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NoneStream It Or Skip It: ‘Christmas on Call’ on Hallmark, In Which First Responders Find Love — And Donna Kelce! — In Philadelphia
The recent clashes between the two warring sides in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram district continued for the seventh consecutive day as the death toll in the violence-hit territory passed 100, with three people losing their lives overnight. The police said one of the injured from a firing incident on vehicles carrying passengers from Peshawar to Parachinar in a convoy succumbed to his injuries. Meanwhile, two others lost their lives and six others sustained injuries in the latest firing incidents. Over the past seven days, a total of 102 people have been killed, and 138 injured in various shooting incidents in the district. Reflecting on recent incidents in Kurram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi condemned the violence unequivocally and said over 100 people were martyred during the clashes. He noted that he would take the representatives of political parties to Kurram in the next two days and also send an invitation to Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. Kundi also announced to summon all-parties conference (APC) in the first week of December, stressing the need for collective efforts to restore peace. Meanwhile, Jamat-e-Islami leader Asadullah Bhutto expressed concern over the “alarming situation in Kurram”, urging the Supreme Court to constitute a commission. The recent clashes escalated after a government-brokered seven-day truce was broken. A high-powered government delegation, headed by Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, after holding talks with the elders from warring sides, had announced a week-long ceasefire but it could not be implemented. Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, IG police Akhtar Hayat Gandapur and Law Minister Aftab Alam Afridi were also members of the delegation. Kurram deputy commissioner Javedullah Mehsud told AFP on Monday that “reports of tribal clashes and gunfire continue to emerge from several areas”. A security official stationed in Kurram who asked not to be named confirmed “clashes are ongoing” in at least three areas. “There are significant disagreements over the exchange of prisoners and bodies,” he said. “According to my information, both communities are currently holding over 18 individuals hostage, including eight women.” All educational institutions, shops and markets remained closed for seventh day. Besides the Peshawar-Parachinar Road, major link roads in the tribal district also remained shut to traffic. It is pertinent to mention that tribal and family feuds are common in the area. Last month, at least 16 people, including three women and two children, were killed in a clash in Kurram. Previous clashes in July and September killed dozens of people and ended only after a jirga, or tribal council, called a ceasefire. HRCP said 79 people died between July and October in clashes. Several hundred people demonstrated against the violence on Friday in Lahore and Karachi. In Parachinar, the main town of Kurram district, thousands participated in a sit-in, while hundreds attended the funerals of the victims of Thursday’s attack.
ST. LOUIS — Sam Fox, who rose from humble beginnings in rural Missouri to found a billion-dollar investment firm, bankroll Republican political campaigns and serve as U.S. ambassador to Belgium, died Monday. He was 95. He was born in 1929 in Desloge, about an hour south of St. Louis, as the youngest of five children of immigrants from Belgium and Ukraine. The house had no indoor bathrooms until he was 8. But he would later look back fondly on his Lead Belt hometown as idyllic, close-knit and tolerant. He spent his high school summers in Illinois in pea- and corn-canning factories, earning money he would later use to make his way to St. Louis and Washington University, a place he said opened his eyes to the world "as if someone had pulled back a curtain." He graduated with a business degree in 1951 and got a job with a chemical company shortly after. In 1953, he married Marilyn Widman, a fellow Washington U. student and his wife for the next 70 years. In the 1970s, he went into business for himself, founding Harbour Group, which grew into a holding company of diverse manufacturing businesses, with billions of dollars in annual revenue. As his business took off, Fox took an active role in numerous civic institutions, such as the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and the St. Louis Art Museum. He also served as a trustee at his alma mater and joined Civic Progress, the group of local corporate chiefs that once wielded significant political power. Fox was modest about his success, though. "We like to think that we're smart enough to have made that happen,” Fox told the Post-Dispatch in 2003. “But the fact of the matter is that being in the right place at the right time and being lucky has a heck of a lot to do with it.” He and his wife also gave generously to numerous causes and established a family foundation to help people with the basic needs of food and shelter. Fox credited his parents with teaching him the importance of giving back, recalling the traditional Jewish tzedakah box they had in their home. Whenever Fox got a few nickels and dimes, he dropped them in the box. "We never had much money, but there was always something for people in need," Fox said. "That's just the way it was." In 2005, Washington U. named the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts in his honor. He also chaired the university's capital fundraising campaign for six years. "Sam was one of WashU's most loyal alumni," Chancellor Andrew Martin said in a statement Wednesday. "We benefited greatly from his savvy leadership and decades of transformational support." Over the years, Fox became a prolific donor to Republicans locally and on the national stage. He gave generously to Missouri Republican figures, from Gov. Mike Parson to former Gov. and Sen. John Ashcroft, as well as President George W. Bush, who made Fox his ambassador to Belgium from 2007-2009. During Bush's tenure, Fox was known in the White House as "Foxy," a nickname the president himself would often use. Fox also was an occasional hunting partner of then-Vice President Dick Cheney. In 2006, Fox and his wife hosted First Lady Laura Bush at their Clayton home for a Republican fundraising event. “Sam was a massive and generous figure for every Republican candidate in this state for many decades,” said John Hancock, a former state Republican Party chairman. “He was kind, insightful, highly regarded and respected by all.” He also had some friends on the other side of the aisle, at least locally. Former St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, who enjoyed Fox's support in at least one of his City Hall campaigns, called Fox “a phenomenal St. Louisan.” “He's going to be greatly missed,” Slay said. The Jewish Federation of St. Louis said in a statement that Fox's dedication to philanthropy and his impact on local organizations "have left an indelible mark on our Jewish community and beyond." The federation said Fox and his wife, who died last February, were committed to the principle of tikkun olam, or repairing the world. The federation also cited the Fox Family Foundation, which the couple established in 1986. Among Fox's survivors are three children and 15 grandchildren. Funeral services are scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Sunday at Congregation Temple Israel in Creve Coeur.SEAN DIETRICH: Warning: Do not trust anyone who looks like me
Ukrainian girls’ team finds hockey haven at Wickenheiser festival
Russia says Trump Ukraine aid cut would be 'death sentence' for Kyiv's military
Ahead of second Trump term, California vows 'ironclad' abortion accessSeveral Polish lawmakers want to criminalize the propaganda of the ideology that drove Ukrainian nationalists, citing the genocidal massacres of ethnic Poles by Stepan Bandera’s followers during WWII. Between 1943 and 1945, Bandera’s Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) murdered at least 60,000 ethnic Poles in the regions of Volynia and Eastern Galicia. Some estimates put the death toll as high as 120,000, and the Polish government considers the massacre a genocide. On Tuesday, two members of the Polish parliament proposed adding UPA and Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) ideology to the list of proscribed beliefs, which currently includes fascism, national-socialism and communism. “Polish politicians want to condemn the ideology of the struggle for Ukraine’s independence,” Ukrainian lawmaker Vladimir Vyatrovich posted on Facebook on Wednesday. He added that the same struggle is “going on right now,” and “its result will decide the fate of not just Ukraine but Poland as well,” referring to Kiev’s conflict with Moscow. According to the document quoted by Vyatrovich, two members of the Law and Justice Party (PiS) want to amend the Law on the Institute of National Memory. To the existing ban on public propaganda of Nazism and other “totalitarian regimes,” the amendment would add “the ideology of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, the Bandera faction (OUN-B) and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), which led to the genocide in Volyn and neighboring areas in 1943-1945.” Vyatrovich used to run Ukraine’s Institute for National Memory and was banned from entering Poland in 2017 over his defense of OUN and UPA. He was later elected to the parliament on the ticket of European Solidarity, the party of former president Pyotr Poroshenko. Last week, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga and his Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski signed a joint statement in Warsaw clearing the way to exhume some of the mass graves of the Volyn massacre victims. Poland has made Ukraine’s recognition of the Volyn “genocide” a condition of supporting Kiev’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko declared Bandera and the UPA national heroes in 2010. This was reaffirmed by the government installed by the US-backed coup in 2014. Since then, Ukrainian nationalists have held torchlight parades every January to mark Bandera’s birthday, calling him the “father of the nation.”A new way of treating serious asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) attacks could be a “game-changer” and is the first leap in treatment for 50 years, researchers say. Offering patients an injection is more effective than the current care of steroid tablets and cuts the need for further treatment by 30%, according to a study. Benralizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets specific white blood cells, called eosinophils, to reduce lung inflammation. It is currently used as a repeat treatment for severe asthma at a low dose, but a new clinical trial has found that a higher single dose can be very effective if injected at the time of a flare-up. The findings, published in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine, included 158 people who needed medical attention in A&E for their asthma or COPD attack (COPD is a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties). Patients were given a quick blood test to see what type of attack they were having, with those suffering an “eosinophilic exacerbation” involving eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) being suitable for treatment. Around 50% of asthma attacks are eosinophilic exacerbations, as are 30% of COPD ones, according to the scientists. The clinical trial, led by King’s College London and carried out at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, saw patients randomly split into three groups. One group received the benralizumab injection and dummy tablets, another received standard care (prednisolone steroids 30mg daily for five days) and a dummy injection, and the third group received both the benralizumab injection and steroids. After 28 days, respiratory symptoms of cough, wheeze, breathlessness and sputum were found to be better in people on benralizumab. And after 90 days, there were four times fewer people in the benralizumab group who failed treatment compared with those receiving steroids. Treatment with the benralizumab injection also took longer to fail, meaning fewer visits to a GP or hospital for patients, researchers said. Furthermore, people also reported a better quality of life on the new regime. Scientists at King’s said steroids can have severe side-effects such as increasing the risk of diabetes and osteoporosis, meaning switching to benralizumab could provide huge benefits. Lead investigator Professor Mona Bafadhel, from King’s, said: “This could be a game-changer for people with asthma and COPD. “Treatment for asthma and COPD exacerbations have not changed in 50 years, despite causing 3.8 million deaths worldwide a year combined. “Benralizumab is a safe and effective drug already used to manage severe asthma. “We’ve used the drug in a different way – at the point of an exacerbation – to show that it’s more effective than steroid tablets, which is the only treatment currently available.” Researchers said benralizumab could also potentially be administered safely at home or in a GP practice, as well as in A&E. First author Dr Sanjay Ramakrishnan, clinical senior lecturer at the University of Western Australia, said: “Our study shows massive promise for asthma and COPD treatment. “COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide but treatment for the condition is stuck in the 20th century. “We need to provide these patients with life-saving options before their time runs out.” Dr Samantha Walker, director of research and innovation at Asthma and Lung UK, welcomed the findings but said: “It’s appalling that this is the first new treatment for those suffering from asthma and COPD attacks in 50 years, indicating how desperately underfunded lung health research is.” AstraZeneca provided the drug for the study and funded the research, but had no input into trial design, delivery, analysis or interpretation.
201 flood-prone spots identified in Mayiladuthurai districtGREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., Nov. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FrankSpeech Broadcast Network is making waves in the world of independent media, delivering its strongest quarter ever in Q3 2024. The company has not only seen impressive viewer growth across its channels but also made major strides in enhancing the user experience with powerful new platform features and expanding its content offerings—driving engagement to new heights. With over 7 million monthly viewers tuning in across its 24/7 channels, FrankSpeech is proving that a platform dedicated to free speech and independent content is resonating with audiences looking for alternatives to mainstream media. The momentum continues to build as the network expands its reach, engages more content creators, and strengthens partnerships with advertisers. Breaking Records in Viewer Engagement FrankSpeech is seeing a surge in both viewer engagement and content creator participation, thanks to the newly branded VOCL app. The app, which has been a game-changer in connecting independent content creators with their audiences, has been expanding rapidly—bringing in new users and boosting interaction on the platform. The VOCL app’s growth reflects a growing demand for platforms that put the user experience front and center. With its seamless integration across FrankSpeech’s ecosystem, the app is revolutionizing how viewers discover and interact with content. The recent user interface updates—including live chat, dynamic homepage streaming, and an improved login experience—have made it easier than ever for users to connect, stream, and engage with the content that matters most to them. "We’re thrilled with the progress we’ve made in Q3 and the growth we’ve seen in both our viewer base and the VOCL app," said Mike Lindell, CEO of FrankSpeech. "We’re on a mission to create a more interactive, engaging experience for our audience, and it’s clear that our efforts are paying off. The future looks incredibly bright as we continue to build on this momentum." Platform Enhancements Driving Viewer Growth FrankSpeech has not only focused on growing its audience but also enhancing the platform to keep viewers engaged for longer periods of time. With a reimagined design and new, user-friendly interfaces, the FrankSpeech website, OTT platform, and mobile app are all now optimized for a better, smoother viewing experience. These enhancements include: - A refreshed visual identity across all platforms, giving the user experience a sleek, modern feel. - Advanced user analytics that provide deeper insights into viewer behavior, allowing the platform to deliver more relevant content and improve engagement. - A new live-streaming experience with interactive features, including live chat and an intuitive UI designed for real-time engagement. What’s Next for FrankSpeech and VOCL? As we move into Q4 2024, FrankSpeech is positioned for continued success with an aggressive roadmap to expand content offerings, attract more content creators, and deepen partnerships with advertisers. The company is also exploring new ways to engage its growing community, tapping into emerging technologies and content formats that will shape the future of independent media. "We’re only just getting started," Lindell added. "With the incredible response we’ve received from both viewers and content creators, we’re excited to continue scaling our platform, expanding our reach, and delivering the kind of unfiltered, authentic content that people are craving." About: FrankSpeech is a major broadcast platform founded by Mike Lindell in April 2021 to provide a superior First-Amendment-friendly alternative to highly censored Big Tech options. In just a few short years, FrankSpeech has grown to serve over 7 million monthly viewers on three continuous 24/7 channels. Visit https://frankspeech.com to learn more. For more information, visit http://www.frankspeech.com. Contact Information: Josh Shave Chief Marketing Officer investor@fsbn.com Safe Harbor: The aforementioned statements and any future correspondence made by FrankSpeech Network, Inc. (the Company) may be forward looking in nature, particularly related to the business plans of the Company within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934, and are subject to the safe harbor created by these sections. Actual results may differ materially from projected statements. The Company believes that its primary risk factors include, but are not limited to the need for substantial financial requirements; the need to develop effective internal process and system; changes in the overall economy; changes in technology, the number and size of competitors and the mix of products and services offered in its markets; and changes in the law and regulatory policy. Additionally, certain information included in this communication contains statements that are forward-looking, such as statements relating to the future anticipated direction of the media industry, plans for future expansion, various business development activities, planned capital expenditures, future funding sources, anticipated sales growth and potential contracts. These forward statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual operations or results to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks include, among others, risks associated with unproven sales derived from the Company’s programming, risks associated with the media and communications industry and the risks related to the transition to a new management team.
Clemson left guard Trent Howard out with ACL tear for South Carolina game
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.Canada is already examining tariffs on certain US items following Trump’s tariff threat
CAISSE FRANCAISE DE FINANCEMENT LOCAL EMTN 2024-8Texas and Georgia are battling for recruiting supremacy before duking it out for a Southeastern Conference title. Alabama, which also appears to be headed to the playoffs, is right behind them. The two Atlanta-bound and presumably playoff-bound SEC powers are leading the way in recruiting league-wide and nationally during the early signing period that started Wednesday. They'll meet Saturday in the SEC championship game in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. They're currently No. 1 (Texas) and No. 2 (Georgia) nationally, but the SEC holds a sweep of the top three with the Crimson Tide ranked third in Kalen DeBoer's first full recruiting cycle. The league holds eight of the top 11 spots. The final rankings are pending the decision of the nation's top uncommitted prospect, defensive tackle Justus Terry, who is expected to choose among three SEC schools: Georgia, Texas and Auburn. Leader of the pack The Longhorns landed four five-star prospects, per the 247Sports composite rankings of recruiting sites. They also picked up No. 1-ranked athlete Michael Terry III on signing day when he chose Texas over Nebraska. Steve Sarkisian's Longhorns class is led by five-star safety Jonah Williams of Galveston, Texas, the nation’s No. 8 overall prospect, according to the composite rankings. They signed five-star wide receivers Kaliq Lockett and Jaime Ffrench, along with edge rusher Lance Jackson. Only Florida’s Ffrench was from out of state. Georgia had pledges from five five-star prospects entering signing day, led by No. 3 overall recruit defensive lineman Elijah Griffin, edge rusher Isaiah Gibson and linebacker Zayden Walker. Alabama got a potential successor to quarterback Jalen Milroe. Keelon Russell of Duncanville, Texas, is rated as the No. 2 quarterback and overall prospect per the composite rankings. Best of the rest Auburn coach Hugh Freeze has been touting his recruiting success frequently as building a solid foundation amid losing records in his first two seasons. The Tigers are currently at No. 6 and landed a much-needed quarterback in five-star Deuce Knight from Lucedale, Mississippi. LSU had the eighth-ranked class, a group led by five-star prospects in cornerback DJ Pickett, running back Harlem Berry and offensive lineman Solomon Thomas. Texas A&M stands at No. 9 after late flips in five-star signees in wide receiver Jerome Myles (from USC) and offensive tackle Lamont Rogers (Missouri). The Aggies are followed in order by LSU, Tennessee and Florida. The Volunteers were still awaiting the letter-of-intent from top-five prospect offensive tackle David Sanders Jr., who has been committed since August but is reportedly considering Ohio State. The Gators' class was highlighted by five-star receiver Vernell Brown III. Under the radar Ole Miss wide receiver signee Caleb Cunningham is too highly rated to be truly under the radar for most programs. But Lane Kiffin has built the Rebels into an SEC contender largely with transfers, not blue-chip high school recruits. Cunningham, who de-committed from Alabama on Nov. 13, is rated as the No. 2 receiver and 18th-best player in the class. Ole Miss is looking for a replacement to star receiver Tre Harris. Star of the class Alabama's Russell was the highest-rated recruit and plays at the most prized position. The 6-foot-3, 175-pounder led Duncanville High School to state championships in 2022 and 2023 and was MVP of the Elite 11 quarterback competition this year. Alabama returns Ty Simpson and Austin Mack at quarterback, so there may not be a pressing need for an immediate impact. Biggest surprises Myles was a big addition to the Aggies at a position of need. The nation's No. 5 receiver and 23rd-rated recruit had decommitted from USC after visiting College Station last weekend. Texas A&M coach Mike Elko's team is down to five scholarship receivers entering the postseason. Billy Napier and Florida flipped four-star safety Lagonza Hayward from rival Tennessee. Hayward ranks as the No. 9 safety in the country and had decommitted from the Vols on Sunday.
Wearable Devices Ltd. Announces Closing of $1.85 Million Registered Direct Offering and Concurrent Private PlacementOur community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Since their public break up in May, Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes seem to have moved on smoothly. Ruth, 64, has had a glam makeover, while Eamonn has introduced his new girlfriend Katie Alexander . However, rumours surfaced that the GB News presenter was irked when Ruth jetted off to Australia to film I'm A Celebrity Unpacked. It was suggested that his annoyance stemmed from his past struggles to travel with the Loose Women star due to her fear of flying. But insiders close to Eamonn have dismissed these reports as "nonsense", insisting there are "no hard feelings." Speaking to MailOnline, a source said: "It's all nonsense. He's living his life and there are no hard feelings. He's never flown into a rage and it's just laughable that he would." On the show, Ruth looked stunning, wearing her hair up with the front section framing her face, reports the Mirror . Meanwhile, Eamonn and his partner Katie were seen at the TRIC Christmas Lunch at the Londoner Hotel earlier this week. Back in 2019, Eamonn joked that Ruth would soothe her pre-flight nerves with alcohol. This revelation was made during their time presenting This Morning . At the time, Eamonn said: "Ruthie does not like aeroplanes, that is not an easy task." Ruth opened up about her travel nerves , saying: "I'm not completely phobic, but a lot of people will be like that where they feel uncomfortable. For others it really does stand in their way of travelling." Eamonn cheekily revealed Ruth's coping mechanism: "Ruth has the perfect solution. She drinks to forget. She drinks before the flight, she drinks during the flight and she drinks after the flight. It helps her forget." To which Ruth laughingly retorted: "It's a little dutch courage. You're not doing my PR any good this morning, are you?" Earlier in the week, Ruth had expressed concerns over her appearance on the spin-off show, sharing images of the torrential rain with her social media followers. Over the weekend, she posted a video praising her glam squad as "miracle workers" for getting her camera-ready in just ten minutes amidst the jungle downpour. A source close to Ruth commented on her jungle worries, particularly about her hair, hinting at a potential new hairstyle due to the relentless rain wreaking havoc. Meanwhile, the I'm A Celebrity camp has been battling unprecedented weather conditions , with Ant McPartlin stating: "The rain has been really bad, it's probably the worst rain we've ever had doing this show. It was touch and go, we nearly didn't make it into the camp." Declan Donnelly shared a video of the heavy rain making it difficult for their vehicle to cross the bridge into the campsite.
Imran Khan’s supporters end protests after Pakistan crackdownKeir Starmer’s big idea? Put more police back on the beat
Even if you know better, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the idea of quick, hassle-free cash delivered instantly to your smartphone. In fact, the appeal is so strong that scammers are now using this idea as a lure in a new predatory loan app campaign . According to a new blog post from McAfee , the cybersecurity firm’s researchers have identified 15 apps with a combined 8 million installations that are stealing personal and financial data from their victims. The apps in question were found on the Google Play Store and other official app stores which makes them particularly dangerous since they’re being distributed through official channels on a global level. To get unsuspecting users to download them, these malicious apps use names, logos and designs that are very similar to official financial apps. They’re also promoted through fake ads on social media sites. Here’s everything you need to know about these 15 new SpyLoan apps and how you can avoid falling victim to them and similar scams online. Delete these apps right now When you take a look at the list of predatory loan apps below, you’ll see that most of them are being used to target Android users in South America, Southern Asia and Africa. Still, scammers could easily create a similar malicious app to target users in the U.S. and find a way to get it listed on an official app store. If you have any of these apps installed, it’s highly recommended that you manually delete it from your phone. While Google Play Protect and the best Android antivirus apps can catch malicious apps spreading malware, apps like these can be harder to detect since their malicious activity is usually handled outside the app itself. Here’s the full list of all 15 recently discovered SpyLoan apps along with how many times they’ve each been downloaded: SpyLoan apps hiding in plain sight SpyLoan apps like the ones listed above use the promise of quick and flexible loans — often with low rates and minimal requirements — to trick unsuspecting users into downloading them and filling out their personal and financial information. Instead, they’re primarily designed to collect as much personal information as possible on potential victims. From there, the scammers behind the apps use this info to harass and extort users into paying incredibly high and predatory interest rates on what little money they do receive. The predatory loan apps I’ve covered in the past often gave victims some but not all of the money they were approved for. They then had a very short amount of time to repay their loan in full before constantly badgered with harassing messages and phone calls. In its blog post, McAfee’s researchers point out that most SpyLoan apps have the same or a similar onboarding process in which victims are presented with a list of nearly identical privacy terms to which they have to agree in order to proceed. These terms describe and justify why so much sensitive data has to be collected by the app. However, no bank would require this much data or these kinds of sensitive permissions on one of the best Android phones . It’s worth noting that many of these 15 SpyLoan apps share the same command and control ( C2 ) infrastructure for data exfiltration. As such, it’s highly likely that the same developer or group of cybercriminals is behind all of them. Besides hidden fees and high interest rates, installing one of these SpyLoan apps could also lead to unauthorized charges on your financial accounts. Likewise, your personal information could be sold to third parties or even used for blackmail purposes if you don’t repay your loan as quickly as the scammers want you to. At the end of its blog post, McAFee shares some of the experiences that victims had to deal with. From threatening calls and death threats to their friends and family being sent harassing messages, the scammers behind these predatory loan apps will go to extreme lengths. How to stay safe from dangerous apps If an app or what it offers seems too good to be true, steer clear and avoid downloading it altogether. However, if you are curious, there are a few dead giveaways that an app might be malicious. For starters, you want to check an app’s rating and reviews. Many of these SpyLoan apps have loads of one star reviews and ratings that warn others to avoid them at all costs. As app ratings and reviews can be faked, it’s always a good idea to look elsewhere too. Video reviews are great as they show the app in question in action but written ones can provide a lot of useful info too. If there aren’t any external reviews for a particular app, it’s better to avoid downloading it. You should also look into the developer and check out their other apps just to be safe. When you do install new apps on your phone, make sure to pay close attention the first time you run it. Most apps ask for permissions to do what they’re intended to do but malicious apps will ask for access to even more of them and ones that don’t really make sense. For example, a flashlight app doesn’t need access to your contacts or to your phone’s dialer. If an app asks for permission to use Android’s accessibility services , this can be a major red flag as hackers often abuse this feature to make their malware more powerful. Another important thing that will help keep your Android phone safe is to install the latest updates as soon as they become available. Hackers love to prey on users running outdated software and even those small monthly updates can contain security patches and other fixes. SpyLoan apps likely won’t be going anywhere anytime soon given how profitable they can be for scammers. This is why you need to be extra careful when downloading new apps onto your Android phone or tablet and this is especially true if you share devices with young children. More from Tom's GuideBy ROB GILLIES TORONTO (AP) — Canada is already examining possible retaliatory tariffs on certain items from the United States should President-elect Donald Trump follow through on his threat to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products, a senior official said Wednesday. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if the countries don’t stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across southern and northern borders. He said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders. A Canadian government official said Canada is preparing for every eventuality and has started thinking about what items to target with tariffs in retaliation. The official stressed no decision has been made. The person spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly. When Trump imposed higher tariffs during his first term in office, other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada, for instance, announced billions of new duties in 2018 against the U.S. in a tit-for-tat response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum. Many of the U.S. products were chosen for their political rather than economic impact. For example, Canada imports $3 million worth of yogurt from the U.S. annually and most comes from one plant in Wisconsin, home state of then-House Speaker Paul Ryan. That product was hit with a 10% duty. Another product on the list was whiskey, which comes from Tennessee and Kentucky, the latter of which is the home state of then-Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell. Trump made the threat Monday while railing against an influx of illegal migrants, even though the numbers at Canadian border pale in comparison to the southern border. The U.S. Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone — and 23,721 arrests at the Canadian one between October 2023 and September 2024. Canadian officials say lumping Canada in with Mexico is unfair but say they are happy to work with the Trump administration to lower the numbers from Canada. The Canadians are also worried about a influx north of migrants if Trump follows through with his plan for mass deportations. Trump also railed about fentanyl from Mexico and Canada, even though seizures from the Canadian border pale in comparison to the Mexican border. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. Related Articles National Politics | Trump selects longtime adviser Keith Kellogg as special envoy for Ukraine and Russia National Politics | Trump’s tariffs in his first term did little to alter the economy, but this time could be different National Politics | Trump transition says Cabinet picks, appointees were targeted by bomb threats, swatting attacks National Politics | Southwest states certify election results after the process led to controversy in previous years National Politics | Political stress: Can you stay engaged without sacrificing your mental health? Canadian officials argue their country is not the problem and that tariffs will have severe implications for both countries. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security. “Canada is essential to the United States’ domestic energy supply,” Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said. Trump has pledged to cut American energy bills in half within 18 months, something that could be made harder if a 25% premium is added to Canadian oil imports. In 2023, Canadian oil accounted for almost two-thirds of total U.S. oil imports and about one-fifth of the U.S. oil supply. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is holding a emergency virtual meeting on Wednesday with the leaders of Canada’s provinces, who want Trudeau to negotiate a bilateral trade deal with the United States that excludes Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday that her administration is already working up a list of possible retaliatory tariffs “if the situation comes to that.”CBP sees bigger play for Iris ID at the border
KYIV, Ukraine — NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile. escalating the nearly 33-month-old war. The conflict is “entering a decisive phase,” Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday, and “taking on very dramatic dimensions.” Ukraine’s parliament canceled a session as security was tightened following Thursday’s Russian strike on a military facility in the city of Dnipro. In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was in retaliation for Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks Friday during a meeting with the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defense, representatives of the military-industrial complex and developers of missile systems at the Kremlin in Moscow. Putin said Western air defense systems would be powerless to stop the new missile. Ukrainian military officials said the missile that hit Dnipro reached a speed of Mach 11 and carried six nonnuclear warheads, each releasing six submunitions. Speaking Friday to military and weapons industries officials, Putin said Russia will launch production of the Oreshnik. “No one in the world has such weapons,” he said. “Sooner or later, other leading countries will also get them. We are aware that they are under development. “We have this system now,” he added. “And this is important.” Putin said that while it isn’t an intercontinental missile, it’s so powerful that the use of several of them fitted with conventional warheads in one attack could be as devastating as a strike with strategic — or nuclear — weapons. Gen. Sergei Karakayev, head of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, said the Oreshnik could reach targets across Europe and be fitted with nuclear or conventional warheads, echoing Putin’s claim that even with conventional warheads, “the massive use of the weapon would be comparable in effect to the use of nuclear weapons.” In this photo taken from a video released Friday, a Russian serviceman operates at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov kept up Russia's bellicose tone on Friday, blaming “the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries” in supplying weapons to Ukraine to strike Russia. "The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in the event that our concerns were not taken into account have also been quite clearly outlined," he said. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, widely seen as having the warmest relations with the Kremlin in the European Union, echoed Moscow’s talking points, suggesting the use of U.S.-supplied weapons in Ukraine likely requires direct American involvement. “These are rockets that are fired and then guided to a target via an electronic system, which requires the world’s most advanced technology and satellite communications capability,” Orbán said on state radio. “There is a strong assumption ... that these missiles cannot be guided without the assistance of American personnel.” Orbán cautioned against underestimating Russia’s responses, emphasizing that the country’s recent modifications to its nuclear deployment doctrine should not be dismissed as a “bluff.” “It’s not a trick ... there will be consequences,” he said. Czech Republic's Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky speaks to journalists Friday during a joint news conference with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriiy Sybiha in Kyiv, Ukraine. Separately in Kyiv, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský called Thursday’s missile strike an “escalatory step and an attempt of the Russian dictator to scare the population of Ukraine and to scare the population of Europe.” At a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Lipavský also expressed his full support for delivering the necessary additional air defense systems to protect Ukrainian civilians from the “heinous attacks.” He said the Czech Republic will impose no limits on the use of its weapons and equipment given to Ukraine. Three lawmakers from Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, confirmed that Friday's previously scheduled session was called off due to the ongoing threat of Russian missiles targeting government buildings in central Kyiv. In addition, there also was a recommendation to limit the work of all commercial offices and nongovernmental organizations "in that perimeter, and local residents were warned of the increased threat,” said lawmaker Mykyta Poturaiev, who said it's not the first time such a threat has been received. Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate said the Oreshnik missile was fired from the Kapustin Yar 4th Missile Test Range in Russia’s Astrakhan region and flew 15 minutes before striking Dnipro. Test launches of a similar missile were conducted in October 2023 and June 2024, the directorate said. The Pentagon confirmed the missile was a new, experimental type of intermediate-range missile based on its RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. Thursday's attack struck the Pivdenmash plant that built ICBMs when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. The military facility is located about 4 miles southwest of the center of Dnipro, a city of about 1 million that is Ukraine’s fourth-largest and a key hub for military supplies and humanitarian aid, and is home to one of the country’s largest hospitals for treating wounded soldiers from the front before their transfer to Kyiv or abroad. We're all going to die someday. Still, how it happens—and when—can point to a historical moment defined by the scientific advancements and public health programs available at the time to contain disease and prevent accidents. In the early 1900s, America's efforts to improve sanitation, hygiene, and routine vaccinations were still in their infancy. Maternal and infant mortality rates were high, as were contagious diseases that spread between people and animals. Combined with the devastation of two World Wars—and the Spanish Flu pandemic in between—the leading causes of death changed significantly after this period. So, too, did the way we diagnose and control the spread of disease. Starting with reforms as part of Roosevelt's New Deal in the 1930s, massive-scale, federal interventions in the U.S. eventually helped stave off disease transmission. It took comprehensive government programs and the establishment of state and local health agencies to educate the public on preventing disease transmission. Seemingly simple behavioral shifts, such as handwashing, were critical in thwarting the spread of germs, much like discoveries in medicine, such as vaccines, and increased access to deliver them across geographies. Over the course of the 20th century, life expectancy increased by 56% and is estimated to keep increasing slightly, according to an annual summary of vital statistics published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2000. Death Records examined data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to see how the leading causes of death in America have evolved over time and to pinpoint how some major mortality trends have dropped off. According to a report published in the journal Annual Review of Public Health in 2000, pneumonia was the leading cause of death in the early 1900s, accounting for nearly 1 in 4 deaths. By the time World War I ended in 1918, during which people and animals were housed together for long periods, a new virus emerged: the Spanish Flu. Originating in a bird before spreading to humans, the virus killed 10 times as many Americans as the war. Many died of secondary pneumonia after the initial infection. Pneumonia deaths eventually plummeted throughout the century, partly prevented by increased flu vaccine uptake rates in high-risk groups, particularly older people. Per the CDC, tuberculosis was a close second leading cause of death, killing 194 of every 10,000 people in 1900, mainly concentrated in dense urban areas where the infection could more easily spread. Eventually, public health interventions led to drastic declines in mortality from the disease, such as public education, reducing crowded housing, quarantining people with active disease, improving hygiene, and using antibiotics. Once the death rates lagged, so did the public health infrastructure built to control the disease, leading to a resurgence in the mid-1980s. Diarrhea was the third leading cause of death in 1900, surging every summer among children before the impacts of the pathogen died out in 1930. Adopting water filtration, better nutrition, and improved refrigeration were all associated with its decline. In the 1940s and 1950s, polio outbreaks killed or paralyzed upward of half a million people worldwide every year. Even at its peak, polio wasn't a leading cause of death, it was a much-feared one, particularly among parents of young children, some of whom kept them from crowded public places and interacting with other children. By 1955, when Jonah Salk discovered the polio vaccine, the U.S. had ended the "golden age of medicine." During this period, the causes of mortality shifted dramatically as scientists worldwide began to collaborate on infectious disease control, surgical techniques, vaccines, and other drugs. From the 1950s onward, once quick-spreading deadly contagions weren't prematurely killing American residents en masse, scientists also began to understand better how to diagnose and treat these diseases. As a result, Americans were living longer lives and instead succumbing to noncommunicable diseases, or NCDs. The risk of chronic diseases increased with age and, in some cases, was exacerbated by unhealthy lifestyles. Cancer and heart disease shot up across the century, increasing 90-fold from 1900 to 1998, according to CDC data. Following the post-Spanish Flu years, heart disease killed more Americans than any other cause, peaking in the 1960s and contributing to 1 in 3 deaths. Cigarette smoking rates peaked at the same time, a major risk factor for heart disease. Obesity rates also rose, creating another risk factor for heart disease and many types of cancers. This coincides with the introduction of ultra-processed foods into diets, which plays a more significant role in larger waistlines than the increasing predominance of sedentary work and lifestyles. In the early 1970s, deaths from heart disease began to fall as more Americans prevented and managed their risk factors, like quitting smoking or taking blood pressure medicine. However, the disease remains the biggest killer of Americans. Cancer remains the second leading cause of death and rates still indicate an upward trajectory over time. Only a few types of cancer are detected early by screening, and some treatments for aggressive cancers like glioblastoma—the most common type of brain cancer—have also stalled, unable to improve prognosis much over time. In recent years, early-onset cancers, those diagnosed before age 50 or sometimes even earlier, have seen a drastic rise among younger Americans. While highly processed foods and sedentary lifestyles may contribute to rising rates, a spike in cancer rates among otherwise healthy young individuals has baffled some medical professionals. This follows the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020. At its peak, high transmission rates made the virus the third leading cause of death in America. It's often compared to the Spanish Flu of 1918, though COVID-19 had a far larger global impact, spurring international collaborations among scientists who developed a vaccine in an unprecedented time. Public policy around issues of safety and access also influences causes of death, particularly—and tragically—among young Americans. Gun control measures in the U.S. are far less stringent than in peer nations; compared to other nations, however, the U.S. leads in gun violence. Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens (around 2 in 3 are homicides, and 1 in 3 are suicides), and deaths from opioids remain a leading cause of death among younger people. Globally, the leading causes of death mirror differences in social and geographic factors. NCDs are primarily associated with socio-economic status and comprise 7 out of 10 leading causes of death, 85% of those occurring in low- and middle-income countries, according to the World Health Organization. However, one of the best health measures is life expectancy at birth. People in the U.S. have been living longer lives since 2000, except for a slight dip in longevity due to COVID-19. According to the most recent CDC estimates, Americans' life expectancy is 77.5 years on average and is expected to increase slightly in the coming decades. Story editing by Alizah Salario. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Death Records and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Get local news delivered to your inbox!The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." 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