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The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. (AP) — Abdi Bashir Jr. had 27 points in Monmouth’s 88-74 victory against Fairfield on Saturday. Bashir shot 9 of 21 from the field, including 5 for 10 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 5 from the line for the Hawks (2-10). Jack Collins scored 13 points while going 5 of 8 (3 for 6 from 3-point range) and added five assists. Madison Durr shot 4 of 6 from the field and 4 for 5 from the line to finish with 12 points. Prophet Johnson finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Stags (5-7, 1-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference). Braden Sparks added 16 points and two steals for Fairfield. Deon Perry finished with 12 points, six assists and three steals. Monmouth took the lead with 16:32 left in the first half and did not give it up. The score was 43-33 at halftime, with Bashir racking up 11 points. Monmouth outscored Fairfield by four points in the second half, and Bashir scored a team-high 16 points in the second half to help their team secure the victory. Monmouth plays Auburn on the road on Monday, and Fairfield visits Columbia on Saturday. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .The white-bearded Christian saint whose acts of generosity inspired America’s secular Santa Claus figure is known worldwide — but Saint Nicholas’ origin story is not. The legends surrounding jolly old St. Nicholas — celebrated annually on Dec. 6 — go way beyond delivering candy and toys to children. St. Nicholas was a fourth century Christian bishop from the Mediterranean port city of Myra (in modern-day Turkey). “Much of the rest is legend. There’s not really a lot of hard historical evidence about St. Nicholas,” said the Rev. Nicholas Ayo, author of “Saint Nicholas in America: Christmas Holy Day and Holiday.” But whether the stories are true is not so much the point, said Ayo, an 89-year-old retired Notre Dame University professor named after St. Nicholas. “There’s no Santa Claus that lands on the roof, but there’s a desire in people’s heart for an unconditional love that doesn’t depend on your behavior, but the fact that you’re somebody’s child.” Devotion to St. Nicholas — also referred to as St. Nick — spread during the Middle Ages across Europe and he became a favorite subject for medieval artists and liturgical plays, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. He is the patron saint of Greece and Russia, Moscow and New York, as well as charities, children and pawnbrokers. He also is the patron saint of sailors. In 1807, Italian sailors took the remains of St. Nicholas from Myra to the seaport of Bari, on the southeast coast of the boot of Italy. They built a church in his honor; relics believed to be his are kept in Bari’s 11th century basilica of San Nicola. St. Nicholas Day is celebrated every year on Dec. 6, typically by filling the stockings and shoes children leave out overnight with sweets and toys. It also is a fitting date for the patron saint of sailors. “The December feast day of Saint Nicholas coincides with the beginning of the winter storm season on the Mediterranean,” Ayo wrote. Legends surrounding St. Nicholas’ generosity appear in texts ranging from medieval manuscripts to modern-day poems, including how he interceded on behalf of wrongly condemned prisoners and miraculously saved sailors from storms. One of the most famous legends, Ayo said, features the aging father of three young women who didn’t have means to pay for their dowry. St. Nicholas is said to have thrown gold pieces into the man’s window. “It is the quintessential Nicholas,” Ayo wrote. “It requires no miracle, no credulity from the hearer, and no superstition at any level. What is needed is only a generous heart ready to give of his wealth in a self-effacing way that others may come to know a deep love in their life.” k inspired Santa Devotion to St. Nicholas seems to have faded after the 16th century Protestant Reformation, except in the Netherlands where his legend remained as Sinterklaas. In the 17th century, Dutch Protestants who settled in New York brought the Sinterklaas tradition with them. “The Dutch had St. Nicholas on the bow of the first ship that went into New York harbor,” Ayo said. Eventually, St. Nicholas morphed into the secular Santa Claus. Artist Thomas Nast, an engraver in Morristown, New Jersey, who illustrated the front cover of Harper’s magazine for many years, played a key role in the transformation, Ayo said. “He followed the description of Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas — and Clement Clarke Moore’s ‘Twas the Night before Christmas’ poem,” Ayo said. “So, that’s how that got changed. But in Europe, the bishop shows up in bishop’s clothing at the door sometimes.”
Northeast Nebraska Ag Conference to be held Dec. 17
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Resettlement of TTP militants: Nation, army paying in blood for one man’s error Army possesses capability to deliver decisive response to any Indian hostility, says ISPR DG Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry briefing media at the General Headquarters, Rawalpindi, December 27, 2024. — Screengrab via YouTube@GeoNews RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Army stated on Friday that security personnel and law enforcement agencies are making the ultimate sacrifice, shedding blood daily, as a consequence of decisions made in 2021 that enabled the reintegration of Fitna Al Khawarij. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); Addressing the media at the Inter-Services Public Relations here, military spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the whole nation, particularly the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, are paying the price for resettlement and rehabilitation of terrorists through talks by the-then government in 2021. He asked on whose decision these terrorists were re-settled and rehabilitated and who gave them the strength through talks when the back of the Fitna had been broken and in 2021 it was on the run. General Chaudhry was asked to comment on a statement of the PTI founder Imran Khan in which he called for holding talks with the Afghan government and TTP (Fitna Al Khwarij). The questioner said Imran Khan had also termed Pakistan’s policy on Afghanistan faulty. General Chaudhry emphasized that the persistent calls for dialogue with terrorists are coming from the same individuals who advocated for their resettlement and rehabilitation in 2021. He stressed the importance of approaching this sensitive issue with caution, prioritizing the lives of innocent people over political agendas. The ISPR DG urged the KP government to focus on good governance, rather than politicizing terrorism and undermining counter-terrorism efforts. He appealed for unity among politicians and the nation, advocating for an end to politicizing terrorism General Chaudhry said he would also ask those practicing politics of double standards, if there was no value to the lives of those 16 brave soldiers of the FC who sacrificed their lives while fighting Fitna Al Khwarij six days ago. “I ask if they were not lion-hearted jawans of Pakistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?” He said the whole nation was suffering due to the resettlement of terrorists and was paying the price for the decision of an individual who was not ready to learn from his mistake and was still insisting on the same. He said Pakistan respected the sovereignty of Afghanistan but the interim regime there should not prefer Khwarij and terrorists to Pakistan. He said Army Chief General Asim Munir had also maintained that the life of every Pakistani was more sacred than the neighbouring country. “The status quo will not be acceptable if the hands stained with the blood of Pakistanis get support from across the border (Afghanistan),” he said. He said Fitna Al Khwarij had nothing to do with Islam and it was also a big success that despite all the fake narratives, anti-state propaganda and terrorism, the morale of armed forces and the nation was very high and the country was moving forward. “We salute our Shuhada, their families and, most important of all, the nation. For the last two years, Pakistan has been in contact with the Afghan regime in one or the other way and they are being asked time and again that they should not prefer Fitna Al Khwarij to Pakistan. “We are not only talking directly to the Afghan regime but also indirectly through friendly countries that they should not facilitate Fitna Al Khwarij. However, if the training camps of Khwarij continue to operate on the Afghan soil freely, then Pakistan could not see the bloodshed of its innocent people, including soldiers and officers of security forces,” Gen Chaudhry continued. The DG ISPR said: “I also question that if any party is adamant on their misguided ideology and insists on imposing their narrative [on everyone], then what is there to talk about with them?” He continued: “If the solution to such problems lay in talks, then throughout the world’s history, there would have been no wars, conflicts, battles or expeditions.” Commenting on the start of dialogue between the government and PTI, he said it was a good omen that the political parties and politicians sit together to resolve their differences and issues through negotiations instead of doing politics of violence. He said it was the privilege of political parties and politicians to hold talks and respond to any offer. He said the armed forces had professional and official relationships with every government and it was improper to give political colour to this relationship. “This is a national army that does not represent any school of thought, and all political parties and politicians are respectable to it,” he said. He made it clear that the politics of any individual or his desire for power was not above the country. To a question, he said all political parties and segments of the society were unanimous that it was not only the army but the whole nation fighting against terrorism. He said the documents of the 2014 National Action Plan, revised NAP of 2021 and Azm-e-Istehkam also show that the nation and law-enforcement and security institutions had to jointly wage a war against this menace. He said terrorism could be uprooted only when there were justice, health and education facilities and unanimity between the education system and Deeni Madaris and good governance in areas where kinetic operations had been completed and above all where the nexus of crime and terror had been broken. “Terrorism will remain unless these tasks are accomplished,” he said. General Chaudhry said there was a nexus of illegal spectrum of trade like smuggling, non-custom paid vehicles, fake news and extortion. “Those involved in the illegal spectrum of trade do not want the implementation of steps covered in the NAP and Azm-e-Istehkam,” he said, adding that lawlessness and terrorism were promoted under this spectrum. He regretted that in many places, the illegal spectrum also enjoyed the political backing of those who due to their short-sightedness and political interests hindered the implementation of the revised NAP of 2021 and Azm-e-Istehkam. “The elite of the country should commit to act against this illegal spectrum and make and implement laws against this spectrum,” he said. He said the security forces were braving terrorism despite the elite class support to the illegal trade activities. “The army chief has also stated that every Pakistani with or without uniform is a soldier and terrorism and gaps in governance are being filled with the blood of Shuhada,” he pointed out. He reiterated that May 9 was not the case of the armed forces but of the whole nation. “If a violent group tries to impose its violent thought, then where will we take our society to?” He told a questioner that following a decision of the constitution bench of the Supreme Court, the process for the conviction of May 9 culprits by a military court had been completed and it was a clear message that there was no room for such violent acts. The DG ISPR also rejected the impression of lack of transparency in military trials saying these courts had been functioning as per the Constitution and law for the last many decades and fulfilling all requirements of justice while the International Court of Justice (ICJ) had also endorsed the process of these courts. He said all the accused tried in the military court enjoyed all the legal rights to defend themselves and they could also petition the army chief and file appeals with the Supreme Court and High Court after their convictions. He said the military trials were questioned and a fake narrative was built adding that the acts of May 9 could not be justified or defended at any forum or place. Without naming Imran Khan, he said an individual who was speaking against the military courts himself supported them in the past. He said propaganda was also unleashed that the people involved in the May 9 acts were the agencies’ men. “If they are saying so, then we have punished our people. Why they are worried now?” he asked. He said such people had crossed all limits of deception and hypocrisy in lust for power. He said the cases of all those involved in May 9 violence being heard in the anti-terrorist courts should be taken to their logical end. In this connection, he quoted the examples of violent acts which took place in the UK, France and Capitol Hill and the conviction of hundreds of culprits through speedy justice. “There is no space for anarchists to spread anarchy in a state in the Western world too,” he said. The military spokesman reiterated that full justice could not be served unless all the planners and characters of May 9 were not taken to task and the nation could not allow a repetition of such violent acts. Asked if the trial of Lt. Gen (retd) Faiz Hamid will create implications for Imran Khan, he offered no comments as the matter, involving sensitive issues, was sub judice. However, he reiterated that all planners and facilitators of the May 9 incidents and those associated with violent acts would be taken to task. “We will keep apprising you of details of this case from time to time,” he said. He said for every officer of the Pakistan Army, it was the army and the country which was most important to him. If he prefers politics to the army, then he would be held accountable, as an army man neither opposes nor supports a political party. He also mentioned that the armed forces had a very foolproof, effective and transparent system of accountability based on evidence. Asked to give some details of the November 26 incidents, he said it was also a part of negative politics of violence in 2014 and May 9, 2023 violence, which witnessed the use of force for political coercion. He recalled that the Ministry of Interior had also clarified in a statement released on December 1 that the army was not in direct contact with the protesters during the violent acts, while troops were also not deputed to control the violent mob. “The army was confined to the Red Zone due to the presence of VVIPs from friendly countries.” He, however, said that the ministry’s release also clarified that the leaders, guards and workers were armed with lethal arms and might have used the same but the enforcement agencies were not armed with the same weapons. When the leaders fled the scene, a pre-planned and fabricated narrative was spread on social media, aimed at fueling chaos and diverting attention from their failure. He said the law permitted peaceful protests and freedom of expression but if personnel of law-enforcement agencies were attacked and martyred with teargas shells and weapons, then it constituted political terrorism and not a political protest. “If armed groups attack the federal capital and consider it politics, then in future any group will try to impose its ideology through use of force,” he said. “We can safely say that the control of this politics of anarchy does not rest with the country’s political leadership. The social media accounts abroad were controlling the same,” he said. He said international human rights organizations raised hue and cry over the actions of Khwarij and on unseen dead bodies (in Islamabad) but they did not utter a single word on what was happening in Gaza. Gen Chaudhry said he would invite social media handlers abroad supporting anarchists in Pakistan to run a similar campaign for Gaza. “You will not have to apply any fake technology rather you will see the real picture of brutalities there,” he said. To a question about the Kurram situation, he said it was a complex social issue and misplaced governance priorities but the provincial government and local authorities were blaming the institutions. It was not a sectarian but a complex issue of land, which was being prolonged, he said. Sharing the details of actions of 2025, the DG ISPR said a total of 59,775 operations were conducted by the security forces during the current year. “During these successful operations, 925 terrorists, including Khwarij, were eliminated while numerous were arrested.” He said the number of terrorists killed was the largest in the last five years. “More than 169 operations are being conducted by the Pakistan Army, law enforcement, intelligence agencies and the police on a daily basis,” he added. He said the forces also successfully eliminated 73 high-value targets and most-wanted terrorists during the operations.Strategists predict the TSX will hit 28,000 next year
Actor Jimmy O. Yang plays a round of Wild Card and talks to NPR's Rachel Martin about learning how to take compliments and being afraid of oceans.
Late in December 2023, the former top editor of The New York Times’ editorial page, James Bennet, dropped a bombshell in an article for The Economist. “The leadership of the New York Times is losing control of its principles,” he wrote, saying slanted coverage at the institution is “pervasive.” In the article, Bennet talked about the pressures driving what he called “liberal bias” at one of the world’s most influential newspapers. While recounting his final days at The New York Times – he resigned amid controversy in 2020 over an op-ed by Republican Senator Tom Cotton – he also discussed what economists call demand- and supply-side factors behind the rise of media bias. Demand-driven bias happens when newspapers offer slanted news to appeal to readers. Supply-driven bias stems from the ideological leanings of owners or employees. Bennet indicated that both had influenced decision-making at The New York Times. To be fair, not everyone agreed with Bennet’s diagnosis – not least the current leadership at The New York Times. But people across the political spectrum tend to agree that media bias is a problem, and not just at the Times. I wanted to understand which cause of bias mattered more: supply or demand. So I did an experiment. Why I ‘read’ 100,000 articles As an economist who specializes in the economics of digitization, I’ve long been captivated by how new technology empowers editors with unprecedented control. For example, in the old days, it was nearly impossible for newspapers to update their “front pages” after they had been laid out; if you wanted to make a change, you needed to literally stop the presses. But the rise of digital platforms lets editors make updates on a minute-by-minute basis. That helps certain stories remain in the spotlight, subtly guiding public discourse. So, together with my colleague Koleman Strumpf at Wake Forest University, I looked at how this plays out in two of America’s leading newspapers: The New York Times, which people commonly believe leans left, and The Wall Street Journal, which is often viewed as leaning right. We analyzed more than 100,000 articles from both newspapers, as well as 22 million tweets linking to them, to tease out the factors that influence how long articles remain on digital homepages. By controlling for demand-side preferences – as measured by the number of times each story was shared on Twitter, which we used as a proxy for reader interest – we found that supply-side biases were a big factor behind articles being kept on a homepage. In other words, newspapers kept stories prominently placed based on their own political preferences rather than because people were reading it. Two examples from The New York Times Using a machine learning approach, we assigned political scores to each article, with the most Republican-leaning articles scored as “zero” and the most Democratic leaning as “one.” We found that both tweet counts and a publication’s ideological leanings affect how long a given article is kept on the homepage. To illustrate, consider two stories from The New York Times. The first, “For Many Who Marched, Jan. 6 Was Only the Beginning,” published on Jan. 23, 2022, had a clear liberal-leaning tone, describing the event as the “worst attack on American democracy,” garnering it a “pro-Democrat” score of 0.93. The article was published at 3 a.m., featured on the homepage by 6 a.m., garnered around 200 tweet shares by noon, and stayed on the homepage for more than two days. Contrast this with the second article, “At Least 46 Migrants Found Dead in Tractor-Trailer in San Antonio,” published on June 27, 2022. This piece had a more conservative-leaning tone, highlighting Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s criticisms of President Joe Biden. The story, which got a “pro-Democrat” score of just 0.22, was published at 9 p.m., immediately featured on the homepage, and received more than 600 tweet shares within two hours. However, despite its strong engagement, it was removed from the homepage within the next hour. Media bias as a larger phenomenon Of course, unrelated issues like competition from breaking news could have affected how those two articles were placed. But they weren’t isolated cases. We found that on the whole, articles aligning with the political leanings of their respective newspapers – liberal for The New York Times and conservative for The Wall Street Journal – tend to remain on the homepage longer, even after accounting for their popularity. This is clear evidence of supply-driven media bias. Editorial choices aren’t just a response to reader demand; they reflect a publication’s ideological leanings. This influences which stories get highlighted, and which narratives dominate public discourse. (The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal did not respond to requests for comment as of publication time.) Determining whether media bias is caused by supply or demand issues isn’t just an academic game. It has profound real-world implications. Most important, it can help the public understand how competition in the media industry affects bias. If bias is mostly about publications responding to demand, more competition could actually make the problem worse, as outlets vie to cater to the specific preferences of their audiences. On the other hand, if bias is largely supply-driven, competition could be a corrective. That’s because in a competitive market, media outlets have incentives to appeal to the broadest possible audience, which means bias is bad for business. The recent waves of consolidation in the media industry, coupled with the noticeable rise in perceptions of media bias over the past decade, seems to support the supply-side argument. As fewer companies control more of the media landscape, outlets have less of an incentive to maintain a broad, unbiased approach. Tin Cheuk Leung is Associate Professor of Economics, Wake Forest University. The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.None
STONY BROOK, N.Y. (AP) — Joseph Octave scored 24 points as Stony Brook beat Maine 74-72 on Saturday. Octave also added five rebounds for the Seawolves (4-8). Ben Wight shot 4 of 7 from the field and 3 for 3 from the line to add 11 points. CJ Luster II shot 3 for 8 (2 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line to finish with 11 points. Kellen Tynes led the way for the Black Bears (8-6) with 15 points, four assists, four steals and two blocks. Jaden Clayton added 15 points, four assists and three steals for Maine. AJ Lopez finished with 13 points and four assists. Stony Brook went into halftime leading Maine 34-30. Octave put up 10 points in the half. Octave led Stony Brook with 14 points in the second half as his team was outscored by two points over the final half but held on for the victory. Both teams next play Sunday. Stony Brook visits Albany (NY) and Maine plays Boston University at home. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .US equity funds receive big inflows on cool inflation, funding bill, and holiday rally2025 Crucial for Cybersecurity
REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP (RJLF) has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a coalition of manufacturers, businesses, affordable housing interests, and workers seeking to prevent enforcement of South Coast Air Quality Management District regulations that effectively ban certain gas appliances. The plaintiffs, representing thousands of California residents, businesses, and workers, include Rinnai America Corporation , Noritz America Corporation , National Association of Homebuilders , California Manufacturers & Technology Association , California Restaurant Association , California Hotel & Lodging Association , and California Apartment Association , all represented by RJLF and Sean Kneafsey of the Kneafsey Law Firm . Californians for Homeownership is represented by Matt Gelfand , Restaurant Law Center is represented by Angelo Amador , and the California State Pipe Trades Council by McCracken, Stemerman & Holsberry . The coalition's suit asserts that the District's zero-NOx emissions rule for certain appliances, which effectively bans those gas appliances, is preempted by the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) and should be blocked. The District's rule not only effectively mandates the use of electric appliances in new buildings but also forces costly retrofits to electric in existing buildings when appliances are replaced. This rule threatens the reliability and affordability of energy for millions of Californians, will impose enormous costs and disruption on businesses and workers, and will reduce the availability of affordable housing. Earlier this year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that Berkeley, California's ban on gas piping in new buildings was preempted by EPCA ( California Restaurant Association v. City of Berkeley , 89 F.4th 1094 (9th Cir. 2024)) . The District's rule is legally indistinguishable, and the same result applies. "This case is pivotal to reinforcing the federal and state roles in setting national energy policy," said Sarah Jorgensen , lead counsel for the plaintiffs at RJLF. "The District's mandate for electric appliances in both new construction and forced retrofits not only jeopardizes our clients' work, business, and interests but also disregards established federal law. California must comply with the law." The case is Rinnai America Corp. et al. v. South Coast Air Quality Management District , No. 2:24-cv-10482 , in the United States District Court for the Central District of California . About Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP (RJLF) is a national trial firm that handles high-stakes energy, commercial, intellectual property, and white collar disputes. The firm is majority women-owned, reinventing the practice of law without the billable hour in favor of fee arrangements that align client interests. RJLF's attorneys are diverse, exceptionally credentialed, and passionate about trial advocacy. From offices in Silicon Valley, New York , Washington, D.C. , Austin , and Atlanta , the firm tries cases and argues appeals throughout the country. For more information, visit www.reichmanjorgensen.com . Contact Sarah Jorgensen sjorgensen@reichmanjorgensen.com (650) 623-1403 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/reichman-jorgensen-lehman--feldberg-leads-suit-against-south-coast-air-quality-management-districts-effective-ban-on-certain-gas-appliances-302324441.html SOURCE Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLPQatar tribune Agencies Kuwait His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah on Saturday inaugurated the 26th edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup Football Championship at the Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City before Kuwait met Oman in the opening match. The ceremony was attended by a number of dignitaries from Kuwait and the Gulf region including Qatar Olympic Committee President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamaad Al Thani. The event featured a spectacular opening ceremony that showcased artistic performances reflecting both the Gulf heritage of the past and the vision for the future. The ceremony began with an inspiring speech by the tournament sponsor, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, followed by the national anthem of Kuwait. Throughout the opening ceremony, the lives of the people of Kuwait and other Gulf countries were depicted, focusing on their historical relationship with the sea, which served as a source of livelihood for previous generations. Desert life, symbolized by the camel, was also highlighted in a captivating presentation that embraced the tournament’s slogan: “The Future is Gulf.” The event showcased stunning artistic displays that represented the ancient heritage of the Arab Gulf countries, infused with modern artistic elements that conveyed a unified Gulf vision for a bright future. Notably, Gulf boats were featured, symbolizing the region’s present and future. The ceremony merged traditional Gulf folk arts with modern technology, engagingly presenting a common Gulf identity. Kuwaiti artist Bashar Al Shatti and Saudi artist Ayed performed a beautiful artistic operetta set against vibrant backgrounds featuring the championship cup, coffee pot, and incense burner. The event conveyed powerful messages through visual displays that illustrated the unity of the Gulf’s destiny and the shared vision connecting the region’s peoples under one banner. It concluded with a stunning fireworks display that captivated the audience. After 25 glorious tournaments since its inauguration in 1970, the eight national teams of hosts Kuwait, reigning champions Iraq, along with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Yemen and Oman, are all expecting to make an impact from December 21-January 3. Hosts Kuwait have won the tournament an incredible 10 times, but have not lifted the coveted trophy since 1990. Formerly known as the Arabian Gulf Cup, the tournament has been renamed the Khaleeji Zain 26 following a sponsorship agreement signed with the leading technology and digital lifestyle company, Zain, prior to the 25th edition held in Basra two years ago. The first tournament featured four teams – Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the eventual champions Kuwait, and, with the event is organised every two years, four more teams were added over the decades with the UAE in 1972, Oman in 1974, Iraq in 1976, and, finally, Yemen in 2003. Only Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar have featured at every edition of the tournament since inception, with the trio making their 26th appearances in Kuwait from December 21 to January 3. While Kuwait’s 10 titles place them well ahead as the most successful nation, Iraq have won it on four occasions, while Saudi Arabia and Qatar have won it three times each. The UAE and Oman have won it twice, Bahrain have one trophy to their name while Yemen are aiming to make it out of the group stage for the first time in Kuwait this year. Kuwait have hosted the Khaleeji Zain on four previous occasions, the last time coming in 2017/18, and they have won it twice as hosts in 1974 and 1990, the last time they lifted the trophy. The tournament is organised by the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF) in co-ordination with the host nation with a total of 15 matches to be held across the impressive 60,000-capacity Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium and the 15,000-capacity Jaber Al Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah Stadium. Some of the best Arab players of all time have featured at the tournament, with the all-time top-scorer being Kuwait’s legend Jasem Yaqoub who has scored 18 goals, closely followed by Saudi Arabia’s Majed Abdullah and Iraq’s Hussein Saeed who have scored 17 goals each. Saeed scored an incredible 10 goals at the 1979 tournament, the most by a golden boot winner. Copy 22/12/2024 10Trump's 25% tariff would be devastating for Canada — but it would be devastating for the U.S. too, economists say
OnePlus looks like it’s hit another one out of the park with this year’s OnePlus 13 . The enthusiast brand’s latest flagship launched in China in late October, and this week, the company officially announced it will be landing in North America on January 7, 2025 . As one of the first mainstream phones to be powered by Qualcomm’s bleeding-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, it should bring significant improvements in the OnePlus 13’s performance, battery life, and photographic prowess compared to its predecessor. This also puts the OnePlus 13 first in line to challenge Apple’s 2024 flagship. This year, the iPhone 16 Pro has raised the bar with Apple’s A18 Pro chip that powers new Apple Intelligence features and turns the smartphone into a gaming powerhouse. There’s also a clever new Camera Control and studio-quality cinematography features. Does Qualcomm’s latest silicon give the OnePlus 13 enough of an edge, and has the smartphone maker put it to good use? Let’s dig in and find out how these two measure up to each other. OnePlus 13 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: specs OnePlus 13 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: design Although the OnePlus 13 preserves the iconic design language of its predecessors, this year’s entry modernizes things to match an aesthetic that’s now become the norm among flagship smartphone makers: flat sides. That’s a departure from the rounded curves of the OnePlus 12 and prior models , but this new phone is still unmistakably a OnePlus device. It preserves the elegant circular camera bump that’s become a hallmark of the lineup since its introduction on the OnePlus 11 , but also refines it in some interesting ways. For one, the camera ring now stands alone. Gone are the horizontal tangents connecting it to the phone’s side, and the outer ring is considerably more subtle than before. The LED flash has been moved inside the camera bump, and the Hasselblad logo, which went from a full wordmark to a stylized “H” on last year’s model, has been moved out to the edge, above a horizontal line that bisects the camera array. The OnePlus 12 was already a slick-looking smartphone, but the changes in the OnePlus 13 add a new level of class to the design. OnePlus is also making two big changes to its colors this year, departing from last year’s Flowy Emerald and years of green shades in favor of a new blue finish. That was released in China as “Blue Moments,” but it will be dubbed “Midnight Ocean” for the North American release. That’s joined by “Black Eclipse” as the more typical neutral shade (known as “Obsidian Secret Realm” in China). However, we’re getting the company’s third color here this year, with the ordinarily China-exclusive “White Dew Morning Dawn” coming to the U.S. as “Arctic Dawn.” However, there’s more to these than merely colors. Only Black Eclipse will sport the traditional OnePlus finish. Midnight Ocean will be coated in a micro-fiber vegan leather finish — a first for OnePlus — while the Arctic Dawn will use a special coating on the glass to give it a silky smooth finish. We’ll have to wait and see what that last one means for grip and smudge resistance, but it sure sounds nice. Compared to what OnePlus has done this year, the iPhone 16 Pro seems considerably more pedestrian. That’s not to say it doesn’t have a great design, but little has changed on the iPhone front in the past four years. Apple led the way in the move to flat edges with the iPhone 12, and this seems to be the year where everyone else is catching up to that design. Apple switched from stainless steel to titanium for the iPhone 15 Pro lineup in 2023, which reduced the weight and smoothed the sides a bit, but it hasn’t made the same kind of bold design choices that OnePlus has. Even the phone’s colors have been relatively muted over the past two years, with the iPhone 16 Pro available in Natural Titanium, White Titanium, Black Titanium, and Desert Titanium. The first three are exactly what they sound like, while Desert Titanium leans more toward champagne than brown. The OnePlus 13 retains the alert slider in its left-side position after moving it there on last year’s model, while the iPhone 16 Pro similarly sticks with the Action button introduced on the iPhone 15 Pro and adds a new Camera Control button for quickly pulling up the camera and snapping pictures. Apple retains its standard IP68 dust and water resistance rating for immersion in up to 6 meters of water for up to 30 minutes, while OnePlus seriously upped its game this year by giving the OnePlus 13 both IP68 and IP69 ratings — a significant improvement over the relatively weak IP65 of its predecessor. For OnePlus, this IP68 rating means it can hold up in up to 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes, so it’s not rated to go as deep as the iPhone 16 Pro. However, the additional IP69 rating gives it more protection in another area, certifying the OnePlus 13 to handle high-pressure and high-temperature water jets. This means you could power-wash your phone if you wanted to — though please don’t. With a classy look, unique finishes, and an IP69 rating, the OnePlus 13 is the clear winner for this round. Winner: OnePlus 13 OnePlus 13 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: display The OnePlus 13 display remains essentially the same as that of its predecessor. It’s still a 6.8-inch LTPO OLED panel with a 3168 x 1440-pixel resolution and an adaptive refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz. That works out to a pixel density of 510 pixels per inch. The main change in this year’s OnePlus 13 display is a slight increase in brightness — 800 nits of typical brightness compared to 600 nits for the OnePlus 12. The peak brightness is still 4,500 nits, but that’s more than enough for anyone. Even though the specs remain the same, the switch to flat edges on the OnePlus 13 means the screen is also almost entirely flat, so you’ll end up with slightly more of it facing you. There’s technically a very subtle curve at the edges — by definition, it’s a 2.5D quad-curved screen — but don’t expect it to be anywhere near as curvy as the OnePlus 12. Apple’s iPhones never embraced curved screens, and the iPhone 16 Pro is no exception. This year’s model has grown over its predecessor, but the new 6.3-inch display is still smaller than that of the OnePlus 13 (you’ll have to go with the pricier iPhone 16 Pro Max to get something comparable in size) and offers a lower 2622 x 1206-pixel resolution at 460 ppi. That makes it slightly less crisp than OnePlus’ larger screen, but it does get brighter during everyday use, with 1,000 nits of typical brightness. It can also drop to a single nit on the low end, making it ideal when you want to use it in a darker room without overpowering your eyeballs. The iPhone 16 Pro maxes out at 2,000 nits of peak outdoor brightness, which is less than half of what the OnePlus 13 can do on paper, but it’s hard to see this as much more than a spec sheet difference, as we’ve never had any problem seeing the iPhone 16 Pro even in direct sunlight. The bottom line is that both phones offer bright and vivid displays, Full HDR and Dolby Vision support, fast 120Hz refresh rates for buttery smooth scrolling, gorgeous colors, and deep blacks. The primary differences come down to specs like peak brightness and pixel density, which most people won’t notice, and while the OnePlus 13 is larger, size isn’t everything; some folks prefer a more pocketable phone, so we’re calling this one even. Winner: Tie OnePlus 13 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: performance Over the past few years, top-of-the-line flagships have proven how much we’ve reached the point of diminishing returns in performance, and the OnePlus 13 and iPhone 16 Pro prove that even more this year. Both phones are powered by silicon with power far beyond what most folks will need, so the simple answer to which of the two performs better is that it won’t matter as you’re unlikely to push either to its limits. The OnePlus 13 is one of the first mainstream phones on the market to be powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile platform. Apple develops its own chips; this year, it’s the latest A18 Pro inside the iPhone 16 Pro. We’ve done a more detailed comparison of the Snapdragon 8 Elite versus the Apple A18 Pro for those who want to delve into the details, but the differences have more to do with the platform than the performance. For instance, Apple has worked hard to court AAA game developers for the App Store. Last year’s iPhone 15 Pro lineup, powered by the A17 Pro chip, ushered in an era of console-quality games in your pocket, from Resident Evil Village to Assassin’s Creed Mirage . These played well on the A17 Pro chip thanks to Apple’s new GPU technology with hardware-accelerated ray tracing and Metal effect upscaling, and they run even better on the A18 Pro. However, Apple’s coup here wasn’t only in producing groundbreaking silicon, but in convincing game studios to embrace the iPhone . The Adreno GPUs in Qualcomm’s high-end Snapdragon chips can easily compete head-to-head with Apple’s A-series silicon, but you can’t find the same quality of games in the Play Store to prove it. That matters if you’re a hardcore mobile gamer, the iPhone 16 Pro wins, not because it has more capable specs, but because it has better developer support. That’s been Apple’s advantage for years, so it’s not too surprising. Winner: iPhone 16 Pro OnePlus 13 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: battery For non-gamers, the more significant advantage to this year’s chips comes not from raw performance, but from power efficiency. The new 3-nanometer (3nm) manufacturing process used by both Qualcomm and Apple should translate to longer run times between charges. We’ll have to wait and see what this means for the OnePlus 13, but the iPhone 16 Pro disappointed us by barely getting through a day of use. We expect the OnePlus 13 to do much better thanks to its 6,000mAh cell, and it’s probably more fair to compare it to the larger iPhone 16 Pro Max, which we found has fantastic battery life , in this one area. Battery life is still the biggest price one pays for having a smaller phone. Unsurprisingly, OnePlus continues to run circles around Apple — and nearly everyone else — when it comes to charging speeds. The OnePlus 13 supports wired charging speeds up to 100 watts and wireless charging up to 50W. You’ll need to buy OnePlus’ proprietary chargers to take advantage of these speeds, and if past trends continue, we’ll probably “only” get 80W charging in the North American models, but that’s several times faster than what the iPhone 16 Pro officially offers. Apple’s specs say you can recharge an iPhone 16 Pro to 50% in about 30 minutes using a 20W charger. Tests have revealed that a 30W charger shaves about five minutes off that. However, if last year’s OnePlus 12 is anything to go by, 80W charging speeds should get you to 50% in 12 minutes and leave you fully charged in half an hour. Again, you need to use the SuperVOOC charger, but OnePlus includes one in the box. For wireless charging, OnePlus supports standard 15W Qi charging or 50W charging if you opt for its AirVOOC charger. Those speeds are twice as fast as the iPhone 16 Pro, which can reach only 25W with Apple’s proprietary MagSafe charger. You’re stuck at 7.5W with a standard Qi charger, although the iPhone 16 Pro also supports Qi2 for magnetic attachment and 15W charging speeds — something that most Android devices have sadly failed to embrace. While it would have been nice to see Qi2 in the OnePlus 13, even for nothing more than the magnetic attachment features, that’s a minor omission for a phone we can charge up in the time it takes to make a good coffee. Winner: OnePlus 13 OnePlus 13 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: cameras Thanks to its partnership with Hasselblad, OnePlus has delivered impressive cameras on its flagship phones over the past few years. The OnePlus 11 and OnePlus 12 take great photos, and there’s no reason to believe the OnePlus 13 will be any different. If anything, this year’s model should see some improvements in the image pipeline thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite and its AI-powered image signal processor. OnePlus hasn’t leaned into AI and computational photography the way its rivals have, but that doesn’t mean it can’t use what’s already there. We’ll have to wait and see what kind of photos the OnePlus 13 produces, but between the hardware and Hasselblad’s color-tuning algorithms, we’re very optimistic. In terms of raw specs, you’re getting a trio of 50-megapixel (MP) shooters, and while the telephoto lens drops from the 64MP of its predecessor, we think the new sensors OnePlus is using this year will make up for that. The telephoto camera has the same 3x optical zoom, although the ultrawide lens gains an increased 120-degree field of view. We expect the new sensors, combined with Qualcomm’s latest ISP, to deliver better lowlight performance. OnePlus also seems to be taking advantage of the new 480 frames-per-second (fps) slow-motion video capabilities of the Snapdragon 8 Elite. The iPhone 16 Pro is a much more known quantity. It follows Apple’s typical playbook of providing three lenses with year-over-year sensor improvements. However, this time around, the ultrawide camera gets a boost to 48MP, and the iPhone 16 Pro gains the 5x optical zoom that was exclusive to the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max last year. While the ultrawide lens is the one you’ll likely use the least often to take actual photos, Apple’s computational photography engine collects data from that sensor, and more megapixels means more data for it to work with. The ultrawide lens also kicks in for macro shots, and there’s a noticeable improvement there. The iPhone 16 Pro also has a few more tricks up its sleeve. Apple’s new Photographic Styles let you apply a broad collection of advanced filters to your photos, but the best part is that these are entirely nondestructive. In other words, you can switch them up later or remove them entirely if you don’t like them. You can also shoot images in the Apple ProRAW format for advanced editing controls, and the built-in lidar Sensor lets you take depth-mapped night mode portraits. On the video side, the iPhone 16 Pro can also handle 4K Dolby Vision recording at 120 fps, which produces Cinematic Slow Motion playback when pulled down to 24 fps. Lossless ProRes, Log, and the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES) formats support professional work, and there’s a four-mic studio array that powers a new AI-powered Audio Mix feature that can separate background and foreground audio (think of it as a portrait mode for sound). Winner: iPhone 16 Pro OnePlus 13 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: software and updates The OnePlus 13 will ship globally with Android 15 and OxygenOS 15 layered on top (the China version uses Oppo’s ColorOS). OxygenOS has been somewhat controversial over the years, but it’s been steadily improving, and we’ve been pleasantly surprised by OxygenOS 15 . It’s turned out to be less of an iOS clone than Oppo’s ColorOS 15, although it still veers closer to Apple’s side of the fence. It still doesn’t feel as smooth as other platforms, but it’s definitely gotten better. The iPhone 16 Pro comes with iOS 18 out of the box, which will be readily familiar to anyone who has used an iPhone in the past few years. As usual, iOS 18 refines the experience rather than rewriting it. This year’s most significant addition is Apple Intelligence — Apple’s suite of AI tools. While these are rolling out gradually over the course of the iOS 18 life cycle, as of the most recent December iOS 18.2 update, there’s built-in support for AI writing tools, image generation, and even direct integration with ChatGPT to help Siri answer questions it can’t handle on its own. As for updates, OnePlus is now committing to four major Android updates and five years of security updates, which should keep the OnePlus 13 current until at least 2028 or when Android 19 ships. Apple doesn’t make such promises, but it’s never really needed to as it has a proven track record; iPhones were getting four or even five years of software updates in the days when it was rare for most Android phones to see one or two. This makes it a safe bet that the iPhone 16 Pro will make it to at least iOS 22, and possibly even one or two releases beyond that. Winner: Tie OnePlus 13 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: special features After holding out longer than most other big players, Apple and OnePlus are delving more into AI features this year. However, Apple is going all-in with Apple Intelligence while OnePlus is still taking a more measured approach focused predominantly on photography. In OxygenOS 15, the OnePlus 13 gains a suite of AI photo-editing tools, including an AI Eraser, AI Detail Boost, AI Reflection Erase, and AI Unblur. These work much like you’d expect, although they have some work to do before they catch up with Google’s Magic Eraser and Magic Editor. However, these aren’t exclusively OnePlus 13 features; they’re also coming to the OnePlus 12 in the OxygenOS 15 update. On the other hand, Google Gemini support and a new Intelligence Search feature will be limited to the OnePlus 13. Apple Intelligence is a much bolder AI initiative overall. While the photo features are limited to a Magic Eraser-like Clean Up tool, the broader AI features include tools to help you compose and refine text, reply to emails, summarize audio recordings and call transcripts, generate images, and even create custom “Genmoji.” Apple has also partnered with ChatGPT to integrate it into iOS. This includes letting you call it up to help you write emails and other blocks of text to making voice requests via Siri. This also ties into the iPhone 16 Pro’s marquee feature: the Camera Control. As the name suggests, this new button on the lower-right side of the iPhone can be used to call up the camera app, but it also doubles as a sophisticated control system thanks to a two-stage capacitive sensor. A light press will lock autofocus and autoexposure, similar to a DSLR; you then press all the way down to take the picture. You can also slide your finger along the control to adjust parameters such as zoom, exposure, shooting mode, and more. Apple Intelligence comes into the picture through a new Visual Intelligence feature that lets you quickly perform Google Lens-like searches on real-world objects. Hold down the Camera Control and point your iPhone 16 Pro at something like an animal, a plant, a movie poster, a landmark, or even a product, and you can send it off to Google or ChatGPT to get more information about it. The concept isn’t exactly novel, as there have been apps doing this for this for years, but having it built in and only a button press away makes it much more useful. Winner: iPhone 16 Pro OnePlus 13 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: price and availability Following a typical first launch in China on October 31, the OnePlus 13 will be released globally on January 7, 2025 . OnePlus has confirmed that we’ll get the same three colors as the China version with different names: Midnight Ocean, Black Eclipse, and Arctic Dawn. There’s no official word on pricing or storage capacities, but there’s a good chance they’ll be close to last year’s OnePlus 12, which started at $800. The OnePlus 13 sells in three capacities in China: 256GB storage with 12GB of RAM, 512GB with 16GB, and 1TB with 24GB, but a November leak suggests we may not see the largest 1TB/24GB version stateside. That would be in line with the OnePlus 12, which was sold in the same three capacities in China, with only the lower two available internationally. However, OnePlus could surprise us this year as it did with the color options. OnePlus’ white finishes, such as the Glacial White OnePlus 12 , have been primarily exclusive to China. Seeing a global launch of Arctic Dawn is a pretty big deal, which means the 1TB/24GB model may not be far behind. The iPhone 16 Pro launched globally in September. Apple’s smaller Pro model didn’t get the storage bump many were hoping for; it still starts at $999 for 128GB, with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB versions available for $1,099, $1,299, and $1,499, respectively. RAM is standard at 8GB across all capacities, and it’s available in Desert Titanium, Natural Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium. OnePlus 13 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: verdict Like many smartphone comparisons involving Apple, measuring the OnePlus 13 directly against the iPhone 16 Pro is tough. The two phones live in fundamentally different worlds, so it’s an apples-to-oranges comparison (no pun intended). For many folks, the decision between the OnePlus 13 and iPhone 16 Pro was made long ago based on the platform they’ve already invested in. However, if you’re on the fence or looking for a change, these phones each offer something that might tempt you to see how the other side lives. The iPhone 16 Pro is ahead of the pack with a more mature platform and an app ecosystem that takes full advantage of its gaming capabilities. The cameras take excellent pictures, the 5x zoom lets you get up close and personal, and the videography features are unrivaled. Apple’s AI features aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but they’re well ahead of what OnePlus offers. Apple Intelligence is also complemented by the general fit and finish and smooth performance of iOS. Nevertheless, the OnePlus 13 offers a gorgeous and elegant design that’s even more refined than before, plus fun colors with unique finishes. If previous models are anything to go on, the Hasselblad-tuned camera system is sure to be excellent. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip offers performance to spare with new photographic capabilities, and few smartphones can charge up as quickly as anything that OnePlus makes. OxygenOS 15 may not be quite as refined as we’d like yet, but there’s a lot to like here and it’s more ready for prime time than ever before.Q. My new year’s resolution is to clean out my garage and get rid of any pesticides that are expired, not needed, or harmful to wildlife. How do I find out what I should get rid of? Do fertilizers have an expiration date? ANSWER: This is an excellent new year’s resolution! If you have any pesticides that are expired or not needed anymore, make sure they are labelled (hopefully with the original) and place them in a sturdy box so you can take them to your nearest hazardous materials disposal site. Fertilizers don’t really expire, but they may become clumpy and unusable, so these can be disposed of in a similar way. The laws concerning pesticides change frequently, so it’s always a good idea to take inventory and get rid of any chemicals that are no longer considered safe to use. Take note of the active ingredient(s), which should be listed on the front of the container, and look them up on the UC IPM website. There you can find an active ingredient index that will give you information on precautions, how it works, and possible adverse effects, including effects on wildlife. There is also a list of less toxic alternatives that is quite useful. When you are ready to dispose of your old pesticides, fertilizers, and other household chemicals, you can find a drop off site by searching “Household Hazardous Waste + (your county)”. Alternatively, your waste management company’s website should also have this information. Q. What rodenticides are least likely to harm wildlife? We have a terrible rat problem, but I don’t want to hurt the local predators. Realistically, there are no rodenticides that are completely safe for non-target species like owls, bobcats and coyotes. Poisons such as brodifacoum, bromadiolone, and difethialone are single-dose rodenticides. These poisons kill quickly, usually within a day of ingestion. Once eaten, the drug is stored in the liver and prevents blood clotting. Since these drugs are not excreted before the rodent dies, predators and scavengers can be poisoned. If you have any of these rodenticides, please dispose of them properly and do not use them. Older poisons such as warfarin, chlorophacinone, and diphacinone are multiple-dose rodenticides. These are generally considered to be less harmful to wildlife but can cause problems if a predator or scavenger consumes multiple rodents that have been poisoned. To minimize the risk of secondary poisoning to wildlife or pets, follow the instructions on the label closely. Promptly remove and dispose of any dead rodents by sealing in a plastic bag and disposing in a secure trash container. Don’t handle dead rodents with bare hands. Buried rodents can be exhumed by dogs or coyotes. If possible, find other ways to kill rodents. I prefer the electrocution-type traps since they are humane and easy to use. Never use sticky traps outdoors since they are more likely to catch non-target animals and are inhumane. For more information on rat control, see ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/rats/pest-notes/#gsc.tab=0 Related Articles
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REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP (RJLF) has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a coalition of manufacturers, businesses, affordable housing interests, and workers seeking to prevent enforcement of South Coast Air Quality Management District regulations that effectively ban certain gas appliances. The plaintiffs, representing thousands of California residents, businesses, and workers, include Rinnai America Corporation , Noritz America Corporation , National Association of Homebuilders , California Manufacturers & Technology Association , California Restaurant Association , California Hotel & Lodging Association , and California Apartment Association , all represented by RJLF and Sean Kneafsey of the Kneafsey Law Firm . Californians for Homeownership is represented by Matt Gelfand , Restaurant Law Center is represented by Angelo Amador , and the California State Pipe Trades Council by McCracken, Stemerman & Holsberry . The coalition's suit asserts that the District's zero-NOx emissions rule for certain appliances, which effectively bans those gas appliances, is preempted by the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) and should be blocked. The District's rule not only effectively mandates the use of electric appliances in new buildings but also forces costly retrofits to electric in existing buildings when appliances are replaced. This rule threatens the reliability and affordability of energy for millions of Californians, will impose enormous costs and disruption on businesses and workers, and will reduce the availability of affordable housing. Earlier this year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that Berkeley, California's ban on gas piping in new buildings was preempted by EPCA ( California Restaurant Association v. City of Berkeley , 89 F.4th 1094 (9th Cir. 2024)) . The District's rule is legally indistinguishable, and the same result applies. "This case is pivotal to reinforcing the federal and state roles in setting national energy policy," said Sarah Jorgensen , lead counsel for the plaintiffs at RJLF. "The District's mandate for electric appliances in both new construction and forced retrofits not only jeopardizes our clients' work, business, and interests but also disregards established federal law. California must comply with the law." The case is Rinnai America Corp. et al. v. South Coast Air Quality Management District , No. 2:24-cv-10482 , in the United States District Court for the Central District of California . About Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP (RJLF) is a national trial firm that handles high-stakes energy, commercial, intellectual property, and white collar disputes. The firm is majority women-owned, reinventing the practice of law without the billable hour in favor of fee arrangements that align client interests. RJLF's attorneys are diverse, exceptionally credentialed, and passionate about trial advocacy. From offices in Silicon Valley, New York , Washington, D.C. , Austin , and Atlanta , the firm tries cases and argues appeals throughout the country. For more information, visit www.reichmanjorgensen.com . Contact Sarah Jorgensen sjorgensen@reichmanjorgensen.com (650) 623-1403 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/reichman-jorgensen-lehman--feldberg-leads-suit-against-south-coast-air-quality-management-districts-effective-ban-on-certain-gas-appliances-302324441.html SOURCE Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP