RENTON — There was no rest for the weary Seahawks on Monday. A day after a deflating 27-24 loss to the Vikings that boiled their playoff hopes down to hoping the Cardinals can beat the Rams on Saturday night, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald and his staff got to work preparing for a game Thursday night in Chicago against the Bears. Because so much of the Seahawks' fate rests on tiebreakers associated with the Rams and needing them to lose to Arizona — and needing to beat L.A. the following week — the game with the Bears doesn’t have a lot of meaning by itself. While Macdonald acknowledged that the Seahawks losing control of their destiny “stings," he said it won’t affect the team’s approach to the game against the Bears (4-11), who have lost nine in a row. “It doesn’t change anything," Macdonald said during his weekly day-after-game news conference Monday afternoon. “It really doesn’t change your mentality, your approach. It won’t change with our guys. Not worried about that one bit.’’ The bigger issue, he said, is navigating the challenge of a short week and the Christmas holiday. Players had Monday off, other than for treatment of injuries, with the coaches using the day to prepare a game plan. The Seahawks will practice Tuesday and Wednesday before flying to Chicago. They usually travel two days before a game in the Central or Eastern time zones, but they are accommodating for the short week. Macdonald said that it might be the best for the team’s psyche and moving past a difficult defeat in which the Seahawks had the Vikings (13-2) on the ropes before letting a late lead slip away. “I guess the best gift you can get after a tough loss like that is an opportunity to move forward on a short week and get going,’’ he said. “So [we] altered the short week schedule a little bit." Macdonald also addressed a few other issues. Here’s a recap: Running back Kenneth Walker III left in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury and didn’t return. He was listed as not being able to practice if the team had practiced Monday in the report the team had to release by NFL rules. “No updates right now on him,’’ Macdonald said. “But getting a test done. We’ll have a good idea of what it looks like over the next day or two.’’ Zach Charbonnet played 14 snaps backing up Walker after dealing with an oblique injury last week. He also was on the injury report Monday as limited with an elbow issue. Macdonald indicated Charbonnet will be OK for Thursday. “Seemed like he was limited during the game, but signs are positive with Zach right now,’’ Macdonald said. That means Charbonnet likely starts if Walker can’t go, backed up by Kenny McIntosh. While there was lots to lament in the wake of the loss, Macdonald said on his radio show on Seattle Sports 710 that a sack taken by Geno Smith when the Seahawks had a first-and-10 at Minnesota’s 37 with 3:04 left “was probably our worst play of the game as a whole offensive operation." Macdonald didn’t assess any specific blame other than to say, “That’s one where we have to be better in that moment, really for everybody involved.’’ The Seahawks, who trailed 27-24, gained only 1 yard on the ensuing two plays, which forced them into a decision facing fourth-and-15 at the 42 at the two-minute warning. The Seahawks had the time out to think about it before opting for a 60-yard field goal attempt by Jason Myers, which came up a few yards short. Macdonald said the next option would have been to punt and try to pin the Vikings back and use their two remaining time outs to get the ball back. “We would have had faith in our defense to go get a stop,’’ he said. Macdonald said he felt like the decision to let Myers kick is what would have “helped us win the game the most. ... That’s a tough ask of (Myers), but the guy’s a gamer, man, a competitor. He wanted a crack at it, so we gave it to him.’’ Macdonald said he wouldn’t go into detail to assess blame on specific plays, including the two interceptions thrown by Geno Smith. Smith’s picks included one thrown in the direction of DK Metcalf from their own 12-yard-line with 55 seconds left. The pass seemed like one made out of desperation as Smith was under pressure and with no timeouts, a sack would have been disastrous. Vikings safety Theo Jackson said he was “just as surprised as you all were’’ that Smith threw the ball his way. “We were in two-high. I saw him throw it and I was kind of confused myself as to why he threw it,’’ Jackson said. “I’m going to catch the ones he throws to me.’’ Smith threw for 314 yards, completing 31 of 43 passes and tied a season-high with three touchdown, and Macdonald praised his overall play. “He did some really great things,’’ Macdonald said. “You know, if we get a stop when we're up four in the end of the fourth quarter, we're having a different conversation right now. Everybody wants to talk about the interceptions and rightfully so, and those are things that we're working through, but I mean, one of the reasons that we're here with life, like I said last night, is I really felt that Geno's helped put us in this position. So, I thought he played a strong game."X , “the everything app ”, has it all, according to billionaire owner Elon Musk ’s preferred tagline. On offer today is a catty exchange between Musk, the world’s richest man, and the world’s second richest man, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos . Musk, a rabid supporter of President-elect Donald Trump who denies he goes around offering acquaintances his semen, tweeted on his social network that he’d heard “Bezos was telling everyone [Trump] would lose for sure, so they should sell all their Tesla and SpaceX stock 🤭.” Musk is the CEO of both companies, while Bezos owns rival space firm Blue Origin. Bezos shot down the claim: “Nope. 100% not true.” The buff-bodied online retail magnate certainly didn’t exhibit any preference for Trump’s opponent , Vice President Kamala Harris , during this year’s presidential campaign. In fact, he kiboshed an editorial page endorsement of Harris at the Washington Post , which he’s owned since 2013, provoking ire from hundreds of thousands of subscribers who canceled their subscriptions en masse. so funny the second richest man is bothering to respond to this pic.twitter.com/Bi4gADndvQ A species of deep sea fish rarely seen at the ocean’s surface has been spotted numerous times on California beaches, and according to Japanese folklore it could be a bad omen. Three oarfish, which can grow over 30 feet long and are also known as “Doomsday Fish,” have been found dead on Southern California beaches over the past few months. Before that, researchers had only documented 19 beached oarfish in the state since 1901, reported The Sun . The most recent oarfish find was collected from Encinitas beach on Nov. 6, while the others were found on Huntington Beach in September and La Jolla in August. While researchers don’t know what’s behind the uptick, Ben Frable, a manager at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, told The Sun that it all could be due to a greater number of oarfish in the waters near California. Or it could be a shift in weather patterns. In Japanese folklore, oarfish are called the “messenger from the sea god’s palace” and their appearance is thought to be a precursor to earthquakes. Before Japan’s catastrophic 2011 quake, and following tsunami, dozens of oarfish were spotted on beaches. However, some scientific studies have cast doubt on the folklore. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Made In Cookware is known for quality kitchen tools that look as good as they perform. Its sleek, chef-approved kitchen essentials are for people who know that the plates matter as much as the food. 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If you refresh your cabinets with these today, you’ll also receive a free Glass Wine Set. Free Shipping Kamala Harris retreated to Hawaii with husband Doug Emhoff for a week-long vacation on Tuesday, further shielding herself from the public eye after her loss to Donald Trump in the presidential election. The Federal Aviation Administration enforced a temporary flight restriction over Kona and Waimea on Hawaii’s big island from Tuesday to noon the next Monday, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported. Harris’ vacation comes as Democrats try to push through more of Joe Biden’s judicial nominees before they lose control of the Senate in January. As the president of the Senate, Harris is often the tie-breaking vote for the Democrats’ slim majority. A Harris aide told NBC News that Harris delayed her trip in case she was needed to vote on any nominees, but the team is now anticipating she’ll be needed in December. “She will definitely be available for any tie votes,” another senior aide said. Chris Cuomo is once again opening up about his firing from CNN. “You only live going forward, and CNN is part of my past,” the anchor told People . Cuomo was axed from the network in December 2021, after advising his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, on how to navigate sexual harassment allegations . (The elder Cuomo has continually denied any wrongdoing.) Chris was “livid” over his termination, and eventually sued CNN for $125 in damages. He resurfaced at News Nation , and while he told People that “living in the past is very poisonous because you can’t change it,” he did spend the bulk of the interview talking about the past and defending his decision to help his brother. (For whom, incidentally, he also voted as a write-in candidate for president.) “I never kept any secrets about what I was doing,” he said. “I’ll always help my family.” Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. As any true audiophile already knows, Amazon Music Unlimited has long been a reliable destination for an elevated listening experience. With millions of high-quality songs and an unparalleled collection of top ad-free podcasts, the platform’s catalog is curated to capture both your attention and your imagination. Now, Amazon is raising the bar with an exciting update: Audible is officially joining Amazon Music Unlimited, cementing the brand’s status as an all-in-one audio hub . Audible’s industry-leading catalog of audiobooks features an expansive selection of can’t-miss bestsellers, hot-off-the-press exclusives, and timeless classics to immerse yourself in. As an Amazon Music Unlimited subscriber, you’ll be free to select one book each month (of any length) and listen to it directly in the Amazon Music app . Whether you’re a fiction buff ready to dive into a thrilling new adventure or a non-fiction enthusiast looking to expand your horizons, Audible’s expansive collection is sure to have the right title that matches your tastes. Plus, when you’re ready to take a break from the book, you can seamlessly swap back to your favorite tunes and podcast episodes —all without having to leave the app. It’s all the audio that you’ll ever need, all in one place! Best of all, this game-changing update is arriving just in time for the holiday season: start a new subscription , and enjoy your first three months of Amazon Music Unlimited, completely for free. Audio art, conversation, and storytelling—all in one place. What’s not to love? Sign up today and get lost in the sound . A New York lawmaker eager to cash in on a feud between Whoopi Goldberg and a Staten Island bakery showed up Wednesday at the Capitol with a box of the pastry shop’s signature sweet. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) set out boxes of Charlotte Russe cakes from Holtermann’s Bakery near the steps of the House of Representatives and demanded that The View host apologize for telling viewers the bakery had refused to serve her because of her politics. “This is a small business, and somebody going on national TV like that could break a business,” she told the New York Post . In fact, business has been booming ever since Goldberg accused an unnamed bakery last week of refusing to fill her birthday order. Her team managed to procure the desired dessert—a mini sponge cake with strawberries and whipped cream—by calling back and not saying her name. “Perhaps they did not like my politics,” Goldberg said at the time. Fans quickly recognized Holtermann’s packaging, and the bakery disputed Goldberg’s version of events. They’ve arrived! All the way from #StatenIsland New York, Whoopi Goldberg’s FAVORITE Charlotte Russe cakes from our 146-year-old staple Holtermann’s Bakery. Everyone’s been asking me about them so we’ll be handing them out to members and staff on the House Steps at 4:30! pic.twitter.com/5eZhaRJEa1 Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are calling for an end to remote work for federal employees, labeling it a pandemic-era “privilege” that taxpayers shouldn’t have to fund anymore. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed published Wednesday, the two nominees to head Donald Trump ’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), said requiring federal employees to return to the office full-time would lead to a wave of voluntary resignations, helping to shrink the government workforce. “If federal employees don’t want to show up, American taxpayers shouldn’t pay them,” they wrote. The proposal could impact more than a million workers, although only about 10 percent of federal employees are working fully remote, according to the Office of Management and Budget. The proposed remote working ban is among the first actual policies laid out for DOGE—named after Musk’s favorite meme-based cryptocurrency. In their op-ed, the pair said they wanted to target the thousands of rules and regulations issued by “unelected bureaucrats” every year as part of their mission to help Trump “cut the federal government down to size.” As the Journal reported , however, there could be a hitch to the remote working ban: DOGE may not have the legal power to order federal employees back to the office. After months on the market, the Los Angeles estate belonging to Sean “Diddy” Combs has finally attracted an interested buyer—but they’re offering half the asking price, the New York Post reports. Diddy listed the 17,000-square-foot home—which has 10 bedrooms, a 35-seat theater, and a sinister history—for $61.5 million in September, after purchasing it for $39 million in 2014. Real estate executive Bo Belmont is now offering $30 million ”to remove the stigma and focus on the charming elegance of this remarkable property,” he said in a press release . The Beverly Hills estate is one of the homes the feds raided in September, when they confiscated all that lube ; it’s also believed to be one of the sites where Diddy held his alleged “freak-offs.” An unnamed People source predicted earlier this month that finding a buyer who could “see beyond the headlines” would “definitely” be “an uphill battle.” Belmont, for what it’s worth, seems focused on the “beautiful, bucolic setting” and the “picturesque trees, foliage, and walkways‚” so at least that’s something. The International Criminal Court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , his former defence minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan announced in May that he was seeking warrants related to the Oct.7 Hamas attacks on Israel and Israel’s subsequent military conduct in the Palestinian territory Gaza . Roughly 700 Israeli civilians, and 1,200 people overall, were killed in the Oct. 7 attacks, according to Israel social security data. Over 44,000 have died during Israel’s subsequent 13-month siege on Gaza, according to local health officials. Human rights officials with the United Nations estimate nearly 70 percent of the deaths in Gaza have been women and children. “No one is above the law,” said Agnès Callamard, the Secretary General of leading human rights organization Amnesty International, after the announcement. Several Israeli officials hastily condemned the ICC’s decision. “These arrest warrants are a reward for terrorism,” said Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid. The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly rejected three resolutions that would have halted some weapons transfers to Israel on Wednesday. Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has threatened the ICC with sanctions over its case against Israel. Israel’s military says it killed Deif in August though his death remains unconfirmed by Hamas. Are you an amateur photographer, a curious learner, or a budding entrepreneur? Adobe Creative Cloud can take your photos, skills, or business to the next level. This premium suite encompasses over 20 Adobe apps. Normally, a one-year subscription is $59.99 a month. For Black Friday, Adobe is lowering the cost of a year’s subscription to just $29.99 a month. 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Speaking to reporters Wednesday at the Capitol, Nye was particularly critical of Kennedy’s stance against the addition of fluoride to drinking water. “I think he’s lost his way,” Nye said, suggesting that fluoride’s benefits in preventing cavities had helped improve his own dental health as he grew up in Washington, D.C., where the mineral is added to the water supply. The 68-year-old, known for his colorful bow ties, was in Washington to give the Food and Drug Administration ”just a bit of a nudge” on a treatment for spinocerebellar ataxia, a rare genetic disorder affecting motor coordination that runs in his family. As Politico reported, the Science Guy was equally blunt about Kennedy’s other weird and unscientific health claims , including his vaccine skepticism. “His other claims are extraordinary, and I really hope somebody will reconsider his position,” Nye said. Several American Airlines passengers subdued a highly agitated man who reportedly tried to open the cabin door mid-air, according to ABC affiliate station WFAA , which obtained the police report. During a flight from Milwaukee to Dallas-Fort Worth airport on Tuesday, the man allegedly got out of his seat to approach a flight attendant, insisting he needed to get off the plane. When the crew member told him he couldn’t do that, WFAA reports that he became increasingly upset, allegedly charging the flight attendant and hitting them. “He was going for the door,” Doug McCright, one of three passengers who intervened, told ABC News . “So I just grabbed this guy from behind and kept him from pulling the thing.” The trio then bound the man’s wrists and ankles with duct tape and kept him pinned to the floor for the remainder of the flight. He was taken for a mental health exam upon landing, while American Airlines issued a statement thanking its team and customers for “managing a difficult situation.”
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On a gloomy November day, I drove from Boston to a large corporate development in Beverly, Massachusetts. I walked down a long, narrow hallway and entered a clinical-feeling, medium-sized white room full of robot kiosks. I was there to visit SmartSKN Labs , and these robots were going to make me a hyper-personalized, fully AI-created line of skin care called K-AI. I'm always on a quest for the best, most effective products. I want powerful ingredients and effective delivery systems. I want science, and so does everyone else, per the oversaturated amount of innovation-based skin care in a $182 billion global market . Demand is off the charts. Unsurprisingly, this is where AI enters the chat. The role of AI in personalized beauty is not new. Skin care brands like Proven and hair care brands such as Prose are already using AI algorithms to help consumers optimize their routines. SmartSKN is doing something I have yet to see -- leveraging AI for production itself, on-demand -- and if it gains traction, it could revolutionize the beauty industry, while also improving our skin health and reducing our carbon footprint. At the lab in Beverly, Val Neicu, co-founder of SmartSKN Labs, shared big dreams for the robots' future. First, I wanted to see what they could do. Meet industry creators, contributors and emerging thought leaders that have paired with CNET’s award-winning editorial team to provide you with unique content from different perspectives. How it works Everything starts with the Muilli AI Dermascope . This intelligent device examines skin at a microscopic level using 60X magnification and captures high-resolution images of its surface to later analyze using artificial intelligence. Honestly, no one should suffer the ego death that is seeing their flaws so magnified, but alas, beauty is pain. With dermoscopic photography comes something called a bioimpedance measurement, which measures moisture and oil levels in the skin and plays a critical role in the overall analysis. The dermascope at SmartSKN labs that will develop my skin care products with the help of AI. Then, in the SmartSKN app, I completed a short questionnaire about my skin type, concerns and lifestyle. This helped the Smart SKN AI better understand my habits so it could effectively create my personalized skin care line. It's wide-ranging too; this system has been trained on 150,000+ diverse skin profiles worldwide -- all skin types, tones and genders -- and is growing every day. Finally, thanks to the trifecta of dermoscopic photography, bioimpedance measurement and skin health questionnaire, I had the results of my skin analysis. It measured sensitivity, pigmentation, wrinkles, redness, pore size, oil levels and dryness. The line is composed of an essence/serum, an ampoule and a lotion. When finalizing each product at the robot kiosk, I had the choice of adding additional ingredients that might amplify benefits such as brightening or firming. Then the robot, which sort of looks like a bionic arm, got to work. It chose the bottle, mixed and poured my unique formula into the bottle and then screwed on the top. All this takes about five minutes. Then the robot dropped my unique product into a receptacle for me to pick up, as if I'd just won a toy from a claw machine. The robot also printed my labels, which feature a QR code with my unique profile, as well as instructions to go inside the packaging. Skin assessment results in the SmartSKN app. Where the robots come from and where they're going The AI robots, of which SmartSKN has exclusive rights, are Korean-made and use potent ingredients popular in Korean skin care brands for each personalized formula. For those unaware, the K-Beauty industry was valued at 91.9 billion in 2022 , with an anticipated compound annual growth rate of 9.3% between 2023–2030. Korean skin care's reputation for using effective, high-quality ingredients is legendary. You can explore SmartSKN's Rolodex of ingredients here . The SmartSKN team is extremely mindful of its formulas, Neicu is clear about its place in the industry. "We're not a skin care company, we're a technology company," she said. The robots can make other products, too. While they haven't yet dipped a toe into hair care, it's not off the table. Neicu explained to me that SmartSKN's current offering is to "show people what we can do." In the next phase, they want to license the technology so that companies can use the Muilli analysis feature and AI component for their own ingredients. "Just like we've developed a catalog of 150 ingredients sitting in this machine to create our skin care lines, [other brands] could use their own proprietary ingredients," she said. "They could take their line to the next level if they had their own adaptive bases, and would be able to formulate based on specific skin types." Neicu believes that skin care brands would have less drop-off and improved loyalty if they could better customize each formula. "A product might be great, but not great for me. The actives might work, but the base might be too oily or too drying. The base is 90% of the experience of a product." She spoke passionately, and as I listened I couldn't help but see potential not only for smarter skin care, but also solutions for a more sustainable future. "We don't need more products. We need better products" Don't get me wrong: I love buying skin care. I collect serums like kids collect Funko Pop Toys. But I also recognize that superfluous collecting of products -- the culture of the product junkie, as it were -- isn't great for our skin or the planet. Think of the last time you walked into a beauty retailer, surrounded by walls and walls of products. What happens to the product that doesn't get purchased? Next, consider what a brand needs to do to keep up with the market: Make more products, not necessarily because there's a hole in the market, but to survive. Newness is one hell of a drug. Neicu sees a more sustainable future. "Imagine you walk into a [beauty retailer] and there are no more shelves. Each company has a robot. There's no waste, they streamline their inventory, there's better management of the manufacturing process and they'd be able to service people better." This also got me thinking about my own time and money. With each new product, I have a wait-and-see period. Will this work for me? Sometimes I break out, sometimes I don't. If it doesn't work, have I wasted my money (again)? What do I do if I can't return it? When I say the quiet part out loud, it sounds borderline silly to me that in 2024, we're just assuming a product might work for our incredibly unique skin type. We can customize our coffee and our cars, but when it comes to our skin health, we'll just... keep guessing. Products are formulated on-demand from your skin assessment in an effort to reduce waste. "We're throwing money at a product because, what? The bottles look pretty?" Neicu said. "Because an influencer told me to buy it? Because this company dropped a new product? It needs to be better." She also points out the possibility of a sensitive skin epidemic. "Obviously we know there are way more products on the market than 20 years ago. What's directly proportional to the rise in products is people's skin health. Seventy percent of Americans report they have skin sensitivity." Neicu believes she gave herself acne and sensitive issues by using too many different products over the years. "People are chasing products, especially with the madness of social media influencers. There is a gross lack of education, especially for the younger generation. Plus, it seems every celebrity has a skin care line. We don't need more products. We need better products." SmartSKN wants to simplify skin care for everyone. Personally, I want a routine that takes, at minimum, 5-10 minutes to complete. (That's "me time," OK?) Smart SKN streamlines the skin care experience for those who don't want a 6-12-step nighttime routine. Neicu said their consumer runs the gamut, but highlighted that men, in particular, are drawn to both the innovation of the AI-produced regimen and its simplicity. A guided interface lets you have say in product weight and other qualities. Visit the lab or try it at home SmartSKN is pretty new, which means they're still figuring out how to get their technology in front of people. Currently, the only way to experience the robots in person is to make the drive to Beverly. The company is working on setting up pop-ups in major cities. "People need to see how this is done," Neicu said. Your other option is to purchase the Muilli AI dermascope and download the SmartSKN app. It's not cheap, but a perk of owning a Muilli is that it tracks changes in your skin over time, accommodating things like seasonal shifts and lifestyle changes. With each scan, your personalized skin care line adapts to your current skin status. Robots know best Since using my personalized skin care, what I've noticed most is that my skin feels perfectly balanced, whereas before it felt a bit oily on some days and dry on others. It's worth noting that I use gentle, hydrating cleansers; exfoliate regularly with chemical and physical exfoliators; use Vitamin C daily and often finish my nighttime routine with a lightweight oil to lock in moisture. I was doing all that before my trip to SmartSKN labs. Today, my skin looks and feels healthy, clear and hydrated, and I think I have some robots to thank for that. Opinions expressed by CNET Voices contributors are their own.Retailers Tap Data Readiness to Boost Holiday Spend and Customer Loyalty
ASEFT 2024: paving the way for a sustainable futureCroatia's President Zoran Milanovic will face conservative rival Dragan Primorac in an election run-off in two weeks' time after the incumbent narrowly missed out an outright victory on Sunday, official results showed. The results came after an exit poll, released immediately after the polling stations closed, showed that Milanovic, backed by the opposition left-wing Social Democrats, had scooped more than 50 percent of the first round vote and would thus avoid the January 12 run-off. Milanovic won 49.11 percent of the first round vote and Primorac, backed by the ruling conservative HDZ party, took 19.37 percent, according to results released by the state electoral commission from nearly all of the polling stations. Such a strong lead for Milanovic, whom surveys labelled a favourite ahead of the vote, raises serious concerns for Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic's HDZ. The election comes as the European Union and NATO member country of 3.8 million people struggles with biting inflation, widespread corruption and a labour shortage. Among the eight contenders, centre-right MP Marija Selak Raspudic and green-left MP Ivana Kekin followed the two main rivals, the exit poll showed. They each won around nine percent of the vote. Croatia's president commands the country's armed forces and has a say in foreign policy. But despite limited powers, many believe the office is key for the political balance of power in a country mainly governed by the HDZ since independence in 1991. "All the eggs should not be in one basket," Nenad Horvat, a salesman in his 40s, told AFP. He sees Milanovic, a former leftist prime minister, as the "last barrier to all levers of power falling into the hands of HDZ", echoing the view of many that was reflected in Sunday's vote results. The 58-year-old Milanovic has been one of Croatia's leading and most colourful political figures for nearly two decades. Sharp and eloquent, he won the presidency for the Social Democrats (SDP) in 2020 with pledges to advocate tolerance and liberalism. But he used the office to attack political opponents and EU officials, often with offensive and populist rhetoric. Milanovic, who condemned Russia's aggression against Ukraine, has nonetheless criticised the West's military aid to Kyiv. That prompted the prime minister to label him a pro-Russian who is "destroying Croatia's credibility in NATO and the EU". Milanovic countered that he wanted to protect Croatia from being "dragged into war". "As long as I'm president no Croatian soldier will wage somebody else's wars," he said this month. Milanovic regularly pans Plenkovic and his HDZ party over systemic corruption, calling the premier a "serious threat to Croatia's democracy". "I'm a guarantee of the control of the octopus of corruption... headed by Andrej Plenkovic," he said during the campaign. For many, the election is a continuation of the longstanding feud between two powerful politicians. "This is still about the conflict between the prime minister and president," political analyst Zarko Puhovski told AFP. "All the rest are just incidental topics." Primorac, a 59-year-old physician and scientist returning to politics after 15 years, campaigned as a "unifier" promoting family values and patriotism. "Croatia needs unity, global positioning and a peaceful life," he told reporters after casting his ballot in Zagreb, adding that he would later attend a mass. Primorac repeatedly accused Milanovic of "disgracing Croatia", a claim that resonated with his supporters. ljv/bc
Greenland is a “linchpin for U.S. national security and the future of the free world,” according to leading expert Dr. Walter Berbrick, the founding director of the Arctic Studies Group at the U.S. Naval War College, who noted the pivotal country’s geostrategic and economic significance as well as its critical role in defense and the global order, which is “essential to counter authoritarian influence” and safeguard U.S. and allied interests, as he urged strengthened partnerships. In an exclusive interview with Breitbart News, Dr. Berbrick, the former senior adviser to the 77th Secretary of the Navy and the Special Representative for the Arctic Region at the State Department, highlighted the island’s unparalleled value to U.S. national security, economic resilience, and global stability, noting that Greenland’s significance as a hub for defense and economic activity will only grow. “Greenland is a linchpin for U.S. national security and the future of the free world,” he stated. “Its geographic position provides unparalleled strategic access to the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans — enabling the United States to monitor and deter threats against North America and NATO allies.” Arctic Defense and Resources Beyond its strategic location, Dr. Berbrick noted, Greenland offers vast reserves of rare earth elements, critical to advanced technology and military systems. “Economically, Greenland holds vast reserves of rare earth minerals essential for U.S. technological leadership and military readiness,” he explained. He also warned about the risks of allowing authoritarian powers like China and Russia to dominate Greenland’s resources and influence. “If China gains undue influence in Greenland, it risks compromising the stability of the Arctic, endangering U.S. interests, and weakening the rules-based international order,” he warned. Highlighting Greenland’s “irreplaceable” role in missile warning systems, Arctic operations, and securing freedom of navigation as new sea routes emerge, Dr. Berbrick called strengthening partnerships with Greenland and Denmark “essential to counter authoritarian influence and protect the economic and security interests of the United States and its allies for generations to come.” Strengthening Partnerships He recommended that the incoming Trump administration deepen ties with Greenland and Denmark through a defense and security compact modeled on agreements with Pacific Island nations. Such a compact, he explained, would deliver tangible benefits. For Greenland, he explained, it would offer investments in modern infrastructure, access to education, and sustainable development while safeguarding cultural and environmental integrity. For the United States, he clarified, it would provide critical Arctic access, bolstered defense infrastructure, and strengthened collaboration with allies “in a region that is rapidly becoming a focal point of global competition.” “A defense and security compact between the United States, Greenland, and Denmark... would protect Greenland from economic and political exploitation while ensuring the people of Greenland have control over their own future,” he emphasized. Policy Recommendations To enhance its Arctic presence, Dr. Berbrick suggested several actionable steps for U.S. policymakers: Trilateral Arctic Framework : Establish a formal cooperative agreement with Greenland and Denmark to address shared defense and economic priorities. Infrastructure Investments : Develop modernized ports, airports, and renewable energy projects in Greenland to foster sustainable growth and integration with global markets. Responsible Resource Partnerships : Support “environmentally sound” extraction of Greenland’s rare earth elements to benefit local communities and secure U.S. supply chains. Educational and Cultural Exchanges : Strengthen long-term ties between U.S. and Greenlandic communities through exchange programs and scientific collaboration. The matter comes as Greenland’s strategic importance has shifted into sharp focus amid evolving Arctic dynamics and growing international interest. On Sunday, President-elect Donald Trump wrote that, “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.” An autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland occupies a unique and strategic position in the Arctic. The U.S. has long recognized Greenland’s strategic importance, a focus heightened in recent years by increasing global competition in the Arctic from China and Russia. Dr. Berbrick’s insights underscore the need for forward-thinking partnerships that align Greenland’s aspirations with U.S. and allied interests, ensuring Arctic stability and security for generations to come. Joshua Klein is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email him at jklein@breitbart.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKlein .
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SHAREHOLDER INVESTIGATION: Halper Sadeh LLC Investigates PDCO, NURO, PWOD, CARA on Behalf of ShareholdersLOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California's notorious Santa Ana winds were predicted to return Monday night and utilities said they are prepared to cut power to hundreds of thousands of customers in areas where strong gusts could damage electrical equipment and spark wildfires. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for high fire risk with a rare “particularly dangerous situation,” or PDS, designation starting at 8 p.m. Monday into Tuesday for Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The last time PDS red flags went up was the first week of November, when powerful, dry winds fed the Mountain Fire , which destroyed at least 240 buildings, mostly homes, in Ventura County. Before that, a PDS red flag warning hadn't been issued for the region since 2020. “This event has the potential to be as strong as the November 5th-6th Santa Ana event that led to the Mountain Fire,” the weather service office for Los Angeles said Sunday on social media. Southern California Edison said it was considering targeted power shut-offs for more than 250,000 homes and businesses across seven counties starting Monday evening. Meanwhile San Diego Gas & Electric said it has notified nearly 117,500 customers that they might temporarily lose service to reduce the chance of wildfires. Santa Anas are dry, warm and gusty northeast winds that blow from the interior of Southern California toward the coast and offshore. They typically occur during the fall months and continue through winter and into early spring. In Northern California, the weather service said chances were increasing for an “impactful rainfall event” late in the week for the San Francisco Bay Area.