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MOSCA, Colorado — A handmade sign at the start of a long dirt road in the rural San Luis Valley indicates to visitors that they’ve arrived at the future site of Kosmos Stargazing Resort & Spa . The peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains barely make a dent in the big blue skies above the 40 acres purchased by founder and CEO Gamal Jadue Zalaquett. He aims to transform the land into a resort featuring 20 villas, a spa, a restaurant and a planetarium. “It’s a place of alignment. Kosmos is a place of connection,” Jadue Zalaquett said. “Kosmos, in a way, is a place to heal, and the San Luis Valley has a lot to do with healing.” He bought the property for $11,000 in December 2020. But with glass domes for stargazing and expensive price tags to stay the night, Jadue Zalaquett’s ambitious brainchild falls snugly into the category of “luxury ecotourism.” His site is an ideal spot for admiring constellations and distant galaxies. According to the National Park Service, the nearby Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is considered an International Dark Sky Park. Jadue Zalaquett said the area is a class two location on the Bortle dark-sky scale, which translates to “ truly dark ” skies. The resort’s planetarium will include a 1-meter telescope. In terms of getting visitors to Kosmos, “that’s gonna be the biggest attractor,” Jadue Zalaquett said. Development is still in the early stages, but it’s already garnering attention from the public: More than 12,000 Instagram users follow the resort’s page where project renderings and updates are shared. Kosmos plans to open its first villa early next year, said marketing operations manager Jennifer Geerlings. Although it’s still under construction, the resort has already booked more than 2,000 reservations, she added. “A lot of it, for some people, is the excitement of being the first to be able to stay in an experience like this,” Geerlings said in a phone interview. “There’s really no other resort that’s doing this.” While Jadue Zalaquett put about $500,000 toward getting the project off the ground, a crowdfunding campaign raised $1.9 million, Geerlings said. Donors paid a one-time fee to receive 50% discounts off their reservations for early 2025. So instead of paying the usual $700 nightly rate, they booked at $350 per night, Geerlings said. And after the campaign’s end, people continued to contribute directly via Stripe, which put total revenue from crowdfunding at more than $2 million, Jadue Zalaquett added. So why is it worth it to stay at Kosmos? For Geerlings, the answer is a combination of the villas — with their jacuzzis nestled in glass domes under the stars — and amenities like the planetarium. “You’re able to experience some of the best stargazing. The Milky Way is visible to the naked eye,” Geerlings said. “A planetarium is something that’s never been at a resort before.” In November, director of field operations Auston Duncan stepped over sagebrush and loose hardware to outline the state of construction on the project. An unfinished villa offered a hint of what’s to come. The rectangular building with exposed wooden rafters and newly-installed glass sliding doors will soon house a bedroom and a bathroom. Jeremy Stephen, the founder of Steamboat Springs-based Evolve Construction , built the villa out of hempcrete , which is made of hemp, water and lime. It works as an eco-friendly insulator, helping to mitigate heating and cooling costs and lending itself to the vision of Kosmos as a resort with sustainability in mind. On one side of the villa, a hot tub will be installed. On the other, a dome made out of glass and wood from Ekodome will cover the kitchen and loft area. The development will occur in phases. Next year, 16 stargazing villas (which hold up to four guests) and 4 galaxy villas (which hold up to eight guests) will be constructed, Geerlings said. Every stay includes an hour of a guided stargazing experience and telescope training. In 2026, the amenities will be built out. Those include the Mediterranean-style restaurant and the wellness center with spa features like hyperbaric chambers, a sauna and a cold plunge. In 2027, the planetarium will be added to the resort. To ensure dark skies, guests will park their cars and use electric golf carts to navigate the resort, Jadue Zalaquett said. He mentioned that discussions with consultants on the stargazing center included a NASA representative, who was interested in hosting a mission workshop at Kosmos next year. Both the planetarium and the spa will be open to the public, Geerlings added. All in all, it’s a bold plan. And Kosmos is looking to hire to make it happen. Right now, the business is in search of employees to lead their stargazing experiences. So far, it’s recruited a former Great Sand Dunes ranger, Geerlings said. The team is considering college students from Adams State University in Alamosa as interns. Kosmos will also need to staff resort operations, including housekeeping, security and front desk workers. “We’re gonna try and hire pretty much everyone locally,” Geerlings said. For Jadue Zalaquett, taking on an endeavor like this runs in his blood. He currently lives between Alamosa and Boulder, but Jadue Zalaquett was born in Chile and grew up in Miami. When his family migrated to Chile, they ran hotels. Several paternal relatives work as architects. However, Jadue Zalaquett didn’t initially follow the family business. Instead, he worked in technology startups for almost a decade. Then, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he visited the San Luis Valley. He realized that, although the Great Sand Dunes were located less than a half hour away, tourists could only choose from a few lodging options. So came the idea for Kosmos. And “here I am, back at my roots,” Jadue Zalaquett said.BEMIDJI — The Region 2 Arts Council Board recently awarded $6,000 fellowships to sculptor Tim Nelsen and painter Donna Alena Hrabcakova. The Artist Fellowship award is intended for dedicated artists who have created a substantial independent body of work, have received recognition for their work and whose work has been selected for publication, solo exhibitions, commissions, presentations, readings or performances, a release said. Tim Nelsen has been a sculptor and metal artist since 2018 and uses exclusively recycled materials in his work. He is a graduate of Bemidji State University with a degree in Design Technology. Nelsen has won several People's Choice Awards for his works, including "Rumblefish" in 2016, "King Norway" in 2022 and 2023, and the Judge’s Award for the sculpture "Flying V" in 2023. Nelsen's works have been displayed in sculpture walks around the region, including the Bemidji Sculpture Walk, Sioux Falls Sculpture Walk, and in Mankato, Hutchinson and more throughout the Midwest. Nelsen has also served as an executive board member on the Bemidji Sculpture Walk since 2020. "I create art for one reason; it makes me happy," Nelsen said in the release. "The materials I use and the subjects I choose all speak to me on some level. From finding sculpting materials to sketching and creating the final product, the entire process is something I enjoy. I'm continually trying to improve as an artist by building my skill set and embracing new technologies that can help me work more efficiently." Painter Donna Alena Hrabcakova is originally from Giglovce, Slovakia, and has worked for 20 years as a Clinical Art Therapist at the Red Lake middle and high schools. She has shown work in several art shows, including the Bi-annual Exhibition at the Watermark Art Center, a Showing in Chicago on the Red Line Collection and other exhibits including the Jung Haus Gallery, Short North Art District and in Giglovce, Slovakia. One of her installations on Black Lives Matter is displayed in the Columbus, Ohio State House. Hrabcakova came to Red Lake from Ohio to serve as a National Trauma Therapist following a Red Lake school shooting tragedy in 2005. Her passion is working with adolescents to help them cope with intergenerational trauma, PTSD and other issues that arise from suffering and loss. Her passion and love play into her artwork's narrative of family, love, tragedy, war and healing. Hrabcakova uses acrylics, mixed media, materials that are recycled from nature and molding pastes. Hrabcakova's goal for her fellowship is to start a whole new collection with the juxtaposition of freedom, sovereignty, diaspora and the concept of community. She will use references from Red Lake Nation, the Ukrainian invasion of Russia and her family's stories of being sent to internment camps in Presov, Slovakia, and later Auschwitz. "All art shows start with a dream, a vision and a good story," Hrabcakova said in the release. "This (fellowship project) is based on a very personal story that reaches deep inside of my soul."188 jili cc register 。

MONTOGMERY, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama man who detonated a homemade explosive device outside the state attorney general’s office was sentenced to nine years in federal prison on Thursday. Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert, 27, to the charge of malicious use of an explosive device. Calvert admitted to constructing the bomb out of nails, firecrackers and screws, and then Republican Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office in the early morning hours of Saturday, Feb. 24, prosecutors said. No people were hurt, and nearby buildings in downtown Montgomery were not damaged. Remnants of the bomb were not discovered until the following Monday, according to a statement from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Law enforcement two weeks later. “Acts of violence like this one against our public institutions endanger public servants and entire communities, and they must not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. Calvert’s attorneys did not respond to an emailed request for comment on Thursday. Prosecutors said that Calvert had placed stickers reflecting a wide range of political ideologies around the area, some of which included the phrase, “Support your local antifa.” But Calvert said he does not have any “affiliation with antifa” in his plea deal. The Associated Press

MADRID (AP) — Atletico Madrid conceded three goals in a Spanish league game for the first time this season but still managed to beat Sevilla 4-3 on Sunday with Antoine Griezmann's double helping to make it nine wins in a row for Diego Simeone’s in-form side. Third-place Madrid restored its three-point lead over fourth-place Athletic Bilbao, which beat Villarreal earlier Sunday. Rodrigo De Paul gave Atletico the perfect start when he lashed home a stunning opener in the 10th minute. However, goals from Dodi Lukébakio, Isaac Romero and Juanlu Sanchez put Sevilla 3-1 up early in the second half and Atletico, without the vocal support of some home fans in a dispute over tickets, seemed lost in an unusually quiet at Metropolitano Stadium. Simeone’s side, though, is known for its resilience and it was not long before the fightback began. Griezmann reduced the deficit in the 62nd minute and 17 minutes later, after Simeone made five substitutions in a quarter of an hour, Samuel Lino got the equalizer with a low shot from 30 yards. Griezmann himself got the winner in stoppage time to consolidate Atletico’s third place. The Madrid club now has 35 points, one behind city rival Real and three behind league leader Barcelona. “We struggled to get into the game,” Griezmann said. “We missed the support of the fans behind the goal. But in the end we managed to come back.” Athletic Bilbao consolidated fourth place with a comfortable 2-0 win over Villarreal, the team immediately below it in the table and one of its closest rivals for a Champions League spot. Aitor Paredes put Athletic ahead when he glanced home a corner kick in 14 minutes and Iñaki Williams made it 2-0 midway through the second half. It was the fourth consecutive league win for Athletic but the victory was marred by a silent protest from an organized fan group. The group refused to sing or chant in response to a rift between it and the club president, who reported threats to police earlier in the week. Several Athletic players expressed solidarity with the president and the team did not salute the fans behind the goal after the match. “It’s a very sad win and a time for everyone to pull together,” club captain Óscar De Marcos said in comments reported by newspaper Marca. “The silence was notable during the game but we need to keep doing our job.” Earlier Sunday, Real Sociedad won for the fourth time in a row, beating Leganes 3-0 at the Butarque stadium near Madrid. Three days after his extra-time goal gave Sociedad a 1-0 win at fourth-tier Conquense in the Copa del Rey, Brais Méndez scored again to give the visitors an early lead. Substitute Ander Barrenetxea’s first goal of the league season doubled its lead 10 minutes from time and then Mikel Oyarzabal added a third in stoppage time. It was only the fourth time in 16 matches that Sociedad has scored twice in a league game and the win lifted it into sixth, above Osasuna, which drew 2-2 with Alaves. Alaves took only 37 seconds for Kike Garcia to put the team ahead with a diving header. However, Ante Budimir and Rubén García scored early in the second half to put Osasuna in front before Kike Garcia got his second of the game to tie the scores at 2-2. The point was the first for new Alaves coach Eduardo Coudet but still leaves it in 15th place without a win in five games. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

BOSTON , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - On December 12, 2024 , the Board of Trustees of John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund (the "Fund") approved changes to the Fund's name and investment strategies. The changes are proposed to be effective on or about February 10, 2025 (the "Effective Date"). In connection with the approvals described above: The Fund will change its name from "John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund" to "John Hancock Diversified Income Fund." The Fund will remove its current non-fundamental investment policy to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (assets plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity and equity-related securities, including common stock, preferred stock, depositary receipts (including American Depositary Receipts and Global Depositary Receipts), index-related securities (including exchange traded funds ("ETFs"), options on equity securities and equity indexes, real estate investment structures (including real estate investment trusts ("REITs")), convertible securities, private placements, convertible preferred stock, rights, warrants, derivatives linked to equity securities or indexes and other similar equity equivalents. The Fund will revise its investment strategies as follows: Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 25% of its net assets (assets plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity and equity-related securities and at least 25% in fixed-income securities and fixed-income related instruments. Equity and equity-related securities include common stock, preferred stock, depositary receipts (including American Depositary Receipts and Global Depositary Receipts), index-related securities (including exchange traded funds ("ETFs"), options on equity securities and equity indexes, real estate investment structures (including real estate investment trusts ("REITs")), convertible securities, private placements, convertible preferred stock, rights, warrants, derivatives linked to equity securities or indexes and other similar equity equivalents. Fixed-income related securities may include, but are not limited to, instruments such as: non-investment grade ("high yield" or "junk bond") instruments, swaps, futures, forwards, options, mortgages, and bank loans. Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. About John Hancock Investment Management A company of Manulife Investment Management, we serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship. About Manulife Investment Management Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto , our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/john-hancock-hedged-equity--income-fund-important-notice-regarding-change-in-investment-policy-and-name-302330778.html SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

World Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News. Anthony Albanese has dodged questions about when his government learned Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins was captured by Russian forces in Ukraine, citing “security issues”. Footage of Mr Jenkins getting interrogated by Russian forces began circulating on pro-Kremlin social media channels on Sunday. But it is unclear when the video was shot and Australia’s embassy in Moscow has been scrambling to get details on his whereabouts. Footage of Oscar Jenkins getting interrogated by Russian forces began circulating on pro-Kremlin social media channels over the weekend. Picture: Screengrab The Prime Minister on Tuesday said again that his government was “making representations”. “We have called in the Russian ambassador to Canberra to make appropriate representations,” he told reporters in Darwin. “Our Australian embassy in Moscow is also making representations to secure a positive outcome. “It is an opportunity for us to say that the warnings ... about travelling to areas of conflict are ones that should be heeded by Australians. “This is not a safe or secure thing to do, and there is a risk involved, but we will continue to, as we always do, make representations on behalf of Australians.” Anthony Albanese has dodged questions about when his government learned Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins was captured by Russian forces in Ukraine, citing ‘security issues’. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman Suggestions the Albanese government knew of Mr Jenkins’ capture weeks or even months ago were reported by some media outlets on Tuesday. Asked when his government started talking to Moscow about Mr Jenkins, Mr Albanese repeated remarks he made on Monday to “always look after Australians”. He was asked point blank when Australians officials learned Mr Jenkins was captured. “When notification occurs, we take action on behalf of Australian citizens,” Mr Albanese said. Pressed further, he said “there are security issues involved”. “But we make this point that it is a dangerous thing to do, to enter into a war zone in a time of conflict two,” he said. A Ukrainian security source confirmed to NewsWire Mr Jenkins was serving in the International Legion of Defence of Ukraine. The source did not say where exactly the Australian was last deployed or when he was taken prisoner. The video of Mr Jenkins suggested he was captured near Kramatorsk, a Ukrainian stronghold near the front lines in the eastern Donetsk Oblast. It is a key strategic city for Ukraine and a major target for Russian forces. A fellow foreign fighter who served with Mr Jenkins described him to the ABC as “very patriotic” and a “hell of a damn good soldier”. ‘Not our friends’: Ukraine warning to Aussies Earlier, Nationals leader David Littleproud warned Australians that “Russians are not our friends” in a call on citizens to think twice before heading to Ukraine. The senior opposition MP said the Australian government was in a tough spot. “This is a difficult situation with the government, that they’ve been put in, and this isn’t something that Australians need to think. that this is a great adventure running to the Ukraine,” he told Sky News. “That’s a war zone, and bad things are going to happen. The Russians are not our friends, and they won’t treat you as a friend, and the Australian government just can’t waltz in and get you out.” Nationals leader David Littleproud says Australia does ‘not a lot to negotiate with’ to secure Mr Jenkins’ release. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman The video of Mr Jenkins emerged just days after Australia pledged fresh aid to Ukraine and announced the reopening of the embassy in Kyiv. Canberra has given Kyiv north of $1.5bn worth of support, including munitions and battle tanks. The bipartisan backing for Ukraine has landed Australia a spot on Russia’s register of “unfriendly countries” – the Kremlin’s geopolitical naughty list. Mr Littleproud said there was “not a lot to negotiate with”. Pro-Russia propagandist Simeon Boikov, known by his moniker Aussie Cossack, has offered himself up for a prisoner swap. Boikov has been hiding at the Russian consulate in Sydney since he was convicted of assaulting a 76-year-old man at a pro-Ukraine rally in Sydney more than two years ago. Since entering the consulate he has been pumping out Kremlin disinformation from a makeshift studio, including politically-charged falsehoods around the high-profile stabbings in Sydney earlier this year and the 2023 Voice referendum. Mr Littleproud downplayed the plausibility of Boikov getting the swap, pointing out that he “isn’t a prisoner”. Simeo Boikov has been hiding at the Russian consulate in Sydney since he was convicted of assaulting a 76-year-old man at a pro-Ukraine rally in Sydney more than two years ago. Picture: Screengrab “He’s there in his own volition because he’s running away from charges from our law,” the senior Coalition MP said. “Now, I think the government needs to be given the space to work through this and to work through this constructively. “And if there are options available, then obviously, with the appropriate briefings, I think the Coalition stands ready to support them in whatever endeavours they can do. “But just appreciate this is a difficult situation the Australian government’s been put in, and that Australia should understand there is no magic wand for any government to be able to negotiate with Russia. So stay away.” The video shows Mr Jenkins’ interrogator hitting him several times. Picture: Screengrab Mr Jenkins is a member of the Toorak-Prahran Cricket Club. Picture: Instagram, How and when Mr Jenkins got to Ukraine remains unclear. The video of his interrogation showed him responding to questions in broken Ukrainian and Russian. His inability to speak fluently appeared to frustrate his Russian interrogator, who hit him several times and repeatedly swore at him. At one point, the Russian asks him: “Do you want to live?” Mr Jenkins replies: “I want to help Ukraine”. Acting foreign affairs minister and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said on Monday the government was providing consular support to Mr Jenkins’ family, and that Australian officials were “making representations to the Russian government”. We urge the Russian Government to fully adhere to its obligations under international humanitarian law, including with respect to prisoners of war. “Our immediate priority is understanding where Mr Jenkins is and confirming his wellbeing. “I reiterate the Government’s clear advice to all Australians – do not travel to Ukraine.” Russia’s war in Ukraine has killed and wounded hundreds of thousands on both sides and displaced more than 10 million people. Some 11,500 Ukrainians have found safe haven in Australia. Originally published as Littleproud warns Australians against ‘adventure running’ to Ukraine after Melbourne man captured Read related topics: Anthony Albanese Russia & Ukraine Conflict Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories Real Life Couple get 100 years for sickening abuse William and Zackary Zulock gave off the image of a picture-perfect life — but behind closed doors, they ran a depraved “house of horrors”. Read more Innovation ‘Truman Show’: Spies say everything is fake Two former senior spies have revealed how they “create a pretend world” where “we’re the main actors”, likening it to The Truman Show. Read moreThree Greenspoon Marder Lawyers Bolster Southeast Presence MIAMI , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ice Miller is pleased to announce the addition of esteemed international transactional lawyers Jon Lyman and Gai Sher to help launch the firm's new Miami office . Bringing 30 years of experience counseling corporate and financial institution clients on all manner of deals, often involving cross-border transactions, Miami -based Lyman reinforces Ice Miller's strong transactional roster on both a regional and international scale, while Sher concentrates her practice on representing and providing legal counsel to startups, emerging growth companies, brands, creators, and executives in media, technology, and consumer products in all aspects of commercial transactions. Miami now joins Ice Miller's Naples office as a key component of the firm's strategy to expand its presence in South Florida and better serve clients across the Southeast region. The office will be supported by a local team that includes associate Ariela Benchlouch , as well as other Ice Miller lawyers splitting time among different offices. Reinforced by Ice Miller's national platform, Lyman is positioned to provide comprehensive guidance on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, finance, debt, and equity offerings. Throughout his extensive career, he has regularly been called upon by directors and officers to provide legal counsel in connection with investment transactions, including for private equity, venture capital, and family office clients, as well as international debt and equity securities issues and trading compliance. Sher also counsels on all aspects of commercial transactions, while boasting experience in deal-making and structuring rights, talent, licensing, and production agreements across all facets of intellectual property, media, and entertainment. "The Miami team brings an exciting new dimension of capabilities to our clients," said Ice Miller Chief Managing Partner Michael Millikan . "They not only offer fresh and innovative legal insight, but also amplify our core strengths in dynamic new ways. Their presence in Miami aligns perfectly with our strategic growth objectives." Ice Miller Board Member and Business Group partner Tom Kesoglou also weighed in: " Miami is a key hub in the transactional landscape—critical to both our existing clients and our growth targets," he said. "Jon and Gai's strong reputations and established presence in the region, coupled with their entrepreneurial drive, position them perfectly to help the firm continue its evolution." In a supporting role, Benchlouch guides clients through complex transactions, including conducting thorough due diligence and risk assessments, drafting and negotiating key transaction documents, and navigating regulatory and compliance issues. "This team is excited to hit the ground running at Ice Miller," said Lyman. "As we've gotten to know the firm better, we've been impressed by its robust transactional platform and deep experience. The possibilities here are clear, and we see a tremendous potential for growth. I'm confident that, together, we'll continue to build on this momentum in the months and years ahead." About Ice Miller LLP Ice Miller LLP is a full-service law firm dedicated to helping our clients stay ahead in a changing world. With more than 350 legal professionals across the nation, we advise clients on all aspects of the complex legal issues impacting businesses each day. We serve private equity and venture capital funds, large private and emerging growth companies, FORTUNE 500 corporations, municipal entities, family offices, and nonprofits. To learn more, visit us at icemiller.com . SOURCE Ice Miller LLP

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Qatar tribune Agencies China’s retaliatory export controls could take a toll on the growing US clean energy sector and its defense industry, analysts say, as a trade tussle escalates between the world’s two biggest economies. Beijing announced this week it would ban exports of gallium, germanium and antimony to the United States, targeting materials used for everything from semiconductors to solar cells. China also tightened restrictions on graphite, which is key to the electric vehicle industry. The moves, which Beijing said were to safeguard national security, swiftly followed Washington’s own curbs to hobble China’s ability to make advanced computer chips. While trade tensions have been simmering, US President-elect Donald Trump’s arrival at the White House in January is likely to ratchet up the temperature on trade - with the Republican already vowing sweeping tariffs on Chinese imports. Analysts say it would take time to assess the impact of the new Chinese curbs on US industries, though any immediate hit should be limited. Some see Beijing’s moves as symbolic for now, even as ramifications depend on how China enforces the new rules. “This certainly could drive up costs,” said Arun Seraphin of the National Defense Industrial Association. “It could create situations where you can’t produce what you need.” “It’s certainly going to drive a lot of uncertainty for companies who want to plan out their supply chain,” he told AFP. China is a major producer of the three metals in question. In August, it unveiled export controls on some antimony products and since then, shipments have plunged. Restrictions announced in 2023 on gallium and germanium also hit exports to the United States. “Gallium, germanium, and antimony are vital inputs for defense technologies,” said Gracelin Baskaran and Meredith Schwartz of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in a recent analysis. Gallium and germanium are increasingly preferred over traditional silicon for high-performance chips used in defense applications, CSIS added. It noted these materials have properties that boost device performance, speed, and energy efficiency. Antimony is used in fireproofing and has defense-related uses, too. While China is investing in munitions and buying high-end weapons systems more rapidly than the United States, the US industrial base lacks capacity to meet defense tech production needs, the report warned. “Bans on vital mineral inputs will only further allow China to outpace the United States in building these capabilities,” it said. The US Geological Survey estimates that if China’s net exports of gallium and germanium were completely restricted simultaneously, US GDP could decrease by $3.4 billion. Besides defense, gallium-based semiconductors are used in radio frequency electronics, LEDs for lighting and high-efficiency solar cells, the US Geological Survey noted. Although gasoline vehicles do not call for graphite, electric vehicles require an average of 136 pounds of the material, CSIS said. This could prove dicey for the United States, which has spurred billions in private sector investments for its domestic EV supply chain through subsidies via the Inflation Reduction Act. The act is a package of energy transition policy and social reforms under President Joe Biden. Seraphin told AFP that although Washington also pushed to attract investment and build up US semiconductor manufacturing capacity through the CHIPS and Science Act, these efforts do not yet target components such as germanium. Copy 09/12/2024 10Trying their hand a farming a group of three entrepreneur friends running petrol pumps have successfully harvested a kilo of the valued spice saffron from soilless farming at a climate-controlled facility at Dharamkot in their home district of Moga. They adopted the aeroponic method of farming, which is a method of growing plants without soil where roots are suspended in the air and irrigated with a nutrient-dense mist. Their venture has evoked curiosity among agriculture experts and the scientists from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in Moga have decided to record cultivation details of this unique experiment conducted in Punjab. Saffron is traditionally grown in the cold conditions of the Pampore and Lethpora regions of the Peer Panjal mountainous region in Kashmir. Experts say that entrepreneurs in different parts of the country are experimenting with growing saffron, and it involves ample capital investment to cultivate the spice in a specially built facility with low temperature. A leisure trip to Kashmir last year motivated the Moga residents to experiment with saffron cultivation in the high temperature of Punjab. Kshitij Goyal, who runs a petrol pump in the town, says the three invested nearly ₹ 30 lakh in the 550 square feet fully automated facility built at Dharamkot village to control temperature and brightness in the chamber through a mobile phone application. “A chance visit to saffron farms pushed us to give its farming a try at our place. After brainstorming sessions and contacting individuals engaged in saffron farming in Iran and the US, we raised a fully automated facility at Jasvir Singh’s farmland at Dharamkot village,” said Goyal, an engineering graduate. The seeds were procured from a farm dealer in Kashmir and were sown in August. According to another partner in the saffron venture Gurpreet Singh, a group of women farm labourers was engaged in plucking saffron strands. “The crop was harvested after three months; a tedious job which lasted 15 days. We have collected about a kilogram of saffron. Before commercial sale, we are working to secure a certification from Punjab authorities and our team is working on this front,” he added. Deputy director of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Amandeep Singh Brar said a team of farm scientists is expected to visit the farm to collect data. Brar said the natural climatic conditions of Punjab are not conducive for saffron cultivation, but modern technologies can be adopted for growing similar crops with due diligence. Brar said it is probably the first time that such an amount of saffron is cultivated in controlled climatic conditions in Punjab. “The initiative is interesting, but it involves huge capital. It is important to study if the saffron grown in Punjab has a quality at par with that cultivated in Kashmir. A detailed report will be sent to the higher authorities to decide on whether saffron farming can be recommended in Punjab or not,” added Brar.

(The Center Square) – Adoption of institutional neutrality is supported by better than 6 in 10 tenured and nontenured faculty at the University of North Carolina, Wake Forest University and Duke University, a report says. Nationally, 66% of faculty say “colleges and universities should not take positions on political and social issues,” says Silence in the Classroom, the 2024 FIRE Faculty Survey Report. At Duke, the percentage is 71%, at Carolina 65%, and at Wake 64%. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump was on the verge of backing a 16-week federal abortion ban earlier this year when aides staged an intervention. According to Time magazine's cover story on his selection as its 2024 Person of the Year, Trump's aides first raised concerns in mid-March that the abortion cutoff being pushed by some allies would be stricter than existing law in numerous states. It was seen as a potential political liability amid ongoing fallout over the overturning of Roe v. Wade by a conservative majority on the Supreme Court that includes three justices nominated by Trump in his first term. Trump political director James Blair went to work assembling a slide deck — eventually titled “How a national abortion ban will cost Trump the election" — that argued a 16-week ban would hurt the Republican candidate in the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, the magazine reported. “After flipping through Blair’s presentation" on a flight to a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in April, Trump dropped the idea, according to the report. "So we leave it to the states, right?" Trump was quoted as saying. He soon released a video articulating that position. At the time, Trump’s campaign denied that he was considering supporting the 16-week ban, calling it “fake news” and saying Trump planned to “negotiate a deal” on abortion if elected to the White House. Here are other highlights from the story and the president-elect's 65-minute interview with the magazine: Jan. 6 pardons could start in the ‘first nine minutes’ Trump reaffirmed his plans to pardon most of those convicted for their actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. “It’s going to start in the first hour,” he said of the pardons. “Maybe the first nine minutes.” Trump said he would look at individuals on a “case-by-case" basis, but that “a vast majority of them should not be in jail.” More than 1,500 people have been charged with federal crimes stemming from the riot that left more than 100 police officers injured and sent lawmakers running into hiding as they met to certify Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 victory . More than 1,000 defendants have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial of charges, including misdemeanor trespassing offenses, assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy. Trump is open to holding detained migrants in camps Trump insisted he has the authority to use the military to assist with his promised mass deportations , even though, as his interviewers noted, the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits the use of the military in domestic law enforcement. “It doesn’t stop the military if it’s an invasion of our country, and I consider it an invasion of our country," he said. “I’ll only do what the law allows, but I will go up to the maximum level of what the law allows. And I think in many cases, the sheriffs and law enforcement is going to need help." Trump did not deny that camps would be needed to hold detained migrants as they are processed for deportation. “Whatever it takes to get them out. I don’t care," he said. “I hope we’re not going to need too many because I want to get them out and I don’t want them sitting in camp for the next 20 years.” Trump told Time he does not plan to restore the policy of separating children from their families to deter border crossings, but he did not rule it out. The practice led to thousands of children being separated from their parents and was condemned around the globe as inhumane. “I don’t believe we’ll have to because we will send the whole family back,” he said. “I would much rather deport them together, yes, than separate.” Musk prioritizes the country over his business interests, Trump insists Trump dismissed the idea that Elon Musk will face conflicts of interest as he takes the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency , an advisory group that Trump has selected him to lead. The panel is supposed to find waste and cut regulations, including many that could affect Musk's wide-ranging interests , which include electric cars, rockets and telecommunications. “I don’t think so," Trump said. “I think that Elon puts the country long before his company. ... He considers this to be his most important project." Trump acknowledges the difficulty of lowering grocery prices Trump lowered expectations about his ability to drive down grocery prices. “I’d like to bring them down. It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up. You know, it’s very hard. But I think that they will,” he said. Trump plans ‘virtual closure’ of the Education Department Trump said he is planning “a virtual closure" of the "Department of Education in Washington.” “You’re going to need some people just to make sure they’re teaching English in the schools," he said. “But we want to move education back to the states.” Yet Trump has proposed exerting enormous influence over schools. He has threatened to cut funding for schools with vaccine mandates while forcing them to “teach students to love their country" and promote “the nuclear family,” including “the roles of mothers and fathers” and the “things that make men and women different and unique.” Trump offers conflicting answers on future of abortion pills Asked to clarify whether he was committed to preventing the Food and Drug Administration from stripping access to abortion pills , Trump replied, “It’s always been my commitment.” But Trump has offered numerous conflicting stances on the issue, including to Time. Earlier in the interview, he was asked whether he would promise that his FDA would not do anything to limit access to medication abortion or abortion pills. "We’re going to take a look at all of that,” he said, before calling the prospect “very unlikely.” “Look, I’ve stated it very clearly and I just stated it again very clearly. I think it would be highly unlikely. I can’t imagine, but with, you know, we’re looking at everything, but highly unlikely. I guess I could say probably as close to ruling it out as possible, but I don’t want to. I don’t want to do anything now.” Trump says US support for Ukraine will be leverage for a deal with Russia Pressed on whether he would abandon Ukraine in its efforts to stave off Russia's invasion , Trump said he would use U.S. support for Kyiv as leverage against Moscow in negotiating an end to the war. “I want to reach an agreement,” he said, “and the only way you’re going to reach an agreement is not to abandon.” Does he trust Netanyahu? ‘I don’t trust anybody' Trump would not commit to supporting a two-state solution, with a Palestinian state alongside Israel, as he had previously. “I support whatever solution we can do to get peace," he said. "There are other ideas other than two state, but I support whatever, whatever is necessary to get not just peace, a lasting peace. It can’t go on where every five years you end up in tragedy. There are other alternatives.” Asked whether he trusted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , he told Time: “I don’t trust anybody.” War with Iran? ‘Anything can happen,’ he says Trump would not rule out the possibility of war with Iran during his second term. “Anything can happen. It’s a very volatile situation," he said. Trump mum on conversations with Putin Asked if he has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin since the Nov. 5 election, Trump continued to play coy: "I can’t tell you. It’s just inappropriate.” Trump insists he had the votes to confirm Gaetz as attorney general Trump insisted that his bid to install Matt Gaetz as attorney general ”wasn’t blocked. I had the votes (in the Senate) if I needed them, but I had to work very hard.” When the scope of resistance to the former Republican congressman from Florida became clear, Trump said, “I talked to him, and I said, ‘You know, Matt, I don’t think this is worth the fight.'" Gaetz pulled out amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations, and Trump tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for the Cabinet post. Trump is open to changes for childhood vaccines Trump, who has named anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, did not rule out the possibility of eliminating some childhood vaccinations even though they have been proved safe in extensive studies and real world use in hundreds of millions of people over decades and are considered among the most effective public health measures in modern history. Pressed on whether “getting rid of some vaccinations” — neither Trump nor the interviewers specified which ones — might be part of the plan to improve the health of the country, Trump responded: “It could if I think it’s dangerous, if I think they are not beneficial, but I don’t think it’s going to be very controversial in the end.” Trump weighs in on family political dynasty “I think there could be, yeah," Trump said of the prospect of others in his family continuing in his footsteps. He pointed to daughter-in-law Lara Trump , who served as co-chair of the Republican National Committee and is now being talked about as a potential replacement for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, whom Trump has chosen for secretary of state. Melania Trump will return to the White House, he says Trump said the former and soon-to-be first lady Melania Trump will be joining him at the White House during second term and will "be active, when she needs to be.” “Oh yes,” he said. “She’s very beloved by the people, Melania. And they like the fact that she’s not out there in your face all the time for many reasons.”

ADIB-Egypt announces 1 billion EGP digital transformation planAlgert Global LLC lifted its position in Tiptree Inc. ( NASDAQ:TIPT – Free Report ) by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 47,629 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 570 shares during the period. Algert Global LLC’s holdings in Tiptree were worth $932,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Copeland Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Tiptree during the 3rd quarter valued at $56,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Tiptree during the second quarter worth about $48,000. Quest Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Tiptree in the third quarter worth about $149,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company purchased a new position in Tiptree during the 2nd quarter valued at about $176,000. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC increased its holdings in Tiptree by 98.5% during the 3rd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 12,541 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $245,000 after purchasing an additional 6,223 shares during the period. 37.78% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, StockNews.com lowered Tiptree from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Tiptree Trading Up 1.3 % NASDAQ:TIPT opened at $22.79 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $20.52 and a 200-day moving average price of $18.81. Tiptree Inc. has a 12 month low of $14.96 and a 12 month high of $24.09. The stock has a market cap of $844.51 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.49 and a beta of 1.30. Tiptree Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 25th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 18th were given a dividend of $0.06 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 18th. This represents a $0.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.05%. Tiptree’s payout ratio is 24.74%. Tiptree Profile ( Free Report ) Tiptree Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides specialty insurance products and related services primarily in the United States. It operates through two segments: Insurance and Mortgage. The company offers niche; commercial lines insurance products, including professional liability, general liability, contractual liability protection, property and other short-tail, and alternative risks insurance products; and personal lines insurance products, such as credit protection surrounding loan payments. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TIPT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Tiptree Inc. ( NASDAQ:TIPT – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Tiptree Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tiptree and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Is Trump cutting VA Benefits? This is how your benefits could be changing for next yearMONTOGMERY, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama man who detonated a homemade explosive device outside the state attorney general's office was sentenced to nine years in federal prison on Thursday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * MONTOGMERY, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama man who detonated a homemade explosive device outside the state attorney general's office was sentenced to nine years in federal prison on Thursday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? MONTOGMERY, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama man who detonated a homemade explosive device outside the state attorney general’s office was sentenced to nine years in federal prison on Thursday. Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert, 27, plead guilty in August to the charge of malicious use of an explosive device. Calvert admitted to constructing the bomb out of nails, firecrackers and screws, and then blowing it up outside Republican Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office in the early morning hours of Saturday, Feb. 24, prosecutors said. No people were hurt, and nearby buildings in downtown Montgomery were not damaged. Remnants of the bomb were not discovered until the following Monday, according to a statement from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Law enforcement arrested Calvert two weeks later. “Acts of violence like this one against our public institutions endanger public servants and entire communities, and they must not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. Calvert’s attorneys did not respond to an emailed request for comment on Thursday. Prosecutors said that Calvert had placed stickers reflecting a wide range of political ideologies around the area, some of which included the phrase, “Support your local antifa.” But Calvert said he does not have any “affiliation with antifa” in his plea deal. Advertisement

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WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (AP) — Jaland Lowe scored 19 of his career-high 22 points in the second half and collected eight rebounds and six assists in leading Pittsburgh to a 74-63 win over LSU at the Greenbrier Tip-Off on Friday. Pitt (6-0) will play the Wisconsin-UCF winner on Sunday for the tournament title. The Tigers (4-1) will take on the loser. This is Pitt's best start since 2018-19. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.EDMONTON - A commercial food processing company is facing 26 charges after an Edmonton worker became trapped in a smokehouse and died. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * EDMONTON - A commercial food processing company is facing 26 charges after an Edmonton worker became trapped in a smokehouse and died. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? EDMONTON – A commercial food processing company is facing 26 charges after an Edmonton worker became trapped in a smokehouse and died. Ontario-based Sofina Foods Inc. is charged with offences under Alberta health and safety laws. The province says the facility supervisor had gone to check the temperature of the smokehouse in March 2023 and was trapped inside. The employee was found by a co-worker and later died due to heat exposure. It’s alleged the company failed to ensure the smokehouse was well maintained and not a risk for staff. Sofina Foods says in a statement it has co-operated fully with the provincial investigation and called the death a “deeply saddening accident.” 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. “Our people are the heart of our business, and our plant superintendent, Samir, was an important part of our Sofina family,” said the statement Monday. “His passing profoundly affected his family, our team, and our community. We continue to be concerned for them and their well-being.” Smokehouses are used to process and preserve meat. The company said that because the matter is before the courts, it would not be commenting further at this time. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2024. Advertisement