NoneWhat Snoop wants: Arizona Bowl gives NIL opportunities to players for Colorado State, Miami (Ohio)
Bitcoin, ether, dogecoin – Chalmers says the future may be crypto
Trump invited China's Xi to his inauguration even as he threatened massive tariffs on Beijing
Another stowaway caught on Delta flight raises major concerns about airport safetyWater woes boil over in New Jersey’s capital, with revelation of monitoring lapseUndercover FBI agents were not present during the 2021 attack on the US Capitol by Donald Trump supporters, a Justice Department watchdog said Thursday in a report debunking a popular right-wing conspiracy theory. "We found no evidence in the materials we reviewed or the testimony we received showing or suggesting that the FBI had undercover employees in the various protest crowds, or at the Capitol, on January 6," Justice Department inspector general Michael Horowitz said in an 88-page report. Thousands of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6 in a bid to prevent congressional certification of Democrat Joe Biden's election victory. Right-wing media and even some Republican lawmakers have spuriously claimed that undercover FBI agents provoked the attack on Congress, which followed a fiery speech by Trump in which he falsely claimed the election had been stolen. The inspector general said that while no undercover FBI agents were present at the Trump rally or the Capitol, 26 FBI informants known as confidential human sources (CHS) were in Washington at the time. Three of the informants had been tasked with reporting on domestic terrorist suspects while the others were there on their own. "None of these FBI CHSs were authorized to enter the Capitol or a restricted area, or to otherwise break the law on January 6, nor was any CHS directed by the FBI to encourage others to commit illegal acts on January 6," the report said. The inspector general also said there had been an intelligence-gathering failure by the FBI ahead of the January 6 attack. "While the FBI undertook significant efforts to identify domestic terrorism subjects who planned to travel to the Capital region on January 6," the report said, "the FBI did not take a step that could have helped the FBI and its law enforcement partners with their preparations. "Specifically, the FBI did not canvass its field offices in advance of January 6, 2021, to identify any intelligence, including CHS reporting, about potential threats to the January 6 Electoral Certification," it said. FBI deputy director Paul Abbate was quoted as saying this was a "basic step that was missed" in "understanding the threat picture prior to January 6." Trump was impeached by the Democratic-majority House of Representatives following the attack on the Capitol, but acquitted by the Senate. He is to return to the White House on January 20 after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the November presidential election. More than 1,500 people have been charged in connection with the assault on Congress. Trump has lauded them as "patriots" and "political prisoners" and pledged to pardon many of them when he returns to the White House. cl/st
Making the grade: Canada unveils world junior roster featuring plenty of youth Gavin McKenna will suit up for Canada at the world junior hockey championship. Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press Dec 13, 2024 3:57 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Canada's Carson Rehkopf (19) takes a shot on net as U Sports Simon Lavigne (24) defends during first period of Canadian World Juniors selection camp hockey action at TD Place stadium in Ottawa, on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby Gavin McKenna will suit up for Canada at the world junior hockey championship. Set to turn 17 next week, the star forward with the Western Hockey League's Medicine Hat Tigers headlines the country's 25-player roster for the annual tournament announced Friday. McKenna, who is projected as the potential top pick at the 2026 NHL draft, will be joined by a pair of fellow youngsters battling for the No. 1 selection spot in June — 18-year-old winger Porter Martone and 17-year-old defenceman Matthew Schaefer. Five of seven eligible returnees from last year's squad that finished a disappointing fifth in Sweden are back, with forwards Easton Cowan, Brayden Yager and Carson Rehkopf getting the nod, while defencemen Oliver Bonk and Tanner Molendyk will anchor the blue line. The two players unable to hold onto their spots for the event set to run Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Ottawa are forward Matthew Wood and goaltender Scott Ratzlaff. Making up the rest of the group up front are Bradly Nadeau, Jett Luchanko, Luca Pinelli, Berkly Catton, Ethan Gauthier, Calum Ritchie, Tanner Howe, Cole Beaudoin and Mathieu Cataford. Nadeau didn't attend selection camp in Ottawa this week, but was guaranteed a spot after being made available by the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes from their American Hockey League affiliate. Canada's defence corps also includes Andrew Gibson, Sam Dickinson, Caden Price, Sawyer Mynio and Beau Akey. The hockey powerhouse's three-headed crease contingent is made up of goaltenders Jack Ivankovic — another 17-year-old eligible for June's NHL draft — Carter George and Carson Bjarnason. "We believe we have assembled a competitive and talented roster that will give us the best opportunity to win a gold medal on home ice," Hockey Canada's Peter Anholt, who leads the under-20 program's management group, said in a statement. "We look forward to them wearing the Maple Leaf with pride." The Canadians, who will be looking to add to a record 20 gold medals at the annual showcase, were ousted in last year's quarterfinals thanks to a last-minute loss to Czechia. Among the other notable cuts Friday were Calgary Flames defence prospect Zayne Parekh and Beckett Sennecke, who was selected No. 3 overall by the Anaheim Ducks at the 2024 draft. Both players were late injury additions for selection camp and are eligible to try out again next year. Canada will now hold training camp in Petawawa, Ont., before pre-tournament games against Switzerland, Sweden and Czechia. The hosts open Group A at the Canadian Tire Centre, home of the NHL's Ottawa Senators, on Boxing Day against Finland. The defending champions United States, Latvia and Germany make up the rest of the field. Group B at TD Place, home of the Ontario Hockey League's Ottawa 67's, includes Sweden, Czechia, Slovakia, Switzerland and Kazakhstan. Russia remains banned by the International Ice Hockey Federation due to that country's ongoing war in Ukraine. Ottawa last hosted the world juniors in 2009 when Canada defeated Sweden to secure a record-tying fifth straight gold. Cameron, who guided the country atop the podium in 2022 after winning silver in 2011, was an assistant coach on the staff of the late Pat Quinn at that tournament 15 years ago in the nation's capital. "This group of 25 players is excited for the opportunity to wear the Maple Leaf in front of Canadian fans in Ottawa, and to represent their country in our quest to win a gold medal," he said in a statement. "This is a great accomplishment for these players and their families. "We know they will enjoy the world juniors experience while bringing the competitiveness needed for us to be successful and accomplish our goal." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024. Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More National Sports Source: Running back-returner Javon Leake staying put with Edmonton Elks Dec 13, 2024 3:42 PM Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss reveals cancer diagnosis, 6-hour surgery Dec 13, 2024 3:33 PM Canada's Henderson, Conners tied for second at mixed-team event; Knapp, Tavatanakit lead Dec 13, 2024 3:30 PM Featured Flyer
Since being traded to the Washington Commanders, Marshon Lattimore has missed his first four potential matchups in D.C. due to a hamstring injury. It sounds like that might change after the Commanders' Week 14 bye, and there's no doubt Lattimore has Washington's next game circled on his calendar. That would be because the opponent in that game is the New Orleans Saints, the team that just traded Lattimore. In eight seasons, Lattimore played in 97 games for the Saints and was a four-time Pro Bowler in addition to the 2017 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Lattimore returned to the practice field this past week (albeit in a limited role), and will now have the full bye week to rest up. With four games remaining in the regular season, that first game after seems to be the best opportunity to finally get him on the field regardless of the opponent. The fact that it's against the Saints -- in New Orleans, at that -- only makes it more emotional for Lattimore, who is sure to be given plenty of respect from his former teammates and fans. It should also make him all the more motivated to show out for his new squad. Commanders fans have waited an entire month to see their team's prized trade deadline acquisition on the field. Assuming all goes according to plan, his debut could now be an extra special one.
Color Star Technology Sparks Retail Chatter After UAE Royal AppointmentLongwood secures 89-81 win over UAB
Sanders set to take seat on Senate Finance panel — maybeWEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has nvited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration next month — extending a diplomatic olive branch even as Trump threatens to levy massive tariffs on Chinese goods. Trump's incoming press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed on Thursday that Trump invited Xi, but said it was “to be determined” if the leader of the United States' most significant economic and military competitor would attend. In fact it seems unlikely. Xi is likely to see the invitation as too risky to accept, and the gesture from Trump may have little bearing on the increasingly competitive ties between the two nations as the White House changes hands, experts say. Danny Russel, vice president for international security and diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said Xi would not allow himself to “be reduced to the status of a mere guest celebrating the triumph of a foreign leader — the U.S. president, no less.” Still, Leavitt saw it as a plus. “This is an example of President Trump creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just our allies, but our adversaries and our competitors too,” she said in an appearance on Fox News' program ”Fox & Friends." “We saw this in his first term. He got a lot of criticism for it, but it led to peace around this world. He is willing to talk to anyone and he will always put America’s interest first.” CBS News first reported the invitation to Xi. Asked at a Chinese Foreign Ministry briefing on Thursday about Trump's invitation, spokesperson Mao Ning responded: “I have nothing to share at present.” Leavitt said that other foreign leaders have also been invited, but did not provide any details. The move by Trump to invite a leader of an adversarial nation to the American moment that is Inauguration Day is unorthodox. But it also squares with his belief that foreign policy—much like a business negotiation—should be carried out with carrots and sticks to get the United States' opponents to operate closer to his administration's preferred terms. Jim Bendat, a historian and author of “Democracy’s Big Day: The Inauguration of Our President,” said he was not aware of a previous U.S. inauguration attended by a foreign head of state. “It's not necessarily a bad thing to invite foreign leaders to attend,” Bendat said. “But it sure would make more sense to invite an ally before an adversary.” Edward Frantz, a presidential historian at the University of Indianapolis, said the invitation helps Trump burnish his “dealmaker and savvy businessman” brand. “I could see why he might like the optics," Frantz said. “But from the standpoint of American values, it seems shockingly cavalier." White House officials said it was up to Trump to decide whom he invites to the inauguration. “I would just say, without doubt it's the single most consequential bilateral relationship that the United States has in the world,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said. “It is a relationship both fraught with peril and responsibility.” Trump on Thursday during an appearance at the New York Stock Exchange , where he was ringing the opening bell to open the market, said he’s been “thinking about inviting certain people to the inauguration” without referring to any specific individuals. “And some people said, ‘Wow, that’s a little risky, isn’t it?’” Trump said. “And I said, ‘Maybe it is. We’ll see. We’ll see what happens.’ But we like to take little chances.” Meanwhile, a top aide to Hungarian President Viktor Orban, one of Trump's most vocal supporters on the world stage, said Thursday that Orban isn't slated to attend the inauguration. “There is no such plan, at least for the time being," said Gergely Gulyás, Orban's chief of staff. The nationalist Hungarian leader is embraced by Trump but has faced isolation in Europe as he's sought to undermine the European Union's support for Ukraine, and routinely blocked, delayed or watered down the bloc’s efforts to provide weapons and funding and to sanction Moscow for its invasion. Orban recently met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Every country's chief of mission to the United States will also be invited, according to a Trump Inaugural Committee official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The Xi invitation comes as Trump has threatened to enact massive tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China to get those countries to do more to reduce illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. He has said that, on his first day in office in January, he would impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada and that China could be hit with even higher tariffs. China produces precursor chemicals used in the production of fentanyl, but Beijing has stepped up efforts over the last year to crack down on the export of the chemicals. “We’ve been talking and discussing with President Xi, some things, and others, other world leaders, and I think we’re going to do very well all around,” Trump said in a CNBC interview Thursday. Xi during a meeting with President Joe Biden last month in Peru urged the United States not to start a trade war. “Make the wise choice,” Xi cautioned. “Keep exploring the right way for two major countries to get along well with each other.” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also pushed back on Trump's threats, warning such a tariffs move would be perilous for the U.S. economy as well. Trudeau earlier this week said that Americans “are beginning to wake up to the real reality that tariffs on everything from Canada would make life a lot more expensive” and said he will retaliate if Trump goes ahead with them. Trump responded by calling Canada a state and Trudeau the governor. In addition to the tariff dispute, U.S.-China relations are strained over other issues, including what U.S. officials see as Beijing indirectly supporting Russia's war on Ukraine. The Biden administration says China has supported Russia with a surge in sales of dual use components that help keep its military industrial base afloat. U.S. officials also have expressed frustration with Beijing for not doing more to rein in North Korea's support for the Russian war. China accounts for the vast majority of North Korea’s trade. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has dispatched thousands of troops to Russia to help repel Ukrainian forces from the Kursk border region. The North Koreans also have provided Russia with artillery and other munitions, according to U.S. and South Korean intelligence officials. Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration takes place a day after the U.S. deadline for ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of social media giant TikTok, to sell the social media app or face a ban in the United States. — Associated Press writers Didi Tang in Washington and Balint Domotor in Budapest, Hungary, contributed reporting.Wave of Democrats slam Biden's pardon of his son HunterNEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball switched a pair of series involving the Tampa Bay Rays to the first two months of the season in an attempt to avoid summer weather problems at open-air Steinbrenner Field, their temporary home following damage to Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay is scheduled to play 13 of its first 16 games at home and 47 of 59 through May 28, then play 69 of its last 103 games on the road. The Rays are home for eight of 25 games in July and eight of 26 in August. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Ex Teacher Has Dire Prediction About Kids' 'Unfiltered Internet Access'To Stratford With Love was Richard and Ruth Kneider’s way of giving back to the community they called home. It started 36 years ago at what was then the Army and Navy building on Lorne Avenue, and overflow from the free dinner ended up at their restaurant – RJ’s Diner – on the outskirts of the city. But the couple behind Simple Dreams Ministries never envisioned it would grow into a city staple nearly four decades later. “We believe it’s truly become a Stratford tradition,” Richard Kneider said. The concept behind the event, if you’ve never been, is straightforward. “We just want people to experience a nice celebration where, if they don’t have family that is local, or circumstances are tough, or they just need to have good way to celebrate, they know we’re here to serve,” Ruth Kneider said. “At one side of the table, you can have somebody who is literally homeless,” Richard Kneider said. “On the other side of the table, you can have somebody who is making $100,000-plus, but at that moment they’re all on the same playing field. We’ve realized over the years that depression and loneliness have no social boundaries. We want people to come and enjoy the fellowship of the evening.” This year’s event is scheduled for Dec. 14 at the Rotary Complex. The Stratford Concert Band will play guests to their seats, and local band Upside of Maybe will also perform. Guests will dine on roast beef, baked potatoes, vegetables, coleslaw and pie donated or prepared by restaurants, businesses and those among the brigade of volunteers that has grown to more than 200 people. For years, that evolving group has included Richard and Ruth Kneider’s girls – Morgan, Katey and Jillian – but now grandkids are also getting involved. Archer, Foster and Olive Chambers, and Pearl and Lincoln Patterson, whose ages range from seven to 14, have made To Stratford With Love a three-generation family event. “I’m more inspired by their willingness to help,” Ruth Kneider said. “They could say, ‘I don’t want to do this,’ but they’re excited to be a part of it, and they’re all great kids. We’re really thankful they’re willing to do this, but it’s instilling in them some values I think are getting lost in the shuffle of how busy people’s lives are getting.” There will be seating for 800 next month, Ruth Kneider said, with a room for overflow – just like the first dinner 36 years ago. No one will be turned away. “It just goes year to year,” she said. “We are people who believe everyone has a purpose, and if that means we’re reaching out to the community to make them aware of who they are, that they’re worthy of something like this and to come together and bring your family, then yeah, we want you.” Tickets, as always, are free. Hard copies are available at Stratford city hall, House of Blessing, Salvation Army Stratford and The Local Community Centre. Registration for the dinner or as a volunteer can also be done at tostratfordwithlove.ca. To Stratford With Love Saturday, Dec. 14 : 5:30 p.m. Stratford Rotary Complex. There is another event there at the same time, so those attending are asked to give themselves extra time to park or, if possible, to take public transit. Free. They can be picked up at Stratford city hall, House of Blessing, Salvation Army Stratford and The Local Community Centre. Registration for the dinner or as a volunteer can also be done at .Trump promises 'hell to pay' if Gaza hostages not promptly released
The year of 2024 was no less of a shocker when it came to renowned personalities who lost their lives due to one or the other reason. 2024 was rollercoaster for a year, as much happiness rolled in, as much waves of mourning swept over the people across the globe. From iconic philanthropist, industrialist to one of the most loved boy band members, the lost lives took a piece of their followers' hearts each time. Putin's big-time rival: Alexei Navalny Russia's leading opposition activist, Alexei Navalny, died at the age of 47 in an Arctic prison in February, the facility had announced on February 16. Navalny was serving a 19-year-long sentence on charges of extremism and was moved in December from a prison in central Russia's Vladimir region to a "specific regime' penal colony IK-3, known as "Polar Wolf", in the northern town of Kharp. The death of one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's top critics was widely condemned by the West, which accused Putin of responsibility and of trying to prevent a dignified public burial for the opposition leader. Ex-NFL star, acquitted of murder: OJ Simpson Orenthal James Simpson, former NFL star, who fought a long battle with prostate cancer, breathed his last in Las Vegas on April 10. A statement issued by his family said that the 76-year-old famed football player died while being surrounded by his children and grandchildren. While NFL brought his names on the global headlines, the charges of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend's brutal murders in 1994 took OJ's name to a whole another level in news. Simpson's trial began in June 1994 and concluded in October 1995 with his acquittal in the case. Notably, OJ Simpson 's football career saw him playing with the Buffalo Bills and later with San Francisco 49ers. The flamboyant designer: Roberto Cavalli On April 13, 2024, Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli died aged 83. He was known for his appetite for python and flamboyant animal prints, making him the darling of the international jet set for ages. The designer first made his mark in the 1970s with his outfits on Sophia Loren and Brigitte Bardot and subsequently grew into the one giving eye-popping styles to celebrities, including the Kardashians and Jennifer Lopez. Cavalli did not just have a great eye for fashion, he also had a taste for Ferraris, fat cigars, thoroughbred horses, and tailored shirts unbuttoned to bare his tanned chest. His private life was no less than a fantasy either. He married a Miss Universe runner-up, owned a purple-coloured helicopter, a Tuscan vineyard and shared a first-name basis bond with A-lister celebrities like Sharon Stone and Cindy Crawford. With successes came a fair share of downs. Cavalli was charged with tax evasion and the trial for which, went on for years, only to end in his acquittal. Most popular for his stretchy, sand-blasted jeans and use of printed leather, Cavalli always sat well with his own designs and their wow factor, never having an animal print that he did not like. Beloved ‘Prof McGonagall’: Dame Maggie Smith Everyone knows her as Professor McGonagall or as the dowager Countess of Grantham in Downtown Abbey. Maggie Smith left the world at the age of 89 on September 27. She was one of the few actors who won two Oscars, four Emmys, and a Tony. Her career, which began with on the stage in the 1950s, has left a mark on billions of people across the globe. She was first nominated for an Academy Award for her role playing Desdemonda opposite Laurence Olivier's Othello in 1965, following which she bagged her first Oscar for the role of an Edinburg school mistress in the 1969 film, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Smith 's other critically hailed roles also included Lady Bracknell in Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest on the West End stage, Edward Albee's play Three Tall Women, and her role in the 2001 black comedy film called Gosford Park. In 1990, Maggie Smith was knighted by Queen Elizabeth and became a Dame. The national icon: Ratan Tata Ratan Naval Tata , the chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, died at the age of 86 on October 9. Tata, who is known as a 'national icon', ran the conglomerate for more than 20 years as the chairman. After graduating from Cornell University with a degree in architecture, Tata returned to India and began working in 1962 for the group that his great-grandfather Jamsetji Tata had founded. He took charge of the conglomerate from his uncle JRD Tata in 1991, taking the group to whole new heights. Famous for being the world's cheapest car, Tata Nano was launched under his leadership of the organisation. Though he stepped down from the chairman's position in 2012, Tata was named as the chairman emeritus of Tata Sons and other group companies. Along with his achievements as a businessman, the tycoon was also known for his philanthropic activities. From his love for dogs to his contributions to several people-centric initiatives to his "best friendship" with the youngest manger of the Tata group, Shantanu Naidu, Ratan Tata truly left his mark on the world. The 1-D boy: Liam Payne October brought in heartbreak for all those people who as kids and teenagers loved and poured their heart out for a group of five boys, the British boyband 'One Direction', which was formed on the X factor. British singer and a member of the best-selling boy band Liam Payne died at the age of 31 on October 16 after falling from the third floor of Buenos Aires hotel in Argentina. The heartbreaking note from the 1-D boys left the world in tears. Mourning the loss of their "brother's" life, the note was signed off with the love by "Louis (Tomlinson), Zayn (Malik), Niall (Horan) and Harry (Styles)". Father to a 7-year-old son, Bear, Payne released his own singles and albums after the boy band went on an indefinite hiatus in 2016. His lead single, "Strip that down" ranked third on the UK charts and tenth on the US Billboard top songs list. Payne also contributed as a songwriter on several One Direction songs. Born on August 29, 1993, Payne had recently opened up about his struggles with fame, alcoholism and mental health. He had even told his fans about being in a rehab. Unfortunately, the toxicology report after Payne's death revealed that the singer had multiple substances like drugs, ketamine, MDMA, "pink cocaine", in his blood stream at the time of his death. Fans felt the gut-wrenching pain of the boy band members uniting for such an unfortunate event, Liam Payne's funeral on November 20. The singer was laid to rest in the Home Counties in Amersham near London. Indian fashion's Gudda, an iconic designer: Rohit Bal On November 1, 2024, Indian fashion lost one of its most precious magician, Rohit Bal. The designer, who was struggling a heart ailment, died at a hospital in Delhi at the age of 63. His death came just weeks after he presented his last collection "Kaaynaat: A Bloom in the Universe" as part of the FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week. Born in Srinagar, Rohit Bal graduated from Delhi University's St Stephen's college and then went to the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in the city. He launched his own label in 1986 and went on to become one of the most prominent success in the Indian as well the international fashion market. A designer known for his love of whites, golds, off-whites, blacks, bold motifs, rich fabrics among other elements, Bal was a force to reckon with. He was described as "poetry" by fashion designer Gaurav Gupta. Bal' s creations were adorned by several international celebrities including Uma Thurman, Pamela Anderson, Cindy Crawford, and Naomi Campbell. His final show at the Fashion Week also witnessed bent-rules, something that Bal always embraced with bravery. His show was opened by the 1990s supermodel Sheetal Mallar, show-stopped by actor Ananya Panday, and the music courtesy belonged not to the modern day musicians but to hit stars like Kate Bush and Madonna. The man who reshaped pop music: Quincy Jones US musician Quincy Jones, known as just 'Q', who reshaped the face of pop music with his collaborations with artists like Michael Jackson, passed away at the age of 91 on November 3. A career spread across more than 65 years saw Jones achieving a feat which certainly one would not describe as a cakewalk. A trumpeter, bandleader, arranger composer, producer, and winner of 28 Grammy Awards, Q did it all. A full blown workaholic, Jones worked to shape jazz hits by Miles Davis, produced Frank Sinatra, and put together the superstar ensemble that recorded the 1985 fundraiser "We Are the World", one of the greatest hit song of the time. He also wrote notable movie scores and co-produced the film, "The Colour Purple", as well as the TV show that launched Will Smith's career, "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air". Jones also became the first Black musical director in 1971 for the Academy Awards television broadcast. Born on March 14, 1933, Quincy Delight Jones Jr. produced his first hit single 'It's My Party', a song that topped the US pop charts in 1964. Among the stars that Jones had worked with are Tommy Dorsey, Nat King Cole, Aretha Franklin, Paul Simon, Amy Winehouse, Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer. He also arranged one of the all-time global jazz hits, Frank Sinatra's "Fly Me to the Moon". Working with Michael Jackson, Jones was a part of hits like "Beat it", "Billie Jean", and the "Thriller", winning three Grammys. Tabla Maestro Zakir Hussain The globally renowned Tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain passed away at the age of 73 in San Franciso from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, his family said on December 16. The musician left behind a legacy that is not only cherished and respected by countless music lovers across the world, but also poses as an inspiration for generations to come. Hussain had been facing heart-related issues for quite some time before his passing. He is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, his daughter Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi along with their families, and his brothers Taufiq and Fazal Qureshi, and sister Khurshid Aulia. Born on March 9, 1951 in Mumbai's Mahim, Hussain was key in taking Indian music to the world outside of the nation. With an inclination towards table from a very young age, Hussain had created significant works in collaboration with Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan and Shivkumar Sharma. Not only the classical legends, he also teamed up with Western musicians like The Beatles, Yo-Yo Ma, Charles Lloyd, Mickey Hart and John McLaughlin. The tabla maestro and percussionist was also honoured with Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Shri by India. He also has been a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, and a lifetime honour award of Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship. Among other awards, Hussain bagged two Grammy Awards with Mickey Hart and three more in March 2024 with John McLaughlin, the band 'Shakti', and two for his collaborations with Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer and Rakesh Chaurasia. Zakir Hussain is the first Indian to take home three Grammy Awards in a single night. Architect of India's economic reforms, former PM: Manmohan Singh Former prime minister Manmohan Singh passed away at the age of 92 at AIIMS Delhi on December 26 after being admitted to the hospital's emergency ward in a critical condition. Singh, who served two terms as the prime minister of India (2004-2014), is known as the architect of India's economic reforms. As the finance minister in the PV Narasimha Rao-led government in 1991, Singh brought in a Union budget with several reforms , a decision which pulled India out of one of its darkest financial crises. The Congress leader began his journey in the Indian government with the position of an economic advisor in the commerce ministry in 1971 and retired from the Rajya Sabha after a 33-year-long service in the House earlier this year. The transformational development of the nation's economy is accredited to the reforms introduced Singh. Before becoming the finance minister in the Rao-led administration, Singh had also served as a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor. The leader, who moved to India with his family at the age of 14 after partition, was the first non-Hindu person to hold the prime minister's office in 2004. The iconic politician and economist is survived by his wife Gursharan Kaur and three daughters, Upinder Singh, Daman Singh, and Amrit Singh. Born on September 26, 1932, in a village in an undivided India's Punjab, Manmohan Singh graduated from the Punjab University and then earned a degree in economics from the University of Cambridge before securing a D.Phil from Oxford. He has been hailed as one of the most distinguished leaders of the nation, whose contributions, humility and principles will forever be remembered by the world. From top Indian politicians to global leaders, including the US and French president Emmanuel Macron, condolences and tributes poured in for former prime minister Manmohan Singh.Source: Running back-returner Javon Leake staying put with Edmonton Elks
KSE-100 recovers 928 points amid strong earnings outlookNEW YORK (AP) — The man charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was not a client of the medical insurer and may have targeted it because of its size and influence, a senior police official said Thursday. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told NBC New York in an interview Thursday that investigators have uncovered evidence that Luigi Mangione had prior knowledge UnitedHealthcare was holding its annual investor conference in New York City. Mangione also mentioned the company in a note found in his possession when he was detained by police in Pennsylvania. “We have no indication that he was ever a client of United Healthcare, but he does make mention that it is the fifth largest corporation in America, which would make it the largest healthcare organization in America. So that’s possibly why he targeted that company,” said Kenny. UnitedHealthcare is in the top 20 largest U.S. companies by market capitalization but is not the fifth largest. It is the largest U.S. health insurer. Mangione remains jailed without bail in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested Monday after being spotted at a McDonald's in the city of Altoona, about 230 miles (about 370 kilometers) west of New York City. His lawyer there, Thomas Dickey, has said Mangione intends to plead not guilty. Dickey also said he has yet to see evidence decisively linking his client to the crime. Mangione's arrest came five days after the caught-on-camera killing of Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel. Police say the shooter waited outside the hotel, where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, early on the morning of Dec. 4. He approached Thompson from behind and shot him before fleeing on a bicycle through Central Park. Mangione is fighting attempts to extradite him back to New York so that he can face a murder charge in Thompson's killing. A hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 30. The 26-year-old, who police say was found with a “ ghost gun ” matching shell casings found at the site of the shooting, is charged in Pennsylvania with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Mangione is an Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family. In posts on social media, Mangione wrote about experiencing severe chronic back pain before undergoing a spinal fusion surgery in 2023. Afterward, he posted that the operation had been a success and that his pain had improved and mobility returned. He urged others to consider the same type of surgery. On Wednesday, police said investigators are looking at his writings about his health problems and his criticism of corporate America and the U.S. health care system . Kenny said in the NBC interview that Mangione's family reported him missing to San Francisco authorities in November.