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A shooter kills UnitedHealthcare's CEO in an ambush in New York, police say NEW YORK (AP) — UnitedHealthcare’s CEO has been shot and killed in what police say is a “brazen, targeted attack” outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding its investor conference. The shooting rattled the city and set off a massive dragnet hours before the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting. Police say 50-year-old Brian Thompson was shot around 6:45 a.m. Wednesday as he walked alone to the New York Hilton Midtown from a nearby hotel. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch says the shooter appeared to be “lying in wait for several minutes” before approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire. Police have not yet established a motive. UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the US but was unknown to the millions of people his decisions affected. The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's chief executive on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk early Wednesday swiftly became a mystery that riveted the nation. Police say it was a targeted killing. Thompson was 50. He had run health care giant UnitedHealth Group Inc.'s insurance business since 2021. It provides health coverage for more than 49 million Americans. He had worked at the company for 20 years. The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year. Thompson's $10.2 million annual compensation package made him one of the company’s highest-paid executives. Hegseth fights to save Pentagon nomination as sources say Trump considers DeSantis WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s Pentagon pick, is fighting to hold on to his Cabinet nomination amid growing questions about his personal conduct as the president-elect’s team considers alternatives, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. But Hegseth says, “We’re not backing down one bit." The Trump transition team is concerned about Hegseth’s path to Senate confirmation and is actively looking at potential replacements, according to a person familiar with the matter. Hegseth is under pressure as senators weigh a series of allegations that have surfaced against him. Beyond DeSantis, there have been discussions about shifting Michael Waltz, who was named by Trump as his national security adviser, to the Defense Department Supreme Court seems likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on medical treatments for transgender minors WASHINGTON (AP) — Hearing a high-profile culture-war clash, the Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed likely to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The justices’ decision, not expected for several months, could affect similar laws enacted by another 25 states and a range of other efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people, including which sports competitions they can join and which bathrooms they can use. The case is being weighed by a conservative-dominated court after a presidential election in which Donald Trump and his allies promised to roll back protections for transgender people. The Biden administration’s top Supreme Court lawyer warned a decision favorable to Tennessee also could be used to justify nationwide restrictions on transgender healthcare for minors. Peter Navarro served prison time related to Jan. 6. Now Trump is bringing him back as an adviser WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is bringing Peter Navarro back to the White House for his second administration. Trump announced Wednesday on Truth Social that Navarro will serve as a senior counselor for trade and manufacturing. He was a trade adviser in Trump's first term. Navarro served four months in prison after being held in contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena from the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump also chose Daniel Driscoll as Army secretary, Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator and Adam Boehler as special presidential envoy for hostage affairs. Israeli strikes on a Gaza tent camp kill at least 21 people, hospital says KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — A Palestinian health official said Wednesday that at least 21 people were killed in Israeli strikes on a camp housing displaced people in Gaza. The Israeli military said it struck senior Hamas militants. The strikes hit in the Muwasi area, a sprawling coastal camp housing hundreds of thousands of displaced people. It came after Israeli forces struck targets in other areas of Gaza. According to Palestinian medics, strikes in central Gaza killed eight people, including four children. The war in Gaza is nearly 14 months old and showing no end in sight, despite international efforts to revive negotiations toward a ceasefire. South Korean President Yoon's martial law declaration raises questions over his political future SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning martial law declaration lasted just hours, but experts say it raised serious questions about his ability to govern for the remaining 2 1/2 years of his term. The opposition-controlled parliament overturned the edict, and his rivals on Wednesday took steps to impeach him. Yoon's move baffled many experts. One analyst called his action “political suicide.” Yoon’s political fate may depend on whether a large number of people in coming days take to the streets to push for his ouster. Yoon hasn't commented on the impeachment bid. But the political instability he unleashed could make it more difficult for his government to nurse a decaying economy. French lawmakers vote to oust prime minister in the first successful no-confidence vote since 1962 PARIS (AP) — France’s far-right and left-wing lawmakers have joined together to vote on a no-confidence motion prompted by budget disputes that forces Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his Cabinet to resign. The National Assembly approved the motion by 331 votes. A minimum of 288 were needed. President Emmanuel Macron insisted he will serve the rest of his term until 2027. However, he will need to appoint a new prime minister for the second time after July’s legislative elections led to a deeply divided parliament. Macron will address the French on Thursday evening, his office said, without providing details. Barnier is expected to formally resign by then. White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official says at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered the new details Wednesday about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that a number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could still grow. Harris found success with women who have cats, but Trump got the dog owner vote: AP VoteCast WASHINGTON (AP) — The lead-up to the 2024 election was all about cat owners. But in the end, the dogs had their day. Donald Trump won more than half of voters who own either cats or dogs, and he had with a big assist from dog owners. That's according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters. Dog owners were much more likely to support Trump over Kamala Harris. Cat owners were evenly split between the two candidates. Harris did end up decisively winning support from women who own a cat but no dog. Past comments by Trump's running mate, JD Vance, about “childless cat ladies” briefly became a campaign issue.Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s pick for intel chief, faces questions on Capitol Hill amid Syria fallout
The Ultimate Guide to Improving Online ConversionsPakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) has maintained its strong performance for the second consecutive year, posting an impressive growth of around 80%. In 2024, the benchmark KSE-100 index surged by almost 80% as on December 28, the market closed at 111,351 points. It indicated an impressive rise over the same period of the previous year, when the market closed at 62,052. This growth trajectory was further evident while looking back at December 30, 2022, when the market stood at 40,420 points, reflecting a 46% increase by the close of 2023. JS Global Deputy Research Head Waqas Ghani Kukaswadia said the KSE-100 index reached an all-time high of 117k in intra-day trading during CY24, a remarkable achievement despite significant foreign portfolio investors' selling driven by rebalancing activities. In terms of fiscal year 2023-24, the KSE-100 surged by 89.24% to 78,445 points on June 30, 2024 compared to 41,453 points in the previous year. "This remarkable growth restored market capitalisation to Rs10.37 trillion, which shows a rebound to peak levels last seen in 2017," the PSX wrote in the annual report for 2024 "Ode to Service". The KSE-100 posted an impressive gain of 70% in CY24, its highest return since 2002 and becoming the second best-performing global market after Argentina, according to the Pakistan Strategy 2025 released by AKD. The index is forecast to reach 165,215 points by December 2025, reflecting a potential upside of 55.5%. This performance highlights the growing appeal of the PSX among global investors. Increased activity Starting at lower levels at the beginning of 2024, the KSE-100 index experienced steady growth, with significant momentum building from April onwards. The second half of the year witnessed a sharp rally, when the index reached the high of 117,039.18 before slightly stabilising. By December 27, 2024, the KSE-100 closed at 111,351.17, near its peak levels. The 52-week range for the year was between 58,758.48 and 117,039.18, reflecting substantial recovery and growth. On December 28, the market recorded a trading volume of 816 million shares. Trading activity reached unprecedented levels in 2024. The traded volume soared to 151.4 billion shares, almost double from 2023, while the daily traded value averaged Rs22.1 billion, demonstrating heightened investor participation and confidence, according to the PSX report. Macroeconomic reforms played a pivotal role in supporting the market's strong performance. Interest rates are projected to decline to single digits in CY25, driven by structural adjustments under the IMF's Extended Fund Facility. Inflation, which peaked at 38% in May 2023, has since been anchored to single digits, significantly boosting investor confidence, according to AKD. New listings The year saw the listing of 11 new companies, including prominent entities like the Symmetry Group and TPL REIT Fund-I. These equity listings collectively raised Rs103.3 billion, which showed growing corporate interest in tapping the PSX potential. PSX played a pivotal role in facilitating the issuance of 22 government of Pakistan's Ijarah Sukuk instruments that raised Rs687.81 billion. Additionally, the introduction of a one-year Discounted Ijarah Sukuk provided innovative opportunities for Shariah-compliant investments, further diversifying market offerings, according to the PSX. Two new exchange-traded funds (ETFs), including the Mahaana Islamic Index ETF, were launched in 2024. These ETFs focused on Shariah-compliant and sector-specific investments, expanding the options for investors and promoting inclusivity in financial instruments, according to AKD. Sector-specific highlights Several sectors emerged as top performers in 2024, including banks, fertiliser, energy, and technology. These sectors benefitted from a stable currency, monetary easing, and reform-driven growth. In the medium term, textile exports are expected to lead the market, while technology remains poised for long-term double-digit expansion, reflecting the evolving dynamics of Pakistan's economy, AKD said. Foreign investors have shown increased interest in Pakistani equities, spurred by the country's improved weight in the MSCI Frontier Markets Index (6.4%). Furthermore, the anticipated reclassification of Pakistani equities into the MSCI Emerging Markets Index has created additional momentum, with seven stocks meeting the reclassification criteria, it added. PSX introduced a sophisticated primary market auction system for government debt securities. The implementation of the One-Share Lot System further enhanced liquidity and aligned the exchange with international standards. The exchange prioritised digital expansion by launching tools like the My Portfolio web app and the PSX WhatsApp Service, which provided real-time market updates and investor education. These innovations made market participation more accessible and user-friendly. Economic outlook Pakistan's economic growth remained modest in FY24, with GDP expanding by 2.5%. However, projections indicate an uptick to 2.7-3.2% in FY25 and 4.3% in FY26, driven by industrial and services sector recovery. The current account is expected to maintain a surplus for the next two years, supported by strong remittance inflows and moderate import growth, according to AKD. Waqas Ghani Kukaswadia of JS Global said the State Bank continues monetary easing, reducing the policy rate by a further 200 basis points (bps) earlier this month to 13%, driven by a faster-than-expected decline in inflation. The Consumer Price Index for November 2024 stood at 4.9%. The State Bank has cut interest rate by 900 bps since the easing cycle began in July 2024. Real interest rates now stand at 9%. He forecast FY25 inflation at 6.5%, with a potential sixth interest rate cut, though smaller. He emphasised the importance of foreign capital, political stability, and IMF alignment for Pakistan's macroeconomic stability and investment prospects. Fiscal reforms resulted in a reduction in fiscal deficit to 5% of GDP in FY24, with further improvements anticipated, according to AKD. The government has implemented structural adjustments in taxation, energy tariffs, and investment frameworks to strengthen economic resilience and promote sustainable growth. Ahsan Mehanti, MD of Arif Habib Commodities, noted the PSX's strong performance despite low foreign direct investment and foreign outflows, driven by low inflation and SBP policy easing. He highlighted IMF disbursements and SBP oversight in stabilising the rupee. Looking ahead, falling lending rates, positive earnings forecasts, and regulatory changes in sectors like banking, pharma, and auto lending are expected to push the PSX to new records in 2025. The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has emerged as a key driver of foreign direct investment, targeting annual inflows of $5 billion. Meanwhile, CPEC Phase 2.0 focuses on industrial, agricultural, and trade development, with significant emphasis on infrastructure and renewable energy projects, providing a transformative impact on Pakistan's economic landscape. COMMENTS Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see ourNone
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AP News Summary at 2:48 p.m. ESTEarth just experienced its second-warmest November on record — second only to 2023 — making it all but certain that 2024 will end as the hottest year ever measured, according to a report Monday by European climate service Copernicus. Last year was the hottest on record due to human-caused climate change coupled with the effects of an El Nino. But after this summer registered as the hottest on record — Phoenix sweltered through 113 consecutive days with a high temperature of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit — scientists anticipated 2024 would set a new annual record as well. In November, global temperatures averaged 14.10C (57.38F). Last year's global average temperature was 14.98C (59F). FILE - People are silhouetted against the sky at sunset Nov. 12 as they run in a park in Shawnee, Kan. Jennifer Francis, a climate scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center in Cape Cod, who wasn't involved in the report, said the big story about November is that "like 2023, it beat out previous Novembers by a large margin." This also likely will be the first calendar year in which the average temperature was more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times, the report said. The 2015 Paris Agreement said human-caused warming should be limited to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), and ideally below 1.5. In the following years, the world's top scientist said limiting to 1.5 was crucial to stave off the worst impacts of climate change, such as increasing destructive and frequent extreme weather events. Scientists say the main cause of climate change is the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas. That "does not mean that the Paris Agreement has been breached, but it does mean ambitious climate action is more urgent than ever," said Copernicus Deputy Director Samantha Burgess. A young family visiting Washington cools off from the warm weather in a fountain Nov. 6 at the base of the Washington Monument. Francis said the new records are "terrible news for people and ecosystems." "The pace of warming is so fast that plants and animals cannot adapt as they always have during previous changes in the Earth's climate. More species will go extinct, which disrupts natural food webs they're a part of. Agriculture will suffer as pollinators decline and pests flourish," she said, also warning that coastal communities will be vulnerable to sea-level rise. Heat waves over the oceans and a loss of reflective sea ice and snow cover probably contributed to the temperature increase this year, experts said. Copernicus said the extent of Antarctic sea ice in November was 10% below average, a record. Oceans absorb about 90% of the heat trapped by greenhouse gases, later releasing heat and water vapor back into the atmosphere. Last year's record heat was caused partly by an El Nino — a temporary natural warming of parts of the central Pacific that alters weather worldwide. People walk Nov. 27 on an autumn-colored ginkgo tree-lined avenue in Tokyo. But that ended this year and a cooling effect that often follows, called La Nina, failed to materialize, leaving the scientific community "a little perplexed by what's going on here ... why temperatures are staying high," said Jonathan Overpeck, a climate scientist at the University of Michigan. One explanation is that an El Nino releases more heat to the atmosphere because of warmer ocean waters, then "we're not getting the cooling effect that often in decades gone by helps bring the temperature back down," Overpeck said. "So it does look like this could be contributing to the acceleration of global warming. But this year, he said, "is such a big jump following yet another jump, and that's a scary thing." It's no secret that a warming world will drive food prices higher, a phenomenon increasingly known as " heatflation ." What's less known, but a growing area of interest among economists and scientists alike, is the role individual extreme weather events — blistering temperatures in Texas , a destructive tornado in Iowa — may have on what U.S. consumers pay at the supermarket. At first glance, the answer might seem logical: A drought or flood that impacts agricultural production will, eventually, drive up prices. But it's not that simple, because what consumers pay for groceries isn't only reflective of crop yields or herd sizes, but the whole supply chain. As Grist reports, that's where it gets interesting: Economists are beginning to see a growing trend that suggests weather forecasts play a part in sticker shock. Sometimes the mere prediction of an extreme event — like the record-breaking temperatures, hurricanes, and wildfires forecasters are bracing for this summer — can prompt a spike in prices. It isn't the forecast itself to blame, but concerns about what the weather to come might mean for the entire supply chain, as food manufacturers manage their risks and the expected future value of their goods, said Seungki Lee, an agricultural economist at Ohio State University. "When it comes to the climate risk on food prices, people typically look at the production side. But over the last two years, we learned that extreme weather can raise food prices, [cause] transportation disruptions, as well as production disruptions," said Lee. How much we pay for the food we buy is determined by retailers, who consider the producer's price, labor costs, and other factors. Any increases in what producers charge is typically passed on to consumers because grocery stores operate on thin profit margins. And if manufacturers expect to pay more for commodities like beef or specialty crops like avocados in the future, they may boost prices now to cover those anticipated increases. "The whole discussion about the climate risks on the food supply chain is based on probabilities," Lee said. "It is possible that we do not see extreme temperatures this summer, or even later this year. We may realize there was no significant weather shock hitting the supply chain, but unfortunately that will not be the end of the story." Supply chain disruptions and labor shortages are among the reasons food prices have climbed 25 percent since 2020 . Climate change may be contributing as well. A study published earlier this year found " heatflation " could push them up by as much as 3 percentage points per year worldwide in just over a decade and by about 2 percentage points in North America. Simultaneous disasters in major crop and cattle producing regions around the world — known as multi-breadbasket failure — are among the primary forces driving these costs. Crop shortages in these regions may also squeeze prices, which can create volatility in the global market and bump up consumer costs. Historically, a single, localized heat wave or storm typically wouldn't disrupt the supply chain enough to prompt price hikes. But a warming world might be changing that dynamic as extreme weather events intensify and simultaneous occurrences of them become the norm. How much this adds to consumers' grocery bills will vary, and depends upon whether these climate-fueled disasters hit what Lee calls "supply chain chokepoints" like vital shipping channels during harvest seasons. "As the weather is getting more and more volatile because of climate change, we are seeing this issue more frequently," he said. "So what that means is the supply chain is getting more likely to be jeopardized by these types of risks that we have never seen before." An ongoing drought that plagued the Mississippi River system from the fall of 2022 until February provides an excellent example of this. The Mississippi River basin, which covers 31 states, is a linchpin of America's agricultural supply chain. It produces 92 percent of the nation's agricultural exports, 78 percent of the world's feed grains and soybeans , and most of the country's livestock. Vessels navigating its roughly 2,350 miles of channels carry 589 million tons of cargo annually . Transportation barriers created by low water, seen above, hampered the ability of crop-producing states in the Corn Belt to send commodities like corn and soybeans, primarily used for cattle feed, to livestock producers in the South. Thus emerged a high demand, low supply situation as shipping and commodity prices shot up , with economists expecting consumers to absorb those costs . Past research showing that retail prices increase alongside commodity prices suggests that the drought probably contributed to higher overall food costs last year — and because droughts have a lingering impact on production even after they end, it may be fueling stubbornly high grocery prices today. But although it seems clear that the drought contributed to higher prices, particularly for meat and dairy products, just how much remains to be gauged. One reason for that is a lack of research analyzing the relationship between this particular weather event and the consumer market. Another is it's often difficult to tease out which of several possible factors, including global trade, war, and export bans , influence specific examples of sticker shock. While droughts definitely prompt decreases in agricultural production, Metin Çakır, an economist at the University of Minnesota, says whether that is felt by consumers depends on myriad factors. "This would mean higher raw ingredient costs for foods sold in groceries, and part of those higher costs will be passed onto consumers via higher prices. However, will consumer prices actually increase? The answer depends on many other supply and demand factors that might be happening at the same time as the impact of the drought," said Çakır. In a forthcoming analysis previewed by Grist, Çakır examined the relationship between an enduring drought in California, which produces a third of the nation's vegetables and nearly two-thirds of its fruits and nuts , and costs of produce purchased at large grocery retailers nationwide. While the event raised consumer vegetable prices to a statistically significant degree, they didn't increase as much as Çakır expected. This capricious consumer cost effect is due largely to the resiliency of America's food system . Public safety nets like crop insurance and other federal programs have played a large part in mitigating the impacts of adverse weather and bolstering the food supply chain against climate change and other shocks. By ensuring farmers and producers don't bear the brunt of those losses, these programs reduce the costs passed on to consumers. Advanced agricultural technology, modern infrastructure, substantial storage, and efficient transport links also help ensure retail price stability. A 2024 study of the role climate change played on the U.S. wheat market from 1950 to 2018 found that although the impact of weather shocks on price variability has increased with the frequency of extreme weather, adaptive mechanisms, like a well-developed production and distribution infrastructure with sufficient storage capacity, have minimized the impact on consumers. Still, the paper warns that such systems may collapse when faced with "unprecedented levels of weather variability." Last year was the world's warmest on record , creating an onslaught of challenges for crop and livestock producers nationwide. And this year is primed to be even more brutal , with the transition from El Niño — an atmospheric phenomenon that warms ocean temperatures — to La Niña , its counterpart that cools them. This cyclical change in global weather patterns is another potential threat for crop yields and source of supply chain pressures that economists and scientists are keeping an eye on. They will be particularly focused on the Midwest and stretches of the Corn Belt, two regions prone to drought as an El Niño cycle gives way to a La Niña, according to Weston Anderson, an assistant research scientist at the University of Maryland and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Those growing regions for corn and soybeans are what he'll be watching closely as La Niña develops. It's something Jennifer Ifft, an agricultural economist at Kansas State University, is also thinking about. "If you have a very severe drought in the Corn Belt ... that's going to be the biggest deal, because that's gonna raise the cost of production for cattle, hogs, poultry," said Ifft. "So that would probably have the largest inflationary impacts." As of January , U.S. beef herd inventory was at its lowest in 73 years, which multiple reports noted is due to the persisting drought that began in 2020 . Americans, the majority of whom are already spending more on groceries than last year, are poised to soon see "record" beef prices at the supermarket. Food prices are also expected to rise another 2.2 percent in 2024 , according to the USDA's Economic Research Service. In a world enmeshed in extremes, our already-fragile food supply chain could be the next system teetering on the edge of collapse because of human-caused climate change. And costlier groceries linked to impending risk is the first of many warning signs that it is already splintering. This story was produced by Grist and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media. Get the daily forecast and severe weather alerts in your inbox!
WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department said Monday it is not actively reviewing the “foreign terrorist organization” designation of the main Syrian rebel group that overthrew Bashar Assad’s government this weekend. But, it said such designations are constantly under review, and that even while it’s in place, the label does not bar U.S. officials from speaking with the group. “There is no specific review related to what happened” over the weekend, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters. “That said, we are always reviewing. Based on their actions, there could be a change in our sanctions posture, but we have nothing today.” He said a review could be initiated if , known as HTS, takes steps to reverse the reasons for its designation. That would be , he said. The designation imposes numerous sanctions against those targeted, including a ban on the provision of “material support” to such groups, although Miller said that would not necessarily prevent discussions between its members and U.S. officials. HTS will be an “important component” in and the U.S. needs to “engage with them, appropriately, and with U.S. interests in mind,” said a senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Miller cited the case of the Trump administration negotiating with the Taliban over the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, but later conceded that the Taliban has never been designated in the same way. Instead, the Taliban was listed as a “specially designated terrorist organization,” a label that comes with less stringent sanctions. Nevertheless, Miller said U.S. officials “do have the ability, when it is in our interest, legally to communicate with a designated terrorist organization.” Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and Jordan’s King Abdullah II spoke by phone about the rapidly evolving situation in Syria and joint efforts to the situation, according to the White House. In their call, Biden and the Jordanian monarch also discussed the dozens of U.S. airstrikes conducted on Sunday targeting IS leaders and fighters in the Syrian desert as well as ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza. The call came as Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs John Bass and Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf were in the region holding consultations with key partners. They are in Amman, Jordan, on Monday and were in Doha, Qatar, over the weekend, the State Department said. More than a million into neighboring Jordan since the civil war ignited in 2011, and officials in Amman are hoping to avoid another refugee crisis following the fall of Assad’s government. “The President emphasized the support of the United States for the stability of Jordan and Jordan’s central role in maintaining stability and de-escalating tensions throughout the Middle East region,” the White House said in a statement. Separately, the State Department said the U.S. had arranged with local groups to secure the shuttered U.S. Embassy compound in Damascus, which suspended operations in 2012 and had been until recently under the protection of the Czech Embassy. The Czechs, however, closed their own embassy in Damascus as the situation in the capital grew more uncertain. It would not say with what groups the U.S. made the arrangements.WATCH: Fallon prices security fence at Butler, Pa. rally at $410
Hyderabad : Telangana anti-corruption bureau (ACB), on Saturday, December 28, arrested a government officer in Bhadradri Kothagudem district for demanding a bribe of Rs 50,000 for doing official work. The arrested official, identified as Merugu Rathnam, has been working as the deputy surveyor at Dammannapet Mandal in Kothagudem. According to the ACB, the government officer was caught taking the bribe money for conducting a land survey and submitting an official survey report at the property owned by the complainant’s sister. The officials confirmed Merugu Rathnam was taking bribes with the chemical test for bribing as his left hand turned positive for touching the bribe money. On December 9, a senior accountant of the district treasury office in Khammam was caught demanding Rs 40,000 as a bribe for performing official duties. ACB officials arrested Katta Nagesh who demanded the bribe money to process the revised pay scale, including pay fixation, service pension, gratuity, enhanced family pension, normal family pension bills and commutation totalling Rs 3,92,960. The work concerned a dead person who was a relative of the complainant. Citizens can report incidents of bribery by calling at the hotline 1064.( ) stock fell Monday after failing to get added to the S&P 500 during the index's quarterly rebalancing. APP stock skidded nearly 15% on the news. "The biggest momentum name in the market is having its worst day in months after not being included in the S&P 500," Daniel O'Regan, managing director of equity trading at Mizuho Securities, said in an intraday client note on Monday. Instead of AppLovin, the late Friday chose to include ( ) and ( ). On the , AppLovin stock dropped 14.7% to close at 342.54. On Friday, AppLovin stock notched a record high of 417.64. Through Friday's close, APP stock was up 908% for the year. Meanwhile, Workday rose 5.1% on Monday to close at 279.91. Apollo spiked 6.5% to an all-time high of 189.41 in morning trades but ended the regular session down 3% to 172.47. AppLovin's software platform enables app developers to market, monetize and analyze their apps. The Palo Alto, Calif.-based company also makes mobile games such as "Wordscapes," "Matchington Mansion" and "Game of War." AppLovin is on two IBD stock lists: and .
MD_Prather 25 pass from Morris (Howes kick), 14:46. PSU_FG Barker 49, 12:47. PSU_Singleton 2 run (Barker kick), 12:53. PSU_Allar 1 run (Barker kick), 10:11. PSU_Pribula 1 run (Barker kick), 6:53. PSU_Warren 7 pass from Allar (Barker kick), 1:46. PSU_Singleton 18 run (Barker kick), 14:14. PSU_Denmark 15 pass from Pribula, :00. RUSHING_Maryland, Hemby 13-64, Ray 9-51, C.Long 1-0, Morris 8-(minus 29). Penn St., Singleton 14-89, Allen 13-34, Warren 3-32, Smith 6-25, Allar 6-21, Pribula 5-17, Martin 2-0. PASSING_Maryland, Morris 14-24-3-112, C.Long 1-2-0-10. Penn St., Allar 16-26-0-147, Allen 1-1-0-24, Pribula 2-3-0-13, Warren 1-1-0-9. RECEIVING_Maryland, Felton 4-27, Hemby 3-20, Wade 2-17, Howard 2-12, Prather 1-25, Ray 1-10, Wisloski 1-9, Haughton 1-2. Penn St., Warren 6-68, Evans 4-49, Kh.Dinkins 3-36, Singleton 3-17, Denmark 1-15, Clifford 1-5, Fleming 1-5, Smith 1-(minus 2). MISSED FIELD GOALS_Penn St., Barker 53.Nigeria dominate Ghana to seal qualification for the 2025 CHAN tournament
Nostromo will use funds to deploy its IceBrick® thermal energy storage systems in 193 commercial buildings across California IRVINE, Calif. , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nostromo Energy , provider of the IceBrick® system, a virtual power plant (VPP)-enabled thermal energy storage solution for commercial and industrial buildings, announced today that it has received a conditional commitment for a loan guarantee of up to $305.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Loan Programs Office (LPO). The proposed financing would be used by Nostromo for Project IceBrick® – the first, wide-scale deployment of Nostromo's technology to reduce costs, emissions, and grid strain related to electricity for commercial cooling. If finalized, the loan will finance the deployment of IceBrick® installations at up to 193 commercial buildings and facilities across California . Nostromo will also target installing at least 20% of these projects in disadvantaged communities, further improving the reliability of local systems. Project IceBrick® has the potential to create more than 200 jobs, including over 170 peak construction jobs. Over the 5-year construction period, the project will also create more than 874 annual job equivalents, including hiring installation contractors from disadvantaged communities when possible. The project could also enable the state's bulk power system to avoid up to 500,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions over its lifetime by installing a potential equivalent of 170 MW (450 MWh) of behind-the-meter, or on-site, storage capacity in buildings – while making power more reliable and affordable. Seventy-four percent of all electricity in the US is consumed by buildings, with approximately half used to maintain thermal conditions, representing the largest load on both buildings and the power grid. California is the second-largest total energy consumer by state in the US and has set a target of being a 60% clean energy grid by 2030 and 100% by 2045. Nostromo's IceBrick® ice-based thermal energy storage (TES) technology reduces costs, emissions, and grid-congestion associated with the largest energy use in large commercial buildings-HVAC. The IceBrick® systems charge when electricity is cheap and clean (when renewables are available) and discharge later for use when power is both expensive and polluting. The IceBrick storage cells are 100% US-made from recycled or recyclable materials. All IceBrick® systems are centrally managed for grid-integration as a virtual power plant (VPP). They are compatible for new buildings or retrofitting on properties including hotels, offices, data centers, and hospitals. Host building owners can install IceBrick® systems without any capital or other upfront costs under Nostromo's "Energy Storage-as-a-Service" (ESaaS) program. Project IceBrick® is the third VPP project that the LPO has announced and the first to use TES. The potential for VPPs to alleviate grid load is significant as peak hours air conditioning accounts for approximately 50% of US electricity load during those hours. VPPs are aggregations of electrified, grid-connected devices, including grid interactive efficient buildings . They reduce utilities' reliance on natural gas peaker plants and the strain on transmission and distribution infrastructure by intelligently time-shifting cooling loads to shave electricity demand from times of peak usage, when electricity is most carbon-intensive. As a VPP, Project IceBrick supports a higher rate of grid asset utilization, further tempering cost increases for Californians, who face some of the highest electricity bills in the nation. "We're excited to help fulfill the vision of the DOE and LPO to make VPPs a key resource of the modern grid by serving up to 20% of its peak loads and making power more secure, affordable and clean," said Yoram Ashery, CEO of Nostromo Energy. "This project will benefit not only commercial buildings, but also electricity consumers in general, create hundreds of good paying domestic jobs, and reduce emissions from gas peaker plants which mostly impact disadvantaged communities around them." The loan guarantee for Project IceBrick would be issued under the Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program, of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Financing for the first Project IceBrick will be provided, subject to the outstanding required approval, by the DOE guaranteed loan of up to $305.5 million (inclusive of $1.85 million of capitalized interest), and in addition project equity, for which a term sheet has been executed with a private equity management firm, and investment tax credits (ITC). Nostromo has recently completed the sale of the ITC earned on its first IceBrick® system. In conjunction with Project IceBrick, Independence Point Securities is the exclusive financial advisor to Nostromo Energy. This conditional commitment indicates DOE's intent to finance the project, however, DOE must complete an environmental review, and the company must satisfy certain technical, legal, environmental, commercial, and financial conditions before the Department can decide whether to enter into definitive financing documents and fund the loan guarantee. For more information, review the DOE's announcement blog . About Nostromo Energy Nostromo Energy's ice-based energy storage solution is redefining energy storage for commercial and industrial buildings, enabling them to become sustainable energy storage assets and reduce their energy costs and carbon emissions. Nostromo's IceBrick® system uses ice to store energy when electricity prices are low and renewable energy is abundant, and later discharge the energy to avoid purchasing electricity that is both carbon-intensive and expensive. In this way, Nostromo helps accelerate the renewable revolution and paves the way to a carbon-free electric grid, while offering building owners a safe, clean, and financially beneficial energy storage solution. The IceBrick® is non-flammable, modular, and compact, easily retrofitted to existing commercial and industrial buildings. To learn more about Nostromo and the IceBrick® technology, visit www.nostromo.energy . Nostromo Energy's IceBrick® System Nostromo's IceBrick system is composed of thermal storage cells that are modular and compact, allowing for installation in a variety of building types as well as various locations within a building, such as in a basement or on a roof. It operates by using regular electricity to freeze a water-based solution during the hours when the grid's electricity supply is at its most abundant and clean. The stored energy in the frozen IceBricks is then used to help power the building's cooling system during hours of peak demand, reducing the need to rely on power from the grid at these times, which are the most expensive and when the grid faces highest demand and produces electricity from the most carbon-intensive and polluting sources. Nostromo's VPP software can control operation and performance of IceBrick systems either as standalone systems or in concert as a VPP. The IceBrick storage cells are manufactured entirely in the US, from partially recycled and 100% recyclable materials. Contact: Rebecca Ash [email protected] SOURCE NostromoTrump's lawyers move to dismiss Georgia election interference case