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The couple's fans remain hopeful that the rumors of marriage troubles are unfounded and that Chen Xiao and Michelle Chen will emerge stronger from this alleged ordeal. Many have praised the couple for their dedication to their work and their son, admiring their ability to maintain a sense of normalcy in the face of public scrutiny.Costas Boosalis, resident of Owatonna, MN, died December 25, 2024, at Allina Hospital in Owatonna. The Funeral Service of The Eastern Orthodox Church is set for Saturday, January 4, 2025, at 10:00 am at Holy Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church (703 W. Center St, Rochester, MN 55902). The Makaria "Meal of Blessing" will follow the service in the Church Social Hall. The Graveside Service will take place at Forest Hill Cemetery in Owatonna after the Makaria. The Wake will be on Friday, January 3, 2025, from 5:00-7:00 pm at Brick-Meger Funeral Home (1603 Austin Road, Owatonna) with the Trisagion or "Thrice-Holy" Service to be led by Father Nick Hubbard of Holy Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church at 5:00 pm. Costas was born September 2, 1933, in Niata, Lakonia Greece, the son of Theodore and Angelika Boosalis. He immigrated to the United States in 1955. Costas was united in Holy Matrimony in the Greek Orthodox Faith to the late Mary Boosalis in Sparta, WI, in 1960. The couple made their home in Owatonna while raising two children. Costas owned Costas Candies and Restaurant in downtown Owatonna virtually his entire working life, contributing as the primary candymaker and food purveyor. He was a devout Greek Orthodox Christian and faithful contributor to Holy Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church, belonging and contributing to the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) organization. Mary and Costas loved to travel and visit Greece, including remodeling and enjoying Costas’ ancestral home in Niata Greece. In addition, Costas was a member of St. Mary's Greek Orthodox Church of Minneapolis MN. Costas is survived by his children Theodore of Owatonna, MN, and Angeline of Stuart, FL; sister Helen Giannou of Niata, Lakonia Greece; nephews Dimitri Giannou (wife Theodora and children Kosta and Paulo) of Owatonna, MN, and Niata, Lakonia Greece, and Theodore Giannou (wife Dimitra and children Kostas, Kosmas, and Paraskevas) of Niata, Lakonia Greece; niece Soula Argyros (husband Kostas and children Dimitri and Elena Margarita) of Athens Greece; and god-daughter Vasiliki "Kiki" Pasalis (husband Darren James Peper and son Kostandinos “Dean” Sedgwick) of La Crosse, WI. He was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Angelika Boosalis of Niata, Lakonia Greece, brothers Paris of Niata, Lakonia Greece and Ari of Owatonna, MN, and Niata, Lakonia Greece. Memorials can be made to Holy Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church of Rochester MN. For more information or to leave an online message of condolence, go to www.megercares.com
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It’s been a good few weeks for the New Jersey Devils, and the good times keep rolling. Since our last stock up/stock down , the Devils enjoyed a four-day break before taking on the Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, and Nashville Predators. To make things better, the Devils also hosted the mom’s trip during the Hurricanes and Capitals games. The Devils dominated a majority of the 180 minutes played, picked up all six points, and looked good in front of their mom during the process. Winners of five of the last six and eight of their last ten, the Devils look to hold onto their top spot in the Metro as they head into Thanksgiving. Devils Stock Up/Stock Down Stock Up Nico Hischier After a red hot start to the season, Nico Hischier had cooled down significantly. That is until the Nashville Predators came to town. Hischier put in as spirited of an effort we’ve seen in his career and was rewarded with his first career hat trick. Throughout his scoring drought, his two-way play never wavered, but an 11-game goalless streak had to have been weighing on him. Hischier now leads the Devils with 13 goals, is third on the team in points with 24, and is first in forward time on ice and face-off percentage. Safe to say the captain is back. A natural hatty for Nico Hischier! Hat Trick Challenge presented by @AstraZenecaUS pic.twitter.com/8Bcw7VDdDT — NHL (@NHL) November 26, 2024 Stock Down Paul Cotter The early surprise of the season has been Paul Cotter. He quickly became a fan favorite and worked his way up the lineup. However, it appears some of that early-season magic has gone away. He still brings speed, grit, and good puck pressure every night, but the points have dried up. He’s now gone pointless over his last five games and is starting to rack up penalty minutes. His penalty late in the second period against Carolina earned him a spot on the bench for the remainder of the game, as well as a demotion to the fourth line against Washington. Even while on the fourth line he played a great game and brought a ton of energy, but has definitely not taken a slight step back in recent weeks. That being said, Cotter is still an identity player for the Devils and someone they’ll need to produce a big goal or game-changing hit through the season. Paul Cotter Has The HANDS! #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/pfjyHMigcv — Devils Joint (@DevilsJointX) November 26, 2024 READ: New Contract Comparable Emerges for Devils and Paul Cotter Stock Up Penalty Kill It seems like each week, we highlight the Devils special teams, and for good reason. They’ve been a strength of the team over the past month and have the stats to back it up. They currently have the second-ranked power play and the sixth-ranked penalty kill. However, this time, we’re specifically talking about the Devils penalty kill against Nashville. They went a perfect 5/5, limiting a dangerous Predators power play to only a handful of shots. The real highlight of the night, though, was the Devils PK unit killing a five-minute major. Penalty killing is usually a thankless job, but the Devils total domination brought the crowd to their feet for a standing ovation. The final 17 seconds of the Devils 5 minute major being killed off as the crowd erupts with cheers, then Justin Dowling immediately ices the game with the ENG. CHILLS. #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/bdQy67s46K — Josh (@joshlangerr) November 26, 2024 Stock Down Timo Meier A notoriously slow starter, it’s taking Timo Meier a little bit of time to get going. While he is driving offense and producing scoring chances, he has just one assist in his last five games. Meier’s highlight of late was his five-minute major against Nashville for cross-checking Predators forward Zachary L’Heureux in the face. A cross-check that also earned him a one-game suspension and a $45k fine. Hey, maybe having an extra day off from the suspension can give Meier a little more rest and get him back on the scoresheet! Timo Meier was given a five minute major and a game misconduct for cross checking Zach L'Heureux pic.twitter.com/shPtUgUoS8 — B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 26, 2024 This article first appeared on New Jersey Hockey Now and was syndicated with permission.The news of Quique Setien being appointed as the new head coach of Chinese Super League club Guoan FC has certainly set the football world abuzz. Setien, a former Barcelona manager, brings a wealth of experience and tactical knowledge to the table. However, his tenure at Barcelona was not without controversy, particularly his infamous falling out with veteran defender Gerard Pique.Caffeine is known to stimulate the central nervous system, which can lead to feelings of anxiety, jitteriness, and nervousness in some individuals. After giving up coffee for a month, you may find that your overall sense of calmness and relaxation improves. Without the stimulating effects of caffeine, you may feel less anxious and more at ease in stressful situations.
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VANCOUVER - A confidence agreement between British Columbia’s New Democrats and the provincial Green Party stabilizes David Eby’s bare-majority government, while putting Green election promises on the legislative agenda. The agreement announced Friday outlines the basis on which the Greens’ two-member caucus will provide confidence to Eby’s party, which won election with 47 seats in B.C.‘s 93-seat legislature in October’s provincial election. The deal features key elements of the Greens’ election platform, including a commitment to growing a community health centre model for primary care and expanding public coverage of psychology services at a cost of $50 million. Deputy premier Niki Sharma said the framework focuses on areas of agreement between the two parties, while recognizing their positions won’t always align. The balance struck is “a way to keep government stable for four years ... without erasing the distinct identity that we both have as political parties,” she said Friday. The seven-page agreement says the house leaders of the NDP and the Greens “agree to establish a relationship of trust based on good faith and no surprises.” While set to last four years, it is subject to annual agreement at each parties discretion. It was important to the Greens throughout the negotiations to be able to disagree with government positions, Sharma told a news conference. “I know that we’ll have differences of opinions moving forward, but the fact that we can show a pathway where two political parties in a time of great polarization can come together for British Columbians, I think is a profound thing.” The October election saw two new Green members win seats, lawyer Rob Botterell, representing Saanich North and the Islands, and geological engineer Jeremy Valeriote in West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, while the B.C. Conservatives won 44 seats. B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad said after the election that he would work to bring the NDP government down if it continues with its “destructive policies.” When he was asked about the agreement on Friday, Rustad said he has always assumed the Greens would back the NDP. Eby is “fooling himself” if he thinks having the support of the Green Party is going to make it easier to pass legislation, Rustad said in an interview. “We are going to make it very difficult for him to move anything through the legislature that is continuing the destruction of British Columbia,” he said. “A week can be a long time in politics, so we’ll see what January brings. I don’t want to say anything further at this point.” The stability of Eby’s government had appeared shakier earlier this month when New Democrat Grace Lore announced she was temporarily stepping away due to a cancer diagnosis, though she said she intended to participate in important votes. Eby said in a statement Friday that the agreement with the Greens will “strengthen the stability of government and help deliver on the priorities of British Columbians.” While his party and the Greens are distinct and won’t always agree, the premier said they have “many shared values.” He said the deal sets out specific areas of action they will work together on, including health care, affordable housing, creating livable communities and growing a strong, sustainable economy. “We will continue to work with all MLAs who want to make the legislature work for people,” Eby said. Additional policy commitments outlined in the deal that reflect the Green platform include expanding access to housing aid for elderly renters and building 30,000 more units of non-market housing than the government had pledged. The agreement also commits to a review of B.C.‘s forests to “address concerns around sustainability, jobs, environmental protection an the future of the industry.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024.None
From Maui to the Caribbean, Thanksgiving tournaments a beloved part of college basketballThe year in money: inflation eased, optimism ticked upwardThe top job at the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) is to be axed as part of a ‘restructure’ - as its chief executive is set to retire. TVCA's group chief executive, Julie Gilhespie, is stepping down, Teesside Live understands. The organisation is now expected to undergo an overhaul which will see the role abolished. In documents seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a “revised senior management structure” is proposed “in response to the group chief executive’s declared intention to retire from the organisation within the next 12 to 18 months.” Ms Gilhespie was appointed chief executive of TVCA in November 2018. In May 2020, she became the group chief executive for both the South Tees Development Corporation (STDC) and TVCA. She was also a director of Teesworks Limited (TWL) from July 2020 until this month. She was removed from this position at the STDC board meeting on December 5. The document explains that the group chief executive post is to be deleted and “the separation between the roles of the chief executive of TVCA and STDC” will be re-established. It is believed that this move “will assist in managing any perception of conflict of interest between the roles” and allow the TVCA to focus on the upcoming devolution agenda. The reference to a “perception of conflict of interest” almost mirrors the wording used in the Teesworks review (formally known as the Tees Valley Review), which was undertaken and made 28 recommendations when it was published in January this year. The document detailed the proposed changes, saying: “It is considered appropriate that the required changes are made expeditiously and so the proposal is to make the changes with effect from April 1, 2025.” This timeline is deemed to minimise disruption to the organisation and “minimise any uncertainty to staff and stakeholders that the changes may cause. “The head of operations role that directly supports the group chief executive is also proposed to be deleted,” the document explained. “It is anticipated that STDC Board will be asked to consider regrading the existing chief operation officer of STDC to chief executive”. This action would mean that the chief executive of STDC would gain all of the responsibilities that the group chief executive had “in respect of STDC and its subsidiaries”. John Barnes is the chief operating officer at STDC and likely to be regraded as chief executive of STDC. At a meeting of the STDC board, on Thursday December 5, the board voted to appoint him as director of South Tees Developments Limited, and as a director of South Tees Site Company Limited. He was also appointed to be STDC’s nominated director of TWL, replacing Ms Gilhespie in the process. The Tees Valley Review said: “The interests of TWL haven't always been aligned with those of either TVCA or STDC, particularly after the re-distribution of share ownership and this gives rise to potential/perceived conflicts of interest which could be avoided by another TVCA, or an officer from a constituent authority, undertaking the TWL director role in place of the chief executive.” It is not clear who will become TVCA chief executive. Neither TVCA nor the Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen wished to comment. Teesside Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community. Through the app, we'll send you the latest breaking news, top stories, exclusives and much more straight to your phone. To join our community group, you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select 'Join Community' . No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Teesside Live team. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'Exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . Click here to join our WhatsApp community . For a North East politics and regional affairs digest direct to your inbox, go here to sign up to the free Northern Agenda newsletter
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By Anna Helhoski, NerdWallet The battle to get here was certainly an uphill one, but people are generally feeling better about the economy and their finances than they once did. On top of that, the economy has been easing into an ideal, Goldilocks-like position — not running too hot or cooling too quickly. Throughout 2024, consumer sentiment data showed people were fairly positive about the economy and their own finances, even if there’s remaining frustration over elevated prices compared to four years ago. Looking ahead, households are feeling more optimistic about their personal finances in the next year, as the share of those expecting to be in a better financial situation a year from now hit its highest level since February 2020. Combine positive personal vibes with a strong economic picture and it looks like 2024 wasn’t so bad for consumers, after all. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t bumps in the road or potential roadblocks ahead. To cap off the year, NerdWallet writers reflect on the top trends in personal finance and the economy this year — and what they think might be ahead in 2025. Elizabeth Renter, NerdWallet’s economist What happened: In 2024, U.S. consumers have proven resilient following a period of high inflation and ongoing high interest rates. Wage growth has been strong, owing in part to rising productivity. This has driven robust spending throughout the year, which has kept the economy growing at a healthy pace. The labor market has remained steady, though cooler than 2023, and price growth continues to moderate towards the Federal Reserve’s 2% inflation goal. What’s ahead: Barring significant changes to economic policy and significant shocks, the U.S. economy is expected to grow at a moderate rate in the coming year. Inflation will continue to moderate and the labor market will remain relatively healthy, all due in part to continued slow and deliberate rate cuts from the Fed. However, there are risks to this path. Higher tariffs and tighter immigration policies are likely, but the extent of these changes are yet unclear. The potential policy scenarios are many, and the economic outcomes complex. Increased tariffs are generally inflationary, and stricter immigration policies could impact the labor supply and economic growth. Consumers and small business owners with their eyes to the new year should focus on the things within their control. Margarette Burnette, consumer banking and savings writer What happened: High-yield savings accounts and certificates of deposit offered elevated rates in 2024, rewarding savers with strong returns. Following the Federal Reserve rate cuts in the second half of the year, high-yield accounts had modest rate decreases, but they continued to outperform traditional savings accounts and CDs. What’s ahead: We’re watching for further Federal Reserve rate cuts, which could lead to more decreases in savings rates. Sara Rathner, credit cards writer What happened: Credit card debt levels hit record highs, with consumers turning to credit cards to pay for necessities. While the economy is doing well, many individuals have struggled to make ends meet, as incomes haven’t kept up with certain costs. What’s ahead: We may see some policy and regulation changes with the incoming administration that could affect folks when it comes to credit cards, debt and consumer protections. Ryan Brady, small business writer What happened : New businesses continued to blossom in 2024 as business applications remained well above pre-pandemic levels. Confidence in the future state of the U.S. economy also spiked after the presidential election, but that optimism was tempered by concerns over rising costs and labor quality. What’s ahead: All eyes are on the incoming administration as small-business owners brace for turbulence resulting from potential tariffs, tax policy changes and dismantled government regulations. We’re also watching the possibility of interest rate cuts in 2025 and small-business owners’ growing reliance on new technologies, such as AI. Holden Lewis, mortgages writer What happened: Home buyers struggled with elevated mortgage rates, rising house prices and a shortage of homes for sale. On top of that, a new rule required buyers to negotiate their agents’ commissions. What’s ahead: The Federal Reserve is expected to cut short-term interest rates, but mortgage rates might not necessarily fall by a similar amount. Buyers will probably have more properties to choose from, and the greater supply should keep prices from rising a lot. Interest rates on home equity loans and lines of credit should fall, making it less expensive to borrow to fix up homes — either to sell, or to make the home more comfortable and efficient. Sam Taube, investing writer What happened: The stock market had a great year. The S&P 500 is up more than 25% due to falling interest rates, fading recession fears, AI hype, and the possibility of lighter taxes and regulations under the new administration. Cryptocurrency also saw big gains in 2024; the price of Bitcoin crossed the $100,000 mark for the first time in December. What’s ahead: A lot depends on how fast the Fed reduces rates in 2025. Another key unknown is Trump’s second term. Regulatory rollbacks, such as those he has proposed for the banking industry, could juice stock prices — but they also could create systemic risks in the economy. His proposed tariffs could also hurt economic growth (and therefore stock prices). Finally, it remains to be seen whether trendy AI stocks, such as NVIDIA, can continue their momentum into next year. It’s the same story with crypto: How long will this bull market last? Caitlin Constantine, assistant assigning editor, insurance What happened: Many people saw their home and auto insurance premiums skyrocket in 2024. In some states, homeowners are finding it harder to even find policies in the first place. Meanwhile, life insurance rates have started to decrease post-pandemic. We also saw more insurers offering online-only policies that don’t require a medical exam. What’s ahead: Auto and home insurance costs will likely continue to rise, although auto premiums may not rise as dramatically as they have over the past few years. And if you’re in the market for life insurance, expect to see competitive life insurance quotes and more customizable policies. Eliza Haverstock, student loans writer What happened: Borrowers received historic student loan relief, but lawsuits derailed an income-driven repayment plan used by 8 million whose payments are indefinitely paused. Uncertainty will carry into 2025 as a result of the presidential administration change. What’s ahead: Trump has pledged to overhaul higher education and rein in student loan relief. The fate of the SAVE repayment plan, student loan forgiveness options, FAFSA processing and more remain in the balance. Meghan Coyle, assistant assigning editor, travel What happened: People are willing to pay more for big and small luxuries while traveling, and airlines and hotels are taking note. Many airlines raised checked bag fees early in 2024, credit card issuers and airlines invested in renovated airport lounges, and major hotel companies continued to add luxury properties and brands to their loyalty programs. What’s ahead: Southwest will say goodbye to its open seating policy and introduce new extra-legroom seats, a major departure for the airline. Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines will unveil a unified loyalty program in 2025. Spirit Airlines may attempt to merge with another airline again after its 2024 bankruptcy filing and two failed mergers under President Biden’s administration. Travelers will find that they’ll have to pay a premium to enjoy most of the upgrades airlines and hotels are making. Laura McMullen, assistant assigning editor, personal finance What happened: This year, dynamic pricing expanded beyond concerts and travel to online retailers and even fast-food restaurants. This practice of prices changing based on real-time supply and demand received plenty of backlash from consumers and prompted the Federal Trade Commission to investigate how companies use consumers’ data to set prices. What’s ahead: Beyond an expansion of dynamic pricing — perhaps with added oversight — expect subscription models to become more prevalent and demand for sustainable products to grow. Shannon Bradley, autos writer What happened: New-car prices held steady in 2024 but remained high after a few years of sharp increases — the average new car now sells for about $48,000, and for the first time ever the price gap between new and used cars surpassed $20,000 (average used-car prices are now slightly more than $25,000). Overall, the car market returned to being in the buyer’s favor, as new-car inventories reached pre-pandemic levels, manufacturer incentives began making a comeback and auto loan interest rates started to decline. What’s ahead: The future of the car market is uncertain and depends on policies implemented by the incoming administration. Questions surround the impact of possible tariffs on car prices, whether auto loan rates will continue to drop, and if federal tax credits will still be available for electric vehicle buyers. Jackie Veling, personal loans writer What happened: Buy now, pay later continued to be a popular payment choice for U.S. shoppers, even while facing headwinds, like an interpretive ruling from the CFPB (which determined BNPL should be regulated the same as credit cards) and Apple’s discontinuation of its popular Apple Pay Later product. Large players like Affirm, Klarna and Afterpay continued to offer interest-free, pay-in-four plans at most major retailers, along with long-term plans for larger purchases. What’s ahead: Though more regulation had been widely anticipated in 2025, the change in administration suggests the CFPB will play a less active role in regulating BNPL products. For this reason, and its continued strength in the market, BNPL will likely keep growing. Taryn Phaneuf, news writer What happened: Easing inflation was a bright spot in 2024. In June, the consumer price index fell below 3% for the first time in three years. Consumers saw prices level off or decline for many goods, including for groceries, gas and new and used vehicles. But prices haven’t fallen far enough or broadly enough to relieve the pinch many households feel. What’s ahead: The new and higher tariffs proposed by the Trump administration could reignite inflation on a wide range of goods. Taryn Phaneuf, news writer What happened: Rent prices remain high, but annual rent inflation slowed significantly compared to recent years, staying around 3.5% for much of 2024, according to Zillow, a real estate website that tracks rents. A wave of newly constructed rental units on the market seems to be helping ease competition among renters and forcing landlords to offer better incentives for signing a lease. What’s ahead: If it continues, a softening rental market could work in renters’ favor. But construction is one of several industries that could see a shortage of workers if the Trump administration follows through on its promise to deport undocumented immigrants. A shortage of workers would mean fewer houses and apartments could be built. Anna Helhoski, news writer What happened: After a contentious presidential campaign, former President Donald Trump declared victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. While on the campaign trail, Trump promised to lower inflation, cut taxes, enact tariffs, weaken the power of the Federal Reserve, deport undocumented immigrants and more. Many economists have said Trump’s proposals, if enacted, would likely be inflationary. In Congress, Republicans earned enough seats to control both houses. What’s ahead: It’s unclear which campaign promises Trump will fulfill on his own and with the support of the new Congress. He has promised a slew of “day one” actions that could lead to higher prices, including across-the-board tariffs and mass deportations. Most recently, Trump pledged to enact 20% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, as well as an additional 10% tariff on China. He has also promised to extend or make permanent the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; many of its provisions expire by the end of 2025. Anna Helhoski, news writer What happened: Fiscal year 2023-2024’s funding saga finally came to an end in March, then six months later, the battle to fund the fiscal year 2024-2025 began. The Biden Administration waged its own war against junk fees . Antitrust enforcers pushed back against tech giants like Amazon, Apple, Google, and Meta; prevented the Kroger-Albertsons merger; nixed the Jet Blue-Spirit Airlines merger; and moved to ban noncompete agreements. The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the constitutionality of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, as well as a challenge to abortion pill access. SCOTUS also overruled its landmark Chevron case, which means every federal regulatory agency’s power to set and enforce its own rules are now weaker. What’s ahead: The election’s red sweep means the GOP will control the executive and legislative branches of government. They’ll face the threat of at least one more potential government shutdown; a debt ceiling drama comeback; and the beginning of the debate over extending or making permanent provisions of the expiring 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. More From NerdWallet Anna Helhoski writes for NerdWallet. Email: anna@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @AnnaHelhoski. The article What Trended in Personal Finance in 2024? originally appeared on NerdWallet .LOS ANGELES (AP) — OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is planning to make a $1 million personal donation to President-Elect Donald Trump's inauguration fund, joining a number of tech companies and executives who are working to improve their relationships with the incoming administration. A spokesperson for OpenAI confirmed the move on Friday. The announcement comes one day after Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said it donated $1 million to the same fund. Amazon also said it plans to donate $1 million. “President Trump will lead our country into the age of AI, and I am eager to support his efforts to ensure America stays ahead," Altman said in a statement. Altman, who is in a legal dispute with rival Elon Musk, has said he is “not that worried” about the Tesla CEO's influence in the incoming administration. Trump is putting Musk, the world’s richest man, and Vivek Ramaswamy , an entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, in charge of the new Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which is an outside advisory committee that will work with people inside the government to reduce spending and regulations. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year alleging that the maker of ChatGPT betrayed its founding aims of benefiting the public good rather than pursuing profits. Musk recently escalated the lawsuit by asking a federal judge to stop OpenAI’s plans to convert itself into a for-profit business more fully. —— The Associated Press and OpenAI have a licensing and technology agreement allowing OpenAI access to part of the AP’s text archives.
As the investigation continues and the search for justice presses on, one thing remains certain - the young woman's memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her, her vibrant spirit and infectious energy leaving an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of crossing paths with her.VANCOUVER — The British Columbia New Democrats have negotiated a deal with the two Green Party members of the legislature that will help stabilize the New Democrats' slim majority government, Premier David Eby says. The premier said in a statement Friday that while the two parties are distinct and won't always agree, they have "many shared values." Eby's party won a bare majority with 47 seats in the October provincial election, while two Greens were elected and the B.C. Conservatives have 44 seats. He said the deal sets out specific areas of action they'll work together to achieve, which includes health care, affordable housing, creating livable communities and growing a strong, sustainable economy. "This agreement will strengthen the stability of government and help deliver on the priorities of British Columbians. We will continue to work with all MLAs who want to make the legislature work for people," Eby said. The stability of the NDP government got even shakier earlier this month when New Democrat Grace Lore announced she had cancer and was stepping away from her role as children's minister. B.C. Conservative Party Leader John Rustad has said he would work to bring the NDP government down if it continues with its "destructive policies." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024. Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press
However, the reality is more nuanced, as the global marketplace has increasingly blurred the lines between products labeled as "Made in Russia" and those manufactured elsewhere. Many international brands have established production facilities in countries like China to take advantage of lower manufacturing costs and efficient supply chains. This practice has led to a situation where products bearing Russian brand names may still be produced outside of Russia.Visitors look at unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) products at the 2024 Chengdu International Low-altitude Equipment and Services Expo in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Sept. 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Tang Wenhao) CHENGDU, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's first "4S store" for drones has been put into trial operation at a national base for civil unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) testing in southwest China, a move to further boost the country's burgeoning low-altitude economy. The "4S store," officially known as the Low-Altitude Economy Intelligent Equipment Exhibition and Sales Center, started trial operation on Thursday, the Chengdu Daily reported on Friday. The center is run by the testing base "Sky Eye," which is located in Pengzhou, some 70 km from Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province. Similar to traditional automobile 4S stores, it provides services on drone sales, maintenance, parts and information, according to the report. It also adds supplementary services such as drone insurance, financial services, public education and forum activities. A total of 32 drone-related companies have signed agreements to set up operations within the center. "Here, you can purchase a wide variety of drones with comprehensive functions at competitive prices, while also experiencing a one-stop 'buy and try' service," said Zhou Xiaoming, head of "Sky Eye." Finding test-flight sites and obtaining airspace approvals have long posed challenges for the drone industry in China. Located in the Longmen Mountain range, "Sky Eye" boasts an airspace with an elevation below 1,200 meters and a radius of 5 km, in which numerous types of drones conduct various test missions on a daily basis. On Dec. 8, 2017, "Sky Eye" received approval for airspace use, marking the official establishment of the first civil UAV flight base in southwest China. In August 2022, "Sky Eye" was approved as a national civil UAV testing base, allowing trial flights to be reported just one hour in advance. With this pioneering move, it saw a significant transition for airspace management from an "approval system" to a "notification system" in China, effectively addressing the surging demand for airspace use, reducing user costs, and enhancing operational efficiency, according to the newspaper report. Currently, "Sky Eye" boasts 10 test-flight locations and 19 low-altitude economic application scenarios, making it the largest of 20 national testing bases in terms of quantity in China. It has attracted 132 entities engaged in drone research and development, production, mission payloads and system management, injecting robust momentum into the development of Sichuan's low-altitude economy. China's drone industry has experienced rapid development, with nearly 608,000 UAVs newly registered in the first half (H1) of 2024, an increase of 48 percent from the figure registered at the end of 2023, according to data released by the Civil Aviation Administration of China in July. The cumulative flight time of UAVs reached nearly 9.82 million hours in H1, an increase of 134,000 hours over the same period last year. The booming low-altitude economy, propelled by technological innovation, is experiencing rapid growth in China. A report by a research institute under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China showed that the sector's value reached 505.95 billion yuan (about 70.37 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, and is projected to surpass 1 trillion yuan by 2026.