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Camping World Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CWH) Shares Sold by MetLife Investment Management LLC
Seven players missed Manchester City's draw at Crystal Palace. Two more could only play a small role at the end. And then another integral player picked up an unhelpful suspension. It's fair to say that everything that can go against City is going against City this season. They will take on Manchester United next weekend with just three senior defenders available. One of those - captain Kyle Walker - is desperately out of form, and Pep Guardiola has admitted all of his squad are struggling with fitness. The draw at Palace moved City to within eight points of Liverpool , but they have gained a game in hand. And this week's trip to Juventus has turned into a must-win for their Champions League knockout chances. ALSO READ: Pep Guardiola has just told Manchester United how to exploit Man City's biggest weakness ALSO READ: I saw Kyle Walker react to two more Man City mistakes - he's lashing out at the wrong person But Guardiola looked a beaten man as he delivered a desperate injury update for the coming weeks, let alone the two upcoming clashes against Juventus and United. "We don't have players to come back [against Juventus]. The solution is give me players back and to do it," he said at Selhurst Park. "But it's not possible right now and I think it isn't going to happen for a long time. "The reality is I will have few players to rotate in this type of period. When we arrive in the treble season and domestic treble it was because everyone was there. We have [on the bench], except [James] McAtee, Jack [Grealish] and Jeremy [Doku] the other ones were from the academy. And it's going to happen for the next games, the next three weeks, one month it's going to happen the same." However, Guardiola doesn't want his City players to down tools despite his own downbeat demeanour. "I said to players, don't feel sorry, please. Accept the challenge," he insisted, having previously said that this season will be a 'season to just survive'. "It will be more difficult but maybe at the end we have more satisfaction in the way we are going to behave in these problems than maybe in the other seasons when we won the titles. "It's not a question of luck, it happens. It's life, it happens, accept it, and this is the challenge. That's why the challenge has been given. It's football, we know this season will be like this. What Always all the teams want their players fit and ready. Sometimes unfortunately since the beginning it could not happen. It's going to be [more difficult] for longer. One way or other we are going to try." With Guardiola predicting he will have no returning players at Juventus, that means he is set to be without John Stones, Nathan Ake, Manu Akanji, Mateo Kovacic, Phil Foden, Oscar Bobb and Rodri - while Lewis will be suspended against United at the weekend. He named three academy players on the bench at Crystal Palace, but only made two substitutions with both of those players - Grealish and Doku - struggling with fitness before the game. It's hard to see when things start to improve.
New Agent Tokenization Platform Simplifies Decentralized Finance ( DeFi ) and Empowers Users to Build and Manage Intelligent, Autonomous Agents GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- IQ , the developer of AI/blockchain decentralized technology, today announced its Agent Tokenization Platform (ATP). ATP allows users to create tokenized agents that can operate autonomously. IQ's ATP introduces agents that are sovereign blockchain entities, capable of true autonomy. Unlike previous models, ATP agents operate independently, owning assets, performing on-chain actions, and continuously enhancing their capabilities through tokenized ecosystems. The market for AI agent tokens has exploded in recent months reaching a total of $8 billion in market cap in December. However the first phase of AI agent tokens has not yet fully realized their potential for independent operation, as they primarily serve as tools or extensions rather than autonomous entities. While they demonstrate innovation in tokenization and decentralized ecosystems, these agents often remain reliant on centralized oversight or narrowly defined functions. This allows ATP to address the significant gap in DeFi participation despite a substantial number of cryptocurrency holders worldwide. With over 600 million cryptocurrency holders, only 7 million are currently engaged in DeFi activities. By enabling seamless, conversational interactions, ATP streamlines intricate blockchain processes, allowing users to perform sophisticated DeFi tasks with straightforward prompts. For example, tasks that once required five or more steps across multiple platforms can now be accomplished in a single prompt through these new AI agents that can be launched on ATP. Users can co-own these agents by trading their tokens through the platform and unlock additional features as the value of the token increases. " DeFi has the potential to reshape financial systems globally, but its complexity limits mass adoption," said Navin Vethanayagam , Chief Brain of IQ. "With ATP, we're building a platform where builders can create autonomous agents that are capable of simplifying DeFi with simple conversational UIs. Unlike other agent tokenization platforms which have excelled in entertainment, ATP is laser focused on letting users create and manage transformative autonomous DeFi AI superagents." ATP represents a significant advancement in blockchain accessibility by integrating conversational AI with sovereignty and advanced blockchain features. The platform's superagent capabilities enable the analysis of vast data points across assets, chains, and yield strategies, offering customized solutions for users with varying levels of expertise. These agents can autonomously own assets and perform on-chain actions, unlocking new avenues for innovation across decentralized ecosystems. Platform Features and Applications: Agent Deployment: ATP allows the transformation of AI models into autonomous agents for diverse applications, ranging from DeFi operations to content creation. Tokenization & Growth: Users can tokenize agents to create networks of co-owners that support development and share in success. Agents can manage a portion of their tokens and interact with DeFi autonomously. Decentralized Sovereignty: ATP agents function independently without control by a single entity, ensuring sustained resilience and fostering innovation across the blockchain. Powered by IQ tokens, ATP integrates governance participation and deflationary mechanisms to reduce token supply and reward stakeholders, further creating ecosystem-wide value. The IQ token powers ATP, driving its governance, liquidity, utility, and growth: Governance : IQ token holders, through staking in hiIQ, participate in governance decisions that shape the development of ATP and BrainDAO. Deflationary Design : Platform fees paid in IQ are partially burned to reduce supply, while the remainder is distributed as staking rewards. Liquidity Pairing : Every agent launched on ATP pairs with the IQ token, linking all agents to the IQ token ecosystem and driving demand. IQ is showcasing the potential of the ATP by transforming its flagship AI products into tokenized agents. IQ GPT : Currently serving over 2 million users across 100+ crypto communities, IQ GPT has established itself as a leading AI for blockchain knowledge through IQGPT.com . In 2025, IQ GPT will relaunch as a tokenized agent with its own independent token. This transformation introduces tokenomics that enable direct community governance, allowing users to influence the agent's direction and share in its success. Sophia : Developed by BrainDAO, Sophia is an AI editor designed for IQ.wiki , the largest blockchain encyclopedia. Integrated with ATP, Sophia will revolutionize content creation by introducing tokenized incentives, rewarding contributors for curating and expanding blockchain knowledge while fostering collaboration within the community. This interconnected model ensures that the growth of ATP directly benefits IQ token holders while fostering a thriving ecosystem. The IQ ATP is initially launching on the Fraxtal blockchain. The Fraxtal team is developing a novel AIVM with Proof of Inference consensus system in exclusive collaboration with IQ to make any AI agent deployed to the blockchain become fully autonomous and sovereign with no single party in control of the agent, a world first. This AIVM technology will initially only be available to AI agents launched on ATP. "Integrating IQ's ATP into Frax's ecosystem instantly makes DeFi more intuitive, while opening it up to millions more users," said Sam Kazemian , founder and CEO of Frax. "We're eliminating the gap between complexity and accessibility, setting the stage to onboard the next billion users to crypto ." About IQ IQ is building the next generation of decentralized technology, combining AI and blockchain to empower users and projects alike. As the connector and launcher for tokenized agents, Agent Tokenization Platform (ATP) provides the foundation for creating intelligent, autonomous agents that reshape industries, foster vibrant communities, and unlock new opportunities in DeFi and beyond. For more information, please visit IQ.wiki on the Web , X , Discord , or Facebook . All registered trademarks and product identifiers belong to their respective corporate entities. Any other trademarks or product names referenced here are also owned exclusively by their relevant companies. Our discussion may include predictions, estimates or other information that might be considered forward-looking. While these forward-looking statements represent our current judgment on what the future holds, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect our opinions only as of the date of this presentation. Please keep in mind that we are not obligating ourselves to revise or publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events. IQ Media Contact: Gary Bird FortyThree, Inc. [email protected] 831.888.9011 SOURCE IQ
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)— A former US lawmaker who was Donald Trump’s first pick to run the Justice Department regularly paid for lurid sex sessions at drug-fuelled parties, including with a 17-year-old school girl, according to a scathing congressional report released Monday. Matt Gaetz also regularly used cocaine and ecstasy, and bought marijuana from his Capitol Hill office, said the 37-page document, the culmination of a long-running probe by the House Ethics Committee. “The committee determined there is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House rules and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress,” panel investigators wrote. Gaetz has repeatedly denied wrongdoing — pointing to the Justice Department’s decision not to bring charges against him in 2023 after a criminal probe — and the report came out as his lawsuit to block its release was denied. Congressional investigators found that the 42-year-old Republican broke multiple Florida laws on sexual misconduct, although they cleared him of federal sex trafficking violations. The report listed payments by Gaetz totalling more than US$90,000 to 12 women “likely in connection with sexual activity and/or drug use” between 2017 and 2020. They focused on a 2018 trip to the Bahamas during which Gaetz is alleged to have had sex with four women and to have taken party drug ecstasy, a Schedule I substance in the same legal category as heroin. The ex-congressman is an incendiary figure with few friends on Capitol Hill, but was a staunch Trump loyalist and a favorite of the president-elect’s ardent supporters. Tech billionaire Elon Musk — who is Trump’s incoming “efficiency czar” but has inserted himself into all manner of decision-making in the presidential transition process and in congressional politics — lauded Gaetz as America’s “Hammer of Justice” when he was nominated. “Matt Gaetz has 3 critical assets that are needed for the AG role: a big brain, a spine of steel and an axe to grind,” Musk posted on his social media platform, X. “He is the Judge Dredd America needs to clean up a corrupt system and put powerful bad actors in prison.” Gaetz resigned from Congress in November after Trump nominated him for US attorney general — but that was after he had just been reelected for the session beginning in January and there is nothing to stop him taking up his seat. The allegations against Gaetz had been openly discussed for years before he was tapped by Trump, and he withdrew from consideration when it became clear he lacked the backing from Republicans to win Senate confirmation. Gaetz posted a series of tweets refuting some of the report’s allegations, including that he paid for sex. “Giving funds to someone you are dating — that they didn’t ask for — and that isn’t ‘charged’ for sex is now prostitution?!?” he posted on X. “There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses.” Women told congressional investigators they were paid for sex at parties and other events by Gaetz and his friend Joel Greenberg, a former tax collector in Florida who was jailed for 11 years. One encounter allegedly involved a 17-year-old, who told the committee she had sex with Gaetz twice at a July 2017 party. “Victim A recalled receiving $400 in cash from Representative Gaetz that evening, which she understood to be payment for sex. At the time, she had just completed her junior year of high school,” the report says. All the women who testified said the sexual encounters with Gaetz were consensual. Gaetz denied having sex with a minor in written responses to the committee.
Blackbaud Announces Impairment Charge Related to EVERFI Assets
2025: a year of innovation, and how to make the most of itBjork is 'absolutely' confident that Day will return next year at Ohio State
Giants face challenge in hosting Ravens, trying to end 8-game skidZurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its holdings in shares of Sapiens International Co. ( NASDAQ:SPNS – Free Report ) by 74.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 16,463 shares of the technology company’s stock after acquiring an additional 7,022 shares during the quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank’s holdings in Sapiens International were worth $614,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in SPNS. Summit Securities Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Sapiens International during the 2nd quarter valued at $34,000. Financial Management Professionals Inc. boosted its position in Sapiens International by 57.9% during the third quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 1,945 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $72,000 after buying an additional 713 shares during the period. Morgan Dempsey Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Sapiens International by 9.5% during the second quarter. Morgan Dempsey Capital Management LLC now owns 4,206 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $143,000 after buying an additional 365 shares during the last quarter. MQS Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Sapiens International in the third quarter worth about $230,000. Finally, Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Sapiens International in the 2nd quarter valued at about $232,000. 30.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com lowered Sapiens International from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Needham & Company LLC lowered their price target on shares of Sapiens International from $44.00 to $35.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. William Blair reissued a “market perform” rating on shares of Sapiens International in a research report on Friday. Finally, Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Sapiens International from $38.00 to $30.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $36.00. Sapiens International Price Performance Shares of Sapiens International stock opened at $28.29 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $33.28 and a 200 day moving average of $34.76. Sapiens International Co. has a 52 week low of $25.59 and a 52 week high of $41.22. The company has a market cap of $1.58 billion, a PE ratio of 22.28 and a beta of 1.15. The company has a quick ratio of 2.18, a current ratio of 2.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. Sapiens International ( NASDAQ:SPNS – Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Monday, November 11th. The technology company reported $0.37 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.38 by ($0.01). Sapiens International had a return on equity of 17.61% and a net margin of 13.23%. The company had revenue of $137.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $140.10 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.32 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Sapiens International Co. will post 1.42 earnings per share for the current year. Sapiens International Profile ( Free Report ) Sapiens International Corporation N.V. provides software solutions for the insurance industry in North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company provides various solutions for property and casualty commercial and personal lines, life and pensions, and reinsurance fields. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Sapiens International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sapiens International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Amazon is planning to donate $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, a person familiar with the matter told CNN. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is expected to visit with Trump in person in the coming days, as he and other tech founders seek closer relationships with the incoming president. Amazon will donate $1 million in cash to the inauguration and it will make a $1 million in-kind donation by streaming the event on Amazon Video, the company confirmed to CNN Thursday evening. Bezos and Trump spoke over the summer after the first assassination attempt. Bezos publicly praised Trump at the time. “Our former President showed tremendous grace and courage under literal fire tonight,” Bezos wrote on X at the time. Trump has been warming up to tech giants. He has flaunted his private conversations with them in interviews and appearances and now heaps praise on companies he once blamed in part for his 2020 electoral defeat. The Wall Street Journal first reported the planned donation. Bezos joins other tech leaders in looking to foster a closer relationship with the president-elect. Meta confirmed Wednesday that it donated $1 million to the inaugural fund , two weeks after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg met with Trump privately at Mar-a-Lago. It’s a major shift from the company’s previous approach to Trump nearly four years ago, when it banned him from its platforms after the January 6, 2021, insurrection. Trump had also previously criticized Bezos over his ownership of The Washington Post and the newspaper’s coverage of him. Trump tweeted in 2015, “If @amazon ever had to pay fair taxes, its stock would crash and it would crumble like a paper bag. The @washingtonpost scam is saving it!” More recently, the Post was thrown into turmoil in late October after Bezos withheld the newspaper’s endorsement in the 2024 presidential race. “Presidential endorsements do nothing to tip the scales of an election,” Bezos wrote in an op-ed . “No undecided voters in Pennsylvania are going to say, ‘I’m going with Newspaper A’s endorsement.’ None. What presidential endorsements actually do is create a perception of bias. A perception of non-independence. Ending them is a principled decision, and it’s the right one.” The decision had deep ramifications for the newspaper. Members of the Post’s editorial board resigned over the decision not to issue its endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris, and thousands of readers canceled their subscriptions to the newspaper. Staffers also publicly expressed their dissent. Trump had also met with executives from Blue Origin, a Bezos-founded spacefaring company. In his op-ed, Bezos denied allegations he withheld the endorsement to curry favor with Trump, saying he had no advance knowledge of the meeting. Trump has also repeatedly squabbled with Zuckerberg over the years. The president-elect appeared to threaten the Meta chief in a book published this year. “We are watching him closely, and if he does anything illegal this time he will spend the rest of his life in prison — as will others who cheat in the 2024 Presidential Election,” he wrote . This story has been updated with additional context and developments. CNN’s Elisabeth Buchwald, Jon Passantino and Liam Reilly contributed to this report.
One person is dead after a single-vehicle crash on Highway 417 near Arnprior. Emergency crews responded to the crash in the eastbound lanes on the highway at Campbell Drive Thursday afternoon. Renfrew paramedics say the crash involved a single vehicle with one occupant inside. Ontario Provincial Police confirmed just after 9 p.m. that the driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead. The investigation is ongoing. Highway 417 is open for vehicles on Friday. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks The Best Gifts To Give Teachers Under $25 20 Of The Best Gifts Worth Splurging On In 2024 15 Amazon Canada Stocking Stuffers Under $10 That Everyone Will Love Home Our Guide To The Best Soda Makers In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) The Good Stuff: Our Favourite Christmas Lights For 2024 Our Guide To The Best Sectional Sofas You Can Get In Canada Gifts 22 Tiny (And Wonderful) Gifts To Stuff Your Stockings With This Year The Best Gifts For People Who Are Cold All The Time 15 Unique Gifts You'll Want To Order For Yourself, Too Beauty 12 Budget-Friendly Products To Add To Your Winter Skincare Routine Our Guide To The Best Self Tanners You Can Get In Canada 20 Anti-Aging Skincare Products That Reviewers Can’t Stop Talking About Deals Don’t Walk, Run! These LEGO Kits Are On Sale And Ready To Gift Black Friday May Be Over, But You Can Still Take Advantage Of These Amazing Sales On Amazon Canada It's Officially Travel Tuesday: Here Are The Best Deals On Flights, Hotels, And Vacations Ottawa Top Stories NEW THIS MORNING | Today is the CTV Morning Live Holiday Helpers Food Drive. Here's how you can help NEW THIS MORNING | What's happening in Ottawa this weekend: Dec. 13-15 BREAKING | 1 person killed in single-vehicle crash near Arnprior, Ont. Bus parked at OC Transpo depot destroyed by fire Local advocacy groups concerned about plan to crack down on homeless encampments Separate Ottawa crashes, including one with ambulance, send 2 to hospital Two additional arrests made in connection with Val-des-Monts death investigation Crews begin removing cargo from ship stuck in St. Lawrence River in eastern Ontario CTVNews.ca Top Stories Upcoming GST relief causes confusion for some small Canadian businesses A tax break for the holiday season will start this week, giving some Canadians relief on year-end shopping. But for small businesses, confusion around what applies for the GST relief has emerged. Ontario mulls U.S. booze ban as Trump brushes off Ford's threat to cut electricity Incoming U.S. president Donald Trump is brushing off Ontario's threat to restrict electricity exports in retaliation for sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods, as the province floats the idea of effectively barring sales of American alcohol. B.C. carjacking suspect sped across U.S. border before arrest, police say Authorities have arrested a suspect who allegedly carjacked a pickup truck in B.C.'s Lower Mainland then sped across the U.S. border, triggering a massive police response. Alberta premier says federal border plan coming Monday The much-anticipated federal plan to address issues at the Canada-U.S. border will be unveiled on Monday according to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Ottawa has sold its stake in Air Canada: sources Two senior federal government sources have confirmed to CTV News that the federal government has sold its stake in Air Canada. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the government purchased a six per cent stake in the airline for $500 million as part of a bailout package. Premiers disagree on whether Canada should cut off energy supply to U.S. if Trump moves ahead with tariffs Some of Canada's premiers appeared to disagree with Ontario Premier Doug Ford on his approach to retaliatory measures, less than a day after he threatened to cut off the province's energy supply to the U.S. if president-elect Donald Trump follows through on his threat of punishing tariffs. 'Very concerned': Crews search B.C. ski resort for missing man Police and rescue crews are searching for a man who was last seen boarding a ski lift at B.C.'s Sun Peaks Resort Tuesday. Man who set fires inside Calgary's municipal building lost testicle during arrest: ASIRT Two Calgary police officers have been cleared of any wrongdoing in an incident that saw a suspect lose a testicle after being shot with an anti-riot weapon. Blizzard warning shuts down large parts of midwestern Ontario It was a day to stay home, if you could, across much of midwestern Ontario due to weather. Atlantic Bass River, N.S., bridge partially collapses A bridge in Bass River, N.S., partially collapsed on Wednesday. The wooden structure was under construction when one side gave way and fell into the river. 'It felt like someone had really long nails': Owl attacks Halifax runner on trail An owl attacked a runner in a Halifax trail. Fire destroys lobster boat in Canada Creek, N.S. A fire on a lobster fishing boat in Canada Creek, N.S., took several hours to get under control, according to the local fire department. Toronto Man facing charges after allegedly stealing car with dog inside in Toronto A 39-year-old man is facing charges after allegedly stealing a vehicle with a dog inside it in Toronto on Wednesday. Car captured on video driving wrong way in downtown Toronto, striking multiple vehicles An elderly woman is in custody after a car was captured on video driving the wrong way in downtown Toronto Thursday, leaving behind a trail of damaged vehicles. 'That's fine,' Trump says in response to Premier Ford’s threat to cut off energy supply to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is not worried about Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s threat to cut off energy supply to the U.S. as retaliation to the proposed 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods. Montreal Judge to set trial date in February in Robert Miller sex crimes case A judge has adjourned the criminal case against Montreal billionaire Robert Miller after he was recently charged with new sexual offences involving a minor. 'We're seeing over 30 refusals every day': Montreal shelters struggling with winter weather underway With winter underway, women's homeless shelter Chez Doris has announced it will resume its 24/7 service and raise funds for a new day shelter at the historic Fulford building. Rust scores hat trick, Penguins strike six times in third to win 9-2 over Canadiens Bryan Rust scored a hat trick and added an assist as the Pittsburgh Penguins crushed the Montreal Canadiens 9-2 on Thursday night. Northern Ontario Elliot Lake fire crews continue to battle massive apartment fire Fire crews continue to battle an apartment building fire on Hirshhorn Avenue in Elliot Lake. Damage is extensive. Northern Ont. bank employee taken to hospital with serious injuries after shooting An employee at Northern Credit Union in Wawa, Ont., was taken to hospital with serious injuries after a shooter entered the branch and opened fire Thursday morning, the financial institution said in a statement. Stabbing in wooded area of Sudbury results in attempted murder charge Sudbury police have charged a man, 28, with attempted murder after a stabbing in wooded area off Leslie Street on Wednesday night. Windsor Windsor could get a helicopter to clamp down on border: Premier Ford A lot of chatter in Queen's Park today concerning relations between Canada and the United States – from border security to fighting tariffs with more tariffs. Shots fired in South Windsor, one injured An investigation is underway after the Windsor Police Service said multiple shots were fired at a group of people in South Windsor. 'You lose that sense of hope': Windsorite describes what it is like to be forced from a homeless encampment A Windsorite is describing what it is like to be forced from a homeless encampment. London Snow winding down, cold air persists, milder temperatures incoming Although we’re expecting snowsqualls to wind down on Friday afternoon, it’s going to be bitterly cold out there today. St. Thomas police investigating suspicious death The St. Thomas Police Service is investigating a suspicious death. London Ont.'s funny billboard guys take serious stand against renovictions A pair of real estate brokers are backing their words with time and money, after committing to retain a tenant living in a deeply affordable apartment above their future office space. Kitchener Guelph’s bike repair lady finally catches a ‘brake’ A Guelph woman who fought city hall and won in a bid to keep operating a bicycle repair service out of her garage, which benefits charity, scored another victory Thursday night. Conestoga College offering 160 employees early retirement Conestoga College is looking to cut costs by offering 160 of its full-time employees an early retirement package. Premier proposing legislation to clear encampments and target illegal drug use Ontario Premier Doug Ford is proposing stronger legislation for breaking up encampments. Barrie What police want you to know about a new sophisticated scam It’s no longer just phone calls or emails — fraudsters could now show up at your front door. Six arrested, loaded gun seized in Barrie drug bust Six people were arrested on Wednesday afternoon following an investigation into suspected drug trafficking in the north end of Barrie. Shotgun fired, tv stolen in home invasion, suspects at large Provincial police are seeking suspects allegedly involved in an armed home invasion and robbery in Everett over the weekend. Winnipeg 'I am a little anxious': Winnipeggers weigh in on proposed 5.95 per cent property tax hike Winnipeggers are mulling over a nearly six per cent property tax hike. Manitoba premier eyes list of possible retaliatory measures for U.S. tariffs Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says his government is preparing a list of potential retaliatory measures if the United States government imposes new tariffs on Canadian goods. 'Many lives can be saved': One year since Earl Moberg disappeared, calls for change continue One year since Earl Moberg disappeared in Winnipeg, his family’s calls for changes to the silver alert system are on their way to Parliament Hill. Calgary ‘Very odd’: Death of young Calgary woman remains a mystery: police Calgary police are calling on the public to come forward with any information they may have following the death of a young woman found unconscious on a northeast pathway. Water main break snarls traffic along northbound Crowchild Trail A water main break during Thursday's evening rush hour brought motorists to a crawl on northbound Crowchild Trail in Calgary's southwest. Man who set fires inside Calgary's municipal building lost testicle during arrest: ASIRT Two Calgary police officers have been cleared of any wrongdoing in an incident that saw a suspect lose a testicle after being shot with an anti-riot weapon. Edmonton College remembers slain security guard as documents show criminal history of pair charged A vigil was held Thursday at Norquest College for a security guard who was killed at an Edmonton apartment building last Friday. Travis Vader, killer of Lyle and Marie McCann, denied day parole The man who killed an Alberta couple in 2010 has been denied day parole. Police warn public about a text messaging scam circulating in Alberta Vermilion RCMP issued a warning to the public about a text message scam involving speeding violation tickets. Regina 'We want to see some good hockey': Assiniboia rolls out red carpet for Red Wings after rink closure The Weyburn Red Wings are carrying on with their season, despite their hometown rink being temporarily shuttered, thanks to the generosity of those in Assiniboia, Sask. Sask. premier says collaboration needed to tackle border security and avoid Trump tariffs Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says an “all hands-on-deck approach” is needed to address border security concerns to avoid U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's tariff threat on products from Canada and Mexico. Yorkton patient speaks out on city losing four doctors A cattle farmer near Yorkton has spoken out about the shortage of doctors in the Yorkton region after losing her family physician in the area. Saskatoon 'Gong show': Sask. emergency patients move into ambulatory unit at St. Paul's Hospital The emergency department at St. Paul's Hospital is so full its turning to the ambulatory unit. 'Not even our project': Saskatoon city spends more than $5 million on homelessness with no provincial commitment Saskatoon City Council held a special meeting Thursday morning to address homelessness years into the future, but frustration grew throughout the meeting as the province was absent from the conversation. Prince Albert police release photo of suspect in family/grandparent scam The Prince Albert Police Service (PAPS) is releasing a photo of a person of interest in connection with a family/grandparent emergency scam following multiple reports. Vancouver B.C. carjacking suspect sped across U.S. border before arrest, police say Authorities have arrested a suspect who allegedly carjacked a pickup truck in B.C.'s Lower Mainland then sped across the U.S. border, triggering a massive police response. Eby says 'nothing's off the table' in responding to Trump's tariff threats From the merry-looking set of a movie, where he was making a film-industry-related announcement, Premier David Eby came out firing with B.C.'s potential response to massive tarrifs threatened by Donald Trump. 5 injured after multi-vehicle crash on Hwy. 99 between Surrey, Delta Five people were hospitalized following a serious multi-vehicle crash that closed Highway 99 between Surrey and Delta during the Thursday evening rush hour. Vancouver Island Eby says 'nothing's off the table' in responding to Trump's tariff threats From the merry-looking set of a movie, where he was making a film-industry-related announcement, Premier David Eby came out firing with B.C.'s potential response to massive tarrifs threatened by Donald Trump. Team Canada athletes counting down to Invictus Games in Vancouver and Whistler In recent weeks, BC Place has hosted the Grey Cup and the biggest musical act on the planet – and soon, the opening ceremonies of the Invictus Games will take over the venue. Video shows B.C. commercial truck driver stumbling through roadside sobriety check New video sent to CTV News shows a commercial truck driver struggling to stay on his feet during a sobriety check Monday afternoon in Port Coquitlam after allegedly crashing into multiple parked cars. Kelowna Study of 2023 Okanagan wildfires recommends limiting development in high-risk areas A study into the devastating wildfires that struck British Columbia's Okanagan region in 2023 has recommended that government and industry limit development in high-fire-risk areas. Kelowna, B.C., to host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026 The Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets will host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026, the Canadian Hockey League said Wednesday. 545 vehicles impounded in 332 days: BC Highway Patrol pleads for drivers to slow down Mounties with the BC Highway Patrol in Kelowna say they've impounded more than 545 vehicles for excessive speed and aggressive driving so far this year. That works out to more than 1.6 per day. Stay ConnectedRIYADH: Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, visited several key security facilities in Saudi Arabia on Monday, as part of his official visit to the Kingdom. According to a statement from Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior, Sheikh Fahad’s visit on the second day of his official trip to Riyadh included a tour of the Saudi National Center for Security Operations (911), where he was welcomed by Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz. The Deputy Prime Minister was briefed on the center’s role in providing security services to citizens and residents, as well as the advanced technologies used to receive reports and direct the relevant authorities to handle them. Sheikh Fahad’s tour also included a visit to the Saudi National Cybersecurity Authority, where he was greeted by Saudi Minister of State and Chairman of the Cybersecurity Authority, Dr Musaed Al-Aiban. He was accompanied by Kuwait’s Acting Head of the National Cybersecurity Center, Dima Al-Sumait. During the visit, Sheikh Fahad was informed about the authority’s role in enhancing and protecting cybersecurity in the Kingdom, as well as its support for security agencies on cybersecurity-related matters. The minister also visited the King Fahd Security College where he watched a documentary film about the college. He learned about the college’s educational and security programs, which focus on research and studies related to security. Sheikh Fahad also visited the Saudi Reform and Rehabilitation Center, where he was welcomed by Deputy Head of State Security, Abdullah Al-Owais. The visit included an overview of the center’s programs for intellectual and psychological rehabilitation, aimed at enhancing intellectual security and reintegrating individuals into society. The Deputy Prime Minister’s tour concluded with a visit to the General Directorate of Border Guard, where he was received by the Director General, Major General Shaya Al-Wadani. He was briefed on the Border Guard’s mission to protect the Kingdom’s land and maritime borders. In his statement, Sheikh Fahad praised the technological and human progress he observed at the visited facilities, highlighting their role in enhancing security and stability in Saudi Arabia according to the best global law enforcement standards. He expressed his gratitude to Saudi Interior Ministry personnel for their outstanding efforts and dedication, wishing the Kingdom’s leadership, government, and people continued prosperity and success. The Deputy Prime Minister also commended the achievements of law enforcement agencies in both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in combating crime, underscoring the coordination and collaboration between the two countries’ security forces. Sheikh Fahad was accompanied on the tour by Kuwait’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Sabah Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and a security delegation. — KUNAFMC Corporation announces election of Anthony DiSilvestro to Board of Directors
QLED vs OLED: which is best for your TV?Home | Former US President, Jimmy Carter dies at 100 Jimmy Carter, the earnest Georgia peanut farmer who as US president struggled with a bad economy and the Iran hostage crisis but brokered peace between Israel and Egypt and later received the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work, died at his home in Plains, Georgia, on Sunday, the Carter Center said. He was 100. “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love,” said Chip Carter, the former president’s son. “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 honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” A Democrat, he served as president from January 1977 to January 1981 after defeating incumbent Republican President Gerald Ford in the 1976 US election. Carter was swept from office four years later in an electoral landslide as voters embraced Republican challenger Ronald Reagan, the former actor and California governor. Carter lived longer after his term in office than any other US president. Along the way, he earned a reputation as a better former president than he was a president – a status he readily acknowledged. His one-term presidency was marked by the highs of the 1978 Camp David accords between Israel and Egypt, bringing some stability to the Middle East. But it was dogged by an economy in recession, persistent unpopularity and the embarrassment of the Iran hostage crisis that consumed his final 444 days in office. In recent years, Carter had experienced several health issues including melanoma that spread to his liver and brain. Carter decided to receive hospice care in February 2023 instead of undergoing additional medical intervention. His wife, Rosalynn Carter died on November 19, 2023, at age 96. He looked frail when he attended her memorial service and funeral in a wheelchair. Carter left office profoundly unpopular but worked energetically for decades on humanitarian causes. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 in recognition of his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter had been a centrist as governor of Georgia with populist tendencies when he moved into the White House as the 39th US president. He was a Washington outsider at a time when America was still reeling from the Watergate scandal that led Republican Richard Nixon to resign as president in 1974 and elevated Ford from vice president. “I’m Jimmy Carter and I’m running for president. I will never lie to you,” Carter promised with an ear-to-ear smile. Asked to assess his presidency, Carter said in a 1991 documentary: “The biggest failure we had was a political failure. I never was able to convince the American people that I was a forceful and strong leader.” Despite his difficulties in office, Carter had few rivals for accomplishments as a former president. He gained global acclaim as a tireless human rights advocate, a voice for the disenfranchised and a leader in the fight against hunger and poverty, winning the respect that eluded him in the White House. Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his efforts to promote human rights and resolve conflicts around the world, from Ethiopia and Eritrea to Bosnia and Haiti. His Carter Center in Atlanta sent international election-monitoring delegations to polls around the world. A Southern Baptist Sunday school teacher since his teens, Carter brought a strong sense of morality to the presidency, speaking openly about his religious faith. He also sought to take some pomp out of an increasingly imperial presidency – walking, rather than riding in a limousine, in his 1977 inauguration parade. The Middle East was the focus of Carter’s foreign policy. The 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty, based on the 1978 Camp David accords, ended a state of war between the two neighbors. Carter brought Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland for talks. Later, as the accords seemed to be unraveling, Carter saved the day by flying to Cairo and Jerusalem for personal shuttle diplomacy. The treaty provided for Israeli withdrawal from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and establishment of diplomatic relations. Begin and Sadat each won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1978. By the 1980 election, the overriding issues were double-digit inflation, interest rates that exceeded 20% and soaring gas prices, as well as the Iran hostage crisis that brought humiliation to America. These issues marred Carter’s presidency and undermined his chances of winning a second term. HOSTAGE CRISIS On November 4, 1979, revolutionaries devoted to Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini had stormed the US Embassy in Tehran, seized the Americans present and demanded the return of the ousted shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was backed by the United States and was being treated in a US hospital. The American public initially rallied behind Carter. But his support faded in April 1980 when a commando raid failed to rescue the hostages, with eight US soldiers killed in an aircraft accident in the Iranian desert. Carter’s final ignominy was that Iran held the 52 hostages until minutes after Reagan took his oath of office on January 20, 1981, to replace Carter, then released the planes carrying them to freedom. In another crisis, Carter protested the former Soviet Union’s 1979 invasion of Afghanistan by boycotting the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. He also asked the US Senate to defer consideration of a major nuclear arms accord with Moscow. Unswayed, the Soviets remained in Afghanistan for a decade. Carter won narrow Senate approval in 1978 of a treaty to transfer the Panama Canal to the control of Panama despite critics who argued the waterway was vital to American security. He also completed negotiations on full US ties with China. Carter created two new US Cabinet departments – education and energy. Amid high gas prices, he said America’s “energy crisis” was “the moral equivalent of war” and urged the country to embrace conservation. “Ours is the most wasteful nation on earth,” he told Americans in 1977. In 1979, Carter delivered what became known as his “malaise” speech to the nation, although he never used that word. “After listening to the American people I have been reminded again that all the legislation in the world can’t fix what’s wrong with America,” he said in his televised address. “The threat is nearly invisible in ordinary ways. It is a crisis of confidence. It is a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will. The erosion of our confidence in the future is threatening to destroy the social and the political fabric of America.” As president, the strait-laced Carter was embarrassed by the behavior of his hard-drinking younger brother, Billy Carter, who had boasted: “I got a red neck, white socks, and Blue Ribbon beer.” ‘THERE YOU GO AGAIN’ Jimmy Carter withstood a challenge from Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination but was politically diminished heading into his general election battle against a vigorous Republican adversary. Reagan, the conservative who projected an image of strength, kept Carter off balance during their debates before the November 1980 election. Reagan dismissively told Carter, “There you go again,” when the Republican challenger felt the president had misrepresented Reagan’s views during one debate. Carter lost the 1980 election to Reagan, who won 44 of the 50 states and amassed an Electoral College landslide. James Earl Carter Jr. was born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, one of four children of a farmer and shopkeeper. He graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1946, served in the nuclear submarine programme and left to manage the family peanut farming business. He married his wife, Rosalynn, in 1946, a union he called “the most important thing in my life.” They had three sons and a daughter. Carter became a millionaire, a Georgia state legislator and Georgia’s governor from 1971 to 1975. He mounted an underdog bid for the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination, and out-hustled his rivals for the right to face Ford in the general election. With Walter Mondale as his vice presidential running mate, Carter was given a boost by a major Ford gaffe during one of their debates. Ford said that “there is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe and there never will be under a Ford administration,” despite decades of just such domination. Carter edged Ford in the election, even though Ford actually won more states – 27 to Carter’s 23. Not all of Carter’s post-presidential work was appreciated. Former President George W. Bush and his father, former President George H.W. Bush, both Republicans, were said to have been displeased by Carter’s freelance diplomacy in Iraq and elsewhere. In 2004, Carter called the Iraq war launched in 2003 by the younger Bush one of the most “gross and damaging mistakes our nation ever made.” He called George W. Bush’s administration “the worst in history” and said Vice President Dick Cheney was “a disaster for our country.” In 2019, Carter questioned Republican Donald Trump’s legitimacy as president, saying “he was put into office because the Russians interfered on his behalf.” Trump responded by calling Carter “a terrible president.” Carter also made trips to communist North Korea. A 1994 visit defused a nuclear crisis, as President Kim Il Sung agreed to freeze his nuclear program in exchange for resumed dialogue with the United States. That led to a deal in which North Korea, in return for aid, promised not to restart its nuclear reactor or reprocess the plant’s spent fuel. But Carter irked Democratic President Bill Clinton’s administration by announcing the deal with North Korea’s leader without first checking with Washington. In 2010, Carter won the release of an American sentenced to eight years hard labour for illegally entering North Korea. Carter wrote more than two dozen books, ranging from a presidential memoir to a children’s book and poetry, as well as works about religious faith and diplomacy. His book “Faith: A Journey for All,” was published in 2018. SABC © 2024
The Manchester Evening News’ Christmas campaign supporting a foodbank in their festive appeal is set to top out at over £28,000, thanks to the incredible generosity of our readers and supporters. We joined forces with Blackley foodbank Humans MCR for the third year in the row this year, to support their Nobody Hungry At Christmas campaign, which delivers festive hampers to people in need across the region. Across 49 delivery routes, and over 250 addresses, the appeal will reach 1,030 people across Greater Manchester. It’s Humans’ second biggest campaign since its inception in 2019 – and the incredible support of our readers has helped make it possible. READ MORE: "I spent five hours wrapping Christmas presents for charity - it hurt my back, but warmed my heart" CEO Lewey Hellewell founded the charity in 2019. He had used a foodbank the year prior, and was determined to create a more human and dignified process for users, so Humans gives clients choice over what they eat, and delivers their parcels in unmarked vans. They do this all year round, but their efforts peak at Christmas, with hampers stuffed with Christmas dinner ingredients, festive treats, crackers and toys. The mammoth project has taken weeks of work and planning from founder Lewey and his hard-working team. After a busy weekend wrapping hundreds of presents – and sorting through almost three tonnes of veg – today (December 23) was the day it all came together. Busy present wrapping on Saturday December 21. (Image: Jake Lindley / Manchester Evening News) There was an atmosphere of determined but organised chaos as some 20 volunteers worked to put together the boxes of carrots, potatoes and sprouts alongside chocolate logs, selection boxes, defrosting chickens and pigs and blankets. These were then topped with bags of presents, sealed and shoved to the door of the foodbank where yet more volunteers ferried them to the boots of waiting cars. When some delivery drivers failed to turn up for their slot, others happily took on double shifts. From volunteer packers to delivery drivers, everyone worked hard, worked together, and pulled their weight. On hand to help shift the heavy boxes was local businessman Michael Josephson and his husband Lindon. Alongside several large donations from Julie Perry Events and Andrew Geddes of Glaukos, Michael has again pledged to match all donations raised in our appeal. “Lewey’s personal story is really close to my heart,” said Michael. “His story really resonated with me. What he’s done, the way he’s turned his life around and is now giving back and helping others, putting food on families’ tables, it’s amazing.” “I’ve supported Humans’ appeal for three years in a row and I’ll continue to do so. I’m all about giving back to children with my fundraising and this is a wonderful way to do that.” (Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News) “Michael is such a force for good in Manchester,” replied founder Lewey. “It’s great to know that he’s in our corner.” As well as helping to fund their Christmas campaign, the remaining funds will be used to help keep Humans safely afloat into the new year, following what has been a challenging 12 months for the charity. We’re incredibly grateful for Michael’s support – and to everyone who has donated to our campaign. It was a hugely successful, moving day at the foodbank, but it didn’t stop there. Accompanied by her mum, our reporter Greta Simpson took on a route of her own, to see the amazing impact the campaign has on the ground. Greta writes... My mum kindly agreed to help me do a delivery shift for Humans, possessing as she does a much bigger car. My 2x2 seater would have only managed about two parcels. We loaded up the car with five deliveries’ worth of boxes and bags and made our way south, from Blackley to M14. Delivery addresses are grouped together geographically, so all five of our drop-offs are within ten minutes of each other. It all goes by so fast: including the 30 minute drive from Blackley to Moss Side , we’re done in less than two hours. Our first delivery gets off to a rocky start, as the address we have for the first client is wrong, and we knock on the wrong door. Writing this, I still feel bad about the woman we very clearly woke up from her sleep by mistake. Luckily, Lewey is on hand with the client’s number, and though she’s out working at her care job, she’s close by, and gives us the right address, 6 minutes away. Lewey has given us strict instructions that, if clients aren’t in the house when we get there (they have been notified of the delivery date by text, up to seven times) we shouldn’t hang around and wait, but instead give the parcel to someone we know that might need it. Our car is stocked with deliveries (Image: Manchester Evening News) But luckily, by the time we pull up on the terraced street, the client is back, stepping out of her car in a brightly coloured tabard. Two black and white cats watch with interest from the window as we hand over the parcels and she gives effusive thanks. The rest of the deliveries are straightforward. It’s a real mix of people: young mothers, grandparents, single people in their sixties and big families. Our second delivery is to another terraced house, where a tap of the brass knocker sets off a yapping dog inside. “At least it doesn’t sound like a big one,” says my mum. The friendly woman who comes to the door is a young mum who can’t be more than 25. She heard about Humans through the early help worker at her son’s school. We carry our parcels into a toasty living room, where that dog is still barking – in a more friendly way – next to a bubbling fish tank. An hour later, we’re outside an address in Burnage. From the number of presents and bags, shouts of “MUM!” that set off as soon as we knock, and the ensuing thundering footsteps on the stairs, we guess (correctly) that this must be a sizable family. A smiling, friendly couple, with mum in her dressing gown, come to the door, excitable children hot on their heels. All their eyes light up when we mention Humans and the festive hamper. “Wow, this is amazing,” says Mum, as she takes the bag of presents. “Thank you so much! Crackers too – we needed some of them.” She also heard about Humans through her children’s early help worker. She’s used their foodbank service throughout the year, and received a Christmas parcel last year too. “Humans are brilliant,” she said. “This really makes our Christmas – means we can all sit around the table and eat together. “And it’s the little things – crackers and presents – they make Christmas, don’t they? All the things I remember we had when I was young, that helped make it special.” This family is our last delivery of the day. We get back in the car, truly humbled and moved by the recipients’ warmth and gratitude, and by the small part we got to play in what has been a huge and profoundly generous project. A cat watching on at one of the deliveries we made. Generous in more than just the money donated, though of course that makes it all possible: generous in the countless hours spent by organisers, planning logistics; in the love and care that volunteers put into wrapping a present for a stranger they’ll never meet; in the simple consideration of foodbank users as human beings deserving of choice, inclusion and dignity. But it’s the penultimate delivery that sticks with me the most. A man in his seventies, in a small maisonette, all the curtains drawn as we arrive around midday. He comes to the door with cigarette in hand, apparently living alone apart from a German shepherd, who emerges from the shadows of the flat and quite happily consents to be petted by the stranger stepping inside. The man is slightly gruff – as you might be with a stranger in your house – but not unfriendly as I explain the meat is to be defrosted in the fridge. He heard about Humans through a social worker and said, with some despondency, that he had tried to access their emergency food scheme before but had no luck. I explained there was a leaflet inside the bag with all the details and numbers he needs. This man’s is the smallest delivery of the lot, just a box and a bag. Based on this, it looks like he will spend Christmas with just his dog, who is very interested in the bag containing the meat: “He’s fussy, but I’ll have to share it with him,” the man jokes. Does it make a difference though, the Christmas hamper? I ask. “Oh yes,” he says straightaway, seeming surprised to have been asked. “It makes a difference. A big difference.”Students build & launch sat prototype in Balasore
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U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy voted to pass H.R. 8070, the House version of the Servicemembers Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act, for for the coming fiscal year. Langworthy, R-23rd District, said this year’s NDAA delivers a significant pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers, cuts what was termed as wasteful spending at the Pentagon and ensures the U.S. military "remains the strongest fighting force in the world." The House version of the bill also abolishes diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) bureaucracy and climate change programs while banning the teaching, training or promotion of critical race theory. "Provisions of this legislation will prepare our counter threats from China, Russia, and Iran, while supporting National Guard deployments to secure our southern border — keeping America safe and strong,” the congressman said. The fiscal year 2025 NDAA will provide junior enlisted servicemembers with a 14.5% pay raise and fully support the deployment of the National Guard at the southwest border to intercept illegal aliens and drugs, Langworthy said. The House bill is also meant to prevent Chinese espionage in the U.S. military, supply chains and research institutions, expand U.S.-Israel military exercises and fully fund cooperative missile defense programs. Other features of the bill include: • Increasing funding for defense initiatives in the Indo-Pacific to bolster Taiwan’s defense. • Saving $31 billion by cutting inefficient programs, obsolete weapons and what Langworthy called "bloated Pentagon bureaucracy." • Cutting $4 billion in programs that do not meet requirements. • Permanently banning taxpayer-funded transgender medical treatment for children of servicemembers and countering antisemitism by prohibiting the sale of goods at DOD commissaries and exchanges from any entities that have or are engaged in a boycott of Israel. EARLIER THIS WEEK , the House unanimously passed Langworthy’s bipartisan Weather Alert Response and Notification Act (WARN Act, H.R. 2892) to modernize emergency alert systems nationwide. This legislation followed communication failures during Winter Storm Elliott, which claimed more than 40 lives in Western New York and the Southern Tier in December 2022. “People were trapped in their cars for days, many were trapped in their homes without power, and rescue crews struggled to get to those in need,” Langworthy said during remarks on the House Floor. “Some of these deaths could’ve been prevented, but local warning systems failed to adequately communicate the risks to the public. We can’t let this happen again. “Whether it’s a blizzard, a hurricane, a tornado, or other severe weather event, we must ensure that our emergency alert systems are timely, accurate, and capable of reaching everyone,” Langworthy added. “By equipping our communities with clearer, more actionable alerts, we can save lives and prevent tragedies like those experienced during Winter Storm Elliott. Preparation is the key to protecting lives and minimizing damage during these crises.” Specifically, the WARN Act directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the effectiveness of local, state, and federal emergency alert systems, with a focus on adopting cutting-edge technologies such as mobile alerts and satellite communications. The legislation aims to improve the clarity and reliability of alerts, providing critical support for emergency managers on the front lines of disasters, Langworthy said.
NoneAP Business SummaryBrief at 3:44 p.m. ESTWomen are more likely to need walking sticks, wheelchairs and other mobility aids compared to men, but they are less likely to use them, according to a study. And single people are more likely to use mobility tools compared to those who are married, according to researchers from University College London (UCL) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Researchers looked at information from a group of more than 12,000 adults in England aged 50 to 89 who were tracked over a 13-year period. At the start of the study, 8,225 adults had no mobility difficulty and did not use mobility assistive products (MAPs). Some 2,480 were deemed to have “unmet need” and 1,375 were using mobility aids. During the follow-up period, there were 2,313 “transitions” where people went from having no mobility issues to needing some help with getting around. And 1,274 people started to use mobility aids. Compared with men, women were 49% more likely to transition from not needing mobility aids to needing to use them, according to the study which has been published in The Lancet Public Health. But were 21% less likely to go on to use mobility aids when they needed them. The authors said their study showed “barriers to access” for women. For both men and women, with every year that passed during the study period the need for mobility aids increased. People who were older, less educated, less wealthy or reported being disabled were more likely to “transition from no need to unmet need, and from unmet need to use”, the authors said, with this indicating a “higher prevalence of mobility limitations and MAP need overall among these groups”. They added: “Finally, marital or partnership status was not associated with transitioning to unmet need; however, single people were more likely to transition from unmet need to use compared with married or partnered people.” Jamie Danemayer, first author of the study from UCL Computer Science and UCL’s Global Disability Innovation Hub, said: “Our analysis suggests that there is a clear gender gap in access to mobility aids. “Though our data didn’t ascertain the reason why participants weren’t using mobility aids, other research tells us that women are often more likely than men to face obstacles such as cost barriers as a result of well-documented income disparities between genders. “Many mobility aids are designed for men rather than women, which we think may be a factor. “Using mobility aids can also make a disability visible, which can impact the safety and stigma experienced by women, in particular. “There’s a critical need for further research to identify and break down the barriers preventing women from accessing mobility aids that would improve their quality of life.” Professor Cathy Holloway, also from UCL, added: “Not having access to mobility aids when a person needs one can have a big impact on their independence, well-being and quality of life. “Our analysis suggests that women, in particular, regardless of other factors such as education and employment status, are not getting the support that they need.” Professor Shereen Hussein, senior author of the study and lead of the social care group at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: “The research provides compelling evidence of gender disparities in accessing assistive technology, suggesting that cost, design bias, and social stigma are likely to disproportionally affect women. “This underscores the need for inclusive, gender-sensitive approaches in the design, production and inclusivity of assistive technologies.”The first contract Jackie Robinson signed with Brooklyn Dodgers President Branch Rickey on Oct. 23, 1945, was an agreement to play for the Montreal Royals, the Dodgers' top farm club. The deal included a $3,500 signing bonus and $600 per month for the 1946 season. Less than two years later, on April 11, 1947, Robinson signed his first major league contract with Rickey and National League President Ford Frick. He was paid $5,000 for the season. What happened next is well-documented and celebrated annually. Five days after signing, Robinson made history as the first Black player to compete in Major League Baseball, breaking the color barrier. The Dodgers' second baseman was named Rookie of the Year and, two years later, National League Most Valuable Player. He batted .313 over 11 seasons, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1962 and had his No. 42 retired across baseball in 1997. But what became of the contracts? Sports memorabilia can fetch millions today, and experts say Robinson’s original contracts could surpass the value of Shohei Ohtani’s 50/50 home run ball, Freddie Freeman’s World Series Game 1 walk-off grand slam ball or any high-end Babe Ruth artifacts auctioned for seven figures. After decades of uncertainty, Robinson’s contracts from 1945 and 1947 are safely under lock and key. They have been held by the U.S. Marshals Service since 2019 as part of an investment fraud investigation and prosecution. Mykalai Kontilai, a broadcast executive who in 2013 launched a sports memorabilia business called Collector’s Coffee by acquiring and showcasing the Robinson contracts, pleaded guilty last month to one count of mail fraud. He was sentenced last week to 51 months in prison and ordered to pay $6.1 million in restitution to investors he swindled. Those investors, referred to as “the Holders” in court documents, provided Kontilai with loans using the Robinson contracts as collateral. Kontilai raised more than $23 million before defaulting on the loans. Kontilai, 55, obstructed the investigation by forging documents sent to the Securities and Exchange Commission and lying under oath to the SEC. While under investigation but prior to being charged, he fled to Russia, unsuccessfully seeking asylum as a whistleblower of American corruption. He was arrested on an Interpol Red Notice in Germany in 2023 and extradited to the U.S. in May. Kontilai was found guilty of misappropriating funds, reportedly buying a Cadillac, paying for private school tuition and covering rent on luxury homes across the country, all while misleading investigators and failing to pay taxes on the scheme's proceeds. “Collectors Coffee and Kontilai, its CEO, repeatedly lied to investors to raise money for the company - money which Kontilai routinely stole to fund his lavish lifestyle,” Gurbir S. Grewal, director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, said in a statement last year. “Investors should be able to trust those to whom they give their hard-earned money and not worry that those people will lie, cheat and steal.” The Robinson contracts remain in limbo. A resolution may be near, with the philanthropic Jackie Robinson Foundation and the Holders likely sharing the proceeds. “I hope they could do that,” said David Kohler, president of high-end sports memorabilia house SCP Auctions in Orange County. “The proceeds would go to pay back people who were scammed. That seems like the right thing to do.” Kohler estimated what the contracts might fetch at auction and identified a potential buyer. “I’d say they’d probably go for $5 million and up at auction,” he said. “They reach beyond the game of baseball. They are important 20th-century American artifacts central to the civil rights movement. “I sometimes wonder, when it comes to historical items, why don’t the teams buy them? They’d be worth more to their team than to collectors.” Indeed, the Dodgers attempted to claim the contracts, asserting in a January 2019 letter to Collector’s Coffee that “(t)he property is owned by the Dodgers and is not property of (Collector’s Coffee, Inc.).” Later that year, however, the Dodgers relinquished their ownership claim to the Jackie Robinson Foundation. According to court filings, a potential settlement would grant the Jackie Robinson Foundation the 1947 Dodgers contract, while the Holders would receive the 1945 Montreal Royals contract. The Holders would also get an undisclosed portion of the value of the 1947 contract. The SEC would receive a small share. Kohler noted the Dodgers contract is more valuable than the Royals contract. When the distribution is approved, it could conclude the extraordinary journey of the contracts from Rickey’s desk in the 1940s to potential auctions the Holders hope will cover their losses. Before sports memorabilia became a million-dollar business, Rickey and Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley provided the contracts to the James A. Kelly Institute for Local Historical Studies in Brooklyn for a 1952 exhibition. The contracts remained in the institute’s basement for decades alongside nearly 4 million other documents chronicling Brooklyn’s history. The New York Daily News in 1974 reported the institute's move to St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights, noting the historical documents included the “bill of sale for Coney Island in 1654” and Robinson’s original contracts. A 1979 Daily News story also mentioned the contracts, yet the Dodgers made no effort to claim them. The institute’s director, St. Francis professor Arthur J. Konop, left a letter with a key to a safe deposit box before his death in 2009, stating, “My kids will know what to do with this.” Three years later, Konop’s wife and son sold the contracts to Gotta Have It Collectibles for $750,000. Odette Konop signed a letter warranting title, stating, “My husband possessed these contracts in a safe deposit box at our home for over 45 years. ... He cared for them and protected them over half his life until his passing.” Gotta Have It sold the contracts a year later for $2 million to Kontilai, who used them as collateral for $6 million in loans. Kontilai used the contracts to bolster his memorabilia business, hosting events in Philadelphia’s Constitution Center and New York’s Times Square. He enlisted expert Seth Kaller, who valued the contracts at $36 million, before spending investors' money. When the SEC began investigating in 2017, Kontilai forged documents, lied under oath and obstructed the case. After three years, he was indicted in Nevada on 18 counts, including securities fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and failure to file tax returns. He faced additional charges in Colorado, but those were dropped when he pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. The Jackie Robinson Foundation, established in 1973 by Robinson’s widow Rachel Robinson, may soon gain partial ownership of the contracts. The nonprofit administers scholarship and leadership programs for college students and was central to creating the Jackie Robinson Museum, which opened in 2022 in New York City. “Even if you come in with the idea to see the baseball story and learn more about that, you have to walk through that room that talks about his commitment to economic opportunity and civil rights and social justice,” Della Britton, president and CEO of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, told The Times in 2022. In one museum room, Robinson’s life roles are displayed in large capital letters: SOLDIER, CAMPAIGNER, PUBLIC SERVANT, ACTIVIST, FUNDRAISER, ORGANIZER, PROTESTER, ENTREPRENEUR, CITIZEN and more. Also displayed are framed copies of the contracts from 1945 and 1947. The originals, however, remain under federal custody until a court approves their new ownership and an auction determines their monetary value.