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PICTURES: Technological University of the Shannon hosts Science Day for Limerick schoolsA federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in a few short months, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied TikTok's petition to overturn the law — which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — and rebuffed the company's challenge of the statute, which it argued had ran afoul of the First Amendment. “The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States,” said the court's opinion, which was written by Judge Douglas Ginsburg. “Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary’s ability to gather data on people in the United States.” TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court, though its unclear whether the court will take up the case. “The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans’ right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue," TikTok spokesperson Michael Hughes said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the TikTok ban was conceived and pushed through based upon inaccurate, flawed and hypothetical information, resulting in outright censorship of the American people,” Hughes said. Unless stopped, he argued the statute “will silence the voices of over 170 million Americans here in the US and around the world on January 19th, 2025.” Though the case is squarely in the court system, it's also possible the two companies might be thrown some sort of a lifeline by President-elect Donald Trump, who tried to ban TikTok during his first term but said during the presidential campaign that he is now against such action . The law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, was the culmination of a yearslong saga in Washington over the short-form video-sharing app, which the government sees as a national security threat due to its connections to China. The U.S. has said it’s concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of user data, including sensitive information on viewing habits , that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. Officials have also warned the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect — a concern mirrored by the European Union on Friday as it scrutinizes the video-sharing app’s role in the Romanian elections. TikTok, which sued the government over the law in May, has long denied it could be used by Beijing to spy on or manipulate Americans. Its attorneys have accurately pointed out that the U.S. hasn’t provided evidence to show that the company handed over user data to the Chinese government, or manipulated content for Beijing’s benefit in the U.S. They have also argued the law is predicated on future risks, which the Department of Justice has emphasized pointing in part to unspecified action it claims the two companies have taken in the past due to demands from the Chinese government. Friday’s ruling came after the appeals court panel, composed of two Republicans and one Democrat appointed judges, heard oral arguments in September. In the hearing, which lasted more than two hours, the panel appeared to grapple with how TikTok’s foreign ownership affects its rights under the Constitution and how far the government could go to curtail potential influence from abroad on a foreign-owned platform. On Friday, all three denied TikTok’s petition. In the court's ruling, Ginsburg, a Republican appointee, rejected TikTok's main legal arguments against the law, including that the statute was an unlawful bill of attainder, or a taking of property in violation of the Fifth Amendment. He also said the law did not violate the First Amendment because the government is not looking to "suppress content or require a certain mix of content” on TikTok. Story continues below video “Content on the platform could in principle remain unchanged after divestiture, and people in the United States would remain free to read and share as much PRC propaganda (or any other content) as they desire on TikTok or any other platform of their choosing,” Ginsburg wrote, using the abbreviation for the People’s Republic of China. Judge Sri Srinivasan, the chief judge on the court, issued a concurring opinion. TikTok’s lawsuit was consolidated with a second legal challenge brought by several content creators — for which the company is covering legal costs — as well as a third one filed on behalf of conservative creators who work with a nonprofit called BASED Politics Inc. Other organizations, including the Knight First Amendment Institute, had also filed amicus briefs supporting TikTok. “This is a deeply misguided ruling that reads important First Amendment precedents too narrowly and gives the government sweeping power to restrict Americans’ access to information, ideas, and media from abroad,” said Jameel Jaffer, the executive director of the organization. “We hope that the appeals court’s ruling won’t be the last word.” Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, lawmakers who had pushed for the legislation celebrated the court's ruling. "I am optimistic that President Trump will facilitate an American takeover of TikTok to allow its continued use in the United States and I look forward to welcoming the app in America under new ownership,” said Republican Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan, chairman of the House Select Committee on China. Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who co-authored the law, said “it's time for ByteDance to accept” the law. To assuage concerns about the company’s owners, TikTok says it has invested more than $2 billion to bolster protections around U.S. user data. The company has also argued the government’s broader concerns could have been resolved in a draft agreement it provided the Biden administration more than two years ago during talks between the two sides. It has blamed the government for walking away from further negotiations on the agreement, which the Justice Department argues is insufficient. Attorneys for the two companies have claimed it’s impossible to divest the platform commercially and technologically. They also say any sale of TikTok without the coveted algorithm — the platform’s secret sauce that Chinese authorities would likely block under any divesture plan — would turn the U.S. version of TikTok into an island disconnected from other global content. Still, some investors, including Trump’s former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire Frank McCourt, have expressed interest in purchasing the platform. Both men said earlier this year that they were launching a consortium to purchase TikTok’s U.S. business. This week, a spokesperson for McCourt’s Project Liberty initiative, which aims to protect online privacy, said unnamed participants in their bid have made informal commitments of more than $20 billion in capital.AP News Summary at 9:36 p.m. EST
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UK announces new £108m climate finance programme(ECNS)--China and France are both ancient civilizations, so we must stay curious about each other's cultures while respecting our differences, said Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former prime minister of France and president of the Foundation Prospective and Innovation (FPI), during the 6th China-France Cultural Forum held from Nov. 12 to 14 in Deauville, France. Raffarin emphasized that while cultural divides between the two countries persist, the forum aims to bridge these gaps, fostering mutual understanding between the two peoples. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France. As important representatives of Eastern and Western civilizations, both countries have a long history of mutual appreciation and admiration. The world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century. Over the years, China and France have increased their interactions, exchange and communication in various fields, playing an exemplary role in conducting dialogue among different civilizations. From seeking common ground to mutual respect Exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations thrive on an open-minded approach that seeks common ground while respecting differences. During the opening ceremony, founder of Yishu 8 Christine Cayol shared her thoughts on the founding of the China-France Cultural Forum. She said the idea was transformed into reality thanks to the collective efforts of artists from both countries, who are dedicated to promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. So far, the forum has become a flagship event for cultural exchanges between China and France and has been incorporated into the high-level people-to-people exchange mechanism between the two countries. In 2009, Cayol founded Yishu 8, based in both Beijing and Paris, to foster cultural exchanges between French and Chinese artists. Philippe Augier, mayor of Deauville, noted that cultural openness fosters mutual understanding while cultural dialogue promotes people-to-people exchanges. Deauville, the host city for this year’s forum, is known for its rich history and unique geographic location. It has frequently hosted exhibitions showcasing Chinese art, enhancing cultural understanding between the two sides. Besides, Lu Shaye, China's ambassador to France, underscored the friendly relations between Deauville and China, which is a microcosm of Sino-French cultural exchanges. Inheritance and innovation go hand in hand The theme of this year’s forum is "Inheritance and Innovation of Civilizations: 60-year Cooperation and Development Between China and France". At the forum, participants emphasized the importance of art innovation and people-to-people exchanges. Ding Zhongli, president of the Western Returned Scholars Association (WRSA) and vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said that the theme of this year’s forum highlights the precious Sino-French friendship, which should be carried forward from generation to generation. “Today, we live in an internet age where many young people build their social circles online. They are impacted by emerging media,” said Mao Weitao, vice chairman of the China Theatre Association and chairman of Dramatist Association of Zhejiang Province. He noted that traditional drama and theatrical arts are gradually declining. However, he pointed out that today, some young people present tradition with a fresh perspective, which is gaining popularity. Culture serves as a bridge for mutual understanding, with ancient books and emerging technologies serving as windows to our understanding of each other, said Arnaud de Puyfontaine, chairman and CEO of Vivendi. The civilizations of China and France are vibrant and enduring, with cultural exchanges that never cease, he concluded.
The team that President-elect Donald Trump has selected to lead federal health agencies in his second administration includes a retired congressman, a surgeon and a former talk-show host. All could play pivotal roles in fulfilling a political agenda that could change how the government goes about safeguarding Americans' health — from health care and medicines to food safety and science research. In line to lead the Department of Health and Human Services secretary is environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine organizer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Trump's choices don't have experience running large bureaucratic agencies, but they know how to talk about health on TV . Centers for Medicare and Medicaid pick Dr. Mehmet Oz hosted a talk show for 13 years and is a well-known wellness and lifestyle influencer. The pick for the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Marty Makary, and for surgeon general, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, are frequent Fox News contributors. Many on the list were critical of COVID-19 measures like masking and booster vaccinations for young people. Some of them have ties to Florida like many of Trump's other Cabinet nominees: Dave Weldon , the pick for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, represented the state in Congress for 14 years and is affiliated with a medical group on the state's Atlantic coast. Nesheiwat's brother-in-law is Rep. Mike Waltz , R-Fla., tapped by Trump as national security adviser. Here's a look at the nominees' potential role in carrying out what Kennedy says is the task to “reorganize” agencies, which have an overall $1.7 trillion budget, employ 80,000 scientists, researchers, doctors and other officials, and effect Americans' daily lives: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The Atlanta-based CDC, with a $9.2 billion core budget, is charged with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats. Kennedy has long attacked vaccines and criticized the CDC, repeatedly alleging corruption at the agency. He said on a 2023 podcast that there is "no vaccine that is safe and effective,” and urged people to resist the CDC's guidelines about if and when kids should get vaccinated . The World Health Organization estimates that vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives over the past 50 years, and that 100 million of them were infants. Decades ago, Kennedy found common ground with Weldon , 71, who served in the Army and worked as an internal medicine doctor before he represented a central Florida congressional district from 1995 to 2009. Starting in the early 2000s, Weldon had a prominent part in a debate about whether there was a relationship between a vaccine preservative called thimerosal and autism. He was a founding member of the Congressional Autism Caucus and tried to ban thimerosal from all vaccines. Kennedy, then a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, believed there was a tie between thimerosal and autism and also charged that the government hid documents showing the danger. Since 2001, all vaccines manufactured for the U.S. market and routinely recommended for children 6 years or younger have contained no thimerosal or only trace amounts, with the exception of inactivated influenza vaccine. Meanwhile, study after study after study found no evidence that thimerosal caused autism. Weldon's congressional voting record suggests he may go along with Republican efforts to downsize the CDC, including to eliminate the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, which works on topics like drownings, drug overdoses and shooting deaths. Weldon also voted to ban federal funding for needle-exchange programs as an approach to reduce overdoses, and the National Rifle Association gave him an “A” rating for his pro-gun rights voting record. Food and Drug Administration Kennedy is extremely critical of the FDA, which has 18,000 employees and is responsible for the safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs, vaccines and other medical products, as well as overseeing cosmetics, electronic cigarettes and most foods. Makary, Trump’s pick to run the FDA, is closely aligned with Kennedy on several topics . The professor at Johns Hopkins University who is a trained surgeon and cancer specialist has decried the overprescribing of drugs, the use of pesticides on foods and the undue influence of pharmaceutical and insurance companies over doctors and government regulators. Kennedy has suggested he'll clear out “entire” FDA departments and also recently threatened to fire FDA employees for “aggressive suppression” of a host of unsubstantiated products and therapies, including stem cells, raw milk , psychedelics and discredited COVID-era treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. Makary's contrarian views during the COVID-19 pandemic included questioning the need for masking and giving young kids COVID-19 vaccine boosters. But anything Makary and Kennedy might want to do when it comes to unwinding FDA regulations or revoking long-standing vaccine and drug approvals would be challenging. The agency has lengthy requirements for removing medicines from the market, which are based on federal laws passed by Congress. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services The agency provides health care coverage for more than 160 million people through Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, and also sets Medicare payment rates for hospitals, doctors and other providers. With a $1.1 trillion budget and more than 6,000 employees, Oz has a massive agency to run if confirmed — and an agency that Kennedy hasn't talked about much when it comes to his plans. While Trump tried to scrap the Affordable Care Act in his first term, Kennedy has not taken aim at it yet. But he has been critical of Medicaid and Medicare for covering expensive weight-loss drugs — though they're not widely covered by either . Trump said during his campaign that he would protect Medicare, which provides insurance for older Americans. Oz has endorsed expanding Medicare Advantage — a privately run version of Medicare that is popular but also a source of widespread fraud — in an AARP questionnaire during his failed 2022 bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania and in a 2020 Forbes op-ed with a former Kaiser Permanente CEO. Oz also said in a Washington Examiner op-ed with three co-writers that aging healthier and living longer could help fix the U.S. budget deficit because people would work longer and add more to the gross domestic product. Neither Trump nor Kennedy have said much about Medicaid, the insurance program for low-income Americans. Trump's first administration reshaped the program by allowing states to introduce work requirements for recipients. Surgeon general Kennedy doesn't appear to have said much publicly about what he'd like to see from surgeon general position, which is the nation's top doctor and oversees 6,000 U.S. Public Health Service Corps members. The surgeon general has little administrative power, but can be an influential government spokesperson on what counts as a public health danger and what to do about it — suggesting things like warning labels for products and issuing advisories. The current surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, declared gun violence as a public health crisis in June. Trump's pick, Nesheiwat, is employed as a New York City medical director with CityMD, a group of urgent care facilities in the New York and New Jersey area, and has been at City MD for 12 years. She also has appeared on Fox News and other TV shows, authored a book on the “transformative power of prayer” in her medical career and endorses a brand of vitamin supplements. She encouraged COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, calling them “a gift from God” in a February 2021 Fox News op-ed, as well as anti-viral pills like Paxlovid. In a 2019 Q&A with the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation , Nesheiwat said she is a “firm believer in preventive medicine” and “can give a dissertation on hand-washing alone.” National Institutes of Health As of Saturday, Trump had not yet named his choice to lead the National Institutes of Health, which funds medical research through grants to researchers across the nation and conducts its own research. It has a $48 billion budget. Kennedy has said he'd pause drug development and infectious disease research to shift the focus to chronic diseases. He'd like to keep NIH funding from researchers with conflicts of interest, and criticized the agency in 2017 for what he said was not doing enough research into the role of vaccines in autism — an idea that has long been debunked . Associated Press writers Amanda Seitz and Matt Perrone and AP editor Erica Hunzinger contributed to this report. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. This story has been corrected to reflect that the health agencies have an overall budget of about $1.7 trillion, not $1.7 billion. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Build your health & fitness knowledge Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s social media post about his government’s upcoming GST tax break on groceries is not sitting well with many Canadians. “In under two weeks, you’ll be paying less for groceries at the register,” stated Trudeau in an X post on Thursday. “Canadians are getting a tax break — starting December 14.” will make December 14, 2024, and February 15, 2025. Some highlights from the list of products eligible for the tax exemption include various food items, beer and wine, restaurant meals (dine-in, take-out, or delivery), essential childcare items, and even Christmas trees. However, Canadians reacted to Trudeau’s post by noting that many “basic” groceries in Canada, such as fresh, frozen, canned, and vacuum-sealed fruits and vegetables, breakfast cereals, most milk products, fresh meat, poultry and fish, and eggs, . X even tacked on a community note to Trudeau’s post, highlighting that readers “added context” to his message, pointing out that “most groceries are already exempt of GST.” The GST break will cover other food items like candy, snacks (potato chips and popcorn), cakes, and prepared foods. A full list can be found . “Most groceries are already exempt from GST, so there’s little benefit,” stated one person. “Canadians are struggling and hungry and your response is to give a GST break on beer, junk food, and take out...things Canadians can’t afford,” wrote another. “Basic groceries aren’t taxed... this means nothing,” said one commenter. Another person said they didn’t want a tax break on “Doritos or junk food.” Others commented that they wouldn’t be saving much on their grocery bills with the new exemption. While some Canadians aren’t buying into Trudeau’s tax holiday, they’ll likely not be pleased that they will be paying more for groceries next year. According to the recently released (CFRP), overall food prices will increase by 3% to 5%, with the average family of four expected to spend $16,833.67 in 2025 — an increase of up to $801.56 from last year. The most significant price increases are from 4% to 6% in categories such as bakery, dairy, meat, restaurants, and vegetables.The City boss is enduring the worst run of his glittering managerial career after a six-game winless streak featuring five successive defeats and a calamitous 3-3 draw in a match his side had led 3-0. The 53-year-old, who has won 18 trophies since taking charge at the Etihad Stadium in 2016, signed a contract extension through to the summer of 2027 just over a week ago. Yet, despite his remarkable successes, he still considers himself vulnerable to the sack and has pleaded with the club to keep faith. “I don’t want to stay in the place if I feel like I’m a problem,” said the Spaniard, who watched in obvious frustration as City conceded three times in the last 15 minutes in a dramatic capitulation against Feyenoord in midweek. “I don’t want to stay here just because the contract is there. “My chairman knows it. I said to him, ‘Give me the chance to try come back’, and especially when everybody comes back (from injury) and see what happens. “After, if I’m not able to do it, we have to change because, of course, (the past) nine years are dead. “More than ever I ask to my hierarchy, give me the chance. “Will it be easy for me now? No. I have the feeling that still I have a job to do and I want to do it.” City have been hampered by a raft of injuries this term, most pertinently to midfield talisman and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri. The Euro 2024 winner is expected to miss the remainder of the season and his absence has been keenly felt over the past two months. Playmaker Kevin De Bruyne has also not started a match since September. The pressure continues to build with champions City facing a crucial trip to title rivals and Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday. Defeat would leave City trailing Arne Slot’s side by 11 points. “I don’t enjoy it at all, I don’t like it,” said Guardiola of his side’s current situation. “I sleep not as good as I slept when I won every game. “The sound, the smell, the perfume is not good enough right now. “But I’m the same person who won the four Premier Leagues in a row. I was happier because I ate better, lived better, but I was not thinking differently from who I am.” Guardiola is confident his side will not stop battling as they bid to get back on track. He said: “The people say, ‘Yeah, it’s the end of that’. Maybe, but we are in November. We will see what happens until the end. “What can you do? Cry for that? You don’t stay long – many, many years without fighting. That is what you try to look for, this is the best (way). “Why should we not believe? Why should it not happen with us?”
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Kansas City Chiefs fans and Hallmark movie lovers alike are in for a treat this Thanksgiving weekend. “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story,” premieres on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 (11/30/24) at 8 p.m. ET on the Hallmark Channel . The movie spent time filming at Arrowhead Stadium and includes several, star-studded Kansas City Chiefs cameos. How to watch: Fans can watch “Holiday Touchdown” for free via a trial of Philo , DirecTV Stream or fuboTV , which is offering $30 off this month. Here’s what you need to know: What: “Holiday Touchdown” premiere When: Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 Time: 8 p.m. ET TV: Hallmark Channel Live stream: Philo (free trial), fuboTV (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial) Kansas City Chiefs’ cameos: Head coach Andy Reid , offensive guard Trey Smith , wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. , running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire and defensive end George Karlaftis . Donna Kelce , the mother of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce , also plays a role in the Hallmark original. Film Synopsis: Chiefs superfan Alana [ Hunter King ] tries to win the Fan of the Year Award as a Christmas gift for her family, falling in love with someone in the Chiefs front office [Tyler Hynes] along the way. *** Here’s an entertainment story via the Associated Press: Two new Christmas TV movies have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger as a pro football player, who meet and fall in love — not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. “It’s clearly inspired by Taylor and Travis, but I don’t know them and I don’t know what is going on behind the scenes. I only know what’s been put out there,” said Eirene Tran Donohue, a longtime, devoted fan who jumped at the opportunity to write a script even loosely based on her favorite musician. She was inspired by the couple’s support of each other’s accomplishments, particularly Kelce’s ease with dating the star despite the glare of the spotlight, adding, “I love the way that he celebrates her.” Tran Donohue wants fellow Swift fans to know she wrote the script with them in mind. “There are so many Easter eggs,” she said of little details added that a Swift fan would pick up on. “I put in as many as I could.” Then, on Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City, so it makes sense why the company chose the Chiefs to be highlighted. In this story, written by Julie Sherman Wolfe, sparks fly when a new employee for the Chiefs organization (Tyler Hynes) meets a woman — played by Hunter King — whose family’s dedication to the team goes back generations. Sherman Wolfe, a San Francisco 49ers fan, said she got the call a week after Super Bowl LVIII, when the Chiefs beat the 49ers 25-22. “I was still nursing my wounds,” she said adding that Hallmark asked, ‘Can you can you separate yourself from the loss and do this movie? I said, ’Absolutely. I mean, I’m a professional,‘" Sherman Wolfe said, laughing. While “Holiday Touchdown” has no mention of Swift or Kelce, it does feature a few Chiefs player cameos and Donna Kelce also has a small role. “I kept botching my line,” Hynes said of working with Mama Kelce. “I was just like, Donna Kelce’s about to speak and I’m beside myself. It was so fun.” The actors also got to film at Arrowhead Stadium and on the field. RECOMMENDED • nj .com Which Kansas City Chiefs stars have cameos in Hallmark’s new Christmas movie? | How to watch ‘Holiday Touchdo Nov. 30, 2024, 6:00 a.m. How to watch the Las Vegas Raiders Black Friday game today (11/29/24) | FREE LIVE STREAM, time, TV channel fo Nov. 29, 2024, 6:00 a.m. “Those were just some of the coolest moments I’ve ever gotten to have working on a movie,” King said. (The Associated Press contributed to this report) Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.
Federal appeals court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the US A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in a few short months, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the law - which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — is constitutional, rebuffing TikTok’s challenge that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and unfairly targeted the platform. TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.Essex Property Trust declares $2.45 dividendI didn’t have very high expectations, I just wanted to meet someone new. It was really nice. At around 10pm the lights were dimmed and the music got much louder, and we were sat right next to the speaker so we had to move to a different part of the pub. I realised that I knew her because she’s a close friend of one of my friends. I was kind of shocked – out of everyone in Cambridge I didn’t expect to be put on a date with someone I already knew! It was kind of weird to see her in that context. “Out of everyone in Cambridge I didn’t expect to be put on a date with someone I already knew!” It was awkward at the beginning but then the conversation flowed quite well. We talked a lot about her hobbies. We both really like hiking, so we ended up talking about places we’ve been hiking, and places we’d like to go. Kind, active, warm. I’m not sure. I think it went really well but I think we’re both unsure about whether we see each other just as friends or not. Maybe a 7. Maybe that’s harsh. It was a good date – not life-changing – but solid. Maybe it would have been better if we didn’t know each other before. It probably would have felt a little less awkward. I actually didn’t know what I signed up for. My friend told me to sign up. I kind of thought it would be lots of people going on blind dates together, so when I got the email I was like ’Oh! Okay – is what I signed up for.’ It was a nice surprise. I kind of knew it was going to be her before the date. The friend I signed up with also signed up with a different group of friends, and Candela was part of that group so I sort of worked out that it might be her. We’ve never actually spoken before, so it wasn’t awkward at all. “We talked about books, films, hobbies, the Appalachian trail ... weddings!” The conversation went everywhere! Candela’s from Spain so we talked a bit about family and travel. We talked about books, films, hobbies, the Appalachian trail ... weddings! We had lots in common. Chatty, adventurous, cool. I don’t know! I’m not very good at reading people. We didn’t leave, so I guess that’s a good sign ... she was just too polite and decided to wait until the pub closed anyway. I would, yeah. READ MORE Blind date: ‘maybe he was just struggling with something’ 8. Maybe we wouldn’t have been sat so close to the speaker! Support is the independent newspaper for the University of Cambridge, established in its current form in 1947. In order to maintain our editorial independence, our print newspaper and news website receives no funding from the University of Cambridge or its constituent Colleges. We are therefore almost entirely reliant on advertising for funding and we expect to have a tough few months and years ahead. In spite of this situation, we are going to look at inventive ways to look at serving our readership with digital content and of course in print too! Therefore we are asking our readers, if they wish, to make a donation from as little as £1, to help with our running costs. Many thanks, we hope you can help!How to Watch Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Games – Sunday, December 1
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records Friday after data suggested the job market remains solid enough to keep the economy going, but not so strong that it raises immediate worries about inflation . The S&P 500 climbed 0.2%, just enough top the all-time high set on Wednesday, as it closed a third straight winning week in what looks to be one of its best years since the 2000 dot-com bust. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 123.19 points, or 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.8% to set its own record. The quiet trading came after the latest jobs report came in mixed enough to strengthen traders’ expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates again at its next meeting in two weeks. The report showed U.S. employers hired more workers than expected last month, but it also said the unemployment rate unexpectedly ticked up to 4.2% from 4.1%. “This print doesn’t kill the holiday spirit and the Fed remains on track to deliver a cut in December,” according to Lindsay Rosner, head of multi-sector investing within Goldman Sachs Asset Management. The Fed has been easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high since September to offer more help for the slowing job market, after bringing inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. Lower interest rates can ease the brakes off the economy, but they can also offer more fuel for inflation. Expectations for a series of cuts from the Fed have been a major reason the S&P 500 has set an all-time high 57 times so far this year. And the Fed is part of a global surge: 62 central banks have lowered rates in the past three months, the most since 2020, according to Michael Hartnett and other strategists at Bank of America. Still, the jobs report may have included some notes of caution for Fed officials underneath the surface. Scott Wren, senior global market strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, pointed to average wages for workers last month, which were a touch stronger than economists expected. While that’s good news for workers who would always like to make more, it could keep upward pressure on inflation. “This report tells the Fed that they still need to be careful as sticky housing/shelter/wage data shows that it won’t be easy to engineer meaningfully lower inflation from here in the nearer term,” Wren said. So, while traders are betting on an 85% probability the Fed will ease its main rate in two weeks, they’re much less certain about how many more cuts it will deliver next year, according to data from CME Group. For now, the hope is that the job market can help U.S. shoppers continue to spend and keep the U.S. economy out of a recession that had earlier seemed inevitable after the Fed began hiking interest rates swiftly to crush inflation. Several retailers offered encouragement after delivering better-than-expected results for the latest quarter. Ulta Beauty rallied 9% after topping expectations for both profit and revenue. The opening of new stores helped boost its revenue, and it raised the bottom end of its forecasted range for sales over this full year. Lululemon stretched 15.9% higher following its own profit report. It said stronger sales outside the United States helped it in particular, and its earnings topped analysts’ expectations. Retailers overall have been offering mixed signals on how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain amid the slowing job market and still-high prices. Target gave a dour forecast for the holiday shopping season, for example, while Walmart gave a much more encouraging outlook. A report on Friday suggested sentiment among U.S. consumers may be improving more than economists expected. The preliminary reading from the University of Michigan’s survey hit its highest level in seven months. The survey found a surge in buying for some products as consumers tried to get ahead of possible increases in price due to higher tariffs that President-elect Donald Trump has threatened. In tech, Hewlett Packard Enterprise jumped 10.6% for one of the S&P 500’s larger gains after reporting stronger profit and revenue than expected. Tech stocks were some of the market’s strongest this week, as Salesforce and other big companies talked up how much of a boost they’re getting from the artificial-intelligence boom. All told, the S&P 500 rose 15.16 points to 6,090.27. The Dow dipped 123.19 to 44,642.52, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 159.05 to 19,859.77. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury yield slipped to 4.15% from 4.18% late Thursday. In stock markets abroad, France’s CAC 40 rose 1.3% after French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to stay in office until the end of his term and to name a new prime minister within days. Earlier this week, far-right and left-wing lawmakers approved a no-confidence motion due to budget disputes, forcing Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his cabinet to resign. In Asia, stock indexes were mixed. They rallied 1.6% in Hong Kong and 1% in Shanghai ahead of an annual economic policy meeting scheduled for next week. South Korea’s Kospi dropped 0.6% as South Korea’s ruling party chief showed support for suspending the constitutional powers of President Yoon Suk Yeol after he declared martial law and then revoked that earlier this week. Yoon is facing calls to resign and may be impeached. Bitcoin was sitting near $101,500 after briefly bursting above $103,000 to a record the day before. AP Writers Matt Ott and Zimo Zhong contributed.Brock Purdy update: Kyle Shanahan says 49ers QB has been 'great all week'
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — One person was shot to death Thursday afternoon and three others were injured in the French Quarter, New Orleans’ historic tourist district, police said. Police responded to the shooting at the intersection of Iberville and Royal streets at around 12:21 p.m. and had at least one of three suspects in custody, Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick told reporters. Kirkpatrick said at least three masked suspects were in a silver 2016 Honda Accord when they pulled up outside Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse and opened fire. “This was not random, and we could see that,” Kirkpatrick said in a media briefing at the scene. The arrested suspect’s name and the expected charges have not yet been released. Kirkpatrick urged the other suspects to come forward. “We know who you are,” she said. “We’re asking you to come in, turn yourself in.” At least one firearm has been recovered, she said. It’s the second shooting incident within a week in Orleans Parish. On Sunday, gunfire broke out twice as the Nine Times Social Aid & Pleasure Club’s second line parade rolled through a neighborhood, wounding 10 people, then killing two people and wounding a third 45 minutes later as the parade crossed the Almonaster bridge. “Tragically, we are faced with another mass shooting this week,” said New Orleans City Council president Helena Moreno in a statement. “This is an overall gun violence problem throughout our city and we cannot stand for it. This is not who we are and those responsible will be apprehended and fully prosecuted.” Kirkpatrick noted that in November 2023, 20 murders were recorded. Thursday’s shooting brings the number to nine so far for November 2024, she said. The last shooting involving multiple people in the French Quarter happened in Nov. 2022, when five people were shot, none fatally, in the 200 block of Bourbon Street. In Nov. 2016, one person died and nine were wounded in a shooting. Meanwhile, the two victims from Thursday’s incident were listed in stable condition and a third was in surgery, Kirkpatrick said. Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse was closed at the time of the shooting. No workers were injured and the business will remain closed Thursday, spokesperson Lindsay RossThe cost of earningOne of the country’s largest health insurers reversed a change in policy Thursday after widespread outcry, saying it would not tie payments in some states to the length of time a patient went under anesthesia. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield said in a statement that its decision to backpedal resulted from “significant widespread misinformation” about the policy. “To be clear, it never was and never will be the policy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services,” the statement said. “The proposed update to the policy was only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia consistent with well-established clinical guidelines.” Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield would have used "physician work time values," which is published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as the metric for anesthesia limits; maternity patients and patients under the age of 22 were exempt. But Dr. Jonathan Gal, economics committee chair of the American Society for Anesthesiologists, said it's unclear how CMS derives those values. In mid-November, the American Society for Anesthesiologists called on Anthem to “reverse the proposal immediately,” saying in a news release that the policy would have taken effect in February in New York, Connecticut and Missouri. It's not clear how many states in total would have been affected, as notices also were posted in Virginia and Colorado . People across the country registered their concerns and complaints on social media, and encouraged people in affected states to call their legislators. Some people noted that the policy could prevent patients from getting overcharged. Gal said the policy change would have been unprecedented, ignored the “nuanced, unpredictable human element” of surgery and was a clear “money grab.” “It’s incomprehensible how a health insurance company could so blatantly continue to prioritize their profits over safe patient care,” he said. "If Anthem is, in fact, rescinding the policy, we’re delighted that they came to their senses.” Prior to Anthem's announcement Thursday, Connecticut comptroller Sean Scanlon said the “concerning” policy wouldn't affect the state after conversations with the insurance company. And New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in an emailed statement Thursday that her office had also successfully intervened. The insurance giant’s policy change came one day after the CEO of UnitedHealthcare , another major insurance company, was shot and killed in New York City. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.Why This Defensive AI Stock Will Be a Big Winner
There isn’t a Marie listed on the Gophers women’s soccer roster, but she is an important part of the team. ADVERTISEMENT Marie doesn’t play a position, but she goes everywhere with the squad, which is convenient because she is the size of a carry-on roller bag and can be safely stowed in an airplane’s overhead bin. Marie is the name given to U captain defender Elizabeth Overberg’s black JBL PartyBox speaker. Marie is in Chapel Hill, N.C., for the Gophers’ game against South Carolina in the second round of the NCAA tournament at 1 p.m. Friday. Minnesota is making its first national tournament appearance since 2018, but Marie’s inclusion shows that the Gophers aren’t taking themselves too seriously. Near the start of the season, forward Khyah Harper choreographed a dance to Michel Jackson’s “Beat It” for a handful of teammates to perform before road matches. The ensemble includes Overberg, Sophia Boman, Avery Petty, Alex Isaacs, Aaryn Gabriel, Sophia Romine and Evelyn Calhoon. The Gophers finished the regular season at home, hosted the start of the Big Ten tournament and began the NCAA run with a 2-0 win over South Dakota State last week, so they haven’t done the dance more than a month. The routine — superstition? — is to do the performance the day before the game, which they did Thursday. ADVERTISEMENT “They were a little rusty,” Harper reported. “They got a redo because first one did not go very well. But the second one, they definitely brought the energy.” Did head coach Erin Chastain join in? She is, after all, coming off her first career NCAA tournament win. “That would be a miracle to get her to do it,” Harper shared. But the tradition has brought the players together and their on-field success is due, in part, to their chemistry, said Harper, the Big Ten forward of the year with 17 goals in 20 matches. “Our team is super close, so it’s really easy to play well together when we’re on the field,” Harper said. “And I think that we just all have the same end goal ... just winning.” ADVERTISEMENT The sixth-seeded Gophers (13-4-3) will be tested by No. 3 seed South Carolina (11-3-7) on Friday. While Minnesota is in the tournament for the first time in six years, the Gamecocks of the Southeastern Conference are making their 12th straight appearance. “They seem like they’re a really good team, but we know that we are, too,” Harper said. “So we kind of just focus on ourselves and know that we can bring a lot to the table, and we’re a really good team. We’re in the round of 32 for a reason. We can match up against any competition, but we also know that anyone can win on any given day, so I think just bringing our best effort versus them and we can get a result that we want.” If the U wins again and reaches the Sweet Sixteen, there will be another dance recital in the Gophers’ near future. ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .