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Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and spent the morning sitting in on meetings between Trump’s choice for attorney general and key Republicans, including members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The effort was for naught: Gaetz announced a day later that he was withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations and the reality that he was unlikely to be confirmed. Thursday morning Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth, the “Fox & Friends Weekend” host whom Trump has tapped to be the next secretary of defense. Hegseth also has faced allegations of sexual assault that he denies. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings in coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump's picks. The role of introducing nominees around Capitol Hill is an unusual one for a vice president-elect. Usually the job goes to a former senator who has close relationships on the Hill, or a more junior aide. But this time the role fits Vance, said Marc Short, who served as Trump’s first director of legislative affairs as well as chief of staff to Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who spent more than a decade in Congress and led the former president’s transition ahead of his first term. ”JD probably has a lot of current allies in the Senate and so it makes sense to have him utilized in that capacity,” Short said. Unlike the first Trump transition, which played out before cameras at Trump Tower in New York and at the president-elect's golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, this one has largely happened behind closed doors in Palm Beach, Florida. There, a small group of officials and aides meet daily at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort to run through possible contenders and interview job candidates. The group includes Elon Musk, the billionaire who has spent so much time at the club that Trump has joked he can’t get rid of him. Vance has been a constant presence, even as he’s kept a lower profile. The Ohio senator has spent much of the last two weeks in Palm Beach, according to people familiar with his plans, playing an active role in the transition, on which he serves as honorary chair. Vance has been staying at a cottage on the property of the gilded club, where rooms are adorned with cherubs, oriental rugs and intricate golden inlays. It's a world away from the famously hardscrabble upbringing that Vance documented in the memoir that made him famous, “Hillbilly Elegy.” His young children have also joined him at Mar-a-Lago, at times. Vance was photographed in shorts and a polo shirt playing with his kids on the seawall of the property with a large palm frond, a U.S. Secret Service robotic security dog in the distance. On the rare days when he is not in Palm Beach, Vance has been joining the sessions remotely via Zoom. Though he has taken a break from TV interviews after months of constant appearances, Vance has been active in the meetings, which began immediately after the election and include interviews and as well as presentations on candidates’ pluses and minuses. Among those interviewed: Contenders to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray , as Vance wrote in a since-deleted social media post. Defending himself from criticism that he’d missed a Senate vote in which one of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees was confirmed, Vance wrote that he was meeting at the time "with President Trump to interview multiple positions for our government, including for FBI Director.” “I tend to think it’s more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45,” Vance added on X. “But that’s just me.” While Vance did not come in to the transition with a list of people he wanted to see in specific roles, he and his friend, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who is also a member of the transition team, were eager to see former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. find roles in the administration. Trump ended up selecting Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence , a powerful position that sits atop the nation’s spy agencies and acts as the president’s top intelligence adviser. And he chose Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services , a massive agency that oversees everything from drug and food safety to Medicare and Medicaid. Vance was also a big booster of Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who will serve as Trump's “border czar.” In another sign of Vance's influence, James Braid, a top aide to the senator, is expected to serve as Trump’s legislative affairs director. Allies say it’s too early to discuss what portfolio Vance might take on in the White House. While he gravitates to issues like trade, immigration and tech policy, Vance sees his role as doing whatever Trump needs. Vance was spotted days after the election giving his son’s Boy Scout troop a tour of the Capitol and was there the day of leadership elections. He returned in earnest this week, first with Gaetz — arguably Trump’s most divisive pick — and then Hegseth, who has was been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, according to an investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. Vance hosted Hegseth in his Senate office as GOP senators, including those who sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee, filtered in to meet with the nominee for defense secretary. While a president’s nominees usually visit individual senators’ offices, meeting them on their own turf, the freshman senator — who is accompanied everywhere by a large Secret Service detail that makes moving around more unwieldy — instead brought Gaetz to a room in the Capitol on Wednesday and Hegseth to his office on Thursday. Senators came to them. Vance made it to votes Wednesday and Thursday, but missed others on Thursday afternoon. Vance is expected to continue to leverage his relationships in the Senate after Trump takes office. But many Republicans there have longer relationships with Trump himself. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, said that Trump was often the first person to call him back when he was trying to reach high-level White House officials during Trump's first term. “He has the most active Rolodex of just about anybody I’ve ever known,” Cramer said, adding that Vance would make a good addition. “They’ll divide names up by who has the most persuasion here,” Cramer said, but added, “Whoever his liaison is will not work as hard at it as he will.” Cramer was complimentary of the Ohio senator, saying he was “pleasant” and ” interesting” to be around. ′′He doesn’t have the long relationships," he said. "But we all like people that have done what we’ve done. I mean, that’s sort of a natural kinship, just probably not as personally tied.” Under the Constitution, Vance will also have a role presiding over the Senate and breaking tie votes. But he's not likely to be needed for that as often as was Kamala Harris, who broke a record number of ties for Democrats as vice president, since Republicans will have a bigger cushion in the chamber next year. Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
Representative image MUMBAI: Three large IPOs, all of which closed on Friday, have collectively attracted investor interest worth about Rs 2.2 lakh crore. The three companies - Vishal Mega Mart, Sai Life Sciences and One Mobikwik - had set out to mobilise Rs 11,615 crore from the public, data from the exchanges showed. Of these three IPOs, the offer for One Mobikwik - the tech-driven payments enabler - saw a nearly 120 times demand, making it the most subscribed Rs 500-crore-plus IPO of 2024. Retail investors were the most active lot in the Mobikwik IPO. The Rs 8,000-crore offer for Vishal Mega Mart too witnessed strong investor demand. It was subscribed a little over 27 times, garnering total demand worth Rs 1.6 lakh crore. Sai Life Sciences' IPO, which was aiming to get Rs 3,043 crore, was subscribed 10.3 times. The offer saw a demand worth Rs 21,881 crore, exchange data showed. So far in the year, IPOs have mobilised nearly Rs 2 lakh crore, making it the biggest grossing year for such offers. Prior to this, in 2021, nearly Rs 1.2 lakh crore was raised from the capital market through 63 offers, data from Chittorgarh showed. Ready to Master Stock Valuation? ET’s Workshop is just around the corner!
Time magazine gave Donald Trump something it has never done for a designee: a lengthy fact-check of claims he made in an accompanying interview. The accompanies a transcript of what the president-elect told the newsmagazine’s journalists. Described as a “12 minute read,” it calls into question 15 separate statements that Trump made. It was the second time Trump earned the Time accolade; he also won in 2016, the first year he was elected president. Time editors said it wasn’t a particularly hard choice over other finalists Kamala Harris, Elon Musk, Benjamin Netanyahu and Kate Middleton. Time said Friday that no other Person of the Year has been fact-checked in the near-century that the magazine has annually written about the figure that has had the greatest impact on the news. But it has done the same for past interviews with the likes of Joe Biden, Netanyahu and Trump. Such corrections have been a sticking point for Trump and his team in the past, most notably when ABC News did it with Democrat Kamala Harris this fall. There was no immediate response to a request for comment on Friday. In the piece, Time called into question statements Trump made about border security, autism and the size of a crowd at one of his rallies. When the president-elect talked about the “massive” mandate he had received from voters, Time pointed out that former President Barack Obama won more electoral votes the two times he had run for president. The magazine also questioned Trump’s claim that he would do interviews with anyone who asked during the campaign, if he had the time. The candidate rejected a request to speak the magazine said. “In the final months of his campaign, Trump prioritized interviews with podcasts over mainstream media,” reporters Simmone Shah and Leslie Dickstein wrote.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died. He was 100 years old and had spent more than a year in hospice care. The Georgia peanut farmer served one turbulent term in the White House before building a reputation as a global humanitarian and champion of democracy. He defeated President Gerald Ford in 1976 promising to restore trust in government but lost to Ronald Reagan four years later amid soaring inflation, gas station lines and the Iran hostage crisis. He and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, then formed The Carter Center, and he earned a Nobel Peace Prize while making himself the most active and internationally engaged of former presidents. The Carter Center said the former president died Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia.Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court on Sunday said that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) refers to a common law that applies to all religious communities in personal matters such as marriage, inheritance, divorce, adoption etc. He also said it aims to replace various personal laws that currently govern personal matters within different religious communities. Uniform Civil Code based on the principles of equality, justice and secularism has been a matter of debate in India for a long time, he added. Justice Yadav was speaking at the provincial convention of Vishwa Hindu Parishad ’s Law Cell (Kashi Province) in the Library Hall of the High Court Bar. Justice Yadav said that the main objective of the Uniform Civil Code is to promote social harmony, gender equality and secularism by eliminating unequal legal systems based on different religions and communities. The aim of this code is to ensure uniformity of laws not only among communities but also within a community, he said. At the inaugural session of the VHP workshop held in four sessions, the chief guest Abhishek Atrey, National Co-convener of Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s Law Cell, said on the subject of Waqf Amendment Act that Bangladesh looks like another Kashmir. “We all have to remain united to protect our identity,” he said. In his presidential address, AK Sand, a lawyer said that the Waqf Board has taken over land of various organisations in large numbers. VHP law cell regional convener Brijendra Singh spoke on the formation of the VHP Law Cell and presented the outline of the workshop. Senior Advocate and former president of Allahabad High Court Bar Association VP Srivastava shared his views on ‘Religious conversion: reasons and prevention’. VHP (Kashi Province) Law Cell convener Arvind Kumar Mishra welcomed and thanked the guests.Removing carbon from sky could be the next climate gold rush UNITED KINGDOM: This summer, Bill Gates huddled in London with representatives of some of the world’s wealthiest people, including the Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos, the SoftBank founder, Masayoshi Son, and Prince al-Waleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia. They were evaluating their joint investments in companies that could help the world combat climate change. Among the businesses in their portfolio, four stood out as having a particularly audacious goal: They were working to strip carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, for a profit. As countries around the world continue to pump planet-warming pollution into the skies, driving global temperatures to record levels, the financial world is racing to fund the emerging field of carbon dioxide removal, seeking both an environmental miracle and a financial windfall. The technology, which did not exist until a few years ago, is still unproven at scale. Yet, it has a uniquely alluring appeal. Stripping away some of the carbon dioxide that is heating up the world makes intuitive sense. And with a small but growing number of companies willing to pay for it, investors are jockeying to be first movers in what they believe will inevitably be a big industry that is necessary to help fight global warming. Companies working on ways to pull carbon dioxide from the air have raised more than $5 billion since 2018, according to the investment bank Jefferies. Before that, there were almost no such investments. “It’s the single greatest opportunity I’ve seen in 20 years of doing venture capital,” said Damien Steel, the chief executive of Canada-based Deep Sky, which has raised more than $50 million to develop carbon dioxide removal projects. “The tailwinds behind the industry are greater than most industries I’ve ever looked at.” The group assembled by Mr Gates, known as Breakthrough Energy Ventures, is among the biggest backers of the more than 800 carbon removal companies that have been started in recent years. Others investors include Silicon Valley venture capitalists, private equity firms from Wall Street and major corporations like United Airlines. Investors believe the market is poised for explosive growth.Damien Steel, the chief executive of Deep Sky, which has raised more than $50 million to develop carbon dioxide removal projects. More than 1,000 big companies have pledged to eliminate their carbon emissions over the next few decades. As part of those efforts, more corporations are starting to pay for carbon dioxide removal. This year, Microsoft, Google, and British Airways were among the companies that committed a total of $1.6 billion to purchase removal credits. That figure was up from less than $1 million in 2019, according to CDR.fyi, a website that tracks the carbon dioxide removal industry. Next year, industry executives believe companies could spend up to $10 billion on such purchases. In a recent report, McKinsey estimated the market could be worth as much as $1.2 trillion by 2050.
Thankfully, the field for the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff was set Sunday morning. Had the process lasted another week, it might have ripped the sport apart and pitted conference commissioners against each other in steel-cage matches. Not everything sparked outrage when the CFP selection committee revealed the pairings. Oregon and Georgia were the top-two seeds, as expected. Boise State, champion of the Mountain West, and Arizona State, which won the Big 12, received the No. 3 and 4 seeds, respectively, and will have opening-round byes. Texas, Penn State, Notre Dame and Ohio State will play home games in the opening round. But that’s where the relative peace and tranquility ended. The committee granted the final at-large berth to SMU, not Alabama, and you could instantly imagine smoke billowing from the nostrils of SEC commissioner Greg Sankey. Alabama (9-3) had more quality wins and played a vastly tougher schedule than the Mustangs (11-2) but also had uglier losses than the ACC runner-up. That wasn’t the only flashpoint. Boise State was seeded higher than Arizona State despite a weaker schedule — an outcome that sends the Broncos to the Fiesta Bowl (Glendale) for their quarterfinal game and forces the Sun Devils to play in the Peach Bowl (Atlanta). The debate Sunday was simply a continuation of the past five weeks, which featured athletic directors squabbling on social media, conference commissioners squawking over resumes and the committee chair himself, Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, seemingly contradicting the stated selection criteria. All of it unfolded under the threat of demolition. Two months ago, executives from the SEC and Big Ten gathered in Nashville to discuss the future of the sport. At the conclusion of the summit, Sankey, the most powerful figure in the sport, told reporters that the CFP process “just has to go incredibly well.” You did not need a master’s degree in political gamesmanship to grasp the meaning. If the SEC and Big Ten were less than satisfied with their allotments of bids and seeds, they would force changes to the selection process. Specifically, the behemoths would grant themselves a truckload of automatic bids, reduce access for the other conferences and, potentially, disband the selection committee altogether. Needless to say, the process did not go “incredibly well” for the SEC. In fact, it could not have gone much worse. In addition to Alabama’s exclusion, Tennessee lost the No. 8-9 seed showdown against Ohio State and will open the playoff in Columbus. Meanwhile, three-loss South Carolina was left out entirely one week after winning at three-loss Clemson, while the Tigers advanced to the CFP with the ACC’s automatic bid. (In the committee’s final rankings, South Carolina was one spot above Clemson.) The repercussions could ripple through the sport for years. Earlier this week, another warning flare went skyward from SEC country when Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne on the social media platform X: The implication was clear: If Alabama’s schedule strength wasn’t rewarded, the Crimson Tide would rethink the merits of playing A-level non-conference games in the first half of September. Alabama faced Wisconsin this season and has booked upcoming series with Florida State, Ohio State and Notre Dame. Those could be in jeopardy. Why risk the loss when the benefits of scheduling the game are limited? And if Alabama cancels marquee matchups, other SEC schools will assuredly follow — potentially sapping the sport of must-see intersectional duels that energize the September competition calendar. Asked on ESPN about the non-conference scheduling issue, Manuel, the committee chair and Michigan’s athletic director, offered the following: “I would just say, you need to schedule the games you feel are best for your team and your fan base.” Given the unprecedented nature of the season — with the expanded playoff and engorged conferences — there was no reason to expect a smooth ride from early November, when the first CFP rankings were released, through selection day. Related Articles But the gaffes, misreads and contradictions by the 13-person committee were frequent and severe. Head-to-head results, schedule strength and quality wins were shoved to the background as the committee, loaded with former coaches, prioritized win-loss record. It was as if the coaches were collectively channeling their inner Lou Holtz — the former Notre Dame coach was the ultimate sandbagger — and determined a 74- point win over Western Illinois (by Indiana) was equivalent to a 15-point win at Texas (by Georgia). “One of the things we really need to do,” said Nick Saban, the ESPN analyst and former Alabama coach, “is (recognize) all wins are not the same as the other wins.” There were risks to selecting Alabama over SMU, as well. Had the committee excluded the Mustangs following their loss to Clemson in the ACC championship — on a walk-off field goal, no less — the decision would have undermined the credibility of conference title games. “The committee is going to lose no matter what they do,” ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit said. But just as not all wins are created equal, neither are all losses. Alabama’s out, the SEC is seething and major changes are coming to the CFP as a result.( MENAFN - GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) Anoto Group AB (the " Company " or " Anoto ") hereby announces the outcome of the Company's rights issue of approximately SEK 50 million (the“ Rights Issue ”) for which the subscription period ended on 19 December 2024. The Rights Issue has been subscribed to approximately 37.5 percent with and without the support of subscription rights. Underwriting commitments of 259,308,520 shares, corresponding to approximately 62.5 percent of the Rights Issue, will thus be utilized. The Rights Issue provides the Company with proceeds of approximately SEK 50 million before transaction costs and before set-off of loans. Final outcome In the Rights Issue, 154,891,590 shares were subscribed for with subscription rights, corresponding to approximately 37.3 percent of the Rights Issue. In addition, 623,720 shares were subscribed for without the support of subscription rights, corresponding to approximately 0.2 percent of the Rights Issue. Together, subscription with and without the support of subscription rights thus corresponds to approximately 37.5 percent of the Rights Issue. Thus, guarantee commitments of 259,308,520 shares, corresponding to approximately 62.5 percent of the Rights Issue, will be utilised. This entails that the authorisation to decide on an over-allotment issue if the Rights Issue was oversubscribed, which was resolved by the extraordinary general meeting on 26 November 2024, will not be utilised. The proceeds from the Rights Issue, together with the directed issue of approximately SEK 15 million (the“ Directed Issue ”) and the set-off issue of approximately SEK 21 million (the“ Set-off Issue ”) as announced on 25 October 2024 and resolved by the EGM on 26 November 2024, amounts to approximately SEK 86 million before transaction related costs. Of the issue proceeds, approximately SEK 47 million relates to set-off of loans in the issues. The last day of trading with BTAs is expected to occur on or about 8 January 2025. The first day of trading the new shares on Nasdaq Stockholm is expected to be 16 January 2025. Notice of allotment Allotment of shares has taken place in accordance with the allotment principles set out in the prospectus that was published on 29 November 2024. Notice of allotment to the persons who have subscribed for shares without subscription rights is expected to be distributed on 27 December 2024. Such subscribed and allotted shares shall be paid for in cash in accordance with the instructions on the contract note. Subscribers who have subscribed for shares through a nominee will receive notification of allocation in accordance with the respective nominee's procedures. Only those who have been allotted shares will be notified. Compensation for guarantee commitments In connection with the Rights Issue, a number of investors have provided guarantee commitments consisting of a so-called bottom guarantee of approximately SEK 21.2 million, corresponding to approximately 42.6 percent of the Rights Issue, and a so-called top guarantee of approximately SEK 13.6 million, corresponding to approximately 27.3 percent of the Rights Issue. For the guarantee undertakings a fee of 14 percent of the guaranteed amount will be paid in cash compensation or in the form of new shares, in the form of a directed set-off issue. The subscription price for shares issued as compensation for guarantee commitments is set at SEK 0.12 per share, which corresponds to the subscription price in the completed Rights Issue. A resolution on a directed set-off issue to the underwriters, if any, will be announced through a separate press release. New number of shares Through the Rights Issue, including the shares to be issued in connection with the Directed Issue and the Set-off Issue, the number of shares in Anoto will increase by 770,503,691 shares from 331,859,066 shares to 1,102,362,757. Advisers Setterwalls Advokatbyrå is acting as legal advisor and Berg Securities AB is acting as Sole Global Coordinator and Bookrunner to the Company in connection with the issues. This press release was published, through the agency of the contact persons set out below, at 01:00 on 30 December 2024. For further information, please contact: Kevin Adeson, Chairman of the board of Anoto Group AB (publ) For more information about Anoto, please visit or email ... Anoto Group AB (publ), Reg.No. 556532-3929, Flaggan 1165, SE-116 74 Stockholm About Anoto Group Anoto is a publicly held Swedish technology company known globally for innovation in the area of information-rich patterns and the optical recognition of those patterns. It is a lead-er in digital writing and drawing solutions, having historically used its proprietary technology to develop smartpens and related software. These smartpens enrich the daily lives of millions of people around the world. Anoto currently has three main business lines: Livescribe retail, Enterprise Forms and OEM. Anoto also holds a stake in Knowledge AI, a leading AI based education solution company. Anoto is traded on the Small Cap list of Nasdaq Stockholm under ANOT. Attachment MENAFN29122024004107003653ID1109040074 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
De'Vondre Campbell's mid-game quitting overshadowed the 49ers' offensive woesDonald Trump Calls On Feds To Either Explain The Mystery Drones Or Shoot Them Down
Warning: Discussion of sexual abuse and harassment. This weekend, news emerged that Blake Lively is reportedly suing It Ends with Us costar and director Justin Baldoni for alleged sexual harassment. People began comparing the situation with that of Amber Heard — and the actor herself issued a statement. According to the New York Times , Lively claimed that Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath "had repeatedly violated physical boundaries and made sexual and other inappropriate comments to her." The legal complaint subsequently claimed that, fearing public fallout from the allegations, their PR effort created a smear campaign "to harm Ms. Lively’s reputation instead." An attorney for Wayfarer, the company cofounded by Baldoni and Heath, denied Lively's claims and told the NYT that neither the studio, its executives, nor its PR representatives did anything "proactive nor retaliated” against her. In August, speculation was already rife that there had been some kind of on-set rift. Amid this, Baldoni hired crisis public relations expert Melissa Nathan, who was already famed for working with Johnny Depp during his defamation trial with Heard. According to texts seen by the NYT, Nathan texted a publicist working with Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, "You know we can bury anyone." Baldoni's lawyer Bryan Freedman alleged to the NYT that Lively planted “negative and completely fabricated and false stories with media” against him, sparking the decision to hire a crisis PR expert. Let's take a moment to remember Depp v. Heard . In 2020, Depp lost his UK defamation trial against the Sun in which the tabloid called him "a wife beater." The judge said that the words were "substantially true," noting, "I have found that the great majority of alleged assaults of Ms Heard by Mr Depp have been proved to the civil standard." Notably, things fared differently in the US trial, which was in front of a jury. As international media lawyer Mark Stephens told the BBC , "Amber Heard has comprehensively lost in the court of public opinion and in front of the jury." Some experts estimated that more than half of the negative tweets about Heard were from "inauthentic accounts," including bots and trolls. As the Independent put it, "The truly shocking revelation...is just how vast and complex the disinformation movement against Heard was. This was not one single campaign, but multiple, hybrid attacks." Perhaps it's no surprise then that Amber herself issued a statement on the It Ends with Us allegations: "Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying ‘A lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on.' I saw this firsthand and up close. It’s as horrifying as it is destructive.” Blake Lively, Amber Heard, Megan Thee Stallion , it goes on. How many more women would you like to keep adding? If you or someone you know is in immediate danger as a result of domestic violence, call 911. For anonymous, confidential help, you can call the 24/7 National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or chat with an advocate via the website. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 (HOPE), which routes the caller to their nearest sexual assault service provider. You can also search for your local center here .In a historic victory in the just concluded , celebrated actor-turned-politician, John Dumelo has emerged as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ayawaso West constituency. Representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dumelo defeated the incumbent candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mrs Lydia Alhassan, in a keenly contested race that has captured national attention. The final results saw Dumelo secure 47,560 votes, significantly outpacing Mrs Alhassan, who garnered 39,214 votes. This decisive margin reflects a growing endorsement of Dumelo’s vision for transformative leadership in the constituency. Dumelo’s victory is particularly significant as it marks a comeback after his narrow loss in the 2020 elections to the same opponent. His 2024 campaign focused on pressing local issues, including infrastructure development, youth and women empowerment, education reforms, and job creation. These resonated strongly with voters, particularly young people, who were drawn to his promise of social change and community empowerment. In his victory speech, Dumelo expressed profound gratitude to the electorate, saying: “This victory is not just for me, but for the people of Ayawaso West. Together, we will build a stronger, more prosperous community. “I am committed to fulfilling every promise I made during this campaign.” The result is seen as a seismic shift in Ayawaso West, a constituency long considered an NPP stronghold. Dumelo’s achievement testifies to the growing appeal of individuals who bring relatable, issue-based campaigns to the political arena. His campaign leveraged grassroots engagement and focused on inclusivity, drawing support from diverse demographics within the constituency. This victory also signifies the rising influence of the NDC in traditionally competitive regions, signalling broader implications for the party’s momentum in the national political landscape.WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Sunday that the sudden collapse of the Syrian government under Bashar Assad is a “fundamental act of justice” after decades of repression, but it was “a moment of risk and uncertainty” for the Mideast. Biden spoke at the White House hours after after rebel groups completed a takeover of the country after more than a dozen years of violent civil war and decades of leadership by Assad and his family. The outgoing Biden administration and President-elect Donald Trump were working to make sense of new threats and opportunities across the Middle East. Biden credited action by the U.S. and its allies for weakening Syria's backers — Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. He said “for the first time” that they could no longer defend Assad's grip on power. “Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East," Biden said, after a meeting with his national security team at the White House. Trump said Sunday that Assad had fled his country, which his family had ruled for decades , because close ally Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, “was not interested in protecting him any longer.” Those comments on Trump's social media platform came a day after he used another post to decry the possibility of the U.S. intervening militarily in Syria to aid the rebels, declaring, “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT." The Biden administration had no intention of intervening, according to Biden's national security adviser. The U.S has about 900 troops in Syria, including forces working with Kurdish allies in the opposition-held northeast to prevent any resurgence of the Islamic State group. Biden said he intended those for troops to remain, adding that U.S. forces on Sunday conducted “dozens” of what he called “precision air strikes" on IS camps and operations in Syria. The Syrian opposition that brought down Assad is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham . The Biden administration has designated the group as a terrorist organization and says it has links to al-Qaida, although Hayat Tahrir al-Sham says it has since broken ties with al-Qaida. “We will remain vigilant,” Biden said. “Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human rights abuses.” He added that the groups are “saying the right things now.” “But as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words, but their actions,” Biden said. Assad's fall adds to an already tense situation throughout much of region on many fronts, including Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza and its fragile cease-fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump, who takes office Jan. 20, 2025, made a connection between the upheaval in Syria and Russia's war in Ukraine , noting that Assad's allies in Moscow, as well as in Iran, the main sponsor of Hamas and Hezbollah, “are in a weakened state right now.” Vice President-elect JD Vance , a veteran of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, wrote on own social media Sunday to express skepticism about the insurgents. “Many of ‘the rebels’ are a literal offshoot of ISIS. One can hope they’ve moderated. Time will tell,” he said, using another acronym for IS. Trump has suggested that Assad's ouster can advance the prospects for an end to fighting in Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia in February 2022. Trump wrote that Putin's government “lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine” and the Republican called for an immediate cease-fire, a day after meeting in Paris with the French and Ukrainian leaders . Daniel B. Shapiro, a deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, said the American military presence will continue in eastern Syria but was “solely to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS and has nothing to do with other aspects of this conflict.” “We call on all parties in Syria to protect civilians, particularly those from Syria’s minority communities to respect international military norms and to work to achieve a resolution to include the political settlement,” Shapiro said. “Multiple actors in this conflict have a terrible track record to include Assad’s horrific crimes, Russia’s indiscriminate aerial bomb bombardment, Iranian-back militia involvement and the atrocities of ISIS," he added. Shapiro, however, was careful not to directly say Assad had been deposed by the insurgents. “If confirmed, no one should shed any tears over the Assad regime,” he said. As they pushed toward the Syrian capital of Damascus, the opposition freed political detainees from government prisons. The family of missing U.S. journalist Austin Tice renewed calls to find him. “To everyone in Syria that hears this, please remind people that we’re waiting for Austin,” Tice’s mother, Debra, said in comments that hostage advocacy groups spread on social media. "We know that when he comes out, he’s going to be fairly dazed & he’s going to need lots of care & direction. Direct him to his family please!” Tice disappeared in 2012 outside Damascus, amid intensification of what became a civil war stretching more than a decade. We’ve remained committed to returning him to his family,” Biden said at the White House. "We believe he’s alive, we think we can get him back but we have no direct evidence to that yet. And Assad should be held accountable.” The president added: “We have to identify where he is." ___ Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Manama, Bahrain, and AP White House Correspondent Zeke Miller contributed to this report. Will Weissert, The Associated Press
Vance takes on a more visible transition role, working to boost Trump's most contentious picksFormer US president Jimmy Carter has died aged 100. Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981, taking over in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the end of the Vietnam War. After his defeat by Ronald Reagan, he spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. His death on Sunday was announced by his family and came more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. He was the longest-lived US president. Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia. pic.twitter.com/aqYmcE9tXi — The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) December 29, 2024 His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. “The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta and Washington DC before being buried in his home town of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and finally the White House, where he took office as the 39th president. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked for more than four decades leading the Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public service.
Hail Flutie: BC celebrates 40th anniversary of Miracle in Miami
Investors looking for artificial intelligence (AI) stocks have plenty of options. But while there's no shortage of AI stocks to choose from, a few stand out among the rest. Broadcom ( AVGO 5.32% ) is one of the tech companies that is a unique play in the artificial intelligence market and could be a good long-term investment. Here are three reasons the stock is a buy right now. 1. It's tapping into a unique AI niche One of Broadcom's biggest opportunities comes from its application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) that are used in AI data center infrastructure. Leading tech companies, including Alphabet and Meta Platforms , already use Broadcom's chips to help with their AI infrastructure, and more opportunities could be on the way. Companies continue to expand their data centers and AI training needs, creating the perfect environment for Broadcom's high-end niche semiconductors, with one J.P. Morgan analyst estimating the company's total addressable market in AI chips could be $150 billion. Results for the third quarter (ending Sept. 30) showed just how well Broadcom is tapping into its AI prospects, with management raising its fiscal 2024 AI chip sales outlook to $12 billion, an increase from its previous estimate of $11 billion. 2. AI spending is accelerating Broadcom is tapping into a unique AI opportunity with its ASICs at a time when tech giants are investing mountains of money into AI data centers. Goldman Sachs estimates that companies will spend $1 trillion over the next few years to build out AI, and Broadcom rival Nvidia thinks the amount could be as high as $2 trillion over the next five years. Broadcom's AI revenue is already increasing thanks to data center chip demand, and it's likely to continue as more companies expand their AI capabilities. At the end of October, ChatGPT creator OpenAI began tapping Broadcom to design an in-house chip it will use for AI. No matter which of the spending estimates is more accurate, it's clear that tech companies are investing lots of money on AI infrastructure, and Broadcom's early lead with its AI semiconductors should continue to pay off for the company as spending ramps up. 3. Its stock is cheaper than some rivals Even with Broadcom's share price rising 96% over the past 12 months (as of this writing), its stock is slightly cheaper compared to some of its peers. Broadcom's forward price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) is currently 27.6, which is cheaper than Nvidia's forward P/E ratio of 34 and Advanced Micro Devices 's 28.4. While it's not necessarily cheap, it is technically less expensive, making it a potentially better deal for investors looking for a well-priced AI stock. If you're on the fence about buying Broadcom now, you could wait to see if the shares pull back a bit. But with the company already successfully tapping into AI semiconductor demand and working with the top tech companies as AI spending is accelerating, owning its shares looks like a good long-term bet.
Japanese monkeys living in Launceston will be prevented from reproducing due to concerns of disease and inbreeding within the group. For more than 40 years, visitors to Launceston’s City Park have been able to view the macaques frolicking about in an enclosure. But by 20250 it is expected there will be no monkeys left in the park. In 2000, it was revealed the herpes B virus had spread through the monkeys, although previous discussions of euthanising the troop were politically unpopular. Now there are increasing concerns about a lack of genetic diversity within the group. The City of Launceston has decided to desex the male members of the macaque troop to prevent the animals from breeding. It is expected that the desexing of the troop will take two years to complete. The council said while it was grateful to receive the monkeys, by today’s standards they would not keep these animals in an enclosure. They also said it was important to take into consideration the needs of the monkeys and the greater community. On Thursday afternoon, a council meeting voted 10-1 in favour of sterilisation, after hearing there were signs of miscarriages and stillbirths in the troop. “We know the Launceston community cares very much about the welfare of the City Park monkeys,” Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood said. “That’s a sentiment that’s also very much shared by both councillors and staff. “The inability to introduce new genetic stock and the serious impacts on their health and wellbeing means we need to begin to consider the future of the troop. “[The] decision was a difficult one, but it prioritises the welfare of the monkey troop so we can keep them as healthy and happy as possible for as long as possible. A trip to the zoo took a shocking turn for one family after a troop of monkeys hijacked a pram. Mr Garwood said he would write to the mayor of Ikeda following the decision. Councillor Andrea Dawkins said if the city was offered this same opportunity today the city would be unlikely take it. “There is a lot of interest in these monkeys as there should be because there is so much interest in the way humans react with animals and we take it for granted they are a part of our lives,” she said. “Communities have changed and animals in captivity for the enjoyment of humans is some; thing we’ve moved through.”Debenhams customers have the chance to grab a stunning makeup storage case for just £16 - an impressive price considering its true value is much higher. This deal is even sweeter as it means shoppers can save £44 off its original price of £59.99 thanks to the 73% off discount. Debenhams' Four-Tier Transparent Makeup Organiser features a translucent design with gold handles that bring a touch of personality and class to any dressing table. Its multi-drawer structure also ensures that all your beauty essentials are neatly arranged and easily accessible. The bargain find is part of Debenhams Cyber Week sale , following last week's Black Friday extravaganza, with thousands of items still on offer for less - but not for long. This sale presents a fantastic opportunity to snag a product that usually retails at £60 for just available for just £15.99 . READ MORE: Debenhams stylish £33 mini fireplace 'looks great in any living or dining room' READ MORE: Huge 150ml bottle of £62 'sensual' designer perfume now £19 on Amazon However, the deal is only valid for a short period. So, it is best to take advantage of it before the price returns to its original amount . The compact storage box has a large compartment at the top and three handy drawers to keep your essentials nice and organised. According to the online description, the translucent design allows you to easily see the contents. At the same time, the drawers can be fully pulled out and provide space to store facial masks, eye creams, and other supplies. Its enclosed design also protects items from dust and oxidation. Its "stable" composition ensures it stands firmly on your countertop, catering to all your storage needs. Better still, it is freestanding, ready to use out of the box and is eligible for free delivery . The product is deemed a "great gift for any girl, adult, beauty, fashion, and makeup lover". It could make an ideal Christmas present or an affordable stocking filler that looks luxurious - especially during the sale. However, the Four-Tier Transparent Makeup Organiser only comes in one size—25.4cm W x 18.5cm D x 23.6cm H—so make sure you measure your dressing table before buying. It is also only available in one colour, making choices limited. It is also yet to receive any reviews from shoppers, making it difficult to know exactly what buyers think of it. If you're looking for something similar, there are plenty of other available options, including this Living and Home Three Layer Cosmetic Makeup Storage Organiser , which comes in a striking green colour. In the reviews, one customer wrote: "This is beautiful and a good quality item. I have bought this for my daughter for Christmas." Another put: "Purchased for a Christmas gift, I'm very pleased with the quality of the makeup storage box and I know my daughter will be very happy with it." A third added: "I think this is such a lovely colour. Really ties my room together and I've had so many people asking me about it." However, a few say the organiser isn't the "best quality". One shopper claimed: "I think the design of this case is unique but disappointed that this is priced originally at over £70!! Glad it was a knockdown sale price. It is cheap plastic... Lid likely to snap off in no time." Another typed: "I wish it came in more colours. The green just isn't something that appeals to me!" READ MORE: Debenhams shoppers 'highly recommend' £130 makeup case that's now £33 READ MORE: Debenhams reduces wedding dress brides love to £30 for 'dramatic bridal entrance' Elsewhere, Amazon is selling this Warmiehomy Multi-Function Make-Up Case in a luxurious transparent yellow that creates a golden glow for £25.99. There's also this all-white Queta Make-up-Organizer for £20.89. The Large Cosmetic Storage Box boasts a large capacity with eight grids and three drawers. It can fit jewellery, makeup brushes, lipsticks, creams and even stationary. A Modern Luxe Ribbed Desktop Storage Box is currently on sale at Dunelm for £18 . It includes three spacious drawers and is ideal for organising cluttered spaces. Meanwhile, Boots' StylPro Beauty Pod costs £39.99 and features four different sized storage sections.
HONG KONG , Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In this era where everything is connected, reliable communication networks have become more than just a service provided by operators; they are the key to linking the entire ecosystem of devices. Breaking down barriers between terminal equipments, allowing every corner and every device to be 'reliably connected anytime, anywhere,' is not only a technological breakthrough but also a beautiful vision for the future way of life. GrowthEase, in partnership with China Telecom, has brought together a top-tier team of communication technology experts to co-develop the "Reliable Link" project. Centered around the three core principles of "Reliability, Openness, and Ubiquity," this project utilizes innovative communication technologies to integrate advanced cloud-network capabilities into various ubiquitous terminal devices such as drones, smart cameras, smart speakers, and smart locks. This aims to break the traditional constraints of terminal forms and capabilities, ushering in a new era of reliable communication connectivity. Leveraging the open capabilities provided by GSMA Open Gateway, and relying on the high-quality global network nodes deployed by NetEase Zhiqi and China Telecom, this project ensures end-to-end latency for audio and video calls remains within 200ms, guaranteeing 99.9% lag-free call experiences. Through highly reliable connectivity services, the project prioritizes the quality and security of connections and transmission in any environment, realizing "reliable connectivity anytime, anywhere" across all types of ubiquitous terminal devices. Specifically, the Reliable Link project, through the Reliable-link AS platform and the Reliable-link applet, allows users to remotely control terminals like drones during a mobile voice call. For example, in the drone inspection scenario, Reliable Link can retrieve real-time flight routes, and with the Geofencing feature, set up electronic fences to ensure the drone stays within a safe area. When the drone detects a hazardous behavior, such as smoking, the system automatically triggers an alert and reports the location. Reliable Link combines VoLTE capabilities to initiate a video call to regional managers' mobile phones, promptly pushing the alert information. Through Dev Loc verification and Location retrieval, the drone's position is confirmed. Once the manager answers the video call, the QOD feature ensures high-quality video transmission, allowing the manager to issue control commands in real time through the call interface to control the drone's flight. This not only ensures network reliability but also brings more efficient cross-terminal communication and smarter device management, making interactions between different devices smoother and more convenient, truly realizing "seamless connectivity" across ubiquitous terminal devices. The Reliable Link Drone Communication Connectivity Project tightly integrates drones with the PaaS communication infrastructure, empowering drones with high-reliability, high-quality communication transmission capabilities. This drives upgrades and innovation in the drone industry, contributing to the prosperity of the low-altitude economy. Looking ahead, Reliable Link will continue to innovate and collaborate with ecosystem partners, establishing industry benchmarks. From connecting everything to empowering countless industries, the project aims to create a new landscape for reliable communication applications, enabling the thriving development of industries worldwide.