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JERUSALEM — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen on Thursday targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital and multiple ports, while the World Health Organization's director-general said the bombardment occurred nearby as he prepared to board a flight in Sanaa, with a crew member injured. "The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few meters from where we were — and the runway were damaged," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on social media. He added that he and U.N. colleagues were safe. "We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave," he said, without mentioning the source of the bombardment. U.N. spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay later said the injured person was with the U.N. Humanitarian Air Service. Israel's army later told The Associated Press it wasn't aware that the WHO chief or delegation were at the location in Yemen. The Israeli strikes followed several days of Houthi launches setting off sirens in Israel. The Israeli military said in a statement it attacked infrastructure used by the Iran-backed Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa and ports in Hodeida, Al-Salif and Ras Qantib, along with power stations, claiming they were used to smuggle in Iranian weapons and for the entry of senior Iranian officials. Israel's military added it had "capabilities to strike very far from Israel's territory — precisely, powerfully, and repetitively." The strikes, carried out more than 1,000 miles from Jerusalem, came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "the Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah and Assad's regime and others learned" as his military has battled those more powerful proxies of Iran. The Houthi-controlled satellite channel al-Masirah reported multiple deaths and showed broken windows, collapsed ceilings and a bloodstained floor and vehicle. Iran's foreign ministry condemned the strikes. The U.S. military also targeted the Houthis in recent days. The U.N. says the targeted ports are important entryways for humanitarian aid for Yemen, the poorest Arab nation that plunged into a civil war in 2014. Over the weekend, 16 people were wounded when a Houthi missile hit a playground in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, while other missiles and drones were shot down. Last week, Israeli jets struck Sanaa and Hodeida, killing nine people, calling it a response to previous Houthi attacks. The Houthis also have been targeting shipping on the Red Sea corridor, calling it solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The U.N. Security Council has an emergency meeting Monday in response to an Israeli request that it condemn the Houthi attacks and Iran for supplying them weapons. Meanwhile, an Israeli strike killed five Palestinian journalists outside a hospital in Gaza overnight, the territory's Health Ministry said. The strike hit a car outside Al-Awda Hospital in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The journalists worked for local news outlet Al-Quds Today, a television channel affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group. Islamic Jihad is a smaller and more extreme ally of Hamas and took part in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack in southern Israel that ignited the war. Israel's military identified four of the men as combat propagandists and said that intelligence, including a list of Islamic Jihad operatives found by soldiers in Gaza, confirmed that all five were affiliated with the group. Associated Press footage showed the incinerated shell of a van, with press markings visible on the back doors. The Committee to Protect Journalists says more than 130 Palestinian reporters have been killed since the start of the war. Israel hasn't allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza except on military embeds. Israel banned the pan-Arab Al Jazeera network and accuses six of its Gaza reporters of being militants. The Qatar-based broadcaster denies the allegations and accuses Israel of trying to silence its war coverage, which has focused heavily on civilian casualties from Israeli military operations. Separately, Israel's military said a 35-year-old reserve soldier was killed during fighting in central Gaza. A total of 389 soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the ground operation. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed across the border, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting about 250. About 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel's air and ground offensive has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry. It says more than half the fatalities are women and children, but doesn't say how many of the dead were fighters. The offensive caused widespread destruction and hunger and drove around 90% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes. Hundreds of thousands are packed into squalid camps along the coast, with little protection from the cold, wet winter. Also Thursday, people mourned eight Palestinians killed by Israeli military operations in and around Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Israeli military said it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid.AP News Summary at 1:51 p.m. ESTBlame it on the food and drink?

Prestige Wealth Inc. Announces Closing of Acquisitions of InnoSphere Tech and Tokyo BayDTE Energy Board of Directors declares quarterly dividend

Fmr LLC Buys 111,104 Shares of Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA)More NASA Science, Tech will Fly to Moon Aboard Future Firefly Flight

NoneFormer Governor of Benue State, Senator Dr. Gabriel Suswan, and the Chairman of Benue State Football Association (BSFA), Chief Dr. Paul Edeh Esq FCPA, have undertaken to power the administrative block of Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi with 24-hour solar electricity. Both Senator Suswan and Chief Edeh made the joint pledge after they were bestowed with Honourary Doctorate Degrees by BSU at the weekend. Others who were honoured with same degree include a renowned Professor of History, Politics, Human Rights, Humanities and African Studies, Prof. Toyin Falola, Engr. Chief Sylvanus Gbasarah, as well as Wantaregh Paul Iyorpuu Unongo and Lt. Colonel Joseph Akahan who got posthumous honours. Responding on behalf of the Honorees at the Convocation ground, Chief Edeh expressed gratitude to the Governing Council, Senate and entire management team of the prestigious University for the recognition. He said, “Honours like this are not given lightly. They are earned through acts of service, through contributions that uplift our people and nation at large. The four of us being honoured and celebrated today, along with the distinguished personalities conferred with honorary degrees, are recognized because of the good we’ve worked to do. These awards remind us that small acts of goodness, layered one upon the other, can build something extraordinary, something far greater than what can be achieved by what we get from the National cake. “I am told that I am the first alumnus of this University to receive this honour in its 33-year history. That is a privilege I do not take lightly. It makes me proud, but more importantly, it makes me responsible.” He then charged the alumni of the institution to toe the path of notable globally-reckoned higher institution like Havard University in entrenching needed development at BSU, adding, “No institution grows beyond the contributions of its alumnus... BSU has the potential to achieve greatness, but it starts with us, its alumnus”. Then came the official announcement that he and Senator Suswan have decided “to undertake the installation of 60 kilowatts of solar power in the Administrative Block of the University. He will undertake 30 kilowatts while I will undertake 30 kilowatts at a combined cost ..... A consultant will be sent to immediately conduct a needs assessment so as to commence work as soon as possible.” Chief Dr. Edeh Esq who later dedicated his new attainment to the the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue State, visited their camp located along University of Agriculture road in North Bank to make donations, with a call on all stakeholders to “lend their voices towards resolving this crisis and help these families return home.” Earlier, the BSU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tor Joe Iorapuu, who went down memory lane on how the school was conceptualised and has been on, informed that “The students of Benue State University have been spectacular among others in Nigeria and globally. Their academic and leadership performances have been top notch. Their records are available for all to see. “I must say that Benue State University is blessed and will continue to excel academically with a resolve to set the pace always.” Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr Hyacinth Alia, in his speech announced his administration’s readiness to rename BSU after Rev Fr. Moses Adasu, a former Governor who established the citadel of learning that produced 44 first class graduates at the 22nd, 23rd and 24th Combined Convocation Ceremony. He immediately announced scholarships for all the first class graduates and donated 500 Computers to BSU. He also revealed that his government will embark on the expansion of BSU with a campus at Adikpo town, Kwande Local Government Area, an area sharing boundary with Nigeria’s neighbouring country Cameroon. While commending the BSU Vice Chancellor-led management team for its visionary and focused leadership which is already yielding positive fruits, the governor announced that the present state government will establish a new higher institution to be known as Benue State University of Technology and Agriculture. Both the new Chancellor of BSU, His Royal Highness Alhaji Dr. Najib Hussaini Adamu (Emir of Kazaure) and Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the school’s Governing Council Sir Paul Chukwuma spoke of the various recent far-reaching programmes and projects geared towards entrenching scientific research which the institution embarked on. The Pro Chancellor particularly enjoined BSU alumni to shelve their individual interests and unite to lift the school in unity. Friends, former school mates and allies later gathered to celebrate Chief Dr Edeh at a special reception, where each of them took time out in dishing out glowing tributes on the popular philanthropist who is the only Proprietor of two Women Football Clubs in Nigeria – Naija Ratels and Honey Badgers. Among them were Prof. Toyin Falola who has bagged 25 Honourary Doctorate Degrees from different higher institutions in parts of the world and the most decorated scholar in Africa, the member representing Apa and Agatu federal constitutuency Hon. Ojotu Ojema, Majority leader of the Benue State House of Assembly Hon. Saater Tiseer, a serving lawmaker and Deputy Minority Chief Whip Hon. Blessed Onah, a Chief Supritendent of Police CSP (rtd) and interim President Benue State University Alumni Association (BSUAA) Dr. Vandefan James, a globally-recognised scholar and a guest lecturer of BSU Convocation event. Others are BSFA Vice Chairman Sir Alex Awuna, , a Professor of Economics, Prof. Sam Ominyi, Special Adviser to Benue State Governor on Youth and Sports Hon. Dr. Elizabeth Idoko-Okogun, former BSUAA President Mr. Lawrence Vihimga among others

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eco Bright Future, Inc. (OTC: EBFI) ($EBFI) ("Company") announces its wholly-owned El Salvador subsidiary, United Heritage Sociedad Anonima De Capital Variable ("United Heritage"), has been granted the prestigious license of Digital Service Provider in El Salvador. This significant milestone marks the first of two eagerly awaited licenses in the region, with the token issuer license pending and anticipated in the near future. Alexander Borodich, Founder of Universa Blockchain , expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "We are on the cusp of receiving our second pivotal license in El Salvador, which will position our Company to attract a substantial customer base through our local subsidiaries. We eagerly anticipate launching operations through the innovative New World Digital Gateway as El Salvador emerges as a leading hub in the digital realm." El Salvador's proactive stance in fostering a welcoming ecosystem for cryptocurrency businesses has drawn the attention of global digital assets firms like Eco Bright Future. With the newly obtained Bitcoin exchange license, United Heritage offers a secure and compliant platform to purchase, sell, and exchange Bitcoin. El Salvador recognizes Bitcoin as legal tender , a historic milestone for the country that opens up exciting possibilities within the digital currency landscape, as evidenced by today's high price of BTC , reflecting widespread adoption by mainstream users. The Company is strategically bolstering its presence in the global Digital Asset Market; El Salvador is just one of its strategic focal points. The expansion aligns with the Company's overarching strategy to ensure international compliance and broaden its customer base. It seeks to become a global frontrunner in real asset tokenization and cross-border "Smart Contract" technologies. Distinguished by its proficiency in tokenizing tangible assets, genuine real estate, and commodities, Eco Bright Future, Inc. leads the way in: - Tokenizing tangible assets such as real estate and commodities - Developing cutting-edge blockchain tools - Seamlessly integrating with established financial infrastructures Adopting a holistic approach, the Company believes it can seize market opportunities in El Salvador and diverse global markets. Leveraging its successful track record in digital commodity tokenization in the UAE and digital notary in Tunisia, the Company has positioned itself for its progressive international expansion. United Heritage will use Universa Blockchain's platform for decentralized storage and "Smart Contract" execution. This strategic technology selection minimizes disruptions to existing infrastructure while maximizing the digitization of business processes. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT: Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Except for historical matters contained herein, this press release's statements are forward-looking. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as "may", "will", "to", "plan", "expect", "believe", "anticipate", "intend", "could", "would", "estimate," or "continue", or the negative other variations thereof or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risk, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Also, forward-looking statements represent our management's beliefs and assumptions only as of the date hereof. Additional information regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements is available in the Company's filings with OTC Markets. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Contact Information: George Athanasiadis Phone: +1 801 895 4672 Email: info@ecobrightfuture.comRussian state news agencies say ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad is in Moscow and given asylum DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Russian state news agencies say the ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad has arrived in Moscow with his family and been given asylum, hours after close ally Russia said he left Syria after negotiations with rebel groups. The Russian agencies, Tass and RIA, cited an unidentified Kremlin source. The Associated Press is not immediately able to verify the reports but has contacted the Kremlin for comment. Assad reportedly left Syria early Sunday, and Syrians have been pouring into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, ending the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule. The fall of Bashar Assad after 13 years of war in Syria brings to an end a decades-long dynasty BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad has fled the country. Assad’s departure on Sunday brings to a dramatic close his nearly 14-year struggle to hold onto power in a brutal civil war that became a proxy battlefield for regional and international powers. Assad’s exit stood in stark contrast to his first months as Syria’s unlikely president in 2000, when many hoped he would be a young reformer after three decades of his father’s iron grip. But faced with protests of his rule that erupted in March 2011, Assad turned to his father's brutal tactics to crush dissent. A long stalemate was quickly broken when opposition groups in northwest Syria launched a surprise offensive late last month. Who is Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency that toppled Syria's Assad? BEIRUT (AP) — Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the militant leader who led the stunning insurgency that toppled Syria’s President Bashar Assad, has spent years working to remake his public image and that of his fighters. He renounced longtime ties to al-Qaida and depicts himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance. The extent of that transformation from jihadi extremist to would-be state builder is now put to the test. The 42-year-old al-Golani is labeled a terrorist by the United States. He has not appeared publicly since Damascus fell early Sunday. But he and his insurgent force, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, stand to be a major player in whatever comes next. Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutions WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump says he can’t guarantee his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won’t raise prices for American consumers. And he's suggesting once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. The president-elect made the comments in a wide-ranging interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday. He also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere. Trump often mixed declarative statements with caveats, at one point cautioning “things do change.” Trump calls for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and says a US withdrawal from NATO is possible WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump is pushing Russian leader Vladimir Putin to act to reach an immediate ceasefire with Ukraine. Trump describes it as part of his active efforts as president-elect to end the war despite being weeks from taking office. Trump also said he would be open to reducing military aid to Ukraine and pulling the United States out of NATO. Those are two threats that have alarmed Ukraine, NATO allies and many in the U.S. national security community. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says any deal would have to pave the way to a lasting peace. The Kremlin's spokesman says Moscow is open to talks with Ukraine. The hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's elusive killer yields new evidence, but few answers NEW YORK (AP) — Police don’t know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a targeted attack, not a random one. On Sunday morning, police declined to comment on the contents of a backpack found in Central Park that they believe was carried by the killer. South Korean prosecutors detain ex-defense chief over martial law imposition SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean prosecutors have detained a former defense minister who allegedly recommended last week’s brief but stunning martial law imposition to President Yoon Suk Yeol. Local media say that ex-Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun voluntarily appeared on Sunday at a Seoul prosecutors’ office, where he had his mobile phone confiscated and was detained. A law enforcement official says Kim was later sent to a Seoul detention facility. Kim's detention came a day after Yoon avoided an opposition-led bid to impeach him, with most ruling party lawmakers boycotting a floor vote to prevent a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. Trump's return may be a boon for Netanyahu, but challenges abound in a changed Middle East TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is jubilant about President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House. Trump's first term policies skewed heavily in favor of Israel, and he has picked stalwart Israel supporters for key positions in his administration. But much has transpired since Trump left office in early 2021. The turmoil in the Middle East, the lofty ambitions of Netanyahu’s far-right governing coalition and Netanyahu’s own personal relationship with the president-elect could dampen that enthusiasm and complicate what on the surface looks like a seamless alliance. A farming project in South Africa is helping deaf people build skills and find jobs JOHANNESBURG (AP) — In South Africa, where the general unemployment rate is over 32%, deaf people face even steeper hurdles. Unlike their counterparts who can hear and speak, they must struggle to communicate in sign language while trying to gain opportunities for jobs and skills development. Now a deaf entrepreneur who quit her job at one of the biggest banks in the country has created an organization where the deaf can be trained in agriculture, develop their skills and earn a sustainable living. The farming sector is emerging as a solace for those with disabilities who also face the dire levels of unemployment in Africa’s most developed economy. First 12-team College Football Playoff set, Oregon seeded No. 1 and SMU edges Alabama for last spot SMU captured the last open spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff, bumping Alabama to land in a bracket that placed undefeated Oregon at No. 1. The selection committee preferred the Mustangs (11-2), losers of a heartbreaker in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, who had a far less difficult schedule than Alabama (9-3) of the SEC but one fewer loss. The first-of-its-kind 12-team bracket marks a new era for college football, though the Alabama-SMU debate made clear there is no perfect formula. The tournament starts Dec. 20-21 with four first-round games. It concludes Jan. 20 with the national title game in Atlanta.Traveling this holiday season? 10 things the TSA wants you to know

(Editor's Note: This story will be updated with quotes and more info.) MINNEAPOLIS — For the second consecutive season, the Stewartville High School football are the Class 3A state champions. ADVERTISEMENT Behind a dominate offensive and defensive line, the No. 1 ranked and top-seeded Tigers controlled from the opening whistle, defending their state title with a 43-22 win over Dassel-Cokato on Saturday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium. It's Stewartville's second state football title in eight trips. The back-to-back state titles puts a bow on one of the more dominant two-year runs in recent memory. Stewartville has now won 28 consecutive games, outscoring its opponents by an average margin of 44.7-5.8. The Tigers seven shutouts this season are the third most all time in MSHSL history. Stewartville is also the 14th program to capture back-to-back state football titles in the history of the MSHSL and the first since 2018 when Spring Grove and Owatonna went back-to-back. Overall, the Tigers have won 38 of their past 39 games — the only loss coming in the Class 4A state quarterfinals to Hutchinson. No. 38 was never truly in doubt. The offensive line set the tone from the start, bulldozing the Dassel-Cokato defense on the Tigers' 12-play, 59-yard opening drive that was capped by a Malik Abdi 3-yard rushing TD on the game's opening drive. Of those 59-yards, 58 came on ground. ADVERTISEMENT It was a sign of things to come. On the following Stewartville drive, Dylan Scanlan would take it 58-yards untouched to the house. It was the first of two touchdowns for the senior running back, who would add a 20-yard TD in the second half as part of a game-high 140 yards rushing on 14 carries. In all, the Stewartville offense finished with 244 yards on the ground, with Abdi adding 63 yards, a touchdown on 10 carries, and Parker Wangen adding 46 yards and two touchdowns. His 1-yard plunge on fourth-and-goal with 2 seconds left in the first half helped make it a 23-7 halftime lead. Wangen would make it 29-7 early in the third quarter, hauling in a perfectly thrown pass between two defenders from quarterback Vincent Wellik for the 30-yard score. Wangen would score Stewartville's final touchdown with a 6-yard run for an offense that finished with over 350 yards of total offense and 8 of 10 on third downs. The Minnesota State-Mankato commit also had an interception on the defensive side of the ball. As good as the Stewartville offense was, one could make an argument the defense was just as good. After Dassel-Cokato went 70-yards and scored on its opening drive, the Tigers had little trouble in shutting down Dassel-Cokato's run-first, option attack. In fact, it appeared Stewartville had 13-14 players on the field with the way it rallied to the ball. That showed up in two key fourth down stops in D-C territory that tipped the game in Stewartville's favor. The Chargers had just 139 total yards midway through the fourth quarter before the Stewartville subs came in. This came on the heels of a D-C offense that ran for 335 yards in 63 attempts in its state semifinal victory. ADVERTISEMENT Behind longtime coach coach Ryan Weinandt, a Wabasha-Kellogg High School graduate , the Chargers were in search of their second state title (2021). BOX SCORE: Stewartville 43, Dassel-Cokato 22Photo: Flckr-BC Goct FILE. Transit A program that provides Central Okanagan residents with bus passes has grown. United Way B.C. and the City of Kelowna said in a Tuesday press release, they're nearly doubling the number of bus tickets they offer those in need and launching a pilot program for monthly passes, through the Emergency Transportation Assistance Program. Since 2012, they have distributed 10,200 tickets annually to residents of Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland, Lake Country, and Westbank First Nation. Now nearly 5,550 tickets are being distributed quarterly and 100 monthly passes distributed each month in the program. "I'm one of the many who was fortunate enough to benefit from this new program," Mark Arvesu said in a press release. "These are challenging times in my life, and it gave me a sense of comfort knowing that we live in a community where we are genuinely here for each other, and I felt it more-so when I was blessed with the bus pass. I'm truly grateful." A Syrian refuge the United Way has called Rita to protect her anonymity has a similar story, according to the United Way. She moved to Kelowna after fleeing persecution and genocide in Syria in 2020. Her husband is looking for work every day, but learning English is proving difficult at the age of 45. She takes her children to school every morning and then walks home, where rent costs over 80 per cent of their income. To feed her children, she also walks to the various free food programs across Kelowna, often for upwards of one to two hours, and carries the heavy food items home. She cannot afford the transit fare of $2.50 per trip. "The Emergency Transportation Assistance Program has been incredibly successful at making transit accessible for those who cannot afford fares but need reliable transportation to access services, and opportunities for employment, education, and social connection," Mike Kittmer, Transit and Programs Manager, City of Kelowna, said. "Expanding this program is an important part of the City's ongoing work to support our community's most vulnerable and improve social wellness for all."

No. 22 Syracuse looking for 10 wins in 1st year under Fran Brown against depleted Washington State

Marianne Williamson, for the party's presidential nomination, jumped into the race for chair of the Democratic National Committee on Thursday, saying the usual politics and methods won't bring victory. "I feel that I can help transform the party, reinvent the party, because the politics of the past will not be enough to take on the politics of the present and the future," she said in a , per . "Donald Trump is a 21st century political phenomenon, and we need to become one, too." The Democratic Party is down after the November elections, and Williamson said her "experience of what went wrong has given me insight into what needs doing to make things right," per the . The self-help author's candidacy breaks up an all-male field that includes New York state Sen. James Skoufis, Minnesota Democratic Party Chair Ken Martin, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, and former Homeland Security official Nate Snyder. The election is scheduled for Feb. 1 during the party's meeting at National Harbor, Maryland. Four forums are scheduled for next month by the DNC at which the candidates will campaign before the committee. (More stories.)Prestige Wealth Inc. Announces Closing of Acquisitions of InnoSphere Tech and Tokyo BayThe hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's elusive killer yields new evidence, but few answersMore NASA Science, Tech will Fly to Moon Aboard Future Firefly Flight

Canadian carbon removal company scores US$40M grant from fund backed by Bill Gates

"Cracks have started to emerge" in the Russian economy as Putin's labour force begins to run dry, it has been warned. In October, interest rates were raised to to a 21-year high of 21% to curb rampant inflation - despite the misgivings of Putin's oligarchs. Sergei Chemezov, boss of the Rostec, the state-run defence conglomerate, warned that the decision taken by the Russian central bank boss Elvira Nabiullina would be a “serious brake on further industrial growth” and could cause “stagflation”. Richard Connolly, associate fellow at the defence think tank the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), told the Telegraph Nabiullina “has done a lot of things that have caused a lot of other allies of Putin to squeal”. However, the protestations of the oligarchs are being ignored by the Kremlin, the expert said. Putin has "invested a lot of his own political capital in supporting" Nabiullina, according to Connolly. He added that the inflationary pressures in the Russian economy mean that Putin cannot ignore her willingness to increase interest rates . As of October 2024, the country's inflation rate is 8.5 %. Now the country is becoming hamstrung by labour shortages. Nabiullina said in October that “spare hands no longer exist in the economy”. William Jackson, at Capital Economics told the Telegraph: “The cracks have started to emerge”. She warned that Russian parliament in October that “demand has significantly outpaced the economy’s production capacity”. “In some sectors, there is almost no idle equipment left, not even outdated machinery,” she added.The Orange County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to move ahead with hiring an outside firm to conduct a forensic audit of all contracts executed by four agencies in response to the Andrew Do corruption scandal. The audit will cover contracts through the County Executive Office, Health Care Agency, OC Community Resources and Social Services Agency that were established between January 2019 and August 2024. The move comes after Do resigned from the board last month shortly after federal prosecutors said the longtime elected official had agreed to plead guilty in a conspiracy to steal millions of dollars meant to feed needy seniors. Since last November, LAist has uncovered how Do directed county contracts and millions of taxpayer dollars to a nonprofit, Viet America Society (VAS), linked to his daughter, Rhiannon Do . The money was meant to feed seniors during the pandemic and to build a Vietnam War memorial. Federal prosecutors say just 15% of the money earmarked for meals was actually used for that purpose. The audit was approved Tuesday on a 3-1 vote. The audit firm will be required to present their findings at a public forum or a Board of Supervisors meeting. The audit, however, will be more limited in scope to what Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento first called for: an “independent third-party forensic audit” of all contracts “directed or influenced” by Do. Board Chairman Don Wagner voted against the audit. The supervisors also voted on a policy document that affirmed they will adhere to “transparent and ethical contracting.” If the supervisors do not adhere to the policy, they could face censure or be referred for criminal prosecution. County employees who do not follow guidelines in contracting could also be subject to “training, loss of procurement license, and/or disciplinary action.” Meanwhile, contractors who violate the terms of agreements with the county could face “contract termination, restitution requests, and other legal remedies.” “You can't legislate good conduct, but you can certainly create checks and balances and better guardrails,” Sarmiento said of the external audit on Tuesday. Aggie Alonso, the director of internal audit at the county, told supervisors it could take four to five months to find an outside firm at a cost of around $2 million. Sarminento said the external audit will “make sure that we've covered all gaps, made sure that the work that's been done by our internal audit team is credible, is strong, and is something that we can confidently move forward with and demonstrate to the public.” Since LAist began reporting on Do, the county has passed other reforms. County officials are reviewing contracts funded by federal COVID dollars after Orange County supervisors directed them to do so in September. They were given 90 days to come back with their findings. Supervisors also voted in September to update the current contract policy manual to bring the county in line with AB 3130 , a new bill signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom that will require county supervisors across the state to disclose any family ties they have to a nonprofit’s employees or officers before awarding contracts. The new law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2025, and was inspired by LAist’s reporting. Another bill signed into law by Newsom, AB-2946 , will require a majority vote by the Orange County Board of Supervisors before discretionary funds are awarded to a nonprofit or community group. The supervisors will also be required to post details online of how the money was spent. And starting in 2026, Senate Bill 1111 will make it a crime in California for elected officials to be involved in awarding government contracts to organizations if they know their child is an officer or director of the vendor, or has at least a 10% ownership stake. State Sen. Dave Min, who introduced the bill, said LAist’s reporting led him to take on the issue. In November 2023, LAist began investigating how millions in public taxpayer dollars were spent. In total, LAist has uncovered public records showing more than $13 million in public money that was approved to a little-known nonprofit that records state was led on and off by Rhiannon Do. Most of that money was directed to the group by Supervisor Do outside of the public’s view and never appeared on public meeting agendas. He did not publicly disclose his family ties. Much of the known funding came from federal coronavirus relief money. One of the best things you can do to hold officials accountable is pay attention. Your city council, board of supervisors, school board and more all hold public meetings that anybody can attend. These are times you can talk to your elected officials directly and hear about the policies they’re voting on that affect your community.Foodtech major has received shareholder approval to raise up to Rs 8,500 crore through qualified institutional placements (QIP). The shareholders passed a special resolution to raise capital via a QIP by issuing equity shares to eligible investors, with 99.79% voting in favour, according to a stock exchange filing. The Gurugram-based firm’s board had its capital raise plans in October. This development comes as the -led company’s competitors ramp up their financial resources. Swiggy recently launched an worth Rs 11,327 crore (~$1.35 billion), while Zepto has raised a total of $1.35 billion this year, bolstered by a recent funding round. In addition to passing the QIP resolution, shareholders approved the implementation of Zomato’s Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOPs) for 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2024 through a trust structure. The approval also authorises Zomato to provide an interest-free loan to the Foodie Bay Employees ESOP Trust, which will be used to fund the implementation of these plans. On Friday, BSE Ltd announced that Zomato will be added to its benchmark Sensex index starting December 23, while JSW Steel will be removed. The shares of the foodtech company closed at Rs 266.75 on Friday. Edited by Jyoti Narayan

SoundHound, Asana And Victorias Secret Are Among Top 10 Mid Cap Gainers Last Week (Dec 2-Dec 6): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?NASA Postpones Return of Stranded Starliner Astronauts to March