NoneCallan Rydz has revealed Dimitri Van den Bergh's pre-match mind games lit the fuse that sparked his third round demolition . Rydz did not drop a set in his first two matches at the PDC World Darts Championship as he breezed past Romeo Grbavac and Martin Schindler. However, No. 11 seed Van den Bergh presented a much tougher challenge for Rydz. Well, at least on paper. Once the game began, it looked like Rydz was the man who deserved the high seeding and not Van den Bergh. The 26-year-old was dominant from start to finish as he decimated Van den Bergh 4-0 and recorded a sensational three-dart average of 105.31 on his way to victory. It wasn't even Rydz's highest figure of the tournament, having averaged 107.06 in his first round match against Grbavac. Speaking in his post-match press conference, Rydz revealed it was a pre-match comment from Van den Bergh that played a key role in his blistering performance on Sunday afternoon. Recalling how his rival's use of mind games came to his attention, Rydz said: "It was one of my best friends. "He went, 'Have you seen Dimitri's interview?' I went, 'No.' He went, 'He called you unstable.' "I went, 'He's not wrong,' but I think that was the fire in the belly that I needed." Although Rydz has presented himself as a cool customer on the oche at the World Championship, he has had his struggles with the mental side of the game in recent years. At the 2024 Hungarian Darts Trophy, Rydz cut a devastated figure after he blew a 5-2 lead to eventually lose 6-5 to Florian Hempel in the first round. The 26-year-old bit into the collar of his shirt and punched his darts case on his way off the oche. After the match, Rydz sparked concerns for his well-being with an emotional message on social media. "Bah it's a lonely f****** place, but f*** me, when you lose, the s*** you get is not good for anyone," Rydz wrote. "Am just trying to make a living an (sic) not sure it's worth bothering fighting for anymore. "If you have my number and need me, text me. I won't be on social media for a long time." Rydz has since improved the mental side of his game and it certainly showed against Van den Bergh. It was no more evident than how composed he remained despite Van den Bergh's attempts to dictate the pace of the match, even when Rydz continued to storm ahead. "I knew what he was going to do," Rydz said. "I knew that he was going to try to not slow us down, but compose himself. "But I knew it was coming so I was ready for every little thing that was coming. I settled down after I replied with the 180 in the first leg and it shows that I can do it. "I know that some people write us off, but I know where my game is at, I can match it with anyone." Rydz will now face Robert Owen in the fourth round on Monday.Jimmy Carter helped dismantle Soviet Union with focus on human rights
WAYNE, Pa., Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACRS)(the "Company” or "Aclaris”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel drug candidates for immuno-inflammatory diseases, today announced that effective December 2, 2024, the Compensation Committee of Aclaris' Board of Directors (the "Committee”) granted nonstatutory stock options to purchase an aggregate of 251,000 shares of its common stock and 73,000 restricted stock units to 4 new employees under the Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. 2024 Inducement Plan (the "2024 Inducement Plan”). In addition, also effective December 2, 2024, the Committee granted Hugh Davis, Ph.D, Aclaris' new President and Chief Operating Officer, nonstatutory stock options to purchase 375,000 shares of its common stock and 107,000 restricted stock units under the 2024 Inducement Plan. The stock options and restricted stock units were granted as inducements material to the new employees becoming employees of Aclaris in accordance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The 2024 Inducement Plan is used exclusively for the grant of equity awards to individuals who were not previously an employee or non-employee director of Aclaris (or following a bona fide period of non-employment), as an inducement material to such individuals' entering into employment with Aclaris, pursuant to Rule 5635(c)(4) of the NASDAQ Listing Rules. The options have an exercise price of $3.96 per share, which is equal to the closing price of Aclaris' common stock on December 2, 2024. Each option and restricted stock unit award will vest, and become exercisable (as applicable), as to twenty-five percent of the shares on each of the first, second, third, and fourth anniversaries of the recipient's start date, subject to each such employee's continued employment with Aclaris on such vesting dates. The options and restricted stock unit awards are subject to the terms and conditions of Aclaris' 2024 Inducement Plan, and the terms and conditions of a stock option agreement or restricted stock unit award agreement, as applicable, covering the grant. Aclaris Therapeutics Contact: [email protected]
How local hovernments are keying into Universal health coverageCourtesy of Larie Pidgeon A family member of Hannah Kobayashi, the missing 30-year-old who has not been heard from in almost a month , says the search for her is "not over" — after authorities said almost immediately after apparently disappearing. “Knowing Hannah crossed the border does not provide the answers I need, nor does it ease the heartbreak I feel,” Larie Pidgeon tells PEOPLE about her niece. “That said, my heart is still broken, and my worry for Hannah has not lessened," Pidgeon continues. "It has been 21 days since I last heard from her—21 days of silence, of fear, and of questioning what could have led to this.” “I will not stop until I know my niece is safe and doing this on her own accord and in a good mental state,” Pidgeon adds. At a news conference on Monday, Dec. 2, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) announced surveillance footage from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection “clearly shows Kobayashi crossing the United States border on foot into Mexico.” Related: According to Police Chief Jim McDonnell, Kobayashi entered Tijuana, Mexico, on Nov. 12 just after noon local time. She was on foot and used the San Ysidro point of entry tunnel. “She was alone, with her luggage and appeared unharmed,” McDonnell said. Pidgeon, who has been acting as a spokesperson for the Kobayashi family, maintains to PEOPLE that her niece never mentioned any plans about traveling to Mexico. “No one in her life knew she intended to go there,” Pidgeon says. She goes on to say of Kobayashi that “what alarms me even more is her , her social media, and her world—this is not who she is. And I can’t shake the last messages she sent friends and family, which I’ve replayed in my mind a thousand times, trying to make sense of it but still cannot.” LAPD Last month, Kobayashi was traveling from her home in Maui to N.Y.C. with a layover in L.A. Pidgeon that her niece had landed a job photographing a DJ and had drawn up an hour-by-hour detailed schedule. Kobayashi made her flight from Maui to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Nov. 8 but did not get on her connecting plane bound for N.Y.C. Pidgeon told PEOPLE that on Nov. 11, Kobayashi’s relatives began receiving text messages from the missing woman saying “I think someone’s trying to steal my identity. I’m really scared.” Pidgeon described the messages as cryptic and uncharacteristic of her niece. "Hannah speaks in emojis,” she said at the time, adding, “Usually there’s a heart or flower or a fairy. That’s how she speaks. And these messages didn't have a single emoji.” The LAPD determined that, based on further investigation, Kobayashi “knowingly departed” LAX and went to Union Station. There, authorities said, she used her passport to purchase a bus ticket for a destination in the vicinity of the Mexican border. McConnell, the police chief, told reporters that the investigation found no proof that Kobayashi was "being trafficked or is the victim of foul play.” Following the police update on Monday, Pidgeon tells PEOPLE that she had not seen the video footage of Kobayashi crossing into Mexico but trusts authorities’ due diligence that it was her niece. She thanked authorities for their hard work and dedication to the search, echoing a . Related: “I love Hannah with all my heart, and that love is what drives me to keep searching for her,” Pidgeon says. “Everything I’ve done, every plea I’ve made, every step I’ve taken—it’s all been out of love. I will not stop until I can confirm, face-to-face, that she is safe and making these decisions of her own accord.” The Kobayashi family has been dealing with another recent death: Ryan Kobayashi, Hannah’s father, was on Nov. 24 after traveling to California to help in the search for his daughter. The L.A. County medical examiner said Ryan, 58, . “This has been the most painful and confusing time of my life,” Pidgeon says. “I’ve felt heartbreak, frustration, and hope all at once.” Pidgeon also expressed gratitude to those who also helped in the efforts to find Kobayashi. “To everyone who has supported me—whether by searching, sharing her story, or simply praying for her—I cannot thank you enough,” she says. “Your kindness reminds me that even in the darkest moments, there are good people in this world.” Read the original article on
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Sri Lanka finds itself at a pivotal moment as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that the country aims to complete its debt restructuring agreements by December 2024, with plans to resume loan repayments in 2028. The National People’s Power (NPP) Government has inherited an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that Ranil Wickremesinghe and his Government burdened the country with which is potentially deleterious. Within that context the timeline is ambitious to navigate the complex web of economic recovery, social protection, and political consolidation. Despite the serious shortcomings of these agreements, the Government needs to take calculated measures to stabilise the nation in pragmatic ways. Sri Lanka’s announcement inviting International Sovereign Bond (ISB) holders to exchange $ 12.55 billion of bonds for new instruments by 12 December 2024, marks a critical juncture in the ongoing debt crisis. This proposal stems from a hastily negotiated agreement finalised on 19 September 2024, by the previous Government. Viewed as a politically expedient pre-election manoeuvre, the agreement prioritised bondholders’ interests over those of the Sri Lankan people, jeopardising long-term debt sustainability and economic recovery. Sri Lanka’s sovereign default in 2022 was the culmination of decades of fiscal mismanagement under successive Governments. Reckless dollar borrowing, ineffective economic policies, rampant corruption and governance failures under presidents such as Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and Ranil Wickremesinghe contributed to the crisis. These leaders also contributed to long term structural imbalances leading to balance of payments vulnerability which was aggravated (rather than corrected) by the embrace of neoliberalism since the late 1970s. The IMF-backed restructuring deal negotiated by an unelected interim government failed to prioritise the well-being of Sri Lanka’s citizens, instead entrenching external creditors’ interests and perpetuating fiscal vulnerability. The restructuring agreements devised by the previous administration were deeply flawed: The new Government faces unenviable choices regarding these current multilateral, bi-lateral and bondholder agreements. The main options open to the Government are: Given these constraints, the Government has limited options other than to agreeing to the existing agreements pragmatically – despite the risks involved. Approaching the agreement in this way buys critical time for the Government to stabilise its political footing and craft its first Budget. Adopting the current deal enables the Government to focus on key priorities, such as: The economy is a critical priority, demanding transformational change to achieve sustainable and equitable development. This entails readdressing the IMF program and redefining engagement with the global financial architecture. However, meaningful progress can only begin once the NPP leverages its strong political mandate to consolidate power and implement key institutional reforms. Sri Lanka’s recovery will require bold leadership, strategic vision, and a commitment to the well-being of its people. While the IMF and Bondholder agreements are far from ideal, they provide an imperfect foundation which the Government is compelled to build on. Long-term recovery depends on addressing systemic issues that perpetuate cycles of crisis: By implementing reforms to strengthen governance, improve public institutions, and foster economic self-reliance, the Government can mitigate some of the risks posed by the agreements. Prioritising import substitution, bolstering exports, and reducing dependency on volatile financial instruments will enhance economic resilience. The IMF must be held accountable if its flawed DSA continues to limit the Government’s ability to address Sri Lanka’s critical development needs and provide adequate social protections for its people. A sustainable recovery requires the IMF to adopt a framework that aligns with the realities of developing nations, emphasising the need for equitable fiscal space to promote growth and alleviate poverty. To achieve true sustainability, it is essential that Sri Lanka’s external debt stock will need to be reduced to a manageable level. This requires a genuine commitment from all stakeholders, including the IMF, to revisit and rectify the structural imbalances within the existing agreements. Without substantial debt reduction, Sri Lanka risks perpetuating a cycle of dependency and fiscal vulnerability, undermining its capacity to deliver essential services and build long-term resilience. The Government’s decision to proceed with the existing agreements represents a pragmatic compromise in a challenging environment. However, the success of this approach depends on collective resolve. Sri Lanka must rally behind its leaders, supporting transformative reforms that prioritise people over profits. While the path ahead is fraught with challenges, Sri Lanka’s new Government has an unprecedented opportunity to redefine the nation’s trajectory and mitigate risks posed by the unjust global economic order. By addressing structural flaws, implementing bold reforms, and uniting its people, Sri Lanka can emerge stronger, more equitable, and better equipped to navigate future challenges. (The author is a co-founder of the Institute of Political Economy (www.ipe-sl.org) and a former elected Local Councillor for London in the United Kingdom. The article reflects the personal views of the author and not that of the IPE. He could be reached via email .)
Global stocks mostly rose Tuesday, with US and German indices posting records, as markets weighed Chinese stimulus hopes, political tensions in France and the US interest-rate outlook. Germany's blue-chip DAX stock index jumped above 20,000 points for the first time and Paris rebounded even as France braced for new political turmoil. In New York, both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq narrowly rose to finish at records, while the Dow pulled back. Oil prices jumped more than two percent following reports that crude exporters were near an agreement to extend production limits. A closely-watched labor market report showed an increase in US job openings in October, but also a decline in new job postings during the month, a less upbeat sign. Samuel Tombs, chief US economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said the data overall provides "good grounds" for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates again this month. Still, the choppiness of Tuesday's trading session in New York points to reticence among US investors following a series of post-election records that many pundits believe have left stocks overvalued. "There wasn't a lot of conviction behind the upside moves," said Briefing.com . "The overall vibe in the market was more negative." Stocks in Paris edged higher even as France headed into a new political crisis as opposition lawmakers vowed to topple the minority government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier in a no-confidence vote after just three months in office. Germany's DAX, meanwhile, scored a fresh milestone, defying multiple headwinds battering Europe's biggest economy. The German economy, hit hard by a manufacturing slowdown and weak demand for its exports, has struggled in 2024. Yet the DAX has advanced in large part because companies in the index do heavy business abroad. In addition, the euro's recent weakness has boosted Germany's export-oriented companies, while easing interest rates both in the eurozone and the United States have also helped sentiment. Investors greeted a Bloomberg report that China's top leaders, including President Xi Jinping, would hold a two-day economic work conference next week to outline their targets and stimulus plans for next year. The report followed manufacturing activity data on Monday that suggested China's economic struggles may be coming to an end, but investors are looking for Beijing to step up support for the economy. The news helped push Hong Kong and Shanghai stock markets higher despite Washington announcing new export restrictions taking aim at Beijing's ability to make advanced semiconductors. The moves step up existing US efforts to tighten curbs on exports of state-of-the-art AI chips to China. Beijing hit back by saying it would restrict exports to the United States of some key components in making semiconductors. Oil prices jumped ahead of a meeting Thursday of members of the OPEC oil cartel and its allies "The forecast is that they will announce an extension until the end of the first quarter of 2025, and this should help put a floor under prices," said Trade Nation analyst David Morrison. New York - Dow: DOWN 0.2 percent at 44,705.53 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.1 percent at 6,049.88 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 0.4 percent at 19,480.91 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.6 percent at 8,359.41 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.3 percent at 7,255.42 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.4 percent at 20,016.75 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.9 percent at 39,248.86 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.0 percent at 19,746.32 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.4 percent at 3,378.81 (close) Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0511 from $1.0498 on Monday Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2673 from $1.2655 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 149.53 yen from 149.60 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 82.94 from 82.95 pence Brent North Sea Crude: UP 2.5 percent at $73.62 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 2.7 percent at $69.94 per barrel burs-jmb/dw
ADQ AND FINNFOREL SIGN COLLABORATION TO DEVELOP AN ADVANCED FISH FARMING AND PROCESSING FACILITY IN ABU DHABINFC-leading Lions host Bears on Thanksgiving, trying to stop 7-game losing streak on the holiday