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The Christian’S Approach To Morality And The 2024 Election – Drew Alan Hall
NoneThe publisher of B2B games industry website, Game Developer, Informa, has merged with TechTarget to form Informa TechTarget. In a press release, the new company said it aspired to be "the leading B2B growth accelerator for the technology industry, delivering services that help companies move faster to market and faster to revenue." This takes the company's combined headcount to over 2000 people, and a customer base of 7500 globally. It will offer "technology vendors powerful solutions built on the back of its unique B2B audiences, permissioned intent data, specialist insights and expertise." "Following the definitive agreement between TechTarget and Informa earlier this year, we are delighted to combine our strengths as Informa TechTarget," said Gary Nugent, CEO Informa TechTarget. "Our business serves an attractive, dynamic growth market, underpinned by increasing demand for B2B solutions built upon permission-based audiences and first-party data. Informa TechTarget has a unique set of assets, brands and talents that address the go-to-market challenges of today's B2B technology vendors across their product lifecycle, from R&D to ROI, helping to accelerate time to market and to revenue while delivering long-term value to our shareholders." In a post to its readers, Game Developer's publisher Alissa McAloon said the website's "commitment to [readers] remains the same."Find the daily horoscope of the 14th day of December 2024, and navigate your day accordingly. Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20): Get yourself to feel better about things. This will not only boost your confidence and make you more adaptable in how you act, but it will also make you feel less fear, jealousy, and hate. Keep your spending in check and only buy things you need. Don't waste time feeling bad about things you did; try to learn from them. Don't forget that eyes can't lie. You'll learn something very important today from the eyes of someone you love. You can get new facts and information at seminars, art shows, and other events. There are lots of fun things you can do with your partner. Friends can make you happy. It's also possible to visit these places and meet new people. Taurus (Apr 21–May 20): Focus your energy on useful things instead of useless ones. Today, people in the job market will need a lot of money, but they won't have enough because of wasted spending in the past. Your high energy and excitement will lead to good results and help ease the stress in your home. Today, your love will come to you as an angel of love if you keep your words open. Today you'll probably have a lot of free time because you know how to give yourself time. You can go to the gym or play any sport in your free time these days. Today you can have a great evening with your partner. You can plan to go to the movies with family or friends today. It could be a great day. Gemini (May 21–Jun 21): Stress can be caused by money issues and having to deal with them. Don't spend right away; you could lose money if you don't look at everything from every angle. Things will not be the same in the family today as you think. There's a chance that someone will argue about something at home today, so stay calm. Wear new clothes and act in a new way when you go out with your partner. Take a walk in the park today to pass the time. But there's a chance you'll get into a fight with someone you don't know there, which will ruin your mood. You'll understand how important it is to be happy in your marriage. You can help your kids do well in school if you do. Cancer (Jun 22–Jul 22): For peace of mind, deal with the things that cause you stress. People you know will help you find new ways to make money. Having fun with family and friends. You need to learn from your loss, because today, being honest can also set you back. Use your high level of confidence to your advantage and go out and meet new people. There may be a fight with the spouse because of the high costs. Take pictures today so you have great moments to look back on tomorrow. Don't forget to use your camera. Leo (Jul 23-Aug 23): For a better life, work on your health and yourself. You'll be able to save later because money will come in all day. The whole family will be happy with any sudden good news at the end of the day. If you go out with friends in the evening, you might meet someone romantically who you didn't expect. You will want to do the things you liked to do when you were a kid today. Online jokes about being married make you laugh. You won't be able to stay upset today, though, because you'll see so many wonderful things about your married life. It can take a long time to do things like get your hair cut or a massage, but you'll feel great afterwards. BY Dr. Sohini Sastri Virgo (Aug 24-Sep 23): Reading something that is engaging is a great way to make your brain work. Invest your money sensibly. Your household can construct a mountain out of a molecular structure. Because of the members of your life partner's family, you can find that your day is a little bit challenging. There is a possibility that you may be forced to go on an unwelcome journey today, which will result in the cancellation of your plans to spend time with your family. Depression could be the result of your spouse intentionally hurting your emotional well-being. Simplifying your actions is the only way to achieve simplicity in your life. In addition to this, you should simplify your behaviour. Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23): Fear and uncertainty might cause you to become mired in a state of bewilderment. Today, you have the opportunity to acquire the skill of how to save money, and by acquiring this skill, you will be able to save your investment. In the event that members of the family behave in a humorous manner, the environment of the house will become bright and joyful. It's possible that you'll have a new perspective on your loved one today. It is possible that you will be upset today as a result of a glitch in some of your jobs, and you will waste your valuable time thinking about it. On the subject of marriage, this is a very wonderful day. These days, you can throw intimate gatherings in your house without informing anyone else. Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22): There will be a lot of energy in you. Today, married people may have to spend a lot of money on school for their kids. Please tell the child to do what you want them to do. Things won't go as planned, though. Your support will definitely make your child feel better about themselves. Be happy and ready for problems when you're in love. Reading an interesting book or magazine today is a good way to spend the day. Your partner might be mad at you because you forgot to tell them something. Making plans for a better future is never a bad thing. Today is a good day to make plans for the future. BY Dr. Sohini Sastri Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21): Meditation and yoga will help you stay mentally healthy and keep you from getting out of shape. Someone may send you money today. This money will help you with a lot of your money issues. Don't worry about school for the kid. There will be no more problems for you right now. They will go away on their own in due time. Wait until you find a new partner to be happy. Today, because you know how quickly time can pass, you'll want to spend time alone, away from everyone. It will also be good for you to do that. In the hardest times of your life, your partner will always be there for you. You can plan to go to the movies with family or friends today. It could be a great day. Capricorn (Dec 22–Jan 21): Believe that self-belief is the true test of bravery because it is for this reason that you can get rid of a disease that has been there for a long time. Today is not the time to invest. The members of your family will hold a unique and significant place in your life. Your heart will only be broken if you have a one-sided attachment. Things are not going to go the way you want them to today. Today is a day like that. The interference of a spouse's family can throw off the equilibrium of a married existence. The act of planning for a better tomorrow is never a negative idea. Now is a terrific day to make plans for a prosperous future, so take advantage of it. Aquarius (Jan 22-Feb 19): Self-medicating will end in death. Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine, or you might have to take it. To get good long-term results, you should put your money into stocks and mutual funds. You will feel better after a short visit with family and friends after a busy day. Because of what's going on at home, your boyfriend or girlfriend may look very angry today. Try to make them feel better if they are angry. Use your high level of confidence to your advantage and go out and meet new people. Even though things won't go as planned, you and your Hamdam will have a good time. You can watch movies on TV and talk to your friends and family. What could be better? A little work on your part will make your day go like this. BY Dr. Sohini Sastri Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20): You will have a sense of calm and relaxation if you take part in charitable work today. Money will appear out of nowhere, and it will cover all of your expenses, including your bills and other obligations. The people around you will be impressed by your expertise as well as your sense of humor. Going somewhere together is a great way to fill your romantic life with fresh feelings and vitality. You will have some spare time today, and you can put that time to good use by engaging in some Dhyana Yoga. Today will bring you a sense of mental comfort. Spending the evening with your husband today has the potential to be one of the most memorable evenings of your whole life. Today is a day that has the potential to be quite enjoyable; it is possible to make plans to go out with friends or family to watch a movie.
'Malcolm in the Middle' to offer new episodes with Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek are reuniting for a new four-episode run of “Malcolm in the Middle” for Disney+ — 25 years after the beloved sitcom first launched. The show ran for seven seasons starting in 2000 and was hailed for looking at ordinary life through the eyes of an extraordinary youngster, now fully grown: Malcolm, played by Muniz, has a genius I.Q. The new four episodes will be crafted by original series creator Linwood Boomer. No air dates were announced. “Malcolm in the Middle” originally aired on Fox and ended its run in 2006. Woman who falsely accused Duke lacrosse players of rape in 2006 publicly admits she lied RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The woman who in 2006 falsely accused three Duke University lacrosse players of raping her has admitted publicly for the first time that she made up the story. The accusations made national headlines at the time, stirring tensions about race, class and the privilege of college athletes. Crystal Mangum, who is Black, said in an interview with the “Let’s Talk with Kat” podcast that she “made up a story that wasn’t true” about the white players who attended a party where she was hired to perform as a stripper “because I wanted validation from people and not from God.” The former Duke players were declared innocent in 2007 after Mangum’s story fell apart under legal scrutiny. Sophia, a famous robot and global icon of AI, wins hearts at Zimbabwe's innovation fair HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Sophia, a world-renowned robot, has been the center of attention at an Artificial Intelligence and Innovation fair in Zimbabwe this week. Described as an AI global icon by the U.N., Sophia can hold human-like conversations with people and recognize their gestures. As a special guest at the week-long event at the University of Zimbabwe, she answered questions on academic topics from researchers. Children quizzed her about the bible, God and her birth. She also made clear her aversion to human food and romance. The United Nations Development Program said it brought Sophia to Zimbabwe as part of efforts to “inspire youth, policymakers, and innovators to embrace AI as a catalyst for development.” Stanley recalls millions of travel mugs over concerns the lids might fall off, causing burns Stanley is recalling approximately 2.6 million of its switchback and trigger action stainless steel travel mugs sold in the U.S. because of a potential burn hazard. The company said that the mug’s lid threads can shrink when exposed to heat and torque, causing the lid to detach during use, posing a burn hazard. Stanley has received 91 reports worldwide, including 16 in the U.S., of the recalled travel mugs’ lids detaching during use, resulting in 38 burn injuries worldwide, including two burn injuries in the U.S., with 11 consumers worldwide requiring medical attention. Miami Dolphins release veteran receiver Odell Beckham Jr. MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins released wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on Friday, ending the former Pro Bowler’s short tenure with the team. Beckham had missed the past two days of practice for what the team called personal reasons. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel indicated that the decision to part ways was mutual. Beckham signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in May, but started the season on the physically unable to perform list after offseason knee surgery. Since his Dolphins debut in Week 5 against New England, Beckham had just nine catches for 55 yards in nine games. Bird strike disables a jetliner engine and forces an emergency landing at JFK airport NEW YORK (AP) — Authorities say a bird strike involving an American Airlines jetliner disabled one of the plane’s two engines shortly after takeoff from New York’s LaGuardia Airport. The plane was forced to turn around and land at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Airline officials say no one was injured. Flight 1722 took off from LaGuardia at 7:43 p.m. Thursday with a destination of Charlotte, North Carolina. Airport officials say it safely made an emergency landing at Kennedy at 8:03 p.m. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating. The agency received reports of 19,400 strikes at 713 airports across the U.S. last year alone. Rarely do they force jetliners to make emergency landings. 49ers LB De'Vondre Campbell refuses to enter game after losing his starting spot SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco linebacker De’Vondre Campbell refused to enter the game in the third quarter after losing his starting job when Dre Greenlaw returned from an injury. Campbell played 90% of defensive snaps for the 49ers but was benched after Greenlaw came back for his first game since tearing his left Achilles tendon in last season’s Super Bowl. When Greenlaw left with soreness in the third quarter Thursday night against the Rams, Campbell told the coaches he didn't want to play and left the field. Coach Kyle Shanahan says he has never seen that before and the team will “figure out something” on how to deal with it going forward. 'Crown of Thorns' returns to Notre Dame Cathedral for public veneration PARIS (AP) — An ancient relic that many Christians revere as Jesus Christ’s “Crown of Thorns” has returned to Notre Dame, five years after it was saved from the flames of the cathedral’s devastating 2019 fire. The crown — a circular band of branches encased in a gilded golden tube — was brought back to its historic home Friday in a ceremony. The event was presided over by the archbishop of Paris and attended by knights and dames of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher, marking a key moment in the cathedral’s restoration journey. In 1239, it was acquired by King Louis IX of France, who brought it to Paris. 'Vanderpump Rules' star James Kennedy arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence BURBANK, Calif. (AP) — Police say “Vanderpump Rules” star James Kennedy has been arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence. Police in Burbank, California, say officers investigated reports of an argument between a man and a woman at a residence late Tuesday night and arrested the 32-year-old Kennedy. He was released from jail after posting bail. A representative of Kennedy did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. The Burbank city attorney will decide whether to file charges. Kennedy is a DJ and reality TV star who has appeared for 10 seasons on “Vanderpump Rules” — the Bravo series about the lives of employees at a set of swank restaurants. Dick Vitale says he's cancer-free after 4th bout with the disease in just over 3 years Dick Vitale said he’s cancer-free after his fourth bout with the disease in just over three years. The 85-year-old ESPN college basketball analyst posted Thursday on X that he got the news after a morning scan, saying: “SANTA CLAUS came early as Dr Rick Brown called & said that my PET SCAN at 7 AM came back CLEAN OF CANCER !” Vitale posted on X. “OMG thanks so much to ALL of YOU for your (prayers). Yes I’m cutting the nets down baby it’s my National Championship!” Vitale had surgery in the summer to remove cancerous lymph nodes from his neck. The Basketball Hall of Famer was previously treated for melanoma and lymphoma, and had radiation treatments last year for vocal cord cancer.PDP governors call for unity, economic reforms, justiceAsian stock markets continued to surge in popularity in 2024, outperforming the in IPOs. Throughout this year, Asia has dominated on stock exchange floats, with over 600 IPOs throughout the year, more than two thirds of the 867 floats globally in 2024, according to data In comparison, the UK market has had just a dozen IPOs throughout the year, with only six worth more than £30m. “It is worth noting that the performance of some of these deals has been mixed, with a number trading below issue post pricing,” said Peel Hunt analysts. The only IPO worth more than £1bn from the UK , which has fallen more than 14 per cent since its IPO earlier this month. Meanwhile, countries like India have seen their stock market take-in surge, with proceeds skyrocketing to $11.2bn (£9bn), more than doubling the $5.5bn (£4.4bn) raised in 2023. Shanghai Stock Exchange Building at Pudong (Wikipedia/Author ??/CC BY-SA 3.0) “The pipeline for 2025 promises even bigger fireworks, fuelled by skyrocketing retail participation, hefty domestic inflows, and FPIs [Foreign Portfolio Investments] flexing their muscles,” said Murthy Grandhi, company profiles analyst at Globaldata. In comparison, the value of deals on the UK IPO market declined about nine per cent this year according to data, pushing it down to just 20th in the world. Looking at the rest of Asia, and in particular Asia Pacific (APAC) Japan and Malaysia also registered impressive growth, with Japan’s IPOs increasing 275 per cent, with 69 IPOs raising a total of $12.6bn (£10.1bn), while Malaysia recorded a 146 per cent rise. However, Chinese IPOs dropped by more than half, thanks to tighter regulations and a lack of interest in its market until the last quarter of the year. The country saw the launch of 64 IPOs raising just over $5.2bn (£4.2bn). The Asian markets are expected to continue their streak of strong performance into 2025, thanks to a robust pipeline of companies ready to make their splash on stock exchanges. Significant IPOs include Tokyo Metro in Japan and Hyundai Motor in India, with deal values of $3.2bn (£2.6bn) and $3.3bn (£2.6bn) respectively, totalling vastly more than all floats on the UK market combined. By City AM
J.D. Vance's new home with wife Usha includes a swimming pool that Biden 'loved' to use for skinny dipping Vice presidents live at the Naval Observatory, two miles from White House Residence includes six bedrooms, a wrap-around porch and heated pool By EMILY GOODIN, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT Published: 15:56, 23 November 2024 | Updated: 16:01, 23 November 2024 e-mail View comments J.D. Vance , wife Usha and their three children are packing up to live in their new residence - a 9,000 square foot home on the 80-acre Naval Observatory with a tree swing and a swimming pool. A swimming pool Joe Biden is obsessed with. And loved to use for skinny dipping when he lived there. Joe and Jill Biden resided at One Naval Observatory for eight years when he was vice president under Barack Obama . And, even as president, he still talks about the place, including its private, heated swimming pool. 'You're on 80 acres, overlooking the rest of the city, and you can walk out, there's a swimming pool, you can walk off the porch in the summer and jump in the pool and go into work,' Biden said at a CNN town hall during the first year of his presidency. 'You can ride a bicycle around and never leave the property. You can work out, but the White House is very different,' he noted. And Biden reportedly jumped into that pool naked, Secret Service agents told author Ron Kessler for his 2014 book about the agency. 'Agents say that, whether at the vice president's residence or at his home in Delaware , Biden has a habit of swimming in his pool nude,' Kessler wrote in his book, The First Family Detail: Secret Service Agents Reveal the Hidden Lives of the Presidents . 'Female Secret Service agents find that offensive,' he noted. J.D. and Usha Vance (above) will move in the Vice President's residence in January The vice president's house - known as One Naval Observatory, has a private, heated pool The White House also has a swimming pool but it's behind the Oval Office patio, which means it would be almost impossible for Biden to skinny dip without baring all before the West Wing staff. Biden even told his successor Mike Pence and his family to enjoy the vice presidential swimming pool, calling it one of his favorite perks. Read More Who is JD Vance's wife, Usha? Meet the woman behind Donald Trump's vice presidential pick Karen and Mike Pence used it often as part of their exercise routine. 'It's great,' Karen Pence told Washington Life magazine in 2017 when she was second lady. 'That's the thing that Joe Biden said to us as he got into the limo and left the Capitol on inauguration day — he said, 'you're gonna love the pool.' Biden, as vice president, said his favorite vice president was Dan Quayle, who installed the pool at the residence. 'No can say a negative thing about Dan Quayle,' he told reporters in 2010, adding Quayle 'built that pool.' 'He's my favorite vice president,' said Biden. 'And my granddaughters love it.' Biden even dubbed it 'the Dan Quayle swimming pool.' Naomi, Finnegan and Maisey - the daughters of Hunter Biden - lived with their parents in Washington D.C. when Joe Biden was president. They frequently visited their grandparents at the Naval Observatory. Joe BIden, as a vice president, would host pool parties where he used a super soaker The 9,000 square foot vice presidential residence has six bedrooms Biden, as vice president, bragged about his living conditions: 'I voted all those years for public housing. I didn't know it was gonna be this good.' The vice presidential residence is technically public property. It sits on the United States Naval Observatory, a Navy base that is one of the oldest scientific research areas in the country. It remains the country's leading facility for astronomical and timing data and is a center for navigational information. Only two miles from the White House, Vance will have a short commute, particularly since he'll be traveling in a motorcade. There's also plenty of room for him, his three children Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel and the family dog Atlas. The Queen Anne style house is 9,150 square feet with 33 rooms, seven wood-burning fireplaces, a library and solarium. It has six bedrooms and a wrap around porch. There's also sweeping grounds with plenty of room for Atlas to run and the children to play. And it's completely private. Unlike the White House, there are no public tours of the vice pesidential residence although the public can sign up for tours of the observatory itself to see the giant telescope and scientific library. The home was built in 1893 for the Naval Observatory's superintendent. The three-story house cost approximately $20,000 to build. It began housing its chief of naval operations in 1923 and became the vice presidential residence in the 1970s. Vice President Walter Mondale, who served under President Jimmy Carter, became the first vice president to live there full-time. J.D. Vance and Usha with Evan, Vivek, and Mirabel Dick Cheney, as vice president, dressed up his labrador retrievers Jackson (left as Darth Vader) and Dave (right as Superman) for Halloween Al Gore, as vice president, and wife Tipper held big Halloween events where they would dress in costume - above the couple in 1998 dressed as mummies Many vice presidents have hosted receptions there as part of their official duties. The Pences and the Bidens each hosted parties for military families. The Bidens held summer barbeques for supporters and press that would feature Joe Biden running around with a super soaker. Al and Tipper Gore were famous for their Halloween events, which Dick and Lynne Cheney continued. The vice presidents and spouses who lived there have add their personal touches. Joe Biden surprised Jill with a tree swing for Valentine's Day in 2010. The commemorative plaque on the tree reads 'Joe loves Jill. Valentine's Day 2010.' Karen Pence installed a bee hive. Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish, added a white mezuzah - a small scroll of Hebrew text from the Torah in a decorative case - on the right side of the doorway of their residence. The Vance family will move into the residence on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2025. Politics Mike Pence JD Vance Joe Biden Share or comment on this article: J.D. Vance's new home with wife Usha includes a swimming pool that Biden 'loved' to use for skinny dipping e-mail Add comment
BMW set to pull beloved model from US stores in 2025 as automaker halts new orders on stylish car
No. 25 won over with a last-second touchdown in Piscataway, New Jersey on Saturday. Down 31-30, the Illini faced a fourth-and-13 with 14 seconds remaining in the game and were ready to attempt a go-ahead field goal from 58 yards. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano then called timeout to try and ice kicker . Moczulski actually kicked the ball wide left and approximately 15 yards short, but the attempt was negated by the timeout. After seeing how the kick went and given a chance to reconsider, Illinois coach Bret Bielema decided against the field goal try and opted to go for a first down. That choice ended up working out even better than Bielema could've imagined. PAT BRYANT SCORES THE GAME-WINNING TD ON 4TH DOWN! 😱 — NBC Sports (@NBCSports) Illinois quarterback connected with Pat Bryant for a first down and much more. Bryant avoided several Rutgers defenders and sprinted to the right corner of the end zone for a touchdown with four seconds remaining. The Illini failed on a two-point conversion attempt. Yet they got those two points anyway when Rutgers lateraled the ball out of bounds in the end zone on the ensuing kickoff. Some more angles of the Pat Bryant game-winning TD for 🎥 on Peacock 📺 — Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) Altmyer passed for 249 yards and two touchdowns on 12-for-26 passing. He also rushed for 74 yards and a score. rushed for an additional 58 yards and a TD on 13 carries. Bryant finished with seven receptions for 197 yards and a touchdown he'll never forget. Rutgers QB also passed for two TDs with 174 yards on 18-for-36 passing, while also rushing for 84 yards and two scores on 13 carries. led the Scarlet Knights with 122 yards rushing on 28 carries. caught six balls for 66 yards and a TD. Illinois improved to 8-3 overall with the victory and is tied with for at 5-3. Rutgers dropped to 6-5 (3-5 in Big Ten) with the defeat.VATICAN CITY—Religious communities are increasingly seeking to invest in companies that match their faith values and ethical concerns, but experts say the financial market lags in providing the appropriate options. A conference in London on November 11 and 12 sought to bridge that gap by bringing together financial service industry experts with Anglican and Catholic leaders, who represent dioceses and congregations all over the world and an estimated portfolio of $1.75 trillion. “What we are seeing is that there’s increasing interest from religious organizations, not just Catholic, but also other Christian denominations, to make sure money is indeed managed in an aligned way with their faith,” Peter Hugh Smith, chief executive of London-based CCLA Investment Management, told Religion News Service (RNS) in an interview. CCLA, a London-based organization that manages funds for the Church of England and other religious charities, hosted the conference. The Mensuram Bonam Summit, from the Latin meaning “for good measure,” was named after a document published in 2022 by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, which laid out guidelines for Catholic companies and investors seeking to invest their money for good. The document, inspired by Pope Francis’ teachings, followed dozens of regional guidelines issued by Catholic bishops’ conferences around the world and suggested a practice of “engagement” with investment companies and, when necessary, to offer a faith-based perspective to “enhance” their portfolios. Only if these two methods failed, the document called for Catholics to “exclude” investing with those companies. While Muslims have created sophisticated methods to promote investment in Shariah-compliant funds—ones that aren’t, for example, involved in pork, tobacco or alcohol—Christians lack similar resources. “I think people of faith are becoming more aware that they actually do have a choice with where they invest their money, and not a very good choice at the moment, and that’s what we’re trying to fix,” Smith said. “Just generally, the industry is not servicing that demand particularly well,” he added. To achieve this goal, the conference focused on educating financial services providers about the demands and concerns of Christian and especially Catholic investors. Mensuram Bonam listed 24 ethical questions Catholics should ponder before they invest, including abortion, the environment and social issues. “We’re continuing down a road of education to try and inform financial advisers that there are other things besides the financial return on investment,” said the Rev. Séamus Finn, an expert in faith-based and socially responsible investing and a priest of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, speaking to RNS. Finn noted that even among Catholics there are diverging opinions about what should disqualify an investment, citing different positions on the death penalty or on animal rights in different regions of the world. But most Catholics agree on core issues of the faith, he said. “It’s important that you feel that through the money that you’re investing, what you are building is a better and a more sustainable future on the planet for your grandchildren and for those who are marginalized, the poor and the thousands of migrants that we have crossing the world every day with barely enough to survive,” Finn said. The conference was supported by US firms and organizations, including the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Investment Services and CBIS Catholic Responsible Investments, as well as other organizations in Europe. Cardinals from the bureaucratic offices at the Vatican, the Roman Curia, attended the event, as well as Jean-Baptiste de Franssu, the president of the Institute for Religious Works, commonly referred to as the Vatican bank. Plagued by financial scandals in the past, the newly reformed Vatican bank has made an effort to set itself as an example of transparency and efficiency for Catholic institutions, which are often led by clerics with limited understanding of financial issues and are dependent on outdated reporting and budgeting systems. Claire Giangravé/Religion News Service via AP Finn said he hoped the conference would also “get the Vatican to be more proactive on this front” by sharing best practices and would “encourage those who have been afraid of doing any of this because they don’t feel like they’re experts in the area of finance, that there are ways to start, and there’s plenty of help out there.” Participants at the conference looked for a middle ground between Christian concerns about where to invest their funds and the practical reality of needing financial returns. “Our point is that you can invest ethically, and it will not affect your return,” Finn said. “There are companies out there who want to do good and want to do right.”
MOORHEAD — Minnesota State Community and Technical College opened its new health sciences simulation center Friday morning on the Moorhead campus. According to a release from the college, the 4,167 square-foot center is "the first of its kind in the region" and features four hospital rooms, an emergency/surgery room, a long-term care/in-home care room, debriefing rooms and talking mannequins that can help students practice skills like needle and catheter insertion. ADVERTISEMENT According to M State President Carrie Brimhall, the center "mirrors" real interactions students would have in health care settings. "It's exactly what the students will be walking into when they leave M State and go into a career field," she told The Forum. The center is designed to replicate lifelike situations and bring together students in various health care and emergency services programs, including nursing, phlebotomy, radiologic technology, criminal justice and more, the release said. The broad range of roles is designed to help students understand how they all interact with one another. "It's beyond the person, the patient. It also involves family, law enforcement, child protection, other people come into the mix. Our students need to be able to respond in a high-pressure or conflict situation," Brimhall said. The facility's design started during the COVID pandemic in response to student's desire to have more "real-world experiences and as many hands-on opportunities to learn as possible in a safe and controlled environment," Brimhall said. The four hospital rooms allow for multiple simulations to take place at once, she said. The campus previously only had one simulation room. Brimhall said instructors in a control room can speak for the mannequins to provide prompts and symptoms for students to treat. The Moorhead center is part of a larger project to update health care simulation equipment on all four of M State's campuses. Brimhall anticipates bringing students from across M State's footprint to Moorhead to participate in full-day simulations. She also hopes to have high school students visit the facility. ADVERTISEMENT In addition to Moorhead, M State has campuses in Fergus Falls, Detroit Lakes and Wadena. M State saw an 18% increase in health care enrollment this fall, Brimhall said. The college's health care programs have a total of 1,157 health care students, accounting for 35% of the system's total students. "When we put things like this high-end, unique and really one-of-a-kind opportunity in campuses for two-year college students, I think it really elevates the reputation of the work that we do," Brimhall said.US President-elect Donald Trump filed a brief Friday urging the Supreme Court to pause a law that would ban TikTok the day before his January 20 inauguration if it is not sold by its Chinese owner ByteDance. "In light of the novelty and difficulty of this case, the court should consider staying the statutory deadline to grant more breathing space to address these issues," Trump's legal team wrote, to give him "the opportunity to pursue a political resolution." Trump was fiercely opposed to TikTok during his 2017-21 first term, and tried in vain to ban the video app on national security grounds. The Republican voiced concerns -- echoed by political rivals -- that the Chinese government might tap into US TikTok users' data or manipulate what they see on the platform. US officials had also voiced alarm over the popularity of the video-sharing app with young people, alleging that its parent company is subservient to Beijing and that the app is used to spread propaganda, claims denied by the company and the Chinese government. Trump called for a US company to buy TikTok, with the government sharing in the sale price, and his successor Joe Biden went one stage further -- signing a law to ban the app for the same reasons. Trump has now, however, reversed course. "Now (that) I'm thinking about it, I'm for TikTok, because you need competition," he recently told Bloomberg. More from this section "If you don't have TikTok, you have Facebook and Instagram -- and that's, you know, that's Zuckerberg." Facebook, founded by Mark Zuckerberg and part of his Meta tech empire, was among the social media networks that banned Trump after attacks by his supporters on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. The ban was driven by concerns that he would use the platform to promote more violence. Those bans on major social media platforms were later lifted. In the brief filed on Friday, Trump's lawyer made it clear the president-elect did not take a position on the legal merits of the current case. "President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute," John Sauer wrote in the amicus curiae -- or "friend of the court" -- brief. "Instead, he respectfully requests that the court consider staying the act's deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case, thus permitting President Trump's incoming Administration the opportunity to pursue a political resolution of the questions at issue in the case." ft/aha
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday night praised the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel for safeguarding the border areas in challenging and difficult terrains and climates across the country. In a post on social media platform X, the Union Minister said: "The country is proud of @ITBP_official soldiers who play a leading role in protecting the border and safeguarding the border areas even in difficult circumstances. Through the 'Vibrant Village Program', ITBP is also speeding up development work in the border areas." "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has introduced the concept of vibrant villages to provide the best facilities to people living in the border villages so that their population is not just sustained but also increased," Home Minister Shah said. ITBP could also be made the nodal agency for carrying out developmental work in the border villages, he added. He further wrote: "Member of Parliament from Garhwal (Uttarakhand) @anil_baluni spent the night resting among the brave ITBP soldiers, appreciated the commitment and dedication of the 'Himveers' and boosted their morale." Earlier on Friday, BJP MP from Uttarakhand's Garhwal Lok Sabha constituency, Anil Baluni spent a day with the ITBP personnel, calling them 'Himveers' (snow bravehearts) who are deployed in the most challenging climates and chilling temperatures serving selflessly the motherland at the borders of the country. All citizens of the country feel proud of our security personnel for safeguarding the borders of the country and always keep the feeling of serving the motherland and patriotism alive in their hearts, Baluni said. The BJP MP in a post on X said: "Enlightened pure Bharati from the high peak of Himadri, The radiant light itself calls for freedom." He further wrote: "I got the opportunity to spend a day with the ITBP Himveers who are deployed in the service of Maa Bharati in the most difficult conditions and live their daily routine. Every Indian feels proud to see our soldiers protecting the borders of the country in such difficult conditions and it always keeps the feeling of patriotism alive in their hearts." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
President-elect Donald Trump wants to turn the lights out on daylight saving time. In a post on his social media site Friday, Trump said his party would try to end the practice when he returns to office. "The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn't! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation," he wrote. Setting clocks forward one hour in the spring and back an hour in the fall is intended to maximize daylight during summer months but has long been subject to scrutiny. Daylight saving time was first adopted as a wartime measure in 1942. Lawmakers have occasionally proposed getting rid of the time change altogether. The most prominent recent attempt, a now-stalled bipartisan bill named the Sunshine Protection Act, had proposed making daylight saving time permanent. The measure was sponsored by Florida Senator Marco Rubio, whom Trump has tapped to helm the State Department. "Changing the clock twice a year is outdated and unnecessary," Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida said as the Senate voted in favor of the measure. Health experts have said that lawmakers have it backward and that standard time should be made permanent. Some health groups , including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have said that it's time to do away with time switches and that sticking with standard time aligns better with the sun — and human biology. Most countries do not observe daylight saving time. For those that do, the date that clocks are changed varies, creating a complicated tapestry of changing time differences. The U.S. states of Arizona and Hawaii don't change their clocks at all.
RECAP: Asian stocks nudged higher yesterday while the dollar was firm, keeping the yen rooted near five-month lows in thin year-end trading. China's plans for massive bond issuance in 2025 also bolstered investor sentiment. The SET index moved in a range of 1,366.71 and 1,410.02 points this week, before closing yesterday at 1,401.46, up 2.7% from the previous week, with daily turnover averaging 30.83 billion baht. Institutional investors were net buyers of 3.1 billion baht, followed by foreign investors at 1.5 billion. Retail investors were net sellers of 3.4 billion baht, followed by brokerage firms at 1.2 billion. NEWSMAKERS: Chinese policymakers plan to sell a record 3 trillion yuan ($411 billion) worth of special treasury bonds in 2025, triple the 2024 figure, in a move aimed at bolstering the slowing economy. Policy support late this year has put the Chinese economy on track to hit a growth target of around 5%, officials said on Thursday. They also announced a 2.7% upward revision in 2023 GDP to 129.4 trillion yuan ($17.7 trillion). The World Bank has raised its forecast for China's economic growth in 2025 to 4.5%, from 4.1% predicted earlier, but warned that subdued household and business confidence, along with headwinds in the property sector, would keep weighing it down. US consumer confidence unexpectedly sank in December for the first time in three months, falling to 104.7, on concerns about the outlook for the economy amid uncertainty about the policies of the incoming Donald Trump administration. US retail sales rose 3.8% between Nov 1 and Dec 24, as last-minute shopping was brisk amid intense holiday season promotions, a Mastercard report showed on Thursday. The jump was well above the 3.1% increase seen in the same period last year. The Bank of Japan could see a net loss of up to 2 trillion yen ($12.7 billion) in fiscal 2027 or 2028 if it raises its short-term policy rate, now 0.25%, to 2%, according to an estimate published by the central bank. India expects the economy to grow at around 6.5% in the fiscal year through March, against 8.2% a year before, after the economy slowed unexpectedly in the July-September quarter. Average housing rents in Chinese cities slid to a four-year low last month due to supply gluts and job market weakness. In 100 major cities in China, rents averaged 2,636 yuan ($361) per 100 square metres, the lowest since 2020, data from the research firm Wind shows. Nippon Steel of Japan says there is public support for its proposal to acquire US Steel in the regions where the steel mills are located. A US foreign investment committee has referred the decision on the $15-billion deal to President Joe Biden, who has until Jan 10 to decide. He and successor Donald Trump have both expressed opposition to the purchase. Honda Motor and Nissan Motor on Monday signed a basic agreement to pursue merger talks, envisioning a new entity being listed by August 2026. Mitsubishi Motors, 24.5% owned by Nissan, also signed the agreement and will likely be part of the group. Toyota Motor said global sales were down 0.2% to 984,348 units in November on lacklustre demand and a pause in production at two plants. Production declined 9.4% year-on-year to 966,921 units. Toyota plans to build an EV factory in Shanghai for its luxury Lexus brand, Nikkei reports, at a time when many foreign automakers are struggling in China. The factory is expected to open in 2027. Alibaba has agreed to merge its South Korean operations with the online platform of Seoul-based E-Mart. Meanwhile, AliExpress International and the Korean platform Gmarket are creating a 50-50 joint venture that will own 100% of Gmarket. The new entity could be valued at $4 billion. Russian companies have begun using Bitcoin and other digital currencies in international payments following legislative changes that allowed such use in order to counter Western sanctions, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said. Turkey's central bank on Thursday lowered interest rates for the first time in almost two years after consumer inflation showed signs of easing. The one-week repo rate was cut to 47.5% from 50%, the first change in eight months. Uber Technologies said it remained committed to Taiwan after the island's antitrust regulator rejected its plan to buy the local Foodpanda business of Delivery Hero for $950 million. China Eastern Airlines will launch the first commercial cross-border service operated by the China-built C919 passenger jet between Shanghai and Hong Kong on Jan 1. The Ministry of Finance needs to propose a new candidate for Bank of Thailand chairman, after the Council of State found Kittiratt Na-Ranong ineligible. The government's legal adviser said he was disqualified because he recently held a political post as an adviser to ex-premier Srettha Thavisin. The Thai banking sector is expected to experience its first loan contraction in 15 years in 2024, driven by higher repayments by borrowers and tighter lending rules, according to Kasikorn Research Center. The Association of Investment Management Companies has placed CP Axtra (CPAXT) shares on a watch list for Thai ESG and Thai CG mutual funds, given concerns over governance following its recent multibillion-baht investment in an affiliate's property venture. The cabinet on Tuesday endorsed an agreement between the central bank and the Ministry of Finance to keep the inflation target in a range of 1% to 3% for 2025. Car production in Thailand fell 28.2% in November to 117,251 units due to weak sales and exports, the Federation of Thai Industries said on Tuesday. The year-on-year drop was the 16th straight month that production had declined. Thailand's manufacturing production index dropped 3.58% in November from a year earlier, the industry ministry said on Friday, missing analysts' forecasts. Thai exports are on track to achieve a historic high of US$300 billion this year, up 5.2% from 2023, the Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday. Shipments reached $25.6 billion in November, marking the fifth consecutive month of growth with an 8.2% year-on-year gain. The Thai Food Processors Association expects the ready-made food market in 2025 to continue to grow by 5-7%, especially in competitively priced products that can compete globally, but warned of unclear US tax increases and their potential impact on Asean. The Excise Department is studying a tax on salt, initially planning to impose it on snack foods, after success in modifying sugar consumption behaviour through a sugar tax. The cabinet this week approved economic stimulus measures, including a second phase of the 10,000-baht handouts to senior citizens in January, and the Easy e-Receipt 2.0 programme running from Jan 16 to Feb 28. The latter allows consumers to deduct up to 50,000 baht in approved spending from taxable income. The national wage committee approved minimum wage increases to 400 baht a day in Phuket, Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Rayong and Koh Samui, and to 372 baht in Bangkok and surrounding areas. Other provinces will see a 2% increase from the current range of 330 to 370 baht. The government had pushed for a 400-baht rate nationwide, but the committee said that was unrealistic. The Tourism Authority of Thailand estimates tourism revenue over the year-end holiday period from Dec 28 to Jan 1 at 62 billion baht, with 4.41 million domestic tourist trips and 1.56 million foreign visitors. The Thai General Insurance Association expects total insurance premiums in 2025 to grow between 1.5% and 2.5%, better than this year, supported by increased vehicle registrations, e-commerce logistics growth, the ageing society and tourism recovery. PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (OR) will allocate 60.4 billion baht for new investments between 2025 and 2029, aiming to maintain its status as a top oil retailer, support non-oil businesses and embark on more investment overseas. COMING UP: On Monday, the US releases monthly pending home sales and China reports manufacturing and composite purchasing managers' index (PMI). On Tuesday, the US reports and the monthly house price index and the American Petroleum Institute reports US crude oil inventories. On Thursday, the US reports manufacturing PMI and price updates. On Friday, Germany releases unemployment data and the US reports the weekly Baker Hughes oil rig count, a leading indicator oil production and demand. STOCKS TO WATCH: Bualuang Securities says tourism-related stocks have strong growth opportunities for 2025. AOT will see increased flight activity, driven by the opening of a new terminal and runway at Suvarnabhumi Airport. CENTEL is a top pick in the hotel sector. Its share price is down 19% this year, reflecting temporary impacts from hotel renovations and startup costs for a new Maldives resort. The company is projected to achieve 11% profit growth in 2025. Among other hotel players, AWC is expected to post 17% profit growth in 2025, driven by a hotel revenue recovery. Earnings for MINT are projected to grow 8%, with potential upside if debt restructuring progresses faster than anticipated. Krungthai XSpring recommends stocks in the services, retail and financial sectors for 2025. CPN and CPALL are well-positioned to capitalise on robust consumer spending and favourable economic conditions. BDMS is recommended in healthcare for strong fundamentals and a resilient performance. Recommended finance plays are KBANK, SCB, TTB and KKP as they are poised for growth, benefiting from rising US bond yields. BLA has strong potential to capitalise on favourable economic and financial trends. Both securities firms emphasise the importance of strong fundamentals and the potential for growth in sectors aligned with global economic recovery and consumer demand in 2025. TECHNICAL VIEW: Trinity Securities sees support at 1,390 points and resistance at 1,455. CGS International Securities (Thailand) sees support at 1,385 points and resistance at 1,420.ATLANTA — To improve Georgia’s troubled prison system, the General Assembly should hike correctional officer salaries, consider more private-public partnerships to expand capacity, increase mental health services and move to single-person cells to improve safety. Those are among a slate of recommendations that a state Senate study committee approved Friday, following hours of testimony at a series of meetings that began in August. Other recommendations that won approval include asking for an audit of contracts to identify any excessive vendor costs, ordering a compensation study, prioritizing new technology to improve security at current and new facilities, and taking action to make sure wardens adhere to consistent policies to prevent culture differences among facilities. The committee also recommended that the state seek federal approval to jam cellphone signals at prisons. Prisoners have used cellphones to run criminal enterprises from inside the prisons, including directing drug trafficking networks and operating various fraud schemes. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Bill Maher’s ‘Rosa Parks’ Gag Draws Groans From Audience