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aces wild definition SINGAPORE and SAN DIEGO, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Helport AI Limited (NASDAQ: HPAI) (“Helport AI” or the “Company”), an AI technology company serving enterprise clients with intelligent software, services and solutions, today announced that Tao Ke, Chief Financial Officer, will present at the iAccess Alpha Virtual Best Ideas Winter Conference 2024 on December 10 and 11, 2024. iAccess Alpha Virtual Conference Details: Date: December 10-11, 2024 Presentation Day and Time: Tuesday, December 10 at 1:00 p.m. ET Webcast: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/3074/51744 A webcast of the presentation will also be available under the Events & Presentations section of the Company’s investor relations website linked here . To schedule a one-on-one investor meeting with Helport AI management, please contact your iAccess Alpha representative or email MZ Group at HPAI@mzgroup.us . About Helport AI Helport AI (NASDAQ: HPAI) is a premier provider of AI-driven solutions, specializing in enhancing professional capabilities across industries. Focused on delivering measurable outcomes, The company serves enterprise-level customer contact services through intelligent products, solutions, and a digital platform, helping businesses optimize their sales and improve customer engagement. Our mission is to empower everyone to work as an expert. Learn more at www.helport.ai . Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, Helport AI's business plan and outlook. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on Helport AI’s current expectations and projections about future events that Helport AI believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions. Helport AI undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although Helport AI believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and Helport AI cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in Helport AI’s registration statement and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Helport AI Investor Relations: Meredith Fan ir@helport.ai https://ir.helport.ai/ External Investor Relations Contact: Chris Tyson Executive Vice President MZ North America Direct: 949-491-8235 HPAI@mzgroup.us www.mzgroup.usFormer Greek royal family expresses 'deep emotion' after regaining citizenship

A lead organization monitoring for food crises around the world withdrew a new report this week warning of imminent famine in north Gaza under what it called Israel's “near-total blockade,” after the U.S. asked for its retraction, U.S. officials told The Associated Press. The move follows public criticism of the report from the U.S. ambassador to Israel. The rare public challenge from the Biden administration of the work of the U.S.-funded Famine Early Warning System, which is meant to reflect the data-driven analysis of unbiased experts, drew accusations from aid and human-rights figures of possible U.S. political interference. A finding of famine would be a public rebuke of Israel, which has insisted that its 15-month war in Gaza is aimed against the Hamas militant group and not against its civilian population. U.S. ambassador to Israel Jacob Lew earlier this week called the warning by the internationally recognized group inaccurate and “irresponsible." Lew and the U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the monitoring group, both said the findings failed to properly account for rapidly changing circumstances in north Gaza. Humanitarian and human rights officials expressed fear of U.S. political interference in the world's monitoring system for famines. The U.S. Embassy in Israel and the State Department declined comment. FEWS officials did not respond to questions. “We work day and night with the U.N. and our Israeli partners to meet humanitarian needs — which are great — and relying on inaccurate data is irresponsible,” Lew said Tuesday. USAID confirmed to the AP that it had asked the famine-monitoring organization to withdraw its stepped-up warning issued in a report dated Monday. The report did not appear among the top updates on the group's website Thursday, but the link to it remained active. The dispute points in part to the difficulty of assessing the extent of starvation in largely isolated northern Gaza. Thousands in recent weeks have fled an intensified Israeli military crackdown that aid groups say has allowed delivery of only a dozen trucks of food and water since roughly October. FEWS Net said in its withdrawn report that unless Israel changes its policy, it expects the number of people dying of starvation and related ailments in north Gaza to reach between two and 15 per day sometime between January and March. The internationally recognized mortality threshold for famine is two or more deaths a day per 10,000 people. FEWS was created by the U.S. development agency in the 1980s and is still funded by it. But it is intended to provide independent, neutral and data-driven assessments of hunger crises, including in war zones. Its findings help guide decisions on aid by the U.S. and other governments and agencies around the world. A spokesman for Israel's foreign ministry, Oren Marmorstein, welcomed the U.S. ambassador's public challenge of the famine warning. “FEWS NET - Stop spreading these lies!” Marmorstein said on X. In challenging the findings publicly, the U.S. ambassador "leveraged his political power to undermine the work of this expert agency,” said Scott Paul, a senior manager at the Oxfam America humanitarian nonprofit. Paul stressed that he was not weighing in on the accuracy of the data or methodology of the report. “The whole point of creating FEWS is to have a group of experts make assessments about imminent famine that are untainted by political considerations,” said Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch and now a visiting professor in international affairs at Princeton University. “It sure looks like USAID is allowing political considerations -- the Biden administration’s worry about funding Israel’s starvation strategy -- to interfere." Israel says it has been operating in recent months against Hamas militants still active in northern Gaza. It says the vast majority of the area’s residents have fled and relocated to Gaza City, where most aid destined for the north is delivered. But some critics, including a former defense minister, have accused Israel of carrying out ethnic cleansing in Gaza’s far north, near the Israeli border. North Gaza has been one of the areas hardest-hit by fighting and Israel’s restrictions on aid throughout its war with Hamas militants. Global famine monitors and U.N. and U.S. officials have warned repeatedly of the imminent risk of malnutrition and deaths from starvation hitting famine levels. International officials say Israel last summer increased the amount of aid it was admitting there, under U.S. pressure. The U.S. and U.N. have said Gaza’s people as a whole need between 350 and 500 trucks a day of food and other vital needs. But the U.N. and aid groups say Israel recently has again blocked almost all aid to that part of Gaza. Cindy McCain, the American head of the U.N. World Food Program, called earlier this month for political pressure to get food flowing to Palestinians there. Israel says it places no restrictions on aid entering Gaza and that hundreds of truckloads of goods are piled up at Gaza’s crossings and accused international aid agencies of failing to deliver the supplies. The U.N. and other aid groups say Israeli restrictions, ongoing combat, looting and insufficient security by Israeli troops make it impossible to deliver aid effectively. Lew, the U.S. ambassador, said the famine warning was based on “outdated and inaccurate” data. He pointed to uncertainty over how many of the 65,000-75,000 people remaining in northern Gaza had fled in recent weeks, saying that skewed the findings. FEWS said in its report that its famine assessment holds even if as few as 10,000 people remain. USAID in its statement to AP said it had reviewed the report before it became public, and noted “discrepancies” in population estimates and some other data. The U.S. agency had asked the famine warning group to address those uncertainties and be clear in its final report to reflect how those uncertainties affected its predictions of famine, it said. “This was relayed before Ambassador Lew’s statement,” USAID said in a statement. “FEWS NET did not resolve any of these concerns and published in spite of these technical comments and a request for substantive engagement before publication. As such, USAID asked to retract the report.” Roth criticized the U.S. challenge of the report in light of the gravity of the crisis there. “This quibbling over the number of people desperate for food seems a politicized diversion from the fact that the Israeli government is blocking virtually all food from getting in,” he said, adding that “the Biden administration seems to be closing its eyes to that reality, but putting its head in the sand won’t feed anyone.” The U.S., Israel’s main backer, provided a record amount of military support in the first year of the war. At the same time, the Biden administration repeatedly urged Israel to allow more access to aid deliveries in Gaza overall, and warned that failing to do so could trigger U.S. restrictions on military support. The administration recently said Israel was making improvements and declined to carry out its threat of restrictions. Military support for Israel’s war in Gaza is politically charged in the U.S., with Republicans and some Democrats staunchly opposed any effort to limit U.S. support over the suffering of Palestinian civilians trapped in the conflict. The Biden administration’s reluctance to do more to press Israel for improved treatment of civilians undercut support for Democrats in last month’s elections. ___ Sam Mednick and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.Donald Trump has threatened to seize the Panama Canal, revived calls to buy Greenland and joked about annexing Canada -- leaving the world guessing once again whether he is serious or not. By challenging the sovereignty of some of Washington's closest allies four weeks before he even returns to the Oval Office, the US-president elect has underscored his credentials as global disruptor-in-chief. His comments have renewed fears from his first term that Trump will end up being harsher on US friends than he is on adversaries like Russia and China. But there are also suspicions that billionaire tycoon Trump is looking for leverage as part of the "art of the deal" -- and that the former reality television star is grabbing headlines to look strong at home and abroad. "It's hard to tell how much of this he really wants, and how much is the latest soundbite that will be heard around the world," said Frank Sesno, a professor at George Washington University and former White House correspondent. "He puts other leaders in position of having to figure out what is literal and what is not," he told AFP. The idea of buying Greenland is not a new one for Trump. He also raised the prospect of purchasing the vast strategic island, a Danish territory, during his first term in office. He revived his push over the weekend when naming his ambassador to Copenhagen, saying the "ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity" for US national security. But he received the same answer this time as he did then, with Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede saying on Monday that the resource-rich island was "not for sale." Yet his most headline-grabbing remarks have been on Panama, as he slammed what he called unfair fees for US ships passing through and threatened to demand control of the Panama Canal be returned to Washington. Trump said on Sunday that if Panama did not agree "then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America -- in full, quickly and without question." He also hinted at China's growing influence around the canal, which was built by the United States in 1914 to link the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It was returned to Panama under a 1977 deal. Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino dismissed Trump's threats, saying that "every square meter" of the canal would remain in Panamanian hands. Trump responded on TruthSocial: "We'll see about that!" Trump also teased neighboring Canada last week that it would be a "great idea" to become the 51st US state -- but against a dark backdrop of threatened tariffs. Sesno said it was hard for other countries to know how to deal with Trump's comments. "Well, it's clearly a joke. Or is it? said Sesno. "Imagine if you're the President of Panama, how do you react to something like that? You can't ignore it and your country will not let you. So the ripple effect of these comments is extraordinary." Trump's harsh treatment of US allies also stands in stark contrast to his repeated praise for the leaders of US foes -- including Russia's Vladimir Putin, who invaded Ukraine in 2022 in a bid for a land-grab. But there is still likely to be method behind Trump's rhetoric. "Maybe the message is for China" when Trump talks about buying Greenland, said Stephanie Pezard, senior political scientist with the Rand Corporation. Just as Trump expressed concern about Beijing's influence in Panama, China's growing presence in the Arctic and its ties with Russia were "something that the US is really worried about," Pezard told AFP. But there could also be a signal to Denmark that 'If you're too friendly with China, you'll find us in your way" -- even though Denmark and Greenland had been "very good NATO allies." And perhaps Trump knows the reality. Any US plan to "buy" Greenland would be unfeasible "not just in international law but more broadly in the global order that the US has been trying to uphold," she said. dk/bgsFathom Holdings Expands Verus Title Elite into Amarillo, Texas

( MENAFN - IANS) Ponte Vedra Beach (USA), Dec 18 (IANS) The Professional golf Association (PGA) TOUR has announced its schedule for the 2025 Fall Series, a critical seven-event slate, which includes trips to Japan, Mexico, and Bermuda, that helps finalise eligibility for the 2026 season. The Fall Series includes events on the PGA Tour that overlap two calendar years. This series was created in 2007 as part of the reorganisation of the entire tour schedule and became a part of the PGA Tour in 2013-14. Indian-American golfer Sahith Theegala won one of the Fall Series events in 2023 to confirm his spot for the 2024 PGA TOUR. The FedExCup Fall in 2025 will kick off with the Procore Championship (Sept. 8-14) at Silverado Resort in Napa, California, before taking a two-week break, during which the Ryder Cup will be contested at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York. The FedExCup Fall resumes with the Sanderson Farms Championship (Sept. 29-Oct. 5) at The Country Club of Jackson in Jackson, Mississippi, the PGA Tour informed in a release on Tuesday night. “Building on an incredibly compelling FedExCup Fall, the upcoming eligibility changes further heighten the drama and excitement for fans, with more at stake for players than ever before,” Tyler Dennis, PGA TOUR Chief Competitions Officer, was quoted as saying in the release. “With events in four U.S. states, Japan, Mexico, and Bermuda, the conclusion to the 2025 golf calendar promises to be exciting for our fans worldwide, while also providing a lasting impact in the communities where we will play,” he said. As announced last week, the PGA TOUR's event in Japan has both a new title sponsor and a new home. With the TOUR's multi-year agreement with global consulting company Baycurrent, Inc., the newly named Baycurrent Classic (Oct. 6-12) will be contested for the first time at Yokohama Country Club, set in Yokohama, Japan. One of the premier golf courses in Japan, Yokohama Country Club was designed in 1960 by Takeo Aiyama and remodeled in 2016 by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. The Black Desert Championship (Oct. 20-26) follows in Southern Utah at Black Desert Resort, as the TOUR builds upon a successful 2024 debut that marked the TOUR's first trip to Utah in more than 60 years, the release added. After that, the FedExCup Fall series will resume in Los Cabos, Mexico, with the World Wide Technology Championship (Nov. 3-9) at El Cardonal at Diamante, a Tiger Woods-designed golf course. The season then concludes with the Butterfield Bermuda Championship (Nov. 10-16) at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, Bermuda, followed by The RSM Classic (Nov. 17-23), with the FedExCup Fall standings being finalized at Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simons Island, Georgia. As previously announced, the PGA TOUR has made several eligibility changes for the 2026 season which will make the FedExCup Fall even more consequential in the coming year, most notably that the top 100 in the FedExCup standings through the 2025 FedExCup Fall will secure exemption status for the following PGA TOUR Season (a decrease from 125 in prior years), with Nos. 101-125 having conditional status. This change to the Priority Ranking, as recommended by the TOUR's Player Advisory Council and approved by the Policy Board on November 18, ensures the 35 players who receive their cards via the Korn Ferry Tour, DP World Tour and PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry have a greater certainty of schedule and equitable playing opportunities, the statement confirmed. The FedExCup Fall will finalise top 100 eligibility for the 2026 FedExCup Regular Season, providing exempt status for Full-Field events as well as a spot in THE PLAYERS Championship. Among the significant benefits to winning during the FedExCup Fall are a two-year PGA TOUR exemption, 500 FedExCup points, entry into the season-opening The Sentry, and eligibility into major championships that have traditionally invited PGA TOUR winners. Five of the seven winners from the 2023 FedExCup Fall went on to qualify for the 2024 FedExCup Playoffs – Sahith Theegala, Tom Kim, Collin Morikawa, Erik van Rooyen, and Ludvig Åberg – while seven players in 2024 moved into the top 125 to secure fully exempt status for the 2025 season after beginning the FedExCup Fall outside the top 125. Players who qualify for the 2025 FedExCup Playoffs (top 70) are exempt for the 2026 season, with players advancing to the BMW Championship (top 50) also being exempt into all Signature Events for 2026. Players ranked No. 51 and beyond will carry their FedExCup Points from the Regular Season and first FedExCup Playoffs event into the FedExCup Fall and will continue to accumulate FedExCup Points to finalize the FedExCup Fall standings and determine eligibility for the 2026 season. As part of the Aon Next 10, players ranked Nos. 51-60 through the FedExCup Fall earn their way into two early-season 2026 Signature Events, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Genesis Invitational. The PGA TOUR's Challenge Season, consisting of three events, will follow the FedExCup Fall: the Hero World Challenge (Dec. 1-7), hosted by Tiger Woods; the mixed-team Grant Thornton Invitational (Dec. 8-14), an event co-sanctioned by the PGA TOUR and LPGA; and the PNC Championship (Dec. 15-21). MENAFN17122024000231011071ID1109005094 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — First it was Canada, then the Panama Canal. Now, Donald Trump again wants Greenland. The president-elect is renewing unsuccessful calls he made during his first term for the U.S. to buy Greenland from Denmark, adding to the list of allied countries with which he’s picking fights even before taking office on Jan. 20. In a Sunday announcement naming his ambassador to Denmark, Trump wrote that, “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.” Trump again having designs on Greenland comes after the president-elect suggested over the weekend that the U.S. could retake control of the Panama Canal if something isn’t done to ease rising shipping costs required for using the waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He’s also been suggesting that Canada become the 51st U.S. state and referred to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “governor” of the “Great State of Canada.” Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, said Trump tweaking friendly countries harkens back to an aggressive style he used during his days in business. “You ask something unreasonable and it’s more likely you can get something less unreasonable,” said Farnsworth, who is also author of the book “Presidential Communication and Character.” Greenland, the world’s largest island, sits between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. It is 80% covered by an ice sheet and is home to a large U.S. military base. It gained home rule from Denmark in 1979 and its head of government, Múte Bourup Egede, suggested that Trump’s latest calls for U.S. control would be as meaningless as those made in his first term. “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale,” he said in a statement. “We must not lose our years-long fight for freedom.” Trump canceled a 2019 visit to Denmark after his offer to buy Greenland was rejected by Copenhagen, and ultimately came to nothing. He also suggested Sunday that the U.S. is getting “ripped off” at the Panama Canal. “If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America, in full, quickly and without question,” he said. Panama President José Raúl Mulino responded in a video that “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to,” but Trump fired back on his social media site, “We’ll see about that!” The president-elect also posted a picture of a U.S. flag planted in the canal zone under the phrase, “Welcome to the United States Canal!” The United States built the canal in the early 1900s but relinquished control to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999, under a treaty signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter. The canal depends on reservoirs that were hit by 2023 droughts that forced it to substantially reduce the number of daily slots for crossing ships. With fewer ships, administrators also increased the fees that shippers are charged to reserve slots to use the canal. The Greenland and Panama flareups followed Trump recently posting that “Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State” and offering an image of himself superimposed on a mountaintop surveying surrounding territory next to a Canadian flag. Trudeau suggested that Trump was joking about annexing his country, but the pair met recently at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida to discuss Trump’s threats to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods. “Canada is not going to become part of the United States, but Trump’s comments are more about leveraging what he says to get concessions from Canada by putting Canada off balance, particularly given the precarious current political environment in Canada,” Farnsworth said. “Maybe claim a win on trade concessions, a tighter border or other things.” He said the situation is similar with Greenland. “What Trump wants is a win,” Farnsworth said. “And even if the American flag doesn’t raise over Greenland, Europeans may be more willing to say yes to something else because of the pressure.”'Back To South Africa': Democrats Call For Biden To Deport Elon Musk

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES TORONTO, Dec. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HEALWELL AI Inc. (“ HEALWELL ” or the “ Company ”) (TSX: AIDX) (OTCQX:HWAIF), a data science and AI company focused on preventative care, is pleased to announce that it has entered into an amended agreement pursuant to which Eight Capital and Scotiabank, as lead underwriters and joint bookrunners, together with a syndicate of underwriters (collectively, the “ Underwriters ”), will purchase, by way of a private placement on a “bought deal” basis (i) 12,500,000 subscription receipts of the Company (the “ Subscription Receipts ”),at a price of $2.00 per Subscription Receipt (the “ Subscription Receipt Issue Price ”); and (ii) 31,250 convertible debentures of the Company (the “ Convertible Debentures ”) at a price per Convertible Debenture of $960, for aggregate gross proceeds of $55,000,000. Each Subscription Receipt will entitle the holder thereof to receive, upon satisfaction of the Release Conditions (as defined below), for no additional consideration, one unit of the Company consisting of one Class A Subordinate Voting Share (each, a “ Share ”) and one-half of one Share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable at a price of $2.50 for a period of 36 months following the closing of the Offering. The gross proceeds of the Subscription Receipt portion of the Offering, less 50% of the Underwriters’ cash commission and certain expenses of the Underwriters, will be deposited in escrow on closing of the Offering until the satisfaction of certain release conditions, including that all conditions precedent to the Transaction (as defined below) have been met (the “ Release Conditions ”). In the event that the Release Conditions have not been satisfied prior to 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver Time) on June 30, 2025, or the Company advises the Underwriters or announces to the public that it does not intend to satisfy the Release Conditions or that the Transaction has been terminated, the aggregate issue price of the Subscription Receipts (plus any interest earned thereon) shall be returned to the applicable holders of the Subscription Receipts, and such Subscription Receipts shall be automatically cancelled and be of no further force and effect. The Convertible Debentures will be issued with a 4% original issue discount and will be convertible into Shares at a price of $2.40 per Share. The Company may force the conversion of all of the principal amount of the then outstanding Convertible Debentures at a price of $2.40 per Share on not less than 30 days’ notice should, at any time following the date that is 4 months and 1 day following the issue date, the daily volume weighted average trading price of the Shares be greater than $3.85 for any 10 consecutive trading days. The Convertible Debentures will bear interest at the rate of 10% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 30 and December 31 of each year, beginning on June 30, 2025. The Convertible Debentures will mature on December 31, 2029, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed, or converted in accordance with their terms. The Convertible Debentures will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to December 31, 2027. On or after January 1, 2028, the Convertible Debentures will be redeemable at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, at a price equal to 110% of the principal amount of the Convertible Debentures to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. The Company has granted the Underwriters an option to offer for sale up to an additional 15% of the Subscription Receipts, exercisable in whole or in part at any time for a period of up to 48 hours prior to the closing date. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to partially fund the cash portion of the purchase price for the Company’s acquisition of Orion Health Holdings Limited (the “ Transaction ”), as described in greater detail in the Company’s press release dated December 16, 2024. Completion of the Offering will be subject to various conditions, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange. As the number of Shares to be issued in the Transaction and the Offering will exceed 25% of the number of HEALWELL’s current issued and outstanding Shares, HEALWELL is required to obtain shareholder approval from shareholders holding at least a majority of the voting power of the Company. Closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about January 7, 2025. Dr. Alexander Dobranowski Chief Executive Officer HEALWELL AI Inc. About HEALWELL HEALWELL is a healthcare artificial intelligence company focused preventative care. Its mission is to improve healthcare and save lives through early identification and detection of disease. Using its own proprietary technology, the Company is developing and commercializing advanced clinical decision support systems that can help healthcare providers detect rare and chronic diseases, improve efficiency of their practice and ultimately help improve patient health outcomes. HEALWELL is executing a strategy centered around developing and acquiring technology and clinical sciences capabilities that complement the Company’s road map. HEALWELL is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “AIDX” and on the OTC Exchange under the symbol “HWAIF”. To learn more about HEALWELL, please visit https://healwell.ai/ . About ORION HEALTH Orion Health is a global healthcare technology company focused on reimagining healthcare for all. Orion Health is leading the change in digital health with health and care organizations to improve the wellbeing of every individual with our world leading Unified Healthcare Platform. Made up of a Virtuoso digital front door, Amadeus digital care record, and Orchestral health intelligence platform - each underpinned by extensive health and social data sets, machine learning, and 30 years of innovation focused purely on improving global well-being. www.orionhealth.com. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release, constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward looking statements" (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and are based on assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements with respect to, among other things, the closing of the Transaction and the Offering and the terms on which each of them are expected to be completed. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as “in the event”, “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain future conditions, actions, events or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "can" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon management’s perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as a number of specific factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by HEALWELL as of the date of such statements, are outside of HEALWELL's control and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies which could result in the forward-looking statements ultimately being entirely or partially incorrect or untrue. Forward looking statements contained in this press release are based on various assumptions, including, but not limited to, the following: the parties’ ability to satisfy any conditions precedent to completion of the Transaction and the Offering, including receipt of all shareholder, regulatory and TSX approvals; HEALWELL’s ability to complete the Transaction and the Offering or to complete them on the terms described above; HEALWELL’s ability to access sources of debt and equity financing to complete the acquisition and the terms on which such financing may be provided; the stability of general economic and market conditions; HEALWELL's ability to comply with applicable laws and regulations; HEALWELL's continued compliance with third party intellectual property rights; and that the risk factors noted below, collectively, do not have a material impact on HEALWELL's business, operations, revenues and/or results. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections, or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct, and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. Known and unknown risk factors, many of which are beyond the control of HEALWELL, could cause the actual results of HEALWELL to differ materially from the results, performance, achievements, or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include but are not limited to those factors which are discussed under the section entitled "Risk Factors" in HEALWELL's most recent annual information form dated April 1, 2024, which is available under HEALWELL's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.com. The risk factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect HEALWELL and the reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that forward looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management’s expectations and plans relating to the future. HEALWELL disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. All of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. For more information: Pardeep S. Sangha Investor Relations, HEALWELL AI Inc. Phone: 604-572-6392 ir@healwell.ai

Gananoque accepts funding for Next Generation 911

Key Takeaways Startups worldwide want to improve their reputations, meet partners and investors and scale their business. Innovative ideas come from every corner of the globe, which makes entrepreneurship open to anyone — no matter their background, gender, race or experience. However, depending on a startup founder's location, it might be difficult to get the right level of visibility and connections to expand their business successfully. I believe that Silicon Valley , the birthplace of innovation, remains a critical center of entrepreneurship. One way to access Silicon Valley — including stakeholders that can help a startup grow — is to participate in startup competitions. Related: This Low-Cost, Low-Effort Growth Strategy Could Transform Your Company Into an Innovation Powerhouse History of Silicon Valley Silicon Valley, a term originally used by Electronic News in 1971, started with the invention of the semiconductor. It's in the South Bay of California and is now known as the center of technology innovation. San Jose is the region's largest city; the presence of highly regarded universities in the area — such as Stanford University — provides a strong foundation of research and development. Since many famous startups and technology companies started in Silicon Valley, it is also the home to Venture Capital (VC). Investors are critical to a startup's success, and it is important for founders to make connections with VC firms. Major technology companies are based here — including Intel, Nvidia, Apple, Alphabet, Meta, Cisco and Netflix, among others. Silicon Valley is unique due to its culture of innovation, which encourages risk-taking and even failure. Startup founders, corporate executives and investors understand the importance of exploring new ideas, even if they do not all succeed. This culture is perfect for entrepreneurs who want to be innovative in a supportive environment. As a result of the success of such companies, Silicon Valley is a wealthy region. In fact, Silicon Valley Indicators show that in 2022, the region's median household income was over $149,000 — higher than even San Francisco. It's also the home of well-known unicorns, defined as startups valued at over $1 billion. These include Open AI, SpaceX, Zoom, Miro and Anthropic. It's helpful for startups to be well-connected in Silicon Valley since this provides access to potential investors, partners, customers and employees — all of whom can help propel them to success. How startup competitions help entrepreneurs Participating in startup competitions has several benefits for entrepreneurs. At the competitions, startups will pitch their business ideas to investors, which can help them not only strengthen their pitch but also win cash prizes and/or investments. Competitions also provide critical networking opportunities to other ecosystem members. Entrepreneurs typically learn a great deal from fellow entrepreneurs, participating investors and corporate executives who are participating. Startup competitions give entrepreneurs visibility, which is important for their personal reputations and their company's. Pitches are typically done on-stage in front of a large audience; the audience will be even larger if the competition is broadcast virtually. High-profile journalists normally attend startup competitions, which gives founders the opportunity to interview and be part of published articles — spreading their visibility further. Related: How a Seasoned Silicon Valley Veteran Keeps Innovation at the Forefront of Business Startup competitions in Silicon Valley Based on my experience, several competitions in Silicon Valley come to mind that will benefit entrepreneurs. Startup Grind is a well-known conference that gives startups the opportunity to pitch their ideas, gather feedback and set up meetings with investors. The Startup World Cup (SWC), started by Pegasus Tech Ventures — a well-regarded VC firm — hosts about 100 regional competitions around the world. SWC is recognized by Google and ChatGPT as the largest startup competition in the world. It culminates in a Grand Finale during which the grand prize winner receives a $1 million investment. TechCrunch Disrupt is another popular conference that gives entrepreneurs a chance to pitch their ideas and network with startup ecosystem members. Prestigious universities near Silicon Valley provide not only centers of research and development; they also host well-regarded business plan competitions. The Haas School at the University of California Berkeley is home to the BerkeleyHaas Entrepreneurship Program . The program, well-regarded by the academic and technology communities, hosts the University of California Startup Accelerator, the Venture Capital Investment Competition and the Hult Prize Competition. Meanwhile, Stanford University in Palo Alto is home to the Business Association of Stanford Entrepreneurial Students ( BASES ), which aims to enable entrepreneurship at the university. Its annual Challenge attracts more than 250 startups from around the globe to compete for cash prizes. Advice for entrepreneurs When speaking to startup founders in all regions of the world, I typically advise them to tap into the strength of Silicon Valley. This region, historically the center of technology innovation , remains critical due to its strong startup ecosystem. Many startups, corporations, VCs and media are based there. Even if a startup is based elsewhere, it's smart to tap into the power and network of Silicon Valley by participating in startup competitions. This enables founders to refine their pitch , gather valuable feedback, increase visibility and network with potential partners, suppliers, customers and investors. This effort is well worth the time and expense, given its potential to expand a startup's presence and scale it rapidly. Doing so will help bring its innovative ideas forward to benefit the world. Related: 5 Ways Startups Can Increase Their Visibility

Police have said all cordons have been removed and roads reopened in Chester after a major security alert. The incident follows a security alert at the nearby Chester train station that saw rail services stopped for around two hours with a full evacuation and wide cordon. Rail services resumed around 7pm, however cordons remained in place at the bus station. Just before 10PM police issued the first statement on the incident, in full here: “At 5.09pm today (Friday 22 November) police received a report of suspicious activity on two busses in Chester City Centre. One near the train station and one near the bus interchange. “As a precaution a cordon was put in place and a number of roads were closed while we investigated the report. EOD attended with other emergency services to assist. “All was in order, the cordon was released and roads reopened. We understand that this caused some disruption and concern but we are now happy there is nothing untoward. Thank you for your patience while we dealt with this incident.” Police have not confirmed local reports of a “controlled explosion” at Chester bus station around 9:30PM this evening and related warnings to nearby residents. The statement above uses the ‘EOD’ jargon – which stands for Explosive Ordnance Disposal. Top pic: @ShitChester on the scene in Chester – check out thechesterblog.com here . Original updates below... Update : All lines have reopened, with services resuming. However a large security operation appears to remain in place nearby. The area around the bus station remains closed. Police don't know how long for pic.twitter.com/D19YmzdI0E — this Chester (@ShitChester) November 22, 2024 Strange night in @ShitChester with both the train and bus stations closed due to bomb scares. Seems to be over now and police tape has come down... pic.twitter.com/H2zVAkyAKX — Matthew Lumby (@MatthewLumby) November 22, 2024 earlier information below... All lines are closed at Chester Station this evening amid a wider security alert. National Rail say “Trains are currently unable to call at Chester due to a security alert at this station” with an expectation from the service that the station will remain closed for several hours. “A security alert at Chester station means all lines are currently closed. As a result, trains may be cancelled, delayed or revised to not call at Chester station.” Eyewitnesses are reporting a section of City Road is also closed by the station. Other images on social media show Chester bus station is also cordoned off with taxi and bus services are affected. Will has told Wrexham.com, “All buses including the Wrexham buses have been told to move on and not call at any of the stops” at the bus station. Images of an Army ordnance corps bomb disposal vehicle in the city has been shared with Wrexham.com this evening. Bus station too pic.twitter.com/a3uB7fwvGn — I_Loves_MeKitty (@I_Loves_MeKitty) November 22, 2024 There is no information from Cheshire Police. Nearly an hour after the initial reports, and 48 minutes after the National Rail update, TfW updated, “Due to a security alert at a station at Chester the line is closed.” Mersey Rail said, “Due to a security alert at Chester, train services running through this station will be terminated at and started back from Hooton. No alternative transport can be provided at present.” More shortly. Get notified about news from across North WalesWalmart Begins Program That Has Employees Wear Bodycams For SafetyCLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in a Major League Baseball game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler's staff in 2020, becoming the majors' first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt — the AL Manager of the Year. With Cleveland, the 34-year-old Nakken will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Her exact duties are still being determined. "We thank Alyssa Nakken for her incredible contributions to the San Francisco Giants and for trailblazing a path for women in sports,” the Giants said in a statement on Friday. "Her leadership, dedication, and passion for the game have inspired countless individuals, and her impact has been truly transformative for the Giants organization and the baseball community. “As she embarks on this exciting new chapter in her career, we have no doubt that she’ll continue to inspire and achieve great things. We wish her and her family nothing but the best.” Nakken is the second on-field female coach hired by the Guardians. In 2023, the club brought in Amanda Kamekona as their hitting development coach for their year-round training academy in Goodyear, Arizona. Last season, she was an assistant hitting coach at Double-A Akron. Kamekona was twice a third-team All-American at UCLA after transferring from Cal State Fullerton. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

World Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News. There’s no getting around it, 2024 left the world shaken and in some cases irrevocably altered — and there’s good reason to be concerned about 2025. Given the state of play between multiple superpower adversaries, the next 12 months may turn out to be some of the most consequential in recent history. In an ominous omen for the coming year eagle-eyed social media users have noted that the first three days of the year are Wednesday (1st), Thursday (2nd), and Friday (3rd) which in people’s phone calendars spells out “WTF”. The last time that happened was 2020, and we all know how that played out. Gulp... But it’s not just calendar details have have people concerned. It’s safe to say there’s a fair bit going on in the world that could boil over. From Ukraine to Washington, from the South China Sea to the Korean Peninsula and then the Middle East, the landscape of global politics is a volatile mosaic of crises that demand attention from the world’s leaders. It’s been a year where the balance of power has been tested and old tensions have resurfaced in force. Then thrown into the mix: Trump 2.0, the rapidly evolving AI revolution and cost of living pressures putting the general public in a vicegrip. There’s quite a lot on the plate for the “developed” world. Take a look a some of the biggest issues pressing against the globe in 2025 below. Ukraine War: An Unresolved Crisis In February 2022, Russia launched its brutal invasion of Ukraine and the world has been held hostage, in some way or another, by the ongoing bloodshed ever since. 2024 was another year of devastation for the nation of 37 million. Almost three years on, Ukraine’s military continues to resist Russia’s territorial ambitions, but life for the average citizen has deteriorated, with children in particularly prone locations being forced to spend their days underground. Despite tireless resistance and continual Western support, the situation remains anything but resolved with Russia periodically reclaiming ground. Vladimir Putin has not eased on his initial pledge to reclaim the nation as part of his “special military campaign” and has resisted Western efforts to whittle away his nation’s economy, while simultaneously pouring everything he can into maintaining the conveyor belt of military aged men to the frontlines. The introduction of North Korean troops to Russia’s side has also painted a bleak picture, with some analysts going so far as claiming it is the “unofficial” beginning of WWIII given two “axis” powers are now working together on the same battlefield. Verified reports of what they are actually doing to assist the war effort have been hard to come by however. Vladimir Putin has not eased on his initial pledge to reclaim the nation as part of his “special military campaign” and has resisted Western efforts to whittle away his nation’s economy. (Photo by Valery SHARIFULIN / POOL / AFP) A Ukrainian infantry soldier of the 23rd Mechanized Brigade sits as he waits to deploy toward the frontline in the Avdiivka direction, in the Donetsk region (Photo by Roman PILIPEY / AFP) Jeffrey W. Hornung of the non-profit research organisation RAND goes so far as arguing that the increasing involvement of East Asian powers could be grounds for labelling it a proxy war. “Besides the recent arrival of at least 10,000 North Korean soldiers on the Russian side, the evolving roles of China, Japan, and South Korea raise the question of whether a widening proxy war is being fought in Ukraine,” he said in a November report. “By all indications, the answer is yes: The war is setting a new precedent for Indo-Pacific nations to compete for their interests on the global stage.” Foreign interests aside, Ukraine’s efforts to reclaim occupied territories will remain a focal point in the first quarter of 2025. The challenge for NATO and the US will be to balance continued support for Ukraine without triggering a broader confrontation with Russia. Donald Trump has vowed to end the conflict as soon as he gets in office, but we’ve all heard a politician say things like that before. Korean Peninsula heating up On the other side of the world, the Korean Peninsula is going through a particularly tense period of politics, both internal and external. North Korea conducted a series of provocative missile tests and trash balloon launches in 2024, stoking the patience of its more democratic neighbour to the South. Experts at the Asan Institute of Policy Studies told news.com.au this year that Kim Jong-un is growing his nuclear weapons arsenal by almost a dozen a month. While most analysts agree the North would never dare to flex its nuclear might, the worrying rhetoric pushed out by Pyongyang’s ruling elite has continued to put a cloud over the region. Kim Jong Un meeting with Russia's Minister of Defence Andrei Belousov. (Photo by KCNA VIA KNS / AFP) South Korea is also going through a turbulent political period after President Yoon Suk Yeol abruptly declared martial law (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP) A tightened relationship with Russia has also done little to ease tensions as South Korean officials scramble to keep the 70-year peace with the North intact. Kim Jong-un has managed to not only defy global sanctions but also strengthen his position at home through the renewed partnership with Vladimir Putin, which was solidified when the Russian leader flew into Pyongyang in June. South Korea is also going through a turbulent political period after President Yoon Suk Yeol abruptly declared martial law, running counter to his nation’s purported stance against the authoritarianism of the North. He now faces the possibility of impeachment and will appear in front of the nation’s corruption watchdogs. All eyes on the South China Sea 2024 saw China continue to expand its influence through both diplomatic and military means, warning neighbouring nations to steer clear of its dispute with Taiwan. Beijing’s claim over virtually all of the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest maritime routes, is a point of fierce contention with several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines and Vietnam. The US, under Biden’s administration, has made clear that it will not back down in the face of China’s growing military presence in the region. Australia has also committed to defending Taiwan’s sovereignty. “The failure of Chinese and Southeast Asian leaders to resolve the disputes diplomatically could undermine international laws governing maritime disputes and encourage destabilising arms build-ups,” the Center for Preventive Action wrote in a September report. The situation in 2025 looks poised to further test international waters. As China continues its militarisation of islands in the region, and with the US committed to supporting its allies through freedom of navigation operations, the South China Sea could become the flashpoint for another direct military conflict. As it stands, the region remains a volatile mix of rising nationalism, conflicting territorial claims, and an increasingly assertive China. Beijing’s claim over virtually all of the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest maritime routes, is a point of fierce contention with several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines and Vietnam. (Photo by Handout / Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) / AFP) The Trump Factor: A New Era in the US Donald Trump’s landslide victory indicated that a large portion of America was flat-out fed up with the current state of affairs. Witnessing four years of outrageous Joe Biden gaffes was simply too much for the nation of 330 million. Kamala Harris took up the reins of his campaign and spent two months refusing to do off-the-cuff interviews with certain people outside the mainstream media lexicon, and that was that. Several million middle-of-the-road voters took another punt with Trump, rejecting the Democrats’ state of affairs which many believe have accelerated the decline of the nation, especially for those on low and middle incomes, the demographic the American left purport to bat for. Whether Trump 2.0 does anything for the bulk of American taxpayers remains to be seen. But his definitive victory in 2024, like in 2016, was clearly a battle won on the cultural battleground, with voters indicating they are tired of political correctness, career politicians and government bloat. The controversial appointment of Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, to declutter the US government has also lit a flame under staunch left wing mouthpieces. Strap in, folks. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) Some believe Musk’s shuffle towards Trump in recent years are part of a masterplan to scrap regulations on his already booming businesses to make more money, while others believe he is a good-hearted US constitutionalist who only wants to see his nation thrive. Australia will no doubt feel the effects of the Trump presidency, but it will take a few years before we can judge if he truly did “make America great again”. Middle East in turmoil The Middle East is at yet another pivotal point in its history. Conflict has unfortunately defined the region for many years, and the recent reshuffling of order in countries like Syria, coupled with the ongoing crisis between Israel and Palestine and several terrorist group supporters have left several questions unanswered about the future. The conflict in Gaza escalated further in 2024, following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel’s subsequent military response resulted in widespread devastation, with tens of thousands of civilians and children killed as part of the “collateral damage”. In 2025, the situation will continue to sit on a knife’s edge. Palestinians gather at the site of an Israeli strike on a camp for internally displaced people in Rafah on May 27, 2024. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP) The international community continues to grapple with the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with efforts to broker ceasefires and humanitarian aid facing massive challenges. The prospects for a lasting peace hinge on the willingness of both parties to engage in meaningful dialogue and the ability of global powers to facilitate such discussions. Meanwhile in Syria, fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime has left an ominous power vacuum. The international community is actively engaged in efforts to stabilise the country, stressing the importance of respecting minority and women’s rights, preventing terrorism, and securing humanitarian aid. The intense rivalry between Israel and Iran is also anticipated to persist, with each side seeking to expand its influence in the region. President Trump is likely to adopt a more assertive stance in the Middle East, focusing on countering Iranian influence and addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. AI: The robots are getting buff It’s almost become a cliche to say “artificial intelligence stands at a precipice”. But there’s no other way of putting it. We are currently gazing into a bizarre future brimming with potential, but the real question is: just how long am I going to be in a job? The past year has been another massive leap forward in the AI renaissance, with breakthroughs that have redefined the boundaries of what is possible. The launch of Google’s Veo 2, an AI video generator, has also set new standards in video content creation, outperforming its predecessors with remarkable accuracy and creativity. They’re getting smarter. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) In the corporate sphere, Salesforce unveiled Agentforce 2.0, an AI agent program that integrates with Slack, enhancing reasoning, integration, and customisation capabilities. One Aussie AI developer, who chose to remain nameless, predicted to me that it would be “less than five years” before most jobs done solely with a computer could be reliably replaced with AI. We’ll just have to wait and see if the world’s major employers opt to embrace a complete shift towards machine workers and usher in a new era of absurdity. Maybe we can all get behind universal basic income once the inevitable comes to pass. Maybe. What can you do about all this? Probably nothing. Just stay informed and hope to hell some maniacal dictator doesn’t hit his big red nuke button. Originally published as 2025 calendar detail is freaking everyone out as global challenges loom for Planet Earth More related stories World Illegal migrant charged with subway horror An illegal Guatemalan migrant accused of torching a sleeping woman on a Brooklyn subway train has been hit with murder and arson charges. Read more World Underage sex: Trump ally’s bombshell claims The man who Donald Trump wanted to be the US’ top legal official has been accused of “statutory rape” of an underage teen in a damning report. Read more

CALGARY, Alberta — Jordan Binnington isn’t just looking forward to the games. Don’t forget about the practices. Binnington was named to Canada’s roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off on Wednesday evening, and he could be the country’s starting goaltender for the February tournament that also features players from the United States, Sweden and Finland. But those Canadian practices will be star-studded events themselves. “I think I’m even excited just for the practices,” Binnington said after Blues practice in Calgary. “It’s all the top dogs going at it and working together to do something special. I think the in-game competition, that’s where you want to be, right? That’s something you dream about. I’m excited to go against the best.” Binnington and defenseman Colton Parayko were both named to the Canadian team, the only two Blues players selected to play in the best-on-best tournament. For Binnington, it will be the third time he’s represented Canada on the international stage. He was on the World Juniors roster in 2013 and played for Canada this summer at the World Championship. “Going to Worlds last year was big experience-wise for me, just playing on an international level and wearing the Canadian leaf on my sweater,” Binnington said. “Years of work and not really thinking too far ahead or too much about it. But it’s nice that it’s here and I’ll be representing the country.” There is a certain St. Louis flavor to the Canadian team. In addition to Binnington and Parayko’s inclusion on the roster, general manager Doug Armstrong is overseeing the process for Hockey Canada and will be Canada’s GM for the 2026 Olympics. Additionally, Blues goaltending coach David Alexander and video coordinator Elliott Mondou will be part of the Canadian coaching staff led by Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper. “They’re going to get the opportunity to be around the best coaches in the world,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “How they approach things, how they hold their meetings, how they give their information to their players, it’s all going to be new ideas that we can actually copy and make ourselves better.” Binnington will be joined in the crease by Vegas’ Adin Hill and Montreal’s Samuel Montembeault. Binnington and Hill have recent postseason success with the Blues’ Cup win in 2019 and the Golden Knights’ championship in 2023. This season, Binnington (.899 save percentage, 2.87 goals against average), Hill (.900, 2.67) and Montembeault (.901, 2.99) all have similar numbers. “It’s all focusing on what you can control, and for me, that’s just being the best I can be every day and winning hockey games,” Binnington said. “The more I do that, the better that sets me up for being the guy. But I’m all in on whatever they need me to do. I’m going to do my best to do what I need to do to be there.” Binnington said he found out that he would be included on the roster earlier this week. “I was excited,” Binnington said. “I know it hasn’t been the cleanest year so far, we’ve had a lot going on around here. But the fact that they showed that belief in me, it enhances my drive and my effort put forth to represent the country, and enjoy the moment with Team Canada.” Parayko will be playing a familiar role in front of Binnington as a right-handed, big, smooth-skating, shutdown defenseman. With Canada also icing offensive defensemen like Cale Makar, Josh Morrissey and Shea Theodore, Parayko should provide balance and be able to kill both plays and penalties. “It’s going to be above the NHL speed because now you have all the elite players from those nations that are competing,” Montgomery said. “I just know from having talked to coaches like Ken Hitchcock and Mike Babcock that when players go and they start practicing with a Sidney Crosby, and I imagine it’s going to be the same thing with a (Connor) McDavid and a (Nathan) Mackinnon is you start on time. “I’m anxious for the Blues players that they get around players like that, how important every day and every minute you are there to do your job, you do it right.” The tournament begins Feb. 12 when Canada faces Sweden in Montreal. The final is on Feb. 20 in Boston. “It’s special,” Binnington said. “I’m very excited. It’s a great honor just to be able to compete in practice and in games against some of the best in the world. It’s going to be high intensity, a short amount of time, so we’re all in. I think it’s a good opportunity. I’m really grateful, and I’m excited for it.” Former Blues defensemen Alex Pietrangelo (Canada) and Niko Mikkola (Finland) were both selected to represent their countries. St. Louis natives Matthew and Brady Tkachuk will play for the United States. Blues top-line center Robert Thomas was not selected for the Canadian team.(BPT) - The new year is a good time to reset. From a fresh start on lifestyle choices, hobbies or pursuits, to the less exciting — but no less important — aspects of life, like memberships, contracts and even health insurance. Health insurance deductibles reset in the new year, so it's a good idea to keep that in mind as you plan for healthcare expenses. Any changes made to your health insurance plan during open enrollment go into effect as well. 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Perhaps you have relocated and are in the market for a new doctor. Whatever the case, there's no time like the present to search for a new primary care physician who meets your needs. If you're on Medicare, Oak Street Health can be a great resource. The only primary care provider to carry the AARP name, Oak Street Health provides primary care for adults on Medicare and focuses on prevention with personalized care to help keep you healthy — physically, mentally and socially. Benefits include same-day/next-day appointments where available, convenient locations, a dedicated care team and a 24/7 patient support line. AARP membership is not required to visit an Oak Street Health location. 4. Protect your smile Optimal dental care includes daily brushing and flossing and a visit to the dentist every six months. During your visit, the dentist can monitor for and treat any issues, such as cavities or gum disease. However, not all plans include dental insurance, which means you might end up paying out of pocket for your cleaning and other procedures. To avoid that, take a look at your coverage. If needed, explore information on dental insurance options that offer individual or family coverage for the most common dental procedures. Dental insurance generally pays for regular check-ups, so many people who purchase protection will benefit from it immediately. 5. Clarify your hearing coverage Hearing loss is a common age-related ailment. According to the National Institute on Aging , one-third of older adults have hearing loss, and the chance of developing hearing loss increases with age. Hearing aids can be an enormous help, improving socialization, boosting confidence and even helping to increase balance. However, many insurance plans do not include coverage for hearing aids. AARP ® Hearing SolutionsTM provided by UnitedHealthcare ® Hearing provides savings on hearing aids and hearing care . Members can save an average of $2,000 per pair on prescription hearing aids and 15% on accessories — no insurance needed. Plus receive a hearing exam and consultation at no cost and personalized support through a large nationwide network of hearing providers. 6. Consider physical therapy Often, the only times that people consider whether their health insurance covers physical therapy is if they already participate in it or after the doctor has prescribed it. As we age, though, physical therapy can be a useful tool in improving balance or recovering from an injury or procedure to help you remain active. Fortunately, the question of coverage or finding an in-network location doesn't have to derail you. AARP ® Physical Therapy At HomeTM by Luna accepts most insurances and Medicare and is available to members and non-members alike. Plus, Luna's experts come to you, so you can receive quality care from the comfort of your home. If you're creating an end-of-year to-do list, consider adding an assessment of your healthcare coverage. After all, the best time to realize you have a gap in coverage is before you need it. To learn more about AARP member benefits, visit aarp.org/benefits . AARP and its affiliates are not insurers, agents, brokers or producers. AARP member benefits are provided by third parties, not by AARP or its affiliates. Providers pay a royalty fee to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. Some provider offers are subject to change and may have restrictions. Please contact the provider directly for details.

With favourites out MLS playoffs promise more upsetsBill Maher went off on an expletive-laden rant about “the left” in which he blasted those who would refuse to talk to family members during the holiday season because of political differences. During a sit-down with Jay Leno in a recent episode of Club Random, the comedian blasted those who have threatened to “cut off” relatives over politics , though said he would never switch to the “Trump side.” The pair discussed a range of subjects, including Johnny Carson, Leno’s recent accidents and the late Sammy Davis Jr. Leno mentioned the fact that the musician was called a “traitor” by activists after taking a photo with former Republican president Richard Nixon in the White House. “It’s so funny you mention that because today we live in this time where you’re not allowed to have friends from the other side or cross lines politically, and I forgot that there’s an example of that way back when,” Maher said. “A guy who crossed lines politically. Oh, the worst thing you could ever do. Be friends with a Republican? Ah! Call 911!” he added. “This is what I f****** hate about the left,” he emphasized. “You know — and they’re not going to get me over to the Trump side, which they think they will sometimes — but just the idea of ‘cut your family off for Thanksgiving if they voted for the wrong guy.’ F*** off, you f****.” Following Trump’s victory in November, some have called out for severing relationships with conservative and MAGA-supporting family members. Celebrities including The View co-host Sunny Hostin have supported the move, saying Trumpers “voted not only against their families but against them,” referring to those recommending ostracizing relatives on the other divide of the political spectrum.

Calangute : In the wake of the tourist boat tragedy at Calangute, local MLA Michael Lobo on Thursday met with the stakeholders and took stock of the watersports operations. He directed the department concerned to put in place dos and don’ts for the operators and the customers. The Tourism Department was also directed to suspend the licence of any operator in case of violation of laid down rules and regulations, like overloading, while the police were directed to monitor the watersports opertations. Directions were also given to erect boards with rules to be followed and rates of watersports services. Lobo visited the beach along with officials of the Tourism Department, Captain of Ports, and police inspectors Paresh Naik and Jatin Potdar. “There should be safety protocols in place and stakeholders should follow all the rules and regulations. Such an incident should not happen. The state is dependent on tourism. The department concerned should hold meetings with the stakeholders prior to the commencement of the tourism season to ensure smooth and incident-free season. An age restriction also has to be set for children for watersports activity,” he said. The MLA also directed the police officials to arrest and impose fines on those found operating on the beach without the ID cards, including the staff of the shacks and watersports. He asked the stakeholders to keep touts away. He urged the watersports operators to operate their business in a manner that it does not tarnish image of the state. “Provide necessary lifesaving jackets to customers,” he said. He also asked the cops to conduct surprise checks to stop illegalities. Meanwhile, all watersports activities at Calangute beach remained closed on Thursday.

The High Court of Justice on Wednesday rejected a petition demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu be forced to recuse himself from his post as he testifies in his corruption trial next week, after both the prime minister and the attorney general argued for the petition’s dismissal. The petition was led by a group of lawyers who sought to force Netanyahu’s removal from office for the duration of his testimony in court, which is expected to last several weeks. He will likely need to testify several days a week unless other arrangements are approved. Asked to respond to the petition earlier this week, Netanyahu argued that according to law and past court decisions, the prime minister can serve in his position until convicted, and said the option of recusal was irrelevant under the current circumstances. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara also argued that the court should reject the petition. In the court’s response to the petition, High Court Justice Ruth Ronnen acknowledged that while the long hours Netanyahu will spend on the witness stand would “make things difficult,” it was not reason enough to conclude that he would be “prevented from functioning as prime minister” during his trial. According to the Ynet news outlet, Ronnen posited that “the petitioners did not lay a factual basis that establishes grounds for determining that during his testimony on the witness stand, Netanyahu will be prevented from performing his duties as prime minister, and even less so regarding the hours between the hearings, when the respondent will not be in court and will not be testifying.” Meanwhile, High Court Justice Alex Stein argued that the petition was political in nature rather than judicial. “Knowing that a prime minister can and may serve in his position in the shadow of criminal proceedings — proceedings that will include the testimony of a defendant who chooses to testify in his defense — the petitioners’ claim that he is ‘incapacitated’ falls apart,” wrote Stein. “The petitioners complain about the reduced time in which the prime minister can devote all his energy to fulfilling his crucial and complex duties, but this argument is not a legal one,” Stein asserted, “it is clearly a political one.” Netanyahu has been charged with fraud and breach of trust in two cases and with bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in a third. He was indicted in January 2020, and a trial encompassing all three cases began in May of that year at the Jerusalem District Court. His time in court testifying in his corruption trial will begin on December 10, having been pushed back from December 2 after the court partially accepted a request by defense lawyers for a delay, over concerns that they would not be able to prepare for the landmark appearance in time due to Netanyahu’s intense schedule as he deals with the wars Israel is fighting in Gaza and other fronts. Also due to the war, the testimony will take place in an underground courtroom in Tel Aviv because the Jerusalem courtroom was deemed not secure enough. Media outlets have submitted a request to broadcast it live. The Kan public broadcaster, meanwhile, reported that Netanyahu had asked the Jerusalem District Court on Wednesday to reduce his expected testimony in his corruption trial from three times a week to twice a week, citing his busy schedule due to security meetings and the need for communication with officials abroad. He also asked not to testify on consecutive days and to push back his start time each day to 10 a.m. According to Channel 12, he also asked to finish each day no later than 3 p.m. In the request, the premier also said he would like to speak with the judges behind closed doors before he begins testifying, Kan reported. No reason was offered. Netanyahu has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has claimed without evidence that the charges are fabricated in a witch hunt led by the police and state prosecution. The trial has faced criticism over the slow pace of proceedings. As things stand, the proceedings, including potential appeals, have been seen as unlikely to end before 2028-2029.With favourites out MLS playoffs promise more upsets