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Qatar tribune Agencies Bitcoin has proven to be one of the best-performing assets in modern history. The value of the cryptocurrency has increased some 1,000 times over the past decade, far outpacing US stocks and real estate. Buoyed by United States President-elect Donald Trump’s crypto-friendly stance, Bitcoin’s record rally hit a new high of $107,000 on Monday after the Republican reiterated his intention to create a Bitcoin strategic reserve. Bitcoin, the first decentralised digital currency, was invented by the pseudonymous figure Satoshi Nakamoto in the wake of the 2007-2008 global financial crisis. Nakamoto introduced the blockchain system – a digital ledger that stores transactions in a network of computers – to enable anyone to make financial transactions without the involvement of banks, financial firms or governments. Once widely derided as a speculative asset with no intrinsic value, Bitcoin is being taken increasingly seriously by governments, financial institutions and investors alike. Boaz Sobrado, a London-based fintech analyst, said Bitcoin has transformed from being a niche asset favoured by political dissidents and criminals carrying out Illicit transactions “to something that central banks have to keep in mind and consider”. “The IMF has put very firm anti-crypto political guidelines into place when negotiating with countries that might require its own assistance. It’s gone from being an academic question to a practical, real one and one that central banks are taking very seriously now,” Sobrado told Al Jazeera. In January, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved Bitcoin ETFs (exchange-traded funds), allowing investors to have exposure to the asset on the stock exchange for the first time. In an October report, the US Department of the Treasury referred to Bitcoin as “digital gold”, noting its use as a store of value. A number of countries have made big bets on the cryptocurrency. El Salvador has accumulated some $600m worth of Bitcoin reserves and is one of just a handful of countries, along with the Central African Republic, that accepts the asset as legal tender. Other countries, including the US and the United Kingdom, have acquired large holdings of Bitcoin through the seizure of assets implicated in criminal activity. The US has seized at least 215,000 Bitcoins, valued at almost $21bn at current prices, since 2020, according to an analysis by crypto firm 21.co. With Trump returning to the White House, Bitcoin supporters are hopeful that cryptocurrencies will gain unprecedented legitimacy after years of government-led crackdowns on the sector. Despite once labelling Bitcoin “a scam”, Trump has emerged as arguably the world’s most powerful advocate for the asset. After pledging to make the US “crypto capital of the planet”, he has picked several high-profile crypto enthusiasts to join his incoming administration, including former PayPal Chief Operating Officer David Sacks as crypto tsar and Paul Atkins as SEC chair. Trump’s pro-crypto stance has found allies in the US Congress, such as Senator Cynthia Lummis, a Republican from Wyoming, who earlier this year introduced the BITCOIN Act of 2024, which would include Bitcoin among reserve assets such as gold and oil as a long-term store of value. Under Lummis’s plans, the government would buy roughly 200,000 Bitcoins every year for five years, and then hold the assets for 20 years as a hedge against inflation. “If we did that with five percent of all the Bitcoin that will ever exist – which is roughly a million Bitcoin – we could cut our debt in half in 20 years,” Lummis said in a television interview with Fox Business. On Wall Street, derision and mockery have also given way to more positive appraisals. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, who once described Bitcoin as an “index of money laundering”, in January said the commodity was “no different than what gold represented for thousands of years” and an “asset class that protects you”. ‘Currency of resistance’ The key attribute of Bitcoin that makes it revolutionary is that it separates money from the state, according to Max Keiser, senior Bitcoin adviser to El Salvador President Nayib Bukele. “This is the first time in history that this has ever happened – money exists that has no central authority controlling it. This is what makes it unique, very powerful,” Keiser told Al Jazeera. “There’s now this growing feeling that the 21st century will be the century of Bitcoin.” One of the reasons Bitcoin has gained strength in value is the poor performance of economies such as Argentina, where inflation last year skyrocketed more than 200 percent, according to Gerald Celente, founder and director of the New York-based Trends Research Institute. “People were seeing their currencies being devalued... People were saying: ‘I’m losing all my money, what am I going to do?’ They can’t afford to buy gold, so they started buying whatever they could in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, so that kept it strong,” Celente told Al Jazeera. Since Trump’s election, Bitcoin’s price has risen by more than 50 percent and with an incoming pro-crypto administration, Celente predicts an even greater rally. “[The value] could go through the roof, but we don’t see [Bitcoin] going down much at all,” he said. Crypto supporters argue that Bitcoin’s winning advantage is that its global supply is capped at 21 million. Unlike central banks that can print money indefinitely, Bitcoin’s supply stays constant no matter the demand, which has helped boost its value against the dollar. Armando Pantoja, futurist and tech investor, believes that Bitcoin will appreciate in value “forever”, likening the purchase of the asset to buying real estate in Manhattan. “Bitcoin has value not because of the currency, but because of the technology that governs it, blockchain technology,” Pantoja told Al Jazeera. Copy 25/12/2024 10OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares Global Clean Energy ETF ( NASDAQ:ICLN – Free Report ) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 10,835 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $159,000. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Sage Mountain Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Global Clean Energy ETF by 1,628.7% in the second quarter. Sage Mountain Advisors LLC now owns 2,109 shares of the company’s stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 1,987 shares during the period. Olistico Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in iShares Global Clean Energy ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $31,000. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Global Clean Energy ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $31,000. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in iShares Global Clean Energy ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC acquired a new position in iShares Global Clean Energy ETF in the third quarter valued at $31,000. iShares Global Clean Energy ETF Stock Performance Shares of ICLN opened at $12.12 on Friday. iShares Global Clean Energy ETF has a fifty-two week low of $11.92 and a fifty-two week high of $15.81. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $13.43 and a 200-day simple moving average of $13.90. The company has a market capitalization of $1.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.91 and a beta of 1.09. iShares Global Clean Energy ETF Profile iShares Global Clean Energy ETF, formerly iShares S&P Global Clean Energy Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the S&P Global Clean Energy Index. The S&P Global Clean Energy Index includes clean energy production companies, clean energy equipment and technology providers. Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than iShares Global Clean Energy ETF Transportation Stocks Investing Vertiv’s Cool Tech Makes Its Stock Red-Hot What is the FTSE 100 index? MarketBeat Week in Review – 11/18 – 11/22 Asset Allocation: The Key to a Successful Portfolio. Are You Paying Attention to Yours? 2 Finance Stocks With Competitive Advantages You Can’t Ignore Receive News & Ratings for iShares Global Clean Energy ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Global Clean Energy ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

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NoneCadiz Inc. Declares Quarterly Dividend for Q4 2024 on Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred StockMAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — Violence that engulfed Mozambique after the country's highest court confirmed ruling Frelimo party presidential candidate Daniel Chapo as the winner of disputed Oct. 9 elections killed at least 21 people, including two police officers, authorities said Tuesday. Mozambique Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda told a news conference in Maputo late Tuesday that a wave of violence and looting was sparked by the court's announcement a day earlier. He said it was led by mostly youthful supporters of losing candidate Venancio Mondlane, who received 24% of the vote, second to Chapo, who got 65%. “From the preliminary survey, in the last 24 hours, 236 acts of violence were recorded throughout the national territory that resulted in 21 deaths, of which two members of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique also died," Ronda said. He said 13 civilians and 12 police were injured. Ronda said 25 vehicles were set on fire, including two police vehicles. He added that 11 police subunits and a penitentiary were attacked and vandalized and 86 inmates were freed. Tensions were high in the country ahead of the The Constitutional Council ruling on Monday and violent protests started immediately after the announcement was made. Footage circulating on various social media platforms showed protesters burning and looting shops in the capital Maputo and the city of Beira, where some city officials were reported to have fled the city. Mondlane has called for a “shutdown” starting Friday but violence in the country has already escalated and the situation remained tense in the capital on Tuesday night following a day of violence and looting by protesters. The country of 34 million people has been on edge since the Oct. 9 general elections . Mondlane’s supporters, mostly hundreds of thousands of young people, have since taken to the streets, and have been met by gunfire from security forces. This brings to more than 150 the number of people who have died from post-election violence since the initial results were announced by the country's electoral body.Fans are questioning Nicole Kidman’s claim that a well-known meme of the actress seemingly celebrating her divorce from Tom Cruise was taken out of context . Kidman, 57, recently addressed the famous photo while speaking to British GQ , telling the magazine she was not celebrating her 2001 split from Cruise, 62, but rather filming a scene for an unnamed movie. “That was from a film, that wasn’t real life,” she insisted. “I know that image!” The picture was believed to have been taken in 2001 while the Oscar winner was leaving her lawyer’s office after settling her divorce from her “Eyes Wide Shut” co-star . In it, she strutted down a sunny sidewalk with her eyes closed and her arms raised in relief. However, Kidman said the widely believed scenario was “not true.” While the “Babygirl” star denied it had anything to do with Cruise, she notably did not specify which movie she was referring to, leading social media sleuths to do some digging of their own. However, most fans did not find any evidence of Kidman wearing a similar outfit — a sheer patterned top and green capris — in any of her films. “ok I just did a deep dive on this and not only does she not specify which movie it was, none of her legions of fans even have a hypothesis as to which movie it could have been. so I feel comfortable concluding that she’s lying and it really is a post-divorce paparazzi shot,” one X user wrote Monday in a post that has garnered more than 1 million views. “I can’t remember a movie where she went totally barefaced AND wigless?” another replied, to which a third added, “Also what movie would call for her to be dressed in those sneakers with that outfit??” “I looked it up too and gave up cause none of the movies she’s in during 2001 even match this vibe 😭,” a fourth chimed in. However, others defended Kidman, arguing that it could have been from a “scene that was cut.” “It’s gotta be a lie, but I do enjoy the idea (as the only possible alternative I can think of) that the photos are from unused footage from when she was supposed to do In the Cut lol,” one user wrote, referencing the star’s 2003 psychological thriller. “Y’all are weird there are plenty of movies that people try to get made that never see the light of day,” someone else posted. Kidman’s reps did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment. Kidman wed Cruise in 1990, and they separated 11 years later. During their marriage, the couple adopted two kids : daughter Isabella, now 31, and son Connor, now 29 , both of whom have followed in their famous father’s footsteps and joined the Church of Scientology . The “Perfect Couple” star rarely talks about her adult children or her marriage to the “Top Gun” star. Kidman moved on with Keith Urban in 2005, and they wed the following year. She and the country singer, 57, have two daughters: Sunday, 16, and Faith, 13.

21 dead as Mozambique erupts in violence after election court rulingTo list your event here, email it to news@clintonherald.com or mail it to the Clinton Herald, P.O. Box 1243, Clinton, IA 52732. Additional events can be viewed at clintonherald.com/events Trivia , 6 p.m., AMVETS Club, 1317 South 17th St. $1 to play. Scalloped potatoes and ham served at a cost of $5, 5-6 p.m. Wa-Tan-Ye club meeting , social at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m., meeting at 7 p.m., Sarah Harding Senior Living Community Room. Turkey, Turkey, Turkey Talk , 2 p.m., Camanche Public Library. Clinton County Conservation program all about turkeys and their unique characteristics. Presentation is for all ages. Friends of Rock Creek meeting , 6 p.m., Rock Creek. Volunteer group to help make a difference at Rock Creek! For more information, email hedfors@clintoncounty-ia.gov . The Victory Center's Great Thanksgiving Banquet , 6:30 p.m., Yourd Gymnasium, Clinton High School. CPKC Holiday Train , 3:15-3:45 p.m. Viewing on the west end of Main Avenue at Grant Street. Performances by American Authors and KT Tunstall. Arrive early to see flying elves. Non-perishable food or cash donations requested. Symphony of Lights Family Walk , $5 per person, 5:30-8 p.m., Eagle Point Park. Free community meal , 5:30-6:15 p.m., CrossView Church, 704 14th Ave., Fulton, Illinois. Menu includes creamy potato and chicken noodle soups, crackers, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and pumpkin pie with Cool Whip. Symphony of Lights begins 6-9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 5-9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 30. Funtime Friday: Getting ready for Santa , 10:30 a.m., Felix Adler Children's Discovery Center, 332 8th Ave. S., Clinton. Help needed to decorate trees and get the center ready for Santa's visit on Saturday Iowa Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame Showcase concert featuring Bowman, Pickney & Evans and Johnny Trash, 7 p.m., Wild Rose Casino & Resort. Tickets start at $10 in advance and will increase to $20 on the day of the show. Tickets may be purchased at the Iowa Store Box Office inside the casino or online at wildroseresorts.com . Cash bars will be available. Must be 21 years of age or older to attend. Small Business Saturday , Downtown Clinton, the Lyons District, and Fulton, Illinois, businesses. Milk & Cookies with Santa , 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Felix Adler Children's Discovery Center, 332 8th Ave. S., Clinton. Christmas-themed crafts can be made at the workshop. Miss Clinton County Autumn Fjeld and friends also to attend. Scott for Tots drive-up toy drop-off , noon until 4 p.m., After Hours Motorcycle Shop, 218 North Second St. Candle sale by MercyOne Auxiliary, 10 a.m. until sold out in the MercyOne lobby as well as in the MercyOne North Health Plaza lobby. "After Five" meets, 6:30 p.m., United Methodist Church, 502 First Ave., Albany, Illinois. All women are invited to sing Christmas carols and hear inspirational speaker Bea Ingersoll who presents "Finding Joy on Life's Journey. The cost of dinner is $14. Make reservations by Friday, Nov. 29, by calling Carolene Sterenberg at (563) 212-5528. Wolves and Wild Lands exhibit on display through Dec. 27 at the Mississippi River Eco Tourism Center, Camanche. The display from the International Wolf Center is composed of six preserved taxidermy specimens. Call the Conservation Office at (563) 847-7202 for viewing hours. Free community meal , 5:30-6:15 p.m., CrossView Church, 704 14th Ave., Fulton, Illinois. Menu includes chicken and noodles, rolls, green beans, Cuties oranges, and scotcheroos. The Gathering Place , for senior citizens, 1-4 p.m., First United Presbyterian Church, 400 Fifth Ave. South. Beverages and games are provided. There is no cost. Guests may come and go as they please. Enter from the rear parking lot on the north side of the building. Handicapped accessible. Fulton Christmas Walk , 5-7:30 p.m., Downtown Fulton, Illinois. Christmas Tree Lighting , 6 p.m., Downtown Clinton. Festival of Trees begins. Trees remain available for viewing through Dec. 15, 9-11 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon until 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, Clinton County Historical Society Museum, 601 South First St. Brooke Bruggenwirth 2nd Annual Trivia , 5-9 p.m., Manny's Too, Fulton, Illinois. Think & Drink Entertainment will have questions on Home Alone and The Grinch. Sign up by contacting Scott Bailey at (563) 593-5242 or scottbailey84@gmail.com to reserve tables for teams of up to eight people at $10 per person. Live Window Walk , 5-7 p.m., Downtown DeWitt. Lighted parade , 5 p.m., starting North on South Sixth Ave. and ending at Lincoln Park for the lighting of the Christmas Tree, DeWitt. Symphony of Lights Craft & Vendor Fair , 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eagle Point Park Lodge. Christmas in the Canyon , 12-6 p.m., Heritage Canyon, Fulton, Illinois. Lyons Winter Festival , including shopping deals, kids' activities, and Santa, 9-11 a.m., Lyons Business District. Bowling for Veterans , 3:30 p.m., Plaza Bowl. $25 per person in three-person teams for nine-pin bowling. All proceeds go toward benefiting veterans. Call (563) 243-3032 to reserve a spot. Painting for Peace , 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Rainbow Pottery, 231 Fifth Ave. South. Participants paint a ceramic piece. One item of $10 value is free for the first 20 attendees. The Bassment Band , 6-9 p.m., AMVETS Club, 1317 South 17th St. Symphony of Lights Craft & Vendor Fair , 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Eagle Point Park Lodge. Lyons Christmas Walk , 4-6 p.m., Lyons Business District. Pop-up Christmas item sale by MercyOne Auxiliary, 10 a.m., MercyOne North Health Plaza. Stonecroft Clinton Women's Connection invites all women to brunch, 9:30 a.m., Grace Community Church, formerly Community Reformed Church, 727 North 12th St. Music by The Clintones. Inspirational, non-denominational speaker Connie Beard speaks on "How to Handle the Unexpected." Cost is $13. Make reservations by calling Donna at (563) 357-6843 or Nancy at (563) 242-8819 or (563) 357-8859 by Friday, Dec. 6. Wild Winter Wednesday program in which Aaron Baker of the German American Heritage Center and Museum in downtown Davenport features Christmas celebrations and world myths of St. Nicholas. Event is free and open to the public. 9 a.m., Windmill Cultural Center, 111 10th Ave., Fulton, Illinois. The Gathering Place , for senior citizens, 1-4 p.m., First United Presbyterian Church, 400 Fifth Ave. South. Beverages and games are provided. There is no cost. Guests may come and go as they please. Enter from the rear parking lot on the north side of the building. Handicapped accessible. Holidays with the Symphony , 7:30 p.m., Zion Lutheran Church, 439 Third Ave. South. Breakfast served 8 a.m. until noon, AMVETS Club, 1317 South 17th St. Menu includes pancakes, biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon or sausage, cinnamon rolls, and juice, coffee, or a Bloody Mary bar for $9. The Gathering Place , for senior citizens, 1-4 p.m., First United Presbyterian Church, 400 Fifth Ave. South. Beverages and games are provided. There is no cost. Guests may come and go as they please. Enter from the rear parking lot on the north side of the building. Handicapped accessible. Breakfast with Santa , 8-10 a.m., Albany United Methodist Church, 502 First Ave., Albany, Illinois. No cost to attend for breakfast and take a photo with Santa, but donations accepted. All are welcome. Breakfast with Jesus , Albany United Methodist Church's Christmas Eve service beginning with a cooked breakfast in Fellowship Hall, followed by worship in the sanctuary, 9-10:30 a.m., 502 First Ave., Albany, Illinois. The Pork Tornadoes , 7:30 p.m., Wild Rose Casino & Resort. Standing tickets start at $15, seated tickets start at $20. Prices increase on the day of the show. Purchase tickets at the Iowa Store Gift Shop or online at wildroseresorts.com . Event is for 21 years old and older. Trivia , 6 p.m., AMVETS Club, 1317 South 17th St. $2 to play. Includes 50/50 drawing and drink specials. Brats or burgers with chips for $5 served 5-6 p.m. 37th MLK Celebration , 1:30-3 p.m., Clinton Community College. Clinton County Republican Central Committee meeting, 6 p.m., 513 South Third St. Non-members welcome to attend.

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After a childhood marked by family violence, exposure to drug abuse and a school expulsion, a little boy received his first invitation to a birthday party. or signup to continue reading The 10-year-old, one of four siblings living with their mother in far west NSW, had found his first best friend. Despite their challenges, the family made the seven-hour trip to Manly, a beachside suburb in Sydney, to seek help at health service Royal Far West. The charity's clinicians treated the child's behavioural issues, care he would have waited years to access in his rural home town. Chief executive Jacqui Emery met the family in her first week in the job in 2021 and they became her beacon as she led the mission to care for one child at a time. "The mother said, 'You've saved our lives, you've saved his life," Ms Emery told AAP. "That's what we mean by one child at a time." The national charity, which connects rural and remote children with a variety of healthcare, will mark its centenary in December. Cobar-based reverend and carpenter Stanley Drummond founded the service in 1924, inspired by time he spent recovering from surgery at Manly Beach. It has always aimed to "go where the system stops", using developing technology to ensure no child or community is out of reach. Aviation pioneer Nancy Bird Walton flew nurses to remote outstations in her Gipsy Moth from 1935, while Sir Charles Kingsford Smith was a major donor. In its early days, the charity hosted seaside camps for children from outback NSW. When a group arrived in Manly on a rainy December day in 1948, a girl from Menindee was asked whether she brought the weather with her. "Her slightly sardonic reply was, 'There's no rain up there to bring'," The Sydney Morning Herald reported. An eight-year-old shearer's son successfully treated for a stutter in the 1950s was chosen to deliver Australia's message to the Queen in a BBC round-the-world Christmas broadcast. "I came down because I could hardly talk properly," the boy's message said. "Mummy, listen! I'm coming home. I can talk beaut now." Two decades later Queen Elizabeth II visited the organisation, granting its Royal title. The international recognition and ongoing backing from high-profile Australians is down to the charity's links to the heart of the country, Ms Emery said. "It's such an Australian story," she said. "It is about the outback and children that are more needy than others - that's always captured people." From the adoption of advances like splints to treat childhood hip disorders, swivel walkers and aeromedical services, Royal Far West was also an early user of telehealth in 2013. Video and telephone calls allowed city clinicians to stay in touch with rural patients, deliver programs to far-flung schools and expand into states outside NSW. The uptake of telehealth was due to greater understanding of developmental disorders, with country-born children twice as likely to be affected. "That leaves a bit of a legacy: it's been able to help much more broadly than just a one-to-one with a child." The charity is now working in a rapidly-changing world, as global warming dramatically fractures childhoods. Disaster recovery programs, like one rolled out to bolster the wellbeing of 3000 children after the Black Summer bushfires, will become even more significant in years to come. "We need to put the focus, the funding and the policies around these things right now," Ms Emery said. "It's really important to remember that children are often the silent victims." DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement AdvertisementHeavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Three American citizens imprisoned for years by China have been released and are returning to the United States, the White House said Wednesday, announcing a diplomatic agreement with Beijing in the final months of the Biden administration. The three are , all of whom had been designated by the U.S. government as wrongfully detained by China. had been facing a death sentence on drug charges while and were imprisoned on espionage charges. “Soon they will return and be reunited with their families for the first time in many years,” the White House said in a statement. The release comes just two months after China freed David Lin, who had spent nearly 20 years behind bars after being convicted of contract fraud. U.S.-China relations have been roiled for years over major disagreements between the world’s two largest economies on trade, human rights, the production of fentanyl precursors, security issues that include espionage and hacking, China’s aggressiveness toward Taiwan and its smaller neighbors in the South China Sea, and Beijing’s support for Russia’s military-industrial sector. The release of Americans deemed wrongfully detained in China has been a top agenda item in each conversation between the U.S. and China, and Wednesday’s development suggests a willingness by Beijing to engage with the outgoing Democratic administration before Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January. Trump took significant actions against China on trade and diplomacy during his first term. He has pledged to continue those policies in his second term, leading to unease among many who fear that an all-out trade war will greatly affect the international economy and could spur potential Chinese military action against Taiwan. Still, the two countries have maintained a dialogue that has included a partial restoration of military-to-military contacts. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met this month to discuss potential improvements. In a separate but related move, the State Department on Wednesday lowered its travel warning to China to “level two,” advising U.S. citizens to “exercise increased caution” from the norm when traveling to the mainland. The alert had previously been at “level three,” telling Americans they should “reconsider travel” to China in part because of the “risk of wrongful detention” of Americans. The new alert removes that wording but retains a warning that the Chinese government “arbitrarily enforces local laws, including exit bans on U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries, without fair and transparent process under the law.” The Biden administration had raised the cases of the detained Americans with China in multiple meetings over the past several years, including this month when Biden spoke to Xi on during the in Peru. Politico was first to report the men’s release, which it said was part of a prisoner swap with the U.S. The White House did not immediately confirm that any Chinese citizens had been returned home. Li, a Chinese immigrant who started an export business in the U.S., was detained in September 2016 after flying into Shanghai. He was placed under surveillance, interrogated without a lawyer and accused of providing state secrets to the FBI. A U.N. working group called his 10-year prison sentence arbitrary and his family said the charges were politically motivated. to life in prison on spying charges. He was detained in 2021, by the local bureau of China’s counterintelligence agency in the southeastern city of Suzhou after China had closed its borders and imposed tight domestic travel restrictions and social controls to fight the spread of COVID-19. After Leung's sentencing, — though without citing specific cases — that Americans reconsider traveling to China because of arbitrary law enforcement and exit bans and the risk of wrongful detentions. Swidan had been jailed for 12 years on a drug charge and, along with Li and Leung, had considered by the State Department to be wrongfully detained.US stocks climb in thin pre-Christmas trade

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Calgary Flames (12-6-3, in the Pacific Division) vs. Ottawa Senators (8-11-1, in the Atlantic Division) Ottawa, Ontario; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The Ottawa Senators host the Calgary Flames after the Flames defeated the Minnesota Wild 4-3 in a shootout. Ottawa has an 8-11-1 record overall and a 5-5-1 record in home games. The Senators are 3-4-1 in one-goal games. Calgary is 3-3-3 on the road and 12-6-3 overall. The Flames have gone 7-0-2 in games they have fewer penalties than their opponent. Monday's game is the first time these teams square off this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Tim Stutzle has nine goals and 15 assists for the Senators. Tyler Kleven has scored goals over the last 10 games. Rasmus Andersson has scored five goals with eight assists for the Flames. Matthew Coronato has over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Senators: 3-6-1, averaging 2.3 goals, 4.1 assists, five penalties and 11.7 penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game. Flames: 6-2-2, averaging 2.3 goals, 3.5 assists, 3.2 penalties and seven penalty minutes while giving up 2.1 goals per game. INJURIES: Senators: None listed. Flames: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar . The Associated PressUS stocks surge to records, shrugging off upheaval in South Korea, France

21 dead as Mozambique erupts in violence after election court rulingMEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Memphis Police Department uses excessive force and discriminates against Black people, according to the findings of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation launched after the beating death of Tyre Nichols after a traffic stop in 2023. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Memphis Police Department uses excessive force and discriminates against Black people, according to the findings of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation launched after the beating death of Tyre Nichols after a traffic stop in 2023. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Memphis Police Department uses excessive force and discriminates against Black people, according to the findings of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation launched after the beating death of Tyre Nichols after a traffic stop in 2023. A report released Wednesday marked the conclusion of the investigation that began six months after Nichols was kicked, punched and hit with a police baton as five officers tried to arrest him after he fled a traffic stop. The report says that “Memphis police officers regularly violate the rights of the people they are sworn to serve.” “The people of Memphis deserve a police department and city that protects their civil and constitutional rights, garners trust and keeps them safe,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said in an emailed statement. The city said in a letter released earlier Wednesday that it would not agree to negotiate federal oversight of its police department until it can review and challenge results of the investigation. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis will not agree to negotiate federal oversight of its police department until it can review and challenge results of a yet-to-be-released Department of Justice investigation into how its officers use force and treat minorities, according to a letter released by the city on Wednesday. In the letter to the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Memphis City Attorney Tannera George Gibson said the city has received a request from the DOJ to enter into an agreement that would require it to “negotiate a consent decree aimed at institutional police and emergency services.” In July 2023, the Justice Department announced an investigation into the Memphis Police Department, looking at the department’s “pattern or practice” of how it uses force and conducts stops, searches and arrests, and whether it engages in discriminatory policing. The findings of the investigation, which was announced six months after the January 2023 beating death of Tyre Nichols by police, have not been released. A consent decree is an agreement requiring reforms that are overseen by an independent monitor and are approved by a federal judge. The federal oversight can continue for years, and violations could result in fines paid by the city. It remains to be seen what will happen to attempts to reach such agreements between cities and the Justice Department once President-elect Donald Trump returns to office and installs new department leadership. The Justice Department under the first Trump administration curtailed the use of consent decrees, and the Republican president-elect is expected to again radically reshape the department’s priorities around civil rights. The city’s letter said “a legal finding supporting the contention that the City’s patterns and practices violate the Constitution requires a legal process,” which includes the city’s ability to challenge the DOJ’s methods of evaluating information and the credibility of witnesses. “Until the City has had the opportunity to review, analyze, and challenge the specific allegations that support your forthcoming findings report, the City cannot — and will not — agree to work toward or enter into a consent decree that will likely be in place for years to come and will cost the residents of Memphis hundreds of millions of dollars,” the letter said. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Police video showed officers pepper spraying Nichols and hitting him with a Taser before he ran away from a traffic stop. Five officers chased down Nichols and kicked, punched and hit him with a police baton just steps from his home as he called out for his mother. The video showed the officers milling about, talking and laughing as Nichols struggled with his injuries. Nichols died on Jan. 10, 2023, three days after the beating. The five officers — Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith — were fired, charged in state court with murder, and indicted by a federal grand jury on civil rights and witness tampering charges. Nichols was Black, as are the former officers. His death led to national protests, raised the volume on calls for police reforms in the U.S., and directed intense scrutiny towards the Memphis Police Department. The officers were part of a crime suppression team called the Scorpion Unit, which was disbanded after Nichols’ death. The team targeted drugs, illegal guns and violent offenders, with the goal of amassing arrest numbers, while sometimes using force against unarmed people. Martin and Mills pleaded guilty to the federal charges under deals with prosecutors. The other three officers were convicted in early October of witness tampering related to the cover-up of the beating. Bean and Smith were acquitted of civil rights charges of using excessive force and being indifferent to Nichols’ serious injuries. Haley was acquitted of violating Nichols’ civil rights causing death, but he was convicted of two lesser charges of violating his civil rights causing bodily injury. The five men face sentencing by a federal judge in the coming months. Martin and Mills also are expected to change their not guilty pleas in state court, according to lawyers involved in the case. Bean, Haley and Smith have also pleaded not guilty to state charges of second-degree murder. A trial in the state case has been set for April 28. Justice Department investigators have targeted other cities with similar probes in recent years. On Nov. 21, the department said police in New Jersey’s capital of Trenton have shown a pattern of misconduct, including using excessive force and making unlawful stops. The DOJ’s report documented arrests without legal basis, officers escalating situations with aggression and unnecessary use of pepper spray. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. In June 2023, another Justice Department probe alleged that Minneapolis police systematically discriminated against racial minorities, violated constitutional rights and disregarded the safety of people in custody for years before George Floyd was killed. In March 2023, the department found police in Louisville, Kentucky, engaged in a pattern of violating constitutional rights and discrimination against the Black community following an investigation prompted by the fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor. In its letter, the city of Memphis said the DOJ’s investigation “only took 17 months to complete, compared to an average of 2-3 years in almost every other instance, implying a rush to judgment.” —- Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington contributed to this report. Advertisement Advertisement

NASSAU, Bahamas — Scottie Scheffler birdied every hole but the par 3s on the front nine at Albany Golf Club on Friday and finished his bogey-free round with an 8-under 64 that gave him a two-shot lead in the Hero World Challenge. Two months off did nothing to slow the world's No. 1 player. Scheffler already has eight victories this year and is in position to get another before the end of the year. Scheffler was at 13-under 131, two ahead of Akshay Bhatia (66) and Justin Thomas (67), both of whom had to save par on the 18th hole to stay in range going into the weekend. Scheffler started with a lob wedge to 2 feet for birdie and never slowed until after he went out in 29 to seize control of the holiday tournament against a 20-man field. Scheffler cooled slightly on the back nine, except it didn't feel that way to him. "Front nine, just things were going my way. Back nine, maybe not as much," Scheffler said. "A couple shots could end up closer to the hole, a couple putts go in, just little things." Asked if he felt any frustration he didn't take it lower — he once shot 59 at the TPC Boston during the FedEx Cup playoffs — Scheffler sounded bemused. "I think in this game I think a lot of all y'all are looking for perfection out of us," he said. "Today I shot 8 under on the golf course, not something I hang my head about. A lot of good things out there — clean card, bogey-free, eight birdies. Overall, I think I'm pretty pleased." Thomas felt his 67 was stress-free, particularly the way he was driving the ball. The wind laid down again, rare for the Bahamas, though it is expected to pick up on the weekend. Thomas wasn't concerned to see Scheffler get off to a hot start, especially with three par 5s on the front nine and a short par 4 that at worst leaves a flip wedge to the green. "You literally can birdie every hole as soft as the greens are," Thomas said. "He's a great player, a great wedge player, and you have a lot of birdie holes to start. I'm honestly surprised he only shot 8 under. It's a sneaky course because if you fall asleep on some shots, you can get out of position. But if you're on and focused and really in control of everything — like these last two days with no wind — you can just make so many birdies." Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley had a 67 and was four shots behind. No matter how benign the conditions, it wasn't always easy. Cameron Young, who opened with a 64 for a two-shot lead, followed with a 75 despite making five birdies. That included a double bogey on the final hole when his approach tumbled down the bank into the rocks framing the lake that goes all the way down the 18th hole. Patrick Cantlay was trying to keep pace playing alongside Scheffler, but he had three bogeys over the final seven holes and fell seven shots behind with a 71. The tournament, hosted by Tiger Woods, is unofficial but offers world ranking points to all but the bottom three players because of the small field. It's the weakest field in 25 years, but Scheffler at No. 1 gives it enough cachet. He is the first player since Woods in 2009 to start and finish a year at No. 1 in the world. And even after a layoff — giving him time to tinker with a new putting stroke — it looks like it might be a while before anyone changes that. Get local news delivered to your inbox!President-elect Donald Trump announced he created a new role for his administration, White House Artificial Intelligence and Crypto Czar. Filling the role will be tech entrepreneur and podcast host David Sacks. Sacks "will guide policy for the Administration in Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrency, two areas critical to the future of American competitiveness. David will focus on making America the clear global leader in both areas," Trump said in his announcement. "He will safeguard Free Speech online, and steer us away from Big Tech bias and censorship. He will work on a legal framework so the Crypto industry has the clarity it has been asking for, and can thrive in the U.S.," Trump continued" "David will also lead the Presidential Council of Advisors for Science and Technology," the president-elect said. Sacks is a longtime Silicon Valley ally of Elon Musk and invested in SpaceX. They worked together at PayPal, a company in which Sacks is a co-founder of and later became the COO. During that time, Musk was the CEO until 2000 when Confinity went through a rebrand and became PayPal. Sacks held major fundraisers for the Trump-Vance ticket, including one at his home for Trump in San Francisco, California in June. Trump did an interview with Sacks on his "All In" podcast earlier this year, in which he advocated for "automatically" giving noncitizens in the U.S. green cards when they graduate from college -- not just people who go through the vetting process. " [ What ] I want to do, and what I will do, is you graduate from a college, I think you should get, automatically as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country. That includes junior colleges, too," Trump said during the episode. Trump's response came after one of the hosts, Jason Calacanis, asked Trump if he could promise to "give us more ability to import the best and brightest around the world to America."

In continuation of Homecoming tradition, each of Lee University’s 11 departments and schools recently presented Alum of the Year awards. Those chosen were recognized for their honors at their department’s breakfast or reception during the school’s Homecoming festivities this fall. For the College of Arts and Sciences, the award winners include: • Camden Morgante, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Morgante graduated from Lee in 2008 with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and currently works as a licensed clinical psychologist in Knoxville. She recently published a book, “Recovering from Purity Culture,” in which she explores the harmful messages of purity culture within a faith-based context to help promote healing and hope. • Jessica Juarez, Department of Communication Arts. Juarez graduated from Lee in 1994 with a degree in communication studies and minor in theology and was the recipient of the Most Outstanding Communication Student Award. In 2015, she graduated from Texas A&M University School of Law, going on to work for her local district attorney’s office, the Dallas Court-Appointed Special Advocates for children (CASA), and the Texas attorney general’s office. Juarez served as a councilwoman on the Keller, Texas, City Council from 2022 to 2024, advocating for children in the state welfare system, and was named Lee University’s 2023 Distinguished Alumna of the Year last Homecoming. • Chris Cretton, Department of History, Political Science and Humanities. Cretton has taught 7th grade history at Ocoee Middle School since his graduation from Lee in 2006. A Cleveland native, Cretton and his wife, Bonnie, a Lee alumna and the founder and director of the Woodsong Forest School, have significantly invested in the educational opportunities of their community. Before becoming a beloved local educator, he was known as one of the best rafting guides on the Ocoee. • Janet Rahamut, Department of Language and Literature. Rahamut graduated from Lee in 1970 with a bachelor of arts in English, receiving the department award. Post-graduation, she continued her education, going on to earn her master’s, an Ed.S., and her Ph.D., while pastoring alongside her husband. In 1977, the two returned to Cleveland and Rahamut took a position as an English professor at Lee, a position she held for over two decades. She was known for the high standards she expected from her students, but also for her dedication to them inside and outside the classroom. After her death in 2000, Lee created an award in her honor, given each year to a faculty member who exhibits a heart for students, evidenced by frequent interaction and positive involvement with them outside of the classroom. • Brittany Deaton, Department of Mathematical Sciences. Deaton, a 2014 graduate, graduated from Lee with a bachelor of science in mathematics with an emphasis in actuarial science. Following graduation, she went on to complete all 10 required actuarial exams in five years, surpassing the national average rate of completion, and gaining status as a full Fellow. Deaton recently participated in the Financial Modeling World Cup held on ESPN 3. She is married to Brett Deaton, a fellow 2014 Lee alum. • Matthew Workman from the Department of Natural Sciences. Workman has been active in the Cleveland community since his graduation from Lee in 2012 with a bachelor of science in biological sciences, pre-professional emphasis, and winner of the department’s Most Outstanding Student Award. Now a board-certified pediatrician, Workman works at Peerless Pediatrics in Cleveland and continues to invest in the Lee community through his meaningful participation and sponsorship of the Guatemala medical mission Global Perspectives trip, serving as both a participant and mentor for the university and its current students. Others awarded include: • Gary T. Ray from the Helen DeVos College of Education. Ray graduated from Lee in 1981 and went on to complete a master's degree with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, furthering his education with several educational leadership courses from various universities. He has worked at Lee twice in his career, serving as a faculty member in the education department from 1984 to 1986, before leaving and returning in November 1990 to work as Lee’s director of admissions. In 1998, Ray was promoted to assistant vice president for institutional advancement, and again in 2000, as vice president for enrollment management. Since 2016, he has served as associate vice president for enrollment management at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. His wife, Anita, their two children, and their two children-in-law are all Lee alums. • Nate Tucker, School of Business. Tucker graduated from Lee in 1995 with a double major in computer information systems and business administration. He began working at Lee before his graduation and became the university’s director of information technology in 2011, a position he served until his promotion to vice president for IT last month. Besides serving his alma mater for the past 30 years, Tucker has been dedicated to his community, serving as a Cleveland City School Board Member, Junior Achievement of the Ocoee Region board member and member of the Rotary Club of Cleveland. He has also served the Southeast Education User’s Group Board in various capacities, as well as the North Cleveland Church of God Pastors and Church Council. Tucker also holds a master’s degree from UTC. • Mary Beth Wickes, honorary alumna of the School of Music. Wickes, an honorary alumna of Lee’s School of Music, has been an integral employee in the department since 1986. Serving in various capacities, she has been the administrative assistant to the dean, director of accompanying, a teacher, an accompanist, and collaborative pianist for countless Lee events. Wickes is beloved by those she works with who praise her “extraordinary musicianship and her kind, loving, and supportive presence.” She currently serves in the School of Music as a collaborative pianist working with vocal and instrumental faculty and students. • Kelsey Yoder, School of Nursing. Yoder, a 2021 nursing graduate, was passionate about fighting human trafficking and fundraised, while at Lee, to build a home in Thailand for impoverished young girls who are at risk of this fate. Within the last months, five girls have moved into a home in Thailand built by Yoder’s fundraising efforts. They now have a chance for education and a better life thanks to her passion and the action she took as a result. The 2022 Zeno C. Tharpe Award winner, Yoder currently works in Indianapolis, Indiana, as a pediatric nurse at Riley Children's Hospital. • Douglas LeRoy from the School of Theology & Ministry. LeRoy, a 1965 biblical education graduate, was president of the student body, vice president of Upsilon Xi, president of Pioneers for Christ, associate editor of the Vindagua, and a member of Pi Delta Omicron during his time at Lee. Following graduation, LeRoy became an ordained bishop and went on to earn a doctor of ministry from the European Theological Seminary in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Since 1982, he has served Church of God World Missions in various ministries and has served on numerous boards and committees and four terms as a member of the International Executive Council. LeRoy has preached in 125 countries and has authored 24 books. LeRoy is retired from World Missions but continues to serve on the boards of Serving Orphans Worldwide, Volunteers in Medical Missions, Global Pastors Network, and the Church of God Historical Commission. He is married to Wanda Thompson, with whom he shares three children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.