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zbet game PARIS (AP) — After more than 20 years of negotiations, the 27-nation European Union and Mercosur — a South American trade bloc of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia — are still trying to finalize a major trade agreement that is sparking protests by European farmers. A draft deal was , but disagreements over environmental, economic and political issues are delaying its final approval. Here’s a look at the deal, why it matters, and challenges it faces: What is the deal about? It aims to create one of the largest free trade zones in the world, covering over 700 million people and nearly 25% of global GDP. Much like the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, its goal is to reduce tariffs and trade barriers, making it easier for businesses on both sides to export goods. For the EU, the deal would mean lower tariffs on products like cars, machinery and chemicals. would benefit from better access to EU markets for agricultural exports such as beef, poultry and sugar. began in 1999 and an initial agreement was reached in 2019, but it remains unratified due to significant opposition, particularly from France. Why are some farmers opposing the deal? European farmers, especially in France, worry that an influx of South American products would saturate their markets, undercutting local agriculture. One year after protest movement, another have erupted across the continent, with many claiming that reduced tariffs or duty-free quotas for South American products could be fatal for them. For example, 99,000 tons of beef would face a reduced tariff of just 7.5%, while 180,000 tons of poultry would enter duty-free. According to the European Commission, this accounts for less than 2% of the EU’s annual beef consumption. Livestock farmers argue they cannot compete with South American producers, who benefit from lower labor costs, larger farms and less stringent regulations on practices such as the use of growth hormones compared to EU standards. In October, a European Commission audit found that Brazil, the world’s largest exporter of beef, cannot guarantee that its exports to the EU are free of the growth hormone “oestradiol 17-β,” which has been banned in Europe for decades. Who supports it? Germany, Spain, Italy and Portugal are among EU countries pushing for the deal to be finalized by year’s end. Germany, in particular, sees Mercosur as a key market for its automakers. In South America, leaders like Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva view the agreement as a boost for regional trade and economic growth. Countries like Uruguay and Paraguay also support the deal, hoping to diversify their trade partners and reduce reliance on China. Argentina’s President Javier Milei has also backed it, signaling a shift from his predecessor’s skepticism. The deal is also backed by industries in both regions. European carmakers and pharmaceutical companies see it as a way to access Mercosur’s growing markets. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, has also expressed strong support, calling it “an agreement of great economic and strategic importance” — despite opposition from certain EU member states. Who opposes it? France, with the biggest agriculture sector in Europe, has led opposition within the EU, along with Poland, Austria and the Netherlands. French President Emmanuel Macron has called for stronger environmental and labor standards, stating that “France would not sign the deal as is.” France has also requested that the European Commission renegotiate the text, particularly by incorporating “mirror clauses,” which would impose identical standards on products traded between the two blocs. However, France’s ability to block the deal is limited, as trade talks fall under the authority of the European Commission, which negotiates for the 27 member states. Environmental groups, including Greenpeace, have also criticized the deal, warning it could in the Amazon and increase the use of harmful pesticides. What’s next? The Mercosur summit on Dec. 5-6 in Uruguay could be a key moment for the deal. However, even if the agreement is signed, it must be ratified by all 27 EU member states, the European Parliament and all member states’ national parliaments before taking effect. This would give France a chance to veto it. To speed up and make approval easier, the European Commission is considering splitting the deal into two parts: a broader cooperation agreement and a trade-focused agreement. The latter would only require a majority vote under EU rules, bypassing the need for unanimous approval. Under this plan, France would lose its veto power unless it can gather enough support to form a blocking minority. While countries like Poland and Austria have raised objections, their combined influence falls short of the threshold needed to halt the deal. Tom Nouvian, The Associated Press

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Niger’s ruling junta suspended the for three months over the broadcaster’s coverage of an extremist attack that allegedly killed dozens of Nigerien soldiers and civilians, authorities said Thursday. “BBC broadcasts false information aimed at destabilizing social calm and undermining the troops’ morale,” communications minister Raliou Sidi Mohamed said in letters to radio stations that rebroadcast BBC content. Mohamed asked the stations to suspend BBC’s programs “with immediate effect.” The BBC said it had no comment on the suspension. Popular BBC programs, including those in Hausa — the most-spoken language in Niger — are broadcast in the Central African country through local radio partners to reach a large audience across the region. The British broadcaster had reported on its website in Hausa on Wednesday that gunmen had killed more than 90 Nigerien soldiers and more than 40 civilians in two villages near the border with Burkina Faso. The French broadcaster Radio France International, also known as RFI, also reported on the attack, calling it a jihadi attack and citing the same death toll. Niger’s authorities denied that an attack happened in the area in a statement read on state television and said it would file a complain against RFI for “incitement to genocide.” Niger, along with its neighbors Burkina Faso and Mali, has for over a decade battled an insurgency fought by jihadi groups, including some allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Following military coups in all three nations in recent years, the ruling juntas have expelled French forces and turned to Russia’s mercenary units for security assistance. But the has worsened since the juntas took power, analysts say, with a record number of attacks and civilians killed both by Islamic militants and government forces. Meanwhile, the ruling juntas have . Earlier this year, Malian authorities from reporting on the activities of political parties and associations. Burkina Faso radio stations for their coverage of a mass killing of civilians carried out by the country’s armed forces. In August 2023, Niger banned French broadcasters France 24 and RFI, a month after its military rulers took power in a coup. “Generally speaking, the three juntas censor the media as soon as the security situation in the country is addressed in an unpleasant manner or when abuses are revealed,” Sadibou Marong, head of the sub-Saharan Africa office of Reporters Without Borders, told The Associated Press in September. “Finding reliable and neutral information on government activities has become extremely complex, as has covering security situation in these countries,” Marong added. Mark Banchereau, The Associated PressJERUSALEM (AP) — Israel approved a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon's Hezbollah on Tuesday, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. In the hours leading up to the Cabinet meeting, Israel carried out its most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. At least 24 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities, as Israel signaled it aims to keep pummeling Hezbollah in the final hours before any ceasefire takes hold. Israel's security Cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement late Tuesday after it was presented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement “good news” and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. An Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East, but neither he nor Netanyahu have proposed a postwar solution for the Palestinian territory, where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable. Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year. Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed a series of accomplishments against Israel’s enemies across the region. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran, which backs both groups. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” he said. “For every violation, we will attack with might.” Netanyahu's office later said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but "reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.” It was not immediately clear when the ceasefire would go into effect, and the exact terms of the deal were not released. The deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor all sides’ compliance. But implementation remains a major question mark. Israel has demanded the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations. Lebanese officials have rejected writing that into the proposal. Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal "was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday that it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state.” of Lebanon, he said. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” Even as Israeli, U.S, Lebanese and international officials have expressed growing optimism over a ceasefire, Israel has continued its campaign in Lebanon, which it says aims to cripple Hezbollah’s military capabilities. An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near the city’s downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs killed at least one person and wounded 13, it said. Three people were killed in a separate strike in Beirut and three in a strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. Lebanese state media said another 10 people were killed in the eastern Baalbek province. Israel says it targets Hezbollah fighters and their infrastructure. Israel also struck a building in Beirut's bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site that is around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanon’s Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it struck targets in Beirut and other areas linked to Hezbollah's financial arm. The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously have not been targeted. The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks before a ceasefire, sent residents fleeing. Traffic was gridlocked, and some cars had mattresses tied to them. Dozens of people, some wearing their pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed loudly overhead. Hezbollah, meanwhile, kept up its rocket fire, triggering air raid sirens across northern Israel. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told The Associated Press that peacekeepers will not evacuate. The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few kilometers (miles) from the Israeli border. Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border. Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have been exchanging barrages ever since. Israel escalated its campaign of bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the country’s north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon. Chehayeb and Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press reporters Lujain Jo and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed. Find more of AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

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A country music singer who once appeared on “American Idol” will spend several years behind bars after he was sentenced for a 2022 DUI crash that claimed a man’s life. Caleb Kennedy, 20, was sentenced Monday, Nov. 18, after he pleaded guilty to felony driving under the influence where death results, the 7th Circuit Solicitor’s Office in Spartanburg, South Carolina, told MassLive. While Kennedy was originally sentenced to 25 years in prison and a ordered to pay a $25,100 fine, the singer’s sentenced was reduced to eight years and a $15,100 fine. Three years of Kennedy’s eight-year sentence will be on home detention. He also will serve five years of probation. In addition, the 20-year-old must also have no contact with the victim’s family and attend mental health and substance abuse counseling. Kennedy will also be subjected to random drug and alcohol testing, court records indicated. Larry Duane Parris, 54, died after a 17-year-old Kennedy drove his Ford F-150 truck into a home in Pacolet, South Carolina, on Feb. 8, 2022, Greenville News reported . Kennedy was arrested and charged with DUI as a result. Kennedy was driving under the influence of marijuana after hitting a vape pen, the outlet reported, citing arrest warrants. The singer was heading to his girlfriend’s house when he veered into Parris' driveway and hit him while Parris was talking on the phone, according to the outlet. Solicitor Barry J. Barnette, who prosecuted Kennedy, said “this case shows the dangers of vape pens to society” in a statement sent to MassLive from the Solicitor’s Office. Kennedy received national fame while competing on Season 19 of “American Idol” at age 16. He made it to the Top 5 but left after he appeared on a Snapchat post seated beside someone wearing what appeared to be a Ku Klux Klan hood. Kennedy’s family told the Spartanburg Herald-Journal the video was recorded when he was 12 years old. The musician addressed the incident in a since-deleted Instagram post. “Hey y’all, this is gonna be a bit of a surprise, but I am no longer gonna be on American Idol. There was a video that surfaced on the internet and it displayed actions that were not meant to be taken in that way. I was younger and did not think about the actions, but that’s not an excuse,” Kennedy reportedly wrote in the post. “I wanna say sorry to all my fans and everyone who I have let down. I’ll be taking a little time off social media to better myself, but saying that, I know this has hurt and disappointed a lot of people and made people lose respect for me. I’m so sorry! I pray that I can one day regain your trust in who I am and have your respect! Thank you for supporting me,” it reportedly read. More Country Music News

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A U.S. Supreme Court case challenging a Tennessee ban on gender affirming care for teens will likely have major implications for transgender rights nationwide, but Montana’s unique state Constitution could safeguard protections nevertheless, an ACLU attorney says. In question at the nation’s highest court is a 2023 Tennessee state law that prohibits trans youth from receiving medical treatments prescribed to help them transition such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy. It’s very similar to Montana’s Senate Bill 99 from the last legislative session, which banned a slew of procedures and treatments used for gender dysphoria, the psychiatric condition that creates distress for a person whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. SB 99, titled "Montana’s Youth Protection Act," was temporarily blocked by a Missoula district court judge last year, days before it was set to go into effect. Senators debate SB99 on the Senate floor on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023 in the state Capitol. United States v. Skrmetti asks whether the Tennessee transgender health care ban is tantamount to discrimination under the federal Constitution’s equal protection clause. President Joe Biden’s administration brought the legal challenge, arguing Tennessee’s law should be overturned on these grounds. Lawyers representing the state of Tennessee contend that though the law applies specifically to trans teens, it should not trigger the greater legal standard required to protect against sex-based discrimination. Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments on Tuesday. A decision is not expected until July, though it appears likely that the conservative majority will rule in favor of Tennessee. Trans rights advocates worry such a ruling could open the door to all kinds of targeted restrictions. Alex Rate, legal director for ACLU of Montana, said the outcome of the Skrmetti case should not directly impact ongoing efforts to overturn SB 99 because of the unique protections in the Montana Constitution that go beyond federal law. Alex Rate, legal director for ACLU of Montana The federal Constitution sets the floor, “below which we cannot go,” Rate explains, but states have the power to determine the ceiling, which means they can grant individuals greater protections that expand on federal liberties. Abortion rights are an illustrative example of how these differences between state and federal law can play out. When Roe v. Wade overturned federal abortion protections, Montana’s constitutional right to privacy continued to ensure access to reproductive health care. Chase Scheuer, press secretary for Attorney General Austin Knudsen, urged the United States Supreme Court to uphold the Tennessee law. When Gov. Greg Gianforte signed SB 99 into law in April 2023, the ACLU promptly filed a lawsuit against it representing three families with transgender youth and two medical providers who work with transgender youth. The case, Van Garderen v. Montana, then resulted in a preliminary injunction against SB 99 from a Montana state district court judge, who said the law “is unlikely to survive any level of constitutional review” and “barring access to gender affirming care would negatively impact gender dysphoric minors’ mental and physical health.” According to Rate, Montana’s equal protection clause is more specific than its federal counterpart and has been interpreted by state courts to provide greater protections. Additionally, he argues the state’s robust right to privacy encompasses decisions made between parents, transgender teens and their health care providers. Scheuer had a different take. "The Supreme Court’s decision could undercut the ACLU’s similar attack on SB99 in Montana as well," he said in a statement to the Montana State News Bureau. Should a new U.S. Congress pass federal legislation banning gender affirming care for transgender youth, for example, that could negate the ability of Montana health providers to offer the care, despite the state Constitution. There’s not a lot of law on transgender rights in Montana, which means there isn’t a great amount of legal precedent at the state level. It’s possible Montana courts could defer to federal decisions at the Supreme Court or elsewhere when thinking about a legal framework for analyzing the constitutionality of SB 99 or other future laws. “One would hope that a faithful interpretation of our state Constitution would lead to a potentially different result than what’s happening at the federal end,” Rate said. Gianforte continues to support SB 99 and other restrictions on health care for transgender youth like the one in Tennessee. He filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in October urging justices to uphold the Tennessee law on the basis that it allows youth to “have the freedom to grow up unhampered by improper interests and agendas and with access to appropriate tools and resources to promote both their development and ultimate success in society.” The governor’s administration applied many of the same arguments in the amicus brief as it has when supporting SB 99. It argues that medical treatments for gender dysphoria are “permanent, invasive, and life-altering” and that the state doesn’t seek to limit them for adults, only minor children. As of Aug., 26 states, including Montana, had passed some kind of ban against gender dysphoria health care for high school-aged youth. A majority are either currently tied up in litigation or temporarily blocked by the courts. Gender affirming care is considered safe, effective and medically necessary by major professional health associations, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Endocrine Society. Oral arguments for Van Garderen v. Montana are scheduled for June. Carly Graf is the State Bureau health care reporter for Lee Montana. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. State Bureau Health Care Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

Micron delivers record fiscal Q1 revenue, driven by strong AI demand Data center revenue grew over 40% sequentially and over 400% year over year BOISE, Idaho, Dec. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU) today announced results for its first quarter of fiscal 2025, which ended November 28, 2024. Fiscal Q1 2025 highlights “Micron delivered a record quarter, and our data center revenue surpassed 50% of our total revenue for the first time,” said Sanjay Mehrotra, President and CEO of Micron Technology. “While consumer-oriented markets are weaker in the near term, we anticipate a return to growth in the second half of our fiscal year. We continue to gain share in the highest margin and strategically important parts of the market and are exceptionally well positioned to leverage AI-driven growth to create substantial value for all stakeholders.” Investments in capital expenditures, net(2) were $3.13 billion for the first quarter of 2025, which resulted in adjusted free cash flows(2) of $112 million for the first quarter of 2025. Micron ended the quarter with cash, marketable investments, and restricted cash of $8.75 billion. On December 18, 2024, Micron’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.115 per share, payable in cash on January 15, 2025, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 30, 2024. Business Outlook The following table presents Micron’s guidance for the second quarter of 2025: Further information regarding Micron’s business outlook is included in the prepared remarks and slides, which have been posted at investors.micron.com . Investor Webcast Micron will host a conference call on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time to discuss its first quarter financial results and provide forward-looking guidance for its second quarter. A live webcast of the call will be available online at investors.micron.com . A webcast replay will be available for one year after the call. For Investor Relations and other company updates, follow us on X @MicronTech. About Micron Technology, Inc. We are an industry leader in innovative memory and storage solutions transforming how the world uses information to enrich life for all . With a relentless focus on our customers, technology leadership, manufacturing, and operational excellence, Micron delivers a rich portfolio of high-performance DRAM, NAND, and NOR memory and storage products through our Micron® and Crucial® brands. Every day, the innovations that our people create fuel the data economy, enabling advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and compute-intensive applications that unleash opportunities — from the data center to the intelligent edge and across the client and mobile user experience. To learn more about Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU), visit micron.com . © 2024 Micron Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Micron, the Micron logo, and all other Micron trademarks are the property of Micron Technology, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding our industry, our strategic focus, demand for our products, and our financial and operating results, including our guidance for the second quarter of 2025. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Please refer to the documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Form 10-K and our upcoming Form 10-Q. These documents contain and identify important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements. These certain factors can be found at investors.micron.com/risk-factor . Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. We are under no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results. The tables above reconcile GAAP to non-GAAP measures of gross margin, operating expenses, operating income (loss), net income (loss), diluted shares, diluted earnings (loss) per share, and adjusted free cash flow. The non-GAAP adjustments above may or may not be infrequent or nonrecurring in nature, but are a result of periodic or non-core operating activities. We believe this non-GAAP information is helpful in understanding trends and in analyzing our operating results and earnings. We are providing this information to investors to assist in performing analysis of our operating results. When evaluating performance and making decisions on how to allocate our resources, management uses this non-GAAP information and believes investors should have access to similar data when making their investment decisions. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures increase transparency by providing investors with useful supplemental information about the financial performance of our business, enabling enhanced comparison of our operating results between periods and with peer companies. The presentation of these adjusted amounts varies from amounts presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP and therefore may not be comparable to amounts reported by other companies. Our management excludes the following items as applicable in analyzing our operating results and understanding trends in our earnings: Non-GAAP diluted shares are adjusted for the impact of additional shares resulting from the exclusion of stock-based compensation from non-GAAP income (loss). The tables above reconcile our GAAP to non-GAAP guidance based on the current outlook. The guidance does not incorporate the impact of any potential business combinations, divestitures, additional restructuring activities, balance sheet valuation adjustments, strategic investments, financing transactions, and other significant transactions. The timing and impact of such items are dependent on future events that may be uncertain or outside of our control. Contacts: Satya Kumar Investor Relations satyakumar@micron.com (408) 450-6199 Mark Plungy Media Relations mplungy@micron.com (408) 203-2910The think tank behind Project 2025 , the conservative blueprint linked to President-elect Donald Trump , is launching an effort to back Trump's imperiled selection for secretary of defense in its latest attempt to wield influence in the incoming Republican administration. Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts said Thursday that his group will spend $1 million to pressure senators unwilling to back Pete Hegseth , whose nomination to lead the Pentagon has come into question due to his views on women serving in combat and reports about his personal behavior. A number of Republican senators have declined to commit to backing Hegseth or have asked for more information about his drinking and treatment of women. "It'll be messaging right now with their constituents about how out of step they are with the Trump agenda," Roberts said in an interview, who argued that criticism of Hegseth was being driven by "the establishment." Roberts' announcement that he will support Hegseth is the latest sign that Project 2025, which Trump disavowed amid Democratic criticism during his campaign, is newly ascendant as Trump returns to the White House. The president-elect has picked several of its authors and contributors to key positions. Roberts spoke to The Associated Press during an event at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's Florida estate, after he said he saw Trump at another event Wednesday also attended by other incoming members of the president-elect's Cabinet. Roberts did not say whether he met privately or would meet privately with Trump. Project 2025 includes proposals to reclassify thousands of federal workers so they could be fired and eliminate or curtail several government agencies. Facing Democratic criticism over the blueprint, Trump sought to distance himself from it and denied knowing who was behind it, even as the proposal was drafted by longtime allies and former officials in his administration. The event at Mar-a-Lago was to launch an exchange-traded fund, or ETF, called Azoria U.S. Meritocracy that is looking to target companies with diversity, equity and inclusion practices by excluding them from the fund. Its CEO, James Fishback, is close to Vivek Ramaswamy, the entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate in charge of the new Department of Government Efficiency with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Roberts introduced himself on Thursday as someone from Project 2025, and the small crowd laughed. He noted he is good friends with Brooke Rollins, president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, another group that laid the groundwork beforehand for a second Trump administration. Rollins has been nominated to serve as Trump's agriculture secretary. Roberts said groups like the Heritage Foundation and America First Policy Institute were "close collaborators on the Trump agenda." He called the second Trump term the "beginning of the golden era of America's next chapter." "I think we're in the middle of a re-founding of this country," he said.

Lauren Boebert joins Cameo, charging $250+ for personalized video messagesEmployers know that prioritizing employee wellbeing is the right thing to do, but there are also business benefits. Data from Indeed, analyzed by Oxford researchers, shows that companies with higher employee wellbeing levels have better valuations, return on assets, and profits. Indeed Introduces the 2024 Work Wellbeing 100, ranking the Top Publicly-Traded Companies for Work Wellbeing in the US. Investing in work wellbeing does more than improve employee morale — it can also drive tangible business benefits. Oxford recently analyzed Indeed's work wellbeing dataset and highlighted a strong correlation between company wellbeing and business performance. Indeed's 2024 Global Work Wellbeing Report findings revealed that higher levels of employee wellbeing are associated with improved firm valuation, return on assets, and gross profits. Companies with higher levels of employee wellbeing also collectively outperformed the stock market. The Indeed-Oxford research also looked into whether happier employees today mean better business results later. Data from before and after COVID-19 showed that companies with happier workers before COVID-19 performed better afterward in all three performance indicators (valuation, return on assets, and gross profits). The Indeed-Oxford research revealed the long-term business benefits of prioritizing employee wellbeing. Indeed reinforced the business case for work wellbeing by launching the Work Wellbeing 100 , an index ranking the top 100 publicly traded companies based on their Indeed Work Wellbeing Score. The Work Wellbeing 100 demonstrates companies with higher wellbeing outperformed leading stock indexes like the S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite, and Russell 3000, proving that prioritizing wellbeing benefits both people and businesses. This index ranks companies based on their Indeed Work Wellbeing Score , a composite metric on Indeed Company Pages. Given these findings, integrating employee wellbeing into your core business strategy is crucial. But the report indicates that only 22% of respondents feel they are thriving at work. Here are ways prioritizing wellbeing can set you apart and drive success. Make your company more competitive for talent Employee expectations around wellbeing are rising, and employers need to adapt. In a 2023 study by Indeed and Forrester Research , a substantial portion of millennials (54%) and Gen Z adults (59%) reported that their work wellbeing expectations had increased compared to the previous year. For this demographic, it's not enough to simply have a job; they want to work for a company that genuinely cares about them. These dynamics present an opportunity for employers to stand out in a competitive job market. By prioritizing wellbeing, companies can foster a more engaged and productive workforce. But that requires them to treat work wellbeing as a business strategy rather than just an HR effort. Boost retention by understanding what's important to employees Understanding employee sentiments enables employers to identify strengths and areas for improvement, allowing them to better meet workforce needs. This strategy should include measuring employee wellbeing as a key metric alongside other initiatives. For instance, the Indeed Work Wellbeing Score is a composite metric on Indeed Company Pages that measures key outcomes of work wellbeing: happiness, purpose, satisfaction, and stress. Developed in partnership with leading happiness and wellbeing experts, Indeed also measures and displays key drivers of workplace wellbeing, including belonging, fair pay, and flexibility Based on data from over 25 million surveys, the Indeed initiative represents the largest global study on work wellbeing. Scores are freely accessible to Indeed users, allowing employers to assess and improve their standing. This transparency helps businesses understand what matters most to their employees and serves as a valuable guide for job seekers to find companies where they can thrive. Build a resilient future through employee wellbeing Employees who aren't thriving at work can't perform at their highest potential, impacting individual employee experience and company performance. But every employee deserves the opportunity to thrive at work, and employers are responsible for providing that. When companies focus on wellbeing, they enhance their appeal to current and potential employees while fostering a more resilient and adaptable workforce. Investing in wellbeing supports and empowers that workforce, creating an opportunity for impactful business performance benefits rather than being a trade-off with other priorities. In an era where the future of work is increasingly focused on the employee experience, incorporating wellbeing into your business strategy is one of the smartest moves you can make. "The future of work conversation cannot happen without employee wellbeing at the center of it," Davis said. Indeed is committed to measuring and understanding work wellbeing to benefit individuals, businesses, and society. To learn more about how companies can strengthen their employer brand by focusing on work wellbeing, click here . This post was created by Indeed with Insider Studios.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 - Official Story TrailerThe fired coach Luke Richardson on Thursday with the team sitting at the bottom of the NHL standings. Anders Sorensen, coach of the Blackhawks' Rockford IceHogs team in the American Hockey League, was named interim head coach. The move happened with generational player going through a sophomore slump and unhappy with his production. He had a recently ended a 12-game goal drought and for this season's . "As we have begun to take steps forward in our rebuilding process, we felt that the results did not match our expectations for a higher level of execution this season and ultimately came to the decision that a change was necessary," general manager Kyle Davidson about the coaching move. Richardson, 55, was hired before the start of the 2022-23 season. The Blackhawks finished 30th overall, and chose Bedard, considered the NHL's best prospect since Connor McDavid. He was coach for Bedard's first NHL season, when the center despite missing 14 games with a . But the Blackhawks finished with the league's second worst record and a .317 points percentage. It has been more of the same, even with Chicago adding veterans Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen to complement Bedard. The Blackhawks' record is 8-16-2 and they're in a 2-7-1 slump. Richardson leaves Chicago with a 57-118-15 record and won't get a chance to coach in this season's Winter Classic. Richardson is the third NHL coach to be fired this season, following the and the . Sorensen, 49, a native of Sweden, has been with the Blackhawks organization since 2013-14 and become Rockford head coach in 2021-22, making the playoffs in all three seasons.PPA Asia and MLP Asia Set to Launch, Bringing World-Class Pro Pickleball to the World's Most Populous Continent

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