New York Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said Aaron Rodgers “absolutely” will remain the team's starting quarterback and start Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. Rodgers, who turns 41 next Monday, has been hampered at times during the Jets' 3-8 start by various injuries to his left leg, including a sore knee, sprained ankle and balky hamstring. Ulbrich said Monday the quarterback came back from the team's bye-week break ready to go. “All I can say, and you'd have to ask Aaron if he's fully healthy, but he's better off today than he's been as of late,” Ulbrich said. "So he's definitely feeling healthier than he has probably for the past month. A healthy Aaron Rodgers is the Aaron Rodgers we all love. “So, I'm excited about what that looks like.” NFL Network reported on Sunday that Rodgers, who missed all but four snaps last season with a torn left Achilles tendon , has declined having medical scans on his injured leg so he can continue to play. “I have not been informed of that, either way,” Ulbrich said. Rodgers suffered what NFL Network reported was a “significant” hamstring injury against Denver in Week 4. He then sprained his left ankle against Minnesota in London a week later. The four-time MVP has not been able to consistently move around during games as he has in the past, when extending plays and making things happen on the run became such a big part of his game. Rodgers said leading into New York's 28-27 loss to Indianapolis last Sunday that it was the healthiest he felt in a while. But he struggled against the Colts, finishing 22 of 29 for 184 yards after a brutally slow start during which he went 9 of 13 for just 76 yards. The Athletic reported last week that owner Woody Johnson broached the idea during a meeting with the coaching staff of having the banged-up Rodgers sit after the Jets' loss to Denver in Week 4. With Rodgers' struggles and perhaps compromised health the past few games, a hot debate on social media and sports talk shows during the past week has been whether the quarterback should take a seat in favor of Tyrod Taylor. But when asked if there has been any talk of shutting down Rodgers, Ulbrich replied flatly: “There has not.” In a follow-up question, the interim coach was asked if Rodgers will, in fact, be the Jets' starting quarterback at home Sunday against the Seahawks. “Absolutely,” Ulbrich said. He added that he didn't feel the need to sit down with Rodgers and address all the reports and chatter outside the facility. “No, I feel like we are on the same page,” the coach said. Last week, Ulbrich said he and his staff would take “a deep dive” into what the team could do better after losing seven of its past eight and being on the verge of missing the postseason for the 14th consecutive year. Ulbrich opted not to make any changes to the coaching responsibilities of his staff and he will continue to run the defense as the coordinator. He also said there would not be any personnel changes coming out of the bye, barring injuries. “But definitely, we created a really clear vision of where we need to improve and found some things,” Ulbrich said. “Obviously, you find the things that you’re not doing well, you need to improve upon them, but then also found some some things that I think we can really build upon. So I was excited in both ways.” Johnson fired general manager Joe Douglas last Tuesday, six weeks after he also dismissed coach Robert Saleh. On Monday, the team announced it would be assisted by The 33rd Team , a football media, analytics and consulting group founded by former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, in its searches for a general manager and coach. Ulbrich insisted that isn't creating an awkward situation for him, in particular, as he and his staff focus on the present while the organization begins planning for the future. “In all honesty, it’s not at all,” Ulbrich said. “My singular focus is just finishing the season off the right way, playing a brand of football we’re all proud of, myself included. And that starts with Seattle.” LB C.J. Mosley said he's “progressing” in his return from a herniated disk in his neck, but is still uncertain about his availability for Sunday. Mosley said Monday was the first time he put on a helmet since the injury occurred during pregame warmups against New England on Oct. 27. ... Ulbrich said the team is still evaluating LT Tyron Smith, who missed the game against Indianapolis with a neck ailment. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
SAN DIEGO , Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CreateAI Holdings Inc., formerly TuSimple Holdings Inc. (OTCMKTS: TSPH) ("CreateAI" or the "Company"), a global artificial intelligence technology company, today announced shareholder voting results for its annual meeting of stockholders held on December 20, 2024 (the "Annual Meeting"). As of October 28, 2024 , the record date for the Annual Meeting, there were a total of 232,618,399 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, comprised of 208,618,399 shares of Class A Common Stock (each with one vote per share) and 24,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock (each with ten votes per share). At the Annual Meeting, holders of 207,347,538 shares of common stock, representing 423,347,538 votes, entitled to vote at the meeting were represented in person or by proxy and, therefore, a quorum constituted of the majority of the voting power of the shares of common stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting was present. The following is a brief description of each matter voted upon at the 2024 Annual Meeting and the numbers of votes cast for, withheld, or against, the number of abstentions, and the number of broker non-votes with respect to each other, as applicable. 1. Election of six nominees to serve on the Board of Directors (the "Board") for a term which will expire at the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders, or, if Proposal Two is adopted, to hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders in accordance with the class of director to which each nominee will be assigned. The following six directors were elected by the votes as indicated below. For Withheld Broker Non-Votes Cheng Lu 208,949,915 164,765,019 1 49,632,604 Mo Chen 208,946,146 164,768,788 1 49,632,604 James Lu 209,109,928 164,605,006 1 49,632,604 Zhen Tao 209,158,316 164,556,618 1 49,632,604 Albert Schultz 348,895,019 1 24,819,915 49,632,604 Jianan Hao 209,021,652 164,693,282 1 49,632,604 The totals above include the 240,000,000 votes represented by the Class B shares of Common Stock. 12,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock (representing 120,000,00 votes) were voted "FOR" and 12,000,000 shares of Class B Common stock (representing 120,000,00 votes) were voted "WITHHELD" for each of the Directors other than Albert Schultz . All shares of Class B Common Stock were voted "FOR" the election of Albert Schultz . Excluding the 240,000,000 votes from the 24,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock from the totals above, the 183,347,538 shares of Class A Common Stock were voted as indicated below. For Withheld Broker Non-Votes Cheng Lu 88,949,915 44,765,019 49,632,604 Mo Chen 88,946,146 44,768,788 49,632,604 James Lu 89,109,928 44,605,006 49,632,604 Zhen Tao 89,158,316 44,556,618 49,632,604 Albert Schultz 108,895,019 24,819,915 49,632,604 Jianan Hao 89,021,652 44,693,282 49,632,604 2. Amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation to classify the Board of Directors into three classes, with directors in each class to serve staggered three-year terms. Pursuant to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Proposal Two must receive the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, since directors representing two-thirds (2/3) of the total number of authorized directors have already approved. The amendment was not approved 2 by the votes as indicated below: For Against 1 Abstain Broker Non-Votes 208,955,668 164,659,652 99,614 49,632,604 Because Proposal Two was not approved, the six directors elected pursuant to Proposal One will serve on the Board for a term which will expire at the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders. 3. Ratification of the appointment of UHY LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 . The selection was ratified by the votes as indicated below: For Against 1 Abstain Broker Non-Votes 255,504,371 155,923,768 11,919,399 - Note 1: Includes 120,000,000 votes of the 12,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock held by White Marble LLC and White Marble International Limited (together, the "White Marble Entities") controlled by Dr. Xiaodi Hou . Note 2: The White Marble Entities have filed an action in the Delaware Court of Chancery seeking a declaratory judgment that the voting agreement between White Marble and Mo Chen is invalid and White Marble, not Mo Chen , controls the vote. White Marble LLC v. Chen , C.A. No. 2024-1208-PAF (Del. Ch.) On December 13, 2024 , the Court entered an order that allows the Company to hold the vote on Proposal Two, and ordered that if Proposal Two is not approved at the Annual Meeting but the Court determines in the Action that Mo Chen , not the White Marble Entities, control how the White Marble Entities' Shares are voted, then the White Marble Entities' shares shall be deemed to have been voted in favor of Proposal Two at the Annual Meeting and that such vote shall stand. The vote totals above include the votes of the shares held by the White Marble Entities as voted by the White Marble Entities. If the shares held by the White Marble entities reflected in the totals above are deemed to have been voted in favor of Proposal Two, the Proposal will have passed. Accordingly, if the Court rules in Mo Chen's favor, Proposal Two will be deemed to have passed and the Company would be permitted to amend its Certificate of Incorporation to implement Proposal Two and each of the directors elected pursuant to Proposal One will serve on the Board until the annual meeting of stockholders in accordance with the class of director to which each nominee is assigned. About CreateAI CreateAI (formerly TuSimple) is a global artificial intelligence company with offices in US, China , and Japan . The company is pioneering the future of digital entertainment content production, seamlessly blending cutting-edge generative AI technology with the creativity of world-class talent. Our mission is to redefine the boundaries of what's possible in digital storytelling by developing immersive, captivating, and visually stunning experiences that resonate with audiences on a global scale. Investor Relations Contact: ICR for CreateAI CreateAI.IR@icrinc.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/createai-announces-results-of-2024-annual-meeting-of-stockholders-302338618.html SOURCE CreateAI Holdings IncAmid the ongoing tax reform uproar in Nigeria, the Nigerian government has raked in the sum of N1.78 trillion from Value Added Tax (VAT) in the third quarter of 2024. This is according to the latest VAT report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in Abuja. The Q3 VAT figure represents a 14.16% quarter-on-quarter increase compared to the N1.56 trillion collected in Q2 2024 and an 88% year-on-year growth from Q3 2023. Local VAT payments, Foreign VAT payments and import VAT drove the VAT increase recorded by the Nigerian government. According to the report, Local VAT Payments account for N922.87 billion, followed by Foreign VAT Payments at N448.85 billion and Import VAT at N410.62 billion. Human health and social work activities led the pack with the highest growth rate of 250.39% quarter-on-quarter, followed by activities of households as employers and undifferentiated goods and services-producing activities for household use, which grew by 102.09%. Conversely, some sectors recorded significant declines. These include water supply, sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities, which fell by 41.92%, the sharpest decline among sectors. Activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies also dropped by 36.14%. Manufacturing, Information and Communication and Mining and Quarrying activities were the top contributors to the collection at 22.21%, 20.89% and 18.90% respectively. The Q3 2024 VAT collections showed remarkable progress on a year-on-year basis, recording an 88% increase from Q3 2023. This shows the government’s efforts to enhance revenue generation through tax administration and compliance. By: Babajide Okeowo Opinions Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs. As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake. If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause. Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development. Donate Now
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Nagpur: It was December 2018 when Devendra Fadnavis last entered the hallowed halls of Nagpur's Vidhan Bhavan as chief minister of Maharashtra. While he took oath as CM again in 2019, the 72-hour tenure did not leave any scope for him to attend the winter session of the state legislature in Nagpur while being in the hot seat. Finally, after a long wait of almost six years, Fadnavis will kick-off the winter session in Nagpur from December 16 while manning the top post. A close aide of Fadnavis, who was active in civic politics but did not wish to be named, said, "So many people from the then united NCP and Shiv Sena had trolled Fadnavis for the ‘Mi Punha Yein' line. I don't want to take names because both those parties are now our allies, but Fadnavis never was vindictive. He welcomed both parties into the Mahayuti, and has now led the alliance to a landslide victory." He added that Fadnavis' political temperament is what keeps him going. "In politics, people become enraged and think of revenge. Fadnavis believes in moving on and focusing his energy on positive things. The best example is that of Shiv Sena (Shinde) MLA Sanjay Gaikwad. During Covid-era, Gaikwad had made a statement that he wants to shove corona virus down Fadnavis' throat. On the same day there was a clash between BJP and Sena workers in Buldhana, where Gaikwad hails from. Now, despite of things going to such a level, Fadnavis has no ill feelings about Gaikwad who is now in Mahayuti. Anybody else would have tried to sabotage Gaikwad's political career by demanding that assembly seat for BJP," said the saffron party leader. He added that when Fadnavis enters the assembly in Nagpur, life would have come a full circle. "It really is a slap on the face of opponents who tried to put him in jail, made vague allegations and even made fun of him and his family," the leader said.Micron Technology, Inc. Reports Results for the First Quarter of Fiscal 2025
ServiceTitan to Announce Fiscal Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results on January 9, 2025SAN DIEGO , Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CreateAI Holdings Inc., formerly TuSimple Holdings Inc. (OTCMKTS: TSPH) ("CreateAI" or the "Company"), a global artificial intelligence technology company, today announced shareholder voting results for its annual meeting of stockholders held on December 20, 2024 (the "Annual Meeting"). As of October 28, 2024 , the record date for the Annual Meeting, there were a total of 232,618,399 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, comprised of 208,618,399 shares of Class A Common Stock (each with one vote per share) and 24,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock (each with ten votes per share). At the Annual Meeting, holders of 207,347,538 shares of common stock, representing 423,347,538 votes, entitled to vote at the meeting were represented in person or by proxy and, therefore, a quorum constituted of the majority of the voting power of the shares of common stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting was present. The following is a brief description of each matter voted upon at the 2024 Annual Meeting and the numbers of votes cast for, withheld, or against, the number of abstentions, and the number of broker non-votes with respect to each other, as applicable. 1. Election of six nominees to serve on the Board of Directors (the "Board") for a term which will expire at the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders, or, if Proposal Two is adopted, to hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders in accordance with the class of director to which each nominee will be assigned. The following six directors were elected by the votes as indicated below. For Withheld Broker Non-Votes Cheng Lu 208,949,915 164,765,019 1 49,632,604 Mo Chen 208,946,146 164,768,788 1 49,632,604 James Lu 209,109,928 164,605,006 1 49,632,604 Zhen Tao 209,158,316 164,556,618 1 49,632,604 Albert Schultz 348,895,019 1 24,819,915 49,632,604 Jianan Hao 209,021,652 164,693,282 1 49,632,604 The totals above include the 240,000,000 votes represented by the Class B shares of Common Stock. 12,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock (representing 120,000,00 votes) were voted "FOR" and 12,000,000 shares of Class B Common stock (representing 120,000,00 votes) were voted "WITHHELD" for each of the Directors other than Albert Schultz . All shares of Class B Common Stock were voted "FOR" the election of Albert Schultz . Excluding the 240,000,000 votes from the 24,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock from the totals above, the 183,347,538 shares of Class A Common Stock were voted as indicated below. For Withheld Broker Non-Votes Cheng Lu 88,949,915 44,765,019 49,632,604 Mo Chen 88,946,146 44,768,788 49,632,604 James Lu 89,109,928 44,605,006 49,632,604 Zhen Tao 89,158,316 44,556,618 49,632,604 Albert Schultz 108,895,019 24,819,915 49,632,604 Jianan Hao 89,021,652 44,693,282 49,632,604 2. Amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation to classify the Board of Directors into three classes, with directors in each class to serve staggered three-year terms. Pursuant to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Proposal Two must receive the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, since directors representing two-thirds (2/3) of the total number of authorized directors have already approved. The amendment was not approved 2 by the votes as indicated below: For Against 1 Abstain Broker Non-Votes 208,955,668 164,659,652 99,614 49,632,604 Because Proposal Two was not approved, the six directors elected pursuant to Proposal One will serve on the Board for a term which will expire at the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders. 3. Ratification of the appointment of UHY LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 . The selection was ratified by the votes as indicated below: For Against 1 Abstain Broker Non-Votes 255,504,371 155,923,768 11,919,399 - Note 1: Includes 120,000,000 votes of the 12,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock held by White Marble LLC and White Marble International Limited (together, the "White Marble Entities") controlled by Dr. Xiaodi Hou . Note 2: The White Marble Entities have filed an action in the Delaware Court of Chancery seeking a declaratory judgment that the voting agreement between White Marble and Mo Chen is invalid and White Marble, not Mo Chen , controls the vote. White Marble LLC v. Chen , C.A. No. 2024-1208-PAF (Del. Ch.) On December 13, 2024 , the Court entered an order that allows the Company to hold the vote on Proposal Two, and ordered that if Proposal Two is not approved at the Annual Meeting but the Court determines in the Action that Mo Chen , not the White Marble Entities, control how the White Marble Entities' Shares are voted, then the White Marble Entities' shares shall be deemed to have been voted in favor of Proposal Two at the Annual Meeting and that such vote shall stand. The vote totals above include the votes of the shares held by the White Marble Entities as voted by the White Marble Entities. If the shares held by the White Marble entities reflected in the totals above are deemed to have been voted in favor of Proposal Two, the Proposal will have passed. Accordingly, if the Court rules in Mo Chen's favor, Proposal Two will be deemed to have passed and the Company would be permitted to amend its Certificate of Incorporation to implement Proposal Two and each of the directors elected pursuant to Proposal One will serve on the Board until the annual meeting of stockholders in accordance with the class of director to which each nominee is assigned. About CreateAI CreateAI (formerly TuSimple) is a global artificial intelligence company with offices in US, China , and Japan . The company is pioneering the future of digital entertainment content production, seamlessly blending cutting-edge generative AI technology with the creativity of world-class talent. Our mission is to redefine the boundaries of what's possible in digital storytelling by developing immersive, captivating, and visually stunning experiences that resonate with audiences on a global scale. Investor Relations Contact: ICR for CreateAI CreateAI.IR@icrinc.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/createai-announces-results-of-2024-annual-meeting-of-stockholders-302338618.html SOURCE CreateAI Holdings Inc
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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay's surest path to the NFL playoffs is a division championship. The Buccaneers will need help to repeat in the NFC South , but only if they first and foremost give themselves a chance. That means winning their remaining games at home against Carolina and New Orleans, while the Atlanta Falcons lose at least once in the final two weeks of the regular season. The Bucs (8-7) and Falcons share the best record in the division, however Atlanta holds the tiebreaker after sweeping the season series between the teams. Tampa Bay, which has won three consecutive division titles, is the only NFC team that has made the playoffs each of the past four seasons. “We’ve got to take care of business or else we’ve got no shot,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said after a 26-24 loss at Dallas cost the Bucs control of the NFC South race. “This one, we've got to take it on the chin,” Mayfield added. “It's a short week. It's Christmas week. We've got to focus on Carolina and figure out a way to win.” If Atlanta is able to maintain its lead, Tampa Bay could make the postseason as a wild card if the Bucs win out and the Commanders lose twice. Coach Todd Bowles sounds confident that his players understand the challenge ahead and will clean up mistakes that contributed to the end of their four-game win streak. “We’ve got to win a ballgame (this week). If we don’t win a ballgame, we don’t give ourselves a chance,” Bowles said Monday. “We have to focus on us like we’ve been doing,” the coach added. “We have to correct the mistakes, and we have to go out and win Sunday, and we’ve got to win the next week, and then we’ll see what happens after that.” The offense, which ranks third in the NFL at 389.8 yards per game, isn't a fluke. Despite losing to the Cowboys, Tampa Bay finished with 410 yards total offense. It was the team's fifth straight game — as well as an NFL-high ninth overall — with 400-plus yards. The Bucs are seventh in rushing (143.7 yards per game) after ranking 32nd each of the past two seasons. The defense yielded 292 yards passing against the Cowboys, 226 of it in the first half when Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb had six catches for 100 yards and a touchdown. Bowles said shoddy tackling was the biggest issue — not poor coverage. Lamb had one reception for 5 yards after halftime. Mayfield's chemistry with rookie WR Jalen McMillan, who has 27 receptions for 336 yards and five TDs, continues to grow. McMillan had five catches for 57 yards and a touchdown — his fourth in the past three games — against Dallas. He was also the intended receiver on Mayfield's deep throw that CB Jourdan Lewis intercepted in the end zone to help the Cowboys hold off the Bucs in the closing minutes. Turnovers were costly against Dallas. The end-zone interception stopped the Bucs from cutting into a 26-17 deficit with 6:22 remaining in the fourth quarter. Rachaad White's fumble with 1:31 left ended any hope for a last-minute victory. On both plays, defenders ripped the ball out of the grasp of the offensive player. “We knew they were going to rake at the ball going into the ballgame," Bowles said. "We just have to have two hands on the ball, and we have to fight for it. We have to take better care of the football. That’s priority No. 1.” Bowles said it's too early to project the status of several starters for coming games, including S Antoine Winfield Jr. (knee), who has missed the past two games. TE Cade Otton (knee) and LB K.J. Britt (ankle) were inactive against the Cowboys, while reserve WR Sterling Shepard left during the game with a hamstring injury. 80. Bucky Irving leads all NFL rookie RBs with 920 yards rushing. He needs 80 over the next two games to reach 1,000. He scored his seventh rushing touchdown against Dallas. That tied Errict Rhett and Lars Tate for the second-most rushing TDs by a rookie running back in franchise history. Doug Martin set the record of 11 in 2012. Host Carolina on Sunday. NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl“Relentless demand, inadequate supply, surging rents, and growing concerns around affordability make this the most challenging rental environment in Peterborough’s history.” That is just one finding of a housing report released in early December by the United Way Peterborough & District that explores the challenges with securing a place to call home in Peterborough and area. Year-over-year Peterborough’s rental market continues to be tighter and more expensive, notes author Paul Armstrong in the 19th edition of the “Housing is Fundamental” report. The report provides an analysis of Peterborough’s worsening rental market and “underscores the ongoing challenges posed by housing affordability and accessibility,” stated a press release about the document. “Affordability” is defined as spending no more than 30 per cent of total before-tax income on housing. But with the average market rent in the Peterborough area now $1,325, that means a household has to make $53,000 for a rental unit to be “affordable.” The report states this means there’s little, if any, affordable housing for people who have low incomes. A significant portion of renter households are in “core housing need,” with some spending well in excess of 50 per cent of their household incomes on rent, the report found. “Meagre” additions to the Peterborough CMA rental stock in 2023 mean hundreds of units are still required, with the demand for rental units far exceeding supply. Meanwhile, Trent University and Fleming College place a substantial demand on the city’s rental market, the report notes. New immigrants and foreign students to the area require housing. Housing suitable to transition people out of homelessness is also needed. According to the report, the housing and homelessness crisis has been mainly caused by governments withdrawing from providing public housing, leaving it to the for-profit market to provide housing. “Governments will need to return to direct provision of social housing and render additional support for non-profit housing,” the report states. “We need to build more, much more. We need to make it more affordable. And greater density will likely result. All of this calls upon governments to assert a leading role.” The document also points out that the maximum benefit for people receiving Ontario Works is $733 per month, but the average rent in Peterborough in 2023 for the smallest unit — a bachelor — was $877 per month. A single bedroom unit went for $1,173 while a two-bedroom apartment was $1,411, and a three-bedroom unit cost, on average, $1,640. On a broader scale, the Canada-wide vacancy rate was 1.5 per cent as of October 2023, which was a new low, with Peterborough’s vacancy rate standing at one per cent. Recent renter households (43.2 per cent) were also more likely to live in unaffordable housing than existing renter households (30.5 per cent), with unaffordable housing meaning more than 30 per cent of pre-tax household income is spent on shelter costs. “When inadequate supply of rental units produces a one per cent vacancy rate in Peterborough, something has to change,” Amstrong notes. “When housing costs are now the primary driver of inflation and 20 per cent of Canadian rental stock is owned by large capital enterprises, something’s inequitable. When homelessness grows, but social housing builds don’t materialize, something’s unjust. The housing crisis deepens with little indication of relief.” On the other end of the scale, high ownership prices have prevented renter households from making the move to jp,eownership. And, finally, 2023 saw an unprecedented period of multiple converging crises, which included homelessness, housing precarity, food insecurity, income precarity, mental health challenges, and addictions. “Flawed government policy has resulted in profound crises in an otherwise prosperous country,” Armstrong states. “Clearly, the government’s chosen, market-driven model for housing provision and personal security has failed.” To read the report and learn more about the call to action, visit uwpeterborough.ca/our-research/ .
Malaysia's government was ordered Monday to return 172 rainbow-themed Swatch watches it seized last year on grounds that their designs promoted LGBTQ+ rights . The Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that the Pride Collection timepieces were illegally confiscated without a warrant during a series of raids on Swatch stores in malls across Malaysia last year, the Associated Press reported. The watches must be returned within 14 days and Swatch can demand compensation if they're damaged, AP said, citing the Bernama national news agency. Malaysian Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said an appeal could be filed after officials "examine the basis of the judgment thoroughly," according to BBC . Swatch declined to comment, the BBC said. Same-sex relationships are illegal in Malaysia , a majority-Muslim country where Islam is the official religion and punishment ranges from caning to 20 years in prison. Swatch's Pride Collection watches were produced in six colors that matched those on the gay pride flag and featured rainbow-hued wrist straps, AP said. The Swiss watchmaker said Malaysian authorities alleged that they "bore LGBT connotations" following the seizures on May 13 and 14, 2023. "We strongly contest that our collection of watches using rainbow colors and having a message of peace and love could be harmful for whomever," Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek Jr. said at the time. Malaysia later outlawed the watches, saying they were "detrimental, or possibly detrimental, to morality, public interest and national interest by promoting, supporting and normalizing the LGBTQ movement which is not accepted by the general public." Swatch's stock price was around $9 a share early Monday afternoon, up more than 1.5%.Prominent brands struggle to adapt to an e-bike industry dominated by cheap, direct-to-consumer salesThe Transportation Security Administration has some reminders for those heading to airports during the holidays. “People seem to forget some of the more common and routine steps that they need to take when packing for a flight or when they are going through a checkpoint, perhaps because they’re focused on being at their destination and not focusing on what needs to happen before getting there,” said TSA officer Christopher Kirchein of John F. Kennedy International Airport. “Travelers sometimes ignore the advice that we give them,” said TeaNeisha Barker, a TSA uniformed adviser. “We are providing guidance so that they get through the checkpoint as simply and conveniently as possible. Not every airport has the same technology, so listen to the guidance we are offering.” “Passengers forget that knives and other weapons are not allowed through our checkpoints. It’s shocking to see so many people with knives,” said TSA officer Aisha Hicks of Philadelphia International Airport. “Weapons of any kind are prohibited through a TSA checkpoint.” TSA officers shared this list of the common things that travelers forget and should remember when coming to a security checkpoint. Ten things that travelers need to remember when preparing to go through the security screening process: • Remember that you cannot bring bottles of water, energy drinks, juice, coffee, soda or any filled insulated reusable container through a security checkpoint. However, they can finish their beverage and bring the empty bottle or container with them. • Remember to bring your ID to the checkpoint. • Remember when TSA officers remind you to remove everything from your pockets that it does not only mean metallic items such as keys and mobile phones, but it means everything, including non-metallic items such as tissues, lip balm, breath mints, etc. • Remember that you cannot bring a firearm through a checkpoint. Instead, pack your unloaded firearm in a locked hard-sided case and declare it at your airline check-in counter and the airline will ensure it is transported in the belly of the plane where nobody has access to it. • Remember that you need to remove your shoes when getting screened and then end up barefoot on the floor. It’s probably a good idea to wear socks. • Remember that children 12 and under are allowed to travel through a TSA PreCheck screening lane with a parent who has TSA PreCheck on their boarding pass. In addition, don’t forget that children up to the age of 18 can also come into the TSA PreCheck lane with their parent if they are on the same airline reservation as their parent. • Remember that passengers that appear 12 and under or 75 and older do not need to remove their shoes and light jacket. • Remember, if you are putting a lock on your luggage, make sure it is a TSA compatible lock so that if TSA officers need to open your luggage, they can unlock it and relock it. If the lock is not TSA compliant, TSA officers who need to open your luggage will cut off the lock, rendering it useless. • Remember that you can bring medications through a security checkpoint, even liquid medication. Just let the TSA officer know that you have liquid medication with you so it can be screened separately. • Remember to get a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license sooner rather than later because REAL ID goes into effect on May 7.
This year’s global conference on climate change and the controversies that trailed it will resonate for years. It also called to question the developed world’s commitment to solving climate change challenge and energy transition financing, geared towards sanitising the environment and safeguarding the planet. Countries of the Global South, Africa inclusive, whose demand revolved around the provision of at least $1.3 trillion per year, ended up with a paltry $300 billion offer. There was also no concrete strategy on how to raise the fund except through non-committal “wide variety of sources” including development bank loans and private finance. The Global South encompasses countries in regions outside of Europe and North America, which are often low-income and marginalised. They include Africa; Latin America and the Caribbean; Asia, excluding Israel, Japan, and South Korea; Oceania, excluding Australia and New Zealand. However, the term “Global South” can be interpreted loosely. For example, the United Nations (UN) uses the term to refer to developing countries in general, but it doesn’t use the Group of 77”. Despite the lack of consensus on the right nomenclature, the group was able to conceptualise a working document for climate remediation from the Global North, only to be let down. Yet, they are the biggest polluters who emit 29 million tons of CO2 of carbons each year into the atmosphere and unsettle the environment with devastating consequences on poor countries. China is considered a mismatch in the Global South because of its level of manufacturing, population and development, and therefore may be reluctant to push collectively with others for climate change justice and transition. Suspicion also grows over attempts to contain China, which considers itself an “emerging market and developing country”, and as such a member of the Global South. Baku, Azerbaijan where COP29 held, was a disappointing moment for countries, experts, researchers, negotiators and activists who put the needs assessment together. One climate change expert, Iskander Erzini Vernoit, executive director of the Imal Initiative for Climate and Development, a think tank based in Rabat, Morocco, said the developed world is not prepared to take tough political decision. COP29 to him was a “betrayal of the world’s vulnerable, of the Paris Agreement, and of common sense.” And so set the stage for disappointment, outrage, frustration for Africa and the rest of the world that bear the brunt of the developed world’s brutalisation of the environment. For Evans Njewa, Africa’s good faith ended in disappointment: “We leave this COP with both pride and pain. Pride in the resilience of our bloc, which we fought valiantly for the survival of the most vulnerable, but we are pained that our hopes for true climate justice have not been met” especially for the least developed countries that had relentlessly worked on climate change mitigation and now left high and dry without an “ambitious climate finance goal”. He noted that “powerful nations have shown no leadership, no ambition, and no regard for the lives of billions of people on the frontlines of the climate crisis. The conference “has proven what we feared: the voices of our 1.1 billion people have been ignored”. Evans who is the chair of the Least Developed Countries Group at UN Climate Change negotiations described the whole process as a travesty of climate justice. In a more radical response Fadhel Kaboub, an associate professor of economics at Denison University and president of the Global Institute for Sustainable Prosperity, posited that “If the historic polluters of the global minority do not get serious about its responsibilities, then we may have to start restricting access to our strategic minerals and our markets and start leveraging our collective economic weight to save the planet for all of humanity”, even as Ambassador Ali Mohamed, Chair of the African Group of Negotiators, reminded the world that “when Africa loses, the world loses its minerals, biodiversity, and stability. The fate of this continent is tied to the stability of the entire planet and ignoring Africa’s call for fair and adequate climate finance risks global repercussions.” COP29 must have failed to achieve for Africa and other countries of the Global South their goal for the financing of smooth climate change transition, justice and mitigation. Some even attribute the not-so successful outing to incoherent articulation of climate issues, the developed world’s lack of commitment to fund mitigation and remediation, inability of the world to build a consensus around climate change among others. All the same the $300 million, referred to as a “token gesture of charity”, can at least start a global advocacy for diversified funding and amplify the voices of those at the receiving end of environmental degradation. Africa and other partners in the struggle should build solidarity, more articulation of environmental challenges and solutions. We should be more formidable, united and politically assertive. Collaboration and an opportunity to rebuild trust and unite differing voices to tackle climate crisis is imperative. It is hoped that COP30 will not be a rehash of this year’s. If developing countries release the fund as grant, and not as loan, COP29 would have been considered a stepping stone towards “success and victory” and not a mere talk-shop for reassurance in a global world of mutual suspicion and betrayal.Sinead Browne was only 12-years-old when she started running away. She went into care when she was 2-years-old, growing up in a mix of care homes and foster placements in London. She said: "I absconded from care many times, simply because I didn't feel safe. "There was risk of sexual abuse from other young people. Risk of abuse - not just sexual, but exploitation - from the carers. I also ran away because I didn't feel heard or didn't feel reflected in the household, so cultural differences, cultural clashes. "A lot of the time I also felt like I was just being used as a pay cheque. Foster carers often don't actually care about you. There are some amazing ones but for the most part you're a pay cheque. "So I would run away and then have to be brought back by a social worker or by the police." Most of the time Sinead would go to stay with a friend when she absconded from care. But once when she was living in a hostel when she was 16-years-old, she was taken by a neighbour to a drug den where she spent two days terrified to leave. "I couldn't call a social worker because I would have got in trouble, they would stop your pocket money that you got," she said. "I didn't have family, I didn't have anyone who I could call. My friend said just wait it out until you can get taken home. "That was the only time I ran away when I was really at risk. Because anyone could have burst into the house like a fellow gang, drug users coming with guns and knives." How to donate to Missing People Donate online: Visit this link or head to www.missingpeople.org.uk/mirror - read why we're supporting this campaign here. Text: To donate £5 Text HOPE5 to 70660 - To donate £10 Text HOPE10 to 70660 - To donate £15 Text HOPE15 to 70660 Terms & Conditions: *Text costs £5/£10 or £15 plus network charge. Missing People receives 100% of your donation. Obtain bill payer’s permission. Charity No England and Wales: 1020419 , Scotland: SC047419. Missing People will send regular updates via text and may contact you at any time to ask for your contact preference. Post: Please include your name and address and make cheques payable to ‘Missing People’ via free post: Freepost Plus RRKY–XSEC–XAEC. - Missing People - Roebuck House - 284 Upper Richmond Road West - London - SW14 7JE How your donation will help: £5 could help a missing child reach support - 11 could answer an urgent Helpline call from someone who is missing - £33 could give three families advice and help from a Support Worker - £110 could pay for two vital Counselling sessions to help a family to cope with the toughest of all losses How to contact Missing People - free and confidential: Call: 116 000. Text: 116 000. Email: 116000@missingpeople.org.uk How to contact Samaritans for mental health support: Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org Sinead urged people to get behind the Mirror's Christmas Appeal for the charity Missing People - the only UK charity supporting those affected by a disappearance. Someone is reported missing every 90 seconds in the UK. Recent figures show a 9% rise in the number of children reported missing each year, up from 69,050 in 2021-22 to 75,422 in 2022-23. There has also been an increase in the total going missing, from 166,463 to 171,192. She said understanding why young people are running away is crucial. "For me, running away from a foster placement because of cultural differences. Have that discussion, don't force me to stay there. Have the framework for young people to feel safe to talk about it. I didn't." The 34-year-old went on to become a solicitor and then set up Compliments of The House , a community-led food distribution charity that she founded after the pandemic.
Kaduna State Government has warned newly appointed political leaders to desist from irresponsible social media posts. This was disclosed at a two-day capacity-building workshop organized by the Office of the Head of Service and the Principal Private Secretary to Governor Uba Sani, held from December 4th to 5th. A communiqué issued after the workshop noted that the Kaduna State Public Service is strictly guided by “Scheme of Service, Stores Regulations, The Guide to Administrative Procedures, and Financial Instructions.” The communiqué recommended that the Department of Printing Services (Government Printer) should produce these Statute/Regulatory Books and sell them to public servants at affordable fees. The communiqué, jointly signed by Alhaji Waziri Garba and Malam Ibraheem Musa, the Senior Special Assistant on Administration and the Chief Press Secretary respectively, stated that the capacity building was organized for employees of the Government House. Participants at the workshop commended the Kaduna State Government, under the leadership of Senator Uba Sani, for organizing the workshop, which they described as “the first of its kind in the history of the state.” Governor Uba Sani was particularly applauded for his leadership style, which emphasizes inclusion, pro-people policies, workers’ welfare, and training. They also recommended further training and workshops for all categories of civil servants on a continuous basis. Academics, technocrats, bureaucrats, and senior government officials presented papers at the workshop on diverse topics, followed by interactive sessions. According to the communiqué, “Kaduna State Government is a trailblazer in reforms but notwithstanding, the Civil Service Commission and the Office of the Head of Service are still improving on the recruitment process and the service generally.” The communiqué disclosed that, “Kaduna State has one of the most robust Procurement Laws in the country, which is in line with international best practice.” “Kaduna State and Lagos State are the only sub-nationals that have a Gender Responsive Policy, which waives the Kaduna State Public Procurement Authority (KADPPA) registration fees for women-owned businesses.” “The KADPPA non-refundable tender fees have also been reviewed downwards by 50% for all women-owned businesses. Additionally, women-owned businesses are only required to pay 50% of the registration fees for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.” Political appointees were advised to, “desist from random and irresponsible posts on social media because such comments can be misconstrued as the viewpoint of Government, thereby causing reputational damage or public outcry.” The communiqué stated that, “Public servants must be disciplined, loyal to the Government of the day, show courtesy in the discharge of their duties, cooperate with one another, and be honest in all their official engagements.” “It is also essential for public servants to adhere to laid-down procedures in the conduct of Government business, as failure to do so leads to systemic decay of the service and corruption.” The communiqué noted that, “Information and Communication Technology enhances service delivery in public service but should not negate procedural matters in the management and documentation of Government activities.” It advised that the “communication skills of Government House employees should be upscaled because they are closest to the seat of power. For this reason, they are seen as the Ambassadors of the administration. So, they should be able to communicate Government’s policies clearly.” Public servants were also advised to rededicate themselves to the actualization of Governor Uba Sani’s SUSTAIN Agenda, aimed at providing dividends of democracy to the good people of Kaduna State, whose mandate he is holding in trust. NIGERIAN TRIBUNE Get real-time news updates from Tribune Online! Follow us on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive stories and interviews, and much more. Join our WhatsApp Channel nowBREAKING NEWS Can Trump end birthright citizenship? The 14th amendment upheld in the US constitution since 1868 Trump wants to end birthright citizenship to crack down on the migrant crisis By KATELYN CARALLE, SENIOR U.S. POLITICAL REPORTER IN WASHINGTON, D.C. Published: 06:55 AEDT, 9 December 2024 | Updated: 07:07 AEDT, 9 December 2024 e-mail 14 View comments Donald Trump wants to get rid of 14th Amendment birthright protections as a way to crack down on the migrant crisis in the U.S. The president-elect said there might need to be a constitutional shake-up to 'get it changed' and get rid of the amendment that says those born in the United States are U.S. citizens. 'Can you get around the 14th Amendment with an executive action?' NBC host Kristen Welker asked Trump in an interview that aired Sunday. 'Well, we're going to have to get it changed,' he said. 'We'll maybe have to go back to the people. But we have to end it.' 'We're the only country that has it, you know,' Trump added. In his first interview since reelection, Trump said he wanted to end birthright citizenship in his first term but was waylaid when the coronavirus pandemic hit in March 2020, essentially interrupting all actions in his final year in office. Trump wants to get rid of this provision in the Constitution to specifically target illegal immigrants who have children while released in the U.S. without documentation or citizenship. The way this could happen is by Trump proclaiming the new policy and then ordering agencies to cease issuing citizenship confirming documents – such as Social Security cards and passports – to children born in the U.S. to undocumented parents. Donald Trump reiterated that he wants to get rid of the 14 Amendment birthright protections as a way to crack down on illegal immigration and prevent noncitizens from having children with de facto U.S. citizenship The legal legitimacy of Trump's proposal is likely to end up before the Supreme Court, which has a nine to three conservative majority and a whopping three Justices that were nominated by the past and future president. 'All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,' the 14th Amendment states. Read More Elon Musk reveals the staggering sum U.S. taxpayers spend on illegal immigration every year Welker, when reciting the constitutional amendment in her interview with Trump, left out a vital part of the provision, saying: 'The 14th Amendment, though, says that, quote, 'All persons born in the United States are citizens.' Republican Utah Sen. Mike Lee made note of the omission. 'Those words matter,' he said of the omitted 'and subject to the jurisdiction thereof' part of the 14th Amendment's text. This phrase from the Constitution means that all those born in the U.S. are considered citizens of the country, but excludes those who are not under legal authority of the nation at the time time of birth. Specifically, this is interpreted to mean children of foreign diplomats who are stationed in the U.S. at the time of their childrens' birth and those whose parents owe allegiance to another nation when they are born. Trump, and immigration hawks, say that this also applies to those born to illegal immigrants who were living in the country without documentation at the time of giving birth. The idea is to crackdown on the migrant crisis and reduce the number of those who come to the U.S. in an effort to get their children birthrighr citizenship Trump sat down with NBC News host Kristen Welker in an interview that aired Sunday where she questioned if Trump thinks he can take executive action to bypass the 14th Amendment of the U.s. Constitution 'You know we're the only country that has it,' Trump told Welker in the interview that aired Sunday on Meet the Press. 'Do you know if somebody sets a foot, just a foot, one foot, you don't need two, on our land, 'Congratulations you are now a citizen of the United States of America.' 'Yes, we're going to end that because it's ridiculous,' he insisted. Trump vowed he would address the migrant crisis immediately after taking office, and says he will carry out the largest deportation effort in U.S. history. The president-elect's transition team has already been in talks with third-party countries to strike a deal on accepting deported immigrants whose home countries will not accept them back after they left and illegally came into the U.S. Donald Trump Politics Share or comment on this article: Can Trump end birthright citizenship? The 14th amendment upheld in the US constitution since 1868 e-mail Add comment
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams keep doing just enough to win, and a team that appeared to be rebuilding this season has climbed all the way to the brink of another playoff berth. The Rams improved to 9-6 and took control of the NFC West on Sunday with their fourth straight victory since Thanksgiving. Their 19-9 win over the New York Jets in sub-freezing temperatures was not dominant — they trailed 9-6 entering the fourth quarter, and they were outgained by nearly 100 yards — but Los Angeles still matched its largest margin of victory this season and continued to look like a looming nightmare for any postseason opponent. The Rams have now won eight of 10 since their bye week, when they were 1-4 and the NFL world wondered whether they would trade Super Bowl MVP receiver Cooper Kupp or even quarterback Matthew Stafford to spur their roster reboot. Los Angeles decided not to punt its season, and Sean McVay's team has driven from last to first. “You don’t want to ride the emotional roller coaster that these games can take you on,” McVay said Monday. “You do have the ability to stay steady, to stay the course and try to right the ship. Certainly that’s not complete by any stretch, but our guys have done an excellent job of not allowing the way that we started, especially in those first five games, to affect what we did coming off that bye.” The Rams also have clinched their seventh winning record in eight regular seasons under McVay — an achievement that shouldn’t get lost in the recent successes of a franchise that had 13 consecutive non-winning seasons before it rolled the dice and hired a 30-year-old head coach back in 2017. After winning it all in February 2022 and then having the worst season by a defending Super Bowl champion in NFL history, the Rams have made the most of their time in between true powerhouse status and a major rebuild. They also started slowly last year, entering their bye at 3-6 before a 7-1 finish. The Rams can become the first team in NFL history to make back-to-back postseason appearances after being three games under .500 each year. These Rams don't stand out on either side of the ball, although their talent level appears to be higher on offense than defense. Instead, they've mastered a delicate balance of complementary football — the offense and defense covering each other's weaknesses and setting up their teammates for success. The Rams have scored more than 30 points just once all season, and they managed only 31 points in their last two games combined. Their defense has allowed only one touchdown in the past two games — but right before that, Josh Allen and the Bills racked up 42 points and 445 yards in the most recent of a few defensive stinkers from LA this season. The Rams keep winning anyway, and now they can clinch McVay's fourth NFC West title by beating Seattle in two weeks. “Fortunately, we’re in a position where you don’t necessarily have to rely on other things to happen if you just handle your business,” McVay said. What's working Kyren Williams and the offensive line are driving the Rams' offense. After a slow start caused partly by McVay being forced to abandon the running game when the Rams repeatedly fell behind early, the 2023 Pro Bowler has surged to career highs of 1,243 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns with his 122-yard performance in New York. What needs help Stafford's 110 yards passing were his fewest with the Rams and the second-fewest in his 16-year career from a full game. Sunday's weather was a major factor, but the Rams must throw the ball effectively to somebody other than Puka Nacua. Kupp has just 193 yards receiving in his past five games combined. Stock up Defensive back Jaylen McCollough made a career-high nine tackles in only 31 snaps. The undrafted rookie continues to be a remarkable find, earning playing time alongside veteran safeties Quentin Lake and Kam Curl and fellow rookie Kam Kinchens. Stock down CB Cobie Durant didn't play for the second straight week despite being cleared to return from his bruised lung. Veteran Ahkello Witherspoon got every snap in place of Durant, who started LA's first 13 games. McVay praised Witherspoon's recent play when asked why Durant didn't get on the field in New Jersey. Injuries The Rams' improved health, particularly on both lines, is the key to their surge. McVay reported no new injuries out of the road trip following Tyler Higbee's successful season debut. Key number 12-1 — The Rams’ record in December with Stafford as their starter over his four years in LA. Next steps The Rams need to win at least one of their final two games to wrap up their first NFC West crown since 2021. They host eliminated Arizona on Saturday night, but can't clinch the division unless the Seahawks lose to moribund Chicago. The Rams are currently the NFC's third seed, but that doesn't matter a whole lot because both the third and fourth seeds will have to play one of the NFC North's two powerful wild-card teams in the opening round. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL Greg Beacham, The Associated PressQatar tribune Agencies Turke has introduced incentives and regulations to achieve a storage target of 80 gigawatt-hours (GWh) by 2030, while the energy sector’s agreements to establish cell and battery factories have exceeded $1 billion (TL 35 billion) this year, according to a head of a local association involved in the battery sector on Monday. Energy storage systems, emerging as new players in installed capacity, and the accompanying battery sector are attracting increasing investments and interest globally. Currently, Turke hosts two cell production facilities and nearly 100 lithium-ion battery production facilities of various scales that are actively operating. Aiming to establish 80 gigawatt-hours of capacity by 2030, the country aspires to become a regional hub for production and investment in battery technologies. In July, the government announced the “HIT-30” investment program, which offers comprehensive support and incentives for special projects in high-priority technology areas and develops tailored solutions to specific needs. Following the program’s announcement, the battery sector experienced significant momentum, with domestic and international companies signing new agreements. Kadem Usta, president of the Association of Battery Manufacturers and Suppliers (PILDER), evaluated the recent developments in the battery sector over the year in an interview with Anadolu Agency (AA). Usta stated that 2024 witnessed critical advancements, both in the global and Turkish battery sectors. “Globally, steps to integrate renewable energy sources and recycling have come to the forefront, while in Turke, HIT-30 incentives and investment projects have been the main drivers supporting the sector,” Usta said. “Within the scope of the HIT-30 incentives, significant support for battery production and energy storage systems has been announced. These incentives have accelerated investments in the sector,” he added. Moreover, he highlighted that six agreements signed this year between domestic and foreign firms would establish new factories with cell and battery production capacities of up to 5 gigawatt-hours in cities such as Ankara, Kocaeli, Istanbul and Izmir. “The agreements signed this year have exceeded $1 billion in value. With six new investments nationwide, the total number of battery production facilities will increase to 11,” he said. Pointing out that the legal infrastructure for the operation of battery and energy storage power plants has not yet fully taken shape, Usta noted that a draft regulation has been published, but the first approvals are expected in 2025. Copy 24/12/2024 10