U.S. District Court Awards 10x Genomics Permanent Injunction in Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Bruker Corporation's GeoMx Products
SHARON - Penn State Shenango dropped to 1-1 in the PSUAC and 2-4 overall with a 60-55 loss to Penn State Schuykill (3-0, 3-2) at the Buhl Recreation Center in Sharon on Saturday. Schuylkill jumped out to a 21-8 lead and was up 29-21 at halftime. Shenango cut the lead to 44-39 after three quarters. Both teams scored 16 points in the fourth frame. Tajae Stevenson fired in 26 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for Schuylkill. Allison Crockett had 17 points and Nadia King added 12 points. Shar'Da Williamson led Penn State Shenango with 16 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals. She surpassed 1,000 career points (1,010). Hailee Aguinaga had a 10-point, 13-rebound double-double. Also for the local Lions, (Farrell High) had eight points and nine rebounds and (Sharon High) contributed four points and two rebounds. Penn State Shenango is back in action at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 2 when it visits Thiel. SHARON - Penn State Schuylkill (2-1, 3-4) defeated Shenango, 97-84, on Saturday to complete the sweep at the Buhl Rec Center. Schuylkill led 47-34 at halftime. Both teams scored 50 points in the second half. Issac Lane had 24 points for Penn State Schuylkill, Makhi Jones scored 23 points and dished out five assists, Dashawn Dixon registered an 18-point, 15-rebound double-double, and Antwuan Byrd added 10 points, five assists, and four steals. D'Montez Owens fired in 22 points and had six assists for Shenango (1-1, 2-7) and Izzy Santiago scored 18 points. Also for the locals, Cameron Brown and Malik Davis both had double-doubles. Brown had 17 points and 10 boards and Davis contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds. Penn State Shenango is back in action in Meadville on Monday as the Lions play Allegheny at 7 p.m. GREENVILLE - The Tomcats dropped their Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) 84-42 against the Saint Vincent Bearcats this afternoon. Despite being down, Thiel went 7/8 in free throws and were able to keep Saint Vincent to 18-43 from the field in the first half. Freshman Catherine Kelly led the Tomcat offense with career high 16 points and seven rebounds. She went 6-9 from the field and 3-4 from the free throw line. Kayley Risser added 9 points and six boards to the afternoon. Saint Vincent had four players who had 10-plus point games with Camdon Bashor leading the charge with 16 points. Bashor added three assists and five rebounds to her tally, while also going 7-10 from the field. Makenna Maier posted a game-best 12 rebounds and added 10 points to the Bearcat offense. Thiel is back in action in Beaver Falls on Tuesday, when they take on Geneva at 5:30 p.m. LEWISBURG, Pa. — Youngstown State's women's basketball team was unable to find its shooting touch and suffered its first loss of the 2024-25 season on Saturday morning, falling 51-36 at Bucknell. The Penguins played well enough defensively to stay within striking distance for most of the game, but they couldn't muster a run together early enough on the offensive end to win in their first road contest of the campaign. Youngstown State is now 4-1 overall, while Bucknell won its second straight home game to improve to 2-4. Jewel Watkins led the Penguins with nine points with seven of them coming from the free-throw line, and (Kennedy Catholic High) scored all eight of her points in the second half. Nine different Penguins scored in the contest. Bucknell post Ashley Sofilkanich nearly had a triple-double, finishing with 19 points, 12 rebounds and nine blocks. Her length, and the Bison's length collectively, bothered the Penguins, who shot 15% from the field. YSU held Bucknell to 34.8% shooting, and a second-half press helped the Penguins hold a 22-11 edge in forced turnovers and a 20-4 advantage in points off turnovers. Youngstown State had 10 steals, and Xoe Rosalez had four of them individually. Youngstown State's first field goal came when Bella Samz hit a jumper at the first-quarter buzzer, and the Penguins were within 13-5 despite going 1-for-14 from the field in the quarter. Watkins' driving layup got the Penguins within seven at 16-9 at the 7:37 mark of the second quarter, but they couldn't get another bucket until Sarah Baker's jumper in the paint on their final possession of the period. Bucknell's lead at halftime was 25-11. The teams combined for four points in the first five minutes of the second half before Bucknell went on a 9-1 run to take its largest lead of the afternoon at 36-14 with 1:37 on the clock. The Penguins kept fighting and turned up the aggressiveness on the offensive end, and they scored 22 points in the final 12 minutes at Sojka Pavilion. Sophia Gregory, who played 12 minutes in the second half, scored inside on a pass from Magestro with 80 seconds left in the third quarter, and Magestro and Watkins made four free throws on YSU's final two possessions to allow YSU to build some momentum for the fourth. Youngstown State scored six straight points as part of a 12-4 run in the fourth quarter to get within 46-33 with 2:40 remaining, but Magestro's 3-pointer at that marker was their final field goal of the contest. YSU held Bucknell without a field goal for the final 4:20. The teams combined to attempt 58 free throws in the game as 42 fouls were called, including 32 in the second half. YSU was called for 11 fouls on Sofilkanich in the final 20 minutes. Youngstown State will play its next three games on the road, starting with a contest at Xavier on Tuesday at 7 p.m. This will be updated as college submit info to The Herald.JP Nadda hails historic performance of NDA in Maharashtra Assembly, Bypolls; attacks Opposition over 'dividing' ideologyStock market today: Wall Street rises at the start of a holiday-shortened week
LPGA, USGA to require players to be assigned female at birth or transition before pubertyNikada/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images December 29, 2024 Erik Conley I’ve been publishing the Zen Ten list each December since 2008. I pick my favorites and stick with them all year - no trading. Before I reveal my new Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of AAPL, NVDA either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Leading Shipwreck 'Detective' Can't Actually Go to Sea
Making a clean sweep in West Bengal, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday won all six Assembly seats in the by-elections. With this victory, the Mamata Banerjee-led party has further consolidated its position in the State Assembly. The bypolls were held in six constituencies — Sitai, Madarihat, Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur and Taldangra — on November 13 after the respective sitting MLAs, who had won the seats in the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, resigned. In Sitai (north Bengal) and Haroa (south Bengal), TMC candidates clocked a victory margin of over one lakh votes. Continuing its winning streak of Lok Sabha poll victory, the TMC retained five Assembly seats and wrested Madarihat seat from the BJP, which had cemented its control in the constituency in the 2016 and 2021 Assembly elections. This time, the electoral contest was viewed as a litmus test for the TMC, which is facing protests over the rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata’s State-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The body of the on-duty doctor was found inside the seminar room of the emergency building of the hospital on August 9. With the TMC cementing its dominance in West Bengal politics, Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister and party supremo, thanked voters on social media. “I would like to thank ‘Maa, Mati, Manush’. Your blessings will help us continue working for the people,” Banerjee posted. “We are custodians of the people, not zamindars ,” she said. Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, the party’s second-in-command, also took to social media to congratulate all six TMC candidates – Sangita Roy, Jayprakash Toppo, Sanat Dey, Rabiul Islam, Sujoy Hazra and Falguni Singhababu – for their victories against BJP candidates. “A special thanks to the people of Madarihat for giving us the opportunity to serve you for the first time. I bow before the people of West Bengal for democratically dismantling the Bangla Birodhis , their fake narratives and reaffirming their trust in us,” Abhishek said in a post on ‘X’. BJP State President Sukanta Majumdar downplayed the significance of the by-election results. “Bypoll results cannot serve as a reliable indicator. Whether the people are with the Trinamool Congress or not will be reflected in the upcoming Assembly elections,” said Majumdar, adding that his party is hopeful of winning the 2026 Assembly polls. Comments
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I went to the winter sun island that’s still unspoilt – with dozens of beaches, waterfall swimming and treehouse lodgesBy LISA MASCARO and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee’s long-awaited report on Matt Gaetz documents a trove of salacious allegations , including sex with an underage girl, that tanked the Florida Republican’s bid to lead the Justice Department . Related Articles National Politics | An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump National Politics | Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal National Politics | House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of ‘regularly’ paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl National Politics | Trump wants mass deportations. For the agents removing immigrants, it’s a painstaking process National Politics | Many Americans have come to rely on Chinese-made drones. Now lawmakers want to ban them Citing text messages, travel receipts, online payments and testimony, the bipartisan committee paints a picture of a lifestyle in which Gaetz and others connected with younger women for drug-fueled parties, events or trips, with the expectation the women would be paid for their participation. The former congressman, who filed a last-minute lawsuit to try to block the report’s release on Monday, slammed the committee’s findings. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and has insisted he never had sex with a minor. And a Justice Department investigation into the allegations ended without any criminal charges filed against him. “Giving funds to someone you are dating — that they didn’t ask for — and that isn’t ‘charged’ for sex is now prostitution?!?” Gaetz wrote in one post on Monday. “There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses.” Here’s a look at some of the committee’s key findings: ‘Sex-for-money arrangements,’ drug-fueled parties and trips The committee found that between 2017 and 2020, Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars to women “likely in connection with sexual activity and/or drug use.” He paid the women using through online services such as PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp and with cash or check, the committee said. The committee said it found evidence that Gaetz understood the “transactional nature” of his relationships with the women. The report points to one text exchange in which Gaetz balked at a woman’s request that he send her money, “claiming she only gave him a ‘drive by.’” Women interviewed by the committee said there was a “general expectation of sex,” the report said. One woman who received more than $5,000 from Gaetz between 2018 and 2019 said that “99 percent of the time” that when she hung out with Gaetz “there was sex involved.” However, Gaetz was in a long-term relationship with one of the women he paid, so “some of the payments may have been of a legitimate nature,” the committee said. Text messages obtained by the committee also show that Gaetz would ask the women to bring drugs to their “rendezvous,” the report said. While most of his encounters with the women were in Florida, the committee said Gaetz also traveled “on several occasions” with women whom he paid for sex. The report includes text message exchanges in which Gaetz appears to be inviting various women to events, getaways or parties, and arranging airplane travel and lodging. Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg, who pleaded guilty to sex trafficking charges in 2021, initially connected with women through an online service. In one text with a 20-year-old woman, Greenberg suggested if she has a friend, the four of them could meet up. The woman responded that she usually does “$400 per meet.” Greenberg replied: “He understands the deal,” along with a smiley face emoji. Greenberg asks if they are old enough to drink alcohol, and sent the woman a picture of Gaetz. The woman responded that her friend found him “really cute.” “Well, he’s down here for only for the day, we work hard and play hard,” Greenberg replied. ‘Substantial evidence’ indicates that Gaetz had sex with underage girl, the committee said The report details a party in July 2017 in which Gaetz is accused of having sex with “multiple women, including the 17-year-old, for which they were paid.” The committee pointed to “credible testimony” from the now-woman herself as well as “multiple individuals” who corroborated the allegation. The then-17-year-old — who had just completed her junior year in high school — told the committee that Gaetz paid her $400 in cash that night, “which she understood to be payment for sex,” according to the report. The woman acknowledged that she had taken ecstasy the night of the party, but told the committee that she was “certain” of her sexual encounters with the then-congressman. There’s no evidence that Gaetz knew she was a minor when he had sex with her, the committee said. The woman told the committee she didn’t tell Gaetz she was under 18 at the time and that he didn’t how old she was. Rather, the committee said Gaetz learned she was a minor more than a month after the party. But he stayed in touch with her after that and met up with her for “commercial sex” again less than six months after she turned 18, according to the committee. Gaetz said evidence would ‘exonerate’ him but provided none of it In sum, the committee said it authorized 29 subpoenas for documents and testimony, reviewed nearly 14,000 documents and contacted more than two dozen witnesses. But when the committee subpoenaed Gaetz for his testimony, he failed to comply. “Gaetz pointed to evidence that would ‘exonerate’ him yet failed to produce any such materials,” the committee said. Gaetz “continuously sought to deflect, deter, or mislead the Committee in order to prevent his actions from being exposed.” The report details a months-long process that dragged into a year as it sought information from Gaetz that he decried as “nosey” and a “weaponization” of government against him. In one notable exchange, investigators were seeking information about the expenses for a 2018 get-away with multiple women to the Bahamas. Gaetz ultimately offered up his plane ticket receipt “to” the destination, but declined to share his return “from” the Bahamas. The report said his return on a private plane and other expenses paid by an associate were in violation of House gift rules. In another Gaetz told the committee he would “welcome” the opportunity to respond to written questions. Yet, after it sent a list of 16 questions, Gaetz said publicly he would “no longer” voluntarily cooperate. He called the investigation “frivolous,” adding: “Every investigation into me ends the same way: my exoneration.” The report said that while Gaetz’s obstruction of the investigation does not rise to a criminal violation it is inconsistent with the requirement that all members of Congress “act in a manner that reflects creditably upon the House.” Justice Department didn’t cooperate with the committee The committee began its review of Gaetz in April 2021 and deferred its work in response to a Justice Department request. It renewed its work shortly after Gaetz announced that the Justice Department had ended a sex trafficking investigation without filing any charges against him. The committee sought records from the Justice Department about the probe, but the agency refused, saying it doesn’t disclose information about investigations that don’t result in charges. The committee then subpoenaed the Justice Department, but after a back-and-forth between officials and the committee, the department handed over “publicly reported information about the testimony of a deceased individual,” according to the report. “To date, DOJ has provided no meaningful evidence or information to the Committee or cited any lawful basis for its responses,” the committee said. Many of the women who the committee spoke to had already given statements to the Justice Department and didn’t want to “relive their experience,” the committee said. “They were particularly concerned with providing additional testimony about a sitting congressman in light of DOJ’s lack of action on their prior testimony,” the report said. The Justice Department, however, never handed over the women’s statements. The agency’s lack of cooperation — along with its request that the committee pause its investigation — significantly delayed the committee’s probe, lawmakers said.
Niger Delta Liberation Movement (NDLM), popularly known as MOVEMENT, says it has burst several pipelines along the Olero-Dibi-Abiteye Fields/Flow stations belonging to Chevron Nigeria Ltd (CNL) in Delta. Although our correspondent has not been able to independently verify the claim as of the time of filing the report, the group said it carried out the economic sabotage at about 2:00 am on Friday, November 22. The group further described the damage as its official launch of ‘Operation CHEVRON DRAGNET.’ The damaged pipelines said to be six inches, eight inches, and 10 inches in diametre, transport various petroleum products including natural gas and crude. The Secretary of NDLM, Mr. Emmanuel Tagbanaraewumi, in a syndicated press statement on Friday afternoon, vowed that more woes would betide facilities of the oil multinational in due course. “These multiple blasts, are the start of the operations code-named CHEVRON DRAGNET. “We promise a shocker as we vow to continue to hit facilities used for crude oil exploration activities in the whole of Warri areas, till Chevron does the needful as this is just the beginning of operation CHEVRON DRAGNET. “It will be recalled several host communities and organizations from the Itsekiri extraction had called upon Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) to make available their employment quota in the firm’s ongoing recruitment scheme, but to no avail. “We had earlier made demands for the unconditional conversion of VTP5/OTP2 and VTP6 amongst others and these demands were not attended to. “The MOVEMENT is bringing to the notice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and Chevron in particular, that we are in support of these calls and therefore announce the launch of an operation CHEVRON DRAGNET. “The operation CHEVRON DRAGNET has become unavoidable because Chevron had refused to listen to her host communities and organizations from the Itsekiri extraction, calling for the implementation of Local Content Law and allocate to her the rightful quarter of the ongoing Chevron Nigeria Limited recruitment by a consulting firm known as dragnet. “Recall how we claimed responsibility for several attacks against oil facilities in the Warri area since July 2023. Our biggest feast was the Dibi to Olero Gas Line Blast at Junction 19 on June 18, 2024. “Through the disruption of all oil exploration activity, we pledge to communicate with Chevron in their language. “We will not provide any ultimatum or timeline for the operations, as was evident in our previous press statements. “As long as Chevron decides to keep mute and play unholy politics with the request from the host communities and organizations of the Itsekiri nation, we vow to support and back these calls with the language Chevron will understand,” he swore. Meanwhile, officials of CNL have yet to confirm the claims of the terror movement as of the time of filing the report. READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE Get real-time news updates from Tribune Online! Follow us on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive stories and interviews, and much more. Join our WhatsApp Channel nowThe Biden administration officially withdrew two major student loan forgiveness proposals on Friday, marking a significant shift in the administration's approach to student debt relief. The plans, which had the potential to benefit over 30 million borrowers, were shelved amid ongoing legal challenges and the impending transition of power. Forgiveness Plans Targeted Struggling BorrowersThe initial proposal, commonly known as "Plan B," sought to offer $10,000 in debt forgiveness to the majority of borrowers. This program aimed to target four particular groups of borrowers: individuals facing escalating balances from high interest accumulation, those enrolled in low-quality schools that do not meet federal criteria, borrowers with loans exceeding 20 or 25 years, and those qualified for current forgiveness plans who had yet to apply. The second strategy concentrated on those borrowers experiencing financial difficulties. Assistance through this initiative would have been automatically provided to individuals who meet hardship criteria like low income, high debt levels, or having a disability. Other borrowers may have sought personalized evaluations. Legal and Political Hurdles Block ImplementationBoth proposals encountered unmanageable challenges. "Plan B" continued to be hindered by legal disputes, as a federal court order blocked its implementation. The forgiveness plan based on hardship, currently in draft stage, is not anticipated to be completed until 2025. This schedule set its execution after Biden's presidency, lacking assurance of backing from the forthcoming administration. Administration officials probably retracted the proposals to prevent possible negative consequences from the forthcoming Trump administration. By abolishing the draft regulations, officials aimed to avert the chance of revised rules that might negatively affect borrowers. Furthermore, resolving the legal issues regarding "Plan B" could prevent precedent-setting rulings that may limit future debt relief initiatives. Impact on Borrowers and Future ChallengesBorrowers who were optimistic about these plans now confront doubt. Nevertheless, eligibility for various forgiveness programs stays unchanged. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) still provides assistance to individuals who satisfy the requirements. The administration announced that 55,000 more borrowers received approval for PSLF, bringing the total to nearly one million recipients in the program over the last four years. Other Relief Initiatives Remain ActiveThe administration also highlighted additional achievements. More than $56.5 billion in aid was authorized for borrowers participating in Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) programs. Moreover, $28.7 billion was canceled for 1.6 million borrowers deceived by their institutions, while $16.2 billion was released for 572,000 borrowers via the Total and Permanent Disability discharge program. The administration has recently restored the ICR and PAYE repayment options, potentially resulting in loan forgiveness after 20 or 25 years. These actions seek to assist borrowers as ambiguity envelops the SAVE plan, a recent IDR alternative that is presently encountering legal issues. Future of Loan Forgiveness Under Republican LeadershipAs Republicans prepare to take charge of Congress and the White House, alterations to student loan forgiveness policies appear probable. Discussions are already underway regarding proposals to eliminate IDR-based forgiveness for new borrowers and limit relief based on executive actions. Nonetheless, the degree of these alterations is still uncertain. Advocacy organizations are calling on the administration to quicken the relief process for borrowers who have already been approved for forgiveness. Some are advocating for one-sided debt forgiveness for older borrowers prior to Biden's departure from office. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News, World and around the world.
PARIS — Howling winds couldn’t stop Notre Dame Cathedral ’s heart from beating again. With three resounding knocks on its doors by Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, wielding a specially designed crosier carved from fire-scorched beams, the monument roared back to life Saturday evening. For the first time since a devastating blaze nearly destroyed it in 2019, the towering Gothic masterpiece reopened for worship, its rebirth marked by song, prayer, and awe beneath its soaring arches. The ceremony, initially planned to begin on the forecourt, was moved entirely inside due to unusually fierce December winds sweeping across the Île de la Cité, flanked by the River Seine. Yet the occasion lost none of its splendor. Inside the luminous nave, choirs sang psalms, and the cathedral’s mighty organ, silent for nearly five years, thundered to life in a triumphant interplay of melodies. The restoration, a spectacular achievement in just five years for a structure that took nearly two centuries to build, is seen as a moment of triumph for French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious timeline — and a welcome respite from his domestic political woes. The evening’s celebration, attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, US first lady Jill Biden, Britain’s Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, underscored Notre Dame’s enduring role as both a spiritual and cultural beacon. Observers see the event as Macron's, and his intention to pivot it into a fully fledged diplomatic gathering, while highlighting France’s ability to unite on the global stage despite internal political crises. As the cathedral’s largest bell, the 13-ton Emmanuel — which was not named after the French leader — tolled into the Paris night, signaling the start of the ceremony, the crowd inside Notre Dame fell into an expectant hush. Emmanuel, a legacy of King Louis XIV, had rung through centuries of French history, and its peal now resonated as a call to witness another epochal moment. Outside the cathedral’s monumental doors, Ulrich raised his fire-scarred crosier. “Brothers and sisters, let us enter now into Notre Dame,” he declared. “It is she who accompanies us on our path to peace.” With the congregation of over 2,500 people watching in silence, Ulrich struck the floodlit doors, the base of his crosier reverberating against the wood. Inside, the choir answered with soaring hymns, their voices filling the nave. Illuminations on the cathedral facade heightened the drama. On the final strike, the heavy doors swung open, revealing the glowing interior of restored blond Lutetian limestone. Adding to the ceremony’s visual splendor, Ulrich and the clergy wore vibrant liturgical garments designed by French fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. Known for his signature pop-art aesthetic, Castelbajac created 2,000 colorful pieces for 700 celebrants, blending modern elements with medieval touches. Flooded with light and song, the cathedral came alive in a moment of breathtaking spectacle. What had been a silent, soot-blackened ruin five years ago now blazed with renewed vitality, marking the culmination of a nearly $1 billion global effort to resurrect it. Speaking inside the cathedral, Macron expressed “gratitude” Saturday to those who saved, helped, and rebuilt Notre Dame, his voice reverberating through the nave. “I stand before you ... to express the gratitude of the French nation,” he said, before voices flooded the space with song, harmonies not heard in over five years. “Tonight, the bells of Notre Dame are ringing again. And in a moment, the organ will awaken,” sending the “music of hope” cascading through the luminous interior to Parisians, France, and the world beyond, he said. The celebration is expected to give a much-needed boost to the embattled French leader, whose prime minister was ousted this week, plunging the nation’s politics into more turmoil. Macron has called Notre Dame’s reopening “a jolt of hope.” Observers say he hoped the occasion would briefly silence his critics and showcase France’s unity and resilience under his leadership — a rare moment of grace in a presidency now facing a grave crisis. Inside Notre Dame, 42,000 square meters of stonework—equivalent to six soccer pitches—gleamed anew, revealing intricate carvings and luminous limestone. Above, 2,000 oak beams, nicknamed “the forest,” restored the cathedral’s iconic spire and roof. The great organ, dormant for over five years, roared back to life like a slumbering giant. With its 7,952 pipes—ranging from pen-sized to torso-wide—and a renovated console featuring five keyboards, 115 stops, and 30 foot pedals, it responded to Archbishop Laurent Ulrich’s command: “Wake up, organ, sacred instrument.” The first low rumble grew into a triumphant symphony as four organists pulled out the stops, weaving improvised responses to the archbishop’s invocations. Eight times, Ulrich addressed the organ; eight times, its voice filled the nave with breathtaking sound. Guests marveled at the spectacle, many capturing the moment on their phones. “It’s a sense of perfection,” said François Le Page of the Notre Dame Foundation, who last saw the cathedral cloaked in scaffolding in 2021. “It was somber then. Now, it’s night and day.” The Rev. Andriy Morkvas, a Ukrainian priest who leads the Volodymyr Le Grand church in Paris, reflected on his first visit to Notre Dame in over a decade. “I didn’t recognize it,” he said. “God is very powerful; He can change things.” He expressed hope that the cathedral’s revival could inspire peace in his homeland, drawing strength from the presence of Ukraine’s president. “I think that will have a big impact,” he said. “I hope Notre Dame and Mary will help us resolve this conflict.” The reopening of Notre Dame comes at a time of profound global unrest, with wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East. For Catholics, Notre Dame’s rector said the cathedral “carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.′′ “It is a magnificent symbol of unity,” Olivier Ribadeau Dumas said. “Notre Dame is not just a French monument — it is a magnificent sign of hope.” The international range of dignitaries coming to Paris underline the cathedral’s significance as a symbol of shared heritage and peace. Canadian visitor Noelle Alexandria, who had traveled to Paris for the reopening, was struck by the cathedral’s ability to inspire. “She’s been nearly ruined before, but she always comes back,” Alexandria said. “Not many of us could say the same after such tragedy, but Notre Dame can.” Guests entered through Notre Dame’s iconic western façade, whose arched portals adorned with biblical carvings were once a visual guide for medieval believers. Above the central Portal of the Last Judgment, the Archangel Michael is depicted weighing souls, as demons attempt to tip the scales. These stone figures, designed to inspire both awe and fear, set the stage for a ceremony steeped in history. Inside, the hum of hundreds of guests awaiting the service filled the cathedral with human sounds once more — a stark contrast to the construction din that echoed there for years. Tuners restoring the great organ often worked through the night to find the silence needed to perfect its 7,952 pipes, ranging from pen-sized to torso-wide. Notre Dame echoed to the sound of a sustained standing ovation after the showing of a short movie that documented the gargantuan rebuilding effort. Outside, the word “MERCI” — thank you — was projected against the cathedral’s iconic western facade. The movie showed the terrible wounds left by the inferno — the gaping holes torn into its vaulted ceilings and the burned roof. But that was followed by images of all types of artisans, many using traditional handicraft techniques, who collectively restored Notre Dame to look better now than ever. "We went from night to light," said one of the workers in the movie. Security will be high through the weekend, echoing measures taken during the Paris Olympics earlier this year. The Île de la Cité — the small island in the River Seine that is home to Notre Dame and the historic heart of Paris— is closed to tourists and non-residents. Police vans and barriers blocked cobblestoned streets in a large perimeter around the island, while soldiers in thick body armor and sniffer dogs patrolled embankments. A special security detail followed Trump. For many, Notre Dame’s rebirth is not just a French achievement but a global one — after the reopening, the cathedral is set to welcome 15 million visitors annually, up from 12 million before the fire.
President-elect Donald Trump on Dec. 4 nominated businesswoman and former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler to lead the Small Business Administration (SBA). Loeffler, 53, co-chairs the president-elect’s second inaugural committee with Las Vegas real estate developer Steve Witkoff. The role of SBA administrator requires Senate confirmation. Loeffler, raised on an Illinois corn and soybean farm, served in the Senate from 2020 to 2021. She was appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp in 2019 following the Dec. 31 resignation of former Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.). She lost a 2020 special election in a 2021 runoff to Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.). “Prior to her tenure in the U.S. Senate, Kelly built a 25-year career in financial services and technology,” Trump said in the post. The SBA is an independent Cabinet-level federal agency dedicated to promoting and supporting small businesses in the U.S. economy. Created by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1953, the SBA maintains a vast network of field offices and partnerships. SBA staff help entrepreneurs start and build companies by counseling small business owners, expanding access to federal contracts, and connecting these entities with lenders for funding. In Trump’s first term, he had four SBA administrators, including Linda McMahon, who is now Trump’s Education Secretary nominee. Isabel Casillas Guzman currently heads the SBA, taking over from Tami Perriello in March 2021. “With 95 percent of the world’s consumers based outside of the United States, our small businesses need access to markets abroad to grow and create good jobs in America,” Guzman said in a statement. Over the years, the federal agency has come under scrutiny over its mandate. In the past decade, reports have highlighted that the SBA has often helped larger businesses.
Modi's party heads for victory in Maharashtra state election while opposition wins JharkhandPriyanka retains Wayanad LS seat for Congress with huge margin of 4.1lakh votes