
Senators, witnesses: $3B for ‘rip and replace’ a good start to preventing Salt Typhoon-style breaches
North Macedonian political party demands ban on TikTok after at least 17 students injured
Can AI chatbots make holiday shopping easier?When you leave a job , you might forget to move your retirement plan. If you've had multiple jobs throughout your career, there's a chance you have one or more 401(k)s or other retirement plans that you don't know about. A new federal initiative could help you locate forgotten retirement money. Passed in December 2019, the SECURE 2.0 Act contains a list of provisions to help more people save for retirement . One part of this legislation directed the Employee Benefits Security Administration, a part of the Department of Labor, to build a database so we can search for lost retirement accounts. Congress gave the department a deadline of Dec. 24, 2024, to establish this database. The EBSA began reaching out to retirement plan administrations in November with a notice to collect information to help fill out this database. "Our goal, which we believe plan sponsors and administrators and their service providers share, is to make sure that workers and their beneficiaries receive all the retirement benefits they earned," Lisa M. Gomez, assistant secretary for EBSA, said in a Nov. 18 statement . This database isn't live yet, and experts aren't sure if it will be up and running before the end of the year. "I would guess that the deadline won't be met," said Chad Gammon, CFP and owner of Custom Fit Financial . "The amount of data to go through would be quite a bit for it to be completed on time." We'll keep you updated with next steps once the database does launch. For now, here's everything you need to know about the benefits of this database, how to find an old 401(k) now and tips to help you decide what to do with an old retirement account. How will this database help? It can be frustrating to try to track down old retirement accounts, particularly from companies that no longer exist, were sold or don't have much of an online footprint. The federal retirement account database plans to make it easier to find any old accounts that belong to you so you don't miss out on this money. "It is fairly common for people to forget about retirement accounts that they opened in their 20s and then remember about them 40 to 50 years later," Gammon said. "By providing an easy way to check, it would help find a lot of abandoned accounts." Read more: I Can Retire Early After Paying Off $300,000 in Debt. Here's How I Did It How can you find an old 401(k) account now? Once live, this database should make it easier to track down old retirement accounts, but you have other options if you're trying to locate a plan now. If you think you're missing a retirement plan, you can start by calling the human resources department of your former company or the new company (if your company was bought out). Ask for the contact information -- name, phone number and email address -- of the 401(k) plan administrator and then reach out to the administrator to ask about your old account. You may have to be patient and persistent. If your former company no longer exists, this process is a bit trickier. Start by searching your records for old 401(k) statements. If you're living at the same address, you may still be receiving statements for active accounts -- also check your email if you receive statements electronically. If you don't live at the same address and can't find any old statements, it gets even harder, but don't give up. There are a few ways to search for abandoned 401(k) accounts online. Gammon recommends starting with the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits , a free, nationwide database maintained by Penchecks Trust. All you need to provide is your Social Security number. If that doesn't work, try FreeERISA , a database of Employee Retirement Income Security Act form 5500s, which are annual benefit reports that companies must file every year. You have to register to use the site, but it's free. FreeERISA might also be able to help you find a 401(k) that's been rolled over into an IRA. The Department of Labor also has a few search tools that can help, including its own Form 5500 search and an abandoned plan database , which contains information about 401(k) plans that have been terminated. These two databases aren't the most extensive, and they're not always user-friendly, Gammon said. There are also paid services that can help with this task, such as MeetBeagle and Capitalize . Just watch out for sneaky fees. What should you do with the money in an old 401(k)? If you find a 401(k) you forgot about, you have a few options to consider: If you don't make plans for your retirement money, it will likely remain in your existing account. It will still accrue interest and continue to grow, but since you won't be able to contribute to it, you'll miss out on earning even more in compounding interest . You also may be charged monthly or annual maintenance fees to maintain your account. This might still be a good option if you're in between jobs or not yet eligible for benefits at your new workplace. But be sure to keep track of important account information, including the plan provider, its contact information and your account number. Check statements regularly for any updates to the plan. In most cases, it will make sense to roll your 401(k) or IRA into your new employer's workplace retirement plan. As long as you roll it into the same type of plan (pre-tax versus post-tax), there won't be any tax penalties for doing this. If your new employer doesn't offer a 401(k) option or you're between jobs, you can also move your 401(k) into a traditional individual retirement account (IRA). A traditional IRA has a lower contribution limit than a 401(k) -- $7,000 for an IRA compared with $23,000 for a 401(k) in 2024 -- but both reduce your taxable income . You can roll over your old account online, over the phone or via live chat, depending on the plan provider. In some cases, you might receive a check from the old provider, which you'll need to provide to your current retirement plan within 60 days to avoid tax penalties . Think twice before rolling your 401(k) into a Roth IRA. 401(k)s and traditional IRAs let you contribute pre-tax dollars, while you contribute post-tax to a Roth IRA. If you roll your 401(k) into a Roth IRA, you'll be on the hook for paying taxes on the amount you transfer come tax season. You might decide to cash out your 401(k) when you leave a job, but experts urge against this. If you do that before you're 59 and 1/2 years old, you could face a 10% tax penalty and will be required to pay income tax on the lump-sum amount. If you have less than $1,000 in your retirement account, it might automatically be cashed out. Plus, you'll have less savings when you reach retirement age. If you have less than $1,000 in your retirement account, it might automatically be cashed out. Still have questions? Talk to a financial adviser or accountant about your options and tax considerations before deciding what to do with your money.Iran said Friday it would launch a series of “new and advanced” centrifuges in response to a resolution adopted by the UN nuclear watchdog that censures Tehran for what the agency called lack of cooperation. The censure motion brought by Britain, France, Germany, and the United States at the 35-nation board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) follows a similar one in June. The resolution — which China, Russia and Burkina Faso voted against — was carried with 19 votes in favour, 12 abstentions and Venezuela not participating, two diplomats told AFP. “The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran issued an order to take effective measures, including launching a significant series of new and advanced centrifuges of various types,” a joint statement by the organisation and Iran’s foreign ministry said. Centrifuges are the machines that enrich uranium transformed into gas by rotating it at very high speed, increasing the proportion of fissile isotope material (U-235). “At the same time, technical and safeguards cooperation with the IAEA will continue, as in the past” and within the framework of agreements made by Iran, the joint Iranian statement added. Iran’s retaliatory measures “are reversible if this (Western) hostile action is withdrawn or negotiations are opened,” Tehran-based political analyst Hadi Mohammadi told AFP. The resolution comes with tensions running high over Iran’s atomic programme, with critics fearing that Tehran is attempting to develop a nuclear weapon — a claim the Islamic republic has repeatedly denied.A judge twice urged jurors to keep deliberating Wednesday in the trial of a man charged in the killing of a University of Mississippi student who was well-known in the local LGBTQ+ community. Sheldon “Timothy” Herrington Jr. , 24, is charged with capital murder in the death of Jimmie “Jay” Lee , a gay man who disappeared July 8, 2022, in Oxford, where the university is located and the trial is being held. Lee's body has never been found, but a judge declared him dead . Herrington has maintained his innocence, and he did not testify. Jurors deliberated about 3 1/2 hours before sending a note to Circuit Judge Kelly Luther, asking what would happen if they could not reach a verdict. He told them to keep talking to each other. After almost two more hours, they said they were deadlocked 11-1 but did not say whether that was to convict or acquit. Luther sent them back with instructions to keep talking. Prosecutors said during closing arguments Wednesday that Herrington and Lee had a sexual encounter that ended badly and Lee left Herrington's apartment. They said text messages showed that Herrington, who was not openly gay, persuaded Lee to return with the promise of more sex. Prosecutors said Lee was killed after going back. “Tim Herrington lived a lie — lived a lie to his family,” District Attorney Ben Creekmore said. “He lied to Jay Lee to coax him over there, promising to do something with him.” Herrington's attorney, Kevin Horan, has said prosecutors cannot prove Lee is dead without having a body . He told jurors Wednesday that text messages showed Herrington did not lure Lee to his apartment. “He's the one that's being dominant anchoring this particular conversation,” Horan said of Lee. Lee, 20, has not contacted friends or family, and his financial transactions and once-prolific social media posts have stopped since the day he disappeared , investigators testified. Police arrested Herrington two weeks after Lee went missing. Authorities interviewed Herrington twice that day, and he gave conflicting information about the hours before Lee vanished, Oxford Police Chief Jeff McCutchen testified Tuesday. Before officers interviewed Herrington, they had already obtained sexually explicit text messages exchanged between social media accounts belonging to Herrington and Lee during the final hours Lee was known to be alive, McCutchen said. Google records obtained through a warrant showed that Herrington searched “how long does it take to strangle someone” at 5:56 a.m., University Police Department Sgt. Benjamin Douglas testified last week. The final text message from Lee’s phone was sent to a social media account belonging to Herrington at 6:03 a.m. from a spot near Herrington’s apartment, McCutchen said Tuesday. A cellphone tower in another part of Oxford last located any signal from Lee’s phone shortly before 7:30 a.m., the police chief said. A security camera showed Herrington moments later jogging out of a parking lot where Lee’s car was abandoned, investigators testified earlier. On the day Lee vanished, Herrington was also seen on security cameras buying duct tape in Oxford and driving to his hometown of Grenada about an hour south of Oxford, police have testified. Herrington is from an affluent family in Grenada, Mississippi, about 52 miles (84 kilometers) southwest of Oxford, testified Ryan Baker, an Oxford Police Department intelligence officer who was a detective when he helped investigate the case. Herrington’s grandfather is bishop of a church in Grenada, other family members work at the church and Herrington himself taught youth Sunday school classes there, Baker said. Herrington “was not portraying himself as gay” to family or friends, Baker said. During testimony Tuesday, Herrington’s father and grandfather both said Herrington had never spoken about having boyfriends. Both Herrington and Lee had graduated from the University of Mississippi. Lee was pursuing a master’s degree. He was known for his creative expression through fashion and makeup and often performed in drag shows in Oxford, according to a support group called Justice for Jay Lee. Prosecutors have announced they do not intend to pursue the death penalty, meaning Herrington could get a life sentence if convicted. Mississippi law defines capital murder as a killing committed along with another felony — in this case, kidnapping. The judge instructed jurors that they could consider lesser charges, including murder and manslaughter.
Morrissey throws 67-yard TD pass to Calwise Jr. to lift Eastern Kentucky over North Alabama 21-15Syrian government forces withdraw from central city of Homs as insurgent offensive accelerates
Bipartisan Lawmakers Aim To Break Up Health Care Giants With New LegislationMorrissey throws 67-yard TD pass to Calwise Jr. to lift Eastern Kentucky over North Alabama 21-15
Trying to fit in routines around work can be tricky, especially for women. New research from Vitality’s ‘Active women, healthy lives’ report finds that eight in 10 women under 50 say their demanding work schedules are holding them back from being active. As a result, a quarter of women exercise less than once a week (25%), and over half of women exercise less than they used to (52%). Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, in partnership with Vitality, is launching Walk Out to Work Out, a new initiative encouraging women to reclaim time during their busy working days to stay active. Jessica Ennis-Hill has shared a few tips to help women fit in exercise around their working day (Image: Vitality) Additionally, she has shared some top tips on how to fit some exercise in during the working day. The full ‘Active women, healthy lives’ report can be found on the website here . Jessica shared: "As a busy mum and business owner, I know how challenging it can be to fit in long workouts. That’s why I swear by short bursts of activity—what I call "exercise snacks." "Whether it’s a 5-minute stretch between meetings or a quick walk to clear your mind, these small moments can really add up and keep you feeling active without disrupting your day. Jessica explained: "When I need to take calls or brainstorm ideas, I often head out for a walk with my dog while doing it – ticking off two things I have to do. I find it not only helps me stay active but also boosts my creativity and focus. "Turn phone calls or virtual meetings into walking meetings where possible. It’s a simple way to add movement while staying productive." (function (d, s, n) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; js = d.createElement(s); js.className = n; js.src = "//player.ex.co/player/cb8f2d25-231d-4663-bb64-1c7da4a4b682"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); js.setAttribute('programmatic', 'true'); js.onload = function () { const playerApi233613 = ExCoPlayer.connect('cb8f2d25-231d-4663-bb64-1c7da4a4b682'); playerApi233613.init({ "autoPlay": false, "mute": true, "showAds": true, "playbackMode": "play-in-view", "content": { "playFirst": [ { "title": "How much water should you drink daily?", "src": "https://large-cdn.ex.co/transformations/production/41f11a67-8a1f-4249-8ae7-12b95862b6e3/720p.mp4" } ], "playlistId": "649d48855f10d80012592e37" }, "sticky": { "mode": "persistent", "closeButton": true, "pauseOnClose": true, "desktop": { "enabled": false, "position": "bottom-right" }, "mobile": { "enabled": false, "position": "upper-small" } }}); }; }(document, 'script', 'exco-player')); "As someone who’s juggled intense schedules, I’ve learned the importance of protecting my lunch break," Jessica said. "I use part of it for physical activity, whether it’s a quick workout, a jog, or a calming walk. "If you feel like your lunch break has disappeared into your workday, speak to your employer about how you can reclaim that time — it’s yours to use for your well-being. I suggest putting it in the diary as a meeting – this will ring-fence the time for you." Jessica explained: "I have worked with a lot of different sponsors and their teams and I’ve seen the difference it makes when workplaces support physical activity. "If you’re struggling to stay active, don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with your employer. Suggest ideas like walking meetings, group exercise activities, or even flexible working hours to make staying active more achievable. "Remember, these changes benefit everyone, from employees to the company itself. Recommended reading: Jessica said: "I rely on technology to keep me on track. Fitness trackers or simple alarms can remind you to stand, stretch, or take a short walk every hour. "Even small movements like this can make a huge difference to your energy levels and focus throughout the day."NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Justin Thomas was long off the tee and made a few long putts on the back nine to overtake Scottie Scheffler with a 6-under 66 and build a one-shot lead Saturday over golf's best player going into the final round of the Hero World Challenge. Thomas is trying out a 46-inch driver — a little more than an inch longer than normal — that he previously used for practice at home to gain speed and length. He blasted a 361-yard drive to 8 feet on the par-4 seventh hole and led the field in driving distance. But it was a few long putts that put him ahead of Scheffler, who had a 69. Thomas was on the verge of falling two shots behind when he made an 18-foot par putt on the par-3 12th hole. On the reachable par-4 14th, he was in a nasty spot in a sandy area and could only splash it out to nearly 50 feet. He made that one for a most unlikely birdie, while behind him Scheffler muffed a chip on the 13th hole and made his lone bogey of a windy day. Scheffler never caught up to him, missing birdie chances on the reachable 14th and the par-5 15th. Thomas hit his approach to 3 feet for birdie on the 16th after a 343-yard drive. Scheffler made an 18-foot birdie putt on the 16th to close within one. Scheffler missed birdie chances on the last two holes from the 10-foot and 15-foot range, while Thomas missed an 8-foot birdie attempt at the last. “I had a stretch at 13, 14, 15 where I felt like I lost a shot or two there, but outside of that I did a lot of really good things today,” Scheffler said. Thomas hasn't won since the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills, and a victory at Albany Golf Club wouldn't count as an official win. But the two-time major champion has made steady progress toward getting his game back in order. “I'm driving it great. I've had a lot of confidence with it,” Thomas said of his longer driver. “I feel like I've been able to put myself in some pretty good spots going into the green. I’m still not taking advantage of some of them as much as I would like, but that’s golf and we're always going to say that.” Thomas was at 17-under 199 and will be in the final group Sunday with Scheffler, who is trying to end his spectacular season with a ninth title. Tom Kim put himself in the mix, which he might not have imagined Thursday when he was 3 over through six holes of the holiday tournament. Kim got back in the game with a 65 on Friday, and then followed with 12 birdies for a 62. He had a shot at the course record — Rickie Fowler shot 61 in the final round when he won at Albany in 2017 — until Kim found a bunker and took two shots to reach the green in making a double bogey on the par-3 17th. Even so, he was only two shots behind. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley (68) was four back. “Feel like I’ve been seeing signs of improvement, which is what you want and that’s all I can do,” Thomas said. “I can’t control everybody else or what’s going on, I’ve just got to keep playing as good as I possibly can and hope that it’s enough come Sunday.” AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
No. 25 UConn hoping Alex Karaban returns vs. TexasAmerican and European stock markets mostly rose on Wednesday after inflation data cemented expectations that the US Federal Reserve will trim interest rates next month. While the Dow fell slightly, the other two major US indices advanced, led by the tech-rich Nasdaq, which piled on almost two percent to close above 20,000 points for the first time. The consumer price index (CPI) rose to 2.7 percent last month from a year ago, up slightly from 2.6 percent in October. "With the CPI numbers broadly in line, it is likely that the Fed will not be derailed and will cut rates again next week," Jochen Stanzl, chief market analyst at CMC Markets. "The data is not a showstopper for the current bull run on Wall Street," he added. Ahead of the data, investors priced in an 86 percent chance the Fed will cut interest rates next week by a quarter percentage point. That rose to more than 98 percent after the CPI data was published. Stocks in Paris and Frankfurt rose ahead of the European Central Bank's own interest rate announcement on Thursday, with analysts expecting another cut as it seeks to boost eurozone growth. Investors are also eyeing political developments in France, where officials said President Emmanuel Macron aims to name a new prime minister "within 48 hours" as he seeks to end political deadlock following the ouster of Michel Barnier. In company news, shares in German retail giant Zalando shed more than four percent on Frankfurt's DAX index, after it acquired domestic rival About You in a deal worth around 1.1 billion euros ($1.2 billion). Shares in Zara owner Inditex slid more than six percent after a record quarterly profit for the group fell short of market estimates. Among US companies, Google parent Alphabet earned 5.5 percent as it announced the launch of Gemini 2.0, its most advanced artificial intelligence model to date. That added to gains after Google also announced Tuesday details of a breakthrough quantum chip. Shares in Shanghai rose but Hong Kong gave up an early rally to end in the red. Traders were keeping tabs on China to see if it will announce further measures to support its struggling economy as leaders were to gather Wednesday for a conference to hammer out next year's agenda. President Xi Jinping and other top leaders on Monday announced their first major shift in policy for more than a decade, saying they would "implement a more active fiscal policy and an appropriately relaxed" strategy. Those remarks sparked hopes for more interest rate cuts and the freeing up of more cash for lending. New York - Dow: DOWN 0.2 percent at 44,148.56 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.8 percent at 6,084.19 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 1.8 percent at 20,034.89 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.3 percent at 8,301.62 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.4 percent at 7,423.40 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.3 percent at 20,399.16 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: FLAT at 39,372.23 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.8 percent at 20,155.05 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.3 percent at 3,432.49 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0498 from $1.0527 on Tuesday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2752 from $1.2771 Dollar/yen: UP at 152.40 yen from 151.95 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 82.31 from 82.42 pence Brent North Sea Crude: UP 1.8 percent at $73.52 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 2.4 percent at $70.29 per barrel burs-jmb/mlm
Trying to fit in routines around work can be tricky, especially for women. New research from Vitality’s ‘Active women, healthy lives’ report finds that eight in 10 women under 50 say their demanding work schedules are holding them back from being active. As a result, a quarter of women exercise less than once a week (25%), and over half of women exercise less than they used to (52%). Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, in partnership with Vitality, is launching Walk Out to Work Out, a new initiative encouraging women to reclaim time during their busy working days to stay active. Jessica Ennis-Hill has shared a few tips to help women fit in exercise around their working day (Image: Vitality) Additionally, she has shared some top tips on how to fit some exercise in during the working day. The full ‘Active women, healthy lives’ report can be found on the website here . Jessica shared: "As a busy mum and business owner, I know how challenging it can be to fit in long workouts. That’s why I swear by short bursts of activity—what I call "exercise snacks." "Whether it’s a 5-minute stretch between meetings or a quick walk to clear your mind, these small moments can really add up and keep you feeling active without disrupting your day. Jessica explained: "When I need to take calls or brainstorm ideas, I often head out for a walk with my dog while doing it – ticking off two things I have to do. I find it not only helps me stay active but also boosts my creativity and focus. "Turn phone calls or virtual meetings into walking meetings where possible. It’s a simple way to add movement while staying productive." (function (d, s, n) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; js = d.createElement(s); js.className = n; js.src = "//player.ex.co/player/6754809d-db39-472a-a8e5-411c1ebefb1d"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); js.setAttribute('programmatic', 'true'); js.onload = function () { const playerApi233613 = ExCoPlayer.connect('6754809d-db39-472a-a8e5-411c1ebefb1d'); playerApi233613.init({ "autoPlay": false, "mute": true, "showAds": true, "playbackMode": "play-in-view", "content": { "playFirst": [ { "title": "How much water should you drink daily?", "src": "https://large-cdn.ex.co/transformations/production/41f11a67-8a1f-4249-8ae7-12b95862b6e3/720p.mp4" } ] }, "sticky": { "mode": "persistent", "closeButton": true, "pauseOnClose": true, "desktop": { "enabled": false, "position": "bottom-right" }, "mobile": { "enabled": false, "position": "upper-small" } }}); }; }(document, 'script', 'exco-player')); "As someone who’s juggled intense schedules, I’ve learned the importance of protecting my lunch break," Jessica said. "I use part of it for physical activity, whether it’s a quick workout, a jog, or a calming walk. "If you feel like your lunch break has disappeared into your workday, speak to your employer about how you can reclaim that time — it’s yours to use for your well-being. I suggest putting it in the diary as a meeting – this will ring-fence the time for you." Jessica explained: "I have worked with a lot of different sponsors and their teams and I’ve seen the difference it makes when workplaces support physical activity. "If you’re struggling to stay active, don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with your employer. Suggest ideas like walking meetings, group exercise activities, or even flexible working hours to make staying active more achievable. "Remember, these changes benefit everyone, from employees to the company itself. Recommended reading: How many steps should I walk a day? This amount could ‘reduce risk of death’ What is the best time of day to exercise? Dr Michael Mosley reveals all Is napping good for you? The ideal length for a kip, according to a GP Jessica said: "I rely on technology to keep me on track. Fitness trackers or simple alarms can remind you to stand, stretch, or take a short walk every hour. "Even small movements like this can make a huge difference to your energy levels and focus throughout the day."