A stroke changed a teacher’s life. How a new electrical device is helping her moveMan City crisis continues as Feyenoord come from three down to drawNone
NoneKeros Therapeutics Stock: A Deep Dive Into Analyst Perspectives (4 Ratings)
Vikings place LB Ivan Pace on injured reserve and sign LB Jamin Davis off Packers practice squadBuccaneers looking to beat NFC South-rival Panthers and bolster hopes for a playoff berth TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — This isn’t a week when coach Todd Bowles feels he needs to find the right words to ensure his Tampa Bay Buccaneers are motivated to face the last-place Carolina Panthers. Fred Goodall, The Associated Press Dec 26, 2024 3:47 PM Dec 26, 2024 4:05 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) prepares to throw a pass in the second half of an NFL football game agianst the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — This isn’t a week when coach Todd Bowles feels he needs to find the right words to ensure his Tampa Bay Buccaneers are motivated to face the last-place Carolina Panthers. The Bucs (8-7) have won eight of the last nine meetings between the NFC South rivals, including the past three with Baker Mayfield at quarterback. It hasn’t exactly been smoothly sailing against the Panthers (4-11), though, for the three-time defending division champions. And, with at least a share of first place on the line Sunday, Bowles and his players say they are focused solely on rebounding from last week’s disappointing loss to the Dallas Cowboys. “We know it’s going to be a tough ballgame. It went overtime last time. They’re coached very well; they play very hard,” Bowles said, referencing Tampa Bay’s 26-23 win at Carolina on Dec. 1. “We know what’s at stake for us. It doesn’t need to be talked about. Everybody understands that,” Bowles added. “We’ve got to clean up our own mistakes, and we’ve got to play an error-free football game.” The Bucs are tied with Atlanta for the best record in the NFC South, however the Falcons (8-7) hold the tiebreaker after sweeping the season series between the teams. To claim a fourth straight division title, Tampa Bay needs to win remaining home games against the Panthers and New Orleans Saints while Atlanta loses at least once in the last two weeks of the regular season. If the Falcons hold on to win the South, the Bucs can earn a wild-card playoff berth if they win out and the Washington Commanders lose twice. Mayfield, who has resurrected his career since being released by Carolina two years ago, summed up the attitude in a resilient locker room. The Bucs have won four of five games following a four-game losing streak threatened their playoff hopes. “I keep saying it, this team has the mental makeup of a great team. We just have to continue to fight and find ways to win,” the quarterback said. “If we don’t take of business, we won’t be in the playoffs.” Chuba’s revenge Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard cost his team the game four weeks ago against Tampa Bay when he fumbled on the second possession of overtime just after Carolina had reached field goal range. Mayfield responded by leading the Bucs back down the field for the winning field goal. The loss was devastating for Hubbard at the time, but he promised himself when the opportunity arose again he’d make the most of it. He did that this past Sunday, when he carried twice for 49 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown run in which he broke two tackles, in overtime to lift the Panthers to a 36-30 win over Arizona, knocking the Cardinals out of the playoff hunt. “I’d let it go, but it’s definitely been in the back of my head a little bit,” Hubbard said. “Like I said, when the next opportunity came, I told myself I’m going to get it back for them. To be able to have them trust me in that opportunity again, and to have it in that way is a blessing from God.” Young’s development Bryce Young has shown solid progress in his decision making, particularly when the pocket begins to break down. Last week, the second-year QB ran for a career-best 68 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown. Young was benched after two games this season, but since returning to the lineup has played better, restoring some faith that perhaps the No. 1 overall pick in 2023 can be the team’s quarterback of the future. “Just time in the system and time as a team for us to come together,” Young said of why he has improved. “For me, being able to get reps, and get time with everyone. It’s just all of us being able to feed off of each other, and it’s been able to allow us to turn in the right direction.” Awful vs. the run The Panthers have been abysmal against the run, allowing nearly 200 yards per game on the ground over the last seven games. In the last meeting with Tampa Bay, Bucky Irving ran for a career-high 152 yards and a touchdown, so Carolina’s defense has a good idea of what's coming Sunday. Close calls Mayfield has beaten Carolina three times since joining the Bucs in 2023. All of the meetings have been close, though, with the Panthers losing twice by three points and Tampa Bay settling for three field goals in a 9-0 regular season-ending victory that clinched its third straight NFC South championship last January. “We know them well. They know us well,” Mayfield said. ___ AP Sports Writer Steve Reed in Charlotte, North Carolina, contributed to this report. ___ NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Fred Goodall, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Football (NFL) The hapless Giants will have one last chance to win at home when the Colts visit Sunday Dec 26, 2024 4:25 PM Titans WR Calvin Ridley wants to 'chirp' in his return to Jacksonville to face his former team Dec 26, 2024 4:24 PM Dolphins are on the outside of AFC playoffs and need help and a win over Browns to have any chance Dec 26, 2024 4:14 PM
Luke Williams feels Swansea ‘lost grip’ on game despite sealing victory at Derby
New York Emerging Technology Advisory Board Publishes First Report Outlining Vision to Elevate Leadership in AI
On Dec. 11, President-elect Donald Trump announced in a Truth Social post that he has tapped Kari Lake to serve as the next director of Voice of America. Lake was a television news anchor in Phoenix for nearly three decades until she left in 2021 after making a series of controversial statements on social media, including sharing COVID-19 misinformation during the pandemic. She launched her political career a short time later, quickly building a following and national profile as she sparred with journalists and echoed Trump in her sharp criticism of what she called the “fake news.” She ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for Arizona governor in 2022 and Arizona Senator in 2024. After Trump’s announcement, many people on social media claimed they’d never heard of Voice of America before. Others asked if Trump created a new organization and position just for Lake. Recent search trends also show that “What is Voice of America?” is spiking online. Is Voice of America a new government organization? No, Voice of America is not a new government organization. Sign up for the VERIFY Fast Facts daily Newsletter! Voice of America is not new. It’s a U.S. government-funded international multimedia news organization that was founded in the 1940s. Voice of America started in 1942 as a radio broadcaster to “combat Nazi propaganda with accurate and unbiased news and information.” Congress funds the organization through the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which is a federal agency that oversees all non-military U.S. international broadcasting. Congress passed a law establishing the organization in 1976. According to Voice of America’s congressional charter , the organization is required to present objective, independent news and information to international audiences. These are the principles that govern all Voice of America broadcasts: Since it was founded more than 80 years ago, Voice of America has expanded to online, social and television platforms to share U.S. policy-centric content around the world. The organization currently broadcasts to an estimated weekly global audience of more than 354 million people in nearly 50 languages. Although Trump says he wants Lake to lead Voice of America, that role is actually appointed by the head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which is a position appointed by the president that requires congressional confirmation. Trump said on Dec. 11 that he plans to announce his nomination for the head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media soon. The Associated Press contributed to this report .GOING AGAINST NO. 2 Acting Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Director Col. Melecio Buslig (center) accompanies QCPD medical and dental unit chief Lt. Col. Van Jason Villamor (left) in filing a complaint on Wednesday against Vice President Sara Duterte and her staff for direct assault during last weekend’s tensions at the Batasang Pambansa and Veterans Memorial Medical Center. —Niño Jesus Orbeta MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on Wednesday filed the first criminal complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte that stemmed from her outbursts over the weekend in her attempt to prevent the transfer of her top aide from detention at the House of Representatives to the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW). The QCPD accused Duterte, the chief of her security unit and several of her bodyguards of direct assault, disobedience and grave coercion during a commotion past midnight last Saturday as the police were preparing to move Duterte’s chief of staff Zuleika Lopez to the St. Lukes Medical Center from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC). Armed forces Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Wednesday said he had ordered the replacement of Duterte’s security chief and the military personnel who are members of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG). READ: Sara Duterte blocks execution of House order on Lopez detention change The main complainant in the case, Dr. Van Jason Villamor of the Philippine National Police Health Service, accompanied by his witnesses and officers from the QCPD, filed the charges before Asst. City Prosecutor Rommel Delos Reyes of Quezon City. Villamor is a police lieutenant colonel. Villamor accused Army Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, commander of the VPSPG and unidentified Duterte bodyguards, of shoving him at the VMMC after Lopez was carried into an ambulance. PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil had written Brawner to get the identities of other members of the VPSPG who were involved in the transfer of Lopez. “In a video that surfaced, VPSPG head, Colonel Raymund Dante Lachica, was seen physically pushing and assaulting the PNP doctor-in-charge, which could lead to a direct assault complaint,” Marbil said in his letter. Lopez was ordered detained last week by the House committee on good government and public accountability after being cited in contempt for “undue interference” in the House inquiry into the alleged misuse of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education when Duterte was the education secretary. Lopez, 50, was brought to the VMMC as she suffered a panic attack late Friday after House security officers informed her that the good government panel had decided to move her to the CIW so that Duterte would no longer need to keep her company at the House. Lopez refused to leave her detention cell and later called an online press conference detailing the House’s plan, tearfully saying that she feared for her life and didn’t want to be detained at the correctional institution as she wasn’t criminally accused. Duterte, who occupied the office of her brother, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, to be close to Lopez during detention, came to her rescue and announced that she was acting as her lawyer and stopped her aide’s transfer to the CIW. PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said Villamor, who is assigned to the QCPD, was instructed to assist in the transfer of Lopez. “But Col. Lachica pushed him and we cannot let that pass,” she said in a press briefing. Lachica’s actions “obviously can qualify to a case of direct assault” since he laid his hands on “agents of a person of authority whose presence there is by virtue of his performance of his official duty,” Fajardo said. Marbil said the filing of the complaint marked “a crucial step in the legal process” and vowed that the PNP will continue to uphold its duty to serve with integrity and professionalism. “The PNP continues to prioritize the rule of law and will fully cooperate with the ongoing legal proceedings to ensure transparency and accountability,” he said. Villamor was wearing his police uniform, not a doctor’s garb, when the alleged shoving happened. He declined to give details of his complaint to reporters after he emerged from the prosecutor’s office on Wednesday. Duterte herself is under investigation after taking over from Lopez’s press conference, including her profanity-laden rants and especially her disclosure that she had contracted an assassin to kill President Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. She said her instruction was to kill the three if an alleged plot to kill her succeeds, adding that her “revenge from the grave” was “no joke.” It was the strongest blow she has made that finally shattered the once formidable alliance between the Duterte and Marcos political clans. Fajardo said the PNP had deployed 25 police officers to the VPSPG on Tuesday following a request from the AFP to augment Duterte’s security. “I think this was triggered by the possible recall of some of the AFP personnel under detail of the VPSPG as a result of what happened last Saturday,” she said. Marbil redeployed 75 police officers who were assigned to the OVP’s security force to various posts in Metro Manila in July because he said the PNP was short staffed and there was no threat to Duterte. He said at the time that securing the Vice President is mainly the job of the Presidential Security Command, a military unit and that the police were only there to augment. Brawner said he would “temporarily replace” the troops assigned to the VPSPG. Speaking at a military leadership summit at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Brawner said Lachica and other VPSPG personnel would be replaced with a contingent from the AFP and the PNP. He said the AFP received a subpoena from the PNP calling the members of the VPSPG to an investigation. “So, we decided to follow the subpoena of the Philippine National Police so that they could shed light on the investigation,” he added. Brawner said they have yet to determine the total number of VPSPG members who would be replaced. But he assured the vice president that she would not be left without a security detail, citing that her security “is still of primary concern to us.” “Because if something happens to the vice president, this could be the beginning of chaos because of her statement that if something happens to her, she will do some actions to take against the President, First Lady and House Speaker,” he said. According to him, some groups could take advantage and harm the vice president and “accuse someone and that could cause chaos.” “So, we will not allow that, we will not allow that. That is why we will protect our vice president,” he added. In Davao City, the Davao regional police brushed aside insinuations that politics was behind the decision to reassign 65 officers from Region 11 to various posts in Luzon. Police Maj. Catherine Dela Rey, the regional police spokesperson, told reporters on Wednesday that the order to uproot the officers of various ranks from the region was a decision taken by the national police command and just coincided with the eruption of the political tensions between the Marcos administration and the Vice President. The Vice President’s security force was created at Duterte’s request days before she officially took office on June 30, 2022. She said the creation of the VPSPG highlighted the importance of “having an independent group” that would provide security and protection to the country’s vice presidents. Duterte said she made the request in anticipation of “future elections” and the possibility of “strained relations” between the president and vice president. Previously, the PSC, which was called the Presidential Security Group, provides protection and escort for the president, vice president and their immediate families, and for visiting dignitaries. After her resignation from the Marcos Cabinet took effect in July 2024, the VPSPG had around 400 members. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Former Vice President Leni Robredo only had 83 security men assigned to her, down from 108 when she took office in 2016, according to her former spokesperson Barry Gutierrez. —with reports from Nestor Corrales, Joselle R. Badilla and Inquirer Research
Protests in the streets, turmoil at City Hall, corruption trials galore, historically bad baseball and a massive influx of buzzing arthropods unlike any seen since the 1800s. No wonder so many Chicagoans sought peace at the sidewalk altar of a once-airborne rodent that imprinted itself into a slab of concrete — and into the city’s heart. In a year that had the national spotlight squared on Chicago, the Sun-Times saw it all. Here’s how we’ll remember 2024. Chicago shines for DNC Even Chicago’s famously mercurial weather cooperated through all four days of the Democratic National Convention , which went off without a hitch despite weeks of intraparty uncertainty heading into the spectacle. Mayor Brandon Johnson earned high marks for shepherding a smooth week for thousands of delegates and media from around the world, while Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling enjoyed rave reviews for keeping a reasonable lid on massive protests that mostly focused on the war in Gaza. The made-for-TV pep rally took on heightened excitement following President Joe Biden’s late withdrawal from the race, while some local flair was injected into the national conversation. The party’s new nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, vetted Gov. JB Pritzker as her potential running mate . Pritzker fell short of the ticket and Harris fell short of the White House, leaving Democrats scratching their heads — just like some local business owners, who felt left out of the convention’s much ballyhooed economic boost . Brandon Johnson’s sophomore slump The DNC provided a rare highlight for the first-term mayor, who could warrant his own top-10 list for bad news cycles in 2024. Fault lines started showing early in the year when voters rejected Johnson’s Bring Chicago Home referendum, nixing higher taxes on expensive real estate transactions — money that would have been used to help shelter the city’s unhoused population — and delivering the first major roadblock to his progressive agenda. Johnson saw his City Council support erode as he moved to shut down the city’s controversial ShotSpotter gunshot detection system, and again when he had to defend elevating a top aide with “a history of calling the police “f---ing pigs.” A revolving door on the fifth floor of City Hall included Johnson’s firing of a longtime confidant and spokesman accused of sexual harassment and antisemitism. And don’t forget Johnson’s pick for school board president who lasted all of one week before a troubling history of social media posts — inexplicably missed by Johnson’s office during the hiring process — led to a swift ouster . The political chaos came to a crescendo late in the year as an emboldened Council, by a stunning 50-0 vote, shot down the $300 million property tax hike Johnson had included in his proposed 2025 budget — breaking a campaign promise not to raise them. After a series of budget concessions, Johnson scrapped any property tax hike to win Council approval for a budget that relies heavily on one-time revenues and nickel-and-dime fee increases. Meanwhile, Johnson worked for months to force Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez out of his post , installing an entire school board that voted Dec. 21 to fire him — before the city’s first-ever elected board members had a chance to weigh in. The move raised fresh questions about the overwhelming influence of the Chicago Teachers Union. Preparing for Trump’s return Donald Trump’s resounding victory to retake the White House put officials on notice in Democratic-dominated Illinois, where the Republican president-elect saw a marginal uptick in voter support . Advocates for Illinois’ thousands of undocumented residents braced for the wave of legal questions raised by Trump’s promise of mass deportations, as the incoming administration’s border czar declared Chicago ground zero immigration enforcement raids. The city’s LGBTQ community grappled with similar concerns about the effect of a second Trump term on marriage and parental rights , while health care providers prepared for Illinois to take on an even greater role as the Midwest’s main island of abortion rights . Officials also raced to lock up key federal transit funding for an extension of the CTA Red Line, the type of assistance from Washington that Democrats say Trump may be keen on withholding from the city that has served as his preferred political punching bag. Landmark corruption cases One multi-generational poster boy of Chicago politics saw his federal corruption case come to a head while the fate of another hung in the balance to close out 2024. Ed Burke reported to a downstate prison to begin serving his two-year sentence for racketeering, bribery and attempted extortion convictions , tied to the longtime 14th Ward alderman’s strong-arming of developers to hire his private law firm. Mike Madigan spent weeks in a courtroom listening to federal prosecutors map out his sprawling web of influence as speaker of the Illinois House for jurors who will soon be tasked with deciding if Madigan wielded it to squeeze companies for payments to his political cronies. Natural wonders Cicadas and tornadoes and geomagnetic storms, oh my! Mother Nature kept things interesting for Chicagoans with the first dual-emergence of periodical broods of cicadas in more than 200 years, inundating some parts of the area with the very noisy , mostly harmless and debatably tasty insects. They crawled out of the ground shortly after the latest solar eclipse bedazzled the Midwest, drawing thousands of people to the path of totality that just narrowly missed the city. Some of the freshly unearthed cicadas were still around for the first in a series of rare aurora borealis displays powered by intense solar storms, igniting the northern lights over Lake Michigan even downtown. But the natural marvels weren’t all friendly. Thirty-one Chicago-area tornadoes in July set a new record as more frequent bouts of heavy rain and flooding provided a sobering reminder of the looming impacts of climate change. Up-and-down year for CPD It was a mixed bag for Snelling in his first full year at the helm of the Chicago Police Department. Overseeing a seamless DNC earned the freshman superintendent a growing drumbeat of support from Council members across the political spectrum, especially with his department on pace for fewer than 600 homicides , the lowest yearly toll since before the COVID-19 pandemic. But the killing of 26-year-old Dexter Reed in a hail of 96 bullets during a traffic stop raised new questions about the use of force in the ranks, and a federal monitor last month reminded officials that the department is far behind in its long-running reform effort, reaching full compliance with just 9% of the steps laid out in a consent decree . Domestic violence questions Horrific murder cases put officials’ handling of domestic violence under the microscope, highlighting issues that advocates say have persisted for decades. After 11-year-old Jayden Perkins was killed while defending his mother from an ex-boyfriend who’d been released on parole a day earlier, Gov. Pritzker pushed out two Illinois Prisoner Review Board members and tried to bolster that panel’s domestic violence training . Dozens of elected officials have joined a chorus calling for the reassignment of the Cook County judge who could’ve detained a man before he allegedly killed his wife, Lacramioara Beldie , in Portage Park. Advocates say there has been a spike in such attacks in the past year , increasing the lawmakers’ urgency to pass long-stalled legislation that would require law enforcement to promptly remove firearms while serving orders of protection. Ebb in new arrivals of asylum seekers The influx of thousands of migrants from the southern border that once overwhelmed the city’s social safety net slowed to a trickle under tighter Biden administration deportation policies, ending months of acrimony over city spending that highlighted racial divides in Chicago. Concerns over Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sending busloads of migrants to Chicago to embarrass the city during the DNC never materialized. By year’s end the city had closed its migrant landing zone completely as it merged shelter systems for newly arrived asylum seekers and homeless people who have long lived on Chicago’s streets and in its alleys, parks and viaducts. Chicago teams struggle inside and outside the stadium White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf threw his hat in the public financing ring with a splashy pitch for a new South Loop ballpark , but got shut out by state lawmakers who have rejected giving a dime to either them or the Bears — who rolled out their own renderings of a shiny new lakeside dome . That sent the McCaskeys back to the drawing board to consider the old Michael Reese Hospital site, or Arlington Heights, where the team finally reached a property tax deal with local school districts that could grease their suburban wheels. Neither team helped make their case on the field, either, with a pitiful Sox lineup recording the worst season in modern Major League Baseball history and the Bears firing a coach midseason for the first time while squandering what was supposed to be a competitive rookie season for quarterback Caleb Williams , who was drafted first overall in April. Rat hole Rat hole ( noun ) — rodent-shaped imprint on a Roscoe Village sidewalk that drew hordes of curious onlookers for several months in 2024 to the glee of Chicago social media users and chagrin of neighborhood residents. The latest entry into the Chicago lexicon was inscribed in January when photos of the four-legged sidewalk stamp — which some argue was actually left by a squirrel — went viral online, drawing tourists to the 1900 block of West Roscoe with offerings of coins, and prompting at least one couple to tie the knot . The city removed (but preserved) the pseudo-sacred sidewalk in April at the request of nearby residents none too pleased with round-the-clock foot traffic. What’s next for the rat hole? We’ll see in 2025. Other major 2024 stories CTA President Dorval Carter ’s seat got hotter as head of a transit agency beset by long wait times, understaffing and looming budget crises. The city mourned Chicago police officers Luis Huesca and Enrique Martinez , killed on duty in separate shootings. Tipped workers saw their minimum base wages increase en route to eventual parity with the standard minimum wage, in a win for Mayor Johnson and his progressive allies and a loss for restaurant owners . Plans moved forward to transform the long-vacant U.S. Steel South Works into a sprawling quantum computing campus as Illinois positions itself as the Silicon Valley of the nascent technology. Hackers stole the personal data of more than 800,000 people in a cyberattack on the Lurie Children’s Hospital network, causing months of headaches for patients and their families. Chicago rap star Lil Durk was charged in a California murder-for-hire plot. The Illinois Supreme Court overturned actor Jussie Smollett ’s conviction for staging a hate crime, sparing him five months’ jail time. And Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard’s south suburban media circus played on, with federal investigators circling her push for no-bid contracts to a construction company linked to multiple corruption investigations, among other questionable spending.Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment on Thursday took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military later said it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. An uneasy calm settles over Syrian city of Homs after outbreak of sectarian violence HOMS, Syria (AP) — Syria’s new security forces checked IDs and searched cars in the central city of Homs a day after protests by members of the Alawite minority erupted in gunfire and stirred fears that the country’s fragile peace could break down. A tense calm prevailed Thursday after checkpoints were set up throughout the country’s third-largest city, which has a mixed population of Sunni and Shia Muslims, Alawites and Christians. The security forces are controlled by the former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led the charge that unseated former President Bashar Assad. The US says it pushed retraction of a famine warning for north Gaza. Aid groups express concern. WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say they asked for — and got — the retraction of an independent monitor's warning of imminent famine in north Gaza. The internationally Famine Early Warning System Network issued the warning this week. The new report had warned that starvation deaths in north Gaza could reach famine levels as soon as next month. It cited what it called Israel's “near-total blockade” of food and water. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, criticized the finding as inaccurate and irresponsible. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the famine-monitoring group, told the AP it had asked for and gotten the report's retraction. USAID officials tell The Associated Press that it had asked the group for greater review of discrepancies in some of the data. Powerful thunderstorms rumble across Texas, delaying holiday travel DALLAS (AP) — Severe thunderstorms are firing up in parts of Texas and could trigger high winds, hail and potential tornadoes. More than 100 flights were delayed and dozens more were canceled Thursday at airports in Dallas and Houston. The National Weather Service says the greatest weather risk stretched from just east of Dallas, and between Houston and portions of southern Arkansas and western Louisiana. The risk includes the possibility of tornadoes, wind gusts between 60 and 80 miles per hour and large hail. The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for several counties in southeast Texas, including the Houston area. Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans in Congress plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. They want to push through long-sought changes such as voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections. That's after an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Democrats say they are willing to work with the GOP but want any changes to make it easier, not harder, to vote. Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they're tuning out NEW YORK (AP) — A lot of Americans, after an intense presidential election campaign, are looking for a break in political news. That's evident in cable television news ratings and a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they've found the need recently to cut down on their consumption of political and government news. That's particularly true among Democrats following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, although a significant number of Republicans and independents feel the same way. Cable networks MSNBC and CNN are really seeing a slump. That's also happened in years past for networks that particularly appeal to supporters of one candidate. Aviation experts say Russia's air defense fire likely caused Azerbaijan plane crash as nation mourns Aviation experts say that Russian air defense fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured. Azerbaijan is observing a nationwide day of mourning on Thursday for the victims of the crash. Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons yet unclear and crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan. Cellphone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball. Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy battlefield losses KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy losses in Russia's Kursk region and face logistical difficulties as a result of Ukrainian attacks. The intelligence agency said Thursday that Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units. Ukraine's president said earlier this week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in the Kursk region. It marked the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties several weeks after Kyiv announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. Ex-Sen. Bob Menendez, citing 'emotional toll,' seeks sentencing delay in wake of wife's trial NEW YORK (AP) — Former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez is asking a federal judge to delay his end-of-January sentencing on bribery charges, saying his family would suffer a “tremendous emotional toll” if the New Jersey Democrat was sentenced during his wife's trial. His lawyers told Judge Sidney H. Stein in a letter that Nadine Menendez would face a jury that might find it impossible not to hear about her husband's sentencing if it occurred eight days into her trial. The 70-year-old Menendez was convicted in July of 16 charges, including bribery. His wife, whose trial was postponed when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, faces much of the same evidence as her husband. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze.St. Petersburg council approves $23M repair to hurricane-ravaged Tropicana Field roof
A stock split is a corporate action where a company issues additionalshares to shareholders, increasing the total number of shares while reducingthe share price proportionally. This process does not alter the company’smarket capitalization but can affect investor perception and participation.Hearing Stock Splits for the first time? Choose investment education to learnmore! The bitindexai.top/ can help you to connect with education firms. Types of StockSplits Forward Stock Splits In a forward stock split, acompany issues more shares to existing shareholders based on a specified ratio.For example, in a 2-for-1 split, shareholders receive two shares for everyshare they own. This lowers the share price, making it more affordable for awider range of investors. Reverse Stock Splits Conversely, a reverse stocksplit consolidates shares to increase the share price. For instance, in a1-for-10 reverse split, ten shares are consolidated into one, increasing theshare price tenfold. This is often done to boost the stock price and meet minimumlisting requirements. Historical Contextand Trends Evolution of Stock Splits Historically, stock splitshave been used by companies to manage share prices and liquidity. In the early20th century, splits were more common as companies aimed to keep share priceswithin an attractive range for investors. Impact of Technology andGlobalization With advancements intechnology and the rise of global trading platforms, the frequency and natureof stock splits have evolved. Today, stock splits are less common but still astrategic tool for companies looking to enhance their market presence. Reasons for StockSplits Improving Liquidity One primary reason for astock split is to enhance liquidity. By increasing the number of shares andlowering the price per share, trading becomes more active. This improvedliquidity can attract institutional and retail investors. Attracting Retail Investors A lower share pricepost-split can make stocks more attractive to individual investors. Thepsychological appeal of purchasing more shares at a lower price oftenstimulates investor interest and participation. Signal of Company Health A stock split can signalconfidence in a company's future performance. Companies typically split theirstock after a sustained period of growth, suggesting to investors that theyanticipate continued success. The Mechanics of aStock Split Process and Calculation During a stock split, thecompany determines a split ratio, such as 3-for-1. If a shareholder owns 100shares before the split, they will own 300 shares post-split. The share priceadjusts accordingly to reflect this change, so if the pre-split price was $300,the post-split price would be $100. Impact on Share Price and MarketCapitalization While the stock pricedecreases, the overall market capitalization remains unchanged. For example, a$1 billion market cap company with 1 million shares trading at $1,000 per sharewould have the same market cap if it performed a 2-for-1 split, resulting in 2million shares trading at $500 each. Investor Perceptionand Behavior Psychological Effects Stock splits often influenceinvestor psychology. Lower share prices can create a sense of affordability andaccessibility, which may lead to increased buying activity. This psychologicalboost can enhance investor participation in the market. Market Reaction Market reactions to stocksplits can vary. Typically, there is a short-term increase in trading volumeand volatility. However, long-term effects depend on the company’s performanceand market conditions. Investors often view splits as a positive indicator,though the actual impact on stock performance may be limited. Pros and Cons of Stock Splits Advantages for Companies For companies, stock splitscan enhance liquidity, attract more investors, and maintain a desirable shareprice. This can improve marketability and support capital-raising efforts.Additionally, a split can be a strategic move to align share prices with investorexpectations. Disadvantages and Criticisms On the downside, stock splitscan lead to short-term volatility and market speculation. Critics argue thatsplits are often used to mask underlying issues or as a marketing tool ratherthan addressing fundamental business challenges. Regulatory andCompliance Considerations Regulatory Requirements Stock splits are regulated byfinancial authorities, such as the SEC in the United States. Companies mustprovide detailed disclosures about the split, including the rationale andimpact on shareholders. Compliance ensures transparency and protects investorinterests. Impact on Financial Statements Financial statements must beadjusted to reflect stock splits. Companies need to update their earnings pershare (EPS) calculations and other financial metrics to maintain accuracy andconsistency for investors. Future of StockSplits Trends and Innovations The future of stock splitsmay involve innovations such as more flexible split ratios or integratedtechnology solutions to streamline the process. Companies might also explorealternative strategies, like share buybacks or dividend payments, to achieve similargoals. Alternative Strategies Instead of traditional stocksplits, companies are increasingly using share buybacks to manage stock pricesand enhance shareholder value. These strategies offer alternative ways toachieve desired market outcomes without altering the share structure. Stock splits remain a significant tool for companies seeking to boostinvestor participation and manage share prices. While they offer variousbenefits, including improved liquidity and enhanced market appeal, they alsocome with potential drawbacks and complexities. Understanding the mechanics andimplications of stock splits helps investors make informed decisions and betternavigate market dynamics.Vikings thrive under coach of year favorite O'Connell, a relatable state for Packers with LaFleurPrairie premiers urge action on security amid Trump’s tariff threatsFormer US President Donald Trump's reentry into the political scene has reignited controversy surrounding H-1B visas , a long-contentious issue in American labor and immigration policy. The debate has drawn fresh attention, particularly towards Sriram Krishnan, an India-born venture capitalist and newly appointed senior policy advisor for artificial intelligence in Trump's camp. Critics accuse Krishnan and similar figures of prioritizing immigration policies that allegedly displace American workers. ET Year-end Special Reads Two sectors that rose on India's business horizon in 2024 2025 outlook: Is it time for cautious optimism or rekindling animal spirits? 2024: Govt moves ahead with simultaneous polls plan; India holds largest democratic exercise The criticisms against H-1B visas primarily hinge on three points: Perception of Cheap Labor: Critics argue that H-1B workers undercut wages for Americans. However, official data contradicts this narrative. Employers are mandated to pay H-1B holders either the prevailing wage or the actual wage paid to comparable U.S. workers. In 2023, the average annual H-1B salary for computer-related occupations was $132,000, with a median of $122,000. Job Displacement Concerns: Some claim H-1B immigrants, particularly Indians, dominate American jobs. Yet, in FY 2024, only 7,299 H-1B petitions were approved for Indian-based companies, representing a mere 0.004% of the U.S. civilian workforce. The annual H-1B cap accounts for just 0.05% of the U.S. labor force. Administrative "Infiltration": Critics also allege that Indian-origin professionals are influencing U.S. policies to favor their own. However, Indian IT firms have significantly reduced their reliance on H-1B visas, cutting usage by 56% between 2015 and 2023. Shifting H-1B trends The H-1B visa process, already a complex route for companies seeking skilled foreign workers, has become increasingly challenging due to significant cost hikes and regulatory changes. These shifts are impacting both the volume of applications and the overall feasibility for businesses. Key changes in H-1B fees (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Registration Fee: Increased by a staggering 2050%, rising from $10 to $215. Application Fee: Jumped by 70%, from $460 to $780. Additional Asylum Fee: A $600 surcharge has been introduced, further burdening applicants. In total, companies now face approximately $34,000 in legal and government fees for each initial or extended H-1B visa petition. This sharp rise in expenses is prompting many businesses to reconsider their reliance on the program. Artificial Intelligence(AI) Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrows Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program You Might Also Like: H-1B visa overhaul gets White House nod, providing big relief for international students, entrepreneurs The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has also tightened its measures to combat fraudulent applications. As a result, eligible registrations for H-1B visas dropped by nearly 40%, from 758,994 in FY 2024 to 470,342 in FY 2025. While these changes aim to ensure integrity in the visa process, they have added new layers of difficulty for companies seeking to hire global talent. Denial rates for H-1B applications spiked during Trump’s first term due to restrictive policies, peaking at 24% in FY 2018. However, recent years have seen approval rates improve, with a denial rate of just 2.5% in FY 2024. Despite criticism, the data highlights the continued importance of H-1B workers in meeting America's tech talent shortage . The U.S. produces approximately 160,000 computer science graduates annually, while software job openings exceed 360,000, often offering salaries well above the national average. Even with H-1B contributions, domestic talent falls short of fulfilling demand. Tech leaders and policymakers argue that H-1B professionals are vital for innovation and economic growth in the U.S. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, underscored the shortage of skilled engineers, saying, "Immigrants are responsible for 36% of aggregate innovation in the US." You Might Also Like: These companies are the biggest winners in US H-1B visa draws Congressman Ro Khanna emphasized that attracting global talent is a hallmark of American exceptionalism. Similarly, Andrew Ng, co-founder of Coursera, called for easing high-skill immigration , noting, "Immigrants create more jobs than they take."
University system sets enrollment recordArmed man tackled by police after showing up at Sky Harbor airport after shooting
Vikings thrive under coach of year favorite O'Connell, a relatable state for Packers with LaFleur‘Don’t know if I’ve been that pumped’: Kokkinakis shines as Australia roar into Davis Cup semis after US upsetMINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell's stirring locker room tribute to his team last week at Seattle was respectfully interrupted by seven-year veteran right tackle Brian O'Neill, who flipped the script on the game ball awards by tossing one to the boss in honor of his second 13-win season in three years. The Vikings have obliterated even the most optimistic of external predictions for this transitional season, taking a sparkling 13-2 record into their matchup against the Green Bay Packers that has made O'Connell the current favorite for the NFL Coach of the Year award. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.