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Fairuz, musical icon of war-torn Lebanon, turns 90After four weeks of deadlock, councillors eventually passed a controversial budget that will see the commercial rates paid by businesses in the city increase by 6 per cent next year. The budget was forced through by the local authority’s ruling bloc, known as the Pact, which includes councillors from Fianna Fáil, Labour, Sinn Féin and independents Mike Cubbard and Declan McDonnell. The executive of the local authority had been seeking a rate increase of 15 per cent, which chief executive, Leanord Cleary, described as being central to a “defining budget” for the city. Discussion on the proposed budget had been deadlocked for weeks with finance director, Helen Kilroy, reminding councillors earlier this week that ministers have the power to fire the elected members if “financial planning is insufficient”. An amendment to the budget, which strips more than €6 million from the council’s proposed expenditure for next year, was presented to councillors and officials by the bloc on a single piece of paper during this afternoon’s meeting. The amendment was proposed by Cllr Mike Cubbard, who said that a 15 per cent rates increase “would have been the death of a number of businesses in this city”. Fine Gael councillor, Eddie Hoare, criticised members of the bloc for “trying to make a 6 per cent rise look like a 9 per cent reduction”. He also criticised the democratic process of the budget citing a “lack of respect and a lack of engagement for some of the elected members”. He said “we have 18 councillors representing the people of the city, they didn’t elect six to speak on our behalf”. The Social Democrats’ Alan Curran criticised the budgetary process and the last-minute presentation of the amendment. “This has been an eye opener about how this council works. A lot of us, perhaps naively, thought that we would be working together to tease this out,” he said. Mayor of Galway and member of the voting bloc, Peter Keane (FF), defended the action of the group. “When we talk about leadership and who talks to who, the dynamic is what the dynamic is, and it has been that way here for years. If the Pact [voting bloc] talk to people, they talk to people, if they don’t, they don’t,” he said. Before a final vote, chief executive, Leanord Cleary, formally recorded his objections to the amendment.Despite the objections, the amended budget was passed with 12 councillors voting in favour, four against and one abstention.

Shenandoah basketball puts on a show in pre-season scrimmageCHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Bill Belichick spent time after his NFL exit talking with college coaches wanting his thoughts on managing new wrinkles at their level that looked a lot like the pros. The two-minute timeout. The transfer portal as de facto free agency. Collectives generating name, image and likeness (NIL) money for athletes becoming like a payroll. The impending arrival of revenue sharing. It didn't take long for Belichick to envision how a college program should look based on his own NFL experience. "I do think there are a lot of parallels," Belichick said. And that's at least partly why the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach is now taking over at North Carolina. Years of rapid change at the have only increased the professionalization of college football across the country, with schools adjusting staffing to handle growing duties once seemingly more fitting for a pro team. UNC just happens to be making the most audacious of those bets, bringing in a 72-year-old who has never coached in college and asking him to build what amounts to a mini-NFL front office. But plenty could follow. "I really think there's going to be some of those guys that maybe don't have a job in the NFL anymore," Kansas State general manager Clint Brown said, "and now that this is going to be structured in a way where there is a cap that that's going to be something they're interested in." The rapid changes in college athletics have fueled that, notably with players able to transfer and play right away without sitting out a year and be paid through NIL endorsement opportunities in the past five years. Recruiting is now just as much about bringing in veteran talent through the portal as signing recruits out of high school, mirroring the NFL with free agency and the draft, respectively. And a bigger change looms with revenue sharing, the result of a $2.78 billion legal settlement to antitrust lawsuits. Specifically, that model will allow the biggest schools to establish a pool of about $21.5 million for athletes in the first year, with a final hearing in that case set for April 2025. It will be up to schools to determine how to distribute that money and in which sports, though football's role as the revenue driver in college sports likely means a prominent cut everywhere as a direct parallel to a professional team's salary cap. Throw all that together, and it's why coaches are adjusting their staffs like Florida's Billy Napier interviewing candidates to be the Gators' general manager. "We're built to do it now," Napier said. "The big thing here is that we're getting ready to be in a business model. We have a cap. We have contracts. We have negotiation. We have strategy about how we distribute those funds, and it's a major math puzzle. "We're going to build out a front office here in the next couple of months, and it's primarily to help us manage that huge math problem," Napier added. "There'll be a ton of strategy around that. I'm looking forward to it." Still, that also explains why Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule, the former head coach of the NFL's Carolina Panthers, said: "This job as a head coach is a juggernaut. There's way more to do here than I had to do in the NFL." And it explains why the Tar Heels are betting on Belichick to be the right fit for today's changing climate. "If I was 16 of 17 years old, a coach who came at you and won how many Super Bowls? And he said, 'Come play for me,'" said New York Giants offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu, now in his third year out of UNC. "I mean, that's pretty hard to turn down now, especially in this day and age, he's telling you to come play for him and he's offering you some money, too. I mean, you can't go wrong with that choice." The timing worked for UNC with Belichick, who was bypassed for some NFL openings after leaving the New England Patriots last year and instead spent months taking a closer look at the college game. Those conversations with coaches — some in the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten and Southeastern conferences, he said Thursday — made him understand how the changes in college aligned with his pro experience. "College kind of came to me this year," Belichick said. "I didn't necessarily go and seek it out." And his mere presence in Chapel Hill makes a difference, with athletic director Bubba Cunningham saying his "visibility" would likely allow the team to raise prices for advertising such as sponsorships and signage. Belichick is also hiring Michael Lombardi, a former NFL general manager and executive, as the Tar Heels' general manager. Cunningham also said the plan is for Belichick to continue his appearances on former NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning's "Manningcast" broadcasts during Monday Night Football as well as ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show" — all giving the coach the chance to promote himself and the program. Yet these steps to reshape football at North Carolina comes with a rising price. Belichick will make $10 million per year in base and supplemental pay, with the first three years of the five-year deal guaranteed, according to a term sheet released by UNC on Thursday. That's roughly double of former coach Mack Brown, whose contract outlined about $4.2 million in base and supplemental salary before bonuses and other add-ons. Additionally, Belichick's deal includes $10 million for a salary pool for assistant coaches and $5.3 million for support staff. That's up from roughly $8.1 million for assistants and $4.8 million for support staff for the 2022 season, according to football financial data for UNC obtained by The Associated Press. And those figures from 2022 under Brown were already up significantly from Larry Fedora's tenure with the 2017 season ($4 million for assistant coaches, $2.3 million for support staff). There is at least one area where the Tar Heels are set for Belichick's arrival: facilities. UNC spent more than $40 million on its football practice complex with an indoor facility (2018) as the biggest project, while other projects include $3 million in upgrades to the locker room and weight room (2019), $14.5 million on renovations to the Kenan Football Center (2022), even $225,000 on Brown's former office (2021). Now it's up to Belichick to rethink the approach to football here for the changing times. "We're taking a risk," Cunningham said. "We're investing more in football with the hope and ambition that the return is going to significantly outweigh the investment." AP Sports Writers Tom Canavan in New Jersey; Mark Long in Florida; and Eric Olson in Nebraska; contributed to this report. Get local news delivered to your inbox!China’s EV industry targets efficient lithium extraction from low-quality brinesASPI Stock News: Shareholder Rights Law Firm Robbins LLP Urges ASP Isotopes Inc. Stockholders With Large Losses To Seek Legal Counsel In Connection With The Class Action Lawsuit

Police arrest father over sudden death of son in Anambra

President Joe Biden is commuting the sentences of roughly 1,500 people who were released from prison and placed on home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic and is pardoning 39 Americans convicted of nonviolent crimes. It’s the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history. The commutations announced Thursday are for people who have served out home confinement sentences for at least one year after they were released. Prisons were uniquely bad for spreading the virus and some inmates were released in part to stop the spread. At one point, 1 in 5 prisoners had COVID-19, according to a tally kept by The Associated Press. WRAY RESIGNS: FBI Director Christopher Wray told the bureau workforce Wednesday that he will resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated loyalist Kash Patel to lead the FBI. ECONOMY: The Labor Department reported Wednesday that consumer prices rose 2.7% in November from a year earlier, up from a yearly figure of 2.6% in October. And on Thursday, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said the average rate on a 30-year mortgage dropped to 6.6% from 6.69% last week. SUBWAY DEATH: Daniel Penny, a Marine veteran who used a chokehold on an agitated subway rider, was acquitted on Monday in a death that became a prism for differing views about public safety, valor and vigilantism. A Manhattan jury cleared Penny of criminally negligent homicide in the 2023 killing of Jordan Neely. Ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad fled to Moscow last Sunday, Russian media reported, hours after a stunning rebel advance took over the capital of Damascus and ended the Assad family’s 50-year iron rule. The Russian agencies Tass and RIA cited an unidentified Kremlin source on Assad and his family being given asylum in Moscow by his longtime ally. Assad reportedly left Syria early Sunday, and Syrians poured into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire. The swift events raised questions about the future of the country and the wider Middle East region. TRUMP STAFF: President-elect Donald Trump made another flurry of job announcements on Tuesday, selecting Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission, Ron Johnson for ambassador to Mexico, Kimberly Guilfoyle for ambassador to Greece and Tom Barrack for ambassador to Turkey. INFOWARS SALE: U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez of Houston rejected the auction sale of Alex Jones’ Infowars to The Onion satirical news outlet late Tuesday, criticizing the bidding process as flawed. GROCERY MERGER: The proposed merger between supermarket giants Kroger and Albertsons floundered on Tuesday after judges overseeing two separate cases both halted the merger. The companies proposed in 2022 what would be the largest grocery store merger in U.S. history, but the Federal Trade Commission sued to stop the deal. — Associated Press 17.29M Average viewers for the Dec. 5 football game between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, which Detroit won 34-31. It was the most-streamed NFL regular-season game in history. This looks like every other set of dietary guidelines since 1980: eat your veggies and reduce consumption of foods high in salt, sugar and saturated fat.” — Marion Nestle, a food policy expert, after the 2025 federal dietary guidelines were released Tuesday. GOLDEN GLOBES: Nominations for the 82nd Golden Globes were announced Monday, and Jacques Audiard’s audacious musical “Emilia Pérez” led with 10 nods, more than other contenders like the musical smash “Wicked” and the papal thriller “Conclave.” The awards show will be televised by CBS and streamed on Paramount+ on Jan. 5. MERRIAM-WEBSTER: Merriam-Webster announced Monday that its word of the year is “polarization.” Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster’s editor at large, said the choice reflected the nation’s political climate. “Polarization means that we are tending toward the extremes rather than toward the center,” he said. CONTRACT RECORD: Star outfielder Juan Soto and the New York Mets agreed last Sunday to a record $765 million, 15-year contract, a deal that could escalate to $805 million and is believed to be the largest contract in team sports history. Soto’s deal, which equals $314,815 per game, is the largest and longest in Major League Baseball history. GEORGE J. KRESGE JR. (1935-2024): George Joseph Kresge Jr., who was known to generations of TV watchers as the mesmerizing entertainer and mentalist The Amazing Kreskin, died Tuesday at his home in Caldwell, New Jersey, according to his former road manager Ryan Galway. He was 89. SUSPECT ARRESTED IN DEATH OF UNITEDHEALTHCARE CEO Get local news delivered to your inbox!A clean sweep: Trinamool Congress wins all 6 Assembly seats in Bengal bypolls

The vice-president of the Philippines said she instructed an assassin to kill the president if she were killed. In a dramatic sign of a widening rift between the two most powerful political families in the Southeast Asian nation, Vice-President Sara Duterte told press conference that she had spoken to an assassin and instructed him to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr , his wife and the Speaker of the Philippine House if she were to be killed. “I have talked to a person. I said, if I get killed, go kill BBM (Marcos), (first lady) Liza Araneta, and (Speaker) Martin Romualdez. No joke. No joke,” Duterte said in the profanity-laden briefing. “I said, do not stop until you kill them, and then he said yes.” Security agencies stepped up safety protocols in response. She was responding to an online commenter urging her to stay safe, saying she was in enemy territory as she was at the lower chamber of Congress overnight with her chief of staff. Duterte did not cite any alleged threat against herself. The Presidential Security Command said it had heightened and strengthened security protocols. “We are also closely coordinating with law enforcement agencies to detect, deter, and defend against any and all threats to the president and the first family,” it said in a statement. Police Chief Rommel Francisco Marbil said he had ordered an immediate investigation, adding that “any direct or indirect threat to his life must be addressed with the highest level of urgency.” The Presidential Communications Office said any threat to the life of the President must always be taken seriously. Duterte’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the statements. The Vice President’s strong comments probably will not dent her political support, University of the Philippines political scientist Jean Encinas-Franco said. “If anything, this type of rhetoric brings her even closer to what her father’s supporters liked about him.” The daughter of Marcos’ predecessor as president, Duterte resigned from the Marcos cabinet in June while remaining vice president, signaling the collapse of a formidable political alliance that helped her and Marcos, son and namesake of the late authoritarian leader, secure their 2022 electoral victories by wide margins. Speaker Romualdez, a cousin of Marcos, has slashed the vice presidential office’s budget by nearly two-thirds. Duterte’s outburst is the latest in a series of startling signs of the feud at the top of Philippine politics. In October, she accused Marcos of incompetence and said she had imagined cutting the president’s head off. The two families are at odds over foreign policy and former President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly war on drugs, among others. In the Philippines, the vice president is elected separately from the president and has no official duties. Many vice presidents have pursued social development activities, while some have been appointed to cabinet posts. The nation is gearing up for mid-term elections in May, seen as a litmus test of Marcos’ popularity and a chance for him to consolidate power and groom a successor before his single six-year term ends in 2028. Past political violence in the Philippines has included the assassination of Benigno Aquino, a senator who staunchly opposed the rule the elder Marcos, as he exited his plane upon arrival home from political exile in 1983.LONDON (AP) — A woman who claimed mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in a Dublin hotel penthouse was awarded nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) on Friday by a civil court jury in Ireland. Nikita Hand said the Dec. 9, 2018, assault after a night of partying left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced the woman to do anything against her will and said she fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex. His lawyer had called Hand a gold digger. The fighter, once the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship but now past his prime, shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable for assault after deliberating about six hours in the High Court in Dublin. He was mobbed by cameras as he left court but did not comment. He later said on the social platform X that he would appeal the verdict and the “modest award.” Hand's voice cracked and her hands trembled as she read a statement outside the courthouse, saying she would never forget what happened to her but would now be able to move on with her life. She thanked her family, partner, friends, jurors, the judge and all the supporters that had reached out to her online, but particularly her daughter. “She has given me so much strength and courage over the last six years throughout this nightmare to keep on pushing forward for justice,” she said. “I want to show (her) and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served.” The Associated Press generally does not name alleged victims of sexual violence unless they come forward publicly, as Hand has done. Under Irish law, she did not have the anonymity she would have been granted in a criminal proceeding and was named publicly throughout the trial. Her lawyer told jurors that McGregor was angry about a fight he had lost in Las Vegas two months earlier and took it out on his client. “He’s not a man, he’s a coward,” attorney John Gordon said in his closing speech. “A devious coward and you should treat him for what he is.” Gordon said his client never pretended to be a saint and was only looking to have fun when she sent McGregor a message through Instagram after attending a Christmas party. He said Hand knew McGregor socially and that they had grown up in the same area. She said he picked her and a friend up in a car and shared cocaine with them, which McGregor admitted in court, on the way to the Beacon Hotel. Hand said she told McGregor she didn't want to have sex with him and that she was menstruating. She said she told him “no” as he started kissing her but he eventually pinned her to a bed and she couldn't move. McGregor put her in a chokehold and later told her, “now you know how I felt in the octagon where I tapped out three times,” referring to a UFC match when he had to admit defeat, she said. Hand had to take several breaks in emotional testimony over three days. She said McGregor threatened to kill her during the encounter and she feared she would never see her young daughter again. Eventually, he let go of her. “I remember saying I was sorry, as I felt that I did something wrong and I wanted to reassure him that I wouldn’t tell anyone so he wouldn’t hurt me again,” she testified. She said she then let him do what he wanted and he had sex with her. A paramedic who examined Hand the next day testified that she had never before seen someone with that intensity of bruising. A doctor told jurors Hand had multiple injuries. Hand said the trauma of the attack had left her unable to work as a hairdresser, she fell behind on her mortgage and had to move out of her house. Police investigated the woman’s complaint but prosecutors declined to bring charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely. McGregor, in his post on X, said he was disappointed jurors didn't see all the evidence prosecutors had reviewed. He testified that the two had athletic and vigorous sex, but that it was not rough. He said “she never said ‘no’ or stopped” and testified that everything she said was a lie. “It is a full blown lie among many lies,” he said when asked about the chokehold allegation. “How anyone could believe that me, as a prideful person, would highlight my shortcomings.” McGregor’s lawyer told jurors they had to set aside their animus toward the fighter. “You may have an active dislike of him, some of you may even loathe him – there is no point pretending that the situation might be otherwise,” attorney Remy Farrell said. “I’m not asking you to invite him to Sunday brunch.” The defense said the woman never told investigators McGregor threatened her life. They also showed surveillance video in court that they said appeared to show the woman kiss McGregor’s arm and hug him after they left the hotel room. Farrell said she looked “happy, happy, happy.” McGregor said he was “beyond petrified” when first questioned by police and read them a prepared statement. On the advice of his lawyer, he refused to answer more than 100 follow-up questions. The jury ruled against Hand in a case she brought against one of McGregor’s friends, James Lawrence, whom she accused of having sex with her in the hotel without consent.COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. — For a pair of lower-level downhill events, this sure had plenty of Olympic medal-capturing and World Cup-winning ski racers. The stage belonged to Lindsey Vonn , the 40-year-old who took another step on her comeback trail Saturday with her first races in nearly six years. Vonn wasn't particularly speedy and finished in the middle of the pack on a cold but sunny day at Copper Mountain. Times and places weren't the mission, though, as much as getting used to the speed again and gaining the necessary points to compete on the World Cup circuit this season. Vonn accomplished both, finishing 24th in the first downhill race of the day and 27th in the second. She posted on social media after the FIS races that she had enough points to enter World Cup events. The timing couldn't be more perfect — the next stop on the women's circuit is Beaver Creek, Colorado, in a week. Vonn, who used to own a home in nearby Vail, hasn't committed to any sort of timetable for a World Cup return. “Today was a solid start and I had a blast being in start with my teammates again!” Vonn wrote on X . “While I’m sure people will speculate and say I’m not in top form because of the results, I disagree. This was training for me. I’m still testing equipment and getting back in the groove.” Her competition — a veritable who's who of high-profile ski racers — applauded her efforts. “I don't expect her to come back and win — just that she comes back and she has fun,” said Federica Brignone of Italy, a former overall World Cup champion and three-time Olympic medalist. “She's having fun, and she’s doing what she loves. That’s the best thing that she could do.” In the first race on a frigid morning, Vonn wound up 1.44 seconds behind the winning time of 1 minute, 5.79 seconds posted by Mirjam Puchner of Austria. In her second race through the course later in the morning, Vonn was 1.53 seconds behind Cornelia Huetter of Austria, who finished in 1:05.99. Huetter is the reigning season-long World Cup downhill champion. “It’s really nice to compare with her again, and nice to have her (racing) again,” Huetter said. “For sure, for the skiing World Cup, we have a lot of more attention. It's generally good for all racers because everyone is looking.” Also in the field were Nadia Delago of Italy, who won a bronze medal in downhill at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and Puchner, the Olympic silver winner in super-G in Beijing. In addition, there was Marta Bassino of Italy, a winner of the super-G at the 2023 world championships, and two-time Olympic champion Michelle Gisin of Switzerland. “For me, it was really a training, but it was fun to have a World Cup race level right here,” Gisin said. “It was a crazy race.” Vonn remains a popular figure and took the time after each run to sign autographs for young fans along with posing for photos. When she left the sport, Vonn had 82 World Cup race victories, which stood as the record for a woman and within reach of the all-time Alpine record of 86 held by Swedish standout Ingemar Stenmark. The women’s mark held by Vonn was surpassed in January 2023 by Mikaela Shiffrin, who now has 99 wins — more than any Alpine ski racer in the history of the sport. Shiffrin is currently sidelined after a crash in a giant slalom event in Killington, Vermont , last weekend. Vonn’s last major race was in February 2019, when she finished third in a downhill during the world championships in Sweden. The three-time Olympic medalist left the circuit still near the top of her game. But all the broken arms and legs, concussions and torn knee ligaments took too big a toll and sent her into retirement. She had a partial knee replacement last April and felt good enough to give racing another shot. “It's very impressive to see all the passion that Lindsey still has,” Gisin said. Also racing Saturday was 45-year-old Sarah Schleper, who once competed for the United States but now represents Mexico. Schleper was the next racer behind Vonn and they got a chance to share a moment between a pair of 40-somethings still racing. “I was like, ‘Give me some tips, Lindsey,’” Schleper said. “She’s like, ‘Oh, it’s a highway tuck, the whole thing.’ Then she’s like, ‘It’s just like the good old days.’"

Daniel Penny has accepted an invitation from fellow Marine Corps veteran and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance to attend Saturday’s Army-Navy game taking place in Maryland. A New York jury found Penny on Monday of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Jordan Neely on a New York subway. On May 1, 2023, Penny, 26, Neely in a chokehold after he threatened to kill passengers on a subway train, according to witnesses. “Daniel’s a good guy, and New York’s mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone,” posted Friday on X. “I’m grateful he accepted my invitation [to attend the Army-Navy game] and hope he’s able to have fun and appreciate how much his fellow citizens admire his courage,” he added. Daniel’s a good guy, and New York’s mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone. I’m grateful he accepted my invitation and hope he’s able to have fun and appreciate how much his fellow citizens admire his courage. — JD Vance (@JDVance) reported that Penny will not only be joining Vance, but also President-elect Donald Trump, billionaire Elon Musk, Defense Secretary pick Pete Hegseth, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and Senator-elect David McCormick of Pennsylvania. Trump will have a suite at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, home to the Washington Commanders NFL team. is a 1987 West Point graduate and Army veteran. and DeSantis are Army and Navy veterans, respectively. The Marine Corps falls under the Department of the Navy, so presumably Vance and Penny will be rooting for a Navy win. This year will mark the 125th meeting of the two schools’ football teams in a rivalry dating back to 1890. On Saturday, will proudly present the 125th Army-Navy Game. It’s a tradition that will continue for many years to come, following today’s announcement that CBS will remain the home of this historic and revered rivalry through 2038. — CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) Navy with 62 wins to Army’s 55, with seven ties over the years. However, Army (11-1) has won three of the last four meetings and is slightly favored ( ) to beat Navy (8-3) this year, but given the nature of the rivalry, it’s likely anyone’s game. The last three meetings have been decided by a touchdown or less, with last year’s coming down to an Army goal-line stand in the closing seconds of the game. IT CANNOT GET CLOSER. ARMY STOPS NAVY AT THE GOAL LINE. — CBS Sports (@CBSSports) Earlier this fall, Army and Navy were both for the first time since the early 1960s. Last weekend, Army, which has mostly played as an independent since its football program began, its first-ever conference title defeating Tulane (9-4) to top the American Athletic Conference. We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. .Shares of AtriCure, Inc. ( NASDAQ:ATRC – Get Free Report ) have earned a consensus rating of “Buy” from the nine brokerages that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $43.11. A number of brokerages have commented on ATRC. Oppenheimer increased their price objective on AtriCure from $32.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on AtriCure from $30.00 to $40.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. BTIG Research reduced their target price on shares of AtriCure from $58.00 to $53.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Needham & Company LLC increased their target price on shares of AtriCure from $34.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of AtriCure from $35.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on AtriCure Institutional Trading of AtriCure AtriCure Stock Performance NASDAQ ATRC opened at $35.74 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $1.74 billion, a P/E ratio of -42.99 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $30.78 and a 200 day simple moving average of $25.77. The company has a current ratio of 3.62, a quick ratio of 2.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. AtriCure has a 12-month low of $18.94 and a 12-month high of $42.99. AtriCure ( NASDAQ:ATRC – Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The medical device company reported ($0.17) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.19) by $0.02. AtriCure had a negative net margin of 8.70% and a negative return on equity of 8.12%. The firm had revenue of $115.91 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $112.23 million. During the same period last year, the company earned ($0.20) earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 17.9% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that AtriCure will post -0.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. About AtriCure ( Get Free Report AtriCure, Inc develops, manufactures, and sells devices for surgical ablation of cardiac tissue, exclusion of the left atrial appendage, and temporarily blocking pain by ablating peripheral nerves to medical centers in the United States, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company offers Isolator Synergy Clamps, single-use disposable radio frequency products; multifunctional pens and linear ablation devices, such as the MAX Pen device that enables surgeons to evaluate cardiac arrhythmias, perform temporary cardiac pacing, sensing, and stimulation, and ablate cardiac tissue with the same device; and the Coolrail device, which enables users to make longer linear lines of ablation. Read More Receive News & Ratings for AtriCure Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AtriCure and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Even though San Francisco voters handed Democratic Mayor London Breed a huge defeat in November, she insists she's going out a champion. “No matter what the results said, I’m still a winner,” Breed said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times this week. “The fact that I have come out of the most problematic circumstances of San Francisco to be mayor, and I’m here, and I have been able to serve, it is an absolute privilege.” It's a peculiar take from the mayor who spent the past six years pitching progressive ideas, only to do a 180-degree turn in the final months of the election and embrace a tough-on-crime and homelessness stance. For voters, it was too little, too late. Billionaire heir Daniel Lurie defeated Breed and a crowded field of rivals last month to win the San Francisco mayoral race, earning his first term leading California’s fourth-largest city. Lurie was able to tap into voter disillusionment over brazen retail theft, crime, open-air drug dens, and homeless encampments that made residents fearful and businesses flee. San Francisco also became a verbal punching bag for conservative pundits and President-elect Donald Trump. The election was a sobering moment for Breed, a local who was raised in poverty by her grandmother in one of the city's toughest neighborhoods. Breed made history in June 2018 when she won a special election as the city's first black female mayor after the death of Mayor Ed Lee. Her time in office was undoubtedly difficult and marred by scandal. "I had to deal with crisis after crisis after crisis," she said. Breed was tasked with getting the city through the COVID-19 pandemic, dealing with a surge of drug overdose deaths, rampant homelessness, untreated mental illness, the racial justice protests of 2020, a rise in retail theft, and the collapse of the downtown area's economy. Susie Tompkins Buell, a prominent Democratic donor and Breed supporter, told the newspaper that the mayor deserved more credit for getting the city through tough times. “I think she handled some serious problems very well, and I think there were new problems, problems we had never experienced before,” Tompkins Buell said. Breed was one of the first large-city mayors in the country to declare a state of emergency during the pandemic, something that was credited with saving countless lives. “Nobody knew what to do, and everyone was scared and trying to do the right thing, and be bold and careful at the same time,” Tompkins Buell said. “I know she gave it her all.” Despite some early wins for Breed, San Franciscans ultimately went in another direction on election night. Breed believes part of that was due to Lurie's deep campaign coffers. “It just was definitely very challenging to run the city, which is the priority, and then try to run a campaign against the kind of financial resources that were coming at me from a lot of different places,” she said. Lurie comes from one of the wealthiest and most influential families in the city. His mother was married to Peter Haas, an heir to the founder of the Levi's brand. Haas has since died, and Lurie and his mother are among his primary heirs. Lurie spent nearly $9 million on his own campaign. His mother threw in another $1 million to an independent expenditure committee backing her son's bid. Lurie also got big cash infusions from wealthy friends and friendly tech titans. Breed's belief she lost the race simply because she was outspent doesn't necessarily jibe with other people's account of it. Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, who ran against her for mayor, said Breed's pivot to conservative policies cost her support from the progressive voters who championed her in the past. “She had alienated herself from liberal San Francisco along the way,” Peskin said. “And they abandoned her.” He also said Breed made enemies along the way. “It was kind of her way or the highway," he added. "And politics is the business of negotiating a compromise, which she did splendidly during COVID. But that was not everybody’s experience before COVID or after COVID, and that came back and bit her.” James Taylor, a professor of political science at the University of San Francisco, said Breed's tenure was marked with problems of her own making, including multiple scandals with city contracts. The San Francisco Standard reported that the head of the city's Human Rights Commission funneled more than $1 million in contracts to a nonprofit organization led by a man Breed was living with and that Breed had never disclosed the relationship. That investigation led to questions about mismanaged city funds in the Dream Keeper Initiative, one of Breed's signature programs. The Dream Keeper Initiative was supposed to inject up to $60 million a year into nonprofit groups and other organizations aimed at helping the city’s black community. The program was supposed to be a shining example of how the city was giving back to residents. Instead, it became a powerful example of wasteful spending, greed, and corruption. In the wake of the scandal, Taylor said that many of the city's black residents felt that the change Breed promised she would usher in was all talk. “In other words, London Breed’s demise was self-inflicted,” he said. “The way this plane crashed, everything around it was destroyed.” CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER As for future plans, Breed said she hasn't had much time to focus on what she'll do after Lurie takes over. “I don’t have no rich mama with money,” she said, laughing. “I got to go make my own money.”

NEW YORK , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report on how AI is redefining market landscape - The global seafood market size is estimated to grow by USD 150.04 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 13.55% during the forecast period. Rising consumer awareness about healthy nutrition is driving market growth, with a trend towards growth of online retailing in seafood industry. However, depletion of sea species poses a challenge. Key market players include Aker BioMarine ASA, Austevoll Seafood ASA, Clifton Sea Food Co., Cooke Aquaculture Inc., Djibah Seafood SARL, Grayton Seafood Co. LLC, Kangamiut Seafood AS, Kings Seafood Group, Lee Fish , Lee Fishing Company, Marel Group, Mida Food Distributors Inc., Motor City Seafood Co., Mowi ASA, Nueva Pescanova SL, Pacific Seafood Group, Phillips Foods Inc., Seattle Fish Co., The Deep Seafood Co., and Trident Seafoods Corp.. Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF Seafood Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 13.55% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 150.04 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 12.45 Regional analysis APAC, North America, South America, Europe, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 38% Key countries US, Canada, China, Japan, and France Key companies profiled Aker BioMarine ASA, Austevoll Seafood ASA, Clifton Sea Food Co., Cooke Aquaculture Inc., Djibah Seafood SARL, Grayton Seafood Co. LLC, Kangamiut Seafood AS, Kings Seafood Group, Lee Fish, Lee Fishing Company, Marel Group, Mida Food Distributors Inc., Motor City Seafood Co., Mowi ASA, Nueva Pescanova SL, Pacific Seafood Group, Phillips Foods Inc., Seattle Fish Co., The Deep Seafood Co., and Trident Seafoods Corp. Market Driver The seafood industry is a significant source of protein for consumers worldwide. With increasing awareness of health benefits, per capita consumption of seafood continues to rise. Price remains a key factor, with fresh and frozen options available for various budgets. Tourism and hospitality sectors heavily rely on seafood for culinary experimentation and value-added fish products. 3D printing technology and product innovation are trends shaping the industry, offering personalized textures, flavors, and appearances. Alternative protein sources and seafood substitutes are gaining popularity due to ethical concerns and environmental impact. Lean fish like cod, salmon, tuna, tilapia, and crustaceans like shrimps, lobster, and crab, are popular choices. Certifications from organizations like the Aquaculture Stewardship Council and Marine Stewardship Council ensure sustainability and traceability. Brexit and the EU transition period may impact seafood imports and exports. Health advantages of seafood, including omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, make it a crucial component of a balanced diet. Administrative authorities and seafood farmers work towards addressing environmental issues and ethical concerns, such as the use of anabolic steroids and toxic chemicals. Consumers prefer lean, sustainable, and ethically sourced seafood, driving demand for certified products. Seafood cuisines and restaurants offer diverse culinary applications, with pork-based foods facing competition. The global growth of e-commerce has been driven by the widespread availability of the Internet and the convenience it offers. In 2020, e-commerce sales in the US accounted for 21.3% of total retail sales, up from 15.8% in 2019. This trend is fueled by the ease of shopping, product discovery, and attractive pricing and personalized offers. For seafood suppliers, online retailing presents new opportunities to expand sales, reach broader markets, and enhance customer relationships and profitability. Manufacturers and distributors can increase their product visibility across regions by establishing an online presence. Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution! Market Challenges Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now! Segment Overview This seafood market report extensively covers market segmentation by 1.1 Fish- The global seafood market experienced significant growth in 2023, with the fish segment leading the way. The expanding preference for fish as a high-protein alternative to meat is a key factor fueling this growth. The number of meat eaters is on the rise, and consumers are increasingly aware of the health benefits of fish, which includes omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins like D and B2 (riboflavin). The American Heart Association recommends incorporating fish into one's diet at least twice a week. Consequently, fish is the most preferred type of seafood, driving the growth of the fish segment and the global seafood market as a whole. Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics Research Analysis The seafood industry is a significant source of protein for consumers worldwide, providing a wide range of flavors, textures, and appearances. Seafood is a staple in tourism and hospitality industries, enhancing culinary experimentation and product innovation. The price of seafood can vary greatly depending on the species, availability, and location. 3D printing technology is being explored to create seafood substitutes, offering alternative protein sources for ethical and environmental concerns. Lean fish like cod, salmon, and tuna are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and offer health advantages for a balanced diet. Sustainability is a priority in the seafood industry, with organizations like the Aquaculture Stewardship Council and Marine Stewardship Council promoting sustainable aquaculture techniques. Shrimps and other seafood items have numerous culinary applications, and value-added fish products cater to personalized preferences. The industry continues to innovate, addressing concerns of ethical sourcing, environmental impact, and consumer demand for new and exciting flavors. Market Research Overview The seafood industry is a significant source of protein for consumers around the world. With the growing awareness of health benefits associated with a balanced diet, the demand for seafood continues to rise. Seafood offers unique textures, flavors, and appearances that make it a popular choice for culinary experimentation and product innovation. However, the industry faces challenges such as price volatility, ethical concerns, and environmental impact. The use of 3D printing technology and alternative protein sources like plant-based seafood substitutes is gaining popularity to address these challenges. Sustainability is a key focus area, with certifications from organizations like the Aquaculture Stewardship Council and Marine Stewardship Council ensuring responsible farming practices. Seafood is a staple in tourism and hospitality industries, with shrimps, salmon, tuna, cod, tilapia, lobster, and crab being popular choices. Fresh and frozen seafood items are available, catering to different consumer preferences and convenience. Brexit and the transition period of the European Union (EU) have impacted the seafood industry, with administrative authorities and organized retail operators implementing traceability initiatives to maintain transparency. Seafood cuisines and restaurants offer a wide range of dishes, from traditional pescetarian foods to vegetarian diet options. However, concerns over anabolic steroids and toxic chemicals in seafood production persist, highlighting the need for stricter regulations. Lean fish like cod and salmon are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, making them a healthy addition to a balanced diet. Fatty fish like tuna are also known for their heart benefits, particularly DHA, which is essential for brain health. Aquaculture techniques have evolved to ensure sustainable farming practices, with a focus on reducing the environmental impact of fishing activity. Per capita consumption of seafood varies globally, with some countries consuming more than others. In conclusion, the seafood industry offers a rich source of protein and unique culinary experiences. However, it faces challenges related to price, ethics, and sustainability. Innovations in technology, product development, and farming practices are essential to meet the evolving demands of consumers while minimizing the impact on the environment. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/seafood-market-to-grow-by-usd-150-04-billion-2024-2028-report-on-ais-impact-on-market-trends-and-rising-nutrition-awareness---technavio-302329258.html SOURCE Technavio

Aussies combating invasive threat taking over caravan parks, farms and even suburbsNEW YORK — With the holidays comes festive feasts, and those often feature turkey. However, cooking a whole turkey isn’t the easiest thing in the world, as proven by the popularity of the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line. Since 1981, turkey company Butterball has offered a hotline for home chefs to call and ask experts for advice as they prepare their turkeys. Over the years, they've answered millions of questions and have expanded beyond just a phone line to accepting queries over text, email and social media as well. According to Butterball, the most common question they receive is when and how to thaw a turkey – a guide to which can be found here . This year, the hotline will be open from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24 and staffed by more than 50 experts, reachable via call at 1-800-BUTTERBALL or text at 844-877-3456. They're even open on Thanksgiving Day, fielding questions from across the country. Butterball shared that last Thanksgiving, the state they received the most calls from was California, and the top city was New York City, followed by Chicago and Nassau, New York. Check out the maps below to see the 10 cities and states that made the most calls last year.