luckycola download
AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:11 p.m. ESTIf Benjamin Netanyahu stepped foot in Canada, he would be arrested, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed on Thursday after the International Criminal Court (ICC) Also included in the warrant are Netanyahu’s former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and a Hamas leader. Trudeau was in Newmarket on Thursday to make a when a reporter reminded him that under the warrants, Canadian law enforcement would be obligated to arrest Netanyahu if he entered the country. When asked if he would allow the arrest to happen, he replied: “As Canada has always said, it’s really important that everyone abide by international law, this is something we have been calling on since the beginning of the conflict,” a grim-looking Trudeau replied. “We are one of the founding members of the International Criminal Court (ICC),” he added. “We stand up for international law and we will abide by all the regulations and rulings of the international courts. This is just who we are as Canadians.” The announcement quickly drew both praise and condemnation. “We are ashamed that Canada would align itself with such a politicized decision,” the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs wrote in a social media post. “By doing so, Canada undermines international law, strains its alliance with the U.S., and harms its relationship with Israel. This decision erodes Canada’s role as a principled advocate for fairness and justice on the global stage.” The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) applauded Trudeau’s backing of ICC — the world’s top war-crimes court. “Today, the Prime Minister took a step in this direction by accepting that Canada would recognize these ICC arrest warrants. This means that Netanyahu and Gallant would be arrested if they stepped foot in Canada. This is an important moment. Canada has chosen to do the right thing.” The warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant allege Israel has used food as a weapon in its campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Israeli officials deny that charge. The court also issued an arrest warrant for Mohammed Deif — the head of Hamas’ armed wing for his role in the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. Netanyahu, meanwhile, was quick to condemn the arrest warrant against him, saying Israel “rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions” by the court. In a statement released by his office, he said: “There is nothing more just than the war that Israel has been waging in Gaza.”Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey, listed as questionable due to a shoulder issue, is expected to play Monday night against the visiting Baltimore Ravens, NFL Network reported. McConkey missed practice on Thursday and was limited on Friday and Saturday. Star linebacker Khalil Mack, who was questionable because of a groin injury and was a limited participant, also is expected to play, according to the report. The Chargers (7-3) made several moves Monday ahead of the game against the Ravens (7-4), placing tight end Hayden Hurst (hip) on injured reserve, activating cornerback Deane Leonard (hamstring) off IR, signing cornerback Eli Apple from the practice to the active squad, and elevating linebacker Caleb Murphy and safety Tony Jefferson for game day. McConkey, 23, has started nine of 10 games and has 43 receptions on 63 targets for 615 yards and four touchdowns. The Chargers drafted the 6-foot, 185-pound McConkey in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Georgia. Mack, 33, is a three-time first-team All-Pro, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He has started the nine games he has played and has 26 tackles and 4.5 sacks this season. For his career, Mack has 617 tackles, 106 sacks, 141 tackles for loss, 178 quarterback hits, three interceptions -- two returned for touchdowns -- 32 forced fumbles and 13 fumble recoveries in 160 games (159 starts). He has played for the Raiders (2014-17), Chicago Bears (2018-21) and Chargers. Hurst, 31, has started two of seven games in his first season with the Chargers. He has seven receptions on 12 targets for 65 yards. A first-round pick (25th overall) by Baltimore in the 2018 NFL Draft out of South Carolina, Hurst has 202 receptions for 1,967 yards and 15 TDs in 86 games (41 starts) for the Ravens (2018-19), Atlanta Falcons (2020-21), Cincinnati Bengals (2022), Carolina Panthers (2023) and Chargers. Apple, 29, has two tackles in three games this season, his first with the Chargers. The 10th overall selection in the 2016 draft, Apple has 383 career tackles and six interceptions in 101 games (82 starts) for the New York Giants (2016-18), New Orleans Saints (2018-19), Panthers (2020), Bengals (2021-22), Miami Dolphins (2023) and Chargers. Leonard, who turned 25 last Tuesday, has four tackles in four games this season. His 21-day practice window on IR opened Wednesday. --Field Level Media
A report from the charity on hurricanes, floods, typhoons and storms influenced by climate change warns that the top 10 disasters each cost more than 4 billion US dollars in damage (£3.2 billion). The figures are based mostly on insured losses, so the true costs are likely to be even higher, Christian Aid said, as it called for action to cut greenhouse gas emissions and finance for poor countries to cope with climate change. Politicians who “downplay the urgency of the climate crisis only serve to harm their own people and cause untold suffering around the world”, climate expert Joanna Haigh said. While developed countries feature heavily in the list of costliest weather extremes, as they have higher property values and can afford insurance, the charity also highlighted another 10 disasters which did not rack up such costs but were just as devastating, often hitting poorer countries. Most extreme weather events show “clear fingerprints” of climate change, which is driving more extreme weather events, making them more intense and frequent, experts said. The single most costly event in 2024 was Hurricane Milton, which scientists say was made windier, wetter and more destructive by global warming, and which caused 60 billion US dollars (£48 billion) of damage when it hit the US in October. That is closely followed by Hurricane Helene, which cost 55 billion US dollars (£44 billion) when it hit the US, Mexico and Cuba just two weeks before Milton in late September. The US was hit by so many costly storms throughout the year that even when hurricanes are removed, other storms cost more than 60 billion US dollars in damage, the report said. Three of the costliest 10 climate extremes hit Europe, including the floods from Storm Boris which devastated central European countries in September and deadly flooding in Valencia in October which killed 226 people. In other parts of the world, floods in June and July in China killed 315 people and racked up costs of 15.6 billion US dollars (£12.4 billion), while Typhoon Yagi, which hit south-west Asia in September, killed more than 800 people and cost 12.6 billion dollars (£10 billion). Events which were not among the most costly in financial terms but which have still been devastating include Cyclone Chido which hit Mayotte in December and may have killed more than 1,000 people, Christian Aid said. Meanwhile, heatwaves affected 33 million people in Bangladesh and worsened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, flooding affected 6.6 million people in West Africa and the worst drought in living memory affected more than 14 million in Zambia, Malawi, Namibia and Zimbabwe, the charity said. Christian Aid chief executive Patrick Watt said: “There is nothing natural about the growing severity and frequency of droughts, floods and storms. “Disasters are being supercharged by decisions to keep burning fossil fuels, and to allow emissions to rise. “And they’re being made worse by the consistent failure to deliver on financial commitments to the poorest and most climate-vulnerable countries. “In 2025 we need to see governments leading, and taking action to accelerate the green transition, reduce emissions, and fund their promises.” Dr Mariam Zachariah, World Weather Attribution researcher who analyses extreme events in near-real time to discern the role of climate change, at Imperial College London, said: “This report is just a snapshot of climate devastation in 2024. “There are many more droughts, heatwaves, wildfires and floods not included that are becoming more frequent and intense. “Most of these disasters show clear fingerprints of climate change. “Extreme weather is clearly causing incredible suffering in all corners of the world. Behind the billion-dollar figures are lost lives and livelihoods.” And Prof Haigh, emeritus professor of atmospheric physics at Imperial College London, said: “The economic impact of these extreme weather events should be a wake-up call. “The good news is that ever-worsening crises doesn’t have to be our long-term future. “The technologies of a clean energy economy exist, but we need leaders to invest in them and roll them out at scale.” The 10 costliest climate disasters of 2024 were: – US storms, December to January, more than 60 billion US dollars; – Hurricane Milton in the US, October 9-13, 60 billion US dollars (£48 billion); – Hurricane Helene in the US, Mexico, Cuba, 55 billion US dollars (£44 billion); – China floods, June 9-July 14, 15.6 billion US dollars (£12.4 billion); – Typhoon Yagi, which hit south-west Asia from September 1 to 9, 12.6 billion US dollars (£10 billion); – Hurricane Beryl, in the US, Mexico and Caribbean islands from July 1-11, 6.7 billion US dollars (£5.3 billion); – Storm Boris in central Europe, September 12-16, 5.2 billion US dollars (£4.1 billion); – Rio Grande do Sul floods in Brazil, April 28-May 3, 5 billion US dollars (£4 billion); – Bavaria floods, Germany, June 1-7, 4.45 billion US dollars (£3.5 billion); – Valencia floods, Spain, on October 29, 4.22 billion US dollars (£3.4 billion).LAS VEGAS — (Nasdaq: RMNI), a global provider of end-to-end enterprise software support and innovation solutions, the leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP, and VMware software, today announced , a single-pane-of-glass management tool that unifies and simplifies the administration and monitoring of Rimini ConnectTM, Rimini Street’s industry-leading suite of interoperability solutions. Immediately available for and for additional Rimini Connect solutions in the future, Rimini Connect Console is the latest advancement in Rimini Street’s interoperability solutions suite which are designed to extend the useful life of existing systems by insulating applications from changes in dynamic technology stacks and compatibility standards that may otherwise require costly upgrades or custom development. Rimini Connect Console unifies and automates several important capabilities into one centralized management tool, including: “Maintaining application interoperability with constant updates to dynamic technology stacks is a challenging, costly and never-ending effort that consumes potentially millions of dollars in forced software upgrades or development of custom, highly technical solutions,” said Desmond Whitt, vice president & general manager of Rimini Connect, adding that “Rimini Connect solutions future-proof your enterprise software against interoperability issues and Rimini Connect Console is designed to unify and streamline the monitoring and management of Rimini Connect solutions at scale, beginning with Rimini Connect for Browsers.” Built on Rimini Street’s experience of successfully resolving thousands of compatibility issues for clients since 2005, Rimini Connect provides a suite of seamless interoperability solutions that can resolve compatibility issues without requiring an upgrade of your core enterprise software. For example, Rimini Connect for Browsers enables IT teams to implement the latest releases of browsers without delay or worry of negative impact to current application releases. It also strategically decouples existing enterprise software from technology stack version dependencies, providing the flexibility needed for organizations to take control of their IT roadmap. , a leading Australian retailer with over 167 stores nationwide and already a Rimini Street client for support of their SAP systems, deployed Rimini Connect for Browsers when Microsoft announced it would retire Internet Explorer 11. They needed to ensure their mission-critical applications would not be jeopardized by the change in browser availability or require an expensive, disruptive upgrade to maintain compatibility. “This project really was a collaborative experience with the Rimini Street team.... For us, it was about making this transition as seamlessly as possible without any interruption to business, and Rimini Street helped us achieve that,” said Michael Howard, chief operating officer at Officeworks. Known for helping clients maximize the potential of their IT investments, gain flexibility, and enjoy better support and savings from a trusted partner, Rimini Street continues to invest in interoperability solutions like Rimini Connect Console that help clients at scale to future-proof and extend the useful lifespan of their existing, robust systems without worrying about changing compatibility standards. “Rimini Connect Console is the latest of our continuously expanding offerings to help organizations achieve their goal of growth and profitability while reducing risk,” said Whitt. “We not only help extend the life of systems, we also help make it easier to manage them, lessening overhead costs and freeing teams to focus on higher value priorities for the business.” Learn more about how to remove interoperability challenges without upgrades by choosing . Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), a Russell 2000® Company, is a global provider of end-to-end enterprise software support and innovation solutions and the leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP and VMware software. The Company offers a comprehensive portfolio of unified solutions to run, manage, support, customize, configure, connect, protect, monitor, and optimize enterprise application, database, and technology software. The Company has signed thousands of contracts with Fortune Global 100, Fortune 500, midmarket, public sector and government organizations who selected Rimini Street as their trusted, proven mission-critical enterprise software solutions provider and achieved better operational outcomes, realized billions of US dollars in savings and funded AI and other innovation investments. To learn more, please visit , and connect with Rimini Street on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Certain statements included in this communication are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “currently,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seem,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would” or other similar words, phrases or expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our expectations of future events, future opportunities, global expansion and other growth initiatives and our investments in such initiatives. These statements are based on various assumptions and on the current expectations of management and are not predictions of actual performance, nor are these statements of historical facts. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties regarding Rimini Street’s business, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, adverse developments in and costs associated with defending pending litigation or any new litigation, including the disposition of pending motions to appeal and any new claims; additional expenses to be incurred in order to comply with injunctions against certain of our business practices and the impact on future period revenue and costs; changes in the business environment in which Rimini Street operates, including the impact of any macro-economic trends and changes in foreign exchange rates, as well as general financial, economic, regulatory and political conditions affecting the industry in which we operate and the industries in which our clients operate; the evolution of the enterprise software management and support landscape and our ability to attract and retain clients and further penetrate our client base; significant competition in the software support services industry; customer adoption of our expanded portfolio of products and services and products and services we expect to introduce; our ability to grow our revenue, manage our cost of revenue and accurately forecast revenue; the expected impact of recent and anticipated future reductions in our workforce and associated reorganization costs; estimates of our total addressable market and expectations of client savings relative to use of other providers; variability of timing in our sales cycle; risks relating to retention rates, including our ability to accurately predict retention rates; the loss of one or more members of our management team; our ability to attract and retain additional qualified personnel, including sales personnel, and retain key personnel; our business plan, our ability to grow in the future and our ability to achieve and maintain profitability; our plans to wind down the offering of services for Oracle PeopleSoft products; the volatility of our stock price and related compliance with stock exchange requirements; our need and ability to raise equity or debt financing on favorable terms and our ability to generate cash flows from operations to help fund increased investment in our growth initiatives; risks associated with global operations; our ability to prevent unauthorized access to our information technology systems and other cybersecurity threats, protect the confidential information of our employees and clients and comply with privacy regulations; our ability to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting; our ability to maintain, protect and enhance our brand and intellectual property; changes in laws and regulations, including changes in tax laws or unfavorable outcomes of tax positions we take, a failure by us to establish adequate tax reserves, or our ability to realize benefits from our net operating losses; the impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters; our credit facility’s ongoing debt service obligations and financial and operational covenants on our business and related interest rate risk, including uncertainty from the transition to SOFR or other interest rate benchmarks; the sufficiency of our cash and cash equivalents to meet our liquidity requirements; the amount and timing of repurchases, if any, under our stock repurchase program and our ability to enhance stockholder value through such program; uncertainty as to the long-term value of Rimini Street’s equity securities; catastrophic events that disrupt our business or that of our clients; and those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Rimini Street’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on October 30, 2024, and as updated from time to time by Rimini Street’s future Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings by Rimini Street with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, forward-looking statements provide Rimini Street’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Rimini Street anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Rimini Street’s assessments to change. However, while Rimini Street may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Rimini Street specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Rimini Street’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication. Janet Ravin VP, Global Communications Rimini Street, Inc. +1 702 285-3532
Former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz has withdrawn as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general following scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation. The Republican's announcement came one day after meeting with senators in an effort to win their support for his confirmation to lead the Justice Department. Here's the latest: As incoming White House chief of staff, one of Susie Wiles ’ vexing challenges will be policing the buffet line of powerful interests who want something from Donald Trump. It’s a world she knows well. During Trump’s first presidency, she lobbied for many of them. Trump was first elected on a pledge to “drain the swamp” in Washington. But his transactional approach to the presidency instead ushered in a lobbying boom that showered allies, including Wiles, with lucrative contracts, empowered wealthy business associates and stymied his agenda after his administration was ensnared in a series of influence-peddling scandals. Now, as Trump prepares to return to power , his victory is likely to embolden those who think they can get his ear, raising the prospect that his second administration could face many of the same perils as his first. That will test the ability of Wiles to manage a growing number of high-powered figures — including Trump’s children, his son-in-law Jared Kushner and billionaires like Elon Musk — who will not be dependent on her for access to the president. ▶ Read more about Susie Wiles and her new role Vance accompanied Matt Gaetz in meetings with GOP senators on Wednesday. “I’m extremely grateful for the work Matt put into the nomination process,” the Ohio senator posted on X. “Matt is a patriot, and I look forward to seeing what he does next.” President Joe Biden still believes President-elect Donald Trump is a dangerous figure in U.S. democracy, his top spokesperson said Thursday. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said “his thinking on that has not changed” even as the Biden White House emphasizes its commitment to the “peaceful transfer of power.” Jean-Pierre told reporters there is no double-speak in Biden’s approach. Biden framed Donald Trump as a “fundamental threat” to the nation’s identity as a democracy and its stability as a global superpower when he defeated Trump in 2020. He did it as a candidate for reelection. He did it again when he dropped out and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. But Jean-Pierre said Biden recognizes the legitimacy of Trump’s election to another term, even if it’s not the result he wanted. “The American people spoke,” she said, adding that Biden wants to be an example of how to respect U.S. elections. That was an opaque reference to Trump’s refusal to accept Biden’s victory in 2020 and the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters as Congress met to affirm the results. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says she hasn’t spoken to her designated successor, Karoline Leavitt. Jean-Pierre told reporters gathered Thursday at the White House that she hopes the second Trump administration will be forthright with the public by talking to reporters. Trump’s first White House dramatically curtailed its initial interactions with the White House press corps, and Jean-Pierre said Biden and his staff “worked really hard to bring back the norms” with press briefings and interactions. “We’ve tried to do this in a very respectful way,” she said. Jean-Pierre declined to “speak to what any administration is going to do” in the future, but added that the back-and-forth with the press is part of “what democracy is all about.” In other presidential transition news, Trump is urging federal lawmakers to kill a bill that would protect journalists from having to disclose information about anonymous sources or other records obtained during reporting. The proposal that passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, but is pending in the Senate, also bars the government from requesting data from phone or email providers. The bill includes exceptions such as when there’s a reasonable threat of imminent violence or an act of terrorism. As of now, only some states grant absolute protection from disclosing sources or other records. “Republicans must kill this bill!” Trump posted on Truth Social and shared a video from PBS News Hour interviewing the CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalist, Jodie Ginsburg, talking about the proposal. Last month, The Associated Press, along with more than 100 news outlets and organizations, signed a letter authored by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press asking senators to support the bill. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre isn’t commenting on Matt Gaetz withdrawing his nomination as president-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general in the new administration. “We really, truly want to respect the transfer of power,” Jean-Pierre said Thursday during a White House press briefing, explaining her steadfast refusal to comment on Trump personnel moves. But Jean-Pierre nonetheless used the matter to take a subtle jab at how Trump, who was twice indicted by the federal government, has reacted to federal law enforcement. “Look, the president has said when it comes to investigation, that department should be independent. there should be no partisanship. There should be no loyalty to one party or the other,” she said. “The loyalty should be to the Constitution, and the loyalty should be to the rule of law.” Trump has insisted that it was Biden and his lieutenants who weaponized the Justice Department by indicting him for his role in trying to overturn Biden’s 2020 election victory and for hoarding national security documents after Trump left the White House in January 2021. That latter case has been thrown out by a Trump-appointed judge. The former case is still pending. Taken together, there are a striking number of incidents in which potential high-ranking government officials in Trump’s second administration face allegations of sexual abuse. Here’s a look at some of the cases: President-elect Donald Trump: He was found liable by a New York City jury for sexual abuse and defamation and eventually ordered to pay the woman, E. Jean Carroll , $83 million in damages. Pete Hegseth, nominee for secretary of defense: A woman told police she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave, according to a detailed investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police the encounter had been consensual and denies wrongdoing. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominee for secretary of health and human services: A woman who babysat for Kennedy and his second wife told Vanity Fair magazine he groped her in the late 1990s, when she was 23. Kennedy did not deny the allegation, telling a podcast: “I had a very, very rambunctious youth.” He texted the woman an apology after the story was published. Linda McMahon, nominee for secretary of education: A lawsuit filed last month alleges McMahon knowingly enabled sexual exploitation of children by a World Wrestling Entertainment employee as early as the 1980s. She denies the allegations. Elon Musk, Trump’s choice to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency: The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX was accused of sexual misconduct by a flight attendant contracted by SpaceX who worked on his private jet in 2016. He denied the claim. ▶ Read more about the allegations of sexual misconduct Among those who were seen as contenders before Gaetz was picked is former acting attorney general Matt Whitaker , who Trump chose earlier this week to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Other names that were floated as potential attorney general nominees include Jeff Jensen, a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey. Trump last week chose Todd Blanche , an attorney who led the legal team that defended the Republican at his hush money criminal trial , to serve as the second-highest ranking Justice Department official. Emil Bove, a former federal prosecutor, was chosen to be the principal associate deputy attorney general. An attorney who represents two women who say they were paid by Gaetz for sex says his clients are “relieved to have this chapter behind them.” “They’re grateful for the opportunity to move forward with their lives,” said Joel Leppard, whose clients testified before the House Ethics Committee. “They’re hoping that this brings final closure for all the parties involved.” Leppard revealed earlier this week details about his clients’ testimony to House Ethics Committee to release its report on the Gaetz investigation. Leppard said his clients were paid a total of $10,000 by the congressman. One of his clients testified that she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old at a party in 2017, while he was in Congress. Though Gaetz has withdrawn his name from consideration for attorney general, he isn’t Trump’s only appointee in hot water. A woman told police she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Pete Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave, according to a detailed investigative report made public late Wednesday. Hegseth, a former Fox News personality and Trump’s nominee to be defense secretary, told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing, the report said. Earlier today, Hegseth held a round of private meetings alongside incoming Vice President JD Vance in an attempt to shore up support and told reporters afterward: “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared, and that’s where I’m gonna leave it.” ▶ Read more about the allegations against Hegseth In his Nov. 13 resignation letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Gaetz said, “I hereby resign, as United States Representatives for Florida’s First Congressional District, effective immediately, and I do not intend to take the oath of office for the same office in the 119th Congress, to pursue the position of Attorney General in the Trump Administration.” He transmitted a similar letter to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the state began a special election process to fill the vacancy. Attorneys involved in a civil case brought by a Gaetz associate were notified this week that an unauthorized person accessed a file shared between lawyers that included unredacted depositions from a woman who said Gaetz had sex with her when she was 17 and a second woman who says she saw the encounter, according to attorney Joel Leppard. Leppard said that two women he represents told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017 when Gaetz was in Congress. The files the person was able to access were part of a defamation case filed by a Gaetz associate against the former representative’s onetime political ally Joel Greenberg , who pleaded guilty in 2021 to sex trafficking of a minor, and admitted that he had paid at least one underage girl to have sex with him and other men. The apparent breach was first reported Tuesday by The New York Times. Gaetz has denied all the allegations. ▶ Read more about the apparent file breach Trump had announced last week that he’d chosen Todd Blanche, an attorney who’s defended him in some of his criminal cases, to serve as deputy attorney general. That’s the second highest ranking position at the Justice Department. A former federal prosecutor, Blanche has been a key figure defended him both in the New York hush money criminal trial that ended in a conviction in May, and the federal cases brought by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said Thursday in a post on X that he believes the now-former congressman “will continue to contribute to our nation’s wellbeing for years to come.” Graham, a member of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, also said he looks forward to working with Trump “regarding future nominees to get this important job up and running.” The caption of the Instagram photo reads “The end of an era. No one loves America more than this guy.” The Florida representative was once embroiled in a sex trafficking investigation involving underage girls by the Justice Department, the very department President-elect Trump had tapped him to lead. Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and in February 2023 said the investigation ended with no federal charges against him.He was also being investigated by the House Ethics panel, but Republicans declined yesterday to release the committee’s findings over objections from Democrats in a split vote. ▶ Read more about the Justice Department’s investigation into Gaetz He had abruptly resigned from his congressional seat upon being nominated as attorney general amid a long-running House Ethics investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, which was seen as a way to halt the probe. The House Ethics panel’s Republicans declined this week to release the committee’s findings into Gaetz 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. However, Gaetz did win re-election earlier this month for the new Congress which convenes Jan. 3. But it’s unclear if he would take office. There’s also been plans for a special election in Florida for his seat. “President Trump remains committed to choosing a leader for the Department of Justice who will strongly defend the Constitution and end the weaponization of our justice system,” said Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition team. In a message on his Truth Social network, Trump also said he was looking forward to seeing what Gaetz will do next after withdrawing as his pick. “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,” Trump posted. “Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!” Matt Gaetz has just withdrawn as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general following continued scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on the former congressman’s ability to be confirmed as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officer. The Florida Republican’s announcement came one day after meeting with senators in an effort to win their support for his confirmation to lead the Justice Department. Gaetz’s withdrawal is a blow to Trump’s push to install steadfast loyalists in his incoming administration and the first sign that Trump could face resistance from members of his own party.
SOUTHERN VERMONT — Vermont News & Media will embark on a new content-sharing partnership with Thruhike (thruhike.io), an up-and-coming online travel curation companion seeking to promote Southern Vermont to visitors. Thruhike, now in its second year, helps businesses in smaller towns, villages, and cities build local community through their directory and marketplace for local travel. Thruhike seeks to restore balance to local markets by giving exceptional local spots in Southern Vermont a platform to share their story and product to traditional large-scale tourism markets. In the new partnership, Vermont News & Media will be sharing curated content focusing on local businesses, farms, restaurants, and other staff-selected locations for Thruhike to promote online. "The point is to not over-tourist things like how foliage impacts the state," says Thruhike CEO Katherine van Hengel. "We want to give travelers a well-rounded picture of what the community is, the places and products it offers, how to contribute to the local ecosystem in terms of purchasing or experiences, and how to attract weekend or day trippers coming from the larger cities in a sustainable way." Thruhike's promotion of locations and businesses in Southern Vermont will stray away from traditional and costly forms of promotion with Google or Meta advertising; instead, Thruhike seeks to foster a community of local establishments, publications, and vendors that will promote each other online in a digitized format, convenient for visitors to access. "It's all location-based; we start by collecting business listings and community voices. Publications like Vermont News & Media are already promoting businesses and local attractions, but our website is focused on a wider domestic range," continued van Hengel. Van Hengel said travel destinations and local establishments would primarily be promoted within a five-hour driving radius to tap into the day-trip and weekend-tripping audience. Thruhike has several published guides for themed self-guided tours and specialized interests online, including oyster farms and outdoor activities. Currently, the company is primarily based out of Maine but seeks to expand into Vermont to tap into underappreciated and often unnoticed markets. Another appeal Thruhike has over other advising agencies is that their content is hand-picked and curated by locals, businesses themselves, and publications like Vermont News & Media, which are deeply involved with the local environment. Vermont News & Media will share content from several publications on Thruhike's online directory, including the Vermont Country , Maturity and Homesteader magazines and the GreenMountain newsletter. Whitney Lawson, Thruhike's CMO, says that the partnership will give travelers a "trusted voice" when planning their trips to Southern Vermont. "Users come to our site because we're not just aggregating what anyone says online. We are curating the best voices in the area so everyone knows they can come to us and get trusted information from people who actually know what they're talking about in the area. There will be voice listings on the website where each of Vermont News and Media’s publications will have their own page to host content and build their community," said van Hengel. "Vermont News & Media's digital portfolio has seen tremendous growth over the past few years, with the addition of curated newsletters like GreenMountain Cannabis News, launching New England Homesteader, as well as the ongoing development of Vermont Maturity since its acquisition. The new partnership with Thruhike is an exciting addition that not only expands our reach but also enables us to generate dynamic visual and interactive content focused on Southern Vermont. This collaboration brings fresh opportunities for content sharing while integrating Thruhike's innovative technology to enhance our publications and improve the overall user experience," said Ahmad Yassir, Vermont News & Media's marketing manager. Right now, articles and business features are being selected from Vermont News & Media's content pool, which Thruhike will translate into lists and guides visitors to Vermont can readily access online. "For example, Vermont Country Magazine featured an article early this year about Stratton's diverse offerings around Stratton Mountain. It showed all the best places to eat and shop. It’s a great article, but on Thruhike, we bring it to life as an interactive digital guide . With just a few clicks, you can discover insider recommendations, view locations, reserve a table, or shop online—creating a seamless, curated experience. This transformation benefits everyone: Vermont News provides trusted local insights, while we enhance it with easy access and interactivity to make your exploration more engaging and convenient. Plus, we always link back to the original article, so you’re connected to the source while enjoying an enhanced experience on Thruhike,” explained Lawson. Thruhike has utilized social media outlets to promote local content. Lawson said that the website has started to find a lot of success by using Instagram and TikTok to understand what people want to see in the local area. A part of the reason why the Thruhike team is focusing its operations on Southern Vermont is because of the high search demand for things to do in the local area that is not matched by official outlets trying to promote the area. "Inbound traffic through search is a big reason we chose Vermont. We found that there was a lot of appetite for content and things to do in the area. The search queries were really high, but there wasn't a ton of competition out there trying to vie for that traffic. So that's where we really want to win, and we're creating bespoke experiences for each community in Southern Vermont so that when people are searching, we will have some of the content from Vermont News & Media reflected where they search," said Lawson. The partnership will allow local content to be promoted to a wider audience and will allow people to read Vermont News & Media's content when visiting Southern Vermont. "We are thrilled to partner with the dynamic team over at Thruhike. They offer a unique, curated experience that is really exciting to us," said Jordan Brechenser, publisher of Vermont News & Media. "It's really a smart strategic partnership between our two companies," said Brechenser. "Thruhike offers a unique experience for folks looking to learn more about travel and leisure in Vermont. Vermont News & Media has many products and platforms that make sense for Thruhike users. This will put Vermont News and Media's publications in front of a sizable audience who is seeking information about visiting our region." Explore the best local businesses and experiences in Southern Vermont and the surrounding communities at www.thruhike.io .
I spent 8 hours & £1k on Argos & B&Q buys to give my home a festive makeover but Storm Darragh has ruined it, I’m guttedIn context: Fujikura Ltd., founded by Zenpachi Fujikura in 1885, continues to thrive, fueled by the rapid growth of AI products and research initiatives. Originally focused on producing silk and cotton-insulated wires, the company has evolved to specialize in advanced cable systems for the modern tech industry. After barely weathering the pandemic in 2020, Fujikura is now enjoying a period of unprecedented growth in the Japanese stock market, driven by demand in AI and data center operations. The Tokyo-based company specializes in manufacturing electrical equipment, including power and telecommunication systems, optical fiber devices, and more. According to a recent Bloomberg report, Fujikura has become the best-performing stock on the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, with its share price surging over 400 percent in 2024. The company is also set to join the widely followed MSCI global stock market index. One of Fujikura's most in-demand products is its ultra-thin fiber optic cables, which boast some of the smallest diameters in the industry. These cables can be deployed in tight spaces without requiring additional tunneling, according to CFO Kazuhito Iijima. Notably, Apple is one of Fujikura's largest customers. Iijima noted that demand for data center products began surging significantly around 2022, leaving company executives puzzled at first. Now, it's clear that AI is the primary driver behind the booming business. Fujikura is projected to achieve ¥104 billion ($674 million) in operating income during the current fiscal year, marking a 17 percent year-over-year increase. A substantial 70 percent of Fujikura's revenue comes from outside Japan, with 38 percent originating from the United States. In 2020, the company faced its first loss in a decade, attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic and escalating trade tensions between the US and China. The return of the Trump administration could reignite these challenges, but Fujikura has been preparing for such scenarios. To mitigate risks, Iijima confirmed that the company has established a US-based production facility dedicated to manufacturing high-density optical fiber cables. The plant is designed to comply with the Build America Buy America Act , ensuring resilience "even if new issues arise that are disadvantageous to imported materials," Iijima stated. Looking ahead, Fujikura is preparing for emerging opportunities as global data center capacity is projected to grow by 33 percent annually through 2030, according to McKinsey & Company. The company is also exploring future markets, with nuclear fusion reactors – a potential clean energy breakthrough – seen as a promising avenue that will likely require extensive cabling solutions.
Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley became the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season on Sunday. Barkley entered the game against the visiting Dallas Cowboys needing 162 yards to join the exclusive club. He reached the milestone with a 23-yard run with about 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and Philadelphia leading 34-7. That gave him 167 for the day on 31 carries and 2,005 for the season. With one game remaining, Barkley has a chance to break Eric Dickerson's NFL single-season record of 2,105 yards, set during a 16-game season in 1984. In addition to Dickerson, the others to rush for 2,000 yards are Adrian Peterson, Jamal Lewis, Barry Sanders, Derrick Henry, Terrell Davis, Chris Johnson and O.J. Simpson. With the Eagles locked into the No. 2 seed in the NFC, it's unclear whether Barkley will play in next weekend's regular-season finale against his former team, the New York Giants. Barkley also broke LeSean McCoy's 2013 franchise record of 2,146 all-purpose yards. --Field Level MediaA MAN has revealed that he spent £1,000 and took eight hours of his time to give his home a festive makeover. But now, Harvey Wallace, who is from Shropshire, UK, has been left gutted, after Storm Darragh wreaked havoc with his Argos and B&Q display. 5 A DIY enthusiast has revealed that he spent eight hours creating the most beautiful festive display Credit: Facebook 5 But Storm Darragh has totally ruined it Credit: Facebook 5 Gutted at the damage caused, Harvey Wallace opened up to Fabulous about his festive efforts Credit: Facebook Clearly very upset, Harvey took to social media to share his frustrations, leaving many open-mouthed. Posting on BARGAIN LOVERS Poundland, Home Bargains, B&M, Primark, The Range , a public Facebook group with 608,600 members, Harvey shared a snap of his once stunning Christmas display, complete with lights, wreaths, a reindeer and three huge lit-up trees. However, he also shared images and a video of the damage caused by Storm Darragh - a rare red weather warning for strong winds, which have not only battered the UK but have even been fatal . Harvey cried: “There goes the outdoor display.” Read more Fabulous stories FLAMIN' HELL My 99p Home Bargains Christmas candle nearly set my home alight - bin yours MERRY & BRIGHT I turned my home into a Christmas paradise but trolls think it's 'tacky' Alongside a crying emoji, he added: “Bear in mind everything was fully zip tied and floor pegged down. “This storm has still somehow managed to ruin everything and snap all the lights. “Such a shame after spending eight hours doing it all.” Not only have Harvey’s lights been broken, but his trees have fallen down on the pavement too. Most read in Fabulous FOOD FOR THOUGHT People are only just realising they’ve been making beans on toast wrong MYSTIC MEG Single? You can make not just the first move, but all of them – and feel great BOY BYE My date's secret came out after I shunned his cash-for-sex offer, now I'm boysober SPARKLE SEASON Fashion fans are gushing over the new Primark partywear range Harvey tried to look on the bright side of things, but opened up to Fabulous about the effort he put in to light up his home for the festive season. He told Fabulous: “We’ve built up a few items over the past couple of years adding to the collection of decorations. The Range launches ‘no fuss’ Christmas tree that pops up instantly - but shoppers don’t hold back with their views “I would say we’ve spent around £1,000 roughly.” He explained that he nabbed three eight foot trees, an archway garland and five smaller garlands, all from B&Q. This storm has still somehow managed to ruin everything and snap all the lights Harvey Wallace He also bought two wreaths from a local garden centre and purchased his large reindeer from The Range. He splashed the cash on 4,000 lights from Tesco, also nabbed a pack of icicle lights from B&Q and even stocked up on 1,000 lights from Argos. More Christmas bargains Sainsbury's Shoppers: Christmas Bedding Bargain Discover the festive joy of Sainsbury's Christmas bedding, offering comfort and style at a bargain price. Read more Home Bargains: Christmas Pyjamas Back in Stock Get cosy this season with Home Bargains' popular Christmas pyjamas, now back in stock. Read more Home Bargains: Christmas Favourite Deal Don't miss out on Home Bargains' fantastic deal on a Christmas favourite. Read more Primark Shoppers: Screaming Over Christmas Range Featuring The Grinch Primark's Christmas range, featuring The Grinch, has shoppers excited for the festive season. Read more Shoppers Rush to Buy Personalised Christmas Stockings Grab personalised Christmas stockings at unbelievable prices, as shoppers rush to snap up these festive bargains. Read more Exact Date Aldi's Wooden Toy Range for Christmas Mark your calendars for the exact date Aldi's popular wooden toy range returns for Christmas. Read more Home Bargains Shoppers Desperate for Polar Express Slippers Get into the festive spirit with Home Bargains' Polar Express slippers, which have shoppers desperate to get their hands on a pair. Read more Gutted at the damage caused by the rain, Harvey penned: “Well that’s our Christmas ruined.” Social media users react Social media users were stunned by the damage caused and flocked to the comments to express their sympathy. One person said: “Oh no. It looked beautiful as well.” I wasn’t asking for sympathy and I totally get that there are many different issues in the world that are occurring at the moment Harvey Wallace Another added: “Terrible, has to be the worst yet.” A third commented: “This is awful, such a shame.” That's such a shame, I was going to decorate outside today but obviously not now the storms here Facebook user At the same time, one angry woman penned: “So fed up with this weather. It spoils everything.” Whilst someone else chimed in: “Oh that's such a shame, I was going to decorate outside today but obviously not now the storms here.” Harvey later penned: “Fortunately, some things will be fixable but others aren’t. “1,000 lights on each tree isn’t a cheap replacement. “I think the large reindeer is possibly broken too.” Why do shops start selling Christmas stock so early? Charlotte Harrington, the manager at Summerhill’s garden centre in Basildon, Essex, explained: “For many, many years now, we’ve opened our Christmas department on the August bank holiday. "The stock comes in early and we gradually start putting it out on the shop floor. This is just a small fraction of what we have. “But our Christmas displays are so spectacular it takes time to get everything set up, so we have to start early . “It may seem a little odd putting them out now — especially with the hot weather. “But we have to plan so far in advance.” He also added: “We were told it would be mild here but unfortunately they were wrong. “If we knew it was going to be this bad then we would’ve taken [them] down instantly, even though they took me over eight hours to put up. “It’s absolutely horrendous, the wind blowing is treacherous. “Hopefully tomorrow we’ll be able to salvage some items, can’t bear this wind.” Read more on the Scottish Sun THE FAB THREE I'm A Celeb's finalists REVEALED as last star evicted ahead of closing show AISLE BE THERE Lidl's cheeky Coca-Cola Christmas truck tour adds two more Scots spots Not only this, but Harvey further claimed: “I wasn’t asking for sympathy and I totally get that there are many different issues in the world that are occurring at the moment. “I was just simply sharing my experience of how our decorations have held up during this terrible weather.” 5 He shared that it cost him around £1,000 in total Credit: Facebook 5 But strong winds have broken his lights, reindeer and caused his trees to fall down Credit: Facebook
A MAN has revealed that he spent £1,000 and took eight hours of his time to give his home a festive makeover. But now, Harvey Wallace, who is from Shropshire , UK, has been left gutted, after Storm Darragh wreaked havoc with his Argos and B&Q display. Clearly very upset, Harvey took to social media to share his frustrations, leaving many open-mouthed. Posting on BARGAIN LOVERS Poundland, Home Bargains, B&M, Primark, The Range , a public Facebook group with 608,600 members, Harvey shared a snap of his once stunning Christmas display, complete with lights, wreaths, a reindeer and three huge lit-up trees. However, he also shared images and a video of the damage caused by Storm Darragh - a rare red weather warning for strong winds, which have not only battered the UK but have even been fatal . Harvey cried: “There goes the outdoor display.” Alongside a crying emoji, he added: “Bear in mind everything was fully zip tied and floor pegged down. “This storm has still somehow managed to ruin everything and snap all the lights. “Such a shame after spending eight hours doing it all.” Not only have Harvey’s lights been broken, but his trees have fallen down on the pavement too. Harvey tried to look on the bright side of things, but opened up to Fabulous about the effort he put in to light up his home for the festive season. He told Fabulous: “We’ve built up a few items over the past couple of years adding to the collection of decorations. “I would say we’ve spent around £1,000 roughly.” He explained that he nabbed three eight foot trees, an archway garland and five smaller garlands, all from B&Q. This storm has still somehow managed to ruin everything and snap all the lights He also bought two wreaths from a local garden centre and purchased his large reindeer from The Range. He splashed the cash on 4,000 lights from Tesco, also nabbed a pack of icicle lights from B&Q and even stocked up on 1,000 lights from Argos. Sainsbury's Shoppers: Christmas Bedding Bargain Discover the festive joy of Sainsbury's Christmas bedding, offering comfort and style at a bargain price. Read more Home Bargains: Christmas Pyjamas Back in Stock Get cosy this season with Home Bargains' popular Christmas pyjamas, now back in stock. Read more Home Bargains: Christmas Favourite Deal Don't miss out on Home Bargains' fantastic deal on a Christmas favourite. Read more Primark Shoppers: Screaming Over Christmas Range Featuring The Grinch Primark's Christmas range, featuring The Grinch, has shoppers excited for the festive season. Read more Shoppers Rush to Buy Personalised Christmas Stockings Grab personalised Christmas stockings at unbelievable prices, as shoppers rush to snap up these festive bargains. Read more Exact Date Aldi's Wooden Toy Range for Christmas Mark your calendars for the exact date Aldi's popular wooden toy range returns for Christmas. Read more Home Bargains Shoppers Desperate for Polar Express Slippers Get into the festive spirit with Home Bargains' Polar Express slippers, which have shoppers desperate to get their hands on a pair. Read more Gutted at the damage caused by the rain, Harvey penned: “Well that’s our Christmas ruined.” Social media users were stunned by the damage caused and flocked to the comments to express their sympathy. One person said: “Oh no. It looked beautiful as well.” I wasn’t asking for sympathy and I totally get that there are many different issues in the world that are occurring at the moment Another added: “Terrible, has to be the worst yet.” A third commented: “This is awful, such a shame.” That's such a shame, I was going to decorate outside today but obviously not now the storms here At the same time, one angry woman penned: “So fed up with this weather. It spoils everything.” Whilst someone else chimed in: “Oh that's such a shame, I was going to decorate outside today but obviously not now the storms here.” Harvey later penned: “Fortunately, some things will be fixable but others aren’t. “1,000 lights on each tree isn’t a cheap replacement. “I think the large reindeer is possibly broken too.” Charlotte Harrington, the manager at Summerhill’s garden centre in Basildon, Essex, explained: “For many, many years now, we’ve opened our Christmas department on the August bank holiday. "The stock comes in early and we gradually start putting it out on the shop floor. This is just a small fraction of what we have. “But our Christmas displays are so spectacular it takes time to get everything set up, so we have to start early . “It may seem a little odd putting them out now — especially with the hot weather. “But we have to plan so far in advance.” He also added: “We were told it would be mild here but unfortunately they were wrong. “If we knew it was going to be this bad then we would’ve taken [them] down instantly, even though they took me over eight hours to put up. “It’s absolutely horrendous, the wind blowing is treacherous. “Hopefully tomorrow we’ll be able to salvage some items, can’t bear this wind.” Not only this, but Harvey further claimed: “I wasn’t asking for sympathy and I totally get that there are many different issues in the world that are occurring at the moment. “I was just simply sharing my experience of how our decorations have held up during this terrible weather.”
Memphis beats No. 2 UConn 99-97 in overtime to tip off Maui Invitational
Georgia’s outgoing president refuses to quit as successor sworn in
Louisiana Tech 85, S. Illinois 79, OTEven with access to blockbuster obesity drugs, some people don't lose weightLAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Tyrese Hunter scored 17 of his 26 points after halftime to lead Memphis to a 99-97 overtime win against two-time defending national champion and second-ranked UConn on Monday in the first round of the Maui Invitational . Hunter shot 7 of 10 from 3-point range for the Tigers (5-0), who were 12 of 22 from beyond at the arc as a team. PJ Haggerty had 22 points and five assists, Colby Rogers had 19 points and Dain Dainja scored 14. Tarris Reed Jr. had 22 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for the Huskies (4-1). Alex Karaban had 19 points and six assists, and Jaylin Stewart scored 16. Memphis led by as many as 13 with about four minutes left in regulation, but UConn chipped away and eventually tied it on Solo Ball’s 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining. Takeaways Memphis: The Tigers ranked second nationally in field goal percentage going into the game and shot it at a 54.7% clip. UConn: The Huskies saw their string of 17 consecutive wins dating back to February come to an end. Key moment The teams were tied at 92 with less than a minute remaining in overtime when UConn coach Dan Hurley was assessed a technical foul for his displeasure with an over-the-back call against Liam McNeeley. PJ Carter hit four straight free throws — two for the tech and the other pair for the personal foul — to give Memphis a 96-92 lead with 40.3 seconds to play. Key stat UConn had three players foul out. Memphis attempted 40 free throws and made 29 of them. Up next Memphis will play the winner of Colorado-Michigan State on Tuesday in the second round of the invitational. UConn will play the loser of that game in the consolation bracket. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball .
When money’s tight and you still deserve to indulge just a little bit, a budget splurge may be the way to go. That could be a new supermarket treat you’ve never seen before or a limited-time item from a familiar brand. Here’s some seasonal indulgences that are available right this minute but may be gone again soon. Favorite Day Whipped Dairy Topping Seasonal Offerings Target first sold holiday-themed topping in a squirt can last year. Hot Cocoa and Peppermint flavors are back, but for 2024, Salted Caramel has been dropped in favor of Holiday Nog. They’re all made with real cream, but also include stabilizers and emulsifiers, which is why they’re labelled “dairy topping.” Spices for the Nog version aren’t broken down beyond “natural flavor,” but it has that nutmeg and cloves essences you want without the eggy, tongue-coating thickness that turns some folks away from the real deal. Hot Cocoa isn’t a deep chocolate, but it’s true to the flavor of a powdered mix in milk or those little pudding cups. Peppermint reminds me of a peppermint bark more than a candy cane. Put it on coffee or pie or squirt it in your face when no one’s looking. 7UP Shirley Temple Soda As a child, the Shirley Temple may be the first mocktail you experienced. While parents sipped a Lambrusco or a Black Russian at the Christmas party, kids got lemon/lime soda with a pour of grenadine. You didn’t realize that the flavor was actually pomegranate, because a Shirley Temple always came a bright-red cherry on a tiny plastic sword. 7UP has released a limited-edition Shirley Temple soda that splits the difference with both cherry and pomegranate flavors. 7UP Shirley Temple is also available in Zero Sugar, but I suggest you start with “full sugar” version. I’ve got three different diet sodas in the fridge right now, but the treat of a childhood Shirley Temple was the blast of sugar that went above a normal soda pop. The aspartame version is refreshing, and you could drink a few in a day, but sugary Shirley has a hint more time machine. Holiday Harvest Hoagie from 7-Eleven Sandwiches with turkey and stuffing and cranberries pop up every November. Wawa brought back the Gobbler hoagie (hot or cold) and Firehouse Subs debuted a seasonal Thanksgiving sandwich this year. What’s different about the returning 7-Eleven sub is both the ingredients and that it’s pre-made and wrapped for grab and go. The Holiday Harvest is both smoked turkey and ham with surprisingly good white cheddar, cranberry mayonnaise, and a roll with stuffing herbs baked in the dough. The ham dominates the turkey, but the sharp cheese and the sweet mayo play off each other, and the stuffing roll gives you the flavor without putting bread on bread. For a $6.99 cold sandwich that was made overnight in an industrial kitchen near the airport, it’s filling and satisfying at a decent price. Brie My Guest Ice Cream from Baskin-Robbins We can all appreciate a new product that wants to vibe with autumn but isn’t pumpkin spice. The base of Brie My Guest is brie (of course) and burrata flavored ice creams with swirls of apricot and mixed with almonds and pistachio bits. If cheese in your ice cream is a turn-off, think more cheesecake than blue cheese dressing. It’s a little tart and funky, but with richness, and sweet fruity brightness, a little salt, and nutty crunch for texture. I’d be more likely to have a little scoop after a charcuterie plate than a double-scoop in a dipped waffle cone. This is also the time of year when Baskin-Robbins makes ice cream cakes, in any flavor you want, that are covering caramel-vanilla glaze to resemble a roast turkey. Edible/Drinkable Advent Calendars from Aldi Advent calendars started as a way for kids to mark the 12 or 24 days leading up to Christmas, maybe with a trinket or candy. In my house, we had one with tiny felt ornaments that we would pin to a felt tree before school. Somewhere along the line, brands figured we’d gladly buy stocking stuffers a month early if they put them in a box with little doors. Both Chapstick and Burt’s Bees make lip balm calendars. Aldi sells a trio of advent calendars: wine, chocolate and cheese. The clever bit is that they all synch up. Day One for 2024 is Chilean cabernet sauvignon, aged gouda and cocoa dark chocolate with all three complementing each other. Another day might be salted caramel, cheddar with whiskey, and a Washington State syrah. You can buy, one, two or all three and see how they play together. Aldi store-band chocolates are made by Storck, the confectioner that also produces Werther’s Original and Toffifay.NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes fell Thursday following some potentially discouraging data on the economy . The S&P 500 slipped 0.5% for its fourth loss in the last six days. It’s a pause for the index, which has been rallying toward one of its best years of the millennium . The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 234 points, or 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 0.7% from its record set the day before. A report early in the morning said more U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week than expected. A separate update, meanwhile, showed that inflation at the wholesale level, before it reaches U.S. consumers, was hotter last month than economists expected. Neither report points to imminent disaster, but they dilute one of the hopes that’s driven the S&P 500 to 57 all-time highs so far this year : Inflation is slowing enough to convince the Federal Reserve to keep cutting interest rates, while the economy is remaining solid enough to stay out of a recession. Of the two reports, the weaker update on the job market may be the bigger deal for the market, according to Chris Larkin, managing director, trading and investing, at E-Trade from Morgan Stanley. A surge in egg prices may have been behind the worse-than-expected inflation numbers. “One week doesn’t negate what has been a relatively steady stream of solid labor market data, but the Fed is primed to be sensitive to any signs of a softening jobs picture,” he said. Traders are widely expecting the Fed will ease its main interest rate at its meeting next week. If they’re correct, it would be a third straight cut by the Fed after it began lowering rates in September from a two-decade high. It’s hoping to support a slowing job market after getting inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. Lower rates would give a boost to the economy and to prices for investments, but they could also provide more fuel for inflation. A cut next week would have the Fed following other central banks, which lowered rates on Thursday. The European Central Bank cut rates by a quarter of a percentage point, as many investors expected, and the Swiss National Bank cut its policy rate by a steeper half of a percentage point. Following its decision, Switzerland’s central bank pointed to uncertainty about how U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s victory will affect economic policies, as well as about where politics in Europe is heading. Trump has talked up tariffs and other policies that could upend global trade. He rang the bell marking the start of trading at the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday to chants of “USA.” On Wall Street, Adobe fell 13.7% and was one of the heaviest weights on the market despite reporting stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The company gave forecasts for profit and revenue in its upcoming fiscal year that fell a bit shy of analysts’. Warner Bros. Discovery soared 15.4% after unveiling a new corporate structure that separates its streaming business and film studios from its traditional television business. CEO David Zaslav said the move “enhances our flexibility with potential future strategic opportunities,” raising speculation about a spinoff or sale. Kroger rose 3.2% after saying it would get back to buying back its own stock now that its attempt to merge with Albertsons is off . Kroger’s board approved a program to repurchase up to $7.5 billion of its stock, replacing an existing $1 billion authorization. All told, the S&P 500 fell 32.94 points to 6,051.25. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 234.55 to 43,914.12, and the Nasdaq composite sank 132.05 to 19,902.84. In stock markets abroad, European indexes held relatively steady following the European Central Bank’s cut to rates. Asian markets were stronger. Indexes rose 1.2% in Hong Kong and 0.8% in Shanghai as leaders met in Beijing to set economic plans and targets for the coming year. South Korea’s Kospi rose 1.6% for its third straight gain of at least 1%, as it pulls back following last week’s political turmoil where its president briefly declared martial law. In the bond market, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rose to 4.33% from 4.27% late Wednesday. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.
Warren Buffett shares his thoughts on wealth as he donates another $1 billionStars arrive at the 2024 Royal Variety Performance after Queen pulls out
Shaquille O'Neal and A'ja Wilson clash over controversial WNBA ideaWorld News | Notable Quotes by Jimmy CarterUnlike scores of people who scrambled for the blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight in recent years, had no trouble getting them. The 38-year-old information technology worker from New Mexico had a prescription. Her pharmacy had the drugs in stock. And her health insurance covered all but $25 to $50 of the monthly cost. For , the hardest part of using the new drugs wasn’t access. It was finding out that the much-hyped medications didn’t really work for her. “I have been on Wegovy for a year and a half and have only lost 13 pounds,” said , who watches her diet, drinks plenty of water and exercises regularly. “I’ve done everything right with no success. It’s discouraging.” In clinical trials, most participants taking Wegovy or Mounjaro to treat obesity lost an average of 15% to 22% of their body weight - up to 50 pounds or more in many cases. But roughly 10% to 15% of patients in those trials were “nonresponders” who lost less than 5% of their body weight. Now that millions of people have used the drugs, several obesity experts told The Associated Press that perhaps 20% of patients - as many as 1 in 5 - may not respond well to the medications. It’s a little-known consequence of the obesity drug boom, according to doctors who caution eager patients not to expect one-size-fits-all results. “It’s all about explaining that different people have different responses,” said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity expert at Massachusetts General Hospital The drugs are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists because they mimic a hormone in the body known as glucagon-like peptide 1. Genetics, hormones and variability in how the brain regulates energy can all influence weight - and a person’s response to the drugs, Stanford said. Medical conditions such as sleep apnea can prevent weight loss, as can certain common medications, such as antidepressants, steroids and contraceptives. “This is a disease that stems from the brain,” said Stanford. “The dysfunction may not be the same” from patient to patient. Despite such cautions, patients are often upset when they start getting the weekly injections but the numbers on the scale barely budge. “It can be devastating,” said Dr. Katherine Saunders, an obesity expert at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-founder of the obesity treatment company FlyteHealth. “With such high expectations, there’s so much room for disappointment.” That was the case for , who has battled obesity since childhood and hoped to shed 70 pounds using Wegovy. The drug helped reduce her appetite and lowered her risk of diabetes, but she saw little change in weight. “It’s an emotional roller coaster,” she said. “You want it to work like it does for everybody else.” The medications are typically prescribed along with eating behavior and lifestyle changes. It’s usually clear within weeks whether someone will respond to the drugs, said Dr. Jody Dushay, an endocrine specialist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Weight loss typically begins right away and continues as the dosage increases. For some patients, that just doesn’t happen. For others, side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea force them to halt the medications, Dushay said. In such situations, patients who were counting on the new drugs to pare pounds may think they’re out of options. “I tell them: It’s not game over,” Dushay said. Trying a different version of the new class of drugs may help. , who didn’t respond well to Wegovy, has started using Zepbound, which targets an additional hormone pathway in the body. After three months of using the drug, she has lost 7 pounds. “I’m hoping it’s slow and steady,” she said. Other people respond well to older drugs, the experts said. Changing diet, exercise, sleep and stress habits can also have profound effects. Figuring out what works typically requires a doctor trained to treat obesity, Saunders noted. “Obesity is such a complex disease that really needs to be treated very comprehensively,” she said. “If what we’re prescribing doesn’t work, we always have a backup plan.” Copyright © 2024 The Washington Times, LLC. Click to Read More and View Comments Click to Hide
Previous:
Next: luckycola.com vip
