Sunrise, Florida; Saturday, 4 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Panthers -123, Hurricanes +103; over/under is 6.5 BOTTOM LINE: The Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes hit the ice in Eastern Conference action. Florida has gone 7-5-1 at home and 14-9-1 overall. The Panthers have a 3-0-1 record in one-goal games. Carolina has a 7-4-1 record on the road and a 16-6-1 record overall. The Hurricanes are 7-2-0 when they commit fewer penalties than their opponent. Saturday's game is the second meeting between these teams this season. The Panthers won the previous matchup 6-3. TOP PERFORMERS: Sam Bennett has 11 goals and 11 assists for the Panthers. Sam Reinhart has seven goals and four assists over the last 10 games. Jack Roslovic has 12 goals and three assists for the Hurricanes. Seth Jarvis has four goals and six assists over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Panthers: 4-6-0, averaging 3.1 goals, 5.6 assists, 4.1 penalties and 10.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game. Hurricanes: 6-3-1, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.3 assists, 2.7 penalties and 5.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game. INJURIES: Panthers: None listed. Hurricanes: None listed. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Harris: Fine Gael ‘will gain seats’ amid further fragmentation of Irish politics
NEW YORK — No ex-president had a more prolific and diverse publishing career than Jimmy Carter . His more than two dozen books included nonfiction, poetry, fiction, religious meditations and a children’s story. His memoir “An Hour Before Daylight” was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2002, while his 2006 best-seller “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” stirred a fierce debate by likening Israel’s policies in the West Bank to the brutal South African system of racial segregation. And just before his 100th birthday, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation honored him with a lifetime achievement award for how he wielded "the power of the written word to foster peace, social justice, and global understanding.” In one recent work, “A Full Life,” Carter observed that he “enjoyed writing” and that his books “provided a much-needed source of income.” But some projects were easier than others. “Everything to Gain,” a 1987 collaboration with his wife, Rosalynn, turned into the “worst threat we ever experienced in our marriage,” an intractable standoff for the facilitator of the Camp David accords and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. According to Carter, Rosalynn was a meticulous author who considered “the resulting sentences as though they have come down from Mount Sinai, carved into stone.” Their memories differed on various events and they fell into “constant arguments.” They were ready to abandon the book and return the advance, until their editor persuaded them to simply divide any disputed passages between them. “In the book, each of these paragraphs is identified by a ‘J’ or an ‘R,’ and our marriage survived,” he wrote. Here is a partial list of books by Carter: “Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President” “The Blood of Abraham: Insights into the Middle East” (With Rosalynn Carter) “Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life” “An Outdoor Journal: Adventures and Reflections” “Turning Point: A Candidate, a State, and a Nation Come of Age” “Always a Reckoning, and Other Poems” (With daughter Amy Carter) “The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer” “Living Faith” “The Virtues of Aging” “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood” “Christmas in Plains: Memories” “The Hornet’s Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War” “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis” “Faith & Freedom: The Christian Challenge for the World” “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” “A Remarkable Mother” “Beyond the White House” “We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work” “White House Diary” “NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter” “A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power” “A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety”River Street Marketplace restaurants officially open, offering something for everyone
Mumbai: The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has released the exam schedules for Maharashtra's Class 10 and 12 board exams in 2025. The Class 10 exams are slated to commence on February 21 and conclude on March 17, 2025. Similarly, the Class 12 board exams will be held from February 11 to March 11, 2025. Both the exams will be held in two shifts: first shift from 11 am to 2 pm and second shift from 3 pm to 6 pm. The number of students registered for the Maharashtra HSC exams (12th board) stands at 15,13,909, of them 7,60,046 are registered in science stream, 3,81,982 in arts, and the remaining 3,29,905 in commerce. For class 10 (SSC exams), the exams will start with the first language (Marathi, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, etc.) paper in the first shift and the second language (German and French) paper in the second shift on February 21. While Maths part-1 will be held on March 5, it’ll be followed by Maths part-2 on March 7. Science and Technology part-1 and part-2 papers will be held on March 10 and March 12 respectively, and the exams will culminate with Social Science paper-1 and paper-2 on March 15 and March 17 respectively. Some experts have welcomed the move of scheduling the exams “10 days ahead of the previous years”. “Since exams will begin 10 days in advance, naturally the results will also be declared 10 days prior to the previous years. So, those students who may fail in one or two or three subjects, they will get 10 extra days to prepare for the supplementary exams,” Mahendra Ganpule, the former president of the state’s headmasters association, told the Free Press Journal. It is worth noting that the revised State Curriculum Framework for School Education (SCF-SE) had in October proposed that even if students fail in class 10 Maths and Science papers, and they score between 20-33 (34 being the passing marks), can still take admissions in class 11 in streams that do not have these subjects in Class XI as part of the curriculum.Hurricanes visit the Panthers in Eastern Conference actionNEW YORK — No ex-president had a more prolific and diverse publishing career than Jimmy Carter . His more than two dozen books included nonfiction, poetry, fiction, religious meditations and a children’s story. His memoir “An Hour Before Daylight” was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2002, while his 2006 best-seller “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” stirred a fierce debate by likening Israel’s policies in the West Bank to the brutal South African system of racial segregation. And just before his 100th birthday, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation honored him with a lifetime achievement award for how he wielded "the power of the written word to foster peace, social justice, and global understanding.” In one recent work, “A Full Life,” Carter observed that he “enjoyed writing” and that his books “provided a much-needed source of income.” But some projects were easier than others. “Everything to Gain,” a 1987 collaboration with his wife, Rosalynn, turned into the “worst threat we ever experienced in our marriage,” an intractable standoff for the facilitator of the Camp David accords and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. According to Carter, Rosalynn was a meticulous author who considered “the resulting sentences as though they have come down from Mount Sinai, carved into stone.” Their memories differed on various events and they fell into “constant arguments.” They were ready to abandon the book and return the advance, until their editor persuaded them to simply divide any disputed passages between them. “In the book, each of these paragraphs is identified by a ‘J’ or an ‘R,’ and our marriage survived,” he wrote. Here is a partial list of books by Carter: “Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President” “The Blood of Abraham: Insights into the Middle East” (With Rosalynn Carter) “Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life” “An Outdoor Journal: Adventures and Reflections” “Turning Point: A Candidate, a State, and a Nation Come of Age” “Always a Reckoning, and Other Poems” (With daughter Amy Carter) “The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer” “Living Faith” “The Virtues of Aging” “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood” “Christmas in Plains: Memories” “The Hornet’s Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War” “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis” “Faith & Freedom: The Christian Challenge for the World” “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” “A Remarkable Mother” “Beyond the White House” “We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work” “White House Diary” “NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter” “A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power” “A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety”
(BPT) - The new year is a good time to reset. From a fresh start on lifestyle choices, hobbies or pursuits, to the less exciting — but no less important — aspects of life, like memberships, contracts and even health insurance. Health insurance deductibles reset in the new year, so it's a good idea to keep that in mind as you plan for healthcare expenses. Any changes made to your health insurance plan during open enrollment go into effect as well. "Even if you spent hours researching your health plan before making a selection, there's always a possibility for the occasional surprise once coverage kicks in, which is why it's important to assess your healthcare coverage and address any gaps before January 1," said Doug Armstrong, Vice President of Health Products and Services at AARP Services, Inc. "AARP members can take advantage of benefits available to them to help find the coverage and savings information they seek." Eye health is important to quality of life, both in terms of moving around safely and appreciating your surroundings. Regular eye exams with an ophthalmologist or optometrist can help make sure your vision is sharp while also monitoring for any issues. However, many health insurance plans don't include vision coverage. If you do see a gap in your coverage, AARP members have access to information on that offer individual and family plans, featuring a large doctor network, savings on frames, lens enhancements, progressives and more. While several health plans offer coverage for prescription drugs, discounts can vary, especially when it comes to different types of medication. can help with savings. This program offers a free prescription discount card that can be used at over 66,000 pharmacies nationwide for savings on FDA-approved medications. Additional benefits for AARP members include home delivery, deeper discounts on medications, coverage for dependents and more. With a new health insurance plan, you might find that your primary care physician is no longer in-network or that they no longer accept your insurance. Perhaps you have relocated and are in the market for a new doctor. Whatever the case, there's no time like the present to search for a new primary care physician who meets your needs. If you're on Medicare, Oak Street Health can be a great resource. The only primary care provider to carry the AARP name, provides primary care for adults on Medicare and focuses on prevention with personalized care to help keep you healthy — physically, mentally and socially. Benefits include same-day/next-day appointments where available, convenient locations, a dedicated care team and a 24/7 patient support line. AARP membership is not required to visit an Oak Street Health location. Optimal dental care includes daily brushing and flossing and a visit to the dentist every six months. During your visit, the dentist can monitor for and treat any issues, such as cavities or gum disease. However, not all plans include dental insurance, which means you might end up paying out of pocket for your cleaning and other procedures. To avoid that, take a look at your coverage. If needed, explore information on that offer individual or family coverage for the most common dental procedures. Dental insurance generally pays for regular check-ups, so many people who purchase protection will benefit from it immediately. Hearing loss is a common age-related ailment. According to the , one-third of older adults have hearing loss, and the chance of developing hearing loss increases with age. Hearing aids can be an enormous help, improving socialization, boosting confidence and even helping to increase balance. However, many insurance plans do not include coverage for hearing aids. provides savings on hearing aids and hearing care Members can save an average of $2,000 per pair on prescription hearing aids and 15% on accessories — no insurance needed. Plus receive a hearing exam and consultation at no cost and personalized support through a large nationwide network of hearing providers. Often, the only times that people consider whether their health insurance covers physical therapy is if they already participate in it or after the doctor has prescribed it. As we age, though, physical therapy can be a useful tool in improving balance or recovering from an injury or procedure to help you remain active. Fortunately, the question of coverage or finding an in-network location doesn't have to derail you. accepts most insurances and Medicare and is available to members and non-members alike. Plus, Luna's experts come to you, so you can receive quality care from the comfort of your home. If you're creating an end-of-year to-do list, consider adding an assessment of your healthcare coverage. After all, the best time to realize you have a gap in coverage is before you need it. To learn more about AARP member benefits, visit .WASHINGTON — Special counsel Jack Smith moved to abandon two criminal cases against Donald Trump on Monday, acknowledging that Trump’s return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The decision was inevitable, since longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Yet it was still a momentous finale to an unprecedented chapter in political and law enforcement history, as federal officials attempted to hold accountable a former president while he was simultaneously running for another term. Trump emerges indisputably victorious, having successfully delayed the investigations through legal maneuvers and then winning reelection despite indictments that described his actions as a threat to the country’s constitutional foundations. “I persevered, against all odds, and WON,” Trump exulted in a post on Truth Social, his social media website. He also said that “these cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought.” The judge in the election case granted prosecutors’ dismissal request. A decision in the documents case was still pending Monday evening. The outcome makes it clear that, when it comes to a president and criminal accusations, nothing supersedes the voters’ own verdict. In court filings, Smith’s team emphasized that the move to end their prosecutions was not a reflection of the merit of the cases but a recognition of the legal shield that surrounds any commander in chief. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” prosecutors said in one of their filings. They wrote that Trump’s return to the White House “sets at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: on the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law.” In this situation, “the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated,” they concluded. Smith’s team said it was leaving intact charges against two co-defendants in the classified documents case. Steven Cheung, Trump’s incoming White House communications director, said Americans “want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country.” Trump has long described the investigations as politically motivated, and he has vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. Now he will start his second term free from criminal scrutiny by the government that he will lead. The election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing Trump as he tried to reclaim the White House. He was indicted for plotting to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020, an effort that climaxed with his supporters’ violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But the case quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The U.S. Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Smith’s team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence it planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to Biden. In dismissing the case, Chutkan acknowledged prosecutors’ request to do so “without prejudice,” raising the possibility that they could try to bring charges against Trump when his term is over. She wrote that is “consistent with the Government’s understanding that the immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office.” But such a move may be barred by the statute of limitations, and Trump may also try to pardon himself while in office. The separate case involving classified documents had been widely seen as legally clear cut, especially because the conduct in question occurred after Trump left the White House and lost the powers of the presidency. The indictment included dozens of felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified records from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructing federal efforts to get them back. He has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. The case quickly became snarled by delays, with U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon slow to issue rulings — which favored Trump’s strategy of pushing off deadlines in all his criminal cases — while also entertaining defense motions and arguments that experts said other judges would have dispensed with without hearings. In May, she indefinitely canceled the trial date amid a series of unresolved legal issues before dismissing the case outright two months later. Smith’s team appealed the decision, but now has given up that effort. Trump faced two other state prosecutions while running for president. One of them, a New York case involving hush money payments, resulted in a conviction on felony charges of falsifying business records. It was the first time a former president had been found guilty of a crime. The sentencing in that case is on hold as Trump’s lawyers try to have the conviction dismissed before he takes office, arguing that letting the verdict stand will interfere with his presidential transition and duties. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office is fighting the dismissal but has indicated that it would be open to delaying sentencing until Trump leaves office. Bragg, a Democrat, has said the solution needs to balance the obligations of the presidency with “the sanctity of the jury verdict.” Trump was also indicted in Georgia along with 18 others accused of participating in a sprawling scheme to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election there. Any trial appears unlikely there while Trump holds office. The prosecution already was on hold after an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Four defendants have pleaded guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors. Trump and the others have pleaded not guilty.
NoneAdvisors Asset Management Inc. reduced its position in AerSale Co. ( NASDAQ:ASLE – Free Report ) by 43.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 24,097 shares of the company’s stock after selling 18,637 shares during the period. Advisors Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in AerSale were worth $122,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. nVerses Capital LLC raised its stake in AerSale by 75.0% in the third quarter. nVerses Capital LLC now owns 4,900 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 2,100 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new stake in AerSale in the 3rd quarter valued at $59,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company lifted its holdings in AerSale by 33.6% during the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 14,027 shares of the company’s stock valued at $97,000 after purchasing an additional 3,531 shares during the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC acquired a new stake in AerSale during the 2nd quarter valued at $107,000. Finally, American International Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of AerSale by 30.5% in the first quarter. American International Group Inc. now owns 16,605 shares of the company’s stock valued at $119,000 after purchasing an additional 3,878 shares during the last quarter. 69.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on shares of AerSale from $10.00 to $8.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on shares of AerSale from $13.00 to $11.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 9th. Finally, Truist Financial decreased their target price on AerSale from $10.00 to $8.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 18th. Insider Buying and Selling at AerSale In other AerSale news, insider Nicolas Finazzo purchased 20,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 13th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $5.36 per share, for a total transaction of $107,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 37,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $198,320. This represents a 117.65 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link . Insiders own 37.30% of the company’s stock. AerSale Stock Performance ASLE stock opened at $6.30 on Friday. AerSale Co. has a 52 week low of $4.53 and a 52 week high of $16.69. The company has a market capitalization of $335.22 million, a PE ratio of 630.63 and a beta of 0.22. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $5.45 and its 200 day simple moving average is $6.04. AerSale Profile ( Free Report ) AerSale Corporation provides aftermarket commercial aircraft, engines, and its parts to passenger and cargo airlines, leasing companies, original equipment manufacturers, and government and defense contractors, as well as maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) service providers worldwide. It operates in two segments, Asset Management Solutions and Technical Operations (TechOps). See Also Five stocks we like better than AerSale Technology Stocks Explained: Here’s What to Know About Tech The Latest 13F Filings Are In: See Where Big Money Is Flowing Most active stocks: Dollar volume vs share volume 3 Penny Stocks Ready to Break Out in 2025 How to Calculate Retirement Income: MarketBeat’s Calculator FMC, Mosaic, Nutrien: Top Agricultural Stocks With Big Potential Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ASLE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AerSale Co. ( NASDAQ:ASLE – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for AerSale Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AerSale and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
UVAS, Chinese firm agree on goat breeding researchWarriors at ‘inflection point’ after Christmas Day loss
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump’s personnel choices for his new Cabinet and White House reflect his signature positions on immigration and trade but also a range of viewpoints and backgrounds that raise questions about what ideological anchors might guide his Oval Office encore. With a rapid assembly of his second administration — faster than his effort eight years ago — the former and incoming president has combined television personalities , former Democrats, a wrestling executive and traditional elected Republicans into a mix that makes clear his intentions to impose tariffs on imported goods and crack down on illegal immigration but leaves open a range of possibilities on other policy pursuits. “The president has his two big priorities and doesn’t feel as strongly about anything else — so it’s going to be a real jump ball and zigzag,” predicted Marc Short, chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence during Trump’s 2017-21 term. “In the first administration, he surrounded himself with more conservative thinkers, and the results showed we were mostly rowing in the same direction. This is more eclectic.” Indeed, Secretary of State-designee Marco Rubio , the Florida senator who has pilloried authoritarian regimes around the world, is in line to serve as top diplomat to a president who praises autocratic leaders like Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Hungary’s Viktor Orban. Republican Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon has been tapped to sit at the Cabinet table as a pro-union labor secretary alongside multiple billionaires, former governors and others who oppose making it easier for workers to organize themselves. The prospective treasury secretary, Scott Bessent , wants to cut deficits for a president who promised more tax cuts, better veterans services and no rollbacks of the largest federal outlays: Social Security, Medicare and national defense. Abortion-rights supporter Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is Trump's choice to lead the Health and Human Services Department, which Trump’s conservative Christian base has long targeted as an agency where the anti-abortion movement must wield more influence. Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich allowed that members of Trump’s slate will not always agree with the president and certainly not with one another. But he minimized the potential for irreconcilable differences: “A strong Cabinet, by definition, means you’re going to have people with different opinions and different skills.” That kind of unpredictability is at the core of Trump’s political identity. He is the erstwhile reality TV star who already upended Washington once and is returning to power with sweeping, sometimes contradictory promises that convinced voters, especially those in the working class, that he will do it all again. “What Donald Trump has done is reorient political leadership and activism to a more entrepreneurial spirit,” Gingrich said. There's also plenty of room for conflict, given the breadth of Trump's 2024 campaign promises and his pattern of cycling through Cabinet members and national security personnel during his first term. This time, Trump has pledged to impose tariffs on foreign goods, end illegal immigration and launch a mass deportation force, goose U.S. energy production and exact retribution on people who opposed — and prosecuted — him. He's added promises to cut taxes, raise wages, end wars in Israel and Ukraine , streamline government, protect Social Security and Medicare, help veterans and squelch cultural progressivism. Trump alluded to some of those promises in recent weeks as he completed his proposed roster of federal department heads and named top White House staff members. But his announcements skimmed over any policy paradoxes or potential complications. Bessent has crusaded as a deficit hawk, warning that the ballooning national debt , paired with higher interest rates, drives consumer inflation. But he also supports extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts that added to the overall debt and annual debt service payments to investors who buy Treasury notes. A hedge-fund billionaire, Bessent built his wealth in world markets. Yet, generally speaking, he’s endorsed Trump's tariffs. He rejects the idea that they feed inflation and instead frames tariffs as one-time price adjustments and leverage to achieve U.S. foreign policy and domestic economic aims. Trump, for his part, declared that Bessent would “help me usher in a new Golden Age for the United States.” Chavez-DeRemer, Trump promised, “will achieve historic cooperation between Business and Labor that will restore the American Dream for Working Families.” Trump did not address the Oregon congresswoman’s staunch support for the PRO-Act, a Democratic-backed measure that would make it easier for workers to unionize, among other provisions. That proposal passed the House when Democrats held a majority. But it’s never had measurable Republican support in either chamber on Capitol Hill, and Trump has never made it part of his agenda. When Trump named Kennedy as his pick for health secretary, he did not mention the former Democrat’s support for abortion rights. Instead, Trump put the focus on Kennedy’s intention to take on the U.S. agriculture, food processing and drug manufacturing sectors. The vagaries of Trump’s foreign policy stand out, as well. Trump's choice for national security adviser , Florida Rep. Mike Waltz, offered mixed messages Sunday when discussing the Russia-Ukraine war, which Trump claims never would have started had he been president, because he would have prevailed on Putin not to invade his neighboring country. Speaking on “Fox News Sunday,” Waltz repeated Trump’s concerns over recent escalations, which include President Joe Biden approving sending antipersonnel mines to Ukrainian forces. “We need to restore deterrence, restore peace and get ahead of this escalation ladder, rather than responding to it,” Waltz said. But in the same interview, Waltz declared the mines necessary to help Ukraine “stop Russian gains” and said he’s working “hand in glove” with Biden’s team during the transition. Meanwhile, Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence , the top intelligence post in government, is an outspoken defender of Putin and Syrian President Bashar al Assad, a close ally of Russia and Iran. Perhaps the biggest wildcards of Trump’s governing constellation are budget-and-spending advisers Russell Vought, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Vought led Trump’s Office of Management and Budget in his first term and is in line for the same post again. Musk, the world’s wealthiest man, and Ramaswamy, a mega-millionaire venture capitalist, are leading an outside advisory panel known as the “Department of Government Efficiency.” The latter effort is a quasi-official exercise to identify waste. It carries no statutory authority, but Trump can route Musk’s and Ramaswamy’s recommendations to official government pathways, including via Vought. A leading author of Project 2025 , the conservative movement’s blueprint for a hard-right turn in U.S. government and society, Vought envisions OMB not just as an influential office to shape Trump’s budget proposals for Congress but a power center of the executive branch, “powerful enough to override implementing agencies’ bureaucracies.” As for how Trump might navigate differences across his administration, Gingrich pointed to Chavez-DeRemer. “He might not agree with her on union issues, but he might not stop her from pushing it herself,” Gingrich said of the PRO-Act. “And he will listen to anybody. If you convince him, he absolutely will spend presidential capital.” Short said other factors are more likely to influence Trump: personalities and, of course, loyalty . Vought “brought him potential spending cuts” in the first administration, Short said, “that Trump wouldn’t go along with.” This time, Short continued, “maybe Elon and Vivek provide backup,” giving Vought the imprimatur of two wealthy businessmen. “He will always calculate who has been good to him,” Short said. “You already see that: The unions got the labor secretary they wanted, and Putin and Assad got the DNI (intelligence chief) they wanted. ... This is not so much a team-of-rivals situation. I think it’s going to look a lot like a reality TV show.”But what if I told you that may not necessarily be the case, and that your favourite discontinued chocolate may be sitting on your local supermarket shelf right now. Well it's true. Chocolate lovers have endured a tough 12 months with major brands including Cadbury and Nestle axing products from their range. Chocolates discontinued in 2024 Some of the chocolates discontinued in the UK so far this year have included: Discontinued UK chocolates and sweets Discontinued chocolates still available in UK stores But although you may think that once chocolates have been discontinued, they are no longer available, that is not always the case. To prove this, I went to local stores including Asda, B&M, Tesco and Home Bargains to see which discontinued chocolates I could find. Here's what I found: Cadbury confirmed earlier this year its had been discontinued and there were "no plans" to bring it back. However, it appears the company has done a back flip on this decision with the popular chocolate bar reintroduced as part of the company's . You can find Dairy Milk Mint Crisp bars in stores across the UK including at the likes of Asda and Tesco. In November 2023, Nestle revealed it was discontinuing its Caramac and Animal Bars, a decision the company said was made due to falling sales. Caramac was had been a part of the Nestle range for 64 years. But on July 23, to stores across the UK. Nestle said they would be available "while stocks last", but over four months later and they are still on sale across the country including in Asda and B&M. Alongside the bar, there Caramac button sharing bags and a multipacks are also available. Cadbury launched Dream chocolate in the UK back in 2002. But it didn't last long, being discontinued a few years later. In 2019, the confectionary company released Cadbury white as a replacement. But Dream chocolate is still available in other countries - including Australia. And as a result, chocolate bars returned to B&M stores across the country back in October. Cadbury Coins were discontinued back in 2014. But it appears now they have become a part of it's Christmas range. First appearing on shelves for a limited time over the festive period in 2023, and now back again ahead of Christmas 2024. But you'll need to be quick if you are hoping to get your hands on a bag of Cadbury coins. Because once they're gone you'll have to wait until next Christmas for your next chance. were discontinued in the UK "several years ago", but made a return in select B&M stores across the country recently. Like the Dream chocolate bar, Fuse Mini Treats are still available in other countries, hence how B&M have managed to acquire stock. While I was unable to find any at my local B&M store, despite several attempts, Newfoodsuk was able to secure a packet back in October. A variety of other discontinued chocolates have been spotted in stores across the UK in 2024. These include the likes of (discontinued in 2023) and (discontinued by Mars Wrigley in 2022). Best places to find discontinued chocolates Big name brands will bring back discontinued chocolates from time to time - like Nestle and Caramac or Cadbury and Dairy Milk Mint Crisp bars - which will mean they will be more readily available, including at major supermarkets (like Tesco and Asda). But, what I have found, is you are more likely to find a discontinued gem in either B&M or Home Bargains. B&M has been particularly good for discontinued chocolates. It's also worth keeping an eye out at B&M for different chocolate bars that have come from overseas, that aren't usually available in the UK. The likes of Cherry Ripe (Australia), Dairy Milk Snack (Australia) and Perky Nana (New Zealand) chocolate bars have all been spotted at B&M stores at some point recently, and are popular among chocolate lovers in the UK. So next time you head out to the shops, make sure you keep your eyes peeled for any discontinued chocolates that may be hiding on the shelves.Bishop TD Jakes sues fellow pastor for defamation following sex abuse claims, medical emergency during sermonHe’s one of the most famous corporate leaders in the world, delivering products embraced by billions. But it’s the haters that companies like Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta worry about. In an era when online anger and social tensions are increasingly directed at the businesses consumers count on, Meta last year spent $24.4 million on guards, alarms and other measures to keep Zuckerberg and the company’s former chief operating officer safe. Some high-profile CEOs surround themselves with security. But the fatal shooting this week of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson while he walked alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take in protecting their leaders against threats. Thompson had no personal security and appeared unaware of the shooter lurking before he was gunned down. And today’s political, economic and technological climate is only going to make the job of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them even more difficult, experts say. “We are better today at collecting signals. I’m not sure we’re any better at making sense of the signals we collect,” says Fred Burton of Ontic, a provider of threat management software for companies. After Thompson’s shooting, Burton said, “I’ve been on the phone all day with some organizations asking for consultation, saying, ’Am I doing enough?” Since the killing, some health insurers have taken steps to safeguard their executives and rank-and-file workers. Medica, a Minnesota-based nonprofit health care firm, said Friday it is temporarily closing its six offices for security reasons and will have its employees work from home. “Although we have received no specific threats related to our campuses, our office buildings will be temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution,” the company said in a statement. A Medica spokesman said the company had also removed biographical information about its executives from its website as a precaution. UnitedHealth Group, parent of the insurer Thompson led, removed photos of its top executives from its website hours after the shooting, later removing their names and biographies. But well before the attack, some of the biggest U.S. companies, particularly those in the tech sector, were spending heavily on personal and residential security for their top executives. Meta, whose businesses include Facebook and Instagram, reported the highest spending on personal security for top executives last year, filings culled by research firm Equilar show. Zuckerberg “is synonymous with Meta and, as a result, negative sentiment regarding our company is directly associated with, and often transferred to, Mr. Zuckerberg,” the Menlo Park, California, company explained earlier this year in an annual shareholder disclosure. At Apple, the world’s largest tech company by stock valuation, CEO Tim Cook was tormented by a stalker who sent him sexually provocative emails and even showed up outside his Silicon Valley home at one point before the company’s security team successfully took legal action against her in 2022. Cook is regularly accompanied by security personnel when he appears in public. Still, the company’s $820,000 allotted last year to protect top executives is a fraction of what other tech giants spent for CEO security. Just over a quarter of the companies in the Fortune 500 reported spending money to protect their CEOs and other top executives. Of those that did, the median payment for personal security doubled over the last three years to about $98,000. In many companies, investor meetings like the one UnitedHealthcare’s Thompson was walking to when he was shot are viewed as very risky because details on the location and who will be speaking are highly publicized. “It gives people an opportunity to arrive well in advance and take a look at the room, take a look at how people would probably come and go out of a location,” said Dave Komendat, president of DSKomendat Risk Management Services, which is based in the greater Seattle area. Some firms respond by beefing up security. For example, tech companies routinely require everyone attending a major event, such as Apple’s annual unveiling of the next iPhone or a shareholder meeting, to go through airport-style security checkpoints before entering. Others forgo in-person meetings with shareholders. Government health insurance provider Centene Corp. joined that group Thursday, citing the UnitedHealthcare executive’s death in announcing that its upcoming Investor Day will be held online, rather than in-person as originally planned. “But there are also company cultures that really frown on that and want their leaders to be accessible to people, accessible to shareholders, employees,” Komendat said. Depending on the company, such an approach may make sense. Many top executives are little known to the public, operating in industries and locations that make them far less prone to public exposure and to threats. “Determining the need for and appropriate level of an executive-level protection program is specific to each organization,” says David Johnston, vice president of asset protection and retail operations at the National Retail Federation. “These safeguards should also include the constant monitoring of potential threats and the ability to adapt to maintain the appropriate level of security and safety.” Some organizations have a protective intelligence group that uses digital tools such as machine learning or artificial intelligence to comb through online comments to detect threats not only on social media platforms such as X but also on the dark web, says Komendat. They look for what’s being said about the company, its employees and its leadership to uncover risks. “There are always threats directed towards senior leaders at companies. Many of them are not credible,” Komendat said. “The question always is trying to determine what is a real threat versus what is someone just venting with no intent to take any additional action.” Burton, a former special agent with the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service, points out that despite the current climate, there is little in the way of organized groups that target companies. Today, one of the primary worries are loners whose rantings online are fed by others who are like-minded. It’s up to corporate security analysts to zero in on such dialogue and decide whether or not it represents a real threat. And CEOs aren’t the only targets of disgruntled customers. In the U.S., there were 525 workplace fatalities due to assault in 2022, according to the National Safety Council. Industries including healthcare, education and service providers are more prone to violence than others, and taxi drivers are more than 20 times more likely to be murdered on the job than other workers, the group said. But the ambush of UnitedHealthcare’s Thompson this week is bound to get some CEOs second-guessing. “What invariably happen at moments like this in time is you will get additional ears listening” to security professionals seeking money to beef up executive protection, Burton says. “Because I can guarantee you there’s not a CEO in America who’s not aware of this incident.” ___ Associated Press writers Anne D’Innocenzio and Haleluya Hadero in New York and Jim Salter in St. Louis contributed. He’s one of the most famous corporate leaders in the Chipotle is raising its U.S. prices to offset inflation and The U.S. government on Friday ordered testing of the nation's A 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook a large area of Northern
Carolina Hurricanes (16-6-1, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Florida Panthers (14-9-1, in the Atlantic Division) Sunrise, Florida; Saturday, 4 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Panthers -123, Hurricanes +103; over/under is 6.5 BOTTOM LINE: The Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes hit the ice in Eastern Conference action. Florida has gone 7-5-1 at home and 14-9-1 overall. The Panthers have a 3-0-1 record in one-goal games. Carolina has a 7-4-1 record on the road and a 16-6-1 record overall. The Hurricanes are 7-2-0 when they commit fewer penalties than their opponent. Saturday's game is the second meeting between these teams this season. The Panthers won the previous matchup 6-3. TOP PERFORMERS: Sam Bennett has 11 goals and 11 assists for the Panthers. Sam Reinhart has seven goals and four assists over the last 10 games. Jack Roslovic has 12 goals and three assists for the Hurricanes. Seth Jarvis has four goals and six assists over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Panthers: 4-6-0, averaging 3.1 goals, 5.6 assists, 4.1 penalties and 10.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game. Hurricanes: 6-3-1, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.3 assists, 2.7 penalties and 5.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game. INJURIES: Panthers: None listed. Hurricanes: None listed. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo was available for the Milwaukee Bucks against the Washington Wizards Saturday night after missing one game with swelling in his left knee. Antetokounmpo sat out the Bucks’ 106-103 NBA Cup victory at Miami on Tuesday. The two-time MVP had been listed as probable with tendinopathy in his right patellar tendon. “He’s good,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said before the game. Antetokounmpo entered Saturday as the league’s leading scorer at 32.4 points per game. He ranked fifth in rebounds (11.9) and 20th in assists (6.4). ___ AP NBA:DOUGLAS — When graphic novelist and author Jason Viola visited Douglas elementary schools recently, he found not just a warm welcome, but an excited bunch of students eager to learn about his writing and art. Viola came from Boston, Massachusetts, where he co-founded a nonprofit organization, Boston Comic Arts Foundation. Through his foundation, Viola helps others through the power of comics to educate, inspire and bring people together. “I co-founded the Boston Comic Arts Foundation to produce independent comics festivals like MICE, the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo, which is a free two-day event where people of all ages and interests can meet artists and attend workshops and panels. We’ve since expanded to include three additional annual festivals, a monthly conversation series, comics “camps” for underserved populations and a lot more. We’ve been working to build a community in the region, and I’m excited to find where it’s taken us.” As a child, Viola loved to make comics, beginning his cartoon creations shortly after he mastered wielding a pencil. He loves to make informational comics and is often finding inspiration in biology. One of his books was a National Geographic Kids book. “I genuinely loved making things up and playing around with different characters,” Viola said. “When I think back to that time, I know I had a lot of anxiety. Writing was an escape: like, here is a world where I can control what happens and the things people say. And it gave me a sense of confidence I didn’t otherwise have. “All of those things still drive me today,” he added. “Writing is a lot of work and can absolutely be frustrating. But on another day, it can be grounding. And sometimes it’s exhilarating.” During his visit with students from Douglas Primary, Intermediate and Upper Elementary schools, Viola answered questions on a variety of topics. He also spent time with fifth grade classes to do a writing workshop. “I love the process of writing and find a lot of satisfaction in making something new. I try to instill that joy of discovery in the workshops I lead,” he said. “Writing can often feel difficult and heavily structured, and I want kids to know that it’s possible to really enjoy it.” One of Viola’s favorite things about teaching the workshops is seeing the kids work together and come up with some amazing ideas. Viola recalled that in one class, the students imagined a world where animals and plants were inverted with creatures like “ambulatory trees that grew birds from their branches instead of leaves.” In another class, kids created a world where a sparkly dust caused people to stop physically aging at the age of 20. He and the class discussed how this might impact society. “These ideas all came directly from the Douglas fifth graders, and it was exciting to see them tie different threads together, and come up with their own characters and stories,” Viola said. “It’s really inspiring.” “The school brings in authors to promote literacy, writing (the power of words), reading engagement and exposure to possibly a new genre for a student,” said Stephanie Williams, a reading coach with District Improvement Support/District Unrestricted Education Support. The schools have previously brought in fiction, nonfiction and graphic novelists like Viola. The selection of authors depends on who is able to travel, the school’s and authors’ schedules and the funds that the school has available. “We try to bring in different genres of authors so that we can reach all different student interests or spark an interest in a different genre,” explained Williams, who said the schools have seen an increase in books being checked out of the library after every author visit, especially ones written by the visiting authors. “Many authors have promoted the importance of school,” she added. Viola, in particular, promotes and teaches methods of research, point of view, setting and characters, revising and other aspects of being a graphic artist, offering a Q+A session at the end of his presentations. “I love to visit smaller cities and areas that may not be national book tour stops,” Viola said. “The students in Douglas are incredibly bright and thoughtful, and they deserve the same access, so it was rewarding to have the opportunity to talk to them about writing and the process of making a graphic novel.” Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, sports, arts & entertainment, state legislature, CFD news, and more.
IOWA CITY — The Iowa women’s basketball team got back on track with an 84-63 win over Purdue on Sunday. The Hawkeyes (11-2, 1-1 Big Ten) outshot and outrebounded the Boilermakers (7-6, 0-2 Big Ten) to claim the blowout victory and the first conference victory for first-year head coach Jan Jensen. Iowa's Taylor Stremlow orchestrates the offense during an NCAA women's basketball game against Washington State in Iowa City at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday, Nov. 24. ETHAN PETRIK, Quad-City Times Despite the resounding victory, Jensen told the Hawkeye Radio Network that the team fell just shy of meeting a challenge she gave to them. “I secretly challenged them to hold them to 60,” Jensen said. “Then, we let up that three at the end, which we should not have done, but it was below their average, which we wanted to do. I thought it was a solid defensive game today. We could have even done a little better. ... But, overall, I am not going to complain too much because that was a pretty good effort.” Iowa won the battle on the glass 42-27 and shot 34-of-62 (54.8%) from the floor while holding Purdue to 25-of-61 (41%) from the floor. The Hawkeyes also recorded an assist on 21 of their 34 made field goals. Iowa built a 7-4 lead over the first two minutes before capitalizing on a Purdue shooting slump with an 18-5 run to close out the opening quarter, bookended by three-pointers from Taylor Stremlow and Teagan Mallegni. The Boilermakers went just 2-of-9 from the field over the final five minutes of the quarter as the Hawkeyes took a 27-13 lead into the second quarter. A similar 15-3 surge to close out the second quarter gave Iowa an 18-point, 50-32 lead at half. Stremlow led all players with nine points in the first half on 4-of-4 from the field. A 13-0 Purdue run in the third quarter allowed the Boilermakers to trim the gap to an eight-point 55-47 lead, but the Hawkeyes again closed the quarter on a scoring run, managing an 11-0 run of their own to lead 66-47 with one quarter to play. A back-and-forth fourth quarter ended with Iowa outscoring Purdue 18-16 to earn the 21-point victory. Addison O’Grady led the Hawkeyes with 12 points. Destini Lombard matched O’Grady with 12 points to lead the Boilermakers. Iowa returns to action on Wednesday with a road matchup against Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania at noon. Broadcast coverage will be provided by Big Ten+ (subscription required). Iowa's Teagan Mallegni, left, gathers the ball before a layup attempt during an NCAA women's basketball game against Washington State in Iowa City at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday, Nov. 24. ETHAN PETRIK, Quad-City Times Five freshmen saw action in Sunday’s win and painted an exciting picture for the future of the program. In addition to her nine points, Stremlow grabbed four rebounds, managed three steals and dished two assists in 19 minutes off the bench. Aaliyah Guyton scored nine points in 20 minutes. Ava Heiden scored nine points on 4-of-4 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds and picked up two blocks in 15 minutes of action. Teagan Mallegni finished with eight points and two rebounds in 12 minutes. Despite accounting for just 34.5% of Iowa’s minutes on Sunday, the freshman quintet represented 42% of points, 50% of blocks, 42% of steals and 36% of rebounds. During a postgame interview with the Hawkeye Radio Network, Mallegni described it as “so cool” to see the success of Iowa’s freshman class. “At one point, there was four of us out there at the same time,” Mallegni said. “So, it is just really fun. They are a great group of girls. I has been super fun to learn alongside (them).” Iowa's Ava Heiden, left, backs down her defender during a game against Toledo on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. ETHAN PETRIK, Quad-City Times As evidenced by the production of Iowa’s freshmen, the Hawkeyes beat the Boilermakers behind a whole team effort as 12 different players scored in the win. Of those dozen players, nine made more than one basket in the win while seven scored nine or more points in the win as O’Grady finished as the only player in double figures for Iowa. Sydney Affolter posted an impressive stat line with nine points, seven rebounds and six assists. Hannah Stuelke managed nine points and six boards while Lucy Olsen added six points, her first game below double figures as a Hawkeye, and six assists. While Iowa dominated on the glass, the Hawkeyes also found plenty of success scoring and defending in the paint. Iowa scored 48 points in the paint and 12 second-chance points, on 13 offensive rebounds, while limiting their opponents to just 22 points in the paint and just five second-chance points. Caitlin Clark's Rise: Former Iowa coach Lisa Bluder details guard's journey to stardom Former Iowa women’s hoops coach Lisa Bluder details life in retirement, new venture Iowa sets a date for Caitlin Clark jersey retirement
Christians need Ottawa's protection insists Conservative MP supported by the U.S. VP electRomania's top court annuls first round of presidential vote won by far-right candidateAdvisors Asset Management Inc. Raises Stock Position in Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:LECO)
ORONO, Maine (AP) — Michael McNair scored 16 points to lead Boston University and Malcolm Chimezie sealed the victory with a layup with 20 seconds left as the Terriers took down Maine 59-56 on Sunday. McNair also had six rebounds for the Terriers (6-7). Kyrone Alexander scored 13 points and added five rebounds. Chimezie shot 4 of 7 from the field and 0 for 3 from the line to finish with eight points. Kellen Tynes led the way for the Black Bears (8-7) with 17 points, four assists and three steals. Maine also got 12 points from Christopher Mantis. Quion Burns had eight points. McNair scored seven points in the first half and Boston University went into halftime trailing 27-19. Alexander scored a team-high 10 points for Boston University in the second half. Boston University outscored Maine by 11 points over the final half. Boston University's next game is Thursday against Lafayette on the road, and Maine visits Bryant on Saturday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .