casino vip High Wire Networks Strengthens Sales and Marketing Team to Accelerate Growth in Overwatch Managed Cybersecurity Recurring Revenue StreamsWINNIPEG - Kyle Walters doesn’t believe losing a third consecutive Grey Cup means the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ roster should be blown up. Read this article for free: Already have an account? As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Starting at $14.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! WINNIPEG - Kyle Walters doesn’t believe losing a third consecutive Grey Cup means the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ roster should be blown up. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? WINNIPEG – Kyle Walters doesn’t believe losing a third consecutive Grey Cup means the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ roster should be blown up. The CFL club’s general manager told reporters at his year-end availability Tuesday that reaching a fifth straight championship game by overcoming lots of injuries was a big accomplishment. Even before Winnipeg’s recent 41-24 Grey Cup loss to the Toronto Argonauts, Walters said he was looking forward to next season. “I was excited for next year based on what I’m looking at, compared to years past, where we’ve got more young guys that have contributed that are under contract,” he said. “We’ve got more young players in the building. So, the idea of, ‘This is the end of the road. The team is in a free-for-all downward,’ I don’t think is accurate. “We have a good group of guys and we were in a one-point (Grey Cup) game with 10 minutes left ... before things went downhill.” The Blue Bombers started the season 0-4, moved to 2-6 and finished 11-7 to claim the West Division title. Star receiver Dalton Schoen, veteran linebacker Adam Bighill and backup quarterback Chris Streveler all suffered season-ending injuries and are pending free agents. Negotiating with the team’s 27 unsigned players could be impacted by moves across the league among coaches, personnel staff and players such as quarterbacks, Walters said. The Bombers have given permission for offensive coordinator Buck Pierce to speak to the B.C. Lions and Edmonton Elks about those teams’ vacant head-coaching jobs, he said. Walters also revealed the Ottawa Redblacks were given the go-ahead to talk to Richie Hall about their defensive coordinator vacancy. Hall was a Winnipeg defensive assistant this season after Jordan Younger took over from him as defensive coordinator. Walters said the Bombers received permission to speak to Lions offensive coordinator Jordan Maksymic in case Pierce leaves. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have already been given the OK to talk to Winnipeg assistant general managers Danny McManus and Ted Goveia about the Ticats’ GM opening. “You’re hesitant to have too much conversation with people who may not be in the organization next year, so it’s just been me and (head coach) Mike (O’Shea) in this moment huddled together and talking about next year,” Walters said. He said an NFL team had asked Tuesday morning to work out one Blue Bomber, but he didn’t reveal the player’s name in case he wasn’t aware of the request yet. The Blue Bombers won the Grey Cup in 2019 and ’21, but lost 28-24 to the Montreal Alouettes last year and 24-23 to Toronto in 2022. Winnipeg re-signed placekicker Sergio Castillo last week. Walters said he’d like to have deals done with three or four main players before the end of the year. The team has some up-and-coming young players inked for next year, and injuries gave others valuable experience on both sides of the ball, Walters said. Receivers such as rookie Ontaria Wilson (1,026 yards receiving in 18 games) and Keric Wheatfall (273 yards in seven games) are signed through next season. “The experience that they got was invaluable,” Walters said. Re-signing players who missed time because of injuries can get tricky. “Organizationally, can we approach (their agents) and say, ‘Well, your guy was hurt, he should come back for less money?’” Walters said. “Generally, they don’t view it like that. They view that they’ll be back 100 per cent.” One question mark is the backup to starting quarterback Zach Collaros, who suffered a deep cut to the index finger of his throwing hand late in the third quarter of the Grey Cup. Collaros got five stitches and numbing agent applied to his finger. He returned with a bandage on it, but admitted he had a hard time gripping the ball. “We’ll have to find out who our offensive coordinator is first,” Walters said when asked who might be Collaros’s backup. Terry Wilson, who briefly replaced Collaros in the Grey Cup, and Jake Dolegala are signed for next year. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement

Scottish artist Jasleen Kaur who put doily on a car wins Turner Prize 2024

Gus Malzahn is resigning after four seasons as the head coach at UCF and will become the offensive coordinator at Florida State , according to multiple reports. Malzahn, 59, went 28-24 with the Knights, but after two nine-win seasons in the AAC, UCF fell to 10-15 in its first two years in the Big 12. Advertisement UCF finished 4-8 in 2024, ending the season with a 28-14 loss at home to Utah on Friday. Malzahn and Florida State coach Mike Norvell have known each other for almost 20 years. Malzahn was the offensive coordinator at Tulsa when he heard about Norvell through a friend. Malzahn hired Norvell — then a graduate assistant at Central Arkansas — as a GA with the Golden Hurricane before the 2007 season. Norvell rose the ranks after Malzahn left to become an assistant at Auburn. Malzahn will be taking over a Florida State offense that heads into its season-finale against Florida ranked 131st nationally in both yards per game and points per game. Malzahn is 105-62 in 13 seasons as an FBS head coach with one season at Arkansas State and eight at Auburn. The Arkansas native went 68-35 at Auburn, with a BCS championship game appearance in 2013, his first season as head coach. He never had a losing record there and went 3-5 against Nick Saban and Alabama in the Iron Bowl, but he was fired after the 2020 season , with the school paying a then-record $21.5 million buyout to get rid of him. Malzahn was also a successful offensive coordinator in the SEC, first at Arkansas and then at Auburn, helping Cam Newton and the Tigers win a national title in 2010. UCF athletic director Terry Mohajir swooped in soon after Auburn let Malzahn go and brought him to Orlando , a splashy move to replace Josh Heupel after he left for Tennessee. Malzahn seemed invigorated by the new challenge. He bought into the branding — and underlying idea — that UCF was the future of college football as a growing program in the center of one of the nation’s biggest football states. Malzahn’s 2024 recruiting class was the best in program history, finishing 39th in the 247Sports Composite. His staff fended off one of the in-state powers, Florida, to sign defensive lineman John Walker , the nation’s No. 95 overall prospect and the top recruit in program history. Advertisement But even during two seasons in the AAC, UCF failed to meet the elevated expectations of a program that went to back-to-back New Year’s Six Bowls in 2017 and 2018 under Scott Frost and Heupel. The Knights went 18-9 his first two seasons, losing the American title game in 2021 before beating Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl. All three former AAC schools, including Houston and Cincinnati , have struggled since entering the Big 12. UCF had the best first season by reaching a bowl game. But the Knights had one of the season’s biggest collapses when they blew a 28-point second-half lead to Baylor in their first conference home game in the Big 12. Year 2 was expected to bring success — or at least solid results — with Arkansas transfer KJ Jefferson a promising match for Malzahn’s offense. Instead, it brought a carousel at quarterback, a midseason firing of defensive coordinator Ted Roof , Malzahn handing off play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Tim Harris and several close losses that could have flipped the season. Malzahn had three years left on a contract that would have paid him about $5.5 million annually. Required reading (Photo: Julio Aguilar / Getty Images)Matt Gaetz says he won’t return to Congress next year after withdrawing name for attorney general

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Shailene Woodley still cries over ‘toxic’ Aaron Rodgers relationshipNEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers formally asked a judge Monday to throw out his hush money criminal conviction , arguing that continuing the case would present unconstitutional “disruptions to the institution of the Presidency.“ In a filing made public Tuesday, Trump’s lawyers told Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan that anything short of immediate dismissal would undermine the transition of power, as well as the “overwhelming national mandate" granted to Trump by voters last month. They also cited President Joe Biden’s recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “President Biden asserted that his son was ‘selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,’ and ‘treated differently,’" Trump’s legal team wrote. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, they claimed, had engaged in the type of political theater "that President Biden condemned.” Prosecutors will have until Dec. 9 to respond. They have said they will fight any efforts to dismiss the case but have indicated a willingness to delay the sentencing until after Trump’s second term ends in 2029. In their filing Monday, Trump's attorneys dismissed the idea of holding off sentencing until Trump is out of office as a “ridiculous suggestion.” Following Trump’s election victory last month, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed his sentencing, previously scheduled for late November, to allow the defense and prosecution to weigh in on the future of the case. He also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier. He says they did not and denies any wrongdoing. The defense filing was signed by Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, who represented Trump during the trial and have since been selected by the president-elect to fill senior roles at the Justice Department. Taking a swipe at Bragg and New York City, as Trump often did throughout the trial, the filing argues that dismissal would also benefit the public by giving him and “the numerous prosecutors assigned to this case a renewed opportunity to put an end to deteriorating conditions in the City and to protect its residents from violent crime.” Clearing Trump, the lawyers added, would also allow him to “to devote all of his energy to protecting the Nation.” Merchan hasn’t yet set a timetable for a decision. He could decide to uphold the verdict and proceed to sentencing, delay the case until Trump leaves office, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court or choose some other option. An outright dismissal of the New York case would further lift a legal cloud that at one point carried the prospect of derailing Trump’s political future. Last week, special counsel Jack Smith told courts that he was withdrawing both federal cases against Trump — one charging him with hoarding classified documents at his Florida estate, the other with scheming to overturn the 2020 presidential election he lost — citing longstanding Justice Department policy that shields a president from indictment while in office. The hush money case was the only one of Trump’s four criminal indictments to go to trial, resulting in a historic verdict that made him the first former president to be convicted of a crime. Prosecutors had cast the payout as part of a Trump-driven effort to keep voters from hearing salacious stories about him. Trump’s then-lawyer Michael Cohen paid Daniels. Trump later reimbursed him, and Trump’s company logged the reimbursements as legal expenses — concealing what they really were, prosecutors alleged. Trump has said the payments to Cohen were properly categorized as legal expenses for legal work. A month after the verdict, the Supreme Court ruled that ex-presidents can’t be prosecuted for official acts — things they did in the course of running the country — and that prosecutors can’t cite those actions to bolster a case centered on purely personal, unofficial conduct. Trump’s lawyers cited the ruling to argue that the hush money jury got some improper evidence, such as Trump’s presidential financial disclosure form, testimony from some White House aides and social media posts made during his first term. Prosecutors disagreed and said the evidence in question was only “a sliver” of their case. If the verdict stands and the case proceeds to sentencing, Trump’s punishments would range from a fine to probation to up to four years in prison — but it’s unlikely he’d spend any time behind bars for a first-time conviction involving charges in the lowest tier of felonies. Because it is a state case, Trump would not be able to pardon himself once he returns to office. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

WINNIPEG — Kyle Walters doesn’t believe losing a third consecutive Grey Cup means the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ roster should be blown up. The CFL club’s general manager told reporters at his year-end availability Tuesday that reaching a fifth straight championship game by overcoming lots of injuries was a big accomplishment. Even before Winnipeg’s recent 41-24 Grey Cup loss to the Toronto Argonauts, Walters said he was looking forward to next season. “I was excited for next year based on what I'm looking at, compared to years past, where we've got more young guys that have contributed that are under contract," he said. "We've got more young players in the building. So, the idea of, ‘This is the end of the road. The team is in a free-for-all downward,’ I don’t think is accurate. "We have a good group of guys and we were in a one-point (Grey Cup) game with 10 minutes left ... before things went downhill.” The Blue Bombers started the season 0-4, moved to 2-6 and finished 11-7 to claim the West Division title. Star receiver Dalton Schoen, veteran linebacker Adam Bighill and backup quarterback Chris Streveler all suffered season-ending injuries and are pending free agents. Negotiating with the team’s 27 unsigned players could be impacted by moves across the league among coaches, personnel staff and players such as quarterbacks, Walters said. The Bombers have given permission for offensive coordinator Buck Pierce to speak to the B.C. Lions and Edmonton Elks about those teams’ vacant head-coaching jobs, he said. Walters also revealed the Ottawa Redblacks were given the go-ahead to talk to Richie Hall about their defensive coordinator vacancy. Hall was a Winnipeg defensive assistant this season after Jordan Younger took over from him as defensive coordinator. Walters said the Bombers received permission to speak to Lions offensive coordinator Jordan Maksymic in case Pierce leaves. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have already been given the OK to talk to Winnipeg assistant general managers Danny McManus and Ted Goveia about the Ticats’ GM opening. “You're hesitant to have too much conversation with people who may not be in the organization next year, so it's just been me and (head coach) Mike (O’Shea) in this moment huddled together and talking about next year,” Walters said. He said an NFL team had asked Tuesday morning to work out one Blue Bomber, but he didn’t reveal the player’s name in case he wasn’t aware of the request yet. The Blue Bombers won the Grey Cup in 2019 and ’21, but lost 28-24 to the Montreal Alouettes last year and 24-23 to Toronto in 2022. Winnipeg re-signed placekicker Sergio Castillo last week. Walters said he’d like to have deals done with three or four main players before the end of the year. The team has some up-and-coming young players inked for next year, and injuries gave others valuable experience on both sides of the ball, Walters said. Receivers such as rookie Ontaria Wilson (1,026 yards receiving in 18 games) and Keric Wheatfall (273 yards in seven games) are signed through next season. “The experience that they got was invaluable,” Walters said. Re-signing players who missed time because of injuries can get tricky. “Organizationally, can we approach (their agents) and say, 'Well, your guy was hurt, he should come back for less money?’” Walters said. “Generally, they don't view it like that. They view that they'll be back 100 per cent.” One question mark is the backup to starting quarterback Zach Collaros, who suffered a deep cut to the index finger of his throwing hand late in the third quarter of the Grey Cup. Collaros got five stitches and numbing agent applied to his finger. He returned with a bandage on it, but admitted he had a hard time gripping the ball. “We'll have to find out who our offensive coordinator is first,” Walters said when asked who might be Collaros’s backup. Terry Wilson, who briefly replaced Collaros in the Grey Cup, and Jake Dolegala are signed for next year. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024. Judy Owen, The Canadian Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Lawyers for Sean “Diddy” Combs tried for a third time Friday to persuade a judge to let him leave jail while he awaits his sex trafficking trial, but a decision won’t come until next week. Judge Arun Subramanian said at a hearing that he will release his decision on Combs' latest request for bail after Combs’ lawyers and federal prosecutors file letters addressing outstanding issues. Those letters are due at noon on Monday, Subramanian said. Combs’ lawyers pitched having him await trial under around-the-clock surveillance either his mansion on an island near Miami Beach or — after the judge scoffed at that location — an apartment on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Their plan essentially amounts to putting Combs on house arrest, with strict limits on who he has contact with. But prosecutors argue that Combs has routinely flouted jail rules and can't be trusted not to interfere with witnesses or the judicial process. “The argument that he’s a lawless person who doesn’t follow instructions isn’t factually accurate,” Combs lawyer Anthony Ricco argued. “The idea that he’s an out-of-control individual who has to be detained isn’t factually accurate.” Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he coerced and abused women for years with help from a network of associates and employees while silencing victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings. His trial is slated to begin May 5. The Bad Boy Records founder remains locked up at a Brooklyn federal jail, where he spent his Nov. 4 birthday. Two other judges previously concluded that Combs would be a danger to the community if he is released and an appeals court judge last month denied Combs’ immediate release while a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals weighs his bail request. Friday's hearing was the second time Combs was in court this week. On Tuesday, a judge blocked prosecutors from using as evidence papers that were seized from his cell during jail-wide sweep for contraband and weapons at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. As he entered through a side door, Combs waved to relatives including his mother and several of his children in the courtroom gallery, tapping his hand to his heart and blowing kisses at them. He then hugged his lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, before taking a seat at the defense table. He was not handcuffed or shackled and wore a beige jail uniform, occasionally pulling a pair of reading glasses from his pocket as he peered at papers in front of him. Prosecutors maintain that no bail conditions will mitigate the “risk of obstruction and dangerousness to others” of releasing Combs from jail. Prosecutors contend that while locked up the “I'll Be Missing You” artist has orchestrated social media campaigns aimed at tainting the jury pool. They allege that he has also attempted to publicly leak materials he thinks would be helpful to his case and is contacting potential witnesses via third parties. “Simply put, the defendant cannot be trusted,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik argued. Combs’ lawyer Teny Geragos countered that, given the strict release conditions proposed, “it would be impossible for him not to follow rules.”FedEx Corp. stock underperforms Thursday when compared to competitorsBigBear.ai ( BBAI 9.58% ) stock is rocketing higher in Thursday's trading. The company's share price was up 12.8% as of 3:15 p.m. ET and had been up as much as 22.6% earlier in the day's session. BigBear.ai is surging today thanks to meme stock momentum. Meme stocks have enjoyed bullish energy lately, and BigBear's share price has seen explosive gains recently on the heels of a report which raised the possibility that the company could be the next Palantir . BigBear.ai rallies on continued meme stock momentum On Dec. 2, The Economic Times published an article discussing Bigbear.ai and whether the stock had the potential to deliver multibagger returns comparable to recent gains posted by Palantir -- a leader in artificial intelligence ( AI ) technologies. While there wasn't any new information contained in the report, the write-up was enough to help spur big gains for BigBear.ai's share price. In conjunction with expectations that next year could bring new rounds of cuts for interest rates and corporate taxes and a more lax regulatory climate, meme stocks have been posting explosive gains lately. BigBear.ai stock is now up roughly 82% over the last month. What's next for BigBear.ai stock? BigBear.ai has been an explosive winner lately, and it's possible that the company's market-crushing gains will continue in the near term. Investors are on the hunt for the next big opportunity in the AI software space, and the announcement of new contract wins and solid financial results could have the effect of pushing the software specialist's valuation above current levels. On the other hand, investors should probably move forward with the understanding that recent gains for the stock have not been driven by any breakthroughs in fundamental business performance. With the company's share price climbing thanks to meme stock momentum and excitement surrounding the broader AI software category, BigBear.ai looks riskier on the heels of its recent rally.

Illustration showing what the new Kettering General Hospital could look like after the rebuild. (Image: KGH) Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice A Northamptonshire councillor has accused the Labour government of holding the New Hospital Programme review as part of a "warm-up exercise" before cutting funding. The local Conservative party passed a motion last Thursday (December 5) asking the leader to write to government for an 'urgent commitment' towards delivering the funding for the Kettering General Hospital (KGH) rebuild. A Labour Paty spokesperson said that hospital building commitments made under the previous Conservative government were "both unfunded and based on an entirely fictional timetable" and that their review is "working at pace". The previous government's 40 New Hospitals Programme was put under review by Labour as part of nationwide cost-saving measures and plans for a total renovation of KGH remain in limbo. So far, funding has only been secured for a new energy centre and the full business case for the North Northants hospital is yet to be approved. Burton and Broughton councillor Alex Evelyn (Cons), called on North Northants Council (NNC) Leader Jason Smithers to write to the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, to ask for confirmation of the hospital's business case and funding so the rebuild can begin. Hospital bosses have already confirmed that the new KGH would not be complete by the previous Government's 2030 deadline . Proposing the motion at a full council, Cllr Evelyn said: " On the 10 June, when the Chancellor came to Kettering, she said that the Tory claim that Labour would shelve KGH is 'a load of rubbish'. It’s interesting how over the space of five or six months the 'load of rubbish' seems to be coming from Labour’s promises. "While I accept that no final decision has been made on whether KGH has been completely cancelled, the dither and delay will inevitably impact the morale of staff and patients. It would be nice to see this evening if local Labour would have the courage to fight for our residents, our community and our much-needed infrastructure investment." During the debate, Labour Group leader Cllr Matt Keane accused the Conservative motion of turning the issue into a "political football match". He asked that the chamber support his amendment, which included a statement on the previous Conservative government's 'failure' to outline spending commitments or a realistic timeline. He said the project had gone "off track" long before Labour took office and that the previous administration should have made more progress. "The one thing the project needs is a realistic timeline and a proper budget- this was not achieved by the previous government. It’s misleading to say the £620m earmarked for Kettering General Hospital because it’s a matter of public record that only £9.5m was allocated. "I’m hoping that the members opposite will support this amendment which will take the political football out of it, ask the leader to write to Wes Streeting to approve the rebuild of Kettering General Hospital, commit the funding required and outline a realistic timeline to deliver the project." Windmill councillor Anne Lee (Lab) said that their proposal removed what she called "factual inaccuracies" in the original motion. She added: "Yes, of course we need a new hospital, but you can’t expect the current government to magic up money that was promised twice by Philip Hollobone, but not delivered by the previous government." Leader of NNC, Cllr Jason Smithers said: "I think probably that a lot of the money and these black holes that keep appearing everywhere is really just a thing of your government paying its paymasters in the unions and looking after the train drivers rather than looking after the residents of North Northamptonshire. "Support us on our motion, we’ll hopefully get our hospital, we’ll all put pressure on the government. If we don’t put that pressure on now, in five years we will get to breaking point at that hospital." Labour councillor Leanne Buckingham responded to his claims, saying that they were paying key workers a fair and decent wage, not so-called "paymasters". She added: "We all want this, we desperately need a hospital that is fit for purpose and that is accessible." The opposition's amendment was voted out 38 to nine, with two members abstaining from voting. Deputy leader of NNC, Cllr Helen Howell stood to address fellow councillors: "What I can’t understand is why anybody thinks that a review needs to take place because all of the due diligence was done previously. "A vote against this motion you are saying that actually all of the work that’s been done before, the fact that we need a new hospital, you disagree with. Our residents deserve a new hospital, stop these ridiculous reviews and get on with the job in hand." Summing up, Cllr Evelyn told the room before the vote: "You only have reviews when you’re going to cut something. This is the warm-up exercise before the cuts come." The original motion passed and Cllr Jason Smithers will write to the Health Secretary with the KGH requests. Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow CambridgeLive Facebook Twitter More On Northamptonshire Conservative Party Labour Party

CAIRO: Early-stage startups across the Middle East and North Africa region secure investments to drive innovation in sectors such as logistics, fintech, and climate tech. Saudi-based Nama Ventures co-led Egypt’s Nowlun $1.7 million seed funding round along with venture capital firm A15. The round also saw participation from Sanabil 500 Global and other angel investors. Founded in 2021 by Moataz Khamis, Ahmed Emara, and Mahmoud Khaled, Nowlun’s platform provides businesses with access to real-time pricing across major shipping lines, enabling them to make faster and more informed decisions. The company plans to utilize the raised capital for expansion and the development of its technology. Mohammed Al-Zubi, founder of Nama Ventures, and Bassem Raafat, principal at A15, lauded the company’s mission and strategy. Saudi investment firm Naif Al Rajhi Investment has acquired a strategic stake in Jordan-based artificial intelligence Arabic content platform Mawdoo3 for an undisclosed amount. Founded in 2010 by Mohammad Jaber and Rami Al-Qawasmi, Mawdoo3 specializes in AI technologies and large language models tailored to the Arabic language. The deal aligns with Naif Al Rajhi Investment’s focus on emerging sectors, while providing the Jordan-based firm with the resources to expand into the Saudi market. Mawdoo3, which has raised $25 million over three funding rounds – including a $10 million series B in 2019 – is poised to strengthen its regional presence through this partnership. Geidea, a prominent Saudi provider of digital payment solutions, is set to launch its SoftPos service in Egypt after successful rollouts in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The SoftPos technology enables merchants to accept secure contactless payments via smartphones, eliminating the need for traditional point-of-sale devices. This expansion is part of Geidea’s strategy to drive digital transformation across the region by enhancing payment efficiency and accessibility for businesses of all sizes. SoftPos allows merchants to process secure payments directly from smartphones, adhering to global data protection and transaction safety standards, the company explained. Flat6Labs, a seed and early-stage venture capital firm operating in the MENA region, has invested in 10 Saudi startups as part of its fourth Riyadh Seed Program cycle. The startups span a variety of sectors, including e-commerce, logistics, Software-as-a-Service, and cybersecurity, and each received $133,000 in funding. The initiative is supported by the Saudi Venture Capital Co., Jada Fund of Funds, and Riyadh Valley Company, with additional backing from the National Technology Development Program. Since launching its Riyadh program in 2023, Flat6Labs has funded 41 startups, solidifying its role in fostering innovation in Saudi Arabia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Egypt-based used car marketplace Sylndr has raised $7.46 million in a capital facility to support its operations and growth. EFG Hermes acted as the sole financial advisor for the transaction, with financing provided by EFG Corp-Solutions, Bank NXT, and EG Bank, among others. Founded in 2021 by Amr Mazen and Omar El-Defrawy, Sylndr enables users to buy and sell used cars while offering financing solutions. The new capital will be used to enhance customer experience, diversify inventory, and expand financing options. This follows a $12.6 million pre-seed round in 2022, led by RAED Ventures and Algebra Ventures. Premium Technology & Services, a Morocco-based fintech startup, has secured $500,000 from BMCE Capital Investments, the private equity arm of BMCE Capital Group. The funding will be used to advance PTS’s solutions for digitizing traditional banking cards, which are tailored to meet the evolving needs of banks and businesses. Founded in 2020 by Samir Younes and two others, PTS plans to leverage the investment to drive innovation and scale operations to meet increasing demand in the region. UK-based climate tech company Watercycle Technologies has closed a $5.6 million series A investment round led by Par Equity, alongside participation from Aer Ventures, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and the University of Manchester Innovation Factory. Founded in 2020 by Ahmed Abdelkarim and Sebastian Leaper, Watercycle Technologies focuses on sustainable critical mineral recovery while producing clean, drinkable water. This investment will help the company expand its operations, with plans to extend services into the MENA region to support global Net Zero initiatives. Eduba, an Iraq-based education tech startup, has been acquired by an undisclosed telecommunications conglomerate in a seven-figure deal. Founded in 2019 by Azad Hassan, Haider Shaaban, and Raed Kadhem, Eduba began as a school management app and gained traction among private schools, securing accreditation from Iraq’s Ministry of Education. This acquisition highlights the growing value of edtech solutions in the region and positions Eduba for further expansion under its new ownership. Japan-based AI startup Recursive Inc. has signed a memorandum of understanding with the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center in Saudi Arabia to jointly develop an advanced system for the early detection of tuberculosis. The partnership, formalized during the Riyadh Global Medical Biotechnology Summit, aims to leverage Recursive’s AI expertise and KAIMRC’s medical research capabilities to improve TB screening accuracy and diagnosis speed in the Kingdom. This collaboration, supported by the Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals to transform its healthcare system and improve public health. Using chest X-ray imaging data, the AI solution will enable timely TB diagnosis and treatment, reducing mortality and transmission risks. “We are truly honored to partner with KAIMRC on this groundbreaking initiative,” said Tiago Ramalho, CEO of Recursive Inc. “By combining KAIMRC’s pioneering medical research with our AI expertise, we are confident we can make a meaningful impact, not only in Saudi Arabia but also in regions worldwide that face the increasing challenge of TB and other infectious diseases,” he added. The initiative also supports Saudi Arabia’s National Tuberculosis Program, which seeks to reduce TB mortality and incidence rates by 95 percent and 90 percent, respectively, by 2035 compared to 2015 levels. Through this collaboration, Recursive and KAIMRC aim to create a scalable TB screening model for broader application in high-burden regions while exploring the use of AI to address other infectious diseases.

Chennai on Saturday witnessed gusty winds and rain, uprooting many trees and causing water logging in many parts of the city as the Cyclonic Storm Fengal is expected to cross the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast this evening. Officials were seen clearing the uprooted trees from the roadsides. The India Meteorological Department ( IMD ) has reported that Cyclonic Storm Fengal is expected to cross the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram on Saturday evening, with wind speeds of 70-80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph. Meanwhile, officials in Puducherry monitored the situation from the Disaster Management Control Room ahead of the landfall of Fengal. According to the IMD, Cyclone Fengal over the southwest Bay of Bengal is moving west-northwestwards at a speed of 10 kmph and is currently located near latitude 12.3°N and longitude 80.7°E, approximately 100 km east-northeast of Puducherry and 100 km southeast of Chennai. 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There is a possibility of a slowdown in the system's movement as it approaches the coast. The system is being continuously monitored," the IMD stated. The IMD also noted that wind speeds in the Tiruvallur to Mayiladuthurai regions are expected to range from 70-90 kmph during landfall. On Sunday, coastal areas from Tiruvallur to Nagapattinam districts are expected to experience wind speeds of 50-70 kmph. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall lashed several parts of Tamil Nadu as the cyclone approached. In Chennai, visuals showed waterlogged roads due to incessant rainfall. Several areas, including New Washermanpet, the Gemini Flyover, and Mount Road, reported ankle-deep waterlogging, causing slow movement and difficulties for vehicles, including cars and two-wheelers. Cyclone Fengal has also caused rough sea conditions, strong winds, and incessant rainfall in Chennai since last night. The IMD stated that the cyclone is being closely monitored using Doppler weather radars at Chennai (S-band), Sriharikota, and Chennai (X-band), along with satellite observations. In light of the cyclone, multiple airlines have issued travel advisories and updates on flight services due to the heavy rains in Chennai. Authorities have also advised fishermen to avoid venturing into the sea due to high waves and turbulent conditions. Residents have been urged to stay away from beaches, including Marina Beach, Pattinapakkam, and Edward Elliot's Beach, while tourist spots in Puducherry have been temporarily closed as a precaution. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )

Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it?

Dillon Gabriel was faced with a quandary when he arrived at Oregon this year. Gabriel had worn No. 8 at Oklahoma before transferring for his sixth season of eligibility. But in Eugene, that number had special significance because it had been worn by Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota. There were many similarities between the two: They were both dual-threat quarterbacks who had piled up accolades along with yards and touchdowns. Both hailed from Hawaii and were shaped by the island spirit. Mariota chose the No. 8 initially because of the number of Hawaiian islands. His helmet's facemask was formed in an 808, Hawaii's area code. So Gabriel took a leap of faith and texted Mariota to ask his permission. Mariota, now with the NFL's Washington Commanders, said yes. "You know, when you’re growing up and you have that kind of direct example, a guy from Hawaii, playing at a high level, at the DI level, and then you see him go to the NFL, it’s like you can see it, you can believe it,” Gabriel said. Gabriel has led the top-ranked Ducks (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten) through an undefeated season and on to the Big Ten title game on Saturday against No. 4 Penn State (11-1, 8-1) in Indianapolis. Gabriel — who played his first three years at Central Florida before joining the Sooners — became the all-time NCAA leader for total career touchdowns along the way and now has 183, including 149 via pass, 33 via rush and one reception. He's tied with former Oregon quarterback Bo Nix — now with the Denver Broncos — with an FBS-record 61 career starts. Ever humble, Gabriel is thoughtful about the arc of his career. "I think we’re in an interesting time that’s all about results. And so many people talk about the process but aren’t patient enough. I think if you look at my body of work, I’m a guy who’s eager and wants to get better but has had that time to develop and work in that way. I think you see it over time," Gabriel said. As a Duck, Gabriel has thrown for 3,277 yards and 24 TDs in 12 games. He's rushed for seven more scores. Mariota spent his three-year college career at Oregon, throwing for 104 touchdowns and running for 29 more. He was the Ducks' quarterback in the 2014 season, the last time Oregon advanced to the national championship game. "I mean, everybody would love to run out there with the experience that we have at quarterback right now,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “And I think that experience shows up consistently every Saturday for us. More than anything, just the ability for Dillon to be calm within the chaos that exists in a football game, and being a great decision-maker and understanding the scheme.” The only other time Oregon finished the regular season 12-0 was in 2010, when the Ducks played for the BCS national championship. Among the team's victories this season was a 32-31 win at home over Ohio State and a 38-17 victory over Michigan at the Big House. The Ducks capped the season with a 49-21 victory over rival Washington , finishing 9-0 in their first Big Ten year. Gabriel threw for a pair of touchdowns and ran for another in that game. The Nittany Lions advanced to the conference title game with a 44-7 victory over Maryland on Saturday. They were helped by Ohio State’s 13-10 loss to Michigan in Columbus. Oregon has played the Nittany Lions just one other time, in the 1995 Rose Bowl. Penn State, led by Joe Paterno, won that one, 38-20. The winner in Indianapolis this weekend can secure a first-round bye in the expanded 12-team playoffs. Both teams are assured of a playoff berth even with a loss. On Tuesday, Gabriel added another honor when he was named Big Ten offensive player of the year. "He’s earned the trust and the admiration of all his teammates and the coaches around him," Lanning said. "This guy prepares extremely hard. He is the calmest dude you’ve ever been around on the field, which is impressive, but I’m really proud of him and what he’s been able to do for this team.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 all the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballThe Chicago Blackhawks fired coach Luke Richardson on Thursday with the team sitting at the bottom of the NHL standings. Anders Sorensen, coach of the Blackhawks' Rockford IceHogs team in the American Hockey League, was named interim head coach. The move happened with generational player Connor Bedard going through a sophomore slump and unhappy with his production. He had a recently ended a 12-game goal drought and didn't make the Canadian roster for this season's 4 Nations Face-Off . "As we have begun to take steps forward in our rebuilding process, we felt that the results did not match our expectations for a higher level of execution this season and ultimately came to the decision that a change was necessary," general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement about the coaching move. Richardson, 55, was hired before the start of the 2022-23 season. The Blackhawks finished 30th overall, moved up three spots in the draft lottery and chose Bedard, considered the NHL's best prospect since Connor McDavid. All things Blackhawks: Latest Chicago Blackhawks news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more. He was coach for Bedard's first NHL season, when the center won rookie of the year despite missing 14 games with a broken jaw . But the Blackhawks finished with the league's second worst record and a .317 points percentage. It has been more of the same, even with Chicago adding veterans Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen to complement Bedard. The Blackhawks' record is 8-16-2 and they're in a 2-7-1 slump. Richardson leaves Chicago with a 57-118-15 record and won't get a chance to coach in this season's Winter Classic. Richardson is the third NHL coach to be fired this season, following the Boston Bruins' Jim Montgomery and the St. Louis Blues' Drew Bannister . Sorenson, 49, a native of Sweden, has been with the Blackhawks organization since 2013-14 and become Rockford head coach in 2021-22, making the playoffs in all three seasons.

President-elect Donald Trump on Friday nominated Dr. Marty Makary to lead the Food and Drug Administration , selecting a surgeon and author who gained national attention for opposing vaccine mandates and some other public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Makary, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, is the latest in a string of Trump nominees who have declared the U.S. health system “broken” and in need of a shakeup. Philadelphia news 24/7: Watch NBC10 free wherever you are In books and articles Makary has decried the overprescribing of drugs, the use of pesticides on foods and the undue influence of pharmaceutical and insurance companies over doctors and government regulators. He will need to be confirmed by the Republican-led Senate to take the post. Trump announced the nomination in a statement Friday night, saying Makary “will restore FDA to the gold standard of scientific research, and cut the bureaucratic red tape at the agency to make sure Americans get the medical cures and treatments they deserve.” Headquartered in the Maryland suburbs outside Washington, the 18,000 employees of the FDA are responsible for the safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs , vaccines and medical devices as well as a swath of other consumer goods, including food , cosmetics and vaping products . Altogether those products represent an estimated 20% of U.S. consumer spending annually, or $2.6 trillion. Makary gained prominence on Fox News and other conservative outlets for his contrarian views during the COVID-19 pandemic. He questioned the need for masking and, though not opposed to the COVID-19 vaccine, had concerns about vaccinations in young children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that COVID-19 vaccinations prevented more than 686,000 U.S. deaths in 2020 and 2021 alone. While children faced much lower rates of hospitalization and death from the virus, medical societies including the American Academy of Pediatrics concluded that vaccinations significantly reduced severe disease in the age group. Trained as a surgeon and cancer specialist, Makary was part of a vocal group of physicians calling for greater emphasis on herd immunity to stop the virus, or the idea that mass infections would quickly lead to population-level protection. In a February 2021 Wall Street Journal piece , he wrote that “COVID will be mostly gone by April, allowing Americans to resume normal life.” That summer the delta variant of the virus ripped through the U.S. , followed by omicron in the winter, leading to hundreds of thousands of additional deaths. If confirmed, Makary would be expected to report to anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , Trump's pick to oversee the nation’s Department of Health and Human Services , which includes the FDA. Makary does not share Kennedy’s discredited views on vaccines , but he has a similar distrust of the pharmaceutical industry. Makary has lamented how drugmakers used misleading data to urge doctors to prescribe OxyContin and other opioids as low-risk, non-addictive pain relievers. That marketing was permitted under FDA-approved labeling from the 1990s, suggesting the drugs were safe for common ailments like back pain. In more recent years, the FDA has come under fire for approving drugs for Alzheimer's , ALS and other conditions based on incomplete data that failed to show meaningful benefits for patients. A push toward greater scrutiny of drug safety and effectiveness would be a major reversal at FDA, which for decades has focused on speedier drug approvals . That trend has been fueled by industry lobbying and fees paid by drugmakers to help the FDA hire additional reviewers. Kennedy has proposed ending those payments, which would require billions in new funding from the federal budget. Other administration priorities would likely run into similar roadblocks. For instance, Kennedy wants to bar drugmakers from advertising on TV , a multibillion-dollar market that supports many TV and cable networks. The Supreme Court and other conservative judges would likely overturn such a ban on First Amendment grounds that protect commercial speech, experts note. Makary would also inherit a raft of ongoing projects at the FDA kicked off by outgoing Commissioner Robert Califf, including the reorganization of the agency's food division and plans to regulate artificial intelligence in medical technology. In the event of other controversial initiatives under Trump, career staffers may simply drag the work out until a new administration comes to power. “The bureaucracy can wait anybody out, and that’s an attitude I think you’ll hear a lot,” said Wayne Pines, a former FDA official under Republican and Democratic administrations. Trump appointments and nominees Here are some of the people that President-elect Donald Trump has named for high-profile positions in his administration. Positions in orange require Senate confirmation. Source: NBC News The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.