Rich nations raise COP29 climate finance offer in bid to break deadlockCell-based immunotherapy shows promise in early clinical trial for breast cancer
, one of the most popular animated series in history, celebrates its 36th season in 2024. In addition to being a funny portrayal of everyday life in American families, in recent years, the series has become famous for its great ability to predict the future, even in a disturbing way, due to the great accuracy with which they get it right. But something that has been even more disturbing is that one of the protagonists of the series, the voice actress, who lends her voice to made a prediction that came true on two occasions: Trump as president," the actress joked to the New York Post during her participation in the that kicks off this weekend. " And he added: But that wasn't all of the prediction, as Smith said: "There are also killer hornets and now we have killer hornets. Great! Listen, you have to stop doing it because it never seems to be good news," he told the show's writers. In the 2000 episode of the series, titled is shown fulfilling her dream of becoming president of the United States, replacing Trump in office. In that episode, the yellow-skinned president tells her collaborators: Then Secretary of State tells her that: This was not a guess as such, although after first term, which ended in 2020, the country's finances were affected and the stock market experienced some of its biggest single-day losses during the pandemic. The endearing relationship of the protagonists of The Simpsons in real life In real life, Yeardley Smith revealed that after more than three decades of daily work, the protagonists of the series have generated a close relationship with each other, as they have worked together continuously since 1989: Additionally, 's podcast, , recently won the award for "I co-host along with my now husband, Detective Dan, and his twin brother, Detective Dave, and Paul Holes," she explained. "All the cases are told by the detectives who investigated them, so you get a real first-hand account of what it was like to get all the dominoes to line up perfectly so that justice was done." Smith added:It’s a new year, and to help celebrate the month of January 2025, we have a bunch of stellar games, including a remaster of a beloved Vita game and the next entry of a popular action franchise. You’ll also blow heads off in excessive detail as you fire your powerful weaponry in Sniper Elite: Resistance. Dynasty Warriors Origins (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) Publisher: Koei Tecmo Developer: Koei Tecmo Price: $69.99 Release Date: January 17 Trailer The Dynasty Warriors series looks as epic as ever in this next entry. As a nameless hero protagonist, you’re stepping into the field of hundreds of warriors. You’ll be utilizing fast-paced combos and abilities called arts to take down these foes. There’s also a strategic element to the visual madness on screen as you command your allies to advance or cavalry charge to victory (or failure). You’ll also have to manage the morale of your forces, which should be quite the challenge. Hopefully, you’ll still be able to enjoy the breakneck action despite the strategic elements of this new entry. “Omega Force and Koei Tecmo have taken a lot of the staples from the franchise like massive-scale battles and expanded them while also improving the overall game through better storytelling, more interesting combat, and a player character-driven focus,” said our preview . It will be launched on consoles and PC systems on January 17 . Those who purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition can start on January 14. Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC) Publisher: Binary Haze Interactive Developer: Adglobe, Live Wire Price: $19.99 Release Date: January 22 Trailer An indie highlight from the January 2025 games lineup is Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist . It’s a sequel to the critically acclaimed Metroidvania Ender Lilies : Quietus of the Knights. The sequel was previously launched through Steam Early Access and has an impressive Overwhelmingly Positive 97% rating on Steam . In this entry, you play as an attuner named Lilac, who can summon the power of the Homunculi. In this journey, you wake up from a laboratory, try to find your lost memories and save “precious friends in the Land of Fumes,” according to the Steam page. You’ll come across pretty 2D art and 30 different unique skills from the companions you meet as you explore this post-apocalyptic world. There’s also a lot of equipment, relics, and items to find on your adventure. Freedom Wars Remastered (PS4, PS5, Switch, PC) Publisher: Bandai Namco Developer: Dimps Price: Unannounced (as of the time of writing) Release Date: January 10 Trailer The PlayStation Vita hidden gem Freedom Wars finally gets a remaster on modern platforms on January 10. It has a unique scenario for this co-op action game. You begin your life as a criminal for just being born, and you’re fighting enemies and finishing missions to reduce your sentence. Bandai Namco says the game supports a 4K resolution and 60 frames per second on all current-gen platforms. Additionally, the game has upgraded textures, but to be honest, from the screenshots and footage so far, you can still tell it was originally a Vita game. The game has an overhauled weapon crafting system, new difficulty options, and more gameplay upgrades in Freedom Wars Remastered. As you play through the game, you’ll be given Thorn weapons to help you traverse each level and take down enemies. These weapons let you set traps, provide healing, and more benefits to your team. The materials you gather from fallen enemies will let you upgrade your weapons, similar to the Monster Hunter series. The original Vita release of Freedom Wars received an 8/10 score from our review , so the remaster may be worth checking out. Sniper Elite: Resistance (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC) Publisher: Rebellion Developer: Rebellion Price: $49.99 Release Date: January 30 Trailer Sniper Elite: Resistance takes us back to World War 2 as we snipe Nazis in a hidden war amongst occupied France. We play as Harry Hawker, an operative tasked with eliminating the Wunderwaffe, a weapon that would guarantee the Nazis victory in the war. Sniper Elite ‘s X-ray kill cam is back in this game as it gives us the visceral details of a bullet entering the noggin (and other body parts) of your enemies. You’ll need to consider gravity, wind, and even your heart rate to get the perfect shot. As you play through Sniper Elite: Resistance, you’ll be able to customize and upgrade your weapons with all manner of scopes, stocks, barrels, magazines and other attachments. You’ll also get the ability to use armor-piercing shells to finish your task when the game drops onto physical and digital store shelves on January 30. Tales of Graces f Remastered (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) Publisher: Bandai Namco Developer: TOSE CO. LTD Price: $49.99 Release Date: January 17 Trailer Asbel’s adventures return in Tales of Graces f Remastered when Bandai Namco releases this JRPG for modern platforms on January 17. This new version of the adventure includes graphical improvements, auto-save functionality, the ability to turn off enemy encounters, and the addition of dashing rather than the slower running. You can also skip cutscenes with this release, and icons have been added to the UI to make the experience clearer. Most of the original DLC from the PS3 version is included in the package. The story revolves around three kingdoms vying for control of the world. Our heroes, such as Asbel, Richard, and Sophie, must work together to save the beautiful world Ephinea. While playing this on the PS3, my teenage self loved the probably corny storyline, which focused on the friendship between the characters that grow from childhood; hopefully, it ages well. Honorable Mentions The January 2025 games lineup has many remasters and ports. They include the Wii platformer Donkey Kong Country Returns HD , and the new remaster of the PS1 classic Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles . Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 also finally arrives on PC in January. Airborne Empire Early Access (PC) – January 13 Assetto Corsa EVO Early Access (PC) – January 16 Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (Switch) – January 16 Border Town Early Access(PC) – January 23 Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – January 23 Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S) – January 28 Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. (PC) – January 28 Cuisineer (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – January 29 Hello Kitty Island Adventure (Switch, PC) – January 30 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (PC) – January 30 Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero (PS4, PS5, Switch) – January 30
Asana Stock Jumps As Software Maker Swings To Profit, Sales Beat
NoneArcher Aviation: Plot TwistSPRINGFIELD — The smell of raw cannabis is grounds for police to search a vehicle, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled Thursday. The decision runs counter to the court’s previous ruling that the smell of burnt cannabis by itself is not sufficient reason for a vehicle search. The two rulings create a situation in which, though it is illegal to smoke pot in a vehicle, drivers are protected from a search based only on the smell of burnt cannabis, but are not protected from a search based on the smell of raw marijuana. The ruling came in the case of Vincent Molina, of Moline, who was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by a state trooper for speeding on I-88 in Whiteside County, near the Iowa border, in December 2020. After the trooper said he smelled raw cannabis coming from the open window of the car, he searched it and found several marijuana joints in the center console, and cannabis in a sealed box in the glove compartment. Molina was charged with misdemeanor possession because he wasn’t transporting the cannabis in the proper container. The trial court ruled the search was not justified because possession of small amounts of marijuana has been legal in Illinois since the beginning of 2020. The appeals court reversed the ruling. The case was combined at a high court hearing with the case of Ryan Redmond, in which the court ruled that the smell of burnt cannabis by itself was not grounds for a search . While it’s illegal to smoke pot in a private vehicle, the court suggested that the smell of burnt cannabis could come from smoking before getting into the car. “In short, while cannabis is legal to possess generally, it is illegal to possess in a vehicle on an Illinois highway unless in an odor-proof container,” the court wrote in the Molina case. “The odor of raw cannabis strongly suggests that the cannabis is not being possessed within the parameters of Illinois law. And, unlike the odor of burnt cannabis, the odor of raw cannabis coming from a vehicle reliably points to when, where, and how the cannabis is possessed — namely, currently, in the vehicle, and not in an odor-proof container.” Justice Mary K. O’Brien, joined by Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis, wrote a strong objection to the 4-2 ruling. Justice Lisa Holder White did not take part in the vote. “I dissent from the majority opinion simply to point out the absurdity of this inconsistency,” O’Brien wrote. “It makes no sense to treat raw cannabis as more probative when the odor of burnt cannabis may suggest recent use, whereas the odor of raw cannabis does not suggest consumption. If the crime suggested by the odor of burnt cannabis is not sufficient for probable cause, then certainly the crime suggested by the odor of raw cannabis cannot be either.” Defense attorney James Mertes said he would appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. “This means that the privacy rights of motorists in Illinois have been turned over to the police officer’s sense of smell,” Mertes said. “While we certainly respect the decision of the court, we share the view of the dissenters that this creates a constitutional absurdity.” State lawmakers previously removed the requirement for storing pot in an odor-proof container in a vehicle from the law legalizing weed , but they did not remove that requirement from the vehicle code. The state Supreme Court suggested that those laws should be made consistent. “I have always understood that the issues at stake are much more important than just my case,” Molina said in a statement through his lawyer. “I am discouraged by the Illinois Supreme Court’s decision, but I am encouraged to now ask that this matter be decided by the United States Supreme Court.” Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.VIDEO: Who has turned Rivers State to his personal estate? Wike calls out Odili
Words on ammo in CEO shooting echo common phrase on insurer tactics: Delay, deny, defend A message left at the scene of an insurance executive’s fatal shooting echoes a phrase commonly used to describe insurer tactics to avoid paying claims. The words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were written on the ammunition used to kill UnitedHealthcare's CEO. That's according to two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday. The words are similar to the phrase “delay, deny, defend.” That's how attorneys describe insurers denying services and payment, and the title of a 2010 book critical of the industry. Police haven’t officially commented on the words. But Thompson’s shooting and the messages on the ammunition have sparked outrage on social media and elsewhere, reflecting frustration Americans have over the cost and complexity of getting care. Bitcoin has surpassed the $100,000 mark as the post-election rally continues. What's next? NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin has topped the $100,000 mark, extending a rally in the world’s most popular cryptocurrency sparked by the election of Donald Trump. The milestone comes just hours after the president-elect signaled a lighter regulatory approach to the crypto industry with his choice of crypto advocate Paul Atkins to be the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bitcoin has soared to unprecedented heights since Trump won the election Nov. 5. The cryptocurrency has climbed dramatically from $69,374 on Election Day and rose to more than $103,000 before falling back below $100,000 by Thursday afternoon. US judge rejects Boeing's plea deal in a conspiracy case stemming from fatal plane crashes DALLAS (AP) — A federal judge has rejected a deal that would have allowed Boeing to plead guilty to a felony conspiracy charge and pay a fine for misleading U.S. regulators about the 737 Max jetliner before two of the planes crashed, killing 346 people. The ruling on Thursday by U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor in Texas creates uncertainty around the criminal prosecution of the aerospace giant in connection with the development of its bestselling airline plane. O’Connor’s decision was almost certain to please many relatives of the passengers who died in the crashes, which took place off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia less than five months apart. McKinsey subsidiary will pay $122M for scheme to bribe South African officials, US says WASHINGTON (AP) — An African subsidiary of the consulting firm McKinsey & Company Inc. will pay a criminal penalty of more than $122 million to resolve a U.S. Justice Department investigation into a yearslong scheme to bribe South African government officials. The Justice Department says the scheme involved bribes to officials with South Africa’s state-owned and state-controlled custodian of ports, rails, and pipelines, as well as its state-controlled energy company. It netted McKinsey Africa and its parent company $85 million in profits between 2012 and 2016, officials said. McKinsey said in a statement that it “welcomes the resolution of these matters and the closure of this regretful situation.” EPA hails 'revitalized' enforcement efforts as Biden administration heads to exit WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency says it concluded more than 1,850 civil cases this year, a 3.4% increase over 2023, and charged 121 criminal defendants, a 17.6% increase over the previous year. The agency also issued $1.7 billion in financial penalties, more than double last year's total. Thursday's report was the final one account of Biden-era enforcement actions before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. Enforcement efforts included first-ever criminal charges for a California man accused of smuggling climate-damaging air coolants into the United States. Engine maker Cummins Inc. paid more than $2 billion in fines and penalties after it was found to use illegal software to skirt diesel emissions tests. Work-life balance isn't working for women. Why? NEW YORK (AP) — About half of working women reported feeling stressed “a lot of the day,” compared to about 4 in 10 men, according to a Gallup report published Wednesday. The report suggests that competing demands of work and home comprise part of the problem: working women who are parents or guardians are more likely than men who are parents to say they have declined or delayed a promotion at work because of personal or family obligations, and mothers are more likely than fathers to “strongly agree” that they are the default responders for unexpected child care issues. But changing workplace culture and prioritizing well-being can improve the problem, according to Karen Guggenheim, creator of the World Happiness Summit. From outsider to the Oval Office, bitcoin surges as a new administration embraces crypto NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin burst on the scene after trust had withered in the financial system and Washington’s ability to protect people from it. Now, it’s Washington’s embrace of bitcoin that’s sending it to records. Bitcoin briefly surged above $103,000 after President-elect Donald Trump said he will nominate Paul Atkins, who's seen as friendly to crypto, to be the Securities and Exchange Commission's next chair. The crypto industry, meanwhile, did its part to bring politicians friendly to digital currencies into Washington. It's a twist from bitcoin's early days, when it was lauded as a kind of electronic cash that wouldn’t be beholden to any government or financial institution. Stock market today: Wall Street edges back from its records as bitcoin briefly pops above $100,000 NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks edged back from their records as Wall Street counted down to a big jobs report that’s coming on Friday. The S&P 500 fell 0.2% Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.6%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 0.2% from its own all-time high. The crypto market had more action, and bitcoin briefly burst to a record above $103,000 before falling back toward $99,000. It's climbed dramatically since Election Day on hopes President-elect Donald Trump will be more friendly to crypto. Airline stocks were strong, while Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. Key members of OPEC+ alliance are putting off production increases amid slack crude prices FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Eight members of the OPEC+ alliance of oil exporting countries have decided to put off increasing oil production as they face weaker than expected demand and competing production from non-allied countries — factors that could keep oil prices stagnant into next year. The OPEC+ members decided at an online meeting to postpone by three months production increases that had been scheduled to take effect Jan. 1. The plan had been to start gradually restoring 2.2 million barrels per day over the course of 2025. That process will now be pushed back to April 1, 2025 and production increases will gradually take place over 18 months until October 2026. Fox News loses bid for Smartmatic voting-tech company's records about Philippines bribery case NEW YORK (AP) — Smartmatic does not need to give Fox News any information about U.S. federal charges against the voting machine company’s co-founder over alleged bribery in the Philippines. A New York judge on Thursday also turned down Smartmatic’s request to question two Fox Corp. board members. It already has questioned others. Smartmatic is suing Fox News for $2.7 billion. The election-technology company says its business was gutted when Fox aired false claims that Smartmatic helped rig the 2020 vote. Fox says it was just reporting on newsworthy allegations. Fox maintains the Philippines bribery allegations are pertinent to Smartmatic’s business prospects and claims of losses. Florida-based Smartmatic isn’t charged in the criminal case and says it's irrelevant in the defamation suit.Kruger Products exploring advancing construction of new tissue plant
Saskatchewan passes affordability bills, keeps federal carbon levy off home heatingThe Los Angeles Galaxy will aim to complete one of the most remarkable transformations in Major League Soccer history on Saturday when they host the New York Red Bulls chasing a record-extending sixth MLS Cup crown. A year ago, the California franchise had hit rock bottom, plummeting to their worst ever regular season record to finish one place off the bottom of the Western Conference. The team that had once been a home to the likes of David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were engulfed in crisis, with fans boycotting fixtures after nearly a decade of failure on the field. Moreover, the Galaxy's status as one of MLS's glamour clubs had been diminished by the arrival of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, as well as the emergence of city rivals Los Angeles FC, winners of the MLS Cup in 2022. The febrile atmosphere at the Galaxy prompted team ownership to shake up their front office, with Will Kuntz appointed general manager to replace long-time predecessor Chris Klein, who was fired in May 2023. The turnaround since those changes has been dramatic. After winning just eight fixtures in the 2023 season, the Galaxy under head coach Greg Vanney won a record-equalling 19 games this season to finish joint top of the table, second only to leaders LAFC on goal difference. The Galaxy kept up their winning ways in the postseason, swatting aside Colorado 9-1 on aggregate to wrap up their first round series, before thrashing Minnesota United 6-2 and then squeezing past Seattle 1-0 last weekend. Those results have left the club on the threshold of a first MLS Cup title since 2014 and a record sixth championship overall. Victory in Saturday's showpiece in Carson would be especially sweet for Vanney, who appeared in three MLS Cup finals with the Galaxy as a player in 1996, 1999 and 2001 -- and lost all three. Reflecting on his team's journey to this year's final, Vanney said this week his team had thrived under the pressure of being expected to challenge for silverware. "The expectation is to be in games like this, to win trophies and win championships," Vanney said. "This group has come out and attacked it from day one and hasn't been afraid of it or in awe of it -- and that's one of the beauties of this group. "I'm excited for this group and this opportunity and now the objective is to win it and put the stamp on it, rewriting a new group of players and new legacy for this organisation." Vanney's task has become more complicated by an injury to star midfielder Riqui Puig, who suffered torn knee ligaments in last week's Western Conference final win over Seattle and will miss Saturday's game. "He's the ultimate competitor," Vanney said. "He wants to win, compete, and take responsibility on the field. He drives the team in so many ways. "We're going to have to adapt, and we're going to have to adapt in a collective way." The Galaxy meanwhile will be wary of a New York Red Bulls line-up that have ripped up the form book en route to the final. After finishing seventh in the Eastern Conference -- 27 points behind leaders Inter Miami -- the Red Bulls stunned reigning champions Columbus in the first round of the playoffs before wins on the road over rivals New York City FC and Orlando to book their place in their first MLS Cup since 2008. New York's Scotland international midfielder Lewis Morgan says the team is unfazed by Saturday's assignment in Los Angeles. "For me, it doesn't really matter where it is: it's playoff football," Morgan said this week. "It's not the regular season. These games are more cagey. You go 1-0 up, we defend a little bit deeper and we're relying on guys at the back. There have been massive performances." rcw/bb
NoneJob market jitters real for some mid-career Minnesotans and recent grads
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