fortune gems 3 download free android
National People’s Power (NPP) MP Dr. Kaushalya Ariyaratne has lodged a formal complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over a series of malicious and false news posts circulating on social media, including personal attacks targeting her. In a statement, MP Ariyaratne condemned the deliberate campaign to tarnish her reputation and called for swift action against those responsible for creating and spreading such content. She emphasised that these “cheap tactics” would not deter women from participating in politics nor harm the Government, stating, “If anyone believes such tricks can intimidate us, they are sorely mistaken. While you resort to petty ploys, we will continue to focus on progress.” The complaint comes in the wake of a national Sinhala daily newspaper publishing a report about an alleged domestic dispute involving an NPP Colombo district MP and his wife, which also mentioned a fellow female MP. Following this, social media posts falsely alleged that MP Ariyaratne was the female MP referenced in the report. The posts escalated into a vicious online campaign, spreading unfounded accusations and defamatory content about her. MP Ariyaratne has called on the CID to investigate the orchestrated campaign and take appropriate legal action against those responsible for harming her good name.St. Louis Blues (9-12-1, in the Central Division) vs. New York Rangers (12-6-1, in the Metropolitan Division) New York; Monday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The New York Rangers host the St. Louis Blues after Artemi Panarin scored two goals in the Rangers' 6-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. New York is 5-3-1 in home games and 12-6-1 overall. The Rangers are 5-2-1 in games they score at least one power-play goal. St. Louis has a 9-12-1 record overall and a 4-6-1 record on the road. The Blues have a 7-1-1 record when scoring three or more goals. Monday's game is the first time these teams meet this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Adam Fox has 17 assists for the Rangers. Victor Mancini has over the past 10 games. Colton Parayko has four goals and seven assists for the Blues. Matthew Kessel has over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Rangers: 6-4-0, averaging 2.8 goals, 4.8 assists, 3.4 penalties and 6.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game. Blues: 3-6-1, averaging two goals, 3.5 assists, three penalties and 7.1 penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game. INJURIES: Rangers: None listed. Blues: None listed. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Some tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to increase visas for highly skilled workers from other nations. Related Articles National Politics | Trump threat to immigrant health care tempered by economic hopes National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National Politics | New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant recently won a federal class-action lawsuit that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A Bloomberg investigation found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Question: Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? Caroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy YES: Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research YES: After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? James Hamilton, UC San Diego YES: Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. Norm Miller, University of San Diego YES: According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. David Ely, San Diego State University YES: Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Phil Blair, Manpower YES: Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. Gary London, London Moeder Advisors YES: San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates NO: While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth YES: We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health YES: But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere NO: While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Not participating this week: Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economist Have an idea for an Econometer question? Email me at phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com . Follow me on Threads: @phillip020
Stock market today: Wall Street slips as technology stocks drag on the market NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks slipped as Wall Street closes out a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 fell 1.4% Friday and the the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 402 points, or 0.9%. The Nasdaq composite is down 2%. Technology stocks were the biggest drag on the market. The major indexes are still on track to close the week with gains, and the S&P 500 remains headed for its second consecutive annual gain of more than 20%. In Asia, Japan’s benchmark index surged as the yen remained weak against the dollar. Stocks in South Korea fell after the main opposition party voted to impeach the country’s acting leader. 10 tips from experts to help you change your relationship with money in 2025 NEW YORK (AP) — As the calendar changes to 2025, you might be thinking about how to approach your relationship with money in the new year. Whether you’re saving to move out of your parents’ house or pay off student loan debt, financial resolutions can help you stay motivated. If you’re planning to make financial resolutions for the new year, experts recommend that you start by evaluating the state of your finances in 2024. Then, set specific goals and make sure they’re attainable for your lifestyle. Most Americans blame insurance profits and denials alongside the killer in UHC CEO death, poll finds WASHINGTON (AP) — Most Americans believe health insurance profits and coverage denials share responsibility for the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO — although not as much as the person who pulled the trigger. So says a new poll from NORC at the University of Chicago. It finds that about 8 in 10 Americans say that the person who committed the killing has “a great deal” or “a moderate amount” of responsibility for the Dec. 4 shooting of Brian Thompson. Still, some see suspect Luigi Mangione as a heroic figure. About 7 in 10 adults say coverage denials or health insurance profits also bear at least “a moderate amount” of responsibility for Thompson’s death. Another jackpot surpasses $1 billion. Is this the new normal? Remember this moment because it probably won’t last: A U.S. lottery jackpot is projected to soar above $1 billion, and that's still a big deal. Friday’s Mega Millions drawing is worth an estimated $1.15 billion. The prize has evoked headlines across the country, despite the nation's top 10 jackpots already having boasted billion-dollar payouts. Jonathan Cohen is the author of the book “For a Dollar and a Dream: State Lotteries in Modern America.” He says he expects jackpots to continue to grow in size. Larger payouts attract more media attention, increase ticket sales and bring in new players. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Richard Parsons, prominent executive who led Time Warner and Citigroup, dies at 76 NEW YORK (AP) — Richard Parsons, one of corporate America’s most prominent Black executives who held top posts at Time Warner and Citigroup, has died. He was 76. Parsons died Thursday at his Manhattan home. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2015 and cited “unanticipated complications” from the disease for cutting back on work a few years later. Financial services company Lazard confirmed his death. Parsons was a longtime member of the company's board. His friend Ronald Lauder told The New York Times that the cause of death was cancer. Parsons stepped down Dec. 3 from the boards of Lazard and Lauder’s company, Estée Lauder, citing health reasons. He had been on Estée Lauder’s board for 25 years. Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen has targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said Thursday's bombardment took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military later said it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. At least three people were reported killed and dozens injured in the Sanaa airport strike. Holiday shoppers increased spending by 3.8% despite higher prices New data shows holiday sales rose this year even as Americans wrestled with still high prices in many grocery necessities and other financial worries. According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, holiday sales from the beginning of November through Christmas Eve climbed 3.8%, a faster pace than the 3.1% increase from a year earlier. The measure tracks all kinds of payments including cash and debit cards. This year, retailers were even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there were five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Mastercard SpendingPulse says the last five days of the season accounted for 10% of the spending. Sales of clothing, electronics and Jewelry rose. Finland stops Russia-linked vessel over damaged undersea power cable in Baltic Sea FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Finnish police say authorities detained a ship linked to neighboring Russia as they investigate whether it damaged a Baltic Sea power cable and several data cables. It was the latest incident involving disruption of key infrastructure. Police and border guards boarded the Eagle S and took control as they investigate damage to the Estlink-2 undersea power cable. The cable brings electricity from Finland to Estonia across the Baltic Sea. The cable went down on Wednesday. The incident follows damage to two data cables and the Nord Stream gas pipelines. Both have been termed sabotage. Climate-friendly electricity sees big battery projects soar again for 2024 2024 was another banner year for a source of electricity that is better for people’s lungs, better for climate change and may be reaching your home now when you turn on the lights or turn up the thermostat — large banks of batteries. Storing extra power in batteries effectively extends the hours of solar and wind power in a day. Storage is also important as global electricity demand rises. Last, it is important for increasingly frequent extreme weather events, worsened by climate change. Texas and California are embracing the benefits of batteries, but some other regions are dragging their feet.
Boopie Miller scored 24 points and Yohan Traore added 20 points and 11 rebounds as SMU was at its best after halftime in a 98-82 win over Longwood on Sunday afternoon in Dallas. The Mustangs (11-2) have won seven straight games but this one was not without a serious scare from Longwood. SMU led by just a bucket after a seesaw first half but took charge with a 15-3 run to open the second. The Lancers pulled to within 69-62 on a tip in by Elijah Tucker with 11:37 to play before SMU put away the game with a 14-1 run capped by Chuck Harris' 3-pointer with 6:57 remaining. Matt Cross added 19 points while Harris hit for 12 for the Mustangs, who shot 62 percent from the floor. Tucker led Longwood (11-4) with 20 points, with Colby Garland adding 19 and Emanuel Richards scoring 12 points in the loss. The Lancers allowed their most points of the season and surrendered 32 points more than their season average. The teams went back and forth in a contentious first eight minutes that featured 11 lead changes and three ties with neither team up by more than three points. Harris' jumper with 11:55 left in the first half pushed the Mustangs to a 21-19 lead but that was quickly answered by a 3-pointer from Jefferson to put Longwood back on top at 22-21. SMU then reeled off 17-4 run, with Kario Oquendo contributing two free throws, a 3-pointer and a bucket to that surge and two free throws from Traore put the Mustangs up 38-26 with 5:34 to play in the half. Just when it seemed like SMU had found the formula to dispatch the feisty Lancers, Longwood rallied to tie the game at 43 on pull-up jumper by Garland with 8.9 seconds left before halftime. That gave Harris enough time to get down the floor and into the paint for a short jumper that gave the Mustangs a 45-43 lead at the break. Traore led all scorers with 15 points and seven rebounds before halftime while Miller added 11 for SMU. Garland and Tucker had 10 points apiece to pace the Lancers. --Field Level Media
Commentary: Should AI be used to resurrect extinct species like the Neanderthal?2024 was the year robotaxis proved they are here to stayKraken play the Ducks, look to break road skid
Big 12 Conference play begins Monday as No. 17 Cincinnati travels to Manhattan, Kan., to face Kansas State, and neither team resides where most people thought they'd be at this point. Cincinnati (10-1), which was picked sixth in the preseason coaches' poll, is tied with No. 3 Iowa State for the best nonconference record in the Big 12. The Bearcats' lone loss came at Villanova earlier this month, but they've rattled off four straight wins. Kansas State (6-5), which was picked two spots below the Bearcats, has lost three straight games heading into conference play and is tied with Arizona for the worst nonconference record in the league. Three of the Wildcats' five losses have been by double digits, including their last loss at Wichita State when a halftime lead turned into an 84-65 loss. It was their second double-digit loss this season when leading at halftime. The Bearcats have mostly built their stellar record against mid-major competition, with the loss to Villanova and a victory over Georgia Tech representing the only power-conference opponents. The schedule will definitely be tougher moving forward. "We took care of business in nonconference," head coach Wes Miller said following their 84-49 victory over Grambling Dec. 22. "We wanted to put ourselves in a position to go into league play and to be a quality team. I believe we've done that. "Was it perfect? No, it's not perfect. We have a lot of room for improvement. We will use the next two or three days as a staff to recharge and kind of look at things and evaluate things, and we'll have a couple days of practice when we get back on the 26th to adjust and make the necessary changes we need to do going into conference play." The Bearcats are dominating their competition statistically, with a scoring margin of 21 points per game, fifth-best in the conference and tied for 11th in the nation. They're averaging 79.5 points per game while giving up just 58.5. They're led by a balanced scoring attack, with five players averaging between 9.6 and 14.9 points per game. Simas Lukosius is the Bearcats' best scorer (14.9 ppg) and 3-point shooter, taking (78) and making (33) the most long-range shots on the team, and connecting on 42.3 percent of his 3-pointers. Kansas State has not met expectations this season. Preseason Big 12 Co-Newcomer of the Year Coleman Hawkins has yet to find his stride. He's only scored in double figures in five of the Wildcats' 11 games. His best game came against Longwood, when he scored a season-high 19 points and 10 rebounds. He also showed his range, hitting 5 of 7 3-point attempts. He then scored in double figures in two of the next three games before totaling six points against Wichita State. The Wildcats need more consistency from him and his teammates. Despite the losing streak, head coach Jerome Tang continues to preach patience. "The frustration in the locker room is hurt (about) losing," Tang said. "It doesn't matter if that's over a span of three days or 20 days. Nobody wants to lose games. We have to keep working, and we will because we have a high ‘care factor' in the locker room." The Wildcats are led by Brendan Hausen (13.9 points per game) and David N'Guessan (13.6). --Field Level MediaSt. Louis Blues (9-12-1, in the Central Division) vs. New York Rangers (12-6-1, in the Metropolitan Division) New York; Monday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The New York Rangers host the St. Louis Blues after Artemi Panarin scored two goals in the Rangers' 6-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. New York is 5-3-1 in home games and 12-6-1 overall. The Rangers are 5-2-1 in games they score at least one power-play goal. St. Louis has a 9-12-1 record overall and a 4-6-1 record on the road. The Blues have a 7-1-1 record when scoring three or more goals. Monday's game is the first time these teams meet this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Adam Fox has 17 assists for the Rangers. Victor Mancini has over the past 10 games. Colton Parayko has four goals and seven assists for the Blues. Matthew Kessel has over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Rangers: 6-4-0, averaging 2.8 goals, 4.8 assists, 3.4 penalties and 6.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game. Blues: 3-6-1, averaging two goals, 3.5 assists, three penalties and 7.1 penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game. INJURIES: Rangers: None listed. Blues: None listed. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Investing is often painted as a game of timing. Buying low, selling high, and capturing profits when the market peaks. But for some investments, the wisest choice might be to forget about the sell button altogether. Whether you’re a dividend seeker, a global investor, or a tech enthusiast, these investments offer something unique for every type of portfolio. CIBC stock Let’s start with ( ). As one of Canada’s Big Five banks, CIBC has a long history of weathering financial storms while rewarding shareholders. At its current price of $94.08, CIBC boasts a market capitalization of nearly $88.85 billion and a forward dividend yield of 4.02%. In its most recent earnings report, CIBC posted strong results, with revenue reaching $22.7 billion over the trailing twelve months and a return on equity (ROE) of 12.37%. Even more impressive is its quarterly earnings growth of 25.6% year over year, proving that this isn’t just surviving, it’s thriving. CIBC’s valuation is another reason to hold on tight. With a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 12.08, the stock remains attractively priced compared to its peers. The bank’s strategic focus on growing its wealth management and capital markets businesses has strengthened its revenue mix — all while its disciplined risk management has kept loan losses in check. As interest rates stabilize and the economy remains resilient, analysts expect CM to continue delivering solid results. VXC Next up is ( ), a global investing powerhouse that removes the guesswork from diversification. VXC is a one-stop shop for investors who want exposure to the world’s largest companies without overlap in Canada. It holds some of the biggest companies in the world, with a blend of developed and emerging market stocks. With net assets totalling $2.22 billion, VXC has proven its popularity among Canadian investors, and its stellar year-to-date (YTD) return of 28.75% as of writing speaks for itself. That performance wasn’t a fluke either. The exchange-traded fund (ETF) one-year return sits at a whopping 29.04%. Clearly, VXC has ridden the wave of global economic recovery and surging technology stocks. What makes VXC particularly attractive for long-term investors is its low cost and diversification. Vanguard’s ETFs are known for their minimal fees, ensuring more of your returns stay in your pocket. The ETF’s holdings are spread across sectors like technology, healthcare, and financial services, providing a cushion against downturns in any single industry. With VXC, investors also gain exposure to regions like Europe, the United States, and emerging markets, spreading risk globally. By holding onto VXC indefinitely, you’re effectively betting on the continued growth of the world’s largest and most innovative companies. Topicus Finally, we come to ( ), the rising star of Canada’s tech sector. Topicus, a spin-off of the renowned , has quickly built a reputation for growth and innovation. Specializing in and scaling vertical market software businesses, Topicus operates a proven and highly profitable model. In its most recent quarter, the company reported impressive year-over-year growth, with earnings per share (EPS) jumping to €0.28, up from €0.22, a 27% increase. Topicus’s forward price-to-earnings ratio of 45.66 might seem high, yet investors are paying for growth. Over the past year, TOI.V has returned 25.74%, comfortably outpacing the 22.25% gain. What sets Topicus apart is its long runway for expansion. While many tech companies focus on flashy, consumer-facing products, Topicus targets essential, niche software solutions that businesses rely on every day. This strategy ensures recurring revenue and high margins. As the tech sector continues to grow, Topicus is well-positioned to capitalize on opportunities, both through organic growth and strategic purchases. Bottom line At the end of the day, great investments are like good friends. You stick with them through thick and thin. CIBC, VXC, and Topicus have all proven their worth with little reason to part ways. Whether you’re in it for dividends, diversification, or growth, these three investments deserve a permanent home in your portfolio. And each will likely reward your patience for decades to come.We have clearly lost the way, can we find our way back?
Munambam: Sadiq Ali Thangal meets BishopNew Orleans Pelicans star center Zion Williamson has started the conditioning phase of his rehab from a left hamstring strain and is expected to return to practice next week, the team announced Tuesday. Williamson, who is considered week-to-week, has been sidelined since Nov. 6. The two-time All-Star has played in just six games this season, averaging 22.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists. New Orleans selected Williamson with the top overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. His time with the Pelicans has been marked by multiple injuries, starting with a torn meniscus during the preseason of his rookie year. Williamson has played in just 190 career games over five seasons, while also missing the entire 2021-22 campaign. He has averaged 24.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists. --Field Level Media