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Just one mutation can make H5N1 bird flu a threat to humans, California researchers say
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have the slimmest of playoff hopes and must win out to have any chance of keeping them alive. Figuring out who they are would be a first step in the right direction. The Titans (3-9) also must bounce back from last week's ugly loss at Washington that cost this franchise yet another chance to string together consecutive wins for the first time in more than two years. “We know that this is a big opportunity for us to develop as a team and to create and to continue developing our identity,” quarterback Will Levis said. “And so we’re going to make sure that we do our best throughout these next few weeks to do that.” The Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10) lost Trevor Lawrence for the rest of the season after the hit he took from Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair in last week's 23-20 loss to Houston. Their already dim playoff hopes were extinguished Monday night when Denver won. That leaves the Jaguars playing for pride and potentially drafting No. 1 overall for the third time in five years. “It’s all about how you finish,” tight end Evan Engram said. “How we finish probably won’t erase the feeling we have of the season. But as the pride of this franchise, the pride of the team, it’s definitely worth going to finish strong and going to get some wins and fighting for that.” The Titans went into Washington with one of the NFL's stingiest defenses and wound up shredded, giving up a season-worst 267 yards rushing. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson said, “We can’t allow what happened last week to happen again.” Wide receiver Calvin Ridley says he's excited to see some old teammates Sunday and downplayed a question about how close Jacksonville's offer to keep him last March might've been when he chose to sign with division rival Tennessee instead. “Doesn't matter right now,” Ridley said. “I'm excited for this week. Jags come in here, play with my boys. I'm excited.” Ridley played one season with Jacksonville after the Jaguars traded for him . He had 76 catches for 1,016 yards and eight TDs last season with the Jaguars. So far this season, Ridley has 43 receptions for 679 yards and three TDs. “I just know I'm going to be ready,” Ridley said. Jacksonville has lost 16 consecutive games when tied or trailing at halftime. It’s a complete flip from the 2022 season, in which the Jaguars rallied to beat Dallas, the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee down the stretch to make the playoffs. The 20-16 victory against the Titans in the regular-season finale that year is the last time coach Doug Pederson’s team has come from behind to win after trailing or being tied at the break. Tennessee led 13-7 at the half in that one and was minutes from winning a third straight AFC South title . Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen needs 4 1/2 sacks to break the franchise record of 55 held by Tony Brackens. Hines-Allen has at least half a sack in four consecutive games against Tennessee, which has given up 43 sacks in 2024. “My family knows about it probably more than me,” Hines-Allen said. “My wife tells me all the time, ‘Hey, get that record. All you just need is four sacks.’ Like, you can just (get) four sacks. “I had a couple games last year where I had three, so I can’t say it’s out of the realm. But I never had four sacks; don’t know what it feels like to do that in one game. But hopefully speak it into existence.” Mac Jones will be starting at quarterback and is 0-2 with the Jaguars this season. He has one more interception (three) than touchdown passes (two) in five appearances. The Titans are looking to see if Levis can keep building on his strong play of the past month and start turning those into wins. Levis is 1-3 since returning from a strained throwing shoulder. He has seven TD passes with two interceptions for a 101.3 passer rating in his past four games. He also is completing 61.7% of his passes for 960 yards. “The cool thing right now for Will is that as we’ve corrected things, he’s corrected them,” Titans coach Brian Callahan said . “And that’s been really fun to watch as he’s made adjustments from game to game, sometimes even from in the game made an adjustment to a coverage or a read, and that part’s been good to see.” AP Pro Football Writer Mark Long in Jacksonville, Florida, contributed to this report. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Arsenal defender Gabriel kept Viktor Gyokeres quiet — then had the audacity to steal the in-demand Sporting Lisbon striker's trademark goal celebration. After heading in Arsenal's third first-half goal in the Champions League on Tuesday, Gabriel linked the fingers of his hands and placed them over his eyes, before laughing with his teammates. It was most likely a dig at Gyokeres, the Sweden striker who has quickly become one of European soccer's hottest properties . That is how Gyokeres celebrates his goals — and he has scored plenty of those this season. Gyokeres has scored 24 goals for Sporting in all competitions and was coming off netting four for Sweden in a Nations League match against Azerbaijan. Earlier in the first half, Gabriel had enjoyed tackling and dispossessing Gyokeres near the Arsenal area — waving both his arms in a gesture to the crowd. Gabriel's goal made it 3-0 to Arsenal at halftime and the English team went on to win 5-1, with Gyokeres failing to score. He did hit the post with a shot late in the game, however — after Gabriel had gone off with an injury. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer The Associated PressKeir Starmer 's wife Victoria may step into the spotlight next year as her husband grapples with dwindling popularity, according to close friends. Having taken time to adjust to life in Downing Street, Victoria is reportedly contemplating championing a charity or worthy cause. Despite her low profile and limited involvement in official duties thus far, she has maintained her role as an occupational therapist at a leading London hospital since Starmer assumed office. Insiders suggest that she might align herself with a charity or preferred cause next year, potentially health-related, provided it remains apolitical. Friends told Tatler magazine that she has "the option of reviewing her role when Keir has been in power for a year to see how it's going", adding that "if it changes, it will be on her terms". This would mark a significant shift for Victoria, who found herself embroiled in the freebies scandal involving her husband and his senior ministerial team last autumn. It was revealed in September that Sir Keir had neglected to declare financial contributions towards clothing from Lord Alli , a millionaire Labour donor, which included a personal shopper, designer clothes and alterations for Victoria. She was later spotted at London Fashion Week donning a custom-made outfit loaned to her by the designer. Labour MPs have noted that Lady Starmer tends to maintain a low profile. One MP told Tatler: "You can spend a lot of time around the Labour Party at high levels and never meet Victoria . It's her choice, of course. But there's a great appetite to see more of her." The article also disclosed that Sir Keir's family has fully relocated to Downing Street, nearly half a year after his election victory. The couple's two teenage children are reportedly well-adjusted in the No 10 flat following Starmer's initial solo move. Victoria and the children had been splitting their time between Downing Street and their north London home during a transitional phase. Last month's documents reveal that Starmer is now renting out their mortgage -free Kentish Town house. Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London and a friend of the Starmers, confirmed that "they are all very well settled in and everyone is happy", adding: "I wouldn't ask them to change a thing while the children are growing up." Despite any potential increase in Victoria's public presence , it is anticipated that the Starmers will continue to protect their children's privacy. Their 16-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter remain unnamed publicly, with the prime minister rarely mentioning them to keep them away from public scrutiny.
After 125 years or so of being the most collectively Joe College nation on Earth, many Americans have turned sour on the idea that a higher education — or at least the four years we have traditionally set aside for young adults to get a bachelor’s degree — is key to an informed, successful life. Not me. But the varsity blues are otherwise rampant. Perhaps our culture had gone a little bit too all-in on the tradition, and this is just a course correction. I have noted before in this space that in my observations of car rear windshields in dozens of countries around the world, we are the only one that is positively bonkers in identifying the schools in which we, or our children, have matriculated, through decals and bumper stickers. The Citroens of Paris and the Jaguars of London are not adorned with signifiers bragging “Sorbonne” or “Oxford.” I don’t quite know if it’s simple humility or a lack of school spirit, but the fact is their license-plate holders do not announce, as does mine, “Go Bears!,” or the equivalent, to the driver behind them at the stop light. I do realize I was lucky in having been accepted into the University of California system during its golden age of taxpayer support. I got to study at the greatest public university in the world for a tuition that never varied from its annual $637.50 price tag from September 1973 through June 1977. That, the $200 monthly check my (sainted) mother sent me and the $15 a week I made for writing for the student newspaper covered everything: rent, books, meals, beer, whatnot. Undergraduate bliss. Or, if not always entirely that — there were inevitable heartbreaks, and the vague existential dread of adult life around the corner, in which you’d somehow have to make ends meet — four formative transitional years in between living under your parents’ roof and having to fend entirely on your own. If I was lucky, at least I knew that I was, and never took it for granted. I wasn’t smart enough to be a slacker. I never missed a single class, freshman through senior years. Of course, the information imparted wasn’t always at the hands of the professors. On a university campus, you have your beliefs challenged, or at least you ought to. For instance, as a perhaps naive believer in the essentially correct nature of American foreign policy, the Vietnam debacle aside, I had never for a minute as a high school student been exposed to any notion that Israel was anything but entirely righteous and correct in its dealings with its Arab neighbors. But walking through Sproul Plaza one day, with its ubiquitous “tablers” espousing various political causes, from Young Communists through Young Republicans, I stopped to read some pamphleteering giving the Palestinian side. You mean land was taken from families with an ancient claim to it without proper compensation? The world was more complicated than one had been led to believe. Related Articles Opinion Columnists | Matt Fleming: Some books I enjoyed reading in 2024 Opinion Columnists | Thomas Elias: Expect Newsom to start his much anticipated run for president Opinion Columnists | Wishing for Santa-like efficiency in the USA Opinion Columnists | Jon Coupal: Santa Jarvis’s naughty and nice list Opinion Columnists | California is battling the future to protect performers And now, as is only fitting, it’s time to play the role of old grouch. Students arrive on campus these days more set in their views, less open to conversion. You hang with the like-minded and issue trigger warnings to those who would challenge you. The Palestine-Israel situation is a sadly perfect example of that. And so, as someone who still spends a lot of time on college campuses, I was glad to read recently of efforts by college administrators to get young people to open up. In a story headlined “To Dial Down Campus Tensions, Colleges Teach the Art of Conversation,” New York Times reporter Anemona Hartocollis writes: “On a warm November day, a group of Columbia University professors set up ‘listening tables’ near the center of campus and hailed students rushing to class, inviting them to stop and talk.” They smartly bring pizza as an enticement, so some things never change. But it’s often the dire wolf of Gaza that still howls loudest at the tables. A woman in a kaffiyeh in one conversation talked about “this genocide.” “I wouldn’t call it a genocide,” said Scott Barry Kaufman, a psych prof moderating the group. “Do you hate me because I disagree with you?” “No, she did not hate him — ‘for that reason,’ she said,” Hartocollis reports. “Ouch,” Dr. Kaufman replied. Hey, at least they’re talking. Larry Wilson is on the Southern California News Group editorial board. lwilson@scng.com.USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. SAN ANTONIO − Tonight’s game between might be the most attractive college football bowl game that is not part of the College Football Playoff. Count the reasons: It’s a prime-time Saturday night game on ABC. It features the reigning . It also features flamboyant Colorado coach Deion Sanders and his son Shedeur, who might be the top quarterback selected in the NFL draft in April. This will be their − the (9-3) vs. the Cougars (10-2), two Big 12 Conference teams on opposite sides of the Rocky Mountains who haven’t played each other since the Freedom Bowl in 1988. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado’s quarterback, ranks first nationally in completion percentage (74.2%) and will face a BYU defense that finished the regular season tied for first nationally in passes intercepted (20). Like Shedeur, Hunter also will play the game under a in case he’s injured. Because he plays on offense and defense, Hunter’s injury risk is essentially doubled, adding to the drama tonight after so many other top NFL prospects opted not to play in bowl games to avoid any injury risk that could hurt their future earnings. Will this bowl game for Hunter and Shedeur Sanders? We’re about to find out. Follow along here for live updates, highlights and news: Colorado declined to disclose this information citing privacy laws. But Deion Sanders announced earlier this week that Hunter and Shedeur Sanders had to protect them in this college football game, paid for by Colorado. Colorado athletic director Rick George described it as disability insurance, though it’s unclear if other types of insurance are involved. Both Hunter and Shedeur are projected as top-10 NFL draft picks in April and stand to sign multi-year contracts in the range of $20 million to $40 million. Despite the insurance coverage, it’s instead of just skipping it until they get NFL contracts. Thirty years after the Miracle in Michigan, former Colorado quarterback Kordell Stewart and former Colorado wide receiver Michael Westbrook stood on the sidelines together chatting about two hours before kickoff at the Alamo Bowl. They are arguably the best quarterback-receiver combo at Colorado to come before Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. Westbrook caught the “Miracle” pass to beat Michigan as time expired in 1994. Westbrook was the No. 4 overall pick in the 1995 NFL draft. Stewart got picked at No. 60 the same year. Both Shedeur Sanders and Hunter are expected to be top-10 NFL draft picks in April. It’s because of college football conference realignment. The Alamo Bowl had contracts to take . But then the Pac-12 collapsed this year with 10 teams leaving for other leagues, including Colorado, which left to return to the Big 12. Instead of reworking those contracts to reflect the new realignment, the Alamo Bowl will still select opponents from the same two pools of 12 teams: the 12 teams from the former Pac-12 (Colorado) and the 12 teams from the Big 12 before realignment (BYU). It will work this way again in 2025. BYU did not play Colorado this year but will play Colorado in Boulder in 2025. The Colorado Buffaloes are favorites to defeat the BYU Cougars in Saturday’s college football matchup, according to the . Looking to wager? Check out offering . Colorado (-3) Colorado (-150); BYU (+125) 54.5 Kickoff is at 7:30 ET Saturday from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The game will be broadcast on ABC. Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek and Taylor McGregor will call the game. The Cougars-Buffaloes game can be streamed on
Trump’s lawyers rebuff DA’s idea for upholding his hush money conviction, calling it ‘absurd’HALIFAX - Uncertainty is a key theme this year at the annual, three-day gathering in Halifax of political leaders, defence officials and policy analysts who aim to promote democratic values around the globe. Read this article for free: Already have an account? As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Starting at $14.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! HALIFAX - Uncertainty is a key theme this year at the annual, three-day gathering in Halifax of political leaders, defence officials and policy analysts who aim to promote democratic values around the globe. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? HALIFAX – Uncertainty is a key theme this year at the annual, three-day gathering in Halifax of political leaders, defence officials and policy analysts who aim to promote democratic values around the globe. The 300 delegates from 60 countries will take part in the Halifax International Security Forum, which begins Friday, less than three weeks after Donald Trump’s United States presidential election victory — a result that has raised questions about U.S. military support for the threatened democracies of Ukraine and Taiwan. Over the past two years, Trump has repeatedly taken issue with the almost $60 billion in assistance to Ukraine provided by U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration, and he’s made vague vows to end the war. The president-elect has also been unclear if his upcoming administration would defend Taiwan in the event of an invasion by China, and has suggested the self-governed island “should pay us for defence.” Peter Van Praagh, president of the forum, said in an interview Wednesday that in November 2016 — after Trump’s first ascent to the White House — there was “a level of shock that this could happen,” but he said this year shock has been replaced with a feeling of incertitude. “One of the things that the president-elect Trump brings to the table is a level of uncertainty .... Now everybody is looking to reduce that uncertainty and get some type of clarity on what his priorities will be,” he said. Van Praagh expects the speakers at the 16th forum will present evidence justifying why the Trump administration must continue Biden’s financial and military support for Ukraine, arguing that the security of democracies around the globe depends on it. He said he’s pleased former Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen will deliver a speech Saturday, which is expected to emphasize how U.S. support for Ukraine is crucial to the security of her country and its democracy. Tsai left office in May. During her two terms in office she came under frequent attack from China for her refusal to recognize Beijing’s claim of sovereignty over the island. Van Praagh said the politician — who remains an influential figure in the ruling Democratic Progressive Party — is expected to describe how the threat from China isn’t isolated from the conflict in Central Europe. “All of these things are connected. Ukrainian security is connected with security in eastern Asia,” he said. Van Praagh said he hopes speakers at the forum help to influence members of the U.S. congressional delegation on the importance of backing Taiwan and Ukraine. In 2016, former Republican Sen. John McCain was a prominent and influential figure in Washington, and he regularly attended the Halifax security forum — bringing the ideas he heard back to the Senate. An award has been given out in his name at the forum each year since he died in 2018. This year, two Republican senators, James Risch of Idaho — who may chair the influential foreign relations committee after Trump takes office — and Mike Rounds from South Dakota are attending as part of the U.S. congressional delegation, along with four Democratic Party senators. “These guys not only have a say, they have a vote,” said Van Praagh. Risch will be a speaker at the opening session of the conference on Friday, along with Democratic Party Sen. Jeanne Shaheen from New Hampshire, as they discuss America’s role in the world. The opening day will also hear from Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, who will sit on a panel titled “Victory in Ukraine” alongside Rounds. Other invited guests include Gen. Jennie Carignan, head of the Canadian Armed Forces, who will sit on a panel with U.S. Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific command, and Andrew Shearer, director of Australia’s Office of National Intelligence, on Saturday. Many of the events over the forum’s three days, including a plenary session on threats to the Canadian Arctic from Russia and China, tie back to the conflict in Ukraine, and to whether Western democracies should continue to back the country. “Should we succeed in Ukraine and push Russia out of Ukraine, every other international challenge becomes easier,” Van Praagh said. “If Russia succeeds, everything becomes more difficult.” “The alternative is chaos and more war.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2024. Advertisement AdvertisementSupreme Court will take up a challenge related to California's tough vehicle emissions standards WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says it will take up a business-backed appeal that could make it easier to challenge federal regulations, acting in a dispute related to California’s nation-leading standards for vehicle emissions. The justices agreed Friday to hear an appeal filed by fuel producers who object to a waiver granted to California in 2022 by the Environmental Protection Agency during Joe Biden’s presidency. The waiver allows California to set more stringent emissions limits than the national standard. The case won’t be argued until the spring, when the Trump administration is certain to take a more industry-friendly approach to the issue. Musk says US is demanding he pay penalty over disclosures of his Twitter stock purchases DETROIT (AP) — Elon Musk says the Securities and Exchange Commission wants him to pay a penalty or face charges involving what he disclosed — or failed to disclose — about his purchases of Twitter stock before he bought the social media platform in 2022. In a letter, Musk’s lawyer Alex Spiro tells the outgoing SEC chairman, Gary Gensler, that the commission’s demand for a monetary payment is a “misguided scheme” that won’t intimidate Musk. The letter also alleges that the commission reopened an investigation this week into Neuralink, Musk’s computer-to-human brain interface company. The SEC has not released the letter. Nor would it comment on it or confirm whether it has issued such a demand to Musk. Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is pushing toward a vote on legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of people. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer began the process on Thursday for a final vote on the bill, known as the Social Security Fairness Act. It would eliminate policies that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people. The legislation has passed the House. The bill would add more strain on the Social Security Trust funds, which are already estimated to be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2035. The measure would add an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Saudi Arabia banned film for 35 years. The Red Sea festival is just one sign of the industry's rise JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — “My Driver and I” was supposed to be made in 2016, but was scuttled amid Saudi Arabia’s decades-long cinema ban. Eight years later, the landscape for film in the kingdom looks much different. And the star of “My Driver and I” now has an award. Roula Dakheelallah was named the winner of the Chopard Emerging Saudi Talent award at the Red Sea International Film Festival on Thursday. Both the award and the glitzy festival itself are signs of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to shaping a new film industry. The reopening of cinemas in 2018 after 35 years marked a cultural turning point for Saudi Arabia. Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn't install more automated systems WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is offering his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports. He posted on social media Thursday that he met with union leaders and that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. He wrote that the “amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. The Maritime Alliance says the technology will improve worker safety and strengthen our supply chains, among other things. IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS leadership on Thursday announced that the agency has recovered $4.7 billion in back taxes and proceeds from a variety of crimes. The announcement comes under the backdrop of a promised reckoning from Republicans who will hold a majority over both chambers of the next Congress and have long called for rescinding the tens of billions of dollars in funding provided to the agency by Democrats. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said improvements made to the agency will help the incoming administration and new Republican majority congress achieve its goals of administering an extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Unique among 'Person of the Year' designees, Donald Trump gets a fact-check from Time magazine Donald Trump got something this year that no other person designed Time magazine's Person of the Year had ever received. He got a fact-check of claims that the president-elect made in the interview accompanying the magazine's piece. Trump earned the recognition of the year's biggest newsmaker for the second time, also winning it in 2016 the first time he was elected president. But in a piece described as a “12-minute” read, Time called into question more than a dozen statements Trump made when speaking to the magazine's reporters, on issues like border size, autism and crowd size at a rally. Time said it has fact-checked other interviews in the past, but not for this annual feature. OpenAI's legal battle with Elon Musk reveals internal turmoil over avoiding AI 'dictatorship' A 7-year-old rivalry between tech leaders Elon Musk and Sam Altman over who should run OpenAI and best avoid an artificial intelligence ‘dictatorship’ is now heading to a federal judge as Musk seeks to halt the ChatGPT maker’s ongoing conversion into a for-profit company. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year. Musk has since escalated the dispute, adding new claims and asking for a court order that would stop OpenAI’s plans to convert itself into a for-profit business more fully. OpenAI is filing its response Friday. OpenAI's Altman will donate $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund LOS ANGELES (AP) — OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is planning to make a $1 million personal donation to President-Elect Donald Trump’s inauguration fund, joining a number of tech companies and executives who are working to improve their relationships the incoming administration. A spokesperson for OpenAI confirmed the move on Friday. The announcement comes one day after Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said it donated $1 million to the same fund. Amazon also said it plans to donate $1 million. China signals it's prepared to double down on support for the economy as Trump tariffs loom BANGKOK (AP) — Chinese leaders met this week to plot economic policy for the coming year and sketched out plans to raise government spending and relax Beijing's monetary policy. Analysts said the broad-brush plans from the annual Central Economic Work Conference were more of a recap of current policy than ambitious new initiatives at a time when the outlook is clouded by the President-elect Donald Trump's threats to sharply raise tariffs once he takes office. The ruling Communist Party did commit to raising China's deficit and to doing more to encourage consumer spending by bringing wage increases in line with the pace of economic growth. Here's a look at China's main priorities and their potential implications.
Novato tightens camping rules, enraging advocates for homelessCBN’s interest rate hike will worsen imbalances in real sectors — CPPE
Trump’s lawyers rebuff DA’s idea for upholding his hush money conviction, calling it ‘absurd’
New Delhi, December 28: Blue Origin on Saturday announced that its massive new rocket New Glenn has successfully completed a crucial test, paving the way for its launch. Known as the hotfire test, it was the first test of the integrated launch vehicle. During the test, the vehicle remained firmly clamped to the launchpad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. “The seven-engine hotfire lasted 24 seconds and marked the first time we operated the entire flight vehicle as an integrated system,” the Jeff Bezos-owned company said. The hotfire, which was the final major milestone before the first flight, included numerous inert functional and tanking tests. “Next stop launch,” said Bezos, while posting a video of the engines firing. Blue Origin Secures FAA Approval for Its New Glenn Vehicle for Historic Orbital Launch From Florida. Meanwhile, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday issued a commercial space launch license for New Glenn’s launch. However, the company is yet to reveal the date of the first flight of New Glenn. New Glenn’s debut launch was originally targeted for 2020, but delays in the BE-4's development have postponed it repeatedly. Officials at Blue Origin had promised to launch this year. It was expected to launch in October with two small Mars-bound orbiters for NASA. Dr Eldho Varghese, Dr T G Sumithra, Two CMFRI Scientists Earn Prestigious NAAS Recognition for Their Contribution to Fisheries and Agricultural Science. It was scrubbed when it became clear Blue Origin would not be ready in time. Standing 98 metres tall, New Glenn is the largest and most powerful rocket ever built and launched. It is named after NASA astronaut John Glenn, the first American astronaut to orbit Earth, completing three orbits in 1962. The rocket, which has been on the launchpad for weeks, will now be rolled back to the hangar for technicians to install the payload -- a prototype of a spacecraft called Blue Ring that Blue Origin is developing to move other spacecraft around on Earth. "Well, all we have left to do is mate our encapsulated payload...and then LAUNCH!" Dave Limp, CEO of Blue Origin, posted on X. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 28, 2024 05:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com ).Trump's lawyers rebuff DA's idea for upholding his hush money conviction
Stocks closed higher on Wall Street, giving the market its fifth gain in a row and notching another record high for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% Friday. The Dow added 1%, and the Nasdaq composite tacked on 0.2%. Retailers had some of the biggest gains. Gap soared after reporting quarterly results that easily beat analysts’ estimates. EchoStar fell after DirecTV called off its purchase of that company’s Dish Network unit. European markets closed mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. Crude oil prices gained ground. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. Stocks rose on Wall Street in afternoon trading Friday, keeping the market on track for its fifth straight gain. The S&P 500 was up 0.2% and was solidly on track for a weekly gain that will erase most of last week's loss. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 333 points, or 0.8%, and the Nasdaq composite was essentially flat with a gain of less than 0.1% as of 3:07 p.m. Eastern. Markets have been volatile over the last few weeks, losing ground in the runup to elections in November, then surging following Donald Trump's victory, before falling again. The S&P 500 has been steadily rising throughout this week to within close range of its record. “Overall, market behavior has normalized following an intense few weeks,” said Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide, in a statement. Several retailers jumped after giving Wall Street encouraging financial updates. Gap soared 10.8% after handily beating analysts' third-quarter earnings and revenue expectations, while raising its own revenue forecast for the year. Discount retailer Ross Stores rose 1.5% after raising its earnings forecast for the year. EchoStar fell 2.4% after DirecTV called off its purchase of that company's Dish Network unit. Smaller company stocks had some of the biggest gains. The Russell 2000 index rose 1.8%. A majority of stocks in the S&P 500 were gaining ground, but those gains were kept in check by slumps for several big technology companies. Nvidia fell 3.3%. Its pricey valuation makes it among the heaviest influences on whether the broader market gains or loses ground. The company has grown into a nearly $3.6 trillion behemoth because of demand for its chips used in artificial-intelligence technology. Intuit, which makes TurboTax and other accounting software, fell 5.6%. It gave investors a quarterly earnings forecast that fell short of analysts’ expectations. Facebook owner Meta Platforms fell 0.8% following a decision by the Supreme Court to allow a multibillion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit to proceed against the company. It stems from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm. European markets closed mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Crude oil prices rose. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.41% from 4.42% late Thursday. In the crypto market, Bitcoin hovered around $99,000, according to CoinDesk. It has more than doubled this year and first surpassed the $99,000 level on Thursday. Retailers remained a big focus for investors this week amid close scrutiny on consumer spending habits headed into the holiday shopping season. Walmart, the nation's largest retailer, reported a quarter of strong sales and gave investors an encouraging financial forecast. Target, though, reported weaker earnings than analysts' expected and its forecast disappointed Wall Street. Consumer spending has fueled economic growth, despite a persistent squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. Inflation has been easing and the Federal Reserve has started trimming its benchmark interest rates. That is likely to help relieve pressure on consumers, but any major shift in spending could prompt the Fed to reassess its path ahead on interest rates. Also, any big reversals on the rate of inflation could curtail spending. Consumer sentiment remains strong, according to the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index. It revised its latest figure for November to 71.8 from an initial reading of 73 earlier this month, though economists expected a slight increase. It's still up from 70.5 in October. The survey also showed that consumers' inflation expectations for the year ahead fell slightly to 2.6%, which is the lowest reading since December of 2020. Wall Street will get another update on how consumers feel when the business group The Conference Board releases its monthly consumer confidence survey on Tuesday. A key inflation update will come on Wednesday when the U.S. releases its October personal consumption expenditures index. The PCE is the Fed's preferred measure of inflation and this will be the last PCE reading prior to the central bank's meeting in December. Damian J. Troise And Alex Veiga, The Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin topped $100,000 for the first time this week as a massive rally in the world's most popular cryptocurrency, largely accelerated by the election of Donald Trump, rolls on. The cryptocurrency officially to rose six figures Wednesday night, just hours after the president-elect said he intends to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to be the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bitcoin has soared since Trump won the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 5. The asset climbed from $69,374 on Election Day, hitting as high as $103,713 Wednesday, according to CoinDesk. And the latest all-time high arrives just two years after bitcoin dropped below $17,000 following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX . Bitcoin fell back below the $100,000 by Thursday afternoon, sitting above $99,000 by 4 p.m. ET. Even amid a massive rally that has more than doubled the value of bitcoin this year, some experts continue to warn of investment risks around the asset, which has quite a volatile history. Here’s what you need to know. Back up. What is cryptocurrency again? Cryptocurrency has been around for a while now. But chances are you’ve heard about it more and more over the last few years. In basic terms, cryptocurrency is digital money. This kind of currency is designed to work through an online network without a central authority — meaning it’s typically not backed by any government or banking institution — and transactions get recorded with technology called a blockchain. Bitcoin is the largest and oldest cryptocurrency, although other assets like ethereum, XRP, tether and dogecoin have also gained popularity over the years. Some investors see cryptocurrency as a “digital alternative” to traditional money, but most daily financial transactions are still conducted using fiat currencies such as the dollar. Also, bitcoin can be very volatile, with its price reliant on larger market conditions. Why is bitcoin soaring? A lot of the recent action has to do with the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. Trump, who was once a crypto skeptic, has pledged to make the U.S. “the crypto capital of the planet” and create a “strategic reserve” of bitcoin. His campaign accepted donations in cryptocurrency and he courted fans at a bitcoin conference in July. He also launched World Liberty Financial, a new venture with family members to trade cryptocurrencies. On Thursday morning, hours after bitcoin surpassed the $100,000 mark, Trump congratulated “BITCOINERS” on his social media platform Truth Social. He also appeared to take credit for the recent rally, writing, “YOU’RE WELCOME!!!” Top crypto players welcomed Trump’s election victory last month, in hopes that he would be able to push through legislative and regulatory changes that they’ve long lobbied for — which, generally speaking, aim for an increased sense of legitimacy without too much red tape. And the industry has made sizeable investments along the way. Back in August, Public Citizen, a left-leaning consumer rights advocacy nonprofit, reported finding that crypto-sector corporations spent more than $119 million in 2024 to back pro-crypto candidates across federal elections. Trump made his latest pro-crypto move when he announced his plans Wednesday to nominate Atkins to chair the SEC. Atkins was an SEC commissioner during the presidency of George W. Bush. In the years since leaving the agency, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. He joined the Token Alliance, a cryptocurrency advocacy organization, in 2017. Under current chair Gary Gensler, who will step down when Trump takes office, the SEC has cracked down on the crypto industry — penalizing a number of companies for violating securities laws. Gensler has also faced ample criticism from industry players in the process. One crypto-friendly move the SEC did make under Gensler was the approval in January of spot bitcoin ETFs, or exchange trade funds, which allow investors to have a stake in bitcoin without directly buying it. The spot ETFs were the dominant driver of bitcoin's price before Trump's win — but, like much of the crypto’s recent momentum, saw record inflows postelection. What does bitcoin hitting the $100k mark mean? Could it keep climbing? Bitcoin surpassing the coveted $100,000 mark has left much of the crypto world buzzing. “What we’re seeing isn’t just a rally — it’s a fundamental transformation of bitcoin’s place in the financial system,” Nathan McCauley, CEO and co-founder of crypto custodian Anchorage Digital, said in a statement — while pointing to the growth of who's entering the market, particularly with rising institutional adoption. Still, others note that the new heights of bitcoin's price don't necessarily mean the asset is going mainstream. The $100,000 level is “merely a psychological factor and ultimately just a number,” Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at British investment company AJ Bell, wrote in a Thursday commentary . That being said, bitcoin could keep climbing to more and more all-time highs, particularly if Trump makes good on his promises for more crypto-friendly regulation once in office. If Trump actually makes a bitcoin reserve, for example, supply changes could also propel the price forward. “It is hard to overstate the magnitude of the change in Washington’s attitude towards crypto post-election,” Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise Asset Management, said via email Thursday, reiterating that prices could keep rising if trends persist. “There is a lot more demand than there is supply, and that’s usually a pretty good recipe for success.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is never promised. Worldwide regulatory uncertainties and environmental concerns around bitcoin “mining" — the creation of new bitcoin, which consumes a lot of energy — are among factors that analysts like Coatsworth note could hamper future growth. And, as still a relatively young asset with a history of volatility, longer-term adoption has yet to be seen through. Is it too late to invest? What are the risks? Today’s excitement around bitcoin may make many who aren’t already in the space want to get in on the action. For those in a position to invest, Hougan says it's not too late — noting that bitcoin is still early in its development and most institutional investors “still have zero exposure.” At the same time, Hougan and others maintain that it's important to tread cautiously and not bite off more than you can chew. Experts continue to stress caution around getting carried away with crypto “FOMO,” or the fear of missing out, especially for small-pocketed investors. “A lot of people have got rich from the cryptocurrency soaring in value this year, but this high-risk asset isn’t suitable for everyone,” Coatsworth noted Thursday. “It’s volatile, unpredictable and is driven by speculation, none of which makes for a sleep-at-night investment.” In short, history shows you can lose money in crypto as quickly as you’ve made it. Long-term price behavior relies on larger market conditions. Trading continues at all hours, every day. Coatsworth points to recent research from the Bank for International Settlements, a Switzerland-based global organization of central banks, which found that about three-quarters of retail buyers on crypto exchange apps likely lost money on their bitcoin investments between 2015 and 2022. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, bitcoin stood at just over $5,000. Its price climbed to nearly $69,000 by November 2021, during high demand for technology assets, but later crashed during an aggressive series of rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. And the late-2022 collapse of FTX significantly undermined confidence in crypto overall, with bitcoin falling below $17,000. Investors began returning in large numbers as inflation started to cool — and gains skyrocketed on the anticipation and then early success of spot ETFs, and again, now the post-election frenzy. But lighter regulation from the coming Trump administration could also mean less guardrails. _____ This story has been corrected to refer to Anchorage Digital as a crypto custodian, not a crypto asset manager. Wyatte Grantham-philips, The Associated Press
Share Tweet Share Share Email Web3’s transformation outpaced yesterday’s vision, reshaping expectations rapidly. Consider The Graph—it’s reshaping how networks access data, making blockchain queries as simple as internet searches. With the network expanding, current forecasts suggest a 30% GRT price increase in November. Simultaneously, Theta Network is enhancing decentralized AI research via its recent partnership with the University of Oregon, introducing cutting-edge AI to sectors like healthcare and finance. With these advancements, Web3Bay integrates web3 technology with commercial practices to transfer control from corporations to users. Its 3BAY token facilitates earning rewards, influencing governance, and conducting fee-free transactions. Moreover, the price of 3BAY is set to increase by 15% in each of the 28 stages of its presale, presenting a prime growth opportunity for early backers. Expected 30% Surge in GRT Price Forecasts The Graph operates as an open-source, decentralized protocol that organizes and makes blockchain data accessible across various networks. Known as the blockchain’s Google, it helps developers efficiently access the data crucial for web3 applications. The GRT token, while recently fluctuating, showing a decrease of 6.93% last month, is now on the path to recovery. With its current trading price at $0.156, predictions place GRT at $0.276 by December 2024, marking an expected increase of about 30%. Over the past year, GRT has demonstrated steady growth, appreciating by 18.95%. Theta’s Partnership Advances Decentralized AI Innovations Theta Labs, addressing the challenges of traditional video streaming through its decentralized platform, has partnered with the University of Oregon’s Distopia Lab to push the boundaries of decentralized AI research. 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Unlike traditional platforms that are fraught with hidden fees and security risks, Web3Bay envisions a commerce environment free from these concerns, placing all control in the hands of the users. At its roots, Web3Bay integrates blockchain technology, smart contracts, and decentralized protocols to ensure security and efficiency—ideal for managing substantial transaction volumes effortlessly. Its 3BAY token extends beyond typical shopping; it empowers users to influence and direct the platform’s evolution. Each token not only facilitates purchases but also rewards participation and confers voting rights, ensuring that users have a real impact on the future of Web3Bay. Currently offered at an introductory price of $0.003, 3BAY tokens attract those who champion a more equitable and user-driven commerce system. The presale is designed in 28 stages, with the price expected to climb by 15% at each phase. This setup positions the token for a potential overall growth of 6430%, providing early investors with an extraordinary opportunity for substantial gains. Final Overview With positive forecasts for GRT, The Graph is enhancing the accessibility of data, proving vital for Web3 developers. Concurrently, Theta Network is innovating within the AI research field, democratizing advanced technologies across various industries through its decentralized partnerships. Above all, Web3Bay harnesses the capabilities of web3 to forge a user-centric marketplace, free from hidden charges and privacy dilemmas. By participating with the 3BAY token, users not only transact but also earn rewards, contribute to decision-making, and actively shape the platform’s trajectory. Those investing early at the presale price of $0.003 could see returns skyrocket to 6430%, effectively transforming every purchase into a vested interest in the marketplace’s future. Join Web3Bay Presale Now: Presale: https://web3bay.io/buy Website: https://web3bay.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/web3bayofficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/web3bayofficial/ Related Items: press release , Web3Bay Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Web3Bay Prepares To Transform DeFi With E-commerce Platform; Spotlight on Dogecoin & SHIB Price Movements Web3Bay’s (3BAY) Is the Crypto Innovation You Can’t-Miss – Arbitrum & Fantom’s Explosive Moves! Over 15k Sold! Massive Demand for BlockDAG Miners in December; Latest on Dogecoin & Shiba Inu Price Prediction CommentsUber Will Deliver Your Christmas Tree And In Some Cities Bring Carolers To HousesDec 05, 2024 Octahedral DNA origami with nanopores enhances protein detection at low levels ( Nanowerk News ) SMU Lyle mechanical engineering graduate student Kamruzzaman Joty has introduced a groundbreaking new technique in nanotechnology for detecting and analyzing biomolecules, potentially paving the way for new methods of early disease detection. The study, recently featured on the cover of Analytical Chemistry ( "DNA Origami Incorporated into Solid-State Nanopores Enables Enhanced Sensitivity for Precise Analysis of Protein Translocations" ), integrates octahedral DNA origami structures with solid-state nanopores to significantly improve the detection of proteins, especially those that are present in low concentrations. “This work could pave the way for developing advanced biosensing technologies, with potential applications in biomedical research and diagnostic tools – especially for diseases marked by low-abundance protein biomarkers,” Joty said. Nanopores are tiny holes that can detect individual molecules as they pass through, making them ideal tools for analyzing biomolecules like DNA and proteins. However, detecting proteins at very low concentrations – such as those found in early stages of diseases – has been a challenge. Joty and his research team determined that combining the precision of DNA origami with the robustness of solid-state nanopores could create a “hybrid nanopore” system, enabling more precise analysis. DNA origami is a method where DNA strands are folded into specific shapes, like an octahedron, to enhance the nanopore’s ability to capture and sense proteins. In the study, the researchers used holo human serum transferrin as a model protein to show how the hybrid nanopore could outperform traditional nanopores in sensitivity and detection accuracy. Many diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, are characterized by proteins that are present in very small amounts, making them difficult to detect early. The hybrid nanopore’s ability to sense these low-abundance proteins could lead to earlier diagnoses and better treatment outcomes. “In the future, we will focus on refining the design of DNA origami structures and nanopore configurations to further enhance sensitivity and broaden the range of detectable biomolecule,” Joty said. “This exciting work could lead to innovations in drug discovery, disease diagnostics, and fundamental biological research.” Source: Southern Methodist University (Note: Content may be edited for style and length)
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