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US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Japan on Sunday in his last trip to the Indo-Pacific as the Pentagon chief, as he seeks to cement the Biden administration's policy legacy of deepening regional alliances and partnerships. Austin arrived at Yokota Air Base near Tokyo, kicking off the Asia swing that has excluded an anticipated stop in South Korea, another key US ally, in the aftermath of President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law attempt last week. During the trip through Wednesday, the secretary is scheduled to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, visit a US aircraft carrier and meet with American troops, and observe a military exercise involving Australian forces, according to a senior US defense official. "The secretary's trip is going to be highlighting how much the Department (of Defense) has achieved with Japan, a key treaty ally, over the last four years to advance peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," the official told reporters. "We are continuing to build on these accomplishments, and the next three days will give us a chance to see some of them in person and in implementation." Austin plans to meet Ishiba and Nakatani separately on Tuesday to take stock of progress that the two countries have made in recent years and underscore the importance of the alliance, the official said. Other events include his visit to the USS George Washington nuclear-powered aircraft carrier at the Yokosuka Naval Base and his observation of a US-Japan military exercise where Australian forces are participating for the first time. The secretary's trip to Japan comes as Washington sees Tokyo as vital to its "new convergence" efforts to bring together US allies and partners in fit-for-purpose groupings to promote a shared vision for a "free and open" Indo-Pacific. "New convergence of allies and partners, who share a vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, and (of) the stronger and more resilient and more capable, networked partnerships is strengthening deterrence in the region, and Japan is emerging as a common denominator of that network," the official said. The cancellation of Austin's visit to Seoul has added to concerns that the aftermath of the short-lived martial law imposition could affect security coordination between Seoul and Washington on North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats. After the martial law episode, Seoul and Washington also postponed a session of the Nuclear Consultative Group, the allies' key nuclear deterrence platform, and a related exercise originally slated to take place in Washington last week. US officials have expressed "grave concern" over the martial law declaration though they reiterated that America's commitment to the alliance with South Korea remains "ironclad." (Yonhap)It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that we share the news of the unexpected passing of Daniel “Dan” Rey Ericksen, 55, of Duluth, on November 19, 2024 at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center. His mother and all three of his brothers were at his side at the time of his passing. Dan was born in Duluth, Minnesota on December 27, 1968 to Stanley and Diane Ericksen, living his entire life in Duluth, a city he loved so much. Dan graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1987, where he enjoyed playing various sports, excelling in his favorite sport, basketball. He was an avid fan and was passionate about watching the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings and UMD Hockey games. The greatest joy in Dan’s life was the moment he welcomed his only son, Dominic, into the world. Watching Dominic grow and mature into the exceptional person he is today made Dan proud and appreciate his son even more. Dan thoroughly enjoyed watching Dominic participate in various sports competitions, both locally and away from Duluth. Dan hoped that he instilled many memories in Dominic for him to always remember how much his father loved him. Dan treasured the memories of going hunting and fishing with his son, brothers, family members and friends. Dan worked for the International Longshoreman’s Association Local 1037 since he was 17 years old. At the time of his death, Dan was the Vice-President of the ILA union. He has a great sense of humor, often joking and loved to make people laugh, which made his job and getting through life easier. Dan was preceded in death by his father, Stanley and his grandparents. He is survived by his mother, Diane of Duluth; his son, Dominic, of Faribault; and his three brothers: Tim of Duluth, “Rocky” (Tracy Davey) of Duluth and James (Stephanie) of Hermantown; and Dan’s many nieces and nephews. Dan leaves behind many loving family members and dear friends who he truly enjoyed sharing his life with. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Dan’s family would like to openly express their sincere gratitude and a heart-felt “Thank You” to the entire staff at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital Oncology Center for their compassionate and professionalism in caring for Dan. Dan’s “Celebration of Life” will be held at the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 4100 Grand Ave, in Duluth 11:00 am Saturday, January 11, 2025, with the visitation beginning at 10:00 am. A private family Inurnment service will be held at Calvary Cemetery at a later date.Breaking Down BorgWarner: 6 Analysts Share Their ViewsGrading the Giants’ 30-7 loss to the Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Offense Forget about any of the final stats, which look bad but not embarrassing. This was abominable. Three first downs and 45 total yards in the first half. Everyone knew Todd Bowles would blitz like crazy — everyone but the offensive line, apparently. Tommy DeVito (21 of 31, 189 yards) was overwhelmed in the first half. He was sacked four times in the game. Rookie Tyrone Tracy (9-42) had another costly fumble — it is becoming a problem. Malik Nabers (6-64) was not targeted in the first half, had some drops and is growing frustrated . No catches (only two targets) for Darius Slayton. C John Michael Schmitz was obliterated by Vita Vea on a second-quarter sack. LT Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) went out early. Daniel Jones clearly wasn’t the only problem, was he? Grade: F Defense Oh, there goes another missed tackle by the Gang That Couldn’t Wrap Up. High school teams get ballcarriers to the ground better than this. Baker Mayfield (24 of 30, 294 yards) ran for a TD and then mocked the Giants with DeVito’s signature hand gesture. To the victors go the taunting. Bucky Irving (12-87) led a 156-yard rushing attack. A missed tackle by Bobby Okereke set up the first Bucs TD. Okereke did force a fumble on Sean Tucker that forced Tampa to settle for a field goal. Tyler Nubin had a nice pass breakup on Mike Evans in the first quarter but the rookie safety whiffed several times. An illegal-contact penalty on Deonte Banks led to a Bucs TD. Banks seemed content to allow receivers to catch the ball in front of him and then try to make the tackle. Adoree’ Jackson blatantly dragged down Evans for a 23-yard pass interference penalty. D.J. Davidson had a fumble recovery. Grade: F Special Teams Jamie Gillan’s first punt put the Bucs back on their 16-yard line. His next punt sailed 53 yards and out of bounds on the Tampa 18. He put three down inside the 20. Good kickoff coverage to pin the Bucs back on their 2-yard line. No field goal attempts for the Giants. Grade: B Coaching If we hear “We had a good week of practice’’ one more time we’re going to have to throw something against the wall. Whatever Brian Daboll is selling, his players aren’t buying — and it is getting worse. It smacked of desperation to see Daboll go for it on fourth-and-1 on the Giants 37 late in the first quarter. As for defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, what exactly is his unit good at doing? Tackling is terrible, pass rush is suspect and stopping the run is optional. Grade: F

Johnson Lukaza Unveils Brand New Personal Website To Inspire Innovation And LeadershipNEW ORLEANS (AP) — A lopsided, shutout loss has left the beat-up New Orleans Saints limping into the final two games of a lost season — and into a rather cloudy future beyond that. Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi figured that a visit to playoff-bound Green Bay would be a tall order for his injury-riddled squad, whose prominent missing players included starters at quarterback, running back and receiver. And when New Orleans’ mostly healthy defensive front struggled against a Packers ground game led by running back Josh Jacobs, the rout was on. Nothing “stuck out on film other than a lack of execution and lack of playmaking,” Rizzi said Tuesday after reviewing video of Monday night’s 34-0 loss at Green Bay . “We played against a playoff team, at their place, that has very few holes on their team,” Rizzi added. “It was a little bit of a perfect storm.” Rizzi, a special teams coordinator who has made no secret that he sees his eight-game interim stint as an opportunity to further his head-coaching ambitions, has two more games left in what has been an up-and-down audition. The Saints are 3-3 on his watch, which includes one of New Orleans’ most lopsided losses since the turn of the century. With the playoffs unattainable, and with a lot of reserves pressed into service, the final two weeks will serve primarily as a player-evaluation period heading into the offseason, when there are bound to be myriad changes on the roster and perhaps the coaching staff. Rizzi said the Saints, realistically, have been in evaluation mode “for the last month or so,” but added that there maybe be additional young or practice-squad players getting longer looks in the final two games. “My big thing this week is to see how we can respond,” Rizzi said. “We’re going to find out a lot about a lot of people.” What’s working Of the Saints’ four punts, three were inside the Green Bay 20 and New Orleans did not allow a single punt return yard. The punt team might have been the only unit that executed its job (even the kickoff unit allowed a 38-yard return). What needs help The Saints had trouble protecting the quarterback (three sacks) and protecting the football (two turnovers). They couldn’t run the ball (67 yards). They couldn’t stop the run (188 yards allowed). They couldn’t pass the ball consistently (129 yards) or stop the pass when they needed to. As former Saints coach Jim Mora once said, they couldn’t do “ diddly poo .” Although rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler largely struggled and was responsible for both New Orleans turnovers, he had enough highlights — including a jumping, first-down pass on third-and-long — to keep him penciled in as the starter if the injured Derek Carr remains unable to play, Rizzi said. “It was definitely a performance where we got to take the good with the bad,” Rizzi said. “We’ve got to get rid of those negative plays.” Stock up New Orleans native Foster Moreau has emerged as one of the Saints’ most reliable offensive players. The sixth-year NFL tight end made two catches for a team-high 33 yards on Monday night, giving him 25 catches for 335 yards this season. His four TDs receiving entering the game remain tied for the team lead. Stock down Rizzi was riding high after two wins to start his interim term as head coach, but Monday night’s ugly loss is the club’s third in four games and took a lot of luster off his candidacy for a longer-term appointment. Injury report Center Erik McCoy left the game with an elbow injury, while guard Lucas Patrick hurt his knee in the closing minutes. Rizzi said McCoy won’t need surgery but could miss the rest of the season. The coach said Patrick needs more tests but is not expected to play again this season. While the chances of Carr (non-throwing, left hand) or top running back Alvin Kamara (groin) playing again this season appear slim, the Saints have declined to rule that out. Rizzi said Carr is getting closer to being able to play and wants the opportunity to go against his former team, the Las Vegas Raiders. Meanwhile, Rizzi said Kamara “is working his tail off to try to come back” this season. “Alvin told me this morning, in my office, that he really would like to play again,” Rizzi said. Key number 24 — The number of years since the Saints suffered a more lopsided shutout loss, 38-0 against San Francisco in 2002. Up next The Saints’ home finale against lowly Las Vegas will be an anticlimactic affair bound to generate a level of fan interest similar to, if not less than, a preseason game. But the game will be important to the current regime, which needs victories in each of the club’s final two games to avoid the franchise’s worst record since it was displaced by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and went 3-13. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

T'puram: The Little KITEs project, under Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE) in govt and aided schools, is set to launch 260 two-day sub-district camps with the support of Unicef . Beginning Nov 23, these camps will focus on developing programmes that utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to assist children with special needs (CWSN). Another unique feature of this year's camps is the creation of animation programmes to raise awareness about environmental conservation . A highlight of the camp is the development of AI-powered programmes that enable children with speech and hearing difficulties to communicate using sign language. These modules will not only facilitate the learning of sign language but also encourage interaction with such children. Video classes for this purpose will also be introduced in the camps. Children will also create animation films based on the concept of a devastated area being restored to greenery through the efforts of two birds. K Anvar Sadath, CEO, KITE, said that 15,668 students selected from school-level camps will participate in the sub-district camps among the 2.08 lakh members of 2,219 Little KITEs units this year and 1200 trainers have been equipped for it. The camps have been scheduled in various batches without affecting school days.

In 2020, a conspiracy theory spread across social media claiming that online home goods retailer Wayfair was involved in child trafficking . People claimed that odd pricing and certain product names were evidence of the theory. VERIFY reader Leslie emailed us to ask if Wayfair was ever involved in the sex trafficking of children. THE QUESTION Is Wayfair involved in the sex trafficking of children? THE SOURCES National Center on Sexual Exploitation DeliverFund , a nonprofit intelligence agency that uses technology to help law enforcement fight human trafficking Polaris , organization that operates the U.S. National Human Trafficking hotline Original VERIFY reporting in 2020 Statement from Wayfair to the BBC in 2020 THE ANSWER No, there is no evidence to support the claims that Wayfair was involved in the sex trafficking of children. WHAT WE FOUND When the conspiracy theory first spread in 2020, people on social media pointed to Wayfair products with strange names and disproportionately high prices as proof that the online furniture store was involved in child trafficking. These products included a “Samiyah Storage Cabinet” priced at over $14,000 and a “Duplessis Zodiac Sign Astrological Constellation Personalized Throw Pillow” at $9,999. At the time, people claimed that these products shared the names of girls that were reported missing. The theory followed that the products had high prices because they were fronts for selling the missing girls. Wayfair told the BBC in 2020 that the prices were accurate for the industrial grade cabinets and were the result of a glitch in the case of the pillows. The viral social media posts frequently linked products to girls who were no longer missing. Multiple anti-trafficking groups said the claims were unproven and likely false. “We believe that the accusations being leveled against Wayfair regarding sex trafficking are lacking credibility in significant ways and, in many places, demonstrably false,” the National Center on Sexual Exploitation said at the time. In 2020, VERIFY found that the family of Samara Duplessis, a missing girl purportedly linked to the overpriced pillows, reported she was back home a couple of months before the Wayfair conspiracy became widespread. When VERIFY searched Wayfair for “Duplessis” products in 2020, we found the name attached to a number of different items that were considerably less expensive than the pillow. When VERIFY searched Wayfair’s site again on Dec. 2, 2024, we found it’s using the “Duplessis” name for at least one product, a rug selling for $144.99 , years after the missing girl was found. As for the reference to the cabinets in the original rumors, people claimed that there was a missing teenager from Ohio named Samiyah, too. But VERIFY was unable to find any evidence that a girl by that name was missing, and a teenager some people believed to be Samiyah refuted that she was missing in a video posted to her Facebook account. Wayfair told the BBC in 2020 that the expensive cabinets were “industrial size,” meant for business or commercial use and that the $14,000 price point was accurate. “We have temporarily removed the products from our site to rename them and to provide a more in-depth description and photos that accurately depict the product to clarify the price point,” Wayfair told the BBC in 2020. Another example of a missing teenager’s name possibly matching a Wayfair product was Mary Durrett to a Durrett coffee table. But she went missing in 2017 and was found safe two days after she was first reported missing. The claim connecting her to the coffee table listing was posted three years later. Many anti-trafficking organizations addressed the rumors in 2020. They all said the claims lacked credibility. “We identified early on that this was a likely hoax or a case of overexuberance by someone who did not have the expertise and data-driven approach that DeliverFund has,” Michael Fullilove, chief of operations for DeliverFund , a nonprofit intelligence agency that uses technology to help law enforcement fight human trafficking, said in 2020. “Based on the original source of the information, we were able to use open source intelligence techniques to determine that it was highly unlikely that the trafficking of children was taking place through the sale of expensive items on Wayfair,” Fullilove said. Polaris , which operates the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline, said the claims were unsubstantiated and did more harm than good. People overwhelmed the hotline to make reports related to the conspiracy, increasing wait times and potentially denying trafficking victims from reaching the hotline. The theory also resulted in harassment and privacy intrusions of people mistakenly believed to be victims, as well as broad sharing of online sexual abuse material of real victims never connected to the Wayfair conspiracy, Polaris said. Polaris pointed out that trafficking is rarely perpetrated by a total stranger who kidnaps children and is instead usually perpetrated by people the victims know or even love and trust. Scenarios where the trafficker locks up or imprisons the victim with literal shackles make up a minority of trafficking cases despite it being the common public perception of trafficking, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation said. Traffickers usually groom their victims and keep them captive through forms of psychological abuse, manipulation and coercion that can be difficult to identify. There are real cases in which sex trafficking is perpetrated online, usually through prostitution sites and pornography websites, according to the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation said in 2020 that traffickers were increasingly using “popular social media apps such as Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok to identify, groom and exploit children in the online space.” Anti-trafficking organizations say that sharing viral, unsubstantiated trafficking rumors online is generally unhelpful to trafficking victims. What’s more helpful, these organizations say , is to learn how to identify real, common cases of trafficking to spot victims who need help. VERIFY reached out to Wayfair for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication. Related Articles No, most sex trafficking victims are not kidnapped by strangers There’s no evidence sex traffickers use tactics in viral warnings to target victims Claim that 320,000 migrant children went missing during the Biden administration is misleading The VERIFY team works to separate fact from fiction so that you can understand what is true and false. Please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter , text alerts and our YouTube channel . You can also follow us on Snapchat , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . Learn More » Follow Us YouTube Snapchat Instagram Facebook TikTok Want something VERIFIED? Text: 202-410-8808

President-elect Donald Trump on Monday held a wide-ranging news conference in which he said he would preserve access to the polio vaccine but equivocated on other vaccines, pledged to look at bringing down the costs of pharmaceuticals and expressed doubts that his daughter-in-law might be Florida's next senator. Trump held forth for over an hour, the first time he took questions from reporters since winning the election. The event harkens back to his long-winding news conferences from his first term and is a stark contrast from President Joe Biden , who doesn't often take questions from reporters. Here's a look at some of what he touched on: Trump defended his choice for health secretary, prominent vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , but said he personally is a “big believer” in the polio vaccine and would preserve access to it. “You’re not going to lose the polio vaccine," he said. “That’s not going to happen.” Over the weekend, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who had polio as a child, spoke out in defense of the polio vaccine after a recent report disclosed that one of Kennedy's advisers filed a petition to revoke approval for the polio vaccine in 2022. Kennedy has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Trump seemed to question whether there’s a link, saying “We’re looking to find out,” and remarked on the rising cases of autism being diagnosed. “There’s something wrong, and we’re going to find out about it,” he said. There are no blood or biological tests for autism; instead, a doctor bases the diagnosis on a child’s behavior. While the autism diagnosis has been available for at least 80 years, the definition gradually expanded to include milder cases, which are more common. A study last year found that about a quarter of kids with autism — about 110,000 in the U.S. — have the most severe version of the developmental disability, which has left them unable to speak or with an IQ below 50 or both. Of Kennedy, “He’s going to be much less radical than you would think," he said. "I think he’s got a very open mind, or I wouldn’t have put him there.” Trump described a dinner he had this month with Kennedy; Dr. Mehmet Oz , a celebrity heart surgeon turned talk show host and lifestyle guru whom he's tapped to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and top pharmaceutical executives in which they discussed drug prices. Trump heaped praise on the companies — the same ones that Kennedy has routinely argued profit off of Americans unfairly — but said the high cost of health care was a focus of their dinner. “What came out of that meeting is that we’re paying far too much,” Trump said. Trump also hit pharmaceutical benefits managers, calling them “horrible middlemen” who drive up the cost of drugs. Pharmaceutical companies have been aggressively lobbying Congress to restrict the role of pharmaceutical benefit managers, which help health insurance companies’ biggest clients decide how and what prescription drugs will be covered in their insurance plans. “I don’t know who these middlemen are, but they are rich as hell," Trump said. The press conference was Trump’s most extensive public appearance since his victory six weeks ago — a rare absence from the public stage for the former reality star. But it also underscored how even while president-elect, Trump has seized the spotlight from Biden, who still has a month left on his term in office. Biden has not held a press conference in months and has had a limited public schedule. While Trump was addressing some of the top-of-mind issues of the day -- including sightings of drones flying over the Northeast -- Biden himself has been silent, leaving it to aides to try to calm the public. Trump seemed skeptical that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis would appoint his daughter-in-law to be a Florida senator, taking the seat held by Marco Rubio, who has been nominated for secretary of state. Asked whether he expected DeSantis to name Lara Trump to replace Rubio, Trump said, “I probably don’t, but I don’t know.” Trump recently spoke with DeSantis at a memorial for Florida law enforcement officers. Trump's allies have been pushing DeSantis to nominate Lara Trump, who is married to Trump's son, Eric, and served as co-chair of the Republican National Committee this year. “Ron’s doing a good job with his choice," Trump said, without elaborating. He lavished praise on Lara Trump, including for her work at the RNC, where part of her duties involved focusing on “election integrity,” a priority of Trump's after he falsely claimed fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Trump indicated he would look at intervening in the potential ban of TikTok in the U.S. The popular social media platform must cut ties with its China-based parent company or be banned by mid-January under a federal law. He didn't offer specifics, but Trump credited the platform with helping him win the election. His campaign saw it as a bridge to reach younger, less politically engaged voters, particularly when clips circulated showing him with celebrities at UFC fights. “We’ll take a look at TikTok,” he said. “You know, I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok." Trump tried to ban TikTok during his first term but changed his mind and pledged to “save” TikTok. Once he takes office, his Justice Department would be tasked with enforcing the new federal law against TikTok. Trump on Monday was meeting with TikTok CEO Shou Chew at his Mar-a-Lago club, according to two people familiar with the president-elect’s plans who were not authorized to speak publicly about them and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity. Trump noted the differences between the first time he was to take office eight years ago and today, saying executives now want to meet with him. He said they were “hostile” back then. “Everybody was fighting me,” he said about his first term. “This term, everybody wants to be my friend. I don’t know. My personality changed or something.” While he left office in 2021 ostracized and angry, Trump has had a stunning turnaround leading to his election win. Last week, he was honored by being named Time magazine’s Person of the Year and ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. His meeting with the TikTok executive was part of a string of meetings he's had with Silicon Valley billionaires and other technology leaders since becoming president-elect. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai have all flown to Trump's club to meet with him. He revealed Monday that he had also met with Google co-founder Sergey Brin. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos will meet with him this week, Trump said. “We have a lot of great executives coming in — the top executives, the top bankers, they’re all calling," he said. "It’s like a complete opposite from the first one.” With multiple wars going on, Trump has sought to insert himself back on the world stage. He said he is working to get Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza to be released and had a “very good talk” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But on Monday he seemed to buffer expectations about his promise to solve the Russia-Ukraine war even before taking office, describing the conflict as a “tough one” and a “nasty one." “We are trying to get that war stopped, that horrible, horrible war” he said. “It’s a tough one. It’s a nasty one. It’s nasty. People are being killed at levels that nobody’s ever seen.” Russia's invasion of Ukraine is Europe’s biggest armed conflict since World War II and has cost tens of thousands of lives on both sides. Trump declined to say whether he's spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin since winning the election. He met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris this month when he visited for the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral. Trump's incoming press secretary has said that Trump invited Chinese leader Xi Jinping and other world leaders to his Jan. 20 inauguration, but Trump said Monday that Zelenskyy was not among them. “If he'd like to come, I'd like to have him," Trump said. Trump said Xi has not yet said whether he is coming. He described the Chinese leader as “a friend of mine” and “an amazing guy” but acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic had affected their relationship. “It was a bridge too far for me,” he said. Associated Press writers Zeke Miller and Amanda Seitz in Washington and Colleen Long in Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report.Mystery drone sightings continue in New Jersey and across the US. Here's what we know

AMGEN TO PRESENT AT CITI'S 2024 GLOBAL HEALTHCARE CONFERENCEKYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Russian ballistic missile struck a residential building Tuesday in the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih and at least one person was killed, local authorities said. Gov. Serhii Lysak said at least 11 other people were injured and more people could be trapped beneath the rubble of the four-story apartment block. Social media footage showed one side of the building had almost completely collapsed. “Unfortunately, we are preparing for difficult news,” Mayor Oleksandr Vilkul wrote on his Telegram channel. Minutes before his post, Ukraine’s air force alerted a “ballistic missile strike threat” for southern and central regions of Ukraine, later signaling a “high-speed” target flying in the direction of Kryvyi Rih. The strike came as Ukraine prepared to officially celebrate Christmas for the second time on Dec. 25. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed legislation in July 2023 to bring Ukraine’s public Christmas holiday in line with the majority of other European countries, rather than the later date followed in Russia. The shift sought to assert Ukraine’s national identity amid Russia’s full-scale invasion. “While the rest of the world celebrates Christmas, Ukrainians continue to suffer from endless Russian attacks,” Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, wrote on social media.

100Pay has partnered with Visa, the payment giant, to introduce a new crypto-backed debit card, PayCard, aimed at simplifying global payments. The PayCard enables users to spend cryptocurrencies directly, both online and offline, without converting them to traditional fiat currency. The partnership uses Visa’s global payment infrastructure to support seamless crypto transactions, 100Pay said in its statement to The PUNCH. According to 100Pay, the card is available in three tiers—Standard, Elite, and Titanium Black—with spending limits of $100,000, $500,000, and $1m, respectively. The company noted that only 20,000 cards will be released initially, with pre-orders open and deliveries starting December 30. 100Pay said the PayCard supports over 22 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and USDT. The card integrates with digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, allowing for contactless payments and ATM withdrawals worldwide. Related News Insurance firms eye N4.98bn profit in 2025 Firms partner to cut forex spending on healthcare NIWA to engage firms for hyacinth clearing The Chief Executive Officer of 100Pay, Brainy Josh, described the PayCard’s convenience, stating, “You’re holding cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. The advantage is that you can spend these assets directly without having to convert them first.” The company added that users who transact with 100Pay’s native token, $PAY, will receive up to a 5 per cent discount, and successful referrals will earn users $4 as an incentive. 100Pay also announced plans to collaborate with fintech developers to expand the card’s reach and adoption. The company invited developers to partner in offering similar solutions to their user bases. Addressing potential challenges, 100Pay acknowledged concerns over cryptocurrency volatility and regulatory uncertainties. The company emphasised its commitment to complying with global payment standards and ensuring a secure platform for users. 100Pay stated that the PayCard aims to streamline borderless crypto transactions and reduce the friction associated with peer-to-peer transfers, positioning it as a tool for facilitating global payments.A delegation of the Andhra Pradesh government led by IT and Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh and Health Minister Y. Satya Kumar visited the Tata Digital Nerve Centre (DiNC) at Kolar in Karnataka on December 16, Monday. The DiNC is the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)’s innovative delivery model designed to connect, communicate, coordinate and deliver healthcare by leveraging people, infrastructure and a robust digital platform. During the visit, which included a walkthrough at the Vemgal PHC and Health and Wellness Centre at Shettihalli that are powered by DiNC, Mr. Lokesh emphasised the importance of adopting innovative healthcare models to improve public health systems in Andhra Pradesh. Tata MD (Medical & Diagnostics) Limited MD Girish Krishnamurthy gave a presentation on the services being rendered by DiNC and highlighted its impact on government health programmes in Karnataka. He organised live demonstrations of DiNC’s use cases in reproductive and child health, non-communicable disease management and mental health coordination. An official release from the A.P. government stated that the visit by the Ministers highlighted the government’s commitment to adopting cutting-edge technologies for the transformation of public healthcare system. The insights gained by them would aid in developing advanced, tech-enabled healthcare initiatives in Andhra Pradesh, thereby ensuring improved healthcare access and outcomes for its citizens. Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board CEO C.M. Saikanth Varma and other officials accompanied the Ministers. Published - December 17, 2024 03:42 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit

TOWNSHEND — The Leland & Gray boys basketball team lost their first league game against Springfield on Monday 65-42, but had a strong offensive showing from their senior Cody Hescock, which they will hope to build off as they look for their first win of the season. Hescock ended the game with 24 points for the Rebels (0-3), leading all scorers. After the Rebels graduated five seniors last year, Hescock is one of just two seniors this season, along with Ely White, who has been out since the first game with a broken nose. Spencer Claussen, who is a sophomore, joins Hescock and White as returning players who saw significant minutes last year, while junior Ryder Butynski also returns from the varsity roster last season. Against the visiting Cosmos (1-2), Rebels first year head coach Bob Culver started each of his available varsity players who were Claussen, juniors Logan Plimpton and Colin Dunleavy-Mercier, Hescock, and Butynski. White and junior Jax Meister, the other full-time varsity players for the Rebels, were out of the lineup due to injury. When White returns from injury, Culver said either Plimpton or Butynski will help give the Rebels meaningful minutes off the bench. With only five of his seven varsity players in action against the Cosmos, Culver has also pulled up some players from junior varsity, with freshmen Dakota Shippee, Frank Flood, Connor Richardson, and sophomores Lucas Gleason and Orren Styles added to the lineup for the Rebels. Culver said Flood, Styles and Richardson will provide depth at the forward position, and Shippee was pulled up in their last game to help out at guard. Gleason is also listed at the guard position. “We felt it was important to make sure they do get minutes on JV and not just sit on the bench on varsity. It’s important for these players to get those minutes, get the experience, and then if we can get them in, we get in foul trouble ... get minutes up here too. We need them,” said Culver. Something that Culver has stressed so far this year is his team playing with composure in pressure situations. The Cosmos applied a full court press against the Rebels, which is something they had a hard time with early in the game, but Culver was pleased with how his team adjusted to the pressure as the game went on. In these situations, Culver wants his team to slow the game down, and trust that they know what to do in those times. Offensively, Culver wants to base what they run on whether the opposing team is playing zone or man-to-man defense. Against zones, Culver wants his team to spread the court and move the ball with passing to draw out the defense and get everyone involved. Against man-to-man on offense Culver wants Claussen, who finished with nine points against the Cosmos, to isolate and beat his defender to force help defense and allow him to either attack the rim or pass to the open player. “I think tonight it worked out alright ... there were moments that we did it perfect, it looked beautiful, then moments we just got flustered ... and they got two points on the other end because of a silly turnover” said Culver. On the defensive side, this is something Culver said has been impacted by both injuries and the lack of numbers he has on the bench. Culver said he prefers man-to-man defense, but is also going to be mixing in some zone when necessary. He said he would like to implement some pressure man-to-man defense as well, but admitted this is difficult with having short numbers on the bench as he doesn’t want to deplete the energy of his players that he needs in the game. Culver said once his team is fully healthy, he wants to implement a press on defense to help jumpstart their transition game and get easy layups as opposed to slowing down the speed of play and having to set up a look on offense. The Rebels didn’t show any full court pressure in the game against Springfield, which Culver attributed to his team’s lack of numbers on the bench. “We were just five players essentially tonight ... they had a lot deeper bench, we weren’t going to be able to keep up with them legs wise I don’t think if we tried that,” said Culver. As the season continues, Culver said that one of the biggest challenges the team will face is continuing to deal with limited personnel. This includes the next two games, as the Rebels will be without Hescock, according to Culver, starting with their home game on Friday against Grace Christian. Culver said the hardest part about missing players is making sure that everyone else is up to speed, especially those who are new to the varsity level. The Rebels host Grace Christian Friday at 7 p.m. They will close out the calendar year with a road game against Poultney on Monday at 7 p.m. “I’m looking forward to seeing what Cody [Hescock] and Ely [White] do as seniors. I’ve been working with Cody for four years now since he’s been a freshman on varsity,” said Culver. “So I’m really excited to see how he does his senior year, and how his improvement, his growth has come, and become a real leader.”Kaizer Chiefs may pursue interest in several stars in the upcoming January transfer window . Here are four midfielders and their values. Kaizer Chiefs looking for a midfield maestro? Sihle Nduli The South African’s to Siseko Gwegwe reports on Chiefs’ desire to land Stellies midfielder Sihle Nduli’s signature. Apparently he’s got a bit of Andrea Pirlo in him. Estimated transfer value: R10.5 million Bongani Zungu Bongani Zungu, nicknamed Ben10, has 29 Bafana Bafana caps and experience across Europe. He’s strutted his stuff in the top tiers of Scotland, France and Portugal with Glasgow Rangers, Amiens and Vitoria Guimaraes. His stock peaked, according to transfermarkt , in January 2018 when he was valued at €3.5m (R67 million). However, it’s been a steady decline since. Zungu departed for Europe in 2026 and jumped around clubs until 2022 when he made a return to Sundowns. He made his Bafana debut in 2013 which feels like an awfully long time ago. Estimates transfer value: R7 million Sphelele Mkhulise Kaizer Chiefs are keen to approach Sundowns’ technically gifted midfield schemer Sphelele Mkhulise. The 28-year-old from Pietermaritzburg has three goals from eight appearances across all competitions this term. However, he only made 15 league appearances for the champions last term. Overall, he’s made 156 appearances for them, scoring 10 goals and supplying five assists. Although Manqoba Mngqithi has sung his praises, he’s also opened the door to a sale by proclaiming that Mkhulise isn’t productive enough in the final third. That being said, the man is a serial winner who’s been there, done that and got the T-shirt. Could Chiefs do with a guy like that in the dressing room? Estimates transfer value: R13.7 million Estimated values via transfermarkt . Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or emailing info@thesouthafrican.com . You can also send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for your social fix.