Northern Illinois gets tricky to beat Fresno St., win Potato Bowl in 2OTLAS VEGAS (AP) — The Broncos are 0-4 in Las Vegas, but in a matchup of teams heading in opposite directions, Denver has more at stake than trying to end a series skid. A victory over the Raiders puts the Broncos that much closer to an unexpected playoff berth, playing with a rookie quarterback and just a year after they went 8-9. The Broncos are 6-5 and coming off a 38-6 victory over the Atlanta Falcons , and would be in the playoff field if the season ended entering Week 12. Not bad for a team given a win total of 5 1/2 games at BetMGM Sportsbook. “Everyone understands the significance of where we are at this point in the season,” Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton said. The situation is quite different for the Raiders. They are 2-8, on a six-game losing streak and decimated by injuries. Las Vegas could enter this game without its top two running backs and a reshuffled line on offense, and defensively, the Raiders could have two linemen, three cornerbacks and a safety out of action. “Just been having some bad breaks, but nobody feels sorry for us,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said. "Nobody feels sorry for me. You’ve got to roll out there with 11 players, and that’s what we’re going to do come Sunday.” The Raiders are badly in a need of a franchise quarterback and are in a logjam for the top pick in next year's NFL draft. Denver showed with this year's draft how valuable landing such a QB can be to an organization. Bo Nix was selected 12th — one spot ahead of the Raiders — and he is pushing for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. He was this week's top AFC player and rookie after completing 28 of 33 passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns in the rout of the Falcons. “I think as we’ve gone on, Coach (Sean Payton) and I have found a good rhythm of what we both like, what we can kind of put out there on the field and what we can execute," Nix said. "Then the guys have kind of adapted to it, found our roles within the offense and executed at a high level. It’s just all about slowing the game down and processing things in a manner that you can handle.” Raiders tight end Brock Bowers also could have a say in who wins the season's top offensive rookie award. He is second in the NFL with 70 catches and his 706 yards receiving is 10th among all receivers. His numbers from a historical perspective are even more impressive. Bowers, the 13th pick in this year's draft , is fourth all time among all tight ends in catches through the first 11 weeks and he and Jeremy Shockey in 2002 are the only rookies at that position to have more than one game with at least 10 receptions. “This week's a brand new week,” Bowers said. “I've always got something to prove.” Payton still isn't entirely comfortable splitting carries between running backs Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and rookie Audric Estime. Asked how he determines the right balance in his rotation, Payton said, “That's the $6 million question. It’s difficult. We know kind of what we have with those three players. I think it’s always hard to feed three. "I'm used to — and it’s easy — to feed two. So we kind of do that a little bit. I thought Javonte had some really good runs (last week). Certainly the game ends and we’re like, ‘Gosh, we have to get Jaleel more touches.’ So it’s a tough, but a good problem to have.” With injuries to running backs Alexander Mattison (ankle) and Zamir White (quadriceps), 10-year veteran Ameer Abdullah could get the start for the Raiders this weekend. He has just 17 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown this season and started just one game his previous six seasons. “I see myself as a starter,” Abdullah said. “I think every guy in the room does. I consider myself the best back on this team just like every back does. This is my opportunity to go out there and put my best foot forward.” Patrick Surtain II had a pair of interceptions, including one he returned for 100 yards and a touchdown, in the team's first meeting this season and that fueled the Broncos' 34-18 win in Denver . Both of the passes were intended for Bowers, who caught a 57-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. Surtain isn't expecting the Raiders to avoid him Sunday, however. “You don't want to go into a game thinking they're not gonna throw it your way,” Surtain said, “because it's the pros at the end of the day, everybody's ready, everybody's capable.” AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton in Englewood, Colorado, contributed to this report. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflWASHINGTON (AP) — Matt Gaetz withdrew Thursday as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general amid continued fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation's chief federal law enforcement officer. The announcement caps a turbulent eight-day period in which Trump sought to capitalize on his decisive election win to force Senate Republicans to accept provocative selections like Gaetz, who had been investigated by the Justice Department before being tapped last week to lead it. The decision could heighten scrutiny on other controversial Trump nominees, including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth , who faces sexual assault allegations that he denies. “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” Gaetz, a Florida Republican who one day earlier met with senators in an effort to win their support, said in a statement. “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1," he added. Trump, in a social media post, said: “I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!” He did not immediately announce a new selection. Last week, he named personal lawyers Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and D. John Sauer to senior roles in the department. Another possible contender, Matthew Whitaker, was announced Wednesday as the U.S. ambassador to NATO. The withdrawal, just a week after the pick was announced, averts what was shaping up to be a pitched confirmation fight that would have tested how far Senate Republicans were willing to go to support Trump’s Cabinet picks. The selection of the fierce Trump ally over well-regarded veteran lawyers whose names had circulated as possible contenders stirred concern for the Justice Department's independence at a time when Trump has openly threatened to seek retribution against political adversaries. It underscored the premium Trump places on personal loyalty and reflected the president-elect's desire to have a disruptor lead a Justice Department that for years investigated and ultimately indicted him. In the Senate, deeply skeptical lawmakers sought more information about Justice Department and congressional investigations into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls, which Gaetz has denied. Meanwhile, Justice Department lawyers were taken aback by the pick of a partisan lawmaker with limited legal experience who has echoed Trump's claims of a weaponized criminal justice system. As Gaetz sought to lock down Senate support, concern over the sex trafficking allegations showed no signs of abating. In recent days, an attorney for two women said his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Gaetz was a Florida congressman. One of the women testified she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old at a party in Florida in 2017, according to the attorney, Joel Leppard. Leppard has said that his client testified she didn’t think Gaetz knew the girl was underage, stopped their relationship when he found out and did not resume it until after she turned 18. The age of consent in Florida is 18. "They’re grateful for the opportunity to move forward with their lives,” Leppard said Thursday of his clients. “They’re hoping that this brings final closure for all the parties involved.” Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. The Justice Department’s investigation ended last year with no charges against him. Gaetz’s political future is uncertain. He had abruptly resigned his congressional seat upon being selected as attorney general, a move seen as a way to shut down the ethics investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. He did win reelection in November for the new Congress, which convenes Jan. 3, 2025, but he said in his resignation letter last week that he did not intend to take the oath of office. There are plans for a special election in Florida for his seat. Republicans on the House Ethics Committee declined this week to release the panel's findings, over objections from Democrats in a split vote. But the committee did agree to finish its work and is scheduled to meet again Dec. 5 to discuss the matter. As word of Gaetz's decision spread across the Capitol, Republican senators seemed divided. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served with Gaetz in the House, called it a “positive move." Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Gaetz “put country first and I am pleased with his decision.” Others said they had hoped Gaetz could have overhauled the department. Florida Sen. Rick Scott, a close ally of Trump, said he was “disappointed. I like Matt and I think he would have changed the way DOJ is run.” Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said he hopes Trump will pick someone “equally as tenacious and equally as committed to rooting out and eliminating bias and politicization at the DOJ.” Gaetz is not the only Trump pick facing congressional scrutiny over past allegations. A detailed investigative police report made public Wednesday shows that a woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth, the former Fox News host now tapped to lead the Pentagon, after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave. “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared,” Hegseth told reporters Thursday at the Capitol, where he was meeting with senators to build support for his nomination. Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price, Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick and Adriana Gomez Licon contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
Nathan Ake calls on Man City to show character after latest setback
Derrick DePledge, the editor of The Astorian, plans to retire from the newspaper in January. DePledge has worked as an editor and reporter at The Astorian for the past decade, including the last five years as editor. Over his 36-year career in journalism, he spent more than a decade as a state government and politics reporter in Hawaii and a decade as a Washington, D.C., correspondent. He also served for four years as the top elected leader in Hawaii for the Pacific Media Workers Guild, a labor union that represents journalists. As editor of The Astorian, DePledge emphasized coverage of housing, homelessness, mental health and substance abuse treatment, crisis response and emergency management. The Astorian was recognized for general excellence for its work in 2020 by the Oregon Newspapers Publishers Association, the first time in more than a decade that the newspaper won the top honor in its class. "I consider it a privilege to have had the opportunity to work for The Astorian," DePledge said. "Our newspaper is in a unique position to serve as a watchdog for institutions on the North Coast. My hope is that we continue to fully embrace that responsibility long into the future."WASHINGTON (AP) — Matt Gaetz withdrew Thursday as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general amid continued fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation's chief federal law enforcement officer. The announcement caps a turbulent eight-day period in which Trump sought to capitalize on his decisive election win to force Senate Republicans to accept provocative selections like Gaetz, who had been investigated by the Justice Department before being tapped last week to lead it. The decision could heighten scrutiny on other controversial Trump nominees, including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth , who faces sexual assault allegations that he denies. “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” Gaetz, a Florida Republican who one day earlier met with senators in an effort to win their support, said in a statement. “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1," he added. Trump, in a social media post, said: “I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!” He did not immediately announce a new selection. Last week, he named personal lawyers Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and D. John Sauer to senior roles in the department. Another possible contender, Matthew Whitaker, was announced Wednesday as the U.S. ambassador to NATO. The withdrawal, just a week after the pick was announced, averts what was shaping up to be a pitched confirmation fight that would have tested how far Senate Republicans were willing to go to support Trump’s Cabinet picks. The selection of the fierce Trump ally over well-regarded veteran lawyers whose names had circulated as possible contenders stirred concern for the Justice Department's independence at a time when Trump has openly threatened to seek retribution against political adversaries. It underscored the premium Trump places on personal loyalty and reflected the president-elect's desire to have a disruptor lead a Justice Department that for years investigated and ultimately indicted him. In the Senate, deeply skeptical lawmakers sought more information about Justice Department and congressional investigations into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls, which Gaetz has denied. Meanwhile, Justice Department lawyers were taken aback by the pick of a partisan lawmaker with limited legal experience who has echoed Trump's claims of a weaponized criminal justice system. As Gaetz sought to lock down Senate support, concern over the sex trafficking allegations showed no signs of abating. In recent days, an attorney for two women said his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Gaetz was a Florida congressman. One of the women testified she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old at a party in Florida in 2017, according to the attorney, Joel Leppard. Leppard has said that his client testified she didn’t think Gaetz knew the girl was underage, stopped their relationship when he found out and did not resume it until after she turned 18. The age of consent in Florida is 18. "They’re grateful for the opportunity to move forward with their lives,” Leppard said Thursday of his clients. “They’re hoping that this brings final closure for all the parties involved.” Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. The Justice Department’s investigation ended last year with no charges against him. Gaetz’s political future is uncertain. He had abruptly resigned his congressional seat upon being selected as attorney general, a move seen as a way to shut down the ethics investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. He did win reelection in November for the new Congress, which convenes Jan. 3, 2025, but he said in his resignation letter last week that he did not intend to take the oath of office. There are plans for a special election in Florida for his seat. Republicans on the House Ethics Committee declined this week to release the panel's findings, over objections from Democrats in a split vote. But the committee did agree to finish its work and is scheduled to meet again Dec. 5 to discuss the matter. As word of Gaetz's decision spread across the Capitol, Republican senators seemed divided. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served with Gaetz in the House, called it a “positive move." Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Gaetz “put country first and I am pleased with his decision.” Others said they had hoped Gaetz could have overhauled the department. Florida Sen. Rick Scott, a close ally of Trump, said he was “disappointed. I like Matt and I think he would have changed the way DOJ is run.” Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said he hopes Trump will pick someone “equally as tenacious and equally as committed to rooting out and eliminating bias and politicization at the DOJ.” Gaetz is not the only Trump pick facing congressional scrutiny over past allegations. A detailed investigative police report made public Wednesday shows that a woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth, the former Fox News host now tapped to lead the Pentagon, after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave. “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared,” Hegseth told reporters Thursday at the Capitol, where he was meeting with senators to build support for his nomination. Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price, Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick and Adriana Gomez Licon contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!With the year coming to an end, Google has been on an AI launch streak, releasing Veo 2, Whisk , a redesign of Google Labs , Project Mariner, and more. One of the biggest standouts was its Gemini 2.0 family of models, and users can get started with it today. Also: You can interview the AI hosts of your NotebookLM podcast now Last week, Google announced its Gemini 2.0 family of models , with Gemini 2.0 Flash being the first model released. On Tuesday, Google announced that Gemini Advanced subscribers can now access an experimental version of Gemini 2.0 Flash under the name of Gemini-Exp-1206. Starting today, Gemini Advanced users get priority access to our latest 2.0 Experimental Advanced model, Gemini-Exp-1206. This model is designed to help you with more complex tasks such as: 🧑💻 Advanced coding challenges 🧮 Solving math problems 🧠 Reasoning & instruction... pic.twitter.com/TYrKkijDpU Google described it as a "workhorse model with low latency and enhanced performance at the cutting edge of our technology, at scale." Moreover, Google said, the model excels at complex tasks such as coding, math, reasoning, and instruction following and can do it twice as fast as its predecessor, Gemini 1.5 Flash. Gemini 2.0 Flash outperformed Gemini 1.5 Pro across standard benchmarks used to test large language models, including MATH, MMMU, GPQA, and Natural2Code, which each test for math, image generation, reasoning, and code, respectively. To access it, Gemini Advanced subscribers simply click on the model picker toggle on desktop or mobile web. Gemini Advanced is part of the Google One AI Premium plan , which costs $20 per month. Also: Google Labs just got a redesign. Here are 6 reasons to check it out Another new and helpful AI feature that Gemini Advanced users get access to is Deep Research, an agentic feature for Gemini Advanced that can conduct thorough research on your behalf, and which was also announced last week. Other non-AI-related plan perks include 2TB of storage, Google Photos editing features, 10% back-in-the-store rewards, Google Meet premium video calling features, and Gemini for Workspace. Google also offers users a two-month free trial as part of the new plan. Google's new AI tool could be your new favorite learning aid - and it's free The best open-source AI models: All your free-to-use options explained I changed 5 ChatGPT settings and instantly became more productive - here's how The best AI search engines of 2024: Google, Perplexity, and more
Caroline Dwane Stanley announces resignation from Sinn FeinBryant defeats Tennessee State 97-85
Welcome to IBD Live! will speed your learning curve. The Ready List contains top stocks that meet our that are in or near . However, IBD Live participants should analyze the chart action to determine the exact before buying. Q&A Summary Ready List Watch List Top Mutual Funds For Stock Research Institutional sponsorship is a key part of IBD's methodology. Here's a list of top growth-style mutual funds that our team likes to see as holders of individual stocks we're researching.Award Winning Independent Agency Recognized for High Paced Growth ATLANTA , Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Independent full-service advertising agency Chemistry has been recognized as one of Adweek's "2024 Fastest Growing Agencies" and as a 2025 "Agency of the Year" by Chief Marketer . With experimentation as the foundation of its methodology, the agency "blows up boring" with its rapid test-and-learn 'everything is an experiment' approach that embraces the state of constant evolution and learning. This led to massive market share wins and high cultural relevance for its clients, as well as an influx of new clients and organic growth for the agency. One of the agencies to be honored by Adweek on its list of Adweek's "Fastest Growing Agencies," Chemistry has been recognized for its significant revenue growth and its "willingness to dive headfirst into curiosity - and encourage clients to do the same" which Adweek notes has been a boon for business. Additionally, the agency has been recognized by Chief Marketer as a 2025 "Agency of the Year," as one of the top marketing and advertising firms worldwide. The agency's impressive growth rate in billings and staff, as well as work for top leading brands, were noted. With offices in Atlanta , Pittsburgh , New York , Miami , and Phoenix , the 173-person independent agency provides a comprehensive range of services, including creative, production, strategy, branding, design, social, research, analytics, media buying, web, and tech solutions. Already deeply respected for its creative work, Chemistry doubled down on its media offerings, including its proprietary Media Catalyst platform, which offers clients mark-up free programmatic plans, increasing their working budgets by as much as 40%. This resulted in Chemistry tripling its media revenue and introducing a slew of new media clients. The firm also grew its Hispanic arm, Chemistry Cultura, its digital arm, REACT, and its production unit, Test Tube Productions, which contributed to its massive growth. "We love a CMO that is ready to play offense, not defense, steal market share and kick some ass. It's time to embrace emerging technology and the new creative revolution. Too many brands are wasting money on boring ads that get no response. The smart CMOs find creative culture-shifting agencies, like Chemistry," said Tim Smith , President of Chemistry. "We squeeze creativity out of every discipline, so we learn quicker and blow shit up for our clients. We really appreciate Adweek and Chief Marketer recognizing our people for the work." MEDIA CONTACT : Caitlin Burke : caitlin@kempnercommunications.com 203-733-4085 About Chemistry : Chemistry ( www.Chemistryagency.com ) builds cultural brands with creative ideas that can't be ignored. The independent agency offers fully integrated advertising and marketing services for clients like Five Guys, Netflix, the NBA, and GoTo Foods. The shop has been named an Adweek Fastest Growing Agency, a Chief Marketer Agency of the Year, an Ad Age A-List Agency, a finalist for Campaign US' Independent Agency of the Year, and Adweek's Midsize Agency of the Year. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chemistry-named-a-2024-adweek-fastest-growing-agency-and-a-2025-chief-marketer-agency-of-the-year-302335506.html SOURCE Chemistry
Tourists visit the Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world’s largest ice-and-snow theme park, in Harbin, the capital city of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. — Xinhua photo HARBIN (Dec 24): Gliding down an over-500-meter-long ice slide, Zhang Jiajia felt like she was flying, and that her one-minute experience had been worth the hour-plus wait in line. “It’s super exciting. My heart soared with me,” said Zhang, a tourist from east China’s Zhejiang Province, after trying the Super Ice Slide at the iconic Harbin Ice-Snow World, which kicked off its annual run on Saturday. The world’s largest ice-and-snow theme park, the 26th edition of the Harbin Ice-Snow World, officially opened at 10 a.m. in Harbin, the capital of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province also known as the “city of ice.” Tourists visit the Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world’s largest ice-and-snow theme park, in Harbin, the capital city of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. — Xinhua photo Themed “Dream of Winter, Love among Asia,” the park was built using 300,000 cubic meters of ice and snow, incorporating elements inspired by the upcoming 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games, which will open next February, right after China’s Spring Festival holiday. It is also the first major international ice and snow event hosted by China since the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. With an overall planned area of 1 million square meters, up from last year’s 800,000 square meters, the park is the largest in its 26-year history. A tourist poses for photos at the Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world’s largest ice-and-snow theme park, in Harbin, the capital city of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. — Xinhua photo The park features nine major zones, recreating landmark landscapes of 42 countries and 3 regions that are members of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) in the form of ice-and-snow structures that can be illuminated at night, including replicas of the Temple of Heaven in China, Osaka Castle in Japan and the Taj Mahal in India. The main tower stands on the main axis of the park, featuring towering ice columns that depict the official emblem of the OCA. “The ice sculptures are incredibly exquisite. It’s hard to imagine that they are made of ice blocks harvested from the Songhua River. Each piece of artwork showcases the superb craftsmanship of the artists,” said Zhong Xueying, another tourist from Zhejiang. An aerial drone photo shows tourists queuing at the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. — Xinhua photo The most popular attraction in the park, the Super Ice Slide, has increased the number of its lanes to 24, with a 300-meter-long windproof warm house mounted at the queuing area, allowing visitors to take a break from freezing weather while overlooking the park’s scenery. Saturday also marks the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. The day not only means another solar term but also marks an important festive day on Chinese lunar calendar. Just one hour after the park opened, the queue for the Super Ice Slide stretched hundreds of meters. An aerial drone photo shows the emblem of the 9th Asian Winter Games made of ice at the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. — Xinhua photo In addition to ice-and-snow landscapes, the park has added fantasy shows, virtual reality projects and an immersive digital art museum to its inventory of winter wonders, offering new and exciting experiences for both global and domestic visitors. The “Snow Disco” event, which attracted thousands of tourists last winter, will also be held at the Dream Stage in the park for this year’s edition. “How lucky! Today is the last day of my trip to Harbin, and I didn’t expect to witness the opening of the Ice-Snow World. I’m so happy that it feels like I’m celebrating the Lunar New Year in advance,” said Dai Xiaoqin, a tourist from Wuhan City in Hubei Province. “We wish to showcase the enthusiasm and confidence of the people in participating in ice-and-snow sports, and integrate a variety of new elements into this edition of the park,” said Guo Hongwei, Party secretary and chairman of Harbin Ice-Snow World Co., Ltd. Staff members greet tourists at the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. — Xinhua photo An adult park ticket is priced at 328 yuan (about 45.6 U.S. dollars). The park also offers discounted tickets and free admission to certain groups of visitors. As an established ice-and-snow theme park, Harbin Ice-Snow World stands out as one of China’s iconic winter attractions. It surged in popularity on Chinese social media last winter, becoming an internet sensation as passion for winter sports and tourism continues to rise across the country. Last year, China recorded over 385 million winter leisure visits nationwide, a year-on-year increase of 38 percent, with related revenue up 50 percent. Tourists visit the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. — Xinhua photo In Harbin alone, last snow season saw over 87 million visitors, up 300 percent year on year, and 124.8 billion yuan in tourism revenue, up 500 percent. The 25th edition of the Harbin Ice-Snow World, in particular, received over 2.7 million tourists. To accelerate growth of winter economy in the country’s northeastern region, the Chinese government has recently unveiled initiatives including establishing dedicated ice-and-snow holidays, increasing flight routes and optimizing visa-free policies, all aimed at attracting more domestic and international visitors. — Xinhua
IAS releases Quality Attention Optimisation product and Social Attention measurement
Naperville Township mental health funding available to qualified service providers