US expected to send £1 billion in weapons to Ukraine before Trump takes office
INVESTOR ALERT: Law Offices of Howard G. Smith Announces the Filing of a Securities Class Action on Behalf of Aehr Test Systems, Inc. (AEHR) InvestorsCOP29 clinches $US300 billion climate finance dealUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that "several" wounded North Korean soldiers died after being captured by Ukrainian forces, as he accused Russia of throwing them into battle with "minimal protection". Ukraine and its western allies say North Korea has sent thousands of soldiers to support Russia's army, in what is seen as a major escalation in the nearly three-year war following Moscow's 2022 invasion. "Today there were reports about several soldiers from North Korea. Our soldiers managed to take them prisoner. But they were very seriously wounded and could not be resuscitated," Zelensky said in an evening address posted on social media. South Korea's spy agency said earlier on Friday that a North Korean soldier who was captured while fighting in Russia's war against Ukraine had died of his wounds. Zelensky did not specify how many North Koreans had died after being captured by Ukrainian troops. Zelensky had earlier said that nearly 3,000 North Korean soldiers had been "killed or wounded" so far as they joined Russia's forces in combat in its western Kursk border region, where Ukraine mounted a shock incursion in August. South Korea's intelligence service had previously put the number of killed or wounded North Koreans at 1,000, saying the high casualty rate could be down to an unfamiliar battlefield environment and their lack of capability to counter drone attacks. The White House on Friday confirmed the South Korean estimates, saying that Pyongyang's troops were being sent to their deaths in futile attacks by generals who see them as "expendable". "We also have reports of North Korean soldiers taking their own lives rather than surrendering to Ukrainian forces, likely out of fear of reprisal against their families in North Korea in the event that they're captured," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. North Korea and Russia have strengthened their military ties since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. A landmark defence pact between Pyongyang and Moscow signed in June came into force this month, with Russian President Vladimir Putin hailing it as a "breakthrough document". North Korean state media said Friday that Putin sent a New Year's message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying: "The bilateral ties between our two countries have been elevated after our talks in June in Pyongyang." Seoul's military believes that North Korea was seeking to modernise its conventional warfare capabilities through combat experience gained in the Russia-Ukraine war. NATO chief Mark Rutte had also said that Moscow was providing support to Pyongyang's missile and nuclear programmes in exchange for the troops. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday that Pyongyang is reportedly "preparing for the rotation or additional deployment of soldiers" and supplying "240mm rocket launchers and 170mm self-propelled artillery" to the Russian army. Pyongyang's involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine had prompted warnings from Seoul. South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol, currently suspended, said in November that Seoul was "not ruling out the possibility of providing weapons" to Kyiv, which would mark a major shift to a long-standing policy barring the sale of weapons to countries in active conflict. hs/bjt/mlm/gv/rlp
Bible-based lessons are now allowed in Texas elementary schools, and may be implemented in 2025. The Texas Board of Education voted 8 to 7 on Friday to allow the curriculum in the classrooms, NBC News reported . The article noted, “The curriculum adopted by the Texas State Board of Education, which is controlled by elected Republicans, is optional for schools to implement, but they will receive additional funding if they do so.” The NBC article continued: The Texas Education Agency, which oversees public education for students statewide, created its instruction materials after a law passed in 2023 by the GOP-controlled Legislature required the agency to do so. The lesson plans were publicly released this spring. Texas has over five million public school students, the Associated Press (AP) reported on Friday. The outlet said that Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) said the vote was “a critical step forward to bring students back to the basics of education and provide the best education in the nation.” The AP report also detailed some of the learning materials: In the newly approved kindergarten materials, one lesson on helping one’s neighbor instructs teachers to talk about the Golden Rule using lessons from the Bible. It also instructs the teachers to explain that the Bible is “a collection of ancient texts” and that its different parts are “the core books of the Jewish and Christian religions.” In a third-grade lesson about the first Thanksgiving, the material directs teachers to discuss how the governor of Plymouth said a prayer and gave a speech that included references to “several passages from the Christian Bible in the book of Psalms.” Teachers are then instructed to tell students the book of Psalms is a collection of songs, poems and hymns “that are used in both Jewish and Christian worship.” Oklahoma recently began requiring schools to teach the Bible, including the Ten Commandments, to students in grades 5 through 12, per Breitbart News. In his memo to all districts, Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters said: The Bible is one of the most historically significant books and a cornerstone of Western civilization, along with the Ten Commandments. They will be referenced as an appropriate study of history, civilization, ethics, comparative religion, or the like, as well as for their substantial influence on our nation’s founders and the foundational principles of our Constitution. This is not merely an educational directive but a crucial step in ensuring our students grasp the core values and historical context of our country. A federal judge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, took aim at a state law mandating posters of the Ten Commandments be displayed in public school classrooms, saying on November 12 that it is “unconstitutional,” and ordering officials not to enforce it, AP reported. However, that decision will be appealed, the outlet continued. “Attorney General Elizabeth Murrill said she disagreed with the ruling and said her office would ask the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to quickly stay the ruling pending appeal.”Hidalgo leads No. 6 Notre Dame over JuJu Watkins and third-ranked USC 74-61 in big matchup out West
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 6, 2024-- Greenland Resources Inc. (Cboe CA: MOLY | FSE: M0LY) (“Greenland Resources” or the “Company”) welcomes the Government of Canada’s decision announced today to appoint an Arctic ambassador and open a consulate in Nuuk, Greenland. This follows the new Canadian Arctic Foreign Policy Framework to protect, together with its allies, the economic and military challenges including mineral resources security supply in the Arctic. The Company believes this is relevant for the Project as it is in negotiations to secure Capex funding from Canadian and recently announced European financial institutions and agencies in its press releases dated October 1 and October 15, 2024 . This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241206778181/en/ Greenland Resources Inc. Greenland Resources is a Canadian public company with the Ontario Securities Commission as its principal regulator and is focused on the development of its 100% owned Climax type primary molybdenum deposit located in central east Greenland. The Project has copper and also magnesium, a market dominated 98% by China. The Malmbjerg molybdenum project is an open pit operation with an environmentally friendly mine design focused on reduced water usage, low aquatic disturbance and low footprint due to modularized infrastructure. The Malmbjerg project benefits from an NI 43-101 Definitive Feasibility Study completed by Tetra Tech in 2022, with an US$820 million capex and a levered after-tax IRR of 33.8% and payback of 2.4 years, using US$18 per pound molybdenum price. The Proven and Probable Reserves are 245 million tonnes at 0.176% MoS 2, for 571 million pounds of contained molybdenum metal. As the high-grade molybdenum is mined for the first half of the mine life, the average annual production for years one to ten is 32.8 million pounds per year of contained molybdenum metal at an average grade of 0.23% MoS 2, approximately 25% of EU total yearly consumption. The project had a previous exploitation license granted in 2009. With offices in Toronto, the Company is led by a management team with an extensive track record in the mining industry and capital markets. For further details, please refer to our web site ( www.greenlandresources.ca ) and our Canadian regulatory filings on Greenland Resources’ profile at www.sedarplus.com . The Project is supported by the European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA). ERMA is managed by EIT RawMaterials , an organization within the EIT, a body of the European Union. About Molybdenum and the European Union Molybdenum is a critical metal used mainly in steel and chemicals that is needed in all technologies in the upcoming green energy transition. When added to steel and cast iron, it enhances strength, hardenability, weldability, toughness, temperature strength, and corrosion resistance. Based on data from the International Molybdenum Association and the European Commission Steel Report, the world produced around 576 million pounds of molybdenum in 2021 where the European Union (“EU”) as the second largest steel producer in the world used approximately 24% of global molybdenum supply and has no domestic molybdenum production. To a greater degree, the EU steel dependent industries like the automotive, construction, and engineering, represent around 18% of the EU’s ≈ US$16 trillion GDP. Greenland Resources strategically located Malmbjerg molybdenum project has the potential to supply in and for the EU approximately 25% of the EU consumption, of environmentally friendly high-quality molybdenum from a responsible EU Associate country, for decades to come. The high quality of the Malmbjerg ore, having low impurity content in phosphorus, tin, antimony, and arsenic, makes it an ideal source of molybdenum for the high-performance steel industry lead worldwide by Europe, specifically the Scandinavian countries and Germany. Forward Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking information" (also referred to as "forward looking statements"), which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management’s current expectations and assumptions. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "hopes", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking statements reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information in this news release relate to, among other things: the Company’s objectives, goals or future plans; planned capex financing and outcomes of due diligence reviews; construction and engineering initiatives for the Malmbjerg molybdenum project; statements, exploration results, potential mineralization, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, and their valuation, exploration and mine development plans, timing of the commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions. These forward-looking statements and information reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include: future planned development and other activities on the Project; favourable outcomes of due diligence reviews; planned energy requirements of the Project; obtaining the permitting on the Project in a timely manner; no adverse changes to the planned operations of the Project; continued favourable relationships with local communities; current EU and other initiatives remaining in place into the future; expected demand for molybdenum in the EU and abroad, including by companies that expressed an interest in purchasing molybdenum; our mineral reserve estimates and the assumptions upon which they are based, including geotechnical and metallurgical characteristics of rock confirming to sampled results and metallurgical performance; tonnage of ore to be mined and processed; ore grades and recoveries; assumptions and discount rates being appropriately applied to the technical studies; estimated valuation and probability of success of the Company’s projects, including the Malmbjerg molybdenum project; prices for molybdenum remaining as estimated; currency exchange rates remaining as estimated; availability of funds for the Company’s projects; capital decommissioning and reclamation estimates; mineral reserve and resource estimates and the assumptions upon which they are based; prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation); no labour-related disruptions; no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled construction and production; all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals are received in a timely manner or at all; and the ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company cautions the reader that forward-looking statements and information include known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the favourable results of the SIA (Social Impact Assessment) and EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment); favourable local community support for the Project’s development; the projected demand for molybdenum both in the EU and elsewhere, including by companies that expressed an interest in purchasing molybdenum; the current initiatives and programs for resource development in the EU and abroad; the projected and actual status of supply chains, labour market, currency and commodity prices interest rates and inflation; the projected and actual status of the global and Canadian capital markets, fluctuations in molybdenum and commodity prices; fluctuations in prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation); fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar versus the Euro); operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of mining (including environmental accidents and hazards, industrial accidents, equipment breakdown, unusual or unexpected geological or structure formations, cave-ins, flooding and severe weather); inadequate insurance, or the inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks and hazards; our ability to obtain all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in a timely manner; changes in laws, regulations and government practices in Greenland, including environmental, export and import laws and regulations; legal restrictions relating to mining; risks relating to expropriation; increased competition in the mining industry for equipment and qualified personnel; the availability of additional capital; title matters and the additional risks identified in our filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ in Canada (available at www.sedarplus.ca ). Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described, or intended. Investors are cautioned against undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required by applicable securities regulations, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update the forward-looking information. Neither the Cboe Canada Exchange nor its regulation services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241206778181/en/ CONTACT: Ruben Shiffman, PhD Chairman, President Keith Minty, P.Eng, MBA Engineering and Project Management Jim Steel, P.Geo, MBA Exploration and Mining Geology Nauja Bianco, M.Pol.Sci. Public and Community Relations Gary Anstey Investor Relations Eric Grossman, CPA, CGA Chief Financial Officer Corporate office Suite 1810, 25 York Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5J 2V5 1-844-252-0532 info@greenlandresourcesinc.com www.greenlandresources.ca KEYWORD: IRELAND UNITED KINGDOM GREENLAND CANADA NORTH AMERICA EUROPE INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT DEFENSE MINING/MINERALS OTHER POLICY ISSUES MILITARY NATURAL RESOURCES SOURCE: Greenland Resources Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/06/2024 02:07 PM/DISC: 12/06/2024 02:05 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241206778181/en
WASHINGTON (AP) — As a former and potentially future president, Donald Trump hailed what would become Project 2025 as a road map for “exactly what our movement will do” with another crack at the White House. As the blueprint for a hard-right turn in America became a liability during the 2024 campaign, Trump pulled an about-face . He denied knowing anything about the “ridiculous and abysmal” plans written in part by his first-term aides and allies. Now, after being elected the 47th president on Nov. 5, Trump is stocking his second administration with key players in the detailed effort he temporarily shunned. Most notably, Trump has tapped Russell Vought for an encore as director of the Office of Management and Budget; Tom Homan, his former immigration chief, as “border czar;” and immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of policy . Those moves have accelerated criticisms from Democrats who warn that Trump's election hands government reins to movement conservatives who spent years envisioning how to concentrate power in the West Wing and impose a starkly rightward shift across the U.S. government and society. Trump and his aides maintain that he won a mandate to overhaul Washington. But they maintain the specifics are his alone. “President Trump never had anything to do with Project 2025,” said Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt in a statement. “All of President Trumps' Cabinet nominees and appointments are whole-heartedly committed to President Trump's agenda, not the agenda of outside groups.” Here is a look at what some of Trump's choices portend for his second presidency. The Office of Management and Budget director, a role Vought held under Trump previously and requires Senate confirmation, prepares a president's proposed budget and is generally responsible for implementing the administration's agenda across agencies. The job is influential but Vought made clear as author of a Project 2025 chapter on presidential authority that he wants the post to wield more direct power. “The Director must view his job as the best, most comprehensive approximation of the President’s mind,” Vought wrote. The OMB, he wrote, “is a President’s air-traffic control system” and should be “involved in all aspects of the White House policy process,” becoming “powerful enough to override implementing agencies’ bureaucracies.” Trump did not go into such details when naming Vought but implicitly endorsed aggressive action. Vought, the president-elect said, “knows exactly how to dismantle the Deep State” — Trump’s catch-all for federal bureaucracy — and would help “restore fiscal sanity.” In June, speaking on former Trump aide Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast, Vought relished the potential tension: “We’re not going to save our country without a little confrontation.” The strategy of further concentrating federal authority in the presidency permeates Project 2025's and Trump's campaign proposals. Vought's vision is especially striking when paired with Trump's proposals to dramatically expand the president's control over federal workers and government purse strings — ideas intertwined with the president-elect tapping mega-billionaire Elon Musk and venture capitalist Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a “Department of Government Efficiency.” Trump in his first term sought to remake the federal civil service by reclassifying tens of thousands of federal civil service workers — who have job protection through changes in administration — as political appointees, making them easier to fire and replace with loyalists. Currently, only about 4,000 of the federal government's roughly 2 million workers are political appointees. President Joe Biden rescinded Trump's changes. Trump can now reinstate them. Meanwhile, Musk's and Ramaswamy's sweeping “efficiency” mandates from Trump could turn on an old, defunct constitutional theory that the president — not Congress — is the real gatekeeper of federal spending. In his “Agenda 47,” Trump endorsed so-called “impoundment,” which holds that when lawmakers pass appropriations bills, they simply set a spending ceiling, but not a floor. The president, the theory holds, can simply decide not to spend money on anything he deems unnecessary. Vought did not venture into impoundment in his Project 2025 chapter. But, he wrote, “The President should use every possible tool to propose and impose fiscal discipline on the federal government. Anything short of that would constitute abject failure.” Trump's choice immediately sparked backlash. “Russ Vought is a far-right ideologue who has tried to break the law to give President Trump unilateral authority he does not possess to override the spending decisions of Congress (and) who has and will again fight to give Trump the ability to summarily fire tens of thousands of civil servants,” said Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, a Democrat and outgoing Senate Appropriations chairwoman. Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico, leading Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, said Vought wants to “dismantle the expert federal workforce” to the detriment of Americans who depend on everything from veterans' health care to Social Security benefits. “Pain itself is the agenda,” they said. Trump’s protests about Project 2025 always glossed over overlaps in the two agendas . Both want to reimpose Trump-era immigration limits. Project 2025 includes a litany of detailed proposals for various U.S. immigration statutes, executive branch rules and agreements with other countries — reducing the number of refugees, work visa recipients and asylum seekers, for example. Miller is one of Trump's longest-serving advisers and architect of his immigration ideas, including his promise of the largest deportation force in U.S. history. As deputy policy chief, which is not subject to Senate confirmation, Miller would remain in Trump's West Wing inner circle. “America is for Americans and Americans only,” Miller said at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on Oct. 27. “America First Legal,” Miller’s organization founded as an ideological counter to the American Civil Liberties Union, was listed as an advisory group to Project 2025 until Miller asked that the name be removed because of negative attention. Homan, a Project 2025 named contributor, was an acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director during Trump’s first presidency, playing a key role in what became known as Trump's “family separation policy.” Previewing Trump 2.0 earlier this year, Homan said: “No one’s off the table. If you’re here illegally, you better be looking over your shoulder.” John Ratcliffe, Trump's pick to lead the CIA , was previously one of Trump's directors of national intelligence. He is a Project 2025 contributor. The document's chapter on U.S. intelligence was written by Dustin Carmack, Ratcliffe's chief of staff in the first Trump administration. Reflecting Ratcliffe's and Trump's approach, Carmack declared the intelligence establishment too cautious. Ratcliffe, like the chapter attributed to Carmack, is hawkish toward China. Throughout the Project 2025 document, Beijing is framed as a U.S. adversary that cannot be trusted. Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, wrote Project 2025's FCC chapter and is now Trump's pick to chair the panel. Carr wrote that the FCC chairman “is empowered with significant authority that is not shared” with other FCC members. He called for the FCC to address “threats to individual liberty posed by corporations that are abusing dominant positions in the market,” specifically “Big Tech and its attempts to drive diverse political viewpoints from the digital town square.” He called for more stringent transparency rules for social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube and “empower consumers to choose their own content filters and fact checkers, if any.” Carr and Ratcliffe would require Senate confirmation for their posts.MALVERN, Pa., Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TELA Bio, Inc. ("TELA Bio") (NASDAQ: TELA), a commercial-stage medical technology company focused on providing innovative soft-tissue reconstruction solutions, today announced that the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of TELA Bio approved inducement grants of restricted stock units covering 1,700 shares of its common stock to three newly-hired employees, with a grant date of December 11, 2024 (the "Grant Date"). The restricted stock units were granted pursuant to the Nasdaq Rule 5635(c)(4) inducement grant exception as a component of each individual's employment compensation and were granted as an inducement material to his or her acceptance of employment with TELA Bio. The restricted stock units will vest in equal annual installments over four years, subject to each individual's continued service with TELA Bio through the applicable vesting dates. About TELA Bio, Inc. TELA Bio, Inc. (NASDAQ: TELA) is a commercial-stage medical technology company focused on providing innovative technologies that optimize clinical outcomes by prioritizing the preservation and restoration of the patient's own anatomy. The Company is committed to providing surgeons with advanced, economically effective soft-tissue reconstruction solutions that leverage the patient's natural healing response while minimizing long-term exposure to permanent synthetic materials. For more information, visit www.telabio.com . Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "predict," "forecast," "project," "plan," "intend" or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations are forward-looking statements and reflect the current beliefs of TELA Bio's management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results and events to differ materially and adversely from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the "Risk Factors" section and elsewhere in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov, including in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Any forward-looking statements that we make in this announcement speak only as of the date of this press release, and TELA Bio assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this press release, except as required under applicable law. Investor Contact Louisa Smith ir@telabio.com
Whitecaps up for sale, could approach $500 millionIn 2023, East Central University announced the launch of a campaign that would see the construction of a new STEM Center on the ECU campus that would also house the ECU Nursing Program. The groundbreaking for this new state-of-the-art facility was over the summer with representatives from the State of Oklahoma, City of Ada, Valley View Foundation and Chickasaw Nation in attendance. ECU is pleased to announce that this newest addition to the university’s campus will be named in honor of Chickasaw citizen Dan Hays. “We are pleased East Central University is honoring Chickasaw citizen Dan Hays, whose generosity and vision of the future has had a powerful impact on education throughout the Ada area, the Chickasaw Nation and beyond,” said Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby. “It is fitting that ECU’s new STEM center should bear the Hays name as a tribute and testament to his commitment to lifelong learning and education.” Hays, who possessed an allotment of 320 acres of land across what is now Ada, recognized the significance of establishing what was then named East Central State Normal School in the region. Following approval for the normal school by Gov. Charles N. Haskell in 1909, Hays quickly stepped forward to donate 16 acres of his land, his only stipulation being that he be allowed to remain in his home, which was also located on the 16-acre allotment. The chosen acreage, allotted by Hays, allowed for ECU’s first building, Science Hall, to be constructed at the end of Ada’s Main Street. An article featured in the May 6, 1909, edition of the Ada Evening News reported by Col. E.H. Lucas stated, “The acceptance of the proposed site will mean that the normal school would be located in that magnificent location, avenue style, at the end of East Main Street. From this point, the view could not be more excellent. To stand in the center of the business section of Main Street and look at the point proposed for the location on the east side must bring from anyone an involuntary expression of approval, for it is the prettiest site I ever saw.” Construction quickly began and the students of East Central Normal School were blessed to begin their second year of classes in their very own building by the fall semester of 1910, thanks to the generous donation of Dan Hays. In honor of Hays significant contribution and the longstanding relationship that it helped forge between ECU and the Chickasaw Nation, ECU President Wendell Godwin has announced that the university’s newest addition will be named in honor of Hays himself. “We are proud to embrace the Native American legacy on our campus, and this is an excellent way to memorialize the original gift from the Hays family,” said Godwin. “The Chickasaw Nation has been a driving force in the region’s educational successes for decades. East Central University is excited to highlight the native theme and décor that will be illustrated throughout the Dan Hays STEM Center to further demonstrate our appreciation. Our community is excited to watch the construction over the next 18 months.” Among the highlights of this two-floor facility is a simulation center, more than 25 hands-on learning labs and STEM classrooms equipped with the latest technology to benefit both STEM and Nursing students. The construction of this new building and the expansion of the nursing program are expected to generate a 200% increase in nursing graduates from ECU. Historically, 84% of nursing graduates stay in Oklahoma five years after graduation and 75% of students are accepted into medical school. Nursing, Math and Computer Science are some of the university’s largest and fastest-growing degree programs. The average pass rate for the ECU School of Nursing on the registered nurses NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) is 97% while the national average is 82%. This expansion will allow ECU to recruit a number of new staff and faculty as well as more than 200 new nursing students to the university and community. The new facility will serve to reaffirm ECU’s commitment to educating students and transforming students’ lives for generations to come.
Monroe Capital Corporation Announces Fourth Quarter Distribution of $0.25 Per Share
Left’s depiction of Trump supporters as women-hating ‘incels’ twists reality
takes on the next trial with McFly's Danny Jones on Friday's after Ant admitted his reaction to Thursday's trial was "unprofessional". Tense scenes reveal the pair are given electric shocks while taking part in the High Street of Horrors trial. Discussing Radio 1 DJ McCullough facing his fourth Bushtucker trial this week, held his hands up and admitted he couldn't hide his annoyance after Thursday's trial. His words were prompted by social media conversation about Ant looking "furious" with McCullough. He said on I'm a Celebrity's spin off show Unpacked: "I told you not to talk to me about it Sam [Thompson, the host of Unpacked]. My annoyance came across on screen and I was quite unprofessional and I'm not happy about it. You get to the point where you're like what are you doing?" Thompson was very amused as he added: "The memes online are quite good." Ant had said he would like to see McCullough raise his game when taking part in the trial with Jones. Dec Donnelly playfully mocked his partner. "I think you hid it quite well Ant," he then deliberately looked to the side to show he was not being 100% truthful. I'm a Celebrity is on every night Monday to Friday on ITV1 and available to stream on ITVX. The 2024 campmates have been in the jungle for nearly a week now as the show kicked off on Sunday 17 November. This year, the late arrivals Maura Higgins and Rev Richard Coles have already headed into camp — although they are staying in a separate site at the moment. Usually I'm a Celebrity is on our screens for three weeks, taking us closer to Christmas. We can't wait to see how this series unfolds! 15 mins until Danny and Dean face the High Street of Horrors! Will their shopping bags be filled with Stars or will they return to Camp with an empty trolley? 🛒 Watch at 9pm on ITV1, STV and ITVX — I'm A Celebrity... (@imacelebrity) I'm a Celebrity's late arrivals have already got everyone at home very excited about the 2024 series. Couldn’t think of two better people to be put together — I'm A Celebrity... (@imacelebrity) Thursday night proved to be chaotic in the jungle as we saw: Maura Higgins and Richard Coles enter a separate camp and be set a secret mission. They must lie telling the other stars they are living in a hell hole when in fact they are living in luxury. Dean McCullough said I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here for a second time. He got four stars but got a heroes welcome with the celebrities giving him a bath. McCullough was voted to do the next Bushtucker trial alongside McFly's Danny Jones. They will take on the High Street of Horrors with Ant and Dec watching on. has had a tough first week in the camp, finding himself taking on more than his fair share of trials. The BBC Radio 1 DJ has been targeted by viewers in nearly every Bushtucker Trial vote so far, surpassing early favourite choice GK Barry as the campmate most of the fans want to see try to win stars for meals. McCullough's screams, tendency to quit trials, and could all have contributed to viewers voting for him, but the radio presenter has been left looking shocked and appalled at his nominations. Meanwhile, even host Ant McPartlin struggled to disguise his frustration at McCullough . No celebrity signs up to go into camp thinking it'll be a breeze, but some have a much tougher time on the ITV show than others. These famous campmates found I'm A Celebrity the stuff of nightmares as they were voted into the Bushtucker Trials time and again by both viewers and their co-stars. Whether it was because of their hilarious reactions to the task horrors, or as punishment for how they treated their campmates, these unlucky contestants took on more than their fair share of challenges — will McCullough join this hall of fame? have been punished after breaking the rules this week. boasted about and secretly brought in a packet of salt to flavour the bland rice and beans. Smug Ant and Dec warned the viewers at home that contraband equals consequences. After the dingo dollar challenge, five cupcakes were confiscated meaning the celebrities had less treats. The chucking Geordie hosts enjoyed their sweet, sweet revenge. Tense scenes show Danny Jones and Dean McCullough getting "electrifying" shocks in Friday's episode. McFly's Jones cries out when he crawls through a bug-infested space with lots of wires dangling down. Ant explains what is happening: "Yeah that's why it's the electrifying electrical store - you might get a few shocks in here!" The musician screams out so his co-star McCullough tries to help him by leaning in but then gets a shock of his own — causing him to runs away. "It's not worth it, it's not worth it," he protests. Ant and Dec are very amused, giggling away. ‘It’s not worth it!’ ⚡️ Danny and Dean’s shocking trip to the High Street Of Horrors has in stitches! Will the boys find any Stars among the bargains? returns tonight at 9pm on ITV1, STV and ITVX. — I'm A Celebrity... (@imacelebrity) Forget 's reported £1.5m signing, I think and Rev ' late arrival is one of bosses' best decision in years. Ant and Dec's brutal jokes about and..... have been good fun (and we all know Vardy is 100% watching and voting for Rooney to do the Bushtucker trials thanks to her ). Yet is totally genius. Their double act will go down as one of the funniest moments in I'm a Celebrity history. I feel both Higgins and Coles are going to be earning every penny ITV bosses have paid them. Danny Jones and Dean McCullough take on the Highstreet of Horrors. How will they fare in Friday's Bushtucker trial? The McFly star has already proved he's incredibly brave, facing his fear of snakes head on in the first bushtucker trial on day one of camp. Albeit screaming, at the end of the trial but he managed to get all five stars. Meanwhile, McCullough has called out I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here during two of his trials. The first time because of sand and the second time because of fishguts (which definitely annoyed Ant!). On Thursday, the radio star got four stars. However, on Wednesday he got zero while working with GK Barry and during his first trial he got two stars. Take a sneak look at what is in store for tonight's trial. ‘It’s not worth it!’ ⚡️ Danny and Dean’s shocking trip to the High Street Of Horrors has in stitches! Will the boys find any Stars among the bargains? returns tonight at 9pm on ITV1, STV and ITVX. — I'm A Celebrity... (@imacelebrity) Ant McPartlin held his hands up as he didn't mind admitting he was "unprofessional" after viewers noticed he looked "furious" when Dean McCullough was struggling. Discussing Radio 1 DJ McCullough facing his fourth Bushtucker trial this week, Ant admitted he couldn't hide his annoyance after Thursday's trial. Playfully he said on I'm a Celebrity's spin off show Unpacked: "I told you not to talk to me about it Sam [Thompson, the host of Unpacked]. "My annoyance came across on screen and I was quite unprofessional and I'm not happy about it. You get to the point where you're like what are you doing?" Thompson was very amused as he added: "The memes online are quite good. Ant had said he would like to see McCullough raise his game when taking part in the trial with Jones. Dec Donnelly playfully mocked his partner. "I think you hid it quite well Ant," he then deliberately looked to the side to show he was not being 100% truthful. Ant admitted: "You get to the point where you are like, what are you doing?" Joel Dommett pointed out that it got to the point where McCullough had asked him if he had been to Benidorm and Ant bluntly said "no". "I'm not making small talk with you anymore!" Ant said of the moment, wagging his finger playfully. "I'll be kind to him today. I'm going to try good cop today." Read moreSome tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to increase visas for highly skilled workers from other nations. Related Articles National Politics | Trump threat to immigrant health care tempered by economic hopes National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant recently won a federal class-action lawsuit that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A Bloomberg investigation found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Question: Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? Caroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy YES: Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research YES: After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? James Hamilton, UC San Diego YES: Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. Norm Miller, University of San Diego YES: According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. David Ely, San Diego State University YES: Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Phil Blair, Manpower YES: Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. Gary London, London Moeder Advisors YES: San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates NO: While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth YES: We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health YES: But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere NO: While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Not participating this week: Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economist Have an idea for an Econometer question? Email me at phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com . Follow me on Threads: @phillip020
The large package of aid includes a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the Hawk air defence system. It also will provide Stinger missiles and 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds, officials said. The officials, who said they expect the announcement to be made on Monday, spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. The new aid comes as Russia launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine’s power facilities in recent days, although Ukraine has said it intercepted a significant number of the missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are also still in a bitter battle around the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help reclaim territory taken by Ukraine. Earlier this month, senior defence officials acknowledged that the US Defence Department may not be able to send all of the remaining 5.6 billion dollars (£4.5 billion) in Pentagon weapons and equipment stocks passed by Congress for Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. Mr Trump has talked about getting some type of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia, and spoken about his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Many US and European leaders are concerned that it might result in a poor deal for Ukraine and they worry that he will not provide Ukraine with all the weapons funding approved by Congress. The aid in the new package is in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the Pentagon to take weapons off the shelves and send them quickly to Ukraine. This latest assistance would reduce the remaining amount to about 4.35 billion dollars (£3.46 billion). Officials have said they hope that an influx of aid will help strengthen Ukraine’s hand, should Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky decide it is time to negotiate. One senior defence official said that while the US will continue to provide weapons to Ukraine until January 20, there may well be funds remaining that will be available for the incoming Trump administration to spend. According to the Pentagon, there is also about 1.2 billion dollars (£0.9 billion) remaining in longer-term funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to pay for weapons contracts that would not be delivered for a year or more. Officials have said the administration anticipates releasing all of that money before the end of the calendar year. If the new package is included, the US will have provided more than 64 billion dollars (£50.8 billion) in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.The gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fled New York City by bus, police officials told CNN on Friday. Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN. Here's the latest: Police believe gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO has left New York City The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer may have fled the city on a bus, New York City police officials told CNN on Friday. People are also reading... Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN. “We have reason to believe that the person in question has left New York City,” Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Gunman’s steps after killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO give police new clues The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer made sure to wear a mask during the shooting yet left a trail of evidence in view of the nation’s biggest city and its network of security cameras that have aided authorities piecing together his movements and his identity. A law enforcement official said Friday that new surveillance footage shows the suspect riding the subway and visiting establishments in Manhattan and provided more clues about his actions in the days before he ambushed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . The gunman’s whereabouts and identity remain unknown Friday, as did the reason for Wednesday’s killing. New York City police say evidence firmly points to it being a targeted attack . ▶ Read more about the search for the gunman For many companies, investor meetings are seen as a risk In many companies, investor meetings like the one UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was walking to when he was fatally shot are viewed as very risky because details on the location and who will be speaking are highly publicized. “It gives people an opportunity to arrive well in advance and take a look at the room, take a look at how people would probably come and go out of a location,” said Dave Komendat, president of DSKomendat Risk Management Services, which is based in the greater Seattle area. Some firms respond by beefing up security. For example, tech companies routinely require everyone attending a major event, such as Apple’s annual unveiling of the next iPhone or a shareholder meeting, to go through airport-style security checkpoints before entering. Others forgo in-person meetings with shareholders. ▶ Read more about how companies protect their leaders Police have obtained other surveillance images of the person wanted for questioning Those images include New York’s subway system, a law enforcement official said. In establishments where the person was captured on camera, he always appeared to pay with cash, the official said. The official wasn’t authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. — Mike Balsamo Another health insurer taking precautions after the shooting Medica, a Minnesota-based nonprofit health care firm that serves 1.5 million customers in 12 states, said it’s temporarily closing all six locations. The firm has offices in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and North Dakota, and employs about 3,000 people. Employees will work from home, Medica spokesman Greg Bury said in an email Friday. “The safety of Medica employees is our top priority and we have increased security both for all of our employees,” a statement from Medica said. “Although we have received no specific threats related to our campuses, our office buildings will be temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution.” Bury also said biographical information on the company’s executives was taken down from its website as a precaution. Government health insurance provider Centene Corp. says its Investor Day will now be virtual The insurer cited the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in its announcement about the Dec. 12 event. “All of us at Centene are deeply saddened by Brian Thompson’s death and want to express our support for all of those affected. Health insurance is a big industry and a small community; many members of the CenTeam crossed paths with Brian during their careers,” Centene CEO Sarah M. London said in a news release. “He was a person with a deep sense of empathy and clear passion for improving access to care. Our hearts are with his family and his colleagues during this difficult time.” Centene Corp. has grown in recent years to become the largest insurer in Medicaid, the state- and federally funded program that covers care for people with low incomes. Insurers manage Medicaid coverage for states, and Centene has more than 13 million people enrolled in that coverage. UnitedHealth Group says it’s focused on supporting Brian Thompson’s family The insurance company also said it’s focused on ensuring the safety of employees and assisting investigators. “While our hearts are broken, we have been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place,” the company said. NY Mayor Eric Adams provided no new information on investigation’s progress during interviews But he said Friday that he’s confident police will arrest the shooter. “We are on the right road to apprehend him and bring him to justice,” Adams said on TV station WPIX. Hours after the shooting, UnitedHealthcare removed photographs of its executives from its website Later, it removed their names and biographies entirely. Investigators believe the suspect may have traveled to NY last month on a bus that originated in Atlanta Police and federal agents have been collecting information from Greyhound in an attempt to identify the suspect and are working to determine whether he purchased the ticket to New York in late November, a law enforcement official said. Investigators were also trying to obtain additional information from a cellphone recovered from a pedestrian plaza through which the shooter fled. Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brass The fatal shooting of Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats. Experts say today’s political, economic and technological climate is only going to make the job of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them even more difficult, experts say. Some organizations have a protective intelligence group that uses digital tools such as machine learning or artificial intelligence to comb through online comments to detect threats not only on social media platforms such as X but also on the dark web, says Komendat. They look for what’s being said about the company, its employees and its leadership to uncover risks. ▶ Read more about the steps companies take to protect their leadership Police test DNA and fingerprints on discarded bottle as they hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killer Police said Thursday they found a water bottle and protein bar wrapper from a trash can near the scene of the ambush and think the suspect bought them from a Starbucks minutes before the shooting. The items were being tested by the city’s medical examiner. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.
ECU names newest facility in honor of Dan Hays
In the aftermath of the tragic Kesnand accident that claimed the lives of three family members, the Pune city traffic branch’s analysis department is working on holistic solutions to combat the rising toll. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Amol Zende, stressed the importance of blending technology with on-ground efforts to address accident-prone areas and reduce fatalities. “We are using technology to analyse data and identify patterns while conducting regular spot visits to assess conditions on the ground. This helps us pinpoint the triggers of accidents and devise effective measures to prevent them,” Zende said. To enhance road safety, the Pune Traffic Branch has undertaken stringent measures, including prosecuting 1,396 individuals for riding triple seats, 642 for driving on the wrong side, and 12,444 for jumping signals. Repeat offenders face strict action, including recommendations for license cancellations and penalties for drunk driving. An advisory from the Traffic Branch underscores the need for a multi-pronged approach to prevent accidents involving heavy vehicles. One critical issue yet to be adequately addressed is the problem of labourers sleeping on roads. Many accidents occur when fatigued or distracted drivers fail to notice pedestrians or sleeping labourers. The advisory calls for coordinated efforts between the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), traffic authorities, and NGOs to create safe rest areas for labourers. Awareness campaigns can also educate labourers on the risks of sleeping on roads and encourage the use of designated zones. Zende also highlighted the importance of ensuring the roadworthiness of heavy vehicles and proper training for drivers. “Regular vehicle inspections, driver training programs, and strict enforcement of traffic laws can significantly reduce accidents. Infrastructure improvements, such as pedestrian bridges, footpaths, and designated truck routes, are equally crucial. By addressing the root causes of accidents and collaborating with all stakeholders, we can create safer roads and reduce fatalities involving heavy vehicles,” he added.