French Ambassador to Pakistan, Nicolas Galey, has reaffirmed France’s support for Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts, highlighting international collaboration as key to tackling this pressing health challenge. Speaking at a gathering hosted at the French residence, Ambassador Galey welcomed prominent figures, including Secretary Niaz, Ayesha Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio, and Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, the Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Health. Representatives from the Polio Oversight Board (POB), diplomatic missions, NGOs, and other organizations were also present. The ambassador opened by emphasizing the importance of the event, which brought together diverse stakeholders from Pakistan and abroad. He commended the collective commitment to eradicating polio, a mission requiring concerted efforts across sectors and borders. “If so many organizations are rallying around this cause, it is because it is a critical and urgent one, for Pakistan and for the world,” Galey stated. He acknowledged the invaluable role of POB visits to Pakistan and Afghanistan, which enable partners to assess on-ground realities, evaluate progress, and fine-tune strategies. Ambassador Galey praised the Pakistani government’s strong political commitment to polio eradication, as observed by POB Chair Dr. Chris Elias and the delegation during their visit. He singled out Ayesha Farooq for her leadership in coordinating national and international stakeholders to address the challenge. Galey also paid tribute to the health workers and security personnel involved in vaccination campaigns across Pakistan. Acknowledging the risks they face, he noted the courage required to combat misinformation about vaccines and reach vulnerable communities, often in challenging and dangerous circumstances. “Many of these workers have sacrificed their lives for this cause,” he said, underscoring their dedication to protecting children’s health and ensuring a polio-free future. Highlighting France’s role in the global effort, Galey announced a concessional loan of 50 million (approximately $55 million), extended through the French development agency in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Signed in July 2024, this funding supports the World Health Organization’s (WHO) polio program in Pakistan, covering critical areas like salaries for health workers and program monitoring. “This financial commitment reflects France’s dedication to global health initiatives,” Galey said. The ambassador underscored the importance of international cooperation in addressing issues like polio eradication, climate change, and disease control. “Global challenges demand global action,” he remarked, stressing that viruses and diseases recognize no borders. Galey reiterated France’s commitment to multilateralism and collective action, alongside its European Union partners. He praised the Polio Oversight Board for exemplifying this collaborative spirit. In his concluding remarks, Galey expressed gratitude to all partners for their tireless efforts to eradicate polio and protect future generations. He emphasized that the union of public and private efforts remains essential to achieving this goal. “Together, we can overcome these challenges,” he concluded, reaffirming France’s support for a polio-free Pakistan and a healthier world.
Drop in Boxing Day footfall ‘signals return to declining pre-pandemic levels’NEW DELHI — India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reform program and a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, has died. He was 92. Singh was admitted to New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences late Thursday after his health deteriorated due to a “sudden loss of consciousness at home,” the hospital said in a statement. “Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency” at 8:06 p.m., the hospital said, but “despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 p.m.” Singh was being treated for “age-related medical conditions,” the statement said. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh became one of India’s longest-serving prime ministers for 10 years and leader of the Congress Party in the Parliament’s Upper House, earning a reputation as a man of great personal integrity. He was chosen to fill the role in 2004 by Sonia Gandhi, the widow of assassinated Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi . But his sterling image was tainted by allegations of corruption against his ministers. Singh was reelected in 2009, but his second term as prime minister was clouded by financial scandals and corruption charges over the organization of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This led to the Congress Party’s crushing defeat in the 2014 national election by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Narendra Modi . Singh adopted a low profile after relinquishing the post of prime minister. Prime Minister Modi, who succeeded Singh in 2014, called him one of India’s “most distinguished leaders” who rose from humble origins and left “a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years.” “As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives,” Modi said in a post on the social platform X. He called Singh’s interventions in Parliament as a lawmaker “insightful” and said “his wisdom and humility were always visible.” Rahul Gandhi, from the same party as Singh and the opposition leader in the lower house of the Indian Parliament, said Singh’s “deep understanding of economics inspired the nation” and that he “led India with immense wisdom and integrity.” “I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride,” Gandhi wrote on X. Born on Sept. 26, 1932, in a village in the Punjab province of undivided India, Singh’s brilliant academic career took him to Cambridge University in Britain, where he earned a degree in economics in 1957. He then got his doctorate in economics from Nuffield College at Oxford University in 1962. Singh taught at Panjab University and the prestigious Delhi School of Economics before joining the Indian government in 1971 as economic advisor in the Commerce Ministry. In 1982, he became chief economic adviser to the Finance Ministry. He also served as deputy chair of the Planning Commission and governor of the Reserve Bank of India. As finance minister, Singh in 1991 instituted reforms that opened up the economy and moved India away from a socialist-patterned economy and toward a capitalist model in the face of a huge balance of payments deficit, skirting a potential economic crisis. His accolades include the 1987 Padma Vibhushan Award, India’s second-highest civilian honor; the Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award of the Indian Science Congress in 1995; and the Asia Money Award for Finance Minister of the Year in 1993 and 1994. Singh was a member of India’s Upper House of Parliament and was leader of the opposition from 1998 to 2004 before he was named prime minister. He was the first Sikh to hold the country’s top post and made a public apology in Parliament for the 1984 Sikh Massacre in which some 3,000 Sikhs were killed after then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by Sikh bodyguards. Under Singh, India adopted a Right to Information Act in 2005 to promote accountability and transparency from government officials and bureaucrats. He was also instrumental in implementing a welfare scheme that guaranteed at least 100 paid workdays for Indian rural citizens. The coalition government he headed for a decade brought together politicians and parties with differing ideologies that were rivals in the country’s various states. In a move hailed as one of his biggest achievements apart from economic reforms, Singh ended India’s nuclear isolation by signing a deal with the U.S. that gave India access to American nuclear technology. But the deal hit his government adversely, with Communist allies withdrawing support and criticism of the agreement growing within India in 2008 when it was finalized. Singh adopted a pragmatic foreign policy approach, pursuing a peace process with nuclear rival and neighbor Pakistan. But his efforts suffered a major setback after Pakistani militants carried out a massive gun and bomb attack in Mumbai in November 2008. He also tried to end the border dispute with China, brokering a deal to reopen the Nathu La pass into Tibet, which had been closed for more than 40 years. His 1965 book, “India’s Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth,” dealt with India’s inward-oriented trade policy. Singh is survived by his wife Gursharan Kaur and three daughters. Associated Press writer Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi contributed to this report.The union representing Toronto Public Health employees says the city has issued layoff notices to all workers at the The Works safe injection site with the site set to close next spring due to recent legislation from the Ontario government. The safe consumption site at 277 Victoria St. is one of five sites slated to close in the city once the legislation comes into effect next March. The layoffs include four permanent community health officer roles and 29 temporary harm reduction counsellors, CUPE Local 79 President Nas Yadollahi said Monday morning. "By eliminating these positions, the city is dismantling a critical piece of its public health strategy to address the opioid crisis," Yadollahi said at a news conference. "These are the very workers who prevent overdoses, provide essential supports and connect people to the care they need." Yadollahi said the union is calling on the city to instead redeploy these workers "and allow them to perform duties within what is allowed under provincial law." Province to close 5 Toronto supervised drug consumption sites Ontario tables bill to ban some supervised consumption sites Premier Doug Ford's Progressive Conservative government fast-tracked legislation that prohibits and closes any sites within 200 metres of a school or daycare, and effectively stops any new sites from opening. The new rules also require municipalities to get the health minister's approval to apply for an exemption from the federal government to launch new supervised consumption sites. WATCH | Impending closure of consumption sites worries health-care workers, advocates: 10 supervised drug consumption sites in Ontario set to close by March 2025 5 days ago Duration 6:42 There is a push to save 10 supervised drug consumption sites in Ontario that are set to be closed because of their close proximity to schools and daycares. Health workers, advocates and users of the sites have warned of a spike in deaths when the sites close by March 31, 2025. Toronto Centre Coun. Chris Moise, chair of chair of the city's board of health, said the board asked the city to maintain funding for the staff positions in its 2025 budget but that Toronto Public Health had to provide layoff notices under the rules of its collective agreements. "It's a procedural process. Because they're unionized employees, we have a collective agreement we have to honour," he said. Moise said the city doesn't want to close its safe injection site at 277 Victoria St. but has no other choice. "This is not something the city wants to do, but we are governed by provincial and federal laws," he said. He said the city will try to find jobs for the workers with the City of Toronto. Front-line workers fear closures will lead to more deaths More than 2,600 Ontarians died last year due to overdoses , the vast majority due to opioid toxicity. At a board of health meeting Monday, dozens of people spoke about their fears that the supervised injection site closures will have devastating impacts for the community. The speakers included Meghan White, a front-line worker at one of the supervised consumption sites slated to close. "Working in the site, I've met individuals who bring such an irreplaceable uniqueness to the world," she told the board. The new provincial legislation has essentially "handed a death sentence" to the clients she works with on a daily basis amidst an overdose crisis that is claiming lives every day," she said. Ford government's opioid strategy outdated, auditor general says 'A lot of interest' for HART hubs, Ontario health minister says, as Sanguen Health urges rethink White said she fears the number of overdose deaths will skyrocket once those sites close. "The grief felt among the community is going to continue to become unbearable." Another frontline harm reduction worker who spoke at the meeting said she's personally lost 24 people to overdoses in recent years, and fears that number will only continue to grow. Marina Classen said living through the overdose crisis has felt like living through a war. "No one should have to bear the weight of that grief and trauma, but the sad thing is I'm one of so many that carry those experiences now," she said. Hannah Jensen, spokesperson for Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones, said each drug consumption site slated to close will have the opportunity to turn into a homelessness and addictions recovery treatment (HART) hub funded by the province. In an email, Jensen said the HART hubs will connect people to more comprehensive care than the support services previously provided by supervised consumption sites, including addiction programs, supportive housing and other social services.
Chicago Atlantic REFI REFI stands out in the cannabis finance sector, receiving an “Overweight” rating from senior analyst Pablo Zuanic at Zuanic & Associates . With a near 14% dividend yield, REFI offers an attractive, less volatile way to gain exposure to the cannabis market. The company's loan portfolio boasts a yield to maturity (YTM) of over 18%, indicating the potential average annual return from its loans if held until repayment. Furthermore, with 4.6% of loans in non-accrual status—meaning borrowers have stopped making payments—REFI demonstrates robust risk management. Get Benzinga's exclusive analysis and the top news about the cannabis industry and markets daily in your inbox for free. Subscribe to our newsletter here . You can’t afford to miss out if you're serious about the business. Loan Portfolio And Yield REFI's new loans, up 32% year-over-year, highlight its strong growth potential in year-to-date funding. This growth is supported by a $559 million pipeline, with additional upside from potential cannabis legalization in states like Pennsylvania and Virginia , which could boost demand for financing. The portfolio includes loans across diverse markets, with top states such as Maryland (14%), Pennsylvania (12%) and Missouri (10%) representing a significant portion of the book. Its 1.2% expected credit loss (CECL) reserve and ongoing reversals of provisions signal the stability of its loan book. "We see REFI's dividend as secure, with 118% coverage in Q3 and a pipeline that should sustain growth," Zuanic stated. "The stock offers one of the most compelling risk-adjusted returns in the cannabis sector today." Leveraging Credit Facilities And Operational Leverage REFI has room to increase its leverage, with its gross debt-to-equity ratio at 18% as of September 2024. The company has tapped into only a portion of its $150 million revolving credit facility , leaving significant room to expand. According to Zuanic, REFI is well-positioned to capitalize on the constrained capital environment for cannabis operators. Read Also: 85% Of Cannabis Companies Report Positive Earnings, But Not All Are Winning – See Who’s Leading Loan Book Risk The loan book's risk ratings show that 71% of the portfolio is rated 1-2, indicating low to moderate risk. REFI's exposure to loans with real estate collateral coverage of less than 1x has increased to 39% as of Q3 2024, up from 19% at the end of 2022. However, Zuanic notes that 17% of the book is in markets with challenging economics. The company's focus on high-quality borrowers, including those in states like Michigan , Maryland and New York , underpins the portfolio's stability. Comparisons To Sector Peers And Market Position Among other cannabis capital providers AFCG AFCG , IIPR IIPR , New Lake Capital Partners NLCP and REFI stand out for their lower non-accruals and stronger growth outlook. While AFCG has a similar dividend yield, REFI's loan book is in better shape, with non-accruals at less than 5% compared to AFCG's higher rate. Additionally, REFI’s mortgage REIT competitors, like IIPR and NLCP , offer lower yields and trade at premiums to their book values. By contrast, REFI trades at a 6% premium to book value, with its 18% YTM making it one of the most compelling investment opportunities in the cannabis finance space. Read Also: Better Than The Bank: Weed Real Estate Investment Company’s 14% Yield Beats Traditional Savings Strong Dividend Yield And Earnings Power REFI’s dividend yield remains one of the highest in the sector, with the regular dividend of 47 cents per share well-covered by distributable earnings, which came in at 56 cents per share in Q3 2024—up 12% sequentially. Zuanic estimates that REFI will continue to pay a special dividend of 29 cents in December, bringing the total annual dividend to $2.17 per share, or 13.6% yield on the current share price of $16.01. This represents a compelling yield compared to the 10-year Treasury yield of 4.15%, positioning REFI as an attractive choice for income-focused investors. Read Next: Is MariMed A Safe Haven In The Wake Of Florida’s Cannabis Legalization Defeat? © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Former Barcelona and Uruguay striker Luis Suarez has signed a one-year contract extension with the Major League Soccer club and will line up under new coach Javier Mascherano next season, the club said. The 37-year-old striker has scored 25 goals in all competitions since joining the club before the start of this season including 20 in Miami's record-breaking regular season campaign. After winning the Supporters' Shield for the best record in the regular season, with a new points tally record, Miami were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round by Atlanta United. Since then Argentina head coach Gerardo Martino has left the club with his compatriot and Suarez's former team-mate at Barca, Mascherano appointed on Tuesday. "I'm very happy, very excited to continue for another year and to be able to enjoy being here with this fan base, which for us is like family. We feel very, very connected with them, and hopefully, next year, we can bring them even more joy," said Suarez. Miami's president of football operations Raul Sanllehi said Suarez had shown he remains an elite level forward but was also a key component in the dressing room. "Luis was not only our leading scorer this season, but also a leader for the group. His impact cannot be understated," he said. Suarez announced in September he was retiring from international duty with the Uruguay national team after scoring 69 goals in 143 games. The forward played in Europe for Ajax, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid and had a season in Brazil with Gremio before joining Miami. sev/mwAshland rings opening bell at NYSE recognizes 100-year anniversary
WASHINGTON (AP) — Matt Gaetz withdrew Thursday as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general amid continued fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation's chief federal law enforcement officer. The announcement caps a turbulent eight-day period in which Trump sought to capitalize on his decisive election win to force Senate Republicans to accept provocative selections like Gaetz, who had been investigated by the Justice Department before being tapped last week to lead it. The decision could heighten scrutiny on other controversial Trump nominees, including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth , who faces sexual assault allegations that he denies. “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” Gaetz, a Florida Republican who one day earlier met with senators in an effort to win their support, said in a statement. “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1," he added. Trump, in a social media post, said: “I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!” He did not immediately announce a new selection. Last week, he named personal lawyers Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and D. John Sauer to senior roles in the department. Another possible contender, Matt Whitaker, was announced Wednesday as the U.S. ambassador to NATO. The withdrawal, just a week after the pick was announced, averts what was shaping up to be a pitched confirmation fight that would have tested how far Senate Republicans were willing to go to support Trump’s Cabinet picks. The selection of the fierce Trump ally over well-regarded veteran lawyers whose names had circulated as possible contenders stirred concern for the Justice Department's independence at a time when Trump has openly threatened to seek retribution against political adversaries. It underscored the premium Trump places on personal loyalty and reflected the president-elect's desire to have a disruptor lead a Justice Department that for years investigated and ultimately indicted him. In the Senate, deeply skeptical lawmakers sought more information about Justice Department and congressional investigations into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls, which Gaetz has denied. Meanwhile, Justice Department lawyers were taken aback by the pick of a partisan lawmaker with limited legal experience who has echoed Trump's claims of a weaponized criminal justice system. As Gaetz sought to lock down Senate support, concern over the sex trafficking allegations showed no signs of abating. In recent days, an attorney for two women said his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Gaetz was a Florida congressman. One of the women testified she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old at a party in Florida in 2017, according to the attorney, Joel Leppard. Leppard has said that his client testified she didn’t think Gaetz knew the girl was underage, stopped their relationship when he found out and did not resume it until after she turned 18. The age of consent in Florida is 18. "They’re grateful for the opportunity to move forward with their lives,” Leppard said Thursday of his clients. “They’re hoping that this brings final closure for all the parties involved.” Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. The Justice Department’s investigation ended last year with no charges against him. Gaetz’s political future is uncertain. He had abruptly resigned his congressional seat upon being selected as attorney general, a move seen as a way to shut down the ethics investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. He did win reelection in November for the new Congress, which convenes Jan. 3, 2025, but he said in his resignation letter last week to House Speaker Mike Johnson that he did not intend to take the oath of office. He transmitted a similar letter to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the state launched a special election process to fill the vacancy. Republicans on the House Ethics Committee declined this week to release the panel's findings, over objections from Democrats in a split vote. But the committee did agree to finish its work and is scheduled to meet again Dec. 5 to discuss the matter. As word of Gaetz's decision spread across the Capitol, Republican senators seemed divided. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served with Gaetz in the House, called it a “positive move." Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Gaetz “put country first and I am pleased with his decision.” Others said they had hoped Gaetz could have overhauled the department. Florida Sen. Rick Scott, a close ally of Trump, said he was “disappointed. I like Matt and I think he would have changed the way DOJ is run.” Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said he hoped that Trump will pick someone “equally as tenacious and equally as committed to rooting out and eliminating bias and politicization at the DOJ.” Gaetz is not the only Trump pick facing congressional scrutiny over past allegations. A detailed investigative police report made public Wednesday shows that a woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth, the former Fox News host now tapped to lead the Pentagon, after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave. “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared,” Hegseth told reporters Thursday at the Capitol, where he was meeting with senators to build support for his nomination. Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price, Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick and Adriana Gomez Licon contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Marvell Announces Breakthrough Custom HBM Compute Architecture to Optimize Cloud AI Accelerators
An Omaha man was arrested on Tuesday and charged with first-degree sexual assault and attempted robbery after a woman reported being assaulted in Benson last week. The man, 21-year-old Dash Lansdale, appeared in court for the first time on Wednesday and was ordered held on 10% of $150,000 bail, meaning he would have to pay $15,000 to be released ahead of trial. According to an arrest affidavit, the woman who reported the assault was walking to her car on the evening of Nov. 19 near the intersection of Maple Street and Military Avenue when she was grabbed from behind. The woman reported that the man reached into her pants and assaulted her, leading to a struggle in which the man also grabbed her breast. The man was chased off by nearby witnesses who came to the woman’s aid, according to a press release from the Omaha Police Department. Video footage was obtained, according to the affidavit, which appeared to corroborate the woman’s description of the assault. The suspect on the video was a white male with medium to light-colored long hair and a bald spot on his crown. After police posted screengrabs of the video to Omaha Crime Stoppers and social media , multiple tips identified Lansdale as the suspect. Lansdale was located at his residence, which was just blocks away from the location of the assault, and taken to police headquarters to be interviewed. He initially denied any involvement and said he was asleep with his girlfriend at the time of the assault. Lansdale’s girlfriend was also interviewed, according to the affidavit, and was shown the still photos from the video. She confronted Lansdale, who admitted to being the person depicted in the video, but said he had intended to rob the woman and did not sexually assault her, according to the affidavit. In a subsequent interview, according to the affidavit, Lansdale admitted to being the person in the video and said he “wondered if he could take the victim’s purse and acted on those thoughts.” He said he approached the woman from behind and attempted to grab her purse, but denied the sexual assault allegations. Lansdale entered a plea of not guilty during his initial appearance on Wednesday. He is set to appear for a preliminary hearing on the charges in January. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.Struggle with hunger ongoing for Sudan refugees
UTAH VALLEY 77, WEST GEORGIA 74
Angel 5-11 0-0 12, Bittle 4-7 3-4 11, Bamba 7-14 4-7 22, Shelstad 2-8 7-7 12, Tracey 1-3 0-0 2, Barthelemy 5-8 3-5 16, S.Cook 1-4 0-1 2, Evans 0-1 0-0 0, M.Cook 0-0 1-2 1, Moss 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-56 18-26 78. Coleman-Jones 1-4 1-2 3, Gwath 1-3 0-0 2, Boyd 6-9 0-1 15, Byrd 4-11 1-1 10, Davis 7-13 2-2 18, DeGourville 2-4 0-0 4, Compton 4-5 0-0 8, McKinney 3-7 0-2 6, Heide 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 29-57 4-8 68. Halftime_Oregon 41-31. 3-Point Goals_Oregon 10-22 (Bamba 4-6, Barthelemy 3-4, Angel 2-5, Shelstad 1-3, Bittle 0-1, Evans 0-1, Tracey 0-2), San Diego St. 6-19 (Boyd 3-4, Davis 2-4, Byrd 1-5, Coleman-Jones 0-1, Gwath 0-1, DeGourville 0-2, McKinney 0-2). Fouled Out_Davis. Rebounds_Oregon 30 (Bittle 9), San Diego St. 22 (Coleman-Jones 6). Assists_Oregon 16 (Bamba 5), San Diego St. 16 (DeGourville 4). Total Fouls_Oregon 16, San Diego St. 21.Detroit Red Wings defense prospect Axel Sandin-Pellikka displayed his offensive abilities Thursday during the first day of the World Junior Championship in Ottawa. Sandin-Pellikka recorded a natural hat trick and added an assist for a four-point game in Sweden’s 5-2 victory over Slovakia. Sandin-Pellikka, the team captain, snapped a 1-1 tie with a power-play goal at 17:43 of the second period and added two goals in the third. He finished with 11 shots on goal in 20:55. “We have a lot of good defensemen who like to play with the puck, so it’s fun that we got some goals from there,” Sandin-Pellikka said in a post on iihf.com. “We played a good game overall, so we’re happy. We played with patience. We kept our cool. We had a lot of chances and knew pucks were going to go in soon enough, and they did.” Sandin-Pellikka, 19, was named the top defenseman in the tournament last year when Sweden won the silver medal. The 17th overall pick in 2023, Sandin-Pellikka now has five goals and six assists in 15 World Junior games over three years. USA 10, Germany 4: Red Wings goaltending prospect Trey Augustine (Michigan State) stopped 18-of-22 shots as the U.S. opened defense of its gold medal with a blowout win. Team USA was led offensively by James Hagens (two goals, two assists) and Gabe Perreault (two goals, one assist) of Boston College, Cole Hutson (five assists) of Boston University and Brodie Ziemer (two goals) of Minnesota. Red Wings forward prospect Max Plante contributed an assist in 10:15.
Tweet Facebook Mail Popular podcast host Joe Rogan has hit back at the verbal broadside against him by ABC Chairman Kim Williams who described the American media figure as "deeply repulsive". Kim Williams was speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra yesterday when he was asked about the "Rogan effect" and the podcaster's stunning appeal to young men. The ABC chairman answered with a tirade against Rogan, accusing him of exploiting "people's vulnerabilities". READ MORE: Donald Trump's presidential Cabinet picks targeted in bomb threats Kim Williams, chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, at the National Press Club in Canberra yesterday. ( Photo: Alex Ellinghausen) (Alex Ellinghausen) "I am not a consumer or enthusiast about Mr Rogan and his work," he said. "(But) I think that people like Mr Rogan prey on people's vulnerabilities. They prey on fear. "They prey on anxiety. They prey on all of the elements that contribute to uncertainty in society, and they entrepreneur fantasy outcomes and conspiracy outcomes as being a normal part of social narrative." Williams continued with his diatribe about the man behind The Joe Rogan Experience . "I personally find it deeply repulsive ... to think that someone has such remarkable power," he said. "I'm also absolutely in dismay that this can be a source of public entertainment, when it's really treating the public as plunder for entrepreneurs that are really quite malevolent." READ MORE: Your guide to saving more in the Black Friday sales Podcaster Joe Rogan hit back at criticism of him by the ABC chairman. (AP) Overnight Rogan responded in a message on X, posting the words "LOL WUT", accompanied by a clip of Williams' harangue. Rogan's backing of Donald Trump on the eve of this month's US election sparked debate about the influence of new age media. The podcaster is largely followed by young men, a demographic that overwhelmingly voted for Trump. DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play .