super powers

super powers PTI following philosophy of its ‘anarchist’ founder: Nasir Sindh Minister for Energy, Planning and Development Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said on Saturday the Pakistani economy is moving towards positive indicators, and Pakistan is playing its unique role in maintaining peace in the world and making immense sacrifices against terrorists. I a statement, he said Pakistan is moving towards development, so a provincial government is trying to rise in Islamabad with government equipment and machinery. Also, an apolitical woman of the same agitation party wants to spoil the relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, he alleged. Shah said terrorists were massacring innocent passengers in Parachinar and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was preparing to attack Islamabad and the entire leadership of the PTI was following the philosophy of its anarchist founder, i.e. "if not me, then nothing". He said this group always tries unsuccessfully to create chaos and uncertainty in the country. It should be remembered that any kind of chaos will not be tolerated in Pakistan and bullying, sit-ins and attacks cannot be allowed, he stressed. The minister paid tributes to the successful organisation of the four-day International Defence Exhibition Ideas 2024 at the Expo Centre. In a statement, the provincial minister said it was a matter of pride for all of them to hold the IDEAS 2024 in Karachi. He said that in the exhibition, 82 agreements worth billions of rupees were signed for the purchase and sale of defence, war and military equipment. The IDEAS 2024 is a major milestone in defence market exposure, sales, joint ventures, outsourcing and technical cooperation. Moreover, IDEAS 2024 paves the way for international cooperation, new business opportunities, and local industry development for the development of Pakistan's defense market, he added. Shah said the international event also reflects that Pakistan is second to none in terms of defence capability wherever it seeks peace and prosperity. He said that there were immense opportunities for investment and joint ventures in the country. ‘Not political’ The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has become a party prone to discord and it does not seem like a political entity, said Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani late on Friday night while talking to media persons after visiting the ongoing Sindh Crafts Festival at Port Grand, adds our correspondent. Ghani, who is also the Karachi chief of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), said that November 24 was not the first day on which the PTI had given a call for protest, as it had given such calls several times in the past. He predicted that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister would have a limited role in the upcoming protest, as was the case in the previous protest, as he would instantly leave Islamabad after reaching the federal capital without any achievement. Responding to a question, the local government minister said political activities should not be banned in the country, but the state was obligated to prevent anyone attempting to cause damage. Earlier, Sindh Culture Minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah welcomed Ghani on his arrival at the venue of the Sindh Crafts Festival. The local government minister was presented with a traditional Sindhi cap and Ajrak. He then visited various stalls and interacted with craftsmen. Ghani told media persons that the Sindh culture department frequently organised such events. He expressed the hope that many residents of Karachi would visit the festival in the following two days. He mentioned that different folk artistes would also perform on the occasion. He expressed appreciation for the festival's focus on showcasing the craftsmanship of artisans from across Sindh.Continuing unemployment benefit applications are now at their highest in more than three years. Data released Thursday (Dec. 26) by the U.S. Labor Department showed these applications — typically seen as a stand-in for the number of people getting benefits — climbing to 1.91 million for the week ending Dec. 14. The data also showed initial claims — a proxy for the number of people being laid off — were down somewhat, 219,000 for the week ending Dec. 21. “The low level of initial jobless claims this year reflects the low take-up rate of unemployment benefits — due to ineligibility for some persons, and a lack of incentives to apply among those who are eligible,” said Eliza Winger , Bloomberg economist. “The surge of continuing jobless claims, with laid-off workers facing longer stretches of unemployment, shows the labor market slowing.” The new data comes days after the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index showed consumer confidence falling in December, with a growing number of Americans expressing concerns about politics and tariffs . The index dropped by 8.1 points to 104.7, a move that reversed a November rebound in consumer confidence and brought the index back to the middle of the range it has been in for the past two years. The December results showed a 1.2-point decline in the Present Situation Index, which measures consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions, and a 12.6-point dip in the Expectations Index, which tracks consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business and labor market conditions. “While weaker consumer assessments of the present situation and expectations contributed to the decline, the expectations component saw the sharpest drop,” Dana M. Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board, said in a news release. “Consumer views of current labor market conditions continued to improve, consistent with recent jobs and unemployment data, but their assessment of business conditions weakened.” An increasing share of consumers said their views on the economy were being impacted by tariffs and the outcome of November’s election , with 46% of consumers saying tariffs will raise the cost of living, while 21% expect tariffs to create jobs. The index came days after the release of the University of Michigan Survey of Consumers for December, showing that consumer sentiment rose 3.1% in December and reached its highest point since April.Michigan, Ohio State fight broken up with police pepper spray after Wolverines stun Buckeyes 13-10ORRVILLE, Ohio , Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The J. M. Smucker Company (the "Company") (NYSE: SJM) today announced the pricing terms for its previously announced cash tender offers (each, an "Offer" and collectively, the "Offers") to purchase up to $300 million aggregate purchase price, not including accrued and unpaid interest (the "Offer Cap"), of the Company's validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) notes set forth below (the "Notes") using a "waterfall" methodology under which the Company will accept the Notes in order of their respective acceptance priority levels noted in the table below (the "Acceptance Priority Levels"). The Offers are being made pursuant to an Offer to Purchase, dated December 3, 2024 (the "Offer to Purchase"), which sets forth a description of the terms of the Offers. As of 10:00 a.m. New York City time, on December 17, 2024 (the "Price Determination Time"), the Company expects to accept for purchase pursuant to the Offers the full amount of the 2.750% Senior Notes due 2041 (which have an Acceptance Priority Level of 1), the full amount of the 3.550% Senior Notes due 2050 (which have an Acceptance Priority Level of 2) and a portion of the 2.125% Senior Notes due 2032 (which have an Acceptance Priority Level of 3) validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Early Tender Time (as defined below) on a prorated basis as described in the Offer to Purchase, using a proration factor of approximately 69.9%, so that the aggregate purchase price does not exceed the Offer Cap. The 4.375% Senior Notes due 2045 (which have an Acceptance Priority Level of 4) and the 5.900% Senior Notes due 2028 (which have an Acceptance Priority Level of 5) will not be accepted for purchase. The "Total Consideration" to be paid for the Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to 5:00 p.m. , New York City time, on December 16, 2024 (the "Early Tender Time") and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offers, includes an early tender premium of $30 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes so tendered and accepted for purchase (the "Early Tender Premium"), which will not constitute an additional or increased payment. In addition to the applicable Total Consideration, holders who validly tender and do not validly withdraw their Notes, and whose Notes are accepted for purchase in the Offers will also be paid any applicable accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding, December 19, 2024 (the "Early Settlement Date"). The Total Consideration has been determined in the manner described in the Offer to Purchase by reference to a fixed spread for each of the Notes over the applicable yield to maturity of the applicable U.S. Treasury Security (the "Reference Treasury Security"), determined at the Price Determination Time as specified in the table below and on the cover page of the Offer to Purchase in the column entitled "Reference U.S. Treasury Security." The table below includes only the Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to the Early Tender Time that the Company expects to accept for purchase pursuant to the Offers. Acceptance Priority Level (1) Title of Security CUSIP Number Outstanding Principal Amount Reference U.S. Treasury Security (2) Bloomberg Reference Page Reference Yield Fixed Spread (bps) Total Consideration (3) 1 2.750% Senior Notes due 2041 832696AV0 $300,000,000 4.625% UST due 11/15/2044 FIT 1 4.666 % +85 $700.18 2 3.550% Senior Notes due 2050 832696AT5 $300,000,000 4.250% UST due 8/15/2054 FIT 1 4.596 % +95 $730.52 3 2.125% Senior Notes due 2032 832696AU2 $500,000,000 4.250% UST due 11/15/2034 FIT 1 4.391 % +50 $833.04 The Company is offering to accept the maximum principal amount of validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) Notes in the Offer for which the aggregate purchase price, not including accrued and unpaid interest, does not exceed $300 million using a "waterfall" methodology under which the Company will accept the Notes in order of their respective Acceptance Priority Levels noted in the table above. The Total Consideration for Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) prior to or at the Early Tender Time and accepted for purchase is calculated using the applicable fixed spread as described in the Offer to Purchase. The Early Tender Premium of $30 per $1,000 principal amount is included in the Total Consideration for each series of Notes set forth above and does not constitute an additional or increased payment. Holders of Notes will also receive accrued and unpaid interest on Notes accepted for purchase up to, but excluding, the Early Settlement Date. Per $1,000 principal amount of Notes. Includes the Early Tender Premium of $30 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes. All conditions of the Offers were deemed satisfied by the Company, or timely waived by the Company. Accordingly, the Company expects to accept for purchase, and pay for, $300 million aggregate purchase price of Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) on the Early Settlement Date. Although the Offers are scheduled to expire at 5:00 p.m. , New York City time, on January 2, 2025, unless extended or terminated, because the aggregate purchase price of Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) prior to or at the Early Tender Time exceeded the Offer Cap, there will be no Final Settlement Date (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), and no Notes tendered after the Early Tender Time will be accepted for purchase. Notes tendered and not purchased on December 19, 2024 (the "Early Settlement Date") will be returned to holders promptly after the Early Settlement Date. This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell securities. No offer, solicitation, purchase or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful. The Offers are being made solely pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC are serving as Dealer Managers for the Offers (each, a "Dealer Manager" and together, the "Dealer Managers"). Questions regarding the Offers may be directed to Goldman Sachs at (800) 828-3182 (toll free) or (212) 357-­1452 (collect) or to J.P. Morgan at (866) 834-4666 (toll free) or (212) 834-3554 (collect). Requests for the Offer to Purchase or the documents incorporated by reference therein may be directed to D.F. King & Co., Inc., which is acting as the Tender Agent and Information Agent for the Offers, at SJM@dfking.com or the following telephone numbers: banks and brokers at (212) 269-5550; all others toll free at (866) 620-2535. The J. M. Smucker Company Forward-Looking Statements This press release ("Release") includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. The forward-looking statements may include statements concerning our current expectations, estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events, conditions, plans and strategies that are not historical fact. Any statement that is not historical in nature is a forward-looking statement and may be identified by the use of words and phrases such as "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "will," "plan," "strive" and similar phrases. Federal securities laws provide a safe harbor for forward-looking statements to encourage companies to provide prospective information. We are providing this cautionary statement in connection with the safe harbor provisions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, when evaluating the information presented in this Release, as such statements are by nature subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements and from our historical results and experience. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: our ability to successfully integrate Hostess Brands' operations and employees and to implement plans and achieve financial forecasts with respect to the Hostess Brands' business; our ability to realize the anticipated benefits, including synergies and cost savings, related to the Hostess Brands acquisition, including the possibility that the expected benefits will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period; disruption from the acquisition of Hostess Brands by diverting the attention of our management and making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; the negative effects of the acquisition of Hostess Brands on the market price of our common shares; the amount of the costs, fees, expenses, and charges and the risk of litigation related to the acquisition of Hostess Brands; the effect of the acquisition of Hostess Brands on our business relationships, operating results, ability to hire and retain key talent, and business generally; disruptions or inefficiencies in our operations or supply chain, including any impact caused by product recalls, political instability, terrorism, geopolitical conflicts (including the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas), extreme weather conditions, natural disasters, pandemics, work stoppages or labor shortages (including potential strikes along the U.S. East and Gulf coast ports and potential impacts related to the duration of a recent strike at our Buffalo, New York manufacturing facility), or other calamities; risks related to the availability of, and cost inflation in, supply chain inputs, including labor, raw materials, commodities, packaging, and transportation; the impact of food security concerns involving either our products or our competitors' products, including changes in consumer preference, consumer litigation, actions by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or other agencies, and product recalls; risks associated with derivative and purchasing strategies we employ to manage commodity pricing and interest rate risks; the availability of reliable transportation on acceptable terms; our ability to achieve cost savings related to our restructuring and cost management programs in the amounts and within the time frames currently anticipated; our ability to generate sufficient cash flow to continue operating under our capital deployment model, including capital expenditures, debt repayment to meet our deleveraging objectives, dividend payments, and share repurchases; a change in outlook or downgrade in our public credit ratings by a rating agency below investment grade; our ability to implement and realize the full benefit of price changes, and the impact of the timing of the price changes to profits and cash flow in a particular period; the success and cost of marketing and sales programs and strategies intended to promote growth in our business, including product innovation; general competitive activity in the market, including competitors' pricing practices and promotional spending levels; our ability to attract and retain key talent; the concentration of certain of our businesses with key customers and suppliers, including primary or single-source suppliers of certain key raw materials and finished goods, and our ability to manage and maintain key relationships; impairments in the carrying value of goodwill, other intangible assets, or other long-lived assets or changes in the useful lives of other intangible assets or other long-lived assets; the impact of new or changes to existing governmental laws and regulations and their application; the outcome of tax examinations, changes in tax laws, and other tax matters; a disruption, failure, or security breach of our or our suppliers' information technology systems, including, but not limited to, ransomware attacks; foreign currency exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations; and risks related to other factors described under "Risk Factors" in other reports and statements we have filed with the SEC. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances. About The J. M. Smucker Company At The J.M. Smucker Co., it is our privilege to make food people and pets love by offering a diverse family of brands available across North America . We are proud to lead in the coffee, peanut butter, fruit spreads, frozen handheld, sweet baked goods, dog snacks, and cat food categories by offering brands consumers trust for themselves and their families each day, including Folgers ® , Dunkin' ® , Café Bustelo ® , Jif ® , Uncrustables ® , Smucker's ® , Hostess ® , Milk-Bone ® , and Meow Mix ® . Through our unwavering commitment to producing quality products, operating responsibly and ethically, and delivering on our Purpose, we will continue to grow our business while making a positive impact on society. For more information, please visit jmsmucker.com . The J. M. Smucker Company is the owner of all trademarks referenced herein, except for Dunkin' ® , which is a trademark of DD IP Holder LLC. The Dunkin'® brand is licensed to The J. M. Smucker Company for packaged coffee products sold in retail channels, such as grocery stores, mass merchandisers, club stores, e-commerce and drug stores, as well as in certain away from home channels. This information does not pertain to products for sale in Dunkin' ® restaurants. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-j-m-smucker-company-announces-pricing-for-cash-tender-offers-302334213.html SOURCE The J.M. Smucker Co.

Women will for the first time make up a majority of state legislators in Colorado and New Mexico next year, but at least 13 states saw losses in female representation after the November election, according to a count released Thursday by the Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics. While women will fill a record number of state legislative seats in 2025, the overall uptick will be slight, filling just over third of legislative seats. Races in some states are still being called. "We certainly would like to see a faster rate of change and more significant increases in each election cycle to get us to a place where parity in state legislatures is less novel and more normal," said Kelly Dittmar, director of research at the CAWP, which is a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. As of Wednesday, at least 2,450 women will serve in state legislatures, representing 33.2% of the seats nationwide. The previous record was set in 2024 with 2,431 women, according to the CAWP. The number of Republican women, at least 851, will break the previous record of 815 state lawmakers set in 2024. "But still, Republican women are very underrepresented compared to Democratic women," Debbie Walsh, director of the CAWP, said. From left, House Maj. Whip Reena Szczepanski, D-Santa Fe, Rep. D. Wonda Johnson, D-Church Rock and Rep. Cristina Parajon, D-Albuquerque, talk July 18 before the start of a special session, in Santa Fe, N.M. By the most recent count, 19 states will have increased the number of women in their state legislatures, according to the CAWP. The most notable increases were in New Mexico and Colorado, where women will for the first time make up a majority of lawmakers. In New Mexico, voters sent an 11 additional women to the chambers. Colorado previously attained gender parity in 2023 and is set to tip over to a slight female majority in the upcoming year. The states follow Nevada, which was the first in the country to see a female majority in the legislature following elections in 2018. Next year, women will make up almost 62% of state lawmakers in Nevada, far exceeding parity. Women in California's Senate will make up the chamber's majority for the first time in 2025 as well. Women also made notable gains in South Dakota, increasing its number by at least nine. Four of South Carolina's Sister Senators, from left, Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, D-Walterboro, Sen. Mia McLeod, I-Columbia, Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, and Sen. Penry Gustafson, R-Camden, stand in front of the Senate on June 26 with their John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award in Columbia, S.C. At least thirteen states emerged from the election with fewer female lawmakers than before, with the most significant loss occurring in South Carolina. This year, the only three Republican women in the South Carolina Senate lost their primaries after they stopped a total abortion ban from passing. Next year, only two women, who are Democrats, will be in the 46-member Senate. No other state in the country will have fewer women in its upper chamber, according to the CAWP. Women make up 55% of the state's registered voters. Half the members in the GOP dominated state were elected in 2012 or before, so it will likely be the 2040s before any Republican woman elected in the future can rise to leadership or a committee chairmanship in the chamber, which doles out leadership positions based on seniority. A net loss of five women in the legislature means they will make up only about 13% of South Carolina's lawmakers, making the state the second lowest in the country for female representation. Only West Virginia has a smaller proportion of women in the legislature. West Virginia stands to lose one more women from its legislative ranks, furthering its representation problem in the legislature where women will make up just 11% of lawmakers. Many women, lawmakers and experts say that women's voices are needed in discussions on policy, especially at a time when state government is at its most powerful in decades. Walsh, director of the CAWP, said the new changes expected from the Trump administration will turn even more policy and regulation to the states. The experiences and perspectives women offer will be increasingly needed, she said, especially on topics related to reproductive rights, healthcare, education and childcare. "The states may have to pick up where the federal government may, in fact, be walking away," Walsh said. "And so who serves in those institutions is more important now than ever." November 7, 2024: Trump Victory Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

Privacy vs Investigation: Supreme Court Order Restricts ED From Unlocking Digital Devices In Major Case

Arizona seeks ways to import huge amounts of waterIn 2024, Neymar faced significant professional challenges, but his life is thriving. The footballer ended the year with exciting news: he and his girlfriend, Bruna Biancardi , are expecting a baby. This will be their second daughter and the fourth child for the Al-Hilal striker. On December 25, during the Christmas celebrations, Neymar and Bruna made a joint post on social media to share their joy about expanding their family. "We are living such a wonderful stage and we could not help but share with you that HE once again listened to our requests and confirmed our plans!" wrote the Brazilian model. "WELCOME DAUGHTER," added Bruna. "May you enjoy good health! We are waiting for you to complete our family even more. May God protect us from all evil, AMEN!" concluded their message. The couple, who also have a daughter named Mavie , shared a video of their celebration revealing the gender of their new baby. In the video, Bruna lies on the grass next to Neymar and his firstborn, Davi Lucca, from his previous relationship with Carolina Nogueira Dantas . The model appears holding her one-year-old daughter, who sweetly kisses her baby bump. Neymar and Bruna Biancardi look happy with baby Mavie in Dubai Neymar and his girlfriend Bruna Biancardi cuddle up at a pool party Neymar writes a heartfelt apology to his pregnant girlfriend, Bruna Biancardi The video clip captured the exciting moment when the parents revealed the sex of their baby in front of their guests. The celebration took place in a beautiful garden, and as the countdown concluded, smoke and pink streamers indicated that another girl would be joining the family. Those present reacted joyfully while Neymar and Bruna, holding Mavie in their arms, shared a sweet kiss. Mavie was thrilled and playfully threw pink powder at her stepmother. Wearing a stylish white outfit, Bruna responded with amusement. "Father of three princesses, what a moment," Neymar commented under the post. In addition to Mavie and the girl on the way, the Brazilian is the father of Helena , born July 2024, part of his brief romance with model Amanda Kimberlly. Georgina Rodríguez stood out among the reactions, expressing happiness about Neymar and Bruna's good news. "Congratulations!" wrote the model with Spanish and Argentine roots. "Another little hurricane arriving," commented a friendly Bianca Biancardi, sister of the beautiful mother. Mavie's recent celebrations Despite facing challenges as a couple, Neymar and Bruna have always been united by their love for their daughter. Last October, they celebrated Mavie's first birthday with lavish festivities. The celebration began with an intimate gathering on the beautiful beaches of the Red Sea and continued with a spectacular second celebration in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in November. "One year of Mavie. Happy birthday daughter, daddy loves you so much," the soccer player wrote on October 6. "Today marks one year since I met the love of my life. The most intense, happy, blessed and alive year of all. You were born and I was reborn! I dreamed of being a mother all my life and every day you show me the best version of myself. I honestly don't even remember who I was before you came along. I am much more complete now, with you... During these 365 days together, I immersed myself body and soul in motherhood, and how good and rewarding it has been to follow every step of yours, every new movement, every little word, every smile," Bruna wrote.

The J. M. Smucker Company Announces Pricing for Cash Tender OffersSome could be good buys today, in my opinion. With the retail sales event Black Friday approaching, I've been looking across the sector for opportunities. It's understandable that there is for the retail sector – profits can be quite cyclical, depending on how the overall economy is performing. Good retail businesses should be able to grow their profits over the long term, so any shorter-term declines could prove to be opportunities. I think the below ASX retail shares are exciting options positioned to benefit from the growing adoption of online shopping. Temple & Webster Group Ltd ( ) Temple & Webster sells hundreds of thousands of products, mostly from external suppliers. This setup allows the company to be capital-light for the large volume of physical products that it sells. The business is achieving solid double-digit sales growth, which is helping the business scale its operations at a good pace. With the Temple & Webster share price down 17% from October 2024, I think investors are getting a better price-to-sales ratio. It aims to reach $1 billion in annual sales in the next few years, which could help the business become much more profitable as it delivers scale benefits and spreads the fixed costs over more sales. By utilising AI for its customer interactions, the business is seeing increased conversion and reduced costs, which can also help increase margins as the business grows. Kogan.com Ltd ( ) Kogan has experienced considerable volatility over the last five years, and it wouldn't surprise me if there's plenty more over the next five years. This could be a good time to invest because the ASX retail share is down more than 40% from its March 2024 high, but the recent looked very promising. It has improved its inventory management and operational efficiency, which has helped profit increase. tober 2024, gross sales increased 0.4%, gross profit rose 15.3% to $59.2 million, adjusted operating profit (EBITDA) jumped 55.2% to $14.7 million, and adjusted EBIT soared 95.8% to $10.6 million. The company said year-on-year sales growth accelerated in the first 20 days of November 2024. I think the company is well positioned to perform well during the Black Friday sales and beyond, with its focus on providing customers with value during this time of high cost of living. If Kogan manages its inventory and business correctly, it should be able to deliver operating leverage, with profit growing faster than revenue as time passes. According to the broker UBS' forecast, the Kogan share price is valued at 17x FY26's estimated earnings.

The Green Party is set to suffer significant losses in the Irish General Election, with its leader expecting just a handful of parliamentarians to be returned. Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman said the party could not buck the trend in Ireland of junior coalition partners in Fine Gael and Fianna Fail governments losing support in subsequent elections. He said they expected to retain two to three seats out of the 12 they had won in the 2020 election on the back of a worldwide “Green wave”. “Undoubtedly it’s a disappointing result for our party today,” Mr O’Gorman told reporters in Ongar, Dublin. “It’s hard for a smaller party in government, that’s long been the tradition, the history in Ireland. We hoped going into the election to buck that but we haven’t been able to buck that today.” Mr O’Gorman, a candidate in Dublin West, is among the outgoing Green Party TDs in a battle to retain their seats. Culture Minister Catherine Martin, who is fighting to remain a Green Party TD for Dublin Rathdown, said it was a “very tight” race in her four-seat constituency. “We go in (to government) not afraid of that because the issue of the climate and biodiversity crisis is (greater) than our survival,” she said on RTE Radio. “I stand over and am proud of our track record of delivery.” Green candidate in Waterford Marc O Cathasaigh said he would not be “in the shake-up” to retain his seat in that constituency, while junior minister Ossian Smyth looks at risk of losing his seat in Dun Laoghaire. Junior minister Joe O’Brien is expected to lose his seat in Dublin Fingal, Neasa Hourigan is at risk in Dublin Central, while Wicklow’s Steven Matthews garnered just 4% of first preferences. Former Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, who announced his retirement from frontline politics in June, said his party had not had a good day. Arriving at the count centre at the RDS in Dublin, the outgoing environment minister told reporters: “If you don’t get elected you accept that, but you come back stronger and you learn lessons, and we’ve done that in the past and we will do that again.” He added: “No matter what the results today there will be a strong Green Party in Ireland, we have deep roots in the community and it’s a very distinct political philosophy and I think there is still space for that in Irish politics, for sure.” Mr Ryan said he did not believe his decision to retire, and the timing of his announcement, had affected the party’s showing. “Unfortunately – and this is just one of those days – we didn’t get the number of votes,” he said. He added: “We’ll look back and see what are the lessons, and what can we learn and what can we do differently. “It’s just one of those days when we didn’t have a good day.NoneDear Harriette: This Thanksgiving was an absolute disaster. I’ve been dating my boyfriend for a year, and this holiday felt like the perfect time to introduce him to my family. I was nervous because, while I love them, my family is known to be a little unconventional. They’re loud, opinionated and tend to say exactly what’s on their minds, no matter how inappropriate. From the moment we walked in, it was like a circus. My uncle started grilling my boyfriend about his job and his plans for the future, and then my aunt jumped in to question him about his political beliefs right in the middle of dinner. My cousins thought it would be hilarious to share every embarrassing story they could think of about me, and my mom kept dropping hints about how she’s “ready for grandchildren.” My boyfriend handled it all as well as he could, but I could tell he was overwhelmed. I’m worried this whole experience might have left a bad impression on my boyfriend, and I feel embarrassed about how things turned out. I want him to feel welcomed by my family, but instead, it felt like he was under a microscope. How can I smooth things over with him and also set some boundaries with my family for the future? — Crossing the Line Dear Crossing The Line: Since you already know what your family is like, you know that little that you say is going to get them to change. So don’t promise anything to your boyfriend about their behavior in the future. Instead, you can apologize for how overwhelming the experience may have been for him. If he likes being with you and wants to get to know you and your family better, he will need to learn to spar with them in an amicable way and not get too defensive. Ask him how he felt after the dinner and how he’s doing now. Find out if he is turned off by their behavior, or if he found it amusing. You never know. He may have some kooky family members, too, and he could be more OK with it than you think. Dear Harriette: After years of using traditional notebooks, I decided to transition to digital planning, especially as schools are now adapting to digital tools. Back in grade school, pen and paper were my go-to, and I loved the simplicity they offered. While I was excited about the potential for better organization, the switch hasn’t been as smooth as I hoped. I find myself missing the tactile joy of writing and feeling overwhelmed by learning new apps and systems. I don’t want to give up, but I am starting to wonder if digital tools are truly the right fit for me. The promise of efficiency and flexibility is tempting, yet the adjustment feels daunting. How can I embrace this change without losing the joy and comfort of my old ways? — Digital Planning Dilemmas Dear Digital Planning Dilemmas: Who says you have to choose? I use a mix of digital resources and old-fashioned notepads. This makes me feel comfortable and satisfies my desire to write things down. The technology is wonderful for support in organizing thoughts, dates and details quickly.

From Maui to the Caribbean, Thanksgiving tournaments a beloved part of college basketball

The Orlando Magic may not be doing their reputation any good these days. The NBA announced on Saturday that Magic guard Jalen Suggs has been assessed a postgame flopping fine of $2,000 for an incident in Friday’s NBA Cup game against the Brooklyn Nets. Suggs was playing some tight defense on Brooklyn’s Tyrese Martin in the third quarter and flailed dramatically when Martin attempted to clear some space. Here is the video. add suggs to the list of 'underrated flop artists' pic.twitter.com/346UMTTUXH — outbreezy (@outbreezyWC) November 30, 2024 But wait, there’s more! The NBA also announced Saturday that another Magic player, center Goga Bitadze, had also been hit with a $2,000 flopping fine stemming from an incident during Friday’s game against the Nets. Bitadze’s episode occurred at another point in the third quarter when Orlando was on offense. He was running up the floor in transition and got nudged in the paint by Brooklyn’s Ben Simmons. Bitadze then thrashed around and ended up well out of bounds by the baseline in attempt to sell the contact. You can see that video here . The poetic justice was that neither flop attempt worked — Suggs was the one who was called for a foul for his initial jostling of Martin, and no whistle was blown on the Bitadze-Simmons play. The Magic still went on to win by a 123-100 final though. The NBA can go back and retroactively hand out flopping fines upon league review, which is exactly what happened here. Those fines have been a part of the game for many years now, but in-game penalties for flopping also debuted just last season ( which have been given from time to time ). This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.UCF, LSU face off with improved focus in mindSeahawks’ Coby Bryant fined for Marshawn Lynch tribute against Cardinals

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is planning to meet next month with members of Nihon Hidankyo, Japan's leading group of atomic bomb survivors that received this year's Nobel Peace Prize, a source familiar with the matter said Thursday. The government is expected to celebrate the group's achievements over its decades of activism and encourage it further ahead of the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki next year, during the meeting slated for Jan. 8. Tetsuo Saito, who leads the Komeito party, the junior coalition partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, will also attend, according to the source. Nihon Hidankyo, also known as the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, received the award "for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again," according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee. During a lower house Budget Committee meeting on Dec 11, Ishiba expressed his intentions to meet with the group, noting that the U.S. atomic bombings in 1945 "should never fade away." Terumi Tanaka, co-chair of the organization, said during a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday, "I plan on asking him why Japan, as the only country to have experienced a nuclear attack, is not taking leadership in nuclear abolition, and whether he's ever imagined what it would be like if a nuclear weapon is used in war." Hidankyo has been calling for Japan to join the nuclear ban treaty, which entered into force in 2021, or at least participate as an observer. But the country, which is protected by the U.S. nuclear umbrella, has refused to do so on the grounds that no nuclear state is a party to it.

NPFL: Rangers coach Ekeh reacts to derby draw against HeartlandThe issue was the clear leader on 28 per cent, followed by the cost of living on 19 per cent and health on 17 per cent. Economic stability (9 per cent), climate change (4 per cent), crime (2 per cent), local transport and roads (2 per cent) and childcare (2 per cent), all played lesser roles. Immigration – which had been prominent in the list of issues of public concern for much of the year – played a minor role, nominated by just 6 per cent. The housing issue was more prominent among younger voters, with 42 per cent of those under 34 nominating it as the most important issue. More than half (52 per cent) of voters said their standard of living has stayed the same over the past 12 months, while 35 per cent said it has worsened and 13 per cent said it has improved. Those who voted for Sinn Féin (49 per cent), People Before Profit (49 per cent) and Aontú (41 per cent) were much more likely to say their standard of living had worsened. The poll also asked respondents about their second preferences on the ballot paper. The results suggest that expectations of a strong transfer between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will be borne out – a factor that should help the two parties boost their seat numbers. [ Almost half of voters favour a Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael led coalition, according to exit poll Opens in new window ] Supporters of both parties transferred at higher rates to running mates from the same party. For Fine Gael voters, it was at a rate of 37 per cent to other Fine Gael candidates. Fianna Fáil candidates were the second preference choice of 39 per cent of Fianna Fáil voters. Among Fine Gael voters, 32 per cent said their second preference votes went to Fianna Fáil, while 30 per cent of Fianna Fáil voters said they transferred to Fine Gael. Sinn Féin voters transferred at a rate of 48 per cent to second candidates from the same party. The next highest second preference votes from Sinn Féin supporters was to Independents. The highest second preference transfer rates between arch-rivals Labour and the Social Democrats were to each other. According to the exit poll some 22 per cent of second preferences from Labour voters went to the Social Democrats. Second preferences from Social Democrats supporters went to Labour at a rate of 23 per cent. Almost half of voters in Friday’s general election said they favour a coalition government based on the combination of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Nearly a third of voters (31 per cent) said they would prefer a coalition of just Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil; a further 9 per cent preferred a government of those two parties plus Independents; while a further 9 per cent said they would like to see a government of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and one or more smaller parties. Combined, this is a total of 49 per cent of voters in the exit poll who want to see a Fine Gael-Fianna Fáil-led government. [ Majority of Independent voters would have backed candidate even if they were in a political party - exit poll Opens in new window ] The next most popular choice was a government led by Sinn Féin without Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil, which was chosen by 22 per cent. Another 7 per cent said they wanted to see a Fianna Fáil-Sinn Féin coalition (including just 9 per cent of Fianna Fáil voters), while 21 per cent said they wanted to see “something else”. The most popular choice for taoiseach was Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin , who was the preferred choice of 35 per cent. He pipped Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald , who was on 34 per cent, while Fine Gael leader Simon Harris was on 27 per cent. Just 5 per cent gave no response. On climate change, a slim majority of voters said the current Government did not go far enough in tackling the issue – significantly more than those who believe it has gone too far. Just under a third of Irish voters – 29 per cent – said the Coalition’s actions were “about right”, while 20 per cent said it had gone too far. The poll, which is a joint project of The Irish Times, RTÉ, TG4 and the Political Science Department of Trinity College Dublin, was conducted by Ipsos B&A among 5,018 voters as they left 253 polling stations across all 43 constituencies on Friday. Colin Gleeson is an Irish Times reporter

Luigi Mangione ’s legal battle has begun. After the 26-year-old was arrested Dec. 9 and later charged with murder in New York for the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , as well as four other charges in Pennsylvania related to possession of a firearm and forged documents, he was indicted Dec. 17. In the indictment document issued by the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Mangione has been charged with one count of murder in the first degree for the death of Thompson, as well as one count of murder in the second degree as a crime of terrorism, one count of murder in the second degree, two counts of criminal weapon possession in the second degree, four counts of criminal weapon in the third degree, one count of criminal possession in the fourth degree, and one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree. “We allege that Luigi Mangione carried out the brazen, targeted and fatal shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan,” said district attorney Alvin L. Bragg in a press release. “T his type of premeditated, targeted gun violence cannot and will not be tolerated, and my office has been working day in and day out to bring the defendant to justice.” If charged, Mangione faces the maximum penalty of life in prison without parole. Mangione’s indictment comes just over a week after he was arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania , when authorities received a call from an employee at the establishment. Following his arrest, the University of Pennsylvania alum was charged, denied bail and was later booked into SCI Huntington Department of Corrections, per CNN . In the days since, Mangione retained high profile New York attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo after initially fighting extradition from Pennsylvania, per NBC News. After retaining Agnifilo, multiple outlets reported that Mangione is expected to waive extradition during an upcoming Dec. 19 hearing. Since his arrest, Mangione has also been represented by Pennsylvania attorney Thomas Dickey , who has maintained his client’s innocence. “I haven't seen any evidence that he’s the shooter,” Dickey told reporters outside the courtroom after a Dec. 10 hearing. “Remember, and this is not just a small thing: A fundamental concert of American justice is a presumption of innocence until you're proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. And I've seen zero evidence at this point.” Dickey has also spoken out about some of the public’s support of his client, saying he’s received many offers to cover Mangione’s legal fees, telling CNN of the financial support , “maybe these people were exercising their right to free speech and saying that's the way they're supporting my client.” Meanwhile, Mangione’s family—a locally well-known elite Baltimore pedigree—have remained mostly out of the public eye amid the alleged shooter’s arrest other than a singular statement shared by cousin Maryland Senate Delegate Nino Mangione . “Unfortunately, we cannot comment on news reports regarding Luigi Mangione," the statement, shared to X Dec. 9, reads. “We only know what we have read in the media. Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi's arrest. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” Keep reading for everything that has unraveled since the Dec. 4 death of Thompson. Who is Brian Thompson? Brian Thompson was the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. He first joined the company in 2004 and held several positions before taking on the role of CEO in 2021. Prior to working at UnitedHealthcare, Thompson was employed at PwC, according to his LinkedIn profile. He also graduated with honors from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor's degree in business administration as an accounting major in May 1997, the school's public relations manager Steve Schmadeke told NBC News. Thompson, who lived in Minnesota, was married to Paulette Thompson —though according to public records viewed by E! News, they had been living in separate homes—and was the father of two sons. He was shot and killed in New York on Dec. 4, 2024. Thompson was 50 years old. How did Brian Thompson die? Patrol officers from the New York City Police Department’s Midtown North Precinct responded to a 911 call at 6:46 a.m. on Dec. 4, 2024 regarding a person who was shot in front of the New York Hilton Midtown hotel, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said in a media briefing later that morning. Kenny noted officers arrived at the scene at 6:48 a.m. and found gunshot wounds on Thompson’s back and leg. The chief detective said Emergency Medical Services transported Thompson several blocks to Mount Sinai West, where the CEO was pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m. “The victim was in New York City to speak at an investor conference," NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch said during the media briefing. "It appears the suspect was lying in wait for several minutes. And as the victim was walking to the conference hotel, the suspect approached from behind and fired several rounds, striking the victim at least once in the back and at least once in the right calf. Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target.” Tisch said the shooting appeared to be a “pre-meditated, pre-planned, targeted attack” and not a random act of violence. “The full investigative efforts of the New York City Police Department are well underway,” she noted, “and we will not rest until we identify and apprehend the shooter in this case.” What do investigators know about the shooting of Brian Thompson so far? According to Kenny, the shooter headed to the New York Hilton Midtown on foot and arrived outside the hotel five minutes before Thompson’s arrival. In a video, Kenny continued, Thompson was seen walking alone towards the Hilton at 6:44 a.m. after exiting his separate, nearby hotel apparently for a UnitedHealth Group investors conference that was scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. that day. The chief detective added the shooter—who ignored "numerous other pedestrians"—approached Thompson from behind, shot him, walked towards him and continued shooting. Kenny said the gunman then fled on foot before getting on an ebike, and the shooter was seen riding into Central Park at Center Drive at 6:48 a.m. Kenny said three live nine-millimeter rounds and three discharged shell casings were recovered during the investigation. During a Dec. 6 press briefing, Kenny said the words “depose,” “delay” and “deny” were written on the shell casing in marker. However, he’s noted the motive for the killing has yet to be confirmed. What have investigators revealed about the gunman’s timeline? During the Dec. 6 press briefing, Kenny said investigators have footage of the shooter arriving at Port Authority in New York the night of Nov. 24. “We believe that that bus originated in Atlanta,” Kenny continued. “It has several stops along the way, so we’re not sure where he got on the bus.” After the shooter arrived at Port Authority, Kenny continued, the gunman took a cab to the vicinity of the Hilton hotel, where he was for about half an hour before traveling by cab to an Upper West Side hostel. On the morning of the shooting, Kenny added, the gunman left the hostel at 5:30 a.m. and arrived at the Hilton hotel at 5:41 a.m. Kenny said the gunman continued to walk in the vicinity of the hotel before then going to a nearby Starbucks, where he purchased a bottled water and a snack. He then returned to the hotel, and the shooting occurred at 6:44 a.m. Immediately after, the gunman fled the scene. Kenny said the shooter was seen entering Central Park at 60th St. and Center Drive at 6:48 a.m. and exiting the park through W. 77th St. and Central Park West at 6:56 a.m. At 7:00 a.m., Kenny added, the gunman was spotted on W. 86 th St without the bike. And four minutes later, the chief detective continued, the shooter got in a cab at 86 th St. and Amsterdam Avenue. Kenny said the gunman was then seen in the vicinity of the George Washington Bridge at 7:30 a.m. Kenny told CNN on Dec. 6 investigators thought the shooter left NYC after he was seen at Port Authority. Who were investigators looking for? During the Dec. 4 briefing, Kenny said the shooter appeared to be a "light-skin male" who wore "a light brown or cream-colored jacket, a black face mask, black and white sneakers and a very distinctive gray backpack." Over the next few days, the NYPD released a series of photos of the individual they were looking for with the person's face was covered with a mask in many of the pictures. A senior law enforcement official told NBC News Dec. 5 the photos with the lowered face mask came from surveillance video at an Upper West Side hostel, and two separate law enforcement officials noted to the outlet investigators were trying to determine if the individual used a fake ID and cash for a hostel room. As for what led the individual to lower the face mask? "Apparently, there was an interaction while he was checking in, making casual conversation," Kenny said at the Dec. 6 briefing. "At some point, he pulled his mask down and smiled at the clerk." Kenny has also said a cellphone was found in an alley where the shooter fled before heading to the ebike, but it's unclear if it belonged to the gunman. Two law enforcement sources told NBC News a backpack was also found in Central Park. Kenny said investigators are "looking at everything"—including Thompson's social media and interviews with employees and family—that could help the case. They're also working with Minnesota and Atlanta law enforcement. Why was Luigi Mangione arrested? Pennsylvania’s Altoona Police Department arrested Luigi Mangione on firearm charges Dec. 9. According to a criminal docket obtained by NBC News, these include two felony charges—one of forgery and one of firearms not to be carried without a license—as well as three misdemeanors: tampering with records or identification, possessing instruments of a crime and providing false identification to law enforcement. NYPD commissioner Tisch said a McDonald’s employee recognized Mangione and that the Altoona police were then called. When asked if he had been to New York recently, Mangione "became quiet and started to shake," police said per NBC News . Tisch also called Mangione a "person of interest" in Thompson's murder and spoke about the efforts to find him, with her thanking law enforcement partners and the public. "For just over five days, our NYPD investigators combed through thousands of hours of video, followed up on hundreds of tips, and processed every bit of forensic evidence: DNA, finger prints, IP addresses and so much more to tighten the net," she said. "We deployed drones, canine units, and scuba divers. We leveraged the domain awareness system, Argus cameras and conducted aviation canvases, and our detectives also went door to door interviewing potential witnesses and doing the good old fashioned police work that our investigators are famous for. This combination of old school detective work and new age technology is what led to this result today." What did police find on Luigi Mangione? In addition to "acting suspiciously," Tisch added, Mangione was "carrying multiple fraudulent IDs as well as a U.S. passport." “Upon further investigation, officers recovered a firearm on his person as well as a suppressor, both consistent with the weapon used in the murder," she continued in the Dec. 9 briefing, per a video shared by NBC News . "They also recovered clothing, including a mask consistent with those worn by our wanted individual." Tisch added officers also recovered a “fraudulent New Jersey ID” that matched the one the individual used to check into the New York hostel prior to the shooting. "Additionally,” she continued, “officers recovered a hand-written document that speaks to both his motivation and mindset.” What other charges is Luigi Mangione facing? On Dec. 9, Manhattan prosecutors filed a murder charge against Mangione, according to court documents obtained by NBC News . The 26-year-old is also facing three counts of criminal possession of a weapon (two in the second-degree for loaded firearm and one in the third degree such as for a silencer) and one count of possessing a forged instrument. He has yet to enter a plea for any charges. What did Luigi Mangione state in his writings? According to NBC News, citing the NYPD, Mangione had three pages of writings on him that totaled less than 300 words when he was taken into custody. Three senior law enforcement officials told the outlet these writings read, in part, "Frankly these parasites had it coming." In the writings, the officials continued, Mangione said he acted alone. However, the officials told NBC News they haven't ruled out other actors at this time. “To the Feds, I’ll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country," Mangione's writings read, officials told NBC News. "To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone.” Officials said Mangione also added, "I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done.” However, Tisch noted Mangione's motive has yet to be confirmed. "I think when we look at the manifesto, or that three-page written document that was recovered, you see anti-corporatist sentiment, a lot of issues with the healthcare industry," she said in a Dec. 10 Today interview. "But as to particular specific motive, that will come out as this investigation continues to unfold over the next weeks and months." Has Luigi Mangione appeared in court? Mangione attended a hearing at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania on Dec. 10. As he arrived, NBC News reported, he yelled out to families, "It’s completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people." Per the outlet, Mangione did not waive extradition to New York and was denied bail. As a result, he will remain in Pennsylvania's SCI Huntingdon prison. His lawyer Thomas Dickey told reporters that Mangione will plead not guilty in Pennsylvania and will likely do the same in New York. "I haven’t seen any evidence that says he’s the shooter,” he said, per NBC News . “Remember, and this is not just a small thing: A fundamental concept of American justice is the presumption of innocence, and until you’re proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt." Who is Luigi Mangione? Mangione is a suspect in the murder of Brian Thompson and is facing several other charges in both Pennsylvania and New York, including forgery and criminal possession of a weapon. He's an Ivy League graduate, having received a Bachelor of Science in engineering in 2020 and a Masters of Science in engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, the school confirmed to NBC News . NYPD Chief of Detectives Kenny shared additional details on Mangione's upbringing, saying he was born and raised in Maryland. His most recent address is listed as Honolulu but he also has connections to San Francisco, Kenny told NBC News. After Mangione's arrest, his family released a statement on X . "Unfortunately, we cannot comment on news reports regarding Luigi Mangione," they said in the Dec. 9 post . "We only know what we have read in the media. Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi's arrest. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved. We are devastated by this news." What has Brian Thompson’s family said about his death? After learning of the shooting, Thompson’s family mourned his passing. “We are shattered to hear about the senseless killing of our beloved Brian,” a family statement obtained by NBC affiliate KARE in Minneapolis on Dec. 5 read. “Brian was an incredibly loving, generous, talented man who truly lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives. Most importantly, Brian was an incredibly loving father to our two sons and will be greatly missed. We appreciate your condolences and request complete privacy as our family moves through this difficult time.” Thompson’s wife Paulette also recalled how her husband had received threats prior to his death. "Yes, there had been some threats," she told NBC News Dec. 5. "Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him." What has UnitedHealth Group said about Brian Thompson’s death? UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, also expressed how it was "deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend" Thompson, flying its flags at half-mast at corporate headquarters in Minnesota. "Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him," a Dec. 4 statement from the organization read. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.” And while the company noted "our hearts are broken," it shared in a Dec. 5 statement that it has also "been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place." "So many patients, consumers, health care professionals, associations, government officials and other caring people have taken time out of their day to reach out," the message read. "We are thankful, even as we grieve. Our priorities are, first and foremost, supporting Brian’s family; ensuring the safety of our employees; and working with law enforcement to bring the perpetrator to justice. We, at UnitedHealth Group, will continue to be there for those who depend upon us for their health care. We ask that everyone respect the family’s privacy as they mourn the loss of their husband, father, brother and friend." However, there's also been public criticism about UnitedHealthcare, Thompson and America's healthcare system overall. This has included online conversations about insurance companies' claim denial rates as well as a look at accusations against Thompson. For instance, in a class-action lawsuit filed by the City of Hollywood Firefighters' Pension Fund in May 2024 and obtained by NBC News, Thompson was accused of selling more than $15 million of his personal UnitedHealth shares after allegedly learning of an investigation of the company by the U.S. Department of Justice before the public did. When asked about the trades allegedly made by Thompson and other executives, a UnitedHealth spokesperson told Bloomberg in April 2024 "these directors and officers followed our protocols and received approval from the company." The lawsuit, per the BBC , remains active. And while a motive for the shooting hasn't been revealed, many outlets have noted the words “depose,” “delay” and “deny” on the shell casings are similar to the title of the 2010 book Delay Deny Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don't Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It . Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro slammed "deeply disturbing" online reactions to the killing: "In America," he said at a Dec. 9 press conference, per NBC News' video, "we do not kill people in cold blood to resolve policy differences or express a viewpoint." (E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family).Home | NGO against proposed changes to Prevention of Illegal Eviction Act Cape Town based civil society organisation, Ndifuna Ukwazi, says the proposed changes to laws aiming to clamp down on illegal occupation of public land, will be unfair to homeless people. The NGO says it’s opposed to the envisaged amendments of the Prevention of Illegal Eviction (PIE) Act and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act of 1998. The Department of Human Settlements has announced that it is working on changing some elements of the legislation. Political Head at Ndifuna Ukwazi Buhle Booi says the proposed amendments will be a reversal of the gains of the democratic dispensation. “The proposed amendments will essentially reverse the PIE Act into its predecessor, the Prevention of Illegal Squatting Act. So that’s what it is proposed. The PIE Act or rather the amendments proposes that it be criminal for a person who is found to be occupying or intending to occupy, they must have been criminally charged and we feel that this would be the reversal of the gains of the democratic dispensation that we are in because an occupation is not a criminal act but it should be seen as a civil matter.” Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works described the successful eviction of illegal occupants from the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town as part of its commitment to reclaim government buildings from illegal occupiers. Minister Dean Macpherson was speaking at a tree-planting event on the site which is currently being restored. The area had over the past few years turned into an eyesore with makeshift structures and tents mushrooming, while rubble and litter were also dumped there. SABC © 2024

Wall Street stocks were little changed on Thursday while Asian equities rose in thin Boxing Day trade, extending their "Santa Claus Rally" with several bourses still shut for the holiday. Japan's Nikkei index closed up 1.1 percent, boosted by comments from the Bank of Japan governor and share price gains for top-selling automaker Toyota. China's plans for massive bond issuances in 2025 also bolstered investor sentiment. "Even though many in the region are still shaking off a bit of a holiday hangover, with several markets closed for Boxing Day, Asian stocks opened higher, riding a favorable wave from China's financial bond juggernaut," said Stephen Innes from SPI Asset Management. In New York, major indices veered in and out of positive territory in a sleepy post-Christmas session. The broad-based S&P 500 finished down less than 0.1 percent. Large technology companies that have led the market in much of 2024 mostly took a breather. These included Netflix, Tesla and Amazon, all of which declined. "What's interesting today is that we're seeing small stocks bounce back a little bit," said Steve Sosnick of Interactive Brokers, noting that the Russell 2000 index put on 0.9 percent. Holiday consumer data showed a 3.8-percent increase in US retail spending from November 1 to December 24, according to a Mastercard SpendingPulse review of a key period for retailers. London Stockton, an analyst at Ned Davis Research, noted that the "Santa Claus rally could still be alive, with strong seasonality into the end of the year." Stock markets have traditionally fared well in the last five trading days of the year and the first two in the new year, a trend known as the "Santa Claus rally." Among a number of possible reasons advanced by experts include the festive holiday mood and purchasing ahead of the end of the tax year. Innes said remarks from Bank of Japan governor Kazuo Ueda in which he refrained from signaling a potential interest rate hike next month also "influenced bullish regional sentiments." Japanese market heavyweight Toyota ended nearly six percent higher after reports in the Nikkei business daily said it aimed to double its return on equity -- a key measure of a company's financial performance. New York - Dow: UP 0.1 percent at 43,325.80 (close) New York - S&P 500: DOWN less than 0.1 percent at 6,037.59 (close) New York - Nasdaq: DOWN 0.1 percent at 20,020.36 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.1 percent at 39,568.06 points (close) Hang Seng: UP 1.1 percent at 20,098.29 points (Tuesday close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 3,398.08 points (close) Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0424 from $1.0414 on Tuesday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2526 from $1.2538 Dollar/yen: UP at 158.00 yen from 157.06 yen Euro/pound: UP at 83.19 pence from 83.05 pence West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.7 percent at $69.62 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.4 percent at $73.26 per barrel bur-jmb/ahaMichigan, Ohio State fight broken up with police pepper spray after Wolverines stun Buckeyes 13-10

6,000 inmates escape from prison during unrest in Mozambique‘You Don’t Need to Be a Politician to Make Change’: PJ Sin Suela Refuses to Lose Hope