s year end medley

s year end medley Hawks top Cavs again to advance in NBA Cup, Boston beat BullsAn alleged Chinese spy who became a close confidant of the Duke of York has been named as Yang Tengbo following a court ruling, as concerns grow over Beijing’s reach within British society. The 50-year-old businessman had been known as H6 until a judge lifted an anonymity order just ahead of an urgent question on the scandal from former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith. MPs had threatened to use parliamentary privilege to reveal Mr Yang’s identity following accusations that he had become close to Prince Andrew in an effort to gain influence, and that he had helped the United Front Work Department – an arm of the Chinese Communist Party. But Mr Yang – who has also been pictured with former prime ministers Theresa May and David Cameron – insisted he had “done nothing wrong or unlawful”. In a new statement, he said it was “entirely untrue” that he was involved in espionage and that he was a victim of a “political climate” of tension between Britain and China. Meanwhile, Prince Andrew indicated that he would stay away from this year’s traditional Christmas royal get-together at Sandringham in Norfolk. His ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, will also miss the gathering in what will be seen as a show of solidarity with her former husband. The pair are said to be preparing to spend the day together at Royal Lodge, the home they still share in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire. It is not yet known if the prince will attend King Charles’s traditional pre-Christmas lunch for the extended royal family at Buckingham Palace on Thursday. But Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who both have young families, had already planned to spend Christmas with their respective in-laws this year for the first time, sources said. However, with the spy’s identity revealed, MPs were more concerned with the extent of the influence held by the Chinese Communist Party within the UK through political donations, lobbying, business deals and universities. After raising his urgent question in the Commons, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who has been banned from entering China, said Mr Yang was “not a lone wolf”. “He was one of some 40,000 members of the United [Front] Work Department, which the intelligence security committee report last year said, and I quote ... ‘had penetrated every sector of the UK economy, spying, stealing intellectual property, influencing and shaping our institutions’.” He added: “So will the government commit to putting China ... in the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), and will they do it now? No more delay.” There was concern when security minister Dan Jarvis confirmed that FIRS, which had been expected to come into force in 2024, will not now be in place until next year. Conservative former home secretary Suella Braverman was among those to question why the scheme has yet to be implemented, and also pressed for China to be included in the “enhanced” tier. Mrs Braverman said she had made the decision to exclude Mr Yang from the UK because his presence “posed a threat to our national security”, adding: “That decision was based on the advice of MI5, and I’m very pleased that the High Court has upheld that decision.” She added: “Isn’t it regrettable that it has taken a high-profile case, public outcry, and opposition MPs dragging the minister to the chamber to finally get the government to commit to implementing the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, a scheme that we enacted and that was ready to go at the time of the general election?” Tom Tugendhat, a Conservative former security minister, said MI5 had made it “very, very clear” that FIRS is “not worth having” if China is not in the enhanced tier. Mr Jarvis replied: “Upon our arrival in government, we found that FIRS was not ready to be implemented – as has been claimed – and since coming into office, we have ensured that there are now more people than ever working on FIRS implementation. The case management team have been recruited and are now in place.” Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran raised concerns about the university sector, and expressed anger that Peking University’s bid for expansion in Oxfordshire had been accepted. After the shadow home secretary Chris Philp criticised Labour’s attitude to China, Mr Jarvis noted that Lord Cameron had taken China’s president, Xi Jinping, to the pub during an official visit in 2015. Labour’s Paul Waugh, the MP for Rochdale, reminded the House that former Tory prime minister Theresa May was once praised by Chinese state media for “sidestepping questions on human rights” on a visit to China on which he accompanied her in his former role as a journalist in the parliamentary lobby. Mr Jarvis suggested that the Tories needed to “show humility” on the issue. However, he came under pressure as he tried to walk a difficult line on diplomatic relations with China. Mr Philp warned: “Chinese infiltration of public organisations is of grave concern, but it’s not just public organisations such as government: it’s also businesses and universities that are being systemically infiltrated, and often intellectual property theft is at the heart of what the Chinese government are trying to achieve.” He added: “Last year, there were multiple attempts by Chinese companies to get hold of sensitive technology, and MI5 estimate that 20,000 individuals have been approached by Chinese agents who are trying to influence them or forge contacts in some way, and it’s likely that, at some point either in the past or in the future, every member of this House will be contacted or attempted to be contacted in one form or another.” But Mr Jarvis said that the government “will challenge where we must in order to keep our country safe, compete where we need to, and cooperate where we can, for example, on matters like climate change”, adding: “That is acting in the national interest.”

Shares of Nvidia fell Monday after China said it is investigating the high-flying U.S. microchip company over suspected violations of Chinese anti-monopoly laws. In a brief news release with few details, Chinese regulators appear to be focusing on Nvidia’s $6.9 billion acquisition of network and data transmission company Mellanox in 2019. Nvidia shares about 3% Monday. They are still up 179% so far this year. Considered a bellwether for artificial intelligence demand, Nvidia has led the AI sector to become one of the stock market’s biggest companies, as tech giants spend heavily on the company’s chips and data centers needed to train and operate their AI systems. Nvidia’s shares have surged this year along with the California company’s revenue and profit due to AI demand. According to data firm FactSet, about 16% of Nvidia’s revenue comes from China, second only to its U.S.-generated revenue. A spokesperson for the company based in Santa Clara, California, said in an emailed statement that Nvidia is “happy to answer any questions regulators may have about our business.” In its most recent earnings release, Nvidia posted revenue of $35.08 billion, up 94% from $18.12 billion a year ago. Nvidia earned $19.31 billion in the quarter, more than double the $9.24 billion it posted in last year’s third quarter. The earnings release did not break out revenue from China. The company’s market value rocketed to $3.5 trillion recently, passing Microsoft and briefly overtaking Apple as the world’s most valuable company. China’s antitrust investigation follows a report this summer by technology news site The Information that the U.S. Justice Department was investigating complaints from rivals that Nvidia was abusing its market dominance in the chip sector. The allegations reported include Nvidia threatening to punish those who buy products from both itself and its competitors at the same time. David Bieri, an international finance expert at Virginia Tech, said that China’s investigation is “not about what Nvidia is doing in China, per se” but rather a signal to the incoming Trump administration. China, Bieri said, is looking to set the tone of future relations. The Chinese government, he said, is telling the U.S. “don’t mess with us, because all of your darling corporations that your version of capitalism needs to prosper have entanglements” with China. Nvidia will have to revise its strategy in China or come up with provisions in their budgets for the type of uncertainty business with China will bring, Bieri said. “I don’t think this is something that they can shake off,” he said. “I also have a tremendous amount of faith in the brilliance of the management strategy of a corporation like Nvidia to not only pay attention to credit risk, market risk and operational risk, but also to political risk.” Nvidia’s invention of graphics processor chips, or GPUs, in 1999 helped spark the growth of the PC gaming market and redefined computer graphics. Last month, it replaced Intel on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, ending the pioneering semiconductor company’s 25-year run on the index. Unlike Intel, Nvidia designs but doesn’t manufacture its own chips, relying heavily on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., an Intel rival. ___ Associated Press Technology Writer Sarah Parvini in Los Angeles contributed to this report. Southern California's notorious Santa Ana winds were predicted to return Shares of Nvidia fell Monday after China said it is The nominations for the Golden Globe Awards are a starry He’s one of the most famous corporate leaders in theJohn FiccaTRUMP GOLF: THE GAME ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE PRESALE FOR MOBILE GAME LAUNCH, WHERE PLAYERS EXPERIENCE THE AWARD-WINNING TRUMP GOLF PORTFOLIO THROUGH THEIR MOBILE DEVICES

Trump picks ex-senator David Perdue as ambassador to ChinaCan Dhaka’s spirit be reclaimed?

From Carbon Neutrality to Youth Employment... Yeosu Declares Sustainable DevelopmentWASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Christopher Wray told bureau workers Wednesday that he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden's term in January, an announcement that came a week and a half after President-elect Donald Trump said he would nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the job. Wray said at a town hall meeting that he would be stepping down “after weeks of careful thought,” roughly three years short of the completion of a 10-year term during which he tried to keep the FBI out of politics even as the bureau found itself entangled in a string of explosive investigations, including two that led to separate indictments of Trump last year as well as inquiries into Biden and his son. “My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day,” Wray told agency employees. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.” The intended resignation was not unexpected considering that Trump had settled on Patel to be director and had repeatedly aired his ire at Wray, whom he appointed during his first term. But his departure is nonetheless a reflection of how Trump's norm-breaking style has reshaped Washington, with the president-elect yet again flouting tradition by moving to replace an FBI director well before his term was up and Wray resigning to avert a collision with the incoming administration. “It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway — this is not easy for me," Wray said. “I love this place, I love our mission, and I love our people — but my focus is, and always has been, on us and doing what’s right for the FBI.” Wray received a standing ovation following his remarks before a standing-room-only crowd at FBI headquarters and some in the audience cried, according to an FBI official who was not authorized to discuss the private gathering by name and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press. Trump applauded the news on social media, calling it “a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice" and saying that Patel's confirmation will begin “the process of Making the FBI Great Again.” If confirmed by the Senate, Patel would herald a radical leadership transformation at the nation's premier federal law enforcement agency. He has advocated shutting down the FBI's Washington headquarters and called for ridding the federal government of “conspirators," raising alarms that he might seek to wield the FBI's significant investigative powers as an instrument of retribution against Trump's perceived enemies. Patel said in a statement Wednesday that he was looking forward to "a smooth transition. I will be ready to serve the American people on day one.” It's extremely rare for FBI directors to be ousted from their jobs before the completion of their 10-year terms, a length meant to insulate the agency from the political influence of changing administrations. But Trump has done it twice, placing Wray in the job in 2017 after firing Director James Comey amid an investigation into ties between Russia and the Republican president’s campaign. Despite having appointed Wray, Trump had telegraphed his anger with the FBI director on multiple occasions throughout the years, including as recently as the past week. In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday, Trump said, “I can’t say I’m thrilled with him. He invaded my home,” a reference to the FBI search of his Florida property , Mar-a-Lago, two years ago for classified documents from Trump’s first term as president. That search, and the recovery of boxes of sensitive government records, paved the way for one of two federal indictments against Trump. The case, and another one charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 election, have both been dismissed by the Justice Department special counsel that brought them in light of Trump's November victory. Attorney General Merrick Garland praised Wray for having “served our country honorably and with integrity for decades.” He said: “Under Director Wray’s principled leadership, the FBI has worked to fulfill the Justice Department’s mission to keep our country safe, protect civil rights, and uphold the rule of law.” Natalie Bara, the president of the FBI Agents Association, said in a statement that Wray had led the FBI “through challenging times with a steady focus on doing the work that keeps our country safe. ” Throughout his seven years on the job, the self-professed "low-key, understated" Wray brought a workmanlike approach to the job, repeatedly preaching a “keep calm and tackle hard” mantra to bureau personnel despite a steady drumbeat of attacks from Trump and his supporters. He also sought to avoid public conflict when possible with the Trump White House, distancing himself and his leadership team from the FBI's Russia investigation over errors that took place before he took office and announcing dozens of corrective actions meant to prevent the recurrence of the surveillance abuses that plagued the inquiry. But there were other instances when he memorably broke from Trump — he did not agree, for instance, with Trump’s characterization of the Russia investigation as a “witch hunt." He made known his displeasure when the White House blessed the declassification of materials related to the surveillance of a former Trump campaign aide and contradicted a Trump talking point by stating that Ukraine had not interfered in the 2016 election. He repeatedly sought to keep the focus on the FBI's day-to-day work, using the bulk of his resignation announcement to praise the bureau's efforts in countering everything from violent crime and cyberattacks to Chinese espionage and terrorism. Yet as he leaves office at a time of heightened threats , much of the public focus has been on the politically sensitive investigations of his tenure. Besides the inquiries into Trump, the FBI in recent years also investigated Biden's handling of classified information as well as Biden's son Hunter for tax and gun violations. Hunter Biden was pardoned by his father last week. A particular flashpoint came in August 2022, when FBI agents searched Mar-a-Lago — an action officials defended as necessary given the boxes of documents that were being concealed at the Palm Beach property and the evidence of obstruction that the Justice Department said had been gathered. Trump railed against the FBI over that search and has kept up his criticism ever since. Trump was angered by Wray's comment at a congressional hearing that there was “some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel” that struck Trump's ear during an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July. The FBI later stated unequivocally that it was indeed a bullet. Before being named FBI director, Wray worked at a prestigious law firm, King & Spalding, where he represented former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie during the “Bridgegate” scandal. He also led the Justice Department’s criminal division for a period during President George W. Bush’s administration.

US Defense Department Unveils Initiatives To Expedite Adoption Of AI TechnologiesAnthropologist and author Jason De León said the problem with the topic of migration is that people "pedal these very simplistic stories — and it's a very complex issue." To examine the issue of human smuggling, De León spent seven years closely studying the lives of men dedicated to smuggle migrants from Central America and Mexico into the U.S. The result was his nonfiction book, “Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling," which on Wednesday garnered De León the prestigious National Book Award for nonfiction. “I’m still in pretty much in disbelief,” De León told NBC News over the phone Thursday afternoon, in his first interview since winning the award. For De León, the award “felt like a major win” for a book about elements of migration that are “totally overlooked.” “I ended up writing a book about a bunch of broken, beat down, mostly young men who taught me so much about what it’s like to try to survive,” De León said. “I think it’s a testament to just listening. I wanted to go in and listen to those guys. And once I did, and accepted that was my role as a listener, I just felt like I learned so much. I’m super grateful for the experience and for the fact that those guys all really wanted to share their very important stories.” The book, which was released in March , provides a close look at the rarely seen world of human smuggling and its connection to undocumented migration, while providing a more nuanced portrait beyond the stereotypes of those doing the smuggling. This is the first in-depth and character-driven book looking into human smuggling through the real journeys and work of informants, gang leaders and guides, according to the University of California, Los Angeles , where De León teaches anthropology and Chicano studies and serves as the director of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology. De León's book is grounded on seven years of research, which involved following a group of subjects to show the complexity of undocumented immigration and the realities and conditions that drive mass migration. While De León interviewed countless migrants and smugglers, his book focuses on the journeys of nearly half a dozen people from Honduras, Mexico and elsewhere. "We cannot begin to grapple with this issue until we understand all its complexities. That’s talking about smugglers, talking about the political economy of undocumented migration — and people don’t want that. They want to ignore these things. They want to say the solution is to build a wall ... the world doesn’t work like that," he said. "For me, as a social scientist, as an anthropologist, my goal is to show people the reality that actually exists." With this goal in mind, De León said he hopes that the stories compiled in his book help improve people's understanding of immigration issues and equip them with the knowledge necessary "to ask better questions of our leaders" and "begin to address these issues in a more nuanced way." The son of immigrant parents from Mexico and Philippines who had served in the Army, De León mostly lived in Long Beach, California, and the Rio Grande Valley in Texas — constantly crossing the border into Mexico and growing up with relatives who were undocumented. Later in his professional career, De León became the executive director of the Undocumented Migration Project , a research nonprofit that seeks to raise awareness about global migration issues while also assisting families of missing migrants who are looking to reunite with their loved ones. The organization has been studying clandestine migration between Latin America and the U.S. since 2009 by using a combination of visual, archaeological and forensic methods "to understand this violent social process," according to De León's website . Despite his years of experience, De León said he learned new lessons while working on the award-winning book. “That’s the beauty of the research. I feel like I’m constantly learning about the world," he said. "In writing a book about smugglers, I did not expect to be taught lessons about empathy, to be taught lessons about hope, to be taught to be more reflexive about my own position in the world.”

With technical prowess and considerable style, Marta danced around two sliding defenders, outwitted a goalkeeper and calmly scored as another player rushed forward in desperation to stop her. It was more Marta Magic. That goal last weekend helped propel the Orlando Pride into Saturday's National Women's Soccer League championship game against the Washington Spirit. Barbra Banda also scored in the Pride's 3-2 semifinal victory over the Kansas City Current . While Banda has had an incredible first season with the Pride, captain Marta has been the talisman that has helped lead the team in its remarkable turnaround this year. The last time the Pride were in the NWSL playoffs was in 2017 — Marta's first year with the club. But this season they nearly went undefeated, going 23 games without a loss to start the season before losing 2-0 to the Portland Thorns with just two regular-season games left. “I think because of the way that we did it, during this season, from beginning to now, it’s something very special that I’ve never had before with any other club that I’ve played for," Marta said. "Plus year by year, we see in America, strong competition. This is the best league in the world. And you never know what’s going to happen, and it’s hard to keep winning the games, being in the first place almost like the whole season. That’s why it’s really different and so special.” Marta’s goal was the latest gasp-inducing moment in a stellar career filled with them. Known by just her first name, the 38-year-old is a six-time FIFA world player of the year. "Let's see if tomorrow I can do something similar — or even better," Marta said on Friday. Her teammate Kylie Strom chimed in: “That was the greatest goal I've ever witnessed, hands down." Appropriate. Earlier this year, FIFA announced that the best goal in women's soccer each year would earn the Marta Award. In a lighthearted moment the day before the title match, Marta was asked if she thought it was possible she might give the award to herself. “You guys need to decide, because who votes for the best goal in the year? It’s you. It’s the people in the public. So it should be really interesting, like Marta’s Award goes to Marta!” she said with a laugh. Marta has played in six World Cups for Brazil and played this summer in her sixth Olympics, winning a silver medal after falling in the final to the United States . She previously said this would be her final year with the national team. But since then Brazil was named the host of the 2027 Women's World Cup. "I had a conversation with my coach, the national team coach, and I was really clear about playing in 2027. I told him it’s not my goal anymore,” she said. “But I’m always available to help the national team. And if they think I still can do something during this preparation for the World Cup, yeah, I would be happy to help them." Marta's club career started in Brazil when she was just 16. She has also played in Sweden and in the U.S. professional women's leagues that came before the NWSL. With nine regular-season goals, Marta has had one of her best seasons since she joined the Pride. “I can never pick a side, I never pick favorites — but I love to see this for Marta," U.S. coach Emma Hayes said. “Marta is someone we all like, admire and are grateful for. And that goal was just like prime Marta at her best. And so grateful for and thankful for her that she got the opportunity with another game with her team.” The Pride went 18-2-6 this season, clinching the NWSL Shield for the first trophy in club history. Orlando also set a record with 60 regular-season points to finish atop the standings. “We are sitting top of the table, but I think there still are a lot of doubters. I think there’s people out there who say, maybe this was a one-off season,” Strom said. “But we’re here to prove them all wrong. So I think we do carry a bit of that underdog mentality still with us.” The second-seeded Spirit advanced to the title match at Kansas City's CPKC Stadium last weekend on a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw against defending champions Gotham FC. The Spirit's roster includes Trinity Rodman, a standout forward who formed the so-called “Triple Espresso” trio with Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith for the United States at the Olympics. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerWill Adam Thielen Play in Week 13? NFL Injury Status, News & Updates

NASA's stuck astronauts hit 6 months in space. Just 2 more to go

The results of the 2024 U.S. presidential election rattled the country and sent shockwaves across the world — or were cause for celebration, depending on who you ask. Is it any surprise then that the Merriam-Webster word of the year is “polarization”? “Polarization means division, but it’s a very specific kind of division,” said Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster’s editor at large, in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press ahead of Monday’s announcement. “Polarization means that we are tending toward the extremes rather than toward the center.” The election was so divisive, many American voters went to the polls with a feeling that the opposing candidate was an existential threat to the nation. According to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters, about 8 in 10 Kamala Harris voters were very or somewhat concerned that Donald Trump’s views — but not Harris’ — were too extreme, while about 7 in 10 Trump voters felt the same way about Harris — but not Trump. The Merriam-Webster entry for “polarization” reflects scientific and metaphorical definitions. It’s most commonly used to mean “causing strong disagreement between opposing factions or groupings.” Merriam-Webster, which logs 100 million pageviews a month on its site, chooses its word of the year based on data, tracking a rise in search and usage. Last year’s pick was “authentic.” This year’s comes as large swaths of the U.S. struggle to reach consensus on what is real. “It’s always been important to me that the dictionary serve as a kind of neutral and objective arbiter of meaning for everybody,” Sokolowski said. “It’s a kind of backstop for meaning in an era of fake news, alternative facts, whatever you want to say about the value of a word’s meaning in the culture.” It’s notable that “polarization” originated in the early 1800s — and not during the Renaissance, as did most words with Latin roots about science, Sokolowski said. He called it a “pretty young word,” in the scheme of the English language. “Polarized is a term that brings intensity to another word,” he continued, most frequently used in the U.S. to describe race relations, politics and ideology. “The basic job of the dictionary is to tell the truth about words,” the Merriam-Webster editor continued. “We’ve had dictionaries of English for 420 years and it’s only been in the last 20 years or so that we’ve actually known which words people look up.” “Polarization” extends beyond political connotations. It’s used to highlight fresh cracks and deep rifts alike in pop culture, tech trends and other industries. All the scrutiny over Taylor Swift’s private jet usage? Polarizing. Beef between rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake? Polarizing. The International Olympic Committee’s decision to strip American gymnast Jordan Chiles of her bronze medal after the Paris Games? You guessed it: polarizing. Even lighthearted memes — like those making fun of Australian breakdancer Rachael “Raygun” Gunn’s performance — or the proliferation of look-alike contests, or who counts as a nepo baby proved polarizing. Paradoxically though, people tend to see eye to eye on the word itself. Sokolowski cited its frequent use among people across the political spectrum, including commentators on Fox News, MSNBC and CNN. “It’s used by both sides,” he said, “and in a little bit ironic twist to the word, it’s something that actually everyone agrees on.” Rounding out Merriam-Webster’s top 10 words of 2024: Demure TikToker Jools Lebron’s 38-second video describing her workday makeup routine as “very demure, very mindful” lit up the summer with memes. The video has been viewed more than 50 million times, yielding “huge spikes” in lookups, Sokolowski said, and prompting many to learn it means reserved or modest. Fortnight Taylor Swift’s song “Fortnight,” featuring rapper Post Malone, undoubtedly spurred many searches for this word, which means two weeks. “Music can still send people to the dictionary,” Sokolowski said. Totality The solar eclipse in April inspired awe and much travel. There are tens of millions of people who live along a narrow stretch from Mexico’s Pacific coast to eastern Canada, otherwise known as the path of totality, where locals and travelers gazed skyward to see the moon fully blot out the sun. Generally, the word refers to a sum or aggregate amount — or wholeness. Resonate “Texts developed by AI have a disproportionate percentage of use of the word ‘resonate,’” Sokolowski said. This may be because the word, which means to affect or appeal to someone in a personal or emotional way, can add gravitas to writing. But, paradoxically, artificial intelligence “also betrays itself to be a robot because it’s using that word too much.” Allision The word was looked up 60 times more often than usual when, in March, a ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. “When you have one moving object into a fixed object, that’s an allision, not a collision. You’re showing that one of the two objects struck was not, in fact, in motion,” Sokolowski said. Weird This summer on the TV news show “Morning Joe,” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called Republican leaders “weird.” It may have been what launched his national career, landing him as the Democratic vice presidential nominee. Though it’s a word that people typically misspell — is it “ei” or “ie”? — and search for that reason, its rise in use was notable, Sokolowski said. Cognitive Whether the word was used to raise questions about President Joe Biden’s debate performance or Trump’s own age, it cropped up often. It refers to conscious intellectual activity — such as thinking, reasoning, or remembering. Pander Pander was used widely in political commentary, Sokolowski said. “Conservative news outlets accused Kamala Harris of pandering to different groups, especially young voters, Black voters, gun rights supporters.” Whereas Walz said Trump’s visit to a McDonald’s kitchen pandered to hourly wage workers. It means to say, do, or provide what someone — such as an audience — wants or demands even though it is not “good, proper, reasonable, etc.” Democracy In 2003, Merriam-Webster decided to make “democracy” its first word of the year. Since then, the word — which, of course, means a form of government in which the people elect representatives to make decisions, policies and laws — is consistently one of the dictionary’s most looked up. “There’s a poignancy to that, that people are checking up on it,” Sokolowski said. “Maybe the most hopeful thing that the curiosity of the public shows, is that they’re paying attention.” Associated Press polling editor Amelia Thomson-Deveaux contributed reporting. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s crypto policy is taking shape with the announcement of a White House crypto czar and a new securities watchdog, but questions remain over who will drive policy and whether too many cooks could slow down changes. Trump on Thursday appeared to make good on his campaign pledge to be a “crypto president,” announcing he would make former top PayPal PYPL.O executive and crypto evangelist David Sacks “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar.” A day earlier, Trump said he would nominate pro-crypto Washington attorney Paul Atkins to head the Securities and Exchange Commission. While crypto executives cheered the news, saying the pair would end the Biden administration’s crypto crackdown and promote innovation, some Washington analysts said the creation of a crypto czar, a new role, sowed ambiguity over who would drive crypto policy and flagged the potential for policy clashes. “One big question is whether the policy will be driven by Sacks himself. A czar appointed by Trump is going to want to see changes fairly quickly, but the SEC has processes and you can’t just snap your fingers at the SEC and have new rules,” Ian Katz, managing director of Capital Alpha Partners, said in an email to Reuters. “Personalities will be important,” he added. A Silicon Valley venture capitalist and friend of Trump billionaire backer Elon Musk, Sacks was an early bitcoin investor. In a 2017 CNBC interview, he said cryptocurrencies were revolutionizing the internet, but he acknowledged there were also scammers in the sector. He does not appear to have any experience writing or leading policy, according to a Reuters review of his background. Atkins, meanwhile, is a former SEC official and respected veteran of Washington policy circles who has said he supports crypto innovation as way to boost financial services competition, and has helped crypto companies in their dealings with regulators via his consultancy Patomak Global Partners. “Atkins is kind of a known quantity,” said Lene Powell, senior legal analyst at financial consultancy Wolters Kluwer. Sacks is from “a different sphere.” Both have called for regulators to be more accommodating of crypto companies, but neither appear to have taken a position on whether and under what circumstances crypto tokens should be considered securities, commodities or utilities – a core issue that will ultimately decide how the industry is regulated. “I think we’ll see more constructive regulation. Obviously, that includes some clarification around what is (a) security or not,” said Chen Arad, co-founder of Solidus Labs, a crypto compliance company. Atkins and Sacks did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency, surged past the $100,000 milestone for the first time after Trump announced Atkins as his pick to lead the SEC, buoyed by hopes that the new administration would usher in softer crypto policies. Under President Joe Biden, the SEC has sued dozens of crypto companies, alleging they broke securities laws, while bank regulators discouraged lenders from dabbling in crypto and Congress failed to pass legislation that would help promote mainstream crypto adoption. The crypto industry is pushing for an ambitious raft of policies that would promote adoption of digital assets, including the creation of a crypto regulatory framework which would address when tokens can be classified as securities or commodities. Trump said in a Thursday post on his Truth Social platform that Sacks would “guide” crypto policy and “work on a legal framework so the Crypto industry has ... clarity,” leaving it unclear whether Sacks would lead the incoming administration’s crypto policy. It was also unclear whether Sacks will lead Trump’s crypto advisory council, which is also expected to play a key role in shaping crypto policy. Reuters previously reported the crypto czar was expected to lead that body and coordinate policy among the various regulatory agencies. That coordination will be crucial, since a crypto legal framework would need extensive input from the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, whose new chair has yet to be announced, and may also require congressional approval, said lawyers. Regulations on less contentious non-crypto issues such as proprietary bank trading and capital have been snarled up for years by inter-agency squabbles, they noted. “It definitely would be a lot of cooks,” Powell said. In an email on Friday, a Trump transition spokesperson reiterated the President-elect’s Thursday announcement in which he said Sacks would guide crypto policy, and did not answer Reuters questions seeking more details on how the role would work. Some consumer protection advocates have expressed concern that the Trump administration’s crypto agenda might create gaps that would leave investors at risk, a fear the industry has largely dismissed. “I don’t think there will be under-regulation,” said Anthony Scaramucci, the founder of asset manager SkyBridge, who briefly served in Trump’s first administration. “I don’t think it will create fraud, but I think it will help the United States maintain what it should be, which is our mantle of financial services leadership.” Source: Reuters (Reporting by Hannah Lang and Michelle Price; Additional reporting by Pritam Biswas, Lawrence Delevingne, Douglas Gillison, Chris Prentice, Carolina Mandl, Arsheeya Singh Bajwa and Jaiveer Shekhawat; editing by Jonathan Oatis)Best press is still good performance’: PCO Sec. Chavez

ATLANTA (AP) — Even when grappling with a four-game losing streak and the uncertainty generated by quarterback Kirk Cousins’ eight interceptions and no touchdown passes in that span, there is some solace for the Atlanta Falcons. They play in the NFC South. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.

Earlier this year, New Hampshire lawmakers banned transgender girls from competing on girls’ school sports teams and prohibited some gender reassignment surgeries for minors. Those efforts will continue next year as several Republicans have filed draft legislation that could limit gender-affirming healthcare and revive a bill vetoed by the governor this summer that would have restricted access to bathrooms and locker rooms based on “biological sex.” Here’s what to look for during the upcoming legislative session: Weare Republican Lisa Mazur submitted two bill requests that would affect gender-affirming healthcare. One is “relative to health care professionals administering hormone treatments and puberty blockers,” though it doesn’t specify what that would entail at this early stage in the legislative process. Mazur declined an interview for this story. Full-fledged bills being drafted by the state’s Legislative Services office will become public in late December or early January. Other states have passed laws prohibiting transgender medical options, some of which are currently being challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court. Justices heard arguments in early December on whether to uphold a Tennessee law that bars minors from receiving gender transition care including surgeries, hormone therapy and puberty blockers. The Supreme Court appeared inclined to side with the state. Mazur’s same bill, according to the draft request title, would also relate to “school personnel attempting to influence a minor’s perception of his or her gender or sex.” Another bill, also requested by Mazur, would ban gender reassignment top surgery for minors, expanding on a law passed this year that prohibits minors from receiving genital gender reassignment surgery. Whitefield Republican Rep. Seth King submitted two bill draft requests that would, in theory, impact gender identity legal options and protections. He doesn’t plan to file either of them as bills in the upcoming session, he said – these were more of an exercise in planning to see what that policy language might look like should he choose to pursue them down the line. He hopes to share the drafts with other lawmakers and “bounce ideas around,” he said in an email. Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess One of his hypothetical draft requests says it would remove gender identity from protections against discrimination, although specifics are unknown. Protections against sex discrimination are enshrined in federal law, and the Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that those protections also apply to discrimination over gender identity or sexual orientation, saying it’s impossible to discriminate against the latter two without also discriminating against the person for their biological sex. King’s other draft request would require gender identification to show as either male or female on driver’s licenses and non-driver IDs. New Hampshire residents can currently use an “X” instead of “M” or “F” to identify their gender on their license as nonbinary. This would appear to remove the “X” option. Rep. Jim Kofalt, a Republican from Wilton, will seek to revive a bill that passed the Legislature this year but was vetoed by Gov. Chris Sununu. Kofalt said he asked the Legislative Services department to copy his previous bill exactly – it would change the state’s Law Against Discrimination by permitting the classification of people by biological sex in certain areas, like bathrooms and locker rooms, athletics and sporting events where biological males are “generally recognized” as having an advantage, and in correctional and health facilities where people may be held involuntarily. It’s warranted, according to the previous bill, because it serves the “compelling state interests of protecting the privacy rights and physical safety of such persons and others.” The bill elicited backlash from LGBTQ rights advocates, and Sununu ultimately vetoed it, saying it sought to address issues that weren’t occurring in New Hampshire and that it invited “unnecessary discord.” Kofalt said his bill isn’t a mandate but would hand those decisions back to local towns, school districts and others. People on both sides of gender ideology issues have gotten too extreme, he said, and he views the bill as a “middle-of-the-road” solution. “I think people want to be respectful of other people, whatever their lifestyle is and however they choose to live their lives, but there’s got to be some balance and mutual respect, and so that’s what I’m aiming for,” Kofalt said. Charlotte Matherly is the statehouse reporter for the Concord Monitor and Monadnock Ledger-Transcript in partnership with Report for America. Follow her on X at @charmatherly, or send her an email at cmatherly@cmonitor.com.NoneAustrian bike maker KTM on Saturday said the judicial restructuring of its holding firm Pierer Mobility AG has no impact on business related to products co-developed with Bajaj Auto for Indian domestic market and select export markets. However, it is impacting business of Pierer Mobility AG/KTM AG that is run out of Austria, including exports from Austria, India and China to its key markets in the US and Europe. On November 26, given the immediate liquidity constraints, the Executive Board of KTM AG has decided to file an application for the initiation of judicial restructuring proceedings with self-administration over the assets of KTM AG and its subsidiaries KTM Components GmbH and KTM F&E GmbH, the company said in a statement. All other subsidiaries of KTM AG, in particular all sales companies, are not affected, it added. "It is to be noted that the aforesaid matter has a bearing on the business of Pierer Mobility AG/KTM AG that is run out of Austria," the company said. 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"...the KTM business that is run out of India (domestic, select export markets) for which products are co-developed by KTM & Bajaj and manufactured and sold by Bajaj Auto continues to operate in the normal course during this period," the company added. Bajaj Auto through its wholly-owned subsidiary in Netherlands Bajaj Auto International Holdings BV (BAIHBV) holds a 49.9 per cent stake in its associate -- Pierer Bajaj AG (PBAG) in Austria. The remaining controlling stake in PBAG is held by Pierer Industrie AG. PBAG holds a nearly 75 per cent stake in its subsidiary Pierer Mobility AG (PMAG), the holding company of KTM AG. Apart from being a part equity owner, Bajaj Auto is also a strategic partner for KTM as it develops and manufactures products (under 400cc) for India and export to overseas markets, the statement said. The business in India is managed by Bajaj Auto whereas export geographies are managed mostly by KTM AG and partly by Bajaj Auto. "The KTM and Husqvarna brands are of strategic importance and constitute an important part of Bajaj Auto's premium motorcycles business in India," the company said. Having registered its highest ever volumes sold under these brands in the country in the last financial year, Bajaj Auto remains strongly committed to the sustained growth of this business and is working closely with its channel partners, it added. Nominations for ET MSME Awards are now open. The last day to apply is November 30, 2024. Click here to submit your entry for any one or more of the 22 categories and stand a chance to win a prestigious award. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )'Emilia Pérez' leads Golden Globe nominations with 10, followed by 'The Brutalist' and 'Conclave'

Career Horoscope Today: Astrological Predictions on December 17, 2024, For All Zodiac SignsEmojis have transformed the way people communicate online, conveying emotions and feelings with a single character. With the latest update, iOS 18.2 takes personalization to the next level by introducing a game-changing feature: customizable emojis. This innovative tool allows users to create unique, personalized emojis that can add a fresh layer of excitement to online conversations. How Customizing Emojis Will Change Everything People use emojis daily, surpassing more than 10 billion. Emojis add more fun but give communication something beyond it. Emoji usage often comes with another dimension of customizing emojis to add even further to that. Yes, users naturally tend to use those that resonate with their style of preference and expression or even those that encapsulate personal inside jokes. This is where personalization meets creativity, as iOS 18.2 features now deliver every text the user sends. Custom Emojis in 5 Easy Steps Designing the emojis sounds quite challenging, but it is effortless, especially with iOS 18.2 features . So, ensure that the iPhone's software is updated; otherwise, it might be difficult to access iOS 18.2 features . Users should find updates by looking in the following order: Settings > General > Software update and find updates. After that, open the Messages application, start a new conversation, tap the emoji icon, and search for Create Emoji. This update adds the ability to create personal emojis . Upon entry into the application , the user is presented with a handful of choices, including skin tone, hairstyles, other facial characteristics, and accessories. Apple's iPhone emoji creator has conjured millions of combinations to represent the moods and personalities of individuals. After composing, save the emoji. It will appear on the emoji keyboard and be ready for conversation. Ways to Get the Most from Custom Emoji Creativity : Combine with different accents for the stylistic flavor. Contextualize : The personalized emojis should match the conversations that users have daily. Share and Save : Custom emojis are saved on iCloud , making sure they do not lose them. What’s New in iOS 18.2? The update has more to its name than just the new emojis. Faster performance, enhancements for security, and numerous other upgrades have been made to the Messages application. According to Apple, users can report an improvement of 85% in the app's responsiveness with the update. Thus, it makes it an update for every iPhone owner. Why You Should Use Custom Emojis Introducing personalized emojis in iOS 18.2 marks a significant milestone in mobile communication. Apple has opened up new avenues for self-expression and creativity by empowering users to create and share custom emojis. As technology continues to evolve, it's clear that innovative features like these will play a vital role in shaping the future of mobile communication , enabling users to connect with each other in more meaningful and engaging ways.

Chris Clarke appointed practice leader of Homeland Security & Law Enforcement; Bryan Miller to lead newly combined Defense, Diplomacy, & Intel (DDI) practice MCLEAN, Va. , Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Guidehouse, a global consultancy providing advisory, digital, and managed services to the commercial and public sectors, has named Shannon White the new leader of its Defense & Security segment effective Jan. 1, 2025 . White succeeds John Saad , who has been named President of Guidehouse. Additionally, Chris Clarke will take on White's former role as Guidehouse's Defense & Security's Homeland Security & Law Enforcement practice leader. White brings a wealth of expertise in the national security sectors, along with a proven ability to deliver complex, high-impact solutions. With a track record of driving innovation and meaningful results, she has been instrumental in shaping Guidehouse's growth and impact across its diverse portfolio. Under her leadership, the Defense & Security segment will continue to focus on delivering mission-critical solutions to address the nation's most pressing defense and security challenges. "Shannon is a passionate leader whose experience will be invaluable as we continue to support purpose-driven initiatives to preserve security across the U.S.," said John Saad , President of Guidehouse. "Her strategic vision and expertise will accelerate Guidehouse's growth through transformative engagements with our clients in the defense, national security, and public sectors." Chris Clarke , Homeland Security & Law Enforcement practice leader Clarke, a partner at the firm, brings over 20 years of experience engaging with clients on complex challenges, with a focus on risk management and financial transformation. He has worked extensively across the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Justice, and the Intelligence Community leading hundreds of consultants to deliver a range of services in support of solving strategic challenges for Guidehouse clients. Bryan Miller , Defense, Diplomacy, & Intel (DDI) practice leader To position the firm for additional growth and to align with the evolving needs of its clients, Guidehouse has combined Defense & Security's Defense & Intelligence and Diplomacy & Development practices into a newly combined Defense, Diplomacy, & Intel (DDI) practice under the leadership of Bryan Miller . Miller, a partner at the firm, has over 20 years of industry experience focused on delivering strategy, supply chain and transformation programs to the U.S. Government. "This new structure strengthens our capabilities and provides a more cohesive approach to serving these interconnected client missions," added Saad. "Chris and Bryan are remarkable leaders with unmatched expertise in navigating the complexities of public safety and national security. We congratulate them on these new roles and are confident they will drive tremendous value for our clients and teams." Named a Military Friendly® Employer for six consecutive years, Guidehouse's Defense & Security segment serves U.S. diplomatic, intelligence, law enforcement, and defense agencies. Backed by proven success in helping clients compete, deter, and win, the firm delivers mission-critical optimization, technology modernization, and financial management solutions. About Guidehouse Guidehouse is a global consultancy providing advisory, digital, and managed services to the commercial and public sectors. Guidehouse is purpose-built to serve the national security, financial services, healthcare, energy, and infrastructure industries. Disrupting legacy consulting delivery models with its agility, capabilities, and scale, the firm delivers technology-enabled and focused solutions that position clients for innovation, resilience, and growth. With high-quality standards and a relentless pursuit of client success, Guidehouse's more than 18,000 employees collaborate with leaders to outwit complexity and achieve transformational changes that meaningfully shape the future. guidehouse.com Media Contact: Cecile Fradkin, cfradkin@scprgroup.com , Guidehouse View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/guidehouse-names-shannon-white-leader-of-defense--security-segment-302332867.html SOURCE GuidehouseWASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Christopher Wray told bureau workers Wednesday that he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden's term in January, an announcement that came a week and a half after President-elect Donald Trump said he would nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the job. Wray said at a town hall meeting that he would be stepping down “after weeks of careful thought,” roughly three years short of the completion of a 10-year term during which he tried to keep the FBI out of politics even as the bureau found itself entangled in a string of explosive investigations, including two that led to separate indictments of Trump last year as well as inquiries into Biden and his son. “My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day,” Wray told agency employees. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.” The intended resignation was not unexpected considering that Trump had settled on Patel to be director and had repeatedly aired his ire at Wray, whom he appointed during his first term. But his departure is nonetheless a reflection of how Trump's norm-breaking style has reshaped Washington, with the president-elect yet again flouting tradition by moving to replace an FBI director well before his term was up and Wray resigning to avert a collision with the incoming administration. “It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway — this is not easy for me," Wray said. “I love this place, I love our mission, and I love our people — but my focus is, and always has been, on us and doing what’s right for the FBI.” Wray received a standing ovation following his remarks before a standing-room-only crowd at FBI headquarters and some in the audience cried, according to an FBI official who was not authorized to discuss the private gathering by name and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press. Trump applauded the news on social media, calling it “a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice" and saying that Patel's confirmation will begin “the process of Making the FBI Great Again.” If confirmed by the Senate, Patel would herald a radical leadership transformation at the nation's premier federal law enforcement agency. He has advocated shutting down the FBI's Washington headquarters and called for ridding the federal government of “conspirators," raising alarms that he might seek to wield the FBI's significant investigative powers as an instrument of retribution against Trump's perceived enemies. Patel said in a statement Wednesday that he was looking forward to "a smooth transition. I will be ready to serve the American people on day one.” It's extremely rare for FBI directors to be ousted from their jobs before the completion of their 10-year terms, a length meant to insulate the agency from the political influence of changing administrations. But Trump has done it twice, placing Wray in the job in 2017 after firing Director James Comey amid an investigation into ties between Russia and the Republican president’s campaign. Despite having appointed Wray, Trump had telegraphed his anger with the FBI director on multiple occasions throughout the years, including as recently as the past week. In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday, Trump said, “I can’t say I’m thrilled with him. He invaded my home,” a reference to the FBI search of his Florida property , Mar-a-Lago, two years ago for classified documents from Trump’s first term as president. That search, and the recovery of boxes of sensitive government records, paved the way for one of two federal indictments against Trump. The case, and another one charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 election, have both been dismissed by the Justice Department special counsel that brought them in light of Trump's November victory. Attorney General Merrick Garland praised Wray for having “served our country honorably and with integrity for decades.” He said: “Under Director Wray’s principled leadership, the FBI has worked to fulfill the Justice Department’s mission to keep our country safe, protect civil rights, and uphold the rule of law.” Natalie Bara, the president of the FBI Agents Association, said in a statement that Wray had led the FBI “through challenging times with a steady focus on doing the work that keeps our country safe. ” Throughout his seven years on the job, the self-professed "low-key, understated" Wray brought a workmanlike approach to the job, repeatedly preaching a “keep calm and tackle hard” mantra to bureau personnel despite a steady drumbeat of attacks from Trump and his supporters. He also sought to avoid public conflict when possible with the Trump White House, distancing himself and his leadership team from the FBI's Russia investigation over errors that took place before he took office and announcing dozens of corrective actions meant to prevent the recurrence of the surveillance abuses that plagued the inquiry. But there were other instances when he memorably broke from Trump — he did not agree, for instance, with Trump’s characterization of the Russia investigation as a “witch hunt." He made known his displeasure when the White House blessed the declassification of materials related to the surveillance of a former Trump campaign aide and contradicted a Trump talking point by stating that Ukraine had not interfered in the 2016 election. He repeatedly sought to keep the focus on the FBI's day-to-day work, using the bulk of his resignation announcement to praise the bureau's efforts in countering everything from violent crime and cyberattacks to Chinese espionage and terrorism. Yet as he leaves office at a time of heightened threats , much of the public focus has been on the politically sensitive investigations of his tenure. Besides the inquiries into Trump, the FBI in recent years also investigated Biden's handling of classified information as well as Biden's son Hunter for tax and gun violations. Hunter Biden was pardoned by his father last week. A particular flashpoint came in August 2022, when FBI agents searched Mar-a-Lago — an action officials defended as necessary given the boxes of documents that were being concealed at the Palm Beach property and the evidence of obstruction that the Justice Department said had been gathered. Trump railed against the FBI over that search and has kept up his criticism ever since. Trump was angered by Wray's comment at a congressional hearing that there was “some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel” that struck Trump's ear during an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July. The FBI later stated unequivocally that it was indeed a bullet. Before being named FBI director, Wray worked at a prestigious law firm, King & Spalding, where he represented former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie during the “Bridgegate” scandal. He also led the Justice Department’s criminal division for a period during President George W. Bush’s administration.

On Wednesday at around 6pm, thousands of social media users in parts of the UK reported an outage with Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The social media giant reported that a “technical issue” had left users unable to access its services. DownDetector, a website that monitors social media outages, says the three cities hit worst by the outage were London, Manchester and Glasgow. Other major cities hit hard by the blackout were Cardiff, Nottingham and Birmingham. Thanks for bearing with us! We’re 99% of the way there – just doing some last checks. We apologize to those who’ve been affected by the outage. — Meta (@Meta) December 11, 2024 By around 10pm on Wednesday, DownDetector UK said there had been 23,445 reports of Facebook outages, 11,466 Instagram outages and 18,646 on WhatsApp across Britain. In an update issued at 10.26pm on X, Meta said the problem was now nearly resolved. A spokesperson said: “Thanks for bearing with us! We’re 99% of the way there – just doing some last checks. “We apologise to those who’ve been affected by the outage.” Other parts of the world affected include Europe, Asia, South America and Australia, according to DownTracker. To find out if your area is affected, visit: downdetector.co.uk/status/facebook/map .Following his emergence as the newly elected President of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nige- ria (ATPN), Prince Fadina, who is also the Chairman of Awori Tourism, has unveiled his vision for the association, noting that he is committed to elevating the body to greater heights, ensuring its place is secured in the annals of Nigerian tourism. In a document titled; My Vision; Building a Sustainable Future for Nigerian Tourism, Fadina outlined his main focus; ‘‘To position the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN) as the leading voice and champion of tourism development in Nigeria by showcasing its value to members, partners, and stakeholders while driving sustainable economic growth through strategic marketing initiatives.’’ The key objectives as disclosed by him, include; Brand Awareness and Visibility: Strengthen ATPN’s presence as the go-to association for tourism prac- titioners; Establish ATPN as a thought leader in tourism advocacy and policy-making. ‘‘Membership Growth and Retention: Attract new members by demonstrating tangible value propositions; Foster loy- alty through exclusive member benefits and professional development opportunities. ‘‘Stake- h o l d e r Engagement and Partnerhips : B u i l d alliances with gov- ernment b o d i e s , p r i v a t e organi – s a t i o n s , and inter- national t o u r i s m agencies; Position ATPN as a vital player in shaping tourism policies and initiatives. ‘‘Economic Growth and Sustainability: Highlight the direct and indirect contri- butions of tourism to Nigeria’s GDP; Pro- mote sustainable tourism practices that balance economic growth with environmental preservation. ‘‘Technology and Innovation in Tour- ism: Leverage digital platforms for mar- keting, member engagement, and train- ing.Integrate modern tools to showcase Ni- gerian tourism to global audiences.Harris Dental Unveils Cutting-Edge Technologies To Revolutionize Patient Care