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Trump’s latest tariff plan aims at multiple countries. What does it mean for the US?Trump brings back government by social media
Despite 144 yards rushing by Kevon King, the Spartans are blown out in the second half by the Bulldogs. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on X (Opens in new window) Most Popular Underground fire causes partial parking lot collapse near Williamsburg Premium Outlets Underground fire causes partial parking lot collapse near Williamsburg Premium Outlets 2 injured after vehicle failed to stop at Suffolk railroad crossing, police say 2 injured after vehicle failed to stop at Suffolk railroad crossing, police say 757Teamz football live scoreboard: Indian River visits Green Run, Maury hosts Warwick in region semifinals 757Teamz football live scoreboard: Indian River visits Green Run, Maury hosts Warwick in region semifinals Meet the Fort Monroe Authority’s new CEO Meet the Fort Monroe Authority’s new CEO Army-Navy 2024: Navy specialty uniforms to honor Jolly Rogers aviation squadron Army-Navy 2024: Navy specialty uniforms to honor Jolly Rogers aviation squadron Virginia live election results Virginia live election results Bike shop in Midtown Row rebrands, coffee shops celebrate and more business news from the Historic Triangle Bike shop in Midtown Row rebrands, coffee shops celebrate and more business news from the Historic Triangle Feeding with love: Williamsburg area’s 1st free grocery market opens in Grove community Feeding with love: Williamsburg area's 1st free grocery market opens in Grove community Here’s what development around the Virginia Beach Convention Center could look like Here’s what development around the Virginia Beach Convention Center could look like New, old owners agree: NYC businessman’s push to save SS United States is too late New, old owners agree: NYC businessman’s push to save SS United States is too late Trending Nationally Series of racist text messages referencing slavery sent to New York state students, police say Netflix’s “Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey?” takes on Boulder murder in three parts Here’s how Orlando International Airport hopes to solve baggage delays A kayaker faked his own death and fled overseas. Now he’s telling how he did it Percival Everett, 2024 National Book Award winner, rereads one book often
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Both Oklahoma and Providence are hoping they'll have key pieces back in place when the two undefeated teams square off in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis on Wednesday in Paradise Island, Bahamas. The Friars (5-0) are expected to have Bryce Hopkins available, according to a report from Field of 68. Hopkins was averaging 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds last season before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament Jan. 3. He returned to full-go practices last week, and Tuesday, Providence coach Kim English said Hopkins would be a "game-time decision" against the Sooners. "It's been a process," English said. "We're not rushing it." But English praised Hopkins' progress since the Friars' last game, Nov. 19, when Hopkins went through pregame warmups. "I thought he looked better than I remembered," English said. "He's been in our system for the past year. His patience, his understanding, his versatility on offense and defense ... it's been great to see him in practice." The Sooners (4-0) are hopeful that they'll get Brycen Goodine back. Goodine played for the Friars for two seasons from 2020-22 before transferring to Fairfield for two seasons and then to Oklahoma this offseason. Goodine suffered an ankle injury in the Sooners' opener Nov. 4 and has not played since. "He's a really tough kid and trying to push through it," Oklahoma coach Porter Moser said. "It will truly be one of those game-time decisions. He hasn't gone a full practice yet, just been pieces of practices." Playing with Goodine and Jadon Jones, expected to be two of the Sooners' top outside shooters, Moser said he's learned plenty about his team's offense. "When you're down those shooters, it's really a great weapon to know that a lot of other guys can knock down the open shot," Moser said. "It's been a huge takeaway." The Sooners have been led by Jalon Moore, who is averaging 18.8 points per game, and freshman Jeremiah Fears, who is averaging 15.5. Providence has been led by senior guard Bensley Joseph, who is averaging 11.8 points and 4.0 assists per game. Oklahoma has not played a game closer than 16 points yet this season, with an average margin of victory of 24 points. Providence has won its five games by an average of nearly 17 points per game. The teams will square off against either Davidson or No. 24 Arizona in the second round Thursday, with the winners playing each other in one semifinal while the losers play in a consolation semifinal. --Field Level Media3D Printing in Automotive Manufacturing Market 2024 - 2031: Trends, Growth, and Opportunities | Exactitude Consultancy
Louisville will aim to end a three-game losing streak when it hosts UTEP on Wednesday, but beating the Miners may not be an easy feat. UTEP (6-2) comes to the Derby City winners of three straight, most recently beating Seattle 88-72 on Saturday. The Miners shot 56.1 percent (32 of 57) and used a 24-2 first-half run to essentially put the game away. Coach Joe Golding said that first-half performance may have been UTEP's best in his four years leading the school. "I thought offensively and defensively the first 20 minutes we were really locked in and ready to go. (The game) never got close," he said. "We kept it at 20-plus points for the majority of the game. Our ball movement was terrific." Ahamad Bynum led the Miners with 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting off the bench, while Otis Frazier III added 18 points and five assists. Frazier (13.6 points per game) and Bynum (12.1 ppg) are among four UTEP players averaging in double figures. Bynum leads the country shooting 63.3 percent from beyond the 3-point arc, though he has attempted just 30 threes, making 19. Louisville (5-4) also started hot in its last game but could not sustain its momentum in a 76-65 home loss to then-No. 9 Duke on Sunday. Coach Pat Kelsey's team, which had just seven players healthy, made 10 of its first 14 shots to build a 30-16 lead before the Cardinals' lack of depth caught up to them. Louisville shot just 9-of-37 (24.3 percent) after its hot start and was outscored 43-28 after halftime. Terrence Edwards Jr. paced the Cardinals with 21 points in his first game as a reserve this season. Edwards (11.9 ppg) is one of four Louisville scorers averaging double figures, led by Chucky Hepburn leads the team in scoring (14.3 ppg) and is second in the country with 3.2 steals per game. The Cardinals entered the season with expectations of rotating 10 or more players to utilize Kelsey's up-tempo attack. However, swingman Kasean Pryor (knee) and guard Koren Johnson (shoulder) will both miss the rest of the season, while forward Aboubacar Traore (arm) is out indefinitely. After Sunday's loss, Kelsey did not rule out adding players to the roster during the season. "Everything's on the table," he said. "I don't sleep, figuring out what buttons to push to get this team to be the best that they can be. We'll scour every inch of the Earth to figure out how we can improve our team. And whether that happens or not, I have no idea, but I'm willing to try anything." --Field Level Media
EL SEGUNDO — Lamar Jackson is the kind of quarterback who has troubled the Chargers. Aw, who are we kidding? He’s the kind of quarterback who troubles everyone in the NFL. He’s a passer. He’s a runner. He’s a playmaker. He’s a destroyer of defenses. “He’s one of one,” Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said Friday. Minter also called Jackson “the most electric quarterback in the history of the National Football League.” Jackson will be the Chargers’ problem this week, when they host the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night at SoFi Stadium. Jackson is another in a string of standout quarterbacks the Chargers will face during what is without question the toughest, most challenging part of their 2024 schedule. The Chargers rallied past Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night, pulling out a 34-27 victory on a last-minute drive led by Justin Herbert. Now, here comes Jackson, followed quickly by Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons, followed quickly by Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. No rest for the weary. No question, Burrow, Jackson, Cousins and Mahomes could wear out a defensive coordinator, causing him to lose sleep. In fact, it’s already happened, as Minter admitted last week while preparing to face Burrow, who led the NFL in passing yardage going into the game, and still does. Jackson (2,876 yards) is second to Burrow (3,028) going into Week 12. Jackson (25) is also second to Burrow (27) in touchdown passes. Jackson (nine) is second to Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions (9.2) in yards per passing attempt. Jackson leads the NFL in passer rating (117.3). No one has passed and run for as many yards as Jackson (3,460). “It’s an ultimate challenge,” Minter said. The Chargers have struggled to contain players with a similar mix of skills to Jackson, including Mahomes, Justin Fields of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos. Jackson does it better than the others, and that’s what keeps Minter up late at night, worrying about how to contain the uncontainable. “We’ve played against different types of guys, guys who do different things well,” Minter said. “(Jackson) does everything well. The second you overcommit to where you’re going to have all these eyes on him to run, he’ll throw the ball over your head. There’s no one you can compare him to, he’s one of one.” Plus, Jackson isn’t all the Chargers must worry about Monday. Jackson serves as something akin to a basketball point guard, distributing the football as he sees fit, whether it’s handing it off to bruising running back Derrick Henry, the NFL’s leading rusher with 1,185 yards and 13 touchdowns, or throwing it to wide receiver Zay Flowers or tight end Mark Andrews. The Ravens are first in the NFL in net yards per game (430.1) and yards from scrimmage per play (8.64). They are second in points per game (30.4) and net rushing yards per game (177.3). They are third in net passing yards per game (252.8). They also are first in red-zone touchdown percentage (77.8%). The Ravens are 7-4, second in the AFC North. The Chargers are 7-3, second in the AFC West. “The ultimate red-zone weapon because every play can be so many different things,” Minter said of Jackson’s versatility. “High, high level of respect for him, how he works. Just a challenge. You can run to the challenge. You can run from the challenge. We’re going to run to the challenge, meet it head on, put our best stuff out there and see what happens.”Prestige Wealth Inc. Announces Closing of Acquisitions of InnoSphere Tech and Tokyo Bay
Boston Properties, Inc. (BXP) To Go Ex-Dividend on December 31stKANSAS CITY, Kan., Dec. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The painting was part of the collection the 11 Caesars of titian and was painted between 1536 and 1540. in 1734 This portrait, lost in a fire at the Royal Alcazar of Madrid in 1734, has been meticulously brought back to life using cutting-edge AI techniques, sparking a revolution in the way art and history are preserved and presented. A remarkable achievement in the fusion of art and technology has resulted in the resurrection of a long-lost painting, once part of the famed 11 Caesars series by Titian. This portrait, believed to have been created between 1536 and 1540, was destroyed in a devastating fire at the Royal Alcázar of Madrid in 1734. Now, thanks to the groundbreaking use of artificial intelligence, it has been meticulously reconstructed, sparking a new era in art conservation and historical preservation. Notable contributors to the project include Professor Hassan Ugail , a leader in Visual Computing at the University of Bradford; Carrie Baker , President of Veritas Art and a renowned specialist in Italian Renaissance art; Steven Seward , ARC Living Master; and Tomás Alonso de Corcuera , an expert in fine art research. The journey of this restoration, from initial concept to final execution, was documented in a peer-reviewed academic paper presented at Cyberworlds 2024 in Japan. The paper provided a detailed overview of the innovative AI-driven process, offering valuable insights to the academic and professional communities. Manuel Portela , President of AI Vanguard Art, emphasizes that the significance of this restoration goes far beyond a single portrait. "Throughout history, thousands of invaluable works of art have been destroyed or lost. This project demonstrates the immense potential of AI to revive these masterpieces, heralding a new chapter in art conservation and providing future generations with access to cultural treasures once thought irretrievable." Yan Antropov , CEO of AI Vanguard Art, highlights that the impact of this project transcends the mere act of restoration. "At AI Vanguard Art, we don’t just resurrect lost masterpieces—we forge a bridge between the past and the future. Each brushstroke revived with the power of our technology is more than a piece; it’s a doorway to the dreams, culture, and stories that shaped our humanity. This project is not merely about reclaiming what was lost, but about demonstrating that technology can be a powerful tool to preserve and honor our artistic legacy, granting future generations access to treasures once thought impossible to recover." AI Vanguard Art’s mission is to explore and harness the power of AI to bring lost masterpieces back to life, offering audiences a glimpse into a forgotten past. CONTACT Manuel Portela COMPANY AI Vanguard Art PHONE 9139516753 EMAIL mportela@aivanguardart.com WEB https://aivanguardart.com This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.The Jal Shakti Ministry’s revised target to achieve full rural tap water coverage and sanitation by 2025 underscores both the scale of India’s progress and the challenges that remain. The ambitious Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin have brought transformative changes to rural India, providing access to clean water and sanitation. Currently, 15.37 crore rural households out of 19.36 crore have been equipped with tap water connections under JJM, leaving around four crore households yet to benefit. While 11 States and Union Territories boast 100% rural tap water coverage, larger and more populous states like Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Kerala, and West Bengal lag behind, with less than 60% coverage. Bridging this gap requires meticulous coordination, resource allocation, and robust implementation mechanisms. The sanitation story is equally commendable, with 95% of India’s villages now declared Open Defecation Free. This milestone proves the holistic approach of SBM-G, which goes beyond toilet construction to include solid and liquid waste management. Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra have set benchmarks in achieving these standards, with Madhya Pradesh’s 49,000 “model” villages offering a roadmap for others. Yet, the remaining 5% of villages require targeted interventions to ensure no one is left behind in this sanitation revolution. Ecological restoration under the Namami Gange Programme adds another layer to the Ministry’s 2025 vision. The wetland conservation and afforestation efforts, signal a commendable commitment to restoring India’s riverine ecosystems. These ecological initiatives have also improved water quality, reinforcing the broader goals of JJM. India’s experience demonstrates that addressing basic needs like water and sanitation can catalyze social and economic transformation. However, the challenge lies in ensuring equitable access and sustainability. The next two years must focus on addressing regional disparities, strengthening grassroots participation, and leveraging technology to monitor progress. The Jal Shakti Ministry’s 2025 goals are not just about numbers; they represent a vision of healthier, empowered rural communities. Achieving these targets will require collective action and unwavering resolve, but the benefits will resonate for the coming generations.
Photograph: Gregory Costanzo NEW YORK, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Trustees of Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation today announced that Alicia Graf Mack, widely celebrated for her dance artistry during her years with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and for her leadership as the Dean and Director of the Dance Division of The Juilliard School, has been appointed Artistic Director of AILEY. She becomes the fourth Artistic Director in AILEY's 66-year history, following Alvin Ailey, Judith Jamison (herself a renowned star of the Company), and Robert Battle. Ms. Graf Mack will assume her role with AILEY as of July 1, 2025. News of Ms. Graf Mack's appointment follows shortly after the death at age 81 of Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison, who brought Alicia Graf Mack into Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and championed her work. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 2024-25 season, which begins on December 4, celebrates the life and legacy of Ms. Jamison. Daria L. Wallach, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, said, "Living heritage is central to the artistic achievement of Alvin Ailey, and it is just as integral to AILEY as an organization. As we pass the artistic leadership of AILEY to Alicia Graf Mack, who was introduced to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater under Judith Jamison's direction, performed under the leadership of Robert Battle, and electrified the Company's audiences around the nation and the world, we honor and celebrate the legacy that goes back to Mr. Ailey himself. We know that this powerful continuity across the generations, combined with Ms. Graf Mack's outstanding talents as a dance artist, educator, administrator, and communicator, will ensure that both the traditions and the innovation of AILEY remain strong for years to come.” Anthony A. Lewis, Board member and head of the selection committee, said, "Out of the many gifted and highly qualified candidates we reviewed as part of an extensive search process, Alicia Graf Mack rose to become our clear-cut choice. Her record of success at The Juilliard School, her profound connection with AILEY, and the intangible personal and professional qualities she possesses make her an exceptional leader. We are convinced that she is the Artistic Director for AILEY's future.” Alicia Graf Mack said, "It's the honor of a lifetime to step into this role and continue the legacy of Alvin Ailey-a legacy rooted in celebrating the beauty and resilience of the human spirit. I am committed to preserving the company's rich heritage while boldly exploring new voices and perspectives that push the boundaries of dance and reflect the world we live in today, and the world we hope to see. I am deeply grateful to AILEY's Board for placing its trust in me, and am particularly mindful at this moment of the abiding influence of Judith Jamison, who brought me into this extraordinary organization and will forever be an inspiration to me and present in all of us. To all the dancers who have embodied Mr. Ailey's vision, to Robert Battle, and to the artistic team including the wonderful Matthew Rushing, who have carried AILEY into the present as such a vibrant and indispensable artistic force, I offer my profound thanks. I will give my all to live up to this great responsibility, in service to the Company, our many supporters, our beloved audiences, and the entire AILEY community everywhere.” Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's annual five-week holiday engagement at New York City Center from December 4 through January 5 has been prepared by Interim Artistic Director Matthew Rushing. This year's Opening Night Gala , honoring legendary dance educator Jody Gottfried Arnhold, will feature the return of Ronald K. Brown's Grace on its 25 th anniversary, with live music by Tony ® and GRAMMY ® Award-winning artist Leslie Odom, Jr. with composer, visual artist, and GRAMMY ® Award-winning vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant. The finale of Mr. Ailey's Cry will also be performed, to pay tribute to Judith Jamison, who originated the role and ignited the ballet with her unparalleled grace and power. Celebrating the life and legacy of Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison, the season will showcase the world premieres of Sacred Songs by Matthew Rushing, Finding Free by Hope Boykin, Many Angels by Lar Lubovitch (his first world premiere for the Company), and Al-Andalus Blues by Jamar Roberts, as well as a new production of Elisa Monte's Treading and a generous selection of classic repertoire by Alvin Ailey and live music performances. Bennett Rink, Executive Director of AILEY, said, "Carrying forward into a new generation the bold vision of our founder, Alvin Ailey, and building upon the major achievements of Judith Jamison and Robert Battle in developing our organization, Alicia Graf Mack will place the unique stamp of her own leadership on AILEY while remaining true to our heritage. Knowing the great respect she has for Mr. Ailey's legacy and her comprehensive understanding of the multiple artistic, educational, and social roles that the AILEY organization plays in the world, I look forward with the greatest enthusiasm to working with her as AILEY takes its next steps into an exciting future.” As Artistic Director, Alicia Graf Mack will oversee the artistic program of the entire AILEY organization, which includes Ailey II, The Ailey School, Ailey Arts In Education & Community Programs, and Ailey Extension. Alvin Ailey said, "Dance is for everybody. I believe that dance came from the people and that it should always be delivered back to the people.” Today, AILEY is one of the world's leading modern dance companies and a global ambassador of American culture, deftly weaving performance, education, and community programming together to celebrate the human spirit and inspire, enlighten, and unite people of all backgrounds. AILEY is currently partnering with the Whitney Museum of American Art to present Edges of Ailey (through February 9, 2025), the first large-scale exhibition to celebrate the life, creativity, influence, and enduring legacy of Alvin Ailey. For more info, visit www.ailey.org . About Alicia Graf Mack Alicia Graf Mack starred as a principal dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater from 2005 to 2008 and again from 2011 to 2014 and now returns to serve as AILEY's fourth Artistic Director. She comes to AILEY from The Juilliard School, where she has been the Dean and Director of the Dance Division since 2018. Born in San Jose, California, Alicia Graf Mack grew up in Columbia, Maryland, was offered an apprenticeship at Dance Theatre of Harlem by Arthur Mitchell while in high school, and relocated to New York City at age 17 to join the company. During a hiatus from Dance Theatre of Harlem, she earned a bachelor's degree magna cum laude in history from Columbia University School of General Studies, then rejoined DTH until the company was temporarily disbanded in 2004. She also holds an MA in nonprofit management from Washington University in St. Louis. In addition to dancing with DTH and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, she has been a principal dancer with Complexions Contemporary Ballet and has danced as a guest performer with Alonzo King's LINES Ballet, Beyoncé, John Legend, Andre 3000, and Alicia Keys. She performed in honor of Carmen de Lavallade at the Kennedy Center Honors 2018 and was also invited to perform in the memorial services of Arthur Mitchell at Riverside Church in New York City and Jessye Norman at the Metropolitan Opera. In 2007, Smithsonian magazine named her an American Innovator of the Arts and Sciences. She is a recipient of the Columbia University Medal of Excellence, an award given each year to an alumnus who has demonstrated excellence in their field of work, and in 2008 delivered the keynote address to the graduates of Columbia University's School of General Studies. She is the recipient of the 2023 Dance Magazine Award. Before assuming leadership of the Dance Division of Juilliard, she co-founded D(n)A Arts Collective, an initiative created with her sister to enrich the lives of young dancers through master classes and intensives, taught as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Houston, and served as a visiting assistant professor at Webster University. Ms. Graf Mack serves on the Boards of Columbia University School of General Studies and Camille A. Brown and Dancers. In addition, she volunteers her time and talent to the summer intensive of the Art Saves Lives Foundation in St. Maarten. She is the co-producer and host of the podcast Moving Moments , featuring conversations with some of the most celebrated and ground-breaking artists in the field of dance. About AILEY Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recognized by US Congressional resolution as a "vital American Cultural Ambassador to the World,” grew from a now-fabled March 1958 performance in New York that changed forever the perception of American dance. Forged during a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement, the Company was established to uplift the African American experience while transcending boundaries of race, faith, and nationality with its universal humanity. Before his untimely death in 1989, Mr. Ailey named Judith Jamison as his successor, and for 21 years she brought the Company to unprecedented success. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has performed for an estimated 25 million people in 71 countries on six continents, promoting the uniqueness of the African American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance tradition. In addition to being the principal dance company of New York City Center, where its performances have become a year-end tradition, the Company performs annually at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC; the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago; The Fox Theatre in Atlanta; Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley, CA; and at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark (where it is the Principal Resident Affiliate), and appears frequently in other major theaters throughout the world during extensive tours. AILEY also includes Ailey II, a second performing company of emerging young dancers and innovative choreographers; The Ailey School, one of the most extensive dance training programs in the world; Ailey Arts In Education & Community Programs, which brings dance into the classrooms, communities, and lives of people of all ages; and Ailey Extension, a program offering dance and fitness classes to the general public, which began with the opening of AILEY's permanent home, The Joan Weill Center for Dance-the largest building dedicated to dance in New York City-at 55th Street at 9th Avenue in New York City. For more information, visit www.ailey.org. Press Contact: Christopher Zunner [email protected] 212-405-9028 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/220b97d0-161a-49d1-9701-050d98263dd6
Lou Basenese, chief market strategist at Public Ventures LLC, spoke with Quartz for the latest installment of our “Smart Investing” video series. Watch the interview above and check out the transcript of the conversation below, which has been lightly edited for length and clarity. ANDY MILLS: How should investors feel about Trump’s appointment of Scott Bessent as treasury secretary? LOU BASENESE: Yeah, man, it should be a huge sigh of relief. I think this was probably one of the more challenging and difficult and anxiety-ridden cabinet appointments. I think there was a fear that he would pick someone that had a Fed DNA that would be very antagonistic with what Trump and the pro-markets stance has on it. So I think picking someone that’s experienced, that’s a known quantity to Wall Street, will give investors the confidence that he can thread that needle, right? So, because we have a president-elect coming into power that is defying pretty much standard economic principles, being pro-tax cuts, pro-tariff, pro-energy independence, those things don’t always sync up well together with a booming economy and inflation under control. So I think Scott Bessent is, if there’s a person for the job, it’s him. But that being said, he’s gotta deliver now, too. AM: Do you think he’ll carry through Trump’s idea for tariffs? LB: Yeah, I view tariffs as a big stick that we threaten with to really get some economic trade partnerships agreed upon. So it’s promising that Bessent came out with this 3-3-3 proposal, right, where you’re gonna get spending down to 3% of GDP, keep GDP growth at 3%, and then increase energy production by 3 million barrels extra a year. I think those are tangible, real goals and targets that he’s now gotta get after. So I think the tariff stance, I think he’ll soften Trump’s tariff stance. I think that’s what people and investors are responding to right now is the fact that it’s not gonna be just all Trump, all tariffs that best will really be the buffer for that. AM: How do you see these tariffs affecting housing prices given that the majority of our lumber comes from Canada? LB: Yeah, I think there could be temporary increases, right? Like I said before, I think that tariff threat is a big stick. If we look historically, these tariffs don’t last very long and they’re not really a huge percentage of the economy. I think if we looked at the data from last year, it’s about 80 to 100 billion dollars in tariff receipts. You’re talking about less than half a point on GDP growth if you really got rid of those tariffs or doubled them. So again, I think it’s more threat and fear of the down-the-road repercussions. And if we look at last time, the 2016 tariffs really didn’t kick in higher prices until 2018, 2019. So it’s not an immediate impact. Therefore it’s not one that we can put a finger and say if X then Y is immediately gonna happen. I think we’ll have to wait and see. AM: Trump’s made some controversial picks, too. Who are the best cabinet picks for investors and the worst you think? LB: Whew, I’m a glass half full guy, so I’ll focus more on the best. I think Makary for FDA makes the most sense. And we talk about biotech, he’s a practitioner and researcher first. So when a pancreatic surgeon, cancer surgeon — cancer is one of the areas of disease management that we have the most barbaric approaches to. So we really need a lot of innovation focus there on drug approvals that are in the clinic. It’s the hardest to get cancer drugs approved. It’s usually about 3% of cancer drugs that go into the clinic actually get approved. Takes seven to eight years, can cost up upwards of $2 billion. We need to shorten and compress that for good patient care. So I think that’s a great pick. A practitioner. The one that scares me maybe a little bit is Dr. Oz. I mean that’s celebrity over practitioner for most practical purposes. I don’t know that that translates into politics, right? I think politics is a game of popularity on the front end and practicality on the back end. And a lot of politicians that get elected get into the machine and realize this is a lot harder to maneuver. It’s a lot harder to have an impact. I think Dr. Oz might be one of those guys that runs into that brick wall of reality. But to be determined. AM: How might that be reflected in the market with a Dr. Oz appointment? LB: Yeah, I think it’s tangential. I don’t think there’s any cabinet picks right now that scare me market-wise. Another good one for me was Chris Wright for energy secretary. I mean from Liberty Energy ( LBRT ) , that’s a fracking operation that understands energy independence, but can be very pragmatic. I think what we have to learn is just this is not a complete abandonment of renewables. It’s getting to reasonable renewable targets, right? We can’t just set an arbitrary deadline to transition. And the reality is we can’t ever fully transition. We have to have a good balance. So I think that includes fracking, that includes wind and solar. What that balance is, we have some practical guidelines from states like Texas. They got to north of 40% renewables and the grid started to collapse. So on a whole, the country’s at about 23% renewables. So that sweet spot is probably somewhere in that 30 to 35%. I think Chris Wright is a practical person that will understand the balance because he has been a businessman maneuvering between different administrations, both Republican and Democrat. I think he could do a good job of managing our energy policy to be both being conservationist, but also pragmatic about hey, what does our country need to be independent, keep prices down? AM: Taking all this into consideration, what are some of your top stock picks going into 2025? LB: Yeah, so not individual recommendations because I don’t know everyone’s situation. That’s the disclaimer. If I look at the market as a whole though, I think there’s areas of opportunity still. You look at small caps, they’ve just consistently lagged large caps. They’re trading at much cheaper prices. So at about 14, 15 times earnings versus 20-plus for large caps. I like to buy low, sell high. I think all investors do. Another area is biotech, right? We talked about the favorable appointments from a cabinet perspective, but if we just look at the valuations in biotech, that area of the market has really been left for dead unfortunately. But those innovations are desperately needed. So the XBI ( XBI ) index is a great way to measure the smaller innovators in biotech, still probably needs to increase another 50 to 60% to get to its 2021 highs. So there are areas of froth in the market for sure, but then there’s areas of opportunity and I think for us, we’re looking at small caps, biotech in particular. AM: Gotcha. The XBI index, is that an ETF? LB: There is an ETF by XBI. So the XBI, it tends to bring in some of the smaller biotechs. If you went for just a standard S&P biotech index, it gets a lot more larger caps in there. So yeah, the ticker on that is XBI. 📬 Sign up for the Daily Brief Our free, fast, and fun briefing on the global economy, delivered every weekday morning.Fate Trigger Requisitos: The Future of Gaming Awaits. Are You Ready?
Millions of substandard homes making older people sick, report reveals alarming statistics
Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. president who led the nation from 1977 to 1981, has died at the age of 100. The Carter Center announced Sunday that his father died at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by family. His death comes about a year after his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn, passed away. The Carter Center will provide updates about ceremonies and activities to honor the life of President Carter as they become available here and soon on the official Carter Family Tribute Site ( https://t.co/Tg5UZt7kPV ). Read our statement: https://t.co/CNBUBpffPz — The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) December 29, 2024 Despite receiving hospice care at the time, he attended the memorials for Rosalynn while sitting in a wheelchair, covered by a blanket. He was also wheeled outside on Oct. 1 to watch a military flyover in celebration of his 100th birthday. The Carter Center said in February 2023 that the former president and his family decided he would no longer seek medical treatment following several short hospital stays for an undisclosed illness. Carter became the longest-living president in 2019, surpassing George H.W. Bush, who died at age 94 in 2018. Carter also had a long post-presidency, living 43 years following his White House departure. RELATED STORY: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter: A love story for the ages Before becoming president Carter began his adult life in the military, getting a degree at the U.S. Naval Academy, and rose to the rank of lieutenant. He then studied reactor technology and nuclear physics at Union College and served as senior officer of the pre-commissioning crew on a nuclear submarine. Following the death of his father, Carter returned to Georgia to tend to his family's farm and related businesses. During this time, he became a community leader by serving on local boards. He used this experience to elevate him to his first elected office in 1962 in the Georgia Senate. After losing his first gubernatorial election in 1966, he won his second bid in 1970, becoming the state’s 76th governor. As a relative unknown nationally, Carter used the nation’s sour sentiment toward politics to win the Democratic nomination. He then bested sitting president Gerald Ford in November 1976 to win the presidency. Carter battles high inflation, energy crisis With the public eager for a change following the Watergate era, Carter took a more hands-on approach to governing. This, however, meant he became the public face of a number of issues facing the U.S. in the late 1970s, most notably America’s energy crisis. He signed the Department of Energy Organization Act, creating the first new cabinet role in government in over a decade. Carter advocated for alternative energy sources and even installed solar panels on the White House roof. During this time, the public rebuked attempts to ration energy. Amid rising energy costs, inflation soared nearly 9% annually during Carter's presidency. This led to a recession before the 1980 election. Carter also encountered the Iran Hostage Crisis in the final year of his presidency when 52 American citizens were captured. An attempt to rescue the Americans failed in April 1980, resulting in the death of eight service members. With compounding crises, Carter lost in a landslide to Ronald Reagan in 1980 as he could only win six states. Carter’s impact after leaving the White House Carter returned to Georgia and opened the Carter Center, which is focused on national and international issues of public policy – namely conflict resolution. Carter and the Center have been involved in a number of international disputes, including in Syria, Israel, Mali and Sudan. The group has also worked to independently monitor elections and prevent elections from becoming violent. Carter and his wife were the most visible advocates for Habitat for Humanity. The organization that helps build and restore homes for low- and middle-income families has benefited from the Carters’ passion for the organization. Habitat for Humanity estimates Carter has worked alongside 104,000 volunteers in 14 countries to build 4,390 houses. “Like other Habitat volunteers, I have learned that our greatest blessings come when we are able to improve the lives of others, and this is especially true when those others are desperately poor or in need,” Carter said in a Q&A on the Habitat for Humanity website. Carter also continued teaching Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in his hometown well into his 90s. Attendees would line up for hours, coming from all parts of the U.S., to attend Carter’s classes. Carter is survived by his four children.
A quarter-century ago, Michael and Patricia Ferry diligently prepped for the potential crash of computer systems across the world as the year changed from 1999 to 2000. The "Y2K bug" whipped up concerns across the globe about a technological collapse that could affect computer-reliant businesses, governments and more. As programmers shored up computer infrastructures worldwide, countless survival guides — many with intense titles such as "The Y2K Tidal Wave: Year 2000 Economic Survival" and "The Millennium Meltdown" — were published. The Year 2000 problem, or simply Y2K, refers to potential computer errors relating to the formatting and storage of calendar data for dates in and after the year 2000. Many programs represented four-digit years with only the final two digits, making the year 2000 indistinguishable from 1900. The fear was that this byte-saving tactic could have disastrous impact when the year flipped, with "2000" read as "1900," possibly taking down power grids, banks, flights and more. As the U.S. government, under then-President Bill Clinton, relied on compliance and education-related initiatives to boost both government and business, the Ferrys did their own prep. Throughout 1999, the couple stockpiled their home in Cochranton, Crawford County, with enough nonperishable food to last the family of four for months, stacked wood that would last two winters, and kept oil lamps and a solar cooker on hand. All in case the worst-case scenario became reality. "We figured if the entire grid went down, we had the ability to eat and keep ourselves warm," Ferry, now 63, told the Post-Gazette — where he and his wife's preparations ahead of Y2K were featured on the front page of the newspaper in an edition published on Jan. 3, 1999. Most Americans were aware of the "millennium bug" issue, with a March 1999 Gallup survey of 2,653 adults finding that just 7% reported hearing "nothing" about it. The Ferry's preparations raised some eyebrows among others in the community, Ferry recalled, but he paid no mind. "There's always pushback," he said. "There's always those that stand on the sidelines. ... I said, 'If everything goes bad, I'm ready.' If everything goes good, I was prepared and could use what I've got to provide for my life." With an estimated $200 billion to $600 billion spent across the globe to avert it, the large-scale crash never happened. The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economics and Statistics Administration, in a November 1999 report, noted that, "(t)o find and fix their Y2K problems, businesses and government agencies have diverted in the neighborhood of $100 billion from other purposes in recent years." A regional preparedness While the Ferrys readied themselves ahead of Y2K, so did hospitals, banks, utilities, schools and numerous other organizations across the region. The Pittsburgh Public School District purchased software packages that fortified the computers against any potential Y2K glitches. The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh updated the central computer system — holding financial and payroll information — for its schools to prevent any issues as well. Meanwhile, hospital networks across the region, including Pittsburgh Mercy Health System and the UPMC umbrella, readied generators and reviewed biomedical equipment to evaluate the propensity to malfunction in late 1999. At the time, West Penn Allegheny Health System, now under Allegheny Health Network, "had a full-scale emergency operations team that began working together months in advance of the turnover, anticipating every possible element of our operations that might be impacted," Dan Laurent, AHN vice president of corporate communications, stated in an email. Municipalities across the region also followed suit. Murrysville officials formed a committee a year before New Year's Day 2000 that came up with a 15-step plan to prepare for any issues a computer glitch could bring. In Whitaker, buildings were identified ahead of the new year to house people if needed. West Mifflin police set up a system where a siren would sound outside the fire hall with the press of a button in case phone lines went down. In Pleasant Hills, borough officials even discussed identifying "street leaders" throughout the community who would be given a borough-provided two-way radio to request help in the case of an emergency, though former emergency management coordinator Bob Martys said recently that he does not recall if that plan was ever enacted. He did, however, remember how he spent New Year's Eve in 1999: with his family, alongside other borough officials, including the fire chief and mayor, at the Pleasant Hills Volunteer Fire Company. "We just didn't know what was going to happen with phone communications or anything like that, so once we got closer to New Year's, we decided let's all spend New Year's Eve together at the fire company," Martys said. In the lead-up to 2000, he said, anticipating any issues related to computers was at the forefront of the minds of borough leadership. "It was a big priority for us," he said. "Of course, as you can imagine, the borough officials, mayor and council folks, we were very concerned." And despite the fact that no major outages occurred, Martys said, looking back, he is still happy the borough prepared as much as it did. "I am certainly glad that we were, what I would call at this point in time, overly prepared, just in case," he said. "We're a close-knit community. We just wanted to make sure that we were able to take care of our residents and do whatever we needed to make that happen." Ferry — who now lives with his wife in remote and sparsely populated Spray, Ore. — said the education he got while prepping for the turn of the millennium stuck with him. In order to be prepared for other potential emergencies, "whether it be earthquake, wildfire or a devastation of the national grid," the Ferrys are ready. That includes having three different sources of power for their home — solar, propane and car-powered — maintaining a well for clean water and keeping a stockpiled pantry. In 1999, as "a 37-year-old that thought he was invincible," Ferry said he learned a lot, both about himself and how to prepare for the worst. "I had to evaluate, what if some neighbors don't have the ability to provide for themselves? Can I make what I have stretch to provide for my community?" (c)2024 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at www.post-gazette.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Brazil indicts Bolsonaro, aides over alleged 2022 coup attempt