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Trump has promised again to release the last JFK files. But experts say don’t expect big revelationsKazakhstan has solidified its position as the leading investment destination in North and Central Asia, drawing USD 15.7 billion in new projects in 2024, as per the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) report released on Dec. 25. This marks an 88 per cent year-on-year surge, with Kazakhstan accounting for 63 per cent of the region's total investments, The Astana Times reported. The region witnessed a 27 per cent rise in overall foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, totaling USD 24.8 billion in 2023. ESCAP highlighted Qatar's UCC Holding as a significant contributor to Kazakhstan's FDI growth, with USD 11 billion committed to the development of critical gas infrastructure projects. "The growth in Kazakhstan now sees it attracting 63 per cent of the region's total FDI in thus far 2024, led by investments totaling USD 11 billion from Qatar's UCC Holding to establish two gas processing plants, a new compressor station, and two additional trunk gas pipelines throughout the country," stated the report. The projects include gas processing plants with annual capacities of one billion and 2.5 billion cubic meters, aimed at optimising raw gas usage. Agreements for these initiatives were formalised between QazaqGas, the national gas company, and Qatar's UCC Holding during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's visit to Qatar. Additional developments encompass the construction of the Aktobe-Kostanai gas pipeline and the expansion of the Beineu-Bozoi-Shymkent pipeline, which is anticipated to enhance Kazakhstan's energy infrastructure. ESCAP emphasised the pivotal role of proactive investment strategies in sustaining such momentum, particularly for emerging markets. "In this context, proactive investment promotion by line ministries and investment promotion agencies (IPAs) becomes increasingly crucial, particularly in sectors contributing to sustainable development. For emerging investment destinations, success depends not only on creating the right policy environment but also on offering investors a comprehensive suite of support services and aftercare," the report noted. While Kazakhstan led the subregion, Uzbekistan secured USD 4 billion in FDI, followed by the Kyrgyz Republic with USD 2.1 billion, Azerbaijan with USD 1.2 billion, Turkmenistan with USD 339 million, Georgia with USD 126 million, and Armenia with USD 67 million, reported The Astana Times. Despite robust inflows into certain countries, outward investments from North and Central Asia declined significantly in 2024, with total outflows falling by 58 per cent to USD 2.3 billion. Russia accounted for 90 per cent of these outflows, channeling USD 847 million into India and Belarus's coal, oil, and gas sectors. The broader Asia-Pacific region recorded USD 292 billion in FDI between January and September 2024, down from USD 339 billion during the same period in 2023. India led the region with USD 76 billion in inflows, followed by Australia at USD 38 billion, China at USD 28 billion, and Japan at USD 25 billion. ESCAP attributed the decline to global economic uncertainties and geopolitical shifts. "The landscape of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Asia-Pacific continues to evolve rapidly amid global economic uncertainties, geopolitical shifts, and technological transformations. While 2024 has witnessed some moderation in investment flows following the record-breaking announcements of 2023, the region has demonstrated remarkable resilience and maintained its position as a premier destination for international capital," the report highlighted. The report identified several factors reshaping investment patterns, including the acceleration of digital economy investments post-COVID-19, heightened energy security concerns, and supply chain restructuring influenced by geopolitical tensions. Experts also noted a transition in investment pace as projects announced in 2023 moved into implementation. The services sector continued to dominate FDI inflows in the Asia-Pacific, accounting for 55 per cent of the total, while manufacturing contributed 41 per cent. The share of the primary sector declined to 4 per cent in the first three quarters of 2024, compared to 9 per cent during the same period in 2023. Within manufacturing, semiconductors, electronic components, and metals attracted the highest investments, with USD 28.2 billion, USD 19 billion, and USD 12.5 billion, respectively, in the first three quarters of 2024. However, metals investments saw a steep 61 per cent decline compared to 2023 due to weakened global steel demand, falling prices, increased Chinese exports, and reduced domestic consumption, The Astana Times reported. Kazakhstan's remarkable performance in attracting FDI underscores its growing appeal as a hub for regional development and international collaboration. The investments, driven by strategic agreements and infrastructure projects, signify the nation's proactive approach to fostering economic growth and sustainable development. Disclaimer: This is a syndicated feed, except for the headline the article is not edited by the FPJ editorial team.HOKA’s most popular running shoes including Bondi 8, Clifton 9, Arahi 7 and Mach 6 are on sale in an early Black Friday sale. Don’t miss out on buying some of HOKA’s post popular picks among shoppers. Select colorways of the top styles are on sale, but shoppers need to hurry before their size runs out. According to HOKA, some of the colors are flying off the online shelves. Don’t hesitate if you’ve been waiting for your favorite shoe’s price to get slashed. Become a HOKA member for free and always get free shipping and returns and get exclusive perks and alerted when products go on sale. One of the top-selling, most famous pair of shoes is the Bondi 8. The men’s Bondi 8 is on sale for $131.99 (originally $165 and pictured above). One of the most famous shoes of the HOKA family, the men’s Clifton 8 shoe is one of the hardest working shoes in the HOKA lineup, the retailer says. The shoe has a softer, lighter foams and a brand-new extended heel geometry. You will have a soft and balanced ride with these kicks. Below are the rest of the HOKA shoes that are discounted in the early Black Friday sale: This is the latest iteration of the Clifton line. It’s a lighter and more cushioned shoe that eliminates weight and delivers a revitalized underfoot with a responsive new foam and improved outsole design. The same as the men’s, it’s the lightest and most cushioned shoe of the Clifton franchise. Don’t pass up on getting a pair of these at a discounted price. This shoe delivers the same streamlined support as its predecessor with HOKA’s patented J-Frame technology. The shoe has been updated with a flat knit upper for improved midfoot stabilization. The shoe now has a plusher tongue, and a stretchy. This trainer shoe has extra energy return with a foam midsole and which has been updated for enhanced durability with rubber coverage in the outsole. It delivers foot hugging comfotr which also allows your feet to remain stable as you speed on the trail. The shoe features a symmetrical bed of cushion and is designed to provide support you want. It also features a low-profile cushion bed that keeps the foot closer to the ground and uses a firmer material designed to provide a good push-off. Kaylee Remington is the shopping and entertainment commerce reporter and metro reporter for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Read her work online .
3,000 West Sacramento PG&E customers without power following car crashCanadian freestyle ski star Mikael Kingsbury seeks to extend recordMOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) — Isaiah Smith ran for a career-high 205 yards on 31 carries and scored a touchdown and San Diego beat Morehead State 37-14 in a season-ending contest for both teams on Saturday. Grant Sergent threw for 184 yards and two touchdowns for San Diego (8-3, 6-2 Pioneer Football League) which ended the season with a four-game win streak and winners of six of seven. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
None6 stocks that Fools have been buying!e are on the eve of the Thanksgiving weekend celebrations and the fever of Black Friday sales, when hordes of shoppers will flock to the various stores to do their Christmas shopping or simply take advantage of the best deals of the year. But part of the strategy is to arrive in the early hours of Friday morning at the various stores to find the products they are looking for in stock. Therefore, several days in advance, their full service hours for , as traditionally, Thursday is a holiday when very few establishments offer service. Here is a list of some of the major retailers and their hours for this Friday, as well as the release of deals for online sales in the 2024 season:In the era of digital health transformation, generative AI (GenAI) has emerged as a breakthrough technology in pharmacovigilance, the science dedicated to ensuring drug safety. Pharmacovigilance monitors the lifecycle of pharmaceutical products, from clinical trials to post-marketing surveillance, identifying and mitigating potential risks associated with medications. However, traditional pharmacovigilance methods, largely manual and data-intensive, often face limitations in processing vast amounts of real-world evidence. GenAI, with its advanced capabilities in machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), and automation, is reshaping this field by enhancing the efficiency, accuracy, and scope of drug safety monitoring. The field of pharmacovigilance is essential to public health, yet, it often grapples with challenges such as delayed signal detection, resource constraints, and data overload. These hurdles are exacerbated by the growing complexity and diversity of data sources, from electronic health records (EHRs) and social media posts to published literature and adverse event reports. GenAI addresses these challenges with its ability to process and analyse large datasets in real time, allowing for immediate detection of safety signals and faster reporting. One of the primary strengths of GenAI lies in its capacity to learn from diverse datasets. Unlike traditional algorithms that operate on predefined rules, GenAI can dynamically adapt to new data patterns, recognising complex associations and uncovering insights that might go undetected otherwise. This flexibility enables GenAI to provide a more comprehensive, nuanced analysis of drug safety. Signal detection, the process of identifying potential safety risks, is a cornerstone of pharmacovigilance. Traditionally, signal detection is reactive, relying on periodic reviews of adverse event data to identify patterns. This approach, however, is often too slow to keep up with the vast and continuous influx of data. GenAI transforms signal detection into a proactive process, continuously analysing data to identify emerging safety signals in real time. For example, GenAI can track social media for patient-reported safety information, rapidly identifying adverse reactions and summarising potential safety concerns in aggregate reports. By incorporating real-world patient feedback alongside structured data sources, GenAI enables a more comprehensive and timely approach to safety signal detection. Aggregate reporting involves summarising and analysing large sets of safety data to provide insights into a drug’s overall safety profile. However, traditional aggregate reporting methods are time-consuming and error-prone due to manual data collection, processing, and analysis. GenAI offers a solution by automating much of this process. It can automatically aggregate safety data from multiple sources, including EHRs, regulatory reports, and literature, creating standardised reports with enhanced accuracy and consistency. One example of automated reporting is the generation of Periodic Safety Update Reports (PSURs), which are critical for regulatory compliance. GenAI’s automation reduces human intervention in PSUR generation, minimising errors and improving the reliability of safety assessments. By handling routine reporting tasks, GenAI allows pharmacovigilance professionals to focus on in-depth safety analysis and decision-making. Post-marketing surveillance is essential to capture long-term or rare adverse effects that may not be evident during clinical trials. GenAI enables continuous monitoring of safety data, transforming pharmacovigilance into a real-time process. By analysing real-world evidence from diverse sources such as social media, online health forums, and wearable devices, GenAI provides insights into a drug’s safety profile across broader patient populations. For instance, in cases where certain medications are associated with rare adverse events, GenAI can identify these patterns early by analysing unstructured data sources like social media posts or patient forums. This early detection allows regulatory bodies and pharmaceutical companies to take preventive measures, such as issuing warnings or updating labels, to protect public health. One of the most promising applications of GenAI in pharmacovigilance is predictive risk modelling. By analysing longitudinal patient data and real-world evidence, GenAI can identify factors that may increase the risk of adverse reactions in specific patient populations. This capability enables pharmacovigilance teams to develop personalised safety profiles for patients based on their medical history, genetics, and demographic information. Personalised safety assessments can inform healthcare providers about potential risks associated with a drug for individual patients, allowing for more tailored treatment plans. By predicting adverse events before they occur, GenAI can help optimise patient outcomes and prevent drug-related harm. Despite its many advantages, the integration of GenAI into pharmacovigilance is not without challenges. Data privacy, algorithm transparency, and accountability are critical issues that need to be addressed to ensure the ethical and responsible use of AI in drug safety. Gen AI’s effectiveness depends on its ability to access vast amounts of data, which often includes sensitive patient information. Protecting patient privacy is paramount, especially as data-sharing practices increase to enable more comprehensive safety assessments. Pharmacovigilance teams must ensure secure data handling, anonymisation practices, and strict access controls to prevent unauthorised data breaches. Many AI algorithms, particularly deep learning models, function as “black boxes”, making it difficult for human users to understand how decisions are made. In pharmacovigilance, transparency is crucial, as it allows stakeholders to interpret AI-generated safety signals and make informed regulatory decisions. Developing explainable AI models and providing clear documentation on how safety assessments are conducted can help build trust in GenAI systems. The use of AI in pharmacovigilance raises questions about accountability, particularly when safety decisions are based on AI-generated insights. Clear guidelines on the responsibilities of AI developers, healthcare professionals, and regulatory authorities are needed to ensure that accountability is maintained in cases where AI-driven assessments affect patient outcomes. Additionally, regulatory bodies must establish guidelines and frameworks for AI applications in pharmacovigilance, ensuring compliance and consistency in safety monitoring practices. Looking ahead, GenAI’s potential to transform pharmacovigilance continues to grow. As AI models become more sophisticated, they may incorporate emerging technologies like blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT) to enhance data security and enable continuous monitoring through connected health devices. Blockchain can address data privacy concerns by providing a decentralised, transparent ledger for storing patient data securely. IoT integration, on the other hand, can allow for real-time data collection from wearable devices, providing continuous health monitoring for pharmacovigilance purposes. This technology can supply pharmacovigilance systems with valuable data on patient reactions to medications, allowing for more timely interventions. As GenAI applications advance, collaboration between pharmaceutical companies, regulatory bodies, and healthcare providers will be essential to fully realise the potential of AI-driven pharmacovigilance. Encouraging data-sharing initiatives, establishing global pharmacovigilance networks, and fostering public-private partnerships can help maximise GenAI’s impact on drug safety. GenAI represents a pivotal advancement in pharmacovigilance, providing solutions to longstanding challenges in drug safety monitoring. By enabling real-time signal detection, automating reporting, and supporting predictive risk modelling, GenAI has the potential to reshape pharmacovigilance practices, making drug safety monitoring more proactive, efficient, and patient-centric. However, realising the full potential of GenAI in pharmacovigilance will require a commitment to ethical principles, regulatory compliance, and collaboration across stakeholders. With these elements in place, GenAI can become a powerful tool for improving drug safety and protecting patient health, marking a new era in the ongoing mission to ensure that medications are safe and effective for everyone. John Praveen is an accomplished pharmacovigilance (PV) and medical writing (MW) professional with over 15+ years of experience in product safety (across pharmacovigilance, medical device vigilance, haemovigilance, and cosmetovigilance). As associate VP at Accenture, he oversees PV/MW portfolio delivery and shared services operations for PV/MW. In his roles, he has been instrumental in establishing end-to-end capabilities in aggregate report writing, signal detection & management, medical device vigilance, cosmetovigilance, haemovigilance, and nutra vigilance at Accenture. Praveen's academic background includes Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Biological Science, Microbiology & Immunology, and a Diploma in Medical Entomology and Medical Genetics from St Joseph's University, Bangalore. He also holds a management degree from the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow, and is certified as an Accenture Business Advisory Expert for PV.
PwC hosts "prompting parties" to help employees experiment with generative AI tools. The firm's chief learning officer said employees needed a safe, low-stakes format to experiment with it. PwC announced last year it was investing $1 billion over three years to expand its AI capabilities. Generative AI is reshaping the workplace, but many employees are still unsure how to use it. Advertisement PwC, a Big Four professional services firm, is addressing that gap with "prompting parties." In 2023, PwC announced it was investing $1 billion over three years to expand its AI capabilities. Later that year the company launched My AI, an upskilling initiative for employees to get trained on how to use AI responsibly. Related Video But Leah Houde, the chief learning officer at PwC, told Business Insider that after the initial AI trainings, there was still a skill gap when it came to employees actually putting the technology to use, even though employees wanted to know more about how to use it. In 2024, AI was among the top five terms searched in PwC's internal learning and development platform, compared to being in the top 15 in 2023 and not even in the top 100 in 2022, PwC represenatives told BI. "The cognitive load that it takes to just try something new in the course of doing what you're normally doing is hard," Houde said, adding that many employees just didn't know where to start with AI prompts, which are the written instructions given to an AI tool in order to elicit a useful response. Advertisement People needed a safe, low-stakes place to play with the tools. That's where the AI prompting parties came in. The group sessions, which can be run independently amongst teams or by a company AI leader, are aimed at making employees comfortable using AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and ChatPwC — the company's internal version of ChatGPT. The sessions focus on real use cases, so employees can collaboratively experiment with using AI to help them solve a problem or accomplish a task that's specific to their team. Advertisement Houde said the sessions are like a "playground where I'm not working on a client deliverable or writing an email to my boss or something that might give me anxiety that I don't want to mess up with AI." She said experimenting in a group setting also allows employees to learn from each others' prompts, giving them new ideas about what AI can do. It's also made them more likely to try out AI on their own time too, Houde said. Since launching in March, PwC said it has hosted nearly 500 prompting parties and over 880 more have been requested, so they are scaling up to meet the demand. Advertisement Houde said becoming familiar with AI was especially important for employees at PwC as a professional services firm, since the company's clients often turn to its employees to get their own questions about AI answered. Workforce experts previously told BI's Tim Paradis that getting employees up to speed with AI is necessary, and that it will require the help and investment of employers . A survey published by Slack in November found the rate of AI adoption among desk workers had plateaued, despite companies continuing to invest heavily in AI for their business. Advertisement But Houde said it's not just AI or other technical skills that employees at PwC want more training on. Terms like "inclusion" and "inclusive mindset" are among the top searched on the company's training platform every year. "The thing that it says to me is that the human interaction is always going to matter," she said. Going forward, Houde said she's most excited about how AI can be used to create personalized learning and development plans for people based on their current skills and where they want to go in their careers. Advertisement Instead of generically recommending the same trainings to everyone, AI can flag trainings that are most relevant to each individual. "AI is now enabling us to understand the skills our people have and make connections between the skills that they have and the skills that they're going to need to progress," Houde said. Have a news tip or a story to share? Do you work in consulting or have you worked with a consulting career coach? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@businessinsider.com .AP News Summary at 3:38 p.m. EST
On paper, Luigi Mangione had it all: wealth, intellect, athleticism, good looks. But the child of a prominent Maryland family may have spurned it all in a spasm of violence, in a killing that has mesmerized Americans. The 26-year-old was arrested Monday and charged with the murder of Brian Thompson, a health insurance chief executive and father of two who was gunned down in Manhattan last week by someone who, evidence suggests, has endured his own debilitating health crises and grew angry with the privatized US medical system. The cold-blooded killing has laid bare the deep frustration many Americans feel toward the country's labyrinthine health care system: while many have condemned the shooting, others have praised Mangione as a hero. It has also prompted considerable interest in how a young engineer with an Ivy League education could have gone off the rails to commit murder. News of his capture at a Pennsylvania McDonald's triggered an explosion of online activity, with Mangione quickly amassing new followers on social media as citizen sleuths and US media tried to understand who he is. As Americans have looked for clues about a political ideology or potential motive, a photo on his X account (formerly Twitter) includes an X-ray of an apparently injured spine. Mangione lived in Hawaii in 2022 and, according to his former roommate R.J. Martin, suffered from back pain, and was hoping to strengthen his back. After a surfing lesson, Mangione was "in bed for about a week" because of the pain, Martin told CNN. Earlier this year, Martin said, Mangione confirmed he'd had back surgery and sent him photos of the X-rays. Police said the suspect carried a hand-written manifesto of grievances in which he slammed America's "most expensive health care system in the world." "He was writing a lot about his disdain for corporate America and in particular the health care industry," New York police chief detective Joseph Kenny told ABC. According to CNN, a document recovered when Mangione was arrested included the phrase "these parasites had it coming." Meanwhile, memes and jokes proliferated, many riffing on his first name and comparing him to the "Mario Bros." video game character Luigi. Many expressed at least partial sympathy, having had their own harrowing experiences with the US health care system. "Godspeed. Please know that we all hear you," wrote one user on Facebook. Mangione hails from the Baltimore area. His wealthy Italian-American family owns local businesses, including the Hayfields Country Club, according to local outlet the Baltimore Banner, and cousin Nino Mangione is a Maryland state delegate. A standout student, Luigi graduated at the top of his high school class in 2016. A former student who knew Mangione at the elite Gilman School told AFP the suspect struck him as "a normal guy, nice kid." "There was nothing about him that was off, at least from my perception," the person said. Mangione attended the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, where he completed both a bachelor's and master's degree in computer science by 2020, according to a university spokesperson. While at Penn, Mangione co-led a group of 60 undergraduates who collaborated on video game projects, as noted in a now-deleted university webpage. On Instagram Mangione shared snapshots of his travels, and shirtless images of himself flaunting a six-pack. X users have scoured Mangione's posts for potential motives. His header photo includes an X-ray of a spine with bolts attached. Finding a political ideology that fits neatly onto the right-left divide has proved elusive, though he had written a review of Ted Kaczynski's manifesto on online site Goodreads, calling it "prescient." Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, carried out multiple bombings in the United States from 1978 to 1995, in a campaign he said was aimed at halting the advance of modern society and technology. Mangione has also linked approvingly to posts criticizing secularism as a harmful consequence of Christianity's decline, and retweeted posts on the impact mobile phones and social media have on mental health. ia/abo-mlm/nro
Dejounte Murray is rejoining the Pelicans vs. Toronto and drawing inspiration from his motherA trio of running backs recorded touchdowns to help Nebraska hold off Boston College's late rally for a 20-15 win in the Pinstripe Bowl on a rainy Saturday afternoon in Bronx, N.Y. New York native Rahmir Johnson scored the Cornhuskers' opening touchdown to highlight his 60-yard performance on 10 carries. His 11-yard run on fourth-and-1 before the two-minute timeout iced the game, lifting Nebraska (7-6) to its first winning season since 2016. Kwinten Ives also ran for a score and Emmett Johnson (team-high 68 rushing yards on 14 carries) caught one from freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola, who was 23 of 31 for 228 yards, one touchdown and one interception on the day. Nebraska coach Matt Rhule noted that Rahmir Johnson, the game's most valuable player, was playing after his mother died in November. "He loved his mother," Rhule said. "He lost his mother. He cares about this team. I think this is a fitting end for him. I hope he wears his pads home on the subway and goes to his apartment, takes that MVP trophy and takes it out tonight somewhere." Nebraska had a 20-2 lead before allowing its first touchdown with 6:11 left in regulation. Boston College (7-6) forced two first-half turnovers and finished five of its first seven drives inside the opposing 35-yard line, but the Eagles went 0-for-4 on fourth downs until Turbo Richard's 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Nebraska's first two punts turned into touchdowns for the Eagles, with the second being blocked and returned to the 2-yard line ahead of a Jordan McDonald score with 4:18 remaining. "Yeah, these guys fought hard," Boston College coach Bill O'Brien said. "We have a tough football team. They never quit. That's what BC is all about." Grayson James quarterbacked the Eagles, going 25 of 40 for a season-high 296 yards. He also rushed for 22. Lewis Bond made six catches for 94 yards. Jahmal Banks was Raiola's leading target, making four catches for 79 yards. After big plays went by the boards for both teams on their opening series, Raiola sent Nebraska on a 15-play, 75-yard drive to the opening touchdown four seconds into the second quarter. Following a third-down conversion in the red zone, Rahmir Johnson scored on a 4-yard run before John Hohl's PAT made it 7-0. After Boston College was unable to convert on Josiah Griffin's recovery of an Emmett Johnson fumble, an ensuing fourth-down penalty gave Nebraska new life and the Cornhuskers turned it into Ives' 2-yard score with 3:39 before halftime. Ashton McShane's 88-yard blocked PAT return got the Eagles on the board at 13-2, though. Nebraska's first drive out of halftime included two fakes from punter/holder Brian Buschini, including a successful fake field goal. On the following series, Raiola's 13-yard pass to Emmett Johnson out of the backfield resulted in a 20-2 lead with 3:02 left in the third. "Dylan, for us to have a chance, you're going to have to play well," Rhule said. "Everyone else has to do the same thing, but that last drive, for us to win the game, he had to go play well." Richard punched in the first Boston College touchdown. James' two-point conversion pass attempt failed. Buschini's second punt was blocked by Victor Nelson Jr. and returned to the 2-yard line by Omar Thornton, setting up McDonald's run and a Liam Connor PAT. "I think we have a bright future at Boston College," O'Brien said. "Today didn't go the way we wanted it to go, but today could have got really ugly. It really could have because Nebraska, they did a good job. But our guys hung in there. They fought, and I have nothing but good things -- very proud of our effort today." --Field Level MediaNEW YORK (AP) — If you're planning on ringing in the new year quietly at home, you're not alone. A majority of U.S adults intend to celebrate New Year’s Eve at home, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research . “As I’ve gotten older over the last few years, it’s like if I don’t make it to midnight, it’s not a big deal, you know?” says Carla Woods, 70, from Vinton, Iowa. Nearly 2 in 10 will be celebrating at a friend or family member’s home, and just 5% plan to go out to celebrate at a bar, restaurant or organized event, the poll found. But many U.S. adults will celebrate the new year in a different way — by making a resolution. More than half say they'll make at least one resolution for 2025. There's some optimism about the year ahead, although more than half aren't expecting a positive change. About 4 in 10 say 2025 will be a better year for them personally. About one-third don’t expect much of a difference between 2024 and 2025, and about one-quarter think 2025 will be a worse year than 2024. Relaxed New Year's Eve plans for many Kourtney Kershaw, a 32-year-old bartender in Chicago, often fields questions from customers and friends about upcoming events for New Year's Eve. She said this year is trending toward low-key. “A majority of who I’ve spoken to in my age range, they want to go out, but they don’t know what they’re going to do because they haven’t found anything or things are just really expensive,” she said. “Party packages or an entry fee are like a turnoff, especially with the climate of the world and how much things cost.” As expected, younger people are more interested in ringing in the new year at a bar or organized event — about 1 in 10 U.S. adults under 30 say they plan to do that. But about 3 in 10 older adults — 60 and above — say they won’t celebrate the beginning of 2025 at all. Anthony Tremblay, 35, from Pittsburgh, doesn't usually go out to toast the arrival of the new year, but this year he's got something special cooked up: He and his wife will be traveling through Ireland. “I don’t do anything too crazy for New Year’s, usually. So this is definitely a change,” he said. “I wanted to do something unique this year, so I did.” Woods will be working New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. She answers calls on The Iowa Warmline, a confidential, noncrisis listening line for people struggling with mental health or substance use issues. “Holidays are really hard for people, so I don’t mind working,” she said. “I’m passionate about it because I have mental health issues in the family and so being able to help people is rewarding to me.” Younger Americans are more likely to make a resolution Every New Year's also triggers the eternal debate about resolutions. A majority of U.S. adults say they intend to make a New Year’s resolution of some type, but millennials and Gen Z are especially likely to be on board — about two-thirds expect to do so, compared to about half of older adults. Women are also more likely than men to say they will set a goal for 2025. Tremblay hopes to lose some weight and focus more on self-care — more sleep, meditation and breathing exercises. “It’s probably a good year to focus on mental health,” he said. Many others agree. About 3 in 10 adults choose resolutions involving exercise or eating healthier. About one-quarter said they'll make a resolution involving losing weight and a similar number said they'll resolve to make changes about priorities of money or mental health. Woods' resolutions are to stay social and active. As a mental health counselor, she knows those are key to a happy 2025 and beyond: “Probably one of my biggest resolutions is trying to make sure I stay social, try to get out at least once a week — get out and either have coffee or do something with a friend. That’s not only for the physical but also for the mental health part.” Kershaw, the bartender, says weight loss and better health are the top resolutions she hears people make. “Mental health is the new one, but I think it’s high up there as well as with regular health,” she said. She prefers more goal-oriented resolutions and, this time, it's to do more traveling and see more of the world: “I don’t know if that’s really a resolution, but that’s a goal that I’m setting.” And how will she welcome the arrival of 2025? Usually, she takes the night off and stays home watching movies with plenty of snacks, but this year Kershaw has a different plan, maybe one of the most Chicago things you can do. This die-hard sports fan will be at Wrigley Field on Tuesday watching the Chicago Blackhawks take on the St. Louis Blues. “Hockey’s my favorite sport. So I will be watching hockey and bringing in the new year,” she said. ___ The AP-NORC poll of 1,251 adults was conducted Dec. 5-9, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. ___ Sanders reported from Washington. Mark Kennedy And Linley Sanders, The Associated Press
Maine lawmaker facing domestic violence charge keeps seat by 1 vote after recountImage Courtesy - Twitter It's YouTubers vs Tamil Film producers . The Tamil Film Active Producers Association (TFAPA), one of the governing bodies in Tamil cinema, is up in arms against YouTube channels that cover movies. In a statement, the producers association has not only slammed YouTubers but also asked for a ban on their entry in cinema halls. Taking a strong stance, TFAPA has urged theatre owners to deny access to YouTubers and is exploring legal options to regulate online reviews, particularly in the initial days of a film's release. In a statement released on its X, formerly Twitter, handle, TFAPA has released a statement condemning YouTube reviews that are malicious and personal attacks. The four-page long letter also calls all industry bodies to come together and unite against such activities. It also mentions the movies that have been impacted by such reviews and claims that their producers have suffered financial losses. TFAPA general secretary T Siva told TOI, “A review should be a view rather than an individual attack. These days, people hold vengeance against a particular movie or star, get personal, and say no one should watch the film. This cannot be considered a review. If you terribly bash a brand’s product, they would not be quiet and would, in turn, take a legal route." The TFAPA statement comes days after the Suriya-starrer movie Kanguva was trolled heavily on social media platforms. In a post on X, the actor’s wife Jyotika condemned the “negativity” around the film even before the first show of the movie ended. Movies said to be impacted by negative reviews “In 2024, Indian 2, Vettaiyan, and Kanguva have been affected by such public reviews/talk uploaded by YouTube channels. All industry bodies have a duty to unite and not encourage such activities. As a first step, theatres should avoid letting such channels seek the views of the audience on their premises,” read the statement. What the TFAPA letter against YouTubers says “Critics have every right to review movies. But we request all journalists to write film reviews keeping in mind that hatred towards a film should not be sown in the media because of personal malice. It is imperative that all the associations related to the film industry unite and stop this practice by not encouraging them anymore.” “It is very condemnable that many YouTube channels cross all limits in their criticism and project their view as the universal truth. We saw an old man not just sharing his opinion about Kanguva but also indulging in personal attacks. It was shocking, and we condemn the YouTube channels that made this a big issue,” the producers said in the statement. Telugu producers too want ban on fan reviews on YouTube According to media reports, Telugu movie producers too are in favour of a ban on YouTube reviews. Telugu movie producer Dil Raju recently said that the issue has often been discussed in the Telugu states, with exhibitors and producers claiming they affect the film’s collections. Kerala HC 'banned' YouTube reviews in 2023 In November 2023, the Kerala High Court issued a directive to the authorities to stop online reviews of films by social media influencers, YouTube reviewers, and bloggers for seven days following the release of a film. The plea was primarily made by Mubeen Rauf, director of Aromalinte Adyathe Pranayam, and was supported by the Producers’ Association. 'Movie review bombing' real or ... There's a new term, “review bombing” that has emerged. It is used to describe these negative reviews, along with allegations that some YouTubers and social media influencers blackmail filmmakers and demand payments to write favourable reviews or to refrain from publishing negative ones. The Kerala HC is said to have identified ‘review bombing’ as an issue.
DENVER (AP) — So you're the most valuable player of that annual Thanksgiving Day backyard flag football game. Or played tackle football on any level. Or ran track. Or dabbled in basketball. Or toyed with any sport, really. Well, this may be just for you: USA Football is holding talent identification camps all over the country to find that next flag football star. It's “America’s Got Talent” meets “American Idol,” with the stage being the field and the grand prize a chance to compete for a spot on a national team. Because it’s never too early to start planning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Summer Games debut. Know this, though — it's not an easy team to make. The men's and women's national team rosters are at “Dream Team” status given the men’s side has captured six of the last seven world championships and the women three in a row. To remain on top, the sport's national governing body is scouring every football field, park, track, basketball court and gym to find hidden talent to cultivate. USA Football has organized camps and tryouts from coast to coast for anyone ages 11 to 23. There are more than a dozen sites set up so far, ranging from Dallas (Sunday) to Chicago (Dec. 14) to Tampa (March 29) to Los Angeles (TBD) and the Boston area (April 27), where it will be held at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The organization has already partnered with the NFL on flag football initiatives and programs. The numbers have been through the roof, with engagement on social media platforms increasing by 86% since flag football was announced as an Olympic invitational sport in October 2023 . The participation of boys and girls ages 6 to 17 in flag football last year peaked at more than 1.6 million, according to USA Football research. “We pride ourselves on elevating the gold standard across the sport,” said Eric Mayes, the managing director of the high performance and national teams for USA Football. “We want to be the best in the world — and stay the best in the world.” Flag football was one of five new sports added to the LA28 program. The already soaring profile of American football only figures to be enhanced by an Olympic appearance. Imagine, say, a few familiar faces take the field, too. Perhaps even NFL stars such as Tyreek Hill or Patrick Mahomes, maybe even past pro football greats donning a flag belt for a country to which they may have ties. Soon after flag football's inclusion, there was chatter of NFL players possibly joining in on the fun. Of course, there are logistical issues to tackle before their inclusion at the LA Olympics, which open July 14, 2028. Among them, training camp, because the Olympics will be right in the middle of it. The big question is this: Will owners permit high-priced players to duck out for a gold-medal pursuit? No decisions have yet been made on the status of NFL players for the Olympics. For now, it's simply about growing the game. There are currently 13 states that sanction girls flag football as a high school varsity sport. Just recently, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles helped pave the way to get it adopted in Pennsylvania. Around the world, it's catching on, too. The women's team from Japan took third at the recent word championships, while one of the best players on the planet is Mexico quarterback Diana Flores . “Could flag football globally become the new soccer? That’s something to aspire to," said Stephanie Kwok , the NFL's vice president of flag football. This type of flag football though, isn't your Thanksgiving Day game with family and friends. There's a learning curve. And given the small roster sizes, versatility is essential. Most national team members need to be a version of Colorado’s two-way standout and Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter. Forget bump-and-run coverage, too, because there's no contact. None. That took some adjusting for Mike Daniels, a defensive back out of West Virginia who earned a rookie minicamp invitation with the Cleveland Browns in 2017. “If a receiver is running around, I’m thinking, ‘OK, I can kind of bump him here and there and nudge him,’” Daniels explained. “They’re like, ‘No, you can’t.’ I’m just like, ‘So I’m supposed to let this guy just run?!’ I really rebelled at the idea at first. But you learn.” The competition for an Olympic roster spot is going to be fierce because only 10 players are expected to make a squad. The best 10 will earn it, too, as credentials such as college All-American or NFL All-Pro take a backseat. “I would actually love" seeing NFL players try out, said Daniels, who's also a personal trainer in Miami. “I’m not going to let you just waltz in here, thinking, ‘I played NFL football for five years. I’m popular. I have a huge name.’ I’m still better than you and I'm going to prove it — until you prove otherwise.” Around the house, Bruce Mapp constantly swivels his hips when turning a hallway corner or if his daughter tries to reach for a hug. It’s his way of working on avoiding a “defender” trying to snare the flag. That approach has earned the receiver out of Coastal Carolina four gold medals with USA Football. The 31-year-old fully plans on going for more gold in Los Angeles. “You grow up watching Usain Bolt (win gold) and the ‘Redeem Team’ led by Kobe Bryant win a gold medal, you're always thinking, ‘That's insane.' Obviously, you couldn't do it in your sport, because I played football," said Mapp, who owns a food truck in the Dallas area. "With the Olympics approaching, that (gold medal) is what my mind is set on." It's a common thought, which is why everything — including talent camps — starts now. “Everybody thinks, ‘Yeah, the U.S. just wins,’” Daniels said. “But we work hard all the time. We don’t just walk in. We don’t just get off the bus thinking, ‘We’re going to beat people.’” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLWe all dream of a peaceful, fulfilling retirement—a time when we can finally enjoy life without worrying about finances. But achieving this dream requires thoughtful planning and disciplined saving. As we journey through life, our financial goals evolve, with retirement being one of the most significant milestones. The key to making that dream a reality is giving wings to your savings, ensuring they grow steadily to support you in your golden years. 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As you get closer to retirement, you might want to reduce your exposure to riskier investments and increase allocation to more stable, income-generating options. Achieving financial freedom with mutual funds Financial independence during retirement is not just about having enough money to meet basic needs—it’s about living life on your terms. Whether it’s traveling, pursuing hobbies, or spending quality time with family, mutual funds can give your savings the wings they need to soar and allow you to enjoy your golden years without financial stress. By starting early, investing consistently through SIPs, and choosing the right mutual funds based on your life stage and risk appetite, you can build a solid retirement corpus. “Nivesh Ka Sahi Kadam” a joint collaboration by AMFI - Mutual Funds Sahi Hai & News18 Network emphasizes that the power to secure your financial future is in your hands. Make the right investment choices today to enjoy a stress-free, financially independent retirement tomorrow. Disclaimer: Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully. The NAVs of the schemes may go up or down depending upon the factors and forces affecting the securities market including the fluctuations in interest rates. The past performance of the mutual funds is not necessarily indicative of future performance of the schemes. The Mutual Fund is not guaranteeing or assuring any dividend under any of the schemes and the same is subject to the availability and adequacy of distributable surplus. Investors are requested to review the prospectus carefully and obtain expert professional advice with regard to specific legal, tax and financial implications of the investment/participation in the scheme. Click here for more information Note: This is a partnered post.