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Takeaways from AP’s reporting on a child sex abuse crisis inside a secretive Christian sect
Associated Press
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — For decades, a little-known Christian sect has dealt with its abusive ministers and spiritual elders mostly in secret, shunning legal action in favor of urging victims to forgive the predators in their midst.
Forgiveness, however, was far from a cure: The abusers were often sent to live with other unsuspecting families, where they had easy access to new victims.
Now a grassroots effort by survivors has exposed the depth of the scandal — documenting allegations against more than 900 abusers in 30 countries, with cases continuing to emerge — and thrust the nameless sect into the public eye. The FBI has also launched an investigation into the group, sometimes called the “Two by Twos.”
The Associated Press interviewed more than a dozen current and former members, workers and experts, and reviewed letters, court documents and other records supporting the allegations. Several sect leaders and ministers either declined interview requests or did not respond to messages.
Here are some takeaways from the AP’s reporting.
The core doctrine of the sect put kids at high risk
Child sex abuse is a significant problem within many religious institutions: Insurance data company Advisen lists child sexual abuse as the second most frequent insurance loss for religious organizations, after wage-related claims. But survivors say the tenets of the Two by Twos place kids at particularly high risk.
The sect believes its volunteer ministers, called “workers,” should live among followers and rely on them for food, housing and other needs.
Many survivors told the AP they were abused by preachers staying in their homes. In some cases, the abuse was revealed and the offending worker was asked to leave the ministry. Frequently, however, regional leaders called “overseers” simply transferred the worker to a new region without warning other members.
Former sect member Pam Walton uses photos from annual sect conventions, reports from members and other records to track the movements of workers and overseers with abuse allegations.
“I don’t think people were understanding the magnitude that these men and women traveled,” Walton said.
One abusive overseer, Dean Bruer, served in at least 22 states and territories and seven countries from the time he joined the ministry in 1976 until his death in 2022.
A culture of ‘mercy’ enabled abusers
Former worker Jared Snyder says bringing up someone’s past sins is considered taboo because that person “has already been forgiven by God.” As a result, members and workers alike often would only talk euphemistically about problems, Snyder said, and even major misdeeds were frequently downplayed.
“There is an underlying fear of being judged as a person who has a ‘bad spirit’ if you are not merciful enough,” Snyder says.
Some sect leaders cautioned against digging into allegations. One overseer told Snyder, “The less you know, the better off you are,” he said.
Sect leaders sometimes ignored legal reporting requirements
Some U.S. states have laws that require spiritual leaders, teachers and others in positions of authority to report child abuse allegations to authorities. Letters and other documents show some overseers tried to skirt those laws.
Ed Alexander, a regional overseer for Arizona, wrote a letter to a child-molesting elder urging him to seek professional counseling. That way, Alexander claimed, the sect would not have to report the man’s crime and instead the counselor could take on reporting responsibility.
Alexander declined to comment.
Survivors often faced dead ends in their search for justice
As a teen, Sheri Autrey felt unprepared to describe the intimate details of her abuse to a jury, so her parents declined to put her through the criminal prosecution process. When Autrey tried to press charges as an adult, it was too late — under California state law, too many years had passed since the crime.
Autrey tried to find an attorney to sue the sect, but no one would take the case. Legal experts say the sect’s aversion to property leaves it without any apparent assets that could be used to pay a legal settlement.
Left without legal options, many survivors joined grassroots efforts to support each other. One organization, Advocates for the Truth, created a 24-hour confidential hotline for survivors, investigated and tracked allegations, and connected victims with therapeutic resources and funding.
Facebook pages and online chat rooms have also given survivors a place to compare stories, discuss faith and share suggestions for reform.
A grand jury began looking into the sect last year, and in February the FBI asked people with information to come forward. Agents have interviewed multiple survivors and sect leaders over the last several months.
Change within the sect is slow — and limited
Some sect leaders have condemned the abuse and asked consultants for advice on how to better protect members. Others have rejected recommended child abuse prevention policies outright, or implemented scaled-down versions with fewer safeguards.
Still, the pressure doesn’t seem likely to let up anytime soon. Former sect member and survivor Lisa Webb says advocating for other survivors has been her therapy.
“I’m not trying to take away your salvation or attack your faith, but how can we keep our kids safe? You can respect the faith, respect the religion, but still not be naive,” Webb said. “Just the fact that the conversation is out there now means we’ve already improved the safety. … There’s a rallying behind survivors.”
|
https://kyma.com/news/2024/12/15/takeaways-from-aps-reporting-on-a-child-sex-abuse-crisis-inside-a-secretive-christian-sect-2/
| 2024-12-16T07:01:57Z
|
(MENAFN- Mid-East Info) The Fund and Bahraini government mark 50 years of strategic collaboration.
Abu Dhabi, December, 2024 – The partnership between Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and the Government of Bahrain represents a model collaboration for sustainable development. Since 1974, this strategic relationship has supported Bahrain's economic vision and contributed to its comprehensive development goals.
To date, ADFD has financed 33 development projects in the country, totaling AED 23 billion. These initiatives span critical sectors such as housing, energy, transport and health, helping to meet financial needs and support Bahrain's fiscal balance program for 2023 and 2024, boosting the economy.
Impact of Projects:
The Fund continues with its development initiatives aligned with Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030, reinforcing strong ties between the two nations. The projects financed by ADFD have improved the quality of life, supported sustainable development goals, and helped the government meet the various needs of its citizens.
Prominent achievements:
His Excellency Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, congratulated the Bahraini government, leadership, and people on the country's National Day, wishing the Kingdom continued prosperity.
“The strategic relationship with the government of Bahrain is a unique model of development cooperation that has endured for more than 50 years. This partnership has resulted in significant achievements in many economic sectors, contributing to achieving comprehensive development that benefits Bahraini society,” H.E. Al Suwaidi said.
He added that the Gulf Development Fund program for the Kingdom of Bahrain, which was approved in 2013, represented one of the most prominent aspects of this cooperation.“The program exemplifies the support the UAE provides on sustainable development through ADFD, strengthening infrastructure and vital sectors in alignment with the Kingdom's development goals,” he added.
Partners in Sustainable Development:
The partnership between ADFD and the Bahraini government highlights the strength of Gulf cooperation in achieving sustainable development goals. The Fund's financial and technical support boosts Bahrain's ability to implement key national projects, creating jobs and improving services for citizens. This collaboration reflects the shared vision and strong ties between the two countries.
Impact of Projects:
The ADFD-funded projects in Bahrain demonstrate the Fund's commitment to supporting Bahrain's growth, aligning with national priorities and contributing to economic development while preserving natural resources. The diversity of sectors addressed by the Fund highlights a deep understanding of Bahrain's needs and priorities.
Below are examples of prominent ADFD-funded projects in Bahrain:
Housing Sector:
Salman City Housing Project
Value: AED 1.9 billion
The project aims to directly address citizens' housing needs by constructing 2,400 units with modern infrastructure, promoting community stability and helping reduce the housing demand gap.
The first phase, opened in December this year, includes 1,382 housing units designed to meet contemporary requirements. The second phase will be completed according to the agreed plan.
East Sitra Land Reclamation Project
Value: AED 914 million.
The project reflects a vision to expand the residential area through land reclamation, with the goal of constructing 4,500 housing units. Its completion is a positive step towards achieving development goals and providing new housing options for residents.
Health Sector:
Mohammed Bin Khalifa Specialized Cardiac Center Project
Value: AED 937 million.
The center marks a significant improvement in health services by offering specialized heart disease care, reducing the need for treatment abroad. It strengthens the country's health sector by providing advanced services that meet societal needs.
Transport Sector:
Bahrain International Airport Development
Value: AED 3.7 billion.
The project strengthens Bahrain's position as a regional air transport hub by increasing capacity to 14 million passengers annually, supporting the growing travel and tourism sector, and sustainably boosting the national economy.
Sheikh Zayed Road Expansion
Value: AED 337 million:
This project addresses traffic congestion and enhances transport infrastructure, increasing road capacity to 50,000 vehicles per day, while improving public transport movement.
Water Sector:
Water Transmission Network Development
Value: AED 187 million.
This project improves water infrastructure by establishing two storage and pumping stations in key areas, ensuring sustainable water resources to meet growing demand in residential and industrial zones.
Infrastructure Sector:
Northern City Sewage Treatment
Value: AED 415 million.
This project focuses on sustainable environmental management by treating sewage water for agricultural irrigation, and balancing urban development with the protection of natural resources.
MENAFN16122024005446012082ID1108995899
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
|
https://menafn.com/1108995899/ADFD-Invests-AED-23-Billion-In-33-Development-Projects-In-Bahrain
| 2024-12-16T07:01:57Z
|
Oil pulls back from weekly highs as investors await Fed rate cuts
Shafaq News/ Oil futures eased fromtheir highest levels in weeks as traders took profit while waiting for ameeting of the Federal Reserve later this week for indication of further ratecuts.
Falls were limited, however, byconcerns of supply disruptions in the event of more U.S. sanctions on majorsuppliers Russia and Iran.
Brent crude futures fell 21 cents,or 0.3%, to $74.28 a barrel by 0424 GMT after settling at their highest levelsince Nov. 22 on Friday.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate crudedropped 30 cents, or 0.4%, to $70.99 a barrel after reaching its highestsettlement level since Nov. 7 in the previous session.
"After last week's +6% rally,and with crude oil trading towards the top of recent range highs, we are likelyseeing some light profit-taking," IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said.
"Also it is likely a lot oftrading books at banks and funds shut up shop at the end of last week and havereduced appetite for positions over the festive season."
Oil prices were bolstered by newEuropean Union sanctions on Russian oil last week and expectations of tightersanctions on Iranian supply, he added.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellentold Reuters on Friday that the U.S. is looking at further sanctions on"dark fleet" tankers and will not rule out sanctions on Chinese banksas it seeks to reduce Russia's oil revenue and access to foreign supplies tofuel its war in Ukraine.
Fresh U.S. sanctions on entitiestrading Iranian oil are already driving prices of the crude sold to China tothe highest in years. The incoming Trump administration is expected to ramp uppressure on Iran.
Oil prices were also supported bykey central bank interest rate cuts in Canada, Europe and Switzerland last weekand expectations the Fed will cut rates this week, Sycamore said.
The Fed is expected to cut interestrates by a quarter of a percentage point at its Dec. 17-18 meeting which willalso provide an updated look at how much further Fed officials think they willreduce rates in 2025 and perhaps into 2026.
Lower interest rates can boosteconomic growth and demand for oil.
Still, forecasts of ample supply in2025 by the International Energy Agency and CNPC's forecasts of oil demanddecline in China, the world's second-largest consumer, after consumption peakedin 2023 are factors that will continue to weigh on global oil markets.
(REUTERS)
|
https://english.hathalyoum.net/articles/136219-oil-pulls-back-from-weekly-highs-as-investors-awai
| 2024-12-16T07:01:59Z
|
Takeaways from AP’s reporting on a child sex abuse crisis inside a secretive Christian sect
Associated Press
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — For decades, a little-known Christian sect has dealt with its abusive ministers and spiritual elders mostly in secret, shunning legal action in favor of urging victims to forgive the predators in their midst.
Forgiveness, however, was far from a cure: The abusers were often sent to live with other unsuspecting families, where they had easy access to new victims.
Now a grassroots effort by survivors has exposed the depth of the scandal — documenting allegations against more than 900 abusers in 30 countries, with cases continuing to emerge — and thrust the nameless sect into the public eye. The FBI has also launched an investigation into the group, sometimes called the “Two by Twos.”
The Associated Press interviewed more than a dozen current and former members, workers and experts, and reviewed letters, court documents and other records supporting the allegations. Several sect leaders and ministers either declined interview requests or did not respond to messages.
Here are some takeaways from the AP’s reporting.
The core doctrine of the sect put kids at high risk
Child sex abuse is a significant problem within many religious institutions: Insurance data company Advisen lists child sexual abuse as the second most frequent insurance loss for religious organizations, after wage-related claims. But survivors say the tenets of the Two by Twos place kids at particularly high risk.
The sect believes its volunteer ministers, called “workers,” should live among followers and rely on them for food, housing and other needs.
Many survivors told the AP they were abused by preachers staying in their homes. In some cases, the abuse was revealed and the offending worker was asked to leave the ministry. Frequently, however, regional leaders called “overseers” simply transferred the worker to a new region without warning other members.
Former sect member Pam Walton uses photos from annual sect conventions, reports from members and other records to track the movements of workers and overseers with abuse allegations.
“I don’t think people were understanding the magnitude that these men and women traveled,” Walton said.
One abusive overseer, Dean Bruer, served in at least 22 states and territories and seven countries from the time he joined the ministry in 1976 until his death in 2022.
A culture of ‘mercy’ enabled abusers
Former worker Jared Snyder says bringing up someone’s past sins is considered taboo because that person “has already been forgiven by God.” As a result, members and workers alike often would only talk euphemistically about problems, Snyder said, and even major misdeeds were frequently downplayed.
“There is an underlying fear of being judged as a person who has a ‘bad spirit’ if you are not merciful enough,” Snyder says.
Some sect leaders cautioned against digging into allegations. One overseer told Snyder, “The less you know, the better off you are,” he said.
Sect leaders sometimes ignored legal reporting requirements
Some U.S. states have laws that require spiritual leaders, teachers and others in positions of authority to report child abuse allegations to authorities. Letters and other documents show some overseers tried to skirt those laws.
Ed Alexander, a regional overseer for Arizona, wrote a letter to a child-molesting elder urging him to seek professional counseling. That way, Alexander claimed, the sect would not have to report the man’s crime and instead the counselor could take on reporting responsibility.
Alexander declined to comment.
Survivors often faced dead ends in their search for justice
As a teen, Sheri Autrey felt unprepared to describe the intimate details of her abuse to a jury, so her parents declined to put her through the criminal prosecution process. When Autrey tried to press charges as an adult, it was too late — under California state law, too many years had passed since the crime.
Autrey tried to find an attorney to sue the sect, but no one would take the case. Legal experts say the sect’s aversion to property leaves it without any apparent assets that could be used to pay a legal settlement.
Left without legal options, many survivors joined grassroots efforts to support each other. One organization, Advocates for the Truth, created a 24-hour confidential hotline for survivors, investigated and tracked allegations, and connected victims with therapeutic resources and funding.
Facebook pages and online chat rooms have also given survivors a place to compare stories, discuss faith and share suggestions for reform.
A grand jury began looking into the sect last year, and in February the FBI asked people with information to come forward. Agents have interviewed multiple survivors and sect leaders over the last several months.
Change within the sect is slow — and limited
Some sect leaders have condemned the abuse and asked consultants for advice on how to better protect members. Others have rejected recommended child abuse prevention policies outright, or implemented scaled-down versions with fewer safeguards.
Still, the pressure doesn’t seem likely to let up anytime soon. Former sect member and survivor Lisa Webb says advocating for other survivors has been her therapy.
“I’m not trying to take away your salvation or attack your faith, but how can we keep our kids safe? You can respect the faith, respect the religion, but still not be naive,” Webb said. “Just the fact that the conversation is out there now means we’ve already improved the safety. … There’s a rallying behind survivors.”
|
https://kyma.com/news/2024/12/15/takeaways-from-aps-reporting-on-a-child-sex-abuse-crisis-inside-a-secretive-christian-sect-3/
| 2024-12-16T07:02:03Z
|
Sebastian Vettel Takes Aim at Korean GP
Runaway leader Sebastian Vettel can put one hand on the Formula One world title this week as he aims to stretch his astonishing winning streak to four races at the Korean Grand Prix.
Runaway leader Sebastian Vettel can put one hand on the Formula One world title this week as he aims to stretch his astonishing winning streak to four races at the Korean Grand Prix.
Last month in Singapore, the brilliant young German left other drivers in his wake to move 60 points clear of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and ever closer to a historic fourth straight championship. With six races left, a wipeout from his rivals would leave Vettel capable of being crowned world champion next week in Japan, a triumph that would catapult him among the sport's greats.
Victory this year would make Vettel, 26, the youngest man to win four in a row, trumping Michael Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio. Alain Prost is the only other man to win four or more titles. Vettel's consecutive wins in Belgium, Italy and Singapore have not been universally popular and he has been unsportingly booed on the podium by a section of disgruntled fans.
The German, with seven wins in 13 grands prix this year, is also on a hat-trick in South Korea after winning the last two races at the Korean International Circuit in the country's rural south. However, in what could provide a glimmer of hope for his rivals, Vettel admits the Yeongam layout is not perfectly suited to this year's Red Bull car, the RB9.
"The track in Korea has a bit of an unusual layout. The long straights all come right at the beginning and the turns are at the end," he said. "I love the curvy part because it is a lot more fun, whereas the straight lines and sharp turns can be a little boring. They are also our weakness because we often lack in top speed there."
Alonso is the only man with a realistic chance of reeling in Vettel, although Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen, Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg are mathematically still in the hunt. Webber will be hampered by a 10-place grid penalty for his third reprimand of the year after he abandoned his Red Bull and hitched a ride on Alonso's Ferrari following the race in Singapore.
"For (Alonso) and me to receive reprimands for our actions after the race it is comical to say the least," tweeted the clearly irritated Australian, who is quitting Formula One this season.
Raikkonen drove heroically with a bad back to go from 13th on the grid to third place in Singapore. But the Ferrari-bound Finn said he's not sure how the long-term complaint will shape up this week.
"It's not the first time I've had a problem, as there have been some issues with my back for a long time," said the former world champion, currently with Lotus. "For sure, we will have to see how it is when I get out on track on Friday in Korea."
Sunday's race will be flagged off against a background of uncertainty after next year's edition was listed as merely "provisional" on the new Formula One calendar for 2014. The event has been notable for its difficulties -- and sparse attendances -- since making its debut in 2010, with Korean officials repeatedly urging Formula One to slash its race fee.
Korea is immediately followed by the Japanese Grand Prix on October 13, the first of three sets of challenging back-to-back races as the season reaches its climax.
AFP
|
https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/motorsport/sebastian-vettel-takes-aim-at-korean-gp-104545.html
| 2024-12-16T07:02:03Z
|
Author:
John Quiggin
(MENAFN- The Conversation)
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's plan for nuclear power in Australia has provoked a great deal of discussion and analysis – most of it critical.
Experts point out the Coalition's long-awaited modelling involves both highly optimistic costings and a massively lower demand for electricity than expected in official projections.
In the upcoming federal election campaign, debate over the hypothetical costs and benefits of nuclear power will doubtless play a big role. But this conceals the real issue.
As in every election over the last 20 years, at stake will be the question of whether Australia chooses a clean energy future, or prolongs the life of coal and gas – an outcome the nuclear plan relies on.
In that sense, nuclear energy is shaping up as an election fig leaf like no other.
The 2025 election campaign is likely to feature rival energy visions of nuclear, gas, coal and renewables.
Markus Distelrath/Pexels , CC BY-NC-ND
Decades until first power
Even if the Coalition's plans go ahead, concrete will not be poured for a nuclear plant before the 2030s – three or more elections away. To see why, it's worth examining recent international experience.
In 2006, the United Arab Emirates and other Persian Gulf states commissioned a study on the peaceful use of nuclear power. It was released in 2008 and the following year, Korean firm KHNP was selected to build four reactors .
Final approval was not granted until 2012. The reactors began commercial operation between 2020 and 2024. The UAE has made no further nuclear orders and is, instead, rapidly expanding solar power .
In 2020, Czechia began the process of replacing its ageing Soviet-era reactors. This year, it reached an agreement with KNHP, though the contract is yet to be finalised . Authorities expect the reactors to begin producing power commercially in 2038 .
The Czech deal indicates nuclear is hardly cheap – each reactor will cost A$12.8 billion and produce power at $225 per megawatt hour (mWH). By contrast, CSIRO has priced firmed or“backed up” renewable energy – that is, renewables combined with transmission and storage infrastructure – at between $91 and $131 per mWH.
France has long been held up as the poster child for nuclear power, because it relies on nuclear for about 70% of its power, far more than any other nation.
In 2022, President Emmanuel Macron announced a desire to go further still by building up to 14 new reactors. Construction of the first is due to start in 2027 .
These examples suggest five years is a realistic minimum period from decision to construction. But Australia is highly unlikely to achieve this minimum.
Czechia and France, for example, already had well-established nuclear regulatory regimes. By contrast, Australia would need to establish and staff a nuclear power authority from scratch. Our existing organisation, ANSTO, is set up only to manage tiny research reactors.
The UAE was also starting from scratch. But the UAE is a near-absolute monarchy – so courts, environmental impact studies and public consultation did not slow the process. And plants were built by migrant workers without union representation or rights of any kind .
In Czechia and France, the reactors can be located at existing nuclear power plants. Dutton wants to build nuclear on the sites of existing coal plants to take advantage of existing transmission lines, but it's not that simple. For instance, emergency evacuation systems are needed to deal with the small but real possibility of a catastrophic accident.
Then there is the problem of overriding the wishes of the current owners and of state governments opposed to the plan .
All this means a Dutton government would need at least two full terms in office before it would be in a position to commit the tens of billions of dollars necessary to fund the proposed publicly owned nuclear industry. Then comes years more of actual construction.
Nuclear plants take many years to build, even in nations with existing reactors.
kaiser-v/Shutterstock
Coal and gas would fill the gap
Based on recent experience in developed countries, nuclear power is unlikely to come online before 2045, by which time our existing coal plants would be well past their expected lifespan. Many would break down. How would this energy gap be filled?
The answer is already clear. The core of Dutton's energy policy – the part that would take effect immediately – is to keep coal plants running as long as possible, and then to switch to gas. It would also likely mean suppressing renewable energy in favour of coal and gas.
Dutton has already vowed to scrap the offshore windfarm zone planned for the Illawarra region of New South Wales, despite the fact his party passed laws paving the way for offshore wind in 2021.
Offshore wind is a missing piece of the puzzle for renewables in Australia, because winds offshore blow strongly and more consistently than on land. But the nascent sector could easily be destroyed at the stroke of a pen, using the Commonwealth's powers over Australian waters.
The Coalition passed laws enabling offshore wind. But now Dutton is proposing to ban some windfarms, following protests like this one in the Illawarra, NSW.
Dean Lewins/AAP
Queensland's newly elected LNP government is already showing what that might look like , spending $1.4 billion in propping up coal, while killing off plans for a major pumped-hydro facility.
Given Australia's ageing coal-fired power stations are breaking down more often , going nuclear would mean spending billions on extending their lives while discouraging solar and wind.
This could easily produce blackouts, or the threat of blackouts in short order. Here, too, Dutton has a solution: more gas.
Only two weeks ago, Australia's major gas producers paid for front-page stories across many Murdoch newspapers claiming gas-fired electricity would be necessary.
There is nothing new here. Under the Morrison Coalition government, a taskforce set up to deal with supply chain problems caused by the COVID pandemic produced, instead, a report advocating a gas-led recovery .
Wrong way, go back
Australia should not be distracted by nuclear power.
The Coalition plan for an Australian electricity supply, based on extended reliance on coal and gas, will rule out any chance this nation meets its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to the global climate effort.
It would also result in more expensive and less reliable electricity for Australian households and businesses.
MENAFN16122024000199003603ID1108995902
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
|
https://menafn.com/1108995902/More-Coal-And-Gas-Less-Renewables-What-A-Nuclear-Power-Plan-For-Australia-Would-Really-Mean
| 2024-12-16T07:02:04Z
|
Takeaways from AP’s reporting on a child sex abuse crisis inside a secretive Christian sect
Associated Press
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — For decades, a little-known Christian sect has dealt with its abusive ministers and spiritual elders mostly in secret, shunning legal action in favor of urging victims to forgive the predators in their midst.
Forgiveness, however, was far from a cure: The abusers were often sent to live with other unsuspecting families, where they had easy access to new victims.
Now a grassroots effort by survivors has exposed the depth of the scandal — documenting allegations against more than 900 abusers in 30 countries, with cases continuing to emerge — and thrust the nameless sect into the public eye. The FBI has also launched an investigation into the group, sometimes called the “Two by Twos.”
The Associated Press interviewed more than a dozen current and former members, workers and experts, and reviewed letters, court documents and other records supporting the allegations. Several sect leaders and ministers either declined interview requests or did not respond to messages.
Here are some takeaways from the AP’s reporting.
The core doctrine of the sect put kids at high risk
Child sex abuse is a significant problem within many religious institutions: Insurance data company Advisen lists child sexual abuse as the second most frequent insurance loss for religious organizations, after wage-related claims. But survivors say the tenets of the Two by Twos place kids at particularly high risk.
The sect believes its volunteer ministers, called “workers,” should live among followers and rely on them for food, housing and other needs.
Many survivors told the AP they were abused by preachers staying in their homes. In some cases, the abuse was revealed and the offending worker was asked to leave the ministry. Frequently, however, regional leaders called “overseers” simply transferred the worker to a new region without warning other members.
Former sect member Pam Walton uses photos from annual sect conventions, reports from members and other records to track the movements of workers and overseers with abuse allegations.
“I don’t think people were understanding the magnitude that these men and women traveled,” Walton said.
One abusive overseer, Dean Bruer, served in at least 22 states and territories and seven countries from the time he joined the ministry in 1976 until his death in 2022.
A culture of ‘mercy’ enabled abusers
Former worker Jared Snyder says bringing up someone’s past sins is considered taboo because that person “has already been forgiven by God.” As a result, members and workers alike often would only talk euphemistically about problems, Snyder said, and even major misdeeds were frequently downplayed.
“There is an underlying fear of being judged as a person who has a ‘bad spirit’ if you are not merciful enough,” Snyder says.
Some sect leaders cautioned against digging into allegations. One overseer told Snyder, “The less you know, the better off you are,” he said.
Sect leaders sometimes ignored legal reporting requirements
Some U.S. states have laws that require spiritual leaders, teachers and others in positions of authority to report child abuse allegations to authorities. Letters and other documents show some overseers tried to skirt those laws.
Ed Alexander, a regional overseer for Arizona, wrote a letter to a child-molesting elder urging him to seek professional counseling. That way, Alexander claimed, the sect would not have to report the man’s crime and instead the counselor could take on reporting responsibility.
Alexander declined to comment.
Survivors often faced dead ends in their search for justice
As a teen, Sheri Autrey felt unprepared to describe the intimate details of her abuse to a jury, so her parents declined to put her through the criminal prosecution process. When Autrey tried to press charges as an adult, it was too late — under California state law, too many years had passed since the crime.
Autrey tried to find an attorney to sue the sect, but no one would take the case. Legal experts say the sect’s aversion to property leaves it without any apparent assets that could be used to pay a legal settlement.
Left without legal options, many survivors joined grassroots efforts to support each other. One organization, Advocates for the Truth, created a 24-hour confidential hotline for survivors, investigated and tracked allegations, and connected victims with therapeutic resources and funding.
Facebook pages and online chat rooms have also given survivors a place to compare stories, discuss faith and share suggestions for reform.
A grand jury began looking into the sect last year, and in February the FBI asked people with information to come forward. Agents have interviewed multiple survivors and sect leaders over the last several months.
Change within the sect is slow — and limited
Some sect leaders have condemned the abuse and asked consultants for advice on how to better protect members. Others have rejected recommended child abuse prevention policies outright, or implemented scaled-down versions with fewer safeguards.
Still, the pressure doesn’t seem likely to let up anytime soon. Former sect member and survivor Lisa Webb says advocating for other survivors has been her therapy.
“I’m not trying to take away your salvation or attack your faith, but how can we keep our kids safe? You can respect the faith, respect the religion, but still not be naive,” Webb said. “Just the fact that the conversation is out there now means we’ve already improved the safety. … There’s a rallying behind survivors.”
|
https://kyma.com/news/2024/12/15/takeaways-from-aps-reporting-on-a-child-sex-abuse-crisis-inside-a-secretive-christian-sect/
| 2024-12-16T07:02:09Z
|
Iglesias-Kournikova Love On The Rocks?
Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova's love life is on the rocks after 12 years of being together, it has been revealed.
New York: Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova's love life is on the rocks after 12 years of being together, it has been revealed.
Sources have revealed to the New York Post that the relationship is in trouble as the 'Addicted' hitmaker is not rushing into marriage despite of being more than a decade with Kournikova.
A source insisted that the former pro court star is getting tired of waiting for him to decide if he wants to marry her or not, and since they have been together for so long, she feels like it’s never going to happen.
The source stated that Kournikova was ready to move on with her life.
The insider added that only time will tell beacuse the marriage issue has come up before and they have managed to smooth things over and get back.
Iglesias' management team had earlier asserted that the couple had 'no intention' to marry in the near future.
ANI
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https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/tennis-and-badminton/iglesiaskournikova-love-on-the-rocks-104521.html
| 2024-12-16T07:02:09Z
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Author:
Rodney Tiffen
(MENAFN- The Conversation)
The hubristic afterglow at Fox News following Donald Trump's election victory was rudely punctured by the Nevada Probate Commissioner Edmund Gorman. The commissioner ruled against the action brought by Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch, and in favour of Lachlan's siblings – Prudence, Elisabeth and James.
Without a hint of irony, Rupert had called his move Project Family Harmony. The project was an attempt to change the conditions of an“irrevocable” trust agreed to in 1999 when Rupert was divorcing his second wife, Anna.
That trust gave equal control to Rupert's four children – Prudence, Elisabeth, Lachlan and James – after his death. Now Rupert and Lachlan have moved to instead cement Lachlan in control.
Read more:
Rupert Murdoch loses his legal battle, leaving future of media empire in the balance
Because the trust could only be changed if it benefited all members, and because the other three siblings opposed the move, Rupert and Lachlan had to argue that these three would enjoy the commercial benefits of having Lachlan clearly in charge even if they didn't think so.
Such a move was always likely to fail, and it says much about Rupert and Lachlan's judgement that they initiated it. Instead of family harmony, the legal action has solidified the lines of conflict among the siblings. But apart from family relations, the ruling also has implications for Fox News and its employees.
Two facts are most pertinent:
1. Fox News is now at, or close to, what is likely to be its peak value. It is almost certain to be worth less in five years' time.
2. The divided family is unlikely to be able to give coherent leadership to Fox News after Rupert's death.
The present and immediate future for Fox News is very bright. Its more liberal competitors in cable news services – MSNBC and CNN – have seen their audiences drop precipitately since the election. MSNBC is down 46% compared with the first ten months of the year and CNN down 33%. In contrast, Fox News has surged, capturing 70% of the cable news market in November, the largest share in its history.
Fox News has been an enthusiastic participant in Trump's victory celebrations. Amid much glitter, in front of an audience of 2000, it gave Trump its Patriot of the Year award. Trump flew from Florida to New York to accept it. He praised the incredible people at Fox and said how nice the award was.
Then followed a typically ungracious speech. He began by saying there were a couple of people at Fox he didn't like, and then repeated his campaign themes – the rigged 2020 election, how Democrats tried to rig the 2024 election, and that other countries are emptying their mental institutions and insane asylums to send immigrants to the US.
With Trump continuing to be Trump, Fox's immediate future looks very bright. During his first term, Trump“watched the network religiously”, often calling in by phone himself and tweeting responses to its reports. Several of his public statements and policy decisions were apparently influenced by Fox .
Fox will enjoy far greater access to the White House than any other media organisation, and a pivotal place in the flow of news unparalleled in any other liberal democracy. In a few years' time, if political momentum is in the other direction, this may be less of a blessing.
Political fortunes aside, the longer term future for Fox News looks much less bright. Fox News was a good and faithful campaigner for Trump, but it is notable that when people explain Trump's victory, Fox is never mentioned.
Instead, social media, such as Elon Musk's X, and podcasts, such as that of Joe Rogan, are highlighted. Rogan's interviews with Trump, JD Vance and Elon Musk, for example, have been viewed in total more than 78 million times on YouTube alone.
An estimated 135 million Americans say they listen to a podcast monthly, more than twice the share who said the same in 2016.
In contrast, subscription TV is on the decline. Fox News, CNN and MSNBC are all available in around 66 million pay TV households in 2024, but this is a 28% decline from 2016.
Now, into this already difficult mix comes Commissioner Edmund Gorman. According to the New York Times, in a 96 page judgement he“resoundingly” ruled against Rupert and Lachlan's attempt to cement Lachlan's control.
Gorman said Rupert and Lachlan had acted in bad faith. Rupert and Lachlan's lawyer has already said that they will appeal. The avenues of appeal could go on for a very long time, but this only adds to the uncertainty for potential investors.
What happens if Rupert dies while the appeals are still in process?
Interestingly, during the campaign, Trump said on Fox and Friends that he was going to see Rupert about Fox's campaign coverage“because I can't talk to anybody else”.
This rather overlooks that Rupert was now only chairman emeritus, and Lachlan was the chair. Perhaps this was just old men's solidarity. But it's also possible that many things can be inherited but they do not include influence and reputation, whatever the official titles say.
Another element that may not long outlast Rupert is the dual voting system in his companies, which gives the family more than 40% of the votes with around 14% of the shares. This system is disliked by most investors, and while many shareholders would have given Rupert latitude as the genius who built the empire, they are less likely to be happy with Lachlan having such a privilege.
While the cable industry is in a long-term decline, and while there are likely to be shareholder rebellions, the family is divided, seemingly irreconcilably. But the main focus of the family conflicts seems to be Fox News. The best way to take the heat out of the family conflicts would be to sell, or to float, Fox News, and this is likely to be more profitable now than in a few years' time.
MENAFN16122024000199003603ID1108995904
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https://menafn.com/1108995904/Memo-To-Rupert-Murdoch-Now-Is-The-Time-To-Sell-Fox-News
| 2024-12-16T07:02:10Z
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Serena Enters 3rd Round of China Open
World No. 1 Serena Williams served 10 aces in her 6-4, 7-5 victory over Italy's Francesca Schiavone on Tuesday, moving into the third round of China Open.
BEIJING: World No. 1 Serena Williams served 10 aces in her 6-4, 7-5 victory over Italy's Francesca Schiavone on Tuesday, moving into the third round of China Open.
It was Williams' third straight sets victory against her Italian opponent on hard court this year with earlier wins coming at the US Open and at the Toronto Open.
Williams sent down six aces in the first set only before Schiavone fought back hard in the second set and broke the American's serve three times.
But Williams responded with breaks of her own to clinch the victory.
Williams' chances of winning the tournament were boosted by the surprise loss of defending champion Victoria Azarenka on Monday.
AP
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https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/tennis-and-badminton/serena-williams-enters-third-round-of-china-open-104371.html
| 2024-12-16T07:02:16Z
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(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Nazrin Abdul
Read more
The Trans-Caspian International transport Route, also known as
the Middle Corridor, is rapidly emerging as a central axis for
trade between Asia and Europe. A recent announcement from
Kazakhstan underscores the growing importance of the corridor, with
Kazakhstan's“Semurg Invest” LLC planning to deploy an additional
cargo ship between the port of Kurik and the ports of Azerbaijan.
This is just one of many developments that showcase how the Middle
Corridor, with Azerbaijan at its heart, is becoming an increasingly
vital trade route linking the two continents.
Azerbaijan's strategic role in the Middle
Corridor
Azerbaijan plays a pivotal role in the success of the Middle
Corridor. Its location, strategically positioned at the crossroads
of Europe and Asia, makes it the key transit hub for cargo passing
through Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, and into Europe.
Azerbaijan's infrastructure, particularly its seaports in Baku and
Kurik, along with its strong logistical connections, are crucial to
the functioning of the Middle Corridor.
One of the key developments in this regard is the continued
expansion of Azerbaijan's maritime and port infrastructure. Nurjan
Marabayev, General Director of“Semurg Invest” LLC, recently
confirmed that Kazakhstan will add a new cargo ship to the route
connecting Kurik port with Azerbaijan's ports. This new vessel,
capable of carrying 240,000 tons of export cargo annually, will
further cement Azerbaijan's role as the main gateway for trade
between Central Asia and Europe.
Kazakhstan's contribution to strengthening the
Corridor
While Azerbaijan is central to the Middle Corridor's operations,
Kazakhstan is also making significant strides to enhance its
maritime capabilities. Kazakhstan's“Semurg Invest” is adding a dry
cargo ship with a capacity of 7,400 tons, which will be mobilized
between the Kurik and Azerbaijan ports. The ship is expected to
reach Kurik port by December 20. Marabayev noted that Kazakhstan is
also working to expand its merchant fleet, with plans to add up to
six vessels in the coming years.
This effort to boost maritime logistics is part of Kazakhstan's
broader strategy to modernize its navy and develop more reliable
and efficient cargo transport routes, particularly in the face of
growing demand for the Middle Corridor. By strengthening its naval
capacity, Kazakhstan aims to complement Azerbaijan's key role in
making the Middle Corridor a more robust trade route.
Surge in cargo volumes and strategic
developments
The Middle Corridor's significance continues to grow, as
evidenced by the latest data on cargo volume. In the first ten
months of 2024, the volume of cargo transported via the
Trans-Caspian International Transport Route increased by 68%.
Container shipments alone surged by 2.7 times compared to the
previous year. Kazakhstan's Transport Minister, Marat Kabayev,
highlighted that 2.3 million tons of cargo were moved by rail, and
6.3 million tons were carried by sea, marking a steady increase in
the flow of goods through the Middle Corridor.
Importantly, much of this traffic passes through Azerbaijan's
vital ports, especially the Port of Baku, which serves as a major
hub for transshipment in the Caspian region. Azerbaijan's long-term
vision for its port infrastructure includes increasing container
capacity, improving logistics opeations, and fostering greater
regional cooperation, all of which enhance the Middle Corridor's
ability to handle growing volumes of trade.
Investments in Azerbaijan's maritime
infrastructure
Azerbaijan is committed to expanding its maritime infrastructure
to support the Middle Corridor's increasing traffic. A
comprehensive plan for the development of maritime infrastructure
between 2024 and 2028 has been adopted, which focuses on upgrading
the ports of Aktau and Kurik to handle growing cargo volumes. These
improvements will include the creation of a large maritime
transport and logistics cluster, the development of cargo
terminals, and measures to reduce administrative barriers.
A key part of this plan includes the ongoing dredging works at
Kurik Port, designed to ensure the safety of navigation and
increase the port's capacity. The dredging is being carried out by
the renowned European company, Jan de Nul, and is expected to
further increase Kurik Port's annual capacity from 6 million tons
to even greater levels. These efforts are part of a broader
regional strategy to ensure the Middle Corridor can handle the
surging demand for efficient, reliable trade routes.
The Port of Baku, which links Azerbaijan to the broader Caspian
region, also plays a central role in this development. Azerbaijan's
strategic investments in expanding its port infrastructure are key
to positioning the Middle Corridor as a leading route for cargo
moving between Asia and Europe.
Azerbaijan's growing role in regional
connectivity
Azerbaijan's geographic position makes it the linchpin of
several important regional transport corridors, including the
East-West and North-South corridors. As the Middle Corridor becomes
more integral to global trade, Azerbaijan's role as a trade
facilitator and logistics hub is only growing. The country's ports,
railways, and highways are increasingly interconnected, allowing
for faster, more reliable transportation of goods between Europe,
Central Asia, and China.
In addition to its role in facilitating cargo shipments,
Azerbaijan is also focusing on the development of an integrated
transportation network. This includes improving connections between
sea, rail, and road transport systems, which will enhance the
efficiency of logistics services across the region.
As Kazakhstan strengthens its maritime capabilities, Azerbaijan
remains the central player in the Middle Corridor's growth. With
its strategic location, expanding port infrastructure, and
significant investments in logistics and transportation, Azerbaijan
is poised to continue playing a central role in the success of this
vital trade route.
The ongoing developments in the Kurik and Baku ports, coupled
with Kazakhstan's efforts to enhance its own maritime capacity, are
paving the way for the Middle Corridor to become one of the most
important trade routes linking Asia and Europe. Azerbaijan's
leadership in this project underscores its growing influence in
regional and global trade, positioning the country as a critical
hub in the evolving global logistics network.
Through continued collaboration and investment, Azerbaijan and
its partners are ensuring that the Middle Corridor remains a robust
and reliable trade route for years to come.
MENAFN16122024000195011045ID1108995905
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https://menafn.com/1108995905/Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan-Synergize-Efforts-To-Enhance-Trade-Links-Via-Middle-Corridor
| 2024-12-16T07:02:17Z
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Somdev Loses in 1st Round Of China Open
Somdev Devvarman has crashed out of the China Open in the first round after he lost to Fernando Verdasco 6-7, 3-6.
Beijing: India's Somdev Devvarman has crashed out of the China Open in the first round after he lost to Spanish player Fernando Verdasco 6-7, 3-6 in 1 hour and 36 minutes.
Somdev lost serve in the opening game of the first set but broke back to tie the score at 5-5, and then lost the tie-beak despite having four set points, leading once at 6-2. In the second set, Verdasco had the advantage of serving first and broke Devvarman in the 7th game to take the lead, winning the set 6-3 later to win the match.
The first set took an hour and a minute while the second took 35 minutes to complete. The China Open is an ATP 500 event and has players like Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal competing for the title.
ANI
|
https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/tennis-and-badminton/somdev-loses-in-1st-round-of-china-open-104343.html
| 2024-12-16T07:02:22Z
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Israel Closes Its Embassy Withdrawing Diplomatic Corps From Ireland
Date
12/16/2024 12:10:03 AM
(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Israel says it will close its embassy in Dublin, blaming "the
extreme anti-Israel policies of the Irish government." Ireland has
been critical of Israel's military offensive in Gaza.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said in a statement on
Sunday that the country's Dublin embassy would be closed, citing
the "actions and antisemitic rhetoric used by Ireland against
Israel."
Ireland has also been among the foremost European critics of
Israel's response to the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas that
sparked the country's war against Hamas in Gaza.
Recall that the war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel erupted on
October 7, 2023. As a result, Israel's retaliatory offensive has
killed almost 45,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Hamas-run
Health Ministry, and caused widespread destruction across the
besieged territory.
MENAFN16122024000195011045ID1108995906
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
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https://menafn.com/1108995906/Israel-Closes-Its-Embassy-Withdrawing-Diplomatic-Corps-From-Ireland
| 2024-12-16T07:02:23Z
|
Cupra will launch cars that “break segments” and have “very provocative bodystyles” as part of its next wave of models, the first of which could be seen in 2025.
In the six years since it was launched as a stand-alone brand sired from Seat, Cupra has made a series of crossover and hatchback models – a mixture of cars evolved from Seats such as the Leon and Ateca, those twinned with other Volkswagen Group models such as the new Terramar, Born, Tavascan and upcoming Raval hatchback, and stand-alone cars like the Formentor.
But its next wave of cars will be “iconic” models that don’t fit in existing segments. The other option of more conventional cars like saloons “wouldn’t be a priority”, according to Seat and Cupra CEO Wayne Griffiths.
He said: “We've deliberately gone SUV and crossover, because that's where the market is and that's what customers are looking for.
“If you want to make Cupra cool and make it iconic, then you need to start making iconic cars that perhaps don't fit in any segment. We are working on other cars that break the classic segments between saloons, estate cars and SUVs.
“Things will emerge and we'll see different opportunities. We are working on some very provocative bodystyles as well. Hopefully, we can show you one next year.”
A production version of the Dark Rebel concept is still possible but “not a priority at the moment”, according to Griffiths, as the firm instead looks to “grow the range with more volume cars and make money to finance all the investments we need to make”.
He said: “We're investing €10 billion in electrification. We're building a new brand. We have to take real care that every investment we make has a payoff, because without the payoff, we can't do it. We can't take too many reckless risks at this point in our early development.”
Even though the Dark Rebel is not on the agenda imminently, Griffiths said Cupra “would never stop dreaming and never stop having ambition” in making alternative models.
|
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/cupra-considers-provocative-bodystyles-move-away-suvs
| 2024-12-16T07:02:26Z
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➡️Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena revealed in Odisha Assembly that road accidents claim 15 lives per day.
➡️Cold wave grips Odisha; IMD issues yellow warning for several districts; severe cold wave conditions for Jharsuguda, Sundargarh and Angul. Rourkela recorded 5.7 degree C, becoming the coldest place in the State. Bhubaneswar registered 10.9 Degree Celsius.
➡️4 duplex homes in City Home Duplex under Pahala police limits looted in one night. Rs 20 lakh in cash and jewellery were stolen.
➡️BJD denies signing ‘no-confidence motion’ against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.
➡️Zakir Hussain’s family confirms Tabla maestro’s demise through their PR, Jon Bleicher. He was 73.
➡️Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake receives ceremonial reception at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. This is Sri Lankan President’s first State visit to India.
➡️President Droupadi Murmu, PM Modi pay tributes to soldiers on Vijay Diwas. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lays wreath at the National War Memorial, on the occasion of Vijay Diwas.
Related Posts
➡️India, Bangladesh 1971 war veterans’ exchange visit to mark Vijay Diwas.
➡️Uttar Pradesh: The city of Prayagraj will host Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 from 13th January to 26th February.
➡️India’s fiscal deficit will be 4.8 pc in FY25, below budget estimate of 4.9 pc: CareEdge Ratings.
➡️Rupee falls 3 paise to 84.83 against US dollar in early trade.
➡️Border Gavaskar Trophy, Day 3 of the 3rd test: Australia bowled out at the score of 445 in the first innings. India (48/4) lose Rishabh Pant as rain halts play once again.
➡️Hundreds feared dead as Cyclone Chido devastates France’s Mayotte island.
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https://enewsinsight.com/tni-morning-news-headlines-december-16-2024/
| 2024-12-16T07:02:26Z
|
Amazon to Hire 70,000 Seasonal Workers
Amazon.com said it expects to hire more than 70,000 full-time seasonal employees across its order fulfillment centers in the United States, a 40% increase from last year.
SEATTLE: Amazon.com said it expects to hire more than 70,000 full-time seasonal employees across its order fulfillment centers in the United States, a 40% increase from last year.
Amazon, which has about 88,400 employees, said it has converted more than 7,000 temporary employees in the United States into full-time employees so far this year.
"We're looking forward to converting thousands more after this holiday season," said Dave Clark, Amazon's vice president of worldwide operations and customer service.
Retailers typically hire seasonal employees in the weeks leading up to the holiday shopping season to work in stores and help in distribution and fulfilling online orders. Amazon said its seasonal employees are eligible for health care benefits.
Amazon, the world's largest online retailer, is spending billions of dollars on expansion, which has taken a toll on its earnings.
It unveiled two new high-definition tablets last week with a unique on-screen helpdesk feature it hopes will give it an advantage over devices from rivals Apple and Google.
Reuters
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https://www.indiatimes.com/technology/enterprise/amazon-to-hire-70000-seasonal-workers-104339.html
| 2024-12-16T07:02:28Z
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2024 was big for bitcoin. States could see a crypto policy blitz in 2025 in spite of the risks
Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The new year will usher in the bitcoin-friendly administration of President-elect Donald Trump and an expanding lobbying effort in statehouses that, together, could push states to become more open to crypto and for public pension funds and treasuries to buy into it.
Proponents of the uniquely volatile commodity argue it is a valuable hedge against inflation, similar to gold.
Many bitcoin enthusiasts and investors are quick to criticize government-backed currencies as prone to devaluation and say increased government buy-in will stabilize bitcoin’s future price swings, give it more legitimacy and further boost an already rising price.
But the risks are significant. Critics say a crypto investment is highly speculative, with so much unknown about projecting its future returns, and warn that investors should be prepared to lose money.
Only a couple public pension funds have invested in cryptocurrency and a new U.S. Government Accountability Office study on 401(k) plan investments in crypto, issued in recent days, warned it has “uniquely high volatility” and that it found no standard approach for projecting the future returns of crypto.
It has already been a landmark year for crypto, with bitcoin hitting $100,000, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approving the first exchange-traded funds that hold bitcoin and crypto enthusiasts being cheered by Trump’s promise to make the United States the “bitcoin superpower” of the world.
More legislation on crypto could be coming
Lawmakers in more states can expect to see bills in 2025 to make them crypto-friendly as analysts say crypto is becoming a powerful lobby, bitcoin miners build new installations and venture capitalists underwrite a growing tech sector that caters to cryptocurrencies.
Meanwhile, a new crypto-friendly federal government under Trump and Congress could consider legislation from Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyoming, to create a federal bitcoin reserve on which states can piggyback.
A bill introduced last month in Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives sought to authorize the state’s treasurer and public pension funds to invest in bitcoin. It went nowhere before the legislative session ended, but it caused a stir.
“I had a friend who is a rep down the road text me, ‘Oh my god, I’m getting so many emails and phone calls to my office,’ more than he ever did about any other bill,” said the measure’s sponsor, Republican Mike Cabell.
Cabell — a bitcoin enthusiast who lost his reelection bid — expects his bill to be reintroduced by a colleague. And leaders of bitcoin advocacy group Satoshi Action say they expect bills based on their model bill to be introduced in at least 10 other states next year.
But what about public pension funds?
Keith Brainard, research director for the National Association of State Retirement Administrators, said he doesn’t expect many public pension fund investment professionals, who oversee nearly $6 trillion in assets, to invest in crypto.
Pension fund professionals take risks they deem to be appropriate, but bitcoin investing has a short track record, might only fit into a niche asset class and may not fit the risk-to-reward profile they seek.
“There might be a bit of dabbling in bitcoin,” Brainard said. “But it’s difficult to envision a scenario in which pension funds right now are willing to make a commitment.”
In Louisiana, Treasurer John Fleming helped make the state the first to introduce a system by which people can pay a government agency in cryptocurrencies.
Fleming said he’s not trying to promote cryptocurrency, but rather sees the step as a recognition that government must innovate and be flexible in helping people make financial transactions with the state. He said he would never invest his money, or the state’s, in crypto.
Fleming recalled meeting with a bitcoin lobbyist recently and came away unconvinced that bitcoin makes for a good investment.
“My concern is that at some point it’ll stop growing and then people will want to cash in,” Fleming said. “And when they do, it could tank the value of a bitcoin.”
In Pennsylvania, Treasury Department officials said they have the authority to decide for themselves if cryptocurrencies meet the agency’s investment standards under state law and don’t need new legislation.
Still, a highly volatile asset is ill-suited to the agency’s need for predictability, considering it writes millions of checks a year. The overwhelming majority of the roughly $60 billion it invests at any given time is in short-term, conservative investments designed for an investment period of months, officials there said.
Pension boards, which invest on a 30-year time horizon, may already hold small investments in companies involved in mining, trading and storing cryptocurrencies. But they have been slow to embrace bitcoin.
That could change, said Mark Palmer, managing director and a senior research analyst at The Benchmark Company in New York.
Pension boards got investment tools they like this year when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved the first exchange-traded funds that hold bitcoin and, in October, approved listings of options on those funds, Palmer said.
Many “are likely in the process of getting up to speed on what it means to invest in bitcoin and kicking the tires, so to speak, and that’s a process that typically takes a while at the institutional level,” Palmer said.
Several major asset managers like BlackRock, Invesco and Fidelity have bitcoin ETFs.
Some states already are investing in crypto
In May, the State of Wisconsin Investment Board became the first state to invest when it bought $160 million worth of shares in two ETFs, or about 0.1% of its assets. It later scaled back that investment to $104 million in one ETF, as of Sept. 30. A spokesperson declined to discuss it.
Michigan’s state investment board later reported about $18 million in bitcoin ETF purchases while a candidate for New Jersey governor, Steven Fulop, said that if elected he would push the state’s pension fund to invest in crypto.
Fulop, the Democratic mayor of Jersey City, just across the Hudson River from Manhattan, has been preparing for months to buy bitcoin ETF shares for up to 2% of the city’s $250 million employee pension fund.
“We were ahead of the curve,” Fulop said. “And I think that’s what you’re eventually going to see is this is widely accepted, with regard to exposure in all pension funds, some sort of exposure.”
___
Follow Marc Levy on X at: https://x.com/timelywriter.
|
https://localnews8.com/news/2024/12/15/2024-was-big-for-bitcoin-states-could-see-a-crypto-policy-blitz-in-2025-in-spite-of-the-risks/
| 2024-12-16T07:02:30Z
|
President-Elect Kavelashvili Says EU Accession Makes No Sense For Georgia By Abandoning Its Values
Date
12/16/2024 12:10:03 AM
(MENAFN- AzerNews)
"It makes no sense for Georgia to join any organization while
abandoning its values and traditions."
Azernews reports that this was stated by the President-elect of
Georgia, Mikheil Kavelashvili, in an interview with Imedi TV
channel.
According to him, the Georgian authorities are open to
discussions on any issue, but there is no reciprocal desire from
the West to hold discussions, only criticism.
"If we didn't have our values and character, our culture, our
language, our beliefs, our homeland defense, what would be the
point of joining any organization? We want to be a member of the
European Union as we are, we are not giving up on integration."
Mikheil Kavelashvili also assessed the conflict between the
country's current President Salome Zurabishvili and the government.
He noted that if Zurabishvili did not agree with the government's
policies, she should have resigned.
MENAFN16122024000195011045ID1108995907
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MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
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https://menafn.com/1108995907/President-Elect-Kavelashvili-Says-EU-Accession-Makes-No-Sense-For-Georgia-By-Abandoning-Its-Values
| 2024-12-16T07:02:30Z
|
Wearable Tech to See Major Leaps in 2014
Wearable technologies have long been a sideshow to mainstream laptop and smartphones, but this year Google's glasses and rumors of Apple's iWatch are popularizing the field. Analysts forecast swift growth.
The digital domain is creeping off our desktops and onto our bodies, from music players that match your tunes to your heart beat, to mood sweaters that change color depending on your emotional state - blue for calm, red for angry. There are vacuum shoes that clean the floor while you walk and fitness bracelets, anklets and necklaces to track your calorie burning.
"Everyone agrees the race is just beginning, and I think we're going to see some very, very big leaps in just the next year," said tech entrepreneur Manish Chandra at a wearable technology conference and fashion show in San Francisco Monday that was buzzing with hundreds of developers, engineers and designers.
Wearable technologies have long been a sideshow to mainstream laptop and smartphones, but this year Google's glasses and rumors of Apple's iWatch are popularizing the field. Analysts forecast swift growth.
Last year the market for wearable technology - encompassing everything from hearing aids to wristband pedometers - totaled almost $9 billion. That should climb to $30 billion by 2018, said analyst Shane Walker at IHS Global Insights.
Humans have been wearing technology for centuries, from strapped-on compasses to pocket watches. The current surging industry is centered in the Silicon Valley and San Francisco Bay area, where mostly smaller startups design their products locally and have them manufactured in Asia to take advantage of cheap labor.
As wearable technologies proliferate, humans will need to adapt, said Georgia Tech professor Thad Starner. He advises Google on its glasses, which are lightweight frames equipped with a hidden camera and tiny display that responds to voice commands. Starner has worn his for several years.
"We're talking about paradigm changing devices," said Starner. "Capabilities that people haven't thought of before."
He said that, unlike computers and tablets that people engage with, wearable computers are designed to be in the background, secondary to the wearer's attention. "It seems like a paradox, but when you pull the technology closer to your body, there's a seamless interaction, it's more an extension of yourself," he said.
But there are sure to be cultural and social issues. Google Glass - and some emerging competitors - have raised concerns of people who don't want to be surreptitiously videoed or photographed. And what about interacting?
At Monday's conference, attendees slipped on monitors that measured their heart rates and temperatures to reflect whether they really were enjoying a movie, and shot photos through their Google Glasses of Vibease, the world's first wearable vibrator controlled by smartphones, promising long distance intimacy.
"Do you really want a touch screen on the front of your t-shirt? Is it socially acceptable to be poked all over your body for somebody to use your wearable computer?" asked Genevi Dion, who directs a fashion and technology lab at Drexel University. The answer, for some, is no.
In a newly released survey from Cornerstone OnDemand, 42 percent of workers said they would not be willing to strap on wearable tech for their jobs, with older and more traditional employees more reluctant than their counterparts. The survey polled 1,029 Americans aged 18 and over in August, and had a 3.1 percent margin of error.
And then there's an issue of bandwidth, said Ritch Blasi, a consultant with SVP-Comunicano who researches the wearable technology market. At this point, there simply isn't enough network service to support universal and constant wireless use, he said. But that too will catch up.
"It almost makes you think everyone is going to turn into a cyborg," he said, referring to a fictional, prosthetic-laden high tech comic book superhero.
And will they? "When you look at the world and everything people are doing?" said Blasi, pausing for a moment. "I think the answer to that is yes."
AP
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https://www.indiatimes.com/technology/gadgets/wearable-tech-to-see-major-leaps-in-2014_-104525.html
| 2024-12-16T07:02:35Z
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As schools cut back on bus service, parents are turning to rideshare apps
Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — Ismael El-Amin was driving his daughter to school when a chance encounter gave him an idea for a new way to carpool.
On the way across Chicago, El-Amin’s daughter spotted a classmate riding with her own dad as they drove to their selective public school on the city’s North Side. For 40 minutes, they rode along the same congested highway.
“They’re waving to each other in the back. I’m looking at the dad. The dad’s looking at me. And I was like, parents can definitely be a resource to parents,” said El-Amin, who went on to found Piggyback Network, a service parents can use to book rides for their children.
Reliance on school buses has been waning for years as districts struggle to find drivers and more students attend schools far outside their neighborhoods. As responsibility for transportation shifts to families, the question of how to replace the traditional yellow bus has become an urgent problem for some, and a spark for innovation.
State and local governments decide how widely to offer school bus service. Lately, more have been cutting back. Only about 28% of U.S. students take a school bus, according to a Federal Highway Administration survey concluded early last year. That’s down from about 36% in 2017.
Chicago Public Schools, the nation’s fourth-largest district, has significantly curbed bus service in recent years. It still offers rides for disabled and homeless students, in line with a federal mandate, but most families are on their own. Only 17,000 of the district’s 325,000 students are eligible for school bus rides.
Last week, the school system launched a pilot program allowing some students who attend out-of-neighborhood magnet or selective-enrollment schools to catch a bus at a nearby school’s “hub stop.” It aims to start with rides for about 1,000 students by the end of the school year.
It’s not enough to make up for the lost service, said Erin Rose Schubert, a volunteer for the CPS Parents for Buses advocacy group.
“The people who had the money and the privilege were able to figure out other situations like rearranging their work schedules or public transportation,” she said. “People who didn’t, some had to pull their kids out of school.”
On Piggyback Network, parents can book a ride for their student online with another parent traveling the same direction. Rides cost roughly 80 cents per mile and the drivers are compensated with credits to use for their own kids’ rides.
“It’s an opportunity for kids to not be late to school,” 15-year-old Takia Phillips said on a recent PiggyBack ride with El-Amin as the driver.
The company has arranged a few hundred rides in its first year operating in Chicago, and El-Amin has been contacting drivers for possible expansion to Virginia, North Carolina and Texas. It is one of several startups that have been filling the void.
Unlike Piggyback Network, which connects parents, HopSkipDrive contracts directly with school districts to assist students without reliable transportation. The company launched a decade ago in Los Angeles with three mothers trying to coordinate school carpools and now supports some 600 school districts in 13 states.
Regulations keep it from operating in some states, including Kentucky, where a group of Louisville students has been lobbying on its behalf to change that.
After the district halted bus service to most traditional and magnet schools, the student group known as The Real Young Prodigys wrote a hip-hop song titled “Where My Bus At?” The song’s music video went viral on YouTube with lyrics such as, “I’m a good kid. I stay in class, too. Teachers want me to succeed, but I can’t get to school.”
“Those bus driver shortages are not really going away,” HopSkipDrive CEO Joanna McFarland said. “This is a structural change in the industry we need to get serious about addressing.”
HopSkipDrive has been a welcome option for Reinya Gibson’s son, Jerren Samuel, who attends a small high school in Oakland, California. She said the school takes care to accommodate his needs as a student with autism, but the district lined up the transportation because there is no bus from their home in San Leandro.
“Growing up, people used to talk about kids in the short yellow buses. They were associated with a physical disability, and they were teased or made fun of,” Gibson said. “Nobody knows this is support for Jerren because he can’t take public transportation.”
Encouragement from his mother helped Jerren overcame his fear about riding with a stranger to school.
“I felt really independent getting in that car,” he said.
Companies catering to kids claim to screen drivers more extensively, checking their fingerprints and requiring them to have childcare or parenting experience. Drivers and children are often given passwords that must match, and parents can track a child’s whereabouts in real time through the apps.
Kango, a competitor to HopSkipDrive in California and Arizona, started as a free carpooling app similar to the PiggyBack Network and now contracts with school districts. Drivers are paid more than they would typically get for Uber or Lyft, but there are often more requirements such as walking some students with disabilities into school, Kango CEO Sara Schaer said.
“This is not just a curbside-to-curbside, three-minute situation,” Schaer said. “You are responsible for getting that kid to and from school. That’s not the same as transporting an adult or DoorDashing somebody’s lunch or dinner.”
In Chicago, some families that have used Piggyback said they have seen few alternatives.
Concerned about the city’s rising crime rate, retired police officer Sabrina Beck never considered letting her son take the subway to Whitney Young High School. Since she was driving him anyway, she volunteered through PiggyBack also to drive a freshman who had qualified for the selective magnet school but had no way to get there.
“To have the opportunity to go and then to miss it because you don’t have the transportation, that is so detrimental,” Beck said. “Options like this are extremely important.”
After the bus route that took her two kids to elementary school was canceled, Jazmine Dillard and other Chicago parents thought they had convinced the school to move up the opening bell from 8:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., a more manageable time for her schedule. After that plan was scrapped because the buses were needed elsewhere at that time, Dillard turned to PiggyBack Network.
“We had to kind of pivot and find a way to make it to work on time as well as get them to school on time,” she said.
___
The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
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https://localnews8.com/news/2024/12/15/as-schools-cut-back-on-bus-service-parents-are-turning-to-rideshare-apps/
| 2024-12-16T07:02:36Z
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SPD's Campaign Program Rules Out Taurus Missiles For Ukraine
Date
12/16/2024 12:10:06 AM
(MENAFN- UkrinForm) The Social Democratic Party (SPD) in Germany has ruled out any possibility of transferring Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine in its election program.
This was reported by Deutsche Welle with reference to dpa, Ukrinform saw.
It is noted that in this way, the party fully shares the position of incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the issue.
In the campaign program for the Bundestag elections, the Social Democrats declare their support for Ukraine, while emphasizing that Germany "must not become a party to the conflict," therefore stressing that Taurus deliveries would be unacceptable.
Read also: Scholz ready to talk to Putin again despite "disappointment" from previous cal
At the same time, Scholz's party supports the future deployment of American long-range missiles on German soil, as well as the policy of bringing defense spending to at least two percent of gross domestic product. They will also advocate the introduction of a tax for the "ultra-wealthy", whose fortune is estimated at EUR 100 million and above, with a simultaneous easing of the tax burden on 95% of citizens and businesses, and also intend to introduce a speed limit on autobahns to a maximum of 130 kilometers per hour and increase the minimum hourly wage to EUR 15.
The SPD is ready to deliver on its previous commitments to continue deporting unwanted migrants.
The SPD plans to finalize the campaign program by Tuesday, December 17.
As Ukrinform reported earlier, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz penned a letter to the President of the Bundestag with a request to put the issue of confidence in the Chancellor to a vote on Monday, December 16.
MENAFN16122024000193011044ID1108995908
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https://menafn.com/1108995908/SPDs-Campaign-Program-Rules-Out-Taurus-Missiles-For-Ukraine
| 2024-12-16T07:02:36Z
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1.2 Billion Facebook Photos On One Page
Faces Of Facebook has collected all the 1.2 billion profile pictures from the social network and displayed them as a single page photo wall online.
A new digital project called Faces Of Facebook has collected all the 1.2 billion profile pictures from the social network and displayed them as a single page photo wall online.
The faces have been sequenced in chronological order starting with founder Mark Zuckerburg as FACE# 1.
According to the Miami based web designer Natalia Rojas, who is the brain behind this project, the APP does not pull private photos and respect all Facebook privacy settings.
In default mode, the Faces Of Facebook page appears as a matrix of grey and white dots (each one representing a face), but on zooming one gets to see the photos depending on where the mouse pointer is located on the grid.
Now considering it would take a few years to filter through a billion plus photos, the APP allows users to log in through Facebook and spot their profile pic and Face number.
Now that's what we would call seriously cool.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/technology/internet/12-billion-facebook-photos-on-one-page-104294.html
| 2024-12-16T07:02:41Z
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Canada Post says operations to resume after nearly a monthlong strike
TORONTO (AP) — Canada Post said operations will resume at the national postal service on Tuesday after the nearly monthlong work stoppage. Workers went on strike after failing to reach a negotiated agreement over key issues, including wages and job security. The labor minister announced Friday referring the dispute to an independent administrative tribunal that focuses on resolving workplace disputes. However, the tribunal determined late Sunday that negotiations are at an impasse after two days of hearings and ordered the nearly 55,000 workers back to work. Canada Post said it has agreed to implement a 5% wage increase retroactive to the day after the collective agreements expired.
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https://localnews8.com/news/2024/12/15/canada-post-says-operations-to-resume-after-nearly-a-monthlong-strike/
| 2024-12-16T07:02:42Z
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(MENAFN- IANS) Mumbai, Dec 16 (IANS) The tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain left for the heavenly abode on December 15, leaving a huge void in India's music. With his excellence and humility, the Ustad touched many lives, young and old, people in positions of power and the common man. Such is the impact of one of the greatest tabla players that his demise feels like a personal loss to many.
Several members of the film fraternity like Kamal Haasan, Akshay Kumar, A. R. Rahman, Mohanlal, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Hansal Mehta, and others shared their condolences on his demise.
Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar took to his social media and shared an image of Zakir Hussain. He wrote, "Very pained to know about the sad demise of Ustad Zakir Hussain Sahab. He was truly a treasure for our country's musical heritage. Om Shanti".
Veteran Tamil megastar Kamal Haasan took to his X, formerly Twitter and shared an old image in which Zakir Hussain could be seen giving the taal to the actor as the latter plays tabla. He wrote,“Zakir Bhai! He left too soon. Yet we are grateful for the times he gave us and what he left behind in the form of his art. Goodbye and Thank you”.
Oscar and Grammy-winning music composer A. R. Rahman called Zakir an inspiration and expressed his regret for not collaborating with him in recent years. He wrote,“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. Zakir Bhai was an inspiration, a towering personality who elevated the tabla to global acclaim. His loss is immeasurable for all of us. I regret not being able to collaborate with him as much as we did decades ago, though we had planned an album together. You shall be truly missed. May his family and his countless students worldwide find the strength to bear this immense loss”.
Veteran Malayalam superstar Mohanlal wrote on his X,“Ustad Zakir Hussain's passing leaves an irreplaceable void in the world of music. His rhythms united hearts across borders. My deepest condolences to his family and admirers”.
Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan, who was recently seen along with Akshay Kumar in 'Singham Again', also paid tribute to the legendary musician with a heartfelt image that featured her alongside Zakir Hussain and her father, Randhir Kapoor. She wrote,“Maestro forever”.
Filmmaker Hansal Mehta, who recently directed Kareena in 'The Buckingham Murders' also took to his X, and wrote,“The maestro who made so many sleepless nights at Hindustani classical concerts memorable. The man who knew how to engage with an audience through his artistry. The Ustad who made the tabla sexy. Goodbye Ustad Zakir Hussain”.
Playback singer Sonu Nigam expressed his shock at the demise of the late musician, as he took to his Instagram, and wrote,“Zakir bhai... What is this?”.
Actress Nimrat Kaur recalled the last time she saw Ustad Zakir Hussain perform live earlier this year. She took to her Instagram, and shared a picture and a video of the late musician. She wrote in the caption,“On Feb 28th, '24, when I last watched Ustad Zakir Hussain live at Prithvi Theatre, I recall my heart beating to the beats of the sheer flawless genius of his talent. His international superstardom and the zenith of his achievements are forever here to inspire and energize us”.
“As a human being, to remain the most humble, gracious, and generous through his incomparable life journey is what remains etched as a life goal in my heart. Your kind eyes and mystical being shall outlive generations...rest in glory Ustad ji. Never shall there be another”, she added.
MENAFN16122024000231011071ID1108995915
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https://menafn.com/1108995915/Zakir-Hussain-Film-Industry-Veterans-Mourn-The-Demise-Of-The-Legend
| 2024-12-16T07:02:43Z
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FB Adds New Features to Graph Search
Facebook has said that it is expanding the capabilities of its Graph Search function to help users navigate and find information within postings on the world's biggest social network.
Facebook has said that it is expanding the capabilities of its Graph Search function to help users navigate and find information within postings on the world's biggest social network.
"Starting today, Graph Search will include posts and status updates. Now you will be able to search for status updates, photo captions, check-ins and comments to find things shared with you," the company said in a statement.
"Search for the topics you're interested in and see what your friends are saying, like 'Dancing with the Stars' or 'Posts about Dancing with the Stars by my friends.'"
Facebook launched the service in January in an effort to help members better navigate the vast amount of information on Facebook, which is not available on web search engines such as Google. But at the time, it lacked detailed information from member postings.
Facebook emphasized that the new effort is not web search, but can help find certain information archived within the network and in the content of friends. It uses Microsoft's Bing search engine to scour content in Facebook.
The company said the expanded graph search is rolling out slowly to "a small group of people who currently have graph search and we will continue to improve this experience by listening to feedback."
Facebook has said graph search will respect privacy, and that people can only see content that has been shared with them or publicly available posts.
AFP
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https://www.indiatimes.com/technology/internet/facebook-adds-new-features-to-graph-search-104338.html
| 2024-12-16T07:02:47Z
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China’s economy logs a lackluster performance in November as retail sales slow
AP Business Writer
BANGKOK (AP) — China has reported its economy logged a mixed performance in November, with retail sales slowing as consumers refrained from spending on non-essentials like cosmetics, alcohol and jewelry. The government reported Monday that retail sales rose 3% year-on-year, down from 4.8% in October. Factory output rose 5.4%, nearly flat compared with the previous month, while investment in fixed assets like factories slowed. Officials said the economy was stable but domestic demand was weak and the “external environment” was more complicated, highlighting risks ahead as Beijing braces for potential tariff hikes once U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office. The report came days after top leaders ended an annual planning meeting that produced no major new policy initiatives.
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https://localnews8.com/news/2024/12/15/chinas-economy-logs-a-lackluster-performance-in-november-as-retail-sales-slow/
| 2024-12-16T07:02:48Z
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EsportsXO Partners with Abu Dhabi Gaming to Establish Regional Headquarters in the UAE Capital, Driving MENA Expansion
Date
12/16/2024 12:15:19 AM
(MENAFN- Blitz PR) EsportsXO, a frontrunner in the Indian esports and gaming startup landscape, has announced a strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi Gaming, marking a significant expansion into the MENA region. As a part of this agreement, XO will establish its regional headquarter in Abu Dhabi. This collaboration is aimed at fostering the growth of Abu Dhabi’s local gaming ecosystem and will enable both companies to seize the emerging opportunities in this growing sector.
With a projected valuation of $397.21 billion by 2029, the global gaming industry is on a sturdy growth track and the MENA region is rapidly emerging as one of its largest markets. By setting up its regional hub in Abu Dhabi, XO is positioning itself at the epicentre of this dynamic landscape, poised to tap into a market ripe for expansion.
“Working with Abu Dhabi Gaming is a major step for XO as we look to expand our presence in one of the world’s most exciting gaming regions,” said Vikas Goel, Founder, XO. “We are eager to contribute to the development of the local gaming ecosystem, nurture homegrown talent, and bring world-class gaming experiences to the MENA region. This reinforces our commitment to expanding our global footprint while fostering meaningful connections with gamers and industry leaders across the region.”
Abu Dhabi Gaming, the UAE capital’s gaming ecosystem builder, hosts over 100 gaming companies. By joining forces with Abu Dhabi Gaming, XO becomes the first tournament platform to be part of this ecosystem, paving the way for more immersive and large-scale gaming experiences in the MENA region.
Commenting on the same, Marcos Muller-Habig, Director at Abu Dhabi Gaming added, “We are excited to welcome XO to the Abu Dhabi Gaming ecosystem. Their expertise in esports tournaments and community building will play a crucial role in elevating Abu Dhabi’s position as a global gaming hub. Together, we aim to shape the future of gaming in MENA, while providing the platform for local and global talent to achieve the goal of enhancing the growth of Abu Dhabi Gaming’s ecosystem”
Focus and Growth
This strategic expansion in Abu Dhabi will be instrumental in shaping the esports and gaming landscape in the MENA region. XO’s Abu Dhabi office will focus on key growth areas, including regional esports programs, partnerships with publishers, and innovative advertising solutions. XO’s platform, known for its free-to-play, gamified ecosystem, helps gamers discover tournaments and connect with other gamers, creating a more engaging and sticky experience.
This partnership is expected to create a significant amount of jobs over the next five years and support the development of local talent. It also aligns with Abu Dhabi’s broader vision to establish itself as a global gaming hub, providing the necessary infrastructure and network to foster innovation.
XO’s strategic expansion follows a significant financial and operational growth attained by the company in a short span of three years. XO has raised around $1.4 million USD and achieved revenues of over $4.3 million in the past 3 years, maintaining a EBITDA-positive performance the last three quarters of this year. After a successful fundraising in 2023, XO has demonstrated financial stability and ability to scale sustainably while delivering excellence and value to its growing community of over 1.4 million gamers across the globe.
XO is focused on building a sustainable, inclusive, and borderless gaming ecosystem where gamers, developers and brands co-exist to create mutual value. By offering active, engaged players and delivering a highly targeted engagement, it has emerged as a major player in the regional esports scene. The focus on community engagement, alongside a slow-burn approach to marketing, provides long-term value creation.
MENAFN16122024007667016508ID1108995917
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
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https://menafn.com/1108995917/EsportsXO-Partners-with-Abu-Dhabi-Gaming-to-Establish-Regional-Headquarters-in-the-UAE-Capital-Driving-MENA-Expansion
| 2024-12-16T07:02:50Z
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Former FBI informant will plead guilty to lying about phony bribery scheme involving the Bidens
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — A former FBI informant is set to plead guilty on Monday to lying about a phony bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden and his son Hunter that became central to the Republican impeachment inquiry in Congress.
Alexander Smirnov is expected to make the plea in Los Angeles to a felony charge in connection with the bogus story, along with a tax evasion charge stemming from a separate indictment accusing him of concealing millions of dollars of income, according to court papers.
Smirnov has been behind bars since his arrest in February on charges that he told his FBI handler that executives from the Ukrainian energy company Burisma had paid President Biden and Hunter Biden $5 million each around 2015.
Prosecutors and the defense have agreed to recommend a sentence of between four and six years in prison, according to the plea agreement.
Smirnov had been an informant for more than a decade when he made the explosive allegations about the Bidens in June 2020, after “expressing bias” about Joe Biden as a presidential candidate, prosecutors said.
But Smirnov had only routine business dealings with Burisma starting in 2017, according to court documents. An FBI field office investigated the allegations and recommended the case be closed in August 2020, according to charging documents.
No evidence has emerged that Joe Biden acted corruptly or accepted bribes in his current role or previous office as vice president.
While his identity wasn’t publicly known before the indictment, Smirnov’s claims played a major part in the Republican effort in Congress to investigate the president and his family, and helped spark a House impeachment inquiry into Biden. Before Smirnov’s arrest, Republicans had demanded the FBI release the unredacted form documenting the unverified allegations, though they acknowledged they couldn’t confirm if they were true.
During a September 2023 conversation with investigators, Smirnov also claimed the Russians likely had recordings of Hunter Biden because a hotel in Ukraine’s capital where he had stayed was “wired” and under their control — information he said was passed along to him by four high-level Russian officials.
But Hunter Biden had never traveled to Ukraine, according to Smirnov’s indictment.
Smirnov claimed to have contacts with Russian intelligence-affiliated officials, and told authorities after his arrest earlier this year that “officials associated with Russian intelligence were involved in passing a story” about Hunter Biden.
The case against Smirnov was brought by special counsel David Weiss, who also prosecuted Hunter Biden on gun and tax charges. Hunter Biden was supposed to be sentenced this month after being convicted at trial in the gun case and pleading guilty to federal charges in the tax case. But he was pardoned earlier this month by his father, who said he believed “raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice.”
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https://localnews8.com/news/2024/12/15/former-fbi-informant-will-plead-guilty-to-lying-about-phony-bribery-scheme-involving-the-bidens/
| 2024-12-16T07:02:54Z
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LG G2 Smartphone Arrives At Rs 41,500
LG G2 features a 1920x1080, 5.2-inch full HD IPS display and a 13 MP rear camera
The latest smartphone from the Korean manufacturer, LG G2 has been officially unveiled for the Indian market and will be priced at approximately Rs 41,5000.
LG G2 features a 1920x1080, 5.2-inch full HD IPS display that gives a 16:9 cinema like HD viewing experience at a 423 pixels per inch resolution.
A slim 3000 mAh battery, reportedly promises long battery life with less power consumption. The phone has been launched in two variants: 16/ 32GB of internal storage. The phone also comes with 2GB of RAM running on a 2.26 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor.
For imaging enthusiasts there is a 2.1MP front camera and a generous 13MP rear camera. An Optical Image Stabilizer has been included to take care of camera shake and low lighting issues.
The LG G2 phone runs on Android 4.2.2 and has features like multi-mic recording and noise cancellation for better audio. While we did get a sneak peek of the features sometime back, here’s the official list of all the innovations LG G2 hopes to blow your mind with.
Rear Key-
The most hyped feature of the LG G2 is a rear slider below the camera lens which can be used to control volume, answer calls, snooze the alarm and above all take selfies with the use of one’s index finger.
Zoom To Track-
With this feature the user can select a particular object or face in a streaming video and the system will magnify it throughout the playback. A Tracking Zoom feature works similarly for images in a slideshow and helps make videos by tracking an object’s movement in images.
Audio Zooming-
In addition to the above feature, users can also select a particular audio source to amplify in a video while shooting, to enhance clarity during playback. This setting uses three stereo mikes to reduce atmospheric sound and background noise.
Dual Camera-
This is indeed a very interesting feature for capturing multiple moments during a party. With this, users can simultaneously activate the front and rear camera so that the both sides can be shot or clicked together via a picture in picture frame.
Plug & Pop-
The phone automatically launches music APPs of the phone on detecting earphones and goes into file sync mode when connected to a USB cable.
Knockon-
If your hands are full and you can’t swipe or press to switch on the device, the phone claims to have a solution to that problem. By two knocks on the surface the phone will bring the display on, without having to use the power key.
Capture Plus-
LG G2 allows users to take a screenshot of an entire web page or document and not just what is visible on screen.
Clip Tray-
Working like a PC clipboard, this Clip Tray can store multiple items for future reference to copy, paste and share.
Guest Mode-
This helps define settings and showcase only selected features when the phone is not being used by the owner.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/technology/mobile/lg-g2-smartphone-arrives-at-rs-41500-in-india-104287.html
| 2024-12-16T07:02:54Z
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Specifications for the 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Gts. Details include engine, fuel usage, interior features, safety and more.
2023 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Gts 992 My23 3.0L Petrol 2D Cabriolet
Standard Features
- 12 Volt Power Outlet
- Climate Control - 2 Zone
- 380mm Rear Brakes
- 408mm Front Brakes
- Four Seat Interior
- Automatic Air Recirculation
- Dual Front Airbags Package
- Advanced Brake Functions
- Anti-lock Braking
- Aluminium & Composite Body Panels
- Automatic Air Con / Climate Control
- Ascending Centre Console with Storage Compartment
- Active Carbon Filter
- Apple Car Play
- Auto Dimming Int & Ext Mirrors with Rain Sensor
- Automatic Deploying Rear Spoiler
- Autonomous Emergency Braking
- Aero Wipers - Front
- Aluminium Brake Calipers
- Alarm with Interior Movement Sensor
- A-Pillar Trim in Leather
- Air Quality Sensor
- Aluminium Sill Guards - Personalised
- Aluminium Sill Guards - Black
- Automatic Stop/Start
- Audio Interface/s
- 20 Inch Alloy Wheels
- 21 Inch Alloy Wheels
- Body Colour Ext Mirror Lower Trims
- Bucket Front Seats - Manual Fore/Aft Adjustment
- Black Tailpipes
- Comfort Access System
- Camera Based Vehicle Detection
- Cruise Control
- Cloth Headlining
- Cup Holders - Front Seats
- Coat Hanger Hook/s
- Central Locking Luggage Compartment Release
- Central Locking Remote Control
- Communication Management System
- Child Seat - ISOFIX Anchorage System
- Centre Console Storage Compartment Lid in Race-Tex
- Digital Audio Broadcast Radio
- Door Armrests in Race-Tex
- Door Handles in Race-Tex
- Dust & Pollen Filter
- Daytime Running Lights - LED
- Display Screen 10.9 Inch
- Dry Sump Lubrication System
- Dual TFT Displays
- Electronic Diff Lock Rear
- Embossed Headrests
- Embossed Seats
- Electromechanical Power Brake
- Electromechanical Power Steering
- Electric Parking Brake
- Extended Seat Bolsters - Front Seats
- Electric Seat Height Adjustment - Driver
- Electric Seat Height Adjustment - Passenger
- Extra USB Socket/s
- Front Apron - Black
- Front Apron - Sports Design
- Forged Aluminium Wheels
- Front Footwell Lights - LED
- Floor Mats - Front & Rear
- Front Spoiler - Sport Design
- Forward Traffic Detection
- Fully Variable Torque Distribution
- Gear Lever/Selector in Race-Tex
- Gear Shift Indicator
- GT Sports Steering Wheel, Htd, Race-Tex
- Head Airbags - Front Seats (side)
- Headlights - Auto On/Off Function
- Heated Front Seats
- Headrest with Crest/Logo - Front & Rear
- Heated Rear Windshield
- Interior Brushed Aluminium Pack Extended - Black
- Instrument Cluster Display - 7.0 Inch
- Illuminated Glove Box Compartment
- Illuminated Ignition Switch
- Intelligent Lightweight Construction
- Inlays - Aluminium
- Engine Immobiliser
- Internet Access
- Infotainment Pack
- Keyless Entry
- Keyless Go
- LED Auxiliary Light Units
- Luggage Compartment - Front
- Lane Change Assist
- LED Cargo Area Lighting
- LED Lighting Package
- LED Indicators
- Lockable Glove Box Compartment
- LED Matrix Headlights with Dynamic Light Sys Plus
- Lowered Suspension
- LED Position Lights
- LTE Communication Module
- Mirror Courtesy Lighting
- Multi-function Steering Wheel
- Mobile Phone Preparation
- Map Reading Lights - LED
- Music Streaming
- Navigation System
- Orientation Lighting - Front & Rear
- Park Assist including Surround View
- Porsche Connect
- Power Mirrors With Folding
- 20/21 Turbo S Wheels
- Powered Sports Seats 4 Way
- Power Soft Top - Automatic
- Power Soft Top - Remote Operation
- Porsche Traction Management
- Power Windows - Front With One-Touch Operation
- Power Windows Rear
- Rear Apron - Sports Design
- Red Brake Calipers
- Remote Services
- Rear Footwell Lights - LED
- Race-Tex Interior Package - Black
- Rear Lid Grille - Black
- Rollover Protection System - Auto-deploying
- Seat Centres in Race-Tex
- Seat Backrest Colour Special
- Seatback Hooks
- Seatbelts - Lap/Sash for All Seats
- Storage Compartment - Front Door/s
- Solar Control Glass
- Sports Chrono Package including Mode Switch
- Sports Design Pack - Matt Black
- Sports Exhaust System
- Side Indicators
- Side Impact Protection
- Side Skirt Trim - Black
- Stationary Management with Hold Function
- Stainless Steel Tailpipes
- Soft Top - Black
- Sports Suspension
- Sunvisors with Vanity Mirrors & Illumination
- Steering Wheel Rim in Race-Tex
- Thorax Airbag - Driver
- Thorax Airbag - Passenger
- TFT Instrument Cluster
- Tail Light Strip with Integral Park & Fog Lights
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
- Track Precision App
- Tyre Sealing Compound & Air Compressor
- Twin Tailpipes
- Tyre Temperature Display
- Torque Vectoring Plus
- Tinted Windows
- USB Input Socket
- Ventilated Front Disc Brakes
- Ventilated Rear Disc Brakes
- Voice Recognition System
- Vehicle Stability Management System
- Wireless Apple Car Play
- Warning & Brake Assist
- Wheel Central Locking
- Window Door Seal Protection
- Wet Mode
- Wheel Finish - Black
- Wheel Hub Covers with Crest
- Welcome Lights - Headlights
- Windscreen With Sunband
Optional Extras
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Adaptive Cruise Control incl Traffic Jam Assist - $250
- Aluminium Gear Selector - $1,270
- Aluminium Pedals - $720
- Active Park Assist - $1,640
- Adaptive Sports Seats Plus - 18 Way & Memory - $5,510
- Aluminium Sill Guards Illuminated - $1,500
- Aluminium Sill Guards Illuminated - Personalised - $2,250
- Anti-theft Wheel Bolts - $130
- Black Brake Calipers - Gloss - $1,720
- Body Coloured Interior Package
- Body Coloured Exterior Mirror Base - $1,120
- Body Coloured Rear Lid Slat Inlays - $1,220
- Body Coloured Wheels
- Cabin Air Ionisation - $600
- Ceramic Composite Brakes - $20,490
- Carbon Floor Mats - Leather Edging - $1,950
- Cupholders - Leather Trim - $560
- Coloured Instrument Dials - $720
- Colour Selection - Stitching
- Colour Selection - Leather
- Coloured Seat Belts - $930
- Carbon Sill Guards Illuminated - $2,120
- Carbon Sill Guards Illuminated - Personalised - $2,870
- Custom Colour Paint - $18,490
- Carbon Window Trims - $1,050
- Dash Cam Preparation - $250
- Door Courtesy Lights Logo Projection - $300
- Dashboard & Door Trim Package - Leather - $4,970
- Dynamic Chassis Control - $6,750
- Engine Compartment Lid Painted in Special Colour - $880
- Exclusive Design Fuel Filler Cap - $280
- Exclusive Design Tail Lights - $310
- Exterior Mirrors - Upper Trims - Carbon - $3,120
- Exterior Pack - Gloss Black - $6,270
- Extended Package - Leather Interior - Exclusive - $8,300
- Floor Mats - Heritage Design
- Floor Mats with Leather Edging - $1,100
- GT Sports Strg Wheel - Htd, Leather - Carbon Panel - $950
- GT Sports Strg Wheel - Htd, Race-Tex, Carbon Inlay - $1,300
- GT Leather Sports Steering Wheel
- GT Leather Sports Steering Wheel - Heated
- GTS Interior Package - $8,350
- Home Link - $600
- Hood & Luggage Compartment Lid with Stripes - $2,720
- Interior Carbon Pack - $1,500
- Interior Leather Pack
- Interior Trim Pack - Contrast Stitching - $6,500
- Int Trim Pack - Contrast Stitching & Seat Centres - $8,000
- Leather Pack 930 - $2,750
- Leather Air Vents - $3,000
- Leather Air Vents - Personalised - $3,900
- Leather Backrests Sports Sts Plus - Carbon Inlays - $4,620
- Leather Backrests Sports Sts Plus - Special Inlays - $3,370
- Light Design Package - $1,050
- Leather Dashboard Trim Package - $2,220
- Leather Door Trim Package - $2,750
- Leather Fuse Box Cover - $560
- Leather Interior Club Leather - Contrast Stitching - $11,350
- Leather Interior Club Leather - $11,350
- Leather Interior - Contrast Stitching - $8,350
- Leather Interior Exclusive - $31,800
- Leather Interior Exclusive - Two-tone
- Leather Interior Mirror Panel - $720
- Leather Int Pack Leather Seats - Two Tone - $9,600
- Leather Interior Pack Leather Seats - $8,350
- Leather Inner Sill Guards - $1,120
- Lane Keeping Assist - $1,220
- Leather Onboard Folder - $800
- Leather Seat Centre in Contrasting Colour - $1,750
- Leather Steering Column Surround - $750
- Lifting System Front Axle - $5,070
- Leather Sunvisors - $860
- Model Designation Deletion
- Model Designation - Gloss Black - $500
- Model Designation Painted - Body Colour - $500
- Manufacturers Logo - Body Colour - $310
- Manufacturers Logo - Gloss Black - $550
- Metallic Paint
- Night View Assist - $4,900
- Porsche Active Suspension Management
- Paint Colour Special - $5,700
- Protective Front Foil - $4,500
- Personalised Floor Mats - Leather Edging - $1,420
- Carrera S Wheels 20/21 inch
- RS Spyder Design Wheels 20/21 inch
- Power Steering Plus
- Powered Sports Seats 14 Way with Memory - $2,660
- Rear Axle Steering - $4,720
- Race-Tex Interior with Extensive Leather Items - $8,350
- Sun Visors in Race-Tex - $860
- Storage Compartment Lid Logo/Crest in Race-Tex - $470
- Vehicle Key Painted with Key Pouch in Race-Tex - $780
- Subsecond Clock - $2,110
- Sports Chrono Instrument Dials - Coloured - $720
- Storage Compartment Lid Logo/Crest - $470
- Standard Interior - Leather Seats - Front
- Side Skirts - Sports Design - Black - $2,220
- Side Skirts - Sports Design - $2,220
- Smoke Pack - $110
- Surround Sound System Premium - $6,700
- Soft Top Colour - Special
- Storage Package
- Standard Paint
- Silver Sports Tailpipes - $620
- Ventilated Front Seats - $2,220
- Vehicle Key - Leather in Leather Pouch - $990
- Vehicle Key Painted - Leather Pouch - $780
|
https://www.whichcar.com.au/specs/2023-porsche-911-carrera-4-gts-992-my23-petrol-2d-cabriolet-xPzXcYV88M
| 2024-12-16T07:02:53Z
|
(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
Sanaullah Ataullah
|
The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: Minister of Municipality H E Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiya unveiled strategy of the Real estate Regulatory Authority (Aqarat) yesterday.
The strategy aims to strengthen Qatar's position as a leading investment destination by regulating, stimulating and promoting the real estate sector, in line with the Third National Development Strategy.
The strategy is based on five key pillars: developing a national plan for the real estate sector, activating real estate regulations, enhancing professional standards, delivering advanced digital solutions, and expanding investment opportunities.
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The launch ceremony was attended by Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ibrahim bin Ali Al Mohannadi, senior officials, and investors.
Addressing the event, President of Aqarat H E Eng Khalid bin Ahmed Al Obaidli, expressed enthusiasm for the new strategy's launch and its targeted initiatives. He emphasised its alignment with the leadership's vision of income diversification, sustainable development and fostering an attractive environment for real estate investment.
“Qatar's distinctive qualities make it an ideal destination for all, offering a family-friendly environment and advanced infrastructure spanning transportation, communications and logistics sectors. Over the recent years, our country has emerged as a leading global hub, with the real estate sector as a key pillar of our national economy. This new strategy serves as our roadmap for its regulation and development, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030,” Al Obaidli said.
He added:“The strategy marks a significant step towards establishing a sustainable and inclusive real estate sector that caters to the needs of both present and future generations. It underscores our commitment to reinforcing Qatar's position as a preferred investment destination while also realising our leadership's vision to create a competitive environment that attracts investments.”
The comprehensive strategy is built on five key pillars: developing a national plan for the real estate sector through supportive policies that promote sustainable development and align with local and international real estate market needs; activating real estate regulations by establishing the Licensing Committee; creating a real estate development registry to enhance market transparency; overseeing the escrow account initiative; and activating the Dispute Resolution Committee.
Additional pillars include enhancing professional standards by improving quality through the real estate valuation system governance; establishing an internationally aligned regulatory framework for practitioner licensing and classification; delivering advanced digital solutions to streamline procedures ; launching initiatives that promote transparency and facilitate easy data access and expanding investment opportunities to solidify Qatar's position as a premier investment and family-friendly destination. This will be achieved by organising local and international real estate forums and actively promoting investment opportunities within the country.
The Real Estate Regulatory Authority reaffirmed its dedication to advancing Qatar's real estate sector and ensuring the successful implementation of these strategic objectives.
This commitment supports the broader vision of positioning Qatar at the forefront of global investment, fostering a sustainable and attractive business environment that benefits the national economy and fulfils future generations' aspirations.
MENAFN16122024000063011010ID1108995919
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https://menafn.com/1108995919/New-Aqarat-Strategy-Aims-To-Boost-Real-Estate-Sector-Attract-Investment
| 2024-12-16T07:02:56Z
|
Milan’s Via MonteNapoleone usurps New York’s Fifth Avenue as world’s most upscale shopping street
Associated Press
MILAN (AP) — Shoppers laden with bags from Fendi, Loewe, Prada and other designer labels clog the narrow sidewalks of Milan’s swankiest shopping street, bringing joy to the purveyors of high-end luxury goods this, and every, holiday season.
There’s even more to celebrate this year: a commercial real estate company has crowned Via MonteNapoleone as the world’s most expensive retail destination, displacing New York’s Fifth Avenue.
The latest version of American firm Cushman & Wakefield’s annual global index, which ranks shopping areas based on the rent prices they command, is a sign of Via MonteNapoleone’s desirability as an address for luxury ready-to-wear, jewelry and even pastry brands.
The average rent on the Milan street has surged to 20,000 euros per square meter ($2,047 per square foot), compared with 19,537 euros per square meter ($2,000 per square foot) on an 11-block stretch of upper Fifth Avenue.
Via MonteNapoleone’s small size — just 350 meters (less than one-quarter mile) long — and walking distance to services and top cultural sites are among the street’s key advantages, according to Guglielmo Miani, president of the MonteNapoleone District association.
“Not everything can fit, which is a benefit’’ since the limited space makes the street even more exclusive and dynamic, said Miani, whose group also represents businesses on the intersecting side streets that together with Via MonteNapoleone form an area known as Milan’s Fashion Quadrilateral.
The biggest brands on the street make 50 million euros to 100 million euros in annual sales, Miani said, which goes a long way to paying the rent. Tiffany & Co. is preparing to take up residence on Via Montenapoleone, and long-time tenant Fendi is expanding.
The MonteNapoleone District says 11 million people visited the area this year through November, but there’s no way to say how many were big spenders vs. window shoppers. The average shopper on Via MonteNapoleone spent 2,500 euros per purchase between August and November — the highest average receipt in the world, according to the tax-free shopping firm Global Blue.
The street is a magnet for holiday shoppers who arrive in Maseratis, Porsches and even Ferraris, the sports car’s limited trunk space notwithstanding. Lights twinkle overhead, boutique windows feature mannequins engaged in warm scenes of holiday fun, and passersby snap photos of expertly decorated cakes in pastry shop displays.
A visitor from China, Chen Xinghan, waited for a taxi with a half-dozen shopping bags lined up next to him on the sidewalk. He said he paid half the price for a luxury Fendi coat that he purchased in Milan than he would have at home.
“I got a lot,’’ Chen acknowledged. “It’s a fantastic place, a good place for shopping.”
A few store windows down, Franca Da Rold, who was visiting Milan from Belluno, an Italian city in the Dolomites mountain range, marveled at a chunky, meters-long knit scarf priced at 980 euros.
“I could knit that in one hour, using 12-gauge knitting needles as thick as my fingers, and thick wool. Maximum two hours,’’ Da Rold said, but acknowledged the brand appeal.
Despite upper Fifth Avenue getting bumped to the No. 2 spot on the Cushman & Wakefield list, the organization that serves as the Manhattan street’s guardian and chief promoter had praise for MonteNapoleone’s achievement.
“Milan’s investment in its public realm is paying off, which is a win for their shoppers, businesses and city as a whole,’’ Madelyn Wils, interim president of the Fifth Avenue Association, said.
But she also expressed confidence that with new investments and a record year for sales on Fifth Avenue, “we’ll be back on top in no time.”
|
https://localnews8.com/news/2024/12/15/milans-via-montenapoleone-usurps-new-yorks-fifth-avenue-as-worlds-most-upscale-shopping-street/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:00Z
|
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https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/video/man-shot-and-killed-by-bso-deputies-near-fort-lauderdale-tri-rail-station-identified/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:00Z
|
China’s economy logs a lackluster performance in November as retail sales slow
BANGKOK (AP) — China’s economy logged a mixed performance in November, the monthly government update said Monday, with retail sales slowing as consumers held back on spending on non-essentials like cosmetics, alcohol and clothing.
Officials said the economy was generally stable with positive signs including a slight improvement in the property sector.
“However, we must also see that the external environment is more complicated, domestic demand is insufficient, some enterprises are facing difficulties in production and operation, and the foundation for the sustained recovery of the economy still needs to be consolidated,” Fu Linghui, a spokesperson for the National Bureau of Statistics told reporters.
The report came days after top leaders ended an annual planning meeting that produced no major new policy initiatives as Beijing braces for potential tariff hikes once U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
Retail sales rose 3% from a year earlier, down from a 4.8% increase in October and from the 3.5% annual rate in January-November.
Factory output rose 5.4%, nearly flat compared with the previous month, while investment in fixed assets like factories slowed.
Overall, property prices fell and home sales also declined in most cities, the report said, as China endures a downturn in its real estate market after regulators cracked down on excessive borrowing by developers that plunged the whole industry into crisis.
The disruptions to jobs and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic have further weighed on the world’s second-largest economy.
A closer look at the numbers released Monday showed sharp increases in some categories of consumer spending last month, especially appliances and vehicles that are subject to government rebates as part of a cash-for-clunkers and other programs meant to get people to replace older appliances and cars with newer ones.
The report said auto sales rose 6.6% in November over a year earlier, but have fallen 0.7% year-on-year so far this year. Sales of appliances jumped more than 22%, and have climbed 9.6% so far this year.
However, sales of cosmetics, alcohol and other beverages, jewelry and clothing all fell in November.
Chinese leaders pledged to take a more proactive approach in pepping up the economy after their two-day planning meeting last week, but gave no details on stimulus measures.
Fu told reporters the government expects the economy to meet the target for about 5% annual growth this year.
Markets in China had climbed on renewed hopes for a stronger dose of stimulus to help the counter weak consumer spending that has kept the economy growing this year at a rate slightly slower than the government’s official target of about 5%.
On Monday, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 0.6% while the Shanghai Composite index was little changed. The Hang Seng property index fell 1.2%.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.kob.com/news/business-money/chinas-economy-logs-a-lackluster-performance-in-november-as-retail-sales-slow/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:00Z
|
Editor's note: The below recap contains spoilers for Dune: Prophecy Episode 5.
Finally, Dune: Prophecy is starting to give us some answers about its burning mysteries - but not without raising other questions. This week's episode, "In Blood, Truth," fulfills the promise of its title, with tensions between the Sisterhood and the Imperial House reaching a tipping point, as well as shedding light on some old bloodline issues. On Wallach IX, Tula Harkonnen (Olivia Williams) has to juggle Sister Lila's (Chloe Lea) secretive recovery with analyzing Desmond Hart's (Travis Fimmel) blood sample, while, on Salusa Secundus, a new Sisterhood member is introduced to further complicate things for the Imperial House — all under Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen's (Emily Watson) watchful eye.
Sister Francesca Disrupts the Royal Family in 'Dune: Prophecy' Episode 5
The episode begins with a new member of the Sisterhood, Sister Francesca (Tabu), arriving on Salusa Secundus. She was once Emperor Javicco Corrino's (Mark Strong) concubine, and is Constantine's (Josh Heuston) mother. Her arrival during an official ceremony disrupts the royal family's dynamics and sees Empress Natalya's (Jodhi May) influence over her husband wane, because Javicco is still deeply infatuated with Francesca. As Valya later explains, Francesca used the Sisterhood art of imprinting on him, causing such a strong impression that he will always love her. She arrives unannounced during the unveiling ceremony of the Emperor's new elite regiment, claiming to have gotten a message from Constantine, and their son becomes the central issue between her and the Emperor. Constantine has always been seen as a troublesome youngster, incapable of holding responsibility, but Francesca manages to sway Javicco.
Back at the Harkonnen apartment on Salusa Secundus, Valya briefs Francesca on the dire situation the Sisterhood finds itself in. She confesses that she sent the message under Constantine's name to avoid being tracked by the Spacing Guild, and tells Francesca about Mother Kasha's (Jihae) death and everything that happened afterward. Francesca immediately recognizes Desmond Hart as being the reckoning that Mother Superior Raquella Berto-Anirul (Cathy Tyson) spoke of on her deathbed. Francesca's mission, then, is to guide House Corrino back to the Sisterhood, convincing Javicco to allow Princess Ynez (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina) to study on Wallach IX, and to make Constantine the new commander of the Imperial Fleet.
After Francesca convinces Javicco that Constantine needs to be given more responsibility so he can prove himself, it's time to convince Constantine that he has what it takes to become the man he wants to be. They have a brief conversation in the training room, where, after he asks her what was the purpose of bringing him into the world, Francesca tells him that it's to protect his sister from harm, even if it comes from people who claim to love her, leading him to arrest Keiran Atreides (Chris Mason). Later, the Emperor announces his son as the commander of the fleet during a courtyard dinner. The Sister had told Javicco she didn't come to Salusa Secundus to drive a wedge between him and his wife, but the damage is done; after Constantine's nomination, Empress Natalya leaves the dinner feeling disgusted and humiliated. Also angry, Ynez visits Keiran at the prison and uses what she knows of truthsense on him, only to find out that he never lied to her, and worked with the rebellion for the good of the Imperium.
'Dune: Prophecy' Is Answering All the Questions You Have From 'Dune'
'Dune' fans who are skipping this series are missing out.
Desmond Hart Gets a Promotion in 'Dune: Prophecy' Episode 5
The ceremony during which Sister Francesca arrives at the Imperial Palace is not only important, but also very symbolic in Dune lore. The unveiling of the Emperor Javicco's new royal guard is bad news for the rebels and the Sisterhood, coming right after Desmond Hart prevents their attack on the Landsraad. Dressed all in black, this new regiment seems to be a precursor to the Sardaukar, the Emperor's own fanatical elite forces from the time of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet).
Later, Hart invites Swordmaster Keiran Atreides to join his regiment in searching for the rebels, but Constantine shows up for a lesson — late, as always. Keiran lashes out at the boy, but is truly afraid of what Hart will do to his rebel friends, and ends the lesson immediately. He rushes to Zimia to alert Mikaela (Shalom Brune-Franklin) about Hart's incoming attack. After torturing a smuggler who rats Mikaela's bar as a "hotbed for insurgents," Hart goes straight there, and taunts her by asking why a Fremen like her is profiting from spice and "the raping" of Arrakis. As Hart and his regiment ravage the place, Keiran and Mikaela detonate the explosives and flee. Outside, they part ways once Keiran finds out she is actually part of the Sisterhood.
At the Imperial Palace, Constantine continues to train his frustrations away when, only stopping to see what Keiran has in his locker. He is surprised to find a blueprint for the palace, indicating the Swordmaster is actually a rebel, and rats him out to Hart. When Keiran returns, Constantine, Hart, and the new elite regiment are all there waiting to arrest him. After the courtyard dinner, at the end of the episode, Empress Natalya visits Hart in his quarters, where he recovers from the explosion. She tells him that the Sisterhood took everything from her, and asks what they did to him. That's when Desmond reveals that the woman who gave birth to him was a Sister, who sent him to live among scavengers. When she hears that, Natalya kisses him, and promises that, together, they will rid the Imperium of the Sisterhood.
The Harkonnens Don't Trust Each Other in 'Dune: Prophecy' Episode 5
After the ceremony, Baron Harrow Harkonnen (Edward Davis), distrustful of his aunt Valya's actual motives and fearful of Hart's display of power, visits Hart at the Imperial palace to offer a formal apology for attempting to confront the Imperial House during the Landsraad meeting. Hart attempts to manipulate the Baron, revealing that his true intention is to wipe out the Sisterhood by exposing their ties with the rebellion. Harrow helps Hart by telling him about contraband of whale fur from Lankiveil. His own investigation showed that contraband in the Salusan capital city of Zimia was conducted on the underground market by a gang of Arrakeen smugglers, and he suggests that Hart start there. In return, Hart gives Harrow a forbidden thinking machine device to eavesdrop on Valya.
At the Harkonnen apartment, Harrow prepares to depart for Lankiveil to attend uncle Evgeny's (Mark Addy) funeral. He hides something in his suit, probably the device given by Hart, and meets Valya before leaving. The Baron is clearly doubtful about what Valya really wants, but is easily swayed by the promise of power. They part on good terms, as Valya gives him Evgeny's old ring, which is supposed to be worn by the head of House Harkonnen. He tells her to consider the apartment her home while he is gone, probably hoping that a listening device captures proof she can give Hart about her intentions.
After the explosion of her bar in Zimia, Mikaela meets Valya and Sister Theodosia (Jade Anouka) at the Harkonnen apartment. She reports that Hart survived the explosion, and gets angry when Valya tells her that there is a contingency for that. Mikaela lost the work of a lifetime, but Valya tells her it wasn't in vain, and that it was required to keep Hart occupied while Francesca exerts her influence over the Emperor. The Mother Superior then gives Mikaela access to the Sisterhood's safe house on Arrakis, but, rather than leaving on good terms, Mikaela warns her that she won't betray the Fremen like she betrayed the rebels.
Lila’s Return in Episode 5 Sheds Light on 'Dune: Prophecy's Mysteries
Back at the Sisterhood's headquarters on Wallach IX, Reverend Mother Tula Harkonnen recruits the help of Sister Jen (Faoileann Cunningham), the only Acolyte who didn't share in the "eyes in the darkness" nightmare in the previous episode. Jen has been ferociously questioning Tula about the nightmares, but Tula quenches her thirst for answers by getting her involved in caring for Sister Lila, who is still struggling to take control of her body after dying in the Agony and being resurrected in a tank of spice.
Tula's plan works. Jen and Lila were close, so having a friend's voice to follow proves important to Lila. When Jen explains the collective nightmare the Acolytes experienced, however, Lila suddenly shivers, her body being taken over by Mother Raquella, who is one of her foremothers. Raquella knows everything about the nightmare, because it's the exact same vision she had on her deathbed. Raquella explains that it wasn't a nightmare, but prescience, a vision of the upcoming reckoning, and if "he succeeds, humanity will backslide into self-destruction." She is talking about Desmond Hart, but Jen doesn't know about that.
Unable to contain Raquella, Jen leads her to the laboratory to talk to Tula. The role reversal between Tula and Raquella in Lila's body is funny, as Raquella is aware of what's happening, but doesn't care about formalities. Her goal is to get answers and help the Sisterhood, so she doesn't care who sees her, while Tula is desperate to keep it a secret. Analyzing Kasha's brain samples, Raquella identifies the same enzyme used by the thinking machines during the Butlerian Jihad, when they created the Omnius Plague to try and decimate the human race. During Raquella's explanation, Sister Avila (Barbara Marten) knocks on the lab's door to deliver the blood sample of Desmond Hart, and she is disgusted to see that Lila has been possessed, calling it an "abomination." This is the term the Bene Gesserit use to describe what happens when someone is possessed by the genetic memory of a forebear, like what happens to Lila. It also applies to people who are "pre-born," like Alia Atreides (Anya Taylor-Joy) in Dune: Part Two. Raquella interrupts Tula and Avila's altercation to inform them that the enzyme has been turned into a virus.
Finally, once Lila is safely restrained and resting, Tula takes Desmond Hart's blood sample to Anirul, the secret Sisterhood AI, to analyze. The discovery shatters her: Desmond has both Atreides and Harkonnen blood. This all but confirms that Desmond Hart is the product of her relationship with Orry Atreides (Milo Callaghan) when she was young, and that young Tula (Emma Canning) was pregnant when she slaughtered the Atreides all those years ago. The huge question that lingers now is: will Tula be able to stand by the Sisterhood and prevent her own son from bringing the reckoning that was prophesied? This revelation also contradicts almost every theory about who Hart is, from him being a Tleilaxu ghola to an actual thinking machine.
As Prophecy gears up for its season (or series?) finale, it becomes clear that it's a series meant for Dune fans, and not necessarily intended to bring new viewers into the franchise. With uneven pacing and dropping tons of information in episodes that are just too few and too long, fans (like yours truly) are delighted with every bit of lore that the series wields, but it can't be easy for a newcomer to grasp it. Let's just brace ourselves for what Shai-Hulud brings in the finale.
Dune: Prophecy is available to stream on Max in the U.S. New episodes air weekly on Sundays.
The Sisterhood is shaken by Lila's return and a shocking truth is revealed about Desmond Hart in Dune: Prophecy Episode 5.
- The series finally starts to give answers to some of its burning mysteries.
- Chloe Lea's work as Lila is remarkable, given her character's circumstances.
- Introducing new characters and plotlines this far into the season is a symptom of the series' uneven pacing.
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https://collider.com/dune-prophecy-episode-5-recap/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:00Z
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Nokia's New App to Find You Internship
College students and graduates know getting an internship can be the gateway to a job but landing one can often be difficult. However, a new mobile app from Nokia is aiming to change that by showing them job opportunities nearby.
TORONTO: College students and graduates know getting an internship can be the gateway to a job but landing one can often be difficult. However, a new mobile app from Nokia is aiming to change that by showing them job opportunities nearby.
By aiming a smartphone at a nearby building that houses companies users will be able to see available internships there. The app is from Internship Lens, which was created by Finnish communications corporation Nokia for its Lumia Windows-based smartphones.
"You're able to point your phone at a building and see the jobs available at companies there, and also the people you know at that company," said Bryan Biniak, a vice president at Nokia, said in a telephone interview from Espoo in Finland. "People are often looking for a place near their home, or along the transportation line," he added.
Nearly half of internships in the United States turned into full-time jobs this year, according to The National Association of Colleges and Employers.
The app uses augmented reality, a technology that overlays information on a real-world display, to show internship listings. Users can also browse for opportunities on a map.
The app connects with professional and social media websites LinkedIn and Facebook to identify people who might be able make an introduction to the hiring manager.
Biniak said the odds of getting a callback for an internship can increase greatly when there is a mutual connection. "It might be a friend or family member or your friend's dad who works at that company," he said.
The free app lists more than 75,000 internships from 45,000 companies across the United States through a partnership with internship listings site Internships.com. Users can also upload resumes and apply to jobs through the app.
Biniak said the motivation for creating the app was to expand the number of unique apps available for Nokia Lumia users. The company also created JobLens, available in the US, Canada and the Britain, which has similar features but for full-time positions.
Several other apps, including career management website Monster's BeKnown, also help interns find jobs and show how they are connected to hiring managers.
BeKnown is available for iPhone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry and a Facebook app. It finds mutual connections through Facebook. LinkedIn, which has apps on all major platforms, finds connections through their network.
LinkedIn also recently released University Pages, which provides students with information about alumni who have graduated from their school. Students can check alumni professions and skills.
Earlier this month it was announced that Microsoft and Nokia had reached an agreement for Microsoft to buy Nokia's devices and services business. (Reuters)
Image courtesy: Windows Phone Store
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https://www.indiatimes.com/technology/mobile/nokias-new-app-to-find-you-internship-104335.html
| 2024-12-16T07:03:00Z
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Istanbul — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Ethiopia and Somalia early next year after brokering a deal to end tensions between the two Horn of Africa neighbors, he said on X Sunday.
“I will visit Ethiopia and Somalia in the first two months of the New Year,” he wrote in a message that referred to the deal between Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Ankara on December 11.
The pair agreed to end their nearly yearlong bitter dispute after hours of talks brokered by Erdogan, who hailed the breakthrough as “historic.”
The dispute began in January when landlocked Ethiopia struck a deal in with Somalia’s breakaway region Somaliland to lease a stretch of coastline for a port and military base.
In return, Somaliland — which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 in a move not recognized by Mogadishu — said Ethiopia would give it formal recognition, although this was never confirmed by Addis Ababa.
Somalia branded the deal a violation of its sovereignty, setting international alarm bells ringing over the risk of renewed conflict in the volatile Horn of Africa region.
Turkey stepped in to mediate in July, holding three previous rounds of talks — two in Ankara and one in New York — before last week’s breakthrough, which won praise from the African Union, Washington and Brussels.
Fresh from his latest diplomatic success, Erdogan on Friday telephoned Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and he offered “to step in to resolve the disputes between Sudan and the United Arab Emirates,” his office said.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been mired in a brutal conflict between army chief Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo who leads the RSF.
Sudan’s army-backed government has repeatedly accused the UAE of supporting the RSF — a claim which the UAE has consistently denied.
The war has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced over 11 million more.
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https://news.pravdaua.com/erdogan-to-visit-ethiopia-somalia-in-early-2025-after-brokering-deal.html
| 2024-12-16T07:03:00Z
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| 2024-12-16T07:03:00Z
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Popeye and Tintin enter the public domain in 2025 along with novels from Faulkner and Hemingway
AP Entertainment Writer
Popeye can punch without permission and Tintin can roam freely starting in 2025. The two classic comic characters who first appeared in 1929 are among the intellectual properties becoming public domain in the United States on Jan. 1. That means they can be used and repurposed without permission or payment to copyright holders.
This year’s crop of newly public artistic creations lacks the landmark vibes of last year’s entrance of into the public domain of Mickey Mouse. But they include a deep well of canonical works whose 95-year copyright maximums will expire. And the Disney icon’s public domain presence expands.
“It’s a trove! There are a dozen new Mickey cartoons — he speaks for the first time and dons the familiar white gloves,” said Jennifer Jenkins, director of Duke’s Center for the Study of the Public Domain. “There are masterpieces from Faulkner and Hemingway, the first sound films from Alfred Hitchcock, Cecil B. DeMille, and John Ford, and amazing music from Fats Waller, Cole Porter, and George Gershwin. Pretty exciting!”
Here’s a closer look at this year’s crop.
Comics characters loom large
Popeye the Sailor, with his bulging forearms, mealy-mouthed speech, and propensity for fistfights, was created by E.C. Segar and made his first appearance in the newspaper strip “Thimble Theater” in 1929, speaking his first words, “’Ja think I’m a cowboy?” when asked if he was a sailor. What was supposed to be a one-off appearance became permanent, and the strip would be renamed ”Popeye.”
But as with Mickey Mouse last year and Winnie the Pooh in 2022, only the earliest version is free for reuse. The spinach that gave the sailor his super-strength was not there from the start, and is the kind of character element that could spawn legal disputes. And the animated shorts featuring his distinctive mumbly voice didn’t begin until 1933 and remain under copyright. As does director Robert Altman’s 1980 film, starring Robin Williams as Popeye and Shelley Duvall as his oft-fought-over sweetheart Olive Oyl.
That movie was tepidly received initially. So was director Steven Spielberg’s “Adventures of Tintin” in 2011. But the comics about the boy reporter that inspired it, the creation of Belgian artist Hergé, were among the most popular in Europe for much of the 20th century.
The simply drawn teen with dots for eyes and bangs like an ocean wave first appeared in a supplement to the Belgian newspaper Le Vingtième Siècle, and became a weekly feature.
The comic also first appeared in the U.S. in 1929. Its signature bright colors — including Tintin’s red hair — didn’t appear until years later, and could, like Popeye’s spinach, be the subject of legal disputes.
And in much of the world, Tintin won’t become public property until 70 years after the 1983 death of his creator.
Books show American lit at its height
The books becoming public this year read like the syllabus for an American literature seminar.
“The Sound and the Fury,” arguably William Faulkner’s quintessential novel with its modernist stream-of-consciousness style, was a sensation after its publication despite being famously difficult for readers. It uses multiple non-linear narratives to tell the story of a prominent family’s ruin in the author’s native Mississippi, and would help lead to Faulkner’s Nobel Prize.
And Ernest Hemingway’s “A Farewell to Arms” joins his earlier “The Sun Also Rises” in the public domain. The partly autobiographical story of an ambulance driver in Italy during the First World War cemented Hemingway’s status in the American literary canon. It has been frequently adapted for film, TV and radio, which can now be done without permission.
John Steinbeck’s first novel, “A Cup of Gold,” from 1929, will also enter the public domain.
The British novelist Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own,” an extended essay that would become a landmark in feminism from the modernist literary luminary, is also on the list. Her novel “Mrs. Dalloway” is already in the U.S. public domain.
Movie legends in the making
While a host of truly major movies will become public in the coming decade, for now early works by major figures from the not-always-stellar early sound era will have to suffice.
A decade before he would move to Hollywood and make films like “Psycho,” and “Vertigo,” Alfred Hitchcock made “Blackmail” in Britain. The film was begun as a silent but shifted to sound during production, resulting in two different versions, one of them the UK’s — and Hitchcock’s — first sound film.
John Ford, whose later Westerns would put him among film’s most vaunted directors, also made his first foray into sound with 1929’s “The Black Watch,” an adventure epic that includes Ford’s future chief collaborator John Wayne as a young extra.
Cecil B. DeMille, already a Hollywood bigwig through silents, made his first talkie with the melodrama “Dynamite.”
Groucho, Harpo and the other Marx Brothers had their first starring movie roles in 1929’s “The Cocoanuts,” a forerunner to future classics like “Animal Crackers” and “Duck Soup.”
“The Broadway Melody,” the first sound film and the second film ever to win the Oscar for best picture — known as “outstanding production” at the time — will also become public, though it’s often ranked among the worst of best picture winners.
And after “Steamboat Willie” made the earliest Mickey Mouse public, a dozen more of his animations will get the same status, including “The Karnival Kid,” where he spoke for the first time.
Music rings out the 20s
Songs from the last year of the Roaring Twenties are also about to become public property.
Cole Porter’s compositions “What Is This Thing Called Love?” and “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” are among the highlights, as is the jazz classic “Ain’t Misbehavin’, written by Fats Waller and Harry Brooks.
“Singin’ in the Rain,” which would later forever be associated with the 1952 Gene Kelly film, made its debut in the 1929 movie “The Hollywood Revue” and will now be public domain.
Different laws regulate sound recordings, and those newly in the public domain date to 1924. They include a recording of “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen” from future star and civil rights icon Marian Anderson, and “Rhapsody in Blue” performed by its composer George Gershwin.
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https://localnews8.com/news/2024/12/15/popeye-and-tintin-enter-the-public-domain-in-2025-along-with-novels-from-faulkner-and-hemingway/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:06Z
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Miami Beach veterans base transforms into Santa's toy sack
The Miami Beach Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3539 turned their base into Santa's "Forward Operating Base" and spread holiday cheer through its Toys for Tots program.
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https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/video/miami-beach-veterans-base-transforms-into-santas-toy-sack/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:06Z
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Journalists anticipate a renewed hostility toward their work under the incoming Trump administration
NEW YORK (AP) — For the press heading into a second Trump administration, there’s a balancing act between being prepared and being fearful.
The return to power of Donald Trump, who has called journalists enemies and talked about retribution against those he feels have wronged him, has news executives nervous. Perceived threats are numerous: lawsuits of every sort, efforts to unmask anonymous sources, physical danger and intimidation, attacks on public media and libel protections, day-to-day demonization.
In a closely-watched case settled over the weekend, ABC chose to settle a defamation lawsuit brought by the president-elect over an inaccurate statement made by George Stephanopoulos by agreeing to pay $15 million toward Trump’s presidential library.
“The news media is heading into this next administration with its eyes open,” said Bruce Brown, executive director of the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press.
“Some challenges to the free press may be overt, some may be more subtle,” Brown said. “We’ll need to be prepared for rapid response as well as long campaigns to protect our rights — and to remember that our most important audiences are the courts and the public.”
One prominent editor warned against going on war footing with an administration that hasn’t taken office yet. “There may be a moment to cry wolf here,” said Stephen Engelberg, editor-in-chief of the nonprofit news outlet ProPublica. “But I don’t think we’ve reached it.”
A second chance, a third chance — but not a fourth
Speaking to Fox News two weeks after his election, Trump said he owed it to the American people to be open and available to the press — if he’s treated fairly.
“I am not looking for retribution, grandstanding or to destroy people who treated me very unfairly, or even badly beyond comprehension,” he told Fox. “I am always looking to give a second or even a third chance, but never willing to give a fourth chance. That is where I hold the line.”
News organizations are heading into the second Trump era weak both financially and in public esteem. To a large extent, Trump sidestepped legacy media outlets during his campaign in favor of podcasters, yet still had time for specific beefs against ABC, CBS and NBC.
The Trump team knows that many of its followers despise a probing press, and stoking that fury has political advantages. Two examples in the campaign to install Trump nominee Pete Hegseth as defense secretary shows how routine reporting activities can be characterized as an attack.
When The New York Times was tipped to an email that Hegseth’s mother once sent to him criticizing his treatment of women, it called her for comment. Penelope Hegseth later told Fox News that she perceived that as a threat, even though it enabled the newspaper to report that she had quickly apologized for sending the email and says she doesn’t feel that way about him now.
Pete Hegseth also used social media to say that ProPublica — he called it a “Left Wing hack group” — was about to knowingly publish a false report that he hadn’t been accepted into West Point decades ago. The news site had contacted him after officials at the military academy contradicted Hegseth’s claim of acceptance. Hegseth provided proof that those officials were mistaken, and ProPublica never published a story.
“That’s journalism,” noted ProPublica’s Jesse Eisinger. But a narrative had taken hold: “ProPublica’s botched Pete Hegseth smear,” the New York Post called it in a headline.
Keeping an eye on how journalists’ work is portrayed
During the presidential campaign, Trump sued CBS News for the way it edited an interview with opponent Kamala Harris; suggested ABC News lose its broadcast license for fact-checking him during his lone debate with Harris; and successfully called for equal time on NBC after Harris appeared on “Saturday Night Live.” In the Stephanopoulos lawsuit, the ABC anchor said Trump had been “found liable for rape” in writer E. Jean Carroll’s civil trial, when he had not.
Trump engages with the mainstream media — he gave a newsmaking interview to NBC’s “Meet the Press” this month — but journalists have to be alert to how their work will be portrayed.
Trump’s appointments, and what they’ve said about journalists, have raised alarms.
Kash Patel, Trump’s choice to lead the FBI, said on a podcast last year that “we’re going to come after people in the media who lied about American citizens.” Two appointees who have expressed hostility toward the media will be in a position to impact the work of journalists: Brendan Carr as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission and Kari Lake as director of Voice of America.
News organizations are worried that a Justice Department policy that has generally prohibited prosecutors from seizing the records of journalists in order to investigate leaks will be reversed, and are already urging journalists to protect their work. “If you have something you don’t want to share with a broader audience, don’t put it on the cloud,” ProPublica’s Engelberg said.
During the first Trump administration, some journalists who covered immigration issues were pulled aside for screening and questioning. The Reporter’s Committee wonders if this might happen again — and whether similar practices might extend toward reporting on expected deportations.
The literary and human rights organization PEN America is concerned about journalists facing physical danger and digital hostility. It may have seemed like a flippant remark to some of his supporters when Trump, months after an attempt on his life, said at a rally that he wouldn’t mind if somebody had to “shoot through the fake news” to get to him. But it wasn’t for people standing on media risers.
“It’s important that the president act with responsibility to reduce physical violence against the press rather than encourage it,” said Viktorya Vilk, PEN America’s program director for digital safety and free expression.
Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana recently introduced a bill that would end taxpayer funding for public radio and television, a longtime goal of many Republicans that may get momentum with the party back in power. Some U.S. Supreme Court justices are eager to revisit a legal precedent that has made it difficult to prove defamation against news organizations.
It’s apparent that the new administration will come after the press in every conceivable way, former Washington Post editor Martin Baron said recently on NPR. “I do think he will use every tool in his toolbox,” Baron said, “and there are a lot of tools.”
Hungary’s experience inspires pessimism — but maybe a glimmer of hope
In their most pessimistic moments, advocates for the press look at what has happened in Hungary under the control of Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Since Orban took control in 2010, he and his supporters have taken control of most media and turned it into a propaganda arm.
Don’t think that can’t happen in the United States, warns Andras Petho, an investigative journalist in Hungary who left a news website when it was pressured to stifle his work, and started the investigative journalism center Direkt36.
Despite repression, there is still a market for independent journalism in Hungary, he said. Earlier this year, two Hungarian officials resigned following an outcry when it was revealed that they had pardoned a man who had forced children to retract sexual abuse claims made against the director of a government-run facility.
Petho said it is important for journalists not to portray themselves as any sort of resistance, because that makes it easier for the government to dismiss them. Instead, they should just do the work.
“To be honest, we all have to accept and admit that our power as media has declined,” said Petho, who participated in the Nieman fellowship for journalists at Harvard University. “Our stories don’t have the same impact that they had a decade ago. But I wouldn’t underestimate the power of the news media, either.”
___
David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.kob.com/news/business-money/journalists-anticipate-a-renewed-hostility-toward-their-work-under-the-incoming-trump-administration/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:06Z
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Although Steven Spielberg is often celebrated as the most significant filmmaker of his time, a previous generation would have given that some honor to the great John Ford. Ford has dozens of classic films on his resume, and Spielberg has certainly not been shy about citing him as a major inspiration; a young Spielberg was mentored by Ford when he first entered the industry, which he recreated directly during the final scenes of his semi-autobiographical film The Fabelmans. Spielberg is known for making tremendous leaps forward with the special effects in his films, but Ford was also quite revolutionary in terms of his approach to visual storytelling. Spielberg cited the classic romantic drama The Quiet Man as a major inspiration for his World War I epic War Horse.
'The Quiet Man' Was an Inspiration on 'War Horse'
Ford won his fourth Academy Award for Best Director for The Quiet Man, a romantic dramedy that centered around the Irish-American boxer Sean Thorton (John Wayne), who returns home to his home in Inisfree after a tragedy occurs in the ring. One of the most notable aspects of The Quiet Man was the long shots that Ford employed to make the most of the natural landscapes; the film was actually shot on location in Ireland, which was a novelty at the time. Spielberg was inspired to use long takes for War Horse, which was centered on the journey of a horse that passes between various owners throughout World War I. Spielberg admitted that it was “kind of fun to put a wide angle lens on and not be shooting close-ups all the time,” and that he enjoyed working in Ford’s style. He found that these techniques forced him to be more creative, as he revealed that it was “much easier to show somebody’s arms and head and legs getting blown off than it is to do it another way,” which he found to be a “challenge.”
Although Spielberg’s film was far more epic in scope compared to Ford’s, the influence of The Qui
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https://collider.com/steven-spielberg-war-horse-quiet-man/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:06Z
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Delta Orders 11,000 Surface 2 Tablets
Delta Air Lines plans to buy 11,000 Microsoft Surface 2 tablets for its pilots to replace the heavy bundles of books and maps they haul around now.
INNEAPOLIS: Delta Air Lines plans to buy 11,000 Microsoft Surface 2 tablets for its pilots to replace the heavy bundles of books and maps they haul around now. Other airlines, including American and United, have been buying Apple's iPad for that purpose.
Delta says the Surface tablets will save it $13 million per year in fuel and other costs. Right now, each pilot carries a 38-pound flight bag with manuals and maps.
Delta plans to test the tablets on its Boeing 757s and 767s, which are flown by the same group of pilots. The airline is hoping for Federal Aviation Administration approval next year to use the tablets throughout a flight, and it hopes to be using the devices on all of its other planes by the end of next year.
One reason Delta picked a Microsoft device was that it's easier to give pilots separate sections for company and personal use, said Steve Dickson, Delta's senior vice president for flight operations.
Pilots will be able to install personal software and keep their own items such as photos on the personal section of the devices, while another portion will be dedicated to Delta's software, Dickson said. "We trust them to manage that side of the device," Dickson said.
Another reason for picking the Surface tablet is that Delta's training software also runs on the same Windows operating system as the tablets, reducing the need to redo that software for another device, Dickson said.
Delta has already done a test programme where pilots could bring their own devices, including iPads. In August, Delta said its flight attendants will get Windows phones to process in-flight sales of food, better seats, and other items.
Microsoft announced last week that it is updating its tablet line, which includes the Surface 2s that Delta is buying. The Surface 2 is the cheaper of the two versions sold by Microsoft, retailing for $449 each. Dickson declined to say how much Delta is paying.
AP
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https://www.indiatimes.com/technology/pc-and-laptop/delta-orders-11000-microsoft-surface-2-tablets-104340.html
| 2024-12-16T07:03:06Z
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Kyiv, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Sunday that he would provide Syria with grain and other agricultural products on a humanitarian basis, a week after the fall of Moscow’s ally, President Bashar al-Assad.
“Now we can help the Syrians with our wheat, flour and oil: our products that are used globally to ensure food security,” he said in his daily address.
“We are coordinating with our partners and the Syrian side to resolve logistical issues. We will support this region so that stability there becomes a foundation for our movement towards real peace,” Zelenskyy added.
According to him, these possible deliveries will be part of the “Grain of Ukraine” program, launched in 2022 to provide food aid to the poorest countries.
Even at war, Ukraine, one of the world’s largest producers of grain, retains immense production capacities.
And despite Moscow’s threats to shoot ships sailing in the Black Sea, Kyiv has set up a corridor there to export its agricultural products from the summer of 2023.
After an 11-day offensive, the rebel coalition dominated by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) on Dec. 8 overthrew Assad, who took refuge in Russia.
The fall was a serious setback for Moscow, which, along with Iran, was the former Syrian president’s main ally and had been intervening militarily in Syria since 2015.
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https://news.pravdaua.com/zelenskyy-offers-syria-humanitarian-grain-deliveries.html
| 2024-12-16T07:03:07Z
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Qatar Participate In Child And Family Forum In Muscat
Date
12/16/2024 12:16:59 AM
(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
QNA
Muscat: The State of Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Social Development and Family (MSDF), has participated in the first child and family forum that was held in Muscat, Oman.
Senior administrative affairs expert at the Family Empowerment Department, Ghanem Mohammed Al Diab, and international cooperation development consultant, Mona Ibrahim Al Malik, represented the MSDF at the forum.
The MSDF's participation comes in response to the invitation of the organizing committee, where 'Aseel' character aimed at children was launched to encourage and inspire them to adhere to the mores that constitute the core part of the nation's identity and culture, and safeguard cultural heritage, to be circulated among the generations.
The forum's inauguration featured an operetta with the participation of a host of children, with various areas being devoted to enhancing children's skills, such as drawing, coloring, photography, music, poetry, and others.
The forum included a range of sections such as theater, children's play zone, skills zone, an exhibition of diverse Omani products such as perfumes, incense, Omani frankincense, Omani sweets, traditional clothing, and other products, as well as an international consumer exhibition, and heritage village.
MENAFN16122024000063011010ID1108995921
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https://menafn.com/1108995921/Qatar-Participate-In-Child-And-Family-Forum-In-Muscat
| 2024-12-16T07:03:03Z
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Stock market today: Asian shares fall as China reports lackluster data, while bitcoin hits new highs
AP Business Writer
BANGKOK (AP) — Shares retreated Monday in Asia after China reported lackluster economic indicators for November, while bitcoin surged to fresh highs, topping $106,000.
Oil prices fell and U.S. futures were little changed.
Bitcoin was trading at $104,948 early Monday, up 3.4% but down from an earlier high of $106,495.
The price of the cryptocurrency has surged since the election in November given U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s bitcoin-friendly stance. Trump signaled a lighter regulatory approach to digital currencies with his choice of crypto advocate Paul Atkins to be the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bitcoin was trading below $70,000 before the Nov. 5 election.
A report Monday showed Chinese retail sales slowed in November, while growth in factory output was flat and home sales declined. The report said the economy and employment were stable, but noted a complicated “external environment,” reflecting unease over the outlook in coming months once U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office, potentially delivering on promises to sharply hike tariffs on imports from China.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index edged 0.1% lower, to 39,438.74, while the Hang Seng in Hong Kong lost 0.8% to 19,821.24.
The Shanghai Composite index was almost unchanged, at 3,390.91.
South Korea’s Kospi lost 0.3% to 2,486.47 as South Korean law enforcement authorities were pushing to summon impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning over his short-lived martial law decree and the Constitutional Court met to discuss whether to remove him from office or reinstate him.
Taiwan’s Taiex edged 0.1% higher, while the Sensex in India fell 0.4%. Thailand’s SET dropped 0.9%.
On Friday, major stock indexes on Wall Street drifted to a mixed finish Friday, capping a rare bumpy week for the market.
The S&P 500 ended essentially flat, down less than 0.1% at 6,051.09. The benchmark index posted a loss for the week, its first after three straight weekly gains.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2% to 43,828.06, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.1% to 19,926.72, ending just below the record high it set on Wednesday.
There were more than twice as many decliners than gainers on the New York Stock Exchange.
Gains in technology stocks helped temper losses in communication services, financials and other sectors of the market.
Broadcom surged 24.4% for the biggest gain in the S&P 500 after the semiconductor company beat Wall Street’s profit targets and gave a glowing forecast, highlighting its artificial intelligence products. The company also raised its dividend.
But some tech stocks were a drag on the market. Nvidia fell 2.2%, Meta Platforms dropped 1.7% and Google parent Alphabet slid 1.1%.
Among the market’s other decliners were Airbnb, which fell 4.7% for the biggest loss in the S&P 500, and Charles Schwab, which closed 4% lower.
Furniture and housewares company RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, surged 17% after raising its forecast for revenue growth for the year.
Wall Street’s rally stalled this week amid mixed economic reports and ahead of the Federal Reserve’s last meeting of the year. The central bank is widely expected to cut interest rates for a third time since September when it meets this week.
Expectations of a series of rate cuts has driven the S&P 500 to 57 all-time highs so far this year.
The Fed has been lowering its benchmark interest rate after aggressively hiking rates to tame inflation. It raised rates from near-zero in early 2022 to a two-decade high by the middle of 2023. Inflation eased under pressure from higher interest rates, nearly to the central bank’s 2% target.
The economy, including consumer spending and employment, held strong despite the squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. A slowing job market, though, has helped push a long-awaited reversal of the Fed’s policy.
In other dealings early Monday, U.S. benchmark crude oil lost 47 cents to $70.82 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, lost 36 cents to $74.13 per barrel.
The U.S. dollar fell to 153.62 Japanese yen from 153.71 yen. The euro rose to $1.0516 from $1.0491.
|
https://localnews8.com/news/2024/12/15/stock-market-today-asian-shares-fall-as-china-reports-lackluster-data-while-bitcoin-hits-new-highs/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:12Z
|
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Miami-Dade woman celebrates 104th birthday and her Haitian culture
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https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/video/miami-dade-woman-celebrates-104th-birthday-and-her-haitian-culture/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:12Z
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Stock market today: Asian shares fall as China reports lackluster data, while bitcoin hits new highs
BANGKOK (AP) — Shares retreated Monday in Asia after China reported lackluster economic indicators for November, while bitcoin surged to fresh highs, topping $106,000.
Oil prices fell and U.S. futures were little changed.
Bitcoin was trading at $104,948 early Monday, up 3.4% but down from an earlier high of $106,495.
The price of the cryptocurrency has surged since the election in November given U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s bitcoin-friendly stance. Trump signaled a lighter regulatory approach to digital currencies with his choice of crypto advocate Paul Atkins to be the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bitcoin was trading below $70,000 before the Nov. 5 election.
A report Monday showed Chinese retail sales slowed in November, while growth in factory output was flat and home sales declined. The report said the economy and employment were stable, but noted a complicated “external environment,” reflecting unease over the outlook in coming months once U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office, potentially delivering on promises to sharply hike tariffs on imports from China.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index edged 0.1% lower, to 39,438.74, while the Hang Seng in Hong Kong lost 0.8% to 19,821.24.
The Shanghai Composite index was almost unchanged, at 3,390.91.
South Korea’s Kospi lost 0.3% to 2,486.47 as South Korean law enforcement authorities were pushing to summon impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning over his short-lived martial law decree and the Constitutional Court met to discuss whether to remove him from office or reinstate him.
Taiwan’s Taiex edged 0.1% higher, while the Sensex in India fell 0.4%. Thailand’s SET dropped 0.9%.
On Friday, major stock indexes on Wall Street drifted to a mixed finish Friday, capping a rare bumpy week for the market.
The S&P 500 ended essentially flat, down less than 0.1% at 6,051.09. The benchmark index posted a loss for the week, its first after three straight weekly gains.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2% to 43,828.06, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.1% to 19,926.72, ending just below the record high it set on Wednesday.
There were more than twice as many decliners than gainers on the New York Stock Exchange.
Gains in technology stocks helped temper losses in communication services, financials and other sectors of the market.
Broadcom surged 24.4% for the biggest gain in the S&P 500 after the semiconductor company beat Wall Street’s profit targets and gave a glowing forecast, highlighting its artificial intelligence products. The company also raised its dividend.
But some tech stocks were a drag on the market. Nvidia fell 2.2%, Meta Platforms dropped 1.7% and Google parent Alphabet slid 1.1%.
Among the market’s other decliners were Airbnb, which fell 4.7% for the biggest loss in the S&P 500, and Charles Schwab, which closed 4% lower.
Furniture and housewares company RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, surged 17% after raising its forecast for revenue growth for the year.
Wall Street’s rally stalled this week amid mixed economic reports and ahead of the Federal Reserve’s last meeting of the year. The central bank is widely expected to cut interest rates for a third time since September when it meets this week.
Expectations of a series of rate cuts has driven the S&P 500 to 57 all-time highs so far this year.
The Fed has been lowering its benchmark interest rate after aggressively hiking rates to tame inflation. It raised rates from near-zero in early 2022 to a two-decade high by the middle of 2023. Inflation eased under pressure from higher interest rates, nearly to the central bank’s 2% target.
The economy, including consumer spending and employment, held strong despite the squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. A slowing job market, though, has helped push a long-awaited reversal of the Fed’s policy.
In other dealings early Monday, U.S. benchmark crude oil lost 47 cents to $70.82 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, lost 36 cents to $74.13 per barrel.
The U.S. dollar fell to 153.62 Japanese yen from 153.71 yen. The euro rose to $1.0516 from $1.0491.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.kob.com/news/business-money/stock-market-today-asian-shares-fall-as-china-reports-lackluster-data-while-bitcoin-hits-new-highs/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:12Z
|
Rare Identical Triplets Born in UK
In an extremely rare occurrence, a 32-year-old mother in the United Kingdom has given birth to three identical baby girls, beating the odds of 200 million to one.
LONDON: In an extremely rare occurrence, a 32-year-old mother in the United Kingdom has given birth to three identical baby girls, beating the odds of 200 million to one.
The triplets were born in August at Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, weighing a little over 1.72kg each.
Doctors had given Karen Gilbert, mother of the triplets, an option to terminate the pregnancy as they feared the three fetuses could take each other's fluid and space and might not survive. The determined parents from Pontypool, South Wales, however, rejected pleas to terminate their girls, the 'Mirror' reported.
The girls named Ffion, Maddison and Paige were formed when a single egg split into three, an extremely rare occurrence.
The trio are now home after spending six weeks in hospital, the report said.
"I still feel like someone's going to tell me I've had my time with them now and take them away," said Gilbert. "At first we thought it was one, but at eight weeks I got bad pains. We thought it was a miscarriage but it was three babies fighting for space," she said. (PTI)
Image courtesy: ABC News
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https://www.indiatimes.com/technology/science/british-mom-gives-birth-to-identical-triplets-104352.html
| 2024-12-16T07:03:13Z
|
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Kenya and her East African Community (EAC) neighbours Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan have revived plans to construct a refined petroleum products pipeline from Eldoret through Kampala to Kigali.
The extension is expected to ease the transportation of fuel.
Pipelines delivering fuel to the two cities will give the two landlocked countries greater control over fuel importation, which is largely dependent on Kenya’s importation system that has in the past exposed them to shocks.
Products to the landlocked countries are mostly picked by trucks from Eldoret or Kisumu while a small portion is transported through Lake Victoria using vessels loaded at the Kisumu Oil Jetty and offloaded at Entebbe at a privately owned jetty.
The plan to extend the pipeline was mooted in 1995. While there have been talks over the years, there has been little progress until now.
In early May this year, Presidents William Ruto and Yoweri Museveni agreed on a refined petroleum products pipeline that was expected to ease the process of importing fuel for Uganda.
Petroleum refineries
The country largely relies on Kenya’s petroleum import system but has had to contend with major shocks in the recent past, which have resulted in procuring products directly from major petroleum refineries.
In July, senior officials from the two countries held talks that set the stage for the project that now appears to be gathering momentum and its scale expanded to include Kigali.
Last week’s meeting of officials from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan could be seen as the project taking shape and also taking an expanded scale.
Principal Secretary (PS) for Petroleum Mohamed Liban said once the project is complete, it will foster sustainable development, economic integration and prosperity for the region, as well as set a strong foundation for future generations.
The PS was speaking in Entebbe Uganda, during a joint ministerial meeting for the Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIP) with representatives from the partner States, led by Uganda Minister for State for Energy Okaasai Sidronius and Rwanda High Commission’s Charge de Affairs Ismael Baguma.
The project has been in the making for nearly three decades, having been conceptualised in 1995.
The Energy and Petroleum Ministry however said it remains vital to address the challenges of loading refined petroleum products on trucks.
At the meeting, PS Liban recalled that in 2013, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda entered into a tripartite agreement to develop this pipeline under the NCIP framework.
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During the inaugural Tripartite Infrastructure Summit, it was agreed that a common refined petroleum products pipeline was critical for serving the region’s energy needs.
Petroleum products are imported and discharged at the Port of Mombasa where it is transported by pipeline from Mombasa to the hinterland up to western Kenya.
The product is then loaded on trucks for distribution to the local markets in Kenya and the region including Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo by oil marketing companies.
The use of trucks is not ideal given its effects on the environment. Trucks are also prone to accidents and spillages.
“During the 14th Heads of States Summit in June 2018, it was decided that pending consultations on rescoping the Eldoret-Kampala-Kigali pipeline, partner States would prioritise developing Lake Victoria Intermodal Transport System,” said Liban.
This entailed the construction of oil jetties in Kisumu and Mahathi in Entebbe, Uganda, and the rehabilitation of ports to provide alternative and sustainable transport routes for transporting petroleum products.
“The continued collaboration among Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan illustrates the collective commitment to advancing NCIP initiatives and unlocking the region’s economic potential,” he added.
“In May 2024, the partner States revived the discussions on the EKK project. During the first inter-ministerial meeting on the pipeline held in Nairobi in July 2024, it was agreed that a Joint Steering Committee and a Joint Technical Committee (JTC) on the development of the Eldoret-Kampala-Kigali pipeline be formed.”
Mr Baguma reaffirmed his country’s steadfast dedication to the NCIP framework and its critical projects. “We fully recognise their potential to reduce petroleum transportation costs, stable fuel supply, and strengthen energy security. Rwanda stands ready to collaborate with partner States, contributing expertise and resources to overcome challenges and realise our shared goals,” he said.
During the meeting, the officials inaugurated the Joint Technical Committee (JTC), issued a Terms of Reference and mandated the JTC to manage the affairs of the project.
“The Joint Technical Team will be instrumental in the planning and execution of the project. They will re-validate the studies undertaken earlier to ensure they reflect current conditions and remain aligned with the long-term objectives of the project,” said Liban.
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https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2001508145/uganda-rwanda-seek-extension-of-oil-pipeline-from-eldoret-depot
| 2024-12-16T07:03:14Z
|
Survivors seek a reckoning as FBI investigates child sex abuse in little-known Christian sect
Associated Press
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Nearly every detail about the religious group Lisa Webb’s family belonged to was hidden from the outside world. Its followers met in homes rather than churches. Its leadership structure was hard to discern, its finances opaque. It didn’t even have an official name.
But for decades, no secret was as closely guarded as the identities of the sexual predators inside the group known as the “Two by Twos.”
Now a growing number of public allegations from around the world have prompted a broad investigation by the FBI and placed an uncomfortable spotlight on the long-quiet Christian sect. Survivors say the group’s leaders protected child-abusing ministers by pressuring victims to forgive, ignoring legal reporting requirements and by transferring abusers to new locations to live with unsuspecting families.
Ministry leaders have publicly condemned the abuse but several declined to answer questions from The Associated Press.
For Webb, who was sexually abused by one of the group’s ministers as a child, the attention has brought an unexpected sense of “strength in numbers.”
“There are so many who are frustrated and disheartened,” said Webb. “But there’s also camaraderie in that, and support.”
A website, a hotline and social media pages established by victims have documented allegations against more than 900 abusers, with survivors in more than 30 countries and cases continuing to emerge. In the past year, news stories and a Hulu documentary have focused on the sect’s predator preachers and the leaders who enabled them.
While perpetrators have been sentenced to prison in isolated cases, the sect has largely avoided legal repercussions, protected by its decentralized structure, hidden finances and state laws that limit the timeline for criminal charges.
The secret sect’s origin story
The sect, also known to its members as “The Way” or “The Truth,” was founded in Ireland in 1897 by William Irvine, who railed against the existence of churches. The only way to spread Christianity, he argued, was to do as Jesus instructed in the Book of Matthew: to send apostles out to live among those they sought to convert.
The sect grew as volunteer preachers — known as workers — went “two by two” to live in the family homes of followers for days or weeks at a time. Sect historians say there were up to a few million members just a few decades ago, but current estimates put the figure at 75,000 to 85,000 worldwide.
Unlike the Boy Scouts or the Catholic Church, which have paid out billions to sex abuse victims, the sect’s aversion to property leaves it without apparent assets that might be used to pay settlements, legal experts say.
Workers are supposed to shun worldly possessions, relying on followers for food, shelter and transportation. But that also ensures abusive workers have access to potential victims.
Webb was abused by a preacher who stayed with her family in Michigan when she was 11. The man, Peter Mousseau, was convicted much later — after he expressed an interest in visiting her in 2008 and she decided to pursue charges. A regional overseer to whom she previously reported the abuse was later convicted for failing to report abuse allegations against another local worker.
“You have this mindset that they are angels in your home. They can do no wrong, so you don’t have any kind of wall up,” she said. “It was just the perfect storm created, the perfect recipe for this kind of behavior.”
Abusers live among their victims
Sheri Autrey had just turned 14 when a 28-year-old worker moved into her family’s home in Visalia, California, for two months.
He began abusing her immediately, sneaking to her room at night and taking her for daytime drives. He turned up the radio whenever the Hall & Oates song “Maneater” came on, singing: “Watch out boy, she’ll chew you up.”
When Autrey revealed the abuse to her mother a few years later, her mom reported it to the sect’s regional overseer, who was in charge of all the workers in the area.
The overseer refused to warn other families. Instead, he sent the worker back to Autrey’s home to apologize.
Autrey, raised to be meek, erupted. Her family took her to the district attorney’s office but declined to put her through a prosecution.
“I would have to explain, explicitly, what happened,” Autrey said. “And I was in no way prepared for that.”
Decades later, Autrey was at a baseball game when “Maneater” came on. She had to walk around the stadium to calm herself down, and she resolved to send a letter about the abuse to hundreds of sect members.
“I wanted anyone else who was a victim to know she is not the only one,” Autrey said. “She needs to know there is help.”
Many more cases of abuse
One worker from Peru, Americo Quispe, was sent to Garland, Texas, in the early 2000s after facing allegations of inappropriate behavior in his home country. He soon found new victims, some of whose families went to police. He returned to Peru before he could be arrested.
Quispe was later convicted of molestation in Peru and sentenced to 30 years. He has never faced the charges in Texas.
Another worker, Ruben Mata, abused dozens of boys, among them 10-year-old Douglas Patterson, who was lured away from his family during a sect convention in the early 1990s. Patterson said he kept quiet about it because he feared his family would leave the sect — and thus be barred from eternal salvation — if he told.
Mata was eventually convicted in 2006 in a separate sex abuse case. He died in a California prison.
Members told to keep abuse reports quiet
A few months before Mata’s trial, the Saskatchewan, Canada, overseer, Dale Shultz, sent two letters to colleagues.
One was to be shown to any concerned members. It acknowledged Mata was a pedophile and that workers had been alerted to his abuse at least three times. The sect only notified authorities after Mata resigned, according to the letter.
The second was for staff. It said no copies should be made of the first letter.
“The purpose of the letter is to help those who have concerns, not to advertise a kingdom problem to those who either do not know about it or are not having a problem with it,” Shultz wrote.
In another case, a regional overseer for Arizona, Ed Alexander, wrote a letter to a child-molesting elder in 2005 observing that “we love our people very much and don’t want to report their misdeeds.”
The letter suggested the sect could fulfill its mandatory abuse-reporting obligations by recommending offenders get professional counseling, because then the counselors — rather than sect leaders — would be obligated to make the reports to police.
“They believe that child sexual assault is just a sin. Like, you’re a sinner, they are a sinner, it’s all just sin,” said Eileen Dickey, one of the man’s victims. She reported the abuse to sect leaders because she was worried other children would be targeted.
“I was told never to talk about it,” she said.
Alexander would not speak with The Associated Press: “Unfortunately, the media coverage has been so negative and one-sided that I am going to have to decline an interview,” he texted.
Former minister recounts culture of downplaying misdeeds
Jared Snyder spent more than two decades as an itinerant minister before becoming disillusioned and quitting. No one told him directly about abuse, Snyder said, but he occasionally heard rumors.
The sect’s culture — which makes gossip taboo and places tremendous pressure on members to be merciful — meant that misdeeds big or small were downplayed, he said.
“One overseer just explicitly told me, ‘The less you know, the better off you are,’” he said.
As a worker, Snyder received no paychecks, retirement benefits or health insurance benefits, and he was discouraged from using banks. But he was never without spending money: Followers regularly offer cash to the workers, and Snyder said he frequently had thousands of dollars in his pockets.
Most of that money would get spent on building materials, food or other supplies at regional conventions, Snyder said.
The case that exposed the sect to more scrutiny
In June 2022, a regional overseer named Dean Bruer died in an Oregon motel room. Bruer, 67, had served in at least 22 states and territories and seven countries since 1976, according to a timeline compiled by Pam Walton, a former member who has used historical records and photographs to track the movements of predatory preachers.
Nine months after Bruer died, Doyle Smith, the overseer for Idaho and Oregon, wrote a letter to members. Evidence left on Bruer’s phone and laptop showed he had raped and abused multiple underage victims, Smith wrote.
“Dean was a sexual predator,” Smith wrote. “We never respect or defend such totally inappropriate behavior among us. There is a very united consensus among us that the only thing to do is to be transparent with all of you for obvious reasons, though this is very difficult.”
That transparency did not extend to dealings with local police. It was only after Autrey, another abuse survivor, and private investigator Cynthia Liles — all former sect members — pressured Smith that he turned Bruer’s laptop over to detectives, Autrey told the AP.
By then, the computer had been tampered with, according to records from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon. The web browser search history was cleared. Bruer’s Apple ID had been changed and files transferred out of his DropBox account. Bruer’s phone was never provided to police, and the “Find My iPhone” feature had been disabled.
“What web browsing history was present on the laptop that someone didn’t want anyone else knowing about?” Detective Jeffrey Burlew wrote in a police report. Unable to find any evidence of a crime within its jurisdiction, the office closed the investigation.
Smith did not respond to phone messages from the AP.
Survivors and law enforcement dig deeper
Though Autrey and others had long sought reforms in the sect, Bruer’s death proved to be a catalyst. Autrey, Liles and another survivor launched a hotline, website and Facebook pages for survivors.
In February, the FBI’s field office in Omaha, Nebraska, announced an investigation.
The outcry prompted some sect leaders to condemn the abuse and to ask consultants for advice on how to better protect members. But at least some regional overseers have ultimately declined to adopt recommended child abuse prevention policies — saying the only true code of conduct is the New Testament.
And some leaders still warn members against criticizing the sect.
At an August convention in Duncan, British Columbia, a worker helping to lead the event did not mention the abuse scandal directly but told members to lay aside “evil speakings.”
“It’s more easy to be critical than to be correct,” preached Robert Doecke, a worker from Australia. “If you feed on problems, it will only make more problems. But if you focus on the Lord, it will lead to solutions.”
|
https://localnews8.com/news/2024/12/15/survivors-seek-a-reckoning-as-fbi-investigates-child-sex-abuse-in-little-known-christian-sect-2/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:18Z
|
South Florida 11 p.m. Weather Forecast 12/15/2024
CBS News Miami's NEXT Weather Meteorologist Dave Warren says to expect some passing showers to travel through the overnight and into Monday, possibly waking up to mild temperatures and breezy and slow showers.
|
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/video/south-florida-11-p-m-weather-forecast-12152024/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:18Z
|
LeBron James returns in Lakers’ victory over Grizzlies after 2-game absence
LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James returned to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night in a 116-10 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies after a two-game break.
James is fighting a left foot injury and and was away from the team most of last week because of personal reasons.
James did not play last Sunday against Portland or Friday night at Minnesota. The Lakers announced about 45 minutes before tip-off against Memphis that James’ status had been upgraded from questionable to available.
James had 18 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and five turnovers in 34 minutes.
“I felt pretty good,” James said. “It’s very rare throughout the course of the season where you can take advantage of the schedule, and I was able to do that the past week.”
The Lakers described James’ time away as an excused absence while noting that he’s also been managing some left foot pain. Lakers coach JJ Redick revealed before the game with Memphis that he and the four-time NBA MVP met on the day of the Portland game to discuss his plan for a break.
“When I talked to him earlier this week, I think I said something along those lines, just hoping that he was getting a good mind and body reset,” Redick said in his pregame availability Sunday. “He said he felt like he was.”
James is the NBA’s oldest player and turns 40 on Dec. 30. Including playoffs, no player in league history has appeared in more games or played more minutes than James — who is in his 22nd season, tying Vince Carter for the NBA record.
“I felt my foot, felt my body….I did my pregame workout on that Sunday for the Portland game and decided it was probably best if I took that day off,” James said. “I had the opportunity to take more days and get my mind, body and just everything where I wanted to be for tonight, and it worked out.”
Redick indicated that he could appreciate if James felt the need for a few days off.
“I played 15 (years) and was emotionally, mentally, physically drained, fried,” Redick said. “I put everything I had into this game. I had nothing left. For guys like him and (Chris Paul), the Tom Brady’s of the world, the Roger Federer’s of the world, it’s hard to comprehend having that level of sustained excellence for so long because of the toll that it takes on all of you, not just your body.”
James said he spent most of his time away rehabbing his foot and training to stay in game shape.
“It was a very easy decision for myself and for the team and for my trainer to be able to take advantage of those days, just for everything,” James said. “It was great.”
James is averaging 23 points, 9.1 assists and eight rebounds this season. He also has seven triple-doubles, second-most in the NBA behind Denver’s Nikola Jokic.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.kob.com/sports-stories/ap-basketball/lebron-james-returns-in-lakers-victory-over-grizzlies-after-2-game-absence/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:18Z
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Taiwan’s defense ministry announced Monday the arrival of 38 M1A2 Abrams tanks from the United States, a move aimed at strengthening the island’s defenses against a potential attack from China. These tanks represent the first of 108 ordered in 2019.
The tanks arrived Sunday according to AFP and were transported to an army training base in Hsinchu, as confirmed by the defence ministry. Currently, Taiwan's tank arsenal comprises approximately 1,000 units, including locally manufactured CM 11 Brave Tiger and American M60A3 tanks, which are considered dated. The remaining tanks are scheduled for delivery in 2025 and 2026.
The US is Taiwan's main ally and arms supplier. China claims Taiwan as its territory and opposes such arms sales. Taiwan's government budgeted over $1.2 billion for the Abrams tanks.
China has not ruled out using force to take control of Taiwan. While Taiwan develops its own defense systems, it relies heavily on US arms sales for security. Delays in arms deliveries to Taiwan have occurred due to supply chain issues and US weapon shipments to Ukraine and Israel.
Taiwan’s 2024 defense budget is a record $19 billion, and next year’s is expected to be even higher, reflecting the island's focus on bolstering its defenses. China has intensified military activities around Taiwan, including recent large-scale maritime drills.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/taiwan-receives-38-us-made-abrams-tanks-amid-china-threat/articleshow/116353199.cms
| 2024-12-16T07:03:19Z
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BPS Organises 21St Annual Sports Meet
Date
12/16/2024 12:16:59 AM
(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: The 21st Annual Sports Meet of Birla Public School was held on December 14, 2024, at Al Rayyan Stadium in the presence of the Chief Guest Bassem Hemeida, the renowned Qatari hurdler specialising in the 400-metre hurdles.
The Chairman Gope Shahani, Director Lukose Chacko, Management Representative Chindhu Antony, and Sports Coach from Al Ahli Sports Club Adhil attended the event. The Principal Dr. Anand R Nair, Head of Non-Academics Vinod Kumar, Vice-Principal Edna Fernandez, heads of various sections and teachers, and a vibrant gathering of parents bore witness to the spectacular event.
The program commenced with a warm welcome by Noby CC representing the Physical Education Department. The day unfolded with captivating performances, including dance, gymnastics, and a tableau showcasing various sporting events, infusing the stadium with a spirit of vibrancy and celebration. One of the key highlights was the march past, featuring the four school houses, Mars, Neptune, Saturn and Jupiter, along with the Scouts and Guides, each marching in perfect synchrony to the rhythm of the school band, embodying their unique spirit of pride and unity.
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https://menafn.com/1108995922/BPS-Organises-21St-Annual-Sports-Meet
| 2024-12-16T07:03:16Z
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Takeaways from AP’s reporting on a child sex abuse crisis inside a secretive Christian sect
Associated Press
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — For decades, a little-known Christian sect has dealt with its abusive ministers and spiritual elders mostly in secret, shunning legal action in favor of urging victims to forgive the predators in their midst.
Forgiveness, however, was far from a cure: The abusers were often sent to live with other unsuspecting families, where they had easy access to new victims.
Now a grassroots effort by survivors has exposed the depth of the scandal — documenting allegations against more than 900 abusers in 30 countries, with cases continuing to emerge — and thrust the nameless sect into the public eye. The FBI has also launched an investigation into the group, sometimes called the “Two by Twos.”
The Associated Press interviewed more than a dozen current and former members, workers and experts, and reviewed letters, court documents and other records supporting the allegations. Several sect leaders and ministers either declined interview requests or did not respond to messages.
Here are some takeaways from the AP’s reporting.
The core doctrine of the sect put kids at high risk
Child sex abuse is a significant problem within many religious institutions: Insurance data company Advisen lists child sexual abuse as the second most frequent insurance loss for religious organizations, after wage-related claims. But survivors say the tenets of the Two by Twos place kids at particularly high risk.
The sect believes its volunteer ministers, called “workers,” should live among followers and rely on them for food, housing and other needs.
Many survivors told the AP they were abused by preachers staying in their homes. In some cases, the abuse was revealed and the offending worker was asked to leave the ministry. Frequently, however, regional leaders called “overseers” simply transferred the worker to a new region without warning other members.
Former sect member Pam Walton uses photos from annual sect conventions, reports from members and other records to track the movements of workers and overseers with abuse allegations.
“I don’t think people were understanding the magnitude that these men and women traveled,” Walton said.
One abusive overseer, Dean Bruer, served in at least 22 states and territories and seven countries from the time he joined the ministry in 1976 until his death in 2022.
A culture of ‘mercy’ enabled abusers
Former worker Jared Snyder says bringing up someone’s past sins is considered taboo because that person “has already been forgiven by God.” As a result, members and workers alike often would only talk euphemistically about problems, Snyder said, and even major misdeeds were frequently downplayed.
“There is an underlying fear of being judged as a person who has a ‘bad spirit’ if you are not merciful enough,” Snyder says.
Some sect leaders cautioned against digging into allegations. One overseer told Snyder, “The less you know, the better off you are,” he said.
Sect leaders sometimes ignored legal reporting requirements
Some U.S. states have laws that require spiritual leaders, teachers and others in positions of authority to report child abuse allegations to authorities. Letters and other documents show some overseers tried to skirt those laws.
Ed Alexander, a regional overseer for Arizona, wrote a letter to a child-molesting elder urging him to seek professional counseling. That way, Alexander claimed, the sect would not have to report the man’s crime and instead the counselor could take on reporting responsibility.
Alexander declined to comment.
Survivors often faced dead ends in their search for justice
As a teen, Sheri Autrey felt unprepared to describe the intimate details of her abuse to a jury, so her parents declined to put her through the criminal prosecution process. When Autrey tried to press charges as an adult, it was too late — under California state law, too many years had passed since the crime.
Autrey tried to find an attorney to sue the sect, but no one would take the case. Legal experts say the sect’s aversion to property leaves it without any apparent assets that could be used to pay a legal settlement.
Left without legal options, many survivors joined grassroots efforts to support each other. One organization, Advocates for the Truth, created a 24-hour confidential hotline for survivors, investigated and tracked allegations, and connected victims with therapeutic resources and funding.
Facebook pages and online chat rooms have also given survivors a place to compare stories, discuss faith and share suggestions for reform.
A grand jury began looking into the sect last year, and in February the FBI asked people with information to come forward. Agents have interviewed multiple survivors and sect leaders over the last several months.
Change within the sect is slow — and limited
Some sect leaders have condemned the abuse and asked consultants for advice on how to better protect members. Others have rejected recommended child abuse prevention policies outright, or implemented scaled-down versions with fewer safeguards.
Still, the pressure doesn’t seem likely to let up anytime soon. Former sect member and survivor Lisa Webb says advocating for other survivors has been her therapy.
“I’m not trying to take away your salvation or attack your faith, but how can we keep our kids safe? You can respect the faith, respect the religion, but still not be naive,” Webb said. “Just the fact that the conversation is out there now means we’ve already improved the safety. … There’s a rallying behind survivors.”
|
https://localnews8.com/news/2024/12/15/takeaways-from-aps-reporting-on-a-child-sex-abuse-crisis-inside-a-secretive-christian-sect-2/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:24Z
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Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson makes Broadway debut
Jackson, who was raised in Miami, became the first justice to perform on Broadway.
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| 2024-12-16T07:03:24Z
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Mavericks, Warriors combine for NBA-record 48 3-pointers in Dallas’ 143-133 victory
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors combined for an NBA-record 48 3-pointers Sunday night.
Golden State hit 27 and Dallas made 21 in the Mavericks’ 143-133 victory at Chase Center.
Klay Thompson connected for seven of the Mavs’ 3-pointers facing his former team for the second time in just more than a month, and longtime Splash Brother Stephen Curry also hit seven. Dallas star Luka Doncic shot 6 for 11 from deep on the way to his 80th career triple-double that featured a season-high 45 points.
“The shot making was at a high, both teams shot the ball extremely well from 3,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “It was a fun game to watch, a fun game to participate in and making shots, and both teams did that at a high level tonight.”
In addition, Draymond Green had season highs of five 3s and 21 points and teammate Andrew Wiggins also hit five from long range.
Doncic shot 16 for 23, making 9 of his first 11 shots with four 3-pointers on the way to 28 points by halftime.
At 2,549 career 3s, Thompson moved within 11 of tying Reggie Miller for fifth on the career list with 2,560. Damian Lillard will be the next person for Thompson to chase — Lillard is in fourth place with 2,683.
“I love shooting at Chase Center,” Thompson said. “I’ve been lucky enough to set records here and have incredible memories.”
Curry is the career leader with 3,832, followed by James Harden (3,010) and Ray Allen (2,973).
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.kob.com/sports-stories/ap-basketball/mavericks-warriors-combine-for-nba-record-48-3-pointers-in-dallas-143-133-victory/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:24Z
|
Days after the shocking fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO
Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan, a socialist fashion brand has ignited fresh controversy with a provocative new product. Comrade Workwear, founded by James Harr, has announced a set of “most wanted CEOs” playing cards, featuring names, photos, and scathing critiques of top executives across industries.
Harr’s move taps into a growing anti-corporate sentiment in the US, amplified by the rise of
Luigi Mangione, Thompson’s alleged killer, who has been both vilified and celebrated online for his purported “anti-corporatist” motivations. The card deck, Harr explained on social media, aims to expose the executives profiting from what he described as the “daily violence” inflicted on the working class by corporate decision-making.
A political statement on a deck of cardsInspired by the infamous “most-wanted Iraqi” playing cards distributed during the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, Harr’s deck divides CEOs into four suits, each representing a specific sector. Clubs include pharmaceutical executives, Hearts target leaders in real estate and retail, Diamonds highlight tech, finance, and media moguls, while Spades call out figures in oil and defense industries.
In an eyebrow-raising twist, each card features a QR code linking to information about what makes the CEOs “evil,” according to Harr’s TikTok posts. Pre-orders for the cards are set to go live within days, and Harr has even asked his followers to suggest additional names for the lineup.
Public reaction: Polarizing and viralThe playing cards have sparked a firestorm on social media. Some users are hailing the deck as a clever critique of corporate greed, while others have slammed it as dangerous and irresponsible. One commenter even asked if the cards would include the CEOs’ addresses, while others proposed creating a “good guy” deck celebrating individuals like Mangione.
Meanwhile, corporations are scrambling to mitigate the fallout. UnitedHealthcare and other major companies have reportedly begun erasing the names of their executives from websites amid growing security concerns. The aftermath of Thompson’s killing has already led to a surge in online threats, raising questions about the ethical boundaries of anti-corporate activism.
Harr’s defense: Call to actionThough Harr declined to speak with major outlets, he addressed the controversy in a video on Comrade Workwear’s social platforms. “The media wants us to condemn the assassination of a healthcare CEO, but they won’t acknowledge the daily violence the working class suffers,” he said.
Harr insisted that the cards are not an incitement to violence but a tool for awareness. “I’m not suggesting anyone should harm anyone, but people need to know who is making their lives harder. These cards are a way to bond over our shared struggles as workers and understand who profits from our suffering,” he added.
A dangerous trend?Critics argue that Harr’s playing cards escalate an already volatile situation. The surge of “wanted” posters targeting CEOs, combined with the glamorization of Thompson’s killer, has raised fears of copycat incidents.
For now, the controversy continues to swirl, with Harr’s cards poised to become a flashpoint in America’s ongoing debate over corporate accountability and class struggle. Whether they’ll serve as a rallying cry for change or fuel an already divided public remains to be seen.
|
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/after-posters-socialist-brand-launches-disturbing-most-wanted-ceos-cards-post-brian-thompsons-murder/articleshow/116354870.cms
| 2024-12-16T07:03:25Z
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What’s next for the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO
By Ashley R. Williams, Gloria Pazmino, Kaitlan Collins, Rebekah Riess, Chris Boyette, Dalia Faheid and Kara Scannell, CNN
(CNN) — The man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO in Manhattan remains in a Pennsylvania state prison, while a possible indictment looms in New York as a grand jury considers evidence on charges he faces there, including one count of murder.
Luigi Mangione, who faces a possible sentence of 15 years to life in prison if convicted on the charge of second-degree murder, is set to appear in a Pennsylvania court for a preliminary hearing next week on state charges following his December 9 arrest at a McDonald’s in Altoona.
Mangione, 26, has been fighting extradition to New York after being accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4, but Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Friday it is possible the suspect could soon waive his right to fight being handed over to New York authorities.
“Indications are that the defendant may waive, but that waiver is not complete until a court proceeding, which my understanding from court officials in Pennsylvania cannot happen until Tuesday,” Bragg said. “So until that time, we’re going to continue to press forward on parallel paths and we’ll be ready whether he is going to waive extradition or whether he’s going to contest extradition.”
Here are the latest developments in the case:
- After a San Francisco Police Department officer recognized Mangione from a surveillance photo as the possible suspect on December 5, the day after the shooting, they shared the tip with the FBI.
- Mangione has retained attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo, a former Manhattan prosecutor, to represent him in New York.
- A Center for Internet Security report released Saturday found “widespread support” of Thompson’s killing could lead to potential copycats of the shooting likely to feel “emboldened and encouraged.”
- A defense fund set up on Mangione’s behalf raised more than $115,000 by Sunday, according to a campaign page on GiveSendGo. It is unclear whether his defense team will accept the funds.
Authorities tracked down Mangione in Altoona last week after being alerted he looked similar to the person who gunned down Thompson in front of a Midtown Manhattan hotel as the health care executive prepared to attend his company’s investors’ conference.
Mangione faces charges in both Pennsylvania and New York. He remains in custody in Pennsylvania Monday on charges related to a gun and fake ID police say they found at the time of his arrest.
In New York, prosecutors have charged him with one count of second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of second-degree possession of a forged document and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, according to online court documents.
Investigators in New York believe Mangione, a former high school valedictorian and Ivy League graduate born into a well-to-do family, appeared to be driven by anger against the health insurance industry and “corporate greed,” according to an NYPD intelligence report obtained by CNN.
Mangione is scheduled to appear at a hearing in Pennsylvania on December 30 in response to his petitions for writ of habeas corpus and imposition of bail, court documents from Thursday show. The habeas corpus petition is a key factor in whether Mangione can be extradited to New York.
Thomas Dickey, Mangione’s attorney in Pennsylvania, denied his client’s involvement in Thompson’s killing and said he anticipates a not guilty plea from Mangione to the charges he faces in New York.
Dickey also said Mangione, who was denied bail last Tuesday at an extradition hearing, plans to plead not guilty to the charges in Pennsylvania.
Following Bragg’s comments on Mangione possibly backing down from the extradition fight, CNN has sought comment from Dickey regarding whether he and his client have changed their position on extradition.
Mounting evidence against suspect, authorities say
New York authorities have executed as many as three search warrants as part of their investigation, including at least two warrants for a backpack found in Central Park and a burner phone discovered along Mangione’s believed getaway route away from the crime scene, sources told CNN.
The mounting evidence against the suspect accused of killing Thompson, authorities say, includes a 3D-printed gun they allege Mangione had when he was arrested, which matches three shell casings found at the crime scene.
Mangione’s fingerprints match those found on items near the scene, New York City’s police commissioner has said, and investigators discovered a three-page handwritten “claim of responsibility” and writings in a spiral notebook pointing to the suspect’s involvement, a law enforcement source briefed on the matter told CNN.
Three 9 mm shell casings from the crime scene had the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose” written on them, according to NYPD’s Chief Detective Joseph Kenny. The words are similar to a title of a 2010 book critiquing the insurance industry.
Dickey has said he wants to see the ballistics and fingerprint evidence for himself.
“Those two sciences, in and of themselves, have come under some criticism in the past, relative to their credibility, their truthfulness, their accuracy, however you want to do it,” Dickey said on CNN’s “Erin Burnett OutFront” on Wednesday.
Business leaders to discuss safety in wake of Thompson killing
The office of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is convening business leaders and law enforcement to discuss safety this week.
Kathryn Garcia, Hochul’s director of operations and infrastructure, will hold a call with several business leaders and law enforcement on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the governor’s office told CNN.
Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, a nonprofit organization which represents New York City’s global business leaders and major employers, told CNN the call will include top State Police officials and counterterrorism law enforcement.
A source familiar with the planning told CNN the state is also considering setting up a hotline for CEOs so they can call to report security concerns or threats.
The hope is the call will “provide a forum for questions and sharing of best practices regarding threats to business leaders around the city,” Wylde said.
Approximately 200 people, mostly security people as well as some CEOs are expected to join, according to Wylde.
The call comes as C-suite leaders across the country are left shaken in the wake of Thompson’s killing and reassessing preparedness for potential threats.
The NYPD, in an intelligence report obtained by CNN last week, said it believed Thompson’s killing was a “symbolic takedown” and could inspire others to act violently toward business leaders.
CNN’s Jason Hanna, Karina Tsui, Steve Almasy, Andy Rose, Brynn Gingras, Michelle Watson, Bonney Kapp, Dakin Andone, Emma Tucker, Meg Tirrell and Jason Carroll contributed to this report.
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https://localnews8.com/news/national-world/cnn-national/2024/12/15/whats-next-for-the-suspect-in-the-killing-of-unitedhealthcares-ceo/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:25Z
|
(MENAFN- EIN Presswire)
LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, December 15, 2024 /EINPresswire / -- As the holiday season approaches, BLUETTI introduces a range of portable power stations designed to provide dependable energy for winter storms, festive gatherings, and holiday travels.
Ensuring Warmth and Comfort During Winter Storms
BLUETTI's home backup systems offer reliable solutions to keep households powered and comfortable during unexpected outages. The AC300 and AC500 models are built for high performance, with 3,000W and 5,000W outputs, respectively. Paired with B300K batteries, these systems can operate essential appliances, including heaters, air conditioners, and kitchen equipment.
The AC500 with two B300K batteries delivers a total capacity of 5,529.6Wh, suitable for energy-intensive holiday feasts. For smaller-scale needs, the AC300 combined with the B300K offers ensuring steady power supply for meal preparation and household essentials.
Energy Solutions for Outdoor Celebrations
For outdoor holiday activities, BLUETTI offers portable solutions that combine functionality and reliability. The Elite 200 V2 Portable Power Station provides of capacity with a 2,600W output, making it ideal for powering lights, music systems, and beverage stations at markets or events.
Outdoor adventurers can take advantage of the AC200L + B300K system, which offers a robust capacity and 2,400W output. This setup is capable of running portable heaters, cooking devices, and equipment for seasonal tree-cutting activities.
Power on the Go for Holiday Travelers
BLUETTI's compact options are designed for holiday travel. The AC180 Solar Generator, with 1,152Wh capacity and 1,800W output, supports extended trips, enabling multiple laptop charges and other small-device needs. The AC70 Solar Generator, featuring a 768Wh capacity and 1,000W output, is suitable for powering car fridges, electric blankets, and travel essentials.
Preparing for a Sustainable Future
BLUETTI introduces a new app update with real-time energy monitoring and consumption analytics. This feature provides insights for users aiming to adopt sustainable energy habits as they step into 2025.
About BLUETTI
BLUETTI is a pioneer in clean energy technology, dedicated to advancing sustainable energy solutions worldwide. With a strong presence in over 110 countries, BLUETTI's innovations support diverse energy needs, from home backup systems to portable generators. Programs like Lighting An African Family (LAAF) underscore BLUETTI's commitment to social responsibility, providing reliable power to off-grid communities across Africa.
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BLUETTI POWER INC
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https://menafn.com/1108995923/BLUETTI-Power-Solutions-Enhance-Holiday-Celebrations-With-Reliable-Energy
| 2024-12-16T07:03:26Z
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Young cancer patients and families given winter wonderland for Fort Lauderdale Hanukkah party
The Chai Lifeline Southeast hosted the event, where the kids were able to play in real snow and given festive treats.
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| 2024-12-16T07:03:30Z
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Seahawks QB Geno Smith exits with knee injury against Green Bay and will undergo testing
SEATTLE (AP) — An awkward hit ended quarterback Geno Smith’s night and may have done serious damage to the Seahawks’ playoff chances.
Smith left Seattle’s 30-13 loss to Green Bay on Sunday night with a right knee injury and was replaced by Sam Howell midway through the third quarter. The injury doomed the Seahawks’ comeback attempt and put a serious chill on their hopes for an NFC West title. They dropped into a tie atop the division with the Los Angeles Rams, who beat the Seahawks earlier this season and host them to end the season.
Smith will undergo scans on Monday to determine the extent of the injury.
“It’s tough,” linebacker Ernest Jones IV said. “Geno’s the heartbeat of this offense, the heartbeat of this team and one of our leaders. So obviously, you don’t want to see him get hurt. But we’ve got confidence in Sam, confidence in the guys behind him. So, I pray everything is OK with Geno. But we’ve got to be ready to go.”
Smith went down on a low hit by linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, who rolled over Smith’s leg. He tried to walk off the field, went down, then got up again and limped to the sideline, where he threw his helmet. He walked to the locker room with trainers a short time later.
Seattle coach Mike Macdonald said there did not appear to be any structural damage to Smith’s right knee. Smith returned to the sideline with an ice bag held in place by a bandage, and Macdonald said the team considered allowing him to return until a late turnover put the game out of reach.
Howell, acquired in an offseason trade with Washington, completed 5 of 14 passes for 24 yards with an interception and led one touchdown drive.
Smith entered the night ranking second in the league in attempts, completions and passing yards and was on the way to breaking all the Seahawks single-season marks he set last year.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Geno, and just watching him through his career how he’s reinvented himself,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “And he’s playing really good football — I mean, you’re not the second-ranked passing leader in this game for no reason.”
Smith, who was not available to speak to reporters, struggled before he was hurt. He threw his fourth end-zone interception this season, tying the Browns’ Jameis Winston for the NFL high, when Carrington Valentine picked him off late in the first quarter. He was 15 of 19 for 149 yards and the pick, and Seattle trailed 20-6 when he left.
Howell said he’d be ready if called upon when the Seahawks host the Minnesota Vikings next Sunday.
“I prepare every week like I’m going to start,” Howell said. “But if I am playing, just getting those reps in practice will be important, and you just getting the whole week to get ready to go will be a big thing and I’ve got to make sure I’m doing the right things to prepare myself for Sunday.”
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.kob.com/sports-stories/ap-football/seahawks-qb-geno-smith-exits-with-knee-injury-against-green-bay-and-will-undergo-testing/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:30Z
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Reports of mysterious drone sightings over New Jersey have sparked widespread speculation, with many wondering whether the objects could be part of a larger, more sinister plot. However, former Illinois GOP House Representative Adam Kinzinger is putting those fears to rest.
Kinzinger, now a senior political commentator for CNN, took to the airwaves to share his take on the situation. After spending two days analyzing footage of the so-called "drone" sightings, Kinzinger is confident that the mysterious objects are not drones at all, but rather commercial airplanes flying at high altitudes.
"I've spent the last couple of days looking at every one of these videos, every video I have seen on Twitter, and on the Internet are all airplanes," Kinzinger said. "They're literally all airplanes."
His analysis comes amidst growing panic and speculation about the identity of the unidentified objects. While some government officials and even a local New Jersey resident have suggested that the objects are drones, Kinzinger dismissed these claims, pointing to the clear evidence he found in the videos.
According to Kinzinger, some of the footage that sparked the frenzy actually shows stable aircraft, mistakenly identified as drones by onlookers. These are, in fact, commercial airplanes flying at 30,000 feet—high enough to be visible in the sky but easily confused with unmanned aerial vehicles.
"The point of what I'm hearing from the FBI is we don't see a threat here," Kinzinger explained. "Honestly, every video I've seen, and I've spent the last couple of days looking at all of them, are airplanes. They're literally all airplanes!"
Kinzinger did not completely rule out the possibility of drones, but he emphasized that if drones were involved, the images align with FAA regulations, which would mean they’re operating legally. The lighting patterns—green on the right, red on the left, and a strobe—are standard for drones, he noted.
"If there are drones out there, the pictures shown demonstrate drones complying with FAA lighting requirements," he said. "It's not Iran. It's not aliens. If there are drones, my guess is they belong to a company testing legally, with no obligation to notify the public."
Kinzinger’s reassurances echo a statement from the White House, which confirmed that some of the objects are indeed drones. However, they emphasized that no national security threat, criminal activity, or public safety concern had been identified.
"At this point, we have not identified any basis for believing that these drones pose any threat," the statement read.
Kinzinger’s expertise and reassurance come as the nation continues to grapple with drone-related concerns. A former US Representative from 2011 to 2023, Kinzinger was known for his vocal stance on national security and his criticism of former President Donald Trump. After leaving Congress, he joined CNN, where he remains a trusted voice on political analysis and security issues.
While some may continue to entertain the possibility of a more elaborate mystery, Kinzinger's investigation suggests that the truth behind the New Jersey sightings is far less dramatic than originally believed.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/drone-conspiracy-uncovered-former-gop-rep-adam-kinzinger-reveals-shocking-truth-behind-new-jerseys-mysterious-sightings/articleshow/116353373.cms
| 2024-12-16T07:03:31Z
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‘It’s as if an atomic bomb fell on Mayotte:’ Widespread destruction after 100-year cyclone pummels French territory
By Lex Harvey, CNN
(CNN) — Reports of widespread damage are emerging from Mayotte after a 100-year cyclone ripped across the French archipelago Saturday, inflicting devastation that one resident likened to an atomic bomb, with hundreds and possibly even thousands of feared victims.
“The situation is catastrophic, apocalyptic,” Bruno Garcia, owner of Hotel Caribou in Mamoudzou, Mayotte’s capital, told CNN-affiliate BFMTV.
“We lost everything. The entire hotel is completely destroyed,” Garcia said. “There is nothing left. It’s as if an atomic bomb fell on Mayotte.”
Mayotte lies in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa, just west of Madagascar. Made up of two main islands, its land area is about twice the size of Washington DC.
Cyclone Chido, a category 4 storm, tore through the southwestern Indian Ocean over the weekend, impacting northern Madagascar before rapidly intensifying and slamming Mayotte with winds above 220 kilometers per hour (136 miles per hour), according to France’s weather service. It was the strongest storm to hit the islands in more than 90 years, Meteo-France said.
Chido then continued into northern Mozambique where it continued to cause damage, though the storm has now weakened.
The cyclone – the worst to hit the territory of just over 300,000 in at least 90 years – flattened neighborhoods, knocked out electrical grids, crushed hospitals and schools and damaged the airport’s control tower.
“Honestly, what we are experiencing is a tragedy, you feel like you are in the aftermath of a nuclear war… I saw an entire neighborhood disappear,” Mohamed Ishmael, a Mamoudzou resident, told Reuters.
At least 11 people have been confirmed dead by the French Interior Ministry, but the true death toll is expected to be much higher, with local officials predicting the number of victims could be in the hundreds or even thousands, the Associated Press reported.
“I think there are some several hundred dead, maybe we’ll get close to a thousand. Even thousands … given the violence of this event,″ Mayotte Prefect François-Xavier Bieuville told TV station Mayotte la 1ère.
The worst damage was to neighborhoods composed of metal shacks and informal structures that are found across Mayotte, Bieuville said.
Of the official death toll, Bieuville said “this figure is not plausible when you see the images of the slums.”
“Everything has been razed”
Debris from the storm has blocked access to roads across the archipelago, making aid delivery challenging and hindering the search for survivors, BMFTV reported.
About two thirds of the island is currently unreachable, Estelle Youssouffa, member of parliament for the first constituency of Mayotte told BMFTV.
“We must not confuse the villages that are cut off from communication (…) and the shanty towns, where there is very little chance of there being survivors. Everything has been razed,” Yousouffa said.
Desperate family members took to social media to search for news of their loved ones after the storm disrupted telecommunications networks.
As of Monday morning, Mayotte had been almost entirely offline for over 36 hours, according to the website NetBlocks.
Located about 5,000 miles from Paris, Mayotte is the poorest place in the European Union and has long struggled with poverty, unemployment, social unrest and water shortages.
Over 100,000 undocumented migrants live in Mayotte, according to France’s Interior Ministry.
Hundreds of rescuers, firefighters and police have been sent to the territory from France and the nearby French territory of Reunion, though damage to the airport’s control tower means only military planes can land there, the Associated Press reported.
Cyclones, also known as typhoons and called hurricanes in North America, are enormous heat engines of wind and rain that feed on warm ocean water and moist air. Cyclone season in the southwest Indian Ocean typically runs from mid-November to the end of April, according to France’s weather agency.
Scientists say climate change is making tropical cyclones more destructive, in part due to rising sea levels caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2019, two powerful cyclones, Idai and Kenneth, pummeled Mozambique over a period of two months, killing hundreds and leaving millions in need of humanitarian assistance.
Chad Youyou, a resident in Hamjago in the north of Mayotte, posted videos to Facebook showing flattened trees and extensive damage to his village, the Associated Press reported.
“Mayotte is destroyed … we are destroyed,” he said.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
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https://localnews8.com/news/national-world/cnn-world/2024/12/15/its-as-if-an-atomic-bomb-fell-on-mayotte-widespread-destruction-after-100-year-cyclone-pummels-french-territory/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:31Z
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(MENAFN- EIN Presswire)
2024 Drumeo Awards, Celebrating Drumming Excellence
Voting is now live for the public to select this year's winners.
ABBOTSFORD, BC, CANADA, December 16, 2024 /EINPresswire / -- Drumeo is proud to unveil the nominees for the 2024 Drumeo Awards, celebrating outstanding drummers who have made significant contributions to the
music community this year. The 4th annual celebration will recognize virtuosic performances, innovative recordings and artists who set new standards across various genres within drumming over the past year.
Voting is now live for public participation in selecting their favorite drummers across 15 categories. The voting period will be live from December 16 through December 22. To view this year's nominees and cast your vote, visit the official Drumeo Awards voting page: /vote
Winners will be announced live on January 30 @ 5:00 pm PT on both the Drumeo platform and YouTube. During the broadcast, viewers can participate through chat, win over $30,000.00 in prizes and celebrate the pinnacle of drumming excellence together. The night will culminate in the presentation of the coveted 'Drummer of The Year' award, whose past recipients include Travis Barker, Chad Smith, Questlove, Shane Hawkins and Sleep Token's II.
Sponsors:
The 2024 Drumeo Awards is made possible through its proud partnership with presenting sponsor Yamaha Drums.
About Drumeo:
Drumeo is the leading online platform offering comprehensive drum education and resources for drummers of all levels. With a commitment to fostering a global drumming community, Drumeo provides lessons from renowned instructors, play-along tracks, and engaging content to inspire and support drummers worldwide.
Join the conversation on socials using #DrumeoAwards
Jared Milligan
Musora Media Inc.
...
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https://menafn.com/1108995924/Tre%CC%81-Cool-Mike-Portnoy-El-Estepario-Aaron-Sterling-And-Eloy-Casagrande-Among-The-Nominees-For-The-2024-Drumeo-Awards
| 2024-12-16T07:03:32Z
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A viral video posted by a user named Jim Ferguson has ignited a storm of speculation on social media. Ferguson shared a clip from a Pentagon briefing, claiming that the mysterious drones spotted worldwide are “not human.” His dramatic caption—“PENTAGON CONFIRMS: THESE DRONES ARE NOT HUMAN”—has led to widespread panic and fascination online.
In his post, Ferguson asserted that the Pentagon confirmed these drones were neither foreign adversaries nor earthly creations. “They’ve been spotted over military bases, nuclear sites, and even bypass our defenses effortlessly. What are they?” he questioned, urging immediate investigation into the phenomenon.
However, Pentagon officials denied the claims. A spokeswoman clarified that the drones were neither identified as alien nor confirmed as US military assets. Ferguson's claims were, in fact, his interpretation of the briefing, which did not reference extraterrestrial origins.
New Jersey drone frenzy: Are clocks being hacked?Adding fuel to the fire, residents of New Jersey have reported strange drone sightings for over a month. These sightings have escalated from speculation to bizarre anecdotes, including reports of car clocks mysteriously changing time when drones hover overhead, reported the Mirror.
Rich Dunajewski, a software engineer specializing in radio communications, offered a plausible explanation as he was quoted as saying, “Many modern cars sync their clocks with GPS signals. If these drones are using
GPS jamming or spoofing, they could disrupt the clock settings.”
One family, interviewed by Fox News, recounted following a drone in their car when their clock suddenly reset. “It changed when we were directly beneath the drone but returned to normal as we drove away,” they claimed. Such incidents have deepened public unease, with some fearing UFOs or advanced surveillance technologies.
Lawmakers and officials at odds over transparencyThe government’s handling of the drone sightings has drawn criticism from lawmakers and citizens alike. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas acknowledged the sightings, confirming that while some were manned aircraft, others were indeed drones. This inconsistency has only fueled public skepticism.
National Security spokesman John Kirby sought to reassure citizens, saying, “These drones pose no threat to public safety or national security.” However, some officials fear the lack of transparency is stoking unnecessary fear.
Theories run wild as investigations continueWith dozens of sightings and growing concerns about their mysterious nature, theories range from government surveillance programs to extraterrestrial technology. While Ferguson’s claims remain unsubstantiated, they highlight public fascination with UFOs and unexplained aerial phenomena.
The Pentagon has reiterated its commitment to investigating aerial anomalies, promising that any credible threats will be addressed. Meanwhile, citizens are left with more questions than answers, and New Jersey’s drone mystery remains unresolved.
As speculation persists, experts and officials alike advise caution, emphasizing the importance of evidence before jumping to conclusions. For now, the drones—and their alleged ability to alter time — continue to be the talk of the town.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/drones-are-not-human-viral-video-sparks-ufo-fears-reports-of-clock-tampering-across-new-jersey/articleshow/116356153.cms
| 2024-12-16T07:03:37Z
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Winter Storm Warning issued December 15 at 11:46PM MST until December 17 at 5:00PM MST by NWS Riverton WY
* WHAT…Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations up to 2 feet
for the Tetons and up to a foot for the Gros Ventres.
* WHERE…Teton and Gros Ventre Mountains.
* WHEN…From 11 AM Monday to 5 PM MST Tuesday.
* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The
hazardous conditions could impact the Monday evening and Tuesday
morning commutes.
If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency.
For graphical depictions of the snowfall forecast, including the
official NWS forecast, high end amounts, and low end amounts, visit
https://weather.gov/riw/winter .
For winter road conditions from the Wyoming Department of
Transportation, visit https://wyoroad.info .
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https://localnews8.com/weather/alerts-weather/2024/12/15/winter-storm-warning-issued-december-15-at-1146pm-mst-until-december-17-at-500pm-mst-by-nws-riverton-wy/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:37Z
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(MENAFN- PR Newswire)
NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global
pizza market size is estimated to grow by USD 66 billion from 2024 to 2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.79% during the forecast period.
The report provides a comprehensive forecast of key segments below-
Segmentation Overview
Continue Reading
Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global pizza market 2024-2028
Distribution Channel
1.1 Quick service restaurants (QSR)
1.2 Full-service restaurants (FSR)
1.3 Others
Type
2.1 Non-vegetarian pizza
2.2 Vegetarian pizza
Geography
3.1 North America
3.2 Europe
3.3 APAC
3.4 Middle East and Africa
3.5 South America
Get a glance at the market contribution of rest of the segments -
Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes!
1.1 Fastest growing segment:
Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs), such as those specializing in pizza and burgers, have gained significant popularity due to their efficient and cost-effective business model. These restaurants offer fast food with minimal preparation time and express service, allowing for shorter delivery times and lower overhead costs. QSRs have standardized processes, enabling them to maintain quality while reducing expenses on space, furniture, air conditioning, and crockery. The rise of urbanization and increasing disposable income have fueled the growth of QSRs in India, with economic reports indicating a 20-25% increase in the fiscal year 2023. Notable chains like Dominos, Pizza Hut, and La Pinoz Pizza are expanding into tier 2 and 3 cities, capitalizing on the growing market and limited competition in these areas. Overall, the QSR sector is expected to drive the market in the forecast period due to its practicality and high return on investment.
Analyst Review
Pizza, a beloved global food staple, caters to various dietary preferences with an expanding range of vegetarian and vegan options. Plant-based diets are on the rise, leading to the popularity of vegan cheeses and plant-based meats on pizzas. Whole wheat and gluten-free crusts cater to those with dietary restrictions. BBQ chicken, pepperoni, and gourmet pizzas continue to be fan favorites. Pizzerias, delivery services, and online ordering make pizza convenient for consumers. Supermarkets and convenience stores offer take-and-bake pizzas for those who prefer cooking at home. Sustainability is a growing concern, with many pizza chains focusing on using locally sourced raw materials and reducing food waste. Ingredients like garlic bread, French fries, salad, and pizza chains contribute to the overall pizza experience. Brand recognition plays a significant role in consumer choice, with some chains becoming household names.
Market Overview
The Pizza Market encompasses a wide range of Italian-inspired dishes, including pizzas, Italian fries, garlic bread, salads, and more. This global market is renowned for its diverse offerings, from classic pizzas to gourmet and artisanal varieties. Vegetarian and vegan pizzas, catering to plant-based diets, have gained significant popularity with the use of vegan cheese and plant-based meats. Raw materials such as wheat, water, yeast, salt, olive oil, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, vegetables, meats, seafood, herbs, and pepperoni are essential ingredients in creating these delicious dishes. The pizza market's worldwide popularity is fueled by cultural integration, globalization, and the convenience of delivery services like DoorDash and Grubhub. Consumers can enjoy pizza at restaurants, retail stores, supermarkets, and even order online for delivery or pick-up. Technical advancements, such as robotic automation and ghost kitchens, have streamlined the production process, making pizza more accessible than ever. Marketing campaigns, competitive prices, discounts, combo offers, and loyalty programs have contributed to the market's growth. The pizza market outlook remains positive, with an increasing focus on healthier product variants, locally sourced ingredients, and sustainable and ethical practices. Convenient food items like ready-to-eat and frozen pizza, pizza rolls, pizza pockets, and mini-pizzas continue to be popular choices for consumers.
To understand more about this market-
Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes!
Key Topics Covered:
1 Executive Summary
2 Market Landscape
3 Market Sizing
4 Historic Market Size
5 Five Forces Analysis
6 Market Segmentation
7 Customer Landscape
8
Geographic Landscape
9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends
10
Venodr
Landscape
11
Vendor
Analysis
12
Appendix
About Technavio
Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.
With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.
Contacts
Technavio Research
Jesse Maida
Media & Marketing Executive
US: +1 844 364 1100
UK: +44 203 893 3200
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
SOURCE Technavio
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https://menafn.com/1108995925/Pizza-Market-Size-To-Increase-By-USD-66-Billion-Between-2023-To-2028-Market-Segmentation-By-Distribution-Channel-Type-Geography-Technavio
| 2024-12-16T07:03:39Z
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A tornado struck northern California on Saturday afternoon, injuring at least four people, flipping several cars, and bringing down power lines, according to local authorities.
The tornado caused widespread damage in Scotts Valley, located around 89 kilometres south of San Francisco.
Scotts Valley Tornado | Several injured, significant damage caused — Update
The twister, part of a series of severe weather events sweeping across the US, lasted about five minutes, with wind speeds reaching 144 km/h. It was around 28 metres wide and travelled about 400 metres before dissipating.
As of Sunday, over 40,000 customers remained without power, with Monterey County being the worst affected. Two of the injured were hospitalised, though no life-threatening injuries were reported.
The tornado in Scotts Valley followed a week after San Francisco’s first-ever tsunami warning, issued due to a magnitude 7.0 earthquake off the northern coast. No injuries were reported from the tsunami warning incident.
Tornadoes are rare in San Francisco, with the city last experiencing a major one in 2005.
Elsewhere in the US, an ice storm in Iowa and Nebraska caused hazardous road conditions. A 57-year-old woman lost control of her pickup truck on an icy road near Arlington and collided with an oncoming vehicle, resulting in her death. Interstate 80, connecting Iowa and Nebraska, was temporarily shut down due to multiple accidents but has since reopened.
Meanwhile, upstate New York experienced heavy snowfall, with over 83 centimetres recorded near Orchard Park in Erie County. The Sierra Nevada mountains in Nevada reported up to 91 centimetres of snow, and areas around Lake Tahoe also saw significant snowfall. Winds reached 180 km/h at Mammoth Mountain resort in California.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/watch-rare-tornado-tears-through-california-flips-cars-and-uproots-trees/articleshow/116355164.cms
| 2024-12-16T07:03:43Z
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Bentley is Back on the Racetrack
Bentley's new Continental GT3 race car makes its competitive debut at the 2013 Gulf 12 Hours in Abu Dhabi on 13th December 2013.
Bentley's new Continental GT3 race car makes its competitive debut at the 2013 Gulf 12 Hours in Abu Dhabi on 13th December 2013.
Bentley's new Continental GT3 race car makes its competitive debut at the 2013 Gulf 12 Hours in Abu Dhabi on 13th December 2013. The two-part endurance race test at the stunning Yas Marina circuit marks Bentley's return to motorsport ten years after its dominant win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2003. Since then, the return of Bentley to the racetrack has been eagerly awaited, and now the Continental GT3 is set to show the performance capabilities of Bentley's renowned Continental GT in its most extreme form. Source: Bentley Motors Limited
Since the GT3's dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, Bentley's new race car has begun an intensive programme of performance, setup and durability testing at tracks across Europe. The car has run exactly according to the expectations of a Bentley, having proven to be both reliable and fast in all conditions.
Bentley's Director of Motorsport, Brian Gush, comments: "The car has performed extremely well so far, and has matched or exceeded our simulations in every respect. With 3000 km of testing completed already, the team is very pleased with progress and we're gaining confidence in our package. We're all looking forward to the Gulf 12 Hours in December and can't wait to run the car against the competition for the first time in its first test race."
Powered by a race-prepared and dry-sump version of Bentley's powerful but efficient road-going 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 producing up to 600 bhp in unrestricted race configuration, and with the instantly-recognisable shape of the Continental GT, the GT3 is a true member of the Continental family.
Alongside its racing ambitions, the GT3 retains luxury Grand Tourer roots, with its steering wheel, carbon racing seat and leather door-pulls all trimmed and stitched by hand by the craftsmen and women at the Bentley factory in Crewe.
Following highly successful teamwork in the design stage, testing and development is being run by a specialist team comprising engineers both from Bentley and the Continental GT3 Technical Partner, M-Sport Ltd. Managed from a dedicated motorsport facility base at the Bentley factory, the car is being run by M-Sport in preparation for a full entry in the 2014 FIA Blancpain Series as Team M-Sport Bentley.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/boyz-toyz/cars-and-bikes/bentley-continental-gt3-poised-to-make-race-debut-104198.html
| 2024-12-16T07:03:43Z
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On Dec. 14, Georgetown men’s basketball (8-2, BIG EAST) won the 100th edition of the GU-Syracuse rivalry (5-5, 0-1 ACC), 75-71. While close throughout with numerous lead changes, junior guard Jayden Epps reminded the packed crowd at the JMA Wireless Dome just why he is considered one of the best scorers in the country.
Coming out of the gates the Hoyas missed left, right, and center from three-point range as they started the game out scoreless from behind the arc. Not so surprising for a team that came in shooting less than 30% from distance on the year. Syracuse however, would find some early success with their jumpshots making an early three and getting fouled on another (whistles would be a major theme in this one). The Hoyas, however, led by Epps, freshman forward Thomas Sorber, sophomore guard Malik Mack and graduate guard Micah Peavy got things going well at the rim as the Hoyas took an early 13-12 advantage.
Georgetown would not make their first triple of the game until sophomore forward Jordan Burks splashed one in from the corner—only his second made three of the year—as both he and sophomore forward Drew Fielder would join the aforementioned four in the scoring column to put the Hoyas up 20-17 at the under-12 media timeout. They would be the only six Hoyas to score in this game.
Credit to the Orange however, as they gave the usually stout Hoya defense fits early scoring 21 points and taking a one point advantage at the halfway point of the first half using threes, twos, and especially free throws to keep the Hoyas at bay. The foul and free throw discrepancy remained massive throughout despite the Hoyas being the team who seemed more intent on driving to the basket, as the Orange got bailed out by a number of Hoya defensive fouls on jump shooters, with senior forward Jyare Davis being a main beneficiary.
Fortunately for the Hoyas, their defense would settle down from there, only allowing 50 points in the remaining 30 minutes. However, it was not without scary moments, like when Sorber picked up his second foul of the game with 8 minutes to go in the frame, eerily similar to the Hoyas last lost to West Virginia on the road. Unlike that game though, the Hoyas kept pace with the Orange’s foul shooters as the teams battled to a draw in the first half after Sorber left the game for his final time with around six minutes to play, 37-37.
By the break the Georgetown defense held Syracuse to only 42% from the field and 25% from three but a mounting free throw attempts advantage for the Orange, 15-4, kept them in the game. Compounding difficulties, to this point in the game the Hoyas also shot a putrid 1-11 from three point range. If anything, it was a great sign that Georgetown was still in this one after all that. Epps and Sorber led the Hoyas with 10 a piece in the half and Davis led the game with 11 including 5-6 from the charity stripe.
Now the second half… that was the Jayden Epps show.
Coming out of the break the Hoyas returned to the floor with a renewed sense of energy. Good ball movement by the Hoyas, and Mack in particular (who finished the game with 8 assists and not a single turnover), led to easy baskets for Sorber and Peavy forcing a quick timeout by Syrcasue head coach Red Autry less than two minutes into the half. The Hoyas core four of Epps, Mack, Peavy and Sorber were not done as they would play every second of the second half. From there Georgetown would go on a 17-9 run featuring two Epps threes, and another by Mack to put the Hoyas ahead 54-46. But just when the Hoyas seemed like they were going to break the game wide open, the Orange and the referees struck again. Following a cheap foul by Syracuse freshman guard Elijah Moore, and an ensuing double technical as the teams exchanged pleasantries after the whistle, the Orange would go on a run of their own, this of the 18-4 variety, by way of a couple makes and… you guessed it… free throws, which would send the Orange back in control 64-58. At this point in the game the home team now sported a 25-4 advantage in free throw attempts (it would eventually climb as high as 27-4).
Epps wasn’t out of tricks yet though, as he canned another three as part of a Hoya burst to regain the lead before Syracuse responded with a triple of their own to pull ahead 69-67. To this point, for every punch Epps would throw at them the Orange seemed to have a counter punch. That was until Epps, joined by Mack and Peavy, sparked a decisive 7-0 run to put the Hoyas up 5, 74-69. With only 22 seconds remaining, the Orange did their best to make a comeback, but in the end fell short. Despite having a monstrous advantage in free throw attempts, and holding the Hoyas to only 24% from deep, the Orange just weren’t good enough to fend off Jayden Epps as the final buzzer sounded, 75-71, Hoyas win. After struggling for much of the season with half court offense the Hoyas were able to move the ball with a purpose today, generating 20 assists on 31 made baskets. Epps led the game with 27 points, senior center, and former rumored Georgetown recruit, Eddie Lampkin led the Orange with 18. Sorber had 16 and 7 rebounds, Peavy 12 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists, and 9 points, 6 boards, and 8 assists for Mack.
To those in the offseason who questioned if Epps was capable of turning raw scoring numbers into winning basketball, it appears you have your answer. In the second half alone he had 17 points on 7-7 from the field and 3-3 from three.
Next, the Hoyas will finally begin BIG EAST play, heading back home to Capital One Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 18 to do battle with the Creighton Bluejays (7-3, BIG EAST) at 6:30 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on CBSSN. For continued coverage and updates on Georgetown sports, follow @GUVoiceSports on Twitter.
|
https://georgetownvoice.com/2024/12/14/epps-plays-the-hero-hoyas-survive-ref-show-to-squash-the-orange-on-the-road/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:45Z
|
Winter Weather Advisory issued December 15 at 11:46PM MST until December 17 at 5:00PM MST by NWS Riverton WY
* WHAT…Snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 4 and 8
inches.
* WHERE…Jackson Hole.
* WHEN…From 11 AM Monday to 5 PM MST Tuesday.
* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions
could impact the Monday evening and Tuesday morning commutes.
Slow down and use caution while traveling.
For graphical depictions of the snowfall forecast, including the
official NWS forecast, high end amounts, and low end amounts, visit
https://weather.gov/riw/winter .
For winter road conditions from the Wyoming Department of
Transportation, visit https://wyoroad.info .
|
https://localnews8.com/weather/alerts-weather/2024/12/15/winter-weather-advisory-issued-december-15-at-1146pm-mst-until-december-17-at-500pm-mst-by-nws-riverton-wy-2/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:46Z
|
North America's first floating wind turbine, launched in May, is being hailed as a prototype for a future US offshore energy industry. While the small ''pilot phase'' unit, sitting off the Maine coast, produces only enough electricity to power four homes, it represents the first stage of a far more ambitious project.
The indiatimes.com privacy policy has been updated to align with the new data regulations in European Union. Please review and accept these changes below to continue using the website. We use cookies to ensure the best experience for you on our website.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/boyz-toyz/extra-large/floating-wind-turbine-in-us-104138.html
| 2024-12-16T07:03:50Z
|
Winter Weather Advisory issued December 15 at 11:46PM MST until December 17 at 5:00PM MST by NWS Riverton WY
* WHAT…Snow expected. Total snow accumulations up to a foot. Winds
gusting as high as 35 mph.
* WHERE…Salt River and Wyoming Ranges.
* WHEN…From 1 PM Monday to 5 PM MST Tuesday.
* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The
hazardous conditions could impact the Monday evening and Tuesday
morning commutes, including Salt River Pass.
Slow down and use caution while traveling.
For graphical depictions of the snowfall forecast, including the
official NWS forecast, high end amounts, and low end amounts, visit
https://weather.gov/riw/winter .
For winter road conditions from the Wyoming Department of
Transportation, visit https://wyoroad.info .
|
https://localnews8.com/weather/alerts-weather/2024/12/15/winter-weather-advisory-issued-december-15-at-1146pm-mst-until-december-17-at-500pm-mst-by-nws-riverton-wy-3/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:52Z
|
SpaceX Launches Canadian Satellite
The 22-story rocket, built and flown by Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, soared off a newly refurbished, leased launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Station...
The 22-story rocket, built and flown by Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, soared off a newly refurbished, leased launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Station...
An unmanned Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from California on Sunday to test upgrades before commercial satellite launch services begin later this year.
The 22-story rocket, built and flown by Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, soared off a newly refurbished, leased launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Station. Text/Photo: Reuters
The Falcon 9 blazed through clear blue skies out over the Pacific Ocean, its water vapor trail visible even as the rocket left the atmosphere.
"It went better than expected. It was incredibly smooth," SpaceX founder and Chief Executive Elon Musk told Reuters after the launch.
Nestled inside the rocket's new 17-foot (5-meter) diameter nose cone was a small Canadian science satellite called Cassiope that initially was to fly on SpaceX's now-discontinued Falcon 1 launcher in 2008.
"It's certainly a huge relief to have successfully delivered Cassiope to orbit. It's been weighing on me quite heavily," Musk said.
Cassiope, which is designed to monitor the space environment around Earth and serve as a communications satellite, and five secondary payloads were delivered into their intended orbits, Musk told reporters on a conference call.
As an experiment, both of the rocket's two stages were restarted during flight.
Musk is particularly interested in developing the technology to fly the Falcon's first stage back to the launch site or have it gently splash down in the water so its motors can be recovered, refurbished and reflown. Currently, after delivering their payloads into orbit, the boosters tumble back toward Earth and essentially explode mid-air before crashing into the sea.
"The most revolutionary thing about the new Falcon 9 is the potential ability to recover the boost phase, which is almost three-quarters of the cost of the rocket," Musk said.
Neither engine restart test went perfectly, but engineers were able to get enough data to plan on a demonstration flight next year.
"The most important thing is we now believe we have all the pieces of the puzzle," Musk said.
The upgraded Falcon 9 v1.1 has engines that are 60 percent more powerful than previous versions, longer fuel tanks, new avionics and software and other features intended to boost lift capacity and simplify operations for commercial service.
Privately-owned SpaceX has contracts for more than 50 launches of its new Falcon 9 and planned Falcon Heavy rockets.
Ten of those missions are to fly cargo to the International Space Station for NASA. The other customers are non-U.S. government agencies and commercial satellite operators.
SpaceX also has two contracts for small U.S. Air Force satellites but is looking to break the monopoly that United Launch Alliance, a partnership of Lockheed Martin and Boeing, has on flying big military satellites as well.
|
https://www.indiatimes.com/boyz-toyz/extra-large/spacex-launches-canadian-satellite-104141.html
| 2024-12-16T07:03:56Z
|
Winter Weather Advisory issued December 15 at 11:46PM MST until December 17 at 5:00PM MST by NWS Riverton WY
* WHAT…Snow expected. Total snow accumulations over a foot for
southwestern portions of the park with less than 6 inches possible
from Mammoth Springs to Tower Junction.
* WHERE…Yellowstone National Park.
* WHEN…From 11 AM Monday to 5 PM MST Tuesday.
* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The
hazardous conditions could impact the Monday evening and Tuesday
morning commutes.
Slow down and use caution while traveling.
For graphical depictions of the snowfall forecast, including the
official NWS forecast, high end amounts, and low end amounts, visit
https://weather.gov/riw/winter .
For winter road conditions from the Wyoming Department of
Transportation, visit https://wyoroad.info .
|
https://localnews8.com/weather/alerts-weather/2024/12/15/winter-weather-advisory-issued-december-15-at-1146pm-mst-until-december-17-at-500pm-mst-by-nws-riverton-wy/
| 2024-12-16T07:03:58Z
|
Key Market Trends Fueling Growth
Drayage services play a crucial role in the logistics industry, facilitating the movement of freight between ports, harbors, warehouses, and intermodal transportation hubs like rail yards. With the boom in e-commerce sales and the need for fast delivery, drayage companies have become essential partners for retailers and manufacturers. Containers, the backbone of intermodal shipping, are moved using trucks, trains, and cargo ships. Drayage services help manage congestion, optimize transportation solutions, and ensure real-time visibility through digital platforms and GPS tracking. Emission standards, congestion management, and infrastructure development are key challenges. The e-commerce industry's growth, urbanization, and infrastructure bottlenecks drive the need for cost-effective transportation and process automation. Regional variations, trade volumes, and port closures necessitate the use of real-time tracking systems, telematics, and optimization algorithms. The future of drayage services lies in digital platforms, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and autonomous vehicles.
The e-commerce market is experiencing significant growth and is transforming retail and distribution channels. Customers prefer online shopping due to its convenience, easy access to alternatives, and home delivery services. The increasing use of the Internet and mobile devices is fueling the expansion of the global e-commerce industry. Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region in this market, driven by the rising purchasing power of its middle class population. This trend has led to an increased demand for drayage services to facilitate the transportation of goods from warehouses to distribution centers and ultimately to consumers' doors.
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Market
Challenges
The logistics service sector, including freight and shipping industries, faces several challenges in the modern business landscape. With the rise of e-commerce industries and essential goods, there is an increasing demand for fast delivery. Drayage services, which involve the transportation of containers and cargo from ports, harbors, and warehouses to rail yards and distribution centers, play a crucial role in this process. Intermodal shipping using containers and intermodal transportation via trucks, trains, and cargo ships require efficient coordination. Drayage companies face challenges such as infrastructure bottlenecks, congestion, and regional variations in trade volumes. The e-commerce boom and urbanization put pressure on infrastructure development and emission standards. Real-time visibility, data analytics, process automation, and optimization algorithms are essential for cost-effective transportation and efficient cargo handling. Challenges include port closures, containerization, and the need for real-time tracking systems using GPS, telematics, and cloud-based platforms. The integration of artificial intelligence, blockchain, and autonomous vehicles is expected to address some of these challenges. Emission standards, congestion management, and cargo security are also critical concerns.
The drayage services market plays a crucial role in delivering goods to various destinations in a timely manner. A streamlined supply chain is essential to meet customer demands and ensure satisfaction. However, the market faces challenges, including a shortage of skilled drayage drivers. This issue is exacerbated by factors such as low wages, long working hours, and the implementation of electronic logging devices (ELDs). Additionally, traffic congestion around ports and metropolitan areas results in significant time spent waiting for delivery. Addressing these challenges is imperative to mitigate their impact on market growth and maintain an efficient drayage services supply chain.
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Segment Overview
This drayage services market report extensively covers market segmentation by
End-user
1.1 Electronics and electrical
1.2 Food and beverage
1.3 Consumer goods and retail
1.4 Others
Type
2.1 Inter-carrier drayage
2.2 Expedited drayage
2.3 Intra-carrier drayage
2.4 Pier drayage
2.5 Others
Geography
3.1 APAC
3.2 North America
3.3 Europe
3.4 Middle East and Africa
3.5 South America
1.1
Electronics and electrical-
The electronics industry experienced a growth spurt in 2023, with expectations of continued significant expansion during the forecast period. Drayage services are essential for the seamless logistics and supply chain operations in the electronics and electrical segment. These services facilitate the transportation of components, parts, and raw materials from ports or manufacturing facilities to assembly plants or warehouses. The industry landscape has evolved over the last decade, with production shifting from high-cost countries to low-cost hubs like China. In 2022, the US, Hong Kong, and China were the top three electronics producers. China has been prioritizing eco-friendly manufacturing practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to increased inter-country trade and the demand for drayage services. The electronics industry's focus on innovation and digitalization is driving the production of high-performance devices and household appliances, further fueling market growth for drayage services.
Download complimentary Sample Report to gain insights into AI's impact on market dynamics, emerging trends, and future opportunities- including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022)
Research Analysis
The Drayage Services Market plays a crucial role in the logistics industry, facilitating the movement of freight between ports, harbors, warehouses, and distribution centers. Drayage services involve the transportation of containers and cargo over short distances using trucks, trains, or intermodal transportation. This market is integral to the shipping industry, particularly for intermodal shipping and just-in-time delivery systems. Drayage companies use a variety of equipment, including shipping containers, trailers, and intermodal containers, to transport goods. Rail yards serve as essential hubs for intermodal transportation, allowing for seamless transfer between trucks, trains, and cargo ships. Real-time monitoring and GPS tracking are increasingly important tools for optimizing drayage operations and ensuring efficient, reliable delivery. The market for drayage services is driven by the growth of international trade and the need for timely, cost-effective transportation solutions.
Market Research Overview
The drayage services market encompasses the logistics segment that specializes in the transportation of freight, particularly containers, between ports, harbors, warehouses, and intermodal transportation facilities such as rail yards. This market plays a crucial role in the shipping industry, facilitating the movement of cargoes, including essential goods and those for the e-commerce industries, over short distances using trucks, trains, and cargo ships. With the e-commerce boom and urbanization, there is a growing demand for fast delivery and cost-effective transportation solutions. Drayage companies leverage digital platforms, real-time monitoring, and optimization algorithms to provide real-time visibility, data analytics, and process automation. Emission standards, congestion management, and infrastructure development are key challenges in this market, with regional variations and trade volumes influencing port and intermodal drayage, dedicated drayage for retail, manufacturing, automotive, chemicals, and consumer goods sectors. The integration of technologies like GPS tracking, telematics, cloud-based platforms, mobile applications, optimization algorithms, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and autonomous vehicles is transforming the drayage services landscape.
Table of Contents:
1 Executive Summary
2 Market Landscape
3 Market Sizing
4 Historic Market Size
5 Five Forces Analysis
6 Market Segmentation
End-user
Electronics And Electrical
Food And Beverage
Consumer Goods And Retail
Others
Type
Inter-carrier Drayage
Expedited Drayage
Intra-carrier Drayage
Pier Drayage
Others
Geography
APAC
North America
Europe
Middle East And Africa
South America
7 Customer Landscape
8 Geographic Landscape
9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends
10 Company Landscape
11 Company Analysis
12 Appendix
About Technavio
Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.
With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.
Contacts
Technavio Research
Jesse Maida
Media & Marketing Executive
US: +1 844 364 1100
UK: +44 203 893 3200
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
SOURCE Technavio
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https://menafn.com/1108995926/Drayage-Services-Market-To-Grow-By-USD-360-Billion-2024-2028-Driven-By-The-Expanding-Manufacturing-Sector-Report-On-How-AI-Is-Redefining-The-Market-Technavio-Technavio
| 2024-12-16T07:03:45Z
|
P12 Jetpack Prototype
Martin Aircraft Company has tested its latest prototype, P12 Jetpack.
Martin Aircraft Company has tested its latest prototype, P12 Jetpack. The video shows recent testing of the prototype being flown by remote control. Source: Martin Aircraft
__PAGEBREAK__
As part of testing programme some modifications are being made into the jetpack’s V4 engine.
__PAGEBREAK__
Currently the engine is being developed to extend the Time Between Overhaul (TBO).
__PAGEBREAK__
This development work is focusing on the bottom end of the engine and improving the crankshaft design, including going to a single piece crank.
__PAGEBREAK__
Work is on to make engine more durable and decrease its maintenance requirements.
The engine fittings to P12 are expected to finish by the end of the year.
|
https://www.indiatimes.com/boyz-toyz/machines/p12-jetpack-prototype-104166.html
| 2024-12-16T07:04:03Z
|
F-15E Strike Eagle
Its unparalleled range, persistence and weapons load make it the backbone of the U.S. Air Force (USAF).
Its unparalleled range, persistence and weapons load make it the backbone of the U.S. Air Force (USAF).
The F-15E Strike Eagle is a superior next generation multi-role strike fighter. Its unparalleled ran... Read More
The F-15E Strike Eagle is a superior next generation multi-role strike fighter. Its unparalleled range, persistence and weapons load make it the backbone of the U.S. Air Force (USAF). A complement of the latest advanced avionics systems gives the Strike Eagle the capability to perform air-to-air or air-to-surface missions at all altitudes, day or night, in any weather. Source: Boeing
A derivative of earlier F-15 model aircraft (A-D), the F-15E Strike Eagle includes the following att... Read More
A derivative of earlier F-15 model aircraft (A-D), the F-15E Strike Eagle includes the following attributes:
- Unmatched combat radius and persistence
- Advanced digital electronic controlled higher thrust engines
- Max speed greater than twice the speed of sound
More than 23,000 pounds of payload, including air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons such as the:
- the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM)
- the AGM-130
- the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM)
- AIM-9X
It also boasts of:
An Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar
A digital threat warni... Read More
It also boasts of:
- An Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar
- A digital threat warning system
- A Service life that will allow it to be viable until at least 2035
- A digital threat warning system
- A Service life that will allow it to be viable until at least 2035
Load More
|
https://www.indiatimes.com/boyz-toyz/ships-and-planes/f15e-strike-eagle-104215.html
| 2024-12-16T07:04:04Z
|
SHARON APPELBAUM FEATURED IN LOS ANGELES TIMES' 2024 INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN MAGAZINE
Date
12/16/2024 12:17:27 AM
(MENAFN- PR Newswire)
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --
Southern California criminal defense law firm
Appelbaum Law
announced today that Founding Attorney Sharon Appelbaum has been featured in the Los Angeles Times' 2024 Inspirational Women Magazine,
published today. This recognition celebrates women who exemplify leadership, innovation, and commitment to excellence in their industries.
"I'm truly grateful for this recognition and for the opportunity to do the work I'm passionate about-helping clients navigate some of the most challenging times in their lives," said Appelbaum. "At Appelbaum Law, we're committed to providing thoughtful, strategic defense and advocacy for every client we serve."
A nationally recognized trial attorney, Appelbaum has built a distinguished career representing clients in high-stakes criminal defense and white-collar cases. With over a decade leading her firm and extensive experience as a former prosecutor with the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, Appelbaum has a reputation for securing significant victories in complex federal and state cases.
Her dedication to justice, coupled with her strategic and innovative approach, has earned her accolades, including being named a 2024 Businesswoman of the Year finalist by the San Diego Business Journal, a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and a Top 100 Lawyer by National Trial Lawyers.
The Inspirational Women Magazine celebrates individuals who drive progress in their professions and communities, offering insight into the breadth of women's achievements and leadership across industries.
About Appelbaum Law
At Appelbaum Law, we provide comprehensive criminal defense and white-collar representation tailored to the unique needs of our clients. Our team brings unparalleled expertise to cases involving financial fraud, regulatory investigations, and serious criminal allegations, delivering strategic and results-driven advocacy. With offices in Los Angeles and San Diego, we are committed to protecting the rights, reputations, and futures of our clients. For more information, please visit AppelbaumLaw.
SOURCE Appelbaum Law
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https://menafn.com/1108995927/SHARON-APPELBAUM-FEATURED-IN-LOS-ANGELES-TIMES-2024-INSPIRATIONAL-WOMEN-MAGAZINE
| 2024-12-16T07:04:07Z
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The indiatimes.com privacy policy has been updated to align with the new data regulations in European Union. Please review and accept these changes below to continue using the website. We use cookies to ensure the best experience for you on our website.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/boyz-toyz/weapons/homemade-crossbowgauntlet-104217.html
| 2024-12-16T07:04:10Z
|
Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan says that it is not wife Aishwarya Rai but their one-and-half-year-old daughter Aaradhya Bachchan is the best dressed Bachchan.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/aaradhya-is-the-best-dressed-bachchan-104308.html
| 2024-12-16T07:04:16Z
|
Specifications for the 2014 Volkswagen Beetle 1L. Details include engine, fuel usage, interior features, safety and more.
2014 Volkswagen Beetle 1L 1.4L Petrol 3D Hatchback
Standard Features
- Dual Front Airbags Package
- Anti-lock Braking
- Auto Climate Control with Dual Temp Zones
- Adjustable Steering Wheel - Tilt & Telescopic
- 17 Inch Alloy Wheels
- Brake Assist
- Cruise Control
- CD with 6 CD Stacker
- Central Locking Remote Control
- Cloth Trim
- Electronic Brake Force Distribution
- Electronic Differential Lock
- Electronic Stability Program
- Fog Lights - Front
- Head Airbags
- Hill Holder
- Engine Immobiliser
- Leather Steering Wheel
- Multi-function Steering Wheel
- Mobile Phone Connectivity
- Parking Distance Control Rear
- Parking Distance Control Front
- Power Mirrors With Indicators
- Power Steering
- Power Windows
- Radio CD with 8 Speakers
- Rear Spoiler
- Rain Sensing Wipers
- Seatbelts - Pre-tensioners Front Seats
- Side Front AirBags
- Trip Computer
- Traction Control System
Optional Extras
- Alarm System/Remote Anti Theft - $600
- Leather Upholstery - $3,300
- Metallic Paint - $500
- Power Sunroof - $1,700
- Satellite Navigation - $2,500
- Sports pack - $1,800
- Technology Pack - $2,700
|
https://www.whichcar.com.au/specs/2014-volkswagen-beetle-1l-petrol-3d-hatchback-3YnHrXwuMc
| 2024-12-16T07:04:19Z
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Starring Saif Ali Khan and Sonakshi Sinha in leads, Bullett Raja is directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia. He essays the role of Raja Mishra a commoner who gets transformed into Bullett Raja - a notorious, care a damn attitude gangster.A faithful friend and a loyal lover, living life on his own terms, setting his own rules, commanding respect and fearing no one, Bullett Raja in his true inimitable style takes on the system that creates people like him in ...Read More
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https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/bullett-raja-trailer-104162.html
| 2024-12-16T07:04:23Z
|
There's no magic dollar amount that the Cape Girardeau School District can afford or people will approve in a bond issue, but an 11-member committee has created a financial plan that would give the district the "biggest bang for its buck"; the committee recommended that the school board approve a $14 million bond issue to fund a two-phase construction project.
A weekend burglary at Jackson High School has school district officials searching for ways to protect valuable equipment; someone broke into the "A" Building through a basement window, making off with a computer and CD-ROM, but leaving the monitor behind; this isn't the first such an incident this school year; someone burglarized Jackson Junior High and stole several small items, and there was also a break-in at the high school's "C" Building; in that instance, nothing was taken, but the building was vandalized.
Cape Girardeau County's new board of visitors will become a reality next week, hopefully ending what has been a long stalemate between the County Court and Circuit Judge W. Osler Statler over whether a new county jail or a juvenile detention home should be built; Statler appointed the six member board -- John Meisenheimer, Lloyd Law, Sister Barbara McCord, Dennis Underwood, Mary Kasten and Mrs. Robert S. Todd -- yesterday.
Construction of the long-proposed Student Union on the State College campus here has been given the go-ahead by the Board of Regents; the board has authorized college officials to prepare an application for federal funds and to appoint a committee to select an architect.
Rep. Orville Zimmerman of Kennett, Missouri, steps in to negotiate with the Office of Price Administration in St. Louis and adverts a near crisis in the construction program in Cape Girardeau, which had been virtually halted when Cape Girardeau Sand Co. suspended operations last week upon denial of a price increase for its product; after consulting with Zimmerman, the OPA authorizes the sand company to resume operations and grants an increase in price to 80 cents, the amount which had been sought.
No. 1 on Cape Girardeau's wish list -- construction of a new municipal swimming pool -- receives an official setback when the Civilian Production Administration rules that no swimming pool costing more than $200 may be started without express permission.
Fire Prevention Day is observed here, with the city firemen answering a call at the home of Addie Jackson, 225 Mill St.; a spark from a defective flue ignites the roof; before the firefighters can extinguish the blaze, the entire roof is burned off; water soaks the walls and household effects, and very little is salvaged.
"Mending Broken Humanity," the sermon delivered at First Christian Church in the evening by the Rev. Charles H. Swift, deals with the problem of the Ku Klux Klan; the minister speaks of the KKK as an organization going about stirring up hatred and strife, while hiding behind masks and under cover of night; a large crowd listens to the sermon with interest.
-- Sharon K. Sanders
Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom:
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https://www.semissourian.com/records/out-of-the-past-oct-9-2910447/
| 2024-12-16T07:04:23Z
|
Bullett Raja Trailer: Top 5 Highlights
The upcoming action-packed thriller, Bullett Raja, has nailed it in its trailer.
The upcoming action-packed thriller, Bullett Raja, has nailed it in its trailer. Here are five gems we loved in the promo...
TIGMANSHU DHULIA COOKS UP A SPICY MEAL
After casting a spell with dark and serious cinema (Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster series and Paan Singh Tomar), the director is all set to offer his first ever attempt at a fully-loaded masala potboiler.
SAIF AS A STYLISHLY RUGGED GANGSTER
Probably for the first time, Saif Alia Khan dons a super-masaledar avatar for his next, Bullett Raja. As a gangster, he isn't plain rustic in the film. In fact, Khan is an intoxicating cocktail of a rural Langda Tyagi (Omkara), a smart Ranvir Singh (Race series), an evil Karan (Ek Hasina Thi) and a loverboy Sameer (Dil Chahta Hai). A complete package for a true Bollywood masala film.
SONAKSHI LOOKS FRESH AS A TRADITIONAL BELLE
In her famous desi look, Sonakshi Sinha slips into the tailor-made role effortlessly. Even in her signature attires, the actress manages to exude a certain freshness about her character. Post her Lootera win, Sonakshi has earned her spurs, and the junta has started looking at her as a brilliant performer who can display varied emotions with ease, despite repeating her wardrobe in almost each flick.
MAHIE GILL'S ITEM NUMBER
Choreographed by Ganesh Acharya, this special number has Mahie Gill seductively grooving to the flirtatious tunes. Also seen in the song is film's tough leading man, going wild with the dusky temptress. Mahie's choice of a purple and green lehenga is bang on. The teasing midriff exposure brings the sensational element to the overall mad mood of the melody.
RAVI KISHAN TURNS A WOMAN
In a brief frame in the promo, the popular Bhojpuri actor, Ravi Kishan, is seen in an interesting getup – that of a woman. Clad in a pink and green lehenga-choli, the actor's never-seen-before makeover has only piqued our curiosity about his role in the action thriller.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/bullett-raja-trailer-top-5-highlights-104199.html
| 2024-12-16T07:04:24Z
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Specifications for the 2014 Volkswagen Beetle 1L. Details include engine, fuel usage, interior features, safety and more.
2014 Volkswagen Beetle 1L 1.4L Petrol 3D Hatchback
Standard Features
- Dual Front Airbags Package
- Anti-lock Braking
- Auto Climate Control with Dual Temp Zones
- Adjustable Steering Wheel - Tilt & Telescopic
- 17 Inch Alloy Wheels
- Brake Assist
- Cruise Control
- CD with 6 CD Stacker
- Central Locking Remote Control
- Cloth Trim
- Electronic Brake Force Distribution
- Electronic Differential Lock
- Electronic Stability Program
- Fog Lights - Front
- Head Airbags
- Hill Holder
- Engine Immobiliser
- Leather Steering Wheel
- Multi-function Steering Wheel
- Mobile Phone Connectivity
- Parking Distance Control Rear
- Parking Distance Control Front
- Power Mirrors With Indicators
- Power Steering
- Power Windows
- Radio CD with 8 Speakers
- Rear Spoiler
- Rain Sensing Wipers
- Seatbelts - Pre-tensioners Front Seats
- Side Front AirBags
- Trip Computer
- Traction Control System
Optional Extras
- Alarm System/Remote Anti Theft - $600
- Leather Upholstery - $3,300
- Metallic Paint - $500
- Power Sunroof - $1,700
- Satellite Navigation - $2,500
- Sports pack - $1,800
- Technology Pack - $2,700
|
https://www.whichcar.com.au/specs/2014-volkswagen-beetle-1l-petrol-3d-hatchback-u22qrEzYt5
| 2024-12-16T07:04:27Z
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This lovable and playful little guy is Lux. He is less than a year old and is a Siamese mix. All he needs is a great home. If you are ready for a rewarding experience, come see us at Safe Harbor. Call (573) 243-9823.Submitted by Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary
For corrections to this story or other insights for the editor, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To learn about the Southeast Missourian’s AI Policy, click here.
|
https://www.semissourian.com/features/adopt-lux-10-10-21-2910788/
| 2024-12-16T07:04:29Z
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Kelyniam Global, Inc., (KLYG) Announces Private Investment To Public Entity (PIPE) Closure Of Securities Offering
Date
12/16/2024 12:17:27 AM
(MENAFN- PR Newswire)
Proceeds to Further Growth Objectives in 2025
CANTON, Conn., Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kelyniam Global (OTC: KLYG), a maker of custom cranial implants, today announced that it has completed the successful sale of restricted shares of Kelyniam's common stock in a private placement to certain accredited investors effective with the closing of the offering period on November 30, 2024. No warrants were offered as part of this investment.
The company intends to use the proceeds to accelerate its 2025 growth objectives across several investments. Chief among these objectives include additional sales and marketing efforts for current and pipeline products, regulatory and FDA filing fees for new product introductions and additional geographical expansion to territories and trauma centers across the United States with neurology focused care facilities. The company did not use a placement agent.
"I am pleased that our shareholders continue to express confidence in the strategic direction of Kelyniam. The first three quarters of the year have been stellar for business", said Ross Bjella, CEO of the Company. "We intend to thoughtfully deploy these funds in building scale across all of our distribution channels and geographies in 2025 and beyond."
Kelyniam Inc., specializes in the rapid production of custom prosthetics utilizing computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing of advanced medical grade polymers. The Company develops, manufactures, and distributes custom cranial and craniofacial implants for patients. Kelyniam works directly with surgeons, health systems and payors to improve clinical and cost-of-care outcomes. Kelyniam's web site address is .
As a cautionary note to investors, certain matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such matters involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the following: changes in economic conditions; general competitive factors; the Company's ability to execute its service and product sales plans; and changes in the status of ability to market products.
SOURCE Kelyniam Global Inc
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Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
|
https://menafn.com/1108995928/Kelyniam-Global-Inc-KLYG-Announces-Private-Investment-To-Public-Entity-PIPE-Closure-Of-Securities-Offering
| 2024-12-16T07:04:13Z
|
Evolution Of Dhoom: From Brawn To Brain
From Dhoom to Dhoom 3 the franchise has grown into one of the biggest brands of Bollywood.
From Dhoom in 2004 to Dhoom 3 in 2013, the 'Dhoom' franchise has grown into one of the biggest brands of Bollywood. This Christmas Dhoom 3 is expected to break the record held by Chennai Express and rewrite box office history. While not much has been revealed in the promos so far, here's a look at the evolution of brand Dhoom.
The first Dhoom was a medium budget, action flick that was not exactly high on face value. The film relied extensively on its catchy title track to draw crowds, as well as the curiosity over Shahrukh Khan's Veer Zara theatrical trailer, that was released with the prints of this film. Remember! Those were days when trailers did not have You Tube and Facebook premieres. The film was a hit, but no one really knew if Aditya Chopra would take it further; as the sequel fever was yet to hit Bollywood.
The second installment of Dhoom took the franchise to new heights. The positive recall of the first film, along with the inclusion of Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai in their sexier than ever before avatars (the smooch was a welcome bonus), backed by a lavish budget, made this a front-loaded blockbuster like no other. And as expected, Dhoom 2 shattered every box office record in the year of its release giving Hrithik his first mega-hit outside the Roshan universe.
Dhoom 2 had such a massive impact that Bollywood insiders wondered how a third installment would ever better the magic of Hrithik Roshant’s flawless portrayal of a larger than life thief. But the makers surprised one and all by casting the intellectual superstar Aamir Khan, as the main villain in this popcorn blockbuster. To steam up things even further, Katrina Kaif was added to the lineup, making her the only actress to have worked with all three Khans simultaneously with the same banner.
While there are several theories in the tabloids about Aamir Khan’s role in the film and we still live in hope that Katrina will flaunt her bikini-bod in IMAX resolution, one thing is for sure…This time Dhoom will be less brawn and more brain!
|
https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/evolution-of-dhoom-from-brawn-to-brain-104205.html
| 2024-12-16T07:04:30Z
|
NYCHoops.net: Long Island Top Ten Week 3
We had a chance to see a lot of Long Island talent at the Barry Ingram Suffolk vs Nassau Challenge.
NYC Hoops (powered by Rivals.com) ranks the top 10 high school basketball teams in New York State based on wins & loses
Here’s a quick roundup featuring a few of the usual characters and a new commitment. We have a big milestone in
FLUSHING, NY – For the Holy Cross Knights, Sunday evening’s CHSAA season opener was meant to set the tone.
|
https://nychoops.rivals.com/news/a-10-targets-local-guards
| 2024-12-16T07:04:30Z
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This photo (taken by my daughter) is of an American native praying mantis. Its scientific name is stagmomantis. That name is easy to say if broken into three syllables -- stag-mo-mantis. There are several kinds of mantises native to North America. A few widely distributed invasive mantises come from China and Europe.
The stagmomantis is usually mottled gray or dull green in color and is generally smaller than the invasive ones, which are brighter green with some yellow.
This insect is called a praying mantis because it hunts by sitting still with its front "arms" folded as if in prayer. It will snatch and eat almost any insect that ventures within reach. The best time to see a stagmomantis is from late August to mid October in a weedy area. Adult praying mantises die during winter. Eggs laid the year before hatch when the weather warms in late spring, and tiny mantises reappear.
Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom:
For corrections to this story or other insights for the editor, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To learn about the Southeast Missourian’s AI Policy, click here.
|
https://www.semissourian.com/features/the-flamboyant-queen-of-insects-2910789/
| 2024-12-16T07:04:35Z
|
Specifications for the 2014 Volkswagen Beetle Fender Edition. Details include engine, fuel usage, interior features, safety and more.
2014 Volkswagen Beetle Fender Edition 1L 1.4L Petrol 3D Hatchback
Standard Features
- Dual Front Airbags Package
- Anti-lock Braking
- Auto Climate Control with Dual Temp Zones
- Adjustable Steering Wheel - Tilt & Telescopic
- 18 Inch Alloy Wheels
- Brake Assist
- Cruise Control
- CD with 6 CD Stacker
- Central Locking Remote Control
- Cloth Trim
- Daytime Running Lights - LED
- Electronic Brake Force Distribution
- Electronic Differential Lock
- Electronic Stability Program
- Fog Lights - Front
- Head Airbags
- Hill Holder
- Engine Immobiliser
- Leather Steering Wheel
- Multi-function Steering Wheel
- Metallic Paint
- Mobile Phone Connectivity
- Parking Distance Control Rear
- Parking Distance Control Front
- Power Mirrors With Indicators
- Power Steering
- Power Windows
- Radio CD with 8 Speakers
- Rear Spoiler
- Rain Sensing Wipers
- Seatbelts - Pre-tensioners Front Seats
- Side Front AirBags
- Sport Seats
- Premium Sound System
- Trip Computer
- Traction Control System
- Xenon Headlights
Optional Extras
- Power Sunroof - $1,700
- Satellite Navigation - $2,500
|
https://www.whichcar.com.au/specs/2014-volkswagen-beetle-fender-edition-1l-petrol-3d-hatchback-pBlLgzfctT
| 2024-12-16T07:04:35Z
|
Shahid Gets Ready For Action
Shahid Kapoor gets into mass action hero mode for PrabhuDeva's next
After showcasing his comic timing in the recently released Phata Poster Nikhla Hero, actor Shahid Kapoor goes into action mode for R…Rajkumar.
A trademark high-octane PrabhuDeva action flick, R…Rajkumar is Shahid’s most massy film till date. Sonakshi Sinha is cast opposite him as his leading lady.
The theatrical trailer of R…Rajkumar will be unveiled on October 1, 2013. R…Rajkumar is PrabhuDeva’s fourth directorial venture in Bolywood.
ALSO SEE:
|
https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/first-poster-shahid-kapoor-sonakshi-sinha-in-rrajkumar-104242.html
| 2024-12-16T07:04:37Z
|
NYCHoops.net: Long Island Top Ten Week 3
We had a chance to see a lot of Long Island talent at the Barry Ingram Suffolk vs Nassau Challenge.
NYC Hoops (powered by Rivals.com) ranks the top 10 high school basketball teams in New York State based on wins & loses
Here’s a quick roundup featuring a few of the usual characters and a new commitment. We have a big milestone in
FLUSHING, NY – For the Holy Cross Knights, Sunday evening’s CHSAA season opener was meant to set the tone.
|
https://nychoops.rivals.com/news/nychoops-net-weekly-roundup-12-15-
| 2024-12-16T07:04:37Z
|
Khmeimim Air Base in Syria still function despite of Al-Assad government fall
Date
12/16/2024 12:20:36 AM
(MENAFN) Russian troops located at Khmeimim Air Base in Syria’s Latakia province pursued to complete missions Sunday, in spite of the collapse of the Bashar Assad government.
With the Baath government’s fall, Russia pursued to move its army from Damascus, Homs and other regions in Syria to the base.
Russian army vehicles were seen getting into the base and a cargo plane was noticed landing there as spy balloons gathered intelligence, helicopters were patrolling.
Airstrips, air defense systems and other crucial military gears are seen at the base.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry also announced a statement Sunday declaring that it had drawn off part of its diplomatic personnel from Syria through a special flight of the Russian Air Force from Hmeimim Air Base.
The flight to Moscow had some Russian ambassadors from Damascus, and also some from Belarus and North Korea, it noted. In addition to that the Russian Embassy in Damascus is still functioning.
MENAFN16122024000045016953ID1108995929
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
|
https://menafn.com/1108995929/Khmeimim-Air-Base-in-Syria-still-function-despite-of-Al-Assad-government-fall
| 2024-12-16T07:04:36Z
|
Katrina's Hot-Bod In Dhoom 3
The third installment of the super-high-on-energy Dhoom franchise, seems to have gone bigger and better.
The third installment of the super-high-on-energy Dhoom franchise, seems to have gone bigger and better.
With a Khan association this time around, Dhoom:3 has already lapped up immense appreciation. After a slew of promos, here's yet another treat for the eyes. A stylised poster, flaunting all the chief players in the action thriller.
While Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra reprise their roles from the earlier parts, Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif are the hot new additions in the upcoming flick.
ALSO CHECK OUT: Motion Poster - Dhoom:3
|
https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/new-poster-dhoom3-104146.html
| 2024-12-16T07:04:43Z
|
A Very Naughty Christmas is a saucy, adults-only, provocative variety show that will leave you laughing in your seat.
Melbourne, the silly season is nearly upon us! What better way to celebrate the festivities than by heading down to the Alex Theatre in St. Kilda to see A Very Naughty Christmas. Produced by Woodward Productions and returning to Melbourne after being seen by 25,000 audience members in Brisbane, A Very Naughty Christmas is a saucy, adults-only, provocative variety show that will leave you laughing in your seat. You may even find yourself being summoned onto the stage by Bad Santa to help ‘make the yuletide gay’! A Very Naughty Christmas will give you bang for your buck, particularly if you are on Santa’s naughty list! 4 STARS.
Originally premiering in Brisbane in 2017, such has been the success of A Very Naughty Christmas that eight years later, the Show this year has productions in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, and London! While it must be admitted that the tone, language, and humour used in A Very Naughty Christmas is not to everyone's taste, particularly those who identify as conservative, for the rest of us, the Show overall does a good job of blending wit and intelligence with crude humour.
The creator, global director, and choreographer of A Very Naughty Christmas, Dan Venz, does a good job of linking all the Shows spicy and perky numbers together, while still ensuring each number individually remains entertaining. While some of the direction and/or delivery of humour at the beginning of the first act did appear a little ‘forced’, overall, A Very Naughty Christmas works well as an 18+ cabaret/variety show. In particular, the witty quartet in the second act that lets the audience know Santa is biased towards the rich, hits the right mark between comedy and sincerity.
The Melbourne cast of A Very Naughty Christmas does a great job of keeping the audience feeling jolly throughout. Whether it be the excellent vocals by Jordan Twigg (Billy Elliott, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) and Jarrod Moore (Moulin Rouge! and The White Mermaid or The Little Lotus: A Musical Fable), energetic acting by Kate Yaxley (Groundhog Day), Justin Wise (MARVELous – A Risqué Parody), and Grace Laing (50 Shades! The Musical Parody), or strong dancing by Asmara Soekotjo (Miss Saigon, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) and Callum Marshall (Elvis: A Musical Revolution), this ensemble cast is strong and works well together. Leading the way is Tim Paige (Pop-Up Globe’s Macbeth and Comedy of Errors) as Bad Santa, who navigates well the tricky terrain of entertaining, enticing, and engaging the audience through both onstage and in-seat participation!
A Very Naughty Christmas is playing at the Alex Theatre in St Kilda through to the 21st of December. Admission is strictly 18+ and requires valid ID.
Content Warning: Potential audience members should be advised that A Very Naughty Christmas includes highly sexualised comedy and audience participation.
Videos
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https://www.broadwayworld.com/australia-melbourne/article/Review-A-VERY-NAUGHTY-CHRISTMAS-at-Alex-Theatre-St-Kilda-20241215
| 2024-12-16T07:04:44Z
|
Well, that's the answer we will be getting today. But whatever the case is, it won't be anything too pretty. And whatever the numbers are, another 25 bps rate cut by the ECB in January is pretty much confirmed. The euro is sitting marginally higher today but is still pinned down by some key near-term levels against the dollar for now:
That alongside large option expiries should keep price action more limited, even with any kneejerk reactions to the PMI data. That considering traders have already priced in ~93% odds of an ECB rate cut for next month.
In any case, the releases will at least add some spice to European morning trade later. Otherwise, it's a case of waiting on key central bank meetings to be over and done with in trading this week. It's the final real trading week of the year! I want to say let's make it count but I reckon the only meaningful trade is to catch the post-Fed reaction before wrapping up the year, unless you want to scalp some moves that is.
0730 GMT - Switzerland November producer and import prices
0815 GMT - France December flash manufacturing, services, composite PMI
0830 GMT - Germany December flash manufacturing, services, composite PMI
0900 GMT - Eurozone December flash manufacturing, services, composite PMI
0900 GMT - SNB total sight deposits w.e. 13 December
0930 GMT - UK December flash manufacturing, services, composite PMI
1000 GMT - Italy November final CPI figures
At 1000 GMT, we'll also be getting euro area wage figures for Q3 but the one that really matters was already released last month here.
I wish you all the best of days to come and good luck with your trading! Stay safe out there.
|
https://www.forexlive.com/news/pmi-data-in-the-spotlight-to-start-the-new-week-20241216/
| 2024-12-16T07:04:44Z
|
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