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iffa fishing The controversy around a religious Christmas sign that was taken down in downtown Kelowna continues. Two days after a sign stating 'Keep Christ in Christmas' was removed from the nativity scene display at Stuart Park, Kelowna-Centre MLA Kristina Loewen went to social media to express her opinion on the matter. "We believe that it's an important detail that Christmas is a Christian holiday," said Loewen in her video, referring to 'we' as all of the MLAs for the Central Okanagan. "We will be standing united and defending all British Columbians rights to religion and freedom of expression, speech, thought, belief," she added. "Canada is an incredible country full of diverse cultures and religions, and a wide variety of views, and I think that's one of the things that makes us so incredible." Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream MLA Tara Armstrong agreed with her fellow Conservative, quote-tweeting the video and saying "a great message from a colleague and friend. I'm proud to be part of a team that stands for what's right." Macklin McCall, MLA for West Kelowna, also quote-tweeted Loewen's post. However, Kelowna-Mission MLA Gavin Dew appears to not have commented on social media. The nativity scene is put up by the Knights of Columbus every year and a permit is given from the City of Kelowna to do so. When the 'Keep Christ in Christmas' sign was displayed beside the scene on Monday, Dec. 9, some people in the community, including the Kelowna Atheists, Skeptics, and Humanists Association (KASHA) took issue. A letter by KASHA to Black Press Media on Dec. 9, stated the nativity scene is part of Christmas, just as "lights, festive trees, and other decorative displays" are also. "This message is not merely festive—it is political, advocating for a specific religious interpretation of the holiday," said KASHA about the sign. The next day, the sign was taken down and the City of Kelowna confirmed that the sign was not part of the Knights of Columbus' permit for the nativity scene. The Knights of Columbus had no comment regarding the matter. Capital News reached out to Loewen for further comment but was met with an automatic e-mail reply. Additionally, the City of Kelowna stated it had no comment on Loewen's video. However, Ian Bushfield the executive director of the B.C. Humanist Association did have a comment. "Freedom of religion in Canada includes freedom from religion," said Bushfield in an e-mailed statement. "Ms. Loewen and all Christians are obviously free to celebrate Christmas as a Christian holiday but our governments have a clear duty of religious neutrality. That means neither endorsing nor prohibiting any religion over any other. That sign, and arguably even the nativity scene, being on public property breaches that duty. She can put the sign up at her church or at her own house but we do not live in a theocracy." Bushfield has previously stated that BCHA is an organization committed to secular values. “Part of that is the separation of religion and government," said Bushfield. The City of Kelowna also said it received five letters on the matter when the sign was up but none since it's been taken down.Trump says Republicans will try to end daylight saving time

By Paul Vieira OTTAWA--Canada's federal and regional political leaders must present a united front in fighting a proposed 25% tariff on the nation's exports to the U.S. that President-elect Donald Trump wants to impose, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said Friday. Freeland reiterated at a Toronto press conference that Canada is prepared to impose its own retaliatory trade measures against the U.S. should Trump fulfill his pledge. However, disagreements among the premiers, or governors, of Canada's provinces are already emerging about applying economic pressure on its biggest, most important trading partner. "For a Canadian response to be strong and effective, Canada needs to be united," Freeland said. "The ultimate response we come up with needs to be one that all of our country stands behind." Ontario Premier Doug Ford, the leader of Canada's most populous province, has mused about shutting down electricity exports to the U.S. Northeast in the event the 25% tariff kicks in. The leader of the oil-rich province of Alberta, Danielle Smith, said she doesn't agree with that approach. Crude oil is one of the biggest U.S.-bound Canadian exports. Smith and another western Canadian premier, Scott Moe of Saskatchewan, fiercely rejected the idea of an export tax on key commodities that Canada sells to the U.S., such as energy, potash and uranium. This is under consideration among Canadian officials but no final decision has been made, according to a person familiar with the discussions. Smith said that an export tax "would be a terrible idea." Moe, whose province is also rich in natural resources, said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hadn't broached the concept of an export tax on commodities in the Canadian leader's talks with the provinces. "If they are under consideration, that would be a complete betrayal by the Trudeau government of the team approach they have been advocating and a complete betrayal of Canadians," Moe said in a social-media post. Under Canada's system of federalism, the provinces have responsibility for energy and natural resources within their own borders. That makes provincial leaders protective of attempts by the federal government to control production. Late last month Trump, in a post on the Truth Social platform, said his pledge to slap hefty tariffs on his North American partners stems from an inability by Canada and Mexico to stem the flow of migrants and illegal drugs into the U.S. A 25% tariff risks triggering a recession in Canada, economists warn. Bank of Canada Gov. Tiff Macklem said a tariff at that level represents a major uncertainty for the economy, and risks weighing on investment activity. Freeland said she spoke to some western Canadian officials Friday morning, and is optimistic the federal and provincial governments will converge on a united strategy. "We have to be candid about the reality of the incoming U.S. administration," Freeland said. "This is an administration which openly has a strategy of creating economic uncertainty outside the United States as a strategy to discourage investment anywhere other than the United States." Write to Paul Vieira at paul.vieira@wsj.comAdmission Scare: Minimum age, maximum rage (3)

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Gets Special Jail Laptop Preloaded With Key Legal DocumentsArtificial intelligence. Abortion. Guns. Marijuana. Minimum wages. Name a hot topic, and chances are good there’s a new law about it taking effect in 2025 in one state or another. Many of the laws launching in January are a result of legislation passed this year. Others stem from ballot measures approved by voters. Some face legal challenges. Tech Industry Faces New Regulations California, home to Hollywood and some of the largest technology companies, is seeking to rein in the artificial intelligence industry and put some parameters around social media stars. New laws seek to prevent the use of digital replicas of Hollywood actors and performers without permission and allow the estates of dead performers to sue over unauthorized AI use. Parents who profit from social media posts featuring their children will be required to set aside some earnings for their young influencers. A new law also allows children to sue their parents for failing to do so. Social Media Restrictions Face Legal Battles New social media restrictions in several states face court challenges. A Florida law bans children under 14 from having social media accounts and requires parental consent for ages 14 and 15. But enforcement is being delayed because of a lawsuit filed by two associations for online companies, with a hearing scheduled for late February. A new Tennessee law also requires parental consent for minors to open accounts on social media. NetChoice, an industry group for online businesses, is challenging the law. Another new state law requires porn websites to verify that visitors are at least 18 years old. But the Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the adult entertainment industry, has filed a challenge. Several new California measures aimed at combating political deepfakes are also being challenged, including one requiring large social media platforms to remove deceptive content related to elections and another allowing any individual to sue for damages over the use of AI to create fabricated images or videos in political ads. Related Story: Healthcare and Safety Measures Expand In a first nationally, California will start enforcing a law prohibiting school districts from adopting policies that require staff to notify parents if their children change their gender identification. The law was a priority for Democratic lawmakers who wanted to halt such policies passed by several districts. Many states have passed laws limiting or protecting abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a nationwide right to the procedure in 2022. One of the latest is the Democratic-led state of Delaware. A law there will require the state employee health plan and Medicaid plans for lower-income residents to cover abortions with no deductible, copayments or other cost-sharing requirements. A new Minnesota law prohibits guns with “binary triggers” that allow for more rapid fire, causing a weapon to fire one round when the trigger is pulled and another when it is released. In Delaware, a law adds colleges and universities to a list of school zones where guns are prohibited, with exceptions for those working in their official capacity such as law officers and commissioned security guards. Related Story: Economic and Social Changes Take Effect Kentucky is becoming the latest state to let people use marijuana for medical purposes. To apply for a state medical cannabis card, people must get written certification from a medical provider of a qualifying condition, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, epilepsy, chronic nausea or post-traumatic stress disorder. Nearly four-fifths of U.S. states have now legalized medical marijuana. Minimum wage workers in more than 20 states are due to receive raises in January. The highest minimum wages will be in Washington, California and Connecticut, all of which will top $16 an hour after modest increases. The largest increases are scheduled in Delaware, where the minimum wage will rise by $1.75 to $15 an hour, and in Nebraska, where a ballot measure approved by voters in 2022 will add $1.50 to the current minimum of $12 an hour. Twenty other states still follow the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Related Story: Transportation and Tax Changes In Oregon, using drugs on public transit will be considered a misdemeanor crime of interfering with public transportation. While the measure worked its way through the legislature, multiple transportation officials said drug use on buses and trains, and at transit stops and stations, was making passengers and drivers feel less safe. In Missouri, law enforcement officers have spent the past 16 months issuing warnings to motorists that handheld cellphone use is illegal. Starting with the new year, penalties will kick in: a $150 fine for the first violation, progressing to $500 for third and subsequent offenses and up to 15 years imprisonment if a driver using a cellphone cause an injury or death. But police must notice a primary violation, such as speeding or weaving across lanes, to cite motorists for violating the cellphone law. Montana is the only state that hasn’t banned texting while driving, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Tenants in Arizona will no longer have to pay tax on their monthly rent, thanks to the repeal of a law that had allowed cities and towns to impose such taxes. While a victory for renters, the new law is a financial loss for governments. An analysis by Arizona’s nonpartisan Joint Legislative Budget Committee estimated that $230 million would be lost in municipal tax revenue during the first full fiscal year of implementation. Meanwhile Alabama will offer tax credits to businesses that help employees with child care costs. Kansas is eliminating its 2% sales tax on groceries. It also is cutting individual income taxes by dropping the top tax rate, increasing a credit for child care expenses and exempting all Social Security income from taxes, among other things. Taxpayers are expected to save about $320 million a year going forward. Voting Rights Expand An Oklahoma law expands voting privileges to people who have been convicted of felonies but had their sentences discharged or commuted, including commutations for crimes that have been reclassified from felonies to misdemeanors. Former state Sen. George Young, an Oklahoma City Democrat, carried the bill in the Senate. “I think it’s very important that people who have gone through trials and tribulations in their life, that we have a system that brings them back and allows them to participate as contributing citizens,” Young said.

DONALD Trump's "petty" hush money case has made "a mockery of the criminal justice system," an attorney has claimed. Trump 's sentencing over payments to former porn star Stormy Daniels has been delayed indefinitely following a decision by a New York judge on Friday. But David Gelman, the founding attorney of New Jersey-based Gelman Law , LLC, told The U.S. Sun the New York hush-money case needed to be dismissed completely. The president-elect was facing four years in prison over payments made by his former lawyer, Michael Cohen , to adult film actress Daniels to cover up an affair she alleges the pair had in 2016. Trump has denied the affair. Earlier this week, prosecuting attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, accepted that any sentencing was unlikely in the wake of Trump's election victory. READ MORE ON DONALD TRUMP However, he said that Trump could still face sentencing following the conclusion of his second term, in 2029, by which time he would 83. "It's very petty," Gelman said. "When President Trump is out of office, he would be 83." "It's really an injustice what they're doing. Honestly, it's a mockery of the criminal justice system." Gelman said there is a presumption against non-incarceration for Trump because he has never been charged or convicted of a crime . Most read in The US Sun "It's very uncharted territory because you've never had a president be charged criminally," he said. "Furthermore, I think it's also a due process violation to wait until 2029." By 2029, Gelman said, we will be living in a "whole other world." "Who knows if Alvin Bragg will even be the DA in 2029?" he said. "Who knows if Judge Merchan will even be the judge in 2029? I would venture to guess no for both." Gelman called on Judge Merchan to "do the right thing for once" by "dismissing this case in its entirety." Attention now turns to December 2, the date by which Trump's lawyers must submit the additional papers as part of their argument that the case should be dismissed. LEADING Florida-based trial attorney Betty Dunkum spoke to The U.S. Sun about what the delay in Trump's hush-money case in New York could mean. "There are a lot of legal issues, called immunities, that affect the President and even the President-elect during the transition. "Those immunities extend to things like Presidents, need to be free to conduct presidential business, and cannot be hindered by prosecutions, and so the law in layman's terms prevents prosecutors from bringing or continuing cases during a president's time in office. "The Trump team is going to move to completely dismiss the case. That will obviously be briefed and worked out as the months go on. "In terms of his second term in office in terms of the policies and what he is going to be doing, he had an agenda that he was already setting forth through the executive orders. So that policy will continue. I think the way it impacts Trump is more personally. "Whether or not this case will now be heard in 2029, that is bumping up against some United States case law. There is case law from New York and other jurisdictions governing the delay in sentencing. "And there is old case law saying that if there is an unreasonable delay in sentencing, then the court could lose its jurisdiction over the case. Everything related to what's going on with Donald Trump in these criminal cases is new in the legal system. It's never happened before, and so judges are always very careful about when they branch into new territory. "Generally, they want to always try to stand on as many prior decisions as possible, and so, because there is so much new here. There are a lot of issues that are what we call in legal terms issues of first impression. So it complicates things. "This case is not over until it's over. There's just a lot of bumps in the road for those prosecutions, because Trump is president now, and everything will need to be delayed." The prosecution then has until December 9 to respond. Gelman believes Trump's next legal move will be to "file a motion to dismiss the matter altogether." For reasons of "judicial economy," as well as the fact Trump would have had immunity at the time of the charges, Gelman says Trump's team will push for dismissal. As for the impact of the outstanding sentencing on Trump's second term, Gelman said it will be "Nothing. Literally, absolutely, 100% nothing." He described the entire case as "100% politically motivated," with the goal to "keep President Trump off of the campaign trail." Gelman said the move had "totally backfired" thanks to Trump's landslide victory over Harris. "He won the electoral college, he won the popular vote, and it wasn't even close," he said. "So, the American people saw that this was a weaponization of the DOJ against President Trump." Read More on The US Sun Gelman went on, "It was a weaponization by Alvin Bragg's office against President Trump. "And by what they're doing now is they're doubling down because they have egg on their face."Russia is using new technology in its attacks on Ukraine

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani security forces launched an operation Tuesday night to disperse supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan who had gathered in the capital to demand his release from prison. The latest development came hours after thousands of Khan supporters, defying government warnings, broke through a barrier of shipping containers blocking off Islamabad and entered a high-security zone, where they clashed with security forces, facing tear gas shelling, mass detentions and gunfire. Tension has been high in Islamabad since Sunday when supporters of the former prime minister began a “long march” from the restive northwest to demand his release. Khan has been in a prison for over a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases that his party says are politically motivated. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, led the protest, but she fled as police pushed back against demonstrators. Hundreds of Khan’s supporters are being arrested in the ongoing nighttime operation, and police are also seeking to arrest Bibi. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters that the Red Zone, which houses government buildings and embassies, and the surrounding areas have been cleared. Leaders from Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, have also fled the protest site. Earlier Tuesday, Pakistan’s army took control of D-Chowk, a large square in the Red Zone, where visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is staying. Since Monday, Naqvi had threatened that security forces would use live fire if protesters fired weapons at them. “We have now authorized the police to respond as necessary,” Naqvi said Tuesday while visiting the square. Before the operation began, protester Shahzor Ali said people had taken to the streets because Khan had called for them. “We will stay here until Khan joins us. He will decide what to do next,” Ali said. “If they fire bullets again, we will respond with bullets,” he said. Protester Fareeda Bibi, who is not related to Khan’s wife, said people have suffered greatly for the last two years. “We have really suffered for the last two years, whether it is economically, politically or socially. We have been ruined. I have not seen such a Pakistan in my life,” she said. Authorities have struggled to contain the protest-related violence. Six people, including four members of the security services, were killed when a vehicle rammed them on a street overnight into Tuesday. A police officer died in a separate incident. Dozens of Khan supporters beat a videographer covering the protest for The Associated Press and took his camera. He sustained head injuries and was treated in a hospital. By Tuesday afternoon, fresh waves of protesters made their way unopposed to their final destination in the Red Zone. Most demonstrators had the flag of Khan’s party around their shoulders or wore its tricolors on accessories. Naqvi said Khan’s party had rejected a government offer to rally on the outskirts of the city. Information Minister Atta Tarar warned there would be a severe government reaction to the violence. He said the government did not want Bushra Bibi to achieve her goal of freeing Khan. “She wants bodies falling to the ground. She wants bloodshed,” he said. The government says only the courts can order Khan’s release. He was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. In a bid to foil the unrest, police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday and suspended mobile and internet services in some parts of the country. Messaging platforms were also experiencing severe disruption in the capital. Khan’s party relies heavily on social media and uses messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. The X platform, which is banned in Pakistan, is no longer accessible, even with a VPN. Last Thursday, a court prohibited rallies in the capital and Naqvi said anyone violating the ban would be arrested. Travel between Islamabad and other cities has become nearly impossible because of shipping containers blocking the roads. All education institutions remain closed. Pakistan's Stock Exchange lost more than $1.7 billion Tuesday due to rising political tensions, according to economist Mohammed Sohail from Topline Securities. Associated Press writers Munir Ahmed in Islamabad and Asim Tanveer in Multan, Pakistan, contributed to this report.Stock market today: Wall Street ends mixed after a bumpy weekThanks to their ever-increasing battery capacity, improvements to overall range, and the proliferation of charging infrastructure across the globe, the chances of one getting stranded in an electric car are decreasing every single day. Despite these advancements, however, there is no denying that range anxiety remains an issue among EV users . German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz, seemingly, is working on a new technology that will not only increase the range of future battery-electric cars but will also further reduce the ever-pervasive range anxiety problem. The company's way around this problem, however, is a bit different. Instead of relying simply on larger, higher capacity, and more efficient batteries , Mercedes-Benz's Research and Development team is working on a new type of solar module that could integrate into the body of future cars, turning them, effectively, into a solar panel on four wheels . It is not like this idea hasn't already been tried, as some, might, remember the axed Lightyear 0, solar car . What makes these "in development" solar panels different from the current crop of photovoltaic cells is their extremely thin nature. Besides making them significantly less bulky than today's solar panels, these panels are thin enough to be integrated into the outer paint coating of the car, thereby earning them the name "solar paint." Under normal circumstances, the first point of discussion when talking about solar panels is their capacity, efficiency, and cost. In the case of the Mercedes Solar paint, the discussion first addresses the sheer thinness of the material. At just 5 micrometers, these panels make the average human hair seem like a log of wood. This sheer thinness also makes the material extremely lightweight — with an estimated weight of just 50 grams for every square meter. Additionally, Mercedes also claims that the "under-development" solar paint will be designed to be affixed on all kinds of substrates, making them flexible enough to be used on future electric vehicles. Perhaps the most striking fact about solar paint is the mere addition of this feature on future EVs will ensure that they could juice themselves up without the help of a charger. All these solar paint-toting cars need to do is simply remain outside in the parking lot while the car replenishes the battery using power from the Sun. Mercedes claims that these in-development solar cells will be designed to showcase a high-efficiency figure of 20%, which on a vehicle covering 118.4 square feet of space — the size of a modern-day mid-size SUV — could produce enough electricity to eke an additional 7,456 miles from the car without ever having to charge it. It is pertinent to note that despite being coated with solar paint, the primary means of charging future EVs will continue to be via electric chargers. Solar paint — at least the ones in development currently — is simply not powerful enough to juice up cars from 0 to 100%. If you are all gung-ho about the prospect of getting to test a Mercedes vehicle clad in solar paint, well, here's the all-important catch. In fact, this is not even a catch, given that we had already indicated that Mercedes' Research and Development team is still actively working on this project. This, unfortunately, also means that cars clad in solar paint are still science fiction stuff and are several years away from becoming reality. Nevertheless, given Mercedes-Benz's long and eventful history as one of the world's oldest surviving car brands, the company has a strong focus on innovation and research and development. In fact, the company can be attributed to kickstarting the modern-day automobile industry with its first-ever car, introduced in 1886. Since then, Mercedes has made several contributions to the world of automobiles, including innovations like supercharged engines, four-wheel independent suspension, the crumple zone, anti-lock braking system, electronic stability program, and the now common smart key. With such a long, verified, and established history of research and development and successful products coming out of such research, there is a realistic possibility of Mercedes-Benz' solar paint eventually becoming commonplace on electric cars of the future.AP Top 25: Alabama, Mississippi out of top 10 and Miami, SMU are in; Oregon remains unanimous No. 1 Alabama and Mississippi tumbled out of the top 10 of The Associated Press college football poll and Miami and SMU moved in following a chaotic weekend in the SEC. Oregon is No. 1 for the sixth straight week and Ohio State, Texas and Penn State held their places behind the Ducks. The shuffling begins at No. 5, where Notre Dame returned for the first time since Week 2 after beating Army for its ninth straight win. No. 6 Georgia and No. 7 Tennessee each moved up two spots. Miami, SMU and Indiana round out the top 10. Jannik Sinner leads Italy past the Netherlands for its second consecutive Davis Cup title MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Jannik Sinner clinched Italy's second consecutive Davis Cup title and capped his breakthrough season at the top of tennis by beating Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (2), 6-2 for a 2-0 win over the Netherlands in the final of the team competition in Malaga, Spain. Matteo Berrettini won Sunday's opening singles match 6-4, 6-2 against Botic van de Zandschulp. The Italians are the first country to win the Davis Cup twice in a row since the Czech Republic in 2012 and 2013. The No. 1-ranked Sinner stretched his unbeaten streak in singles to 14 matches and 26 sets. Netherlands reached the Davis Cup final for the first time. Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83 NEW YORK (AP) — Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, has died. He was 83. Mark Young, Woolery’s podcast co-host and friend, said in an email early Sunday that Woolery died at his home in Texas with his wife, Kristen, present. Woolery, with his matinee idol looks, coiffed hair and ease with witty banter, was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978. He teamed up with Young for the podcast “Blunt Force Truth” and became a full supporter Donald Trump. St. Louis Blues fire Drew Bannister and hire Jim Montgomery as coach The St. Louis Blues have fired coach Drew Bannister and hired Jim Montgomery as his replacement. The 2022 Jack Adams Award winner, Montgomery joins the Blues five days after he was fired by the Boston Bruins. Bannister had been on the job in St. Louis for less than a year since succeeding Stanley Cup-winning coach Craig Berube and getting the interim tag removed after last season. The Blues have lost 13 of their first 22 games. Montgomery spent two seasons as an assistant on Berube's staff in St. Louis between coaching Dallas and Boston. The team signed Montgomery to a five-year contract. Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title with the Atlanta Braves, dies at 85 Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. Major League Baseball, the players’ association and the Braves have paid tribute to Carty on social media. A family friend told Listín Diario — a newspaper in Carty’s native Dominican Republic — that he died Saturday night in an Atlanta hospital. Carty made his big league debut with the Braves in September 1963. He batted .330 with 22 homers and 88 RBIs in his first full season in 1964, finishing second to Dick Allen in voting for NL Rookie of the Year. The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season, and Carty got the franchise’s first hit in its new home on April 12, 1966, against Pittsburgh. Dartmouth sorority, two members of fraternity face charges after student who attended party drowned HANOVER, N.H. (AP) — A sorority at Dartmouth College and two members of a fraternity faces charges related to the death of a student who drowned after attending an off-campus party. The Hanover, New Hampshire police department, where Dartmouth is located, said Friday that Alpha Phi was charged with one count of facilitating an underage alcohol house. Two members of the Beta Alpha Omega face a charge of providing alcohol to a person under 21. Won Jang, 20, of Middletown, Delaware, had attended an off-campus party in July hosted by Alpha Phi sorority. Police said the alcohol was provided by Beta Alpha Omega. Tens of thousands of Spaniards protest housing crunch and high rents in Barcelona BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Tens of thousands of Spaniards are marching in downtown Barcelona to protest the skyrocketing cost of renting an apartment in the popular tourist destination. Protesters cut off traffic on main avenues in the city center, holding up homemade signs in Spanish reading “Fewer apartments for investing and more homes for living." The lack of affordable housing has become one of the leading concerns for the southern European Union country, mirroring the housing crunch across many parts of the world, including the United States. The average rent for Spain has doubled in the last decade. In cities like Barcelona, rental prices have also been driven up by short-term renters including tourists. Verstappen captures 4th F1 championship after Mercedes sweep of Las Vegas Grand Prix LAS VEGAS (AP) — Max Verstappen cruised to a fourth consecutive Formula 1 championship Saturday night by finishing fifth in the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Verstappen needed only to finish ahead of Lando Norris of McLaren to give Red Bull a fourth straight driver championship. The Dutchman started fifth but was already up to second by the 10th lap around the street circuit that includes the famed Las Vegas Strip. Norris, who had to score at least three points more than Verstappen to extend the championship fight, finished sixth. The race was won by George Russell who was followed by Lewis Hamilton in the first 1-2 sweep for the Mercedes drivers since 2022. 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator' make gravity-defying theater debuts NEW YORK (AP) — “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” have debuted in theaters with a combined $270 million in ticket sales. Their worldwide performance breathed fresh life into global box office results that have struggled lately. Together the films turned the moviegoing weekend into one of the busiest of the year. Jon M. Chu’s lavish big-budget musical “Wicked,” starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, debuted with $114 million domestically and $164.2 million globally. Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” is a sequel to his 2000 best picture-winning original and launched with $55.5 million in ticket sales. “Moana 2” is being released Wednesday, so it looks like Hollywood might be looking at historic sales over the Thanksgiving holiday. Jason Kelce's wife announces she is pregnant with the couple's fourth child Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce's wife is announcing she's pregnant with the couple's fourth child. Kylie Kelce posted a photo on Instagram on Friday of the couple's three young daughters reacting to the news. The oldest daughter, Wyatt, appears to be cupping her head in shock. The middle daughter, Ellioette, is smiling. The youngest, Bennett, is in tears. A caption attached to the photo reads: “I feel like we captured a very accurate representation of how each of the girls feel about getting another sister. At least Ellie, mom and dad are on the same page!”

App launched to empower youth Islamabad::The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Pakistan, in partnership with the School of Leadership Foundation, has launched a specialised health and wellness app called ‘Hifazat’ to promote the health and well-being of young people. The app was inaugurated by Dr. Luay Shabaneh, country representative, UNFPA Pakistan, bringing essential information on topics like reproductive health, menstrual hygiene, family planning, puberty, and mental health directly to users’ fingertips. The ‘Hifazat App’ is set to revolutionise the way youth in Pakistan access critical health information. With an intuitive interface, the app offers a variety of features that enable young people to monitor reproductive health, and receive telehealth consultations. It also offers location-based services, connecting users to nearby clinics, ensuring easy access to essential health services when needed. Pakistan, with a young and dynamic population, faces a critical need for accessible, reliable health information. Many adolescents and young adults lack awareness and resources to navigate issues related to reproductive health, mental well-being, and physical development. The ‘Hifazat App’ addresses this gap by providing youth with accurate and timely health education, empowering them to make informed choices about their bodies and their health. With the app’s focus on hygiene, puberty, family planning, and mental health, it ensures that young people, particularly in rural areas, have access to the right information at their fingertips. Dr. Luay Shabaneh, representative of UNFPA Pakistan, commented on the importance of the initiative: “The launch of the ‘Hifazat App’ is a promising initiative that will give information to our adolescents and youth on critical health issues. Through collective efforts we can make it sustainable.” The launch event brings together key stakeholders, including young leaders, health professionals, and government representatives, who will engage in an interactive discussion on the importance of accessible health resources for youth. Dr. Sabina Durrani, director general, Population Programme Wing, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination emphasized the significance of technology in reaching young people while emphasising on ensuring this reaches the masses across Pakistan: “The Hifazat App is a perfect example of how technology can play a transformative role in addressing youth health challenges.Is Cardano a Good Investment in November 2024? ADA Price Prediction and 2 More FOMO Coins That Could 10x in the Coming Weeks

Elevai Labs Inc. Announces Reverse Stock Split to Maintain Nasdaq Listing ComplianceNew Tech Keeps El Cajon Residents Informed of Police Calls

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"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.

Forage Farm Shop & Kitchen, located on Penllyn Estate Farm, is one of only five Welsh eateries to make the list. The contemporary restaurant is known for its field-to-fork ethos, with grass-fed beef, lamb, and pork all home-reared on the farm. This, combined with high welfare standards, skilled butchers, and talented chefs, is said to create the "must-try" Forage roast. Vegetarian diners are also not left out, with a range of alternative options regularly on the menu, including nut roasts and a butternut squash, lentil, and almond wellington. All roasts come with the usual trimmings, including crispy roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables, cauliflower cheese, and gravy. The Good Food Guide champions the best Sunday roasts in Britain, a meal voted as the nation's favourite. The restaurant's head chef, Matt Eales, expressed his delight at the accolade. Mr Eales said: "We are absolutely chuffed to have won this award, which celebrates such a popular British dish loved all over Wales. "We are lucky to have access to fresh, high-quality ingredients and a talented kitchen team where we focus on delicious taste and excellent presentation. "To be listed amongst other top restaurants in Wales is a great accolade." Forage serves its roasts every Sunday from 12pm to 3.30pm. However, due to popular demand, these hours will be extended from January 5 so diners can enjoy a Forage roast later into the afternoon. Customers are advised to book a table to avoid disappointment. Forage was launched in June 2020 by the Homfray family, who have been stewards of Penllyn Estate since 1846. It has quickly become a community hub, stocking fresh, seasonal Welsh produce and winning Welsh Farm Shop of the Year for the third consecutive year. The business is also growing its events offering, with plans for open-air cinema, pick your own pumpkins, and music festivals. For more information, and to book a roast dinner, visit the Forage website.NEW YORK (AP) — won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points. Ohtani was unanimously voted the AL MVP in and as a two-way star for the Los Angeles Angels and finished second to Judge in . He didn’t pitch in 2024 following elbow surgery and signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. Ohtani joined Frank Robinson for Cincinnati in 1961 and Baltimore in 1966 as the only players to win the MVP award in both leagues. He was the first player to twice become an unanimous MVP. He had combined with Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. in 2023 for the first year both MVPs were unanimous. Ohtani hit .310, stole 59 bases and led the NL with 54 homers and 130 RBIs exclusively as a designated hitter, becoming the first player with 50 or more homers and 50 or more stolen bases in a season. He helped the , playing the final three games with a . “The ultimate goal from the beginning was to win a World Series, which we are able to accomplish,” he said through a translator. “The next goal is for me to do it again and so right now I’m in the middle of rehab and working out and getting stronger.” When Ohtani returns to the mound, could he win MVP and the Cy Young Award in the same year? “That would obviously be great, but right now my focus is just to get to get back healthy, come back stronger, get back on the mound and show everybody what I can do,” Ohtani said. Ohtani became the first primary DH to win an MVP in a season that started with the revelation his had stolen nearly $17 million from the star to fund gambling. Ohtani is the 12th player with three or more MVPs, joining Barry Bonds (seven) and Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout (three each). Balloting was conducted before the postseason. Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Witt topped the big leagues with a .332 average, hitting 32 homers with 31 stolen bases and 109 RBIs. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers and 109 RBIs. When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes while Ohtani got the other two. Judge had discussed the MVP award with Philadelphia’s Bryce Harper, the NL winner in 2015 and ’21. “I was telling him, `Man, I’m going to try to catch up to you with these MVPs here, man,’” Judge recalled. “He’d say, hopefully, he could stay a couple ahead of me, which I think he’ll do.” When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes while Ohtani got the other two. He is the Yankees' 22nd MVP winner, four more than any other team. Judge was hitting .207 with six homers and 18 RBIs through April, then batted .352 with 52 homers and 126 RBIs in 127 games. “March and April were not my friend this year.” Judge said. “Just keep putting in the work and things are going to change. You can’t mope. You can’t feel sorry for yourself. Especially in New York, nobody’s going to feel sorry for you. So you just got to go out there and put up the numbers?” ___ AP MLB: Ronald Blum, The Associated Press

Some tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to from other nations. The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economistCHATHAM, N.J. (AP) — That buzzing coming out of New Jersey? It's unclear if it's drones or something else, but for sure the nighttime sightings are producing tons of talk, a raft of conspiracy theories and craned necks looking skyward. Cropping up on local news and social media sites around Thanksgiving, the saga of the drones reported over New Jersey has reached incredible heights. This week seems to have begun a new, higher-profile chapter: Lawmakers are demanding (but so far not getting) explanations from federal and state authorities about what's behind them. Gov. Phil Murphy wrote to President Joe Biden asking for answers. New Jersey's new senator, Andy Kim, spent Thursday night on a drone hunt in rural northern New Jersey, and posted about it on X. But perhaps the most fantastic development is the dizzying proliferation of conspiracies — none of which has been confirmed or suggested by federal and state officials who say they're looking into what's happening. It has become shorthand to refer to the flying machines as drones, but there are questions about whether what people are seeing are unmanned aircraft or something else. Some theorize the drones came from an Iranian mothership. Others think they are the Secret Service making sure President-elect Donald Trump’s Bedminster property is secure. Others worry about China. The deep state. And on. In the face of uncertainty, people have done what they do in 2024: Create a social media group. The Facebook page, New Jersey Mystery Drones — let’s solve it , has nearly 44,000 members, up from 39,000 late Thursday. People are posting their photo and video sightings, and the online commenters take it from there. One video shows a whitish light flying in a darkened sky, and one commenter concludes it’s otherworldly. “Straight up orbs,” the person says. Others weigh in to say it’s a plane or maybe a satellite. Another group called for hunting the drones literally, shooting them down like turkeys. (Do not shoot at anything in the sky, experts warn.) Trisha Bushey, 48, of Lebanon Township, New Jersey, lives near Round Valley Reservoir where there have been numerous sightings. She said she first posted photos online last month wondering what the objects were and became convinced they were drones when she saw how they moved and when her son showed her on a flight tracking site that no planes were around. Now she's glued to the Mystery Drones page, she said. “I find myself — instead of Christmas shopping or cleaning my house — checking it,” she said. She doesn't buy what the governor said, that the drones aren't a risk to public safety. Murphy told Biden on Friday that residents need answers. The federal Homeland Security Department and FBI also said in a joint statement they have no evidence that the sightings pose “a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.” “How can you say it’s not posing a threat if you don’t know what it is?” she said. “I think that’s why so many people are uneasy.” Then there's the notion that people could misunderstand what they're seeing. William Austin is the president of Warren County Community College, which has a drone technology degree program, and is coincidentally located in one of the sighting hotspots. Austin says he has looked at videos of purported drones and that airplanes are being misidentified as drones. He cited an optical effect called parallax, which is the apparent shift of an object when viewed from different perspectives. Austin encouraged people to download flight and drone tracker apps so they can better understand what they're looking at. Nonetheless, people continue to come up with their own theories. “It represents the United States of America in 2024,” Austin said. “We’ve lost trust in our institutions, and we need it.” Federal officials echo Austin's view that many of the sightings are piloted aircraft such as planes and helicopters being mistaken for drones, according to lawmakers and Murphy. That's not really convincing for many, though, who are homing in on the sightings beyond just New Jersey and the East Coast, where others have reported seeing the objects. For Seph Divine, 34, another member of the drone hunting group who lives in Eugene, Oregon, it feels as if it’s up to citizen sleuths to solve the mystery. He said he tries to be a voice of reason, encouraging people to fact check their information, while also asking probing questions. “My main goal is I don’t want people to be caught up in the hysteria and I also want people to not just ignore it at the same time,” he said. “Whether or not it’s foreign military or some secret access program or something otherworldly, whatever it is, all I’m saying is it’s alarming that this is happening so suddenly and so consistently for hours at a time,” he added. Golden reported form Seattle.