LINC adds SAIC to strategic partnerships
Bad actors are seeking cryptocurrency in almost every scheme tracked by the FBI. From fraudulent investments to tech support and romance scams, and most recently, a surge in employment scams. And as Bitcoin reaches record highs, Special Agent David Paniwozik with FBI Baltimore sees more people wanting to capitalize on cryptocurrency. “The fear of missing out. So, they want to get involved, try to make money, and it seems like a quick, easy way to do it,” said SA Paniwozik. But a major problem is this technology is still unfamiliar to investors, making them more susceptible to scams. “There is no cap on whether you want to move $1 to hundreds of millions or billions of dollars. You can just seamlessly move that from a wallet controlled in the United States to a wallet controlled overseas, in, you know, a matter of seconds,” SA Paniwozik warned. Scammers set up their own cryptocurrency exchanges, making you believe your investment has grown exponentially, or they say you must make cryptocurrency payments to “unlock work” that offers high payouts. The FBI Internet Crime Complaint issued an alert in June about this work-from-home scam. “It's this confusing compensation structure that the scammers try to tell them, and it looks like, hey, if I pay $10 to rate this product, I'll get $15 in return, so then once they do that round, the scammer says, okay, well, you need to deposit more money to get to the next round of work,” said SA Paniwozik. And when victims go to cash out, they’re told they can’t. SA Paniwozik has seen a huge spike in reports of employment scams involving cryptocurrency. Reported losses in Maryland went from $32,033 in 2023 to $3.8 million between January and October of this year. “So you're looking at about $15,000 to $20,000 per person on average that has fallen victim in Maryland alone to these scams,” said SA Paniwozik. Cryptocurrency is desired by scammers because transactions are instant and irrevocable, but that doesn’t mean they’re untraceable. “On the blockchain, we can look up those addresses, and then if we wanted to reverse trace it, we could find, let's say it's a certain exchange that paid into this wallet, we can then serve legal processes to say, hey, can you give us a list of all user accounts that paid into this address and possibly contact those victims live and say, hey, you're currently being the victim of one of these scams,” SA Paniwozik detailed. It’s a new proactive approach by the FBI as these scams become more prevalent and costly. According to the FBI’s 2023 Cryptocurrency Fraud Report , cryptocurrency-related complaints only made up around 10 percent of total financial fraud complaints, however, the stolen value accounted for almost 50 percent of total losses. Click here to see the other 12 Scams of Christmas. This story was originally published by Mallory Sofastaii at Scripps News Baltimore .
Haiti’s political instability remains at its worst, with Prime Minister and acting President Ariel Henry resigning in early 2024 amid escalating violence and a complete breakdown of governance. His resignation followed coordinated gang attacks on capital Port-au-Prince and growing discontent among the people. A transitional presidential council has since taken charge, though its role and future steps are yet to be defined. In November, the Prime Minister appointed by the transitional council was also removed after just six months in office. Prime Minister Garry Conille was dismissed by the council through an executive order signed by eight of its nine members. Businessman and former Senate candidate Alix Didier Fils-Aimé was named as his replacement. Haiti's political scene has seen rapid changes after a year of intense violence in 2023. Gangs gained control of over 80 per cent of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and the violence continued into 2024. According to the UN, more than 4,000 people have been killed this year due to gang violence, with the actual numbers likely higher. Around 700,000 people have also been forced to leave their homes within Haiti. Haiti is experiencing one of the worst human rights crises in decades. Gangs have been fighting for control of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and in March 2024, they attacked two major prisons and key infrastructure, including the country's only international airport. In response, vigilante groups have formed to fight the gangs. The violence is now spreading to other cities across the country, worst affecting the civilians getting caught up between the two sides. Haiti, a country plagued by political instability, saw its situation worsen after the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. On July 7, 2021, Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, 53, was assassinated in his home in Port-au-Prince. He was shot by armed men 12 times. He was found dead at the scene, while his wife, Martine Moïse, was critically injured but survived. Investigators believe the attack was planned by Rodolphe Jaar, a Haitian-Chilean businessman, along with a group of Colombian mercenaries. BY Outlook Web Desk Haiti's worsening crisis has left the country without elected officials, with no elections held in eight years and all key positions, including mayor, parliament, and president, vacant. Background Haiti became the first Black-led republic and the first independent state in Latin America and the Caribbean when it gained freedom from French rule in the early 19th century. However, it has faced significant development and political challenges since. Haiti's history is marked by numerous coups and dictatorial regimes. From 1957 to 1986, the Duvalier dynasty reigned – François Duvalier (Papa Doc) and later his son Jean-Claude Duvalier (Baby Doc) ruled as dictators. François Duvalier's rule saw Haiti become more isolated internationally, with tensions rising between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. His regime was marked by corruption, human rights abuses. As Duvalier's health declined, Haiti's economy worsened. He eased repression before he died in 1971, naming his son Jean-Claude (Baby Doc) as successor. Baby Doc's regime sought respectability, with less repression and some economic improvement, but critics saw little change. By the mid-1980s, widespread protests erupted over high unemployment, poor living conditions, and limited political freedom. Haiti faced two major health crises. First, US authorities ordered the mass killing of pigs due to an outbreak of African swine fever, which caused hardship for rural families who relied on pigs as an investment. At the same time, AIDS became a growing problem. These health issues, combined with political unrest, led to a collapse in tourism. In February 1986, Duvalier fled to France with US assistance. In 1990, Haiti held its first free election, with Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a leftist Catholic priest, winning a landslide victory. However, his reformist policies upset the wealthy elite, and after less than eight months in office, he was overthrown in a military coup. In 1994, the US restored Aristide to power and helped establish the Haitian National Police. In 2004, the US intervened again, pressuring Aristide to resign amid corruption and uprisings. After his ouster, the UN launched a peacekeeping mission (MINUSTAH) to restore order, build a new police force, and aid reconstruction after the 2010 earthquake. However, the mission faced accusations of sexual abuse and introducing cholera to the island which killed nearly 10,000 people. On 16 February 2006, Préval was declared the winner of the presidential election Préval faced significant challenges leading one of the world’s poorest countries. His focus was on bridging political and class divides, but rising food costs, legislative deadlock, and growing gang violence hindered his efforts. The situation worsened after the 2010 magnitude-7.0 earthquake devastated Port-au-Prince, disrupting rescue efforts. He was succeeded by Michel Martelly, but his presidency saw major protests from 2012 to 2014. Haitians protested rising living costs and accused Martelly of breaking promises on school tuition and failing to address poverty. The protestors called for his resignation. Jovenel Moïse, a former banana exporter turned politician, won the 2016 presidential election. However, his rule faced major unrest, with deadly protests erupting in 2021. Protesters set up burning tire barricades, demanding his resignation due to a dispute over his legitimacy. Haiti’s opposition argued that his five-year term should have ended on February 7, 2021, exactly five years after his predecessor Michel Martelly stepped down. Moïse, however, claimed he still had one year left, as he took office in February 2017 after a delay caused by allegations of electoral fraud. In July 2021, he was assassinated. BY Associated Press By 2022, researchers estimated that around 200 gangs operated across Haiti, with half of them based in Port-au-Prince. Experts consider the current crisis the worst they’ve seen. The violence surge comes as a UN-backed security mission, led by 400 Kenyan police, has failed to make inroads. In a report published by the Associated Press last month, Haitian politics expert Robert Fatton from the University of Virginia expressed concern, saying, "I’m very bleak about the future... The whole situation is really collapsing."Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX) Shares Bought by Citigroup Inc.
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Nigel Farage said he is weighing up what action to take if the Conservatives do not apologise for accusing Reform UK of “fakery” over its membership numbers. The Reform UK leader pushed back against reports suggesting that legal action would be the next step, saying he would make a decision in the next couple of days about his response if there is no apology for the “crazy conspiracy theory”. Mr Farage also said the party has “opened up our systems” to media outlets, including The Daily Telegraph and The Financial Times, in the interests of “full transparency to verify that our numbers are correct”. His remarks came after Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch accused Mr Farage of “fakery” in response to Reform claiming they had surpassed the Tories in signed-up members. Mrs Badenoch said Reform’s counter was “coded to tick up automatically”. A digital counter on the Reform website showed a membership tally before lunchtime on Boxing Day ticking past the 131,680 figure declared by the Conservative Party during its leadership election earlier this year. Mr Farage, on whether he was threatening legal action or not, told the PA news agency: “I haven’t threatened anything. I’ve just said that unless I get an apology, I will take some action. “I haven’t said whether it’s legal or anything.” He added: “All I’ve said is I want an apology. If I don’t get an apology, I will take action. “I will decide in the next couple of days what that is. So I’ve not specified what it is.” Mr Farage, on the move to make membership data available to media organisations, said: “We feel our arguments are fully validated. “She (Mrs Badenoch) has put out this crazy conspiracy theory and she needs to apologise.” The accusations of fraud and dishonesty made against me yesterday were disgraceful. Today we opened up our systems to The Telegraph, Spectator, Sky News & FT in the interests of full transparency to verify that our data is correct. I am now demanding @KemiBadenoch apologises. — Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) December 27, 2024 On why Mrs Badenoch had reacted as she did, Mr Farage said: “I would imagine she was at home without anybody advising her and was just angry.” Mr Farage, in a statement issued on social media site X, also said: “The accusations of fraud and dishonesty made against me yesterday were disgraceful. “Today we opened up our systems to The Telegraph, Spectator, Sky News and FT in the interests of full transparency to verify that our data is correct. “I am now demanding Kemi Badenoch apologises.” A Conservative Party source claimed Mr Farage was “rattled” that his Boxing Day “publicity stunt is facing serious questions”. They added: “Like most normal people around the UK, Kemi is enjoying Christmas with her family and looking forward to taking on the challenges of renewing the Conservative Party in the New Year.” Mrs Badenoch, in a series of messages posted on X on Thursday, said: “Farage doesn’t understand the digital age. This kind of fakery gets found out pretty quickly, although not before many are fooled.” There were 131,680 Conservative members eligible to vote during the party’s leadership election to replace Rishi Sunak in the autumn. Mrs Badenoch claimed in her thread that “the Conservative Party has gained thousands of new members since the leadership election”. Elsewhere, Mr Farage described Elon Musk as a “bloody hero” and said he believes the US billionaire can help attract younger voters to Reform. Tech entrepreneur Mr Musk met Mr Farage earlier this month at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, amid rumours of a possible donation to either Mr Farage or Reform. Mr Farage told The Daily Telegraph newspaper: “The shades, the bomber jacket, the whole vibe. Elon makes us cool – Elon is a huge help to us with the young generation, and that will be the case going on and, frankly, that’s only just starting. “Reform only wins the next election if it gets the youth vote. The youth vote is the key. Of course, you need voters of all ages, but if you get a wave of youth enthusiasm you can change everything. “And I think we’re beginning to get into that zone – we were anyway, but Elon makes the whole task much, much easier. And the idea that politics can be cool, politics can be fun, politics can be real – Elon helps us with that mission enormously.”BEING a pro footballer around Christmas might be the most depressing time of your life. I’m not asking for huge amounts of sympathy. Advertisement 4 Footballers do not get time off during Christmas Credit: Alamy 4 Brighton and Hove Albion were visited by the Grinch Credit: Instagram @officialbhafc We are very privileged people who get paid extremely well, so I don’t expect the tiny violins to be coming out. But it is not an easy time. Your whole family is buzzing — the Pringles are out, the wine, the beers. So many things that you would normally enjoy but just know you cannot do it. I remember as a footballer having Christmas dinner and knowing we were playing a game the next day. Advertisement READ MORE ON FOOTBALL MOR OR LESS Amorim admits he's in danger of sack with Man Utd going BACKWARDS since Ten Hag I would have to ask for a third of what I would normally stuff on my plate. Now I am retired — my first Christmas away from the game for nearly 20 years — I asked my family to give me a third more than I can even stomach. I was so excited and loved it. But as a professional player, you would be counting how many potatoes you have eaten. Advertisement Most read in Football GREEN LIGHT KMI review panel rules on Celtic-Motherwell penalty row and Butland yellow card Gossip KEEP CAM Celtic hero Cameron Carter-Vickers 'emerges as shock target for European giants' FOOTIE SHOCK Footage emerges of Hibs star in vow about 'Jambo b*******' before derby win GUN ATTACK Shocking moment gunman shoots pistol during mass brawl between football players CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Then the club nutritionists would be on to you. I used to have to jump in the gym straight after my turkey dinner. 'Who do you think you are': Sir Alex Ferguson reduced Cristiano Ronaldo to tears after 'ripping in' to Man Utd icon 4 Cody Gakpo was one of the scorers on Boxing Day Credit: AFP Advertisement Who are these famous footballers? I was West Ham captain but I almost went to jail over bankruptcy I'm a former Man Utd star and I once stole a girl from Ronaldo I'm an ex-Man Utd star - now I own a dog-themed B&B I was Thierry Henry's toughest opponent but quit to become a pastor I’m a former Wolves striker but I left football behind to become a vicar Usually, if we had an away game on Boxing Day, we would have to train in the late afternoon or early evening on Christmas Day — and then it was straight to wherever the hotel was. I’d get up in the morning on Christmas Day, do stuff with the kids, have a light breakfast, probably run a 5k on the treadmill, then the family came over to have dinner but you are always watching the time. Let’s say we had dinner at 1:30pm. I would then get on the scales at 2:45pm and I am two kilos over. So, I have to jump in the sauna for 20 minutes. Advertisement Then it is in the car, down to training, weigh yourself again and into a hotel with 20 other lads who also don’t want to be there. You’re looking on your social media and everyone is posting videos of themselves enjoying some drinks, opening presents, spending time with their kids. It really hits you. By the time Boxing Day comes around, everyone is in the mindset of, ‘Thank God that’s over’. I always tried to have a bigger dinner that day to make up for what I missed. Advertisement For me and my family, our Christmas Day would be on the 27th, so you could enjoy yourself and have a few days resting before the New Year games. As players, we were generally well behaved during those periods. Sometimes at Watford, depending on the manager we had, we would have to come in for training at 8am on Christmas Day, so everyone would be home by midday. Get in, get out. Advertisement There used to be a rule whereby you then did not have to report until Boxing Day morning. But that was stopped after a few players would turn up with red eyes after staying out until 2am. Those Christmas Day morning sessions were the worst, because my kids would wake up all excited wanting to open their presents and I would have to say: “No, wait until dad gets home!” It’s torture. Advertisement And even when I got home, I would have to eat, shower, have a little nap and then drive back to the hotel for 7pm. When I first met my wife, she thought I would only train a couple of times a week and then play on a Saturday. Read more on the Scottish Sun SNOW WAY Weather maps show heavy snow for Scotland in DAYS – with -2C New Year’s chill NO CRIME Orange Order slam cops after Celtic activist was cleared over 'sectarian rants' She then got the biggest shock of her life. My life was so regimented, even at Christmas. Look, it’s part of the gig. You’re paid to put up with it but it was a mental strain at times, especially with kids and those who were really family-orientated. 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FBI investigating a rise in cryptocurrency scams as popularity risesCitigroup Inc. lowered its holdings in shares of JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF ( NYSEARCA:JPST – Free Report ) by 2.5% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 184,849 shares of the company’s stock after selling 4,796 shares during the quarter. Citigroup Inc.’s holdings in JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF were worth $9,379,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. LRI Investments LLC bought a new stake in JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $30,000. Atria Investments Inc lifted its holdings in shares of JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF by 19.0% in the first quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 63,483 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,203,000 after purchasing an additional 10,137 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF by 282.3% during the first quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 734 shares of the company’s stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 542 shares during the period. Transcend Capital Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF by 69.6% during the second quarter. Transcend Capital Advisors LLC now owns 9,310 shares of the company’s stock worth $470,000 after buying an additional 3,821 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First International Bank & Trust raised its position in JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter. First International Bank & Trust now owns 124,382 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,278,000 after buying an additional 3,421 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF Stock Up 0.1 % NYSEARCA:JPST opened at $50.60 on Friday. JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF has a twelve month low of $50.13 and a twelve month high of $50.75. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $50.54 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $50.49. About JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF The JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF (JPST) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund is an actively managed fund that aims to maximize income and preserve capital using USD-denominated debt securities with an effective duration of one year or less. JPST was launched on May 17, 2017 and is managed by JPMorgan Chase. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JPST? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF ( NYSEARCA:JPST – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
China's Xi to lead Macau handover anniversary celebrations
BETHESDA, Md. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AGNC Investment Corp. (Nasdaq: AGNC) ("AGNC" or the "Company") announced today that its Board of Directors has declared cash dividends on the outstanding depositary shares 1 of the following series of preferred stock for the fourth quarter 2024: Series of Preferred Stock Ticker Per Annum Dividend Rate Dividend Per Depositary Share 1 7.00% Series C Fixed-to-Floating Rate AGNCN 10.01991% 2 $0.64016 6.875% Series D Fixed-to-Floating Rate AGNCM 9.24091% 3 $0.59039 6.50% Series E Fixed-to-Floating Rate AGNCO 9.90191% 4 $0.63262 6.125% Series F Fixed-to-Floating Rate AGNCP 6.125 % $0.3828125 7.750% Series G Fixed-Rate Reset AGNCL 7.750 % $0.48438 1. Each depositary share represents a 1/1,000th interest in a share of preferred stock. 2. The Series C Depositary Shares accrue dividends at a floating rate equal to Three-Month CME Term SOFR plus 0.26161% plus 5.111%. The dividend rate for the dividend period ending January 14, 2025 is 10.01991% per annum. 3. The Series D Depositary Shares accrue dividends at a floating rate equal to Three-Month CME Term SOFR plus 0.26161% plus 4.332%. The dividend rate for the dividend period ending January 14, 2025 is 9.24091% per annum. 4. The Series E Depositary Shares accrue dividends at a floating rate equal to Three-Month CME Term SOFR plus 0.26161% plus 4.993%. The dividend rate for the dividend period ending January 14, 2025 is 9.90191% per annum. The dividend for each series of outstanding preferred stock is payable on January 15, 2025 to holders of record as of January 1, 2025 . For further information or questions, please contact Investor Relations at (301) 968-9300 or IR@AGNC.com . ABOUT AGNC INVESTMENT CORP. Founded in 2008, AGNC Investment Corp. (Nasdaq: AGNC) is a leading investor in Agency residential mortgage-backed securities (Agency MBS), which benefit from a guarantee against credit losses by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or Ginnie Mae . We invest on a leveraged basis, financing our Agency MBS assets primarily through repurchase agreements, and utilize dynamic risk management strategies intended to protect the value of our portfolio from interest rate and other market risks. AGNC has a track record of providing favorable long-term returns for our stockholders through substantial monthly dividend income, with over $13 billion of common stock dividends paid since inception. Our business is a significant source of private capital for the U.S. residential housing market, and our team has extensive experience managing mortgage assets across market cycles. To learn more about The Premier Agency Residential Mortgage REIT , please visit www.AGNC.com , follow us on LinkedIn and X , and sign up for Investor Alerts . CONTACT: Investor Relations - (301) 968-9300 View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/agnc-investment-corp-declares-fourth-quarter-dividends-on-preferred-stock-302329441.html SOURCE AGNC Investment Corp.Stock market today: Wall Street ends little changed after giving up a big morning gain
Chicago Blackhawks recall top prospect Frank Nazar from the minors
Gisèle Benoit still gets goosebumps when she remembers the first time she saw a family of eastern wolves emerge from the forests of the Mauricie National Park, under the backdrop of a rising moon. It was 1984 and Benoit, then in her early 20s, had been using a horn to try to call a bull moose when she instead heard a long howl, followed by an adult wolf stepping out to a rocky shore accompanied by a half-grown youth and four pups. “I will never forget that,” she said of the magical moment. “It’s anchored in my heart forever.” It was only later that Benoit, an artist and documentary filmmaker, learned that the wolves she saw weren’t grey wolves but rather rare eastern wolves. The species, whose population is estimated at fewer than 1,000 mature adults, could soon be further protected by new measures that are raising hopes among conservationists that attitudes toward a once-feared and maligned animal are shifting. In July, the federal government upgraded the eastern wolf’s threat level from “status of special concern” to “threatened,” based on a 2015 report by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. That report found the population count may be as low as 236 mature individuals in its central Ontario and southern Quebec habitat. The eastern wolf is described as medium-sized canid with reddish-tawny fur that lives in family groups of a breeding pair and their offspring. Also known as the Algonquin wolf, it is largely restricted to existing protected areas, including Algonquin Park in Ontario. The federal Environment Department said in an email that development of a recovery strategy is underway, adding it would be “written in collaboration with provincial governments, federal departments responsible for the federal lands where the eastern wolf is found as well as First Nations groups and Indigenous organizations.” The order triggers protection for the species on federal lands and forces Ottawa to prepare a recovery plan. However, the fight for protection could be an uphill battle in Quebec, which does not even recognize the eastern wolf as a distinct species. A spokesperson for Quebec’s Environment Department said Quebec considers the eastern wolf a “genetic group” rather than its own species. “Recent study shows that the eastern wolf is a distinct entity, even if it comes from several crosses between the grey wolf and the coyote,” Daniel Labonté wrote in an email. “However, scientific knowledge does not demonstrate that this genetic grouping constitutes a species in its own right.” Labonté added that this lack of recognition was not a barrier to protecting the animal, since the law also allows for protection of subspecies or wildlife populations. In October, Quebec launched a program to collect samples to improve knowledge on the distribution of large canines, including the eastern wolf. The government said it is currently “impossible to assert that there is an established population” in Quebec due to low numbers — amounting to three per cent of analyzed samples — and the “strong hybridization that exists among large canids.” Véronique Armstrong, co-founder of a Quebec wildlife protection association, says she’s feeling positive about both the Canadian and Quebec governments’ attitudes. While wolves were once “stigmatized, even persecuted,” she said, “we seem to be heading in the direction of more protection.” Her group, the Association québécoise pour la protection et l’observation de la faune, has submitted a proposal for a conservation area to protect southern Quebec wolves that has already received signs of support from three of the regional municipalities that would be covered, she said. While it’s far from settled, she’s hopeful that the battle to protect wolves might be easier than for some other species, such as caribou, because the wolves are adaptable and can tolerate some human activity, including forestry. John Theberge, a retired professor of ecology and conservation biology from the University of Waterloo and a wolf researcher, spent several years along with his wife studying and radio-collaring eastern wolves around Algonquin Park. Back in the 1990s and 2000s, they faced a “huge political battle” to try to expand wolf protection outside park boundaries after realizing that the far-ranging animals were being hunted and trapped in large numbers once they left the protected lands. Conservationists, he said, faced resistance from powerful hunter and trapper lobbies opposed to protecting the animals but in the end succeeded in permanently closing the zones outside the park to hunting and trapping in 2004. Theberge says people who want to save wolves today still face some of that same opposition — especially when governments including Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia kill wolves to protect endangered caribou. But he believes the public support for protecting wolves has increased from when his career began in the 1960s, when they were treated with fear and suspicion. “Nobody wore T-shirts with wolves on them back then,” he said. Over the years, there have been questions about whether the eastern wolf may be a grey wolf subspecies or a coyote-wolf hybrid. But in the order protecting the wolves, the federal government says genetic analyses have resolved that debate, showing that it is a “distinct species.” Benoit, Theberge and Armstrong all believe that while it’s important to protect the eastern wolf from a genetic diversity perspective, there is value in protecting all wolves, regardless of their DNA. Wolves, they say, are an umbrella species, meaning that protecting them helps protect a variety of other species. They kill off weak and sick animals, ensuring strong populations. They’re also “highly developed, sentient social species, with a division of labour, and strong family alliances,” Theberge said. Benoit agrees. After years spent watching wolves, she has developed great respect for how they live in close-knit families, with older offspring helping raise new pups. “It’s extraordinary to see how their way of life is a little like humans’,” she said. Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian PressChinese President Xi Jinping will preside over a day of celebrations in Macau and inaugurate the city's new leader on Friday to mark 25 years since the former colony was returned to China. Macau is regarded by China as a shining example of its "One Country, Two Systems" model, and Xi praised the city as a "pearl in the nation's palm" at the start of his three-day visit. The Chinese casino hub has grown from a Portuguese trading outpost to the world's casino capital by gaming revenue and a popular destination for Chinese tourists. When Macau reverted to Chinese rule on December 20, 1999, Beijing promised that the city's "capitalist system and way of life shall remain unchanged for 50 years". Arriving in the city on Wednesday, Xi lauded Macau's "world-recognised success" in implementing the "One Country, Two Systems" framework and said the city had a bright future. "Macau is a pearl in the nation's palm, and I have always kept in my thoughts its development and the welfare of all its people," Xi said. The Chinese president added that he would use his trip for "extensive and in-depth exchanges with our friends from all places, and discuss plans for Macau's development". Friday's festivities will be centred around the inauguration of Sam Hou-fai, the former president of Macau's apex court, as the city's fourth post-handover leader, replacing Ho Iat-seng. Security was tight around the city on Thursday, with roadblocks set up around an event venue and authorities increasing checks on inbound visitors. Following the end of 442 years of Portuguese rule, Macau's fortunes have risen in lockstep with China's economic growth. It is the only place in China where casino gambling is permitted and has long surpassed Las Vegas as the world's top casino hub, fuelled by two decades of Chinese visitor spending. Macau, which has a resident population of 687,000, saw just over 29 million visitor arrivals in the first 10 months of the year. Its GDP has soared from $6.4 billion in 1999 to more than $47 billion last year, and its population is the richest in China on a per capita basis. Under orders from Beijing to diversify the economy, Macau leaders have proposed fields such as financial services, technology and Chinese medicine as new economic drivers. But as of November, gaming-related taxes still made up 81 percent of government revenue and experts say Macau is years away from weaning itself off casino wealth. Xi on Thursday visited the Macau University of Science and Technology and was "briefed on the development of two state-level key laboratories" that involved Chinese medicine and planetary science, according to state news agency Xinhua. He also visited the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone on Hengqin Island, speaking to residents and people there in charge of planning, construction, management and services, Xinhua reported. Hengqin Island, a landmass adjacent to Macau and three times its size, was partly leased by Beijing to Macau to boost its land supply for non-gaming development.
A new year means new laws for Texans, and several will go into effect starting Jan. 1. Some of these laws will affect drivers and internet users, while others will affect court operations and school funding. Changes to the laws were passed during the 88th Texas Legislature and were signed by Gov. Greg Abbott. Here’s an outline of those new state laws and how they will affect Texans in 2025. Vehicle safety inspections Safety inspections will no longer be required for Texans to register a vehicle, with the exception of commercial ones, according to The Texas Department of Public Safety. All non-commercial vehicles will, however, be required to pay a $7.50 inspection program replacement charge when registering with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Cars that have not been registered in Texas or another state will have to pay a $16.75 initial inspection program replacement charge to cover two years. A safety examination is still necessary for commercial vehicles. There won’t be any replacement costs for such cars. The cost of registration will not change, and a non-commercial vehicle must still undergo an emissions test if it is registered in a county where it is mandated. The following counties require emissions tests: Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Ellis, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis and Williamson. Emissions tests will be required in Bexar County starting in 2026. Choice in data sharing Texans will be able to decide if a company is allowed to collect and process their personal data in 2025, under the updated Texas Data Privacy and Security Act. House Bill 4 already let Texans authorize someone else or technology to opt out of having a company process their personal information. This new safeguard starting on Jan. 1 enables Texans to use browser settings, extensions and device functionalities to opt out of data sales, targeted advertising and profiling based on personal data. Opting out must be the user’s choice rather than a default setting, according to the law, and that must be made clear by companies. Texas judicial district courts Three new courts will be established in Texas counties, as outlined in House Bill 3474. Denton County will be home to the 477th judicial district court, and cases in Edwards, Gillespie and Kimball counties will be heard by the new 499th judicial court. Kendall County will be home to the 498th judicial district court. School funding Under Senate Bill 2, more money will be available to school districts if they run out of their budgets after regular state funding and local taxes are calculated in 2025. Districts will be able to apply for extra funds in an effort to make up for the loss of tax revenues due to limitations on tax increases for elderly and disabled homeowners. The Texas Education Agency must also publish the highest compressed rate for every school district starting in January. Clarity on Texas law The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure will undergo revisions that will provide clarity for the public and legal experts. The modifications will make legal statutes easier to understand without affecting their structure or readability. These changes aim to bring the state’s legal system up to date.NBA News: Kings Shockingly Fire HC Mike Brown Following Poor Start to Season