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Yamandu Orsi: Uruguay's New Political Leader Shaping a Modern LeftSyracuse pulls away from pesky Bucknell to snap losing streakDistrict 12 delegation from Jamestown plans to introduce Chinese Divestment Act
FLORIDA — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau departed Florida on Saturday after a three-hour meeting with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, leaving without a firm commitment from Trump to abandon proposed tariffs on Canadian goods. The threatened 25% tariffs, which Trump plans to implement shortly after taking office in January, have sparked significant concern in Canada over the future of cross-border trade. Trudeau characterized the dinner meeting as “an excellent conversation” but provided no details. Trump described the talks as “productive” in a post on Truth Social, highlighting discussions on critical issues such as fentanyl, trade, and energy. He said Trudeau had agreed to work with the U.S. to combat the flow of fentanyl, which Trump blamed for devastating American families. “The U.S. will no longer sit idly by as our citizens become victims to the scourge of this drug epidemic,” Trump stated, adding that Canada needed to do more to secure its borders. Trump’s proposed tariffs on all Canadian and Mexican imports have raised alarms about the potential collapse of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a trade deal renegotiated during Trump’s first term. Trudeau warned that such tariffs would harm both Canadian and American economies by increasing consumer prices and disrupting supply chains. “Tariffs are a crucial issue for Canada, and a bold move was in order. Perhaps it was a risk, but a risk worth taking,” said Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University. Canada is heavily trade-dependent, with 77% of its exports destined for the U.S. Each day, goods and services worth nearly CA$3.6 billion ($2.7 billion) cross the border, making Canada the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. The meeting also covered topics such as energy, the Arctic, defense, and NATO. Trump’s team indicated that issues like pipelines and critical minerals, which are vital to U.S. national security, were also discussed. Canada supplies the U.S. with 60% of its crude oil imports, 85% of its electricity imports, and the majority of its foreign steel, aluminum, and uranium. Despite the strained trade talks, Trudeau’s visit marked a diplomatic effort to manage relations with the incoming U.S. administration. Trump had previously referred to Trudeau as “weak” and “dishonest,” but Trudeau became the first G7 leader to meet with Trump following his re-election. The outcome of the discussions leaves Canada in a precarious position, with no guarantees that the proposed tariffs will be dropped. Trudeau emphasized that retaliatory measures, like those Canada imposed during Trump’s first term, remain an option if the tariffs are enacted. Meanwhile, Trump’s foreign policy approach, particularly his vow to end Russia’s war in Ukraine “in a single day,” remains a point of uncertainty for U.S.-Canada relations. His appointment of retired General Keith Kellogg as special envoy for Ukraine and Russia has further added to speculation about the direction of U.S. foreign policy under his leadership. — Agencies < Previous Page Next Page >Rutgers 77, Georgia Southern 60
NoneIn today’s news headlines, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has ramped up operations along the Zimbabwean border in Limpopo and revealed that pregnant women are crossing the border illegally to access social grants for their children. The SANDF faced criticism from EFF MP Carl Niehaus over the conduct of deployed soldiers. However, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga dismissed allegations of general misconduct within the force. It was a bad day for taxi drivers in Soshanguve, Tshwane, on Friday as 264 unroadworthy vehicles were taken off the road. The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said the taxis were targeted in a “massive pre-dawn crackdown” involving the National Traffic Police, National Traffic Ant-Corruption Unit, Tshwane Metro Police and South African Police. In sports, Kaizer Chiefs wasted a good opportunity to move up to third position on the Betway Premiership. Meanwhile the Proteas cruised to a 233-run victory over Sri Lanka with more than a day to spare in the opening Test in Durban on Saturday. News Today: 30 November 2024 The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued an alert for extremely high fire danger conditions over the Free State, North West and the central and eastern parts of the Northern Cape on Sunday. Read the full forecast here Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way. Motshekga dismisses allegations of ‘rampant ill-disciple’ in SANDF While her office acknowledged being aware of an incident that occurred last year, Minister Angie Motshekga refuted claims that such behavior was a norm in the defence force. “Yes, the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans has been briefed by the Chief of the SANDF, and is aware of incidents of ill-discipline and misconduct by some of our soldiers deployed in the Eastern DRC under Monusco.” Read more here SANDF says pregnant women entering South Africa illegally to secure grants Speaking to the media, the SANDF’s Major Shihlangoma Mahlahlane revealed that there is an increase in pregnant women entering the country so they can register their children as South African citizens. On Thursday, the SANDF’s Operation Corona conducted night patrols to combat illegal immigration. Read more here In the news: More than 250 taxis removed from Tshwane’s roads The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said the taxis were targeted in a “massive pre-dawn crackdown” involving the National Traffic Police, National Traffic Ant-Corruption Unit, Tshwane Metro Police and South African Police. Taxis without proper permits, that were unroadworthy and that were suspected to be stolen were identified. Read more here In the news: MK party refutes claims its ‘targeting’ ANC and EFF members for growth [VIDEO] As the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party prepares to mark a year since its formation, the party said it is not targeting the Africa National Congress (ANC) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) for growth. Former president Jacob Zuma’s MK party, founded on 16 December, is gearing up to celebrate its first anniversary as a political force in South Africa. Read more here South Africa end fightback from Sri Lanka to win first Test in Durban Though the tourists put up a gutsy fight on day four, the Proteas coasted to a 233-run victory over Sri Lanka with more than a day to spare in the opening Test in Durban on Saturday. Resuming their second innings at 103/5 in the morning session, still needing 413 runs to win with only five wickets in hand, Sri Lanka’s batters dug deep. Read more here Gutsy Royal AM hold wasteful Kaizer Chiefs to a draw Kaizer Chiefs wasted a good opportunity to move up to third position on the Betway Premiership standings when they let a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Royal AM at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday night. Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi made two changes to the team that won 2-1 against Richards Bay midweek. Read more here Atticus Finch mocks the Summer Cup favourites Atticus Finch produced a storming finish to win the R6-million Betway Summer Cup at Turffontein over 2000m on Saturday. Trained by Alec Laird and ridden by Calvin Habib, the five-year-old gelding started at odds of 20-1 – continuing a modern trend of outsiders winning Joburg’s premier horse race. Read more here ‘I am so grateful to Minister Gayton McKenzie’: Makhadzi Multi-award-winning musician Makhadzi has expressed her gratitude to the Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, for his support ahead of her upcoming one-woman show. After pledging in October this year to purchase 200 tickets, the minister exceeded his promise by buying 600 tickets. Read more here More news headlines Seven Chinese nationals deny trafficking, say Malawian workers came to SA ‘willingly’ How to avoid being a ‘soft target’ for criminals this festive season
Tips and tricks to tackle exam stress this semesterPep Guardiola: If I can’t reverse Manchester City slide then I have to goPercentages: FG 39.726, FT .588. 3-Point Goals: 9-21, .429 (Lacey 3-6, McMiller 3-5, Petticord 2-6, Thompson 1-3, Perkins 0-1) Blocked Shots: 3 (Adams 1, McMiller 1, Perkins 1) Turnovers: 9 (McMiller 4, Thompson 2, Lacey 1, Perkins 1, Walker 1) Steals: 8 (Adams 6, Lacey 1, McMiller 1) Technical Fouls: None Percentages: FG 39.394, FT .667. 3-Point Goals: 4-21, .190 (Mays-Prince 3-5, Jackson 1-6, Gaines 0-1, Gwynn 0-3, Akinsola 0-1, Eddings 0-5) Blocked Shots: 5 (Johnson 2, Jackson 1, Green 1, Akinsola 1) Turnovers: 16 (Gaines 4, Gwynn 4, Mays-Prince 3, Jackson 2, Johnson 1, Green 1, Akinsola 1) Steals: 5 (Gwynn 2, Eddings 2, Green 1) Technical Fouls: None A_0 Officials_Erika Herriman, Kenya Kirkland, Angelica Suffren
I Tried the $299 Feno Smartbrush to Clean My Teeth. It's a MouthfulPHOENIX — A state agency pursuing ideas to increase Arizona's water supply has less than half the money it was promised by the Legislature. There's also no guarantee the ideas will make financial sense in the end. But the Arizona Water Infrastructure Finance Authority voted this past week to take the first step of asking companies to show how they could import more than 100 billion gallons of water from outside of the state. The water would supplement — and possibly replace — some of what is being used now to supply homeowners, industrial users and farmers. The board members want not just meaningful technical descriptions of how these companies could bring water to the desert. They want to know the price tag. One thing is for sure: It's going to cost more than Arizonans are paying now for the mix of groundwater and surface water that currently comes out of their taps. But importation may end up being the only option as local water supplies are dwindling and even the future of the state's Colorado River allocation remains uncertain. The water authority, known as WIFA, is pursuing what remains of a grandiose $1 billion plan by Republican former Gov. Doug Ducey to have the state desalinate water from the Sea of Cortez in Mexico. That plan blew up when word got out about behind-the scenes negotiations by the WIFA board solely with Israeli-based IDE Technologies, as Ducey was trying to have a deal inked by the time he left office in January 2023. The board members concluded after the controversy that they didn't have enough information. Now they are starting over, complete with an open solicitation process — and no pre-baked decisions that desalination is the answer. The panel is open to ideas ranging from bringing in surface water from other states to reclaimed water and "other" possibilities — "which means anything," said Ted Cooke, a WIFA board member who chairs the committee. "We want to have an open mind to have innovative ideas that go beyond the obvious ones,'' said Cooke. "And even the obvious ones have lots of potential regulatory, legal, political, permitting-type challenges.'' The bottom line is making sure that any of these ideas actually are viable, he said. A convergence of several factors is creating the need. The obvious one is that Arizona's population is growing. Another is the recognition that groundwater is not an infinite resource. Then there's the fact that the Colorado River has less water because of the long-term drought. Arizona, which already had its allocation of river water reduced, is virtually certain to have to accept future cuts. Cooke said some studies have shown the total anticipated "unmet demand'' for the entire state could be as high as 5 million acre-feet, with an acre-foot being the amount of water that could serve two or three average families a year. A more focused study of the areas served by the Central Arizona Project, the canal system that brings water from the Colorado River to Phoenix, Tucson and central Arizona farms, projected a need of between 100,000 and 500,000 acre-feet within 10 years. All of that was on the minds of Arizona lawmakers when they voted in 2022 to set aside $1 billion over three years for water augmentation projects, with a mandate that at least 75% of the water come from outside the state. Only thing is, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, looking for places to cut funding, trimmed last year's allocation by half and eliminated entirely this year's $333 million payment. That leaves WIFA with about $450 million, said Chelsea McGuire, an assistant director at the agency. There's really nothing that can be built for that amount. In fact, even the $1 billion was seen only as a form of state participation: Estimates from the now-defunct Israeli plan put the price tag in the $5.5 billion range. So what that leaves at this point is to use WIFA's money to find someone who has the technical expertise, has a viable plan, and is willing to use at least some of its own funds to build. To make that work for any company ultimately chosen by WIFA, however, is the need to have guaranteed long-term customers. And that turns on the billion-dollar question: How much are water users willing to pay? The average monthly water bill for Phoenix is about $45 a month. Tucson's is pretty much the same. Multiply that by 12 and you're talking $540 a year. That covers everything from producing and treating water to maintaining the system that delivers it to the door. By contrast, estimates for desalination projects put the cost of treating and delivering an acre-foot of water at anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000 an acre-foot. Even assuming conservative use of water and that three families can be served with an acre-foot, that means adding anywhere from $830 to $1,600 extra a year to a water bill. At the same time, there are other costly — but less expensive — alternatives being explored to increase the supply of domestic water. One of the most talked about is "advanced water purification,'' sometimes more colorfully referred to as "toilet to tap.'' The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality just published draft rules to allow water that was flushed down toilets to be delivered to faucets after treatment. It's already viable technology. Scottsdale has a plant that is treating sewage to drinking water standards, though actually delivering it to people's homes will require an ADEQ permit. And Phoenix is retrofitting one of its sewage treatment facilities to produce drinkable water. Cooke noted that while the law authorizing WIFA to find water requires that 75% come from out of state, that still leaves room for the agency to explore options like this. "Ideally, we would have some idea of what are the viable options out there for in-state augmentation so we can compare the two and make the choices before we're fully subscribed to go out and get $4,000-an-acre-foot water for the whole 500,000 acre-feet that we think that we need — and no longer have the means or the opportunity to do something less expensive,'' he said. There's also the thought that once the state starts getting proposals to augment its water supply from an out-of-state source, someone may come up with something quite different that has not even been considered. That's exactly why the request for solicitations issued this past week deliberately does not spell out the technology to be used, said Jonathan Lines, who chairs the WIFA board. "We're not limited in scope or specifics,'' Lines said. "And we want to do what makes sense for Arizona long term, with no commitment today on what that path forward looks like.'' But there's another factor at work that could affect what the water will cost, whether it will be affordable, and even how many proposals the state will get: The failure of the state to live up to its commitment of $1 billion. McGuire said the message that goes out to those who might want to get involved is that "Arizona clearly isn't serious about this.'' And that, she said, will make some of them believe it is not worth their time to submit a proposal. There is a huge capital cost to such a project, whether desalination, a water pipeline from the Midwest or something else, McGuire noted. "We're going to have to play some role,'' she said, meaning having the state invest its own cash. Put simply, McGuire said any private developer forced to pick up all the costs would want a rate of return on that investment. In turn, that will drive up the costs of a delivered product to the point that no one will be willing to commit to long-term purchases, she said. "And so those end users like a Phoenix, whoever it might be, they say, 'Well, I don't know that I can afford that,' '' she said. Conversely, putting public dollars into those capital costs means the risk for the developer goes down — as does how much that entity needs to charge. "So state support is what makes this sustainable and financially feasible across the board," McGuire said. That, then, comes back to WIFA's finances. Recognizing the state budget situation, WIFA didn't even bother to ask Hobbs to restore the cuts in her proposed budget for next fiscal year. "Instead of 'give us more,' we're asking for a 'do no more harm' approach,'' said McGuire. In the meantime, she said, the WIFA board will do what it can to show the governor and lawmakers it's using the money it does have to show there are "tangible concepts'' out there to pursue. "So we're dedicated to showing our work, showing the value of the investment so far, before we ask for more,'' McGuire said. Hobbs, for her part, was noncommittal on future funding. "We're in the middle of our budgeting process right now so I can't speak to what that investment's going to look like,'' the governor said. But she insisted she is not trying to kill the plan. "I am absolutely committed to our water security,'' she said. "Water augmentation is an important part of that future. We are absolutely moving forward on feasible plans for augmentation.'' There's something else in how WIFA is conducting its business that is a bit unusual. In most solicitation requests for goods and services, a government agency puts out a request for what it wants and asks firms to say what they would charge. In this case, however, WIFA intends to select those it wants to hear more from about their ideas and plans. And at that point the agency will cover their expenses of proving the engineering and cost viability of their projects. McGuire said that's necessary given the scope of the work being sought. "To have that wholly flushed out and fully developed, I don't think it's something that a firm really is going to do for the state without some sort of compensation for doing that,'' she said. McGuire also said that putting these firms on contract to do a feasibility analysis of their proposed projects means the state will be getting "apples-to-apples'' information to compare and contrast them. "The other thing that it means is we also own that intellectual property at the end of the day because those teams are on contract to work for us,'' she said. That means if WIFA does not find submissions to be acceptable, the agency gets to keep and use all that research to pursue alternatives. Get your morning recap of today's local news and read the full stories here: tucne.ws/morning Howard Fischer is a veteran journalist who has been reporting since 1970 and covering state politics and the Legislature since 1982. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, Bluesky , and Threads at @azcapmedia or email azcapmedia@gmail.com . Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
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Bills activate Matt Milano, elevate Mike WhiteW EBB CITY, Mo. — You won’t have your best athlete on offense, you’ll have to start multiple underclassmen on the offensive line and two tight ends that have no varsity experience. Oh, that top athlete is also your quarterback. So, you’re down your best athlete and the guy who touches the ball on every play. That message would be a cause for concern for any football coach in America. But that’s exactly what Webb City High School head coach Ryan McFarland had to deal with entering his second season at the helm of the Cardinals’ program. The Cardinals started three sophomores on the offensive line, two tight ends without varsity experience, and have had five different running backs playing due to injuries to many ball carriers. One staple has been senior starting quarterback Jackson Lucas. “The emergence of Jackson Lucas. He’s probably exceeded everybody’s expectations. We knew he had a chance to be really good but he’s been able to take over the games the last two games,” McFarland said. Lucas had to replace the speedy Gabe Johnson, who had to miss the entire season due to his injury from last year. Johnson started at quarterback most of the time last year for Webb City, he returned kicks and was just an electric athlete. Lucas played some quarterback at times because of his added ability to throw the ball but mostly played at wide receiver while Johnson — a sophomore — and senior Braden Mc-Kee played quarterback. McKee graduated and Johnson was out for his junior year so that brought Lucas to the sole responsibility of leading the offense. “I knew I had to step up and command our offense and make sure I can get us into the best play possible and make us an efficient offense,” Lucas said. The field general admitted the offense feels much better now than early in the year, and that’s showing. The team is averaging 28.4 points per game but has averaged just under 37 ppg over the last four games. Webb City (6-6) will try to continue that success at 7 p.m. Friday when it hosts Platte County High School (11-0) for a state quarterfinal game. Another boost has been getting players healthy. Running backs Andrew Elwell and Slade Hurd were supposed to be the lead backs but they’ve spent a lot of the year injured. As the backfield has gotten healthy, there have been more legs to get on the field and keep players fresh. Isaiah Tela was able to step in and make up for lost ball carriers along with Mason Williams, but now that Hurd and Elwell have been back, the offense has even more skilled runners in the backfield. “We had a lot of injuries early in the year, and we had to fight. A lot of younger kids got more playing time and we got experience. We struggled early in the year, but now we’re clicking,” Hurd said. Lucas leads the team in both rushing and passing. He’s carried the ball 203 times for 1,179 yards and 14 touchdowns. Tela has 81 rushes, 560 yards and three scores. Williams adds 44 carries for 444 yards and three touchdowns. Hurd has 81 carries, 373 yards and six scores. Elwell is the only other back with more than 30 rush attempts, and he’s gone for 34 touches, 150 yards and three scores. McFarland talked about how his offense was able to overcome such a sporadic look to the backfield week in and week out. It not only overcame a damaged offensive backfield, it turned around a 3-6 start to win a 24th district championship in 25 seasons. “They come in and they work hard,” McFarland said. “That’s credit to our seniors. I think losing close games — you hate to lose close games — but I think losing close games helped a little bit.” McFarland noted that his seniors have seen this program win a district championship every year since they’ve been alive except for 2022. Add to it that the program was winning one every year for seven years before they were born. That’s part of what drives this group — that pride they have and know everyone from Webb City has. “I think it’s just the pride in the program,” McFarland said. “The expectations in the program, the pride they have in the program and the legacy that these seniors are going to leave behind and not wanting to be the group that doesn’t continue that legacy. “Being a Webb City Cardinal on Friday nights is a big deal for these guys and they want to leave their mark on the program like the guys before them,” he said. Even though others may have overlooked the Cardinals after the sluggish start, the players knew what their coaching staff was capable of — and themselves too. “We knew coming into it we weren’t the team our record said we were. We knew we could keep fighting and eventually things would go our way,” Lucas said. “Coming into the playoffs, we had the confidence and knew we could beat anybody.” “It’s exciting getting to play football in November, so it’s all you can really think about,” Hurd said. “I like being the underdog and proving people wrong.”
Stakeholders and experts in international higher education have stated that global education and international collaboration are vital to Africa’s sustainable development and future for work. The stakeholders made this known on Wednesday in Lagos during the three-day maiden edition of The International Education (TINE) Africa Changemakers Conference with the theme: ‘Global education, sustainable development and the future of work for Africans’. The director of Laprinxo Consult and conference convener, Prince Louis Adekola, stated that TINE Africa, founded last year, is a platform for people and organisations working in the international higher education sector. Adekola said the conference is designed to bring visionary leaders, young innovators, entrepreneurs, professionals, and students to proffer relevant and sustainable solutions to Africa’s pressing challenges. He further said the conference seeks to address what Africans want from global education, how international education institutions can support African students in the diaspora, and how global education can impact sustainable development in Africa. “Focused on fostering intellectual dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge sharing, the conference highlights key areas such as sustainable development, technology, education, climate action, and economic empowerment. “It aims to inspire changemakers with the tools to drive social impact and transformation in their communities,” he said. According to Adekola, the second day of the conference (Thursday) is mostly for industry stakeholders and organisations in the local and international higher education sector to collaborate and share ideas on bridging the gaps in serving and supporting people who need their service. He added that the last day (Friday) is the award event for honouring people who work in the global higher education sector in Nigeria and globally. Debola Deji-Kurunmi, founder of Immerse Coaching Company, focused her keynote speech titled ‘Preparing and thriving as an African in the global job market’ on actionable strategies for leveraging Africa’s rich diversity, resilience, and innovation to succeed locally and internationally. Her speech stressed the importance of education and skills development, highlighting the need to combine formal education with industry-relevant digital and soft skills. On the other hand, she addressed the challenges and barriers that hinder Africans from leveraging global opportunities, such as international scholarships, diaspora networks, and mentorships. Deji-Kurunmi stated that with the growing population of Nigerian and African youth, they are positioned to excel in the global job market. She emphasised that in this decade of dynamism, talent is bankable. She added that raw talent ─ well packaged, either meeting a need or activating a sense of desire or happiness ─ is rewarded significantly with financial and non-financial currencies. Concluding her speech, she said, “Education will show you the system with which you can channel your gifts, ideas, and energy. And the power of international education makes a difference.” The first panel session ‘Between the SDGs and Agenda 2063: African youths as catalysts for transformational development’ had executive director, YouthxYouth, Erioluwa Adeyinka; founder, Oak and Teak Foundation, Morenike Molehin; and country director, Enactus Nigeria, Michael Ajayi, as panellists, and moderated by actor and filmmaker, Imoh Eboh. The second panel ‘Leveraging international education in preparing Africans for the fourth Industrial Revolution’ had founder and CEO, Edward Consulting, Bimpe Femi-Oyewo; and Chevening programme and communications officer, Boma Amieyeofori as panellists, and was moderated by the regional manager, Colorado State University, Opeyemi Adetola. The last panel ‘Building a sustainable Africa through climate education, strategic action, and collaboration efforts’ had founder, Durian Nigeria, Tony Joy; founder, Ecotutu, Babajide Oluwase; and TINE Africa convener, Louis Adekola as panellists, and was moderated by communications officer, TINE Africa, Diwura Williams. The TINE Awards ─ given to outstanding individuals, universities, and education consulting firms ─ were in the following categories: Best Agency of the Year Award (West and Central Africa), Best Agency of the Year Award (East and Southern Africa), Agent Aggregator of the Year Award, Digitally Excellent Agency Award, Most Ingenious Agency Award, New Agency of the Year Award, Best Counsellor of the Year Award (Male), and Best Counsellor of the Year Award (Female). Other categories of the awards were: Next Rated Counsellor of the Year Award, International Representative of the Year (Male), International Representative of the Year (Female), Next Rated International Representative of the Year Award, Best International Students Support Award, Most Impactful Overseas University Award, Most International University (Western Africa), Most International University (Eastern Africa), Most International University (Northern Africa), Most International University (Southern Africa), International School of the Year Award, and Pathway Provider of the Year Award. NIGERIAN TRIBUNEGovt insulted Manmohan Singh by holding last rites at Nigambodh Ghat, not at dedicated place: CongressAs the U.S. government teeters on the brink of a fiscal crisis, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has issued a stark warning to Congress, calling for immediate action to raise or suspend the debt ceiling. The urgency of her message comes at a time when House Speaker Mike Johnson faces significant pressure to broker a deal, with the threat of losing his position hanging over his head. The current debt limit suspension expires on January 1, 2025. The federal debt currently stands at around $36 trillion. ET Year-end Special Reads Take That: The gamechanger weapon's India acquired in 2024 10 big-bang policy moves Modi government made in 2024 How governments tried to rein in the social media beast Yellen's Urgent Letter In a letter addressed to congressional leaders and highlighted in recent news, Yellen indicated that the U.S. could reach its debt limit as soon as mid-January 2025, necessitating the Treasury to deploy "extraordinary measures" to prevent default on national debt obligations. These measures include accounting maneuvers like suspending investments in certain federal employee retirement funds to manage cash flow without breaching the debt ceiling. However, Yellen stressed that these are stopgap solutions, not long-term answers, and a failure to act could lead to an "economic catastrophe". AP FILE - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks during a visit to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) in Vienna, Va., on Jan. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) The Political Scenario Speaker Mike Johnson finds himself in a precarious situation. With the Republican party holding a slim majority in the House, any move towards raising the debt ceiling is fraught with political peril. Historically, the debt ceiling has been a contentious issue, often used as leverage for broader fiscal policy discussions. Johnson's challenge is compounded by the internal dynamics of his party, where conservative hardliners are vehemently against raising the debt ceiling without significant spending cuts or policy concessions. The situation is further complicated by the timing. With a new debt limit set to be established on January 2, 2025, after the suspension ends, Johnson must navigate a political minefield where failure to act could lead to a default, potentially tanking the U.S. credit rating and sending shockwaves through global market. 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Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen drops new bombshell Johnson under pressure For Johnson, this isn't just about policy; it's about political survival. The specter of losing his speakership looms large if he cannot unify his party or if he compromises too much with Democrats. On one hand, hardline fiscal conservatives within his party are traditionally opposed to raising the debt ceiling without substantial spending cuts. On the other hand, there is a growing call among more moderate Republicans and Democrats for a straightforward increase or elimination of the debt ceiling altogether. Also Read: U.S heading towards massive debt crisis, by early 2030s America will join a select club - Sudan, Eritrea and Venezuela Trump has publicly aligned with Democrats on this issue, suggesting that the debt ceiling should be eliminated entirely. His stance complicates Johnson's position as he navigates between appeasing party hardliners and addressing broader economic concerns that could arise from failing to raise the limit. Recent posts on X (formerly Twitter) have suggested that there's significant pressure on Johnson, with some within his party ready to leverage this situation to challenge his leadership. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Chivita|Hollandia spreads love to Nigerian homes with Blue Santa campaignThe Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators are making yet another trade , with forward Juuso Pärssinen and a 2026 seventh-round pick headed to the Avalanche in exchange for forward Ondrej Pav el and a 2027 third-round pick. The Predators have been shopping Pärssinen around throughout much of the month, with Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reporting teams were interested in the forward two weeks ago . In the end, Nashville finds a typical suitor in Colorado. The two sides have already made one trade this season , swapping veteran backup Scott Wedgewood for young up-and-comer Justus Annunen and a draft pick in late November. That move was one of four trades that Nashville has made this year and one of three Avalanche trades. Both goalies have been fantastic in their new settings, with Wedgewood posting a 4-2-0 record and .932 save percentage in six games and Annunen posting a 2-1-0 record and .941 in four games. The two sides will now hope for similar profits from this deal. In Parssinen, Colorado receives the clear upper hand, reeling in a six-foot-three, 212-pound 23-year-old with the ability to play either center or wing. Parssinen, originally a seventh-round pick in 2019, turned pro with the Predators in the 2022-23 season. He started the year in the minors but earned a quick call-up after scoring nine points in his first 10 AHL games. Unfortunately, Parssinen couldn’t stay too hot at the pro level, though he did still manage an encouraging 25 points in 45 games as an NHL rookie. He made the Predators’ roster out of training camp last season but managed just 12 points in 43 games before being reassigned to the minor leagues. Parssinen managed an additional 25 points in 36 games with the Milwaukee Admirals, setting him up to return to the NHL this year – but he still can’t seem to find his footing at the top flight. As it stands, he has just five points in 15 games this season – while serving in a true fourth-line role. Parssinen still seems to have plenty of untapped potential and middle-six upside. While Colorado mines that vein, Nashville clears up additional space on the NHL roster by acquiring career minor-leaguer Ondrej Pavel . Pavel also turned pro in 2022-23, joining the AHL’s Colorado Eagles for two games and no scoring after the end of Minnesota State’s season. He more formally played his rookie AHL season last year, recording 10 points and 37 penalty minutes in 61 games. Pavel also received the first two NHL games of his career last year, though one minor penalty and a -1 stand as his only stat changes. He’s continued to post menial scoring this year, with just two points in 14 AHL games on the season, and should head for a clear role down Nashville’s depth chart. That could open up space for the team to award more ice time to Fedor Svechkov , Reid Schaefer , or Joakim Kemell – three top prospects who have each performed admirably in the AHL. Predators general manager Barry Trotz said previously that, should the roster continue sliding, he’d like to prioritize getting top prospects NHL action – a statement vindicated by this move and the team’s 4-5-1 record in their last 10 games. This article first appeared on Pro Hockey Rumors and was syndicated with permission.
LSU outlasts UCF 109-102 in triple-OT affairMphoko points to legal disputes as why Choppies is exiting Zimbabwe
NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Alyssa Ustby and Lexi Donarski scored 14 points apiece, and Ustby added 14 rebounds to lead No. 16 North Carolina to a 53-36 victory over Villanova in a semifinal game at the Women's Battle 4 Atlantis on Sunday. The Tar Heels (5-1) play Indiana in the championship game on Monday. The Hoosiers upset No. 18 Baylor 73-65 in Sunday's first semifinal. Ustby made 6 of 8 shots from the floor with a 3-pointer for North Carolina on the way to her first double-double of the season. Donarski hit 6 of 10 shots with a pair of 3-pointers. Maddie Webber led the Wildcats (4-2) with 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting from beyond the arc. Lara Edmanson pitched in with 11 points and seven rebounds. The Tar Heels held Villonova's leading scorer Jasmine Bascoe to two points after she came in averaging 16.6 per game. Bascoe missed all seven of her shots — three from distance — and made 2 of 4 at the free-throw line. Ustby had seven points and Donarski scored five to guide the Tar Heels to a 17-7 lead after one quarter. Donarski scored five more in the third quarter to help North Carolina turn a 30-18 lead at halftime into a 44-23 advantage heading to the final period. North Carolina shot 40% from the floor, made 5 of 17 from beyond the arc (29.4%) and 4 of 6 at the foul line. Villanova shot 23.5% overall but made 5 of 18 from distance (27.8%) and 7 of 10 free throws. The Tar Heels scored 15 points off of 21 Villanova turnovers. They turned it over 14 times but it led to only three points for the Wildcats. North Carolina outscored Villanova 30-14 in the paint and never trailed. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketballSyrian rebels challenge Assad’s regime igniting new tensions in Middle East
Lea Miller-Tooley hopped off a call to welcome the Baylor women’s basketball team to the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas, where 80-degree temperatures made it easy for the Bears to settle in on Paradise Island a week before Thanksgiving. About 5,000 miles west of the Caribbean nation, similar climes awaited Maui Invitational men's teams in Hawaii. They’ve often been greeted with leis, the traditional Hawaiian welcome of friendship. College basketball teams and fans look forward to this time of the year. The holiday week tournaments feature buzzworthy matchups and all-day TV coverage, sure, but there is a familiarity about them as they help ward off the November chill. For four decades, these sandy-beach getaways filled with basketball have become a beloved mainstay of the sport itself. “When you see (ESPN’s) ‘Feast Week’ of college basketball on TV, when you see the Battle 4 Atlantis on TV, you know college basketball is back,” said Miller-Tooley, the founder and organizer of the Battle 4 Atlantis men's and women's tournaments. “Because it’s a saturated time of the year with the NFL, college football and the NBA. But when you see these gorgeous events in these beautiful places, you realize, ‘Wow, hoops are back, let’s get excited.’” The Great Alaska Shootout was the trend-setting multiple-team event (MTE) nearly five decades ago. The brainchild of late Alaska-Anchorage coach Bob Rachal sought to raise his program’s profile by bringing in national-power programs, which could take advantage of NCAA rules allowing them to exceed the maximum allotment of regular-season games if they played the three-game tournament outside the contiguous 48 states. The first edition, named the Sea Wolf Classic, saw N.C. State beat Louisville 72-66 for the title on Nov. 26, 1978. The Maui Invitational followed in November 1984, borne from the buzz of NAIA program Chaminade’s shocking upset of top-ranked Virginia and 7-foot-4 star Ralph Sampson in Hawaii two years earlier. Events kept coming, with warm-weather locales getting in on the action. The Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Cancun Challenge in Mexico. The Cayman Islands Classic. The Jamaica Classic. The Myrtle Beach Invitational joining the Charleston Classic in South Carolina. Numerous tournaments in Florida. Some events have faded away like the Puerto Rico Tipoff and the Great Alaska Shootout, the latter in 2017 amid event competition and schools opting for warm-weather locales. Notre Dame takes on Chaminade during the first half of a 2017 game in Lahaina, Hawaii. Miller-Tooley’s push to build an MTE for Atlantis began as a December 2010 doubleheader with Georgia Tech beating Richmond and Virginia Tech beating Mississippi State in a prove-it moment for a tournament’s viability. It also required changing NCAA legislation to permit MTEs in the Bahamas. Approval came in March 2011; the first eight-team Atlantis men’s tournament followed in November. That tournament quickly earned marquee status with big-name fields, with Atlantis champions Villanova (2017) and Virginia (2018) later winning that season’s NCAA title. Games run in a ballroom-turned-arena at the resort, where players also check out massive swimming pools, water slides and inner-tube rapids surrounded by palm trees and the Atlantic Ocean. “It’s just the value of getting your passport stamped, that will never get old,” Miller-Tooley said. “Watching some of these kids, this may be their first and last time – and staff and families – that they ever travel outside the United States. ... You can see through these kids’ eyes that it’s really an unbelievable experience.” ACC Network analyst Luke Hancock knows that firsthand. His Louisville team finished second at Atlantis in 2012 and won that year’s later-vacated NCAA title, with Hancock as the Final Four's most outstanding player. “I remember (then-coach Rick Pitino) saying something to the effect of: ‘Some of you guys might never get this opportunity again. We’re staying in this unbelievable place, you’re doing it with people you love,’” Hancock said. “It was a business trip for us there at Thanksgiving, but he definitely had a tone of ‘We’ve got to enjoy this as well.’” Maui offers similar vibes, though 2024 could be a little different as Lahaina recovers from deadly 2023 wildfires that forced the event's relocation last year. North Carolina assistant coach Sean May played for the Tar Heels’ Maui winner in 2004 and was part of UNC’s staff for the 2016 champion, with both teams later winning the NCAA title. May said “you just feel the peacefulness” of the area — even while focusing on games — and savors memories of the team taking a boat out on the Pacific Ocean after title runs under now-retired Hall of Famer Roy Williams. “Teams like us, Dukes, UConns – you want to go to places that are very well-run,” May said. “Maui, Lea Miller with her group at the Battle 4 Atlantis, that’s what drives teams to come back because you know you’re going to get standard A-quality of not only the preparation but the tournament with the way it’s run. Everything is top-notch. And I think that brings guys back year after year.” That’s why Colorado coach Tad Boyle is so excited for the Buffaloes’ first Maui appearance since 2009. “We’ve been trying to get in the tournament since I got here,” said Boyle, now in his 15th season. And of course, that warm-weather setting sure doesn’t hurt. “If you talk about the Marquettes of the world, St. John’s, Providence – they don’t want that cold weather,” said NBA and college TV analyst Terrence Oglesby, who played for Clemson in the 2007 San Juan Invitational in Puerto Rico. “They’re going to have to deal with that all January and February. You might as well get a taste of what the sun feels like.” Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo argues a call during the first half of a Nov. 16 game against Bowling Green in East Lansing, Michigan. Mi zzo is making his fourth trip to Maui. The men’s Baha Mar Championship in Nassau, Bahamas, got things rolling last week with No. 11 Tennessee routing No. 13 Baylor for the title. The week ahead could boast matchups befitting the Final Four, with teams having two weeks of action since any opening-night hiccups. “It’s a special kickoff to the college basketball season,” Oglesby said. “It’s just without the rust.” On the women’s side, Atlantis began its fourth eight-team women’s tournament Saturday with No. 16 North Carolina and No. 18 Baylor, while the nearby Baha Mar resort follows with two four-team women’s brackets that include No. 2 UConn, No. 7 LSU, No. 17 Mississippi and No. 20 N.C. State. Then come the men’s headliners. The Maui Invitational turns 40 as it opens Monday back in Lahaina. It features second-ranked and two-time reigning national champion UConn, No. 4 Auburn, No. 5 Iowa State and No. 10 North Carolina. The Battle 4 Atlantis opens its 13th men’s tournament Wednesday, topped by No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 16 Indiana and No. 17 Arizona. Michigan State Hall of Famer Tom Izzo is making his fourth trip to Maui, where he debuted as Jud Heathcote’s successor at the 1995 tournament. Izzo's Spartans have twice competed at Atlantis, last in 2021. “They’re important because they give you something in November or December that is exciting,” Izzo said. Any drawbacks? “It’s a 10-hour flight,” he said of Hawaii. Mike Tyson, left, slaps Jake Paul during a weigh-in ahead of their heavyweight bout, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Irving, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) A fan takes a picture of the moon prior to a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 between Uruguay and Colombia in Montevideo, Uruguay, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Santiago Mazzarovich) Rasmus Højgaard of Denmark reacts after missing a shot on the 18th hole in the final round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) Taylor Fritz of the United States reacts during the final match of the ATP World Tour Finals against Italy's Jannik Sinner at the Inalpi Arena, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (1) fails to pull in a pass against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/ Brynn Anderson) Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, top right, scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) India's Tilak Varma jumps in the air as he celebrates after scoring a century during the third T20 International cricket match between South Africa and India, at Centurion Park in Centurion, South Africa, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski warms up before facing the Seattle Kraken in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Kansas State players run onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Arizona State Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) A fan rapped in an Uruguay flag arrives to the stands for a qualifying soccer match against Colombia for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Montevideo, Uruguay, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico) People practice folding a giant United States flag before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Brazil's Marquinhos attempts to stop the sprinklers that were turned on during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match against Venezuela at Monumental stadium in Maturin, Venezuela, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) Georgia's Georges Mikautadze celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Nations League, group B1 soccer match between Georgia and Ukraine at the AdjaraBet Arena in Batumi, Georgia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Tamuna Kulumbegashvili) Dallas Stars center Mavrik Bourque, right, attempts to score while Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Hartman (38) and Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) keep the puck out of the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt) Italy goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario misses the third goal during the Nations League soccer match between Italy and France, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki (88) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) President-elect Donald Trump attends UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Fans argue in stands during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between France and Israel at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Thursday Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova hits a return against Danielle Collins, of the United States, during a tennis match at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Malaga, southern Spain. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) St. John's guard RJ Luis Jr. (12) falls after driving to the basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against New Mexico, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) England's Anthony Gordon celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between England and the Republic of Ireland at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Katie Taylor, left, lands a right to Amanda Serrano during their undisputed super lightweight title bout, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner, right, tackles Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington, left, on a punt return during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) UConn's Paige Bueckers (5) battles North Carolina's Laila Hull, right, for a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Greensboro, N.C., Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown) Get local news delivered to your inbox!
told the on Saturday that he supports H-1B immigration visas amid a heated clash between his supporters and Elon Musk, who defended the use of the visa program. President-elect Donald Trump weighed in on the debate raging among his supporters over the use of H-1B immigration visas for highly skilled workers. "I've always liked the visas, I have always been in favor of the visas. That’s why we have them," he told . "I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great program." That's after some who want to limit immigration have blasted the H-1B program, saying it doesn't reflect "America first" policies. over the past week and expressed his support for H-1Bs, after railing against illegal immigration while stumping for Trump on the campaign trail. In fact, he was once on an a H-1B visa himself and said the tech sector needs foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent,” he said in a on Wednesday. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” But by Friday, Musk had turned more combative. In a reply to a post taunting him about H-1Bs, the CEO of and hit back sharply. "The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B," . "Take a big step back and F--K YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend." For his part, candidate Trump in 2016 called the H-1B visa program "very bad" and "unfair" for U.S. workers, even as his businesses have hired foreign workers, including . Trump Media and Technology, the parent company of his Truth Social app, also has used the H-1B program to employ workers. During his first term as president, Trump signed a "Buy American and Hire American" executive order in 2017 to look into changes to the H-1B program that would ensure the visas didn't harm American workers. And while he made cracking down on immigration a centerpiece of his 2024 campaign, he also in June that he wants to give foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges a path to work here legally. "I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he said. This story was originally featured onGene Editing Market to See Rapid Expansion Over the Next Decade 2024-2032
Share Tweet Share Share Email The crypto market is exciting this month as several projects break new records and generate a lot of attention. Fantom’s price surged 21% ahead of the much-awaited Sonic mainnet launch, fueling optimism. At the same time, Polkadot’s price surged after its integration with Cardano, showing its growing influence in blockchain collaboration. However, the most intriguing opportunity is BlockDAG (BDAG) , which has raised over $152 million and sold 16.6 billion BDAG coins. With BlockDAG’s special Black Friday offer, buyers rush to grab 150% more BDAG coins before the promotion ends on December 2nd. Fantom’s Price Climbs Ahead of Sonic Mainnet Fantom’s price soared by 21%, hitting an eight-month high of $1.13, as excitement builds for the upcoming Sonic mainnet launch. This jump was also fueled by increased whale activity and the partnership between Sonic Labs and OctavFi to enhance on-chain treasury management. In just one week, the price gained 56.47%. However, Fantom is still 68.84% below its all-time high despite this surge. Analysts believe that if FTM can break through the $1.13 resistance, it could continue climbing, with price targets potentially reaching $1.62 and beyond, assuming the market remains bullish. Polkadot’s Surge Following Cardano Integration Polkadot’s price has been on the rise, increasing 44% in the past week. DOT reached as high as $10 before settling around $8.20. This rally was triggered by the announcement of Polkadot’s integration with Cardano, a major step toward improving blockchain collaboration. Polkadot’s scalable, interconnected chain model and OpenGov system, which supports community governance, have created a positive outlook. Although DOT saw a slight retracement, the surge highlights Polkadot’s resilience and potential for future gains. BlockDAG’s Black Friday Deal: 150% Bonus on Every BDAG Purchase! BlockDAG, an innovative Layer 1 coin, has caught the crypto world’s attention with its presale success. The project has raised over $152 million to reach $600 million. BlockDAG’s key selling points include its scalability and efficiency, making it a strong contender for anyone interested in blockchain technology. BlockDAG offers a 150% bonus on every coin purchase from November 29 to December 2 to mark Black Friday. By using the code BLACKFRIDAY150 at checkout, buyers can get 150% more BDAG coins, making it an excellent time to join the BlockDAG ecosystem. This presale has been incredibly successful, with over 16.6 billion BDAG coins sold in 26 batches. The price has climbed from $0.001 in batch 1 to $0.0234 now, reflecting an impressive 2240% surge. This steady growth shows increasing demand for BDAG coins, and with each new batch, the price rises, making it more important than ever to secure your coins now. BlockDAG’s progress is no accident. The project has a clear roadmap and a strong strategy, focusing on scalability and blockchain innovation. As a result, BlockDAG is quickly becoming one of the most popular crypto projects . With the presale selling out quickly and the price rising with every batch, now is the perfect time to get involved before the prices increase further. Wrapping Up! The recent price spike in Fantom, driven by the anticipation of the Sonic mainnet launch, shows the project’s potential to captivate the market. Likewise, Polkadot’s surge, fueled by its integration with Cardano, reinforces its growing importance in the blockchain ecosystem. However, it’s BlockDAG that stands out with its impressive presale performance. The project has consistently grown by raising over $152 million and selling 16.6 billion BDAG coins. Early participants are making the most of the Black Friday promotion, securing a 150% bonus on their purchases. As prices continue to rise, this limited-time offer presents a rare chance to benefit from BlockDAG’s promising future. Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network Website: https://blockdag.network Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu Related Items: BlockDAG , press release Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Solana Eyes Spot ETF Approval and $1124 Price Target for 2025, ‘SOL Killer’ at $0.10 Hints at 16100% Rally BlockDAG (BDAG) or Flockerz (FLOCK): Find Your Top Presale Opportunity for Black Friday Gains 5 Best Coins to Buy in December: Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, Bonk, Pepe Coin and BlockDAG Stealing the Spotlight! CommentsDecember 14, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread by Columbia University Since 2006, Ruben Gonzalez's Columbia lab has used single-molecule light microscopy to study the structural dynamics of biomolecules. In lay person's terms, that means: they use hyper-powerful microscopes that generate movies of what individual molecules look like as they perform the actions that make our bodies tick. Gonzalez is a professor of biophysical chemistry in Columbia's Faculty of Arts and Sciences and at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and will become Dean of Science in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences in January. In a new paper out this month in the journal Nature , he and his lab describe a major new finding about how the eIF4F protein interacts with messenger RNAs. Columbia News spoke with Gonzalez about his research, and how his latest finding could affect drug treatments for diseases like cancer. Can you explain your lab's work broadly? My lab is interested in trying to understand how the motions of biomolecules—molecules produced by the body—contribute to their functions. We record movies to give us a data-informed sense of what those motions look like. That allows us to understand how the biology really functions, which in turn can help us and other scientists think about how we might control that biology by manipulating such motions, providing a new paradigm for developing therapies to tackle diseases like cancer. There are many cases where drugs act by impairing a biomolecular motion, so understanding that motion is crucial. The dream is to be able to record these movies at atomic scales and in real-time. But we're not there yet. What led you to record these movies? For a long time, static images of biomolecules at atomic scales exhibited blurry regions, which led scientists to the conclusion that parts of the biomolecule were moving, and that such motions might be important to biology. It sort of captured my imagination. What are the moving parts, and where are they moving? What is the timing of these motions, and why is all of this important? Those kinds of questions have really been the driving feature of all we do in the lab. We do a lot of technology development in my lab. We build these microscopes, we optimize them, we continuously push the technology. We also have a whole group that develops computational algorithms and software for the analysis of the data that comes from these. What does the new paper in Nature show? To make proteins, which are the building blocks of everything in our cells and in our bodies, cells need to prepare messenger RNAs (mRNAs), the molecules that carry the building instructions. They do that with the help of a protein called eukaryotic initiation factor 4F, or eIF4F, that must converge at a certain location at one end of the mRNA, which we call the mRNA "cap." Using our movie technology and led by graduate students Riley Gentry and Nicholas Ide, we discovered—quite unexpectedly—that eIF4F doesn't just directly assemble at the cap as everyone had always assumed. Instead, it 'hops' along the mRNA trying to identify the cap. One reason this is important is that drugs, such as anticancer drugs , that aim to disrupt this process in order to stop dangerous cells like cancer cells from proliferating currently target the direct assembly of eIF4F at the cap. Our finding provides a deeper understanding of how eIF4F actually finds its way to the cap on the mRNA, which will help us develop more targeted therapies for cancer and other diseases. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matter— daily or weekly . What makes the finding significant? There are a number of things that make this a significant finding. It's really redefining something fundamental about this critical biological function, in a way that will rewrite what's in textbooks. It also answers some big, decades-old questions that we and others have had, which is that we've known for decades that different regions and properties of the mRNA that are far away from the cap can influence the ability of eIF4F to converge at the cap, but no one has ever been able to figure out how that could be, and our findings help explain this. Another reason is that if you can develop drugs that influence the search that eIF4F does along the mRNA, it could have big implications. It could help us more precisely target particular mRNAs, manipulating the production of the specific proteins at the heart of the disease. That could mean that future cancer drugs would use something more like a scalpel than a sledgehammer to stop molecular motions that have gone awry, rather than halting a whole bunch of processes that include the dangerous ones you want to stop but also good ones you would want to leave unimpaired. More information: Riley C. Gentry et al, The mechanism of mRNA cap recognition, Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08304-0 Journal information: Nature Provided by Columbia UniversityThe City boss is enduring the worst run of his glittering managerial career after a six-game winless streak featuring five successive defeats and a calamitous 3-3 draw in a match his side had led 3-0. The 53-year-old, who has won 18 trophies since taking charge at the Etihad Stadium in 2016, signed a contract extension through to the summer of 2027 just over a week ago. Yet, despite his remarkable successes, he still considers himself vulnerable to the sack and has pleaded with the club to keep faith. “I don’t want to stay in the place if I feel like I’m a problem,” said the Spaniard, who watched in obvious frustration as City conceded three times in the last 15 minutes in a dramatic capitulation against Feyenoord in midweek. “I don’t want to stay here just because the contract is there. “My chairman knows it. I said to him, ‘Give me the chance to try come back’, and especially when everybody comes back (from injury) and see what happens. “After, if I’m not able to do it, we have to change because, of course, (the past) nine years are dead. “More than ever I ask to my hierarchy, give me the chance. “Will it be easy for me now? No. I have the feeling that still I have a job to do and I want to do it.” City have been hampered by a raft of injuries this term, most pertinently to midfield talisman and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri. The Euro 2024 winner is expected to miss the remainder of the season and his absence has been keenly felt over the past two months. Playmaker Kevin De Bruyne has also not started a match since September. The pressure continues to build with champions City facing a crucial trip to title rivals and Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday. Defeat would leave City trailing Arne Slot’s side by 11 points. “I don’t enjoy it at all, I don’t like it,” said Guardiola of his side’s current situation. “I sleep not as good as I slept when I won every game. “The sound, the smell, the perfume is not good enough right now. “But I’m the same person who won the four Premier Leagues in a row. I was happier because I ate better, lived better, but I was not thinking differently from who I am.” Guardiola is confident his side will not stop battling as they bid to get back on track. He said: “The people say, ‘Yeah, it’s the end of that’. Maybe, but we are in November. We will see what happens until the end. “What can you do? Cry for that? You don’t stay long – many, many years without fighting. That is what you try to look for, this is the best (way). “Why should we not believe? Why should it not happen with us?”