i love philippines t-shirt
Apple’s UK engineering teams have ‘doubled in size in five years’After being tabbed to finish last in preseason polls, CCSU football wins NEC titleNEW YORK (AP) — Walmart's sweeping rollback of its diversity policies is the strongest indication yet of a profound shift taking hold at U.S. companies that are revaluating the legal and political risks associated with bold programs to bolster historically underrepresented groups in business. The changes announced by the world's biggest retailer followed a string of legal victories by conservative groups that have filed an onslaught of lawsuits challenging corporate and federal programs aimed at elevating minority and women-owned businesses and employees. The risk associated with some of programs crystalized with the election of former President Donald Trump, whose administration is certain to make dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs a priority. Trump's incoming deputy chief of policy will be his former adviser Stephen Miller , who leads a group called America First Legal that has aggressively challenged corporate DEI policies. “There has been a lot of reassessment of risk looking at programs that could be deemed to constitute reverse discrimination,” said Allan Schweyer, principal researcher the Human Capital Center at the Conference Board. “This is another domino to fall and it is a rather large domino,” he added. Among other changes, Walmart said it will no longer give priority treatment to suppliers owned by women or minorities. The company also will not renew a five-year commitment for a racial equity center set up in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd. And it pulled out of a prominent gay rights index . Schweyer said the biggest trigger for companies making such changes is simply a reassessment of their legal risk exposure, which began after U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June 2023 that ended affirmative action in college admissions. Since then, conservative groups using similar arguments have secured court victories against various diversity programs, especially those that steer contracts to minority or women-owned businesses. Most recently, the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty won a victory in a case against the U.S. Department of Transportation over its use of a program that gives priority to minority-owned businesses when it awards contracts. Companies are seeing a big legal risk in continuing with DEI efforts, said Dan Lennington, a deputy counsel at the institute. His organization says it has identified more than 60 programs in the federal government that it considers discriminatory, he said. “We have a legal landscape within the entire federal government, all three branches -- the U.S. Supreme Court, the Congress and the President -- are all now firmly pointed in the direction towards equality of individuals and individualized treatment of all Americans, instead of diversity, equity and inclusion treating people as members of racial groups,” Lennington said. The Trump administration is also likely to take direct aim at DEI initiatives through executive orders and other policies that affect private companies, especially federal contractors. “The impact of the election on DEI policies is huge. It can’t be overstated,” said Jason Schwartz, co-chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group at law firm Gibson Dunn. With Miller returning to the White House, rolling back DEI initiatives is likely to be a priority, Schwartz said. “Companies are trying to strike the right balance to make clear they’ve got an inclusive workplace where everyone is welcome, and they want to get the best talent, while at the same time trying not to alienate various parts of their employees and customer base who might feel one way or the other. It’s a virtually impossible dilemma,” Schwartz said. A recent survey by Pew Research Center showed that workers are divided on the merits of DEI policies. While still broadly popular, the share of workers who said focusing on workplace diversity was mostly a good thing fell to 52% in the November survey, compared to 56% in a similar survey in February 2023. Rachel Minkin, a research associated at Pew called it a small but significant shift in short amount of time. There will be more companies pulling back from their DEI policies, but it likely won’t be a retreat across the board, said David Glasgow, executive director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at New York University. “There are vastly more companies that are sticking with DEI," Glasgow said. "The only reason you don’t hear about it is most of them are doing it by stealth. They’re putting their heads down and doing DEI work and hoping not to attract attention.” Glasgow advises organizations to stick to their own core values, because attitudes toward the topic can change quickly in the span of four years. “It’s going to leave them looking a little bit weak if there’s a kind of flip-flopping, depending on whichever direction the political winds are blowing,” he said. One reason DEI programs exist is because without those programs, companies may be vulnerable to lawsuits for traditional discrimination. “Really think carefully about the risks in all directions on this topic,” Glasgow said. Walmart confirmed will no longer consider race and gender as a litmus test to improve diversity when it offers supplier contracts. Last fiscal year, Walmart said it spent more than $13 billion on minority, women or veteran-owned good and service suppliers. It was unclear how its relationships with such business would change going forward. Organizations that that have partnered with Walmart on its diversity initiatives offered a cautious response. The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, a non-profit that last year named Walmart one of America's top corporation for women-owned enterprises, said it was still evaluating the impact of Walmart's announcement. Pamela Prince-Eason, the president and CEO of the organization, said she hoped Walmart's need to cater to its diverse customer base will continue to drive contracts to women-owned suppliers even if the company no longer has explicit dollar goals. “I suspect Walmart will continue to have one of the most inclusive supply chains in the World,” Prince-Eason wrote. “Any retailer's ability to serve the communities they operate in will continue to value understanding their customers, (many of which are women), in order to better provide products and services desired and no one understands customers better than Walmart." Walmart's announcement came after the company spoke directly with conservative political commentator and activist Robby Starbuck, who has been going after corporate DEI policies, calling out individual companies on the social media platform X. Several of those companies have subsequently announced that they are pulling back their initiatives, including Ford , Harley-Davidson, Lowe’s and Tractor Supply . Walmart confirmed to The Associated Press that it will better monitor its third-party marketplace items to make sure they don’t feature sexual and transgender products aimed at minors. The company also will stop participating in the Human Rights Campaign’s annual benchmark index that measures workplace inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees. A Walmart spokesperson added that some of the changes were already in progress and not as a result of conversations that it had with Starbuck. RaShawn “Shawnie” Hawkins, senior director of the HRC Foundation’s Workplace Equality Program, said companies that “abandon” their commitments workplace inclusion policies “are shirking their responsibility to their employees, consumers, and shareholders.” He said the buying power of LGBTQ customers is powerful and noted that the index will have “record participation” of more than 1,400 companies in 2025."
NIFT 2025 entrance exam on February 9, registration process begins: Check direct link here
StockNews.com upgraded shares of BRF ( NYSE:BRFS – Free Report ) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report issued on Wednesday morning. A number of other brokerages also recently issued reports on BRFS. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of BRF from $22.00 to $24.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, August 15th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of BRF from $4.50 to $5.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, August 16th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $10.70. Read Our Latest Analysis on BRFS BRF Stock Performance BRF Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a — dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 27th will be issued a dividend of $0.1001 per share. This is a positive change from BRF’s previous — dividend of $0.03. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 27th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.8%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On BRF Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. TD Private Client Wealth LLC purchased a new position in BRF in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio bought a new stake in shares of BRF during the 3rd quarter worth $826,000. XTX Topco Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of BRF by 142.6% during the 3rd quarter. XTX Topco Ltd now owns 113,266 shares of the company’s stock worth $495,000 after acquiring an additional 66,583 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its position in BRF by 2.3% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,006,059 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,396,000 after acquiring an additional 22,608 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Paloma Partners Management Co bought a new position in BRF in the third quarter valued at $186,000. 4.76% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About BRF ( Get Free Report ) BRF SA raises, produces, and slaughters poultry and pork for processing, production, and sale of fresh meat, processed products, pasta, margarine, pet food, and other products. The company provides frozen whole and cut chicken, frozen pork, and turkey, and halal products for Islamic markets; processed foods, such as marinated, frozen, seasoned whole, and cut chicken, roosters, sausages, ham products, bologna, frankfurters, salamis, bacons, cold meats, and other smoked products; and hamburgers, steaks, breaded meat products, kibbeh, and meatballs, as well as chicken sausages, hot dogs, and chicken bologna. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for BRF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BRF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Although dollar stores have changed a lot over the years (the biggest change being that everything inside is no longer a dollar), shopping and retail experts say there are still hidden deals that can help ease the financial burden of your holiday shopping essentials and non-essentials. At the same time, just because the word "dollar" is in the name of a store doesn't mean that other big-box retailers like Walmart won't be able to rival (and even beat!) their prices. That's why if you're looking for ways to save this holiday season, it's best to plan out a detailed list of what you're in the market for and do a little research based on which stores have the cheapest items. That way, you won't be caught off-guard with any extra expenses and can make just one trip to a dollar store and another trip to a big-box store like Walmart to pick up all of your essentials. In any case, here are a few things that dollar stores are currently in the lead for for most affordable options. 1. Seasonal decor According to Joanna Clark-Simpson, head of consumer research and consumer expert at PissedConsumer , seasonal decor is one of the things dollar stores continue to excel at. And, as the leader of a review-based website where customers can air their wins and grievances, she sees this as an ongoing win for dollar stores across the board. However, she says, "Shoppers should [still] check price tags carefully, inspect items and plan their purchases." Cheap decor can be dented, broken or flawed, so give it a good once over before putting it in your cart. Things like tabletop Christmas trees are $1.25 at Dollar Tree, where a similar item retails for nearly $3 at Walmart. Fun room add-on items like Christmas-themed soap dispensers are a win from Dollar Tree at $1.25 and an easy way to add a fun pop of color to an often forgotten room like the bathroom. You will, however, have to fill up the dispensers with your own hand soap (which, honestly, sounds like a good idea, because there could be additional fillers added to dollar store soaps). Garland is another find you should head to the dollar store for. But Clark-Simpson recommends staying away from twinkle lights, as electronics and anything power or battery-operated tends to fall short at dollar stores. 2. Stocking stuffers Clark-Simpson says stocking stuffers like socks — even fun, printed socks — can always be found at the dollar store and make great, affordable gift add-ons. You can pick up golf and motorcycle-printed socks for just $1.25 per pair at Dollar Tree and a five-pack of socks for $5 , meaning you've hacked the system and can pay $1 per unit again instead of $1.25. However, if you're in the market for a larger pack of socks to break apart and gift separately, Walmart will be your best bet. You can find a 20-pack of girls socks there on sale for $5 . 3. Baking essentials According to Clark-Simpson, perishable food items should be avoided at dollar stores since customers find expiration dates to be tricky, but shelf-stable items like sugar or cookie mixes will always be a score at dollar stores — even if it's just by a little. A one-pound box of sugar at Dollar Tree is $1.25, and the same box will run you just under $2 at Walmart. If you want to save both time and money, pick up cookie mixes at the Dollar Tree, which will save you about $2 per pack vs big-box stores. 4. Kids' entertainment The kids are home from school during the holidays, which means it's time to find cheap, creative ways to entertain them. Dollar stores offer easy and affordable holiday craft painting kits and DIY ornaments that you can paint from home. 5. Disposable glassware Just like it's a good idea to keep a storage container full of Christmas decor that you can easily stow away when you're not using it, it's a great idea to have a case of cheap glassware that you don't care about your guests breaking. Dollar Tree is a great place to pick up reusable glassware that's just $1.25 per unit , so you don't have to purchase and re-purchase plastic cups each year. These glasses will last through the years and won't cause strife if one of your guests has too much eggnog and accidentally knocks it off the table. Don't forget your coupons Did you know even dollar stores offer coupons and discounts? According to writer, author, and nationally recognized consumer finance and budgeting expert Andrea Woroch, most dollar store shoppers have no idea that they can save even more at the stores. "Dollar stores like Dollar General have their own apps to help you navigate sales, save more through coupons and in-store deals and earn rewards," says Woroch. "For example, the My Dg app offers cash-back opportunities on a variety of products that you may need to buy anyway and you can apply rewards towards future purchases." And, she says, shoppers can take advantage of websites like Coupon Cabin that have deals to Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and more. Even your receipts can hold some money-saving power, as you can actually scan photos of your dollar store receipts to earn rewards. "Take pictures of your receipts using a free rewards apps like www.Fetch.com to earn points for free gift cards to a variety off stores like Amazon, Target and Walmart to offset future purchase needs," says Woroch. RELATED CONTENT 17 Deal Sites and Tools for Finding Online Shopping Bargains Family Holiday Meal Deals from Walmart, Target, Kroger 25 Best After-Christmas Sales
Betty White Forever: New stamp will honor the much-beloved 'Golden Girls' actorLuigi Nicholas Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of a healthcare executive in New York City, apparently was living a charmed life: the grandson of a wealthy real estate developer, valedictorian of his elite Baltimore prep school and with degrees from one of the nation's top private universities. Friends at an exclusive co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Hawaii where the 26-year-old Mangione once lived widely considered him a “great guy,” and pictures on his social media accounts show a fit, smiling, handsome young man on beaches and at parties. Now, investigators in New York and Pennsylvania are working to piece together why Mangione may have diverged from this path to make the violent and radical decision to gun down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen attack on a Manhattan street. The killing sparked widespread discussions about corporate greed, unfairness in the medical insurance industry and even inspired folk-hero sentiment toward his killer. But Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro sharply refuted that perception after Mangione's arrest on Monday when a customer at a McDonald's restaurant in Pennsylvania spotted Mangione eating and noticed he resembled the shooting suspect in security-camera photos released by New York police. “In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Hear me on this, he is no hero,” Shapiro said. “The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this morning.” Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family. His grandfather, Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday, Baltimore County police officers blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to Luigi Mangione’s parents. Reporters and photographers gathered outside the entrance. The father of 10 children, Nick Mangione prepared his five sons — including Luigi Mangione’s father, Louis Mangione — to help manage the family business, according to a 2003 Washington Post report. Nick Mangione had 37 grandchildren, including Luigi, according to the grandfather's obituary. Luigi Mangione’s grandparents donated to charities through the Mangione Family Foundation, according to a statement from Loyola University commemorating Nick Mangione’s wife’s death in 2023. They donated to various causes, including Catholic organizations, colleges and the arts. One of Luigi Mangione’s cousins is Republican Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione, a spokesman for the lawmaker’s office confirmed. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media by Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” Mangione, who was valedictorian of his elite Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a university spokesman told The Associated Press. He learned to code in high school and helped start a club at Penn for people interested in gaming and game design, according to a 2018 story in Penn Today, a campus publication. His social media posts suggest he belonged to the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. They also show him taking part in a 2019 program at Stanford University, and in photos with family and friends at the Jersey Shore and in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico, and other destinations. The Gilman School, from which Mangione graduated in 2016, is one of Baltimore’s elite prep schools. The children of some of the city’s wealthiest and most prominent residents, including Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr., have attended the school. Its alumni include sportswriter Frank Deford and former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington. In his valedictory speech, Luigi Mangione described his classmates’ “incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things.” Mangione took a software programming internship after high school at Maryland-based video game studio Firaxis, where he fixed bugs on the hit strategy game Civilization 6, according to a LinkedIn profile. Firaxis' parent company, Take-Two Interactive, said it would not comment on former employees. He more recently worked at the car-buying website TrueCar, but has not worked there since 2023, the head of the Santa Monica, California-based company confirmed to the AP. From January to June 2022, Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu. Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin. “Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints,” Ryan said. “There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they’re saying he committed.” At Surfbreak, Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, including surfing, Ryan said. “He went surfing with R.J. once but it didn’t work out because of his back,” Ryan said, but noted that Mangione and Martin often went together to a rock-climbing gym. Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. An image posted to a social media account linked to Mangione showed what appeared to be an X-ray of a metal rod and multiple screws inserted into someone's lower spine. Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago. An X account linked to Mangione includes recent posts about the negative impact of smartphones on children; healthy eating and exercise habits; psychological theories; and a quote from Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti about the dangers of becoming “well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” Mangione likely was motivated by his anger at what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed, according to a law enforcement bulletin obtained by AP. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of the suspect’s handwritten notes and social media posts. He appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown, asserting in his note that he is the “first to face it with such brutal honesty,” the bulletin said. Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary” and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, the document said. Associated Press reporters Lea Skene in Baltimore; Jennifer Sinco Kelleher in Honolulu; Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia; John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; and Michael Kunzelman in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.HARRIS COUNTY, Texas - An Amber Alert has been issued for 16-year-old Nancy Argueta-Vasquez, according to the Texas Center for the Missing. Officials say Argueta-Vasquez was last seen on Wednesday in the early morning hours around 1:58 a.m at her home in the 15100 block of Claypool Street. Nancy Argueta-Vasquez Harris County Sheriff's Office reports the teen is believed to have left her home with 38-year-old Denis Munoz-Munguia. Denis Munoz-Munguia She was seen getting into a 2018 brown Chevrolet Equinox with the Texas license plate number plate VMD1391. Stock image of suspect's vehicle (not the actual vehicle) Get news, weather and so much more on the new FOX LOCAL app Argueta-Vasquez was last seen wearing green jeans and a black shirt. She has black hair with brown eyes and is around five feet tall. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Harris County Sheriff's Office at 713-755-7427.AI voice cloning: How programs are learning to pick up on pitch and tone
NeueHealth to Be Taken Private by NEA and Consortium of InvestorsFrom wealth and success to murder suspect, the life of Luigi Mangione took a hard turnAlbion are bringing safe standing to the Amex. It will be installed in part of the North Stand in time for next season. The club report more than 80% of season ticket holders at the back of that stand were in favour of safe standing. It will be installed from row R backwards. The club hope it will help improve the atmosphere at the Amex and is one of several measures designed to change and improve matchday. Away fans will be moved from next season and a new Fan Zone will be operational by then – potentially in the later stages of the current campaign. A new loudspeaker system has been in use this season and the club have also moved the singing of Sussex By The Sea to just before kick-off. Albion haver generally felt there was not sufficient appetite for standing room for them to carry out such changes to their 13-year-old stadium. But there appears to have been a shift of opinion in more recent times. Many fans will have experienced and enioyed safe standing at away venues around the Premier League. Season-ticket holders who are currently seated in the new safe standing area but who wish to move will be offered a priority window next March. Fans will also be able to go to the Amex and see a small section of rail seating in place. The North Stand seats affected are in Blocks N1A to N1H, row R upwards, seats 13-241. Albion’s head of ticketing and supporter services Jenny Gower said: “We had a fantastic response to our survey and a very strong majority in favour of installing safe standing towards the back of the North Stand. “We will help any season-ticket holders who want to move and the impact of safe standing will be regularly reviewed, but we are confident it will make the atmosphere in the North Stand even better and help Fabian Hurzeler and the team.” As has been made clear both on this occasion and when safe standing was discussed in previous years, it is a long way from the terraces on which many fans grew up watching their football . Safe standing leads to neither increased capacity nor reduced prices and fans will still have their allocated space from which to watch the game.Luigi Nicholas Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of a healthcare executive in New York City, apparently was living a charmed life: the grandson of a wealthy real estate developer, valedictorian of his elite Baltimore prep school and with degrees from one of the nation's top private universities. Friends at an exclusive co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Hawaii where the 26-year-old Mangione once lived widely considered him a “great guy,” and pictures on his social media accounts show a fit, smiling, handsome young man on beaches and at parties. Now, investigators in New York and Pennsylvania are working to piece together why Mangione may have diverged from this path to make the violent and radical decision to gun down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen attack on a Manhattan street. The killing sparked widespread discussions about corporate greed, unfairness in the medical insurance industry and even inspired folk-hero sentiment toward his killer. But Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro sharply refuted that perception after Mangione's arrest on Monday when a customer at a McDonald's restaurant in Pennsylvania spotted Mangione eating and noticed he resembled the shooting suspect in security-camera photos released by New York police. “In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Hear me on this, he is no hero,” Shapiro said. “The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this morning.” Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family. His grandfather, Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday, Baltimore County police officers blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to Luigi Mangione’s parents. Reporters and photographers gathered outside the entrance. The father of 10 children, Nick Mangione prepared his five sons — including Luigi Mangione’s father, Louis Mangione — to help manage the family business, according to a 2003 Washington Post report. Nick Mangione had 37 grandchildren, including Luigi, according to the grandfather's obituary. Luigi Mangione’s grandparents donated to charities through the Mangione Family Foundation, according to a statement from Loyola University commemorating Nick Mangione’s wife’s death in 2023. They donated to various causes, including Catholic organizations, colleges and the arts. One of Luigi Mangione’s cousins is Republican Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione, a spokesman for the lawmaker’s office confirmed. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media by Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” Mangione, who was valedictorian of his elite Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a university spokesman told The Associated Press. He learned to code in high school and helped start a club at Penn for people interested in gaming and game design, according to a 2018 story in Penn Today, a campus publication. His social media posts suggest he belonged to the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. They also show him taking part in a 2019 program at Stanford University, and in photos with family and friends at the Jersey Shore and in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico, and other destinations. The Gilman School, from which Mangione graduated in 2016, is one of Baltimore’s elite prep schools. The children of some of the city’s wealthiest and most prominent residents, including Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr., have attended the school. Its alumni include sportswriter Frank Deford and former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington. In his valedictory speech, Luigi Mangione described his classmates’ “incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things.” Mangione took a software programming internship after high school at Maryland-based video game studio Firaxis, where he fixed bugs on the hit strategy game Civilization 6, according to a LinkedIn profile. Firaxis' parent company, Take-Two Interactive, said it would not comment on former employees. He more recently worked at the car-buying website TrueCar, but has not worked there since 2023, the head of the Santa Monica, California-based company confirmed to the AP. From January to June 2022, Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu. Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin. “Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints,” Ryan said. “There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they’re saying he committed.” At Surfbreak, Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, including surfing, Ryan said. “He went surfing with R.J. once but it didn’t work out because of his back,” Ryan said, but noted that Mangione and Martin often went together to a rock-climbing gym. Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. An image posted to a social media account linked to Mangione showed what appeared to be an X-ray of a metal rod and multiple screws inserted into someone's lower spine. Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago. An X account linked to Mangione includes recent posts about the negative impact of smartphones on children; healthy eating and exercise habits; psychological theories; and a quote from Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti about the dangers of becoming “well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” Mangione likely was motivated by his anger at what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed, according to a law enforcement bulletin obtained by AP. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of the suspect’s handwritten notes and social media posts. He appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown, asserting in his note that he is the “first to face it with such brutal honesty,” the bulletin said. Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary” and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, the document said. Associated Press reporters Lea Skene in Baltimore; Jennifer Sinco Kelleher in Honolulu; Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia; John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; and Michael Kunzelman in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.
Omg! Real reason why US embassy in Nigeria announces closure of office towards the end of 2024Apple’s investment in the UK over the last five years has now surpassed £18 billion, with the technology giant’s engineering teams in the country doubling in that time, the iPhone maker has said. The US tech giant said it now supported 550,000 jobs in the UK through direct employment, its supply chain and the economy around its App Store – with app developers having earned nearly £9 billion since it launched in 2008. Apple said its engineering teams were carrying out critical work on the firm’s biggest services, including key technology within Apple Intelligence, the iPhone maker’s suite of generative AI-powered tools which are expected to launch in the UK for the first time this week. Elsewhere, the firm said its growing TV empire, spearheaded by its Apple TV+ streaming service and production arm, had also helped boost its investment in the UK with Apple TV+ production in this country tripling in the last two years, the company said. Chief executive Tim Cook said: “We’ve been serving customers in the UK for more than 40 years, and we’re proud of our deep connection with communities across this country. “We’re thrilled to be growing our Apple teams here, and to keep supporting the extraordinary innovators, creators, and entrepreneurs who are pushing the boundaries of technology in so many ways.” The Chancellor Rachel Reeves said companies such as Apple were “intrinsic” to the UK’s prosperity by boosting jobs. “This government is laser focused on creating the right conditions for growth to help put more money in people’s pockets. “That’s what underpins the Plan for Change and is what has driven £63 billion worth of inward investment in the UK through our first international investment summit. “Companies like Apple are intrinsic to the success of our nation’s prosperity – helping deliver jobs, innovative technology, and boost infrastructure.”
It may have all begun in fourth grade. The executive director of Boca Raton Museum of Art traces the inception of his long tenure in the art world back to Schulenburg Elementary in Texas. “We had an exercise called ‘picture memory’ in which we were called on to identify works of art illustrated on postcard-size reproductions,” Irvin Michael Lippman says. “But I recognized later that it was really an introduction to the visual history of civilization and, ultimately, a career that I could pursue.” Pursue he has. After receiving his BFA from the University of Denver and an MA in Art History from the University of Texas at Austin, Lippman began a four-decade-plus museum career that included stops at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., as well as museums in Fort Worth, Texas, and Columbus, Ohio. There, his first stint as executive director led him in 2003 to the same post at the Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale, a position he held for 11 years before retiring to Texas in 2012. It was an abbreviated retirement. Two years later, he took a purported, short-term interim position in the Boca museum, which has turned into the decade-long capstone to his career — and for which he was honored in 2015 by the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County as Outstanding Cultural Leader. “We have broadened the museum’s collection to include artists and disciplines that had been overlooked or under-represented,” Lippman says, reviewing his accomplishments as he prepares to retire again in January. “We have also been successful in enhancing the museum’s physical presence, resulting in a comprehensive upgrade inside and outside the building. Most important is the sense of welcome that permeates the museum.” “I have been privileged to work every day in an environment, surrounded by beautiful things, that encourages the public to engage with art and ideas,” says Lippman, who lives in Boca Raton with his husband, William J. Harkins. Lippman’s successor at the Boca Museum is Dr. Ena Heller, slated to take the helm in February. Turning his artful appreciation inward, he answers our standard set of Quote Unquote questions. Aside from the weather, what do you enjoy most about South Florida? Miles of oceanfront. Aside from the weather, what do you dislike most about South Florida? Too many houses turned into white boxes. Are you a beach person or a pool person? I relax on the beach and swim laps in a pool. When in your life are you or have you been the happiest? Waking up! What do you do when you’re stuck in a traffic jam on I-95? I close my eyes and let Uber do the driving ... or open-eyed on Brightline! What music are you listening to now? Never enough Nina Simone. But at the gym, I hearken back to my Texas roots with George Strait and Willie Nelson. Are you a fan, and if so, of what? Bikram yoga. If you had to choose: Beatles or Stones? The Beatles, since their first appearance on Ed Sullivan through Let It Be , which still ‘whispers words of wisdom.’ What are your social media usernames? None. Apple or Android? Apples throughout the house. Perhaps even an Apple hearing aid is in the future! Who is your real-life hero or heroine? So many everyday heroes who save people’s lives and make our world a better place. What car are you driving now? A 2019 Mercedes SUV with 40K miles, as well as a 2003 Toyota RAV4 with 160K miles. If you had to choose: Rocky or Raging Bull ? Wouldn’t! What do you like most about yourself? Patience. What places in South Florida do you recommend to guests visiting from out-of-town? First on the list is the Boca Raton Museum of Art in Mizner Park; then a must is the Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRiC) designed for IBM in 1970 by Marcel Breuer and where the museum has an ongoing exhibition program, Art on BRiC Walls; and, never to be neglected, going barefoot on the beach. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? It’s too late to play that game. What do you consider your greatest achievement? I am a healthy and happy 76-year-old.Marine enforcement squad intensifies patrol to curb juvenile fishing in Kozhikode
Five things to know about Panama Canal, in Trump’s sightsIt may have all begun in fourth grade. The executive director of Boca Raton Museum of Art traces the inception of his long tenure in the art world back to Schulenburg Elementary in Texas. “We had an exercise called ‘picture memory’ in which we were called on to identify works of art illustrated on postcard-size reproductions,” Irvin Michael Lippman says. “But I recognized later that it was really an introduction to the visual history of civilization and, ultimately, a career that I could pursue.” Pursue he has. After receiving his BFA from the University of Denver and an MA in Art History from the University of Texas at Austin, Lippman began a four-decade-plus museum career that included stops at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., as well as museums in Fort Worth, Texas, and Columbus, Ohio. There, his first stint as executive director led him in 2003 to the same post at the Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale, a position he held for 11 years before retiring to Texas in 2012. It was an abbreviated retirement. Two years later, he took a purported, short-term interim position in the Boca museum, which has turned into the decade-long capstone to his career — and for which he was honored in 2015 by the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County as Outstanding Cultural Leader. “We have broadened the museum’s collection to include artists and disciplines that had been overlooked or under-represented,” Lippman says, reviewing his accomplishments as he prepares to retire again in January. “We have also been successful in enhancing the museum’s physical presence, resulting in a comprehensive upgrade inside and outside the building. Most important is the sense of welcome that permeates the museum.” “I have been privileged to work every day in an environment, surrounded by beautiful things, that encourages the public to engage with art and ideas,” says Lippman, who lives in Boca Raton with his husband, William J. Harkins. Lippman’s successor at the Boca Museum is Dr. Ena Heller, slated to take the helm in February. Turning his artful appreciation inward, he answers our standard set of Quote Unquote questions. Aside from the weather, what do you enjoy most about South Florida? Miles of oceanfront. Aside from the weather, what do you dislike most about South Florida? Too many houses turned into white boxes. Are you a beach person or a pool person? I relax on the beach and swim laps in a pool. When in your life are you or have you been the happiest? Waking up! What do you do when you’re stuck in a traffic jam on I-95? I close my eyes and let Uber do the driving ... or open-eyed on Brightline! What music are you listening to now? Never enough Nina Simone. But at the gym, I hearken back to my Texas roots with George Strait and Willie Nelson. Are you a fan, and if so, of what? Bikram yoga. If you had to choose: Beatles or Stones? The Beatles, since their first appearance on Ed Sullivan through Let It Be , which still ‘whispers words of wisdom.’ What are your social media usernames? None. Apple or Android? Apples throughout the house. Perhaps even an Apple hearing aid is in the future! Who is your real-life hero or heroine? So many everyday heroes who save people’s lives and make our world a better place. What car are you driving now? A 2019 Mercedes SUV with 40K miles, as well as a 2003 Toyota RAV4 with 160K miles. If you had to choose: Rocky or Raging Bull ? Wouldn’t! What do you like most about yourself? Patience. What places in South Florida do you recommend to guests visiting from out-of-town? First on the list is the Boca Raton Museum of Art in Mizner Park; then a must is the Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRiC) designed for IBM in 1970 by Marcel Breuer and where the museum has an ongoing exhibition program, Art on BRiC Walls; and, never to be neglected, going barefoot on the beach. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? It’s too late to play that game. What do you consider your greatest achievement? I am a healthy and happy 76-year-old.
Major Terror Hideout Busted By Indian Army In J-K's Reasi, Huge Cache Of Arms SeizedAberdeenshire Council is developing a new strategy to safeguard the local economy and make it fairer and more sustainable for the benefit of its communities. Community wealth building (CWB) is a people-centred approach which will bring together communities, businesses, a wide range of public sector bodies and commercial partners to build a stronger local economy. Among the main focus points will be keeping and growing local spend by supporting businesses to bid for local authority and other public sector contracts. It will also support communities to realise their ambitions to hold a greater stake in the local economy, through a host of new opportunities including community asset transfers. As demonstrated successfully by other local authorities who have developed a CWB strategy – including North Ayrshire Council which established the first in Scotland – the council said it is firmly committed to ensuring public land, resources and assets are utilised more effectively to meet community and business needs. As part of the initial engagement work, a series of online workshops are being held to gather the views of local partners and stakeholders across key sectors, which will feed into the development of the draft strategy. An online workshop for the Third Sector, aimed at community groups, charities, and social enterprises, is being held at 1.30-3.30pm on Thursday, January 16 – interested groups can register at Eventbrite Community wealth building uses five pillars to create more economic benefits for an area: Spending - Increasing local procurement, commissioning and wider investment, using public spend to deliver community benefit, fair work and build local supply chains Fair employment - Increasing fair work and developing local labour markets, ensuring the workforce are in well paid jobs that benefit from an effective voice, security and flexibility. Land and property - Ensuring that communities maximise benefit and generate wealth from local land and property. Inclusive ownership - Stimulating the development and growth of locally owned enterprises that generate local wealth. In particular, the encouragement of employee owned businesses, cooperatives and social enterprises. Financial power - Ensuring that the flows of wealth generated within the local economy works for the wellbeing of communities and businesses Chairman of the council’s infrastructure services committee Councillor Alan Turner said: “I am delighted to see work starting around a community wealth building strategy for Aberdeenshire which will provide us with the means to deliver wellbeing for every community across the north-east. “By working hand in hand with those communities and our commercial sectors, we will enable them to create and own wealth in their local area. “While absolutely acknowledging that Aberdeenshire has a thriving and diverse economy, we know it can be improved to provide more equity for businesses. “Our priority is to maximise economic opportunities for everyone across Aberdeenshire by putting people at the very heart of those vital local economies.” Committee vice-chairwoman Councillor Isobel Davidson said: “I’m really excited about a community wealth building approach which will offer excellent opportunities for local people to create a more inclusive and thriving community and ensure that the benefits of local economic growth are properly and rightfully invested across Aberdeenshire.”After Soto's megadeal, could MLB see a $1 billion contract? Probably not soonVice President Jagdeep Dhankhar warned against "some forces" in and outside the country which are "unable to digest India's progress" and looking to divide the country. He urged people to be together in "neutralizing every anti-national narrative." While speaking at an event in Rajasthan's Jaipur on Wednesday, VP Dhankhar mentioned, "There are some forces in the country and outside which are unable to digest India's progress. There is a well-planned effort going on to disintegrate the country, divide the country and insult its institutions. We must neutralize in togetherness every anti-national narrative." "One thing is very clear, it cannot be said that India is a nation with potential, that stage is behind us. India is on the rise, and as I said that rise is unstoppable," the VP continued. Earlier on Tuesday, INDIA bloc parties submitted a no-confidence motion at the Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Mody's office, seeking the removal of the Chairperson of the Upper House, Vice President Dhankhar for allegedly conducting the proceedings of the Council of States in "extremely partisan manner." "All parties belonging to the INDIA group have had no option but to formally submit a no-confidence motion against the learned Hon'ble Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for the extremely partisan manner in which he has been conducting the proceedings of the Council of States. It has been a very painful decision for the INDIA parties to take, but in the interests of parliamentary democracy, they have had to take this step. The motion has just been submitted to the Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha," Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who is Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, also accused Dhankhar of behaving like a "spokesperson of the government for his next promotion." He alleged that the "biggest disrupter" in Rajya Sabha is the Chairman himself. "He (RS chairman) does schooling like a headmaster... From the opposition side, whenever important issues are raised as per rules - the chairman doesn't allow to have a discussion in a planned manner. Time and again opposition leaders are stopped from speaking. His (RS Chairman) fidelity is towards the ruling party instead of the Constitution and constitutional tradition," Mr Kharge alleged. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Featured Video Of The Day Parliament Pandemonium: Smaller Parties Voice Drowned In The Din ? Jagdeep Dhankhar Mallikarjun Kharge "Compelled To Take Step, Chairman Biggest Disruptor In Rajya Sabha": M Kharge Explained: Historic No-Trust Vote Against Rajya Sabha Chair, And The Numbers Parliament Winter Session Highlights: Chaos In Rajya Sabha Again, House Adjourned Till Tomorrow Amid Techie Suicide Case, Top Court Lays Down 8 Factors For Deciding Alimony "Like Beast...": What Techie's Wife Claimed, What He Said In Suicide Note "I Started Saving For Your Car": Atul Subhash's Letter To 4-Year-Old Son Out On Bail, Rape Accused Murders Victim, Throws Body Parts In River: Cops US President-Elect Donald Trump Is Time Magazine's "Person Of The Year" Trump Invites China's Xi Jinping To Attend Inauguration Next Month: Report Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world . MORE Trending News Amid Techie Suicide Case, Top Court Lays Down 8 Factors For Deciding Alimony "Like Beast...": What Techie's Wife Claimed, What He Said In Suicide Note Rahane, Shaw Combine To Smash World Record In Historic Chase For Mumbai "I Started Saving For Your Car": Atul Subhash's Letter To 4-Year-Old Son Picture Of The Day: Kareena, Ranbir, Alia Pose With Narendra Modi Prithvi Shaw Shuts Down 'Fitness' Critics With Quickfire Knock In Big Chase 'My Niece, Nikita Singhania, Has All Answers': Uncle On Techie's Suicide Why Luigi Mangione Killed UnitedHealthcare CEO: A Chronic Back Pain Link During Meeting With Kapoors, PM Recounts Hearing Raj Kapoor Song In China "Apology Not Accepted": J Scindia After Trinamool MP Comments On His Looks Punjab Named 7th Best Food Region In The World, Other States Also On List "You Didn't Bring...": PM To Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan On Taimur, Jeh Bengaluru Techie Suicide: FIR Against Atul Subhash's Wife, In-Laws Video Shows Crowded AC Coach Of Poorva Express, Railway Seva Responds Not Country's "Moral Guardian": Harish Salve On Supreme Court's Role World Chess Championship: Gukesh Misses Big Chance As Ding Draws Game 13 "Torture Is Also A Kind Of Murder": Parents Of Bengaluru Techie After His Suicide 'Welcome' Actor Invited To UP Event, Then Tortured For 12 Hours Amid Atul Subhash Suicide Shocker, Supreme Court's Big Remark On Dowry Cases Shaheen Scripts History, Becomes First Pakistan Player In History To...
Malaria mortality returns to pre-COVID levels: WHO
Betty White Forever: New stamp will honor the much-beloved 'Golden Girls' actorLuigi Nicholas Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of a healthcare executive in New York City, apparently was living a charmed life: the grandson of a wealthy real estate developer, valedictorian of his elite Baltimore prep school and with degrees from one of the nation's top private universities. Friends at an exclusive co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Hawaii where the 26-year-old Mangione once lived widely considered him a “great guy,” and pictures on his social media accounts show a fit, smiling, handsome young man on beaches and at parties. Now, investigators in New York and Pennsylvania are working to piece together why Mangione may have diverged from this path to make the violent and radical decision to gun down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen attack on a Manhattan street. The killing sparked widespread discussions about corporate greed, unfairness in the medical insurance industry and even inspired folk-hero sentiment toward his killer. But Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro sharply refuted that perception after Mangione's arrest on Monday when a customer at a McDonald's restaurant in Pennsylvania spotted Mangione eating and noticed he resembled the shooting suspect in security-camera photos released by New York police. “In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Hear me on this, he is no hero,” Shapiro said. “The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this morning.” Mangione's family and upbringing Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family. His grandfather, Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday, Baltimore County police officers blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to Luigi Mangione’s parents. Reporters and photographers gathered outside the entrance. The father of 10 children, Nick Mangione prepared his five sons — including Luigi Mangione’s father, Louis Mangione — to help manage the family business, according to a 2003 Washington Post report. Nick Mangione had 37 grandchildren, including Luigi, according to the grandfather's obituary. Luigi Mangione’s grandparents donated to charities through the Mangione Family Foundation, according to a statement from Loyola University commemorating Nick Mangione’s wife’s death in 2023. They donated to various causes, including Catholic organizations, colleges and the arts. One of Luigi Mangione’s cousins is Republican Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione, a spokesman for the lawmaker’s office confirmed. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media by Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” Mangione's education and work history Mangione, who was valedictorian of his elite Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a university spokesman told The Associated Press. He learned to code in high school and helped start a club at Penn for people interested in gaming and game design, according to a 2018 story in Penn Today, a campus publication. His social media posts suggest he belonged to the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. They also show him taking part in a 2019 program at Stanford University, and in photos with family and friends at the Jersey Shore and in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico, and other destinations. The Gilman School, from which Mangione graduated in 2016, is one of Baltimore’s elite prep schools. The children of some of the city’s wealthiest and most prominent residents, including Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr., have attended the school. Its alumni include sportswriter Frank Deford and former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington. In his valedictory speech, Luigi Mangione described his classmates’ “incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things.” Mangione took a software programming internship after high school at Maryland-based video game studio Firaxis, where he fixed bugs on the hit strategy game Civilization 6, according to a LinkedIn profile. Firaxis' parent company, Take-Two Interactive, said it would not comment on former employees. He more recently worked at the car-buying website TrueCar, but has not worked there since 2023, the head of the Santa Monica, California-based company confirmed to the AP. Time in Hawaii and reports of back pain From January to June 2022, Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu. Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin. “Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints,” Ryan said. “There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they’re saying he committed.” At Surfbreak, Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, including surfing, Ryan said. “He went surfing with R.J. once but it didn’t work out because of his back,” Ryan said, but noted that Mangione and Martin often went together to a rock-climbing gym. Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. An image posted to a social media account linked to Mangione showed what appeared to be an X-ray of a metal rod and multiple screws inserted into someone's lower spine. Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago. An X account linked to Mangione includes recent posts about the negative impact of smartphones on children; healthy eating and exercise habits; psychological theories; and a quote from Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti about the dangers of becoming “well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” Police report a darker turn Mangione likely was motivated by his anger at what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed, according to a law enforcement bulletin obtained by AP. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of the suspect’s handwritten notes and social media posts. He appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown, asserting in his note that he is the “first to face it with such brutal honesty,” the bulletin said. Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary” and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, the document said. ___ Associated Press reporters Lea Skene in Baltimore; Jennifer Sinco Kelleher in Honolulu; Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia; John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; and Michael Kunzelman in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Dejounte Murray plans to return to the New Orleans Pelicans ' lineup on Wednesday night for the first time since fracturing his left hand in a season-opening victory over Chicago on Oct. 23. And when Murray takes the court against the Toronto Raptors , his mother will be on his mind. After practice on Tuesday, Murray discussed his impending return and disclosed more details about the previously unspecified “personal matters” that caused him to leave the team during the final days of the preseason. His mother had a stroke, he said. “It was tough to leave and go deal with that. As she got better, she wanted me to come play,” Murray said of his last-minute decision to start against Chicago. He added that his hand injury near the end of that game was God's way of telling him, “‘Nah, you need to stay with your mom.’” “I was more concerned about my mother. That was my priority,” Murray continued. “I wasn’t really worried about my recovery.” Murray's mother has recovered well, he said, while he is “healthy and ready to help this team.” “I’m ready to hoop. Play for my mother — she’s going to be watching," Murray said. “I’m ready to compete, bring that winning spirit.” The Pelicans (4-14) certainly could use the help, having lost 14 of 16 games since opening the season with a pair of victories. Injuries have ravaged the roster. At times, all five starters have been out. Star power forward Zion Williamson has missed 12 games this season — one with an illness and 11 with a hamstring injury. Herb Jones has been sidelined by a shoulder strain and Brandon Ingram's status is in doubt after he sat out practice on Tuesday with calf soreness that also sidelined him during a loss on Monday night at Indiana. But at least two starters — Murray and fellow guard CJ McCollum — are expected to play against the Raptors. “I don’t care how many games we’ve lost. I just know every time I step on the floor I feel like we can win games,” said Murray, who had 14 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in his lone game with the Pelicans. "That’s just my mentality, and I feel like it can carry over to a lot of guys.” AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
COLLEGE BOWLAfter Soto's megadeal, could MLB see a $1 billion contract? Probably not soonAnalysis: After Juan Soto's megadeal, could MLB see a $1 billion contract? Probably not soon
Biden team briefed Trump transition on Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire
Kelly Ripa demands viewers 'get a life' after sparking backlash with name of Thanksgiving dish
How Is The Market Feeling About Sunrun?