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Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) signaled she is more open to backing Pete Hegseth ’s nomination to become secretary of defense following a second meeting with him on Monday. “Following our encouraging conversations, Pete committed to completing a full audit of the Pentagon and selecting a senior official who will uphold the roles and value of our servicemen and women — based on quality and standards, not quotas — and who will prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks,” Ernst wrote in a statement , released shortly after her 30-minute talk with Hegseth. “As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources,” she added, leaving her decision open-ended. Asked for clarity on whether Ernst will be voting for Hegseth, her office declined to elaborate further on her statement. Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran, has been in political survival mode amid allegations of excessive drinking and the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of sexual assault . Hegseth denies the allegations. “It was a very productive meeting, and I think we are moving through the process — but he does respect that I am taking the time to spend with him,” Ernst said, getting into an elevator. The Iowa senator, a combat veteran who has been vocal about being sexually assaulted, has been under pressure from some of President-elect Donald Trump ’s MAGA loyalists who have threatened to mount a primary challenge against her if she tanks Hegseth's nomination. . @hegseth emerges from a second meeting with Sen. Ernst calling it a “very good meeting.” He said he’s known her for 10 years, “the more we talk, the more we are reminded that we are two combat veterans and we are dedicated to defense.” pic.twitter.com/xkEoKdoiCH — Samantha-Jo Roth (@SamanthaJoRoth) Hegseth emerged from Ernst's Senate office on Monday, calling it “a very good meeting with the senator” and emphasizing he has known her for 10 years. “The more we talk, the more we are reminded that we are two combat veterans who are dedicated to defense,” Hegseth said. Last week, the Trump transition team was reportedly weighing possible replacements for Hegseth, which included Ernst and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL). However, Hegseth’s pursuit to lead the Department of Defense continued despite a rough few days of interviews with senators on Capitol Hill last week. Over the weekend, Ernst commented on Hegseth’s nomination at a security conference in California. ”I am a survivor of sexual assault,” Ernst, who has been an outspoken advocate of preventing military sexual assault and has sponsored bipartisan legislation to hold perpetrators accountable, told the audience. “I’ve worked very heavily on sexual assault measures within the military. So I’d like to hear a lot more about that,” she said in comments reported by the Associated Press. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Trump can only afford three defections within the Senate Republican Conference to get his picks confirmed, as the GOP will hold a 53-seat majority come January. Other possible defections include Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Susan Collins (R-ME), who are set to meet with Hegseth this week. Both senators suggested they have many questions and concerns about the nominee and the allegations against him.Meta Becomes Latest Tech Giant To Embrace Nuclear Power With Open Arms
Arizona lawmaker again targets transgender rights, citing election results
The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — Jordan Jones scored 20 points as Cent. Conn. St. beat Holy Cross 69-56 on Saturday. Jones added six steals for the Blue Devils (6-3). Abdul Momoh scored 12 points and added three steals. Devin Haid had 12 points and shot 4 for 8, including 3 for 5 from beyond the arc. Max Green led the Crusaders (5-5) in scoring, finishing with 15 points and seven rebounds. Tyler Boston added 13 points and five assists for Holy Cross. Caleb Kenney finished with 12 points, nine rebounds, two steals and three blocks. Cent. Conn. St. took the lead with 6:53 remaining in the first half and did not give it up. The score was 38-25 at halftime, with Haid racking up 12 points. Cent. Conn. St. pulled away with an 11-3 run in the second half to extend a six-point lead to 14 points. They closed out the victory over Holy Cross from there, as Jones led the way with a team-high 14 second-half points. NEXT UP Cent. Conn. St.'s next game is Sunday against Rhode Island on the road, and Holy Cross visits Quinnipiac on Tuesday. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Customer Communication Management Market Growth Trends and Forecast 2024-2031: Industry Analysis 11-23-2024 07:03 PM CET | IT, New Media & Software Press release from: SkyQuest Technology The Customer Communication Management Market is a dynamic and rapidly growing sector, driven by technological advancements in hardware, software, and digital infrastructure. It covers a diverse range of services such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, data analytics, and artificial intelligence. The increasing need for digital transformation across industries is propelling market growth. Emerging technologies like 5G, blockchain, and IoT are further unlocking new opportunities. With continuous innovation, the IT sector is poised for significant expansion in the coming years, particularly in the areas of automation and remote work solutions. Download a detailed overview: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/customer-communication-management-market Market Size and Growth: Global Customer Communication Management Market size was valued at USD 1.63 billion in 2022 and is poised to grow from USD 1.83 billion in 2023 to USD 3.89 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 9.9% in the forecast period (2024-2031). The most valuable investment indicators are insights into key market trends, making it easier for potential participants to make informed decisions. The research seeks to identify numerous growth opportunities that readers can consider and capitalize on by utilizing all the relevant information. By closely analyzing critical factors that influence growth, such as pricing, production, profit margins, and value chain dynamics, future market expansion can be predicted with greater precision. Key Market Players: Adobe OpenText Pitney Bowes Xerox Corporation Oracle Corporation Quadient GMC Software AG HP Inc. Crawford Technologies Doxee Smart Communications Toppan Forms Co. Ltd. Zoho Corporation Region-wise Sales Analysis: This chapter presents market data by region, including revenue, sales, and market share breakdowns. It also offers forecasts for sales growth rates, pricing strategies, revenue, and other key metrics for each analyzed regional market. Regions covered include: North America: United States, Canada, Mexico Europe: Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy Asia-Pacific: China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia South America: Brazil, Argentina, Colombia Middle East & Africa: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa Discover Key Trends, Speak with Our Experts @: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/customer-communication-management-market Segments covered in the Customer Communication Management Market include: Component Services, Solutions Deployment On-premises, Cloud Industry Government, Banking, Financial Services, Retail, Healthcare, Media & Entertainment, Energy & Utilities, IT & Telecommunication. Customer Communication Management Market Size and Scope The Customer Communication Management market has shown significant growth in recent years, fueled by rising demand for power electronics across industries such as automotive, telecommunications, and renewable energy. This market is set to grow further as the global adoption of electric vehicles and renewable energy increases. Customer Communication Management are highly valued for their superior thermal conductivity, electrical insulation, and mechanical strength, making them essential components in power modules and electronic devices. With ongoing technological and manufacturing advancements, the applications of Customer Communication Management are expected to expand, encompassing a broader range of uses in the near future. For a Comprehensive Report on the Customer Communication Management Market 2024, Visit @: https://www.skyquestt.com/report/customer-communication-management-market Frequently Asked Questions: 1. What are the global trends in sales, production, consumption, imports, and exports across regions (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East, and Africa)? 2. Who are the leading manufacturers dominating the global market? 3. What is their production capacity, sales, pricing, cost, and revenue structure? 4. What are the risks and opportunities in the market? About Us: SkyQuest is an IP-focused Research and Investment Bank and Technology Accelerator. We offer access to technologies, markets, and financing across sectors like Life Sciences, CleanTech, AgriTech, NanoTech, and Information & Communication Technology. We collaborate closely with innovators, entrepreneurs, companies, and investors to help them leverage external R&D sources and optimize the economic potential of their intellectual assets. Our expertise in innovation management and commercialization spans North America, Europe, ASEAN, and Asia Pacific. Contact: Mr. Jagraj Singh Skyquest Technology 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886, USA (+1) 351-333-4748 Visit our website: Skyquest Technology This release was published on openPR.George Washington 72, Illinois St. 64
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Investment fund backed by Peter Hargreaves records rebound in profits By CITY & FINANCE REPORTER Updated: 21:54, 29 December 2024 e-mail View comments An investment fund backed by Peter Hargreaves has recorded a rebound in profits following an upsurge in the value of several major US tech stocks. Blue Whale Capital, in which Hargreaves is one of two partners, reported a profit of £4.1m for the year to March, up from £3.9m. The profit figure can be split between Hargreaves and his fellow partner Stephen Yiu, Blue Whale's founder and manager. But as neither has taken a profit from the firm since its inception a multi-million payout remains unlikely. Fighting back: Blue Whale Capital, in which Peter Hargreaves is one of two partners, reported a profit of £4.1m for the year to March, up from £3.9m RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next BLUE WHALE GROWTH: Fund's prediction... a fall in share... Why Nvidia is the right way to back AI - and what Trump... Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to choose the best (and cheapest) stocks and shares Isa and the right DIY investing account The growth marks a welcome rebound for Blue Whale, which last year suffered a fall in profit as higher inflation and interest rates weighed on its main holdings which include computer chip giant Nvidia. DIY INVESTING PLATFORMS AJ Bell AJ Bell Easy investing and ready-made portfolios Learn More Learn More Hargreaves Lansdown Hargreaves Lansdown Free fund dealing and investment ideas Learn More Learn More interactive investor interactive investor Flat-fee investing from £4.99 per month Learn More Learn More Saxo Saxo Get £200 back in trading fees Learn More Learn More Trading 212 Trading 212 Free dealing and no account fee Learn More Learn More Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence. Compare the best investing account for you Share or comment on this article: Investment fund backed by Peter Hargreaves records rebound in profits e-mail Add comment Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.Robinson's 19 lead Northern Kentucky over IU Indianapolis 66-64
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Texas A&M signed the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class three years ago believing it had built a potential national title contender. Plenty of players from that heralded 2022 class could indeed be participating in the first 12-team College Football Playoff this month. They just won’t be doing it for the Aggies, who no longer have nearly half their 2022 signees. The list of 2022 recruits now with playoff contenders elsewhere includes Mississippi defensive lineman Walter Nolen, Oregon wide receiver Evan Stewart, Alabama defensive lineman LT Overton, SMU offensive tackle PJ Williams and injured Boise State receiver Chris Marshall. Texas A&M has done all right without them, going 8-4 as transfers filled about half the starting roles. Texas A&M represents perhaps the clearest example of how recruiting and roster construction have changed in the era of loosened transfer restrictions. Coaches must assemble high school classes without always knowing which of their own players are transferring and what players from other schools could be available through the portal. “It used to be you lost 20 seniors, you signed 20 incoming freshmen,” Duke coach Manny Diaz said. “You just had your numbers right. Now you might lose 20 seniors, but you might lose 20 underclassmen. You just don’t know.” Coaches emphasize that high school recruiting remains critical, but recent results suggest it isn’t as vital as before. The last two College Football Playoff runners-up – TCU in 2022 and Washington in 2023 – didn’t sign a single top-15 class in any of the four years leading up their postseason runs, according to composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports. This year’s contenders have shown there’s more than one way to build a championship-caliber roster. About half of No. 1 Oregon’s usual starters began their college careers elsewhere. No. 5 Georgia, which annually signs one of the nation’s top high school classes, has only a few transfers making major contributions. Colorado’s rise under Deion Sanders exemplifies how a team can win without elite high school recruiting. None of Colorado’s last four classes have ranked higher than 30th in the 247Sports Composite. Three ranked 47th or lower. “If anybody ever did the homework and the statistics of these young men – people have a class that they say is the No. 1 class in the nation – then five of those guys play, or four of those guys play, then the rest go through the spring and then they jump in the portal,” Sanders said. “Don’t give me the number of where you rank (in recruiting standings), because it’s like an NFL team," he added. "You always say who won the draft, then the team gets killed all year (and) you don’t say nothing else about it. Who won the draft last year in the NFL? Nobody cares right now, right?” Wisconsin's Christian Alliegro tries to stop Oregon's Evan Stewart, right, during the first half of a Nov. 16 game in Madison, Wis. Star quarterback Shedeur Sanders followed his father from Jackson State to Colorado in 2023, and Heisman Trophy front-runner Travis Hunter accompanied them. According to Colorado, this year’s Buffaloes team has 50 transfer newcomers, trailing only North Texas’ 54 among Bowl Subdivision programs. Relying on transfers comes with caveats. Consider Florida State's rise and fall. Florida State posted an unbeaten regular-season record last year with transfers playing leading roles. When those transfers departed and Florida State's portal additions this year didn't work out, the Seminoles went 2-10. “There has to be some type of balance between the transfer portal and high school recruiting,” said Andrew Ivins, the director of scouting for 247Sports. “I compare it to the NFL. The players from the transfer portal are your free agents and high school recruiting is your NFL draft picks.” A look at the composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports for the 2020-22 classes shows at least 40 of the top 100 prospects each of those years ended up leaving their original school. Coaches must decide which positions they’re better off building with high school prospects and which spots might be easier to fill through the portal. “The ones that have a ton of learning to do - tight end, quarterback, interior offensive line, inside linebacker, safety, where they are the communicators - they are the guys that are processing a lot of information,” Florida’s Billy Napier said. “Those are the ones in a perfect world you have around for a while. “It’s easier to play defensive line, edge, corner, receiver, running back, tackle, specialists. Those are a little bit more plug-and-play I’d say, in my opinion," Napier said. "Either way, it’s not necessarily about that. It’s just about we need a certain number at each spot, and we do the best we can to fill those roles.” Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, right, congratulates place kicker Cristiano Palazzo after he kicked an extra point during the second half of Friday's game against Oklahoma Stat in Boulder, Colo. Power Four programs aren’t the only ones facing a balancing act between recruiting high schools and mining the transfer portal. Group of Five schools encounter similar challenges. “We’re recruiting every position and bringing in a high school class,” Eastern Michigan coach Chris Creighton said. “That’s not going to be maybe 24 scholarship guys like it used to be. It might be more like 16. It’s not four d-linemen necessarily, right? It might be three. It might not be three receivers. It might be two. And it might not be five offensive linemen. It’s two to three.” The extra hurdle Group of Five schools face is the possibility their top performers might leave for a power-conference program with more lucrative name, image and likeness financial opportunities. They sometimes don’t know which players they’ll lose. “We know who they’re trying to steal,” Miami (Ohio) coach Chuck Martin quipped. “We just don’t know who they’re going to steal.” The obstacles facing coaches are only getting steeper as FBS teams prepare for a 105-man roster limit as part of the fallout from a pending $2.8 billion NCAA antitrust settlement. While having 105 players on scholarship seems like an upgrade from the current 85-man scholarship limit, many rosters have about 125 players once walk-ons are included. Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said last week his program would probably end up with about 30-50 players in the portal due to the new roster restrictions. All the added dimensions to roster construction in the college game have drawn parallels to the NFL, but Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck believes those comparisons are misleading. “When people talk about college football right now, they’re saying, ‘Oh, we have an NFL model,’ or it’s kind of moving toward the NFL,” Fleck said. “First of all, it’s nothing like the NFL. There’s a collective bargaining agreement (in the NFL). There’s a true salary cap for everybody. It’s designed for all 32 fan bases to win the Super Bowl maybe once every 32 years – and I know other people are winning that a lot more than others – but that’s how it’s designed. In college football, it’s not that way.” There does seem to be a bit more competitive balance than before. The emergence of TCU and Washington the last couple of postseasons indicates this new era of college football has produced more unpredictability. Yet it’s also created many more challenges as coaches try to figure out how to put together their rosters. “It’s difficult because we’re just kind of inventing it on the fly, right?” Diaz said. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, foreground right, dives toward the end zone to score past San Francisco 49ers defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (51) and linebacker Dee Winters during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green goes up for a dunk during the second half of an Emirates NBA cup basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel (1) drives to the basket against UCLA forward Janiah Barker (0) and center Lauren Betts (51) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Mari Fukada of Japan falls as she competes in the women's Snowboard Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) LSU punter Peyton Todd (38) kneels in prayer before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. LSU won 37-17. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma misses a catch during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, left, is hit by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, center, as Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell (80) looks on during a touchdown run by Barkley in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, left, trips San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, center, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Olympiacos' Francisco Ortega, right, challenges for the ball with FCSB's David Miculescu during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Olympiacos at the National Arena stadium, in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Brazil's Botafogo soccer fans react during the Copa Libertadores title match against Atletico Mineiro in Argentina, during a watch party at Nilton Santos Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) Seattle Kraken fans react after a goal by center Matty Beniers against the San Jose Sharks was disallowed due to goaltender interference during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Seattle. The Sharks won 4-2. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27), center, fight for the puck with Boston Bruins defensemen Parker Wotherspoon (29), left, and Brandon Carlo (25), right during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Jiyai Shin of Korea watches her shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the Australian Open golf championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland competes in the women's Freeski Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Lara Gut-Behrami, of Switzerland, competes during a women's World Cup giant slalom skiing race, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin cools off during first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Brazil's Amanda Gutierres, second right, is congratulated by teammate Yasmin, right, after scoring her team's first goal during a soccer international between Brazil and Australia in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher) Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) tries to leap over Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams (2) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Luiz Henrique of Brazil's Botafogo, right. is fouled by goalkeeper Everson of Brazil's Atletico Mineiro inside the penalty area during a Copa Libertadores final soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) England's Alessia Russo, left, and United States' Naomi Girma challenge for the ball during the International friendly women soccer match between England and United States at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Gold medalists Team Netherlands competes in the Team Sprint Women race of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Beijing 2024 held at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) reaches for an incomplete pass ahead of Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Melanie Meillard, center, of Switzerland, competes during the second run in a women's World Cup slalom skiing race, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Get local news delivered to your inbox!
For teachers who feel ill-equipped to design learning experiences with digital tools, the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) has a message: help is on the way. SETDA is developing a document for release in fall 2025 to help schools use federal professional development funds to boost teacher tech training, working in partnership with Learning Forward, a professional learning association for educators, as well as the International Society for Technology in Education and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development ( ), according to a Monday. The project is supported by a grant from Google.org. The focus of the guide is of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which provides federal funding to states and districts for educator professional development. The document will include research on how to effectively train teachers to use technology and details on how schools can best use Title II-A funds to provide this training, the news release states. The impetus for the project is the fact that, according to a May 2024 from the U.S. Department of Education (ED), fewer than 40 percent of school districts use any portion of their Title II-A funds for teacher professional development on the use of technology. Learning Forward's Chief Policy Officer Melinda George said the hope is to raise that percentage. “Developing educators’ skills and knowledge around the use of technology must be planned and implemented as ongoing, job-embedded and collaborative professional learning,” George said in a public statement. “Title II-A dollars provide an essential funding source for equipping teachers and leaders to meet the needs of all students.” The decision to create the resource comes in the wake of a “call to action” in the (NETP) to make sure teachers in every school offer quality lessons with and about technology. Lack of teacher professional development in this area has led to what ED calls a " " — a division between districts that do and do not give teachers the time and support necessary for them to learn how to create lessons that use digital tools. To close this divide, school leaders must address “opportunities for educators to expand their professional learning and build the capacities necessary to design learning experiences enabled by technology,” the plan states. SETDA worked with ED to build the 2024 NETP. A common theme of educator input for the plan was that teachers need more professional development to be able to build quality lesson plans that include technology, according to SETDA Executive Director Julia Fallon. “As the lead contractor to the U.S. Department of Education in developing the 2024 NETP, we heard from educators across the country about the critical need for time and support necessary to design instruction that meaningfully integrates technology use,” Fallon said in a public statement. “We are excited to collaborate with Learning Forward and ISTE+ASCD to identify ways that the long-standing Title II-A program can be leveraged to address these challenges and drive the modernization of our education system.”A report from the charity on hurricanes, floods, typhoons and storms influenced by climate change warns that the top 10 disasters each cost more than 4 billion US dollars in damage (£3.2 billion). The figures are based mostly on insured losses, so the true costs are likely to be even higher, Christian Aid said, as it called for action to cut greenhouse gas emissions and finance for poor countries to cope with climate change. Politicians who “downplay the urgency of the climate crisis only serve to harm their own people and cause untold suffering around the world”, climate expert Joanna Haigh said. While developed countries feature heavily in the list of costliest weather extremes, as they have higher property values and can afford insurance, the charity also highlighted another 10 disasters which did not rack up such costs but were just as devastating, often hitting poorer countries. Most extreme weather events show “clear fingerprints” of climate change, which is driving more extreme weather events, making them more intense and frequent, experts said. The single most costly event in 2024 was Hurricane Milton, which scientists say was made windier, wetter and more destructive by global warming, and which caused 60 billion US dollars (£48 billion) of damage when it hit the US in October. That is closely followed by Hurricane Helene, which cost 55 billion US dollars (£44 billion) when it hit the US, Mexico and Cuba just two weeks before Milton in late September. The US was hit by so many costly storms throughout the year that even when hurricanes are removed, other storms cost more than 60 billion US dollars in damage, the report said. Three of the costliest 10 climate extremes hit Europe, including the floods from Storm Boris which devastated central European countries in September and deadly flooding in Valencia in October which killed 226 people. In other parts of the world, floods in June and July in China killed 315 people and racked up costs of 15.6 billion US dollars (£12.4 billion), while Typhoon Yagi, which hit south-west Asia in September, killed more than 800 people and cost 12.6 billion dollars (£10 billion). Events which were not among the most costly in financial terms but which have still been devastating include Cyclone Chido which hit Mayotte in December and may have killed more than 1,000 people, Christian Aid said. Meanwhile, heatwaves affected 33 million people in Bangladesh and worsened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, flooding affected 6.6 million people in West Africa and the worst drought in living memory affected more than 14 million in Zambia, Malawi, Namibia and Zimbabwe, the charity said. Christian Aid chief executive Patrick Watt said: “There is nothing natural about the growing severity and frequency of droughts, floods and storms. “Disasters are being supercharged by decisions to keep burning fossil fuels, and to allow emissions to rise. “And they’re being made worse by the consistent failure to deliver on financial commitments to the poorest and most climate-vulnerable countries. “In 2025 we need to see governments leading, and taking action to accelerate the green transition, reduce emissions, and fund their promises.” Dr Mariam Zachariah, World Weather Attribution researcher who analyses extreme events in near-real time to discern the role of climate change, at Imperial College London, said: “This report is just a snapshot of climate devastation in 2024. “There are many more droughts, heatwaves, wildfires and floods not included that are becoming more frequent and intense. “Most of these disasters show clear fingerprints of climate change. “Extreme weather is clearly causing incredible suffering in all corners of the world. Behind the billion-dollar figures are lost lives and livelihoods.” And Prof Haigh, emeritus professor of atmospheric physics at Imperial College London, said: “The economic impact of these extreme weather events should be a wake-up call. “The good news is that ever-worsening crises doesn’t have to be our long-term future. “The technologies of a clean energy economy exist, but we need leaders to invest in them and roll them out at scale.” The 10 costliest climate disasters of 2024 were: – US storms, December to January, more than 60 billion US dollars; – Hurricane Milton in the US, October 9-13, 60 billion US dollars (£48 billion); – Hurricane Helene in the US, Mexico, Cuba, 55 billion US dollars (£44 billion); – China floods, June 9-July 14, 15.6 billion US dollars (£12.4 billion); – Typhoon Yagi, which hit south-west Asia from September 1 to 9, 12.6 billion US dollars (£10 billion); – Hurricane Beryl, in the US, Mexico and Caribbean islands from July 1-11, 6.7 billion US dollars (£5.3 billion); – Storm Boris in central Europe, September 12-16, 5.2 billion US dollars (£4.1 billion); – Rio Grande do Sul floods in Brazil, April 28-May 3, 5 billion US dollars (£4 billion); – Bavaria floods, Germany, June 1-7, 4.45 billion US dollars (£3.5 billion); – Valencia floods, Spain, on October 29, 4.22 billion US dollars (£3.4 billion).
Assad's fall leaves UK with political dilemma Getty Images The speed of the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria is giving us a real-time insight into the dilemmas of foreign policy. The solid becoming fluid in the blink of an eye, and a whole array of awkward questions being posed. A dictator flees, his regime collapses and Foreign Secretary David Lammy addresses the Commons, telling MPs that Assad is a "monster," a "butcher" a "drug dealer" and a "rat". But things are moving quickly. Asylum applications suspended When asked whether the UK would... Chris MasonJimmy Carter has been one of the classic examples of Democratic politics in the US history book for decades, but one feather is now going to be added to the cap of the former US President. Carter, who served as president from 1977 to 1981, by running as a Democrat, ruled with an iron fist during his tenure. He passed away at the age of 100, the Carter Centre , an organization founded by him, has confirmed. ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for Reuters Former US President Jimmy Carter Has Jimmy Carter set a new record? With the death of Jimmy Carter, he sets the record for living longer than any president in American history. He had just celebrated his 100th birthday a couple of months before, and has been a pivotal example of ruling the country smoothly through a epic period of economic and diplomatic crisis. Even though he had to leave the White House with a dent on his legacy, based on his low approval ratings, he bounced back into the political forefront, when he ended up winning the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work. Carter to remain an idol of humanitarian work? The record of being the oldest President to have lived may not be broken in the coming years now, and his new record is going to stay safe, along with a refresher course for the new generation of Americans about the former President. He will always be remembered in history as one of the champions of human rights, claim reports. 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View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program FAQs: Is Jimmy Carter dead ? Yes, Jimmy Carter has passed away at the age of 100, the Carter Centre has confirmed. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
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Kelowna brewery to close, reopen under new ownership after renovationsLA Galaxy strike early, hold off New York Red Bulls 2-1 to win their record 6th MLS Cup championship CARSON, Calif. (AP) — Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic scored in the first half, and the LA Galaxy won their record sixth MLS Cup championship with a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday. Greg Beacham, The Associated Press Dec 7, 2024 3:26 PM Dec 7, 2024 3:35 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Los Angeles Galaxy forward Joseph Paintsil celebrates after scoring during the first half of the MLS Cup championship soccer match against the New York Red Bulls, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent) CARSON, Calif. (AP) — Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic scored in the first half, and the LA Galaxy won their record sixth MLS Cup championship with a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday. After striking twice in the first 13 minutes of the final with goals from their star forwards, the Galaxy nursed their lead through a scoreless second half to raise their league’s biggest trophy for the first time since 2014. MLS’ most successful franchise struggled through most of the ensuing decade, even finishing 26th in the 29-team league last year. But the Galaxy turned everything around this season with a high-scoring new lineup that finished second in the Western Conference and then streaked through the playoffs with a whopping 18 goals in five games to win another crown. Sean Nealis scored for the seventh-seeded Red Bulls, whose improbable charge through the playoffs ended one win shy of its first Cup championship. With the league's youngest roster, New York fell just short of becoming the lowest-seeded team to win MLS' playoff tournament under first-year German coach Sandro Schwarz. Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy made four saves to win his second MLS title in three seasons. He was the MVP of the 2022 MLS Cup Final for the Galaxy's crosstown rival, Los Angeles FC. The Galaxy won this title without perhaps their most important player. Riqui Puig, the playmaking midfielder from Barcelona who ran their offense impressively all season long, tore a ligament in his knee last week in the Western Conference final. Puig watched the game in a suit, but his teammates hadn't forgotten him: After his replacement, Gastón Brugman, set up LA's opening goal with a superb pass, Paintsil held up Puig's jersey to their fans during the celebration. Paintsil put the Galaxy ahead in the ninth minute when he ran onto that sublime pass from Brugman and pounded home his 14th MLS goal — including four in the playoffs — in the Ghanaian forward's outstanding first season. Just four minutes later, Joveljic sprinted past four New York defenders and chipped home the 21st goal of his outstanding year as the Galaxy's striker. Nealis got New York on the scoreboard in the 28th minute when he volleyed home a ball that got loose in LA's penalty area after a corner. The Galaxy's usually shaky defense gave up another handful of good chances before reaching halftime with a tenuous lead. The second half was lively, but scoreless. Red Bulls captain Emil Forsberg hit the outside of the post in the 72nd minute, while Gabriel Pec and Galaxy substitute Marco Reus nearly converted chances a few moments later. The ball got loose again in the Galaxy's penalty area in the third minute of extra time, but two Red Bulls couldn't finish. The Galaxy bench rushed onto the field and prematurely celebrated a victory in the seventh minute of injury time, only to be herded back off for another 30 seconds of play. The Galaxy finished 17-0-3 this season at their frequently renamed suburban stadium, where the sellout crowd of 26,812 for the final included several robust cheering sections of traveling Red Bulls supporters hoping to see their New Jersey-based club’s breakthrough on MLS’ biggest stage. The Galaxy’s Greg Vanney became the fourth coach to win an MLS title with two clubs. The former Galaxy player also won it all with Toronto in 2017. The club famous for employing global stars from David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Robbie Keane and Javier “Chicharito” Hernández rebuilt itself this season with lesser-known young talents from around the world. The Galaxy signed Pec from Brazil and the Ghanaian Paintsil out of Belgium, and the duo combined with incumbent Serbian striker Joveljic to form a potent attack that could outscore almost any MLS opponent. But the Galaxy also relied heavily on Puig, their Catalan catalyst and one of MLS’ best players. Puig stayed in last week's game after injuring his knee, and he even delivered the decisive pass to Joveljic for the game’s only goal. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer Greg Beacham, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More National Sports Groups launch legal challenge against Alberta's new gender-affirming treatment law Dec 7, 2024 3:21 PM Poeltl, Olynyk, Mitchell return to Toronto Raptors' lineup versus Mavericks Dec 7, 2024 3:20 PM Curl-Salemme, Cava lead Minnesota Frost to 5-3 win over Toronto Sceptres in PWHL Dec 7, 2024 3:17 PM Featured Flyer
Colts rule out QB Anthony Richardson; Joe Flacco to startMark Drakeford is preparing outline the Welsh government's £25bn spending plans that will take Wales into 2026. Wales' finance secretary will publish the budget, which impacts the economy and some taxes paid by people and businesses, on Tuesday afternoon. But with Labour just short of a majority in the Senedd, a deal must be struck with another party in order to get it through. Here's what to look out for. First Minister Eluned Morgan made a big admission recently when she called record-long waiting times for NHS care "a crisis". Reducing the backlog of operations created by Covid was the Welsh government's top priority after the pandemic. Three years later - the majority of which Morgan was health minister - and more people than ever are waiting. Health will swallow half this budget, which covers the period up to the next Senedd election in 2026. But Mark Dayan, a policy expert at the Nuffield Trust, says it takes time to improve things. "What I think we've seen, both when waiting times improved before in the '00s and in some of the cautious improvements we've seen elsewhere in the UK, is even once you start to turn things around it takes a really long period of time before the amount of weeks the average person will be waiting is really significantly changing," he said. In October, Chancellor Rachel Reeves gave the Welsh government an extra £1bn to spend in this budget. It puts them in "a different world" after a long period of spending squeezes and high inflation, says Drakeford. Experts at Cardiff University say it should allow for a boost to NHS spending without having to raid other departments. But the picture is not so rosy after 2026, which could create difficult decisions for public services in the not-too-distant future. Most of those services are run by Wales's 22 local authorities, some of whom have issued dire warnings about their finances . Social care, schools, bin collections, libraries and swimming pools are all provided by councils, which get most of their funding from Drakeford. Yawning gaps have appeared in their budgets and it's not clear how some will balance the books . Their leaders argue the NHS cannot be sorted out unless social care is fixed. But the companies delivering care say there's barely enough funding to pay staff the Real Living Wage that the Welsh government wants. Soon they will also have a bigger National Insurance bill as a result of the UK government's Budget . Drakeford is chuffed Reeves has given him more to spend, but every week in the Senedd opponents attack other big decisions she has taken. They include means-testing pensioners for the winter fuel payment and maintaining the two-child benefits cap. The Scottish government has offered to provide help for people affected. Even though the Welsh government does not have the same powers over the benefits system as Scotland, it will still face calls to help people with the cost of living. It does, however, have some powers over tax, including over a portion of income tax and the land transaction tax you pay when buying a home. They could give ministers some more money to spend. Lots of businesses saw their rates go up after the last budget . But hiking income tax would be a huge decision. The Welsh rates haven't changed since they were devolved in 2019. Because it has fewer than half the seats in the Senedd, Labour can't make this budget a reality unless it can convince at least one member from another party to back it in a crucial vote next year. We can expect a lot of negotiation and bargaining behind the scenes, if it hasn't started already. Morgan has tried to up the ante, with a blood-curdling warning about the money Wales loses if her budget fails to pass . Losing votes could also lop 10p off every £1 of income tax, depriving the Welsh government of crucial funds. That might appeal to some, but it would represent a political and financial crisis for the Senedd – and it's difficult to see a government surviving that. Drakeford says the draft of his budget will offer a "bright future for Wales". The Welsh Conservatives said social care needed more funding, as did the NHS "which is at crisis point". Tory shadow finance minister Peter Fox also called for a "root and branch review so that taxpayers' money is well-spent and efficiently allocated". The support of the Welsh Liberal Democrats' sole MS, Jane Dodds, would be enough to pass the budget. Her spokesperson said she wanted more funding for social care, child poverty and rural investment. The last three budgets passed as part of a co-operation deal with Plaid Cymru, which has now ended. Plaid finance spokesperson Heledd Fychan said the first minister should "fight for a fair deal" from Keir Starmer's UK government. "If she fails, then Labour's budget will mean more cuts and NHS funding that delivers ever-diminishing returns," she said.2024’s top 10 climate disasters cost more than 200 billion dollars, charity says
Japan Corporate Service Price Index (YoY) climbed from previous 2.6% to 2.9% in OctoberAEW Rampage’s ratings and audience rose following last week’s preemption-enforced low. Friday’s show garnered a 0.04 rating in the 18 – 49 demographic and 177,000 viewers per Wrestlenomics . Those numbers were up a tick and 40.5% from the previous week’s 0.03 demo rating and audience of 126,000. While those numbers were up from last week’s Saturday episode that was up against Survivor Series, the demo rating was the lowest for the show’s regular timeslot. The total audience was the lowest in the timeslot since the November 1st episode brought in 172,000 viewers. Rampage was up against the UNLV vs. Boise State game on FOX (0.70 demo rating, 3.005 million viewers) and the AAC Championship game on ABC (0.28/1.991 million) Rampage is averaging a 0.098 demo rating and 300,000 viewers in 2024 to date, compared to a 0.117 demo rating and 380,000 for the same point in 2023.