WARMINGTON: Jagmeet Singh gets away with 'older white men’ comment while Grapes and others cancelledSuit filed against Silkbank-UBL merger proposal UBL building external view seen in this image. — Facebook@UBLUnitedBankLtd/File KARACHI: Park View Enclave (Private) Limited has filed a suit in the Sindh High Court against Shaukat Fayaz Tarin and other parties about the proposed amalgamation of Silkbank Limited with and into United Bank Limited, a bourse filing said on Thursday. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); “Park View Enclave (Private) Limited has filed Suit No 1384 of 2024 (suit) in the Sindh High Court at Karachi against Shaukat Fayaz Tarin and others in connection with the proposed amalgamation of Silkbank Limited with and into United Bank Limited (UBL) pursuant to a scheme of amalgamation to be sanctioned by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) under Section 48 of the Banking Companies Ordinance, 1962,” UBL said in a notice sent to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). “UBL has also been impleaded in the suit as a defendant,” the bank added. Earlier this month, the bank’s board of directors approved the Silkbank merger into UBL through a share swap arrangement.
'Teachers Have A Duty To Shape Good Human Beings,' Says RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat At 70th Somalwar Shikshan Sanstha Foundation Day; VIDEOFormer ByteDance Intern Accused of Sabotage Among Winners of Prestigious AI AwardAP News Summary at 2:05 p.m. EST
Jets running back Hall 'looks promising' to play vs. Jags, but cornerback Reed is doubtfulNAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Three African politicians seeking to head the African Union detailed their plans on Friday for regional security amid conflicts and political coups while strongly advocating for inter-Africa trade among other issues. Raila Odinga of Kenya, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti and Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar are seeking to be elected as chairperson for the 55-member state African Union. They participated in a two-hour debate Friday in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa in which they all advocated for two permanent seats for African countries in the U.N. Security Council to effectively represent the continent with the youngest population. Odinga said that two permanent seats with veto power were “a must for Africa” and that this was “only fair” since the continent has more than 50 countries. Randriamandrato urged member states to cease the opportunity and “speak with one voice on the choice of who will represent Africa in the UNSC.” The three are seeking to convince most African countries before the February election to succeed African Union Chairperson Moussa Faki, who has served for two terms. The African Union has faced several challenges that include conflict in member countries and political coups that have seen five member states expelled from the union, making regional security a major theme in Friday’s debate. Youssouf said that regional security could be enhanced if the resources for a regional standby force were increased to reduce the overreliance on foreign partnerships for resources. “When there is no unity of purpose among neighboring countries peace will be compromised,” Youseff said. Randriamandrato encouraged countries to take charge of their internal security while cautioning that foreign military bases should be “a thing of the past” because they “could be a source of conflict.” Despite the continent’s young population of 1.3 billion that is set to double by 2050, regional trade has faced challenges that were addressed in the Friday debate. Odinga said that Africa had a “huge domestic market” that it could leverage on for economic transformation by opening up opportunities for trade between African countries. Youssouf proposed a payment compensation system that would ensure countries don't lose out while trading in different currencies adding, “are we going to have a single currency, why not?” Randriamandrato said that regional economic blocs like the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa had a huge role to play in easing inter-Africa trade. The African Union has several proposed reforms on its structure and leadership aimed at achieving its purpose, and all candidates promised to implement the reforms if elected. Youssouf said that key reforms in the union were facing a funding bottleneck and that “it has to change,” adding that he wouldn't impose it on member states but would “advocate for it.”Social media users are misrepresenting a report released Thursday by the Justice Department inspector general's office, falsely claiming that it's proof the FBI orchestrated the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. The watchdog report examined a number of areas, including whether major intelligence failures preceded the riot and whether the FBI in some way provoked the violence. Claims spreading online focus on the report's finding that 26 FBI informants were in Washington for election-related protests on Jan. 6, including three who had been tasked with traveling to the city to report on others who were potentially planning to attend the events. Although 17 of those informants either entered the Capitol or a restricted area around the building during the riot, none of the 26 total informants were authorized to do so by the bureau, according to the report. Nor were they authorized to otherwise break the law or encourage others to do so. Here's a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: A December 2024 report released by the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General is proof that the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was a setup by the FBI. THE FACTS: That's false. The report found that no undercover FBI employees were at the riot on Jan. 6 and that none of the bureau's informants were authorized to participate. Informants, also known as confidential human sources, work with the FBI to provide information, but are not on the bureau’s payroll. Undercover agents are employed by the FBI. According to the report, 26 informants were in Washington on Jan. 6 in connection with the day's events. FBI field offices only informed the Washington Field Office or FBI headquarters of five informants that were to be in the field on Jan. 6. Of the total 26 informants, four entered the Capitol during the riot and an additional 13 entered a restricted area around the Capitol. But none were authorized to do so by the FBI, nor were they given permission to break other laws or encourage others to do the same. The remaining nine informants did not engage in any illegal activities. None of the 17 informants who entered the Capitol or surrounding restricted area have been prosecuted, the report says. A footnote states that after reviewing a draft of the report, the U.S. attorney's office in Washington said that it “generally has not charged those individuals whose only crime on January 6, 2021 was to enter restricted grounds surrounding the Capitol, which has resulted in the Office declining to charge hundreds of individuals; and we have treated the CHSs consistent with this approach.” The assistant special agent in charge of the Washington Field Office's counterterrorism division told the inspector general's office that he “denied a request from an FBI office to have an undercover employee engage in investigative activity on January 6.” He, along with then-Washington Field Office Assistant Director in Charge Steven D'Antuono, said that FBI policy prohibits undercover employees at First Amendment-protected events without investigative authority. Many social media users drew false conclusions from the report's findings. “JANUARY 6th WAS A SETUP!" reads one X post that had received more than 11,400 likes and shares as of Friday. “New inspector general report shows that 26 FBI/DOJ confidential sources were in the crowd on January 6th, and some of them went into the Capitol and restricted areas. Is it a coincidence that Wray put in his resignation notice yesterday? TREASON!” The mention of Wray's resignation refers to FBI Director Christopher Wray's announcement Wednesday that he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden's term in January. Other users highlighted the fact that there were 26 FBI informants in Washington on Jan. 6, but omitted key information about the findings of the report. These claims echo a fringe conspiracy theory advanced by some Republicans in Congress that the FBI played a role in instigating the events of Jan. 6, 2021, when rioters determined to overturn Republican Donald Trump's 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden stormed the Capitol in a violent clash with police. The report knocks that theory down. Wray called such theories “ludicrous” at a congressional hearing last year. Asked for comment on the false claims spreading online, Stephanie Logan, a spokesperson for the inspector general’s office, pointed The Associated Press to a press release about the report. In addition to its findings about the the FBI's involvement on Jan. 6, the report said that the FBI, in an action its now-deputy director described as a “basic step that was missed,” failed to canvass informants across all 56 of its field offices for any relevant intelligence ahead of time. That was a step, the report concluded, “that could have helped the FBI and its law enforcement partners with their preparations in advance of January 6.” However, it did credit the bureau for preparing for the possibility of violence and for trying to identify known “domestic terrorism subjects” who planned to come to Washington that day. The FBI said in a letter responding to the report that it accepts the inspection general’s recommendation “regarding potential process improvements for future events.” — Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck .
By Kemberley Washington, CPA, Bankrate.com (TNS) As the end of the year approaches, now’s the time to start preparing for filing your 2024 tax return in 2025. When it comes to tax strategies, generally Dec. 31 is the deadline to make changes that might lower your tax bill. One major exception is the deadline for contributing to a Roth or traditional IRA : You have until April 15, 2025, to make a contribution to a Roth or traditional IRA for tax year 2024. If you qualify for deductible IRA contributions , then a contribution to your traditional IRA can reduce your taxable income for 2024. Here are tips and strategies to prepare now for the 2025 tax-filing deadline. If you had significant changes in your life in 2024 — maybe you got married or divorced, started your own business, or had to claim unemployment benefits — your taxes may be more complicated. As a result, you might need to hire a certified public accountant (CPA), enrolled agent (EA) or other tax professional to prepare and file your taxes. If you decide to hire someone, it’s best to start planning for that sooner rather than later. Waiting until the calendar flips to April could cost you. The average fee for a professional to prepare and file a simple Form 1040 tax return, with no itemized deductions, is about $220, according to a survey by the National Society of Accountants in 2020-2021, the most recent data available. But that amount rises quickly for more complex returns, and varies depending on where you live. For example, a Form 1040 with itemized deductions costs an average of $432 in states on the Pacific Coast, compared with $285 in New England. No matter where you live, prices usually rise as the tax deadline approaches, so it’s smart to start searching for a tax pro soon. If you’re uncomfortable doing your taxes on your own and can’t afford a CPA, enrolled agent or other tax pro, or to pay for tax software , there are free options to consider. The IRS currently offers three ways to prepare your taxes for free: •With the IRS Free File program, the IRS partners with for-profit tax-software companies that offer free tax-prep software to eligible taxpayers so they can file their federal tax returns for free. Some taxpayers may also qualify for a free state tax filing, depending on the software provider. In January, the IRS will announce the income limit to qualify for the program for the 2025 tax season (for filing 2024 tax returns). For the 2024 tax season (2023 tax returns), taxpayers’ adjusted gross income (AGI) couldn’t exceed $79,000. •The IRS also offers its Direct File program, a free tool that allows you to file your federal income tax return directly with the IRS at no cost. The program supports simple tax returns and is available only in certain states. Check to see if you qualify here. •Another free-filing option is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. IRS-certified volunteers offer free basic tax preparation in person to people who earn less than $67,000 a year, are disabled or whose English is limited. The IRS has an online location tool for hundreds of free tax preparation sites in the U.S. (the locator tool is updated from February through April). Some VITA sites also offer online tax-prep assistance. Now is a good time to create an IRS online account. If you want to see your Form 1040 from last year, or you’re missing a prior year Form W-2 or mortgage interest statement, you can find your documents using this free tax tool. Another benefit of creating an IRS online account is that it allows you to quickly obtain your prior year’s tax information without sitting on the phone for hours with an IRS representative, says Carl Johnson, a certified public accountant in New Orleans. An IRS online account also lets you view your account balance and payment history for each year. You can also create a payment plan to settle your federal income tax debt within minutes. If you’re 73 years old and have enjoyed watching your 401(k) or IRA grow tax-free without touching it, remember that the IRS is going to want its share each year. That means you’ll have to make withdrawals — and pay income tax. If you turned 73 in 2024, plan to take your required minimum distribution (RMD) at the latest by April 1, 2025. Read this IRS bulletin for more information. The amount of your RMDs is based on your age and the year-end values of your retirement accounts. A Roth IRA has two big tax advantages over a traditional IRA : Qualified withdrawals are not considered income for federal (and usually state) tax purposes, and you don’t have to take distributions from a Roth every year once you reach age 73. Converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA may save you money in the long run. Just know that when you convert an IRA to a Roth, it’s considered taxable income, which will raise your tax bill for that year. Generally, it’s best to convert to a Roth IRA when you’re in a low-income year. As tax season approaches, many people start receiving phone calls, emails and texts from entities claiming to be the IRS. Be wary, and understand that these are scams. Typically, the IRS will mail you a notice before using any other method of communication to notify you concerning issues with your tax return. The IRS won’t reach out via social media or text messaging. Relatedly, the IRS warns taxpayers to be careful when choosing a tax preparer. Taking time to vet your tax preparer is crucial to protect yourself from tax scams and fraud. Before hiring a tax professional, search that person’s name in the IRS database of federal tax return preparers to avoid dishonest “professionals.” “Taxpayers should check the tax professional’s credentials,” Johnson says. Tax pros without credentials “may take questionable positions without any degree of scrutiny or fear of losing their access to the profession,” Johnson says. Taxpayers who don’t file a tax return and owe a tax bill, or who file but don’t pay their tax bill on time, risk severe penalties. The IRS can even seize assets if necessary. Respond quickly if the IRS has been sending you letters because it found an error on your return or claims you owe back taxes. Typically, the IRS will send you a notice if you have a balance due, changes were made to your tax return, or the agency needs additional information. “If you ignore a collection letter from the IRS, you may face wage garnishments, liens, bank levies, and other adverse action. And in some cases, the amount due may increase for failure to respond,” Johnson says. Keep in mind the IRS does offer installment plans and other payment plans. Make copies of your correspondence and use only the U.S. Postal Service, the postmark from which is your proof of timeliness when responding. But whatever you do, don’t ignore the IRS because this may cause more issues in the future. ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the BJP-led Mahayuti Alliance’s decisive victory in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, where it secured 230 out of 288 seats. Speaking at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, PM Modi attributed the win to unity, emphasising his slogan, “Ek hain toh safe hain” (United, we are safe), which he called the nation’s “maha-mantra.” He credited the BJP’s support across communities, including OBCs, Dalits, and tribals, for countering divisive politics by the Congress-led INDIA bloc. PM Modi highlighted the scale of the victory, calling it the largest in Maharashtra in 50 years and the BJP’s third consecutive win in the state. He noted that Maharashtra is now the sixth state to grant BJP a hat-trick mandate, affirming public faith in the party’s governance. Maharashtra Assembly Election Results 2024: ‘Modi Magic’ Stumps MVA As PM Narendra Modi Leads Mahayuti to Back-to-Back Wins . #WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives a grand welcome as he arrives at the BJP headquarters #MaharashtraElection2024 pic.twitter.com/X49WOWuaTo — ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2024 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, 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.)
Featured Stories Headlines Local Braden Hamelin | Staff Writer Lower Merion Synagogue was the site of an Israeli-style market featuring nearly 40 traveling vendors from Israel on Dec. 8. Part of a series called Shuk to the Core, this special event has made its way to the Philadelphia area for the first time. Shuk to the Core was first held in 2014, and was resumed by its co-founders, Stuart Katz and Daniel Rothner and their organization Areyvut, after Oct. 7. This latest iteration is the third Shuk to the Core since the attacks and consists of a three-week trip with 15 events around the U.S. for Israeli vendors. Along with Philadelphia, stops included Baltimore and Potomac, Maryland. The event is intended to serve as a boost for Israelis who are struggling both in business and emotionally after the attacks and devastating war that has followed. “Everyone in Israel is being affected since Oct. 7, meaning tons of people are serving in the army. People are injured. Everyone in Israel knows someone that knows a hostage, or is a hostage, or was a hostage family or someone who was killed or injured on the front lines,” Rothner said. “And this is one effort amongst many other efforts, globally, nationally, to really help the Israeli economy in a meaningful, powerful way.” Rothner said that the previous Shuk to the Core programs that took place in New York and New Jersey in November 2023 and March generated over $1 million of income collectively for the vendors. He added that it gave American Jews the opportunity to show their support and love for their brethren in Israel during a time of need. Rothner said that this event features a blend of new vendors and ones who have participated in the past, as Katz is based in Israel and has a wide network of connections that allow them to find Israelis who fit their criteria for participation. “Our criteria are people coming from Israel. It’s not [people who say] ‘I have an Israeli business, or I have an Israeli product, and I’m from the States.’ ... The idea is that people are coming the whole time. It’s not, ‘I want to participate in one specific venue.’ The idea is that people are coming from December 4 to 22 and participating in all 15 shows,” Rothner said. He added that the long time spent traveling creates lasting relationships for the vendors, organizers and hosts that makes a strong network for years down the line. “All these people have had a very rough 417 days, to say the least. They all know someone who has been injured or killed or so on and so forth. And this is a way to kind of band together and to come together as a community,” Rothner said. Katz spoke highly of the Jewish communal organization at the Shuk to the Core event and said that when everyone comes together it doesn’t matter what specific denomination people are or any other small differences; they’re all Jews supporting Israelis in need. “I love when I see a flyer and [it lists] all these organizations that participated, because to me, it means that it came together as a community, which is what we really try to promote,” Katz said. The event at Lower Merion Synagogue had people from all corners of the Philadelphia Jewish community in attendance and a steady flow of people excited to come out and show their support and maybe purchase some unique goods, according to Amanda Israel, the president of the sisterhood at LMS who helped organize the event. Israel added that having the opportunity to connect with the artists on a more personal level after meeting them and purchase Israeli goods directly from the source was a great motivator for people. “When you get such a positive, warm welcome at a table from a vendor, it’s real. It makes you want to stay in touch with the person that you bought a piece of ceramic from. It makes you want to connect with them on social media and visit their store when you’re in Israel,” Israel said. She added that it was important for members of the community to have an avenue to support people from Israel whether that meant providing hospitality to vendors or supporting their business. “Even on the most surface level, we know what they’ve gone through. The whole Jewish world feels connected and I feel like we’re one with these people that we’ve never even met before. You want to hug them. It’s a very magical feeling to connect with people that way,” Israel said. [email protected] TAGS Areyvut Israel Shuk to the CoreChhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai paid homage to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, lauding him as a 'giant of economics.' Sai expressed deep sorrow over Singh's passing at AIIMS Delhi, where the esteemed former leader died at age 92. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel echoed these sentiments, honoring Singh as a 'great national worker.' Both leaders reflected on Singh's remarkable contributions to India's economic and political landscape, notably his roles as Finance Minister, Reserve Bank Governor, and Planning Commission Head. Honoring Singh's legacy, former CM Raman Singh acknowledged the immeasurable loss his death represents for Indian politics. Leaders united in grief, emphasizing Singh's enduring influence on the nation's history. (With inputs from agencies.)Ensure surveillance in Bodh Gaya: DM
Yankees get closer Devin Williams from Brewers for Nestor Cortes, Caleb DurbinMegyn Kelly unleashed an attack against Caitlin Clark after the WNBA star talked about ways white privilege seeps into women’s basketball during an interview published in Time magazine this week. The former Fox News personality took to X, formerly Twitter, to spew inflammatory remarks about Clark’s comments. In the interview, Clark said that she recognized her privilege as a white person in the league and that it’s important to elevate Black players. The publication had named the Indiana Fever player its 2024 Athlete of the Year on Tuesday. “Look at this. She’s on the knee all but apologizing for being white and getting attention,” Kelly wrote on X . “The self-flagellation. The ‘oh pls pay attention to the black players who are REALY the ones you want to celebrate.’ Condescending. Fake. Transparent. Sad.” But Clark never apologized for being white. She acknowledged that Black WNBA players — who make up the majority of players in the league — haven’t received the same level of mainstream attention, opportunities or coverage that she has. When reports emerged in the spring that Clark was nearing a reported eight-figure Nike deal, many questioned why the league’s most valuable player, A’ja Wilson, who is Black, hadn’t gotten a signature shoe deal . (Wilson announced a shoe deal with Nike the following month.) People have also called attention to Clark’s growing list of endorsement deals and the rookie’s perceived marketability in a league that’s predominantly Black. But the Fever star doesn’t seem to be bothered by Kelly’s criticism. She told sportscaster Maria Taylor in an interview on Wednesday that she blocks out the “noise” and that she’s “comfortable in my own skin” when asked to address Kelly’s remarks. Here’s what Kelly’s missing with her social media comments. In the Time interview, Clark celebrated her own talents, accomplishments and influence in women’s basketball, as well as the accolades and opportunities that have followed. But she also recognized that two things can be true: She is an outstanding basketball player, and talented Black players who have built the league should get more recognition than they do. “I want to say I’ve earned every single thing, but as a white person, there is privilege,” Clark said. “A lot of those players in the league that have been really good have been Black players. This league has kind of been built on them.” “The more we can appreciate that, highlight that, talk about that, and then continue to have brands and companies invest in those players that have made this league incredible, I think it’s very important,” she added. “I have to continue to try to change that.” “The more we can elevate Black women, that’s going to be a beautiful thing,” Clark said in the interview. Clark has undeniably had an immense effect on women’s basketball. She became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division 1 basketball during her time playing college basketball with the Iowa Hawkeyes. And when South Carolina’s women’s basketball team defeated Iowa in the NCAA women’s championship game in April, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley credited Clark for “lifting up” women’s basketball. Clark, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, is also often credited for playing a significant role in the WNBA’s recent record-breaking attendance and TV ratings — dubbed the “Caitlin Clark effect.” But Black players have largely built and grown the league since the first WNBA game was played in 1997, with many groundbreaking moments since. In 2002, Lisa Leslie became the first WNBA player to dunk in a game . In 2008, Candace Parker was the first player to get MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season. In 2017, Rebekkah Brunson set a WNBA record winning five titles. WNBA players have also been leaders in championing LBGTQ rights and bringing racial injustice protests to professional sports. In 2014, the WNBA became the first professional sports league to launch an official Pride campaign . Ajhanai “AJ” Keaton , an assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst who studies race and gender marginalization, told the New Pittsburgh Courier in September that she believes the heightened coverage surrounding Clark has to do with race and gender politics. “I believe that race is a guiding politic,” she said. “But I think it’s also gender, and I think we can’t ignore the way race and gender politics play into this. Caitlin Clark being a white woman, right? Being a white woman from the Midwest, being heterosexual, representing something to white America, right?” People have also called out the fact that masculine-presenting WNBA players have been excluded from certain sponsorship opportunities. Victoria Jackson , a sports historian and clinical associate professor at Arizona State University, explained to The Associated Press in May that it’s important to dissect why Clark has been labeled a “generational talent.” “Whenever we’re making those cases, I immediately think, well, who are the other generational talents we’ve had? And I think too often the athletes that could be placed in that category who have been Black women have not had that sort of gushing attention,” Jackson said. “And especially the kind of general public, crossover saturation that Caitlin Clark has had.” “There are overlapping, intersecting reasons for why that is. But I think we can’t not think about it if the goal here is to have equitable treatment of the athletes in the sport,” Jackson said. Clark herself has recognized the impact Black WNBA players have made in the league. During her appearance on “Saturday Night Live” in April, she took a moment to honor five Black WNBA greats: Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper, Lisa Leslie, Dawn Staley and Maya Moore, whom she called her “basketball hero.” And in recent years, Black WNBA players, such as Wilson, Chicago Sky player Angel Reese and Phoenix Mercury player Brittney Griner, have also notably helped popularize the sport. Black players say they’ve been receiving more racist abuse online — and it needs attention In September, Connecticut Sun player Alyssa Thomas and coach Stephanie White called out the unprecedented number of racist and homophobic comments they said players have faced since WNBA viewership increased this past season. Thomas, who is Black, said that the attacks had mostly come from the Fever fan base. “I think that in my 11-year career, I never experienced the racial comments like from the Indiana Fever fan base,” she said, adding “basketball is headed in a great direction, but we don’t want fans that are going to degrade us and call us racial things.” Reese, who has often been pitted against Clark and villainized in narratives about their sports rivalry , has similarly called out the racist vitriol over the past few years. She wrote in a post on X in September that she’s been told to “save the tears” and “stop playing victim” anytime she’s spoken out about the attacks. The WNBA released a statement at the time saying the league “will not tolerate racist, derogatory, or threatening comments.” Clark has also previously condemned racist comments from WNBA fans. During a news conference in September, she called the situation “definitely upsetting.” Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone. Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you. Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. “Those aren’t fans; those are trolls,” she said. Related From Our Partner
Florida State pounds Charleston Southern for second victory of season
Inovartic Investments LLC Signs MOU with Emirates Angel Investors AssociationIn-form Arsenal Women will travel to St Helens Stadium for Sunday's Women's Super League clash against Liverpool Women . The Gunners are looking to claim a seventh consecutive victory in all competitions, while the hosts are hoping to end a run of three consecutive league defeats. © Imago Liverpool proved to be a tough team to beat in the opening stages of the WSL season, with their first six league games producing two wins, three draws and one defeat. However, the Reds have experienced a dip in form in recent times, having lost each of their previous three WSL matches without troubling the scorers. Liverpool began that losing run with a 3-0 home defeat against Chelsea, before they fell to a narrow 1-0 loss in the Merseyside derby against Everton. The Reds then slumped to a heavy 4-0 defeat in last Sunday's home clash against Manchester United, leaving them in seventh place and one point adrift of the top half. They did at least manage to avenge their Merseyside derby defeat in midweek, with substitute Mia Enderby netting a brace to help her side claim a 4-0 victory against Everton in the Women's League Cup. While the result failed to prevent a group-stage exit, Liverpool will hope to use the confidence built from that comfortable win as they look to claim a home win over Arsenal for the first time in WSL history. © Imago Renee Slegers is yet to taste defeat in her role as Arsenal interim boss, having overseen eight wins and one draw since taking over the reins from Jonas Eidevall in October. The Gunners have recorded six consecutive victories since they played out a draw with Manchester United on November 3, including wins over Aston Villa and Valeranga following the international break. Arsenal eased to a 4-0 victory in their WSL home clash against Villa, before they recorded a 3-1 win in Wednesday's European away clash against Valeranga, which came courtesy of an Alessia Russo brace and a Frida Maanmum effort. The Gunners, who had already qualified for the quarter-finals, finished matchday five in second place and one point behind group leaders Bayern Munich ahead of next week's Women's Champions League meeting between the two sides. Before they play host to Bayern, Arsenal will look to maintain their top-three spot in the WSL, with the Gunners sitting in third position and above fourth-placed Man United on goal difference. Sunday's visitors will certainly fancy their chances of adding to their 18-point tally, having avoided defeat in each of their previous seven WSL away matches since they lost to Chelsea in March (W6, D2). The hosts are without Lucy Parry , Rachael Laws , Faye Kirby , Gemma Evans , Marie Hobinger , Sofie Lundgaard and Sophie Roman Haug . Republic of Ireland international Leanne Kiernan will miss out after picking up an injury in the midweek win over Everton. After making a few changes in midweek, Liverpool boss Matt Beard may opt to recall Jasmine Matthews , Olivia Smith and Enderby. As for the visitors, Slegers remains without the services of Victoria Pelova , Lia Walti and Amanda Ilestedt . Kim Little is making progress in her injury recovery, but it remains to be seen whether she will be ready for Sunday's away trip. After making several changes for Thursday's European outing, Slegers could decide to revert back to the team that started last Sunday's league win over Villa. Liverpool Women possible starting lineup: Micah; Fisk, Bonner, Matthews; Holland, Shaw, Nagano, Kapocs, Hinds; Enderby, Smith Arsenal Women possible starting lineup: Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Cooney-Cross, Maanum; Mead, Caldentey, Foord; Russo Arsenal will carry significant momentum into Sunday's fixture after winning each of their previous six competitive outings, and we think the confident Gunners will sweep past Liverpool to claim a relatively comfortable victory. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here .
The rivalry between two of the world's richest men, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, has once again become a topic of discussion. Musk accused Bezos of having urged the public to sell Tesla and SpaceX stocks before the critical U.S. presidential election. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk also alleged that Bezos had said Trump was going to lose. In an unusual statement, Bezos responded by outright denying the claims. Musk's Accusation Elon Musk, a prominent supporter of Donald Trump during the election, accused Jeff Bezos of telling people that Trump would certainly lose. According to Musk, the panic created from this statement might have caused some people to sell their Tesla and SpaceX stocks out of a growing fear that if Trump lost, there might be market repercussions. Musk tweeted that someone had told him this at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's resort in Florida. Bezos Denies Claims Jeff Bezos, hardly ever present on social media, came back with a short but to-the-point denial of Musk's claims. In his first post since November 6, Bezos stated: “Nope. 100% not true.” Musk later pressed a laughing emoji and said: “Well, then, I stand corrected.” What It Looks Like Musk is said to have spent over $130 million on Trump's reelection campaign and has had a close connection with the former president. There have been a series of controversies over his association with Trump, fearing that it may sting Tesla and SpaceX stocks during political turmoil moments. It seems that Musk and Bezos fought an antagonistic battle, and the companies Tesla and Amazon are always embroiled in the technological and innovation wars with one another. In this case, for now, the matter appears to be settled, illustrating the growing public nature of disputes between billionaire titans. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Technology Science and around the world.29 House Republicans Ask Trump to End IRS Direct File via ‘Day-One Executive Order’Air Academy High School Assistant Principal Liz Walhof has been named the 2025 High School Assistant Principal of the Year by the Colorado Association of School Executives. This award honors school administrators who demonstrate exemplary leadership and a deep commitment to education and are selected from a competitive pool of nominees across Colorado. Walhof has served in her current role for the past six years and was praised by the association for the value she puts on relationships with her teachers and students. "I love that I've invested in students enough to be a trusted adult for them," Walhof said. "Many cross the halls to hug me, ask for advice, or share their fears and celebrations." Walhof was also recognized for her work helping students use their skills beyond the classroom. She's worked with the world language department chair to transition from grammar-based instruction to proficiency-based learning so students would be more likely to be able to utilize languages outside of the classroom. This approach helped credit-deficient students get back on track after COVID-19 interruptions. "She goes above and beyond to ensure that every student feels valued and affirmed. She always has a warm embrace of kindness for both staff and students and inspires all to create a culture of care at Air Academy High School,” D-20 Superintendent Jinger Haberer said in a press release. “People are the heart of our success in D-20, and Liz exemplifies this mark of excellence in our district.” Walhof began her educational career in Douglas County School District in 2000, where she worked for 15 years as a Spanish teacher, education technology coach, professional development coordinator and director of educational innovation. In 2015, Walhof moved to Lewis-Palmer School District 38, where she served as director of technology and professional learning until 2018.
Irish ‘dark horse’ I’m a Celeb star backed to win by former contestants
Events Ojobaro describes comedy shows as goldmine, export commodity By Gbenga Akinfenwa 23 November 2024 | 3:48 pm Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on WhatsApp Share on Telegram Comedy shows in Nigeria have been described as a goldmine, but they have yet to achieve their full potential as most Nigerians have Comedy shows in Nigeria have been described as a goldmine, but they have yet to achieve their full potential as most Nigerians have not fully tapped into their array of benefits. This was the view of Babatunde Ojobaro, popularly known as Mister Rain, in a chat with Journalists. He disclosed that as a multi-talented individual, he had always believed that talent goes way beyond what it looks like. “Comedy shows have achieved a very huge milestone in the past decade, and the improvement cannot be ignored. I feel that these comedy styles – satire, farce, parody and slapstick are the most popular and have been explored quite a lot to a certain extent and to be honest, they have worked for the people who have distinctively employed any of all of them in their standup comedy style. “Other comedy styles like comedy of humor, classical comedy, comedy of errors, romantic comedy, and a few others are more in tune for TV, drama, and films than it is to stand-up comedy,” he said. Ojobaro revealed that as a comedian, he believes comedy is more than just making people laugh. “One of my favourite quotes is that ‘If you can make them laugh, you can get their attention, and if you can get their attention, you can tell them anything.’ “I believe there’s so much that can be done with the opportunity of having a lot of people listening to you at the same time. I am a sucker for capacity building, social change, community development and anything that encourages personal and communal growth and performing comedy on a regular show where you get just five to 10 minutes, doesn’t give me enough time to really preach my message while making people laugh. “I decided to curate my comedy show, which will give me enough time to make them laugh while touching on issues that can preach my ideals that generally address the essence of personal and communal growth. “I also wanted to do something different from the usual, something that will challenge me to give the whole of myself to my craft and performance and then I feel like doing what allows me to service audience and clients in my niche satisfactorily,” he said. Ojobaro, who stressed that every endeavour has its own challenges, said in the case of one-man comedy show, it comes with the challenge of changing the narratives. “People are used to comedy shows with variety of comedians, which is not bad at all and sometimes it feels like good value for their time and money, compared to just coming to sit down for just one person who is not even a popular figure in that sense. Having to convince people to pick a one-man comedy show for a fee that can get them into another comedy show with a variety of comedians is a top-notch challenge. “The other challenge would be getting the full attention of your guest as the only comedian for the advertised duration. You have to serve variety as an individual; that’s some very hard work, but with the track record of five successful one-man comedy shows, that challenge has been mastered and overcome. He encouraged his colleagues to embrace one-man comedy, when it comes to stand-up comedy, saying it is a litmus test, not necessarily for how good the person is, but a test in the real sense of it. “It paints you as a comedian in a more brilliant light. It could also test how popular or not you are amongst many other things.” While noting that comedy is already an export commodity for Nigeria, he said: “I can name a lot of comedians who have put the Nigeria comedy scene on the international map. It can be better than it is now, but it is already an export. While speaking on his journey as an entertainer, he said: “I started out as a dancer. Dancing for fun and entertaining people as a very young boy, then got into acting and comedy in the university as far back as 2003, and then I combined all three. In fact, it became so serious after my first degree. I had to take JAMB again to study Theatre Arts, and I have never looked back since then. As an award winner – Radio presenter, actor for screen, director and producer for theatre, a stand-up comedian, I would cumulatively say I have been in entertainment for more than 20 years (this is inclusive of my years in the university). Ojobaro said that he believes everyone who does something wants to either be the best at it or get due recognition or just be at that space where a lot of people can reckon with your work. “Sometimes when that doesn’t happen either as fast as you want or as large, you may begin to worry but again there are a lot of other talents jostling for the same thing. The ripple effect of this is, that when one is not at that stage yet, getting funding and sponsorship may become a very big deal and it can hinder personal projects and stuff like that if one is not even careful it can hinder growth and I considered that a very huge challenge for a long time but not anymore. “I know that not everyone can be an RMD or an Ali Baba, but you can carve out your niche, build your own client and audience base, begin to nurture and service them satisfactorily and that’s what I have been doing in the last couple of years. “As a comedian, I am not as popular as most comedians, but all my stand-up comedy shows are usually sold out weeks before the show. I don’t know how many comedians can do a one-man comedy show in October and November of the same year in the same city, charging different fees per show and still sell out the auditorium for both shows but I did. “As an actor, especially for stage and theatre, my shows are also usually sold out. A very recent instance is my participation at the Lagos International Theatre Festival and even the Lagos Fringe, the play “Who Tif Mona Lisa?” When I featured as an actor was a massive success. “So the idea is, I don’t want to rule the world; I want to rule my world, and that’s how I’m able to constantly overcome the challenges.”Roman Josi scores twice as Predators defeat Jets 4-1A quarterly survey by Japan’s central bank shows business sentiment has improved slightly, especially in major heavy industries such as automaking, fossil fuels and machinery, while services industries were less upbeat. The survey released Friday by the Bank of Japan, called the tankan, might influence the central bank's decision on whether to raise its benchmark interest rate next week. It shows the difference between companies saying they are optimistic about business conditions and those that are pessimistic. The latest survey's outcome undermined expectations for a rate hike, and the Japanese yen weakened, with the U.S. dollar trading at 152.90 yen on Friday, near its highest level in two weeks. Meanwhile, the benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index fell more than 1%. “Expectations are for the BOJ to maintain its short-term interest rate at 0.25% next week, marking the fourth consecutive meeting with no change,” IG said in a commentary. Japan’s economy grew at a revised 1.2% annual pace in the last quarter, helped by sustained consumer spending. But the outlook ahead is uncertain, IG economists noted, given U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's vows to impose higher tariffs on imports from many countries, which could jolt both the regional and the global economy. “The mediocre increase in business conditions across all firm sizes in the latest tankan suggests that activity is unlikely to rebound meaningfully this quarter, following a slowdown in (the last quarter),” Toh Au Yu of Capital Economics said in a commentary. One of the biggest obstacles for Japanese firms is a severe labor shortage as the work force shrinks along with the overall population, Toh said. The tankan showed a negative 36 sentiment for employment, unchanged from the previous quarter. Still, overall business sentiment for both manufacturers and non-manufacturers edged up to 15 from 14 in the previous survey. The sentiment index for large manufacturers rose to 14 in December from 13 in September, partly due to automakers resuming production following certification scandals in the industry. Construction and real estate also improved. But while automakers and other big industries gained ground, sentiment among retailers and other service industries deteriorated, falling to 33 from 34, though it remained in positive territory. The index for retailers dropped sharply, to 13 from 28. The Bank of Japan began earlier this year to shift away from a negative interest rate policy aimed at keeping credit super cheap to support the economy as the country's population shrinks, sapping demand. The ultra-lax monetary policy was kept in place for years to counter a long spell of deflation, when demand was so slack that prices fell. But global price increases following the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with a weakening of the Japanese yen against other currencies, has pushed prices above the BOJ's target of about 2% inflation, enabling it to begin shifting to a more conventional stance. Japan racked up a trade deficit in October for the fourth month in a row, as the weak yen and rising energy prices kept import costs high. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has proposed raising Japan's basic tax-free income allowance, increasing take-home wages and paying subsidies to low-income families to help boost consumer spending. But his minority government is likely to struggle to gain support from the opposition on budgets and other legislation, raising the risk of political deadlocks that could stymie economic initiatives.
The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum has called on the party’s National Working Committee to organise a meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee by the first week of February at the latest. In a communique issued after its meeting in Jos, Plateau State capital, on Saturday, the PDP Governors Forum, chaired by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, stated that the period from November to February would be dedicated to addressing the critical challenges facing the party. Since PDP acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, assumed the role of acting National Chairman following Senator Iyorchia Ayu’s court removal, he has faced significant criticism from party leaders amid the ongoing crisis. Many voices within the party are now calling for his resignation. During the 98th NEC meeting on April 18, party leaders approved the formation of a reconciliation and disciplinary committee, as well as the conduct of Ward and State Congresses. They also tasked the North Central Caucus with consulting on the issue of replacing the acting National Chairman with a permanent one. The 99th NEC meeting, originally set for August 15, postponed to October 24, 2024, and then rescheduled for November 28, 2024, was indefinitely postponed. Related News PDP govs reaffirm commitment to unity, pledge renewed hope for Nigerians Bauchi comes second at S’Arabia Qur’anic competition, gets N130m support PDP postpones NEC meeting as N’Central insists on chair In response, the Forum emphasised its commitment to maintaining the unity and cohesion of the party, which Nigerians have come to regard as the best platform for democratic governance. The communique stated, “The Forum notes the concerns of Nigerians, PDP founding fathers, elders and members of our great Party of seeming divisions within the ranks and files. The Forum wishes to state categorically that it remains resolute in its determination to ensure unity and cohesion of this great Party that Nigerians have come to trust as the best platform for democratic governance. “The Forum is constrained to accept the latest postponement of the National Executive Council of the Party in empathy with our colleague, H.E. Governor Eno Bassey, whose late dear wife will be buried on the same day earlier scheduled for NEC. Once again, the Forum wishes to commiserate with our colleague and pray that God will grant him and the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. “The Forum is strongly advising the NWC to call NEC by the first week of February 2025 to allow for elaborate consultations with critical stakeholders of the party. The period between November and February is to address the existential problems confronting the Party, with a deliberate timeline of activities within the period under review to address issues of leadership and litigation confronting the party.” The forum expressed sympathy for Nigerians suffering from the severe economic hardship allegedly imposed by the policies and decisions of the APC-led Federal Government. It also urged President Bola Tinubu to promptly review both macroeconomic and fiscal policies to improve the welfare and well-being of Nigerians.
7 tips to prepare for next year’s taxes nowHow to watch Seattle Seahawks game on Amazon Prime Video tonight for freeMust-see TV