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188 number To minimize our rice importation, we must spend our irrigation money wisely. But first, let us understand our rice import situation today. The reason why the Philippines is the world’s top rice importer was given by Paul John Caña. He quotes from the book “Why Does the Philippine Import Rice,” which states: “Several answers have been given to this question, many of which injure national pride by alluding to bad politicians, corruption, incompetence or laziness. But the real answer is not so bad: In a word, it is geography. ” We import rice because we are composed of islands with no major deltas like Thailand and Vietnam. The major rice exporters are all in the Southeast Asian mainland (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar). The importers are all archipelagos or narrow peninsulas (the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Japan, Korea and Malaysia). READ: Marcos: New dams, river projects to lessen flooding in Cagayan Valley The book continues: “The fact that countries remain in one club or the other for long periods of time suggests that some deep force is at work. That deep force is endowments of land and water. Thailand has four times the arable land per person versus the Philippines.” Given this difficult situation, it is necessary that we choose the best ways to use our irrigation money to produce the most rice per peso spent. But in the past, Congress has chosen to spend too much of the available money on new irrigation when other alternatives are more cost-efficient. This is because new irrigation is perceived to get more votes than these other alternatives. Last Nov. 19, we talked to National Irrigation Administration (NIA) head Eduardo Guillen and National Confederation of Irrigators Association president Remy Albano. They recommended three more cost-efficient options compared to new irrigation, which averages P1.3 million a hectare. The first is to spend it on repairs and restoration. This would cost P500,000 per hectare, or 38 percent of the cost of new irrigation. With the same amount of money, we can produce 2.6 times the volume of new irrigation. READ: NIA’s solar irrigation project a game-changer for farmers, food security The second alternative is even more attractive. When irrigation does not work because of no energy, solar-powered systems can be used at only P250,000 per hectare. This means more than five times the benefit of new irrigation. Despite this, it is often shelved in favor of new irrigation. The third is to have solar-powered irrigation in traditionally nonirrigable areas. Irrigation is usually done only on land with a slope grade of 3 percent. But irrigation is not just for rice. Solar-powered irrigation can be used for high-value crops grown in mountainous areas, with the land sloping at up to 31 percent. This costs P750,000 per hectare. It yields a very high rate of return from these crops that sell for much higher prices than rice. In addition to choosing the optimal mode of irrigation, other factors should be considered to optimize its use. A new rice road map group, with Hazel Tanchuling as chair and Raul Montemayor as cochair, discusses the importance of considering climate change forecasts when deciding when to plant. Guiller, the NIA administrator, added that planting should no longer be done the traditional way in irrigated areas. Instead, planting should be timed to avoid the dangerous typhoons that cause havoc to rice production. But since this is against farmers’ culture and tradition, a system should be put in place to motivate this new behavior. An example will be to time the provision of inputs such as water, seeds and fertilizers so that the planting is done at the optimal time. Another key factor is clustering. Irrigation done in clustered areas will result in economies of scale. This will be seen in the different areas of production, credit, marketing and technology transfer. In addition, irrigation must be part of a holistic agriculture development plan. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Because of geography, we may have no choice but to import rice. However, we should be replacing these imports through wise water use. Choosing the right way of spending irrigation money based on the expected return on investment, instead of perceived political benefit, must now be done by Congress. This must be supplemented by good management using factors like timing, clustering and the other components necessary for a complete approach. We can then move closer to true food security.

Coherent Holds An Nvidia-Like Gain. AI Is Just One Reason Why.Mozambican child smuggler gets six months suspended sentenceSnoopy and the Peanuts Gang Are Highlighted in an Exclusive In-Game Experience Filled with Nostalgia, Prizes, and Fun! HERZLIYA, Israel , Dec. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This New Year, Solitaire Grand Harvest is bringing joy, nostalgia, and a bit of winter magic with everyone's favorite beagle, Snoopy,! Starting December 29 , players can experience Snoopy, Woodstock, and the Peanuts gang in a special month-long event that's bound to bring back cherished memories while adding a little sparkle to your solitaire game. Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/playtika/9222155-en-solitaire-grand-harvest-featuring-snoopy Solitaire Grand Harvest, the #1 highest-grossing solitaire game in the U.S.**, is transforming into a Peanuts-themed winter wonderland just in time to ring in 2025. Whether you're sipping cocoa by the fire or counting down to midnight, the Peanuts ® takeover will warm your heart and make every win feel a bit more magical. Starting December 29 , players will discover Snoopy and his Winter Fair Collection, featuring charming in-game mini-games and exclusive prizes inspired by the classic Peanuts characters. But the fun doesn't stop when the ball drops! Between January 1-12 , players may add Snoopy and Woodstock to their collection, alongside their in-game special pet companions, making it a New Year's celebration that keeps on giving. Players get to keep their favorite characters with them forever with the permanent in-game Snoopy collection. Roi Glazer, General Manager of Solitaire Grand Harvest , shared his excitement, saying: "Snoopy has been a beloved part of so many of our lives for generations. This partnership with Peanuts allows us to combine the nostalgia of Snoopy with the excitement of Solitaire Grand Harvest in a way that brings joy to our players during the New Year celebration." Scott Shillet , Vice President of Global Hardlines at Peanuts , said: "We are thrilled to bring Snoopy and the beloved Peanuts gang to Solitaire Grand Harvest, allowing us to continue our mission of spreading joy through new and engaging experiences. By integrating our timeless characters into the game, our fans will find fresh ways to connect with Peanuts while enjoying the fun world Solitaire Grand Harvest has to offer." Solitaire Grand Harvest is available to download for free on the App Store and Google Play (in-app purchases available). To follow along, visit Solitaire - Grand Harvest on Facebook and on Instagram . About Solitaire Grand Harvest ® Solitaire Grand Harvest is the top Solitaire game in the U.S.**, with hundreds of thousands of daily players across multiple platforms. Solitaire Grand Harvest, developed by Supertreat GmbH, allows its community to experience the fun side of farming as they grow and harvest crops, build and design their personal farm and progress through thousands of challenging Solitaire levels. The game provides high value content, and players are exposed to new features and provided with the opportunity to connect with other members of the Solitaire Grand Harvest community online. About Playtika Playtika Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: PLTK ) is a mobile gaming entertainment and technology market leader with a portfolio of multiple game titles. Founded in 2010, Playtika was among the first to offer free-to-play social games on social networks and, shortly after, on mobile platforms. Headquartered in Herzliya, Israel , and guided by a mission to entertain the world through infinite ways to play, Playtika has employees across offices worldwide. **According to App Annie , Solitaire Grand Harvest is the highest-grossing Solitaire game in the U.S. based on in-app purchases, from January 2024 – October 2024 . About Peanuts The characters of Peanuts and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide, which is 41% owned by WildBrain Ltd., 39% owned by Sony Music Entertainment ( Japan ) Inc., and 20% owned by the family of Charles M. Schulz , who first introduced the world to Peanuts in 1950, when the comic strip debuted in seven newspapers. Since then, Charlie Brown , Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang have made an indelible mark on popular culture. In addition to enjoying beloved Peanuts shows and specials on Apple TV+, fans of all ages celebrate the Peanuts brand worldwide through thousands of consumer products, as well as amusement park attractions, cultural events, social media, and comic strips available in all formats, from traditional to digital. In 2018, Peanuts partnered with NASA on a multi-year Space Act Agreement designed to inspire a passion for space exploration and STEM among the next generation of students. SOURCE Playtika Holding Corp.

Rickey Henderson’s numbers are astounding. The Hall of Fame outfielder stole more bases than anyone in major-league history. He also scored the most runs and hit the most leadoff home runs while collecting more than 3,000 hits on the way to enshrinement in Cooperstown, N.Y. Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa will remember Henderson for more than the stats. “Rickey Henderson, as great a player, just as great of a teammate,” La Russa said during a conference call with Chicago reporters Sunday afternoon. “He was always in the midst of everything happening in the clubhouse, dugout and on the plane. “Great sense of humor. Personally, my interchanges with him was just honored to have him on the team.” Henderson died Friday at age 65 . He and La Russa were together for parts of seven seasons (1989-93 and 1994-95) with the Oakland Athletics. It was a very successful period. The A’s won the 1989 World Series, with Henderson earning MVP honors in the American League Championship Series. Henderson was named AL MVP in 1990 as the A’s captured their third consecutive pennant. “The thing about Rickey was the old saying, ‘When your best player or one of your best players sets the best example on and off the field, it’s a huge plus for your team,'” La Russa said. “He made other teammates want to be part of a team that was like glue. “Rickey was the ideal great player, great teammate and made everybody better.” Blue Jays first baseman John Olerud looks for the ball over the A’s Rickey Henderson after a wild pickoff throw in the American League Championship Series on Oct. 13, 1992, at Oakland Coliseum. Henderson made it to third base on the error. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) La Russa recalled having to prepare to face Henderson while he was managing the Chicago White Sox from 1979-86. And also what it was like getting to write Henderson’s name at the top of his lineup with the A’s. “One of the things, one of the realities of Rickey’s career — and we knew it (going) against him — was that he was so dangerous that teams focused on stopping him,” La Russa said. “And look at the career he had. He was a marked man whether he was hitting or baserunning. People went through all the extremes to stop him and you couldn’t stop him. “I was just in awe. Our teammates were in awe of how hard he played. There were a lot of attempts to intimidate him, which never made us happy. You couldn’t scare him and you couldn’t stop him.” Henderson was born in Chicago and grew up in Oakland, where he later would become a superstar. His 1,406 stolen bases, 2,295 runs and 81 leadoff homers are the most in MLB history. He also holds the modern-era record for stolen bases in a season, swiping 130 in 1982. He finished his 25-year career with a .279/.401/.419 slash line, 3,055 hits, 510 doubles, 66 triples, 297 home runs and 1,115 RBIs while playing for nine teams, including four stints with the A’s. He won a second World Series ring with the 1993 Toronto Blue Jays. “I don’t think anybody would disagree, in our generation, he was the most dangerous player on the other side in a tie game or you are one run ahead,” La Russa said. “The all-timers, he’s on the team.” La Russa also praised the 10-time All-Star’s baseball IQ. A’s legends Dave Stewart and Rickey Henderson share a moment in the dugout before the team’s last game at the Oakland Coliseum on Sept. 26, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) “As smart as any position player I’ve ever been around,” La Russa said. “(He had) that stance with the small strike zone, but he was ready to strike if you threw a strike. All the leadoff homers. He was smart. And he learned to be a great base stealer, learned to be a better hitter. “He told me a couple years ago, there was one statistic in his career that he never expected — he didn’t say he ‘appreciates more than the others’ because he had to work hard to hit those home runs and steal all those bases — but it was that he never had a thought that he could be a 3,000-hit guy. “He explained because he drew so many walks, (he) never thought he’d have enough at-bats. When you think about all the at-bats that didn’t count, the fact that he got 3,000 hits — remarkable, makes him even greater. One of a kind. As good as any player who has ever played the game.” La Russa and Henderson remained in contact through the years. La Russa estimated he saw Henderson about “three or four times” in the last three months. “If you looked at him like we looked at him, we commented, ‘Look how great he looks,'” La Russa said. “He could still play. Very, very difficult to accept. “Great person, great player, great teammate. ... Great friend.”

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Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Miriam Gluyas has been up since 4am in the Melbourne morning to make it here for our lunch, which will not trouble this masthead’s budget. She is warm and bright in a tomato-red cardigan, fitting apparel for the Commissioner of the Salvation Army. Not for us, a flash restaurant in Sydney’s down-town. Gluyas, who is “65 but feels 35”, has invited me to dine as the organisation’s clients do – modestly and communally. We are at William Booth House, a Salvos-run rehabilitation facility in Surry Hills. It is poised on a hip patch of Sydney real estate, amid minimalist clothing boutiques and cafes where the baristas are extremely serious about coffee. It would be worth a fortune, but like nearby Foster House, a facility for the homeless, it is badly in need of refurbishment. Advertisement “We want to give people who use our services some dignity,” Gluyas tells me. “For that we need to upgrade. So we are going to donors and the government to seek support.” The lunchroom is a cheerful, stainless-steel kitchen, cafeteria-style affair, staffed by residents and scattered with rehab attendees, one of whom sits next to Miriam and chats easily to her. We serve ourselves. On the menu is a Greek-style grilled chicken wrap with yoghurt sauce and salad. We drink tap water from mugs. It’s simple and delicious. Simple and delicious food is available at the Salvos – like this Greek-style chicken wrap. Credit: Louise Kennerley Gluyas is the Salvos’ Big Cheese – the head of an organisation with 8000 employees, about $735 million in property assets and a net income of $22.9 million, according to the December 2023 Annual Report. But she does not have Big Cheese-energy. She also does not get paid Big Cheese-bucks – her pay packet is about $500 a week. Advertisement Sure, she gets the use of a house and a vehicle thrown in, but I cannot think of any other boss who draws a salary of $26,000 a year. It’s radically counter-cultural. “I don’t like a command-and-control leadership,” Gluyas says. “I like a leadership that says, ‘Let’s come together, let’s wrestle and get to the best outcome’.” A structural flaw of the lunch interview is the fact that the interviewee has to do almost all the talking, and doesn’t get a chance to eat. But that’s not my problem. I begin with asking Miriam about her own background, which she says was as obliviously happy as they come – so much so, that she says she “probably didn’t even realise that people went through difficult stuff”. “I would call myself very blessed to have grown up in a family where you could be anything, do anything.” Advertisement She was raised in Ballarat, with loving parents and grandparents, the eldest of three siblings, in a strongly Salvation-Army household, going back generations to her Scottish forebears. Loading She barracked for the Geelong Cats and attended Clarendon Presbyterian Ladies College. “It didn’t work,” she quips, meaning the “Ladies” part. Her mother May was a ten-pound Scottish migrant who ran her own small businesses, including a babywear shop and a ladies’ apparel store. Her father, Les, was a builder. “I think my parents were ahead of their time, but I didn’t realise it,” Gluyas says. “They both worked. They always said to me, ‘Be whatever you want. Do whatever you want’.” The family was close-knit but full of robust kitchen table debate, especially about politics. Her father Les was always Gluyas’ chief sparring partner. Now aged 88, he still is. I ask what the fault lines of their discussions are. Advertisement “He would come from the very white ... there’s only one side of politics for him,” Gluyas says carefully. “So we would debate about that, especially when I was working at Auburn with asylum seekers and refugees. We would probably debate about most things.” Gluyas wanted to be a professional golfer or a sports teacher but ended up training as a Salvation Army officer, graduating aged 24 in 1983. She has worked “all over NSW and Queensland”, but her career highlights were “planting” (starting up) a new church in Newcastle in the mid-1990s, running a church in Auburn in Sydney’s western suburbs in the 2000s, and a three-year mission in Papua New Guinea in the early 2010s. Miriam Gluyas as a young Salvation Army cadet. The Auburn church attracted congregants from 26 different nations, many of them refugees and asylum seekers. There was also a cohort of methadone users. Gluyas learnt that years of drug abuse can ruin teeth, which in turn can result in self-esteem issues and social rejection. So the Salvos offered dental care. “Beautifully, one of the dentists out there said, ‘Everything would change if they could get their teeth back’,” Gluyas recounts. “So he would redo their teeth and to see them come back and say ‘Finally, I am game enough to smile and get a job!’” Advertisement One of Gluyas’ most memorable clients at the Auburn centre was a young girl from Sierra Leone. “She had been in two refugee camps where she was not sure if she would survive,” Miriam says. “When she arrived in Australia, she was placed in Year 10, but she was years behind in her schooling.” With support and tuition from the Salvation Army, she finished the HSC, went on to university and is now a registered nurse. “I remember sitting at a table with someone once and people were saying, ‘Those people should have to learn English before they come here’, and I remember reacting and saying, ‘How dare you say that? You don’t know their stories’,” Gluyas says. “But then I had to stop and think, ‘I didn’t know their stories before either’. If you don’t know, you don’t know.” Gluyas speaking to some of the staff at the Salvation Army kitchen in Surry Hills, where people in need of food can have a meal. Credit: Michael Quelch Gluyas has managed a few nibbles of her lunch before I hit her with a big question – I ask her what the voice of God sounds like to her. She answers by telling me about her mother. When Gluyas was working in Papua New Guinea, her mother, who suffered from dementia towards the end of her life, used to phone and beg her daughter to come home. Gluyas was in knots about what to do, until one night as she was jogging around the Salvos’ compound, God spoke to her. “He said, ‘I never want you to worry about a title or a position any more. Go home and look after your mum’.” Gluyas did what she was told, and got another seven years with her mother, but when her mum died in 2021 during lockdown, it was “incredibly sad” and Gluyas had “a little argument with God”. “I said, ‘You could have waited because I would really have liked to be there with my dad at her funeral’,” she says. “But then I thought, ‘It is what it is, and many other people have been through the same thing’.” Gluyas is too nice, too clever and too unassuming to bite on any questions about politics. But she says the impact of the cost of living crisis is “huge”, and is forcing people to make impossible choices between paying power bills and buying food. “It’s just becoming overwhelming, like a blanket over people, they think, ‘How will I do this?’” Last week, the Salvation Army put out a press release saying it expected this Christmas to be the hardest in its 140-year history in terms of the volume and widespread nature of need across the country. Gluyas says the Salvos are seeing “people who have never come before and are actually embarrassed to come”. Having seen the effects of gambling addiction, she supports cashless gambling cards and banning gambling advertisements. “It’s all right to say at the end of the Footy Tab ad, ‘You are likely to lose’ or whatever, but I think, ‘Why bother?’” While some faith groups want to retain exemptions to anti-discrimination laws, the Salvation Army has a formal “Commitment to Inclusion” which encompasses “people of all cultures, languages, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and intersex status”. “I think there is a massive degree of loneliness,” Gluyas says of the Salvos’ mission. “A lot of people come into our centres because they’re lonely, and they’re after real community.” By now I have polished off my chicken wrap and Gluyas has barely touched hers, and I do start to feel bad about it. Gluyas is so thoroughly equable and kind that it is starting to rub off on me. I tell her I worry she will be hungry later. “That’s fine!” she says. “It’s totally fine.” She takes a few more bites before we make her work again, this time to pose for the photographer. Loading Ghoulishly desperate to discover Gluyas’ dark side, I ask her if she ever feels despondent. “Look, I am a pretty positive, upbeat person,” she says. She pauses for a moment to reflect, and then says that the only thing she gets despondent about is “attitudes”. Characteristically, she refrains from mentioning the people whose attitudes sadden her. “You have to hear the story behind the person, and then you’ll start to think differently,” she says. “Why is someone lying in the doorway? What is their story? How did they end up getting there? You will usually find a pretty powerful story there.” Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. 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With rookie QB Penix showing poise in starting debut, the Falcons again control their playoff hopes

Honda and Nissan officially begin merger talks to create world's third-largest automakerJob market jitters real for some mid-career Minnesotans and recent gradsSAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 27, 2024-- Peak Technology, a leading provider of Rapid Prototyping and Advanced Manufacturing Solutions to the Semiconductor, Bio-Medical, Aerospace and other Deep Tech industries, has approved a definitive agreement to acquire all the intellectual property (IP) and assets of former 3D printer technology company Type A Machines. With this acquisition augmenting an already broad range of custom engineering, fabrication, assembly, and integration services, Peak Technology will significantly improve its position as an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) capable provider of design, prototyping and manufacturing solutions to global manufacturers of high-tech products and equipment. "By adding 3D printing services and product technology to our corporate portfolio, we are making a statement to the industry that we have a world-class production system specifically designed to address the product development and manufacturing challenges faced by our customers as they navigate the ever changing requirements of the 4th Industrial Revolution,” commented Robert de Neve, COO & Head of Corporate Venture for Peak Technology. Mr. de Neve added, “3D printing, also known as Additive Manufacturing, will be the catalyst that drives Peak Technology to expand into new markets and continue to hit the key objectives mandated by our strategic growth plan.” “I am very excited about this addition to our capabilities,” said Sharon Woo, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Peak Technology. Ms. Woo continued, “Our focus on continuous adaptation and innovation highlights our commitment to address the evolving needs of our customers.” This acquisition is totally complementary to Peak Technology’s portfolio of products and services and will allow the company to enter CY25 as the only supplier to offer a full spectrum and comprehensive suite of Additive Manufacturing (AM) services. In addition to complementing Peak’s state-of-the-art Subtractive Manufacturing (CNC machining) capabilities, pre-AM, in situ-AM, and post-AM processes such as the material selection, forming, fabricating, machining, and assembling of highly engineered plastics-based components, assemblies and subsystems, provide one of a kind productization and realization solutions to OEMs around the world. About Type A Machines Type A Machines was a company known for producing high-quality, large build volume 3D printers, particularly their "Series 1" model, and multi-unit “Printer Pod,” which offered a cubic foot of printing space, making it suitable for larger projects and professional applications; the company was recognized for its focus on modularity, and parallel production level printing, allowing users to easily upgrade, customize and optimize their machines for prototype and production environments. Key points about Type A Machines 3D printing: About Peak Technology Headquartered in Silicon Valley, CA, Peak Technology is an Advanced Prototype & Manufacturing Solutions company specializing in producing components, assemblies and modules made from highly engineered plastics and other technical materials. The company provides the following services to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) building complex electro-mechanical, optical, and mechatronic products and equipment: Peak Technology is committed to building a best in class business operating system and fostering a corporate culture based on four core principles: 1) Execute with Heart, 2) Operate with Extraordinary Customer Focus, 3) Be Growth Centric and 4) Exhibit Extreme Ownership and Accountability. Additional information may be found at www.peakfab.com . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241127391210/en/ CONTACT: For more information, please contact:Lotus Miranda Business Administration Manager Peak Technology Enterprises 408.748.1102 Lotus@peakfab.com www.peakfab.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SOFTWARE GENERAL HEALTH MACHINERY HARDWARE ELECTRONIC DESIGN AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING CHEMICALS/PLASTICS AEROSPACE MANUFACTURING HEALTH SOURCE: Peak Technology Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/27/2024 04:09 PM/DISC: 11/27/2024 04:09 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241127391210/en

Jenelle Evans Criticizes MTV for Keeping Amber Portwood on ‘Teen Mom: The Next Chapter’: ‘She Doesn’t Have Custody of Any of Her Kids’(The Center Square) – The U.S. Government Accountability Office says leadership is needed to fully define quantum threat mitigation strategy. A new report released by the agency emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive federal leadership to address the emerging cybersecurity risks posed by quantum computing, warning that without prompt and coordinated action, adversarial nations might exploit quantum technology to undermine national security. "It is important for the Office of the National Cyber Director to act on our recommendation now for several reasons," Marisol Cruz Cain, director with GAO's Information Technology and Cybersecurity team, wrote in an email to The Center Square. "Adversaries could copy data protected by cryptography today and store it with the intention of accessing it later once a cryptographically relevant quantum computer is developed." The director is also the lead author of The Future of Cybersecurity. "The key to successful migrations is to start planning now and not wait until a CRQC is on the horizon," Cain wrote. "A fully comprehensive strategy will provide agencies with more clarity on their responsibilities and the common outcomes they are aiming to achieve. It will also provide the nation a better-defined roadmap for allocating and managing resources and holding participants accountable for achieving results." A cryptographically relevant quantum computer is a quantum computer that can run algorithms to crack or weaken existing cryptography. Quantum computing is a rapidly advancing technology that has the potential to solve complex problems at an unprecedented speed, which also poses significant risks in today's cybersecurity. The report says various documents have been developed over the past eight years that have contributed to an emerging U.S. national quantum computing cybersecurity strategy. The Government Accountability Office has identified three goals moving forward. The first goal is to standardize post-quantum cryptography, the second would be to migrate federal systems to that cryptography, and the third would encourage all sectors of the economy to prepare for the threat. The report identifies gaps in federal agency preparedness and a lack of clear leadership to oversee the transition to quantum-safe systems, as "No single federal organization is responsible for the U.S. strategy’s coordination." While agencies like the National Institute of Standards and Technology have taken necessary steps to develop quantum-resistant cryptographic standards, the report found inconsistencies in how federal agencies implement recommendations. The Government Accountability Office says national strategies should ideally contain six characteristics: • Purpose, scope, and methodology. • Problem definition and risk assessment. • Objectives, activities, milestones, and performance measures. • Resources, investments, and risk management. • Organizational roles, responsibilities, and coordination. • Implementation and integration. According to the report, the accountability office was asked to investigate the federal government's strategy for addressing threats posed by quantum computers to the nation's cryptography. The current encryption methods are designed to secure sensitive data, but unfortunately, could potentially become vulnerable to future efforts of quantum-enabled decryption in the future. The report also stresses that the federal government will need to act swiftly to implement quantum-resistant cryptography in order to ensure that those critical systems would remain secure. According to the report, "some experts predict that a quantum computer capable of breaking certain cryptography – referred to as a cryptographically relevant quantum computer – may be developed in the next 10 to 20 years." The agency also identified challenges in workforce development and noted a shortage of professionals with expertise in quantum computing and cybersecurity, suggesting federal agencies invest in training programs and collaborate with private sector leaders to ensure a skilled future workforce that is ready to tackle any quantum-related threats. The report serves as a roadmap for quantum threat mitigation and outlines ways the federal government could appoint a centralized leadership body to oversee the implementation of quantum-safe measures. The report also calls for increased funding for quantum research and development and stronger public-private partnerships to address other vulnerabilities while also emphasizing that proactive leadership is critical to ensuring the United States remains at the forefront of cybersecurity in the quantum era.Johnson's 25 lead FGCU past Florida Tech 79-62

The Chicago Cubs are looking to add to their roster. Although the Kyle Tucker rumors are currently controlling the headlines, the Cubs were very active at the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday. Players eligible for the Rule 5 Draft were to be added to 40-man rosters earlier this offseason if they were to be protected, just as the Cubs did with Owen Caissie. On Wednesday, those efforts came to fruition. In the Major League phase of the draft, the Cubs made a selection. Teams will pass if their 40-man roster is full or there isn't a player they're interested in. The rules for the Rule 5 Draft, along with the full results, can be found here . Having not been on the Detroit Tigers 40-man roster, the Cubs selected 3B/SS Gage Workman. Workman's first three minor-league seasons were largely underwhelming. However, the infielder had a huge offensive outburst at Double-A in 2024, slashing .280/.366/.476 with 18 home runs, 89 RBIs, 29 doubles, 30 steals, and 85 runs scored over 126 games. A fair majority of his totals were career highs as well. The Workman addition is intriguing. Listed as a third baseman, Workman could be a replacement on the 40-man roster for other third baseman who, based on speculation, could be a part of a big trade. From there, the Cubs drafted a trio of minor league pitchers. RHP William Jensen, RHP Nolan Clenney, and RHP Robert Kwiatkowski were all selected from the Double-A level for the San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, and Boston Red Sox, respectively. Jensen has made a handful of starts in the minors over the last two seasons, but has largely served as a bullpen arm. Between Double-A and Triple-A in 2024, Jensen held a 3.74 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 35 appearances (six starts). He struggled a bit at Triple-A, but could be a bullpen piece for the Cubs at some point in the next two seasons. The 28-year-old Clenney showed a lot of promise in 2021 and 2022, pitching to a 4.80 ERA in 37 appearances. While fanning 95, the righty looked like a high-upside arm. However, his last two seasons leave a lot to be desired and as an older prospect, the Cubs may try to tinker his arsenal in the pitch lab and expedite him to the MLB bullpen. Finally, Kwiatkowski is another older righty (27) that the Cubs see something in. Between Double-A and Triple-A in 2024, the righty posted a 2.86 ERA with 71 strikeouts but 25 walks in 36 appearances (two starts). Despite the high number of walks, Kwiatkowski showed well in 78.2 innings of work and could be another gem for the bullpen. Along the way, the Cubs lost three players to other teams. RHP Richard Gallardo went to the Toronto Blue Jays in the first round of the minor league phase. In addition, OF Jacob Wetzel was also scooped up by Toronto in the second round of the minor league phase. Finally, RHP Angel Gonzalez was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals, also in the second round of the minor league phase. This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.

Campaigners called for more investment in Scotland’s rail services after figures appeared to show the performance of the state train operator is declining amid cancellations caused by industrial action, driver shortages and ageing stock. The official rail-performance indicator — known as PPM (public performance measure) — shows a deterioration in ScotRail services to lower levels than under the previous private-sector ownership. The network experienced 19 cancellations on Sunday due to a lack of drivers willing to work overtime on Sunday rest days and high winds, although disruption was less than the same day on the previous weekend. But the PPM figures show a decline over a longer period, with delivery stalling across key performance areas, resulting in a service now even worse in terms of reliability than it was under Dutch-owned Abellio. ScotRail was taken into public ownership by the SNP government in 2022 partly because of performance concerns.Seeing the red lights flashing behind you while driving on the highway can immediately make your heart sink, so it's no surprise that a lot of drivers are using police scanners to detect nearby police officers and avoid getting into trouble. Before grabbing a police scanner of your own as a game-changing gadget for your next road trip , you may be wondering if it's even legal to use one. The short answer is that like a radar detector , it's probably best to not use a police scanner while driving in some states. Police scanners are actually legal to own and operate in the United States, because the radio frequencies used by law enforcement, like all U.S. radio frequencies, belong to the public. However, most states have restrictions on how police scanners can be used. In Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, and Minnesota, it's against the law to use a police scanner while driving. In other states, like California (which makes many things involving cars illegal) , Michigan, New Jersey, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia, you'll face extra charges if you use a police scanner to aid in a crime. Always check your state's police scanner laws before installing one in your car. People in a lot of cities across the U.S. have noticed police scanners going silent. This is due to police departments choosing to encrypt their broadcasts, no longer letting drivers, journalists, and other members of the public hear police calls anymore. This has rendered police scanners useless in some cities. The FBI has pushed police departments to silence radio calls in an attempt to give Americans more privacy. And police have responded. At the start of 2024, for instance, departments across Kansas started encrypting radio communications, saying that this was to protect residents' information and ensure criminals weren't monitoring the radio to elude responding officers. The New York City Police Department has begun encrypting its broadcasts, too, claiming criminals were listening in. In Colorado, over 30 departments have also decided to encrypt radio transmissions — and the Radio Television Digital News Association argued that this was putting the public at risk by hiding both crime and potentially troubling police behavior. And Las Vegas police have followed the trend, although they allow journalists to listen in. As more and more police departments encrypt their radio communication, the idea of installing a police scanner (which can cost anywhere from about $50 to $700) isn't as appealing for some. Try installing a police scanner app on your phone instead to see if there are public police stations nearby.None

Hochul pitches 'Inflation Refund' proposal

As TikTok bill steams forward, online influencers put on their lobbying hats to visit WashingtonBETHESDA, Md., Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. HST (the "Company"), the nation's largest lodging real estate investment trust, today announced that its board of directors authorized a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share. In addition, the Company announced a special dividend of $0.10 per share, bringing the total dividends declared for the year to $0.90 per share. The dividend is payable on January 15, 2025, to stockholders of record as of December 31, 2024. ABOUT HOST HOTELS & RESORTS Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. is an S&P 500 company and is the largest lodging real estate investment trust and one of the largest owners of luxury and upper-upscale hotels. The Company currently owns 76 properties in the United States and five properties internationally totaling approximately 43,400 rooms. The Company also holds non-controlling interests in seven domestic and one international joint ventures. SOURAV GHOSH Chief Financial Officer (240) 744-5267 JAIME MARCUS Investor Relations (240) 744-5117 ir@hosthotels.com © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Chaz Lanier scored 18 and No. 7 Tennessee extended its season-opening winning streak to seven games with a 78-35 victory over UT Martin on Wednesday. Felix Okpara had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Volunteers (7-0). Zakai Zeigler added 11 points and nine assists, and Igor Milicic had 13 rebounds and nine points. The Skyhawks (2-5) were led by Josu Grullon's 15 points. Lanier scored 11 points in the first half as Tennessee built a 35-20 lead at the half. Grullon had 10 for UT Martin. UT Martin: Dropped its fifth straight after two opening wins under first-year coach Jeremy Shulman. After 21 wins last year, the Skyhawks brought in 16 newcomers this season. They are picked to finish 10th in the Ohio Valley Conference. Tennessee: After receiving the news that 6-foot-9 sophomore J.P. Estrella will miss the entire season with a foot injury, the Vols have had to go back to the drawing board to determine their rotation on the front court. Estrella had been coming off the bench with Cade Phillips to spell Igor Milicic and Felix Okpara. What that big man rotation looks like will be interesting. From late in the first half to early in the second half, Tennessee scored 14 straight points and turned a 10-point lead into a 44-20 advantage. Zakai Zeigler had five of those points. UT Martin committed 18 turnovers. Five of those were shot-clock violations. Tennessee scored 24 points off the turnovers. UT Martin will be at Charleston Southern next Tuesday. Tennessee will host Syracuse next Tuesday in the SEC/ACC Challenge. 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

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OneMedNet Corporation (Nasdaq: ONMD) (“OneMedNet” or the “Company”), a global provider of clinical imaging innovation and curator of regulatory-grade Imaging Real World Data (“iRWDTM”), inclusive of electronic health records, laboratory results and, uniquely, medical imaging, today announced the Company received an expected notice (the “Notice”) from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) indicating that, due to the Company’s failure to timely file its Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2024 (the “New Delinquent Filing”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the Company is not in compliance with Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) (the “Rule”), which requires the timely filing of all required periodic reports with the SEC. Previously, Nasdaq granted the Company an exception until December 11, 2024 to file its delinquent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024 (collectively with the New Delinquent Filing, the “Delinquent Filings”). As a result, any additional Nasdaq exception to allow the Company to regain compliance with all delinquent filings, including the New Delinquent Filing, will be required to be filed by December 11, 2024. In accordance with Nasdaq’s listing rules, the Company has until December 6, 2024 to submit to Nasdaq an update to the Company’s original plan to regain compliance with the Rule. The Company is working diligently to complete the Delinquent Filings. The Company intends to file the Delinquent Filings as soon as practicable to regain compliance with the Nasdaq Listing Rules. No assurance can be given that the Company will be able to regain compliance with the aforementioned listing requirement or maintain compliance with the other continued listing requirements set forth in the Nasdaq Listing Rules. The Notice has no immediate effect on the listing of the Company’s common stock or warrants on The Nasdaq Capital Market. About OneMedNet Corporation OneMedNet provides innovative solutions that unlock the significant value contained within the Real-World Data (“RWD”) repositories of over 1,400 healthcare system and provider sites that currently comprise its iRWDTM network. OneMedNet’s proprietary iRWDTM platform provides secure, comprehensive management of diverse clinical data types, including electronic health records, ECGs, EEGs, prescriptions, physician notes, laboratory results, and uniquely, medical imaging. Employing its robust iRWDTM platform, the Company securely de-identifies, searches, and curates the clinical data, bringing a wealth of internal and third-party research opportunities to its drug, medical device and imaging/diagnostic AI development customers. OneMedNet’s platform is designed to address diverse clinical requirements across various domains, such as rare diseases, central nervous system disorders, oncology, cardiology and women’s health. The Company is committed to delivering precise and robust research support services that span the entire continuum of care. This commitment is a cornerstone of OneMedNet’s strategy to enhance patient outcomes and help pave the next wave of healthcare innovation. For more information, please visit www.onemednet.com . Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. In addition, from time to time, we or our representatives may make forward-looking statements orally or in writing. We base these forward-looking statements on our expectations and projections about future events, which we derive from the information currently available to us. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future performance, including: our financial performance and projections; our growth in revenue and earnings; and our business prospects and opportunities. You can identify forward-looking statements by those that are not historical in nature, particularly those that use terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “contemplates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “plans,” “projected,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “hopes” or the negative of these or similar terms. In evaluating these forward-looking statements, you should consider various factors, including: our ability to change the direction of OneMedNet; our ability to keep pace with new technology and changing market needs; the competitive environment of our business; the timeline for the Company to regain compliance with the listing rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC relating to the timely filing of periodic reports with the SEC; risks inherent with investing in Bitcoin, including Bitcoin’s volatility; and our ability to implement our Bitcoin treasury strategy and its effects on our business. These and other factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are only predictions. The forward-looking events discussed in this press release and other statements made from time to time by us or our representatives, may not occur, and actual events and results may differ materially and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions about us. We are not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release and other statements made from time to time by us or our representatives might not occur. OneMedNet Contacts: Michael Wong, Director of Marketing Phone: 800.918.7189 Email: michael.wong@onemednet.com SOURCE: ONEMEDNET CORPORATION

ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc. Announces December 2024 Dividend Rate Per Common ShareHonda, Nissan announce plans to merge, forming the world’s third-largest automaker by sales TOKYO: Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan have announced plans to join forces, forming world’s third-largest automaker by sales as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels. The two companies said they had signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday and that smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors also had agreed to join the talks on integrating their businesses. “We anticipate that if this integration comes to fruition, we will be able to deliver even greater value to a wider customer base,” Nissan’s CEO Makoto Uchida said in a statement. Automakers in Japan have lagged behind their big rivals in electric vehicles and are trying to cut costs and make up for lost time. News of a possible merger surfaced earlier this month, with unconfirmed reports saying that the talks on closer collaboration partly were driven by aspirations of Taiwan iPhone maker Foxconn to tie up with Nissan, which has an alliance with Renault SA of France and Mitsubishi. A merger could result in a behemoth worth more than $50 billion based on the market capitalisation of all three automakers. Together, Honda and the Nissan alliance with Renault SA of France and smaller automaker Mitsubishi Motors Corp would gain scale to compete with Toyota Motor Corp and with Germany’s Volkswagen AG. Toyota has technology partnerships with Japan’s Mazda Motor Corp. and Subaru Corp. Even after a merger Toyota, which rolled out 11.5 million vehicles in 2023, would remain the leading Japanese automaker. If they join, the three smaller companies would make about 8 million vehicles. In 2023, Honda made 4 million and Nissan produced 3.4 million. Mitsubishi Motors made just over 1 million. Nissan, Honda and Mitsubishi announced in August that they would share components for electric vehicles like batteries and jointly research software for autonomous driving to adapt better to dramatic changes centred around electrification, following a preliminary agreement between Nissan and Honda set in March. Honda, Japan’s second-largest automaker, is widely viewed as the only likely Japanese partner able to effect a rescue of Nissan, which has struggled following a scandal that began with the arrest of its former chairman Carlos Ghosn in late 2018 on charges of fraud and misuse of company assets, allegations that he denies. He eventually was released on bail and fled to Lebanon. Speaking Monday to reporters in Tokyo via a video link, Ghosn derided the planned merger as a “desperate move”. From Nissan, Honda could get truck-based body-on-frame large SUVs such as the Armada and Infiniti QX80 that Honda doesn’t have, with large towing capacities and good off-road performance, Sam Fiorani, vice president of AutoForecast Solutions, told The Associated Press. Nissan also has years of experience building batteries and electric vehicles, and gas-electric hybird powertrains that could help Honda in developing its own EVs and next generation of hybrids, he said. But the company said in November that it was slashing 9,000 jobs, or about 6% of its global work force, and reducing its global production capacity by 20% after reporting a quarterly loss of 9.3 billion yen ($61 million). It recently reshuffled its management and Makoto Uchida, its chief executive, took a 50% pay cut to take responsibility for the financial woes, saying Nissan needed to become more efficient and respond better to market tastes, rising costs and other global changes. Fitch Ratings recently downgraded Nissan’s credit outlook to “negative”, citing worsening profitability, partly due to price cuts in the North American market. But it noted that it has a strong financial structure and solid cash reserves that amounted to 1.44 trillion yen ($9.4 billion). Nissan’s share price also has fallen to the point where it is considered something of a bargain. On Monday, its Tokyo-traded shares gained 1.6%. They jumped more than 20% after news of the possible merger broke last week. Honda’s shares surged 3.8%. Honda’s net profit slipped nearly 20% in the first half of the April-March fiscal year from a year earlier, as sales suffered in China. The merger reflects an industry-wide trend toward consolidation. At a routine briefing Monday, Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said he would not comment on details of the automakers’ plans, but said Japanese companies need to stay competitive in the fast changing market. “As the business environment surrounding the automobile industry largely changes, with competitiveness in storage batteries and software is increasingly important, we expect measures needed to survive international competition will be taken,” Hayashi said. Agencies