Why Warren Buffett Bought A $550 Million Stake In 'Unbelievably Good' Opportunities Domino's And Pool Corp - Yahoo Finance8k8 casino login ph 。

Strictly Come Dancing's Jamie Borthwick had 'toughest week' before controversial BBC exitOliver Glasner: Crystal Palace are heading in right direction after Ipswich win

Sean Higgins: To solve burgeoning retail theft problem ... more machines? Probably notTrump team signs agreement to allow Justice to conduct background checks on nominees, staff

Few things remain recognizable in college football in 2024, but at least one thing remains constant: The coaching carousel is always spinning. Inevitably, teams will choose to part ways with their current coaching staff and embark on a new, more exciting era while hoping they don't find themselves back in the same spot just a few years later. One coach was fired before the 2024 season even began, as Utah State's Blake Anderson was let go in July for allegedly regarding the reporting of sexual misconduct allegations. And Fresno State's Jeff Tedford resigned in July . The timing of coaching searches in the sport will certainly change this season thanks to the . Coaches of teams participating in the 12-team field won't be available until after the first round at least, which comes after early signing day the first week of December. But that won't stop athletics directors from making mid-season changes in an attempt to get a leg up in the coaching market. With that in mind, here's every coach fired so far in 2024. At the age of 63, Tedford resigned from his post at Fresno State on July 15, paving the way for linebackers coach Tim Skipper to take the reins on an interim basis. Tedford, who was previously the coach at Cal for some of the Golden Bears' best seasons, went 44-22 with three bowl wins at Fresno. Anderson was fired ahead of the 2024 season in July after being placed on administrative leave, with Utah State writing in a press release that he “failed to manage the team in a manner that reflects USU’s academic values.” Defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling took over as interim coach for the 2024 season. Anderson, who previously coached at Arkansas State from 2014-20, went 11-3 with a Mountain West title in his first season in 2021 but finished 6-7 with bowl losses in each of the last two seasons. Southern Miss pulled the plug on the Will Hall era on Oct. 20, the morning after a 44-28 home loss to Arkansas State. Hall, a former offensive coordinator at Tulane and Louisiana, was 14-32 across four seasons. The lone bright spot was 2022, which featured a 7-6 finish after a win in the LendingTree Bowl. Houston had a ton of success as a coach before arriving in Greenville, North Carolina, taking Lenoir-Rhyne to the Division II national championship, taking The Citadel to the FCS Playoffs and winning an FCS title with James Madison in 2016. He never quite replicated that sort of winning for the . ECU went 8-5 and won the Birmingham Bowl in 2022 but followed that up with a 2-10 finish in 2023. East Carolina got off to a 3-4 start before Houston was fired on Oct. 20 after losing 45-28 to Army. For fans of the ECU, Houston's biggest sin was how the Pirates performed against in-state opponents, going a combined 0-7 against N.C. State, Appalachian State and Charlotte during his tenure. After going 4-0 since taking over for Houston on an interim basis, ECU made former defensive coordinator Blake Harrell the full-time head coach. It felt like Bloomgren lived on the hot seat for a few seasons at Rice, but the Owls finally cut him loose on Oct. 27 after a 17-10 loss at UConn. Bloomgren, a former understudy of David Shaw at Stanford, never had a winning season in seven years at Rice and went 24-52. Kennesaw State announced on Nov. 10 that Bohannon resigned, but the coach said that he was fired. Nevertheless, he's out after leading the Owls for 11 years, from the inception of the program to its transition to FBS. Bohannon led the Owls to three Big South Championships and a pair of appearances in the FCS quarterfinals, but never won at the same frequency at the FBS level. The Owls were 1-8 this season when Bohannon was let go. A former MAC MVP for Ball State, the let Neu go after a 51-48 overtime loss to Buffalo that ensured a third straight bowl-less season. Neu went 40-63 in nine seasons leading Ball State. The Owls beat FAU on Nov. 16, but Temple decided to fire Stan Drayton the next day anyway, beginning its third coaching search since 2018 when Geoff Collins left for Georgia Tech. Drayton, a longtime college and NFL running backs coach before getting the top job at Temple, went 9-25 in just under three seasons as a head coach. Two days after a 35-34 overtime loss to Liberty, Don Brown's second tenure as the head coach of the Minutemen came to an end. Brown led UMass to an FCS title game appearance back in 2006, but he nor the Minutemen have been able to recreate winning ways. UMass was 6-28 over the past three seasons under Brown, with just two wins against fellow FBS opponents. Herman will continue to make a lot of money to not coach. Amidst a five-game losing streak and an 18-15 loss to Temple, FAU cut Herman loose on Nov. 18, less than two full seasons into his gig in Boca Raton. Herman was 6-16 over the past two seasons, never recreating the success he had at Texas or Houston, where he went 5-1 in bowl games. More importantly, the firing of Herman means that every FBS program with Owls for a nickname has fired their coach this season (FAU, Kennesaw State, Rice and Temple). The Biff Poggi experiment has come to an end in Charlotte. Poggi, a 64-year-old Baltimore native with an affinity for sleeveless shirts, was previously a very successful high school coach in Maryland and an assistant at Michigan before the 49ers took a gamble on him less than two years ago. Aside from notching two wins against in-state foe East Carolina, there wasn't much success for Charlotte under Poggi, who didn't make life easier for himself as he publicly called out fans and media members. The 49ers went 6-16 in Poggi's two seasons, and he was fired after a 59-24 loss to South Florida that eliminated Charlotte from bowl eligibility. Central Michigan announced on Nov. 20 that McElwain is retiring from football after coaching the Chippewas for six seasons. He led Central Michigan to a 9-4 mark and a Sun Bowl win in 2021, but hasn't been able to sustain that success, posting three straight losing seasons. Before Central Michigan, McElwain coached at Colorado State and Florida. The 62-year-old has a 77-63 overall record. He was the SEC Coach of the Year in 2015 and he also had stops at Alabama and Michigan as an assistant. Mack Brown's second run at North Carolina is ending, despite the 73-year-old coach recently saying he intended to return. The school announced it fired Brown in Week 14, and it's the first Power Four opening of the 2024-25 coaching carousel. After previously coaching the Tar Heels from 1988-1997, Brown returned for the 2019 season and coached the team to six bowl game berths in that stretch, including this season. He has a 113-78-1 overall record with North Carolina and was 44-32 in his second stint, but in the last couple years, the program has struggled, finishing 8-5 in 2023 and currently having a 6-5 record in 2024 ahead of the regular-season finale against NC State. ESPN reported on Saturday, Nov. 30 that Malzahn is resigning as UCF's head coach to become the offensive coordinator at Florida State. UCF went 4-8 this season — its worst mark in four seasons under Malzahn — after losing 28-14 to Utah in its regular season finale. Malzahn took the reins of the Knights in 2021 and helped them transition from the American Athletic Conference to the Big 12. In four seasons, he went 28-24 with three bowl appearances. Before his tenure at UCF, Malzahn was at Auburn for eight seasons and Arkansas State for one. He was the offensive coordinator for Auburn's national championship team in 2010.Danny Coulombe , fresh off the two best seasons of his career, is mow an unrestricted free agent and looking for a new contract. Coulombe, 35, spent the majority of the early stage of his career bouncing between the major leagues and minor leagues. His MLB debut came for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2014. Then, Coulombe headed to the Oakland Athletics, where he spent the next five years of his career. In 2017, he had a career year, appearing in 72 games for the Athletics, while posting a 3.48 ERA. After Oakland, Coulombe found his way to the New York Yankees’ minor league system, then to the Minnesota Twins, where he appeared in 41 games over parts of three seasons. Just before the start of the 2023 season, Coulombe was traded to the Baltimore Orioles and immediately made the MLB roster. During his two seasons in Baltimore, Coulombe became a shutdown reliever and was a key part of the team’s back-to-back postseason appearances. However, the Orioles non-tendered Coulombe following the 2024 season. Now, he is a free agent looking for a place to provide his services. Danny Coulombe Free Agent Profile Coulombe’s Time In Baltimore In Baltimore, Danny Coulombe was excellent. The soft-throwing lefty was extremely reliable and consistent and was ready to step up whenever the Orioles needed him. In 2023, Coulombe pitched in 61 games and finished with a 2.81 ERA. He struck out 58 batters while walking just 12, and had just a 1.110 WHIP. Although he dealt with an elbow injury during a large part of the 2024 season, Coulombe managed to appear in 33 games. In those outings, Coulombe had just a 2.12 ERA and a minuscule 0.674 WHIP. Coulombe was dominant in every sense of the word when he pitched over his two seasons in Baltimore. What Coulombe Brings To The Table As a shutdown lefty, Coulombe already has a lot of value. The advanced side of the veteran’s stats shows how truly dominant–and valuable–he is. Although his fastball velocity is consistently in the bottom 10 percent of MLB, Coulombe routinely shuts down opposing hitters. He does this by limiting hard hits and forcing ground balls. His cutter, his primary pitch, constantly forces low exit velocity. In 2023, Coulombe was in the 96th percentile for average exit velocity allowed. Then, his offspeed pitches force a lot of whiffs. Danny Coulombe, Filth. pic.twitter.com/ZXh81gQGQA — Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 24, 2024 Overall, the skillset of Coulombe is a valuable one to have. His ability to force weak contact and generate outs is incredibly impressive. Projected Contact for Coulombe As an older reliever, Coulombe will not command much. Spotrac projects Coulombe to earn a one-year contract worth $1.2 million. That is about $1 million lower than the deal he was on in 2024. It makes sense that the price would be a tad lower due to Coulombe’s injury in 2024 and his age. Coulombe is a Strong Option For Bullpen Neady Teams Although he is already 35 years old, Coulombe has just begun to hit his peak. He should be widely sought after by a variety of teams, including many playoff contenders. The Orioles may want to bring him back, but teams like the Kansas City Royals or Boston Red Sox, whose bullpens struggled during the 2024 season, could also use his services. This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

Ruud van Nistelrooy enjoys winning start with Leicester

UN human rights watchdog opens investigation into Venezuela presidential electionTPG RE Finance Trust, Inc. (NYSE:TRTX) Shares Purchased by Franklin Resources Inc.

Barclays PLC boosted its position in ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ( NASDAQ:SPRY – Free Report ) by 189.7% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 111,666 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 73,127 shares during the quarter. Barclays PLC’s holdings in ARS Pharmaceuticals were worth $1,618,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. First Turn Management LLC purchased a new stake in ARS Pharmaceuticals in the third quarter valued at about $8,603,000. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. lifted its position in ARS Pharmaceuticals by 78.9% during the 3rd quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 653,048 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,469,000 after acquiring an additional 288,021 shares during the period. Miura Global Management LLC purchased a new stake in ARS Pharmaceuticals during the 3rd quarter valued at about $3,915,000. Wexford Capital LP acquired a new position in shares of ARS Pharmaceuticals in the third quarter valued at about $3,601,000. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its stake in shares of ARS Pharmaceuticals by 766.1% in the third quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 234,537 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,401,000 after purchasing an additional 207,456 shares during the last quarter. 68.16% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. ARS Pharmaceuticals Stock Down 3.2 % ARS Pharmaceuticals stock opened at $10.79 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -21.16 and a beta of 0.88. ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has a 52-week low of $5.19 and a 52-week high of $18.51. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $13.91 and a 200-day simple moving average of $12.51. Insider Activity Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. William Blair raised shares of ARS Pharmaceuticals to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, August 30th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $30.00 price objective on shares of ARS Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Tuesday, October 8th. Finally, Leerink Partners raised their target price on ARS Pharmaceuticals from $21.00 to $25.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, September 20th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $24.00. View Our Latest Analysis on SPRY About ARS Pharmaceuticals ( Free Report ) ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company, develops treatments for severe allergic reactions. The company is developing neffy, a needle-free and low-dose intranasal epinephrine nasal spray for the emergency treatment of Type I allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. It serves healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SPRY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ( NASDAQ:SPRY – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for ARS Pharmaceuticals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ARS Pharmaceuticals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .LSU outlasts UCF 109-102 in triple-OT affairTHIAROYE-SUR-MER, Senegal (AP) — Biram Senghor regularly goes to pay his respects at a military cemetery in Thiaroye, a fishing village near Senegal’s capital Dakar, bowing in front of a different grave each time. The 86-year-old has no way of knowing which grave belongs to his father, M’Bap Senghor, one of likely hundreds of West African riflemen who fought for France during World War II but were killed on Dec. 1, 1944 by the French army after demanding unpaid wages. In this cemetery where they are supposedly buried, all the graves are anonymous and the exact location of the remains is unknown, as is the number of victims. The true scale and circumstances of the killings remain unclear as Senegal commemorates the 80th anniversary of the massacre on Sunday, threatening to reignite smoldering tensions between France and the former colony. “I have been fighting to get answers for over 80 years,” said Biram Senghor. “(French President Emmanuel) Macron cannot do what the other French presidents before him did; France has to repent.” The West Africans were members of the unit called “Tirailleurs Sénégalais,” a corps of colonial infantry in the French Army that fought in both World Wars. According to historians, there were disputes over unpaid wages in the days before the massacre and on Dec. 1, French troops turned on the unarmed African soldiers and shot them dead. For decades, French authorities tried to minimize what had happened in Thiaroye. Reports by the French military shortly after the massacre determined that 35 West African soldiers were killed in response to a “mutiny.” Other reports by the French army mention 70 deaths. But today, many French and Senegalese historians agree the true death toll is likely in the hundreds, with some speaking of almost 400 soldiers killed, based on estimates of the number of riflemen present at the camp on the day of the massacre. On Thursday, Macron officially recognized the events of Thiaroye as a massacre for the first time in a letter to Senegal’s President Diomaye Faye, which was seen by The Associated Press. “France must recognize that on that day, the confrontation between soldiers and riflemen who demanded their full legitimate wages be paid, triggered a chain of events that resulted in a massacre,” read Macron’s letter. But many historians dispute the idea of a confrontation between the French soldiers and the riflemen. “What happened on December 1st was the execution of unarmed soldiers,” said Martin Mourre, a French historian and author of Thiaroye 1944, History and Memory of a Colonial Massacre. He points to the fact that no weapons were mentioned during the trial of the African riflemen accused of mutiny and the absence of any injuries among the French soldiers as evidence that no confrontation took place. In his letter to the Senegalese president, Macron did not mention the number of soldiers killed. The controversies and unknowns about the massacre are in part due to a lack of transparency by French authorities regarding the military reports and testimonies. In 2014, French President Francois Hollande handed over the European nation’s archives on Thiaroye to Macky Sall, then-president of Senegal. But historians say that key documents, including ones indicating the site of the mass graves and the number of West African soldiers present at the camp on the day of the massacre, are still missing. It is unclear if France holds such archives or if they even exist. Macron’s office and the French foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Additionally, very little was done by the Senegalese authorities under former president Sall to allow historians to delve into the historical documents. “The archives remained inaccessible until this year, for obscure reasons,” says Mourre. Mamadou Diouf, a Senegalese historian who heads the commemoration committee for the Thiaroye massacre this year, says Sall did not show much interest in the subject in order to avoid diplomatic tensions with France. But Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who was elected in March in part on a promise of redefining Senegal’s relationship with the former colonizer, has vowed to regain control of the historical narrative on Thiaroye. His administration has organized major commemorations of the massacre from Dec. 1 to April 2025 across the country. “The authorities' goal behind the major commemorations is to make Thiaroye part of Senegal’s national story,” said Babacar Ndiaye, political analyst at the Wathi think tank, which focuses on political and economic issues in West Africa. “It will be talked about a lot on television, in the press and most importantly on social media,” he adds. “This will reach a younger audience who might know little about the events of Thiaroye.” The 80th anniversary of the massacre comes as France’s influence is declining in the region, with Paris losing its sway in its former West African colonies. French troops have been ousted in recent years from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso after years of fighting Islamic extremists alongside regional troops. Earlier this week, Chad, one of the last countries in the region in which France had maintained a large military presence, ended a military cooperation agreement with Paris. France still has around 350 troops in Senegal, mainly in a supportive role. Asked about their continued presence, Faye suggested it is not be something the Senegalese would want. “Historically, France enslaved, colonized and stayed here,” he said. “Obviously, I think that when you reverse the roles a little, you will have a hard time conceiving that another army — of China, Russia, Senegal, or any other country — could have a military base in France.” ___ Associated Press writer Sylvie Corbet in Paris, France, contributed to this report.After Trump's win, Black women are rethinking their role as America's reliable political organizers

Love Christmas lights? Check out these 10 destination neighborhoodsNew Delhi, Nov 24 (IANS): The Indian Naval Sailing vessel INSV Tarini sailed out from Fremantle, Australia on November 24 for the second leg of the Navika Sagar Parikrama's (NSP-II) expedition to Lyttelton, New Zealand. According to the Indian Navy, Tarini and her intrepid crew were seen off by an enthusiastic crowd cheering for the safe passage to Lyttelton. The voyage will cover 3400 nautical miles (6300 kilometres) in approximately 20 days, and it will see the crew experience varied weather conditions, including frontal weather systems and dropping temperatures. Navika Sagar Parikrama-II, which was flagged off by the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi on October 2, is an Indian Navy expedition undertaking a dual-handed circumnavigation of the earth by two women officers of the Navy onboard 56 ft INSV Tarini. Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A made a planned stop at Fremantle on November 9 after a 39-day voyage covering 4900 nautical miles under sail, to a warm welcome by Consul General of India in Perth, DA Canberra, officials of the Royal Australian Navy, and members of the Indian diaspora comprising mainly Indian Armed Forces Veterans. At Fremantle and Perth, the crew engaged in various impactful activities showcasing the Indian Navy’s contribution in promoting gender equality and global maritime cooperation while also representing India’s progress in maritime exploration and women’s empowerment. Fostering cultural and historical connections between the two countries and recognising their achievements, the crew were honoured as special invitees at the Western Australia Parliament where they interacted with parliamentarians and also attended a session of the Parliament where a statement was made in the house, acknowledging the expedition and their journey thus far. During the stopover, Tarini underwent checks of all systems and repairs to defects under the supervision of a shore support team from India and stocked up with provisions for the next leg. The crew was briefed by the team mentor, Cdr Abhilash Tomy (Retd) on the passage ahead, who also assessed the boat. Serving as ambassadors of India’s rich maritime heritage, they interacted with the Indian diaspora at a vibrant event coordinated by the Consul General of India in Perth. They also visited the Royal Australian Naval Base HMAS Stirling and the Ocean Reef High School. Sharing their journey and experiences with the students, the crew left a lasting impression on young minds, emphasising the importance of resilience, innovation, and pursuing dreams against challenges. Indian Navy said that Phase II of the expedition will see INSV Tarini cross Cape Leeuwin, the Great Australian Bight, Tasmania and the South Island of New Zealand before calling on at Lyttelton. The voyage will cover 3400 nautical miles (6300 kilometres) in approximately 20 days, and it will see the crew experience varied weather conditions, including frontal weather systems and dropping temperatures.Senator Rand Paul , a Kentucky Republican , said on Sunday that while he supports the mass deportation of illegal immigrants, he does not support President-elect Donald Trump 's plan to use the U.S. military to expel migrants "because it's illegal." Trump heavily campaigned on the issue of immigration in this year's election cycle, which has been a central focus of his platform since stepping onto the political stage in 2016. He promised to carry out the deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants on the campaign trail and on Monday, he confirmed that his incoming administration is prepared to declare a national emergency to carry out his mass deportation plan and will use the U.S. military in some form to help. Appearing on CBS News' Face the Nation on Sunday morning, Paul, a ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, told Margaret Brennan, "I'm a 100 percent supportive of going after the 15,000 murders, the 13,000 sexual assault perpetrators, rapists—all of these people. Let's send them on their way to prison or back home to another prison...but you don't do it with the army because it's illegal and we've had a distrust of putting the army into our streets." Paul was referring to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) report released in September on noncitizens who have been convicted or charged with a crime. The senator seemed to mix up the numbers as ICE reports 13,099 noncitizens convicted of murder and 15,811 convicted of sexual assault. Also, these numbers span decades, including people who entered the country over the past 40 years or more. "The police understand the Fourth Amendment. They have to go to judges. They have to get warrants; it has to be specific. I'm for removing these people, but I would do it through the normal process of domestic policing," Paul told Brennan. Newsweek reached out to Paul's office and Trump's team via email for comment Sunday afternoon. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) says he supports President-elect Donald Trump's plan for mass deportations, but not his suggestion of using the military for it, "because it's illegal." "We've had a distrust of putting the army into our streets," he says, calling for deportations "through... pic.twitter.com/WUms7FSu66 Brennan mentioned how taxing a mass deportation plan would be on immigration authorities, saying, "There are just 6,000 agents, 41,000 detention beds to carry out the assignment of rounding up millions of undocumented people, potentially." She then asked Paul, "How do you suggest they implement it?" "I will not support and will not vote to use the military in our cities. I think it's a terrible image," Paul said, using the same language as in an interview with Newsmax he did earlier this week. Paul said he would use the Federal Bureau of Investigation ( FBI ), ICE and Border Patrol to carry out the deportations. "It's not about detaining [the migrants]. In all likelihood, they should be going to a jail, either a jail here or in the country they came from," he added. The senator also said he doesn't think deputizing the U.S. National Guard to carry out the deportations is "the best way to do it." "It's less clear whether that's legal or illegal. Typically it has to be done at the behest of the governors. I still don't like a militarization of police, whether it's National Guard or Army," he said. Senator Richard Blumenthal , a Connecticut Democrat who also sits on the Homeland Security Committee, said Trump using the military to carry out mass deportations would be against the Insurrection Act, which allows presidents to use troops on American soil to restore order when they decide it's warranted. "We're pursuing whatever we can do to make clear that the Insurrection Act should not permit that use of the military," Blumenthal told The New York Times in an article published Monday. Under the Insurrection Act, "if there is no threat to public order of a fundamental, far-reaching kind, it would be illegal," the senator said.

Israeli army says it killed militant who worked for WCKAP News Summary at 11:04 a.m. EST

Why GQG’s moves matter more for Adani Group stocks than US court rulings - BusinessLineLSU outlasts UCF 109-102 in triple-OT affair

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks drifted to a mixed close, as gains for tech stocks nudged the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq to more records. The S&P 500 eked out a gain of under 0.1% Tuesday, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.4%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.2%. Treasury yields held relatively steady after a report showed U.S. employers were advertising slightly more job openings at the end of October than a month earlier. The value of the South Korean won sank against the dollar after its president declared martial law and then later said he’ll lift it. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are drifting around their records on Tuesday as Wall Street's white-hot rally lets off the accelerator. The S&P 500 was virtually flat in afternoon trading, a day after rising tech stocks helped it set an this year. It's climbed in nine of the last 10 days and is on track for one of its best years since the turn of the millennium. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down by 56 points, or 0.1%, with 45 minutes remaining in trading, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.2% to its own record set a day earlier. AT&T rose 3.9% after it boosted its profit forecast for the year. It also announced a $10 billion plan to send cash to its investors by buying back its own stock, while saying it expects to authorize another $10 billion of repurchases in 2027. On the losing end of Wall Street was U.S. Steel, which fell 7.9%. President-elect reiterated on social media that he would not let Japan’s Nippon Steel take over the iconic Pennsylvania steelmaker. announced plans last December to buy the Pittsburgh-based steel producer for $14.1 billion in cash, raising concerns about what the transaction could mean for unionized workers, supply chains and U.S. national security. Earlier this year, President Joe Biden also the acquisition. Tesla s sank 2.1% after a judge in Delaware reaffirmed a previous ruling that the electric car maker must The judge denied a request by attorneys for Musk and Tesla’s corporate directors to vacate her ruling earlier this year requiring the company to rescind the unprecedented pay package. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady after a report showed U.S. at the end of October than a month earlier. Continued strength there would raise optimism that the economy could keep avoiding a recession that many investors had earlier thought was inevitable. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.22 from 4.20% from late Monday. Yields have seesawed since Election Day amid worries that Trump's preferences for and could spur along with economic growth. But traders are still confident the will at its next meeting in two weeks. They’re betting on a nearly three-in-four chance of that, according to data from CME Group. Lower rates can help give the economy more juice, but they can also give inflation more fuel. The key report this week that could guide the Fed’s next move will arrive on Friday. It’s the , which will show how many workers U.S. employers hired and fired during November. It could be difficult to parse given how much storms and strikes distorted figures in October. Based on trading in the options market, Friday's jobs report appears to be the biggest potential market mover until the Fed announces its next decision on interest rates Dec. 18, according to strategists at Barclays Capital. Since his victory, Trump has broadcasted his , including for goods . Trade relations between the U.S. and China took another step backward after China said it is banning exports to the U.S. of gallium, germanium, antimony and other key high-tech materials with potential military applications. The counterpunch came swiftly after the U.S. Commerce Department expanded the list of Chinese technology companies to include many that make equipment used to make computer chips, chipmaking tools and software. The newly included in the so-called “entity list” are nearly all based in China. In financial markets abroad, the value of South Korea's currency fell 0.9% against the U.S. dollar following a frenetic night where and then later said he'd lift it after lawmakers voted to reject military rule. Stocks of Korean companies that trade in the United States also fell, including a 1.3% drop for SK Telecom. Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 1.9% to help lead global markets. Some analysts think Japanese stocks could end up benefiting from Trump’s threats to raise tariffs on China and other countries. Indexes rose 1% in Hong Kong and 0.4% in Shanghai amid unconfirmed reports that Chinese leaders would meet next week to discuss planning for the coming year. Investors are hoping it may bring fresh stimulus to help spur growth in the world’s second-largest economy. In France, the CAC 40 rose 0.3% amid continued worries about , where the government is battling over the budget. ___ AP Business Writers Yuri Kageyama and Matt Ott contributed. Stan Choe, The Associated PressUConn, football coach Jim Mora agree to contract extension through 2028Malakoff, as expected, romped over Maypearl on Thursday and stepped into a regional clash with unbeaten Jefferson, next week. Malakoff swamped the Panthers 70-7 in Ennis to take the Area title. It was only the second time the Tigers had scored 70 or more in a playoff game. The first was in 2000 when they hung 83 on Maypearl in a bi-district game. The Tigers scored 21 in the first quarter behind a strong ground attack and an 11-yard scoring pass from Mike Jones to Parker Poteete. By the time dashed home from 16 yards out with 8 minutes left in the second quarter, Malakoff had built a 35-0 lead. But the Tigers would make even more noise before halftime adding three more touchdowns. Jones connected on a 50-yard pass with 30 second left in the half to pad the lead to 56-0. After intermission, Chris Thompson picked off a pass giving the Tigers the ball on their own 36. From there, they went on another TD march, capped by an Elexon Jones run from 12 yards out. Hunter rush scored the final Tiger points on a 7-yard run in the fourth quarter. Malakoff gained 515 yards on the night, with 362 on the ground on just 29 snaps. Jones had a 67-yard run while Jason Tennyson scored on a 51-yard scoot. Jones hit 8 of 10 for 148 yards and three scores. The Tigers move to the regional semifinal against Jefferson. The 12-0 Eagles are powered by an outstanding running running back, Kamran Williams, who has more than 2,000 yards for the season. The Bulldogs routed the Grandview Zebras 62-18, with Williams causing plenty of problems for the perennial playoff team. Grandview took a 6-0 lead, which was quickly answered on a pass from Tihmyus Taylor to Chris Lowe for a 7-yard TD. When Jefferson got the ball back, they struck again on a 48-yard pass from Taylor to Jakyrie Johnson. With less than a minute left in the first quarter Grandview cut the lead to 14-12 and it appeared the back and forth momentum surges might continue. Kamran Williams put Jefferson back in control with a 56-yard run. By halftime, the Eagles had build a 42-18 lead. As of press time, the time and place of the Malakoff-Jefferson game is set for 2 p.m., Friday, Nov. 29, at Rose Stadium in Tyler.

Hannaford Charitable Foundation presents a check for $30,000 at the Trinity Jubilee Center. From left are Jessica Lapointe, Hannaford assistant store manager, Lewiston; Alex Smith, Hannaford store manager, Lewiston; Erin Reed, Trinity Jubilee Center executive director; Megan Dubois, Hannaford assistant store manager, Auburn; and Dan Paul, Hannaford store manager, Auburn. Submitted photo LEWISTON — The Trinity Jubilee Center has received a $30,000 donation from the Hannaford Charitable Foundation to support the construction of the center’s new home. Trinity Jubilee Center staff member Cassandra Culleton supervises a team of Hannaford volunteers who are plating lunches in the Soup Kitchen. From left are Culleton; Dan Paul, Hannaford store manager, Auburn; Alex Smith, Hannaford store manager, Lewiston; and Jessica Lapointe, Hannaford assistant store manager, Lewiston. Submitted photo The center, the social services hub of the Lewiston community, provides vital services to residents facing economic hardship, including food assistance, shelter, employment support and medical care. The new location opens at 123 Bates St. in 2025. With the construction of the new facility, the center will be able to expand its services to help those experiencing homelessness, hunger and other challenges, according to a news release from Erin Reed with the center. The donation will be used to purchase and install a new walk-in refrigerator to store food for the center’s soup kitchen and food pantry, much of which comes from daily donations from the local Hannaford Supermarkets store in Lewiston. “This gift will make a profound difference in our ability to serve the people of Lewiston and beyond,” said Trinity Jubilee Center’s Executive Director Erin Reed. “We are thrilled to be able to open a facility that will allow us to meet the growing need in our community and provide the services that so many rely on. Hannaford’s support plays a crucial role in helping us achieve that mission.” For more information visit trinityjubileecenter.org . We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve. Please sign into your Sun Journal account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe . Questions? Please see our FAQs . Your commenting screen name has been updated. Send questions/comments to the editors. « Previous Next »

HOUSTON, Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intuitive Machines, Inc. (Nasdaq: LUNR, LUNRW) (“Intuitive Machines” or the “Company”), a leading space exploration, infrastructure, and services company, announced today that it has commenced an underwritten public offering of $65.0 million of shares of its Class A common stock (“Class A Common Stock”) (the “Offering”). The Company and a selling stockholder intend to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $8,872,500 and $877,500 of shares of Class A Common Stock from the Company and such selling stockholder, respectively. The Offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the Offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the Offering. Additionally, on December 2, 2024, the Company entered into an agreement with Boryung Corporation (together with its affiliates, “Boryung”), an accredited investor, pursuant to which the Company will sell to Boryung $10.0 million of shares of Class A Common Stock in a concurrent private placement (the “Private Placement”) at a purchase price per share equal to the public offering price per share in the Offering. The offer and sale of the Company’s Class A Common Stock pursuant to the Private Placement will be made in reliance upon the exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “Securities Act”) provided by Section 4(a)(2) thereunder. The Private Placement is contingent upon the consummation of the Offering and the satisfaction of certain other customary closing conditions. The consummation of the Offering is not contingent on the consummation of the Private Placement. The Company intends to use the net proceeds it receives from the Offering and the Private Placement, together with its existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investment balance, to acquire an equivalent number of newly-issued common units of Intuitive Machines, LLC (“Intuitive Machines OpCo”) from Intuitive Machines OpCo, which Intuitive Machines OpCo will in turn use for general corporate purposes, including operations, research and development and potential mergers and acquisitions. In the event the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares, the Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of any shares of Class A Common Stock being sold by the selling stockholder. Intuitive Machines will bear the costs associated with the sale of such shares, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions payable by the selling stockholder. BofA Securities, Cantor, Barclays and Stifel are acting as the lead joint book-running managers for the Offering. Roth Capital Partners is acting as a book-running manager for the Offering. The offer and sale of the securities pursuant to the Offering is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and became effective on April 3, 2024. The Offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus forming part of the effective registration statement relating to these securities. A copy of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to these securities may be obtained, when available, from the website of the SEC at www.sec.gov . Alternatively, copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus may be obtained, when available, from BofA Securities, NC1-022-02-25, 201 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, Attention: Prospectus Department, or by email at dg.prospectus_requests@bofa.com ; Cantor, 110 East 59th St., 6th Floor, New York, NY 10022, Attention: Capital Markets, or by email at prospectus@cantor.com ; Barclays, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by telephone at (888) 603-5847 or by email at barclaysprospectus@broadridge.com ; or Stifel, One Montgomery Street, Suite 3700, San Francisco, California 94104, Attention: Syndicate, by telephone at (415) 364-2720 or by email at syndprospectus@stifel.com . The securities to be offered and sold in the Private Placement have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state’s securities laws. Accordingly, the securities may not be offered or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus related to the Offering are not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in connection with the Private Placement. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Intuitive Machines Intuitive Machines is a diversified space exploration, infrastructure, and services company focused on fundamentally disrupting lunar access economics. In 2024, Intuitive Machines successfully landed the Company’s Nova-C class lunar lander, Odysseus, on the Moon, returning the United States to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972. The Company’s products and services are offered through its four in-space business units: Lunar Access Services, Orbital Services, Lunar Data Services, and Space Products and Infrastructure. For more information, please visit intuitivemachines.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward looking. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “strive,” “would,” “strategy,” “outlook,” the negative of these words or other similar expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements regarding: our anticipated use of net proceeds from the Offering and the Private Placement; the terms and size of the Offering and the timing and manner of the Offering; the satisfaction of closing conditions related to the Private Placement; our expectations and plans relating to our lunar missions, including the expected timing of launch and our progress and preparation thereof; our expectations with respect to, among other things, demand for our product portfolio, our submission of bids for contracts; our expectations regarding revenue for government contracts awarded to us; our operations, our financial performance and our industry; our business strategy, business plan, and plans to drive long-term sustainable shareholder value; and our expectations on revenue and cash generation. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s predictions, projections, or expectations based upon currently available information and data. Our actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The following important factors and uncertainties, among others, could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements in this press release: our reliance upon the efforts of our key personnel and board of directors to be successful; our limited operating history; our failure to manage our growth effectively and failure to win new contracts; competition from existing or new companies; unsatisfactory safety performance of our spaceflight systems or security incidents at our facilities; failure of the market for commercial spaceflight to achieve the growth potential we expect; any delayed launches, launch failures, failure of our satellites or lunar landers to reach their planned orbital locations, significant increases in the costs related to launches of satellites and lunar landers, and insufficient capacity available from satellite and lunar lander launch providers; our customer concentration; our reliance on a single launch service provider; risks associated with commercial spaceflight, including any accident on launch or during the journey into space; risks associated with the handling, production and disposition of potentially explosive and ignitable energetic materials and other dangerous chemicals in our operations; our reliance on a limited number of suppliers for certain materials and supplied components; failure of our products to operate in the expected manner or defects in our sub-systems; counterparty risks on contracts entered into with our customers and failure of our prime contractors to maintain their relationships with their counterparties and fulfill their contractual obligations; failure to successfully defend protest from other bidders for government contracts; failure to comply with various laws and regulations relating to various aspects of our business and any changes in the funding levels of various governmental entities with which we do business; our failure to protect the confidentiality of our trade secrets, and unpatented know how; our failure to comply with the terms of third-party open source software our systems utilize; our ability to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, and to address and remediate material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting; the U.S. government’s budget deficit and the national debt, as well as any inability of the U.S. government to complete its budget process for any government fiscal year, and our dependence on U.S. government contracts and funding by the government for the government contracts; our failure to comply with U.S. export and import control laws and regulations and U.S. economic sanctions and trade control laws and regulations; uncertain global macro-economic and political conditions (including as a result of a failure to raise the “debt ceiling”) and rising inflation; our history of losses and failure to achieve profitability in the future or failure of our business to generate sufficient funds to continue operations; the cost and potential outcomes of potential future litigation; our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading; the sufficiency and anticipated use of our existing capital resources to fund our future operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements and needs for additional financing, including the Offering and the Private Placement; and other public filings and press releases other factors detailed under the section titled Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC, the section titled Part I, Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the section titled Part II. Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our Current Reports on Form 8-K and in our subsequent filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this press release and current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks, and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Contacts For investor inquiries: investors@intuitivemachines.com For media inquiries: press@intuitivemachines.com This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

JazzIRT A Quick Take On Anteris Technologies Global’s IPO Anteris Technologies Global Corp. ( AVR ) has filed to raise $75 million in an IPO of its common stock, according to an SEC S-1 registration statement . Anteris is seeking to develop Gain Insight and actionable information on U.S. IPOs with IPO Edge research. Members of IPO Edge get the latest IPO research, news, and industry analysis. Get started with a free trial ! Donovan Jones is a research specialist with 15 years of experience identifying opportunities for IPOs and public software companies. He also leads the investing group IPO Edge , which offers actionable information on growth stocks through first-look IPO filings, previews on upcoming IPOs, an IPO calendar for tracking what’s on the horizon, a database of U.S. IPOs, and a guide to IPO investing to walk you through the entire IPO lifecycle - from filing to listing to quiet period and lockup expiration dates. Learn more Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

8k8 jili

The first contract Jackie Robinson signed with Brooklyn Dodgers President Branch Rickey on Oct. 23, 1945, was an agreement to play for the Montreal Royals, the Dodgers' top farm club. The deal included a $3,500 signing bonus and $600 per month for the 1946 season. Less than two years later, on April 11, 1947, Robinson signed his first major league contract with Rickey and National League President Ford Frick. He was paid $5,000 for the season. What happened next is well-documented and celebrated annually. Five days after signing, Robinson made history as the first Black player to compete in Major League Baseball, breaking the color barrier. The Dodgers' second baseman was named Rookie of the Year and, two years later, National League Most Valuable Player. He batted .313 over 11 seasons, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1962 and had his No. 42 retired across baseball in 1997. But what became of the contracts? Sports memorabilia can fetch millions today, and experts say Robinson’s original contracts could surpass the value of Shohei Ohtani’s 50/50 home run ball, Freddie Freeman’s World Series Game 1 walk-off grand slam ball or any high-end Babe Ruth artifacts auctioned for seven figures. After decades of uncertainty, Robinson’s contracts from 1945 and 1947 are safely under lock and key. They have been held by the U.S. Marshals Service since 2019 as part of an investment fraud investigation and prosecution. Mykalai Kontilai, a broadcast executive who in 2013 launched a sports memorabilia business called Collector’s Coffee by acquiring and showcasing the Robinson contracts, pleaded guilty last month to one count of mail fraud. He was sentenced last week to 51 months in prison and ordered to pay $6.1 million in restitution to investors he swindled. Those investors, referred to as “the Holders” in court documents, provided Kontilai with loans using the Robinson contracts as collateral. Kontilai raised more than $23 million before defaulting on the loans. Kontilai, 55, obstructed the investigation by forging documents sent to the Securities and Exchange Commission and lying under oath to the SEC. While under investigation but prior to being charged, he fled to Russia, unsuccessfully seeking asylum as a whistleblower of American corruption. He was arrested on an Interpol Red Notice in Germany in 2023 and extradited to the U.S. in May. Kontilai was found guilty of misappropriating funds, reportedly buying a Cadillac, paying for private school tuition and covering rent on luxury homes across the country, all while misleading investigators and failing to pay taxes on the scheme's proceeds. “Collectors Coffee and Kontilai, its CEO, repeatedly lied to investors to raise money for the company - money which Kontilai routinely stole to fund his lavish lifestyle,” Gurbir S. Grewal, director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, said in a statement last year. “Investors should be able to trust those to whom they give their hard-earned money and not worry that those people will lie, cheat and steal.” The Robinson contracts remain in limbo. A resolution may be near, with the philanthropic Jackie Robinson Foundation and the Holders likely sharing the proceeds. “I hope they could do that,” said David Kohler, president of high-end sports memorabilia house SCP Auctions in Orange County. “The proceeds would go to pay back people who were scammed. That seems like the right thing to do.” Kohler estimated what the contracts might fetch at auction and identified a potential buyer. “I’d say they’d probably go for $5 million and up at auction,” he said. “They reach beyond the game of baseball. They are important 20th-century American artifacts central to the civil rights movement. “I sometimes wonder, when it comes to historical items, why don’t the teams buy them? They’d be worth more to their team than to collectors.” Indeed, the Dodgers attempted to claim the contracts, asserting in a January 2019 letter to Collector’s Coffee that “(t)he property is owned by the Dodgers and is not property of (Collector’s Coffee, Inc.).” Later that year, however, the Dodgers relinquished their ownership claim to the Jackie Robinson Foundation. According to court filings, a potential settlement would grant the Jackie Robinson Foundation the 1947 Dodgers contract, while the Holders would receive the 1945 Montreal Royals contract. The Holders would also get an undisclosed portion of the value of the 1947 contract. The SEC would receive a small share. Kohler noted the Dodgers contract is more valuable than the Royals contract. When the distribution is approved, it could conclude the extraordinary journey of the contracts from Rickey’s desk in the 1940s to potential auctions the Holders hope will cover their losses. Before sports memorabilia became a million-dollar business, Rickey and Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley provided the contracts to the James A. Kelly Institute for Local Historical Studies in Brooklyn for a 1952 exhibition. The contracts remained in the institute’s basement for decades alongside nearly 4 million other documents chronicling Brooklyn’s history. The New York Daily News in 1974 reported the institute's move to St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights, noting the historical documents included the “bill of sale for Coney Island in 1654” and Robinson’s original contracts. A 1979 Daily News story also mentioned the contracts, yet the Dodgers made no effort to claim them. The institute’s director, St. Francis professor Arthur J. Konop, left a letter with a key to a safe deposit box before his death in 2009, stating, “My kids will know what to do with this.” Three years later, Konop’s wife and son sold the contracts to Gotta Have It Collectibles for $750,000. Odette Konop signed a letter warranting title, stating, “My husband possessed these contracts in a safe deposit box at our home for over 45 years. ... He cared for them and protected them over half his life until his passing.” Gotta Have It sold the contracts a year later for $2 million to Kontilai, who used them as collateral for $6 million in loans. Kontilai used the contracts to bolster his memorabilia business, hosting events in Philadelphia’s Constitution Center and New York’s Times Square. He enlisted expert Seth Kaller, who valued the contracts at $36 million, before spending investors' money. When the SEC began investigating in 2017, Kontilai forged documents, lied under oath and obstructed the case. After three years, he was indicted in Nevada on 18 counts, including securities fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and failure to file tax returns. He faced additional charges in Colorado, but those were dropped when he pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. The Jackie Robinson Foundation, established in 1973 by Robinson’s widow Rachel Robinson, may soon gain partial ownership of the contracts. The nonprofit administers scholarship and leadership programs for college students and was central to creating the Jackie Robinson Museum, which opened in 2022 in New York City. “Even if you come in with the idea to see the baseball story and learn more about that, you have to walk through that room that talks about his commitment to economic opportunity and civil rights and social justice,” Della Britton, president and CEO of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, told The Times in 2022. In one museum room, Robinson’s life roles are displayed in large capital letters: SOLDIER, CAMPAIGNER, PUBLIC SERVANT, ACTIVIST, FUNDRAISER, ORGANIZER, PROTESTER, ENTREPRENEUR, CITIZEN and more. Also displayed are framed copies of the contracts from 1945 and 1947. The originals, however, remain under federal custody until a court approves their new ownership and an auction determines their monetary value.The team behind the platform worked tirelessly to resolve the server issues, deploying additional resources and implementing temporary fixes to accommodate the influx of users. Their dedication and quick response were met with gratitude from users who understood the challenges of managing such a massive launch.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game against the Packers with a sore throwing shoulder.PAN 2.0: Revolutionizing the Permanent Account Number (PAN) System in India

www 8k8 com login

Quito, Ecuador–(Newsfile Corp. – November 25, 2024) – Nugentis, a leader in innovative energy solutions, proudly announces the launch of its latest venture, EnerCyclX, in Latin America. This strategic initiative marks a significant milestone in the company’s mission to deliver advanced energy storage solutions (ESS) that are both accessible and affordable. The initial rollout will take place in Ecuador, a country poised to benefit from cutting-edge energy technologies. EnerCyclX logo EnerCyclX aims to revolutionize the energy landscape in Ecuador by providing state-of-the-art energy storage systems designed to meet the growing demand for sustainable and reliable power sources. These solutions are tailored to support the country’s transition towards a more sustainable economy, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change and reduce carbon footprints. The introduction of EnerCyclX in Ecuador is a testament to Nugentis’s commitment to fostering sustainable development across Latin America. By leveraging its expertise in renewable energy generation, energy storage, and waste-to-energy technologies, Nugentis is set to empower communities and industries with the tools needed to achieve energy independence and resilience. ”EnerCyclX represents a bold step forward in our journey to make sustainable energy solutions available to all. By launching in Ecuador, we are not only expanding our footprint in Latin America but also contributing to a greener and more sustainable future for the region,” said Hagai Gat, CEO of Nugentis. With EnerCyclX, Nugentis is poised to address the critical challenges faced by Ecuador’s energy sector, including energy access, reliability, and affordability. The venture will introduce innovative storage technologies that enhance the efficiency and stability of the power grid, ensuring that clean energy is available when and where it is needed most. As part of its commitment to sustainability, Nugentis will also focus on community engagement and education, working closely with local stakeholders to promote the adoption of renewable energy solutions. This collaborative approach is designed to foster a culture of sustainability and innovation, paving the way for a brighter energy future in Ecuador and beyond. For more information about Nugentis and its groundbreaking initiatives, visit https://www.enercyclx.com/ . About Nugentis We supply solutions for the new energy world: electric vehicles, renewable energy generation, energy storage, waste-to-energy, battery renovation and much more to create a more sustainable economy with a sustainable lifestyle. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231310 #distroSEATTLE — Mary Ellen Johnson-Davis, a member of the Tulalip Tribes, disappeared in 2020 without a trace. On the FBI website today , below several photos of a woman with dark hair and a resolute expression, a Missing Person poster notes, “Mary was traveling to a friend’s house and never arrived.” Her family believes she was taken against her will, but after four years, they still have no idea what happened to her. Johnson-Davis’ story is explored in the new documentary “Missing from Fire Trail Road,” which examines both one specific case and a longtime pattern of violence against Indigenous women, disproportionate mysterious disappearances or murders of those women , and a seeming lack of interest by law enforcement to solve those cases. According to the National Crime Information Center, there were 5,712 reports of missing American Indian or Alaska Native women or girls in 2016 , though the U.S. Department of Justice’s federal missing persons database only logged 116 of those cases, according to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Seattle-based Urban Indian Health Institute, in a report released in 2018 , identified 506 missing or murdered Indigenous women since 1943 from specifically urban areas across the U.S. (including 45 in Seattle alone), noting that it was extremely difficult to gather such data from the 71 cities, and is likely a significant undercount. It is, said the film’s director, Sabrina Van Tassel, “an epidemic, because there’s not one (Native) family that’s not impacted. Everyone knows someone who went missing.” Deborah Parker, former vice chairperson of the Tulalip Tribes and executive producer of the film, said, “These are our daughters, our aunties, our relatives. ... When a Native woman goes missing, the chances of our sister not returning is high.” May 5 is now recognized as a national Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Van Tassel, a French American investigative journalist whose work focuses on social justice (her latest film, “The State of Texas vs. Melissa,” brought attention to a woman facing the death penalty), said she wished she could tell the stories of “all the women who disappeared.” But she chose this story because she was familiar with the Tulalip Tribes (having previously worked with Parker on a project more than a decade ago) and she found something enormously moving in Johnson-Davis’ story, which was one of long struggle: As a child, Johnson-Davis was removed from her family and placed in foster care, where she was subjected to sexual abuse, says her sister in the film. Returning as an adult to the Tulalip Reservation, she struggled with addiction, and with a volatile marriage. “There were so many unknowns about Mary — we had to do a lot of investigation,” said Parker. “Sadly, that’s the case when families are broken apart and other relatives don’t know much information about the children that were taken by the government.” She and Van Tassel searched for “relatives, friends, anyone who knew anything about Mary,” ultimately focusing on the missing woman’s three sisters, who had been looking tirelessly for her for years with little help from law enforcement. They were guided, Parker said, by Mary’s spirit — by “paying attention to Mary’s energy that was left around us. We had to pay attention to maybe her direction, from the other side.” Though it meticulously walks us through the case (and presents a few possible suspects), “Missing from Fire Trail Road” is not simply a true-crime documentary, but an examination of the impact of multigenerational trauma. Like “ Sugarcane ,” a documentary released earlier this year, the film traces the horrifying history of Native American boarding schools in the U.S. and Canada, where for decades, Native children were subjected to cultural erasure and abuse . Van Tassel said she was particularly interested in the link between the cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and what happened in the schools — “putting the two together, that’s really what my film is,” she said. “I do believe that when you have unsolved issues in the past, you can’t go forward to the present.” The film, completed some months ago, notes at the end that there has been no official U.S. government apology for the damage caused by the boarding schools. That changed a few weeks ago, when President Joe Biden issued an apology , calling the era of the schools “a blot on American history” and “a sin on our soul.” Parker, who’s now the CEO of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, was among those personally asking for that apology, and was pleased to see it. “It’s never too late to apologize,” she said. “I was on Air Force One with him from D.C. to Arizona, and we had a long discussion about the boarding school era. ... He was very visibly sad, he had tears in his eyes, he was just angry that we could have a society that behaves so horribly toward Native children and families.” Having the president acknowledge that pain and make an apology, Parker said, is an important step. Now available on multiple digital platforms, “Missing from Fire Trail Road” is still making the rounds of film festivals and screenings, including a special local screening for the Tulalip Tribes held on Nov. 10. Parker is hopeful that the screening “really sparked some interest in folks who want to do something,” and that perhaps it might bring about some new leads in the case. Many of Johnson-Davis’ family members attended that screening and, Parker said, found some hope in the sense of community. And both filmmakers are hopeful that the documentary might help effect change. “I think this is really the right moment,” Van Tassel said. “Society has changed so much in recent years — we all of a sudden understand where victims come from. I think this is the right moment for people to really acknowledge that there is one population in the U.S. that we have really not dealt with their past trauma.” Parker hopes, first and foremost, that the film helps solve the mystery of what happened to Johnson-Davis, to give her loved ones some resolution and peace. She also hopes it will bring a realization that it’s time to “take a pause, listen to Native people, start to honor the Indigenous culture that surrounds us, and pay deep respect for those who are still with us, those who are survivors.” The government, she said, tried to devastate a people — “but we’re still here, and we have a story to tell.” 'MISSING FROM FIRE TRAIL ROAD' No MPA rating Running time: 1:41 How to watch: Available on demand from Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV, Microsoft Movies and other services. ——— ©2024 The Seattle Times. Visit seattletimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

None

Missed kicks. Poor tackling. Costly penalties. Week 12 was filled with sloppy play around the NFL, leading to some upsets and surprising outcomes. Jayden Daniels nearly led Washington to an improbable comeback down 10 in the final two minutes against Dallas only to fall short because Austin Seibert's extra point sailed wide left. After a field goal and successful onside kick, Daniels connected with Terry McLaurin on an 86-yard catch-and-run touchdown to bring the Commanders within one point with 21 seconds remaining. But Seibert's point-after attempt failed and the Cowboys returned the ensuing onside kick for a touchdown to seal a 34-26 victory. Special teams were atrocious for both teams. Seibert also missed his first extra point and Washington allowed KaVontae Turpin's 99-yard kickoff return for a score earlier in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys missed a field goal, had another blocked and had a punt blocked. "What a wild special teams moment of blocked punts, kicks, kickoff returns, blocked field goals, just a number of things going to that spot," Commanders coach Dan Quinn said. Washington (7-5) was a 10 1/2-point favorite over the undermanned Cowboys (4-7) but ended up losing a third straight game. The Houston Texans were 8-point favorites against the lowly Tennessee Titans and let the game come down to Ka'imi Fairbairn missing a 28-yard field goal that would have tied it with just under two minutes left. C.J. Stroud threw two interceptions, was sacked four times and the Texans (7-5) committed 11 penalties, including an illegal shift that negated a go-ahead 33-yard TD pass to Nico Collins on the drive that ended with Fairbairn's miss in the 32-27 loss. The Titans (3-8) averaged just 17 points per game before putting 32 on the scoreboard against Houston's defense that entered No. 4 in the league. "We didn't do anything well enough to win this game," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. "Out of all the positives that we did have, there were way too many negatives. Too many negative plays. Score, get a penalty, get touchdowns called back. Get penalties on special teams. Just way too many negative plays defensively, like unexplainable explosives for touchdowns. We just didn't play good across the board." The San Francisco 49ers didn't have quarterback Brock Purdy, star edge rusher Nick Bosa and All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams against Green Bay. That was no excuse for their undisciplined performance. The Niners committed nine penalties and their tackling was shoddy in a 38-10 loss to the Packers. The defending NFC champions are 5-6 with a trip to Buffalo (9-2) coming up. They're still only one game behind Seattle and Arizona in the NFC West. "I'm really not concerned right now about how many guys were missing. We didn't play good enough, so that's not a factor. But, when you are missing some guys, you do have to be better. When you have those penalties and we didn't stop the run like we did and we had those three turnovers in the second half, that's how you get embarrassed." Coming off their first loss of the season, the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs needed Patrick Mahomes' heroics on the final drive to beat Carolina 30-27. Mahomes ran 33 yards to set up Spencer Schrader's 31-yard field goal as time expired. Kansas City had 10 penalties, including a pass interference that gave the Panthers (3-8) another chance to make the 2-point conversion that tied the game with 1:46 remaining. On defense, the Chiefs (10-1) suddenly shaky unit gave up 334 total yards against Bryce Young and an offense that entered last in the NFL. "We've got to do better. We're doing good in the red zone but that's only a third of the field," Chiefs safety Bryan Cook said. "We will go back and look at the film to see what we're doing week to week, and see the tendencies that we're giving up, and just move forward from there. At the end of the day, we're all vets in the room for the most part. ... got to go back to the drawing board and see what we're doing and correct it from there." The Vikings allowed the Bears to recover an onside kick with 21 seconds left and Caleb Williams followed with a 27-yard pass to D.J. Moore to set up Cairo Santos' tying 48-yard field goal. But Minnesota won in overtime, 30-27. The Chiefs and Vikings overcame their mistakes in narrow victories. The Commanders, Texans and 49ers couldn't. They have to be better down the stretch to make a playoff run. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Romania braces for parliamentary vote after far right's poll upset

Former Marine reservist pleads no contest to assault weapon charge

After Trump’s win, Black women are rethinking their role as America’s reliable political organizers

By MARY CLARE JALONICK and MATT BROWN WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Defense Department, said he had a “wonderful conversation” with Maine Sen. Susan Collins on Wednesday as he pushed to win enough votes for confirmation. He said he will not back down after allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct. Related Articles National Politics | Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell. It’ll be a first for him National Politics | The Trump and Biden teams insist they’re working hand in glove on foreign crises National Politics | ‘You don’t know what’s next.’ International students scramble ahead of Trump inauguration National Politics | Trump is threatening to raise tariffs again. Here’s how China plans to fight back National Politics | Trump won’t be able to save the struggling US beef industry Collins said after the hourlong meeting that she questioned Hegseth about the allegations amid reports of drinking and the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. She said she had a “good, substantive” discussion with Hegseth and “covered a wide range of topics,” including sexual assault in the military, Ukraine and NATO. But she said she would wait until a hearing, and notably a background check, to make a decision. “I asked virtually every question under the sun,” Collins told reporters as she left her office after the meeting. “I pressed him both on his position on military issues as well as the allegations against him, so I don’t think there was anything that we did not cover.” The meeting with Collins was closely watched as she is seen as more likely than most of her Republican Senate colleagues to vote against some of Trump’s Cabinet picks. She and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a fellow moderate Republican, did not shy from opposing Trump in his first term when they wanted to do so and sometimes supported President Joe Biden’s nominees for the judicial and executive branches. And Hegseth, an infantry combat veteran and former “Fox & Friends” weekend host, is working to gain as many votes as he can as some senators have expressed concerns about his personal history and lack of management experience. “I’m certainly not going to assume anything about where the senator stands,” Hegseth said as he left Collins’ office. “This is a process that we respect and appreciate. And we hope, in time, overall, when we get through that committee and to the floor that we can earn her support.” Hegseth met with Murkowski on Tuesday. He has also been meeting repeatedly with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, a military veteran who has said she is a survivor of sexual assault and has spent time in the Senate working on improving how attacks are reported and prosecuted within the ranks. On Monday, Ernst said after a meeting with him that he had committed to selecting a senior official to prioritize those goals. Republicans will have a 53-49 majority next year, meaning Trump cannot lose more than three votes on any of his nominees. It is so far unclear whether Hegseth will have enough support, but Trump has stepped up his pressure on senators in the last week. “Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” Trump posted on his social media platform last week.

YOU could lose out on a £1million Lotto jackpot due to a hidden rule in the small-print. Sub-postmaster Gerald Lowery, 67, has warned scratchcard players over the little-known mistake. Gerald sells National Lottery scratchcards at his Post Office branch in the Cumbrian village of Millom. Earlier this year a customer came in to claim a £5 prize on their scratchcard. But Gerald spotted the scratchcard had been accidentally sold after its expiry date. A baffled Gerald refunded the customer himself - saying it was lucky they hadn't won the £1million jackpot. Most read in Money FOOD FIGHT BBC chef apologises after closing restaurant - leaving customers out of pocket FOR LUCK'S SAKE Watch moment £100k lotto jackpot 'DISAPPEARS' leaving player with nothing If you scratched off the maximum £1million Scratchcard prize, you could lose out if your winning ticket expired before sale. Gerald was puzzled why the out-of-date ticket had slipped through and flagged the problem with lotto operator Allywn. The firm told him that he had missed the deadline to sell the scratchcard pack - and could not get a refund for unsold cards. Gerald told The Sun: "I haven't done anything wrong, but I'm out of pocket." Most read in Money FESTIVE BEER Full list of Wetherspoons opening in Scotland on Xmas Day, is one near you? WINTER WONDERLAND First look inside award-winning Santa's Grotto just 20mins from Glasgow FARM LIFE Farm with Scotland's only lake up for sale LUXURY LIVING Scots tycoon smashes house sale record at neighbourhood loved by celebs He put the pack on sale in September 1 last year, two months before the deadline for "activating" them. National Lottery Winners' advisors tell The Sun what it's like to give away £7bn The last day where he could officially sell the cards was January 29 this year, and the deadline for players to claim their prizes was July 27. Gerald kept the cards on sale on the understanding Allwyn would not send a new pack until the old one had sold out. He said he must have accidentally sold a scratchcard after the January 29 deadline, but is confused how it could have happened. The sub-postmaster said he was used to the old system where Post Office middlemen dealt with longtime Lotto operator Camelot. Under the old system, Post Office officials would refund shopkeepers for any unsold cards. But new operator Allwyn deals with shopkeepers directly - and Gerald likely fell foul of the small print while adjusting. He said the rule changes have left him out of pocket even though he has done nothing wrong. Gerald said: " I am just disappointed in Allywn and very wary of them. "They've had people come to visit my shop and they were of no help whatsoever. It's gone on long enough now." Allwyn said it will send someone to Gerald's shop to help him figure out any issues and get used to the system. The operator said Gerald doesn't owe any money - but isn't due a refund for unsold scratchcards either. UK's biggest lottery winners By Ethan Singh Anonymous winner - £195,707,000 A UK ticket-holder scooped the record EuroMillions jackpot of £195 million on July 19 2022 – the biggest National Lottery win of all time. The holder, who remains anonymous to this day, amassed the fortune with just one lucky ticket. Joe and Jess Thwaite - £184,262,899.10 Britain's previous EuroMillions record holders were Joe and Jess Thwaite. The couple won a record-breaking £184million jackpot in May 2022 and shared hopes of a Hawaiian holiday and a new horse box for their children's ponies. Joe bought his winning ticket online on May 10, 2022, and the following morning received an email with good news. As he learnt of the huge win, he was in disbelief and initially kept it for himself as he did not want to disturb his wife, who was sleeping. Joe, a communications sales engineer, and Jess, who runs a hairdressing salon with her sister, have been married for 11 years and have two children. Colin and Chris Weir, £161,653,000 Colin and Christine Weir landed the colossal prize money in 2011 and were Europe’s second-biggest winners until someone in Italy won a jackpot worth £193m in 2019. They splashed the cash at an astounding rate of £100,000 a week before tragedy struck. But at the time of Colin’s death in December 2019 his share of the prize money had dwindled by around £40m . He spent the millions living a life of luxury, forking out for sports cars, property and the football club he supported. Colin and Christine divorced shortly before his death after being married for 38 years. He left money for their children Carly and Jamie. Adrian and Gillian Brayford - £148,600,000 Adrian and Gillian won 190 million euros in a EuroMillions draw in August 2012, which came to just over £148 million. But Adrian split from Gillian the following year because of the stress of the win. The couple bought a Grade II listed estate in Cambridgeshire, complete with cinema and billiards room, but it was sold in 2021. After divorcing in 2013, he failed to woo ex-sausage factory worker Marta Jarosz — but fell for stable girl Sam Burbidge. She left him in 2017, taking 30 prize horses Adrian bought. It might have worked out in the end for Adrian though as the former postman was seen smiling with ambulance worker Tracey Biles last year. Frances and Patrick Connolly - £114,969,775 Former social worker and teacher Frances set up two charitable foundations after she and her husband hit the jackpot. They scooped almost £115 million on New Year’s Day 2019. She estimates that she has already given away £60 million to charitable causes, as well as friends and family. Richard and Debbie Nuttall - £61,000,000 The couple from Colne, Lancashire, took home £61 million on January 30 2024. Both 54, they were enjoying a holiday in Fuerteventura, celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary. But they then discovered the big EuroMillions win. Richard revealed they originally thought they had won £2.60, but then received another email telling the pair to check their account. Other eye-watering anonymous winners: 2019 - £123million Another anonymous winner scooped up a prize of £123,458,008 in the June Superdraw rollover. 2021 - £122million Following nine rollovers, one ticketholder bagged the £122,550,350 jackpot last April. The successful participant chose to remain anonymous. 2018 - £121million Another anonymous winner found their fortune during the Superdraw jackpot rollover in April 2018, securing £121,328,187. An Allwyn spokesperson said: "This pack of 60 Scratchcards was activated for sale on September 1 last year. "The game closed for sale on 29 January 2024 – over four months later. "Once the pack was activated, the Scratchcards became the retailer’s property. "To be clear, Mr Lowery doesn't owe anything, and he isn't due anything either. "We don't offer refunds for activated partial packs, nor did the previous National Lottery operator. "This is because retailers are given plenty of time to sell through the packs. "Full, unactivated Scratchcard packs should be returned, free of charge. "The retailer would've previously contracted directly with Post Office Limited in relation to his National Lottery account." Read more on the Scottish Sun FESTIVE FIZZ Coca-Cola Christmas truck in Scotland: Dates, locations & all you need to know AND RELAX Scots seaside hotel with outdoor hot tub and firepit named UK's top spa resort Allwyn added: "Post Office Limited may have had different processes to follow. "We'll get a member of our team to arrange a visit with Mr Lowery to offer him further support." 1 Sub-postmaster Gerald Lowery, 67, warned scratchcard players over the mistake Credit: Alamy What are my chances of winning the lottery? EVERYONE wants to know how to beat the odds and win the lottery. But unfortunately, the lottery is a game of luck and there are no tips or tricks that can guarantee you'll take home a top prize. The odds show how likely you are to win any particular prize - the lower the number, the better the odds. For example, odds of 1 in 10 are better than odds of 1 in 100 or 1 in 1,000. There are several major lottery games in the UK including Lotto by the National Lottery, Camelot's EuroMillions and Thunderball. Chances of winning the Lotto Lotto by the National Lottery is a game where you pick six numbers from 1 to 59. You can play up to seven lines of numbers on each slip. The game costs £2 to play per slip. The odds of winning any prize on the Lotto are 1 in 9.3. But to win the jackpot on the Lotto, the odds are considerably slimmer. To bag the top prize , you need to have six matching balls. The odds of doing this and scooping the jackpot are currently 1 in 45,057,474. The next highest prize of £1,000,000 is for getting five main matching balls plus the bonus ball. The odds of taking home the million pound prize are 1 in 7,509,579 - far higher than the jackpot, but still unlikely. The odds of taking home £1,750 for getting five main numbers without the bonus ball are 1 in 2,180, while you have a 1 in 97 chance of bagging £140 for getting four main numbers. Your chances of taking home £30 for getting 3 main numbers are much better at 1 in 97. And you have a roughly 1 in 10 chance of getting a free lucky dip for 2 matching numbers. Chances of winning the EuroMillions The EuroMillions costs £2.50 to play and is open on Tuesdays and Fridays. To play, you must pick five numbers from 1-50 and two "Lucky Stars" from 1-12. Players with the most matching numbers win the top prizes. Your chance of bagging the EuroMillions jackpot is even slimmer than winning the top Lotto prize. This is because it generally has higher jackpots on offer, meaning it attracts more attention . Currently, the odds of matching five numbers and two lucky stars - the top win - stand at 1 in 139,838,160. The average jackpot prize is £57,923,499, according to EuroMillions. The odds of winning the second top prize for matching 5 balls and a lucky star, which is typically around £262,346, are 1 in 6,991,908. The chances of taking home the third prize for five matching balls, with an average payout of £26,277, are 1 in 3,107,515. For four matching balls with two lucky stars, it's 1 in 621,503, and for four balls with one lucky star, it's 1 in 31,076. These come with an average prize of £1,489 and £95, respectively. Chances of winning the Thunderball Thunderball is another game run by National Lottery where you pick five numbers and one "Thunderball". It costs just £1 to play and you can enter up to four times a week. The jackpot of £500,000 for matching five balls plus the Thunderball is 1 in 8,060,598. Your odds of bagging the next highest prize of £5,000 for matching five balls is currently 1 in 620,046, while the chances of winning £250 for four balls plus the Thunderball is 1 in 47,416. You have the best chance of winning £3 for matching the Thunderball, with odds of 1 in 29.Here is what you need to know on Tuesday, November 26: (DXY) retreated to two-day lows and revisited the 106.60 region on Monday. A busy US docket will feature the FOMC Minutes as the salient event, seconded by the FHFA’s House Price Index, the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price index, and New Home Sales. In addition, the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence is due along with the Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index, the Dallas Fed Services Index, and the API’s weekly report on US crude oil inventories. started the week on a strong bid bias, reclaiming the 1.0500 hurdle and above on the back of the strong sell-off in the Greenback. The ECB’s McCaul is due to speak. GBP/USD reversed three daily drops in a row and briefly managed to trespass the key 1.2600 barrier. The CBI Distributive Trades will take centre stage across the Channel. The sharp drop in the Greenback coupled with declining US yields across the board accompanied the move lower in USD/JPY, which retested the mid-153.00s. Next on tap on the Japanese will be the usual weekly Foreign Bond Investment figures on November 28. AUD/USD trimmed initial losses and managed to regain the 0.6500 yardstick and eventually end the day with humble gains. The next data release Down Under will be the RBA’s Monthly CPI Indicator and the Q3’s Construction Work Done, both due on November 27. WTI prices sold off to the area of multi-day lows in the sub-$69.00 region per barrel in response to mitigated geopolitical concerns around the Israel-Lebanon crisis. Prices of Gold plummeted to the vicinity of the $2,600 region per troy ounce on the back of the likelihood of ceasefire talks in the Middle East conflict. Silver prices followed suit and eased to two-week lows near the key $30.00 mark per ounce.Headland softball player Ava Allsup signs with Wallace College Lady Govs

MyMandi: A Ratan Tata-Backed Venture Is Digitally Empowering India’s Retail Backbone – The KiranasKings break through in victory over the Kraken

When the Nebraska football team gathered for its Thursday practice prior to the Wisconsin game, offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen wanted to see a game-ready unit. Anything other than the best wasn’t good enough, and Holgorsen backed it up. The players who made mistakes, even committing false start penalties during that practice didn’t play on Saturday because of it, Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule said. Those who did their job got their chance, though, with Rhule identifying senior wide receiver Isiaha Garcia-Castaneda as one such beneficiary. So while Holgorsen’s playcalling was part of Nebraska’s 44-point outburst against the Badgers, his general approach is what Rhule appreciates most. “You hear Dana on the headset, the whole time he’s just talking about execution,” Rhule said. “... There’s a real focus on execution and when the guys execute the play calls. I think that was the message to the guys — if you execute and practice at a high level, you’re going to have an opportunity to play in the game.” Changes have been limited in Holgorsen’s short time as NU’s offensive coordinator, but he did make sure the Huskers scaled back the number of plays in their playbook. “We’re still doing a lot,” Rhule said, while crediting assistant coaches Glenn Thomas, Garret McGuire and Marcus Satterfield for their work in helping Holgorsen get accustomed to the team’s offensive setup. A “collaborative” gameplanning process that involves those coaches poring over game film and strategy together has led to results, but Rhule again emphasized that improvements from the players, not the coaches, is what has led to better results. When Nebraska was in rhythm on Saturday and stayed ahead of the chains, the Huskers were nearly impossible to slow down. When penalties, turnovers or miscues like snapping on the wrong count happened, though, the offense’s progress was halted. The clear difference? Execution. “It’s kind of a blend of everything we’ve been trying to say to them all year coming to life,” Rhule said of Nebraska’s 44-point performance. “I think the thing Dana’s done a great job is, he’s cut things down to a degree, but he’s demanding that they execute if they want to get on the field.” Nebraska also couldn’t have cut apart the Wisconsin defense without a reinvigorated showing from quarterback Dylan Raiola. Having thrown at least one interception in his previous five starts, Raiola finished the game turnover-free for the first time since September. The freshman also completed 28-of-38 passes for 293 yards and one touchdown, his biggest passing output other than a 297-yard performance against Illinois. Part of the reason for the turnaround was health-related following the back injury Raiola suffered against UCLA. Held out of practice over the bye, Raiola was “ginger” the whole game against USC according to Rhule but was more comfortable with moving around and sliding up in the pocket last Saturday. Getting the ball out quickly and accurately also helped Raiola’s timing within the offense. “He was just taking completions, taking what was there and not trying to do too much,” Rhule said of Raiola. “Playing as a freshman in the Big Ten is really, really hard; it requires tough people and I think Dylan’s been tough in that he’s gotten better every week.” Nebraska’s progress will be tested in a matchup against the nation’s No. 12 scoring defense, an Iowa unit that is allowing just 17.7 points per game. Another week with Holgorsen at the helm will help Nebraska with that challenge as the Huskers look to build on their recent offensive surge. “Just the rhythm of the way he does things means total sense to me,” Rhule said of Holgorsen. “... If I coach with Dana for one more week or if we coach together for the next 10 years, I’ll be a better coach as a result.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!

8k8 com login 11 Zeta Global Holdings Corp. Shareholder Notice: Robbins LLP Reminds Investors of the ZETA Class ...

Gambling advertising reform takes time and expertise. The social media ban? Not so much

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — The goals are flying in again for Arsenal — and it just happens to coincide with the return from injury of Martin Odegaard. Make that eight goals in two games since the international break for Arsenal after its 5-1 hammering of Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday, tying the English team’s heaviest ever away win in the competition. Odegaard is back in Arsenal’s team after missing two months with an ankle injury . In that time, Mikel Arteta’s attack stuttered, with a 2-0 loss to Bournemouth and a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle dropping the Gunners well off the pace in the Premier League. There was also a 0-0 draw at Atalanta in the Champions League as well as a 1-0 loss to Inter Milan last month, when Odegaard made his comeback from injury as an 89th-minute substitute. Since then, Arsenal hasn’t lost and the goals have returned. After a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday came the cruise in Lisbon — and Odegaard was at the heart of everything as Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end. “He’s an unbelievable player,” Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka said of Odegaard. “The day he returned, there was a big smile on my face. You can see the chemistry we have. I hope he stays fit for the rest of the season.” Odegaard was involved in the build-up to Arsenal’s first two goals against Sporting — scored by Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz — and was fouled to win the penalty converted by Saka in the 65th to restore Arsenal’s three-goal lead at 4-1. Odegaard was seen flexing his leg after that but continued untroubled and was substituted in the 78th minute. The last thing Arteta would want now is another injury to Odegaard as Arsenal attempts to reel in first-place Liverpool in the Premier League. Liverpool is already nine points ahead of fourth-place Arsenal after 12 games. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerAll the hard work the Vikings put in on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field almost fell by the wayside after they failed to recover an onside kick in the final minute. That paved the way for Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos to send the game into overtime with a 48-yard field goal as time expired. ADVERTISEMENT As proud as head coach Kevin O’Connell was that the Vikings still managed to escape with a 30-27 overtime win, he also was irked that lack of execution on the onside kick nearly cost them. What went wrong? Though it looked like nothing more than a fluky bounce, it was actually a misread by tight end Johnny Mundt that resulted in the ball hitting him. Asked about the particular play, special teams coordinator Matt Daniels said as soon as Mundt realized it was going to be a watermelon kick, he should’ve attacked the ball rather than engaged in a block. “He’s got to have some awareness right there,” Daniels said. “He didn’t see where the ball was at.” The use of the watermelon kick has become much more common across the NFL over the past few seasons. It’s executed by placing the ball on its side and kicking the point to create a spinning motion. The hope is to create enough spin with the watermelon kick that the ball travels the required 10 yards. The only issue? The rules say the kicking team can’t touch any member of the receiving team on an onside kick until the ball crosses 10 yards. ADVERTISEMENT That’s why Daniels has stressed to his players the importance of attacking the ball in those situations. “That’s the No. 1 thing,” Daniels said. “As soon as we see it’s a watermelon kick, we are going to go get the ball.” Pace on injured list After suffering a hamstring injury over the weekend, linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. has been placed on injured reserve. As a result, he will have to miss at least the next month, with the Vikings hoping he can be ready to return by the time the playoffs roll around. It’s a tough blow for the Vikings heading into the home stretch as Pace has developed into a key contributor on defense. As a way to add some depth amid the loss, the Vikings signed linebacker Jamin Davis to their active roster, poaching him from the Green Bay Packers, who had signed him to their practice squad. There might be some untapped potential in Davis considering the Washington Commanders selected him in the first round of the 2021 draft. He has totaled 282 tackles, seven sacks, an interception and a pair of forced fumbles across 50 NFL games. Additionally, the Vikings also activated edge rusher Gabe Murphy from injured reserve. ADVERTISEMENT Quessenberry fills in The benefit of having veteran left tackle David Quessenberry on the roster is that he has proven capable of going into a game on short notice. After stepping up last month when star left tackle Christian Darrisaw went down with a knee injury, Quessenberry had his number called over the weekend when veteran left tackle Cam Robinson left the game with a foot injury. Though there were some ups and downs for Quessenberry in the game, his presence allowed the Vikings to continue to run their offense. “I thought he came in and played really well,” offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said. “The left side really wasn’t an issue with him in there. We weren’t thinking like, ‘Oh god. We’ve got to get chips over there. We’ve got to try to formation these things where we can help him out every play.’ We felt pretty comfortable with him felling in and playing that role.” Evans gets claimed After being cut by the Vikings over the weekend, cornerback Akayleb Evans was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers. It will be a fresh start for Evans as he looks to get his career back on track. Though he started 15 games for the Vikings last season, Evans barely played at all on defense this season. He was buried on the depth chart behind veteran cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore, Byron Murphy Jr., and Shaq Griffin. Why didn’t it work out for Evans? ADVERTISEMENT “Sometimes it becomes a numbers situation,” defensive coordinator Brian Flores said. “He’s a talented player who has a place in this league. I wish him all the best in Carolina. He’s going to do a great job for them.” ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .

Oregon cornerback Jahlil Florence, a top cover guy who's been missing from the lineup since a knee injury against Washington last year, hinted at a return in a social media post yesterday afternoon. On X, Florence, a 6-1, 190 four-star defensive back from Lincoln High School in San Diego, posted a picture of himself leaping in the air and celebrating after a first-half interception against the Dawgs, but the hint was an icon of two cartoon alarm clocks in the upper left-hand corner, no caption. The implication was that the junior pass breakup artist is nearly ready to take the field. Florence started 9 games for the Ducks last year and finished with 27 tackles, an interception and a sack, a physical corner with a tackling grade of 76 from PFF. His potential return is huge for the Ducks in that if he is full-go for the Big Ten Championship, he gives the secondary an additional proven cover guy matching up with Ohio State's deep lineup of receivers. The Buckeyes boast Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate and Emeka Egbuka in their starting trio along with Brandon Inniss and Gee Scott, a group that's combined for over 2300 yards and 25 touchdowns this year, with Smith and Egbuka leading the way with 9 TD catches each. © Abigail Dollins / USA TODAY NETWORK Florence's return gives the Ducks a better chance of getting everyone covered. He's also a physical tackler who has the ability to come up in run support and make a tackle in space against Will Howard, Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. If the doctors say he's ready to go along with Jordan Burch, Tez Johnson and Matthew Harper II, Oregon could be the most physically complete team entering the playoff, a timetable that defies the poor injury luck of their last championship run in 2014. That year they faced the Buckeyes without Devon Allen, Darren Carrington or Pharoah Brown. ⏰⏰.. pic.twitter.com/Ln0ynlDgb9( ) shares are on the slide on Tuesday. At the time of writing, the ASX 200 travel stock is down 2% to 82.5 cents. This follows the release of the online travel agent's since its demerger from ( ). Webjet shares falls on half-year results day What happened during the half? For the six months ended 30 September, Webjet reported declines in bookings, TTV, and revenue compared to the prior corresponding period. Management advised that this reflects the challenging macro-economic conditions which are impacting domestic flight bookings. The ASX 200 travel stock's managing director, Katrina Barry, said: The Australasian economy remains slow, and the ongoing cost of living pressures continue to subdue demand for travel, particularly for domestic flights. Webjet OTA Bookings were further impacted during the period by REX airlines going into administration given their predominately leisure focus. But thanks to a focus on higher margin products, Webjet's earnings grew modestly over the same period last year. The company's EBITDA was up 1% to $19.4 million and its net profit after tax was up 2.2% to $9.2 million. Barry adds: The Webjet OTA team has thus once again done an excellent job targeting higher revenue margin opportunities, selling more ancillaries to our customers and increasing international flight bookings. As a result, Revenue per Booking is now higher than it was pre-pandemic. Combined with the ongoing focus on cost control we have been able to increase Webjet OTA's profitability. Outlook Unfortunately, ASX 200 travel stock concedes that trading conditions are expected to remain challenging in the short term. Though, management remains positive on Webjet's medium term outlook. Commenting on the company's outlook, managing director Katrina Barry said: Looking forward, the macro-economic environment continues to be challenging and given our brands are consumer facing, Webjet Group will not be immune. However, we remain optimistic on the broader medium-term outlook. As outlined in our demerger investor presentation, we have clear and robust strategic priorities to deliver growth and enhance our leadership positions in online travel marketplaces. Our planned initiatives are progressing well with several showing exciting potential and we are accelerating investment in technology platforms and other key growth drivers. With the demerger now behind us, Webjet Group is solely focused on growth, and we look forwarded to sharing more about our plans to take the Company to the next horizon at our Strategy Day in March 2025.

US stocks rally despite Trump tariff threat but European stocks fall8k8 com login download 。

Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The team looking for a missing Pennsylvania woman believed to have fallen into a sinkhole has determined that an abandoned coal mine is too unstable for people to safely search underground, authorities said Wednesday while still expressing hope Elizabeth Pollard will be found alive. Rescue workers continue to search for Elizabeth Pollard, who is believed to have disappeared in a sinkhole while looking for her cat, Wednesday in Marguerite, Pa. Emergency crews and others have been trying to find Pollard, 64, for two days. Her relatives reported her missing early Tuesday and her vehicle with her unharmed 5-year-old granddaughter inside was found about two hours later, near what is thought to be a freshly opened sinkhole above the long closed, crumbling mine. Authorities said in a noon update that the roof of the mine collapsed in several places and is not stable. The sinkhole is in the village of Marguerite, about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh. “We did get, you know, where we wanted, where we thought that she was at. We’ve been to that spot," said Pleasant Unity Fire Chief John Bacha, the incident's operations officer. “What happened at that point, I don’t know, maybe the slurry of mud pushed her one direction. There were several different seams of that mine, shafts that all came together where this happened at.” People are also reading... The real reason Corvallis' Pastega Lights moved to Linn County City officials admit Corvallis' flag is 'bad.' Will it change? OSU football: Three takeaways from Oregon State's loss at Boise State Prosecutor: Driver on laughing gas caused double fatal in Sweet Home UPDATED: GAPS teacher strike NOT off after talks over returning to the classroom break down OSU women's basketball: Marotte takes a more aggressive approach on offense Recently made-over park sees this change after Albany got an earful Corvallis chemical manufacturer eyes Albany for expansion Agreement reached (again), GAPS teachers get new contract OSU football: Boise State's pass rush is formidable Strike to end, GAPS reaches tentative deal with Albany teachers Philomath moves forward following July Nazi flag controversy A false start: GAPS strike continues after district, teachers announce deal Philomath's Lumos among 6 wineries suing Pacific Power over wildfires OSU women's basketball: Beavers earn home win over Grambling State Trooper Cliff Greenfield said crews were still actively searching for Pollard. “We are hopeful that she’s found alive,” Greenfield said. Searchers were using electronic devices and cameras as surface digging continued with the use of heavy equipment, Bacha said. Search dogs may also be used. Rescue workers search through the night in a sinkhole for Elizabeth Pollard, who disappeared while looking for her cat, Tuesday in Marguerite, Pa. On Wednesday afternoon, machinery was removing material from the area around the hole while police and other government vehicles blocked a clear view of the scene. Sinkholes occur in the area because of subsidence from coal mining activity. Rescuers had been using water to break down and remove clay and dirt from the mine, which has been closed since the 1950s, but that increased the risk “for potential other mine subsidence to take place," Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson Trooper Steve Limani said. Crews lowered a pole camera with a sensitive listening device into the hole, but it detected nothing. Another camera lowered into the hole showed what could be a shoe about 30 feet below the surface, Limani said. Searchers have also deployed drones and thermal imaging equipment, to no avail. Marguerite Fire Chief Scot Graham, the incident commander, said access to the immediate area surrounding the hole was being tightly controlled and monitored, with rescuers attached by harness. The top of a sinkhole is seen Tuesday in the village of Marguerite, Pa., where rescuers searched for a woman who disappeared. “We cannot judge as to what’s going on underneath us. Again, you had a small hole on top but as soon as you stuck a camera down through to look, you had this big void,” Graham said. “And it was all different depths. The process is long, is tedious. We have to make sure that we are keeping safety in the forefront as well as the rescue effort.” Bacha said they were “hoping that there’s a void that she could still be in.” Pollard's family called police at about 1 a.m. Tuesday to say she had not been seen since going out at about 5 p.m. Monday to search for Pepper, her cat. The temperature dropped well below freezing that night. Her son, Axel Hayes, said Pollard is a happy woman who likes going out to have fun. She and her husband adopted Hayes and his twin brother when they were infants. Hayes called Pollard “a great person overall, a great mother” who “never really did anybody wrong.” He said at one point Pollard had about 10 cats. “Every cat that she’s ever come in contact with, she has a close bond with them,” Hayes said. His mother worked for many years at Walmart but recently was not employed, he said. “I’m just hoping right now that she’s still with us and she’s able to come back to us,” he said. Police said they found Pollard's car parked behind Monday's Union Restaurant in Marguerite, about 20 feet from the sinkhole. Hunters and restaurant workers in the area said they had not noticed the manhole-size opening in the hours before Pollard disappeared, leading rescuers to speculate that the sinkhole was new. “It almost feels like it opened up with her standing on top of it,” Limani said. Searchers accessed the mine late Tuesday afternoon and dug a separate entrance out of concern that the ground around the sinkhole opening was not stable. “Let’s be honest, we need to get a little bit lucky, right?” Limani said Wednesday. “We need a little bit of luck on our side. We need a little bit of God’s good blessing on our side.” Pollard lives in a small neighborhood across the street from where her car and granddaughter were located, Limani said. The young girl “nodded off in the car and woke up. Grandma never came back," Limani said. The child stayed in the car until two troopers rescued her. It's not clear what happened to Pepper. From field to fork: how America's farming revolution affects your plate and wallet From field to fork: how America's farming revolution affects your plate and wallet In an era of rapid technological advancement and environmental change, American agriculture is undergoing a revolution that reaches far beyond the farm gate. From the food on consumer plates to the economic health of rural communities, the transformation of U.S. farming practices is reshaping the nation's landscape in ways both visible and hidden. LandTrust explores how these changes impact everyone, whether they live in the heartland or the heart of the city. The Changing Face of American Farms The image of the small family farm, while still a reality for many, is increasingly giving way to larger, more technologically advanced operations. According to the USDA, the number of farms in the U.S. has fallen from 6.8 million in 1935 to about 2 million today, with the average farm size growing from 155 acres to 444 acres. This shift has profound implications for rural communities and the food system as a whole. Despite these changes, diversity in farming practices is on the rise. A landmark study published in Science , involving data from over 2,000 farms across 11 countries, found that diversifying farmland simultaneously delivers environmental and social benefits. This challenges the longstanding idea that practices boosting biodiversity must come at a cost to yields and food security. Technology Revolution on the Farm The adoption of precision agriculture technologies is transforming how farmers manage their land and resources. GPS-guided tractors, drone surveillance, and AI-powered crop management systems are becoming commonplace on many farms. These technologies allow farmers to apply water, fertilizers, and pesticides with pinpoint accuracy, reducing waste and environmental impact while improving yields. However, the digital divide remains a challenge. More than 22% of rural communities lack reliable broadband internet access, hindering the widespread implementation of AI and other advanced technologies in agriculture. The Economic Tightrope: Challenges Facing Modern Farmers While technology offers new opportunities, farmers are also facing significant economic challenges. The USDA's 2024 farm income forecast projects a 4.4% decline in net farm income from 2023, following a sharp 19.5% drop from 2022 to 2023. This financial pressure is compounded by rising production costs and market volatility. Climate variability adds another layer of complexity. Extreme weather events, changing precipitation patterns, and shifting growing seasons are forcing farmers to adapt quickly. These factors could reduce agricultural productivity by up to 25% over the coming decades without significant adaptation measures. But adapting requires additional financial resources, further straining farm profitability. Diversification: A Lifeline for American Farms In the face of these challenges, many farmers are turning to diversification as a strategy for resilience and profitability. The Science study mentioned earlier found that farms integrating several diversification methods supported more biodiversity while seeing simultaneous increases in human well-being and food security. Agritourism is one popular diversification strategy. In 2022, 28,600 U.S. farms reported agritourism income, averaging gross revenue of $44,000 from these activities. Activities like farm tours, pick-your-own operations, and seasonal festivals not only provide additional income but also foster a deeper connection between consumers and agriculture. From Farm to Table: The Consumer Connection The changing face of agriculture is directly impacting consumers. The rise of farm-to-table and local food movements reflects a growing interest in where our food comes from and how it's produced. If every U.S. household spent just $10 per week on locally grown food, it would generate billions of dollars for local economies. However, the larger challenges in agriculture can also lead to price fluctuations at the grocery store. The USDA's Economic Research Service projects that food-at-home prices will increase between 1.2% and 2.2% in 2024. The Future of Farming: Opportunities and Innovations Looking ahead, several innovations are poised to reshape agriculture: Sustainable farming practices : Cover cropping, no-till farming, and precision agriculture are gaining traction. These practices can reduce soil erosion by up to 90% compared to conventional tillage. Genetic engineering : CRISPR and other gene-editing technologies offer the potential to develop crops with enhanced nutritional profiles and resistance to pests and diseases. Alternative protein sources : The market for plant-based and lab-grown meat alternatives is projected to reach $30 billion by 2030. Conclusion: A Call to Action The transformation of American agriculture affects everyone, from the food we eat to the health of our environment and rural communities. Consumers have the power to support sustainable and diverse farming practices through our purchasing decisions. As citizens, they can advocate for policies that support farmers in adopting innovative and sustainable practices. The challenges facing agriculture are complex, but they also present opportunities for innovation and positive change. By understanding and engaging with these issues, everyone can play a part in shaping a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable food system for the future. This story was produced by LandTrust and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Huawei unveils Harmony OS Next, challenging iOS and Android dominanceThe furious contest to unseat Nvidia as king of AI chips

Walmart's DEI rollback signals a profound shift in the wake of Trump's election victoryWorld's Leading Specialty Battery Franchise Achieves Historic Success with Unprecedented Commercial Sales Throughout 2024 HARTLAND, Wis. , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Batteries Plus , the world's leading specialty battery franchise, has marked a historic milestone in October 2024 , setting all-time commercial sales records across its franchise and systemwide channels. Total systemwide commercial sales grew by 23.7% year-over-year, with franchise commercial sales increasing by 24.4%, marking the highest monthly performance in the company's history. The record-breaking success in October was not an isolated achievement, but rather a continuation of a historic 2024. Batteries Plus has experienced more than 20% year-over-year growth in systemwide commercial sales for five of the first 10 months of the year. Year-to-date, total commercial sales have grown by 16.1% through October. "Achieving this record-breaking October is a testament to the extraordinary efforts of our franchisees and the ongoing strength of our commercial growth strategy," said Scott O'Farrell , Chief Commercial Officer of Batteries Plus . "Our commitment to providing exceptional service and innovative solutions for our commercial partners continues to position us as a leader in the industry." This October milestone also capped off a flawless 10-for-10 streak in exceeding commercial sales targets for 2024, driven by Batteries Plus's commitment to exceptional service, in-stock availability, and a diversified approach across consumer and commercial channels. The company has exceeded its sales plan for every month, currently 2.6% ahead of plan through October. Remarkably, the top eight commercial sales months in franchise history have all occurred this year, demonstrating the strength and scalability of the franchise system. "October's success is just the beginning of an exciting period for Batteries Plus," said Joe Malmuth , Chief Development Officer . "We're witnessing substantial growth across all facets of the business. This record-breaking performance is a direct result of our team's tireless efforts to drive meaningful results for our franchise owners and customers alike." Building on this momentum, Batteries Plus is looking ahead to close the year strong, with plans to enhance its market presence, introduce new business partnerships, and continue the expansion of its franchise network that has reached over 800 store locations in operation and development nationwide. In 2024, Batteries Plus was ranked on Franchise Times' Top 400 list at #128 and named to Entrepreneur Magazine 's Franchise 500 ® Hall of Fame, alongside placements on Entrepreneur 's Franchise 500 ® and the Top Brands for Multi-Unit Owners lists. For more information on Batteries Plus, including franchise opportunities and a virtual store tour, visit batteriesplusfranchise.com . ABOUT BATTERIES PLUS: Batteries Plus, founded in 1988 and headquartered in Hartland, WI , is a leading omnichannel retailer of batteries, specialty light bulbs and phone repair services for the direct-to-consumer and commercial channels. The retailer also offers key programming, replacement and cutting services. Through a nationwide network of stores, the company offers a differentiated value proposition of unrivaled product selection, in-stock availability and customer service. Batteries Plus is owned by Freeman Spogli , a private equity firm based in Los Angeles and New York City . To learn more about one of Forbes ® ' Best Franchises to Buy in America, visit https://www.batteriesplusfranchise.com . MEDIA CONTACT: Danny Stewart , Fishman Public Relations, dstewart@fishmanpr.com or 847-945-1300 ext. 266 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/batteries-plus-celebrates-record-breaking-commercial-sales-month-surpassing-major-milestones-in-franchise-and-systemwide-commercial-growth-302315675.html SOURCE Batteries Plus

Angel Oak Financial Strategies Income Term Trust (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol FINS, today declared a distribution of $0.109 per share for the month of December 2024. The record date for the distribution is December 17, 2024, and the payable date is December 31, 2024. The Fund will trade ex-distribution on December 17, 2024. The Fund seeks to pay a distribution at a rate that reflects net investment income actually earned. A portion of each distribution may be treated as paid from sources other than net investment income, including but not limited to short-term capital gain, long-term capital gain, or return of capital. As required by Section 19(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, a notice will be distributed to shareholders in the event that a portion of a monthly distribution is derived from sources other than undistributed net investment income. The final determination of the source and tax characteristics of these distributions will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during its fiscal year and will be made after the Fund's year end. The Fund will send to investors a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will define how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. Angel Oak does not provide tax advice; shareholders should consult their tax advisor. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect a fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income." ABOUT FINS Led by Angel Oak's experienced financial services team, FINS invests predominantly in U.S. financial sector debt as well as selective opportunities across financial sector preferred and common equity. Under normal circumstances, at least 50% of FINS' portfolio is publicly rated investment grade or, if unrated, judged to be of investment grade quality by Angel Oak. ABOUT ANGEL OAK CAPITAL ADVISORS, LLC Angel Oak Capital Advisors is an investment management firm focused on providing compelling fixed-income investment solutions to its clients. Backed by a value-driven approach, Angel Oak Capital Advisors seeks to deliver attractive, risk-adjusted returns through a combination of stable current income and price appreciation. Its experienced investment team seeks the best opportunities in fixed income, with a specialization in mortgage-backed securities and other areas of structured credit. Information regarding the Fund and Angel Oak Capital Advisors can be found at www.angeloakcapital.com . Past performance is neither indicative nor a guarantee of future results. Investors should consider the investment objective and policies, risk considerations, charges and ongoing expenses of an investment carefully before investing. For more information please contact your investment representative or Destra Capital Advisors LLC at 877.855.3434. © 2024 Angel Oak Capital Advisors, which is the investment adviser to the Angel Oak Financial Strategies Income Term Trust. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241203558524/en/ © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The search for a woman who is believed to have fallen into a sinkhole in western Pennsylvania shifted to a recovery effort after two treacherous days of digging through mud and rock produced no signs of life, authorities said Wednesday. Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson Trooper Steve Limani said during a news conference that authorities no longer believe they will find 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard alive, but the search for her remains continues. “We’ve had no signs of any form of life or anything” to make rescuers think they should “continue to try and push and rush and push the envelope, to be aggressive with the potential of risking harm to other people,” Limani said. He noted oxygen levels below ground were insufficient. Emergency crews and others have tried to locate Pollard for two days. Her relatives reported her missing early Tuesday and her vehicle with her unharmed 5-year-old granddaughter inside was found about two hours later, near the sinkhole above a long closed, crumbling mine. Rescue workers continue to search for Elizabeth Pollard, who is believed to have disappeared in a sinkhole while looking for her cat, Wednesday in Marguerite, Pa. “We feel like we failed,” Limani said of the decision to change the status of the effort from a rescue to a recovery. “It’s tough.” Limani praised the crews who went into the abandoned mine to help remove material in the search for Pollard in the village of Marguerite, about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh.. “They would come out of there head to toe covered in mud, exhausted. And while they were getting pulled up, the next group’s getting dropped in. And there was one after the next after the next,” Limani said. Authorities said earlier that the roof of the mine collapsed in several places and was not stable. “We did get, you know, where we wanted, where we thought that she was at. We’ve been to that spot," Pleasant Unity Fire Chief John Bacha, the incident's operations officer, said earlier Wednesday. “What happened at that point, I don’t know, maybe the slurry of mud pushed her one direction. There were several different seams of that mine, shafts that all came together where this happened at.” Searchers used electronic devices and cameras as surface digging continued with the use of heavy equipment, Bacha said. In coming days, they plan to greatly widen the surface hole, with winter weather forecast in the region. Rescue workers search through the night in a sinkhole for Elizabeth Pollard, who disappeared while looking for her cat, Tuesday in Marguerite, Pa. Sinkholes occur in the area because of subsidence from coal mining activity. Rescuers used water to break down and remove clay and dirt from the mine, which has been closed since the 1950s. Crews lowered a pole camera with a sensitive listening device into the hole, but it detected nothing. Another camera lowered into the hole showed what could be a shoe about 30 feet below the surface, Limani said Tuesday. Searchers also deployed drones and thermal imaging equipment to no avail. Pollard's family called police about 1 a.m. Tuesday to say she had not been seen since going out at about 5 p.m. Monday to search for Pepper, her cat. The temperature dropped well below freezing that night. Limani said the searchers met with her family before announcing the shift from rescue to recovery. Pollard's son, Axel Hayes, described her as a happy woman who liked going out to have fun. She and her husband adopted Hayes and his twin brother when they were infants. She used to work at Walmart but recently was not employed. Hayes called Pollard “a great person overall, a great mother” who “never really did anybody wrong.” He said at one point Pollard had about 10 cats. “Every cat that she’s ever come in contact with, she has a close bond with them,” Hayes said. The top of a sinkhole is seen Tuesday in the village of Marguerite, Pa., where rescuers searched for a woman who disappeared. Police said they found Pollard's car parked behind Monday's Union Restaurant in Marguerite, about 20 feet from the sinkhole. Hunters and restaurant workers in the area said they had not noticed the manhole-size opening in the hours before Pollard disappeared, leading rescuers to speculate the sinkhole was new. Pollard lived in a small neighborhood across the street from where her car and granddaughter were found by state police. It's unclear what happened to the cat. In an era of rapid technological advancement and environmental change, American agriculture is undergoing a revolution that reaches far beyond the farm gate. From the food on consumer plates to the economic health of rural communities, the transformation of U.S. farming practices is reshaping the nation's landscape in ways both visible and hidden. LandTrust explores how these changes impact everyone, whether they live in the heartland or the heart of the city. The image of the small family farm, while still a reality for many, is increasingly giving way to larger, more technologically advanced operations. According to the USDA, the number of farms in the U.S. has fallen from 6.8 million in 1935 to about 2 million today, with the average farm size growing from 155 acres to 444 acres. This shift has profound implications for rural communities and the food system as a whole. Despite these changes, diversity in farming practices is on the rise. A landmark study published in Science , involving data from over 2,000 farms across 11 countries, found that diversifying farmland simultaneously delivers environmental and social benefits. This challenges the longstanding idea that practices boosting biodiversity must come at a cost to yields and food security. The adoption of precision agriculture technologies is transforming how farmers manage their land and resources. GPS-guided tractors, drone surveillance, and AI-powered crop management systems are becoming commonplace on many farms. These technologies allow farmers to apply water, fertilizers, and pesticides with pinpoint accuracy, reducing waste and environmental impact while improving yields. However, the digital divide remains a challenge. More than 22% of rural communities lack reliable broadband internet access, hindering the widespread implementation of AI and other advanced technologies in agriculture. While technology offers new opportunities, farmers are also facing significant economic challenges. The USDA's 2024 farm income forecast projects a 4.4% decline in net farm income from 2023, following a sharp 19.5% drop from 2022 to 2023. This financial pressure is compounded by rising production costs and market volatility. Climate variability adds another layer of complexity. Extreme weather events, changing precipitation patterns, and shifting growing seasons are forcing farmers to adapt quickly. These factors could reduce agricultural productivity by up to 25% over the coming decades without significant adaptation measures. But adapting requires additional financial resources, further straining farm profitability. In the face of these challenges, many farmers are turning to diversification as a strategy for resilience and profitability. The Science study mentioned earlier found that farms integrating several diversification methods supported more biodiversity while seeing simultaneous increases in human well-being and food security. Agritourism is one popular diversification strategy. In 2022, 28,600 U.S. farms reported agritourism income, averaging gross revenue of $44,000 from these activities. Activities like farm tours, pick-your-own operations, and seasonal festivals not only provide additional income but also foster a deeper connection between consumers and agriculture. The changing face of agriculture is directly impacting consumers. The rise of farm-to-table and local food movements reflects a growing interest in where our food comes from and how it's produced. If every U.S. household spent just $10 per week on locally grown food, it would generate billions of dollars for local economies. However, the larger challenges in agriculture can also lead to price fluctuations at the grocery store. The USDA's Economic Research Service projects that food-at-home prices will increase between 1.2% and 2.2% in 2024. Looking ahead, several innovations are poised to reshape agriculture: The transformation of American agriculture affects everyone, from the food we eat to the health of our environment and rural communities. Consumers have the power to support sustainable and diverse farming practices through our purchasing decisions. As citizens, they can advocate for policies that support farmers in adopting innovative and sustainable practices. The challenges facing agriculture are complex, but they also present opportunities for innovation and positive change. By understanding and engaging with these issues, everyone can play a part in shaping a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable food system for the future. This story was produced by LandTrust and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- K92 Mining Inc . (" K92 " or the " Company ") (TSX : KNT; OTCQX : KNTNF) is pleased to announce its latest high-grade results from the ongoing surface and underground diamond drilling of the Kora, Kora South, Judd and Judd South deposits in addition to the Kora and Judd Deeps targets at the Kainantu Gold Mine in Papua New Guinea. Multiple high-grade intersections plus two zones of broadening width, identified as dilatant zones, recorded in a previously sparsely drilled area near the twin incline at Kora. The dilatant zones identified are the first to be drilled with significant drill density, demonstrating large interpreted strike lengths of approximately 60 metres in K1 and approximately 100 metres in K2, providing high potential for bulk mining (see Figure 4 for 950 Level Plan Map, and Figures 1 and 2 for K1 and K2 long sections). These dilatant zones are also located near-mine infrastructure, approximately 175 metres south from the current 950 Level access development, enabling potential near-term mining. Importantly, the dilatant zones are in an area previously interpreted to be narrow vein in the mineral resource estimate (September 12, 2023 effective date, "2023 MRE") and the Updated Integrated Development Plan PEA Case (January 1, 2024 Effective Date, "Updated IDP"), while also recording multiple high-grade intersections. K2 dilatant zone intercepts: KMDD0752: 13.50 m at 19.02 g/t gold equivalent ("AuEq") (2) (14.93 g/t Au, 199 g/t Ag, 1.00% Cu) KMDD0746: 14.40 m at 12.09 g/t AuEq (9.58 g/t Au, 54 g/t Ag, 1.15% Cu) KMDD0709: 12.14 m at 5.97 g/t AuEq (4.73 g/t Au, 7 g/t Ag, 0.72% Cu) KMDD0751: 9.50 m at 7.00 g/t AuEq (2.26 g/t Au, 42 g/t Ag, 2.63% Cu) K1 dilatant zone intercepts: KMDD0709: 16.10 m at 15.63 g/t AuEq (11.48 g/t Au, 40 g/t Ag, 2.28% Cu) KMDD0743: 14.05 m at 5.56 g/t AuEq (3.14 g/t Au, 56 g/t Ag, 1.07% Cu) KMDD0692: 8.90 m at 8.60 g/t AuEq (3.73 g/t Au, 81 g/t Ag, 2.41% Cu) KMDD0712: 7.25 m at 5.58 g/t AuEq (3.05 g/t Au, 77 g/t Ag, 0.98% Cu) High-grade intercepts: KMDD0698A: 8.15 m at 24.49 g/t AuEq (24.00 g/t Au, 16 g/t Ag, 0.18% Cu) KMDD0775: 4.00 m at 15.58 g/t AuEq (11.53 g/t Au, 44 g/t Ag, 2.19% Cu) KMDD0715: 6.00 m at 9.73 g/t AuEq (4.75 g/t Au, 49 g/t Ag, 2.72% Cu) KMDD0775: 4.60 m at 8.73 g/t AuEq (2.77 g/t Au, 28 g/t Ag, 3.49% Cu) High-grade zones within Kora's K1 and K2 Veins extended up-dip from main mine, with multiple areas exceeding resource model grades, including: K1 Vein high-grade extension up-dip from main underground mining area: KMDD0753: 10.60 m at 34.57 g/t AuEq (27.85 g/t Au, 37 g/t Ag, 3.91% Cu) KMDD0702: 4.37 m at 33.27 g/t AuEq (32.16 g/t Au, 10 g/t Ag, 0.61% Cu) KMDD0705: 5.30 m at 25.67 g/t AuEq (24.99 g/t Au, 3 g/t Ag, 0.40% Cu) KMDD0726: 7.16 m at 9.79 g/t AuEq (7.07 g/t Au, 8 g/t Ag, 1.64% Cu) K2 Vein high-grade extension up-dip from main underground mining area: KMDD0754: 9.35 m at 13.70 g/t AuEq (11.51 g/t Au, 12 g/t Ag, 1.27% Cu) KMDD0705: 6.60 m at 10.76 g/t AuEq (7.27 g/t Au, 12 g/t Ag, 2.08% Cu) KMDD0714: 9.50 m at 9.53 g/t AuEq (8.05 g/t Au, 5 g/t Ag, 0.89% Cu) KMDD0720: 6.66 m at 8.41 g/t AuEq (6.32 g/t Au, 21 g/t Ag, 1.14% Cu) Judd's J1 Vein recorded an extension of the high-grade zone up-dip from main mine, with several areas reporting significantly higher grades than the 2023 MRE that was based on, at that time, sparse drilling. Additionally, multiple high-grade intercepts were identified beyond the current resource at Judd Deeps and along strike in both directions: J1 Vein high-grade extension up-dip from main underground mining area: JDD0251: 5.00 m at 178.59 g/t AuEq (177.69 g/t Au, 2 g/t Ag, 0.54% Cu) JDD0258: 3.95 m at 51.67 g/t AuEq (50.06 g/t Au, 24 g/t Ag, 0.81% Cu) JDD0263: 7.38 m at 7.66 g/t AuEq (6.87 g/t Au, 14 g/t Ag, 0.38% Cu) J1 Vein high-grade intercepts at Judd Deeps and north of resource: KMDD0729: 1.30 m at 23.33 g/t AuEq (16.77 g/t Au, 52 g/t Ag, 3.69% Cu) JDD0261: 1.70 m at 23.20 g/t AuEq (21.63 g/t Au, 42 g/t Ag, 0.65% Cu) JDD0265: 2.20 m at 15.24 g/t AuEq (6.39 g/t Au, 78 g/t Ag, 4.91% Cu) JDD0266: 3.47 m at 11.88 g/t AuEq (11.41 g/t Au, 9 g/t Ag, 0.22% Cu) Notes: (1) Drill highlights presented above are core lengths (not true widths). Refer to Table 1 to 3. (2) Gold equivalent (AuEq) exploration results are calculated using longer-term commodity prices with a copper price of US$4.00/lb, a silver price of US$22.5/oz and a gold price of US$1,750/oz. John Lewins, K92 Chief Executive Officer and Director, stated, "The latest drilling results at Kora and Judd, once again confirm that the resource expansion potential is very significant, and that there are significant opportunities to upgrade multiple areas in terms of both thickness and grade, with increased drill density. The high-grade zones extended up-dip at Kora and Judd in the main mine area, plus the identification of the two new dilatant zones in the twin incline area is especially significant as they are near existing mine infrastructure, providing a near and medium-term benefit to the Stage 3 Expansion ramp-up. This is also the first time dilatant zones have been drilled with significant drill density, demonstrating substantial strike lengths for bulk mining – these zones have already been integrated into our mine plans. We believe that we control a large gold-copper district of which we are only starting to scratch the surface. In addition to exploration at Kora-Kora South and Judd-Judd South, exploration at Arakompa has considerably expanded over the course of the year, with four drill rigs now operating. We look forward to providing an update in due course." The results for the latest 95 diamond drill holes completed from surface and underground are summarized in the tables below. The results continue to demonstrate the high-grade, continuity and expansion potential of the Kora-Kora South and Judd-Judd South vein systems. Intersections largely focused on increasing drill density vertically while also targeting resource extension along strike to the south and north. All drill holes at Kora-Kora South (including Kora Deeps) intersected mineralization, with 21 intersections exceeding 10 g/t AuEq and 67 intersections exceeding 5 g/t AuEq. At Judd-Judd South (including Judd Deeps), all drill holes intersected mineralization, with 11 intersections exceeding 10 g/t AuEq and 24 intersections exceeding 5 g/t AuEq. Figures Long sections of K1, K2, and J1 showing the location of the latest drill holes are provided in Figures 1, 2, and 3 , respectively. A plan map showing K1 and K2 at the 950 level is provided in Figure 4. A long section showing Kora drilling to date is provided in Figure 5 . A long section showing Judd drilling to date is provided in Figure 6 . Core photographs are provided, of drill hole JDD0251 in Figure 7 , KMDD0753 in Figure 8 and KMDD0702 in Figure 9 . Table 1 Kainantu Gold Mine – Significant Intercepts from Kora Underground Diamond Drilling Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) True width (m) Gold g/t Silver g/t Copper % Gold Eq Vein KMDD0692 113.00 121.90 8.90 8.13 3.73 81 2.41 8.60 K1 KMDD0692 146.30 154.00 7.70 7.07 2.01 13 0.21 2.51 K2 KMDD0653A 150.00 152.72 2.72 0.84 0.46 33 0.05 0.96 K2 KMDD0653A 194.00 195.82 1.82 0.56 1.87 44 0.05 2.50 K3 KMDD0687A 180.87 181.30 0.43 0.39 1.59 6 0.87 3.06 KMDD0687A 171.45 174.62 3.17 2.88 0.38 11 0.47 1.27 K2 KMDD0687A 167.65 168.05 0.40 0.36 1.40 6 0.08 1.60 KMDD0687A 163.80 164.86 1.06 0.96 0.68 3 0.88 2.13 KMDD0687A 119.80 122.05 2.25 2.04 5.92 1 0.13 6.15 KL KMDD0687A 101.40 107.90 6.50 5.90 0.33 2 0.86 1.74 K1 KMDD0696A 117.75 119.45 1.70 1.57 3.56 1 0.11 3.74 K1 KMDD0696A 171.35 171.76 0.41 0.38 1.63 5 0.14 1.92 K2 KMDD0696A 187.36 190.27 2.91 2.71 0.08 3 1.93 3.22 KMDD0701A 100.10 105.00 4.90 4.26 2.21 5 1.34 4.43 K1 KMDD0701A 130.00 136.20 6.20 5.97 1.22 4 0.48 2.04 K2 KMDD0710 97.00 101.60 4.60 1.83 5.08 20 1.05 7.01 K1 KMDD0710 110.00 120.70 10.70 4.26 1.14 78 4.71 9.66 K2 KMDD0710 145.10 149.80 4.70 1.86 0.27 46 0.55 1.73 K3 KMDD0702 125.40 129.77 4.37 3.50 32.16 10 0.61 33.27 K1 KMDD0702 129.77 139.30 9.53 7.62 1.29 3 0.47 2.09 KL KMDD0702 139.30 142.90 3.60 2.88 1.11 6 0.95 2.70 K2 KMDD0702 157.20 159.33 2.13 1.70 6.08 65 1.20 8.83 K3 KMDD0714 124.85 126.35 1.50 1.29 8.15 11 0.53 9.14 K1 KMDD0714 142.00 151.50 9.50 8.30 8.05 5 0.89 9.53 K2 KMDD0714 186.15 188.10 1.95 1.76 1.09 11 1.57 3.75 K3 KMDD0703 66.33 70.25 3.92 3.46 2.76 60 0.53 4.37 K2 KMDD0700 95.00 97.00 2.00 1.95 0.33 5 1.08 2.12 K1 KMDD0700 106.50 107.05 0.55 0.54 2.93 12 4.34 10.04 K1HW KMDD0700 117.20 118.10 0.90 0.88 5.19 52 0.63 6.85 KMDD0700 131.00 138.00 7.00 6.82 0.27 5 0.49 1.12 K2 KMDD0700 142.00 147.55 5.55 5.41 0.93 10 0.81 2.36 K3 KMDD0698A 136.00 138.66 2.66 1.94 3.05 3 0.26 3.50 K1FW KMDD0698A 142.55 150.70 8.15 5.92 24.00 16 0.18 24.49 K1 KMDD0698A 180.35 182.00 1.65 1.19 11.32 4 0.59 12.33 KL KMDD0698A 192.55 195.45 2.90 2.08 4.98 82 1.95 9.13 K2 KMDD0698A 204.10 204.40 0.30 0.21 6.23 164 10.26 24.73 K2HW KMDD0698A 213.00 229.25 16.25 11.56 0.78 16 0.42 1.66 K3 KMDD0716 216.12 221.00 4.88 4.79 2.50 8 0.51 3.41 K1 KMDD0716 221.00 227.50 6.50 6.38 0.81 14 1.55 3.47 K2 KMDD0715 216.00 222.00 6.00 5.91 4.75 49 2.72 9.73 K1 KMDD0715 229.50 232.40 2.90 2.86 0.48 10 1.60 3.17 K2 KMDD0711 65.15 67.80 2.65 2.52 3.35 15 0.50 4.34 J12 KMDD0711 178.83 187.00 8.17 7.53 3.03 23 0.48 4.10 K1 KMDD0711 194.30 198.35 4.05 3.73 5.07 6 0.65 6.19 KMDD0711 215.73 221.20 5.47 5.01 1.44 8 0.59 2.49 K2 KMDD0713 250.80 256.20 5.40 1.10 1.30 15 0.93 2.99 K1 KMDD0713 262.80 271.58 8.78 0.70 1.01 19 2.32 4.97 K2 KMDD0705 131.30 136.60 5.30 4.32 24.99 3 0.40 25.67 K1 KMDD0705 140.20 146.80 6.60 5.38 7.27 12 2.08 10.76 K2 KMDD0699 123.80 131.05 7.25 5.43 1.30 42 0.38 2.43 K1FW KMDD0699 131.05 137.47 6.42 4.79 6.94 39 0.17 7.69 K1 KMDD0699 141.60 144.26 2.66 1.98 1.23 13 2.32 5.11 K1HW KMDD0721 184.20 197.00 12.80 8.38 3.68 11 1.87 6.82 K1 KMDD0721 209.10 214.45 5.35 3.51 0.40 18 1.25 2.62 K2 KMDD0721 141.50 141.80 0.30 0.19 0.39 14 5.60 9.55 KMDD0718 38.58 38.90 0.32 0.29 3.79 10 0.40 4.56 KMDD0718 73.28 73.75 0.47 0.43 0.43 45 2.70 5.32 J1 KMDD0718 110.40 111.55 1.15 1.06 6.46 18 1.92 9.75 KMDD0718 245.30 249.60 4.30 3.98 4.50 16 1.74 7.49 K1 KMDD0718 253.80 262.60 8.80 8.16 0.84 31 2.56 5.33 K2 KMDD0720 127.39 129.15 1.76 1.41 12.54 7 0.98 14.21 K1FW KMDD0720 143.90 145.00 1.10 0.88 0.61 3 0.20 0.96 K1 KMDD0720 152.50 159.16 6.66 5.33 6.32 21 1.14 8.41 K2 KMDD0720 162.94 164.10 1.16 0.93 0.38 11 2.18 4.02 K2HW KMDD0709 125.50 141.60 16.10 12.26 11.48 40 2.28 15.63 K1 KMDD0709 144.66 144.80 0.14 0.11 2.32 185 0.75 5.84 KMDD0709 147.00 153.90 6.90 5.23 2.23 37 0.71 3.83 KL KMDD0709 157.50 157.85 0.35 0.26 5.75 6 0.47 6.58 KMDD0709 159.66 171.80 12.14 9.18 4.73 7 0.72 5.97 K2 KMDD0704 79.75 80.55 0.80 0.64 0.13 52 1.46 3.12 K2 KMDD0727 72.75 76.76 4.01 3.53 1.65 24 1.02 3.59 J1 KMDD0722 86.84 88.86 2.02 0.64 2.20 101 0.69 4.57 K1 KMDD0722 156.55 158.90 2.35 0.78 4.60 16 1.64 7.43 K2 KMDD0717 57.15 57.74 0.59 0.56 0.58 13 0.42 1.41 KMDD0717 77.70 79.70 2.00 1.92 2.63 7 0.49 3.51 J1 KMDD0717 222.40 228.90 6.50 6.38 3.29 22 1.23 5.55 K2 KMDD0731 145.50 146.65 1.15 0.65 1.08 19 2.72 5.68 K1FW KMDD0731 205.30 213.50 8.20 4.86 5.01 7 1.19 7.01 K1 KMDD0731 220.00 221.00 1.00 0.60 0.39 6 1.76 3.28 KL KMDD0731 227.50 233.60 6.10 3.65 0.82 21 1.53 3.54 K2 KMDD0731 257.20 260.80 3.60 2.18 0.31 13 0.73 1.64 K2HW KMDD0724 6.53 8.60 2.07 2.04 0.38 16 0.68 1.68 KMDD0724 56.64 63.50 6.86 5.33 0.11 8 0.96 1.75 K1FW KMDD0724 71.96 73.66 1.70 1.31 1.67 49 5.00 10.29 K1 KMDD0724 96.24 104.00 7.76 5.97 0.25 10 0.42 1.05 K2 KMDD0726 3.40 5.45 2.05 1.02 0.47 13 0.38 1.25 KMDD0726 17.40 17.70 0.30 0.15 1.29 20 0.35 2.10 KMDD0726 196.60 196.73 0.13 0.08 3.25 42 3.31 9.08 KMDD0726 208.00 209.45 1.45 0.86 5.20 4 0.98 6.82 KMDD0726 213.87 221.03 7.16 4.24 7.07 8 1.64 9.79 K1 KMDD0726 223.40 239.60 16.20 9.69 1.08 27 1.56 3.91 K2 KMDD0726 256.33 257.05 0.72 0.43 0.93 56 6.11 11.43 KMDD0723 221.55 234.30 12.75 1.21 4.21 20 0.18 4.77 K1 KMDD0723 238.60 239.00 0.40 0.04 2.47 420 0.14 7.94 KL KMDD0723 309.20 325.82 16.62 1.90 0.67 1 0.04 0.74 K2 KMDD0725 8.30 10.55 2.25 2.06 0.18 13 0.41 0.98 KMDD0725 81.00 91.25 10.25 9.31 0.68 38 3.15 6.20 K2 KMDD0725 134.10 134.47 0.37 0.34 18.72 1310 0.06 35.19 KMDD0749 73.15 77.55 4.40 2.98 0.15 3 0.09 0.35 KMDD0749 92.60 97.90 5.30 3.60 1.04 17 4.03 7.70 K1 KMDD0751 197.20 202.10 4.90 4.88 2.07 39 1.56 5.05 K1 KMDD0751 205.60 215.10 9.50 9.47 2.26 42 2.63 7.00 K2 KMDD0750 115.90 127.14 11.24 5.18 0.18 29 3.75 6.56 K1 KMDD0750 130.00 135.00 5.00 2.31 0.07 40 3.95 6.91 K2 KMDD0744 133.18 136.12 2.94 2.31 3.47 2 0.13 3.71 K1 KMDD0744 148.70 152.85 4.15 3.26 1.44 4 0.04 1.55 KL KMDD0744 159.50 162.40 2.90 2.27 15.96 68 0.15 17.05 K2 KMDD0744 165.80 167.80 2.00 1.57 2.65 33 0.64 4.07 K3 KMDD0729 117.00 118.30 1.30 1.12 16.77 52 3.69 23.33 J1 KMDD0729 255.35 258.00 2.65 2.36 0.98 46 3.56 7.28 K1 KMDD0746 28.95 29.50 0.55 0.50 1.23 1 0.01 1.26 KMDD0746 61.25 63.94 2.69 2.44 5.67 1 0.03 5.74 KMDD0746 70.40 76.13 5.73 5.19 1.41 26 0.61 2.72 J1 KMDD0746 202.10 205.30 3.20 3.00 1.59 1 0.01 1.62 K1 KMDD0746 211.90 216.65 4.75 4.45 2.15 18 0.51 3.20 KL KMDD0746 217.90 232.30 14.40 13.50 9.58 54 1.15 12.09 K2 KMDD0730 184.90 195.25 10.35 6.81 3.19 7 0.93 4.77 K1 KMDD0730 207.00 209.00 2.00 0.99 1.16 21 0.69 2.53 K2 KMDD0742 80.83 81.73 0.90 0.87 1.99 2 0.30 2.50 J1 KMDD0742 143.24 143.50 0.26 0.25 1.58 26 0.91 3.36 KMDD0742 227.00 230.88 3.88 3.77 5.62 34 0.96 7.59 K2 KMDD0719 74.30 75.00 0.70 0.64 2.05 33 1.57 4.98 KMDD0719 109.15 110.40 1.25 1.14 1.42 43 0.93 3.45 J1 KMDD0719 248.00 253.76 5.76 5.30 6.07 25 1.30 8.46 K1 KMDD0719 254.70 258.30 3.60 3.31 2.10 25 0.90 3.86 K2 KMDD0719 260.70 260.94 0.24 0.22 1.59 2 0.07 1.73 KMDD0741 53.75 54.55 0.80 0.75 1.59 11 0.60 2.69 KMDD0741 85.75 88.70 2.95 2.76 1.75 3 0.39 2.41 J1 KMDD0741 138.40 139.85 1.45 1.36 1.48 28 3.98 8.21 KMDD0741 219.30 225.45 6.15 5.84 3.25 23 1.77 6.38 K2 KMDD0743 68.70 73.80 5.10 4.70 1.37 10 0.33 2.03 J1 KMDD0743 193.80 207.85 14.05 13.10 3.14 56 1.07 5.56 K1 KMDD0743 210.00 216.13 6.13 5.71 2.58 87 1.26 5.69 KL KMDD0743 217.40 227.40 10.00 9.32 0.70 7 0.59 1.73 K2 KMDD0747 113.86 114.70 0.84 0.74 1.53 7 0.21 1.96 J1 KMDD0747 251.10 255.80 4.70 4.23 4.59 26 1.94 8.03 K2 KMDD0745 107.10 118.45 11.35 10.10 3.80 3 0.41 4.50 K1 KMDD0745 144.10 151.00 6.90 6.11 0.72 8 0.53 1.68 K2 KMDD0748 74.95 75.55 0.60 0.51 0.83 21 2.32 4.81 KMDD0748 112.75 118.00 5.25 4.44 0.85 4 0.68 1.98 J1 KMDD0748 263.50 268.15 4.65 3.90 5.64 12 1.37 7.98 K2 KMDD0748 271.15 275.25 4.10 3.44 0.79 22 1.22 3.02 KMDD0752 77.68 79.30 1.62 1.62 3.50 12 1.77 6.48 J1 KMDD0752 200.00 202.65 2.65 2.63 1.32 3 0.01 1.37 K1 KMDD0752 211.80 225.30 13.50 13.42 14.93 199 1.00 19.02 K2 KMDD0752 230.25 231.20 0.95 0.94 1.32 3 0.00 1.36 KMDD0753 167.70 168.00 0.30 0.16 0.48 21 2.77 5.18 KMDD0753 231.56 231.85 0.29 0.15 0.27 7 2.00 3.56 KMDD0753 237.80 248.40 10.60 5.63 27.85 37 3.91 34.57 K1 KMDD0753 250.00 255.20 5.20 2.76 0.24 13 0.79 1.66 KL KMDD0753 257.40 263.40 6.00 3.19 2.49 19 1.05 4.42 K2 KMDD0753 270.00 273.00 3.00 1.59 0.36 11 1.35 2.67 K2HW KMDD0753 291.00 294.30 3.30 1.75 0.31 14 0.30 0.97 K3 KMDD0754 169.70 169.97 0.27 0.15 0.83 31 6.14 11.06 K1FW KMDD0754 243.10 252.45 9.35 5.35 11.51 12 1.27 13.70 K2 KMDD0754 256.66 270.80 14.14 8.14 0.51 23 1.25 2.80 K2HW KMDD0754 270.80 288.18 17.38 10.05 0.43 17 0.99 2.23 K3 KMDD0756 43.00 52.40 9.40 8.58 5.33 47 1.88 8.92 K2 KMDD0757 23.70 25.70 2.00 1.82 0.71 2 0.16 1.00 K1 KMDD0757 43.40 49.65 6.25 5.69 3.14 16 0.79 4.60 K2 KMDD0755 26.00 28.95 2.95 2.67 7.76 3 0.58 8.74 K1 KMDD0755 32.77 36.80 4.03 3.65 0.78 2 0.50 1.60 KL KMDD0755 44.94 52.30 7.36 6.68 1.77 11 0.43 2.61 K2 KMDD0766 54.43 56.00 1.57 1.50 1.04 9 0.07 1.26 KMDD0766 82.08 84.75 2.67 2.56 0.36 1 0.32 0.89 J1 KMDD0766 224.30 227.50 3.20 3.08 2.99 16 1.08 4.93 K2 KMDD0761 76.27 76.80 0.53 0.44 1.15 16 2.04 4.62 KMDD0761 123.30 126.40 3.10 2.57 5.67 8 0.16 6.03 J1 KMDD0761 268.00 272.00 4.00 3.38 2.63 17 1.71 5.59 K2 KMDD0761 274.23 277.00 2.77 2.34 0.39 4 1.02 2.08 K2HW KMDD0761 278.90 283.60 4.70 3.96 0.31 11 0.70 1.57 K3 KMDD0758 18.20 19.00 0.80 0.23 1.36 10 0.29 1.95 KMDD0758 136.20 137.20 1.00 0.29 0.13 24 2.43 4.33 KMDD0758 163.70 179.70 16.00 4.73 0.26 7 0.70 1.48 K1 KMDD0758 190.10 192.00 1.90 0.57 0.12 22 1.74 3.17 KL KMDD0758 203.00 206.80 3.80 1.14 0.14 16 1.24 2.33 K2 KMDD0760 124.60 128.40 3.80 2.96 0.25 8 0.32 0.86 J1 KMDD0760 268.00 271.65 3.65 2.95 0.26 15 1.05 2.15 K1 KMDD0760 279.75 283.30 3.55 2.55 0.71 32 3.04 5.99 K2 KMDD0760 288.00 288.50 0.50 0.40 6.18 48 1.82 9.69 K3 KMDD0712 66.60 68.75 2.15 2.07 2.34 23 0.76 3.85 KMDD0712 174.45 174.95 0.50 0.48 2.35 7 1.25 4.44 KMDD0712 180.10 180.50 0.40 0.39 4.16 3 0.46 4.94 KMDD0712 184.50 191.75 7.25 6.98 3.05 77 0.98 5.58 K1 KMDD0712 194.30 198.20 3.90 3.76 1.69 4 0.87 3.13 KL KMDD0712 203.25 204.27 1.02 0.98 0.52 23 6.56 11.33 KMDD0712 206.65 207.50 0.85 0.82 7.05 22 2.63 11.54 KMDD0712 211.65 219.40 7.75 7.47 0.83 23 0.25 1.51 K2 KMDD0773 99.80 107.36 7.56 6.82 3.15 5 0.39 3.85 K1 KMDD0773 108.10 113.35 5.25 4.74 1.42 5 0.32 1.99 KL KMDD0773 145.40 153.25 7.85 7.08 0.21 4 0.20 0.57 K2 KMDD0772 119.50 123.53 4.03 3.01 2.89 3 0.14 3.14 K1 KMDD0772 156.58 159.00 2.42 1.79 3.35 6 0.47 4.18 K2 KMDD0774 118.80 124.30 5.50 3.93 5.41 1 0.13 5.64 K1 KMDD0775 18.45 21.00 2.55 2.17 9.65 79 0.45 11.36 KMDD0775 66.00 68.80 2.80 2.41 0.40 15 0.54 1.46 J12 KMDD0775 106.25 106.75 0.50 0.43 2.59 4 0.16 2.89 J1 KMDD0775 195.30 199.30 4.00 3.59 11.53 44 2.19 15.58 K1 KMDD0775 209.60 218.60 9.00 8.06 0.71 21 1.47 3.34 KL KMDD0775 221.80 226.40 4.60 4.10 2.77 28 3.49 8.73 K2 Table 2 Kainantu Gold Mine – Significant Intercepts from Judd Underground Diamond Drilling Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) True width (m) Gold g/t Silver g/t Copper % Gold Eq Vein JDD0240 111.80 114.60 2.80 1.75 6.00 34 2.08 9.75 J1N JDD0240 105.75 106.90 1.15 0.72 2.68 5 0.02 2.77 J1L JDD0240 91.00 93.05 2.05 1.28 3.69 4 0.20 4.06 J1 JDD0240 76.83 77.52 0.69 0.43 0.86 6 0.16 1.19 JDD0240 43.00 45.00 2.00 1.26 4.86 3 0.11 5.07 JDD0229 85.30 86.66 1.36 0.52 5.08 81 1.27 8.13 JDD0229 133.75 134.50 0.75 0.29 6.33 162 0.14 8.59 JDD0229 154.30 155.10 0.80 0.31 0.63 78 2.79 6.09 JDD0229 168.86 169.37 0.51 0.19 0.41 21 2.53 4.72 JDD0229 172.10 179.20 7.10 2.71 1.43 80 2.80 6.93 J1 JDD0229 316.60 317.70 1.10 0.42 1.68 8 1.07 3.50 J1L JDD0241 40.90 41.30 0.40 0.27 1.63 1 0.03 1.69 JDD0241 42.80 43.37 0.57 0.39 2.32 1 0.04 2.40 JDD0241 61.55 62.30 0.75 0.51 8.92 1 0.13 9.14 J1 JDD0241 92.00 93.55 1.55 1.05 2.49 56 0.10 3.35 JDD0241 97.00 102.37 5.37 3.65 2.09 50 0.28 3.16 J1L JDD0241 109.00 110.00 1.00 0.68 2.00 10 0.35 2.69 JDD0244 57.95 58.94 0.99 0.56 1.62 1 0.01 1.65 J1HW JDD0244 64.30 74.80 10.50 5.98 2.86 9 0.47 3.72 J1 JDD0244 98.35 99.25 0.90 0.51 1.10 9 0.10 1.37 JDD0228 92.18 95.57 3.39 1.90 0.99 27 0.36 1.91 JDD0228 128.34 142.25 13.91 7.79 0.80 15 0.25 1.40 J1 JDD0228 169.70 178.12 8.42 4.59 0.51 22 0.74 1.98 J1L JDD0242 64.63 66.15 1.52 1.00 5.94 6 0.11 6.20 J1 JDD0246 98.66 100.90 2.24 1.70 0.84 8 0.15 1.17 J1 JDD0246 117.75 119.20 1.45 1.37 0.24 3 0.05 0.35 J12 JDD0248 62.85 64.70 1.85 2.39 0.12 2 0.05 0.22 J1 JDD0248 126.90 128.32 1.42 2.47 1.65 1 0.02 1.70 J12 JDD0243 27.60 28.00 0.40 0.30 2.89 42 0.41 4.07 JDD0243 44.34 47.70 3.36 2.51 0.20 27 0.24 0.93 JDD0243 56.60 57.13 0.53 0.40 1.51 79 0.06 2.59 JDD0243 111.33 111.64 0.31 0.24 1.29 33 0.79 2.97 JDD0243 145.68 150.00 4.32 3.32 0.75 19 1.05 2.67 J1 JDD0243 156.00 157.47 1.47 1.13 0.69 41 1.42 3.49 J1FW JDD0243 189.78 190.00 0.22 0.17 0.78 37 6.26 11.28 J1L JDD0243 203.00 203.70 0.70 0.55 94.52 159 2.10 99.89 JDD0250 29.28 31.35 2.07 2.01 0.35 4 0.08 0.53 J12 JDD0250 44.08 47.10 3.02 2.93 0.16 3 0.11 0.37 J1 JDD0249 35.60 37.16 1.56 1.48 0.33 3 0.07 0.48 J12 JDD0249 47.00 49.07 2.07 1.96 1.94 6 0.13 2.23 J1 JDD0253 39.22 46.50 7.28 5.93 0.58 3 0.29 1.07 J12 JDD0253 56.62 59.60 2.98 2.43 0.96 4 0.05 1.10 J1 JDD0253 71.20 71.50 0.30 0.25 0.36 30 3.55 6.43 JDD0247 104.78 108.90 4.12 3.28 1.42 12 0.34 2.12 J1 JDD0253A 121.00 122.14 1.14 0.66 0.06 1 0.01 0.08 J12 JDD0253A 141.45 143.30 1.85 1.61 1.51 20 1.03 3.42 J1 JDD0251 56.00 57.00 1.00 0.62 1.43 19 0.05 1.75 JDD0251 105.00 106.00 1.00 0.62 1.83 14 0.06 2.10 JDD0251 123.30 123.90 0.60 0.37 2.63 15 0.19 3.12 JDD0251 152.00 157.00 5.00 3.08 177.69 2 0.54 178.59 J1 JDD0251 163.00 165.00 2.00 1.22 53.21 138 2.44 58.83 J1L JDD0251 175.30 176.20 0.90 0.55 2.21 1 0.28 2.67 J1N JDD0255 117.18 119.92 2.74 2.48 2.34 6 0.44 3.12 J12 JDD0255 139.25 140.89 1.64 1.48 3.71 33 0.11 4.31 J1 JDD0252 122.00 123.50 1.50 0.93 48.60 1 0.06 48.71 JDD0252 136.40 138.45 2.05 1.26 2.32 7 0.33 2.95 JDD0252 165.65 172.33 6.68 4.05 0.46 2 0.30 0.96 J1 JDD0252 185.60 188.07 2.47 1.47 1.88 7 0.63 2.98 J1L JDD0252 198.10 199.70 1.60 0.94 0.68 25 2.24 4.59 JDD0257 139.85 141.40 1.55 1.05 9.43 1 0.13 9.65 J1 JDD0257 157.23 162.60 5.37 3.65 0.77 9 0.78 2.13 J1L JDD0257 187.34 192.20 4.86 3.34 1.09 41 0.05 1.68 J1FW JDD0254 123.45 127.60 4.15 4.09 5.71 30 0.91 7.55 J1 JDD0258 133.08 137.03 3.95 2.45 50.06 24 0.81 51.67 J1 JDD0258 156.75 161.60 4.85 3.01 24.37 96 2.26 29.19 J1L JDD0258 170.10 173.50 3.40 2.11 2.88 12 0.55 3.90 JDD0260 20.60 22.75 2.15 2.00 2.08 9 0.49 2.97 J12 JDD0260 37.00 39.20 2.20 2.05 1.21 14 3.22 6.55 J1 JDD0259 51.60 52.55 0.95 0.63 2.64 10 0.12 2.96 JDD0259 76.05 76.50 0.45 0.30 2.47 117 3.99 10.33 JDD0259 100.12 101.37 1.25 0.83 2.81 9 0.02 2.95 JDD0259 111.60 112.65 1.05 0.70 4.14 2 0.21 4.50 JDD0259 133.80 134.60 0.80 0.53 4.34 18 0.07 4.68 JDD0259 155.60 156.26 0.66 0.44 1.63 46 0.95 3.73 J1 JDD0259 184.80 189.85 5.05 3.38 2.06 21 0.55 3.21 J1L JDD0259 196.73 198.00 1.27 0.85 1.75 23 0.24 2.41 JDD0259 206.60 207.60 1.00 0.67 1.46 15 1.12 3.44 JDD0261 67.30 69.00 1.70 1.17 21.63 42 0.65 23.20 J1 JDD0262 92.00 93.40 1.40 1.09 24.90 48 0.66 26.54 JDD0262 130.80 135.90 5.10 4.12 2.29 16 0.94 4.01 J1 JDD0262 136.56 139.87 3.31 2.68 0.69 11 0.76 2.04 J1L JDD0266 29.00 30.50 1.50 0.91 7.75 13 2.59 12.05 J12 JDD0266 77.14 80.61 3.47 2.09 11.41 9 0.22 11.88 J1 JDD0267 46.67 47.50 0.83 0.61 1.20 17 0.12 1.61 JDD0267 96.85 98.10 1.25 0.92 3.74 38 0.58 5.15 JDD0267 118.00 119.30 1.30 0.96 1.26 2 0.03 1.33 JDD0267 126.60 129.78 3.18 2.34 3.24 9 0.13 3.56 J1 JDD0267 142.00 142.79 0.79 0.58 1.70 10 0.00 1.83 JDD0267 148.00 149.76 1.76 1.30 1.18 27 0.20 1.84 J1L JDD0267 172.60 174.00 1.40 1.03 0.81 42 1.45 3.67 J1FW JDD0267 181.50 182.10 0.60 0.44 2.44 14 1.86 5.60 JDD0256 131.75 132.70 0.95 0.49 1.72 8 0.69 2.92 JDD0256 141.10 143.10 2.00 1.03 5.02 5 0.08 5.20 JDD0256 152.15 152.60 0.45 0.23 25.60 40 6.64 36.75 JDD0256 169.45 169.80 0.35 0.18 1.23 19 0.61 2.45 JDD0256 191.90 192.80 0.90 0.46 2.98 5 0.25 3.45 JDD0256 201.40 209.84 8.44 4.36 0.74 3 0.20 1.10 J1 JDD0256 217.40 218.20 0.80 0.41 1.92 43 0.55 3.34 JDD0256 224.00 225.70 1.70 0.87 8.03 46 5.25 17.03 J1L JDD0263 30.00 30.80 0.80 0.63 2.59 11 0.01 2.74 JDD0263 54.10 54.40 0.30 0.24 1.20 47 3.21 6.94 JDD0263 106.60 107.10 0.50 0.40 4.02 1 0.14 4.26 JDD0263 120.40 120.80 0.40 0.32 4.26 3 0.05 4.38 JDD0263 128.10 135.48 7.38 5.84 6.87 14 0.38 7.66 J1 JDD0265 29.23 30.00 0.77 0.53 1.97 14 2.34 5.90 J12 JDD0265 56.80 59.00 2.20 1.51 6.39 78 4.91 15.24 J1 JDD0270 39.62 40.70 1.08 0.61 2.17 2 0.04 2.27 J12 JDD0270 80.70 84.45 3.75 2.18 4.64 8 0.74 5.93 J1 Table 3 Kainantu Gold Mine – Significant Intercepts from Kora South, Judd and Judd South Surface Diamond Drilling Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) True width (m) Gold g/t Silver g/t Copper % Gold Eq Vein KUDD0065 145.90 146.90 1.00 0.67 0.35 52 0.04 1.08 K2HW KUDD0065 148.20 153.60 5.40 3.62 0.62 79 0.12 1.84 K2 KUDD0065 199.30 200.10 0.80 0.54 2.42 11 0.61 3.52 K1FW KUDD0065 210.30 217.00 6.70 4.49 0.58 10 0.35 1.25 KLS KUDD0065 226.30 233.00 6.70 4.49 0.39 22 2.68 4.89 KLSFW KUDD0066 190.10 191.00 0.90 0.47 0.58 195 0.08 3.23 K2 KUDD0066 226.40 228.20 1.80 0.94 0.27 20 0.01 0.55 K1 KUDD0066 252.40 259.00 6.60 3.43 0.71 66 2.06 4.78 KLS KUDD0066 197.10 197.80 0.70 0.36 0.04 94 0.01 1.28 K2FW KUDD0067 167.50 169.70 2.20 1.14 0.20 32 2.48 4.49 K2FW KUDD0067 217.70 220.00 2.30 1.20 0.60 29 9.08 15.21 K2HW KUDD0067 203.10 209.30 6.20 3.22 0.08 51 1.76 3.50 K2 KUDD0067 107.70 110.00 2.30 1.20 0.49 42 1.09 2.74 K1 KUDD0067 87.50 89.70 2.20 1.14 1.04 7 0.26 1.54 K1FW KUDD0067 133.70 137.30 3.60 1.87 1.54 5 0.31 2.08 K1HW KUDD0068 136.80 137.20 0.40 0.21 0.02 15 0.65 1.23 K2HW KUDD0068 114.60 115.10 0.50 0.27 20.91 16 0.06 21.21 K2FW KUDD0068 117.60 119.70 2.10 1.11 5.26 67 3.48 11.57 K2 KUDD0068 99.60 106.40 6.80 3.60 1.39 118 6.18 12.60 K1 KUDD0068 111.00 112.00 1.00 0.53 0.51 19 0.87 2.12 K1HW KUDD0069 179.20 187.70 8.50 2.47 1.66 50 4.41 9.21 K2 KUDD0069 134.40 147.20 12.80 3.71 0.19 16 1.14 2.18 K1 KUDD0070 141.00 149.00 8.00 3.28 0.43 121 2.58 6.04 K1 KUDD0070 160.00 178.00 18.00 7.38 0.38 24 2.04 3.89 K2 Table 4 Kainantu Gold Mine – Collar Locations for Kora and Judd Surface and Underground Drilling Hole ID Collar location Collar orientation Lode Local North Local East mRL Dip Local azimuth EOH depth (m) JDD0228 58022 29845 1226 15 141 300 Judd JDD0229 58022 29845 1228 32 140 338 Judd JDD0240 58643 29934 1343 27 133 138 Judd JDD0241 58645 29934 1151 35 90 140 Judd JDD0242 58645 29934 1343 34 73 110 Judd JDD0243 58028 29845 1225 -51 92 227 Judd JDD0244 58646 29934 1343 28 55 122 Judd JDD0246 58827 30014 904 35 305 194 Judd JDD0247 58826 30014 905 42 268 168 Judd JDD0248 58825 30013 904 27 237 180 Judd JDD0249 58867 29918 1112 -5 115 82 Judd JDD0250 58867 29919 1112 -4 85 116 Judd JDD0251 58648 29887 1334 8 248 190 Judd JDD0252 58647 29886 1334 18 142 212 Judd JDD0253 58870 29915 1112 0 64 95 Judd JDD0253A 58858 29846 1111 -38 91 95 Judd JDD0254 58858 29846 1111 -21 97 145 Judd JDD0255 58858 29846 1111 -28 80 141 Judd JDD0256 58647 29886 1335 29 141 241 Judd JDD0257 58648 29887 1336 40 107 208 Judd JDD0258 58651 29888 1335 40 81 196 Judd JDD0259 58650 29887 1335 35 125 228 Judd JDD0260 58939 29940 1122 2 113 49 Judd JDD0261 58940 29939 1121 -53 116 112 Judd JDD0262 58650 29887 1334 16 128 176 Judd JDD0263 58648 29886 1335 35 94 161 Judd JDD0265 58942 29941 1122 4 52 110 Judd JDD0266 58942 29940 1120 -39 49 121 Judd JDD0267 58650 29887 1335 33 106 182 Judd JDD0270 58941 29941 1122 -16 41 129 Judd KMDD0653A 58022 29839 1224 -30 209 253 Kora KMDD0687A 59006 29948 898 28 285 216 Kora KMDD0692 58758 29895 910 20 253 154 Kora KMDD0696A 59006 29948 897 13 301 234 Kora KMDD0698A 58951 29939 898 25 236 231 Kora KMDD0699 58950 29939 897 13 237 182 Kora KMDD0700 58760 29895 909 14 282 165 Kora KMDD0701A 58759 29895 909 14 265 156 Kora KMDD0702 58648 29926 1344 39 288 197 Kora KMDD0703 58025 29838 1227 33 276 153 Kora KMDD0704 58025 29838 1225 -33 275 200 Kora KMDD0705 58647 29926 1344 42 265 188 Kora KMDD0709 58758 29895 909 11 238 187 Kora KMDD0710 58025 29839 1224 -61 271 197 Kora KMDD0711 58744 29965 905 20 284 250 Kora KMDD0712 58742 29965 905 20 266 239 Kora KMDD0713 58025 29839 1224 -77 263 327 Kora KMDD0714 58644 29926 1344 37 246 196 Kora KMDD0715 58623 29963 906 5 266 243 Kora KMDD0716 58623 29963 907 14 262 2307 Kora KMDD0717 58623 29963 907 24 268 271 Kora KMDD0718 58615 29983 906 8 253 278 Kora KMDD0719 58615 29983 906 17 253 274 Kora KMDD0720 58644 29926 1343 33 239 180 Kora KMDD0721 58643 29927 1343 30 225 226 Kora KMDD0722 58022 29840 1228 45 204 296 Kora KMDD0723 58023 29840 1224 -62 210 367 Kora KMDD0724 58215 29839 1225 42 288 1225 Kora KMDD0725 58215 29838 1222 -15 288 135 Kora KMDD0726 58643 29927 1343 27 216 291 Kora KMDD0727 58741 29965 905 20 248 274 Kora KMDD0729 58615 29983 906 3 247 274 Kora KMDD0730 58643 29927 1342 20 224 239 Kora KMDD0731 58643 29927 1342 17 218 278 Kora KMDD0741 58622 29963 906 4 257 245 Kora KMDD0742 58623 29963 907 19 263 249 Kora KMDD0743 58741 29965 905 19 258 241 Kora KMDD0744 58936 29932 1121 -28 248 174 Kora KMDD0745 58936 29932 1121 -20 261 172 Kora KMDD0746 58741 29965 905 21 250 267 Kora KMDD0747 58615 29983 906 18 137 258 Kora KMDD0748 58615 29983 907 21 248 288 Kora KMDD0749 58215 29838 1221 -38 290 183 Kora KMDD0750 58214 29839 1222 -52 290 215 Kora KMDD0751 58623 29963 906 4 272 253 Kora KMDD0752 58623 29963 907 13 273 244 Kora KMDD0753 58643 29927 1342 19 211 353 Kora KMDD0754 58643 29927 1342 8 211 349 Kora KMDD0755 58623 29963 907 19 263 78 Kora KMDD0756 58722 29820 1135 -17 267 62 Kora KMDD0757 58707 29817 1135 -19 270 76 Kora KMDD0758 58215 29839 1221 -67 286 304 Kora KMDD0760 58615 29983 906 8 242 298 Kora KMDD0761 58615 29983 907 16 242 315 Kora KMDD0766 58622 29963 907 14 257 239 Kora KMDD0772 58937 29933 1120 -31 270 166 Kora KMDD0773 58937 29934 1121 -20 276 172 Kora KMDD0774 58938 29932 1121 -31 302 158 Kora KMDD0775 58623 29965 905 -17 263 261 Kora KUDD0065 57961 29736 1857 -48 085 262 Kora South KUDD0066 57961 29736 1857 -58 111 280 Kora South KUDD0067 58095 29881 1848 -72 248 277 Kora South KUDD0068 58095 29881 1848 -58 306 138 Kora South KUDD0069 58099 29881 1835 -73 303 258 Kora South KUDD0070 58099 29882 1833 -66 320 261 Kora South Table 5 Kora and Judd Mineral Resource Estimate (Effective Date September 12, 2023, 3 g/t gold equivalent cut-off) Tonnes Gold Silver Copper AuEq Mt g/t moz g/t moz % kt g/t moz Kora Measured 3.7 8.74 1.0 20.5 2.5 1.21 45.0 10.96 1.3 Indicated 3.1 6.99 0.7 21.9 2.2 1.31 41.3 9.40 1.0 Total M&I 6.9 7.94 1.8 21.1 4.7 1.25 86.2 10.24 2.3 Inferred 14.3 5.60 2.6 28.7 13.2 1.62 231.2 8.60 3.9 Judd Measured 0.4 9.05 0.12 19.0 0.25 0.80 3.2 10.58 0.14 Indicated 0.8 6.37 0.17 15.6 0.42 0.73 6.2 7.76 0.21 Total M&I 1.2 7.24 0.29 16.7 0.67 0.75 9.4 8.68 0.35 Inferred 2.3 6.27 0.45 15.8 1.15 0.76 17.2 7.72 0.56 Kora and Judd Measured 4.1 8.77 1.2 20.4 2.7 1.17 48.2 10.92 1.5 Indicated 4.0 6.86 0.9 20.6 2.6 1.19 47.4 9.05 1.2 Total M&I 8.1 7.83 2.0 20.5 5.3 1.18 95.6 10.00 2.6 Inferred 16.5 5.69 3.0 27.0 14.3 1.50 248.3 8.48 4.5 The Independent Qualified Person responsible for the Mineral Resource estimate is Simon Tear, P.Geo. of H & S Consultants Pty. Ltd., Sydney, Australia, and the effective date of the estimate is September 12, 2023. (Refer to technical report, titled, "Independent Technical Report, Kainantu Gold Mine, Updated Integrated Development Plan, Kainantu Project, Papua New Guinea" dated November 28, 2024, with an effective date of January 1, 2024.) Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Geological interpretation has generated a series of narrow, sub-vertical vein structures based on delineated wireframes on 10m, 20m and 25m spaced cross sections. The design of the lode wireframes is based on a combination of logged geology, Au, Cu & Ag assay grades and locally on a nominal minimum mining width of 5.2m, all coupled with geological sense. Resources were compiled at 3 g/t gold equivalent cut-off grades for Kora and Judd. Density (t/m 3 ) was modelled using Ordinary Kriging on 2,778 sample measurements. Areas within the mineral wireframes where no density grades were interpolated had average default values inserted at appropriate levels. Reported tonnage and grade figures are rounded from raw estimates to reflect the order of accuracy of the estimate. Minor variations may occur during the addition of rounded numbers. Estimations used metric units (metres, tonnes and g/t). Gold equivalents are calculated as AuEq = Au g/t + Cu%*1.6481+ Ag g/t*0.0114. Gold price US$1,700/oz; Silver US$22.5/oz; Copper US$4.00/lb. Metal payabilities and recoveries are incorporated into the AuEq formula. Recoveries of 95% for copper and 80% for silver were used. Drill Hole Sampling Methodology, QA/QC and Qualified Person The diamond drill hole is first logged to determine the sampling intervals, which range from a minimum of 0.1 metres to generally 1 metre. The drill core is sawn half core cut along a reference line, with the remainder of the core returned to the core tray. Core samples are then placed in numbered calico and plastic bags, with a numbered sample ticket for dispatch to the assay laboratory. Samples are separately assayed for gold, copper and silver. K92's procedure includes the insertion standards, blanks and duplicates. Gold assays are by the fire assay method. Copper and silver assays are by three-acid-digestion method (nitric, perchloric and hydrochloric mix). K92 maintains an industry-standard analytical quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) and data verification program to monitor laboratory performance and ensure high quality assays. Results from this program confirm reliability of the assay results. All sampling and analytical work for the mine exploration program is performed by Intertek Testing Services (PNG) Ltd, an independent accredited laboratory that is located on site. External check assays for QA/QC purposes are performed at SGS Australia Pty Ltd in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. K92 Executive Vice President, Exploration, Mr. Chris Muller, PGeo, and K92 Mine Geology Manager and Mine Exploration Manager, Andrew Kohler, MAIG, both Qualified Persons under the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects , have reviewed and are responsible for the technical content of this news release. In addition to the analytical QA/QC program outlined above, data verification also includes significant time onsite reviewing drill core, soil and outcrop sampling, artisanal workings, as well as discussing work programs and results with geology personnel and external consultants. About K92 K92 Mining Inc. is engaged in the production of gold, copper and silver at the Kainantu Gold Mine in the Eastern Highlands province of Papua New Guinea, as well as exploration and development of mineral deposits in the immediate vicinity of the mine. The Company declared commercial production from Kainantu in February 2018, is in a strong financial position, and is working to become a Tier 1 mid-tier producer through ongoing plant expansions. A maiden resource estimate on the Blue Lake copper-gold porphyry project was completed in August 2022. K92 is operated by a team of mining company professionals with extensive international mine-building and operational experience. On Behalf of the Company, John Lewins, Chief Executive Officer and Director For further information, please contact David Medilek, P.Eng., CFA, President and Chief Operating Officer at +1-604-416-4445 CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation: (i) the results of the Kainantu Mine Definitive Feasibility Study, and the Kainantu Preliminary Economic Assessment, including the Stage 3 Expansion, a new standalone 1.2 mtpa process plant and supporting infrastructure; (ii) statements regarding the expansion of the mine and development of any of the deposits; (iii) the Kainantu Stage 4 Expansion, operating two standalone process plants, larger surface infrastructure and mining throughputs; and (iv) the potential extended life of the Kainantu Mine. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our ability to control, that may cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, without limitation, Public Health Crises, including the COVID-19 virus; changes in the price of gold, silver, copper and other metals in the world markets; fluctuations in the price and availability of infrastructure and energy and other commodities; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; volatility in price of our common shares; inherent risks associated with the mining industry, including problems related to weather and climate in remote areas in which certain of the Company's operations are located; failure to achieve production, cost and other estimates; risks and uncertainties associated with exploration and development; uncertainties relating to estimates of mineral resources including uncertainty that mineral resources may never be converted into mineral reserves; the Company's ability to carry on current and future operations, including development and exploration activities at the Arakompa, Kora, Judd and other projects; the timing, extent, duration and economic viability of such operations, including any mineral resources or reserves identified thereby; the accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and assessments; the Company's ability to meet or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of inputs; the availability and costs of achieving the Stage 3 Expansion or the Stage 4 Expansion; the ability of the Company to achieve the inputs the price and market for outputs, including gold, silver and copper; failures of information systems or information security threats; political, economic and other risks associated with the Company's foreign operations; geopolitical events and other uncertainties, such as the conflicts in Ukraine, Israel and Palestine; compliance with various laws and regulatory requirements to which the Company is subject to, including taxation; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable terms when required; the current and future social, economic and political conditions, including relationship with the communities in Papua New Guinea and other jurisdictions it operates; other assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining industry; and the risks, uncertainties and other factors referred to in the Company's Annual Information Form under the heading "Risk Factors". Estimates of mineral resources are also forward-looking statements because they constitute projections, based on certain estimates and assumptions, regarding the amount of minerals that may be encountered in the future and/or the anticipated economics of production. The estimation of mineral resources and mineral reserves is inherently uncertain and involves subjective judgments about many relevant factors. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The accuracy of any such estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation, Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance, and actual results and future events could materially differ from those anticipated in such statements. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actual results to differ materially from those that are anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Figure 1 – K1 Vein Long Section Figure 2 – K2 Vein Long Section Figure 3 – J1 Vein Long Section Figure 4 – K1 and K2 Vein Plan Map (950 Level) Figure 5 – Kora-Irumafimpa Long Section Figure 6 – Judd Long Section Figure 7 – JDD0251 Core Photograph, 151.59 – 156.45m; within intersection of 5.00 m at 178.59 g/t AuEq or 177.69 g/t Au, 2 g/t Ag and 0.54% Cu from the J1 Vein. Figure 8 – KMDD0753 Core Photograph, 237.10 – 248.62m; within intersection of 10.60 m at 34.57 g/t AuEq or 27.85 g/t Au, 37 g/t Ag and 3.91% Cu from the K1 Vein. Figure 9 – KMDD0702 Core Photograph, 123.00 – 128.24m; within intersection of 4.37 m at 33.27g/t AuEq or 32.16 g/t Au, 10 g/t Ag and 0.61% Cu from the K1 Vein. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/064a9c40-fada-4234-95db-4c39d433638e https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/413e3218-7e10-44d2-a0bb-5faaaa9969d7 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7cc7a0d3-1619-46fd-9fb2-05f096957a89 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7fa60ea0-cdff-4f31-b8f3-5427b875b07f https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8f594a08-f037-4bea-a7cb-4100bba460dc https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9d0e873c-d8e7-4e33-9048-5c1059e4d509 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7ff1e4ac-504c-4e80-b8c6-a54647c4998a https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/57b10fbe-eb32-45f8-8ded-23821ed0748b https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/72ba22ab-9608-4734-a07a-9817f53e6032 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Technologický inovační institut v Abú Zabí zahajuje summit o umělé inteligenci s otevřeným zdrojovým kódem, na kterém se vedou kritické diskuse o budoucnosti umělé inteligenceUNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Rescuers contemplated the safest way Wednesday to search for a woman who apparently fell into a Pennsylvania sinkhole while looking for her lost cat, saying a crumbling old coal mine beneath the surface complicated efforts and endangered workers. Crews worked through the night in the Unity Township community of Marguerite to find Elizabeth Pollard, 64. A state police spokesperson said early Wednesday they were reassessing their tactics to avoid putting the rescuers in danger. "The integrity of that mine is starting to become compromised," Trooper Steve Limani told reporters at the scene about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh. Rescue workers continue to search for Elizabeth Pollard, who is believed to have disappeared in a sinkhole while looking for her cat, Wednesday in Marguerite, Pa. Sinkholes occur in the area because of subsidence from coal mining activity. Rescuers used water to break down and remove clay and dirt from the mine, which has been closed since the 1950s, but that increased the risk "for potential other mine subsidence to take place," Limani said. "We're probably going to have to switch gears" and do a more complicated dig, he said. On Tuesday, crews lowered a pole camera with a sensitive listening device into the hole, but it detected nothing. Another camera lowered into the hole showed what could be a shoe about 30 feet below the surface, Limani said. Searchers also deployed drones and thermal imaging equipment to no avail. Marguerite Fire Chief Scot Graham, the incident commander, said access to the immediate area surrounding the hole was tightly controlled and monitored, with rescuers attached by harness. "We cannot judge as to what's going on underneath us. Again, you had a small hole on top but as soon as you stuck a camera down through to look, you had this big void," Graham said. "And it was all different depths. The process is long, is tedious. We have to make sure that we are keeping safety in the forefront as well as the rescue effort." Rescue workers search through the night in a sinkhole for Elizabeth Pollard, who disappeared while looking for her cat, Tuesday in Marguerite, Pa. Pleasant Unity Fire Chief John Bacha, the operations officer at the scene, said they were "hoping that there's a void that she could still be in." Pollard's family called police about 1 a.m. on Tuesday to say she had not been seen since going out Monday evening to search for Pepper, her cat. The temperature dropped well below freezing that night. In an interview with CBS News, Pollard's son, Axel Hayes, said he is experiencing a mix of emotions. "I'm upset that she hasn't been found yet, and I'm really just worried about whether she's still down there, where she is down there, or she went somewhere and found somewhere safer," Hayes said. "Right now, I just hope she's alive and well, that she's going to make it, that my niece still has a grandmother, that I still have a mother that I can talk to." The top of a sinkhole is seen Tuesday in the village of Marguerite, Pa., where rescuers searched for a woman who disappeared. Police said they found Pollard's car parked behind Monday's Union Restaurant in Marguerite, about 20 feet from the sinkhole. Hunters and restaurant workers in the area said they didn't notice the manhole-size opening in the hours before Pollard disappeared, leading rescuers to speculate that the sinkhole was new. "It almost feels like it opened up with her standing on top of it," Limani said. Searchers accessed the mine late Tuesday afternoon and dug a separate entrance out of concern that the ground around the sinkhole opening was not stable. Pollard lives in a small neighborhood across the street from where her car and granddaughter were located, Limani said. The young girl "nodded off in the car and woke up. Grandma never came back," Limani said. The child stayed in the car until two troopers rescued her. It's not clear what happened to Pepper. In an era of rapid technological advancement and environmental change, American agriculture is undergoing a revolution that reaches far beyond the farm gate. From the food on consumer plates to the economic health of rural communities, the transformation of U.S. farming practices is reshaping the nation's landscape in ways both visible and hidden. LandTrust explores how these changes impact everyone, whether they live in the heartland or the heart of the city. The image of the small family farm, while still a reality for many, is increasingly giving way to larger, more technologically advanced operations. According to the USDA, the number of farms in the U.S. has fallen from 6.8 million in 1935 to about 2 million today, with the average farm size growing from 155 acres to 444 acres. This shift has profound implications for rural communities and the food system as a whole. Despite these changes, diversity in farming practices is on the rise. A landmark study published in Science , involving data from over 2,000 farms across 11 countries, found that diversifying farmland simultaneously delivers environmental and social benefits. This challenges the longstanding idea that practices boosting biodiversity must come at a cost to yields and food security. The adoption of precision agriculture technologies is transforming how farmers manage their land and resources. GPS-guided tractors, drone surveillance, and AI-powered crop management systems are becoming commonplace on many farms. These technologies allow farmers to apply water, fertilizers, and pesticides with pinpoint accuracy, reducing waste and environmental impact while improving yields. However, the digital divide remains a challenge. More than 22% of rural communities lack reliable broadband internet access, hindering the widespread implementation of AI and other advanced technologies in agriculture. While technology offers new opportunities, farmers are also facing significant economic challenges. The USDA's 2024 farm income forecast projects a 4.4% decline in net farm income from 2023, following a sharp 19.5% drop from 2022 to 2023. This financial pressure is compounded by rising production costs and market volatility. Climate variability adds another layer of complexity. Extreme weather events, changing precipitation patterns, and shifting growing seasons are forcing farmers to adapt quickly. These factors could reduce agricultural productivity by up to 25% over the coming decades without significant adaptation measures. But adapting requires additional financial resources, further straining farm profitability. In the face of these challenges, many farmers are turning to diversification as a strategy for resilience and profitability. The Science study mentioned earlier found that farms integrating several diversification methods supported more biodiversity while seeing simultaneous increases in human well-being and food security. Agritourism is one popular diversification strategy. In 2022, 28,600 U.S. farms reported agritourism income, averaging gross revenue of $44,000 from these activities. Activities like farm tours, pick-your-own operations, and seasonal festivals not only provide additional income but also foster a deeper connection between consumers and agriculture. The changing face of agriculture is directly impacting consumers. The rise of farm-to-table and local food movements reflects a growing interest in where our food comes from and how it's produced. If every U.S. household spent just $10 per week on locally grown food, it would generate billions of dollars for local economies. However, the larger challenges in agriculture can also lead to price fluctuations at the grocery store. The USDA's Economic Research Service projects that food-at-home prices will increase between 1.2% and 2.2% in 2024. Looking ahead, several innovations are poised to reshape agriculture: The transformation of American agriculture affects everyone, from the food we eat to the health of our environment and rural communities. Consumers have the power to support sustainable and diverse farming practices through our purchasing decisions. As citizens, they can advocate for policies that support farmers in adopting innovative and sustainable practices. The challenges facing agriculture are complex, but they also present opportunities for innovation and positive change. By understanding and engaging with these issues, everyone can play a part in shaping a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable food system for the future. This story was produced by LandTrust and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Documents declassified by Romania's security council on December 4 said the country was the target of an "aggressive hybrid Russian action" during recent election campaigns, including last month's surprise victory of a pro-Russian far-right candidate. The Supreme Council of National Defense declassified the documents, saying they showed that Romania was the target of various coordinated actions leading up to the presidential election's November 24 first round, won by Calin Georgescu. Voters in the EU and NATO member state will decide the winner of the presidential election in a runoff on December 8 that pits Georgescu against pro-European centrist candidate Elena Lasconi. It had already been reported that TikTok was used to generate support for Georgescu and connect him to a Romanian audience in the millions. But the declassified documents show that Romania's intelligence service believes that Georgescu was massively promoted on TikTok with backing from Russia through multiple methods, including coordinated accounts, algorithms to boost his presence on the platform, and paid promotion. The documents help explain how Georgescu's popularity increased from 1 percent shortly before the race to 22 percent artificially, through a vast operation of manipulation that involved influencers and ensnared Romanian institutions as well as ordinary voters. Some 25,000 TikTok accounts allegedly used to increase Georgescu's popularity "became very active two weeks before the date of the elections," according to the declassified documents. About 800 of these accounts had extremely low activity until November 11. From that date onward "the entire network was activated at full capacity," according to the documents. The intelligence service documents also show that influencers on TikTok were recruited to promote Georgescu directly by publicly supporting him and indirectly through neutral messages that contained labels associated with him. Another method used to promote the independent candidate involved the creation of accounts that falsely represented institutions of the Romanian state. Dozens of TikTok accounts were found that falsely used the intelligence service's logo and the title Anti-Terrorist Brigade (BAT), each displaying thousands of followers and over 100,000 likes. These fake accounts had supportive posts for Georgescu, presenting the false notion that these state institutions supported him. In addition, Georgescu's posts were not marked as belonging to a candidate, and this favored their mass dissemination. Other candidates whose posts were labeled as belonging to a candidate had a diminished online presence. Romania's intelligence services hinted that large sums of money would have been spent in the operation. Georgescu, according to information revealed in the declassified documents, declared to Romanian electoral authorities that he spent nothing on his campaign. The intelligence service linked the operation to Russia by noting that access data for official Romanian election websites was published on Russian cybercrime platforms. The access data was probably procured by targeting legitimate users or by exploiting the legitimate training server, the intelligence service said. It added that it had identified more than 85,000 cyberattacks that aimed to exploit system vulnerabilities. "The attacks continued intensively including on election day and the night after elections," the agency said in one of the declassified document. "The operating mode and the amplitude of the campaign leads us to conclude the attacker has considerable resources specific to an attacking state." Russia has denied any interference in Romania's elections. TikTok confirmed the deletion of electoral propaganda materials two days after the request of the Central Electoral Bureau, but it did not delete the electoral content as requested by the Permanent Electoral Authority, and it continued to be available to the public even after the end of the election campaign, including on election day, in violation of Romanian election law. Serbian lawmakers have begun deliberating a bill submitted to parliament that would establish a " foreign agents " registry, a move that may alienate Serbia from its EU ambitions. Initiated by members of the Movement of Socialists, led by pro-Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin, the bill aims to regulate organizations and individuals receiving more than 50 percent of their funding from foreign sources. Supporters of the law argue that it aims to ensure greater transparency in the NGO sector. They claim that some foreign-funded organizations work against Serbia's national interests. However, critics -- both within Serbia and internationally -- warn that such a law could stigmatize civil society organizations, hinder their operations, and limit freedom of expression. "This draft law poses a serious and direct threat to civil society organizations, jeopardizing their role in safeguarding democratic values, human rights, and European integration," the EU's Economic and Social Committee said in a statement . "As with similar initiatives in other candidate countries, such as in the case of Georgia, the EESC reiterates that such legislation is incompatible with the fundamental values of the European Union, which Serbia, as an EU candidate country, is expected to uphold." The regional trend toward adopting such laws, legislation that mirrors Russian law and is often driven by pro-Russian political forces, highlights a broader geopolitical struggle in the Balkans. Several countries in the region find themselves in a situation where they try to balance historic ties with Russia and their aspirations for European integration. Serbia, alongside Montenegro, is considered a front-runner in the EU accession process. However, to achieve membership, candidate countries must harmonize their laws, policies, institutions, and practices with EU standards. Any legislation perceived as suppressing civil liberties, the EU has said, could jeopardize this progress. In Montenegro, a comparable draft law was introduced in October by the coalition For the Future of Montenegro, which includes pro-Russian parties such as the New Serbian Democracy and the Democratic People's Party. The bill in Serbia is also steeped in further controversy because of its origins. Deputy Prime Minister Vulin, a staunch ally of Russia, has positioned the bill as a transparency measure, comparing it to the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). However, Serbian opposition figures and international observers argue that the draft law more closely resembles the restrictive legislation seen in Russia. Vulin's close ties to Moscow -- underscored by frequent visits and his role in coordinating Serbia's BRICS-related activities -- have drawn international attention. In 2023, he was placed under U.S. sanctions for allegedly facilitating Russian activities in the Balkans. Critics view the proposed law as aligning with Moscow’s pattern to muzzle independent civil society organizations and limit dissent. YEREVAN -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian declared on December 4 in parliament that Yerevan had effectively passed the "point of no return" regarding its reintegration into a Russian-led military alliance. His remarks came in response to recent statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who argued that the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) could not intervene in the 2020 war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh because it did not occur on Armenian territory. "With all due respect to the Russian president, this statement highlights the fundamental issues within the CSTO," Pashinian said. His comments underscored the growing tensions between Armenia and the CSTO, marking a pivotal shift in the region's security dynamics. The relationship between Armenia and the CSTO has been strained for some time, particularly since the 2022 incursion by Azerbaijani forces into Armenia's sovereign territory. Yerevan accused the CSTO of failing to uphold its commitment to defend a member state, even as Armenia flagged the imminent threat to its allies. According to Pashinian, initial assurances from CSTO allies that Armenia's borders were a "red line" were later dismissed as ambiguous claims of undefined boundaries. "When the aggression occurred, we said that the red line had been crossed. They responded by saying, 'Well, the border isn't officially delimited,'" Pashinian said, stressing the lack of a clear response from the alliance. Armenian authorities have also criticized Russian peacekeepers for failing to prevent Azerbaijan's rapid offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023, which ultimately resulted in Azerbaijan regaining control over the region after nearly three decades of ethnic Armenian rule. This lack of action led to Yerevan's decision to freeze its participation in CSTO activities. Armenia did not attend the CSTO Collective Security Council meeting on November 28 in Kazakhstan and has skipped joint military exercises and other meetings. However, it has stopped short of officially withdrawing from the organization. Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan are also CSTO member states. CSTO Secretary-General Imanghali Tasmaghambetov of Kazakhstan has downplayed Armenia's absence, stating that it does not affect the alliance’s overall efficiency. He reiterated on December 4 that Armenia remained a formal ally and that all CSTO commitments to Armenia were intact. Tasmaghambetov also emphasized that Armenia could resume full participation at any time, noting that there are no objections or obstacles from other member states. Despite these reassurances, Armenia's criticisms of the CSTO's inaction in the face of Azerbaijani military moves have fueled a broader debate about the alliance's reliability. Many in Armenia see the CSTO’s hesitancy as a sign of its weakening relevance in addressing the region's security challenges. The deepening divide between Armenia and the CSTO also reflects a broader realignment in Yerevan's foreign policy. Armenia’s growing criticism of the CSTO and its strategic turn toward other international partners suggest a waning dependence on Russian-led security structures. This shift is particularly significant as regional powers, including Turkey and Azerbaijan, assert greater influence in the South Caucasus. While Armenia has not formally initiated the process of leaving the CSTO, Pashinian's remarks signal that such a move may not be far off. The longer Yerevan remains at odds with the alliance, the more its security policies are likely to diverge from the CSTO framework. Senior Russian authorities, including President Vladimir Putin, were directly involved in ordering the forcible transfer , fostering, and later adoption of Ukrainian children moved out of war zones and occupied regions of Ukraine, U.S. researchers found. In a report released on December 3, investigators from Yale University said at least 314 children from Ukraine were subject to a "systematic program of coerced adoption and fostering" by Russian individuals and families. "The Russian Federation engaged in systematic, deliberate, and widespread forced adoption and transfer of children from Ukraine," the report says. "The operation...was initiated by Putin and his subordinates with the intent to 'Russify' children from Ukraine." The findings add to a growing body of evidence pointing to possible culpability for war crimes by Putin and other top officials. The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March 2023 for the "war crime of unlawful deportation" and "unlawful transfer" of children from Ukrainian territory to Russia. The Kremlin's commissioner for children's rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, was also charged. Researchers at Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab, whose work is partially supported by the U.S. State Department, said they had documented since 2022: The majority of the children from Ukraine who are listed in Russian databases, the report says, were taken from Donetsk, an eastern Ukrainian region that has been partially occupied by Russian and Russian-allied forces since 2014. The Kremlin has declared the annexation of the Donetsk region, and three other Ukrainian regions -- Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson -- plus the Crimean Peninsula. Only Syria and North Korea have recognized the move. Russian officials frequently portray their efforts as a humanitarian gesture, sheltering, feeding, or protecting children from war or the breakdown of services in occupied regions. However, in many cases, Russian authorities did little to identify parents or relatives or legal guardians of the Ukrainian children. Ukrainian officials, journalists, and civil society activists, meanwhile, have also compiled substantial evidence of state support for transferring and deporting children out of Ukraine. In many cases, the effort strained Russia's already overburdened social welfare infrastructure. Hundreds of Ukrainian children were transferred from occupied Ukrainian regions and sent to a network of summer and holiday camps in Belarus, where they were exposed to pro-Russian education and propaganda, RFE/RL found. According to official Ukrainian figures , as of July 24, 2024, 19,546 children had been deported from Ukraine to Russia since the start of Russia's all-out invasion in February 2022. Ukraine’s human rights commissioner last month said 1,012 children had been returned from Russia to date. The U.S. State Department said in a statement on December 4 that it was pursuing visa restrictions for five Russian officials backed or installed by Russia in response to their involvement in human rights abuses in Ukraine, including the forced deportation of children. "Many of these children have had their identities changed and origins obscured, have been subjected to pro-Russian indoctrination and militarization, or have been adopted by Russian families," the State Department said. It did not identify the five Russian officials but added that Kremlin authorities had created obstacles preventing the return of the children to Ukraine. "Russia's continued contempt for its international legal obligations to report the locations of these children makes securing their safe return nearly impossible," the State Department said. The head of the Zaporizhzhya region's military administration, Ivan Fedorov, has alleged that the mayor of the Ukrainian town of Dniproprudne died after being tortured while in Russian custody. Fedorov said in a statement on Telegram on December 4 that the body of Yevhen Matveyev was recently returned to Ukraine during a prisoner exchange with Russia, which has occupied Dniproprudne since the early days of the February 2022 full-scale invasion. Matveyev was captured by Russian forces on March 13, 2022. Last month, Ukraine recovered the bodies of 502 fallen soldiers and civilians, including 17 from morgues in Russia, as part of an exchange of prisoners of war between the two countries. "He was held captive by the occupiers for two years and eight months and tortured to death. During the last exchange, his body was returned to Ukraine," Fedorov said. He gave no further details. Russian officials have not commented publicly on the allegations. Despite the occupation, Matveyev refused to abandon his town and worked to ensure the functioning of essential services and kept the population informed about ongoing events, Federov noted. Matveyev's death underscores the brutal conditions under which Ukrainian officials and civilians have been held while in Russian captivity. In October 2023, a UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine found "continued war crimes and human rights violations gravely impacting civilians," including confirmation that "Russian authorities have used torture in a widespread and systematic way in various types of detention facilities." Ukraine has also been accused of committing war crimes during the conflict, though to a far lesser extent. A war monitor and state media say that Syrian government forces have launched a counterattack against Islamist-led rebels who were getting close to a Russian-operated airbase after capturing a string of towns and closing in on the key city of Hama. The government forces' counteroffensive came after a blitz advance over the past several days by the rebels led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). They have captured Aleppo, the country's largest city, as well as 14 central villages and towns, and gotten as close as 35 kilometers from Khmeimim Airbase. President Bashar al-Assad's regime turned over the air base to Russia in 2015 as Moscow moved in to help Damascus turn the tide of a four-year civil was in its favor. The Syrian state news agency SANA said rebels on December 4 retreated some 20 kilometers from government-held Hama, Syria's fourth largest city, after government troops backed by Russian air strikes repelled the rebels from the city's outskirts. Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said the rebels only withdrew some 10 kilometers. Hama, which is key to the defense of Damascus, is the gateway to the coastal cities of Tartus and Latakia, the former being home to a strategic Russian naval base. Besides HTS, the rebels also include an umbrella group of Turkish-backed Syrian militias called the Syrian National Army. UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen, said on December 3 that tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced by the fighting. Police and security officials have cordoned off a large area near Dusanbe after a drone resembling a military unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) crashed in a nearby town in an area where there are both Tajik and Russian military bases. Officials have not given any details on the drone, which went down on December 3 in the town of Sharora, just 5 kilometers from Tajikistan's capital. Eyewitness footage from the site, obtained exclusively by RFE/RL's Tajik Service, indicated that the drone struck a utility pole before crashing to the ground. The video shows flames at the crash site, which was quickly cordoned off by police and military personnel. The incident occurred near a residential area, but no injuries or damage to homes was reported, according to local residents. Tajikistan's Defense Ministry did not respond to RFE/RL's attempts to get comments from its representatives. The crash site is located near significant military facilities, raising questions about the drone’s origin and purpose. The Aini Military Airbase, controlled by the Defense Ministry, is situated just outside Dushanbe. A Russian military base, part of the 201st Military Division, is also nearby. Both facilities play strategic roles in the regional security infrastructure. Given the size and apparent military design of the drone, some analysts have speculated whether it could also have been a UAV from a third country. Tajikistan has increasingly relied on drone technology in recent years, acquiring UAVs from various sources, including Turkey and China. The presence of advanced drone technology also highlights the increasing militarization of Central Asia, as nations modernize their arsenals. The Russian military base nearby, which accounts for Moscow's largest military presence outside of Russia, also regularly conducts drone operations as part of its regional activities. The region around Dushanbe, including the Hisor district where Sharora is located, is critical to Tajikistan’s national security. Imprisoned Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has been temporarily released for at least three weeks after receiving urgent medical care, her lawyer said on December 4. "According to the medical examiner's opinion, the Tehran Prosecutor's Office suspended the execution of Ms. Narges Mohammadi's sentence for three weeks and she was released from prison. The reason for this is her physical condition after tumor removal and bone grafting, which was done 21 days ago," human rights lawyer Mostafa Nili said in a post on X. Sources confirmed to RFE/RL's Radio Farda that Mohammadi, 52, had been released. Analysts said that by suspending Mohammadi's sentence instead of granting her a medical furlough, the time she spends outside of prison will be added to her sentence. A medical furlough would have meant time spent outside of prison would be considered the same as time spent incarcerated. A United Nations spokesman told AFP it was important that Mohammadi was released temporarily for health reasons in order to receive adequate treatment. The spokesman said the UN reiterated its call for her immediate and unconditional release. Mohammadi has been campaigning for human rights in Iran for decades and has been in and out of prison for the last 20 years. She has been convicted five times since March 2021 and is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for "spreading propaganda" against the Islamic republic. Last month, her husband, Taghi Rahmani, said his wife had been moved to a Tehran hospital after suffering health issues for more than two months. "She had an operation, and the operation was on the right leg, and even moving in the prison, sitting, and doing simple things became impossible for her, and even some prisoners went on hunger strike demanding her release," Rahmani told Radio Farda. "Although prison is not a place for Narges, there is no place for human rights activists in prison at all. She should not go back to prison and all human rights activists and civil activists should be released from prison," he added. Despite being nearly continuously incarcerated since 2010, Mohammadi has often tried to raise awareness about prison conditions and alleged abuses faced by female prisoners. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023. Her teenage children accepted the award in Oslo on her behalf and read out a statement by Mohammadi in which she criticized Iran's "tyrannical" government. "Weeks of enduring excruciating pain in prison, despite tireless advocacy from human rights organizations, and international figures, highlights the persistent disregard for Narges Mohammadi’s basic human rights and the inhumane treatment she endures -- even after being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize," the Narges Foundation said in a statement . "The Narges Foundation asserts that a 21-day suspension of Narges Mohammadi's sentence is inadequate. After over a decade of imprisonment, Narges requires specialized medical care in a safe, sanitary environment -- a basic human right. As doctors have emphasized, a minimum of three months' recovery is crucial for her healing." NATO members have agreed to make protecting Ukraine's infrastructure a top priority, alliance chief Mark Rutte said on December 4, as Russia continues to pound Ukrainian cities and towns with drone and missile strikes. Speaking to reporters ahead of the second day of a meeting of foreign ministers from the 32-member military alliance, Rutte said the gathering discussed providing Ukraine with enough air defenses to protect its infrastructure from Russian attacks. "There was a clear agreement around the table last night that to help Ukraine, particularly with its infrastructure, has to be a priority," Rutte said. "I'm confident that allies will follow up in the coming days and weeks in making sure that whatever they can supply to Ukraine will be supplied." Russia has been targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure for the third winter in a row, causing casualties and hampering the supply of electricity to thousands of civilians. Early on December 4, Russian drones attacked the northern Cernihiv region, damaging several houses in a village, regional governor Vyacheslav Chaus said on Telegram. In the central region of Vinnytsya, debris from a falling drone set a house on fire in the Haysyn district, partially destroying it, the State Emergencies Service said on December 4. Separately, the Ukrainian Air Force said Russia launched a guided air missile and 50 drones at targets in Ukraine. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 29 drones in nine regions -- Kyiv, Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Chernihiv, Khmelnytskiy, Ternopil, Mykolayiv, and Donetsk -- the air force said, adding that 18 drones were neutralized after their navigation systems were jammed using Ukraine's electronic-warfare capabilities. Separately, strong explosions were reported overnight in Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiisk, one of the main hubs for Russian oil exports and an important military port that hosts part of Russia's Black Sea fleet. An air alert was announced and Novorossiisk Mayor Andrei Kravchenko called on residents to take shelter because of a drone attack. Neither Ukraine nor Russia have so far commented on the explosions. TBILISI -- The United States has urged the Georgian government to treat protesters with dignity after several days of a brutal crackdown in Tbilisi and accusation of excessive use of force and even torture by riot police. Early on December 4 security forces again used water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters taking part in the sixth consecutive night of protests in the Georgian capital triggered by the ruling Georgian Dream party's announced that it would halt accession talks with the European Union. The U.S. Embassy to Georgia posted a laconic message on its Facebook page on December 4, reading only three words: "Leadership with dignity?" The U.S. message came a day after a similarly curt sentence told the Georgian government "Don't blame others" in a post on Facebook, noting it was Georgian Dream that stopped the EU membership process and the party was to blame for a decision by Washington to halt a strategic partnership between the two countries. On December 4, demonstrators moved from the central Rustaveli Avenue to a nearby subway station after security forces blocked their access to the parliament building and arrested several protesters. Later in the day, law enforcement authorities conducted raids on the offices of several Georgian opposition parties. Offices targeted include those of the United National Movement and the Coalition for Change. Notably, Nika Gvaramia, founder of the Mtavari television network and leader of the opposition party Akhali under the Coalition for Change, was detained by police near the offices of allied parties Girchi -- More Freedom and Droa following searches at those locations. Gvaramia's lawyer, Dito Sadzaglishvili, said on Georgian television that during the arrest the policemen hit him repeatedly in the stomach, resulting in Gvaramia losing his breath for a few seconds. Sadzaglishvili also said that Gvaramia learned that he was arrested for petty hooliganism and failure to comply with a police officer's order by eavesdropping on the conversation of the police. These are commonly used administrative offenses. Sadzaglishvili said a hearing should take place within 48 hours. Another prominent member of the Coalition for Change, activist Gela Khasaia, was also taken into custody during the police operation. The crackdown extended beyond party offices. Law enforcement entered the home of Ilia Glonti, administrator of the Facebook platform Daitove. The platform is known for facilitating the coordination of protest activities, where organizers and participants share logistical details and updates about rallies. Despite the growing protests, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has refused to back down and threatened to punish political opponents, whom he accuses of being behind violence that has occurred at the protests. Security forces started dispersing demonstrators gathered in front of the parliament building after the Interior Ministry said some of them had insulted law enforcement officers and thrown various blunt objects, fireworks, and inflammable items in their direction. Three influential U.S. senators -- U.S. Helsinki Commission Co-Chairman Ben Cardin (Democrat-Maryland), Roger Wicker (Republican- Mississippi), and John Cornyn (Republican-Texas) issued a joint statement in support of the Georgian protesters and condemning the excessive use of violence by the government. "The Georgian Dream's move to abandon European Union membership negotiations is a profound betrayal of the Georgian people’s clear and overwhelming desire to embrace European values and institutions," the three senators said in their statement. "This is not the conduct of a government committed to democratic reforms and pluralism but of an insecure regime dragging Georgia toward Russian-style autocracy. These actions flagrantly violate international democratic norms and undermine the legitimate aspirations of the Georgian people," the statement said, adding, "We strongly condemn the violence unleashed against peaceful protesters – tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannons, beatings, and mass arrests have no place on the streets of Tbilisi." Georgia's ombudsman accused police of torturing pro-EU protesters. Levan Ioseliani, whose role is to defend citizens' rights, said he and his officials had met people subjected to "the harshest treatment" by police. "In most cases, they have received serious injuries in the face, eye and head area, which practically excludes even the possibility that the police used the necessary, proportional force against them every time," he said in a statement. Protesters have described to RFE/RL the brutality employed by security forces against them. "They were hitting us in the head," protester Salome Zandukeli said, describing how she and a friend had been chased on the night of December 2 by some 25 riot police into a building in downtown Tbilisi before taking refuge in a cafe. Activist Gia Jvarsheishvili told RFE/RL that he was thrown to the ground by charging officers and beaten before being shoved into a police van where police pushed detainees to the floor and began stomping on them. "Suddenly, I was in unbearable pain and I realized that I had been injured. I didn't know it then, but I had a broken rib," Jvarsheishvili said. Georgia's pro-European president, Salome Zurabishvili, who has sided with the demnstrators, said on X that many of the arrested protesters had injuries to their heads and faces. Some people were subjected to systematic beatings between arrest and transportation to detention facilities, she added. Georgia has been thrown into turmoil since parliamentary elections in October in which Georgian Dream secured 54 percent of the vote. The opposition and Western governments argued that the poll was marred by violations and Russian influence. Kobakhidze has blamed the unrest on foreign "instructors" and tried to explain the decision to halt EU accession talks through 2028 by saying Georgia is ready for the talks, "but only with dignity and justice and without blackmail." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy criticized the crackdown on protesters and accused the country's leaders of "pushing the country into obvious dependence on Russia." When the Georgian government receives praise from Moscow "it clearly shows who they are working for in Tbilisi and who the protests are being dispersed for," Zelenskiy said in his evening address. He added that Ukraine was working with European countries on a response and he has "given the order to prepare appropriate sanctions resolutions." A majority of Georgians support EU membership, and efforts to join the bloc are mandated in the Georgian Constitution. Georgia received EU candidate status in December 2023 but relations with Brussels have soured in recent months, beginning with the adoption of a Russian-style "foreign agent" law, which critics say threatens media outlets and civil society groups. accusing them of "serving" outside powers. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed the need for diplomacy to resolve the conflict in northern Syria in a phone call on December 3 to discuss the renewed fighting. A statement from Erdogan’s office after the call said Syria should not become a source of greater instability. "President Erdogan emphasized that while Turkey continues to support the territorial integrity of Syria, it also strives for a just and permanent solution in Syria," Erdogan told Putin in their conversation on December 3, according to the statement from Erdogan's office posted on X. He also said it is important to open more space for diplomacy in the region and the Syrian regime must engage in the political solution process, according to the statement. Erdogan vowed Turkey will maintain its determined stance on the fight against the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been designated as a terrorist group by Turkey and the United States, and its "extensions,” who are trying to take advantage of the recent developments in Syria, the statement said. Erdogan and Putin spoke as Syrian rebels advanced against government forces after capturing Aleppo last week. The rebels pushed close on December 3 to the major city of Hama, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the rebels said. The Syrian Observatory said on December 3 that the toll from the rebel offensive in the north had risen to 602 dead, including 104 civilians. An attack on Hama would ramp up pressure on Assad, whose Russian and Iranian allies have scrambled to support him against the revived rebellion. The city has remained in government hands since civil war erupted in 2011. A statement from Syria's army command said its forces were striking "terrorist organizations" in north Hama and Idlib provinces with Russian air support. The Kremlin said Putin stressed the need for a "speedy end to the terrorist aggression against the Syrian state by radical groups." Both leaders noted the importance of further close coordination between Russia, Turkey, and Iran on the matter, a Kremlin statement said. "The two presidents will continue to be in contact with each other in the context of seeking steps to de-escalate the crisis," the statement said. The Syrian civil war had been mostly dormant for years until a major offensive by militants in northwestern Syria revived the conflict. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies last week seized control of most of Aleppo and the surrounding countryside, marking the biggest offensive in years. HTS is a militant Islamist group that seeks to establish a state in Syria governed by Islamic law. The U.S.-designated terrorist organization has between 5,000 and 10,000 fighters, according to U.S. intelligence estimates. The conflict has pitted Moscow and Tehran against Turkey, which supports armed groups involved in the HTS-led offensive. Russia's ambassador to the United Nations late on December 3 accused Ukrainian intelligence services of aiding the HTS. Rebels fighting with HTS are "openly flaunting" that they are supported by Ukraine, Vasily Nebenzya told the UN Security Council. The envoy said there was an "identifiable trail" showing Ukraine's GUR military intelligence service was "providing weapons to fighters" and claimed Ukrainian military instructors from the GUR are training HTS fighters for combat operations, including against Russian troops in Syria. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said earlier that Russia and Iran "bear the main responsibility" for the recent escalation in fighting. It also noted Ukrainians were being targeted on a nightly basis by Iranian-designed drones. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his allies in Iran "continue to make every effort not to lose control over the puppet Syrian regime, which is associated by the majority of Syrians with inhuman cruelty, tyranny, and crimes," the ministry said on December 2. There are indications the conflict could escalate. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on December 3 in an interview with a Qatari news outlet that Tehran would consider sending troops to Syria if Damascus asked. Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani said Baghdad would not be "a mere spectator" in Syria and blamed Israeli military strikes on the Syrian government for the rebel advance, his office said. Compounding Assad's problems, fighters from a U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led coalition battled government forces in the northeast, both sides said, opening a new front along a vital supply route. SUKHUMI, Georgia -- De facto lawmakers of Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia on December 3 rejected an investment deal with Russia, a document that has caused political turmoil and mass protests, highlighting the region’s fraught relationship with Moscow. The extraordinary parliamentary session, convened at the request of 19 deputies, saw 23 members in attendance, while 12 did not show up. The majority voted against the agreement. There were two abstentions and no votes in favor. The investment agreement, signed on October 30 in Moscow, aimed to strengthen economic ties between the breakaway region and Russia but was met with widespread opposition. Critics, including opposition figures and civil society groups, labeled the deal "exploitative," claiming it would give undue advantages to Russian investors while undermining Abkhazia’s sovereignty. The backlash against the agreement intensified, ultimately leading to the resignation of Abkhazia’s de facto leader, Aslan Bzhania, on November 19. During the parliamentary session on December 3, lawmaker Kan Kvarchia talked to opposition activists who gathered in front of the parliament building describing the agreement as "enslaving for Abkhazia" and lambasting the breakaway region's executive branch for pushing it forward despite widespread opposition. Kvarchia highlighted internal resistance to the agreement, including warnings from parliamentary leaders to delay its signing, which were reportedly ignored by the Economy Ministry. The opposition supporters demanded accountability from acting leader Badra Gunba and called for Bzhania to publicly address allegations of deceit regarding the agreement. The protesters also urged swift action against government officials involved in the controversial deal. Bzhania resigned to maintain "stability and constitutional order," a move he negotiated with opposition leaders to end the occupation of government buildings by protesters at the time. However, Bzhania signaled his intention to contest the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for February 15, 2025. In the interim Gunba has assumed leadership, while Valery Bganba, a former parliamentary speaker, has been appointed de facto prime minister. The current administration will remain in a caretaker capacity until a new leader is elected. The rejection of the agreement and the overall political crisis underscore the delicate balancing act Abkhazia faces in its relationship with Russia. While Moscow provides essential economic and military support, the opposition and segments of the public are wary of overreliance on Russia, fearing it could erode Abkhazia's "independence." Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke away from Georgia's rule after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. Moscow recognized the independence of the two regions after Russian forces repelled a Georgian attempt to retake South Ossetia in a five-day war in the summer of 2008 that ended with Georgia's defeat. Most countries still recognize Abkhazia as part of Georgia. The ongoing political crisis also highlights internal divisions within Abkhaz leadership. The opposition’s success in mobilizing public dissent and forcing Bzhania’s resignation suggests growing discontent with the current de facto administration’s handling of governance and external policies. The events could serve as a turning point, potentially reshaping the region’s political landscape ahead of the February 2025 elections. A Russian national, Nomma Zarubina, has been arrested on possible charges of providing false information to U.S. law enforcement and maintaining connections with Russian intelligence services, linking her to another suspected spy who fled the United States while being pursued by authorities. According to FBI allegations presented in a New York Southern District Court hearing in late November, Zarubina was recruited by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) in 2020 and operated under the codename "Alyssa." She allegedly worked to build a network of contacts among journalists and experts while carrying out tasks for an FSB officer from her native city of Tomsk in Siberia. The FBI claims that Zarubina deliberately misled agents in 2021, denying any connection with Russian intelligence. Contrary to her statements, she allegedly attended forums and meetings in Europe and the United States to fulfill assignments from the FSB. Notably, Russian opposition figure in exile Leonid Volkov said on Facebook on December 2 that he saw Zarubina at a Washington gathering with his supporters in January 2023. The case also links Zarubina to Elena Branson (aka Chernykh), the head of the Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots in the United States, who was charged in 2022 for illegal activities on behalf of Russian intelligence. Branson, who fled the United States after police searched her New York apartment at the time and is believed to be currently in Russia, has reportedly mentored Zarubina since 2016. Zarubina has been released on $25,000 bail, with restrictions barring her from leaving New York, contacting Russian officials, and surrendering her passport. She said her bail was guaranteed by a third party, but did not say who the party was. Zarubina has maintained an active public profile, often participating as an expert at conferences, such as the Forum of Free States of Post-Russia. On social media, she speculated about Siberia's political future, advocating for a United States of Siberia. Despite her public statements denying espionage, her online activity suggests a more complex narrative. For instance, until September 2023, her profile on VKontakte included posts supporting Kremlin policies, including President Vladimir Putin's 2014 speech on the annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region, a move the United Nations, the United States, and the European Union have all called illegal. Blurred Lines In an interview with RFE/RL's Siberia.Realities, Zarubina denied working as an FSB agent but admitted to being contacted by Russian intelligence in late 2020. She described being coerced into a meeting with FSB officers in Tomsk, where she discussed her personal background and was subsequently monitored by them. Zarubina asserts that she also contacted the FBI in April 2021 to cooperate, sharing insights on various topics, including Ukraine, and has continued to meet with them. Zarubina says she did not expect that FBI would arrest her, stating: "I thought we had good relations; I was helping them. I didn't expect them to use my information against me." She fears reprisal from Russian intelligence, which she believes was unaware of her cooperation with U.S. authorities. "This is no longer about false testimony -- it’s treason in their eyes," she said. Zarubina's case underscores the complexities of modern espionage and influence operations. Her alleged dual involvement with Russian and U.S. intelligence highlights the blurred lines between cooperation and subversion. The mention of her internship at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies and her outreach to opposition activists adds to her narrative. While Zarubina downplays the risk of deportation , citing her American-born daughter, the case is a test of the U.S. judicial system's ability to handle allegations involving foreign intelligence activities. Ukraine has again called for membership in NATO, saying that only joining the alliance in full would guarantee its future security as it fights to stave off Russia's nearly three-year-old full-scale assault. "We are convinced that the only such real guarantee of security for Ukraine, as well as a deterrent factor for further Russian aggression against Ukraine and other states, is only Ukraine's full membership in NATO," Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said in a statement released ahead of a December 3 meeting of the alliance's foreign ministers in Brussels. In reaction to the ministry's statement, Kremlin spokesman Dimtry Peskov said on December 3 that Ukraine's joining NATO would be "unacceptable" and a "threat" to Russia. The statement comes just days after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told Sky News that Ukraine's NATO admittance could end what he described as the “hot phase of the war” triggered by Russia when it launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Zelenskiy told Sky News on November 30 that he would be willing to consider a cease-fire if Ukraine’s unoccupied territories fell under NATO's protection, as long as an invitation to join the alliance recognized Ukraine's international borders. "If we want to stop the hot phase of the war, we need to take under the NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control," Zelenskiy said. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha is set to brief his NATO counterparts in Brussels on the current situation on the eastern front, where Russian troops have been making incremental but steady advances against Kyiv's outnumbered and outgunned forces. The meeting in Brussels is to focus on NATO's continued military support for Ukraine, examine Kyiv's air-defense needs, and also discuss Russia's launching last month of an experimental ballistic missile against the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Russia has said that the new medium-range missile, called Oreshnik, can also strike targets across Europe and cannot be stopped by air defenses. On December 3, Zelenskiy announced that Ukraine had conducted a test on new, domestically developed missiles. "We thank our Ukrainian missile developers. We're speeding up production," Zelenskiy said on Telegram after a meeting with the leadership of the Ukrainian military. Russian hybrid attacks and sabotage incidents against NATO members is also due to be discussed in Brussels. Early on December 3, Russia launched yet another drone attack on Ukraine that was largely repelled by Ukrainian air defenses, which shot down 22 out of the 28 incoming drones over nine regions -- Kyiv, Chernihiv, Vinnytsya, Khmelnytskiy, Zhytomyr, Sumy, Odesa, Mykolayiv, and Dnipropetrovsk. Russian shelling also killed a woman early on December 3 in the Dnipro district of the southern region of Kherson, local officials reported . TBILISI -- Riot police used water cannons and tear gas against protesters taking part in the sixth consecutive night of protests in Tbilisi after the the Georgian Interior Ministry warned protesters against committing violent acts. The ministry said on December 3 that "aggressive members" of the protest started illegal and violent actions shortly after gathering in central Tbilisi. Special forces started dispersing demonstrators gathered in front of the parliament building after the ministry said some of them had insulted law enforcement officers and thrown various blunt objects, pyrotechnics, and inflammable items in their direction. At around 11:30 p.m. local time, police used water cannons to move protesters away from the parliament building, pushing them in the direction of the Marriott hotel as they had done on previous nights. The special forces periodically also shot tear gas canisters. Police officers responded by directing water cannons at the protesters, some of whom danced in the stream of water while others sheltered under umbrellas. The Caucasus country has been rocked by demonstrations since the ruling Georgian Dream party announced last week it would halt accession talks on Georgia's application to join the European Union. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has refused to back down and threatened to punish political opponents, whom he accuses of being behind violence that has occurred at the protests. The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi earlier on December 3 blasted the Georgian Dream party for taking decisions that have cost the country Western support and sparked the demonstrations. Georgia has been thrown into turmoil since parliamentary elections in October in which Georgian Dream secured 54 percent of the vote. The opposition and Western governments argued that the poll was marred by violations and Russian influence. Kobakhidze has blamed the unrest on foreign "instructors" and tried to explain the decision to halt EU accession talks through 2028 by saying Georgia is ready for the talks, "but only with dignity and justice and without blackmail." The U.S. Embassy responded by saying, "Don't blame others" in a post on Facebook, noting it was Georgian Dream that stopped the EU membership process and that the party was to blame for a decision by Washington to halt a strategic partnership between the two countries. The embassy statement came hours after security forces dispersed demonstrators on the fifth night of protests in Tbilisi using tear gas and water cannons. In a change of tactics, several hundred protesters on December 3 left Tbilisi's Chavchavadze Avenue near the state university as police in balaclavas massed in the area following nightlong clashes with demonstrators outside the parliament building, where they have gathered each night since November 28, when the ruling Georgian Dream party declared its decision on EU talks. Georgian security forces' use of excessive violence against protesters has prompted a wave of outrage in the country and abroad, with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte calling it "deeply concerning." At a news conference in Brussels ahead of a meeting of the alliance's foreign ministers, Rutte said NATO members "urge the Georgian government to stay on the path" toward "more EU and NATO integration." "The reports of violence are deeply concerning, and I condemn them unequivocally," he said. Twenty-six people, including 23 protesters and three members of the security forces needed hospitalization after the clashes on the night of December 1, Georgia's Health Ministry said on December 3. "None of the injuries are life threatening," the ministry added in a statement. The Interior Ministry said 224 protesters were detained on administrative charges and three on criminal charges. In addition, three police officers were hospitalized and 113 others have required medical treatment, the ministry said on December 2. Georgian pro-European President Salome Zurabishvili, who has sided with the protesters, said on X that many of the arrested protesters had injuries to their heads and faces. Some people were subjected to systematic beatings between arrest and transportation to detention facilities, she added. Writing on X on December 3, she said force had been used "disproportionately" against the protesters, while Georgia's ombudsman accused police of torturing pro-EU protesters. Levan Ioseliani, whose role is to defend citizens’ rights, said he and his officials had met people subjected to “the harshest treatment” by police. “In most cases, they have received serious injuries in the face, eye and head area, which practically excludes even the possibility that the police used the necessary, proportional force against them every time,” he said in a statement . “The location, character, and degree of the injuries create a credible impression that the police use violent methods against citizens in order to punish them. Intentional, severe violence for the purpose of punishment constitutes an act of torture.” Kobakhidze has claimed that protests were "funded from abroad" and vowed "there will be no revolution in Georgia." Western governments have questioned Georgia's parliamentary elections in October in which Georgian Dream claimed 54 percent of the vote, arguing the elections were marred by violations and Russian influence. Zurabishvili says people wanted free elections, not revolutions. Kobakhidze said earlier that Zurabishvili must leave office at the end of her term later this month. His announcement came despite her pledge to stay in office "until a president is legitimately elected." Zurabishvili and the opposition have alleged fraud and other improprieties and refuse to recognize the new parliament, which last week scheduled an indirect election for a new president for December 14 despite ongoing legal challenges. One of those challenges suffered a setback on December 3 when Georgia's Constitutional Court declined to hear a lawsuit seeking to annul the election results. The case was brought forward by the pro-EU Zurabishvili, whose powers are mostly ceremonial. Her term ends next month. A majority of Georgians support EU membership, and efforts to join the bloc are mandated in the Georgian Constitution. But the ruling Georgian Dream's enactment this year of what Zurabishvili and critics call a "Russian law" clamping down on NGOs and media financed from abroad, as well as a controversial bill on LGBT rights and public attacks on the West by Kobakhidze and other officials, have raised fears the current government is leading the country back into Russia's orbit. Georgia received EU candidate status in December 2023 but relations with Brussels have soured in recent months, beginning with the adoption of the controversial "foreign agent" law, which critics say threatens to publicly discredit thousands of media outlets and civil society groups as "serving" outside powers. The United States on December 2 announced a new $725 million military aid package for Ukraine that includes another shipment of landmines and ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and other artillery systems, Stinger missiles, and drones. The United States announced a first shipment of land mines last month in a move that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said was necessary because Russian forces were using dismounted infantry units instead of vehicles to lead their advances. The Ukrainian defenders "have a need for things that can help slow down that effort," Austin said. The Biden administration is working to provide more aid to Kyiv before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Trump has repeatedly criticized U.S. assistance to Kyiv. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement called the new aid a “significant package of urgently needed weapons and equipment.” The Taliban has ordered all private educational institutions in Afghanistan to cease female medical education starting December 3, according to two informed sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. The directive from the Taliban's supreme leader, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, was announced on December 2 during a meeting of the extremist group's Public Health Ministry in Kabul. The two sources told RFE/RL that the heads of the private medical institutions affected by the order were summoned to the ministry for the announcement. As a result of the order, all institutions offering training in midwifery, dental prosthetics, nursing, and laboratory sciences are now barred from enrolling or teaching female students, the sources said. Taliban spokesmen were not immediately available for comment. Polish authorities have arrested Irina Rogova, the wife of the former coordinator of the now defunct Open Russia project, on charges of espionage. Rogova (aka Moseikina) will remain in custody for three months, according to a report by the Vot Tak online channel citing the Polish Prosecutor-General's Office. The primary charge is espionage linked to aiding an attempt to commit a crime, Polish officials said but gave no further details. The case appears to be part of a broader investigation. Poland’s Internal Security Agency on November 27 conducted a search of the residence of Danila Buzanov, a Russian acquaintance of Rogova and her husband, Igor Rogov. According to Buzanov, agents inquired about possible ties between Igor Rogov and Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). "They asked questions like, 'Do you know this man?' and 'Did Irina ever mention Igor’s connections to the FSB?'" Buzanov told journalists. Igor Rogov was arrested in late July in the Polish city of Katowice. He faces charges of making a direct threat to the lives and health of numerous individuals as well as significant property damage through sabotage. Despite these allegations, no charges of espionage have been brought against him. Open Russia was a Russian pro-democracy organization established by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a self-exiled former oil magnate and outspoken critic of the Kremlin. The group aimed to promote civil society, democracy, and human rights in Russia. Over the years, it became a platform for opposition figures, activists, and independent journalists. The Russian government labeled Open Russia as an "undesirable organization" in 2017, effectively banning its activities in the country. Members and affiliates faced harassment, legal persecution, and accusations of extremism or foreign collaboration. The group's coordination efforts extended across Europe, engaging with Russian diaspora communities and advocating against the Kremlin’s authoritarian policies. Igor Rogov’s role as a coordinator for Open Russia suggests his work may have included organizing opposition activities or disseminating critical information about Russian governance, potentially putting him under the scrutiny of Russian intelligence agencies. Polish authorities have not confirmed whether Rogov’s involvement with Open Russia is directly linked to the charges of espionage against his wife. BAKU -- A district court in the Azerbaijani capital on December 2 fined the chairman of the opposition Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (AXCP), Ali Karimli, over accusations that he defamed a bitter rival in connection with his expulsion from the party five years ago. Tempers flared outside the Nasimi District courthouse before Judge Babek Panahov handed down the fine of 1,500 manats ($882) against Karimli, who announced his intention to appeal the decision. AXCP representatives said police detained multiple people after ordering Karimli supporters gathered outside to disperse and to move their vehicles before the court session began. Karimli tweeted that "Using force, the police detained six activists of the [AXCP]." RFE/RL efforts to learn details of the detentions from the Interior Ministry were unsuccessful. The case has drawn criticism from domestic observers and international human rights organizations, further highlighting concerns about judicial independence in Azerbaijan. The accusation stems from a complaint filed as a special indictment against Karimli. Aydin Aliyev, a former AXCP member expelled five years ago but subsequently reinstated by court order, accused Karimli of slandering him in television appearances by alleging that Aliyev was collaborating with government authorities. He has sought Karimli's prosecution under a defamation article of the Criminal Code. Karimli denies the accusation, arguing that Aliyev’s actions were inconsistent with AXCP’s political agenda, thus justifying his expulsion. He and his lawyer said the ruling -- after a monthslong delay -- appeared to lack legal reasoning. "The Azerbaijani authorities dragged this case on for four months, despite knowing that neither the Azerbaijani public nor the international community took it seriously," Karimli said. "Arresting a political opponent on such an absurd charge would have been indefensible, so they chose this measure instead." President Aliyev has ruled the oil-rich South Caucasus state with an iron fist since 2003 after taking over from his father, Heydar, who was president for a decade. Belarus law enforcement officers have raided the home of the 85-year-old grandmother of Syarhey Skulavets, a former journalist for the opposition media outlet Belsat, in another sign of the government's continued crackdown against independent media. Skulavets, who fled Belarus in the summer of 2023 due to growing fears of being arrested for his journalism, said in a post on Facebook on December 1 that officers, who identified themselves as investigators and KGB agents, searched his grandmother's home and asked questions about his activities. Belsat is a Belarusian-language television channel that operates from Poland, broadcasting critical news and analysis about the government of the authoritarian ruler of Belarus Alyaksandr Lukashenka. Since its launch in 2007, Belsat has become one of the most prominent independent media outlets for Belarusian audiences. The channel's outspoken coverage of political events, including the disputed 2020 presidential election and the violent crackdown on protests that followed, has made it a target for the authoritarian government. Journalists working for Belsat have faced harassment, intimidation, and arrests both within Belarus and abroad. Skulavets's account of the raid underscores the regime's strategy of targeting family members of dissidents. Although the search's precise motivations remain unclear, the authorities appeared to be focused on finding information about Skulavets and his work. The officers reportedly examined mobile phones, posed questions, and took notes, with Skulavets's father informing him that the officers showed no interest in his personal belongings, only in his association with the journalist. Skulavets also shared that his family had recently received phone calls from individuals claiming to be from the Department of Financial Security. The callers expressed concern about not being able to reach Skulavets, hinting the government may be using additional methods to intimidate and pressure him and his loved ones. This incident also underscores the broader context of Belarusian media censorship since a disputed 2020 election sparked massive protests amid claims the vote was rigged to hand Lukashenka a sixth consecutive term in power. Belsat, along with other independent outlets, has been a particular focus of these efforts, with its journalists being branded as enemies of the state. The international community, including human rights groups, has repeatedly condemned the actions, calling for an end to the harassment of journalists and their families. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on December 2 warned her Chinese counterpart that Beijing's support for Russia would "impact" ties, according to her office. Germany's top diplomat met in Beijing with her counterpart Wang Yi for a "strategic dialogue," as Berlin seeks to build better ties with China while engaging on key differences. Baerbock told Wang that "increasing Chinese support for Russia's war against Ukraine has an impact on our relations," according to a readout by the German Foreign Ministry. "Core German and European security interests are affected," she said. China presents itself as a neutral party in the Ukraine war and says it is not sending lethal assistance to either side, unlike the United States and other Western nations. But it remains a close political and economic ally of Russia and NATO members have branded Beijing a "decisive enabler" of the war, which it has never condemned. Estonia says that it has jointly agreed along with Latvia and Lithuania to introduce national sanctions against "those who suppressed legitimate protests in Georgia" amid the ongoing turmoil in that Black Sea post-Soviet republic. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna announced the move via social media on December 2, adding , "Opponents of democracy & violators of human rights are not welcome in our countries." Georgian authorities have acknowledged detaining at least 224 people in the four days since Georgian Dream party Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said Tbilisi was suspending its EU membership talks through 2028. The decision sparked protests and a harsh crackdown in an already tense post-election atmosphere with constitutional challenges mounting between outgoing President Salome Zurabishvili and the government. Iran said on December 2 that it plans to keep military advisers in Syria after its ally's second city, Aleppo, was overrun by rebels in a surprise offensive. The Islamic republic, which has backed President Bashar al-Assad since Syria's civil war broke out in 2011, says it only deploys military advisers in the country at the invitation of Damascus. "We entered Syria many years ago at the official invitation of the Syrian government, when the Syrian people faced the threat of terrorism," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaeil. "Our military advisers were present in Syria, and they are still present" and would remain in the country "in accordance with the wishes" of its government, he told a news conference in Tehran. Baqaeil did not specify whether or not Iran would be increasing its forces in Syria in the wake of the lightning rebel offensive. His remarks come a day after Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Assad in Damascus to show support for the Syrian president. KYIV -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit on December 2 vowing to deliver hundreds of millions of euros in additional weapons for Ukraine's defense this month, with questions mounting among Kyiv's allies and signs of a possible diplomatic shift around the 3-year-old full-scale Russian invasion. Scholz's visit follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's suggestion that an invitation of NATO membership even limited to territory under Kyiv's control could put an end to "the hot stage of the war." It also comes ahead of a U.S. presidential transition in January and a German election expected in February. After arriving by train on December 2, Scholz met in Kyiv with Zelenskiy for the first time since the Ukrainian president publicly accused Scholz of opening a "Pandora's box" and easing Moscow's isolation by speaking by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin last month. Scholz has also been among the more cautious NATO leaders concerning possible alliance membership for Ukraine. It is also Scholz's first Ukraine visit since the months following Russia's nearly full-scale invasion, which started in February 2022. In a post on X, he pledged that "Germany will remain Ukraine's strongest supporter in Europe." "At the meeting with President Zelenskiy, I will announce additional weapons worth 650 million euros, which are to be delivered in December," he added. Scholz and Zelenskiy jointly visited wounded Ukrainian soldiers. Dpa quoted Scholz as lauding the Ukrainian people's defense of their country "in a heroic manner against Russia's merciless war of aggression" for more than 1,000 days. "Ukraine can rely on Germany. We say what we do. And we do what we say." A German Defense Ministry spokesperson said the aid bound for Ukraine this month includes IRIS-T air-defense systems, Leopard 1 tanks, and weaponized drones. It will also include winter equipment and handheld weapons, the spokesperson said. Scholz's main conservative rival in the upcoming German elections, Friedrich Merz, has accused him and his Greens partners of being slow and overly cautious in their government's supply of aid to Ukraine. Western supporters led by Washington last month gave permission for Ukraine to use their weapons for long-range strikes even deeper inside Russia, adding a new wrinkle to the conflict that Kyiv had long desired. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said of Scholz's visit that it had no "expectations" and it was part of Berlin's "continuing...line of unconditional support to Ukraine." U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to take swift and dramatic action to end the Ukraine war but provided no details. Sources told RFE/RL's Hungarian Service last week that Trump had held multiple conversations with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban since winning the U.S. presidential election in early November and the two had discussed possible routes toward ending the conflict. Orban has consistently criticized EU and U.S. policies since Russia's unprovoked invasion began in February 2024, and launched his own uncoordinated "peace mission" with visits to Kyiv, Moscow, and Beijing in July -- a move that infuriated Brussels. NATO's mission in Kosovo says it has withheld authorization for a request by Pristina to deploy the ethnically fractured country's national security body, the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), to the Serb-majority northern region where an explosion last week damaged a water canal and ratcheted up tensions. Kosovar officials have accused neighboring Serbia of involvement, without providing evidence -- a charge Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic rejected before vowing to conduct an investigation and hinting cryptically, "We have information about who might be the perpetrator." NATO's KFOR mission confirmed to RFE/RL's Kosovo Service on December 1 that Kosovar authorities had asked to deploy the KSF to the northern area of Zubin Potok, a region where the transatlantic alliance and European civilian mission EULEX have helped keep the peace for years. “The KFOR Commander has not given such authorization, based on his security assessment and the actions already undertaken by KFOR," the NATO force said in a written response. Serbia rejects independence for its former province, and decade-old talks facilitated by the European Union to normalize relations between Pristina and Belgrade have largely stalled. Belgrade has long maintained parallel institutions in northern Kosovo that serve the tens of thousands of Serbs there who mostly reject Kosovar central authority. Pristina has essentially pledged since a 2013 agreement not to deploy its mostly ethnically Albanian forces to the northern region without KFOR's prior consent. Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti called the November 29 blast that damaged the canal supplying water to his country's two main coal power plants a "criminal and terrorist attack" by northern neighbor and bitter rival Serbia. The attack did not cause any casualties but threatened power disruption as the region hunkers down for the onset of winter. Drinking water supplies to Pristina were also said to be at risk. "KFOR has deployed units to secure the Zobin Potok area of the damaged water canal," KFOR told RFE/RL . "KFOR has also offered additional assistance to the Institutions in Kosovo, including logistical and explosive ordnance disposal support." It said it was in contact with all key partners and was monitoring events. At a press conference late on December 1, Kurti avoided saying whether he had sought KFOR permission for a deployment but acknowledged Pristina was "constrained" by the 2013 deal. The next day, Kurti invited foreign envoys for a meeting to discuss the situation. Afterward, U.S. Ambassador to Pristina Jeffrey Hovenier said Washington doesn't know who was behind the attack. But, he added, "Once it is...determined who is responsible, we will work with the proper authorities to ensure that they are held accountable." Kurti, whose ruling Self-Determination Movement (Vetëvendosje) is facing national elections next year, has spent much of the past year squeezing out dinar payments, Serbian postal and banking ties, and other Serbian-dominated aspects of everyday life in northern Kosovo. EU and U.S. officials have repeatedly warned his government to refrain from unilateral and potentially provocative steps. The explosion in the village of Varrage, in the Zubin Potok municipality, created a large crack in the Iber-Lepenc canal. The waterway, which originates at Ujman (Gazivoda) Lake, supplies water to the entire northern region of Kosovo, the Mitrovica regions, and Pristina and its surroundings, including the Kosovo Energy Corporation for cooling its power plants.The City of Ottawa won't be creating a pot of money to buy at-risk affordable housing any time soon, citing the danger of losing federal and provincial funding by shifting away from construction. College ward Coun. Laine Johnson led the charge for an acquisition fund at Wednesday's planning and housing committee meeting, but failed to convince enough of her colleagues to vote alongside her. "What I've been disappointed with is the idea that we have to put new construction essentially in competition with acquisition," Johnson told CBC after the vote. Her motion would have seen half of any money the city gets from the vacant unit tax — beyond what's forecast in the budget — go toward preserving existing affordable housing stock. It failed by a vote of eight to four, with only councillors Riley Brockington, Ariel Troster and committee chair Jeff Leiper supporting Johnson's bid. City says it can't meet affordable housing targets without more help Councillor pushing for anti-renoviction bylaw in Ottawa What is an acquisitions fund? Debbie Stewart, the city's general manager of strategic initiatives, wrote to the committee ahead of the meeting to lay out her staff's concerns. An acquisition fund is a "dedicated pool of capital" that can either fund a direct purchase, or finance a low-cost loan or grant to housing providers, she wrote. Similar funds exist in Toronto and several provinces. $500M fund to protect, expand affordable housing in B.C. attracts dozens of applications Montreal non-profits are buying up apartments to keep rents low While Stewart said the funds can strengthen the community housing sector, she cautioned that market competition for units in high-demand areas can jack up the purchase price. Older units also come with high repair costs, she said. But the main concern surrounds the structure of Ottawa's housing strategy, which relies on the federal Housing Accelerator Fund and provincial Building Faster Fund. Debbie Stewart, the city's general manager of strategic initiatives, said staff can't support a new fund to buy affordable housing. (Francis Ferland/CBC) Putting funding at risk Both funds require Ottawa to meet ambitious building targets. "We really need to direct city funds into achieving those goals," Stewart told CBC, noting that the funds leave little room for negotiation. Cyril Rogers, the city's chief financial officer, agrees the focus has to be on construction. "I think that's what we should be focused on in the next two or three years. Any nickel or dime that we take away from that process will impact that plan," he told councillors. Ottawa to get $176M from federal housing fund Ottawa gets $37.5M from province's housing fund Waiting would also allow the city to see how the federal government develops its own acquisitions fund. The $1.5-billion Canada Rental Protection Fund would leverage "philanthropic investing" to "help non-profits, co-ops and other community housing providers," the office of the minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities told CBC in a written statement. A spokesperson said there should be more details on the fund's design and rollout "in the coming months." Several councillors worry that relying on outside money is risky, however. "If we're waiting for the federal government, who knows what federal government we will have," said Capital ward Coun. Shawn Menard, who is not on the committee. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has already said he would dissolve the Housing Accelerator Fund if elected prime minister. At least 17 Conservative MPs advocated for money from a housing program Poilievre vows to cut Conservative MPs frustrated after Poilievre bars them from promoting housing fund: sources Concerns over political uncertainty Johnson said the current plans show a "lack of creativity." She likened the city's current housing plans to a "leaky rowboat," where staff focus on years-long construction projects while overlooking the continued loss of affordable units — and she's worried things will get worse. "If we can't afford steel or lumber coming from the [United States] under new tariffs, if we can't afford land around transit ... acquisition becomes even more important," said Johnson. Meg McCallum is the interim executive director of Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa. (Francis Ferland/CBC) Several advocates have attempted to rally councillors around an acquisition fund, including Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa. "When we lose those units, we're not replacing them at a pace that keeps up with what's needed," said Meg McCallum, interim executive director of the non-profit coalition. "Let's just not lose what we already have." Pilots ongoing Stewart said Wednesday's decision doesn't mean the city will never create an acquisitions fund, nor that non-profits with plans to purchase a property can't get help now. She pointed to the Ottawa Community Land Trust (OCLT), which advocated for the fund. The Ottawa Community Land Trust purchased this Kirkwood Avenue building in late 2023 and has been paying off the $1.7-million cost through a variety of sources. (Mathieu Deroy/CBC) It has so far purchased two properties by leveraging donations, bonds and municipal funding, and told councillors earlier this month that it was already looking for its third and fourth properties. "We do believe this represents a new way of working," said Mike Bulthuis, the group's executive director. "Our hope ... is that public funds might support a diversity of approaches." Staff are still "monitoring the viability" of the model, Stewart wrote to councillors, noting that the city filled a "financial shortfall" after revenues failed to meet expectations. That was before OCLT raised $1.7 million through its community bond campaign.Feds suspend ACA marketplace access to companies accused of falsely promising ‘cash cards’

Nel – World’s First Dynamic Green Ammonia Plant officially opened

Rescuers reassess safety in search for woman they think fell into a Pennsylvania sinkholeSpecial counsel moves to dismiss election interference and classified documents cases against Trump

Lakers look to ramp up defense with return to physical play

Is Enron back? If it's a joke, some former employees aren't laughingAt least 6 dead in political protests in Pakistan’s capital

kellyvandellen/iStock via Getty Images Pacira BioSciences Overview Pacira BioSciences, Inc. ( NASDAQ: PCRX ) stock currently trades at a value of $18, although in 2015 it traded at $115 per share, and in March 2022, >$75 per share. Since then, the stock has been in near-constant decline, falling to a low of ~$13 in mid-August, before If you like what you have just read and want to receive at least 4 exclusive stock tips every week focused on Pharma, Biotech and Healthcare, then join me at my marketplace channel, Haggerston BioHealth . Invest alongside the model portfolio or simply access the investment bank-grade financial models and research. I hope to see you there. Edmund Ingham is a biotech consultant. He has been covering biotech, healthcare, and pharma for over 5 years, and has put together detailed reports of over 1,000 companies. He leads the investing group Haggerston BioHealth . Learn more Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in PCRX over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Would the Gupkar Protest Solve the Reservation Riddle?METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Dejounte Murray plans to return to the New Orleans Pelicans ’ lineup on Wednesday night for the first time since fracturing his left hand in a season-opening victory over Chicago on Oct. 23. And when Murray takes the court against the , his mother will be on his mind. After practice on Tuesday, Murray discussed his impending return and disclosed more details about the previously unspecified “personal matters” that caused him to leave the team during the final days of the preseason. His mother had a stroke, he said. “It was tough to leave and go deal with that. As she got better, she wanted me to come play,” Murray said of his last-minute decision to start against Chicago. He added that his hand injury near the end of that game was God’s way of telling him, “‘Nah, you need to stay with your mom.’” “I was more concerned about my mother. That was my priority,” Murray continued. “I wasn’t really worried about my recovery.” Murray’s mother has recovered well, he said, while he is “healthy and ready to help this team.” “I’m ready to hoop. Play for my mother — she’s going to be watching,” Murray said. “I’m ready to compete, bring that winning spirit.” The Pelicans (4-14) certainly could use the help, having lost 14 of 16 games since opening the season with a pair of victories. Injuries have ravaged the roster. At times, all five starters have been out. Star power forward Zion Williamson has missed 12 games this season — one with an illness and 11 with a hamstring injury. Herb Jones has been sidelined by a shoulder strain and Brandon Ingram’s status is in doubt after he sat out practice on Tuesday with calf soreness that also sidelined him during a loss on Monday night at Indiana. But at least two starters — Murray and fellow guard CJ McCollum — are expected to play against the Raptors. “I don’t care how many games we’ve lost. I just know every time I step on the floor I feel like we can win games,” said Murray, who had 14 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in his lone game with the Pelicans. “That’s just my mentality, and I feel like it can carry over to a lot of guys.” ___ AP NBA:

8k8 vip login Storage And Servers Support Services Market Rising Demand, Evolving Trends, Future Perspectives, Size, Share And Forecast To 2033NEW YORK (AP) — Police don't know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a targeted attack , not a random one. They know he ambushed Thompson at 6:44 a.m. Wednesday as the executive arrived at the Hilton for his company’s annual investor conference, using a 9 mm pistol that resembled the guns farmers use to put down animals without causing a loud noise. They know ammunition found near Thompson’s body bore the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by insurance industry critics . The fact that the shooter knew UnitedHealthcare group was holding a conference at the hotel and what route Thompson might take to get there suggested that he could possibly be a disgruntled employee or client, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Over the weekend, police divers were seen searching a pond in Central Park, where the killer fled after the shooting. Officers have been scouring the park for days for any possible clues and found his backpack there Friday. They didn’t immediately reveal what, if anything, it contained but said it would be tested and analyzed. Early Sunday afternoon, police declined to comment on the contents of the backpack, or on the results of the search in the pond, saying no updates were planned. The bag’s apparent manufacturer did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press. Investigators have urged patience, saying the process of logging evidence that stands up in court isn’t as quick as it looks like on TV . Hundreds of detectives are combing through video recordings and social media, vetting tips from the public and interviewing people who might have information, including Thompson’s family and coworkers and the shooter’s randomly assigned roommates at the Manhattan hostel where he stayed. Investigators caught a break when they came across security camera images of an unguarded moment at the hostel in which he briefly showed his face. Retracing the gunman’s steps using surveillance video, police say, it appears he left the city by bus soon after the shooting outside the New York Hilton Midtown. He was seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later, Kenny said. With the high-profile search expanding across state lines, the FBI announced late Friday that it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, adding to a reward of up to $10,000 that the NYPD has offered. Police say they believe the suspect acted alone. Police distributed the images to news outlets and on social media but so far haven’t been able to ID him using facial recognition — possibly because of the angle of the images or limitations on how the NYPD is allowed to use that technology, Kenny said. Late Saturday, police released two additional photos of the suspected shooter that appeared to be from a camera mounted inside a taxi. The first shows him outside the vehicle and the second shows him looking through the partition between the back seat and the front of the cab. In both, his face is partially obscured by a blue, medical-style mask.

NEW YORK (AP) — Police don't know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a targeted attack , not a random one. They know he ambushed Thompson at 6:44 a.m. Wednesday as the executive arrived at the Hilton for his company’s annual investor conference, using a 9 mm pistol that resembled the guns farmers use to put down animals without causing a loud noise. They know ammunition found near Thompson’s body bore the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by insurance industry critics . The fact that the shooter knew UnitedHealthcare group was holding a conference at the hotel and what route Thompson might take to get there suggested that he could possibly be a disgruntled employee or client, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Police divers were seen searching a pond in Central Park, where the killer fled after the shooting. Officers have been scouring the park for days for any possible clues and found his backpack there Friday. They didn’t immediately reveal what, if anything, it contained but said it would be tested and analyzed. On Sunday morning, police declined to comment on the contents of the backpack, or on the results of the search in the pond, saying no updates were planned. Investigators have urged patience, saying the process of logging evidence that stands up in court isn’t as quick as it looks like on TV . Hundreds of detectives are combing through video recordings and social media, vetting tips from the public and interviewing people who might have information, including Thompson’s family and coworkers and the shooter’s randomly assigned roommates at the Manhattan hostel where he stayed. Investigators caught a break when they came across security camera images of an unguarded moment at the hostel in which he briefly showed his face. Retracing the gunman’s steps using surveillance video, police say, it appears he left the city by bus soon after the shooting outside the New York Hilton Midtown. He was seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later, Kenny said. With the high-profile search expanding across state lines, the FBI announced late Friday that it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, adding to a reward of up to $10,000 that the NYPD has offered. Police say they believe the suspect acted alone. Police distributed the images to news outlets and on social media but so far haven’t been able to ID him using facial recognition — possibly because of the angle of the images or limitations on how the NYPD is allowed to use that technology, Kenny said. Late Saturday, police released two additional photos of the suspected shooter that appeared to be from a camera mounted inside a taxi. The first shows him outside the vehicle and the second shows him looking through the partition between the back seat and the front of the cab. In both, his face is partially obscured by a blue, medical-style mask.Article content WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said Sunday that the sudden collapse of the Syrian government under Bashar Assad is a “fundamental act of justice” after decades of repression, but it was “a moment of risk and uncertainty” for the Mideast. Recommended Videos Biden spoke at the White House hours after after rebel groups completed a takeover of the country after more than a dozen years of violent civil war and decades of leadership by Assad and his family. Biden said the United States was unsure of Assad’s whereabouts, but was monitoring reports he was seeking refuge in Moscow. The outgoing Biden administration and President-elect Donald Trump were working to make sense of new threats and opportunities across the Middle East. Biden credited action by the U.S. and its allies for weakening Syria’s backers — Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. He said “for the first time” that they could no longer defend Assad’s grip on power. “Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East,” Biden said, after a meeting with his national security team at the White House. Trump said Sunday that Assad had fled his country, which his family had ruled for decades, because close ally Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, “was not interested in protecting him any longer.” Those comments on Trump’s social media platform came a day after he used another post to decry the possibility of the U.S. intervening militarily in Syria to aid the rebels, declaring, “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT.” The Biden administration had no intention of intervening, according to President Joe Biden’s national security adviser. The U.S has about 900 troops in Syria, including forces working with Kurdish allies in the opposition-held northeast to prevent any resurgence of the Islamic State group. Biden said he intended those for troops to remain, adding that U.S. forces on Sunday conducted “dozens” of what he called “precision air strikes” on Islamic State camps and operations in Syria. The Syrian opposition that brought down Assad is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The Biden administration has designated the group as a terrorist organization and says it has links to al-Qaida, although Hayat Tahrir al-Sham says it has since broken ties with al-Qaida. “We will remain vigilant,” Biden said. “Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human rights abuses.” He added that the groups are “saying the right things now.” “But as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words, but their actions,” Biden said. Assad’s fall adds to an already tense situation throughout much of region on many fronts, including Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza and its fragile cease-fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump, who takes office Jan. 20, 2025, made a connection between the upheaval in Syria and Russia’s war in Ukraine, noting that Assad’s allies in Moscow, as well as in Iran, the main sponsor of Hamas and Hezbollah, “are in a weakened state right now.” Vice President-elect JD Vance, a veteran of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, wrote on own social media Sunday to express skepticism about the insurgents. “Many of ‘the rebels’ are a literal offshoot of ISIS. One can hope they’ve moderated. Time will tell,” he said, using another acronym for the group. Trump has suggested that Assad’s ouster can advance the prospects for an end to fighting in Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia in February 2022. Trump wrote that Putin’s government “lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine” and the Republican called for an immediate cease-fire, a day after meeting in Paris with the French and Ukrainian leaders. Daniel B. Shapiro, a deputy assistant secretary of defence for the Middle East, said the American military presence will continue in eastern Syria but was “solely to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS and has nothing to do with other aspects of this conflict.” “We call on all parties in Syria to protect civilians, particularly those from Syria’s minority communities to respect international military norms and to work to achieve a resolution to include the political settlement,” Shapiro said. “Multiple actors in this conflict have a terrible track record to include Assad’s horrific crimes, Russia’s indiscriminate aerial bomb bombardment, Iranian-back militia involvement and the atrocities of ISIS,” he added. Shapiro, however, was careful not to directly say Assad had been deposed by the insurgents. “If confirmed, no one should shed any tears over the Assad regime,” he said. As they pushed toward the Syrian capital of Damascus, the opposition freed political detainees from government prisons. The family of missing U.S. journalist Austin Tice renewed calls to find him. “To everyone in Syria that hears this, please remind people that we’re waiting for Austin,” Tice’s mother, Debra, said in comments that hostage advocacy groups spread on social media. “We know that when he comes out, he’s going to be fairly dazed & he’s going to need lots of care & direction. Direct him to his family please!” Tice disappeared in 2012 outside Damascus, amid intensification of what became a civil war stretching more than a decade. We’ve remained committed to returning him to his family,” Biden said at the White House. “We believe he’s alive, we think we can get him back but we have no direct evidence to that yet. And Assad should be held accountable.” The president added: “We have to identify where he is.” — Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Manama, Bahrain, and AP White House Correspondent Zeke Miller contributed to this report.Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government has fallen after a stunning territorial advance by opposition groups over the past few days. Assad and his family arrived in Moscow, where they were granted asylum by the Russian government, Russian state agency TASS reported Sunday. Earlier, Syrian state television announced the “triumph of the great Syrian revolution and the fall of the criminal Assad regime.” Assad decided to step down and left the country, Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement. The toppling of the longtime ruler is sending shockwaves through the Middle East and will be a major blow to Russia and Iran, his main foreign backers. Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, which has led the push to oust Assad and his government, entered Damascus on Saturday evening and captured the key city of Homs — about 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of the capital — around the same time. Other areas of the country, including in the north near the Turkish border and in the south, have been captured by different groups. Videos and broadcast footage showed Syrians in Damascus and elsewhere celebrating the downfall of the widely despised regime. There were also signs of jubilation in Turkey, which hosts millions of Syrian refugees. HTS’s leader, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, called on all of the Syrian government’s forces in the capital to stand down. Al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed Al-Jolani, said Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali will remain in his role until there’s an official handover. The 59-year-old, who took over from his father Hafez in 2000, made a last-ditch attempt to remain in power, including indirect diplomatic overtures to the U.S. and President-elect Donald Trump, Bloomberg reported on Saturday. In a sign of how weak his military position was, he ordered his army to fall back on Damascus, essentially ceding much of the country, including Homs, to the insurgents. Syria was reclassified as a low-income country by the World Bank in 2018, with its gross domestic product collapsing by more than half between 2010 and 2020. Its exports chiefly comprise products such as olive oil, nuts and phosphates, according to the CIA World Factbook. It also produces and traffics narcotics, the US State Department says. Trump took to social media to say that the U.S. should “have nothing to do with” the developments in Syria. “This is not our fight,” he said. “Let it play out. Do not get involved!” President Joe Biden’s administration, in power until next month, showed little inclination to intervene and has said the U.S. has nothing to do with HTS’s rebellion. The U.S. and Israel, which borders Syria, are watching warily. Assad was no ally of theirs, and Washington has severely sanctioned the Syrian government. But HTS is designated a terrorist organization by the US and other Western countries. On Sunday morning, Israel said it had deployed forces in a buffer zone near Syria to protect communities in the Golan Heights. The Israeli military added it’s not involved with what’s happening in Syria. “It should be remembered that these rebels aren’t lovers of Zion,” Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, told Israel’s Channel 14. “It’s true that everyone is today welcoming the weakening of Iran — something that is certainly very significant from a regional perspective. But there is also concern that parties aligned with terrorist organizations” will use Assad’s weapons against Israel. HTS, a Sunni group, broke away from al-Qaeda in 2016 and has tried to portray itself since then as more moderate. Al-Sharaa, in an interview with CNN on Dec. 5, said non-Muslims and other minorities would be safe in Syrian areas overseen by HTS. The leader, in his early 40s, attributed the success of opposition forces to greater discipline and unity. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in a statement warned “the country must not now fall into the hands of other radicals — whatever guise.” France called on its partners “to do their utmost to help the Syrians find the path to reconciliation and reconstruction through an inclusive political solution.” Syria’s political situation is likely to remain fluid as various groups try to bolster their positions, according to risk consulting firm RANE. “The collapse will likely trigger a contested political process among competing rebel factions to create a provisional government,” said Freddy Khoueiry, RANE’s global security analyst. “This will likely be a slow process prone to violence as foreign actors try to shape the postwar balance of power, making an unstable and fragmented Syria the most likely outcome in the near term.” Assad lost large swaths of the northwest of the country in late November as opposition fighters made a sudden advance out of Idlib province. They first captured Aleppo, one of the biggest cities in Syria, and then advanced on Hama. The rapid collapse of Syria’s government has taken Russia, Iran and the U.S. by surprise. In 2015, Russia and Iran came to Assad’s aid and helped turn the tide in Syria’s war — which began four years earlier — in his favor. This time both Tehran and Moscow, which has a naval base at the Syrian port of Tartus, have been stretched by conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Iran tried to drum up support for Assad among Arab states. It also said it would send Iranian troops to Syria if he requested it, but was ultimately unwilling or unable to. Moreover, Tehran’s most powerful proxy militia group, Lebanon-based Hezbollah, has been hugely degraded since September by war with Israel. Its fighters were crucial to helping Assad stay in power from early in the civil war. The Syrian conflict has left between 300,000 to 500,000 people dead and displaced more than 10 million, with many of them fleeing abroad, according to United Nations agencies and Syrian organizations. (With assistance from Peter Martin, Dan Williams and Selcan Hacaoglu.) ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump's movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump's Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer's comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry's need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump's world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift. His presidential transition team did not respond to questions about positions on visas for highly skilled workers or the debate between his supporters online. Instead, his team instead sent a link to a post on X by longtime adviser and immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller that was a transcript of a speech Trump gave in 2020 at Mount Rushmore in which he praised figures and moments from American history. Musk, the world's richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump's movement but his stance on the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry's need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent," he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump's own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump's businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country" and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he told the “All-In" podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump's budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that Nigerians will now be required to pay for the newly introduced multipurpose national identity card. According to Peter Iwegbu, NIMC’s head of card management services, this decision stems from the federal government’s limited revenue, which makes it challenging to fund the production of the cards. The announcement was made during a two-day press conference in Lagos. Iwegbu explained that charging for the cards aims to ensure that only individuals who truly need them will request them, thereby reducing waste. Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 16 (Feb 10 – May 3, 2025 ) opens registrations; register today for early bird discounts. Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations here. Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and i nvest in Africa’s finest startups here . “Before we stopped due to funding, we produced more than two million cards, but a lot of them are still in our office because people didn’t need them,” he said. This move also seeks to address inefficiencies observed in previous attempts to distribute free identity cards, where many remained uncollected. To make the process more convenient, NIMC is collaborating with banks across the country. Nigerians can visit any participating bank to request and pick up their cards. Additionally, special provisions have been made for less privileged individuals who cannot afford the card but require it for essential government services. Lanre Yusuf, director of information technology at NIMC, highlighted this effort, stating, “The government has implemented programmes to make the card accessible to less privileged Nigerians who cannot afford it but require it to access government support.” The new ID card, described as a “post-paid identity card,” will serve multiple purposes, including identity verification, payments, and access to government services. The card is powered by AfriGO in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System. Yusuf confirmed that sample test cards had already been received, suggesting the card’s readiness for rollout. The initiative is part of a broader federal government strategy to digitize identification and streamline access to services across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). However, there is growing concern that the decision to charge for the cards could lead to public apathy. Some argue that requiring payment could deter many Nigerians, especially those already facing economic hardship, from obtaining the card. This could undermine the government’s goal of broadening access to identification services. Experts also warn that apathy could mirror the challenges of past distribution efforts, where over two million cards produced for free remained uncollected. Charging for the cards, they say, risks exacerbating this trend, particularly in rural areas where disposable income is limited, and the perceived need for the card may be low. While NIMC has justified the fees as a necessary response to limited government funding, the policy raises questions about its alignment with inclusivity goals. To combat potential apathy, experts suggest increasing public awareness of the card’s multipurpose functionality and its benefits, such as facilitating payments and access to government services. These features, they note, could incentivize more people to view the card as an essential tool rather than an optional expense. While the initiative aims to reduce waste and improve efficiency, the government has been urged to address public skepticism and economic barriers to ensure widespread adoption. How this policy is received will likely set the tone for future reforms in national identification and other public service programs.

After dropping attorney general nomination, Matt Gaetz says he won't return to CongressThe violent detentions of brawling foreign university students, including from Iran, in Tatarstan has led to a protest by Iran’s consul general to the Russian region. “Iranian citizens studying abroad have the right to respect and fair treatment,” Consul General Davud Mirzakhani said on November 23. “We will ensure that the rights of our students are fully protected." "The Russian police confuse the Iranian people with those of other nations," Mirzakhani added. "We will never allow anyone to treat our people abroad inhumanely and illegally." The comments came after a brawl broke out among foreign students at Kazan Federal University on the morning of November 22 as they stood in line for documentation needed to renew their student visas. Video of the incident can be seen here: According to the Russian news agency TASS, two students who instigated the brawl were detained. Iranian students involved in the incident were later released. However, Tatarstan’s Investigative Committee announced that it has opened a criminal case against one student who “used violence against a police officer.” It is not clear if the student being investigated was among those released. Local media reported that the brawl may have started when someone cut into a large line of students who had been waiting to register their documents for hours. Foreign students were reportedly transferred from their dormitories at the university to make room for attendees of the BRICS summit held in Kazan on October 22-24. Students affected by the move launched a petition to protest the decision at the time, and were reportedly among those attempting to get their documentation in order on November 22. Local media reported that the foreign students lining up for documents were there trying to extend their student visas needed to study in Kazan. Following the brawl, the university reportedly opened additional service stations for the foreign students to submit their documents. Ukraine has lost over 40 percent of the territory in Russia's Kursk region that it rapidly seized in a surprise incursion in August as Russian forces have mounted waves of counterassaults, a senior Ukrainian military source has said. The source, who is on Ukraine's General Staff, said Russia had deployed some 59,000 troops to the Kursk region since Kyiv's forces swept in and advanced swiftly, catching Moscow unprepared two and a half years into its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "At most, we controlled about 1,376 square kilometers, now of course this territory is smaller. The enemy is increasing its counterattacks," the source said. "Now we control approximately 800 square kilometers. We will hold this territory for as long as is militarily appropriate." Local authorities have reported that at least 25 people, most of them Shi’a, were killed on November 22 in fresh sectarian violence in a tribal region of northwest Pakistan long known as a hotspot of Shi’ite-Sunni conflict. The deaths in the Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province came just two days after dozens of people were killed when gunmen opened fire on a convoy of vehicles in the Sunni-majority district. Speaking to RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal on November 23, Kurram district administrative head Javedullah Mehsud said the renewed clashes erupted unexpectedly and the authorities could not respond in sufficient numbers to control them. Other news agencies, citing local officials, reported that at least 32 people had died and 47 were wounded in the violence on November 22. Locals in the Bagan area of the district told Radio Mashaal that an angry mob of hundreds of Shi’a set several shops and homes on fire. Locals in the predominantly Sunni area claimed that some inhabitants were unaccounted for. Local Shi'ite leader Malik Dildar Hussain told Radio Mashaal that Shi’a have frequently come under attack in the area. On November 21, at least 50 people, including several women and children, were killed and more than 40 wounded when gunmen opened fire on November 21 on a police-escorted convoy of 200 vehicles carrying Shi'ite Muslims. The convoy was traveling from the provincial capital, Peshawar, to Parachinar, the capital city of the Kurram district. The threat of additional violence led local authorities to impose a curfew on November 22 and to suspend mobile telecommunications services in the remote mountainous district. Local leaders told RFE/RL that most of those killed in the renewed violence on November 22 were Shi'a, but at least four Sunnis were also among the dead. No group has taken responsibility for the attack. RFE/RL correspondents on the ground reported on November 22 that heavily armed people set fire to a military checkpoint in the area overnight. In Parachinar, witnesses reported seeing dozens of angry people armed with automatic weapons gathering amid reports that several other facilities of the Pakistani Army and the paramilitary Frontier Constabulary had been attacked and destroyed. RFE/RL correspondents reported hearing heavy gunfire. Jamshed Shirazi, a social activist in Parachinar, told RFE/RL that several government installations were damaged by the mob. "People are expressing their anger by attacking government offices," Shirazi said. Jalal Hussain Bangash, a local Shi'ite leader, voiced dismay at the violence during a Friday Prayers sermon on November 22 and said that Shi'a had nothing to do with the ensuing violence, RFE/RL correspondents on the ground reported. Hamid Hussain, a lawmaker from Kurram in the national parliament, was adamant that the violence was the work of provocateurs. "We are helpless. Neither Shi'a nor Sunnis are involved in this. This is [the result of] some other invisible forces who do not want to see peace in the area," Hussain told RFE/RL. Sectarian tensions have risen over the past several months in the Kurram district, which was formerly semiautonomous. Seventeen people were killed in an attack on a convoy on October 12, and there have been a handful of deadly attacks since then. Sunnis and Shi'a living in Kurram have clashed over land, forests, and other property as well as religion over the years, despite government and law enforcement efforts to build peace. Minority Shi'ite Muslims have long suffered discrimination and violence in Sunni-majority Pakistan. Russia has included the territories it occupies in Ukraine in its recent greenhouse gas inventory report to the United Nations, drawing protests from Ukrainian officials and activists at the COP29 climate summit in Baku. The move by Moscow comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin eyes potential peace deal negotiations with incoming U.S. President Donald Trump that could decide the fate of vast swaths of territory. "We see that Russia is using international platforms to legalize their actions, to legalize their occupation of our territory," Ukraine's Deputy Environmental Minister Olha Yukhymchuk told Reuters. She said Ukraine is in touch with officials from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN's main climate body, to ask it to resolve the dispute. Russia had already included emissions from Ukraine's Crimea region, annexed in 2014, in its last few reporting submissions to the UNFCCC. The Moscow-friendly Georgian Dream party, fresh off a contested victory in parliamentary elections last month that ignited calls for fresh polls and pro-EU demonstrations in Tbilisi, is preparing to hold its first parliamentary session on November 25. In comments to RFE/RL, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said that foreign diplomats would not be invited to attend the opening session, saying it “should only be celebrated by the Georgian people." EU and other Western officials have expressed serious doubts about the October 26 elections in which Georgian Dream officially won 53.9 percent of the vote. Opposition leaders this week called on foreign diplomats not to legitimize the new parliament by attending the first session of parliament. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has refused to recognize the result validated by the country’s Central Election Committee (CEC), and protests demanding new elections continue to be held in the country’s capital. Protesters have alleged that there was widespread fraud during the campaign and vote, and that Russia heavily influenced the outcome favoring Georgian Dream, which has been in power since 2012. In recent days, Georgian police have shut down the demonstrations, including through the use of violence on November 19. Video footage by RFE/RL correspondents in Tbilisi showed police dragging people to the ground, including women, and beating them before taking them away. The same day, Zurabishvili filed a lawsuit in the Constitutional Court "requesting annulment of the election results as unconstitutional.” The first item on the agenda for the opening session, which will be attended by the head of the CEC, will be recognizing the authority of all 150 parliament members. Georgia has been a candidate for EU membership since last year, but a "foreign influence" law and anti-LGBT measures enacted under Georgian Dream’s leadership have stalled that effort. The United States in July announced that it would pause more than $95 million in assistance to the Georgian government, warning it that it was backsliding on democracy. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is considering tapping Richard Grenell, his former intelligence chief, to be a special envoy for the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to four sources familiar with the transition plans. Grenell, who served as Trump's ambassador to Germany, as special envoy to Serbia-Kosovo talks, and was acting director of national intelligence during Trump's 2017-2021 term, would play a key role in Trump's efforts to halt the war if he is ultimately selected for the post. While there is currently no special envoy dedicated solely to resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump is considering creating the role, according to the four sources. Grenell has advocated for the creation of "autonomous zones" as a means of settling the conflict. He also suggested he would not be in favor of Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in the immediate future. EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola supports the use of long-range missiles by Ukraine in its defense against Russia's full-scale invasion and said Germany should quickly deliver its long-range Taurus system to the embattled country. Metsola, in an interview published on November 23 by the Funke Mediengruppe newspapers, said "yes," when asked whether countries providing long-range missiles to Ukraine should allow it to use them against targets in Russia -- and whether Germany should deliver its Taurus weapons system to Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a Social Democrat, has been staunchly opposed to sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine. His coalition partners, the pro-business Free Democrats and the Greens, however, are in favor of sending Kyiv the missiles. Austria has dropped its long-standing veto to Bulgaria and Romania joining the passport free Schengen zone, opening the door to their accession next year. The breakthrough development was announced on November 22 by the Hungarian presidency of the EU Council, which hosted a meeting in Budapest with the interior ministers of Romania, Bulgaria, and Austria. The EU will meet with the two candidate countries to finalize a joint security package at a meeting on December 11-12. The two countries could become Schengen members in January. “Bulgaria and Romania belong fully to the Schengen area. I welcome the positive outcome of informal discussions in Budapest today.” Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said in a tweet following the announcement. The addition of Bulgaria and Romania will expand the Schengen zone to 28 states, including 24 EU members. Ireland and Cyprus will remain the only EU members not part of the Schengen Area. Bulgarians and Romanians currently are not permitted to travel freely into other Schengen member states over land borders. Early this year, they received the right to travel freely by air and sea in the first concession by Vienna. After the meeting in Budapest, Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter told media that the agreement to be signed next month includes the establishment of a special contingent of at least 100 border police officers on the Turkish-Bulgarian border. Hungary will contribute to the full deployment of the officers and provide the necessary technical equipment to ensure effective protection of the border, he said. Pinter expressed confidence that the issue could be resolved by December 31. EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said a January accession date is a realistic goal. Yekaterina Neroznikova, a journalist and member of the Marem human rights group, is facing administrative charges in Russia for her alleged involvement with an "undesirable organization." The charges stem from Neroznikova's participation in an interview with RFE/RL earlier this year, where she discussed the high-profile abduction of Seda Suleimanova, a native of Chechnya. The administrative protocol was filed with the Zhukovsky City Court in Moscow Oblast on November 15, with a hearing scheduled for November 26. Neroznikova, who left Russia following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, disclosed the development to the OVD-Info human rights group, a prominent watchdog monitoring political persecution in Russia. The case against Neroznikova is linked to her April 2024 appearance on RFE/RL’s program Human Rights Are A Right. During the program, she discussed the abduction of Suleimanova, who was forcibly taken from St. Petersburg in August 2023 by local police and Chechen operatives. Suleimanova, who fled Chechnya in 2022 because of pressure being put on her to agree to a forced marriage, has been missing since September last year. The charges against Neroznikova are seen as part of Russia’s broader crackdown on dissent and press freedom. Suleimanova's case has prompted global protests and solidarity campaigns highlighting ongoing human rights concerns in Chechnya and Russia in general. According to Neroznikova, a man identifying himself as an officer of the Interior Ministry contacted her relatives last week before reaching out to her directly. He informed her of the administrative charges, citing her commentary on RFE/RL as the reason. RFE/RL's Russian Service and its multiple projects in the Russian language were designated as "undesirable organizations" in Russia in February 2024, making any association with them punishable under Russian law. Participation in the activities of an “undesirable organization” in Russia can result in fines of up to 15,000 rubles for individuals. Repeat offenses within a year can escalate to criminal charges, carrying penalties of up to four years in prison. Suleimanova's case has drawn international attention. In 2022, she fled her family in Chechnya to avoid an arranged marriage and persistent conflicts. In August 2023, she was abducted in St. Petersburg by individuals including local police and plainclothes Chechen security officers. She was taken to her family in Chechnya, and no information about her whereabouts has been available since September 2023. An investigation into Suleimanova’s disappearance was launched in March 2024 following thousands of public appeals. Despite the family's claims that she left home again in February, observers remain skeptical, citing conflicting statements made by her relatives. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the country's new intermediate-range ballistic missile, a nuclear-capable weapon, will continue to be tested, including in combat conditions, as Moscow struck several Ukrainian regions with other, less powerful weapons. "We will continue these tests, including in combat conditions, depending on the situation and the nature of the security threats that are created for Russia," Putin said on November 22 at a meeting with Defense Ministry officials and military-industrial complex officials. The Kremlin leader also called for serial production of the large missile to begin. Russia launched the so-called Oreshnik ballistic missile against Ukraine on November 21 in a strike targeting the city of Dnipro. Putin said at the time it was part of Moscow's response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil with U.S.-supplied ATACMS and British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. The use of the Oreshnik "is first and foremost a messaging and saber rattling kind of weapon. This is the sort of delivery system that's not cheap. It's not a battlefield sort of weapon," Tom Karako, a missile defense expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, told RFE/RL. Putin added on November 22 that the Oreshnik is new and not an upgrade of previous Soviet-designed weaponry. The United States said the new missile is “experimental” and based on Russia’s RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Ukraine initially accused Russia of having used an ICBM in the Dnipro attack. An ICBM has never been used in a war. Strategic Weapons Russia has been striking Ukraine with Iskanders, ground-launched, short-range ballistic missiles, and Kinzhals, air-launched, intermediate-range ballistic missiles, as well as various cruise missiles. Russia probably only has several units of the Oreshnik in stock, a U.S. official told media following the November 21 strike. Ukraine's military intelligence put the figure at up to 10 units. If Russia were to move forward with serial production of the Oreshnik, it would be for its nuclear force posture and not for use in a conventional war like the one with Ukraine, Karako said. "This is not an alternative to a cruise missile. It's probably designed for strategic weapons," he said. Zelenskiy's Response In his November 21 address to the nation announcing the use of the Oreshnik, Putin said that the missile traveled at a speed of Mach 10, or 2.5-3 kilometers per second, claiming that "there are currently no ways of counteracting this weapon." Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on November 22 that Ukraine was working on developing new types of air defenses to counter "new risks," a reference to missiles like the Oreshnik. In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said testing a new weapon for the purposes of terror in another country was an "international crime" and called for a worldwide "serious response" to keep Russia from expanding the war. "When someone starts using other countries not only for terror, but also for testing their new missiles through acts of terror, then this is clearly an international crime." A lack of air defenses has been one of Ukraine's major weak spots in the 33-month war with Ukraine. Zelenskiy has called on the West to deliver more air defense systems since the first days of the invasion. He had also called on the West to ease restrictions preventing Ukraine from striking inside Russia with powerful long-range weapons. Zelenskiy said the deep strikes were necessary to target airfields critical for Russia's daily aerial attacks. The United States and the United Kingdom reportedly lifted the restrictions on November 17 with Ukraine using their long-range weapons -- ATACMS and Storm Shadow respectively -- to hit targets in Russia's regions of Belgorod and Kursk. Putin launched the Oreshnik into Ukraine to warn the West against arming Ukraine. Parliament Session Canceled Russia did not use the Oreshnik to strike Ukraine during another deadly air attack on November 22. Two people were killed and 12 wounded in Russian strikes on Sumy, Artem Kobzar, the mayor of the northeastern Ukrainian city, reported in a video statement on Telegram. The Ukrainian Air Force said Russian drone attacks were under way in four regions -- Sumy, Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Zhytomyr. In the capital, which has been on edge for several days amid intense Russian attacks on Ukraine, lawmakers were advised to avoid the government district on November 22 and parliament canceled a scheduled session due to warnings of a potential missile strike. "We were informed about the risk of a missile strike on the Verkhovna Rada in Kyiv in the coming days. Putin has significantly raised the stakes . Tomorrow's parliamentary session is canceled," lawmaker Taras Batenko said. Oleksiy Honcharenko, another lawmaker, said on Telegram that the next session was now planned for December, although parliament leaders have not officially commented on the warnings. Zelenskiy's office assured the public that the presidential administration would continue operating "as usual" on November 22. The Russian Supreme Court has declared the international organization Post-Russia Free Nations Forum a terrorist group, the latest move in the Kremlin's clampdown on any sign of dissent. The organization, founded in Poland in 2022, has been accused of promoting separatism and aiming to disband the Russian Federation into independent states under foreign influence. Russia is a multiethnic state comprised of more than 80 regions, many of which have large indigenous populations, such as Chechnya and Tatarstan. Since coming to power in 1999, Russian President Vladimir Putin has centralized authority, curtailing the autonomy that some ethnic regions enjoyed. Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its attempt to wipe out Ukrainian identity has shone a bright light on the Kremlin's historical mistreatment of its own indigenous populations and triggered a "decolonization" movement that seeks to give more prominence to ethnic groups within Russian historical and cultural studies. The case against the Post-Russia Free Nations Forum was launched in late October by the Prosecutor-General’s Office, which cited its activities as a threat to Russia’s territorial integrity and national security. In its statement, the Prosecutor General’s Office alleged that the forum operates through 172 regional and national entities, including the Baltic Republican Party, the Ingria Movement, the Congress of Peoples of the North Caucasus, the Free Yakutia Foundation, and the Far Eastern Confederation. The office claims these groups are directed by exiled leaders of separatist movements. “These leaders aim to divide the Russian Federation into independent states that would fall under the influence of hostile foreign countries,” the Prosecutor-General’s Office stated on its official website. The Post-Russia Free Nations Forum is registered in Poland and describes itself as a civic movement advocating for greater regional autonomy within Russia, with some members supporting full independence for regions. On its website and social media platforms, the organization also uses variations of its name, such as the Post-Russia Free States Forum. Ukrainian businessman Oleh Mahaletskiy positions himself as one of the founders of the group and is believed to be a major sponsor. The group’s activities have included discussions on decentralization and independence, with notable speakers such as the noted Tatar activist Nafis Kashapov, Bashkir activist Ruslan Gabbasov, Russian opposition politician Ilya Ponomaryov, U.S. political analyst Janusz Bugajski, and others. Following the November 22 terrorist designation by the Supreme Court, all activities of the Post-Russia Free Nations Forum are now banned in Russia. Membership or association with the group is subject to criminal prosecution under Russian anti-terrorism laws. Critics of the ruling argue that the designation reflects a broader crackdown on dissent and regional autonomy movements in Russia. They note that the Forum primarily operates abroad and online, raising questions about the ruling’s effectiveness outside Russian borders. The Forum has not yet responded to the court’s decision. Observers suggest that this ruling may escalate tensions between Russia and countries hosting members of the organization, particularly Poland, where it is registered. The authoritarian ruler of Belarus, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, has threatened to shut down the Internet in the event of mass protests during or after the upcoming presidential election, after the previous vote in 2020 erupted in unprecedented unrest amid opposition allegations it was rigged. Speaking to students at Minsk State Linguistic University on November 22, Lukashenka defended past Internet restrictions and warned of future measures to throttle dissent. "If this happens again, we will shut it down entirely. Do you think I will sit idly and pray you don't send a message when the fate of the country is at stake?" state news agency BelTA quoted him as saying. Lukashenka admitted that Internet disruptions during the 2020 protests were conducted with his approval, citing the need to "protect the country." Following the August 9, 2020, election, which many Western governments have said was not free and fair, Internet access across Belarus was disrupted for several days and intermittently blocked. The disputed election that extended Lukashenka's decades of rule -- he has held power since 1994 -- for another term was widely condemned as fraudulent by the United States, the European Union, and other international actors. The protests, which demanded Lukashenka’s resignation, were met with mass arrests, alleged torture, and violent crackdowns that left several people dead. Many opposition leaders remain imprisoned or in exile, while Lukashenka refuses dialogue with his critics. The next presidential election in Belarus is scheduled for January 26. Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist for RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service, was honored with the International Press Freedom Award by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in a ceremony held in New York on November 21. Kurmasheva, who was recently released from detention in Russia after spending 288 days in custody, thanked the CPJ for its efforts toward gaining her freedom. "Journalism is not a crime," she said , noting that more than 20 journalists are currently imprisoned in Russia. Kurmasheva added that she was dedicating the award to her colleagues still imprisoned , including RFE/RL journalists Ihar Losik and Andrey Kuznechyk in Belarus, Vladislav Yesypenko in Crimea, and Farid Mehralizada in Azerbaijan. "My colleagues are not just statistics; like me they are real human beings with families who miss and love them. There are dozens of other journalists in Russian prisons. They should be released at once," Kurmasheva stressed . Other recipients of the award this year included Palestinian journalist Shorouq al-Aila, Guatemalan journalist Kimi de Leon, and Nigerien investigative journalist Samira Sabou, all recognized for their courage in the face of persecution. Detained by authorities in June 2023 as she was visiting relatives in the central Russian city of Kazan, Kurmasheva was initially charged with not declaring her U.S. passport. She was released but barred from leaving the country. That October, however, she was arrested, jailed, and charged with being an undeclared "foreign agent" -- under a draconian law targeting journalists, civil society activists, and others. She was later hit with an additional charge: distributing what the government claims is false information about the Russian military, a charge stemming from her work editing a book about Russians opposed to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. RFE/RL, as well as the U.S. government, called the charges absurd. The prisoner exchange that came to fruition on August 1 included 24 people in all -- including Kurmasheva, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gerskovich, and Russian political activist Vladimir Kara-Murza -- in a complex, seven-country deal. Religious tensions are on the rise in northwestern Pakistan following a deadly attack on a police-escorted convoy of Shi'ite Muslims that threatened to reignite sectarian violence in a strife-plagued region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. In the aftermath of the attack on the 200-vehicle convoy traveling from Peshawar to Parachinar, the capital city of the Kurram district, authorities on November 22 imposed a curfew and suspended mobile service in the remote mountainous district. RFE/RL correspondents on the ground reported on November 22 that heavily armed people set fire to a military checkpoint in the area overnight. In Parachinar, dozens of angry people carrying automatic weapons were gathering, amid reports that several other facilities of the Pakistani Army and the paramilitary Frontier Constabulary were attacked and destroyed, with RFE/RL correspondents reporting sounds of constant heavy gunfire. Jamshed Shirazi, a social activist in Parachinar, told RFE/RL that several government installations had been damaged by the angry protesters. "People are expressing their anger by attacking the government offices," Shirazi said. But Jalal Hussain Bangash, a local Shi'ite leader, voiced dismay at the violence during a Friday Prayer sermon on November 22 and said that Shi'a had nothing to do with the ensuing violence, RFE/RL correspondents on the ground report . Hamid Hussain, a lawmaker from Kurram in the national parliament, was adamant that the violence was the work of provocateurs. "We are helpless. Neither Shi'a nor Sunnis are involved in this. This is some other invisible forces who do not want to see peace in the area," Hussain told RFE/RL. At least 48 people, including several women and children, were killed and more than 40 wounded when gunmen opened fire on November 21 on the convoy of vehicles in the Kurram district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province near the Afghan border. Local leaders told RFE/RL that most of those killed were Shi'a, but at least four Sunnis were also among the dead. No one has taken responsibility for the attack, the latest in a series of deadly confrontations in Kurram, long known as a hotspot of Shi'ite-Sunni sectarian conflict. Local tribal leader Malik Dildar Hussain told RFE/RL that there were about 700 people in the convoy. Tensions in Kurram began to heat up in the past several months, where clashes again erupted between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslim tribes in the area, which was formerly semiautonomous. On October 12, 17 people were killed in an attack on a convoy, and there have been a handful of deadly attacks since then. Sunnis and Shi'a live together in Kurram and have clashed violently over land, forests, and other property as well as religion over the years, despite government and law enforcement efforts to build peace. Minority Shi'ite Muslims have long suffered discrimination and violence in Sunni-majority Pakistan. Moscow launched another deadly attack on Ukraine on November 22, a day after firing what it said was a new intermediate-range missile that the Kremlin boasted was a " warning " for the West, after Kyiv reportedly obtained permission from President Joe Biden to strike into Russia with U.S. long-range missiles. Two people were killed and 12 wounded in Russian strikes on Sumy, Artem Kobzar, the mayor of the northeastern Ukrainian city, reported in a video statement on Telegram. Ukraine's air force said Russian drone attacks were under way in four regions -- Sumy, Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Zhytomyr. In the capital, which has been on edge for several days amid intense Russian attacks on Ukraine, lawmakers were advised to avoid the government district on November 22 and parliament canceled a scheduled session due to warnings of a potential missile strike. "We were informed about the risk of a missile strike on the Verkhovna Rada in Kyiv in the coming days. Putin has significantly raised the stakes . Tomorrow's parliamentary session is canceled," lawmaker Taras Batenko said, while lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko said on Telegram that the next session was now planned for December, although parliament leaders have not officially commented on the warnings. The office of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy assured the public that it would continue operating "as usual" on November 22. On November 20, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine warned of a significant Russian air attack, prompting the temporary closure of its operations. The embassies of Spain, Italy, and Greece also suspended services for the day. On November 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the "successful combat testing" of a new Oreshnik (Hazel Tree) intermediate-range ballistic missile amid the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Putin claimed the missile was used in a strike on Ukraine's eastern city of Dnipro, asserting it was a response to NATO’s "aggressive actions" and Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied missiles to target Russian territory. On November 22, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that the test was a message to the West that Moscow will respond harshly to any "reckless" Western moves in support of Ukraine. "The main message is that the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries that produce missiles, supply them to Ukraine, and subsequently participate in strikes on Russian territory cannot remain without a reaction from the Russian side," Peskov told reporters. "The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in the event that our concerns are not taken into account have been quite clearly outlined," he said. Ukraine's military intelligence said on November 22 that Russia may have up to 10 units of the new missile. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has invited his Israeli counterpart to visit Hungary, defying an arrest warrant for issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Benjamin Netanyahu that other European states say they will honor. Orban, speaking during his regular weekly interview with Hungarian state radio, said on November 22 that the ICC's decision a day earlier to issue the warrant accusing Netanyahu of "crimes against humanity and war crimes" committed during the war in Gaza was "outrageously brazen" and "cynical." The ICC issued similar arrest warrants for former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and a Hamas military leader who Israel claims to have killed but whose death the U.S.- and EU-designated terrorist group has not officially acknowledged. The ICC said Netanyahu and Gallant were suspected of using "starvation as a method of warfare" by restricting humanitarian aid while targeting civilians in Israel's war in Gaza -- charges Israeli officials deny. Orban said the ICC move against Netanyahu "intervenes in an ongoing conflict...dressed up as a legal decision, but in fact for political purposes." "Later today, I will invite the Israeli prime minister, Mr. Netanyahu, to visit Hungary, where I will guarantee him, if he comes, that the judgment of the ICC will have no effect in Hungary, and that we will not follow its terms," he added. "There is no choice here, we have to defy this decision," Orban said. Shortly after the ICC decision was announced, the European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said ICC decisions "are binding on all states party to the Rome Statute, which includes all EU member states." However, the EU's most powerful members, Germany and France, on November 22 reacted with restraint to the ICC warrants. A spokesman said the German government will refrain from any moves until a visit to Germany by Netanyahu is planned. "I find it hard to imagine that we would make arrests on this basis," Steffen Hebestreit said on November 22, adding that legal questions had to be clarified about the warrant. In Paris, Foreign Ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine only said that France acknowledged the ICC's move and voiced its support for the ICC's independence. "France takes note of this decision. True to its long-standing commitment to supporting international justice, it reiterates its attachment to the independent work of the court, in accordance with the Rome Statute," Lemoine said. Hungary, a NATO and European Union member state, has signed and ratified the 1999 document. However, it has not published the statute's associated convention and therefore argues that it is not bound to comply with ICC decisions. Netanyahu on November 22 thanked Orban for his show of "moral clarity." "Faced with the shameful weakness of those who stood by the outrageous decision against the right of the State of Israel to defend itself, Hungary" is "standing by the side of justice and truth," Netanyahu said in a statement. A right-wing nationalist in power since 2010, Orban has maintained close relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has voiced opposition to the EU's sanctions imposed on Moscow after its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Orban has previously said that Hungary would not arrest Putin either, despite the ICC arrest warrant issued on the Russian leader's name for war crimes for his role in deporting Ukrainian children. Furthermore, he flew to Moscow in July immediately after Hungary took over the EU's rotating six-month presidency to meet with Putin, in defiance of the fellow members of the bloc. Soltan Achilova, a veteran journalist and former RFE/RL correspondent in Turkmenistan, was forcibly hospitalized in Ashgabat on November 20 in what appears to be a move by the government to prevent her from flying to Geneva to receive an international award. According to the Chronicle of Turkmenistan website, four men in medical gowns arrived at the 75-year-old's apartment early that morning, claiming she was suspected of carrying an infectious disease and needed an "urgent" examination. Achilova, who showed no signs of illness, was forcibly taken to the Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases in Ashgabat's Choganly district. Her family was not allowed to accompany her and her apartment keys were confiscated. One family member said one of the men told Achilova, "Why do you need keys in the afterlife?" Doctors have not disclosed when she will be released. Turkmenistan is consistently ranked by media watchdogs, such as Reporters Without Borders (RSF), among the worst countries in the world for press freedom. Independent media are nonexistent in the authoritarian Central Asian state, where journalism "amounts only to praise for the regime," according to RSF. The government continues a relentless clampdown on dissent -- with critics being harassed, beaten, tortured, jailed, and even killed. Many others have been forced abroad into exile. Human rights groups, including the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights and the International Partnership for Human Rights, immediately condemned Achilova's forced detention, calling it a stark escalation in Turkmenistan's crackdown on free speech. They demanded her immediate release and an end to the persecution of journalists. Achilova, the only journalist in Turkmenistan who openly criticizes the authoritarian government, has faced repeated harassment, threats, and attacks. In November 2023, border guards at the Ashgabat airport destroyed her passport to prevent her from traveling to Switzerland, where she was scheduled to attend the Martin Ennals Award human rights ceremony. Achilova has faced verbal threats and physical attacks, which the journalist and her supporters describe as government retaliation for her work. Many of her relatives have also been threatened. Ashgabat doesn't tolerate any dissent, and the government has stifled independent media, forced opposition activists into exile, and blocked access to all major social media and messaging apps to virtually cut its citizens off from the rest of the world. The Teatro San Carlo in Naples, Italy, has canceled appearances by opera singer Ildar Abdrazakov over his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Pina Picierno, a vice president in the European Parliament, announced the cancellation on the social network X on November 21, emphasizing that Abdrazakov's ties to the Kremlin made him unfit for a leading cultural institution in Europe. She had led a campaign to keep Abdrazakov from performing in productions of Verdi’s Don Carlos and Attila operas. The Anti-Corruption Foundation of Aleksei Navalny had previously named Abdrazakov, who comes from the Bashkortostan region, as a regime supporter, citing his performances at events tied to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and a lucrative appearance on Red Square in 2022. This marks the latest in a series of international cancellations for Abdrazakov, whose scheduled performances in the United States and Germany were also recently cancelled. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Idel.Realities, click here . Iran has vowed to respond to a resolution adopted by the United Nations' nuclear watchdog that criticizes the Islamic republic for what it says is poor cooperation by installing a number of "new and advanced" centrifuges. The resolution, which comes shortly after the return of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi from a trip to Iran , reportedly says it is "essential and urgent" for Tehran to "act to fulfill its legal obligations." A joint statement by Iran's Foreign Ministry and Atomic Energy Organization said on November 22 that the country's nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, "issued an order to take effective measures, including launching a significant series of new and advanced centrifuges of various types." The Iranian announcement came after the IAEA's board on November 21 issued a second resolution condemning Tehran's cooperation with the agency after a similar warning in June. Some analysts say the resolution may be a step toward making a political decision to trigger a "snapback" of UN Security Council (UNSC) sanctions against Iran. The "snapback" mechanism is outlined in UNSC Resolution 2231, which enshrined a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. However, the option to reimpose the sanctions expires in October 2025. The IAEA resolution, put forward by France, Germany, and Britain and supported by the United States, comes at a critical time as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return at the White House in January. Trump during his first term embarked on a "maximum pressure" campaign of intensified sanctions on Iran and unilaterally withdrew the United States in 2018 from a landmark 2015 agreement that lifted some sanctions on Iran in exchange of curbs to its nuclear program, which the West suspects is aimed at obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran claims its nuclear program is peaceful. The resolution passed on November 21 also urged Iran to cooperate with an investigation launched after uranium particles were found at two sites that Iranian authorities had not declared as nuclear locations. Nineteen of the 35 members of the IAEA board voted in favor of the resolution. Russia, China, and Burkina Faso opposed it, 12 members abstained, while one did not vote, diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity told the AP. It also calls on the IAEA to come up with a "comprehensive report" on Iran's nuclear activities by spring. During Grossi's visit, Iran agreed with an IAEA demand to limit its stock of uranium enriched at 60 percent purity, which is still under the 90 percent threshold needed for a nuclear weapon, but it is much higher than the 3.67 percent limit it agreed to in the 2015 deal. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who was Tehran's chief negotiator for the 2015 agreement, warned that Iran would not negotiate "under pressure." Tehran has responded to previous similar resolutions by moves such as removing IAEA cameras and monitoring equipment from several nuclear sites, and increasing uranium enrichment to 60 percent purity at a second site, the Fordow plant. Two people were killed and 12 wounded in Russian strikes on Sumy early on November 22, Artem Kobzar, the mayor of the northeastern Ukrainian city, reported in a video statement on Telegram. "Several powerful explosions were heard in Sumy," he said in the video, adding that rescue teams, police, and ambulances were working at the site of the explosions. Kobzar urged residents to take shelter, saying that air defenses were still engaging incoming drones in the morning. Ukraine's air force said Russian drone attacks were under way in four regions -- Sumy, Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Zhytomyr. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, click here . A senior North Korean general has been wounded in Russia’s Kursk region, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing Western officials. More than 10,000 North Korean troops are supporting Russian forces in Kursk. Russian President Vladimir Putin is hoping to recover the swath of the Kursk region that Ukraine seized in August before President Donald Trump takes office early next year. The United States this week gave Ukraine the green light to use its long-range ATACMS missiles to strike Russian assets in Kursk and said North Korean troops would be fair game. It is unclear how the North Korean general was wounded, the WSJ reported . The United States has imposed sanctions on Gazprombank, Russia’s third-largest lender, and dozens of other financial institutions as President Joe Biden seeks to further curtail the Kremlin’s ability to finance its war in Ukraine before he leaves office in two months. Gazprombank, which plays an important role in facilitating Russian energy exports, was the only remaining large Russian lender not under U.S. sanctions. Washington and Brussels had avoided sanctioning Gazprombank amid concern over possible energy export interruptions. Along with Gazprombank, the United States also announced sanctions on more than 50 other Russian banks conducting international operations, more than 40 Russian securities registrars and 15 Russian finance officials. The United States also warned financial institutions against joining Russia’s version of the international messaging system for banks known as SWIFT. Russia is seeking to attract international banks to its messaging platform to get around U.S. financial sanctions. “Today’s action reaffirms the U.S. commitment to curtail Russia’s ability to use the international financial system to conduct its war against Ukraine and disrupts Russia’s attempts to make cross-border payments for dual-use goods and military materiel,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a November 21 statement. Ukraine backers had been calling on the Biden administration for months to tighten sanctions on Russia’s banking sector, saying the Kremlin was finding ways around existing sanctions to pay for technology imports and other dual-use items. In addition to facilitating energy payments, Gazprombank had been acting as a conduit for the purchase of military goods. The Kremlin also uses Gazprombank to pay Russian soldiers and compensate families for war deaths. “I am grateful to @POTUS and his administration for today’s strong package of financial and banking sanctions targeting Russia’s economy and war chest,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a tweet . Eddie Fishman, a former State Department official and sanctions expert, called the latest announcement a “strong step” toward closing loopholes around Russia’s energy sector, which generates about half of federal budget revenues. Biden will leave office on January 20 to make way for President-elect Donald Trump, who has promised to end the war in Ukraine by getting Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin to sit down at the negotiating table, something that experts say will be harder done than said. The financial sanctions come at a critical time for Russia’s economy as Putin’s record spending on the war effort drives up inflation and interest rates. The Russian Central Bank last month raised interest rates to 21 percent, the highest in decades, and could continue to ratchet them up with no end in sight to the war. Russian President Vladimir Putin said his military fired a new intermediate-range missile into Ukraine following accusations by Kyiv that it was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). In a November 21 video statement to the nation, Putin said the use of the new weapon was a response to the United States and the United Kingdom giving permission to Kyiv to fire their long-range missiles into Russia. "In combat conditions, one of the newest Russian medium-range missile systems was tested," Putin said, adding that it was a hypersonic, ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Earlier in the day, Kyiv accused Russia of striking Ukraine with what it said appeared to be an ICBM. The new weapon was part of a larger missile attack on Dnipropetrovsk, home to important military-industrial plants. ICBMs, which are designed to deliver long-distance nuclear strikes, have never been used in war before. "On the morning of November 21, 2024...Russian troops attacked the city of Dnipro (facilities and critical infrastructure) with missiles of various types. In particular, an intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation," the Ukrainian Air Force said in its statement on Telegram. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Telegram later that the new Russian weapon had "all characteristics -- speed, altitude -- [of an] intercontinental ballistic missile." Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said Russia struck Ukraine with an "experimental" intermediate-range ballistic missile that was based on its RS-26 Rubezh ICBM. She said Russia had informed the United States it would be launching the experimental missile shortly beforehand through "nuclear risk reduction channels." She said the new weapon had a smaller warhead that some other missiles Russia has launched into Ukraine. A U.S. official who asked not to be identified told media that Putin was seeking to intimidate Ukraine but added that Moscow only had a few of the "experimental" missiles. The Russian attack comes just days after reports that Ukraine used British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles and U.S.-made ATACMS systems to strike military targets deeper inside Russia following the long-sought approval by President Joe Biden. The RS-26 Rubezh is a solid-fueled, road-mobile ICBM currently in development that has been tested with heavier payloads at intermediate ranges. Military analysts said ICBM missiles can be classified as intermediate-range weapons when their payloads are increased and ranges decreased. The main target of the Russian attack was the southeastern region of Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine's most important industrial region, and its capital, the city of Dnipro. Ukraine's air force said that besides the ICBM, Russian aircraft also launched a hypersonic Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missile and seven subsonic Kh-101 cruise missiles. Ukrainian air defenses shot down six Kh-101 missiles, the air force reported. Dnipropetrovsk Governor Serhiy Lysak said his region bore the brunt of the Russian attack. "Since early in the morning, the aggressor massively attacked our region," Lysak reported on Telegram, adding that preliminary information showed that an industrial facility was damaged in the regional capital, Dnipro, where two fires were started by the attack. Explosions were also reported in Kremenchuk, in the central Poltava region. Moscow's use of a large number of sophisticated missiles as opposed to the usual drone attacks appears to be in response to Ukraine's gaining approval to use some Western-donated long-range missile systems to strike deeper into Russia. On November 20, Russian military bloggers and a source cited by Reuters reported that Ukraine had fired up to 12 Franco-British Storm Shadow missiles into Russia's Kursk region, part of which has been under Ukrainian control following a surprise incursion by Ukrainian troops in August. A spokesman for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer declined to confirm whether the missiles had been used. Previously, London had given permission to use the Storm Shadows, which have a 250-kilometer range, within Ukraine's territory. Earlier this week, Ukraine reportedly used ATACMS to strike a military facility in Russia's Bryansk region after Biden was reported as giving his OK. The White House has not officially confirmed the approval and Ukraine hasn't directly acknowledged the use of ATACMS on Russian targets. Russia has long warned that Ukraine's use Western-supplied long-range weapons to strike inside its territory would mark a serious escalation of the conflict. On November 21, Moscow said a new U.S. missile defence base in the Polish town of Redzikowo near the Baltic coast, which was opened on November 13 as part of a broader NATO missile shield, will lead to an increase in the overall level of nuclear danger. "This is another frankly provocative step in a series of deeply destabilising actions by the Americans and their allies in the North Atlantic alliance in the strategic sphere," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. "This leads to undermining strategic stability, increasing strategic risks and, as a result, to an increase in the overall level of nuclear danger," Zakharova said. Poland rejected the claim, saying there were no nuclear missiles at the base. "It is a base that serves the purpose of defense, not attack," Foreign Ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski said on November 21. At least 38 people were killed and more than 40 wounded after gunmen opened fire on a convoy of cars carrying Shi'ite Muslims in northwest Pakistan as religious tension in the region rises. Three women and a child were among those killed in the November 21 attack, police told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal. The convoy of 200 cars was heading from Peshawar to Parachinar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province near the border with Afghanistan when the unknown gunmen attacked. No one has taken responsibility for the attack, the latest in a series of deadly confrontations in the Kurram region. Police, who were escorting the cars, said the death toll could climb. There were about 700 people in the convoy, according to law enforcement. Tension in Kurram began to heat up after 17 people were killed in an attack on a convoy on October 12. There have been about a handful of deadly attacks since then. Sunnis and Shi'a live together in Kurram and have clashed violently over land, forests, and other property as well as religion over the years, despite government and law enforcement efforts to build peace. Influential Ukrainian tycoon Dmytro Firtash is among eight people targeted by fresh British sanctions that accuse the group, which includes his wife, Lada, of large-scale, international corruption. Angolan-Russian billionaire Isabel dos Santos and Latvian politician and businessman Aivars Lembergs are also among those hit by the new sanctions announced on November 21. The British government accuses Firtash of bribing officials to secure mining licenses for his companies and profiting illegally from Ukraine's gas-transportation system. Firtash is also linked to financier Denys Horbunenko, a resident of the United Kingdom who was added to the sanctions list on November 21 for his association with Firtash. Firtash has faced legal scrutiny in Ukraine over embezzlement and money-laundering accusations involving fraudulent gas-trading schemes. The United States has been seeking his extradition from Austria on charges of bribing Indian officials. Firtash, who gained prominence in the 2000s through his joint venture RosUkrEnergo with Russian energy giant Gazprom, has denied allegations of working in Russia's interests. Dos Santos, daughter of former Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, is Africa's first female billionaire. She is accused of corruption in Angola, where she allegedly exploited her political connections for personal gain. Dos Santos claims she has held Russian citizenship since birth, as she was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 1973 under the former Soviet Union. Lembergs, a former populist mayor of the Latvian city of Ventspils, has been convicted in Latvia of corruption and sentenced to five years in prison. He claims the charges against him are politically motivated. The sanctions are part of a British efforts to combat international corruption and disrupt the financial networks of individuals accused of abusing their power for personal enrichment. The measures include asset freezes, travel bans, and restricting these individuals from accessing the U.K.'s financial system or entering the country.

Architectural Acoustic Panels Market Size, Share Analysis, Growth Trends And Global Forecast To 2033 11-25-2024 12:57 AM CET | Advertising, Media Consulting, Marketing Research Press release from: The Business Research Company Architectural Acoustic Panels Market The Business Research Company recently released a comprehensive report on the Global Architectural Acoustic Panels Market Size and Trends Analysis with Forecast 2024-2033. This latest market research report offers a wealth of valuable insights and data, including global market size, regional shares, and competitor market share. Additionally, it covers current trends, future opportunities, and essential data for success in the industry. According to The Business Research Company's, The architectural acoustic panels market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $9.69 billion in 2023 to $10.1 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to precision agriculture, cost efficiency, global population growth, efficiency and productivity gains, reduced environmental impact, demonstration of roi.. The architectural acoustic panels market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $12.11 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to continued labor challenges, global climate change impact, smart farming initiatives, rise in adoption of specialty crops, global food security concerns, favorable government policies.. Major trends in the forecast period include autonomous harvesting machinery, advancements in robotics and ai, integration of sensor technologies, remote monitoring and control, data-driven decision making, collaborative industry partnerships.. Get The Complete Scope Of The Report @ https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/architectural-acoustic-panels-global-market-report Market Drivers and Trends: The rise in construction activities is expected to propel the growth of the architectural acoustic panels market going forward. The rise in construction activities refers to an increase in building projects and infrastructure development in a particular region or country. This could be driven by factors such as population growth, urbanization, and economic development. As construction activities increase, the demand for buildings with improved acoustics also increases. This is particularly important in densely populated urban areas where noise pollution is a significant problem. For instance, in 2021, according to U.S. Census Bureau, the federal government's largest statistical agency, an estimated 1,595,100 housing units were started in 2021, that increased by 15.6% from 1,379,600 in 2020 in the US. Therefore, the rise in construction activities is driving the growth of the architectural acoustic panels market. Product innovations are a key trend gaining popularity in the architectural acoustic panels market. Companies operating in the architectural acoustic panels market are innovating new products to sustain their position in the market. For instance, in August 2021, Arup, a UK-based network infrastructure provider, and Mogu, an Italy-based design firm launched FORESTA, the world's first mycelium acoustic panel systems. FORESTA system is a modular, biophilic wall system that incorporates mycelium-based panels, along with living plants and other natural materials, to create a healthy and sustainable indoor environment. The Foresta system is designed to improve indoor air quality, acoustics, and aesthetics while also reducing energy consumption and waste. The mycelium-based panels used in the Foresta system provide excellent sound absorption, thermal insulation, and fire resistance, while the living plants and other natural materials help to purify the air and create a calming and biophilic atmosphere. Key Benefits for Stakeholders: • Comprehensive Market Insights: Stakeholders gain access to detailed market statistics, trends, and analyses that help them understand the current and future landscape of their industry. • Informed Decision-Making: The reports provide crucial data that support strategic decisions, reducing risks and enhancing business planning. • Competitive Advantage: With in-depth competitor analysis and market share information, stakeholders can identify opportunities to outperform their competition. • Tailored Solutions: The Business Research Company offers customized reports that address specific needs, ensuring stakeholders receive relevant and actionable insights. • Global Perspective: The reports cover various regions and markets, providing a broad view that helps stakeholders expand and operate successfully on a global scale. Ready to Dive into Something Exciting? Get Your Free Exclusive Sample of Our Research Report @ https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/sample.aspx?id=10407&type=smp Major Key Players of the Market: AWI Licensing LLC; BEIYANG Building Material Co. Ltd.; G&S Acoustics Inc.; Knauf Insulation Inc.; Guangdong Liyin Acoustics Technology Co. Ltd.; Star Brand Youshiji Building Materials Co. Ltd.; Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A.; Green Acoustics; Hebei Borunde Building Materials Co. Ltd.; Hunter Douglas Group; Jiangsu Burgeree New Technology Materials Co. Ltd.; Vicoustic; Badische Anilin- und Sodafabrik SE; Fischer Profil GmbH; ArcelorMittal S.A.; 3A Composites; Arconic Corp.; Armacell GmbH; Kingspan Group; Trelleborg AB; Fletcher Building Ltd.; Owens Corning; Paroc Group OY; Rockwool International A/S; ItalPannelli S.R.L; Johns-Manville Corporation; Ingreen Systems Corp.; Armstrong World Industries Inc.; Abstracta Inc.; MBI Products Company Architectural Acoustic Panels Market 2024 Key Insights: • The architectural acoustic panels market size will grow to $12.11 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7%. • Rise In Construction Sector To Drive Market Growth • Product Innovations Transforming The Architectural Acoustic Panels Market • Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the architectural acoustic panels market in 2023 We Offer Customized Report, Click @ https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/Customise?id=10407&type=smp Contact Us: The Business Research Company Europe: +44 207 1930 708 Asia: +91 88972 63534 Americas: +1 315 623 0293 Email: info@tbrc.info Follow Us On: LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/company/the-business-research-company Twitter: https://twitter.com/tbrc_info Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBusinessResearchCompany YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC24_fI0rV8cR5DxlCpgmyFQ Blog: https://blog.tbrc.info/ Healthcare Blog: https://healthcareresearchreports.com/ Global Market Model: https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/global-market-model Learn More About The Business Research Company The Business Research Company ( www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com ) is a leading market intelligence firm renowned for its expertise in company, market, and consumer research. With a global presence, TBRC's consultants specialize in diverse industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, chemicals, and technology, providing unparalleled insights and strategic guidance to clients worldwide. This release was published on openPR.The hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's elusive killer yields new evidence, but few answers

Fighting graft( ) has been one of the hottest stocks on the market in recent years. Backed by billionaire investors like Stanley Druckenmiller, Ken Griffin and Israel Englander, the stock rose 1,164% from its 2022 lows to today. Unfortunately, NVIDIA’s billionaire backers are starting to sour on the stock. Trading at 30 times sales with revenue growth slowing down, NVDA is no bargain. All three investors mentioned in the opening paragraph have sold at least some of their NVIDIA shares, and they’ve been joined by the company’s chief executive officer (CEO), Jensen Huang. NVIDIA may or may not rise in the future. However, there is one that is just now starting to see its rise in billionaire adoption. Having been picked up by U.S. hedge funds in recent quarters, its star is shining. In this article, I will explore that TSX stock and its billionaire admirers. Brookfield ( ) made headlines this year when billionaire Bill Ackman took a position in it. Brookfield had long had a cult following among Canadian fund managers and retail investors, but it had mostly gone unnoticed by big U.S. investors until Ackman’s buy this past Summer. Initially, Brookfield was only a small position for Ackman’s but the firm’s most recent 13f filing showed that Ackman had increased the position substantially. This past Saturday, Ackman’s business partner Chris Korn said that he expected the stock to appreciate by 100%. Before going any further, I should clarify what I mean by “billionaires are selling NVIDIA and buying Brookfield.” I do not mean that Bill Ackman himself or any of Brookfield’s recent big buyers had sold NVIDIA stock before buying BN. Ackman, Flatt, and Brookfield’s other billionaire backers did not hold NVIDIA. However, the trend among multi-billion-dollar asset managers as a whole lately has been to exit or reduce exposure to NVIDIA, while upping investments in Brookfield. This is a trend worth investigating. What billionaires are seeing in Brookfield It’s one thing to note that billionaires are bullish on Brookfield, but quite another to prove that they’re right. Financial matters are complex. Still, it’s evident from a cursory glance at Brookfield’s recent history that it is doing big things. These are some big milestones, and if Korn’s statement about Brookfield sounds pie in the sky, it’s not inconsistent with the company’s operational results. Now, of course, operational success is not the same thing as profit. Brookfield manages a lot of money for external stakeholders and partners, and it’s sometimes hard to ascertain exactly how much of this money will flow through to BN shareholders. However, the operational success Brookfield sees clearly provides the potential for future profit, the potential that will be actualized if the company remains disciplined in its investing and debt management.

8k8k Goldman Sachs weighs sale of ETF Accelerator platformStockholm, November 24: The HONOR 300 Series, including HONOR 300, HONOR 300 Pro and HONOR 300 Ultra (rumoured), are likely to launch in China soon with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. The devices are already available for preorder in China ahead of their launch. The devices are expected to offer better camera performance than the predecessor and large batteries with fast-charging support. Ahead of the launch of the HONOR 300 series, details about the colours and design have been leaked online. Multiple reports attribute the Chinese social media platform Weibo to leaking information about the upcoming HONOR smartphones. Besides featuring Snapdragon's flagship processor from last year, the company is expected to offer an AMOLED display. Redmi Note 14 5G, Redmi Note 14 5G Pro, Redmi Note 14 5G Pro Plus Confirmed To Launch on December 9, 2024; Check Expected Specifications and Features. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1560419204258-2'); }); Here is your First Look at HONOR 300 Pro Specs:- -6.78 1.5k 120Hz AMOLED display -Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 - 50MP Triple Cam setup - 5300mAh +100W + 66W Wireless - Android 15 (MagicOS 9.0) - IP68 Ratings Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/UTCyrF6zJi — Sanju Choudhary (@saaaanjjjuuu) November 22, 2024 HONOR 300 Series Specifications and Features HONOR's upcoming devices, HONOR 300 and HONOR 300 Pro, may include features like a 50 MP triple rear camera setup that allows high-quality photographs. One of the cameras will be a 50 MP periscope lens. Moreover, the devices are expected to boast 5,300mAh batteries with 100W wired fast-charging and 66W wireless charging support. The device may provide safety against dust and water with its IP68 rating. The device's display is expected to be a 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED panel offering a 120Hz refresh rate. The HONOR 300 Ultra variant is still rumoured but not confirmed to launch in China. However, images leaked of the Ultra variant showed that it had a similar design as the HONOR 300 Pro variant. The device is expected to be available in White and Classic Black colour options with a pain-like texture. Vivo X200, Vivo X200 Pro Likely To Launch in India This Month; Check Expected Specifications, Features and Price. These devices are expected to launch soon in China with several unique features and specifications. The HONOR 300, HONOR 300 Pro, and rumored HONOR 300 Ultra may arrive in India at a later stage, but there is no official confirmation from the Chinese smartphone maker. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 24, 2024 06:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com ).

Our stock market expert reveals how you could reap riches by adding unloved car firms to your portfolio By JOANNE HART Updated: 07:02 EST, 7 December 2024 e-mail View comments I would probably not be where I am today without the UK automobile industry. My father's business sold packing cases to Ford, used to export car parts to Africa for assembly. The cases were so big that they were used as houses by homeless locals. For Dad, however, they were an essential part of his livelihood. That was when the UK was an automotive powerhouse, a leading exporter and home to some of the best-known cars in the world, from luxury models to runarounds. Virtually every famous British brand has now been snapped up by foreign owners. BMW picked off Rolls-Royce and Mini, Volkswagen slid into the driving seat at Bentley, Indian car giant Tata Motors owns Jaguar and Land Rover. Our global market share has slipped to below 10 per cent and production has slumped from 1.7 million cars in 2016 to around 700,000 today. The decline is distressing and sentiment is gloomy. Green-inclined governments the world over are keen to shift drivers from conventional diesel and petrol cars to electric vehicles (EVs). The UK is determined to go one step further. This year alone, car makers in this country have been told that 22 per cent of new sales must be electric, rising to 28 per cent next year and becoming increasingly ambitious out to 2030 and beyond. Firms have responded by reducing production of old-school motors and moving towards full-scale EV lines. But the average price tops £45,000, there are not enough charging points, top-up prices vary hugely and many drivers prefer to stick with what they know. Desperate car makers have slashed prices to fire up EV sales and meet targets. Figures last week showed that demand has picked up but only after firms spent around £4billion discounting electric models. Now they have had enough. Managers are calling for urgent change, workers are striking or threatening to down tools, factories are closing – and the road ahead is still filled with potholes. Suppliers have been hit hard too, with reports of falling revenues and fears about the future. James Bond's iconic Aston Martin DB5. For investors keen to back a UK-listed car maker, there is but one choice: Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings The Aston Martin DB5 used on the set of 'No time to die' in Matera, Italy But do not write off this industry. Jaguar's latest attempts to be down with 'the greenerati' may have turned this iconic brand into a global laughing stock, but the UK still packs a punch in the motor world – and rewarding opportunities can be found for the canny investor. Despite successive setbacks, the automotive industry is our largest exporter of goods, with sales of around £100 billion a year. The sector can also boast of unparalleled breadth and variety, from high-end brands such as McLaren and Morgan to taxis, buses, trucks and many family motors. These firms are supported by thousands of component makers, engineers and entrepreneurs, some of which continue to do well despite tough market conditions. Testing, testing AB Dynamics exemplifies the breed. Founded in 1982 by Anthony Best, this Bath-based business tests vehicles to make sure they are safe, reliable and fit for the road. A leader in its field, AB uses cutting-edge technology and has developed a global reputation for top-tier service. Revenues have almost doubled to £111million over the past five years, with profits up 50 per cent and the dividend streaking ahead by 73 per cent to 7.6p. AB shares have done well too, up 18 per cent this year alone to £20.64 and expected to rise materially from here. Car makers may be suffering but vehicles still need to be tested. Safety regulation has intensified and many firms are pushing ahead with research and development to try and stay ahead of cheap Chinese competition. AB Dynamics has soared in price since Midas recommended the stock at £2.34 in 2015 but there should be more to come. With new products coming on stream at pace, this company shows UK innovation at its best. The long road Dowlais is a top supplier to the car industry. Known as GKN for most of its recent past, the firm fell victim to a controversial takeover from hostile bidder Melrose Industries in 2018. Five years later, Melrose spun off part of its acquisition to create Dowlais, named after the village in south Wales where GKN's story began. Read More As Bitcoin hits levels to tempt even cautious investors, these are the five best cryptocurrency bets The company has fared poorly since rejoining the stock market. Hit by persistent problems across the automotive market, Dowlais shares have halved in value to 63p. The decline has come as no surprise to industry followers. Dowlais is a leading producer of critical parts, working with 90 per cent of manufacturers across the world. Half the vehicles on the road use Dowlais technology. The company is renowned for its kit and has become a pioneer in the development of electric cars as well. The group's integral role in the industry is a blessing during good times but leaves chief executive Liam Butterworth vulnerable when conditions are tough. Recent results make the point. Half-year figures showed declining sales, a chunky 32 per cent slump in profits to £95million and an admission from Butterworth that part of the business may be put up for sale. Prospects are uncertain, as the group's key customers grapple with demanding EV targets, consumer apathy and intense competition. Sales and profits are likely to remain under pressure and dividends are forecast to remain unchanged at 4.2p this year and next. For patient investors, however, Dowlais's woes could present an opportunity. Short-term turmoil may persist but at 63p, the shares should deliver over the longer term. Auto appeal Britain's car industry spreads far beyond making vehicles and the bits that go in them. Crucially, they need to be sold. More than 500,000 people spend their working day trying to persuade cash-strapped consumers to buy new and used vehicles. Beyond the obvious challenges presented by inflation, high interest rates and supply chain difficulties, car retailers have battled with changing technology, shifting consumer habits and now a brewing scandal around mis-sold loans. Many are flailing. Some continue to thrive. Take Auto Trader: founded back in the 1970s as a classified advertising specialist, Auto Trader has evolved to become the dominant player in online car sales. The transition involved hard work, foresight and serious investment, but it has paid off in spades. Today, Auto Trader is ten times larger than its nearest competitor, selling millions of used cars and new ones, too. The group works with manufacturers, dealers and individual consumers, matching buyers' needs with sellers' products. Sales, profits and dividends all rose at the half-year and brokers expect further gains for the 12 months to next March and beyond, including dividend increases from 9.6p last year to 10.4p for 2025 and 11.6p the year after. As the company has grown, so its share price has motored ahead. Floated on the stock market at £2.35 in 2015, the stock has risen consistently since then and today tops £8.40. Yet chief executive Nathan Coe does not rest on his laurels. Deal Builder, launched in 2023, allows consumers to do as much or as little as they like online, including part exchange, applying for finance, reserving a specific vehicle and arranging delivery. It has proved highly popular and just been followed by a new tool – Co-Driver – which uses AI to make buying and selling easier for customers and dealers alike. Coe is relatively cautious about the future and Auto Trader shares may well tread water for a while, but the used-car market is far more robust than its new equivalent – and this is Auto's sweet spot. Focused and innovative, the business has shown its mettle and should repay loyal investors. Time to deal Motorpoint specialises in used cars, sold via dealerships or online. The shares have had a torrid time, slumping from £3.40 to £1.38 in the past two years, as the business has dealt with tricky markets, constrained supplies and, in recent months, concerns that it may be caught up in the car loans mis-selling scandal. Longstanding boss Mark Carpenter tried to calm nerves in November, unveiling a return to profit after losses last year, an increase in cars sold and an expression of quiet confidence in the future. Carpenter also declared that measures have been taken around car loans and that the saga should not affect profit expectations for 2025. Nervous investors may still choose to steer clear of the business; opportunists may sense a bargain at current levels. Motorpoint is well managed and the shares could gain ground as external conditions improve. Fit for royalty King Charles was presented with a DB6 Volante by the late Queen on his 21st birthday and has been an enthusiast ever since For investors keen to back a UK-listed car maker, there is but one choice: Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings. One of the most revered brands in the industry, Aston Martin made its name in James Bond films but is also a favourite of the Royal Family. King Charles was presented with a DB6 Volante by the late Queen on his 21st birthday and has been an enthusiast ever since, converting one model to an eco-roadster run on cheese and wine. Other proud owners include David Beckham and Gordon Ramsay, while even Margot Robbie has been seen at the wheel of a top-end DB12. Sadly, however, the firm's glamorous fan club has done little for its share price. After joining the stock market in 2018 at £19, Aston Martin has had a tumultuous six years, punctuated by profit warnings, fund raisings and management changes. Today, the stock is trading at just £1.10, after admitting days ago that earnings would fall short of expectations this year. Fancy toys attract wealthy boys, and Aston Martin is chaired by Lawrence Stroll, a Canadian billionaire who owns the car maker's F1 team. He remains upbeat about Aston Martin's prospects, following a pivot from high-end to ultra-luxury, with models such as the new, limited edition Valiant costing in excess of £2million. Optimists believe the shares could reach £2 next year but past performance does not inspire confidence. As Dan Coatsworth of AJ Bell points out, the group has been declared bankrupt seven times and suffers from a groaning debt pile. This share is for patriotic adventurers only. Car makers and their suppliers are clamouring for change. They point out that the shift to an EV future cannot happen without a pick-up in consumer demand. Other countries have lined motorists' pockets with incentives. Britain's industry is calling for similar inducements, from less-punitive taxation and a temporary reduction in VAT to fairer charge-point fees out of the home. Much is at stake. The UK has a long and proud history in the automobile industry, many marques are world-renowned and the sector is a source of constant research and innovation. Some firms have proved their resilience even as others have struggled. If the Government recognises the wealth creation this industry provides and acts accordingly, many more companies could shift into gear and deliver rewards for their investors. Share or comment on this article: Our stock market expert reveals how you could reap riches by adding unloved car firms to your portfolio e-mail Add comment Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.

Malcolm Wilson to Retire as CEO of GXO Logistics in 2025Becoming a resident of South Dakota is easy. Some say too easy

Ethan Taylor scores 21 as Air Force takes down Mercyhurst 82-48

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Bryce Thompson scored 17 points, Marchelus Avery had 15 points and eight rebounds, and Oklahoma State beat Miami 80-74 on Friday in the consolation bracket of the Charleston Classic. Oklahoma State (4-1) will play in the fifth-place game on Sunday, while Miami (3-2) will try to avoid going winless in the tournament. Oklahoma State led 43-27 at halftime after making 8 of 15 from 3-point range, while Miami was just 8 of 27 overall. Four different Cowboys made a 3-pointer in the first half, with Brandon Newman making three. Thompson banked in a shot early in the second half to give Oklahoma State a 20-point lead at 49-29. Miami, which opened the game by missing 7 of 8 shots, went 1 for 8 from the field to begin the second half. Miami trailed by double figures the entire second half until Matthew Cleveland made a difficult shot in the lane while being fouled. He made the free throw to pull the Hurricanes within 75-67 with 49 seconds left. Arturo Dean restored a double-digit lead by making two free throws at 43.8. Thompson reached the 1,000 career points with the Cowboys on a shot in the lane with 13:01 left in the second half to give Oklahoma State a 55-38 lead. Nijel Pack scored 20 points and Brandon Johnson had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Miami. Cleveland finished with 11 points, and Lynn Kidd and Paul Djobet each had 10. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

North Ridgeville filmmaker releases novel ‘The Nurse’

Pope Francis kicks off a yearlong Jubilee that will test his stamina and Rome's patience VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has opened the great Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. The ceremony kicks off the 2025 Holy Year. It's a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome. And it will test the pope’s stamina and the ability of the Eternal City to welcome them. This begins the Christmas Eve Mass. The ceremony inaugurates the once-every-25-year tradition of a Jubilee. Francis has dedicated the 2025 Jubilee to the theme of hope. Bethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas Eve during the war in Gaza BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem is marking another somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza. Manger Square lacked its usual festive lights and crowds of tourists on Tuesday. Instead, the area outside the Nativity Church was quiet. The church was built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The war, the violence in the occupied West Bank it has spurred and the lack of festivities has deeply hurt Bethlehem's economy. The town relies heavily on Christmas tourism. The economy in the West Bank was already reeling because of restrictions placed on laborers preventing them from entering Israel during the war. Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne Tuesday about one hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. American said in an email that the problem was caused by an issue with a vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. Aviation analytics company Cirium said flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time. Nineteen flights were cancelled. Middle East latest: Israel expels patients from a hospital in Gaza TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Palestinian Health Ministry says Israeli soldiers raided a hospital in isolated northern Gaza after forcing all the patients and most of the doctors to leave. The Israeli military confirmed its troops had entered the Indonesian Hospital in the town of Jabaliya on Tuesday, as part of an operation searching for Hamas fighters. Winter is hitting the Gaza Strip and many of the nearly 2 million Palestinians displaced by the devastating 15-month war are struggling to protect themselves from the wind, cold and rain. In the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian city of Bethlehem was marking a somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza, with most festivities cancelled and crowds of tourists absent. Caitlin Clark honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year following her impact on women's sports Caitlin Clark has been named the AP Female Athlete of the Year after raising the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both college and the WNBA. She led Iowa to the national championship game, was the top pick in the WNBA draft and captured rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers followed her journey on and off the court. Clark's exploits also put other women's sports leagues in the spotlight. A group of 74 sports journalists from AP and its members voted on the award. Other athletes who received votes included Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and boxer Imane Khelif. Clark’s only the fourth women’s basketball player to win the award since it was first given in 1931. Major storm pounds California's central coast, blamed for man's death and partially collapsing pier SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — A major storm has pounded California’s central coast bringing flooding and high surf that was blamed for fatally trapping a man beneath debris on a beach and later partially collapsing a pier, tossing three people into the Pacific Ocean. The storm was expected to bring hurricane-force winds and waves up to 60 feet Monday as it gained strength from California to the Pacific Northwest. Some California cities have ordered beachfront homes and hotels to evacuate early Monday afternoon. Forecasters have warned that storm swells would continue to increase throughout the day. Medellin Cartel victims demand truth and justice as cartel boss Fabio Ochoa walks free in Colombia BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — The return of the notorious drug trafficker Fabio Ochoa to Colombia, following his deportation from the United States, has reopened old wounds among the victims of the Medellin cartel, with some expressing their dismay at the decision of Colombian authorities to let the former mafia boss walk free.Some of the cartel victims said on Tuesday that they are hoping the former drug lord will at least cooperate with ongoing efforts by human rights groups to investigate one of the most violent periods of Colombia’s history, and demanded that Colombian prosecutors also take Ochoa in for questioning. Man arraigned on murder charges in NYC subway death fanned flames with a shirt, prosecutors say NEW YORK (AP) — Prosecutors say a man accused of burning a woman to death inside a New York City subway train used a shirt to fan the flames, causing her to become engulfed. The suspect, identified by police as Sebastian Zapeta, was arraigned in Brooklyn criminal court on Tuesday. He faces murder charges that could put him in prison for life. Federal immigration officials say 33-year-old Zapeta is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally after being deported in 2018. The apparently random attack occurred Sunday morning on a stationary F train at the Coney Island station in Brooklyn. Amsterdam court sentences 5 men over violence linked to Ajax-Maccabi soccer game THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An Amsterdam District Court has issued sentences of up to six months in jail against 5 men who were involved in violent disorder after a soccer match between the Dutch club Ajax and Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv in November. The riots caused an international outcry and accusations of deliberate anti-Semitic attacks. The violence following a UEFA Europa League match left 5 people in hospital. More than 60 suspects were detained. The court on Tuesday sentenced one man to 6 months in prison, another to 2 1/2 months, two to 1 month and one to 100 hours of community service.

For the second year in a row, Baltimoreans will be able to listen to one of the defining songs of the holiday season — Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” — from the queen of the season’s own mouth. Carey is scheduled to visit Baltimore’s CFG Bank Arena on Dec. 7 as part of her 20-city “Mariah Carey’s Christmas Time” tour. This visit follows not quite a year after her Dec. 15, 2023 concert, which was part of her “Merry Christmas One and All!” tour. This year’s concerts are being produced by LiveNation, according to a news release. They are described as being the singer’s “grandest holiday spectacle to date” in celebration of the 30th anniversary of her the record-shattering song. Since the single was released in 1994 as part of Carey’s “Merry Christmas” album, it has become such a ubiquitous staple of holiday music that it is difficult to imagine getting through December without hearing it at least once. The show will also feature other holiday classics by Carey, alongside fan-favorite chart-toppers, according to the news release. Carey is the best-selling female artist of all time, according to the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and has written or co-written 18 of her 19 number one songs on the Billboard Hot 100. Tickets cost between $51 and $862 including fees, and can be bought at ticketmaster.com. Have a news tip? Contact Mary Carole McCauley at mmccauley@baltsun.com and 410-332-6704.

ITV I'm a Celebrity viewers emotional about loss of 'duo'Little girls dream of having a dad like Donald Nordahl. A dad who supports their aspirations of playing basketball. This was especially true in a time not so long ago — the late 1980s, into the 1990s — when Cindy Hoskins grew up in Tucson. There weren’t the opportunities there are today for youth girls’ teams and leagues. At 10 years old, Hoskins tried out for a boys’ team at Ott YMCA and was the only girl on the team — a shooting guard. Soon after, Nordahl bought season tickets for Arizona women’s basketball — some of the best seats in McKale Center right behind where today the UA’s ESPN+ stream team of Cindy Brunson and Joan Bonvicini sit — because he wanted his daughter to see women playing the game at a high level. Hoskins would go on to become a ball girl for the Wildcats, go to the coach’s summer camps and eventually played on the girls team at Sahuaro High School. Her dad went to all her games. That was 36 years ago, and Nordahl, now 82 years old, is still going to all Wildcat home games. Donald Nordahl is a longtime season ticket holder for Arizona women’s basketball. Nordahl poses for a photo before the start of the Weber State game at McKale Center on Dec. 16, 2024. “I like to see players develop year to year,” Nordahl said. “I really look forward to watching all the games, this is a lot of fun.” Back then, the price of a single ticket was $2. Now, it’s $12. His vantage point is also different as he gave up those close-to-the-action seats for one high above the court on the east side of the arena. Around five years ago, it became too difficult to get to his previous section with his scooter (he has Parkinson’s, a lung disease and is hard of hearing). Still, he hasn’t missed one game in all those years. Before his daughters went to college, he bought a duplex a mile away from McKale and now can be seen heading to games on his scooter towing an oxygen generator. He’s made friends with his seatmates in this newer section. He’s attended other UA sports, including football and softball, but it’s women’s basketball that really stuck with him. This love for women’s basketball started well before his daughter played. His mom played the game in high school. This was back when there were three players on offense, three on defense and they couldn’t cross the center line. Nordahl’s mom was a center — the tallest player at 5-6 — who liked to score and was aggressive. Nordahl didn’t play the game, those basketball genes seemed to have skipped a generation to Hoskins. “She showed an interest in basketball at a very young age; I was very surprised,” Nordahl said. “We walked up to the school (where they had a basketball hoop) and she couldn’t get the ball up more than 2 or 3 feet. I thought, ‘That’s the last time we’ll be here.’ But it was just the beginning.” Hoskins said that her friend could do it but she couldn’t and so she kept trying. In the beginning, she could only hit the net. “She kept doing that and I saw that she was a natural shooter, she liked basketball, so she kept going,” Nordahl said. As Nordahl turned his attention back to the court, he recalled his favorite Wildcats — across four coaches from June Olkowksi, Bonvicini, Niya Butts and now Adia Barnes. He reeled off some of the best to don a Wildcat uniform from the late Shawntinice Polk and Dee-Dee Wheeler to Brenda Pantoja and Felecity Willis. His memories of Barnes when she played was her quickness and how she didn’t look tall enough to play post (at 5-11, she was an undersized post in college). Arizona Wildcats head coach Adia Barnes talks to her players in the second half at McKale Center on Dec. 16, 2024. Arizona won 87-66. When Barnes was hired to lead the program in 2016, a friend of his who played on the Arizona men’s basketball team, the late Eddie Brown, told Nordahl, “You just watch, this team is going to do something special and is going to be a special program.” That’s what happened as Barnes put Arizona back on the map from winning the 2019 WNIT Championship to just missing out on bringing home the NCAA trophy in 2021, losing by one point to Stanford in the title game. In the midst of all of this, the Wildcats have brought many who developed into high-performing players. There are now eight Wildcats from the Barnes era playing basketball professionally (Aari McDonald, Trinity Baptiste, Cate Reese, Jade Loville, Shania Pellington, Bendu Yeaney, Esmery Martinez and Helena Pueyo.) Two others retired over the last 18 months or so (Sam Thomas and Dominique McBryde). Those players, the ones who developed, are the ones that Nordahl kept coming back to. He really isn’t a fan of all the moves in the extra transfer portal or paying of players. He saw the other path work over three decades and enjoys watching the day-to-day growth of these athletes. One who stood out was Pueyo — who stayed in Tucson for all five years. Last spring, Pueyo took over all aspects of the game from setting up her teammates, scoring herself, playing lockdown defense, as well as becoming UA’s career steals leader. “She didn’t start shooting until she was a senior and she had to,” Nordahl said. “She was a very unselfish player and I like that.” Who: Arizona Wildcats (10-4) vs. Utah Utes (10-2) Where: McKale Center When: Noon Tuesday Watch: ESPN+ Listen: 1400-AM Contact sports reporter PJ Brown at pjbrown@tucson.com . On X(Twitter): @PJBrown09 Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Reporter

ECHL Player Profile: Alex Young

Tech founders and Silicon Valley VCs who supported — and threw their money behind — Donald Trump are being handsomely rewarded by the President-elect. Shortly after winning the 2024 election, Trump appointed one of his biggest supporters, Elon Musk , to head up a new agency called the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Now, Trump is rewarding another wealthy tech founder for their loyalty: investor and podcaster David Sacks. "I am pleased to announce that David O. Sacks will be the 'White House A.I. & Crypto Czar,'" Trump announced in a post on his social media platform Truth Social. "In this important role, David will guide policy for the Administration in Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrency, two areas critical to the future of American competitiveness." According to Trump, Sacks' role will be to "safeguard Free Speech online" and "work on a legal framework" for the cryptocurrency industry. Trump also shared that Sacks would lead the Presidential Council of Advisors for Science and Technology. Sacks will be involved in crucial policy aspects of both a burgeoning technology in AI and a crypto industry ripe with fraud but expecting favorable treatment after throwing its support behind Trump. "Congrats to czar @DavidSacks!" OpenAI's Sam Altman posted on X shortly after the announcement from Trump. Who is David Sacks? Regular users of Musk's X , formerly Twitter, may have seen Sacks pop-up on the platform from time to time. Sacks' opinions obsessing over Russia's war with Ukraine have previously gone viral. He has often been critiqued for his seemingly pro-Russia and anti-Ukraine positions as well as fearmongering over a potential World War III. However, Sacks and Musk actually have history with each other — and a similar background. Like Musk, Sacks emigrated to the U.S. from South Africa. And in 1999, Sacks worked with Peter Thiel at PayPal, joining Musk as a member in the "PayPal Mafia," a group of early PayPal employees and founders who went on to find greater success founding their own tech startups. David Sacks and Elon Musk in 2006. In 2008, Sacks co-founded Yammer, a social media platform for enterprises. Microsoft acquired Yammer in 2012 for $1.2 billion. Microsoft would go on to integrate Yammer within its Microsoft 365 products. Since then, Sacks has invested in a number of tech startups and companies. He founded a VC firm called Craft Ventures in 2017. In 2020, Sacks started the All-In podcast alongside Jason Calacanis, Chamath Palihapitiya, and David Friedberg. The podcast, where the four entrepreneurs discuss business and current events, has gained popularity in tech circles. Over time, the show has shown increasing support for right-wing politics, including hosting Trump for an interview in June and featuring Sacks broadcasting live from the Republican National Convention during the summer. Sacks, specifically, has been increasingly making a name for himself in right-wing circles, opposing prominent progressive politicians and public servants over recent years. And while Sacks previously said that Trump's role in the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol disqualified the former president from serving again, the VC quickly changed his tune and hosted a high-ticket fundraiser for Trump's campaign earlier this year. For Sacks, it appears like the pro-Trump move has paid off — barring any future falling outs with the 47th President.

‘End of an era’: What’s next for Matt Gaetz?

Calhoun County E911 Becomes First to Launch Ryzyliant's Solution with INdigital NGCS SupportShares of CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. CRWD are trading down sharply on Friday. The move lower was triggered by news of insider selling. The stock teaches an important technical analysis lesson. This is why it is our Stock of the Day . One of the most interesting and misunderstood dynamics of technical analysis is its fractal nature. This means the same patterns can be seen on charts of different timeframes. In the stock market, there tends to be support at price levels that had been support previously. This is because of psychology. It is due to remorseful sellers. These are people who sold shares while the stock was at support that regretted doing so when the price rallied soon after. Many of them decide to buy their shares back if they can get them at the same price they were sold for. As a result, when the price drops back to the level that was support, they place buy orders. If there are enough of these buy orders it will form support at the level again. Read Also: Airline Stocks Outperform Tech In 2024: Holiday Travel ‘Expected To See Records This Year’ As you can see on the 4-month chart, there has been support around the $345.00 level for CrowdStrike. This is a graphical illustration of the sellers' remorse of swing traders. These traders typically have time horizons of a few weeks or months. 4-month chart One-Day Chart The same type of action can be seen on a one-day chart. The $350.00 has been support. This is a graphical illustration of sellers' remorse of traders that have short-term time horizons. This support was created by day traders. Technical analysis has a dubious reputation on Wall Street. This shouldn't be surprising. Many analysts don't understand some of the basic principles. If understood and applied correctly, technical analysis is the study of investor and trader psychology. Charts are graphical illustrations of this psychology. Regardless of the timeframe of a strategy that is being traded, the people who are doing the trading experience the same emotions. These are what appear on charts. This is why the same patterns appear of charts that have different time horizons. Read Next: Bitcoin Could Slide To $60,000, Technical Analyst Warns Image: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.NFL fans are fuming over an awful game on Thursday Night Football. The Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks produced one of the worst games of this NFL season. The two teams combined for just nine points in what was the lowest scoring game of the season. Chicago ended up losing to Seattle 6-3 in a game where no touchdowns were scored. It was an extremely ugly game, with neither Geno Smith nor Caleb Williams throwing for over 200 yards. Smith had a 47.1 QBR while Williams had a 24.4 QBR. Read more on the NFL The two quarterbacks also combined to get sacked 10 times over the course of the game. The terrible outcome has many fans questioning the future of Thursday Night Football. The short week for NFL teams leads to many injuries, and a lot of the time it leads to worse football games. This was especially apparent in this 6-3 stinker of a game. Most read in American Football Fans shared how much they disliked the product on the field on social media after the game. "I’d rather watch badminton at this point," one fan said. "Fell asleep 3 times," another fan said. "You can point to this game but it is not isolated," a third fan said. "Game should have been flexed for a different game tbh," a fourth fan said. "These schedule makers gotta go!" a fifth fan said. The biggest action to come out of the Thursday Night Football game was wide receiver DK Metcalf's antics on the field. August 1 - Hall of Fame Game - Houston Texans vs Chicago Bears August 8 - Pre-season begins August 27 - Deadline for 53-man rosters September 1 - Final day of pre-season September 5 - Season opener - Baltimore Ravens vs Kansas City Chiefs November 5 - Trade deadline January 5 - Week 18 of regular-season January 11 - Playoffs begin February 9 - Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana He was penalized multiple times for unsportsmanlike conduct throughout the game. Metcalf was seen pushing players on the head, and eventually headbutting another player. He only had 42 yards on the day, making his actions even more inexcusable. Read More on The US Sun Metcalf wasn't ejected from the game, but he did cost his team 15 yards multiple times. At least he gave viewers something to watch during the quiet game.How you can protect your text messages following FBI warning of massive Chinese hack8k8 online casino login 。

Eagle-eyed viewers spot Tulisa was eager to remove 'all traces' of I'm A Celeb

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is expected to announce that it will send $1.25 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, U.S. officials said Friday, as the Biden administration pushes to get as much aid to Kyiv as possible before leaving office on Jan. 20. The large package of aid includes a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the HAWK air defense system. It also will provide Stinger missiles and 155 mm- and 105 mm artillery rounds, officials said. The officials, who said they expect the announcement to be made on Monday, spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. The new aid comes as Russia has launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine’s power facilities in recent days, although Ukraine has said it intercepted a significant number of the missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are also still in a bitter battle around the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help reclaim territory taken by Ukraine. Earlier this month, senior defense officials acknowledged that that the Defense Department may not be able to send all of the remaining $5.6 billion in Pentagon weapons and equipment stocks passed by Congress for Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. Trump has talked about getting some type of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia, and spoken about his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin . Many U.S. and European leaders are concerned that it might result in a poor deal for Ukraine and they worry that he won't provide Ukraine with all the weapons funding approved by Congress. The aid in the new package is in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the Pentagon to take weapons off the shelves and send them quickly to Ukraine. This latest assistance would reduce the remaining amount to about $4.35 billion. Officials have said they hope that an influx of aid will help strengthen Ukraine’s hand, should Zelenskyy decide it’s time to negotiate. One senior defense official said that while the U.S. will continue to provide weapons to Ukraine until Jan. 20, there may well be funds remaining that will be available for the incoming Trump administration to spend. According to the Pentagon, there is also about $1.2 billion remaining in longer-term funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to pay for weapons contracts that would not be delivered for a year or more. Officials have said the administration anticipates releasing all of that money before the end of the calendar year. READ: If the new package is included, the U.S. has provided more than $64 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The United States is set to announce a significant $1.25 billion military assistance package for Ukraine next week. US officials revealed this on Friday, emphasizing the urgent push by the Biden administration to bolster Kyiv's defenses before leaving office on January 20. This hefty aid package features an extensive array of munitions, including support for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the HAWK air defense system. It also comprises Stinger missiles and artillery rounds of 155 mm and 105 mm, according to officials who shared details under anonymity. Ukrainian and Russian forces remain locked in fierce conflict around Kursk, with raids on Ukraine's power facilities. The US hopes this influx of aid will fortify Ukraine's position, possibly aiding President Zelenskyy in future negotiations with Russia. (With inputs from agencies.)

Energy Crisis Deepens in Transdniestria9 new districts cancelled in Rajasthan; Gehlot slams government's confused decision-making | WATCHNFL fans are fuming over an awful game on Thursday Night Football. The Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks produced one of the worst games of this NFL season. The two teams combined for just nine points in what was the lowest scoring game of the season. Chicago ended up losing to Seattle 6-3 in a game where no touchdowns were scored. It was an extremely ugly game, with neither Geno Smith nor Caleb Williams throwing for over 200 yards. Smith had a 47.1 QBR while Williams had a 24.4 QBR. Read more on the NFL The two quarterbacks also combined to get sacked 10 times over the course of the game. The terrible outcome has many fans questioning the future of Thursday Night Football. The short week for NFL teams leads to many injuries, and a lot of the time it leads to worse football games. This was especially apparent in this 6-3 stinker of a game. Most read in American Football Fans shared how much they disliked the product on the field on social media after the game. "I’d rather watch badminton at this point," one fan said. "Fell asleep 3 times," another fan said. "You can point to this game but it is not isolated," a third fan said. "Game should have been flexed for a different game tbh," a fourth fan said. "These schedule makers gotta go!" a fifth fan said. The biggest action to come out of the Thursday Night Football game was wide receiver DK Metcalf's antics on the field. August 1 - Hall of Fame Game - Houston Texans vs Chicago Bears August 8 - Pre-season begins August 27 - Deadline for 53-man rosters September 1 - Final day of pre-season September 5 - Season opener - Baltimore Ravens vs Kansas City Chiefs November 5 - Trade deadline January 5 - Week 18 of regular-season January 11 - Playoffs begin February 9 - Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana He was penalized multiple times for unsportsmanlike conduct throughout the game. Metcalf was seen pushing players on the head, and eventually headbutting another player. He only had 42 yards on the day, making his actions even more inexcusable. Read More on The US Sun Metcalf wasn't ejected from the game, but he did cost his team 15 yards multiple times. At least he gave viewers something to watch during the quiet game.Calhoun County E911 Becomes First to Launch Ryzyliant's Solution with INdigital NGCS Support

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's decision to break his word and pardon his son Hunter has spurred a broader discussion about what else he should be doing with the broad clemency powers of the presidency before he leaves office in January, including whether he should be pardoning Donald Trump. Biden on Tuesday ducked questions about his son, ignoring calls for him to explain his reversal as he was making his first presidential trip to Angola . He dismissed shouted questions about the matter with a laugh during a meeting with Angolan President João Lourenço at the presidential palace, telling the Angolan delegation: “Welcome to America.” Biden was not scheduled to take questions from the press during his trip to Africa, and he has largely avoided interactions with reporters since President-elect Trump’s victory last month. Biden’s decision to offer his son a blanket pardon for actions over the past 11 years has sparked a political uproar in Washington, after the president repeatedly had said he would not use his extraordinary powers for the benefit of his family. Biden claimed that the Justice Department had presided over a “miscarriage of justice” in prosecuting his son, using some of the same language that Trump uses to describe his own legal predicaments. Biden's reversal drew criticism from many Democrats , who are working to calibrate their approach to Trump as he prepares to take over the Oval Office in seven weeks. There is concern the pardon — and Biden's claims that his son was prosecuted for political reasons — will erode their ability to push back on the incoming president’s legal moves. And it has threatened to cloud Biden's legacy as he prepares to leave office on Jan. 20. Hunter Biden is the closest presidential relative ever to be granted clemency, but other leaders have pardoned family members and close friends. Bill Clinton pardoned his brother Roger for drug charges after Roger Clinton had served his sentence. By the time Trump left office after his first term, he had issued 144 pardons, which included Charles Kushner , the father of his son-in law, Jared Kushner. He also pardoned fervent supporters Steve Bannon, Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn and other people convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. In the months after the 2020 election, Trump and his allies were trying to overturn his loss, a failed effort that culminated in the violent riot by his supporters at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. There were discussions at the time over whether Trump would preemptively pardon some of those involved in the effort — and maybe even himself — before he left office. But that never happened. Now, Democrats are having similar discussions about preemptive pardons on their side because of Trump's rhetoric on the campaign trail. He's made no secret of his desire to seek revenge on those who prosecuted him or crossed him. He talks about "enemies from within." He's circulated social media posts that call for the jailing of Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former Vice President Mike Pence and Sens. Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer. He's also taken aim at Liz Cheney, a conservative Republican who campaigned for Harris, promoting a social media post that suggested he wanted military tribunals to punish her because she was guilty of treason. Sen. Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, said last week on Boston Public Radio that Biden might consider broad pardons to protect people against whatever wrath Trump may seek, but also as a way to move the country past this acrimonious and divided time. “I think that without question, Trump is going to try to act in a dictatorial way, in a fascistic way, in a revengeful first year at least of his administration toward individuals who he believes harmed him,” Markey said. Presidents enjoy expansive pardon powers when it comes to federal crimes . That includes granting clemency to people who have not yet been charged, as President Gerald Ford did in 1974 when he pardoned his predecessor, Richard Nixon, over the Watergate scandal. The decision at the time caused an uproar but has been seen in the ensuing decades as a move that helped restore order. Markey cited Ford's pardon as a way for the country “just to close that chapter and move on to a new era.” Biden could do the same, Markey said, to help the country move on “to an agenda that deals with the ordinary families.” Sen. Joe Manchin, the Democrat-turned-independent from West Virginia, took it a step further and suggested Biden should even pardon Trump for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, federal charges that are now evaporating with Trump's upcoming return to the White House. “Why don't you go ahead and pardon Donald Trump for all his charges?" he said in an interview with CNN. “It would have gone down a lot more balanced. I'm just saying, wipe them out.” At the same time, Democratic lawmakers and criminal justice reformers are pushing Biden to grant pardons to broad groups of Americans. Democrats Ayanna Pressley, Jim Clyburn and Mary Gay Scanlon wrote to Biden on Nov. 20, asking him to use his clemency powers to "address longstanding injustices in our legal system, and set our nation on the path toward ending mass incarceration.” The letter, also signed by 61 others, suggested Biden could use his powers to send a powerful message of criminal justice reform and "rectify unjust and unnecessary criminal laws passed by Congress and draconian sentences given by judges.” “We encourage you to use your clemency powers to help broad classes of people and cases, including the elderly and chronically ill, those on death row, people with unjustified sentencing disparities, and women who were punished for defending themselves against their abusers,” they wrote. So far, Biden has pardoned 25 people. Most presidents tend to grant a flurry of clemency requests at the end of their terms, and it's likely Biden will do the same. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has said Biden is “thinking through that process very thoroughly.” Weissert reported from Luanda, Angola.UConn announced a two-year contract extension for head football coach Jim Mora on Saturday, just before the team took the field for the Fenway Bowl against North Carolina. Mora’s contract extension will run through 2028 and will pay him $10 million through the remaining four years, with the opportunity to earn more in incentives. The 63-year-old coach is set to make $1.7 million next season, $1.9 million in 2026 and $2.3 and $2.4 million in 2027 and 2028, respectively. UConn then went out and thrashed North Carolina, 27-14, in a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicated. “I am forever grateful. I’m grateful to (athletic director) David (Benedict) and (school president) Radenka (Maric) and the Board of Trustees, but this is about what the (UConn players) did today,” Mora said when asked about the extension in the postgame press conference. People are also reading... North Iredell Holiday Classic Basketball Schedule 2 women arrested at Food Lion on Old Mountain Road in Statesville on drug charges Rowan County shooting suspect apprehended at Statesville motel Foxy Roxy's Pizza prepares to bring pizza perfection to downtown Statesville, one slice at a time Mooresville duo leads list of Iredell's top football players in 2024 2 US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent 'friendly fire' incident, US military says 5 newsmakers in 2024: North Iredell football snaps drought, Mooresville coach remembered Initial realignment draft puts 5 Iredell schools in same 6A/7A conference Cauthen, Statesville pull off road win in conference opener No. 8 seed South Iredell upends top seed West Iredell to cap first day of North Iredell Holiday Classic What’s open and closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2024? Pine Lake Prep's Ramanata leads list of 20 All-County honorees on the pitch Iredell Memorial Hospital named one of nation’s top hospitals Rudolph had a shiny nose and terrible name, former Statesville teacher writes Fear of white coats: How to overcome iatrophobia, a fear of doctors In a statement released by UConn ahead of the game, Mora said: “I’d like to thank David Benedict, Radenka Maric and the University of Connecticut leadership for their trust in me and their commitment to our football program. When I first got here, I talked about where we wanted this program to go and we have shown great progress but we still have plenty of work to do. The commitment and dedication from the university and the athletic department has me excited about the future for our football team.” “Three years ago, I tasked Jim Mora with the challenge of leading our football team back to success and through his experience, energy and leadership he has done just that,” UConn athletic director David Benedict said in a statement. “He has taken our program to post season bowl games twice and just guided our team to one of the best seasons in UConn football history, building a momentum to keep this program moving forward. I look forward to his leadership of our football team in the years ahead.” Mora is coming off one of the most successful seasons in UConn football history, having led the team to an 8-4 record and an appearance in the Fenway Bowl. It’s the Huskies’ second bowl appearance in three years. UConn’s eight wins is the most for the program since 2010, and the Huskies had their first winning season since that year, too. A win Saturday would give UConn nine wins for just the third time in program history, with the last two such seasons coming in 2003 and 2007. Robbins heading to Tulsa UConn quarterbacks coach Brad Robbins is heading to Tulsa as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, according to a report from CBS Sports. Robbins was part of a coaching staff that helped the offense produce its most prolific attack since the 2009 season and fifth-most in program history (32.3 points per game). Robbins worked at FCS Tennessee Tech and Division II North Greenville before joining Jim Mora’s staff in spring 2023. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Sean “Diddy” Combs appeared in court on November 22 to once again push for release in his Manhattan federal sex-trafficking case — a request already shot down by two other judges and an appeals court judge while the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals considers his bail request. When Combs entered the courtroom just after 2 p.m., he looked at his family in the gallery, blowing kisses and tapping his heart. Combs entered the courtroom unshackled. He sported a khaki jail uniform — button-down top, with a long-sleeved thermal underneath, and relaxed-fit pants — and embraced his attorneys before taking his seat at the defense table. Combs donned glasses as he looked over documents for several moments before the proceeding took off. Combs appeared attentive throughout the hearing. At various points, Combs sat with his arms crossed or sometimes on his lap. He took a sip of water at least once. Judge Arun Subramanian said that he would make his decision on bail next week, while the proceedings dished out more examples of Combs’s alleged bad-boy behavior behind bars. Prosecutors hammered him for breaking rules in jail, saying if Combs can’t be trusted in lockup, then he certainly can’t be trusted out on bail — no matter what measures were taken to keep the rapper in check. Combs’s lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, said he understood that home detention at Combs’s South Florida home — which is on an island, with a boat dock — would be a hard sell. Instead, they had found a three-bedroom apartment on the Upper East Side for Combs, where he could stay, along with three full-time security staff, if released. Combs’s bail proposal also included a $50 million bond, backed by his $48 million Star Island estate. “For conditions to be sufficient, there has to be some level of trust that the defendant will follow them, and the defendant here has demonstrated either he cannot or he will not follow rules,” prosecutor Christy Slavik told Subramanian. “The defendant, simply put, cannot be trusted — he’s left no doubt that he cannot comply with conditions.” Slavik said that Combs’s lawyers couldn’t control him — and that his pitch for 24/7 monitoring by private security, that he himself would bankroll, fell flat. “The defendant has continued to communicate through unauthorized channels at [jail], and he has continued to communicate through unauthorized channels through his attorneys,” she said. “His attorneys are effectively enabling his flouting of [jail] rules.” Combs was alledly engaging in inappropriate efforts to sway would-be jurors’ views of the case, including with his press strategy. “What we have here is the defendant’s concerted effort to affect the integrity of these proceedings,” Slavik said. Combs himself told familiars that he wanted this, she alleged. “He is saying, ‘I want to “reach for this jury, I just need one,”’ and it’s with that intent that he’s proceeding with these PR campaigns.” Slavik also fought Combs’s efforts to downplay the video showing him attacking former girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura in a hotel nearly a decade ago; she’s been referred to as Victim-1 in court proceedings. Combs’s camp has complained that the video presented to court — which has been used by prosecutors in pushing for his detention — was edited by CNN to play out of order. “It was a bit puzzling that the defendant brought this up, because there’s really no dispute as to what actually happened during that incident. In fact, the defendant admitted to it and apologized for it in a public Instagram post,” Slavik said. “Whether the video was slowed or spliced or edited by CNN, there’s really no dispute about what the video shows — it shows the defendant shoving, kicking, and dragging a female victim.” When making his pitch for bail, Agnifilo insisted there was context behind the video that undermines its being used as proof of violent proclivities. “It really is purely consistent with our view of this being a consensual, long-term, loving, fraught relationship that had a breakup, and the breakup wasn’t because of coerced sex or forced sex,” he argued. Combs was arrested on September 16 following numerous allegations of sexual misconduct. The indictment details a shocking history of alleged abuse over the course of “decades” and charges him with racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution. The Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office alleged that Combs “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct.” Combs, with the help of his employees, used his business empire to craft a “criminal enterprise,” according to federal prosecutors. The Feds contended that Combs verbally, emotionally, physically, and sexually abused women and others for years — and that he “manipulated women to participate in highly orchestrated performance of sexual activity with male commercial sex workers.” Civil lawsuits against Combs also allege abuse against men and boys. As for the women under his control, Combs maintained his authority by drugging them, threatening their careers, and abusing his financial power over them, prosecutors alleged. Combs used his criminal enterprise to draw women into his troubling world, frequently under the guise of a romantic relationship, and then force them to participate in what he referred to as “freak offs,” prosecutors said. These freak offs, the Feds claimed, “were elaborate and produced sex performances that Combs arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded.” These were allegedly frequent and sometimes lasted multiple days. After the freak offs concluded, Combs and his victims “typically received IV fluids to recover from the physical exertion and drug use,” prosecutors said. During a raid in March, prosecutors said, authorities found drugs and “more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant.” Male sex workers were purportedly at the core of the freak offs. The Feds claim that Combs used force and threats to pressure his victims to engage in “extended sex acts with male commercial sex workers,” according to the indictment. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Since Subramanian said he would issue a decision on bail next week, Combs will spend at least another weekend in jail and, in all likelihood, probably won’t be released before trial in May 2025. As Combs was escorted out of court, he offered his family gushy good-byes — the same kisses and waves with which he made his entrance.Stocks closed higher on Wall Street as the market posted its fifth straight gain and the Dow Jones Industrial Average notched another record high. The S&P 500 rose 0.3%. The benchmark index’s 1.7% gain for the week erased most of its loss from last week. The Dow rose 1% as it nudged past its most recent high set last week, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2%. Markets have been volatile over the last few weeks, losing ground in the runup to elections in November, then surging following Donald Trump's victory, before falling again. The S&P 500 has been steadily rising throughout this week to within close range of its record. It's now within about 0.5% of its all-time high set last week. “Overall, market behavior has normalized following an intense few weeks,” said Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide, in a statement. Several retailers jumped after giving Wall Street encouraging financial updates. Gap soared 12.8% after handily beating analysts' third-quarter earnings and revenue expectations, while raising its own revenue forecast for the year. Discount retailer Ross Stores rose 2.2% after raising its earnings forecast for the year. EchoStar fell 2.8% after DirecTV called off its purchase of that company's Dish Network unit. Smaller company stocks had some of the biggest gains. The Russell 2000 index rose 1.8%. A majority of stocks in the S&P 500 gained ground, but those gains were kept in check by slumps for several big technology companies. Nvidia fell 3.2%. Its pricey valuation makes it among the heaviest influences on whether the broader market gains or loses ground. The company has grown into a nearly $3.6 trillion behemoth because of demand for its chips used in artificial-intelligence technology. Intuit, which makes TurboTax and other accounting software, fell 5.7%. It gave investors a quarterly earnings forecast that fell short of analysts’ expectations. Story continues below video Facebook owner Meta Platforms fell 0.7% following a decision by the Supreme Court to allow a multibillion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit to proceed against the company. It stems from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm. All told, the S&P 500 rose 20.63 points to 5,969.34. The Dow climbed 426.16 points to 44,296.51, and the Nasdaq picked up 42.65 points to close at 2,406.67. European markets closed mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Crude oil prices rose. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.41% from 4.42% late Thursday. In the crypto market, bitcoin hovered around $99,000, according to CoinDesk. It has more than doubled this year and first surpassed the $99,000 level on Thursday. Retailers remained a big focus for investors this week amid close scrutiny on consumer spending habits headed into the holiday shopping season. Walmart, the nation's largest retailer, reported a quarter of strong sales and gave investors an encouraging financial forecast. Target, though, reported weaker earnings than analysts' expected and its forecast disappointed Wall Street. Consumer spending has fueled economic growth, despite a persistent squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. Inflation has been easing and the Federal Reserve has started trimming its benchmark interest rates. That is likely to help relieve pressure on consumers, but any major shift in spending could prompt the Fed to reassess its path ahead on interest rates. Also, any big reversals on the rate of inflation could curtail spending. Consumer sentiment remains strong, according to the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index. It revised its latest figure for November to 71.8 from an initial reading of 73 earlier this month, though economists expected a slight increase. It's still up from 70.5 in October. The survey also showed that consumers' inflation expectations for the year ahead fell slightly to 2.6%, which is the lowest reading since December of 2020. Wall Street will get another update on how consumers feel when the business group The Conference Board releases its monthly consumer confidence survey on Tuesday. A key inflation update will come on Wednesday when the U.S. releases its October personal consumption expenditures index. The PCE is the Fed's preferred measure of inflation and this will be the last PCE reading prior to the central bank's meeting in December.