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East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr., a potential first-round pick, declared for the 2025 NFL Draft on Friday. Revel, who sustained a torn left ACL in practice in September, had one season of eligibility remaining. "After an incredible journey at East Carolina, I am officially declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft," the senior posted on social media. "... Pirates nation, thank you for your unwavering energy and support every game. Representing ECU is an honor, and I look forward to continuing to do so on Sundays!" Revel recorded two interceptions in three games this season, returning one 50 yards for a touchdown on Sept. 14 against Appalachian State. Over three seasons with the Pirates, Revel had three interceptions, 15 passes defensed and 70 tackles in 24 games. He was a second-team All-American Athletic Conference selection last season. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranked Revel as the No. 2 cornerback and No. 23 overall prospect in the 2025 draft class. --Field Level Media
CAIRO: Zionist forces stormed into Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya in north Gaza on Friday and expelled some staff and displaced people before withdrawing, and bodies of people killed by airstrikes littered the streets outside, its director said. The attack had begun with a series of airstrikes on the western and northern sides of Kamal Adwan accompanied by intensive shooting, hospital director Hussam Abu Safiya said, speaking via an online chatroom monitored by Reuters. He said troops who swept into the hospital ordered all staff, patients and displaced people into its courtyard before allowing them hours later to return inside, though some staff including its Indonesian emergency surgery team and some displaced were ordered to leave the premises for good. Zionist military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It has accused Hamas militants of using civilian buildings including hospitals and schools for operational cover throughout the 14-month Gaza war. Hamas has denied this, accusing Zionists of indiscriminate bombings and assaults. Kamal Adwan Hospital has been caught in renewed Zionist military operations in north Gaza against regrouping militants. “This morning, we were shocked to see hundreds of bodies and wounded individuals in the streets surrounding the hospital,” Abu Safiya said in another statement posted online. “The situation inside the hospital and in its vicinity is catastrophic. There are a large number of (dead) martyrs and wounded individuals, and no surgeons are left,” he said. Reuters could not independently authenticate his account, given a lack of media access to besieged Gaza Strip. Gaza’s Health Ministry said the three main hospitals on the northern end of the enclave are barely functioning and have been under repeated attack since Zionists sent tanks into Beit Lahiya and nearby Beit Hanoun and Jabalia in October. Later on, a Zionist airstrike on a house in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip killed at least 18 people, including three children and two women, and wounded 30 other people, medics said. They added that military strikes across the enclave killed at least 53 Palestinians, most of them in northern Gaza. Distress call In a distress call on Friday, the ministry accused the military of committing a “war crime” in Kamal Adwan Hospital by perpetrating “all forms of killing and violence inside and around it”. It added: “The injured who remained inside are in critical condition and need immediate medical care.” The ministry said only half of the 37 hospitals and clinics in the war-devastated territory remained operational but lacked essential equipment, manpower, and medical and fuel supplies. The World Health Organization said Zionist forces had bombed Kamal Adwan Hospital early on Thursday apparently without warning its staff in advance. “That is extremely concerning and should never happen,” WHO spokesperson Rik Peeperkorn told a Geneva briefing by video link. The hospital is now “minimally functional”, he added. Military says it has killed hundreds of militants in fighting with Hamas in north Gaza since October, a heavily urbanized area it claimed to have subdued early this year. On Friday, it said that over the past week its forces had killed several senior Hamas operatives who were involved in the Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border attack that precipitated the war, and were commanding militant units in north and central Gaza. Hamas and its smaller ally Islamic Jihad say they have killed many soldiers in those areas in the same period. Residents of Beit Lahiya said the army blew up several houses overnight not far from Kamal Adwan Hospital. Palestinians say Zionists plan to carve out a buffer zone along the northern fringes of Gaza after depopulating the area. Later on Friday, COGAT, the Zionist government body that oversees aid to Gaza, said it had facilitated the delivery of thousands of food packages and sacks of flour into Beit Hanoun, in collaboration with international aid agencies, for distribution to the remaining population. Double standards Meanwhile, a UN official on Saturday said international double standards have encouraged the Zionist authorities to perpetrate genocides in Gaza, calling for continuous efforts to lay bare the occupation violations. Francesca Albanese, the UN rapporteur for human rights in the occupied territories, was speaking in remarks to KUNA after she addressed a session of heads of the diplomatic missions at the UN headquarters in Vienna. The colonialism mentality continues to largely affect the international policies leading to clear discrimination in applying the international law, she said. The Palestinians have the legitimate right to defend themselves against the continuous aggression; it is a right guaranteed by the international Laws that also guarantee peoples’ right in resisting the occupation, said Albanese. She slammed the double rhetoric of western states that claim support for the Palestinians’ rights and the two states solution but neglect crimes perpetrated by the occupation and supplies the occupied with weapons, which is in turn an explicit encouragement for these crimes. Zionist occupation exploits impunity to act like it is above the international laws, she said, alluding to the genocide in Gaza where the Palestinians have been deprived of water, food and health care. Moreover, the civilians there have been directly targeted and 70 percent of the victims are women and children. Talking about political solutions is senseless in the shadow of the continuing occupation and the war on Gaza, Albanese said, stressing that ending the occupation must be the first step on the path for making any real progress. ‘Genocidal’ Zionists A senior Saudi royal termed Zionist entity “genocidal” and an “apartheid” state on Saturday, as he called on incoming US President-elect Donald Trump to bring peace to the Middle East. Prince Turki Al Faisal, who was Saudi Arabia’s intelligence chief for more than two decades, also said he hoped Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be brought before the International Criminal Court (ICC). His comments at the Manama Dialogue conference in Bahrain follow increasingly tough statements from Saudi officials since talks were paused on a potential normalization of ties with Zionists after the start of the Gaza war. “(Zionist entity) today, according to international human rights groups, is not only an apartheid colonial state, but it is also a genocidal one,” Prince Turki said. “It is committing genocide on the people of Gaza.” He added: “It’s about time for the world to... take the necessary steps to bring those who are charged by the International Criminal Court to justice.” The ICC issued warrants for Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant last month on suspicion of crimes against humanity and war crimes. Saudi’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also accused Zionists of genocide at a joint Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit in Riyadh last month.- AFPLeading entrepreneur and founder of the Econet Group, Strive Masiyiwa, was on Thursday night awarded at the prestigious Zimbabwe ICT Excellence Awards held at Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare. Masiyiwa, widely celebrated for his pioneering contributions to innovation and technology, was honoured for his significant impact on the country’s telecommunications and ICT sector. The event marked a historic occasion as it revived the awards, which had been suspended for a decade. The ceremony celebrated outstanding achievements in various sectors of technology, innovation, and digital media. In her address at the event, ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera highlighted the importance of the awards, stating that they are a vital way to recognize the exceptional work and dedication of individuals and organizations contributing to the growth of Zimbabwe’s technology landscape. “The decade-long silence of not honouring our telecommunications sector heroes and heroines comes to an end tonight,” Minister Mavetera said. “By honouring those who demonstrate exceptional performance and quality in their ICT initiatives, these awards foster a culture of excellence that is essential for both the public and private sectors.” The awards ceremony featured a range of categories, including Best ICT Journalist, Best Social Media Influencer, and Best ICT Industry Disruptor. Among the notable winners was Evans Mathanda, an online reporter from Alpha Media Holdings, who received a Certificate of Excellence in recognition of his outstanding work in the ICT Journalist of the Year category. Masiyiwa’s award, in particular, served as a reminder of his transformative role in the technology sector, with Econet Group playing a pivotal role in revolutionizing telecommunications and mobile money services in Zimbabwe. The event was seen as a turning point for the nation’s ICT sector, bringing attention to the many achievements of local innovators and setting the stage for future growth and investment in the field. Source – newsday
Stock market today: Nasdaq hits a record as Wall Street drifts ahead of Federal Reserve's meetingUltralight and Light Aircraft Market worth $17.29 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 11.2% 12-16-2024 10:14 PM CET | Associations & Organizations Press release from: ABNewswire Ultralight and Light Aircraft Market The global Ultralight and Light Aircraft Market in terms of revenue is estimated to be worth $10.17 billion in 2024 and is poised to reach $17.29 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 11.2% during the forecast period. According to a research report "Ultralight & Light Aircraft Market [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/ultralight-aircraft-market-181448279.html?utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=PaidPR&utm_campaign=ultralightandlightaircraftmarket ] by Propulsion (Electric/Hybrid, Conventional), System (Aerostructures, Avionics, Cabin Interiors), Technology (Manned, Unmanned), Flight Operation (CTOL, VTOL), Point of Sale End Use, Material - Global Forecast to 2029" published by MarketsandMarkets, the ultralight and light aircraft market is estimated to be USD 10.17 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 17.29 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 11.2% during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the increasing aircraft demand and advancements in traditional aircrafts. Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=181448279 [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=181448279&utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=PaidPR&utm_campaign=ultralightandlightaircraftmarket ] Browse 405 market data Tables and 59 Figures spread through 297 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Ultralight & Light Aircraft Market by Propulsion (Electric/Hybrid, Conventional), System (Aerostructures, Avionics, Cabin Interiors), Technology (Manned, Unmanned), Flight Operation (CTOL, VTOL), Point of Sale End Use, Material - Global Forecast to 2029" View detailed Table of Content here - https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/ultralight-aircraft-market-181448279.html [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/ultralight-aircraft-market-181448279.html?utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=PaidPR&utm_campaign=ultralightandlightaircraftmarket ] Image: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Images/ultralight-aircraft-market.webp [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/ultralight-aircraft-market-181448279.html?utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=PaidPR&utm_campaign=ultralightandlightaircraftmarket ] The unmanned technology segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period Based on technology, the ultralight and light aircraft market has been segmented into the manned and unmanned segments. The versatility of unmanned aircraft makes them suitable for applications ranging from recreational flying to agriculture, crop monitoring and spraying, surveillance, search and rescue, inspection of infrastructure, and monitoring of the environment. As the number of industries discover new use cases, demand is expected to rise significantly The light aircraft aftermarket segment accounts for the largest market size during the forecast period Based on aftermarket, the ultralight and light aircraft market is segmented into ultralight aircraft and light aircraft. Light aircraft, in comparison, can carry greater payloads than ultralights and can take on more passengers, cargo, or equipment. This is what makes them crucial for commercial usage and, therefore, increases their utility, making them highly appealing to businesses that have to haul goods or several people. The civil and commercial end use segment accounts for the largest market size during the forecast period Based on end use, the ultralight and light aircraft market is segmented into the civil and commercial and military segments. The civil and commercial segment accounted for a largest share, of the ultralight and light aircraft market in 2024. This increase in business aviation is significant since the companies see the value of light aircraft in corporate travel. Executives can easily and promptly access remote destinations with time-saving opportunities, away from delays common with scheduled air transportation, thus gaining a productive advantage. Companies wanting greater operational flexibility and efficiency are bound to continue requesting light aircraft. The demand for light aircrafts for corporate travel drives the Civil 7 Commercial segment. North America is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. North America is expected to be the lead the ultralight and light aircraft market during the forecast period. North America is a region with a lot of old companies and new startups manufacturing ultralight and light aircraft. It leads to producer competition, innovative capacity, and variety of models provided to consumers. Engineering knowledge and research institutions strengthen it in producing the most recent aviation technology. North America has many programs that train flights and colleges of aviation, which graduate qualified pilots continuously. With scholarship opportunities and incentives, more people engage in aviation or recreational flying careers, thus expanding the market for light and ultralight aircraft. Major players operating in the ultralight and light aircraft market are Bell Helicopters (US), Pilatus Aircraft(Switzerland), Air Tractor (US), Flight Design General Aviation (Germany), ,Textron Inc. (US) , Aeropro(Slovakia), Autogyro (Germany).These key players offer ultralight and light aircrafts across regions, and have well-equipped and strong distribution networks across the North American, European, Asia Pacific, Latin American, Middle East and African regions. Media Contact Company Name: MarketsandMarkets Trademark Research Private Ltd. Contact Person: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=ultralight-and-light-aircraft-market-worth-1729-billion-by-2029-at-a-cagr-of-112 ] Phone: 18886006441 Address:1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445 City: Delray Beach State: Florida Country: United States Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/ultralight-aircraft-market-181448279.html This release was published on openPR.
(Bloomberg) -- SEC Chair Gary Gensler, whose ambitious agenda drew fierce resistance from Wall Street and the crypto industry, plans to step down on Jan. 20. “The Securities and Exchange Commission is a remarkable agency,” Gensler said in a statement on Thursday. “The staff and the commission are deeply mission-driven, focused on protecting investors, facilitating capital formation and ensuring that the markets work for investors and issuers alike.” His departure will leave the SEC in the hands of an acting chair who’s expected to be either Mark Uyeda or Hester Peirce — both Republican commissioners. Gensler, a self-described “markets guy” appointed by President Joe Biden in 2021, has pursed an aggressive agenda highlighted by climate-risk disclosures, stock-trading reforms and crackdowns on crypto scofflaws. Some of his regulations will leave a lasting imprint on finance. Others have been stymied in conservative courts. The Trump administration’s coming pick for SEC chair could try to further unwind Gensler’s signature rules and take a more crypto-friendly approach to enforcement. Gensler’s policy achievements include speeding up the settlement time for US stock trades and a new regulation that will result in trillions of dollars more in US Treasury market transactions to be centrally cleared each day. Corporate insiders also face stricter disclosures and rules for stock sales. Some of the pillars of Gensler’s agenda faced legal challenges, however. The SEC in March published sweeping rules calling on businesses to reveal details about their greenhouse-gas emissions and how climate change could affect their bottom lines. The agency froze the rules in April after multiple lawsuits. A federal judge on Thursday struck down new SEC rules that would have required some Wall Street firms to register as dealers in the Treasury market. Hedge funds had sued in March to block the regulations, saying they were too broad and could harm the market. “His tenure should be thought of as extraordinarily ambitious in terms of scope of issues he wanted to focus on,” said Tyler Gellasch, head of the Healthy Markets Association, a trade group that includes pension funds and others. “That agenda ran face first into an onslaught of litigation.” Crypto Landscape Trump’s SEC will probably ease enforcement against brokers, banks and hedge funds for using third-party messaging apps to communicate. The digital-asset industry could experience a sea change in policy. Gensler doggedly pursued crypto fraudsters, as well as companies like Coinbase Global Inc. and proprietary trading behemoth DRW Holdings for failing to register with the agency. The industry had pushed back hard, saying he had provided no real way for the nascent asset class to fit within decades-old structures. Gensler was frequently criticized by the industry for clamping down on the market instead of making clear how to play by the rules. “My mom always told me if I didn’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. So I’m just gonna sit this one out,” Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal wrote on X after Gensler announced his pending departure. Trump, who embraced cryptocurrency during his campaign, told supporters earlier this year he would fire Gensler on “day one.” Robinhood Markets Inc. legal chief Dan Gallagher, former SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins, and Robert Stebbins, a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher, have been considered to be possible Trump picks to lead the agency, Bloomberg News reported earlier this month. --With assistance from Ben Bain. (Updates with details about Gensler’s policies, reaction to departure.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com ©2024 Bloomberg L.P.There is a spot in the MLS Cup Final up for grabs in the MLS Cup Playoff East final on Saturday, Nov. 30 when Orlando City SC hosts the New York Red Bulls at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Fla. The game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. EST and will be broadcast exclusively on Apple TV+ . Fans looking to watch this MLS game can do so with an Apple TV+ subscription. Apple TV+ offers a 7-day free trial for new users and is $9.99 a month afterward. The only way to watch Friday’s game will be via the Apple TV+ app, which you can watch on phones, streaming devices, smart TVs and computers. Apple TV+ joined the sports streaming world last season with a major broadcasting deal with Major League Baseball that includes a weekly Friday Night Baseball broadcast exclusively on the app’s platform. The service also has MLS Season Pass , which allows fans to watch every MLS match. Fans can find more info on how to watch MLS games on Apple TV+ here. Who : Orlando City SC vs. New York Red Bulls When : Saturday, Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. EST Where : Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Fla. Stream : Stream with an Apple TV+ subscription. Apple TV+ offers a 7-day free trial for new users and is $9.99 a month afterward. RELATED CONTENT: Vancouver Whitecaps fire coach Vanni Sartini following elimination from MLS playoffs VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Coach Vanni Sartini was fired by the Vancouver Whitecaps on Monday, 2 1/2 weeks after the team’s elimination in the MLS playoffs. Sartini became the 10th MLS coach to depart since the start of the 2024 season. He took over from Marc Dos Santos in August 2021 at first as an interim coach and then was given the job that November. Vancouver had 13 wins, 13 losses and eight draws in MLS this season, beat Portland 5-0 in the play-in round of the postseason and lost to Los Angeles FC in a three-game, first-round series that ended Nov. 8. “The desperation on my side is absolutely there,” CEO and sporting director Axel Schuster said. “I had to make a professional decision (for) how we can get the biggest impact to make this step forward and to get to a progression.” The 47-year-old Sartini, who is from Florence, Italy, had a MLS regular-season record of 44 wins, 40 losses and 32 draws and had 57 wins, 51 losses and 39 draws in all competitions. He joined Vancouver as an assistant in 2019 and became coach of its under-23 team in September 2020. He was suspended for the first six games of this season, fined $20,000 and ordered to complete a league-approved behavioral assessment after criticizing referee Tim Ford following a season-ending 1-0 playoff loss to LAFC and making a joke about being a suspect if the official were to be found dead. Vancouver has not won the MLS title since starting play in 2011. Its deepest postseason runs were to the quarterfinals 2015 and ’17. The Whitecaps won their third straight Canadian championship, beating Toronto 4-2 on penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie. “I took my time with this decision, and it was not taken lightly,” Schuster said. Other teams that changed coaches this season include Nashville’s Gary Smith (May 16), Atlanta’s Gonzalo Pineda (June 3), Dallas' Nico Estévez (June 9), San Jose’s Luchi Gonzalez (June 24), St. Louis' Bradley Carnell (July 1), Austin’s Josh Wolff (Oct. 6), Chicago’s Frank Klopas (Oct. 19), Philadelphia’s Jim Curtin (Nov. 7) and Miami’s Gerardo “Tata” Martino (Nov. 19). Replacements include Nashville’s B.J. Callaghan (July 3), Chicago’s Gregg Berhalter (Oct. 8), Austin’s Nico Estévez (Oct. 25) and San Jose’s Bruce Arena (Nov, 7). Luis Suarez signs to stay with Messi and Inter Miami for 2025 season By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Luis Suarez is going to play alongside Lionel Messi for at least one more year. Suarez and Inter Miami have agreed on a one-year contract extension for the coming season, the team announced Wednesday. The financial terms weren’t disclosed. Suarez made $1.5 million this year in his first Inter Miami season, one in which the Uruguayan striker scored 20 goals — tied with Messi for the team lead — in Major League Soccer regular season play and a team-best 25 goals across all competitions. “I’m very happy, very excited to continue for another year and to be able to enjoy being here with this fanbase, which for us is like family,” Suarez said in comments distributed by the team. “We feel very, very connected with them, and hopefully, next year, we can bring them even more joy.” Inter Miami set MLS records for points (74) and winning percentage (.765) during this MLS regular season, one in which the club went 22-4-8 and captured the Supporters Shield. The club failed to get out of the first round of the playoffs, falling to Atlanta United in the best-of-three series. The contract extension for Suarez, who turns 38 in January, keeps the Inter Miami core of stars with Barcelona ties together. Suarez plays at Inter Miami alongside Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, a group that teamed up with the powerhouse Spanish club in past years. And newly named Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano — his hiring was made official on Tuesday — also played with that foursome at Barcelona. “In 2024, Luis brought to Inter Miami all of the elements that make him one of the greatest strikers of all time,” Inter Miami football operations president Raul Sanllehi said. “He performed at an elite level for us, and we’re excited to see that continue next season. Luis was not only our leading scorer this season, but also a leader for the group. His impact cannot be understated.” Suarez has represented Uruguay in the last four World Cup competitions. He’s played for Liverpool and Atletico Madrid, among other clubs, and has earned a slew of honors — Dutch player of the year, FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball, Premier League Player of the Season and World Cup All-Star Team among them. The Associated Press contributed to this article. More Sports Content
Arkansas DE Landon Jackson carted off field and taken to hospital with neck injury
BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 16, 2024-- The GEO Group, Inc. (NYSE: GEO) (“GEO” or the “Company”) announced today a $70 million investment in capital expenditures to strengthen the Company’s capabilities to deliver expanded detention capacity, secure transportation, and electronic monitoring services to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”). GEO is currently the largest service provider to ICE, currently providing approximately 21,000 detention beds (with a present census of 14,000) at 16 ICE Processing Centers with the ability to expand to a minimum of 32,000 beds at 23 facilities. GEO also presently provides electronic monitoring and case management services for approximately 185,000 participants under the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program, as well as secure ground transportation and air operations support services. With the objective of offsetting the $70 million investment in capital expenditures and further reducing debt, GEO intends to pursue the possible sale of several underperforming company-owned state correctional facilities. In addition, GEO also announced several senior management changes. GEO’s Chief Executive Officer, Brian Evans, has given GEO notice of his retirement to pursue other opportunities, effective December 31, 2024. J. David Donahue will begin serving as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2025. Mr. Donahue has more than 40 years of experience in corrections and detention, having served in senior executive roles overseeing operational planning, facility activations, and managing operational teams. He joined GEO as the Eastern Region Vice President in 2009, after a distinguished career in corrections with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Kentucky, and Indiana, where he served as Corrections Commissioner from 2005 to 2008. He also served as the Vice President of the American Correctional Association (“ACA”) and is an ACA-Certified Corrections Executive. During his tenure with GEO, Mr. Donahue was promoted to Senior Vice President and President of GEO Secure Services in 2016 and retired from GEO in July of 2020. GEO previously announced the appointment of Paul Laird as Senior Vice President of Secure Services, effective January 1, 2025, replacing James Black who will retire on December 31, 2024 as previously announced. Mr. Laird joined GEO in 2015 as Eastern Region Director of Operations and was subsequently promoted to Western Region Vice President and was most recently transferred to Eastern Region Vice President. Prior to joining GEO, he served as Regional Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, North Central Regional Office, overseeing 20 facilities. Prior to that assignment, he served five years as the Chief Operating Officer of Federal Prison Industries and as Assistant Director of the Industries, Educational and Vocational Training Division. He also served on the AbilityOne Commission as a Presidential Appointee representing the United States Department of Justice between 2005 and 2015. GEO also announced the appointment of Daniel Ragsdale as Senior Vice President, Contract Administration and Compliance, effective January 1, 2025. Mr. Ragsdale joined GEO in 2017 as Executive Vice President, Contract Compliance, after a successful career at ICE, where he served as Deputy Director from 2012 to 2017. In that capacity, he served as Chief Operating Officer for ICE, leading 20,000 employees, including 7,000 criminal investigators at Homeland Security Investigations and 6,000 officers in Enforcement and Removal Operations. He also previously served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona. George C. Zoley, Executive Chairman of GEO, said, “We are pleased to welcome back David Donahue to GEO in his new role as Chief Executive Officer. His more than 40 years of experience in corrections and detention, coupled with his experience in operational planning, facility activations, and managing and overseeing operational teams will serve as an asset to our Company as we face the new and expanding opportunities ahead. We are also pleased to welcome Paul Laird and Dan Ragsdale to our Senior Management team. Mr. Laird’s operational experience and Mr. Ragsdale’s background in federal contract administration will continue to be important assets for our Company. We are continuing to prepare for what we believe are potentially unprecedented future growth opportunities. We are making a $70 million investment in capital expenditures to strengthen our capabilities to deliver expanded detention capacity, secure transportation, and electronic monitoring and related services to ICE. We also intend to pursue the possible sale of several of our underperforming company-owned state correctional facilities with the objective of offsetting these capital investments and further reducing our overall debt.” About The GEO Group The GEO Group, Inc. (NYSE: GEO) is a leading diversified government service provider, specializing in design, financing, development, and support services for secure facilities, processing centers, and community reentry centers in the United States, Australia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. GEO’s diversified services include enhanced in-custody rehabilitation and post-release support through the award-winning GEO Continuum of Care®, secure transportation, electronic monitoring, community-based programs, and correctional health and mental health care. GEO’s worldwide operations include the ownership and/or delivery of support services for 99 facilities totaling approximately 80,000 beds, including idle facilities and projects under development, with a workforce of up to approximately 18,000 employees. Use of forward-looking statements This news release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and any such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the cautionary statements and risk factors contained in GEO's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission including its Form 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K reports. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release and are based on current expectations and involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Readers are strongly encouraged to read the full cautionary statements and risk factors contained in GEO’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including those referenced above. GEO disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241216329043/en/ CONTACT: Pablo E. Paez (866) 301 4436 Executive Vice President, Corporate Relations KEYWORD: FLORIDA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT DEFENSE OTHER DEFENSE IMMIGRATION LAW ENFORCEMENT/EMERGENCY SERVICES PUBLIC SAFETY HOMELAND SECURITY GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY SOURCE: The GEO Group, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/16/2024 04:15 PM/DISC: 12/16/2024 04:15 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241216329043/en
PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron expressed “gratitude” Saturday to those who saved, helped and rebuilt Notre Dame Cathedral. “I stand before you ... to express the gratitude of the French nation,” Macron said at the reopening ceremony. “Tonight, the bells of Notre Dame are ringing again. And in a moment, the organ will awaken,” sending the “music of hope” to Parisians, France and the world. Macron spoke in front of 1,500 guests invited to celebrate the restoration of Paris’ 12th-century cathedral which was nearly destroyed by a fire in 2019. They included world leaders like President-elect Donald Trump , U.S. first lady Jill Biden, Britain’s Prince William and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. PARIS (AP) — Howling winds couldn’t stop Notre Dame Cathedral ’s heart from beating again. With three resounding knocks on its doors by Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, wielding a specially designed crosier carved from fire-scorched beams, the monument roared back to life Saturday evening. For the first time since a devastating blaze nearly destroyed it in 2019, the towering Gothic masterpiece reopened for worship, its rebirth marked by song, prayer, and awe beneath its soaring arches. The ceremony, initially planned to begin on the forecourt, was moved entirely inside due to unusually fierce December winds sweeping across the Île de la Cité, flanked by the River Seine. Yet the occasion lost none of its splendor. Inside the luminous nave, choirs sang psalms, and the cathedral’s mighty organ, silent for nearly five years, thundered to life in a triumphant interplay of melodies. The restoration, a spectacular achievement in just five years for a structure that took nearly two centuries to build, is seen as a moment of triumph for French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious timeline — and a welcome respite from his domestic political woes . The evening’s celebration, attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, Britain’s Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, underscored Notre Dame’s enduring role as both a spiritual and cultural beacon. Observers see the event as Macron's, and his intention to pivot it into a fully fledged diplomatic gathering, while highlighting France’s ability to unite on the global stage despite internal political crises. Monumental feats of restoration Inside, 42,000 square meters of stonework — an area equal to six soccer pitches — were meticulously cleaned, revealing luminous limestone and intricate carvings. Overhead, 2,000 oak beams, nicknamed “the forest,” were used to rebuild the spire and roof, restoring the cathedral’s iconic silhouette. The thunderous great organ, with 7,952 pipes ranging from pen-sized to torso-wide, resounded for the first time since the fire. Its newly renovated console, boasting five keyboards, 115 stops, and 30 foot pedals, was a marvel of restoration, reawakening a cornerstone of Notre Dame’s identity. Guests gradually filing into the cathedral for the evening reopening ceremonies were awestruck by the renovated interiors, many whipping out cellphones to capture the moment. “It’s a sense of perfection,” said François Le Page of the Notre Dame Foundation, which raised nearly half of the €900 million ($950 million) in donations for the restoration. He last visited in 2021, when the cathedral was cloaked in scaffolding. “It was somber,” he said. “It’s night and day.” The Rev. Andriy Morkvas, a Ukrainian pastor who leads the Volodymyr Le Grand church in Paris, reflected on his first visit to Notre Dame in over a decade. “I didn’t recognize it,” he said. “God is very powerful; He can change things.” He expressed hope that the cathedral’s revival could inspire peace in his homeland, drawing strength from the presence of Ukraine’s president. “I think that will have a big impact,” he said. “I hope Notre Dame and Mary will help us resolve this conflict.” The reopening of Notre Dame comes at a time of profound global unrest, with wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East. For Catholics, Notre Dame’s rector said the cathedral “carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.′′ “It is a magnificent symbol of unity,” Dumas said. “Notre Dame is not just a French monument—it is a magnificent sign of hope.” The international range of dignitaries coming to Paris underline the cathedral’s significance as a symbol of shared heritage and peace. Canadian visitor Noelle Alexandria, who had traveled to Paris for the reopening, was struck by the cathedral’s ability to inspire. “She’s been nearly ruined before, but she always comes back,” Alexandria said. “Not many of us could say the same after such tragedy, but Notre Dame can.” Historical details enrich the occasion Guests entered through Notre Dame’s iconic western façade, whose arched portals adorned with biblical carvings were once a visual guide for medieval believers. Above the central Portal of the Last Judgment, the Archangel Michael is depicted weighing souls, as demons attempt to tip the scales. These stone figures, designed to inspire both awe and fear, set the stage for a ceremony steeped in history. Inside, the hum of hundreds of guests awaiting the service filled the cathedral with human sounds once more — a stark contrast to the construction din that echoed there for years. Tuners restoring the great organ often worked through the night to find the silence needed to perfect its 7,952 pipes, ranging from pen-sized to torso-wide. Notre Dame echoed to the sound of a sustained standing ovation after the showing of a short movie that documented the gargantuan rebuilding effort. Outside, the word “MERCI” — thank you — was projected against the cathedral’s iconic western facade. The movie showed the terrible wounds left by the inferno — the gaping holes torn into its vaulted ceilings and the burned roof. But that was followed by images of all types of artisans, many using traditional handicraft techniques, who collectively restored Notre Dame to look better now than ever. "We went from night to light," said one of the workers in the movie. Macron's political woes The celebration is expected to give a much-needed boost to embattled Macron, whose prime minister was ousted this week , plunging the nation’s politics into more turmoil. The French president, who has called Notre Dame's reopening “a jolt of hope,” will address the gathering. He had hoped the occasion would briefly silence his critics and showcase France’s unity and resilience under his leadership. Macron's presidency now faces its gravest crisis after the government's collapse this week in a historic no-confidence vote that toppled Prime Minister Michel Barnier. The vote followed months of political gridlock after snap elections in June. Calls are now growing louder from opposition forces for Macron to resign. But he vowed Thursday to remain in office until the end of his term in 2027, and said he'll name a new prime minister within days. As France struggles with economic woes and social unrest, Notre Dame's rebirth celebrations form a stark contrast. Security is tight for this global event Security will be high through the weekend, echoing measures taken during the Paris Olympics earlier this year. The Île de la Cité — the small island in the River Seine that is home to Notre Dame and the historic heart of Paris— is closed to tourists and non-residents. Police vans and barriers blocked cobblestoned streets in a large perimeter around the island, while soldiers in thick body armor and sniffer dogs patrolled embankments. A special security detail is following Trump. Public viewing areas along the Seine’s southern bank will accommodate 40,000 spectators, who can follow the celebrations on large screens. For many, Notre Dame’s rebirth is not just a French achievement but a global one — after the reopening, the cathedral is set to welcome 15 million visitors annually, up from 12 million before the fire. ___ Sylvie Corbet, Yesica Brumec, Marine Lesprit and Mark Carlson in Paris contributed. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through The AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Thomas Adamson And John Leicester, The Associated Press
The developer of recently-announced virtual pet simulator game Catly has responded to allegations that the game's trailer and marketing was produced using generative AI, saying that no such technology was used in its announcement at The Game Awards, nor in the game itself. In a statement shared with IGN, a PR representative authorized to speak on behalf of developer SuperAuthenti said that generative AI was not used to produce the trailer, nor the game. Furthermore, the representative said the developer was "very surprised by such speculations," adding that "We do not think there are any existing AI tools that can produce a video like that. Industry experts have echoed this opinion." The PR representative also showed IGN a version of the trailer from The Game Awards that showed in-progress shots interspersed alongside the final version, which did seem to confirm the lack of AI use in the actual trailer production. The spokesperson confirmed to IGN that Catly is being made in Unreal Engine 5, and said the developer uses "various software" to produce hyperrealistic fur and hair. Assertions that Catly was using generative AI technology began to circulate almost immediately after its trailer debuted at The Game Awards last week. The trailer itself featured hyperrealistic cats with brightly colored fur and features bounding around a fantasy playspace and interacting with a human wearing various detailed, high fashion outfits. The art style present was flagged by many critics as reminiscent of the hyperrealistic style often produced by generative AI. That said, Catly's statement is consistent with the current reality that game trailers of this quality are not within the reach of current generative AI technology without significant, obvious artifacting and other issues. However, others pointed out that while the trailer may be legit, the other aspects of Catly's promotion are still giving some off vibes. For instance, the game's Steam description awkwardly reads, "A Cat Open World, with Beautiful Cats. Hyperrealism, Actions, Cuddle, Speed, Islands, Fashion, Dreams, Snow, Robots, Plants -- all with and via Cats." And a few of the game's promotional art pieces had odd details similar to AI artifacting, such as the odd paws and nose of this cat: And the text on the wall inside the right-hand side of the building in this image: Others unearthed more images from the official Catly website that appear to raise even more questions about their veracity. Notably, the Catly website was down as recently as Friday, and remained offline over the weekend through today when we reached out to SuperAuthenti to ask about it. The website has since been reinstated, but a number of the old images have been removed. While SuperAuthenti confirmed to me that it did not use generative AI in either the trailer or the game itself, it did not respond to my question about its promotional images on Steam or on its website. As for web3, speculation of the game's ties to the technology surfaced as individuals unearthed the studio co-founder, Kevin Yeung's, ties to other blockchain games . Additionally, the game's Steam page features a glowing quote from League of Legends and Arcane producer Thomas Vu, who himself is a prominent web3 investor. However, it also contained a quote from Hearthstone and Marvel Snap creator Ben Brode, who has taken to Bluesky to say that he's heard nothing about either AI generation or web3 involved in Catly, and that his interest is sincere. "I saw 20 [minutes] or so of gameplay footage a few months back and thought it looked cool so they asked me for a quote," he wrote . For now, it does seem that SuperAuthenti is telling the truth about the Catly trailer at The Game Awards, though the question of whether or not, or how much, generative AI has been used in Catly's overall development and promotion remains to be seen. Generative AI is becoming an increasingly popular tool for game companies, too. Call of Duty reportedly sold an "AI-generated cosmetic" for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 in late 2023, and fans accused Activision of using generative AI again for a loading screen this year . EA said in September that AI was "the very core" of its business . Unfortunately, as the technology becomes both more prevalent and more complex, it seems likely it will become increasingly difficult to tell the difference between AI-generated and human-crafted work. In Catly's case, we'll have to wait for 2025 to find out more about what exactly is behind those hauntingly rainbow cat eyes from the trailer. Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.Ambient Scientific unveils first ever AI module powered by a coin cell battery
DETROIT (AP) — Si Donald Trump cumple su amenaza de imponer aranceles de 25% a todas las importaciones procedentes de México y Canadá, los consiguientes aumentos de precios chocarían con su promesa de campaña de dar un respiro a las familias estadounidenses frente a la inflación. Distintos economistas indican que las empresas no tendrían más opción que trasladar los costos adicionales, lo que elevaría drásticamente los precios de alimentos, ropa, automóviles, bebidas alcohólicas y otros bienes. El presidente electo planteó la idea de los aranceles, que incluirían un 10% adicional a los bienes procedentes de China, como una forma de obligar a los países a detener el flujo de migrantes y drogas hacia Estados Unidos. Pero sus publicaciones del lunes en Truth Social, donde amenaza con imponer los aranceles en el primer día de su mandato, podrían ser sólo una táctica de negociación para que los países cambien su conducta. Los altos precios de los alimentos fueron un problema importante por el que los votantes eligieron a Trump sobre la vicepresidenta Kamala Harris, pero los aranceles casi seguramente los elevarían aún más. RELATED COVERAGE Rudy Giuliani es reprendido por acusar a juez de injusticia en caso de activos Hombre declarado culpable de sujetar a adolescente mientras era violado en un centro juvenil en 1998 Subasta en línea de licores confiscados incluye botellas raras de bourbon de Kentucky Por ejemplo, la Asociación de Distribuidores de Productos, un grupo comercial de Washington, dijo el martes que los aranceles aumentarán los precios de frutas y verduras frescas, y perjudicarán a los agricultores estadounidenses cuando otros países tomen represalias. “Los aranceles distorsionan el mercado y elevarán los precios en la cadena de suministro, lo cual hará que el consumidor pague más”, dijo Alan Siger, presidente de la asociación. México y Canadá son dos de los mayores exportadores de frutas y verduras frescas a Estados Unidos. En 2022, México proporcionó 51% de las frutas frescas y 69% de las verduras frescas importadas por valor a Estados Unidos, mientras que Canadá suministró 2% de las frutas frescas y 20% de las verduras frescas. Antes de las elecciones, alrededor de 7 de cada 10 votantes dijeron que estaban muy preocupados por el costo de los alimentos, según AP VoteCast, una encuesta realizada entre más de 120.000 votantes. “Los bajaremos”, les dijo Trump en septiembre a los compradores durante una visita a un supermercado en Pensilvania. Estados Unidos es el mayor importador de bienes del mundo, y México, China y Canadá son sus tres principales proveedores, según los datos más recientes del censo de Estados Unidos. Las personas que deseen comprar un vehículo nuevo seguramente también verían grandes aumentos de precios, en un momento en que los costos han subido tanto que están fuera del alcance de muchos. El precio promedio de un vehículo nuevo en Estados Unidos ahora ronda los 48.000 dólares. Cerca de 15% de los 15,6 millones de vehículos nuevos vendidos en Estados Unidos el año pasado provino de México, mientras que 8% cruzó la frontera desde Canadá, según Global Data. Gran parte de los aranceles se trasladarían a los consumidores, a menos que los fabricantes de automóviles puedan encontrar rápidamente mejoras en la productividad para compensarlos, dijo C.J. Finn, líder del sector automotriz de Estados Unidos de PwC. Eso significa que aún más consumidores podrían no contar con los recursos para comprar un vehículo nuevo, dijo Finn. Los más afectados serían Volkswagen, Stellantis, General Motors y Ford, escribió el martes el analista de Bernstein, Daniel Roeska, en una nota a los inversores. “Un arancel de 25% a México y Canadá paralizaría gravemente la industria automotriz de Estados Unidos”, afirmó. Los aranceles perjudicarían tan gravemente la producción industrial de Estados Unidos que “esperamos que esto no suceda en la práctica”, dijo Roeska. La amenaza de aranceles afectó a las acciones de las empresas automotrices el martes, particularmente las de GM —que importa de Canadá y México alrededor del 30% de los vehículos que vende en Estados Unidos— y de Stellantis, que importa alrededor del 40% de los dos países. Para ambos, alrededor del 55% de sus lucrativas camionetas pickup provienen de México y Canadá. Las acciones de GM perdieron casi 9% de su valor, mientras que Stellantis cayó casi 6%. No se sabe cuánto tiempo durarían los aranceles en caso de implementarse, pero podrían obligar a los ejecutivos automotrices a trasladar la producción a Estados Unidos, lo que podría crear más empleos a largo plazo. Sin embargo, el analista de Morningstar, David Whiston, dijo que, a corto plazo, los fabricantes de automóviles probablemente no harán ningún movimiento porque no pueden cambiar rápidamente el sitio donde construyen los vehículos. Millones de dólares en autopartes cruzan las fronteras con México y Canadá, y eso podría elevar los precios de las ya costosas reparaciones de automóviles, dijo Finn. El Consejo de Bebidas Espirituosas Destiladas de Estados Unidos dijo que los aranceles al tequila o al whisky canadiense no impulsarán la creación de empleos en Estados Unidos porque son productos distintivos que sólo pueden fabricarse en su país de origen. En 2023, Estados Unidos importó de México 4.600 millones de dólares en tequila y 108 millones en mezcal, así como 537 millones en bebidas espirituosas de Canadá, dijo el consejo. “Los aranceles a los productos destilados de nuestros vecinos del norte y del sur perjudicarán a los consumidores estadounidenses y generarán pérdidas de empleo en toda la industria de la hostelería de Estados Unidos”, dijo el consejo en un comunicado. El minorista de electrónica Best Buy dijo en su conferencia de resultados del tercer trimestre que opera con estrechos márgenes de ganancia, por lo que, aunque los proveedores y la empresa asumirán algunos aumentos, Best Buy tendrá que trasladar los aranceles a los clientes. “Son bienes que la gente necesita, y los aumentos de precios no ayudan”, dijo la directora general Corie Barry. Walmart también advirtió esta semana que los aranceles podrían obligarle a subir los precios. Los aranceles podrían desencadenar interrupciones en la cadena de suministro debido a que las personas comprarían bienes antes de que se impongan y las empresas buscarían fuentes alternas de piezas, dijo Rob Handfield, profesor de gestión de cadenas de suministro en la Universidad Estatal de Carolina del Norte. Algunas empresas quizás no puedan trasladar los costos. “Podría cerrar muchas industrias en Estados Unidos. Podría hacer quebrar a muchas empresas estadounidenses”, dijo. El primer ministro canadiense Justin Trudeau, quien habló con Trump después de que anunció los aranceles, dijo que tuvieron una buena conversación sobre trabajar juntos. “Esta es una relación que sabemos que requiere cierto trabajo y eso es lo que haremos”, dijo Trudeau. Las amenazas de Trump llegan en un momento en que las detenciones por cruzar ilegalmente la frontera desde México han estado disminuyendo. Pero las detenciones por cruzar ilegalmente la frontera desde Canadá han estado aumentando durante los últimos dos años. Gran parte del fentanilo de Estados Unidos se contrabandea desde México, y las incautaciones han aumentado. Trump tiene una justificación legal sólida para imponer aranceles, aunque entran en conflicto con un acuerdo comercial de 2020 negociado en gran parte por Trump con Canadá y México, dijo William Reinsch, asesor sénior en el Centro de Estudios Estratégicos e Internacionales y exfuncionario comercial de la administración Clinton. El tratado, conocido como T-MEC, está sujeto a revisión en 2026. En el caso de China, podría simplemente declarar que Beijing no ha cumplido con las obligaciones bajo un acuerdo que negoció en su primer mandato. Para Canadá y México, podría decir que la afluencia de migrantes y drogas es una amenaza para la seguridad nacional y recurrir a una sección de la ley comercial que utilizó en su primer mandato para imponer aranceles al acero y al aluminio. La ley que más probablemente usaría para Canadá y México tiene un proceso legal que a menudo tarda hasta nueve meses, lo que daría a Trump tiempo para buscar un acuerdo. Si las negociaciones fallaran y se impusieran los aranceles, es casi seguro que los tres países tomen represalias con aranceles sobre las exportaciones estadounidenses, dijo Reinsch, quien cree que la amenaza de aranceles de Trump es una táctica de negociación. Las empresas estadounidenses harían un intenso cabildeo contra los aranceles y buscarían que se eximieran productos. Algunos de los mayores exportadores desde México son empresas estadounidenses que fabrican piezas allí, dijo Reinsch. Mary Lovely, investigadora sénior del Instituto Peterson de Economía Internacional, dijo que, a largo plazo, la amenaza de aranceles podría hacer de Estados Unidos un “socio inestable” en el comercio internacional. “Es un incentivo para trasladar la actividad fuera de Estados Unidos para evitar toda esta incertidumbre”, dijo. Los funcionarios del equipo de transición de Trump no respondieron de momento a preguntas sobre qué necesitaría ver para no aplicar los aranceles y cómo afectarían éstos los precios en Estados Unidos. La presidenta mexicana Claudia Sheinbaum sugirió el martes que México podría tomar represalias con sus propios aranceles. Sheinbaum dijo que estaba dispuesta a hablar sobre los problemas, pero dijo que las drogas eran un problema de Estados Unidos. ___ Rugaber informó desde Washington. Los periodistas de The Associated Press Dee-Ann Durbin en Detroit, Stan Choe y Anne D’Innocenzio en Nueva York, y Rob Gillies en Toronto contribuyeron a este despacho. ___ Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.Experts suggest how to survive a post-election Thanksgiving gathering; ‘There might be a difference of opinion, but this is your family’
Zoho partners with KeNIC to empower Kenya’s .ke domain customersST Picks: Celebrating Christmas with strangers
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Cam Skattebo and Arizona State are on quite a run in their Big 12 debut after being the preseason pick to finish at the bottom of the conference. Now the Sun Devils will represent their new 16-team league in the 12-team College Football Playoff after a 45-19 win over Iowa State in the Big 12 championship game Saturday. The tough-running Skattebo had 170 yards rushing, including a 28-yard gain on the first offensive snap. There were long, tackle-evading runs to open the two drives he ended with short touchdowns, and he later turned a short pass into another score. “I've got the best seat in the house,” said Sam Leavitt, the freshman quarterback who hands off to Skattebo. “Get ready for a gain of 5 or whatever, and I just see the dude kind of weaving through some traffic ... and busts loose." The Sun Devils (11-2, No. 15 CFP), with their 34-year-old head coach Kenny Dillingham, take a six-game winning streak into the playoff. Iowa State (10-3, No. 16 CFP), which already had the first 10-win season in the program’s 133-year history, trailed 24-10 before turnovers in its own territory on its first three drives after halftime. Arizona State capitalized with Leavitt throwing touchdowns each time. “It doesn’t get that much more deflating than that,” Cyclones coach Matt Campbell said. “Their ability to take care of the football and our inability to do that in the third quarter was just paralyzing.” Skattebo struck the Heisman Trophy pose multiple times during the game, and he wore a Big 12 championship T-shirt afterward. “Nobody respects the fact that I’m the best running back in the country. And I’m going to stand on that,” he said. “I'm going to keep proving people wrong. And whatever NFL team takes me is going to get a gem.” That can wait until after Arizona State's guaranteed playoff spot as one of the five highest-ranked conference champions. The Sun Devils almost certainly will rank below Mountain West champion Boise State (12-1, No 10). That would give the Broncos a first-round bye and send the Sun Devils on the road for a first-round game, much to the dismay of Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark , who before the title game re-iterated his feelings about that. “Last year, they left a team out because of a quarterback (then-undefeated Florida State). We're 11-1 with our starting quarterback, having beat four ranked teams and we won the Big 12 championship,” Dillingham said. “We made a standard that the quarterback is that valuable ... I definitely think we should host a game.” Xavier Guillory had TD catches of 8 and 21 yards in a 71-second span after the Iowa State turnovers. Skattebo then turned a third-down swing pass into a 33-yard score for a 45-10 lead that he punctuated with one of his Heisman poses. Skattebo's 2,074 yards from scrimmage (1,568 rushing and 506 receiving) are a single-season school record. Before his 3-yard TD, Skattebo had a 47-yard run when he spun away at the line from defenders, then shrugged off others. He had a 2-yard score in the final minute of the first half after a 53-yard run, again after contact at the line before twisting and turning through chasing Cyclones. “He’s an ‘A’ player, and he played an ‘A’ game today,” Campbell said. “In these moments, you need your ‘A’ players to play ‘A’ football, and he certainly did it.” Even without injured leading receiver Jordan Tyson , the Sun Devils had plenty of big plays. Leavitt's first pass was a 22-yarder to Melquan Stovall, who later had a 63-yard catch to convert a fourth-and-1. Arizona State had six plays of more than 20 yards — all in the first half, when the longest play by Iowa State was 19 yards. The Cyclones' got a late 25-yard TD pass from Rocco Becht to Jaylin Noel, one of their two 1,000-yard receivers. Tyson, who had 624 yards receiving in five November games, injured his left arm in the second half of the regular-season finale against Arizona. Becht has thrown TD passes in 17 consecutive game. His 3-yarder to Carson Hansen on the Cyclones' opening drive gave them their only lead at 7-3. Becht completed 21 of 35 pass for 214 yards and two TDs. Arizona State has its first outright conference title since winning the Pac-10 in 1996. After going 3-9 in their final Pac-12 season, the Sun Devils' eight-win improvement is a school record — the previous was five. Arizona State and Indiana (11-1) are the only FBS schools with eight-win improvements over last year. Iowa State got into November undefeated for the first time since 1938. The Cyclones then lost back-to-back games before winning three in a row to get into their second Big 12 title game. They lost to Oklahoma in the 2020 game. Arizona State finds out Sunday who and where it will start the playoff. Iowa State waits for its bowl destination, likely either the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio or the Pop Tarts Bowl in Orlando. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The archbishop of Paris re-opened Notre Dame cathedral on Saturday by symbolically knocking on the doors and entering the 12th-century landmark which has been restored after a devastating fire in 2019. Wearing new designer vestments and carrying a staff cut from one of the roof beams that survived the inferno, Laurent Ulrich joined hundreds of VIPs inside the Gothic masterpiece for a two-hour ceremony. Ulrich commanded the cathedral to "open your doors" and he entered the magnificently-restored edifice. US President-elect Donald Trump sat on the front row as guest of honour next to French President Emmanuel Macron, with invitees marvelling at the freshly cleaned walls, new furniture and state-of-the-art lightening installed as part of the cathedral's overhaul. Outside, small crowds of Parisians and tourists braved wet weather and high winds to witness the renaissance of a beloved monument which came close to being totally destroyed by the inferno that toppled its roof and spire. "I find it really beautiful, even more so now that the spire has been restored," Marie Jean, a 27-year-old dentist from southwest France, told AFP outside. The reconstruction effort has cost around 700 million euros ($750 million), financed from donations, with the re-opening achieved within a five-year deadline set by Macron despite predictions it could take decades. Workers had to overcome problems with lead pollution, the Covid-19 epidemic, and the army general overseeing the project falling to his death while hiking in the Pyrenees last year. It is "a cathedral like we have never seen before," Philippe Jost, who took over as project manager last year, told Franceinfo radio, adding that he was proud to "show the whole world" a "great collective success and a source of pride for all of France". Saturday's service will feature prayer, organ music and hymns from the cathedral's choir. A public concert planned in front of the cathedral featuring Chinese piano virtuoso Lang Lang and possibly US singer and fashion designer Pharrell Williams had to be pre-recorded on Friday night because of the stormy weather. ‘Do the impossible’ Held up as an example of French creativity and resilience by Macron, Notre Dame's renaissance so soon after the fire comes at a difficult time for the country. The sense of national accomplishment in restoring a symbol of Paris has been undercut by political turmoil that has left France without a proper government since last week when prime minister Michel Barnier lost a confidence vote. Macron is hoping the re-opening might provide a fleeting sense of national pride and unity -- as the Paris Olympics did in July and August. The scale of the immense security operation also recalls the Olympics -- with some 6,000 police officers and gendarmes mobilised. The re-opening "is the proof that we know how to do grand things, we know how to do the impossible" Macron said Thursday in a televised address to the country. He is set to address the congregation during Saturday's ceremony. Trump show? Macron has scored a major coup by attracting incoming US president Donald Trump for his first foreign trip since his re-election. Another 40 heads of state and government are also present, including Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, who was given a round of applause as he entered Notre Dame, as well as British heir to the throne, Prince William. Macron hosted three-way talks with Zelensky and Trump at the presidential palace shortly before the ceremony, with future US military support for Ukraine's war effort against Russia's invasion expected to have been discussed. Trump has vowed to force an end to the nearly three-year Ukraine war when he takes office, sparking fears in Kyiv that he will force Ukraine to make territorial concessions to Russia which Zelensky is resisting. "It seems like the world is going a little crazy right now and we will be talking about that," Trump told reporters as he prepared to sit down for talks with Macron. One surprising absentee on Saturday was Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church. He sent a message addressed to the French people which is set to be read out. The exact cause of the 2019 blaze has never been identified despite a forensic investigation by prosecutors, who believe an accident such as an electrical fault was the most likely reason. On Sunday, the first mass with 170 bishops and more than 100 Paris priests will take place at 10:30 am (0930 GMT), followed by a second service in the evening at 6:30 pm which will be open to the public.By Sheria Brathwaite The chicken shortage in Barbados is officially over, Minister of Agriculture Indar Weir said Friday, giving an assurance that there will be an abundance of fresh poultry on supermarket shelves for Christmas. Weir told Barbados TODAY that since November 18, poultry stock was gradually being replenished, but as of this week, there was so much chicken available that at least one retail outlet had to delay an order. He said: “From the 18th of November we would have seen a significant improvement in the availability of fresh chicken on the supermarket shelves and that has remained constant. We have more chicken available to the supermarkets than they anticipated. I was told that one supermarket had to put off one of its orders because the shelves are so packed that they can’t keep up.” There were low supplies of chicken in retail outlets since mid-August, and the situation worsened as weeks passed. Industry officials announced that the sector was experiencing challenges associated with the sweltering heat and other production problems. Scores of consumers complained about sourcing poultry on radio programmes and social media. Food vendors and the management of many supermarket chains also vented their frustrations about the unavailability of chicken, with the latter, in some cases, putting restrictions on how many chickens customers could buy. The shortage affected the fast-food industry, and some chains were forced to close periodically. You Might Be Interested In Crystal Beckles-Holder, 2nd runner up in regional competition GUYANA: Body of child found after gold mine collapses Barbadians asked to help with return tickets for Haitians Weir said that this development should alleviate any fear that there would be a chicken shortage for the holidays and for the government-sponsored We Gatherin’ celebrations that are intended to attract Barbadians overseas. “Consumers will have chicken consistently going into Christmas; there should be no talk about shortages of chicken anymore. I sincerely hope that this situation continues as we go into next year and as we supply for ‘We Gatherin’ throughout the year.” Weir added that the meat on the shelves was not imported. “All of the chicken on the shelves are locally labelled; we don’t put imported chicken on supermarket shelves.” The minister said he was pleased about the rebound the poultry industry was making. Weir said: “We have to give and take; I find that many times we are often too fast to criticise and don’t take time to understand the issues and this is not a good thing for our country. The poultry producers, whilst it is true that they should be held accountable for what took place, you cannot rule out the climate crisis. It is just not impacted Barbados, it is impacting the region and it is having a global impact. The poultry industry was impacted by the climate crisis where the mortality rates were higher than they have ever been. Then there were issues as it relates to management practices and feed and other variables that none of us were able to control. “While people were not happy that there wasn’t a consistent supply of chicken on supermarket shelves, you cannot blame the government for those kinds of things. This is strictly all private sector operation and my role is to facilitate and support them as much as I can and that is what we [as a government] have been doing. We have made funds available for people to transition their businesses to be able to adapt to climate change, support them with training and put structures in place that they can benefit from.” To significantly reduce the possibility of another shortage, Weir said that the industry, in association with the ministry and the Barbados Agricultural Society, launched an app to keep industry players well informed about the goings-on in the sector. “We have an app in place that will be used for the poultry industry and generally for agriculture as well,” the minister said. “It will tell us on a daily basis what is happening in the poultry industry so that we can get ahead of any challenges that may be presented and we can also monitor the daily hatches, the quantity of orders from small farmers, and how many have dropped out. That type of critical data we are now going to have to hand and that should help us to mitigate a repeat of the shortage we just saw.” sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb
JERUSALEM — Israel approved a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon's Hezbollah militants on Tuesday that would end nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the war in the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire, starting at 4 a.m. local time Wednesday, would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza , where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable. Hours before the ceasefire with Hezbollah was to take effect, Israel carried out the most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs since the start of the conflict and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. At least 42 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities. Another huge airstrike shook Beirut shortly after the ceasefire was announced. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh, in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. There appeared to be lingering disagreement over whether Israel would have the right to strike Hezbollah if it believed the militants had violated the agreement, something Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted was part of the deal but which Lebanese and Hezbollah officials have rejected. Israel's security Cabinet approved the U.S.-France-brokered ceasefire agreement after Netanyahu presented it, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement “good news” and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. The Biden administration spent much of this year trying to broker a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza but the talks repeatedly sputtered to a halt . President-elect Donald Trump vowed to bring peace to the Middle East without saying how. Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year. In this screen grab image from video provide by the Israeli Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a televised statement Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Jerusalem, Israel. Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed accomplishments against Israel’s enemies across the region. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” he said. “For every violation, we will attack with might.” The ceasefire deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor compliance. Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal "was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” A police bomb squad officer inspects the site where a rocket fired from Lebanon landed in a backyard in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024. Netanyahu’s office said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but “reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.” Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the ceasefire and described it as a crucial step toward stability and the return of displaced people. Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state," he said, referring to Israel's demand for freedom of action. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” Rescuers and residents search for victims Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Beirut, Lebanon. Even as ceasefire efforts gained momentum in recent days, Israel continued to strike what it called Hezbollah targets across Lebanon while the militants fired rockets, missiles and drones across the border. An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in central Beirut — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Israel also struck a building in Beirut's bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanon’s Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it struck targets linked to Hezbollah's financial arm. The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously were not targeted. The warnings sent residents fleeing. Traffic was gridlocked, with mattresses tied to some cars. Dozens of people, some wearing pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed overhead. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said peacekeepers will not evacuate. Israeli soldiers inspect the site Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024, where a rocket fired from Lebanon landed in a backyard in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel. The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few miles from the Israeli border. Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 20 miles north of the border. Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have exchanged barrages ever since. Israeli security officers and army soldiers inspect the site Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024, where a rocket fired from Lebanon landed in a backyard in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel. Israel escalated its bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the country’s north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon. Chehayeb and Mroue reported from Beirut and Federman from Jerusalem. Associated Press reporters Lujain Jo and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed. 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.Qatar economy continues significant QNV 2030-steered milestonesMystery drone sightings continue in New Jersey and across the US. Here's what we know