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DALLAS — According to a Dallas Police Department report obtained and reviewed by WFAA, tens of thousands of dollars worth of items were stolen from Dak Prescott's fiancé Thursday. The report says Sarah Ramos arrived at a Pilates class Thursday morning, and that she "quickly rushed inside due to the rain." "Due to the haste," the report continues, she "forgot to lock her [vehicle] door." When she returned and entered her vehicle after the class, the report says, several pieces of property had been taken. At this time, the report says, she "was notified that her credit cards were being used at [another] location." The report detailed several pieces of property stolen that amounts to close to $40,000 in estimated worth, including designer handbags and wallets from Chanel, YSL, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada, as well as computer software and cash. The incident occurred the day after Christmas. The theft follows a string of burglaries targeting high-profile athletes like Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Luka Dončić . Security expert Doug Deaton said thieves targeting these athletes are professional thieves. "They will often follow [athlete's] family members from stores, from the supermarket, from the mall, follow [the athletes] from the games, follow [them] to and from your work," he explained. "The biggest thing that I would advise [athletes and their families] to do is to assume they are being observed by professionals because they are." Dallas Police Department sources confirmed to WFAA Sunday that Dončić's home was broken into Friday through his back master bedroom, that they rummaged through the bedroom and bathroom, then got away with a necklace worth $4,000 dollars, three earrings worth $14,000 and four rings worth $,5,000. The Dallas Police Department is investigating both cases.After a thrilling double-overtime win over Fresno State, California Baptist makes the nearly 2,500-mile trip to Orlando to face Central Florida on Sunday. The Lancers (5-3) capped their time at the Acrisure Holiday Invitational in Palm Springs, Calif., with an 86-81 victory over the Bulldogs on Wednesday. That followed a last-second, 79-77 loss to SMU the day before. Dominique Daniels Jr. played 45 minutes against Fresno State and led California Baptist with 29 points. He paces the Lancers with 20.3 points per game, while Kendal Coleman averages 15.1 points and is shooting 59.7 percent form the floor. However, coach Rick Croy's team has struggled from 3-point range, shooting just 30.7 percent entering its first true road game this season. UCF (5-2) is coming off of an 84-76 win over Milwaukee last Wednesday despite being outrebounded 41-31. The Knights were helped by the heroics of senior guard Darius Johnson, who had 28 points as he shot a career-best 8-for-10 from beyond the arc. "Darius was terrific," UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said. "He's so comfortable in his leadership role now, he's leading our team and running the show, and our new players are becoming more comfortable playing with him. He's been a rock for us this season, and you love to see it out of a senior point guard." "I had an extraordinary night shooting the ball from three," Johnson said. "I rarely think that would happen again, but it's great. I know my teammates are going to have nights like that as well." Johnson is among the nation's leaders in minutes per game (36.6) and is shooting a team-high 50 percent from 3-point range (23 of 46). He, along with his fellow guard Jordan Ivy-Curry, are each averaging 16.9 points to lead UCF. The Knights opened the season with an impressive win over Texas A&M, now No. 20 in the AP poll, but lost both games at last weekend's Greenbrier Tip-Off, including a triple-overtime defeat against LSU on Sunday. UCF has not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2018-19. This will be the first meeting between the Knights and the Lancers, who will each have time off afterwards. UCF won't play until Dec. 8 against Tarleton State, while California Baptist is idle until its Dec. 11 game at San Diego State. --Field Level MediaSAN ANTONIO (AP) — Dylan Hayman and Davion Bailey scored 18 points apiece to help Incarnate Word beat Texas Lutheran 99-48 on Sunday. Hayman also contributed six rebounds for the Cardinals (8-5). Bailey shot 6 for 13, including 4 for 10 from beyond the arc. Jordan Pyke scored 15 on 7-for-8 shooting. Mason Wallace led the Bulldogs with 12 points. Kevin Juarez added eight points and six rebounds. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Michigan upsets No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 for Wolverines' 4th straight win over bitter rivalHouse approves $895B defense bill with military pay raise, ban on transgender care for minorsAI, IoT, next-gen tech to drive future growth
TORONTO (AP) — Hannah Miller scored a power-play goal with 1:38 remaining in the game, lifting the Toronto Sceptres to a 3-1 victory over the Boston Fleet in the Professional Women’s Hockey League season opener on Saturday. With Boston standout Hilary Knight in the penalty box for a vicious boarding penalty on Sceptres defender Renata Fast, Miller made good on her rebound attempt on a shot by Daryl Watts with a half-open net. Fast recovered for an assist on the winner before 8,089 fans at Coca-Cola Coliseum. The Fleet challenged the goal, but video review deemed Miller’s shot was good. Sarah Nurse got Toronto on the board with a short-handed tally 11:50 into the first period and Emma Maltais added an empty-net strike with 12 seconds left. Boston’s Hilary Knight opened the scoring 3 minutes in, sending a slap shot past Toronto goalie Kristen Campbell, who registered 18 stops on the night. Toronto outshot Boston 41-19. Boston goalie Aerin Frankel, a big reason why her team advanced to the Walter Cup final last spring, had 38 saves. Takeaways Sceptres: Billie Jean King MVP Natalie Spooner missed the season opener. The PWHL scoring champion underwent left knee surgery in June after getting injured in Game 3 of Toronto’s first-round series against Minnesota. Fleet: Defender Emma Greco played her first game for Boston. She was part of the Walter Cup-winning Minnesota team that defeated Boston in a three-game series last spring. Key moment With the game tied 1-1, the Sceptres failed to score during a 59-second 5-on-3 advantage midway through the second period. Boston blocked five shots during the span. Key stat Last year, Toronto enjoyed an 11-game win streak en route to its regular-season championship, including three wins against Boston. Up next Boston will play its home opener on Wednesday, a rematch with the Walter Cup-champion Minnesota. Toronto visits Ottawa on Tuesday. ___ AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockeyAudiences around the globe are loving the South Korean dystopian thriller series Squid Game for its gripping scenes, intense stunts, and, of course, the iconic games where players must win to survive. One element of the show that stands out is the doll, Young-Hee, who shoots at players caught moving after her countdown. Now, a viral video doing the rounds on social media shows Marvel comics superhero Hulk coming to the rescue. How? In the video, we see Hulk joining the squid games. When Young-Hee notices Hulk, sweat drips down from her forehead; however, he charges toward her and, much to her dismay, proceeds to thrash her. The video has fans of the show going gaga over the fan-edit clip. Watch the viral video below. ‘Squid Game Season 2’ Claims the Top Spot, Dominates Netflix Rankings in 92 Countries. Hulk joins Squid Game! (Credit: MelosQuest) pic.twitter.com/NwtLJ8ixiw — Evil Dead Ash (@AshySlasheeDB) December 29, 2024 When Hulk Joins the Squid Games! when hulk joins squid game #hulk #SquidGame2 pic.twitter.com/dzos5voT03 — AR Entertainment (@ARMedia28524249) December 29, 2024 Marvel Superhero Hulk in ‘Squid Game’ Hulk in Squid Game pic.twitter.com/uEe3NJ0zHL — Mr. Alp (@MrTheAlp) November 17, 2024 Hilarious!! Hilarious 😂 When Hulk joins #SquidGame2 😂 pic.twitter.com/rXtjXGJrhM — 🇮🇳 PREM KUMAR YADAV 🇮🇳 (@Indian_6789) December 29, 2024 LOL! Hulk in Squid Games😂 pic.twitter.com/CQnSuxrvxh — Ajay Krishna X (@AjaykrishnaAJ) December 30, 2024 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter (X), Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)With the S&P 500 continuing to hover around all-time highs, it has become increasingly challenging to find growth stocks that still trade at decent value and also have meaningful catalysts to spark continued earnings growth through 2025, despite a potentially tougher macro Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of NTAP either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
From the return of ‘Hamilton’ to a brilliant guitarist and a star-studded (literally) night in Oakland, there is a lot to see and do in the Bay Area this weekend. The Founding Fathers are back Is it just us, or does a musical about how a group of political leaders put their squabbling ways, personal interests and other matters behind them just long enough to create an American Democracy seem especially relevant right now? Even if you don’t want to look at it that way, “Hamilton,” Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 2015 musical that changed the notion of what a musical could be, is worth seeing. The fast-paced show with rapid-fire, hip-hop-infused numbers, a largely non-white cast and a compelling story wrapped around Founding Father Alexander Hamilton and the creation of the U.S. Constitution, makes for a thrilling night at the theater. And now it’s back in the Bay Area for a four-week run extending into early January. “Hamilton,” based on Ron Chernow’s best-selling biography “Alexander Hamilton,” has been embraced with almost universal acclaim. It became an instant sensation with its off-Broadway opening and continued to generate sold-out audiences when it moved to the Great White Way, eventually garnering a record-breaking 16 Tony Award nominations and 11 trophies, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for drama. Now a new North American tour of the iconic show, which blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and traditional showtunes in what Miranda has described as an exploration of “America then, as told by America now,” is playing at the Orpheum Theatre. Details: Presented by BroadwaySF; through Jan. 5; 1192 Market St.; tickets start at $189; broadwaysf.com. — Randy McMullen, Staff All-world guitarist heading to Yoshi’s Mike Stern will take your breath away. He’s just that good — the type of guitarist who will leave you in awe with his fretboard fireworks, honed through decades of stellar work in the jazz world. But please don’t just take our word on the matter. Instead, put our statement of his greatness to the test by going to see Stern when he performs three shows in two days. Stern, of course, has amazing credentials in the music industry. He came to fame as a member of the popular jazz-rock troupe, Blood, Sweat & Tears, when he was 22. From there, he came under the wing of Billy Cobham, working in the drummer’s fusion group, before getting the call to join Miles Davis’ band. He’s since established himself as a first-tier bandleader in the jazz game, thanks to such fine releases as 1988’s “Time In Place,” 1994’s “Is What It Is” and 2006’s “Who Let the Cats Out?” The guitarist is out on the road with his latest Mike Stern Band ensemble — featuring drummer Dennis Chambers, saxophonist Bob Franceschini, bassist Janek Gwizdala and vocalist-guitarist Leni Stern — in support of the recently released album “Echoes and Other Songs.” Details: 7:30 p.m. Monday and 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Tuesday; Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland; $29-$74; yoshis.com . — Jim Harrington, Staff Stars on parade in Oakland The Perseids are lovely, peaking in mid-August with swift and plentiful fireballs, and October’s Orionids are a delight with their smoky, long-lasting trails. But real meteor-heads look forward to December when it’s time for the Geminids, the strongest annual shower, in terms of action, with more than 100 shooting stars zipping by every hour. The 2024 Geminids meteor shower will peak overnight from Dec. 13 to 14 and, to celebrate, the Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland is holding a watch party for kids and adults. Gather on the center’s observation deck to observe the busy skies and get all your astronomical questions answered by experts — where do the Geminids come from? (Asteroid 3200 Phaethon.) How big are they (pretty much grains of sand) and what might they taste like (perhaps clay or metal)? The viewing conditions aren’t 100 percent optimal this year, with a waxing-gibbous moon providing interference, but the Geminids’ trademark light-bright meteors should still make the show a blast. Note: Bring warm clothing and optional blankets, chairs or sleeping bags. Details: 11 p.m.-3 a.m. Friday; 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland; $15 for adults, $7 for ages 2-12, chabotspace.org . — John Metcalfe, Staff ‘Nutcrackers’ of all kinds With the holiday entertainment season in full bloom, here are some productions of the beloved “Nutcracker” you should know about. San Francisco Ballet ‘Nutcracker’: Helgi Tomasson’s classic adaptation of the work is back; through Dec. 29; War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco; $19-$465; www.sfballet.org . Dorrance Dance “Nutcracker Suite”: Presented by the nation’s preeminent tap company; 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday; Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley; $30-$150; calperformances.org . “The San Jose Nutcracker”: Presented by New Ballet and Symphony San José, set in the South Bay in 1905 and featuring choreography by Dalia Rawson, New Ballet’s founder and artistic director; Saturday through Dec. 23; California Theatre, San Jose; $31.50-$121.50; newballet.com . Mark Foehringer Dance Project: The roughly 1-hour “Nutcracker Sweets” was designed by Foehringer with young viewers in mind; through Dec. 22; Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, San Francisco; $23.50-$59.50; nutcrackersweets.org . San Jose Dance Theatre: The company’s annual production of the “Original San Jose Nutcracker” runs through Sunday; San Jose Center for the Performing Arts; $39.50-$115; www.sjdt.org . — Andrew Gilbert, Correspondent Celebrating holidays in song Looking for a special concert to round out your holiday calendar? Here are three you should know about. “A Chanticleer Christmas”: Founded in 1978 by the late singer and musicologist Louis Botto, Chanticleer continues to set the gold standard for exquisitely sung choral music. From classical favorites to holiday carols, the 12-man vocal ensemble always achieves a radiant blend as they celebrate this special time of year. This season, the group returns under music director Tim Keeler — a countertenor who previously sang with Chanticleer — in a wide-ranging program that begins with a candlelit chant procession and moves to a joyous gospel conclusion. Details: Friday through Dec. 23, with performances in Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, Mill Valley, Petaluma, Sacramento, Santa Clara, and Carmel; $45-$91; chanticleer.org. “Wintersongs”: Kitka, the acclaimed nine-woman vocal ensemble dedicated to the music of the Balkan, Caucasus and Slavic lands, returns with its annual concert following the arc of the “Supra,” a traditional Georgian ritual feast. Details: Through Dec. 22; concerts in Davis, Santa Cruz, Oakland and San Francisco; $36-$56; kitka.org . “Messiah,” American Bach Soloists: It’s a Bay Area tradition: Handel’s masterwork, performed in Grace Cathedral, is one of the great holiday events, and American Bach presents it in all of its splendor. This year, conductor Jeffrey Thomas leads the orchestra and Bach Choir in a performance featuring soprano Mary Wilson, countertenor Eric Jurenas, tenor Jon Lee Keenan, baritone Jesse Blumberg, and the company’s Bach Choir. Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Grace Cathedral, San Francisco; $25-$135; americanbach.org . — Georgia Rowe, Correspondent Austen for the holidays Jane Austen is justifiably revered for a great many things: her exquisite prose, her savvy critique of the British upper class, her emotionally satisfying romantic storylines. But she has rarely been thought of the go-to author for the winter holidays. But TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, along with Bay Area playwrights Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon, may have changed all that. The Palo Alto stage company is presenting Gunderson and Melcon’s Austen-themed work, “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley” as its holiday stage show this year. The comedic rom-com is described as a sequel to Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” and, as the title makes clear, it is set during the holiday time. The play focuses on the middle Bennet daughter, (the “bookish” Mary, as organizers put it) who is weary of always being in the middle of her siblings’ romantic issues until a dishy new visitor arrives at Pemberley to light up her world. Having scored with audiences in a trio of Austen adaptations – “Pride and Prejudice,” “Sense and Sensibility,” and “Emma” – you can’t blame TheatreWorks for returning to the beloved author, as well as acclaimed playwrights Gunderson and Melcon, for some holiday cheer. Directed by Jeffrey Lo, “Miss Bennett” plays at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto through Dec. 29. Details: $34-$115; theatreworks.org . — Bay City News Foundation Some perky Prokofiev We always expect the San Francisco Youth Symphony to bring families a rousing performance of Sergei Prokofiev’s charming “Peter and the Wolf” every holiday season, but we don’t know until the date approaches what celebrity will be picked to fill the narrator’s shoes. Past performers have included Sharon Stone, Linda Ronstadt, Robin Williams, Bobby McFerrin and Rita Moreno. This year, it’s the Filipino American Broadway star of “Aladdin” and current host of the kids TV series “Blues, Clues and You” Josh Dela Cruz who will be telling the tale of the plucky boy, his animal friends and the unlucky duck who gets swallowed whole. The concert, conducted by Radu Paponiu, takes place at 2 p.m. Sunday in San Francisco’s Davies Hall. There are other fun works on the program, including the “Thunder and Lightning Polka” by Johan Strauss, Jr., and it will wind up with a traditional holiday carol singalong. Details: $37.50-$199; sfsymphony.org . — Bay City News Foundation
US rushes to uncover new information on whereabouts of Austin Tice after collapse of Syrian regime
Denmark sees “huge potential” in investing in the Philippine shipbuilding industry, the European country’s ambassador said on Monday, noting that the move can easily create 2,000 new jobs here. Denmark is expected to “explore that in the spring of next year,” Danish Ambassador to the Philippines Franz-Michael Mellbin said in a chance interview. “We are looking at shipbuilding as one of the huge potential [in investments here],” he said. “I think this could be a breakthrough moment for the Philippines,” he said. You only have 2,000 people employed in the shipbuilding sector. I think that could double,” he said. Denmark has been consistent in supporting the Philippines’ rights and stance against China’s illegal presence and aggression in the West Philippine Sea. When asked how Copenhagen can support Manila in terms of beefing ups its capabilities in the West Philippine Sea, Mellbin said: “I think we will go at that in a different way in how some of your partners have been giving you ships.” “We believe you have the capability to build those ships yourselves. It will be part of the ship building initiative. It will be part of the success story,” he said. “If it proves successful? We will find out next year. [But] I am hopeful. I see the potential. I think the Filipino sees that also,” he said. Another Danish company “wants to make a very big investment in making green biofuels here,” Mellbin. “They are gonna go where there are biofuels, obviously, that’s not gonna be central Manila,” he said. “You go down to Mindanao, you have big plantations, you have a lot of green, you have a lot of more viable place to have that kind of business,” he said. Meantime, the Philippines and Denmark signed an agreement to put up Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes which is a big burden for the Filipino health system. There will be “specialized expert centers” for non-communicable diseases and an “exchange of medical information, including tips for health services,” the Ambassador said. As of 2023, bilateral trade between the Philippines and Denmark was pegged at $356.4 million, but the deficit is pegged at $181.9 million, data from the Philippine Trade Department showed. Last year, approved Danish investments in the Philippines was pegged at $2 million. “Danish companies are making huge investments in the Philippines but they are also doing it in those areas where the Philippines has been good at cutting red tape and streamlining processes and making sure that the business environment became more positive,” Mellbin. “Unfortunately the Philippines does not rank high in terms of doing business. There is still a lot more that the government needs to do,” he said. “If the Philippines makes it easier to invest, investors will come.” Investors are also looking for countries with a stable political landscape, said the Ambassador, who earlier said that he was “deeply concerned” over Vice President Sara Duterte’s threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “Political stability is important for all investors because it creates the environment where you can have a long term view,” he said. “It wasn’t the right direction to take. This country has had enough political violence in its past,” he said. “We do not believe in political violence. We do not believe that we should be passive or quiet.” Source: ABS-CBN
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Greg McGarity had reason to be concerned. The Gator Bowl president kept a watchful eye on College Football Playoff scenarios all season and understood the fallout might affect his postseason matchup in Jacksonville. What if the Southeastern Conference got five teams into the expanded CFP? What if the Atlantic Coast Conference landed three spots? It was a math problem that was impossible to truly answer, even into late November. Four first-round playoff games, which will end with four good teams going home without a bowl game, had the potential to shake up the system. The good news for McGarity and other bowl organizers: Adding quality teams to power leagues — Oregon to the Big Ten, Texas to the SEC and SMU to the ACC — managed to ease much of the handwringing. McGarity and the Gator Bowl ended up with their highest-ranked team, No. 16 Ole Miss, in nearly two decades. "It really didn't lessen our pool much at all," McGarity said. "The SEC bowl pool strengthened with the addition of Texas and Oklahoma. You knew they were going to push traditional SEC teams up or down. Texas ended up pushing just about everyone down." The long waiting game was the latest twist for non-CFP bowls that have become adept at dealing with change. Efforts to match the top teams came and went in the 1990s and first decade of this century before the CFP became the first actual tournament in major college football. It was a four-team invitational — until this year, when the 12-team expanded format meant that four quality teams would not be in the mix for bowl games after they lose next week in the first round. "There's been a lot of things that we've kind of had to roll with," said Scott Ramsey, president of the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee. "I don't think the extra games changed our selection model to much degree. We used to look at the New York's Six before this, and that was 12 teams out of the bowl mix. The 12-team playoff is pretty much the same." Ramsey ended up with No. 23 Missouri against Iowa in his Dec. 30 bowl. A lot of so-called lesser bowl games do have high-profile teams — the ReliaQuest Bowl has No. 11 Alabama vs. Michigan (a rematch of last year's CFP semifinal), Texas A&M and USC will play in the Las Vegas Bowl while No. 14 South Carolina and No. 15 Miami, two CFP bubble teams, ended up in separate bowls in Orlando. "The stress of it is just the fact that the CFP takes that opening weekend," Las Vegas Bowl executive director John Saccenti said. "It kind of condenses the calendar a little bit." Bowl season opens Saturday with the Cricket Celebration Bowl. The first round of the CFP runs Dec. 20-21. It remains to be seen whether non-CFP bowls will see an impact from the new dynamic. They will know more by 2026, with a planned bowl reset looming. It could include CFP expansion from 12 to 14 teams and significant tweaks to the bowl system. More on-campus matchups? More diversity among cities selected to host semifinal and championship games? And would there be a trickle-down effect for everyone else? Demand for non-playoff bowls remains high, according to ESPN, despite increased focus on the expanded CFP and more players choosing to skip season finales to either enter the NCAA transfer portal or begin preparations for the NFL draft. "There's a natural appetite around the holidays for football and bowl games," Kurt Dargis, ESPN's senior director of programming and acquisitions, said at Sports Business Journal's Intercollegiate Athletics Forum last week in Las Vegas. "People still want to watch bowl games, regardless of what's going on with the playoff. ... It's obviously an unknown now with the expanded playoff, but we really feel like it's going to continue." The current bowl format runs through 2025. What lies ahead is anyone's guess. Could sponsors start paying athletes to play in bowl games? Could schools include hefty name, image and likeness incentives for players participating in bowls? Would conferences be willing to dump bowl tie-ins to provide a wider range of potential matchups? Are bowls ready to lean into more edginess like Pop-Tarts has done with its edible mascot? The path forward will be determined primarily by revenue, title sponsors, TV demand and ticket sales. "The one thing I have learned is we're going to serve our partners," Saccenti said. "We're going to be a part of the system that's there, and we're going to try to remain flexible and make sure that we're adjusting to what's going on in the world of postseason college football." Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Letter to the Year 2024
NEW YORK (AP) — The leaders of Kamala Harris' presidential campaign insist they simply didn't have enough time to execute a winning strategy against Donald Trump , pointing to “ferocious" political headwinds that were ultimately too much to overcome in the 107-day period after President Joe Biden stepped aside . Harris' leadership team, speaking on the “Pod Save America” podcast that aired on Tuesday, defended strategic decisions over the campaign's closing days, some of which have faced scrutiny in the weeks since Trump's decisive victory . Specifically, they defended Harris' outreach to Republican voters, her unwillingness to distance herself from Biden, her silence on Trump's attacks on her transgender policies and her inability to schedule an interview with popular podcaster Joe Rogan. “In a 107-day race, it is very difficult to do all the things you would normally do in a year and a half, two years,” said Harris campaign senior adviser Jen O'Malley Dillon. David Plouffe, another senior adviser, added, “There was a price to be paid for the short campaign." The pointed reflections on Harris' loss came just before she declared she was “proud of the campaign we ran” during a conference call with supporters as the party begins a painful process of self-examination. Trump won every swing state and made gains among key voting groups traditionally aligned with Democrats — young voters and voters of color, among them. Backed by the resounding win, the Republican president-elect is claiming a mandate to enact his populist agenda as he prepares to return to the White House on Jan. 20. Harris acknowledged her defeat during the conference call, but praised the political organization her team built that featured more than 408,000 volunteers who knocked on nearly 20 million doors and made over 219 million phone calls. “What we did in 107 days was unprecedented,” she said, noting that her campaign also raised more than $1.4 billion, which marks a record for U.S. presidential campaigns. Still, Harris' campaign finished the election in debt . And none of the Harris advisers acknowledged any mistakes during the wide-ranging podcast interview hosted by former Democratic operatives. Instead, they indicated that Harris had few options given the compressed timeframe and the broad anti-incumbent headwinds that have challenged elected officials across the world. They also gave Trump's team some credit. They specifically pointed to Trump's closing attack ad, which highlighted Harris' support for taxpayer-funded sex reassignment surgeries for transgender prisoners. “Obviously, it was a very effective ad at the end,” said Harris deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks. “I think that it made her seem out of touch.” The campaign tested several potential response ads but, in the end, decided it was best to avoid a specific rebuttal. “There’s no easy answers to this,” O'Malley Dillon said. Plouffe said he thought the Trump attack ad against “Bidenomics” was even more effective, but he acknowledged that the transgender attacks were not helpful. “She was on tape," he said. "Surgery for trans people who want to transition in prison was part of the Biden-Harris platform in 2020. It was part of what the administration did, right?” And while the campaign has faced lingering questions about its media strategy, Harris' team said she actually wanted to participate in a podcast with Rogan, who is among the world's most popular podcasters and ultimately endorsed Trump. Stephanie Cutter, another Harris senior adviser, said the campaign wasn't able to “find a date” to make it work. “We had discussions with Joe Rogan’s team. They were great. They wanted us to come on. We wanted to come on,” she said. “Will she do it sometime in the future? Maybe. Who knows. But it didn’t ultimately impact the outcome one way or the other.” Plouffe noted that the campaign offered to do the Rogan podcast on the road in Austin, Texas. Trump ultimately did his interview with Rogan in the podcaster's studio. Harris' campaign brass also defended her decision to court moderate Republicans in the campaign's closing days. The decision has drawn ire from some progressives, who believe Harris should have worked harder to turn out more traditional Democratic voters. “This political environment sucked, OK? We were dealing with ferocious headwinds,” Plouffe said. “So we had a complicated puzzle to put together here in terms of the voters.” He acknowledged some “drift” toward Trump among non-college-educated voters, particularly voters of color, which made Harris' outreach to moderate voters even more important. “Yes, of course, you have to maximize your turnout and your vote share amongst liberal voters if you’re a Democrat. That was a huge focus,” he said. He added, “You’ve got to couple that with dominating in the middle. Not just winning it a little. We have to dominate the moderate vote." Speaking on Tuesday's conference call, Harris' running mate Tim Walz described the election result as “incredibly disappointing” and “a bit scary." But he praised the campaign's effort. “There will be a day of reckoning when it will be asked, ‘What did you do during the 2024 campaign?’ Well, I know the people on this call can say, everything they possibly could,” Walz said. “And for that, as an American, I’m incredibly grateful.”Bowls miss out in 4 CFP teams in latest postseason twistPalghar MIDC Fire: Blaze Erupts at 2 Chemical Factories in Boisar-Tarapur Area in Maharashtra, Fire Under Control; No Injuries Reported (Watch Video)
Young mum got violent with her boyfriend after they went out on the townThree aviation mishaps occurred in different locations across the globe within a span of few hours with the deadliest taking place in South Korea where 179 people died after Jeju Air’s Boeing 737-800 aircraft belly-landed and skidded off the end of the runway to erupt in flames hitting a wall at Muan International Airport on Sunday. The ill-fated plane was carrying 181 passengers, including six crew members, when the mishap occurred at the airport, marking one of the deadliest aviation crashes in the country. Authorities told Yonhap news agency that 179 people died in the accident. 🚨 #BREAKING UPDATE: New video shows Boeing 737 attempting to land without landing gear in South Korea before EXPLODING with 181 people on board Holy CRAP. https://t.co/EGTxZj6LKS pic.twitter.com/StkBbECRxK Two passengers were rescued from the aircraft which met with the tragedy at around 9 am. It is the deadliest aviation accident ever on South Korean soil, and the third-most fatal by death toll involving a South Korean airline, reported Yonhap news agency. The two rescued passengers were transported to hospital for treatment. A firefighting agency official told Yonhap: “After the plane collided with the wall, passengers were thrown out of the aircraft. The chances of survival are extremely low.” The official said the aircraft was nearly completely damaged following the accident. “It is difficult to identify the deceased,” the official said. According to reports, the passengers were all South Koreans except two Thai nationals. Officials told Yonhap that they believe that the landing gear failure, possibly due to a bird strike, may have caused the accident. An investigation into the incident is currently underway. One of the survivors says he was already rescued when he woke up A survivor of the Jeju Air crash, whose surname is Lee, told doctors was already rescued when he woke up. The survivor was a flight attendant in the crash aircraft. “When I woke up, I had already been rescued,” he told doctors at the hospital, according to its director Ju Woong, who spoke during a press briefing as quoted by Yonhap. Passengers narrowly escape after Canadian flight catches fire In another aviation mishap that occurred in another corner of the globe, passengers on a Canadian flight went through scary moments after the plane caught fire while facing landing difficulties at Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Goffs region on Sunday. According to reports, the Air Canada Express flight operated by PAL Airlines, which arrived from Newfoundland, experienced landing gear failure at the time of touchdown. No casualty has been reported in the incident so far. 🚨 JUST IN: Air Canada flight lands in Halifax with a broken landing gear, resulting in the wing scraping the runway causing a fire The airport is currently CLOSED. This comes just hours after a Boeing 737 attempted a landing without warning extending its gear in South Korea,... pic.twitter.com/Givga3hDEn The airport was temporarily closed following the incident. Passenger Nikki Valentine told CBC News that one of the plane’s tires did not deploy properly upon landing. “The plane started to sit at about a 20-degree angle to the left and, as that happened, we heard a pretty loud — what almost sounded like a crash sound — as the wing of the plane started to skid along the pavement, along with what I presume was the engine,” she said. Dutch plane skids off runway in Norway after emergency landing Hours before the South Korean aviation tragedy, an Amsterdam-bound flight skidded off the runway at Oslo Torp Sandefjord Airport in southern Norway after it experienced a technical malfunction shortly after takeoff. All 182 passengers, including the crew of the flight, remained unharmed. 🚨 NEW: A KLM Boeing 737 made an emergency landing and skidded off the runway in Oslo, Norway due to a malfunction in its hydraulic system Pilots noticed the issue soon after takeoff at around 4,900ft, and quickly diverted to a nearby airfield It’s not yet known what caused the... pic.twitter.com/g9vtvJB4um Sharing details about the flight, the Norwegian Police earlier wrote on its website: “A passenger plane en route from Oslo to Amsterdam has made an emergency landing at Torp Airport after a report of a hydraulic failure.” “The plane has landed on the runway,” police said. All passengers of the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines-operated Boeing 737-800 were evacuated from the flight. Meanwhile, KLM has decided to send a flight to Oslo to pick up the passengers stranded in the airport, media reports said. Several videos of the flight are currently going viral on social media platforms.
My dear 2024, Letter writing may be a lost art in this digital age, yet there are moments when the weight of reflection demands the intimacy of a letter. So, dear 2024, consider this a heartfelt note from a Nigerian seeking to encapsulate the whirlwind of emotions, events, and transformations that have unfolded over the past twelve months. As I pen down these words, I do so with the awareness that you are not an ordinary year. Your arrival brought hope, but as the days rolled, that hope was replaced with hardship, struggle, perseverance and lessons. In this letter, as tricky as it may be, I will attempt to recount the key events that shaped you – the milestones that defined not only my life but the collective experience of a nation grappling with economic hardship, political uncertainty, and social upheaval. Nigeria stands at a crossroads, and you will be remembered as a year that tested our spirit and resolve. This is not just a recollection of facts but a narrative of survival in a land where, at times, the future seemed uncertain. You were, indeed harsh, but we, the Nigerian people, have shown remarkable resilience and perseverance. Despite the economic hardships you brought, with inflation, unemployment, and rising living costs affecting all, we have stood strong. Your visitation of economic hardships worsened by 34-40% inflation rate and supply chain disruptions, an embarrassing unemployment rate of 40%, and rising living costs affected both the high and the low. Almost all households felt your pinch. Nigeria›s food inflation rate rose to close to 40% by mid-year, pushing millions into poverty. National Bureau of Statistics reports indicated that over 71 million Nigerians faced food insecurity by the third quarter. The exchange rate rose by over 60%. Yet, amid these challenges, the Nigerian people showed remarkable resilience and perseverance. To put it into context, essential commodities such as rice, maize, and garri doubled in price within months. The petrol price fluctuated between ₦700 to ₦1200 per litre, severely impacting transportation and logistics. Even sachet water, popularly called ‹pure water›, became a luxury for many, reflecting the depth of economic strain. You made our economic thinkers and planners look clueless. Thank God we, the people, showed understanding with them. You brought needless political contentions –the Rivers crisis, contentious elections in Edo and Ondo states, the Kano Emir drama, the Old-New-Old national anthem, and “Endbadgovernance”demonstrations. An attempt to reform our tax system highlighted our stubborn ethnic fault lines. You were not short of drama, both relevant and irrelevant. The reinstatement of the old national anthem left citizens divided, as critics viewed it as distracting from pressing governance issues. However, amid these contentions, the Nigerian people stood united, showing remarkable solidarity. Despite the divisive nature of some of these events, we have remained a united front. Poverty and hunger became our companions, resulting in three deadly stampedes during palliative distributions in Oyo, Anambra, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), leaving no fewer than 60 people dead. Unemployment among the youth reached over 45%, with many university graduates resorting to menial jobs or leaving the country in search of greener pastures, contributing to the ongoing ‹Japa› wave. At the global scene, you delivered historic elections and global unrest. People in more than 60 countries— representing almost 50 per cent of the world’s population—went to the polls during the year. Voters in Mexico and the United Kingdom picked new leaders, while a former U.S. president was invited by voters back to the White House. In Nigeria, voter turnout in local elections dipped to a record low of 28%, reflecting growing disillusionment with governance. This disinterest was amplified by widespread insecurity, with over 1,500 reported cases of abduction and banditry disrupting daily life. Villages in Zamfara, Kaduna, and Borno faced relentless attacks, forcing thousands into internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. “Lakurawa” gained a strong foothold in parts of North-West states. Some strange things happened that we did not foresee. Greece extended adoption rights to same-sex couples, and Thailand legalised same-sex marriage, becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to do so. You gave LGBTQ+ rights activists something to celebrate. This felt strange in this part of the world, where same-sex relations remain criminalised, and social acceptance lags far behind. In Nigeria, lawmakers intensified efforts to uphold conservative values, with proposed bills aimed at further restricting LGBTQ+ rights. The disparity in cultural values highlighted the widening gap between regions of the world, reflecting the complex layers of societal evolution. You saw the world in turmoil, and the Russian vs Ukraine war continued unabated. This war brought about lots of military posturing, leading some to fear nuclear conflict between Russia and NATO. The conflict between Israel, Hamas, and Iran ramped up to greater heights. The Middle East is in commotion, with the war extending to Lebanon and Israel vowing not to stop until it wipes Hamas and Hezbollah out. Iran has shown its willingness to confront Israel, framing itself as the watchdog of the Middle East against Israel’s aggression. You also witnessed the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, raising fears of extremist groups seizing power. Reports from the UN suggested that over 300,000 Syrian refugees fled to neighbouring countries by year-end, adding to the growing refugee crisis. But amid it all, you allowed some of my compatriots to think and look at things differently, to learn that hard work does not kill and bad governance is for a season. Despite the odds, small businesses grew by 7% in sectors like agriculture and technology, offering a glimmer of hope. Despite the increase in tariffs and persistent collapse of the national grid, there has been a marginal improvement in power output in homes and factories. The healthcare sector witnessed significant transformation in the past few months of 2024 because of incisive, superlative reforms and programmes. So far, 53,000 health workers have been re-trained—an impressive number—to deliver integrated, high-quality services. The Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Initiative, which offers free caesarean sections to all eligible Nigerian women meeting the criteria, and the Nigeria Climate Change and Health Vulnerability and Adaptation (V&A) Assessment Report were launched. These initiatives represent a step forward in our healthcare system, offering hope for the future. Your successor, 2025, is shaping up to be quite the mixed bag — it’s like the year is expecting a baby, but no one knows if it’ll be a bundle of joy or a handful of trouble. Nigeria is trying really hard to stop putting all its eggs in the oil basket. There’s a lot of noise about agriculture, tech, and manufacturing stepping up. With this African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) getting more action, we might see Nigeria flexing as West Africa’s trade big brother. But let’s be honest — oil and gas aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. The Dangote Refinery finally kicking into gear might help us cut down on those expensive imported petroleum products. If it plays out right, that could mean fewer trade deficits and more jobs, which we desperately need. But you know how it is with oil — prices are like Lagos traffic, unpredictable and everywhere. Plus, the world’s moving towards greener energy, so we’ve got to figure out how to keep the money flowing long-term. Now, on the money front, I won’t sugarcoat it. Inflation and the exchange rate will probably keep dancing around, and not in a fun way. The Central Bank will try to keep things under control, but they’ll need serious foreign investment and more non-oil exports to make it work. The tech space is looking exciting, though. With all these young, sharp minds and everyone glued to their phones, Lagos and Abuja are becoming mini–Silicon Valley — fintech, e-commerce, aggrotech, you name it. Politically, Nigerians are still out here demanding real change. Anti-corruption will stay a hot topic — we’re all tired of the same old stories. There’s also this growing pressure for electoral reforms and better public services. Civil society is getting louder, and I’m here for it. But security? Whew. That’s going to be a big one. Between insurgency in the Northeast, banditry up North, and secessionist noise in the Southeast, the government has its hands full. It will take more than military action — they must dig into why these issues keep popping up. On top of that, some states are pushing harder for more control over their resources and policies. The whole decentralisation and restructuring debate might heat up. Meanwhile, you can bet politicians are already gearing up for 2027. Alliances will shift — it’s like watching chess, but with higher stakes. Look, Nigeria has its share of problems—inequality, environmental issues, governance struggles. But the potential? It’s huge. We’ve got the people and the energy, and if we can channel it right, the sky’s the limit. Here’s hoping 2025 is more of a blessing than a headache. As I look ahead to 2025, I do so with cautious optimism. While the road ahead remains uncertain, I am reminded that even in the darkest of times, resilience shines through. So, to everything we have passed through, thank you, 2024, for setting us free. 2025, if you’re reading, please be more liberal to us as a nation and as a people. May our leaders listen more and apply more wisdom. May 2025 usher in real hope, stability, and progress for Nigeria and the world. Wishing Nigerians a happy, peaceful, and prosperous new yearWASHINGTON - Donald Trump threatened the United States's closest neighbours with big tariffs this week, in a move that has reminded many of the unpredictable tactics the president-elect deployed during his first tenure in the White House. Read this article for free: Already have an account? As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Starting at $14.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! WASHINGTON - Donald Trump threatened the United States's closest neighbours with big tariffs this week, in a move that has reminded many of the unpredictable tactics the president-elect deployed during his first tenure in the White House. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? WASHINGTON – Donald Trump threatened the United States’s closest neighbours with big tariffs this week, in a move that has reminded many of the unpredictable tactics the president-elect deployed during his first tenure in the White House. Trump said Monday he would use an executive order to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all goods coming from Canada and Mexico until the two countries stop drugs and migrants from illegally crossing the U.S. border. The announcement, made on Truth Social, brought swift responses from officials and industry in both countries who are bracing for chaos during Trump’s second tenure. He has long used the threat of import taxes to pressure other countries to do his bidding, saying this summer that “the most beautiful word in the dictionary is ‘tariff.'” It’s unlikely the move would violate the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, which was negotiated during the first Trump administration. Laura Dawson, an expert on Canada-U. S. relations and the executive director of the Future Borders Coalition, said the president can impose tariffs under his national security powers. This type of duty has a time limit and can only be made permanent through Congressional approval, but for Trump, national security powers are like a “get out of jail free card,” Dawson said. “This is exactly what happened in the last Trump administration,” Dawson said. “Everyone said, ‘Well, that is ridiculous. Canada is the U.S.’s best security partner. What do you mean our steel and aluminum imports are somehow a source of insecurity?'” But within the global trade system, she said, no country challenges another’s right to define their own national security imperatives. Trump’s first administration demonstrated how vulnerable Canada is to America’s whims when the former president scrapped the North American Free Trade Agreement. The U.S. is Canada’s closest neighbour and largest trading partner. More than 77 per cent of Canadian exports go to the U.S. Negotiation of CUSMA, commonly dubbed “the new NAFTA,” was a key test for Ottawa following Trump’s first victory. The trilateral agreement is up for review in 2026 and experts suspect this week’s tariff announcement is a negotiating tactic. Scott Bessent, Trump’s pick for treasury secretary, said in a recent op-ed that tariffs are “a useful tool for achieving the president’s foreign policy objectives.” “Whether it is getting allies to spend more on their own defence, opening foreign markets to U.S. exports, securing co-operation on ending illegal immigration and interdicting fentanyl trafficking, or deterring military aggression, tariffs can play a central role.” During the initial CUSMA negotiations in 2018, Trump floated the idea of a 25 per cent tariff on the Canadian auto sector — something that would have been crippling for the industry on both sides of the border. It was never implemented. At the time, he did use his national security powers to impose a 25 per cent tariff on steel and 10 per cent tariff on aluminum imports, casting fear of an all-out trade war that would threaten the global economy. The day after announcing those levies, Trump posted on social media “trade wars are good, and easy to win.” Former U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer recounted in his book that the duties sent an “unmistakable signal that business as usual was over.” “The Trump administration was willing to ruffle diplomatic feathers to advance its trade agenda.” It led to a legendary clash between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Trump at the G7 in Quebec. Trudeau said Canada would impose retaliatory measures, saying the argument that tariffs on steel and aluminum were a matter of national security was “kind of insulting.” Trump took to social media, where, in a flurry of posts he called Trudeau “very dishonest and weak.” Canada and other countries brought their own duties against the U.S. in response. They targeted products for political, rather than economic, reasons. Canada hit yogurt with a 10 per cent duty. Most of the product impacted came from one plant in Wisconsin, the home state of then-Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. The European Union, Mexico and Canada all targeted U.S. whiskey products with tariffs, in a clear signal to then Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his home state of Kentucky’s bourbon industry. Ultimately, Canada and Mexico were able to negotiate exemptions. Carlo Dade, the director of trade and trade infrastructure at the Canada West Foundation, said Trump is returning to the White House with more experience and a plan. But he suspects Americans will not like the blow to their bank accounts. Trump’s new across-the-board tariff strategy would not only disrupt global supply chains, it would also cause a major shakeup to the American economy. It’s unclear if Trump will go through with them, or for how long, after campaigning on making life more affordable and increasing the energy market. “I think it will be short-term,” Dade said. “The U.S. can only inflict damage on itself for so long.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024. — With files from The Associated Press Advertisement Advertisement