General Motors has announced a strategic withdrawal from the robotaxi sector, halting financial support for its unprofitable Cruise autonomous vehicle unit. The Detroit-based automaker will shift its focus toward enhancing partially automated driver-assist technologies, such as its Super Cruise system, which offers hands-free driving capabilities. The decision follows increased competition in the robotaxi market and comes after a damaging incident involving a Cruise vehicle in San Francisco, prompting regulatory actions that suspended its driverless fleet's operations. (With inputs from agencies.)Man United coach Amorim says argument between Hojlund and Diallo a 'very good sign'
Logan women drop home match with DanvilleCitigroup Inc. Sells 4,796 Shares of JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF (NYSEARCA:JPST)
Controversial streamer Nick Fuentes has reportedly been arrested from Brewin, Illinois on Friday in a case of assault on a woman named Marla Rose, last month. Fuentes has reportedly been charged with battery after allegedly macing an activist who confronted Fuentes for a misogynist comment the 26-year-old made after Donald Trump won the election. According to the New York Daily News, Brewyn Police Department booked Fuentes on November 27, and is expected to make his first appearance in court on December 19. What Did Nick Fuentes Do? According to reports, after Nick Fuentes made a controversial comment about abortion rights activists on the social media platform X, it sparked widespread outrage. Mocking the popular feminist slogan. "My Body, My Choice," Fuentes wrote: "Your Body, my choice. Forever" After this, Fuentes' address was shared on social media amid the backlash. A Chicago coman, named Marla Rose, went to Fuentes' home and confronted the 26-year-old. Fuentes then allegedly maced the woman. He sprayed something on her and seized and stomped her phone. Nick Fuents' Police Report Viral A police report, filed by Detective Phillip Quattrocchi of the Berwyn Police Department, documents the arrest of Nicho Fuentes on November 27, 2024. Fuentes was charged with one count of Class A misdemeanor battery under Illinois law (720 ILCS 5/12-3(a)(2)), stemming from a complaint filed by Marla Rose, the activist Fuentes assaulted. At 7:03 p.m., Fuentes was in the lobby of the police department and was escorted to a private area for processing. He underwent a search for weapons, fingerprinting for identification and received a citation. He signed a notice to appear in court on December 19, 2024, at the Maybrook Courthouse. The arrest process concluded around 7:20 p.m.. Detective Quattrocchi contacted Marla Rose at 7:50 p.m. to inform her of the charges and provide court details. The case was marked closed following these actions. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News, World and around the world.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration next month — extending a diplomatic olive branch even as Trump threatens to levy massive tariffs on Chinese goods. Trump's incoming press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed on Thursday that Trump invited Xi, but said it was “to be determined” if the leader of the United States' most significant economic and military competitor would attend. “This is an example of President Trump creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just our allies, but our adversaries and our competitors too,” Leavitt said in an appearance on Fox News' program ”Fox & Friends." “We saw this in his first term. He got a lot of criticism for it, but it led to peace around this world. He is willing to talk to anyone and he will always put America’s interest first.” CBS News first reported the invitation to Xi. Asked at a Chinese Foreign Ministry briefing on Thursday about Trump's invitation, spokesperson Mao Ning responded: “I have nothing to share at present.” Leavitt said that other foreign leaders have also been invited, but did not provide any details. The move by Trump to invite a leader of an adversarial nation to the American moment that is Inauguration Day is unorthodox. But it also squares with his belief that foreign policy—much like a business negotiation—should be carried out with carrots and sticks to get the United States' opponents to operate closer to his administration's preferred terms. Jim Bendat, a historian and author of “Democracy’s Big Day: The Inauguration of Our President,” said he was not aware of a previous U.S. inauguration attended by a foreign head of state. “It's not necessarily a bad thing to invite foreign leaders to attend,” Bendat said. “But it sure would make more sense to invite an ally before an adversary.” Edward Frantz, a presidential historian at the University of Indianapolis, said the invitation helps Trump burnish his “dealmaker and savvy businessman” brand. “I could see why he might like the optics," Frantz said. “But from the standpoint of American values, it seems shockingly cavalier." White House officials said it was up to Trump to decide whom he invites to the inauguration. “I would just say, without doubt it's the single most consequential bilateral relationship that the United States has in the world,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said. “It is a relationship both fraught with peril and responsibility.” Trump on Thursday during an appearance at the New York Stock Exchange , where he was ringing the opening bell to open the market, said he’s been “thinking about inviting certain people to the inauguration” without referring to any specific individuals. “And some people said, ‘Wow, that’s a little risky, isn’t it?’” Trump said. “And I said, ‘Maybe it is. We’ll see. We’ll see what happens.’ But we like to take little chances.” Meanwhile, a top aide to Hungarian President Viktor Orban, one of Trump's most vocal supporters on the world stage, said Thursday that Orban isn't slated to attend the inauguration. “There is no such plan, at least for the time being," said Gergely Gulyás, Orban's chief of staff. The nationalist Hungarian leader is embraced by Trump but has faced isolation in Europe as he's sought to undermine the European Union's support for Ukraine, and routinely blocked, delayed or watered down the bloc’s efforts to provide weapons and funding and to sanction Moscow for its invasion. Orban recently met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Every country's chief of mission to the United States will also be invited, according to a Trump Inaugural Committee official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The invitation comes as Trump has vowed to enact massive tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China to get those countries to do more to reduce illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. He has said that, on his first day in office in January, he would impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada and that China could be hit with even higher tariffs. China produces precursor chemicals used in the production of fentanyl, but Beijing has stepped up efforts over the last year to crack down on the export of the chemicals. “We’ve been talking and discussing with President Xi, some things, and others, other world leaders, and I think we’re going to do very well all around,” Trump said in a CNBC interview Thursday. Xi during a meeting with President Joe Biden last month in Peru urged the United States not to start a trade war. “Make the wise choice,” Xi cautioned. “Keep exploring the right way for two major countries to get along well with each other.” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also pushed back on Trump's threats, warning such a tariffs move would be perilous for the U.S. economy as well. Trudeau earlier this week said that Americans “are beginning to wake up to the real reality that tariffs on everything from Canada would make life a lot more expensive” and said he will retaliate if Trump goes ahead with them. Trump responded by calling Canada a state and Trudeau the governor. In addition to the tariff dispute, U.S.-China relations are strained over other issues, including what U.S. officials see as Beijing indirectly supporting Russia's war on Ukraine. The Biden administration says China has supported Russia with a surge in sales of dual use components that help keep its military industrial base afloat. U.S. officials also have expressed frustration with Beijing for not doing more to rein in North Korea's support for the Russian war. China accounts for the vast majority of North Korea’s trade. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has dispatched thousands of troops to Russia to help repel Ukrainian forces from the Kursk border region. The North Koreans also have provided Russia with artillery and other munitions, according to U.S. and South Korean intelligence officials. Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration takes place a day after the U.S. deadline for ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of social media giant TikTok, to sell the social media app or face a ban in the United States. — Associated Press writer Balint Domotor in Budapest, Hungary, contributed reporting.Saskatchewan fall legislative sitting ends with barbs after civility promise
Why we can’t VERIFY a chart showing UnitedHealthcare denies more claims than other insurersNokia Corporation Stock Exchange Release 12 December 2024 at 22:30 EET Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 12.12.2024 Espoo, Finland – On 12 December 2024 Nokia Corporation (LEI: 549300A0JPRWG1KI7U06) has acquired its own shares (ISIN FI0009000681) as follows: * Rounded to two decimals On 22 November 2024, Nokia announced that its Board of Directors is initiating a share buyback program to offset the dilutive effect of new Nokia shares issued to the shareholders of Infinera Corporation and certain Infinera Corporation share-based incentives. The repurchases in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR), the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 and under the authorization granted by Nokia’s Annual General Meeting on 3 April 2024 started on 25 November 2024 and end by 31 December 2025 and target to repurchase 150 million shares for a maximum aggregate purchase price of EUR 900 million. Total cost of transactions executed on 12 December 2024 was EUR 3,676,744. After the disclosed transactions, Nokia Corporation holds 213,393,499 treasury shares. Details of transactions are included as an appendix to this announcement. On behalf of Nokia Corporation BofA Securities Europe SA About Nokia At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future. Inquiries: Nokia Communications Phone: +358 10 448 4900 Email: press.services@nokia.com Maria Vaismaa, Global Head of External Communications Nokia Investor Relations Phone: +358 40 803 4080 Email: investor.relations@nokia.com Attachment Daily Report 2024-12-12
DURHAM, N.H. (AP) — Kinkead Dent threw for 246 yards and ran for another 56 yards and a touchdown as UT Martin rolled to a 41-10 win over New Hampshire in an FCS first-round game on Saturday. The Skyhawks (9-4) advance to face unbeaten and top-seeded Montana State (12-0) in the second round. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.3 recipes to help you through the busy holiday season
Add Joe Burrow to the growing list of NFL players having their homes burglarized. During the Cincinnati Bengals' Monday Night Football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Burrow's "ransacked" per Olivia Ponton, a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model with eight million TikTok followers, per TMZ Sports. The reason for Ponton's presence at Burrow's home is unknown. Burrow has been long linked to girlfriend Olivia Holzmacher, who met the signal-caller while he was at Ohio State in 2015. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.CONWAY, Ark., Dec. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Home BancShares, Inc. (NYSE: HOMB) (“Home” or “the Company”), and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Centennial Bank (“Centennial”), announced it has established additional reserves for loan losses as a result of Hurricane Milton. On October 11, 2024, HOMB announced a $16.7 million reserve as a result of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall September 26, 2024. Upon announcement HOMB indicated the more recent and powerful Hurricane Milton, which made landfall on October 9, 2024, and caused the spin-off of more than two dozen tornados, would likely lead to an increase in this reserve amount. “Out of an abundance of caution, HOMB has decided to make an additional $16.7 million reserve following the second Florida hurricane, bringing our total hurricane reserve to $33.4 million for the year,” said John Allison, Chairman of HOMB. “The two hurricanes spanned across the third and fourth quarter and the amount of time it takes for customers to settle with insurance will no doubt increase, with two back-to-back events,” continued Allison. “We have approximately $110 million currently on deferral as a result of the two hurricanes and in keeping with our conservative nature, we feel as though this proactive move is a prudent and predictable course of action,” added Allison. Branches The Company currently has 76 branches in Arkansas, 78 branches in Florida, 58 branches in Texas, 5 branches in Alabama and one branch in New York City. About Home BancShares Home BancShares, Inc. is a bank holding company, headquartered in Conway, Arkansas. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, Centennial Bank, provides a broad range of commercial and retail banking plus related financial services to businesses, real estate developers, investors, individuals and municipalities. Centennial Bank has branch locations in Arkansas, Florida, Texas, South Alabama and New York City. The Company’s common stock is traded through the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HOMB.” The Company was founded in 1998. Visit www.homebancshares.com or www.my100bank.com for more information. General This release contains forward-looking statements regarding the Company’s plans, expectations, goals and outlook for the future, including future financial results. Statements in this press release that are not historical facts should be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future events, performance or results. When we use words or phrases like “may,” “plan,” “propose,” “contemplate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “continue,” “expect,” “project,” “predict,” “estimate,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “on track” and similar expressions, you should consider them as identifying forward-looking statements, although we may use other phrasing. Forward-looking statements of this type speak only as of the date of this news release. By nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Various factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following: economic conditions, credit quality, interest rates, loan demand, real estate values and unemployment, including the ongoing impacts of inflation; the ability to identify, complete and successfully integrate new acquisitions; the risk that expected cost savings and other benefits from acquisitions may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; diversion of management time on acquisition-related issues; the availability of and access to capital and liquidity on terms acceptable to us; legislative and regulatory changes and risks and expenses associated with current and future legislation and regulations; technological changes and cybersecurity risks and incidents; the effects of changes in accounting policies and practices; changes in governmental monetary and fiscal policies; political instability, military conflicts and other major domestic or international events; the impact of recent or future adverse weather events, including hurricanes, and other natural disasters; disruptions, uncertainties and related effects on credit quality, liquidity and other aspects of our business and operations that may result from any future public health crises; competition from other financial institutions; potential claims, expenses and other adverse effects related to current or future litigation, regulatory examinations or other government actions; potential increases in deposit insurance assessments, increased regulatory scrutiny or market disruptions resulting from financial challenges in the banking industry; changes in the assumptions used in making the forward-looking statements; and other factors described in reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including those factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2024. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Townsell Director of Investor Relations Home BancShares, Inc. (501) 328-4625
Couple 'devastated' after jewellery worth thousands stolen from Cambridgeshire hotel roomOTTAWA — A Liberal MP says his committee colleagues are wasting time by launching a third inquiry into the former employment minister instead of focusing on important legislation for Indigenous Peoples. Jaime Battiste, who is Mi'kmaq, said there has been an "attack" on fellow Liberal MP Randy Boissonnault, who left his position as employment minister on Wednesday after allegations of shifting claims of Indigenous identity and questions around his past business dealings. Boissonnault has been the subject of two ethics committee probes, and Battiste said a third one by the Indigenous and northern affairs committee is "a waste of time, and it seems to be the Conservatives' way of ensuring that nothing gets done in the House of Commons." The Conservatives, NDP and Bloc Québécois all supported pushing ahead with the third study, even after Boissonnault left cabinet. Though Liberal MPs did not object to the motion Thursday, Battiste said the committee's time would be better spent studying legislation on important issues such as First Nations policing, a modern treaty commissioner and clean water for First Nations. "It’s very much my fear and frustration that politics is now becoming more important at the Indigenous and northern affairs committee than actually Indigenous Peoples that we're there every day to try to make life better for," he said. NDP MP Lori Idlout, who is a member of the committee, said Canadians deserve answers and she doesn't expect the probe to cut into the committee's other work. "It's not a waste of time to have MP Boissonnault answer for why his identity kept changing. Pretending to be Indigenous is a serious matter and we need to have him be transparent to all Canadians." Boissonnault came under intense scrutiny after the National Post reported that a company he previously co-owned described itself as wholly Indigenous-owned in order to apply for government contracts set aside for Indigenous businesses. He has been described as Indigenous multiple times in communications from the Liberal party, and in 2018 referred to himself as "non-status adopted Cree" — a statement he has repeated on other occasions. He also said his great-grandmother was a "full-blooded Cree woman." He has since clarified that his adoptive mother and brother are Métis, and he apologized for his shifting claims last Friday. The House ethics committee has separately investigated Boissonnault's past business dealings after media reports alleged he remained involved in the company he co-founded after he was re-elected in 2021 and joined the federal cabinet. Opposition MPs passed a motion in the House of Commons on Tuesday — a day before Boissonnault left cabinet — for the employment minister to appear as a witness to discuss his claims to Indigenous identity. But because Boissonnault is no longer in cabinet, the Liberal chair of the committee ruled Thursday that newly minted Employment Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor is technically the person the motion called to testify. "I figured this might happen," said Conservative MP and committee member Jamie Schmale. "If there are games to be played here and we have Minister Petitpas Taylor attend, I don't think that goes to the spirit of the House order. I don't think it would be very responsible to go against that ... It's Randy Boissonault that the House determined it needs and is ordered to appear along with several other witnesses. That's who we expect to be in that seat." A new motion from the Conservatives calls directly for Boissonnault to appear at the committee. One of the key concerns raised about Boissonnault in recent weeks is related to the government's Indigenous business procurement strategy. A directory provides the federal government with names of businesses it could consider using to meet its Indigenous procurement target, which states a minimum five per cent of the total value of government contracts should be held by Indigenous-owned businesses. Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu told a House of Commons committee on Tuesday that the company Boissonnault founded was not listed on that directory. Battiste suggested the committee will now be in a position of determining who is eligible for Indigenous programming and determining who is Indigenous, and as a First Nations person he does not agree with that. "I have a lot of concern because no First Nations, Métis or Inuit in this country are asking committees — who are filled with non-Indigenous Peoples — to determine our identity, who we are." Schmale and Bloc MP Sebastian Lemire, who is also a member of the committee, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2024. Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press
Vanna White's son, Nikko Santo Pietro, is getting a kick out of the fact that he's become a "heartthrob" to "Wheel of Fortune” fans. Just days after Santo Pietro caused a commotion by appearing alongside White in a cooking video , the 30-year-old real estate agent told "Entertainment Tonight" he found the attention "flattering." “Obviously, I’ve had an outpour from her fans just really being kind and saying all kinds of interesting stuff in the comments,” Santo Pietro said during a joint interview with White. Santo Pietro, whose dad is White's ex-husband, George San to Pietro , said navigating the attention was all in a day's work for him. "I always loved being in front of the camera. I work really hard on my social media. That's a big part of what I do. So it feels natural and good," he said. "A lot of it, too, (is) people see me as this heartthrob and they're thirsty for me and all this stuff ... I love it all," he continued. "But at the same time it's really good to remember the meaningful things in life and to just kind of dial it back and doing a lot of charity work, working hard every day." When "ET" wondered if any of White's fans should try shooting their shot with him, Santo Pietro revealed he's been dating singer-songwriter Easae for a year. "She obviously detected the heartthrob thing before America did," he joked. Santo Pietro's remarks come a few days after he appeared in a tight white T-shirt and blue jeans alongside White in a cooking video on their Instagram pages that coincided with "Fabulous Food Week" on "Wheel of Fortune." Many of White's fans appeared to focus more on Santo Pietro's looks than the chicken dish he was preparing. “Vanna where have you been hiding Nikko? He’s GORGEOUS,” wrote one person. One of White's fans worked in a "Wheel of Fortune" joke while reacting to the video, writing, “My next three letters are H-O-T!”
49ers WR Deebo Samuel speaks on his deleted tweet: ‘A little frustrated, for sure’
Each week, Yardbarker is monitoring the 2025 NFL Draft, scheduled for April 24-26 in Green Bay. From a Heisman Trophy finalist to an outstanding offensive tackle, here are five players we are tracking: Oregon's Dillon Gabriel could be the QB who soars in the College Football Playoff After the QB accepted his Senior Bowl invite Tuesday, The Athletic's Dane Brugler wrote, "I'll bet Dillon Gabriel is going to be a 'riser' over the next five months of the draft process." Through 13 games, the sixth-year senior has completed a career-high 73.2 percent of his passes for 3,558 yards and 28 TDs and has posted the FBS' second-best QBR (86.5). His stellar play helped the Ducks (13-0) clinch the No. 1 seed in the 12-team College Football Playoff. In a Wednesday column, The 33rd Team's Tyler Brooke rated the Heisman finalist the second-best QB prospect in the CFP behind Penn State's Drew Allar. Scouts will likely have concerns about Gabriel's size (6-foot, 200 pounds), but guiding the Ducks to their first national title could mitigate them. As of Thursday, FanDuel Sportsbook lists Oregon and Texas as co-favorites (+360) to win the national championship. Michigan CB Will Johnson is a ballhawk who teams will likely covet Per ESPN's Adam Schefter , Johnson (6-foot-2, 202 pounds) declared for the NFL Draft on Wednesday. Toe and shoulder injuries limited him to six games this season, but he's still considered one of the top CBs in the draft. On his updated big board, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. rated Johnson the No. 5 prospect in the 2025 class. "Johnson is so instinctive in coverage, and his ability to read quarterbacks jumps out when you watch him," wrote Kiper. "He has great quickness in transition, allowing him to make plays on the ball." In three seasons with the Wolverines, Johnson had nine interceptions, including three pick-sixes. According to Tankathon's projections, the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-10) will take him with pick No. 5. Could Oregon WR Tez Johnson be a steal for this NFC East team? In a 45-37 victory over Penn State for the Big Ten Championship, Johnson (5-foot-10, 165 pounds) logged 11 receptions for a season-high 181 receiving yards and one TD catch. "Penn State had no answer for Johnson's quickness and open-field creativity," wrote The 33rd Team's Ian Valentino in his weekly draft stock report. "While the first round is a tougher sell because of Johnson's weight, the senior shouldn't last long on Day 2." Bleacher Report's Matt Holder recently suggested the Philadelphia Eagles (11-2) should target Johnson in the draft to improve their 31st-ranked passing attack (180.6 YPG). He could provide the playmaking ability they need. Pro Football Focus credits Johnson with the FBS' sixth-most yards after the catch (586 in 11 games). Why Texas A&M D-lineman Shemar Stewart could be a top-20 pick Stewart only had 1.5 sacks in 12 games this season, but his elite physical traits make him a potential first-rounder. In his latest mock draft, ESPN's Field Yates had the Atlanta Falcons (6-7) taking Stewart (6-foot-6, 290 pounds) with the 17th overall pick. "Stewart has just 4.5 career sacks but boasts power, agility, fluidity and length coming off the edge," wrote Yates. "Several scouts have pointed him out as a player who could skyrocket during the pre-draft process as a combine standout." The team that drafts Stewart — who had six tackles for a loss this season — could use him as a run-stopper instead of a pass-rusher. PFF gave him an elite 89.7 run-defense grade . Stewart won't play in the Las Vegas Bowl against USC on Dec. 27. LSU LT Will Campbell has lofty aspirations On Wednesday, Campbell confirmed he will opt out of the Texas Bowl against Baylor on Dec. 31, per NOLA.com's Wilson Alexander . The O-lineman said he's moving to Frisco, Texas, to train for the draft and to become a cornerstone for the team that selects him. "I want to bring the organization a guy that they can count on, a pivotal point for the team, a franchise guy," Campbell said. "I want to be the face of an organization. Whatever team gets me. I'm going to be excited for it, and I'm going to go win a Super Bowl." Campbell (6-foot-6, 323 pounds) could become the class's top LT. Per PFF , he allowed just one sack on 557 pass-block snaps in 12 games this season. In his latest mock draft, CBS Sports' Chris Trapasso has the Tennessee Titans taking Campbell with pick No. 6. He could fill one of the biggest holes for Tennessee (3-10), which has allowed the league's third-most sacks (45).KIRKLAND LAKE - A snowy December night delivered an unforgettable experience for a Northern family and paramedics. On Dec. 7, Kirkland Lake’s Bella Batisse, who was 38 weeks pregnant, went to the hospital with contractions. She was checked over by a doctor, who decided to transfer her by ambulance to the Temiskaming Hospital in New Liskeard. En route, paramedics Brandi Ouellette and Natasha Albert of the District of Timiskaming Social Services Administration Board (DTSSAB) realized that the baby would arrive before arriving in New Liskeard. “The call came in the middle of the night during a snowstorm. We were travelling down Highway 11 with lights and sirens blazing, it was a Code 4 emergency,” Ouellette said in a joint statement to TimminsToday with Albert. A Code 4 is defined as a life-threatening situation which requires paramedics to drive with lights and sirens on to get to the hospital as quickly as possible. “It quickly became clear that the little one wasn’t going to wait for the hospital. We made the decision to pull over on the side of the highway, keeping our lights on for safety,” the paramedics said. “Thanks to the skilled support of nurse Ana, who happened to be travelling with us, we were able to safely deliver a healthy baby boy right there on the roadside.” Weighing in at five pounds six ounces, the yet-to-be-named baby boy arrived in the world at 12:36 a.m. on Dec. 8 near Aidie Creek Falls, about halfway to New Liskeard from Kirkland Lake. “As paramedics, we are trained to handle emergencies and prepare for everything that could go wrong. Often, we’re faced with severe injuries, illnesses, and loss. But this past weekend, everything went right,” the paramedics said. “It’s a rare experience to assist in the birth of a baby, and this was a first for both Natasha and me.” It was a rollercoaster of emotions for the paramedics. “Everyone came together seamlessly. Most importantly, mom did an incredible job, and we were fortunate to have such a positive outcome,” they said. Mary-Ann Toppi, the great aunt of the newborn, shared that Batisse and her baby are doing well and expressed the family’s immense gratitude. “We are forever grateful for Ana and the paramedics,” she said. “We’re just all so relieved that although everything unfolded so eventfully, everyone is safe and healthy.” The DTSSAB shared Batisse’s birth story in a Facebook post on Tuesday (Dec. 10), which has been getting a lot of attention. Kirkland Lake’s Bella Batisse delivered her son during a snowstorm on the way to the New Liskeard hospital. Supplied photo Toppi said the positive feedback on the post has been heartwarming. “I am happy to see the positive feedback for our first responders on the social media post. They do hero work on a daily basis. They deserve the recognition and appreciation,” she said. “Our family is forever grateful for them and the service they provide for our community.” Ouellette and Albert said this experience serves as a reminder for drivers to slow down when you see the lights of a first responder. “You never know what critical situation might be unfolding inside that vehicle,” they said. Toppi said Batisse and her baby boy, whose name has yet to be decided, are now home in Kirkland Lake adjusting to life as a family of four.