Thousands still queuing to vote after Namibia polls closeNoneNew video footage shows UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's killer at Starbucks before the fatal shooting . The unnamed killer, who is still on the loose, shot Thompson, 50, on Wednesday morning outside of a Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan where the health insurance company's CEO was attending a conference. The latest photos released by the NYPD show the suspect standing in front of the counter at Starbucks at W 56th Street and 6th Avenue. The outpost is located just minutes away from the Hilton hotel, where he gunned down Thompson in what authorities believe was a "targeted" attack. Authorities also obtained chilling footage of the killer pulling out the gun outside of the hotel before fleeing on foot and then hopping onto an e-bike into Central Park. Thompson's wife Paulette broke her silence in the afternoon and revealed that her husband had been receiving "some threats" before he was killed. He leaves behind his wife, 51, and two children. Authorities are still searching for the suspect and motive has not been determined. Crimestoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information. DON'T MISS... UnitedHealthcare probed by DOJ months before CEO Brian Thompson shot dead Hilton hotel guests 'feel safe' after sleeping through health boss' shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO's wife says Brian Thompson receved 'threats' before murder UnitedHealthcare was facing a class action lawsuit and was under investigation by the Department of Justice in the months before Thompson's murder. Thompson was accused of failing to disclose the DOJ probe to investors before unloading a percentage of his stock. After dumping roughly his 31% shareholder stock, he took home $15.1 million in proceeds in February 2024, a few months after the company was reportedly notified about the DOJ investigation.
Trump wants pardoned real estate developer Charles Kushner to be ambassador to FranceHighway 11 lanes to reopen after snowstorm blasted the region, stranding motorists
Trump wants pardoned real estate developer Charles Kushner to be ambassador to France
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CHICAGO — With December’s arrival, bitterly cold weather is set to continue into early next week with wind chills in the single digits. The Chicago area has not seen such chilly weather since mid-January, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures on Saturday and Sunday nights are predicted to reach lows in the teens, according to the weather service forecast. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get the latest news, sports, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump's movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump's Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer's comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry's need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump's world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift, and his presidential transition team did not respond to a message seeking comment. Musk, the world's richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump's movement but his stance on the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry's need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent," he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump's own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump's businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country" and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he told the “All-In" podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump's budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.
During the Cold War, the arms industry played a pivotal role in the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact, with Central European countries serving as essential production hubs. The USSR’s centralized military-industrial complex expanded into these states, integrating their economies into a massive defence production network. Countries like Poland, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic and Slovakia), Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria specialized in producing specific military components. These countries were responsible for manufacturing tanks, aircraft, artillery, and small arms, supplying the Warsaw Pact’s vast military machine. The collapse of the USSR in 1991 triggered significant political and economic transitions throughout Central Europe. The newly independent states reoriented their policies toward Western democratic and free-market models. The transition from state-controlled economies to market-driven systems severely affected military production, which had relied on state subsidies and guaranteed demand. Arms factories faced closure, restructuring, or privatization due to declining military budgets and the loss of Soviet-era contracts. The focus on NATO integration further reshaped these countries’ defence industries. NATO membership required standardization with Western military specifications, prompting a shift from Soviet-era arms production to modernization programs driven by Western military technologies. The resulting challenges included adapting production lines, updating outdated technologies, and reducing excessive military stockpiles accumulated during the Cold War. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 marked a turning point for Central Europe’s defence sector, reshaping regional security strategies. The war reawakened fears of Russian expansionism, perceived as an existential threat by many countries with historical experiences of Soviet domination. This led to a rapid reassessment of military readiness and defence production capabilities. Central European countries became frontline supporters of Ukraine, supplying weapons, ammunition, and humanitarian aid. The need to sustain this assistance while ensuring national security prompted them to accelerate domestic arms production. Military expenditures surged as countries prioritized defence modernization and expanded production capacity, benefiting both economically and politically. Poland emerged as a military powerhouse in Central Europe, leveraging its extensive arms industry to support Ukraine. The Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), the country’s largest defence conglomerate, played a crucial role by supplying tanks, artillery, and drones. This support significantly impacted the early stages of the war, helping Ukraine resist Russian advances. PGZ recorded substantial revenue growth, attributed to increased government contracts and international deals. Its export portfolio expanded, including contracts for military vehicles, weapons systems, and ammunition. Key investments in research and development (R&D) allowed Poland to develop advanced weaponry, including self-propelled artillery systems, precision-guided munitions, and combat drones. Poland also strengthened international partnerships, notably with the USA and South Korea, securing technology transfers and joint production agreements. This strategic positioning transformed Poland into a key supplier within NATO’s defence infrastructure. The Czech Republic’s historical legacy in arms manufacturing dates back to its Austro-Hungarian and Cold War-era production capabilities. As a top arms exporter during the Soviet era, the country maintained its defence industry infrastructure despite challenges following the Cold War. The war in Ukraine revitalized the Czech defence industry, particularly through arms exports to Ukraine. Czech arms manufacturers produced and supplied a wide range of military equipment, including artillery, armored vehicles, and ammunition. In 2022, military exports doubled compared to the previous year, with Ukraine receiving nearly half of the total output. The Czech Republic also strengthened its logistical role by establishing maintenance and repair facilities near the conflict zone, ensuring a continuous flow of arms. This boosted military-industrial cooperation between Czech manufacturers and Ukrainian military forces, promising long-term partnerships. Hungary adopted a cautious stance due to its political ties with Russia and its unique foreign policy within the EU and NATO. While refusing to allow arms shipments through its territory, Hungary continued its military modernization programme. The programme aimed to modernize Hungary’s military by acquiring advanced Western weaponry and developing domestic production capabilities. A major milestone was Hungary’s partnership with Germany’s Rheinmetall, resulting in the construction of a modern arms production facility in Zalaegerszeg. The factory produces state-of-the-art infantry fighting vehicles and other advanced military systems for the Hungarian armed forces. Despite its limited involvement in supporting Ukraine, Hungary’s defence industry advanced technologically due to technology transfers from German partners. This long-term investment in military modernization positions Hungary as a potential defence hub in Central Europe. Romania and Bulgaria pursued distinct strategies in response to the war. Romania focused on both foreign military procurement and developing its domestic arms industry. The Romanian government allocated a significant portion of its defence budget to modernizing air defence systems while investing in local production facilities. Plans to quadruple ammunition output reflect Romania’s ambition to become a key supplier of military equipment in the region. Bulgaria, with its established Soviet-era ammunition industry, saw a record surge in arms exports. Its production focused on supplying Soviet-caliber ammunition to Ukraine, filling a critical gap in the global arms market. Despite lacking a comprehensive defence modernization strategy, Bulgaria’s arms industry experienced unprecedented growth, driven by wartime demand. Despite notable progress, Central Europe’s defence industry faces several challenges. The absence of a unified European defence policy has led to fragmented production lines. Countries operate independently, producing similar weapon systems without coordination, leading to inefficiencies. While military budgets have increased, innovation and advanced R&D remain limited compared to global defence giants like the USA and China. Central Europe’s focus on upgrading Soviet-era technologies hampers cutting-edge development. Many countries depend heavily on Western suppliers for high-tech components and advanced weapon systems. This reliance constrains efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in arms production. National policies can change due to shifting political alliances and economic pressures. Ensuring sustained investment in defence projects requires long-term policy stability. The war in Ukraine has reinvigorated Central Europe’s defence industry, transforming it into a vital economic and strategic asset. Military production has become central to national security, aligning with broader European and transatlantic defence policies. Countries like Poland, the Czech Republic, and Romania have demonstrated the potential for defence-industrial growth through innovation, international cooperation, and government-backed modernization programs. The arms industry’s revival underscores the enduring impact of geopolitical crises on regional security architectures. Central Europe’s evolving military-industrial complex is likely to play a decisive role in future European defence strategies, ensuring the region’s preparedness in an increasingly uncertain world. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );
TORONTO, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — a health-tech company that leverages advancements in science and technology to support wellness in innovative ways, today announced a reorganization of its Board of Directors. As part of Lifeist’s ongoing efforts to enhance corporate governance and further strengthen its leadership structure, Meni Morim, a director of the Company and the former CEO of the Company, has been appointed Chairman of the Board, while Branden Spikes, a director of the Company, has transitioned to the role of Lead Independent Director. Meni Morim, who has been the driving force behind Lifeist’s transformation and successful realignment of the Company’s business strategy, assumes the role of Chairman. In this capacity, Meni will continue to provide strategic guidance to Lifeist’s executive team and Board, ensuring the successful execution of the Company’s long-term vision. Branden Spikes, who served as Chairman of the Board since 2019, and has been instrumental in guiding the Company’s strategic direction, takes on the role of Lead Independent Director to act as the effective leader of the Board and to ensure that the Board’s agenda will enable it to successfully carry out its duties. In this role, Branden will continue to play a critical role in overseeing the Board’s discharge of its duties together with the Chairman, corporate governance, strategic initiatives, and Lifeist’s operations while providing valuable independent oversight of the Company’s management. These appointments reflect Lifeist’s commitment to a strong governance framework, ensuring that both executive leadership and independent oversight remain robust as the Company continues to focus on growth in its health and wellness portfolio. In addition, the Board’s Compensation Committee has initiated a comprehensive review of board compensation to ensure it aligns with the Company’s evolving structure, size, and strategic direction. This review underscores the directors’ continued commitment to the long-term success of the Company and their willingness to prioritize the organization’s needs over personal gain, as demonstrated throughout their tenure. Lifeist also reports, as required by the TSXV, in connection with the Consulting Agreement originally announced on June 30, 2023, renewed effective August 1, 2024, and as terminated on October 31, 2024, entered into by the Company with Singular Narrative Management Ltd. (“Singular”) for the provision of strategic business consulting, product development, and brand marketing services to the Company as well as other services that do not include investor relations or promotional activities, that it has issued an aggregate of 747,305 common shares and 747,305 common share purchase warrants to acquire up to 747,305 common shares as payment to Singular of the monthly fee of $20,000 for services provided in the months of August, September and October 2024, calculated in accordance with the amended Consulting Agreement. The common shares were issued at deemed prices per share ranging from $0.06-$0.09. The warrants have an exercise price ranging from $0.06-$0.10 per share and expire 5 years from their respective date of issuance. Sitting at the forefront of the post-pandemic wellness revolution, Lifeist leverages advancements in science and technology to develop innovative products that support human wellness and transform lives. Lifeist’s key asset is its U.S. biosciences subsidiary Mikra Cellular Sciences Inc. (“Mikra”), a biosciences and consumer wellness company focused on developing and selling innovative wellness products. Information on Lifeist and its businesses can be accessed through the links below: Andrea Judge CEO Lifeist Wellness Inc. Ph: 888-291-8311 Email: Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release or has in any way approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release. Source: Lifeist Wellness Inc.
Pep Guardiola spoke of his relief after Manchester City finally got back to winning ways with a comfortable 3-0 defeat of Nottingham Forest on Wednesday. The champions had descended into crisis after a run of seven games without a win – six of which were defeats and the other an embarrassing 3-3 draw after leading 3-0. Four of those losses had come in the Premier League, heavily damaging their chances of claiming a fifth successive title, but they appeared to turn the corner by sweeping Forest aside at the Etihad Stadium. “We needed it,” said City manager Guardiola. “The club, the players, everyone needed to win. A good night's work 🫡 Thank you for backing us all the way, City fans 🩵 pic.twitter.com/UOcKm0Y6Ry — Manchester City (@ManCity) December 4, 2024 “But it is just one game and in three days we are at Selhurst Park, where it has always been difficult. “We played good. We still conceded some transitions and missed some easy things and lost some passes that you have to avoid, but in general, the most important thing was to break this routine of not winning games and we won it.” Kevin De Bruyne, making his first start since September after overcoming a pelvic injury, made a huge difference to a side that appeared rejuvenated. His powerful header was turned in by Bernardo Silva for the opening goal and the Belgian followed up with a powerful strike to make it 2-0. The 33-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season but it was a strong riposte to recent suggestions of a rift with Guardiola. A sweet strike 💥 ⚡️ #HighSpeedMoments | @eAndGroup pic.twitter.com/WJOkfKo2zr — Manchester City (@ManCity) December 4, 2024 “I’m so happy for him,” said Guardiola of De Bruyne’s telling contribution. “Last season he was many months injured and this season as well. “I’m so happy he’s back. He fought a lot, he’s worked and he’s back with his physicality. The minutes he played in Anfield were really good and today he played 75 fantastic minutes.” Jeremy Doku wrapped up a pleasing win when he finished a rapid counter-attack just before the hour but there was still a downside for City with injuries to defenders Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji. Guardiola said: “For Nathan it doesn’t look good and Manu has struggled a lot over the last two months. We will see. “Phil (Foden) has bronchitis but when he doesn’t have fever he will be ready.” Despite City’s dominance, Forest did have some bright moments and manager Nuno Espirito Santo was not downbeat. He said: “When you lose 3-0 and you say it was a good performance maybe people don’t understand, but I will not say that was a bad performance. “There are positive things for us in the game. Of course there are a lot of bad things, mistakes, but we had chances. “We didn’t achieve but I think we come out proud of ourselves because we tried. For sure, this game will allow us to grow.”Oregon football’s seniors aim for redemption from 3 straight losses to Washington
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We needed it – Pep Guardiola relieved to end Man City’s winless runPurdy spent the bulk of the session of Wednesday's practice open to reporters as either a spectator or executing handoffs outside of one short pass to Jordan Mason. Purdy hurt his shoulder during a loss to Seattle on Nov. 17. He tried to throw at practice last Thursday but had soreness in his right shoulder and shut it down. He missed a loss to Green Bay but was able to do some light throwing on Monday. His status for this week remains in doubt as the Niners (5-6) prepare to visit Buffalo on Sunday night. Purdy isn't the only key player for San Francisco dealing with injuries. Left tackle Trent Williams and defensive end Nick Bosa remain sidelined at practice Wednesday after missing last week's game. Williams was using a scooter to get around the locker room as he deals with a left ankle injury. Bosa has been out with injuries to his left hip and oblique. Bosa said the week off helped him make progress and that he hopes to be able to take part in individual drills later in the week. Bosa wouldn't rule out being able to play on Sunday. "It’s feeling a lot better,” Bosa said. “Still need to get better before I’m ready to go. This week will be big and I’ll know a lot more in the next couple of days.” Running back Christian McCaffrey has been able to play, but isn't back to the form that helped him win AP Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 after missing the first eight games this season with Achilles tendinitis. McCaffrey has 149 yards rushing in three games back with his 3.5 yards per carry down significantly from last season's mark of 5.4. But he is confident he will be able to get back to his usual level of play. “When you lose and maybe you don’t jump out on the stat sheet, your failures are highlighted,” he said. “I’m happy I’m out here playing football and I just know with time it will come.” Coach Kyle Shanahan said he has liked what he has seen from McCaffrey, adding that there hasn't been much room to run in recent weeks. But Shanahan said it takes time to get back to speed after McCaffrey had almost no practice time for nine months. “Guys who miss offseasons and miss training camp, usually it takes them a little bit of time at the beginning of the year to get back into how they were the year before, let alone missing half the season also on top of that,” Shanahan said. “I think Christian’s doing a hell of a job. But to just think him coming back in Week 8 with not being able to do anything for the last nine months or whatever it is, and to think he’s just going to be in MVP form is a very unrealistic expectation.” NOTES: LB Dre Greenlaw took part in his first practice since tearing his Achilles tendon in the Super Bowl. Greenlaw will likely need a couple of weeks of practice before being able to play. ... LB Fred Warner said he has been dealing with a fracture in his ankle since Week 4 and is doing his best to manage the pain as he plays through it. ... CB Deommodore Lenoir didn't practice after banging knees on Sunday. His status for this week remains in question. ... DT Jordan Elliott (concussion), OL Aaron Banks (concussion) and LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (knee) also didn't practice. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
We needed it – Pep Guardiola relieved to end Man City’s winless runFrom road closures, power outages, weather declarations and nonstop shoveling, Muskoka residents were faced with nearly a metre of persistent snowfall this weekend. According to Environment Canada, storm accumulations reached 140 centimetres of snow in Gravenhurst and 125 centimetres in Bracebridge. Near-whiteout conditions near Orillia Ont., on Sat., Nov. 30, 2024 (CTV News/David Sullivan) The heavy snowfall led to the closure of Highway 11 in both directions between Orillia and Huntsville on Saturday, with the closure persisting through to Monday morning. OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said police expect the northbound lanes along Highway 11 to reopen around noon Monday from West Street in Orillia to Highway 60 in Huntsville. "There will be limited access. Not every exit and entrance will be open in that stretch," he explained. Except for Luigi Road, all ramps are cleared. Schmidt noted southbound lanes are expected to reopen sometime in the afternoon. Additionally, a dozen trucks were trapped on Country Road 6 in Cooper's Falls near Washago Monday morning. Near-whiteout conditions near Orillia Ont., on Sat., Nov. 30, 2024 (CTV News/David Sullivan) Emergency crews and motorists confirmed to CTV News that hundreds of vehicles were stranded without food or water, some for nearly 30 hours. On Saturday, fire crews helped bring motorists to Gravenhurst Town Hall via side-by-side transports for access to generators amid power outages.Lakeland Power and Elexicon Energy – the respective suppliers of electricity for Bracebridge and Gravenhurst – and Hydro One all indicated via their outage maps that tens of thousands of customers were without power on Saturday. The Town of Gravenhurst declared a state of emergency on Sunday after the District Municipality of Muskoka had declared a ‘Significant Weather Event’ on Saturday. Premier Doug Ford posted to social media Monday morning stating the province was working closely with authorities in Gravenhurst and across Muskoka to ensure they have everything they need. “Provincial resources are on hand and more are en route to help where needed. I’m relieved that there are no injuries or fatalities reported.” Ford encouraged residents to stay home until power is restored and roads and highways are safely reopened. Drivers who are low on fuel are advised to find a safe place to park until they can safely access a gas station, or until fuel can be brought to them. OPP add that locals should only dial 911 for life-threatening situations and should contact the non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122 for all other situations.