers use urgency to make people fall for their tricks, so taking your time to make any financial decision can keep you from losing money. Focus on financial wellness Your financial goals don’t always have to be rooted in a dollar amount — they can also be about well-being. Finances are deeply connected with our mental health, and, to take care of our money, we also need to take care of ourselves. “I think that now more than any other year, your financial wellness should be a resolution,” said Alejandra Rojas, personal finance expert and founder of The Money Mindset Hub, a mentoring platform for women entrepreneurs. “Your mental health with money should be a resolution.” To focus on your financial wellness, you can set one or two goals focusing on your relationship with money. For example, you could find ways to address and resolve financial trauma, or you could set a goal to talk more openly with loved ones about money, Rojas said. —— The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.Should Business Leaders Fear For Their Lives? 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