Was Jesus really born in Bethlehem? Why the Gospels disagree over the circumstances of Christ’s birthSarnia stands at a pivotal moment in its development, facing challenges that include housing affordability, homelessness, and the growth strain of encampments. As Draft 2 of the proposed zoning by-law is under review—the first major update in decades—its implications for the city’s growth, economy, and housing landscape warrant careful attention. Central to the discussion is the concept of infill development and how zoning policies can either unlock its potential or create unnecessary roadblocks. Here’s why the new by-laws matter and what’s at stake for Sarnia. Sarnia currently ranks 95th out of 100 in housing starts—a stark indicator of how far we need to go to meet the demand for housing. When housing supply is limited, landlords hold significant power, often leading to higher rents and lower housing quality. Scarce supply also drives predatory practices like “renovictions,” where tenants are displaced under the guise of renovations only to see rents increase beyond affordability. On the other hand, an abundance of housing naturally balances this power dynamic. With more options, tenants gain leverage, and landlords are incentivized to maintain and improve their properties to attract and retain residents. Simply put, when housing options are plentiful, everyone benefits. Infill development—the process of building within existing neighbourhoods—offers an efficient, sustainable solution to housing shortages. By utilizing existing infrastructure and increasing population density, infill development can reduce urban sprawl and foster activities that enhance community vibrancy, such as improved access to local businesses and greater opportunities for social interaction. Current zoning regulations in Sarnia introduce complexities for infill projects. While the new Official Plan outlines a vision for progress, some aspects of the draft zoning by-laws include requirements that may pose challenges for development: These restrictions create obstacles to the gradual, incremental growth that’s essential for Sarnia to adapt and thrive. Incremental development—allowing neighbourhoods to grow by small steps, like converting a single-family home into a duplex or adding a granny flat—is a proven method for creating diverse, affordable housing options without disrupting community character. This approach offers several benefits: Zoning policies that enable Missing Middle Housing could have several economic implications for Sarnia: Without significant updates to the zoning by-law, Sarnia risks stifling growth and innovation. The current framework prioritizes single-family homes and restricts the types of housing that meet the needs of a changing population. This “business as usual” approach exacerbates housing shortages and leaves families, seniors, and young professionals with few affordable options. Meanwhile, cities that embrace flexible zoning policies are seeing significant benefits, from revitalized neighbourhoods to thriving local economies. Sarnia must act now to stay competitive and meet its residents’ needs. To address potential challenges in the proposed zoning by-laws, the following changes could be considered: Although the deadline for submitting written comments has passed, residents can still participate in discussions about the proposed zoning by-laws:
KUWAIT: Sabah Al-Ahmad Urology Centre has successfully conducted the first remote robotic radical prostatectomy surgery in the Middle East, using the MicroPort Medbot Toumai surgical robotic system to treat a Kuwaiti patient diagnosed with prostate cancer. This makes Kuwait one of the first countries globally to perform such a procedure using technology from MicroPort, a multinational medical technology developer and manufacturer that is primarily headquartered in Shanghai, China. Dr Saad Al-Dosari, the center’s director who performed the surgery remotely from China, said in a phone interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the procedure adds a remarkable achievement to Kuwait’s healthcare sector. It represents a significant medical milestone in the Middle East at a time when the healthcare system continues to advance in robotic surgeries. Al-Dosari highlighted the unique aspect of the surgery, noting that the patient was approximately 7,000 kilometers away, and the operation was conducted as if the surgical team were physically present in Kuwait. He explained that robotic surgeries had been introduced at the center in 2014, but this remote surgery, known as Telesurgery, is a first for both the Arabian Gulf and the broader Middle East. He emphasized that patient safety is the top priority. A full medical team, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses, was present in the operating room in Kuwait to intervene if necessary. Despite the distance, the surgery was performed with high precision as though the surgical team was right next to the patient. Al-Dosari also noted the significance of remote robotic surgeries in enabling the exchange of expertise, performing complex surgeries in collaboration with global centers, and training national medical staff in robotic surgery techniques from any location. He attributed the achievement to the guidance of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, emphasizing that this development positions Kuwait among countries leading in adopting the latest advancements in surgical technology. Al-Dosari expressed his sincere gratitude to Minister of Health Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi for his unwavering support of such cutting-edge technologies, which represent a major leap forward in healthcare technology. — KUNA
WesBanco, Inc. and Premier Financial Corp. Announce Shareholder Approvals of Merger AgreementCLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs will be missing a key piece of their starting lineup on Friday night. Sources tell cleveland.com that fourth-year forward Evan Mobley is out because of a minor ankle sprain suffered in Sunday’s loss to the Miami Heat. Listed as questionable going into Friday’s matchup, Mobley did not participate in practice this week, going through individual workouts instead. His status for Monday’s game in Brooklyn is still unknown. Friday is just his second missed game of the season. More Cavs coverage Cavs vs. Wizards: preview, injury report, odds, TV When is Max Strus expected to make his return for the Cavs? Wine and Gold Talk podcast ‘An injection of energy’: League-best Cavs eager to integrate Max Strus into lineup Who are The 40 Most Influential People in Cleveland Sports when it comes to fan happiness? See our list and how we ranked them. With Mobley unavailable, versatile forward Dean Wade is expected to slide into the starting lineup. On Sunday evening in Miami, Mobley dropped in a short-range hook shot. As he jumped quickly for a second time to get in position for a possible offensive rebound, the 7-footer landed awkwardly on Heat forward Kevin Love’s foot. Mobley screamed in pain, reached down toward his lower left leg and hobbled back on defense. Spending the next few possessions limping around the court and trying to shake off the pain, Mobley was able to stay in the game and logged 12 minutes during the first half. But he was clearly hampered by the injury and never felt right after. At halftime, the team made a collaborative decision to keep him out for the rest of the night . Mobley told cleveland.com after the game that he was “good” and it wasn’t a serious injury. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson admitted that he typically takes a cautious approach with any injury, no matter how minor. Mobley will join swingman Max Strus on the sidelines Friday night. Isaac Okoro, however, will make his return from a knee contusion. Strus is still waiting to make his regular season debut. Despite returning to practice this week for the first time since a mid-October ankle injury, Strus isn’t quite ready for clearance when it comes to game action — although his comeback date is imminent. “He’s progressing,” Atkinson said of Strus. “I would just say we take our time and I’m a part of that decision-making process. We want to make sure there’s no setbacks. We want to make sure he’s ready. I’m a little bit more conservative. I push for that. But at the end of the day he’s going to feel it. He’s going to know. We should see him soon.”
WWE boss Triple H was impressed by Vancouver crowd at Survivor Series - Daily Hive
Falcons feeling the pressure at .500 as Cousins' interceptions put spotlight on downturn for offenseFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — When the MLS playoffs began late last month, everyone who follows Inter Miami assumed coach Tata Martino would be preparing his team for the conference semifinals this week. Instead, the runner up for MLS Coach of the Year was in the Chase Stadium interview room on Friday morning announcing his resignation two weeks after the team’s shocking first-round playoff exit. Martino said he wanted to diffuse rumors and stress that he is leaving strictly for personal reasons, that he must return to his hometown of Rosario, Argentina, and that his decision was made before the first playoff game in late-October. He said not even his coaching staff knew of his decision at the time as he did not want it to be a distraction. He informed Lionel Messi, managing owner Jorge Mas, and President of Football Operations Raul Sanllehi last Saturday and told the rest of the players on Wednesday, after they returned from the FIFA break. Martino has no plans to coach another club in the immediate future, saying he cannot take on another job in early 2025 because he needs to focus on personal matters in Rosario. Mas said his conversation with Martino ended at 11 a.m. last Saturday, the search for a new coach began “at 11:01” and that the club had selected a new coach by Wednesday, are finalizing contract details and “will be announcing a new coach for Inter Miami in the upcoming days.” Javier Mascherano, an Argentine national team legend and former teammate of Messi’s, is the leading candidate to replace Martino, according to a few league sources. Media reports from Argentina say it is a done deal. Mas would not confirm or deny the Mascherano rumors but said that the new coach will have a winning history at the highest level as a player or coach, have familiarity with Messi and the other team stars, and will be well-suited to lead Miami’s elite players as well as its young players. “We have a very unique situation at Inter Miami where we have the best player in the world on our team, accompanied by generational talents like Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, accompanied by academy kids like Benja Cremaschi, Noah Allen, Ian Fray, David Ruiz, who have played significant minutes, and also young budding stars like Facundo Farias, Toto Aviles, Diego Gomez, Fede Redondo, so it will take a manager to play the attacking style we want to play with that combination of players,” Mas said. Mascherano, the 40-year-old ex-Barcelona defensive midfielder, has been coaching Argentina’s U-20 team the past three years and coached Argentina in the 2024 Paris Olympics. He has a storied playing career but has never coached a club team and has no experience in MLS, which is quite different from other leagues around the world in everything from schedule to salary structure. Asked how involved Messi was in the coaching search, Mas said: “I spoke to Leo, and he gave his input. Familiarity with Leo and the other stars is an advantage in every aspect. I want Leo to feel comfortable with the new coach, but Raul and I spearheaded the search. “This is not our first coaching search. I have been involved in interviewing some of the world’s best coaches since 2019. We have more experience now. We know exactly what we want. That’s why we were able to accomplish this search in five days. ... This is not the first time I spoke to this individual. We came close [to hiring him] in 2020, and he has been following our team and the league closely.” Mas added that while MLS experience would be a plus, it is not a necessary criteria for the incoming coach, and then repeated that the main attributes they were looking for were a coach who could manage a locker room of stars and youngsters. “We want to thank Tata Martino and appreciate everything he has given this club for the past year and a half,” Mas said. “His fingerprints and success will always be part of our history.” Mas pointed out that the team, under Martino, lifted the Leagues Cup trophy in the summer of 2023, made the final of the U.S. Open Cup, won the 2024 Supporters’ Shield and broke the league’s points record. Martino, 62, led Inter Miami to a league-record 74 points, which also earned the team the Supporters’ Shield for best regular season record. The team scored a league-high 79 goals. Miami, with a star-studded roster including Argentine icon Messi and three of his former Barcelona teammates, fell short of expectations with a first-round exit from the MLS Playoffs after losing the best 2-of-3 series to Atlanta United. Martino had a year remaining on his contract. He joined Inter Miami in July 2023 upon Messi’s arrival and was a natural choice to get the job as he led Atlanta United to the 2018 MLS Cup title in that club’s second season, had coached in two World Cups with Paraguay and Mexico, reached three Copa America finals and, vitally important, coached Messi at FC Barcelona and with the Argentine national team. Martino replaced Phil Neville and took over a team that was in last place in the Eastern Conference with a 5-13-0 record just past the midway point of the season. With the addition of Messi, Busquets and Alba, Martino led the team to the 2023 Leagues Cup title later that summer. Upon announcing his decision on Friday, Martino took time to thank team ownership and management and lamented that he couldn’t continue being part of the club’s growth next season. “It has been a very satisfactory year and a half, I am grateful for the opportunity, and although we ended the season on a sour note, and fell short of what we wanted to accomplish, we had a lot of success and I would have liked very much to have continued being part of this club,” Martino said. “I am happy we transformed this club from one that struggled to make the playoffs to the one that won the Leagues Cup, won Supporters’ Shield, and had the best record in history.” Martino was asked how his players reacted to the news. “It’s clear when you leave a job so abruptly, especially when there aren’t any apparent reasons, it hard to expect people to understand,” Martino said. “There are many coaches out there who would love this job. People would say, `This guy is crazy, working in this team, living in this place, working in this league and he’s leaving where everyone wants to be.’ I have had moments like this in my career. Things happen, and you have to leave. I appreciate that the players respected my decision and the club will go on.” Asked what the team was missing during the playoff series with Atlanta, he replied that Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan was decisive in all three games, that Inter Miami played well and was in position to win all three games, and there were some intangibles and moments that went against Miami. “I know someone from the outside hears that and thinks I am not being self-critical, which is not true. I am. People will debate if we should have played four in back or five, but if I had to do it again, I would line up the same way. In hindsight, it is easy to debate, and everyone has a right to their opinion.” Mas also addressed the futures of Suarez, whose contract expires in December, and Alba, who has an option for next season, and dismissed rumors that sporting director Chris Henderson was headed to another club. “I think Luis Suarez has been an amazing addition to our team and our league,” Mas said. “What he did this year was spectacular. Jordi Alba, my personal opinion is he had the best season of any left back on MLS history and I don’t think it’s close. We’re going to continue to have the best team we can. There are no budget limitations, we will continue to bring top players from all over the world ... and use every single roster mechanism we can.” ©2024 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.By ROB GILLIES, Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Donald Trump that Americans would also suffer if the president-elect follows through on a plan to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products , a Canadian minister who attended their recent dinner said Monday. Trump threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if they don’t stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across their borders with the United States. He said on social media last week that he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders. Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, whose responsibilities include border security, attended a dinner with Trump and Trudeau at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club on Friday. Trudeau requested the meeting in a bid to avoid the tariffs by convincing Trump that the northern border is nothing like the U.S. southern border with Mexico . “The prime minister of course spoke about the importance of protecting the Canadian economy and Canadian workers from tariffs, but we also discussed with our American friends the negative impact that those tariffs could have on their economy, on affordability in the United States as well,” LeBlanc said in Parliament. If Trump makes good on his threat to slap 25% tariffs on everything imported from Mexico and Canada, the price increases that could follow will collide with his campaign promise to give American families a break from inflation. Economists say companies would have little choice but to pass along the added costs, dramatically raising prices for food, clothing, automobiles, alcohol and other goods. The Produce Distributors Association, a Washington trade group, said last week that tariffs will raise prices for fresh fruit and vegetables and hurt U.S. farmers when the countries retaliate. Canada is already examining possible retaliatory tariffs on certain items from the U.S. should Trump follow through on the threat. After his dinner with Trump, Trudeau returned home without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on all products from the major American trading partner. Trump called the talks “productive” but signaled no retreat from a pledge that Canada says unfairly lumps it in with Mexico over the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States. “The idea that we came back empty handed is completely false,” LeBlanc said. “We had a very productive discussion with Mr. Trump and his future Cabinet secretaries. ... The commitment from Mr. Trump to continue to work with us was far from empty handed.” Joining Trump and Trudeau at dinner were Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department, and Mike Waltz, Trump’s choice to be his national security adviser. Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, told The Associated Press on Sunday that “the message that our border is so vastly different than the Mexican border was really understood.” Hillman, who sat at an adjacent table to Trudeau and Trump, said Canada is not the problem when it comes to drugs and migrants. On Monday, Mexico’s president rejected those comments. “Mexico must be respected, especially by its trading partners,” President Claudia Sheinbaum said. She said Canada had its own problems with fentanyl consumption and “could only wish they had the cultural riches Mexico has.” Flows of migrants and seizures of drugs at the two countries’ border are vastly different. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border during the last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. Most of the fentanyl reaching the U.S. — where it causes about 70,000 overdose deaths annually — is made by Mexican drug cartels using precursor chemicals smuggled from Asia. On immigration, the U.S. Border Patrol reported 1.53 million encounters with migrants at the southwest border with Mexico between October 2023 and September 2024. That compares to 23,721 encounters at the Canadian border during that time. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports as well. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing for national security.
By ROB GILLIES, Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Donald Trump that Americans would also suffer if the president-elect follows through on a plan to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products , a Canadian minister who attended their recent dinner said Monday. Trump threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if they don’t stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across their borders with the United States. He said on social media last week that he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders. Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, whose responsibilities include border security, attended a dinner with Trump and Trudeau at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club on Friday. Trudeau requested the meeting in a bid to avoid the tariffs by convincing Trump that the northern border is nothing like the U.S. southern border with Mexico . “The prime minister of course spoke about the importance of protecting the Canadian economy and Canadian workers from tariffs, but we also discussed with our American friends the negative impact that those tariffs could have on their economy, on affordability in the United States as well,” LeBlanc said in Parliament. If Trump makes good on his threat to slap 25% tariffs on everything imported from Mexico and Canada, the price increases that could follow will collide with his campaign promise to give American families a break from inflation. Economists say companies would have little choice but to pass along the added costs, dramatically raising prices for food, clothing, automobiles, alcohol and other goods. The Produce Distributors Association, a Washington trade group, said last week that tariffs will raise prices for fresh fruit and vegetables and hurt U.S. farmers when the countries retaliate. Canada is already examining possible retaliatory tariffs on certain items from the U.S. should Trump follow through on the threat. After his dinner with Trump, Trudeau returned home without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on all products from the major American trading partner. Trump called the talks “productive” but signaled no retreat from a pledge that Canada says unfairly lumps it in with Mexico over the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States. “The idea that we came back empty handed is completely false,” LeBlanc said. “We had a very productive discussion with Mr. Trump and his future Cabinet secretaries. ... The commitment from Mr. Trump to continue to work with us was far from empty handed.” Joining Trump and Trudeau at dinner were Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department, and Mike Waltz, Trump’s choice to be his national security adviser. Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, told The Associated Press on Sunday that “the message that our border is so vastly different than the Mexican border was really understood.” Hillman, who sat at an adjacent table to Trudeau and Trump, said Canada is not the problem when it comes to drugs and migrants. On Monday, Mexico’s president rejected those comments. “Mexico must be respected, especially by its trading partners,” President Claudia Sheinbaum said. She said Canada had its own problems with fentanyl consumption and “could only wish they had the cultural riches Mexico has.” Related Articles National Politics | Young men swung to the right for Trump after a campaign dominated by masculine appeals National Politics | In final month of the session, Congress looks to clean up loose ends, prepare for Trump National Politics | Democrats still don’t agree on the seriousness of their political problem after election defeat National Politics | Recess appointments could put Trump at odds with conservatives on the Supreme Court National Politics | Under Trump, many states might pursue Medicaid work requirements Flows of migrants and seizures of drugs at the two countries’ border are vastly different. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border during the last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. Most of the fentanyl reaching the U.S. — where it causes about 70,000 overdose deaths annually — is made by Mexican drug cartels using precursor chemicals smuggled from Asia. On immigration, the U.S. Border Patrol reported 1.53 million encounters with migrants at the southwest border with Mexico between October 2023 and September 2024. That compares to 23,721 encounters at the Canadian border during that time. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports as well. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing for national security. 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Get ready to blast off again! This week, PlayStation VR owners are in for a treat. Team Asobi, the brilliant minds behind the critically acclaimed Astro Bot Rescue Mission, are dropping a hefty free expansion for the game. This isn’t just a small content update; we’re talking 23 brand new levels, a challenging new mode, and even extra goodies to unlock. If you haven’t experienced the joy of rescuing adorable robots in VR, now’s the perfect time to dive in. This surprise announcement came directly from Nicolas Doucet, Creative Director at Team Asobi, via the PlayStation Blog. The expansion, aptly titled “Rescue Mission – Extra Missions”, arrives on Thursday, December 12th, just in time for some holiday VR fun. It’s a fantastic gesture from the developers, showing their dedication to the game and its passionate community. But what exactly can players expect from this generous update? Let’s break it down. A Whole New World (of Challenges) First up, the meat of the expansion: 23 new levels. These aren’t just rehashed versions of existing stages; they’re entirely fresh challenges designed to test your platforming skills and VR ingenuity. Expect to encounter new enemies, obstacles, and environments as you navigate these tricky courses. From what I’ve seen in the trailers, the level design looks even more inventive this time around, with some truly mind-bending perspectives and clever uses of the VR technology. Personally, I can’t wait to see how Team Asobi pushes the boundaries of VR platforming . Astro Bot Rescue Mission already felt like a revelation when it launched, showcasing the immersive potential of VR in a way few other games had. With this expansion, it seems they’re raising the bar even higher. Taking on the “Specter Mode” But wait, there’s more! The expansion also introduces a new mode called “Specter Mode”. This is where things get really interesting. Specter Mode presents a series of particularly challenging levels designed for experienced players. Think of it as the ultimate test of your Astro Bot skills. From the glimpses we’ve seen, these levels seem to feature intricate platforming sequences, demanding enemy encounters, and some seriously devious traps. I’m a bit of a completionist, so I’m already feeling the pressure to conquer these Specter Mode challenges. I can see myself spending hours trying to perfect each level, and I’m sure the online leaderboards will be filled with competitive players vying for the top spots. Unlockable Goodies and Surprises As if that wasn’t enough, the expansion also includes a variety of unlockable content. By completing challenges and collecting coins, you’ll gain access to new cosmetic items for your little robot buddy. These include a variety of hats and even new paint jobs for your in-game controller, adding a fun layer of personalization to the experience. While these cosmetic additions might seem minor, I think they’re a nice touch. I always enjoy customizing my characters in games, and it adds an extra incentive to explore every nook and cranny of the levels. Why This Expansion Matters This free expansion is more than just a generous offering from the developers; it’s a testament to the enduring appeal of Astro Bot Rescue Mission . In a world of live-service games and paid DLC, it’s refreshing to see a developer continue to support a game long after its release, especially with such a substantial content update. Astro Bot Rescue Mission is often hailed as one of the best VR games ever made, and for good reason. It’s a charming, innovative, and incredibly fun platformer that perfectly utilizes the unique capabilities of VR. This expansion not only adds to the game’s already impressive content but also reinforces its status as a must-play VR experience. If you own a PlayStation VR, you absolutely owe it to yourself to download this free expansion and dive back into the world of Astro Bot . And if you’re still on the fence about VR, this might be the perfect excuse to finally take the plunge. Looking Ahead It’s exciting to think about what the future holds for Astro Bot and Team Asobi. Could this expansion be a hint at a potential sequel in the works? Or perhaps we’ll see Astro Bot make appearances in other PlayStation titles? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: Team Asobi has created something truly special with Astro Bot Rescue Mission , and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.Storm dumps record rain and heavy snow on Northern California. Many in Seattle still without power(Bloomberg) — GE Vernova Inc. has signed multiple contracts to sell natural gas turbines for data centers that will use enough power to light up major cities, the company’s top executive said. Big technology companies are reserving turbines — the engines at the heart of gas-fired power plants — for their planned 5-gigawatt data center campuses, GE Vernova Chief Executive Officer Scott Strazik said Wednesday. The companies aim to get some of these massive facilities up and running as early as 2028, he said. In the last 30 days alone, GE Vernova has signed 9 gigawatts of reservations for gas turbines from customers including data center developers, Strazik said. “That’s just scratching the surface to what’s coming,” he said in an interview at Bloomberg News headquarters in New York. Artificial intelligence, new factories and the electrification of everything from vehicles to home heating is forecast to send power consumption soaring. That demand may be met primarily by fossil fuels, complicating major tech companies’ climate goals. In the US, electricity consumption is projected to surge by almost 16% over the next five years, according to a recent report from Grid Strategies. While Amazon.com Inc., Alphabet Inc. and Microsoft Corp. are all investing in nuclear, that buildout will take years and gas is seen as a key way to meet demand this decade. Research firm CreditSights recently scaled back its projections for wind and solar growth by 2030 and more than doubled its estimates of gas demand for data center growth over that period. Data center developers have been scouring the country for sites with enough juice to operate their big data-crunching operations. Sam Altman’s OpenAI LLC is among the tech companies promoting the need to build 5-gigawatt data centers that would help keep the US ahead in the global race to develop AI applications. Five gigawatts is typically enough to power about 3.8 million homes. GE Vernova didn’t say which companies have inked contracts for its gas turbines, but Strazik said they included data-center developers and other power-plant developers. All the new US orders for gas turbines will be built out of GE Vernova’s South Carolina factory, said Strazik. The company expects to book 20 gigawatts of global gas orders in each of the next four years and the US will account for more than half of that, he said. “The world is going to need more infrastructure built,” including gas pipelines and transmission lines, he said. “I don’t see a way that this isn’t an all-of-the-above infrastructure build for energy security and to support the economic growth required in the country.” GE Vernova’s discussions with data center developers include plans to reduce emissions, Strazik said. The company aims to start up carbon capture plants in the first half of the next decade at existing facilities, with some customers looking to use “every extra physical piece of real estate” for plants that capture carbon from the air, he said.
TORONTO (AP) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told that Americans would also suffer if the president-elect follows through on a , a Canadian minister who attended their recent dinner said Monday. Trump if they don’t stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across their borders with the United States. He said on social media last week that he would impose a 25% tax on as one of his first executive orders. Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, whose responsibilities include border security, attended a dinner with Trump and Trudeau at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club on Friday. Trudeau requested the meeting in that the northern border is . “The prime minister of course spoke about the importance of protecting the Canadian economy and Canadian workers from tariffs, but we also discussed with our American friends the negative impact that those tariffs could have on their economy, on affordability in the United States as well,” LeBlanc said in Parliament. If Trump on everything imported from Mexico and Canada, with his campaign promise to give American families a break from inflation. Economists say companies would have little choice but to pass along the added costs, for food, clothing, automobiles, alcohol and other goods. The Produce Distributors Association, a Washington trade group, said last week that tariffs will raise prices for fresh fruit and vegetables and hurt U.S. farmers when the countries retaliate. Canada is already tariffs on certain items from the U.S. should Trump follow through on the threat. After his dinner with Trump, returned home without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on all products from the major American trading partner. Trump called the talks “productive” but signaled no retreat from a pledge that Canada says unfairly lumps it in with Mexico over the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States. “The idea that we came back empty handed is completely false,” LeBlanc said. “We had a very productive discussion with Mr. Trump and his future Cabinet secretaries. ... The commitment from Mr. Trump to continue to work with us was far from empty handed.” Joining Trump and Trudeau at dinner were Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department, and Mike Waltz, Trump’s choice to be his national security adviser. Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, told The Associated Press on Sunday that “the message that our border is so vastly different than the Mexican border was really understood.” Hillman, who sat at an adjacent table to Trudeau and Trump, said Canada is not the problem when it comes to drugs and migrants. On Monday, Mexico’s president rejected those comments. “Mexico must be respected, especially by its trading partners,” President Claudia Sheinbaum said. She said Canada had its own problems with fentanyl consumption and “could only wish they had the cultural riches Mexico has.” Flows of migrants and seizures of drugs at the two countries’ border are vastly different. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border during the last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. Most of the fentanyl reaching the U.S. — where it causes about 70,000 overdose deaths annually — is using precursor chemicals smuggled from Asia. On immigration, the U.S. Border Patrol reported 1.53 million encounters with migrants at the southwest border with Mexico between October 2023 and September 2024. That compares to 23,721 encounters at the Canadian border during that time. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports as well. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing for national security.Shop local for Christmas with Simple Treasures BoutiqueTata Martino bids farewell to Inter Miami; Javier Mascherano expected to be next coach
STOCKTON, Calif. (AP) — Kolton Mitchell's 32 points led Idaho over Pacific 95-72 on Saturday night. Mitchell had six assists and three steals for the Vandals (5-8). Kristian Gonzalez added 20 points while shooting 7 for 11 (3 for 7 from 3-point range) and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line while they also had six rebounds. Julius Mims went 7 of 10 from the field to finish with 14 points, while adding nine rebounds and three blocks. Tyler Linhardt also had 14 points. Elias Ralph led the Tigers (5-9) in scoring, finishing with 18 points and seven rebounds. Lamar Washington added 14 points, six assists and two blocks for Pacific. Petar Krivokapic also had 13 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .XRP by Ripple has been doing well in the crypto market, having fought and overcome problems, including a well covered court case with the SEC. Thus, XRP has kept ranking among the top ten cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, proof of reliability and worth notwithstanding this. A particular crypto executive is looking ahead to when XRP might reach its next significant milestone: a price of $10, given its value of $2.18. The crypto executive says 2025 might be the year this occurs. Let's investigate a rival that might reach equal success even faster and discuss the elements that might drive XRP toward this price target. XRP Future Price Forecast for 2025 Historical patterns suggest that the Bitcoin halving in 2024 will prepare the ground for a positive 2025. After a halving event, Bitcoin historically reaches new all-time highs 12–18 months later; the whole cryptocurrency market, including XRP, usually follows suit. During the second halving cycle, XRP reached an all-time high of about $3. However, the SEC lawsuit slowed XRP's expansion over the last cycle, influencing investor mood. XRP is better positioned to profit on the expected market rise since the SEC matter is settled. Furthermore, by 2025, the worldwide regulatory scene will most certainly have changed. With legislative requests from influential people like Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in early 2024, notable changes in crypto control could be seen. Clear rules would give institutional adoption—especially in Ripple's main application—cross-border remittances a green light. Furthermore, improving XRP's market attractiveness could involve changes in U.S. leadership and regulatory bodies, such as Gary Gensler's departure and possible XRP ETF approvals. These elements have led the crypto executive to project that XRP will hit $10 on December 24, 2025. Rexas Finance (RXS): Emerging Competitor Although XRP has long been a market favorite, a new rival called Rexas Finance (RXS) is starting to emerge with quicker expansion possibilities. With tokens currently valued at $0.15 in Stage 10, this creative endeavor has already generated waves by raising $28,894,036 through its presale phases. Early participants have witnessed a 400% rise in their funds. The presale has attracted much interest since Stage 10 is almost sold out (92.58%). The last presale stage will sell tokens valued at $0.175. The projected listing on main markets in early 2025 is $0.20. By mid-2025, analysts estimate RXS may reach $10, surpassing the projected XRP timetable. Rexas Finance's rapid growth can be attributed to its goal of democratizing Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization. The easy-to-use platform allows anyone to design, manage, and trade asset-backed tokens regardless of technical knowledge. Blockchain technology is ready to transform asset ownership and trading with this innovative technique, opening more significant audience access. Rexas Finance has reached several benchmarks, raising investor trust and market awareness. An approved Certik audit has confirmed the project's security, and listings on CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko have made the RXS token more accessible. The platform has also launched an ambitious giveaway initiative, offering 20 lucky winners a prize pool of 1,000,000 RXS tokens, valued at $50,000 each. The project's focus on security and creativity has helped it to lead the RWA tokenizing market. Rexas Finance is revolutionizing the digital economy by streamlining complicated procedures and guaranteeing transparency. Why Rexas Finance Is Drawing the Crypto Executive in Rexas Finance promises to use blockchain technology to open new asset ownership and management opportunities. The platform will enable people and companies to engage in the digital economy by reducing transaction costs and removing entrance barriers. Rexas Finance provides a flawless experience supported by strong infrastructure and thorough tools, whether tokenizing real estate, art, or other assets. As its capacity and reach grow, the project will likely become a prominent player in the blockchain ecosystem. Conclusion Driven by market dynamics, legislative developments, and Ripple's growing alliances, a crypto executive projects a $10 price point by late 2025, illuminating the future of XRP. But the emergence of Rexas Finance offers a fascinating substitute for those looking for blockchain exponential development. Rexas Finance is becoming a strong rival to transform asset tokenization as XRP prepares to profit on its post-lawsuit momentum. RXS could reach its $10 goal even earlier than XRP, given its presale is almost finished and significant exchange listings are on track. Both XRP and Rexas Finance give investors interesting prospects in the fast-changing cryptocurrency market since they provide a window into the future of digital assets. Riding the wave of Ripple's comeback or counting on the disruptive power of Rexas Finance, 2025 looks to be a historic year for the crypto industry. Website: https://rexas.com Win $1 Million Giveaway: https://bit.ly/Rexas1M Whitepaper: https://rexas.com/rexas-whitepaper.pdf Twitter/X: https://x.com/rexasfinance Telegram: https://t.me/rexasfinance Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.
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