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NoneThe midnight kiss has long been the singular goal of many a New Year's Eve celebration — a mix of romance, superstition and a hearty dose of FOMO (fear of missing out). But lately, fewer people are puckering up as the clock strikes twelve. The iconic kiss is being ghosted in favor of celebrations that feel more personal and less cringe. Legend has it that the midnight kiss traces back to ancient Roman Saturnalia festivals and European masquerade balls. Revelers would remove their masks at midnight and kiss to mark the end of one year and the start of another. Folklore added a layer of superstition, claiming the kiss would bring good luck and ensure strong relationships in the year ahead. One of the earliest recorded mentions of the midnight kiss showed up in a New York Times article from Jan. 3, 1863, noting, "New Year's Eve is a great time among the Germans, who assemble around the domestic fireside ... As the clocks ring out the hour of midnight, all this festivity pauses for a moment, to listen, and as the last stroke dies into silence, all big and little, old and young, male and female, push into each other's arms, and hearty kisses go round like rolls of labial musketry." The tradition was clearly beloved, as the article adds, "Gentlemen and ladies in the bloom of youth heartily approve this custom!" Over time, the midnight kiss became a fixture of New Year's celebrations, fueled by popular culture and traditions. But just like the Times Square ball drop, not everyone is into it anymore. A 2022 Rasmussen Reports survey found that only 45% of American adults planned to kiss at midnight — down from 51% the year before. Younger generations, especially millennials and Gen Z, are increasingly rejecting tradition. For many — especially singles, asexual people or anyone who cringes at public displays of affection — the tradition feels old-fashioned at best, or downright uncomfortable. This shift isn't happening in a vacuum. Younger generations are more vocal about rejecting societal expectations that don't resonate with their values. And then there's the fact that, according to a 2022 Pew Research study, 57% of single adults aren't even interested in dating, citing other priorities like career, hobbies and simply enjoying being single. Increased focus on mental health and personal boundaries have made consent and personal space central to how younger generations navigate social interactions, including kissing. For many, the midnight kiss represents outdated ideas about romance that feel increasingly out of step with contemporary life. Platforms like TikTok are right there with disposing of societal norms that no longer serve their original purpose. In fact, they're throwing tradition under the proverbial party bus with hashtags and trends showcasing everything but kissing as a way to celebrate the moment the old year becomes a new one. Solo dances in your jammies? Group hugs? Slurping noodles? Journaling your goals? All in. Obligatory lip locking? Hard pass. Gen Z is embracing a more relaxed lifestyle, prioritizing personal comfort and self-care over traditional social activities. "Gen Z has become wholesome, and I'm thrilled," wrote Kim Schewitz in a 2023 Business Insider article, reflecting on a generational shift towards valuing meaningful, personal experiences over performative social norms. Movies like "When Harry Met Sally" made the midnight kiss iconic, but even Hollywood is starting to move with the times. Inclusive storytelling is making room for different ways to mark the New Year, whether it's with romance, friendship or just spending it solo. Take Netflix's hit "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery" as an example. The New Year's Eve scene doesn't revolve around a romantic kiss — it's a plot-driving moment of suspense, camaraderie and personal revelations. This shift reflects how even on-screen traditions are evolving to embrace a wider spectrum of experiences, showing that celebrating the New Year can be just as meaningful without the pressure to lock lips. The midnight kiss isn't completely dead, but it's steadily being edged out by group hugs, pet snuggles or quiet reflection. Organizing and goal-setting are also surprise winners. Who needs a kiss when you've got a solid plan for the year ahead? Social media plays a big part in this evolution, too, with TikTok and Instagram celebrating nontraditional rituals. Dancing in pajamas, eating donuts or toasting your closest friends with a glass of kombucha are the new mood. The midnight kiss is losing its sparkle, making way for celebrations that truly resonate. Whether it's kissing, baking cookies or tearing up the dance floor solo, it's all about what feels right for you. Say goodbye to the awkward traditions and hello to your own kind of celebration. This year, you make the rules.

News reports about Donald Trump’s transition team working towards pulling the US out of the World Health Organisation has again put the spotlight on the WHO. In 2020 Trump initiated the process to leave the WHO alleging the organization’s deference to China, but the process was not finished as his successor Joe Biden restarted relations with the agency. Over the decades, the WHO’s remit has expanded from its original focus on women’s and children’s health, nutrition, sanitation, and fighting malaria and tuberculosis. Today, the WHO monitors and coordinates activities concerning many health-related issues, including genetically modified foods, climate change, tobacco and drug use, and road safety. The UN agency has garnered criticism for its response to international public health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic. International committees found the inefficiency of WHO in declaring Covid as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for months, which led to a hefty toll worldwide in terms of mortality and morbidity. The WHO also failed to ensure travel bans and enforcement of International Health Regulations to contain COVID-19 worldwide. Global tobacco use is another healthcare crisis that has not seen a solution in over two decades. The prescribed approach by the WHO has not been successful in achieving the cessation rates that were envisioned while drafting the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Experts argue that harm reduction is the missing piece in WHO’s approach to tobacco control. In an article published by the Lancet, former WHO Directors Robert Beaglehole and Ruth Bonita said, “Harm reduction is a successful public health strategy for global tobacco control efforts. It should be a central strategy in FCTC. WHO's lack of endorsement of tobacco harm reduction strategies limits healthier choices for the 1.3 billion people globally who smoke and who are at an increased risk of early death. There is no scientific justification for WHO’s position that less harmful alternatives should be treated the same way as tobacco products, ignoring a risk-proportionate approach”. While the WHO FCTC has been influential in encouraging a global response to tobacco control, it does not include any safer alternatives to tobacco, overlooking reduced risk solutions. It leaves it up to countries to decide how to regulate e-cigarettes and novel nicotine alternatives. It has also been challenging to show a strong and consistent association between implementation of FCTC measures and smoking prevalence. On the contrary, the US FDA approves certain categories of safer alternatives based on scientific data. In countries like New Zealand, the prevalence of adult daily smoking plummeted from 13.3 per cent in 2017-18 to 6.8% in 2022-23 after e-cigarettes became widely available, a 49% decline in 5 years. The substantial decline in smoking consumption in Japan is associated with the rapid uptake of products that heat, rather than burn tobacco. WHO’s lack of endorsement for tobacco harm reduction is limiting healthier choices for the 1.3 billion people who smoke annually and are at an increased risk of early death. The objectives of WHO must be redefined to match the aspirations of global citizens, which is essential to make life better across countries. Further, the organisation must tackle the issues of politics and economics to implement various health programs as per the scientific requirement for health and well-being.S&P/TSX composite rises on morning of Christmas Eve, U.S. stock markets also upGatestone Institute senior fellow and author Gordon Chang says the United States is not prepared to face the challenge from China and urges the Trump administration to do so on Fox News Live. FIRST ON FOX: A top diplomat of the Chinese Communist Party , who recently replaced a controversial official with deep ties to top New York Democrats, recently touted his relationship with an American university president and former top education official in New Jersey. Chen Li, who assumed the role of consul general of the People’s Republic of China in New York last month, took to social media last week to praise the "warm hospitality" he received from Kean University President Lamont Repollet. "Absolutely overwhelmed by the warm hospitality from President Repollet. I truly felt at home on this campus," Li wrote on X . "The commitment to bilateral educational exchange and people to people connections is key to the success of Wenzhou-Kean University, a Chinese-American joint institution." Repollet, who served as New Jersey's commissioner of education under Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy for more than two years, was seen smiling in two of the photos that Li posted. According to Repollet's Kean University biography, he was in charge of "overseeing the shift to remote education amid the COVID-19 pandemic and playing a key role in planning for the 2020-2021 school year." DEM GOVERNOR REVEALS CCP OFFICIAL WITH DEEP TIES TO HER OFFICE 'NO LONGER' IN ROLE AMID FORMER AIDE'S ARREST China's New York Consul General Chen Li posing with Kean University's Lamont Repollet. (Chinese Consul General New York ) Despite Biden and Trump administration officials warning about the influence of the CCP, Repollet has developed deep ties to China dating back several years, a Fox News Digital review found. He most recently visited Beijing in October of this year to give a keynote speech at the Triennial Conference of the International Association of University Presidents, which was held in Beijing. Press releases from the conference emphasized how Repollet was passionate about equity in education and that his keynote speech highlighted how "AI is a revolutionary tool that can foster equity and transform how we engage with students and support their success." "AI has the power to help close achievement gaps and ensure that every student, no matter their challenges, has access to high-quality educational resources," he continued. "By offering personalized learning experiences, AI empowers historically marginalized students with the tools they need to succeed." Months earlier, Chinese state media amplified China President Xi Jinping's letter to Repollet, which was in response to a letter he sent to Xi, according to state media. CHINESE OFFICIAL WHO PRAISED CCP MAKES ANOTHER APPEARANCE AT TOP IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL: ‘HISTORIC CONNECTIONS’ Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during his inspection of the Western Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army on July 26, 2023. (Li Gang/Xinhua via Getty Images) "Recently, President Xi Jinping replied to a letter from Lamont Repollet, president of Kean University of the United States, encouraging Chinese and American universities to strengthen exchanges and cooperation and contribute to China-U.S. friendship," the Chinese government said in a press release. "Recalling witnessing the signing ceremony of the China-U.S. cooperation agreement on jointly establishing Wenzhou-Kean University in 2006 at Kean University, Xi Jinping said he is pleased to see that with the joint efforts of both sides, Wenzhou-Kean University has achieved remarkable results and become a landmark project in China-U.S. educational cooperation." "Xi expressed appreciation for what Repollet said in his letter about deepening cooperation with Wenzhou-Kean University and encouraging American students to come to China for exchange and study, and called on universities of the two countries to step up exchanges and cooperation through different modalities to cultivate young envoys who know both countries well, and build more bridges to promote China-U.S. friendship," the statement continued. President Xi Jinping meets the press following the China-Central Asia Summit in Xi'an, China, May 19, 2023. (Li Xueren/Xinhua via Getty Images) Additionally, a press release from Wenzhou-Kean University touted Repollet's "momentous" visit to China in April 2023. "Kean University President Lamont O. Repollet and his delegation embarked on a momentous visit to Wenzhou, marking the first visit in three years," the press release said. "This visit presented a unique opportunity to strengthen the interactions between the two universities, foster people-to-people exchanges between Zhejiang province and New Jersey in the United States, and enhance the long-standing friendship between the two countries." The press release said Repollet arrived in China on March 20, 2023, and he "wasted no time" meeting with Wenzhou Party Secretary Shuji Liu Xiaotao. "Mr. Liu Xiaotao expressed his hope that the two sides would continue to build a model of Sino-US cooperation in education and foster a bridge of friendly exchanges, with a bright future ahead for the university," the press release states. "President Repollet extended his heartfelt gratitude to the Wenzhou government for its unwavering support toward the construction and development of WKU." Xiaotao has been a member of the Chinese Communist Party since 1991 and has served in various roles over the last few decades. Additionally, a Chinese state media company held an event in New York City in September of this year that listed Repollet as a speaker where, according to a press release , he "emphasized the importance of cultural exchange and people-to-people diplomacy in fostering mutual understanding between nations." The slate of speakers included several Chinese officials, including Xie Feng, Chinese ambassador to the U.S., and Shen Haixiong, the deputy minister of the publicity department of the CPC Central Committee. Haixiong also serves as the head of the China Media Group, which is a crucial media conglomerate that plays a major role in the country's state media apparatus. While Repollet's ties to China have become stronger since he became the president of Kean University, his Facebook profile shows that he made multiple visits to China before he became the top administrator at Kean. For example, a 2016 Facebook post shows Repollet attending Wenzhou-Kean University's inaugural commencement in China as a member of the university's board of trustees. He attended the 2017 commencement in China also, according to another Facebook post. Prior to Chen Li taking over the top position in China's New York consulate, that position was held by Huang Ping, who has a long history of promoting CCP propaganda and calling the CCP a "great party," denying the alleged Uyghur genocide, and meeting with officials across the United States at universities, media companies and in elected office. Huang Ping meets with Pennsylvania state Sen. Sharif Street. (Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in New York) Huang Ping, the consul general of China’s New York Consulate (YouTube screenshot/Chinese Consulate General in New York) Repollet also has ties to Ping dating back to 2021, according to a press release from the New York Chinese consulate. Ping and Repollet met virtually in December 2021, where Ping congratulated him on his appointment at Kean University and commended "the university for setting a good example for China-U.S. educational cooperation by its 10-year successful campus in Wenzhou, China." "[Repollet] highly agrees that education cooperation plays a unique role in people-to-people exchange and in enhancing understanding and friendship between the Chinese and American people," the consulate's press release said. "[Repollet] confirms that the university highly values globalization and diversity, and firmly supports cooperation with China." Months earlier, Repollet recorded a video on behalf of the New York Chinese consulate celebrating "the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China." In the video, he touted his university's "strong ties" to China and said he was "immensely grateful to our Chinese partners and to the people at Kean USA who continues to work together to help this university and especially our students thrive." "I look forward to continuing to collaborate with our partners in China to further develop this great institution and to celebrate events like National Day In China together [and] well into the future," Repollet continued. A 2023 Facebook post also shows Repollet participating in an event marking the final day of the Chinese New Year, which featured Ping. Michael Sobolik, the author of "Countering China’s Great Game: A Strategy for American Dominance," sounded the alarm about this close relationship between Repollet and China, telling Fox News Digital this relationship is a "cautionary tale." "The university hosts a Human Rights Institute, but it makes no mention of Beijing's ongoing genocide of Uyghurs, its cultural genocide in Tibet, its political crackdown in Hong Kong, or its broader oppression of the Chinese people at home and abroad," Sobolik continued. "This is what happens when American universities partner with the Chinese Communist Party: money and market access incentivize Americans to ignore the party's atrocities and remain silent." China expert Michaele Sobolik said Kean University's relationship with China is a "cautionary tale." (Getty Images) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP China's New York consulate, which has previously toed the line on the CCP's narrative while responding to multiple Fox News Digital inquiries, dismissed Sobolik's analysis by calling him a "so-called ‘expert’" that "lacks a basic understanding of China." "The statements regarding Xinjiang, Xizang, Hong Kong, and human rights are factually incorrect and represent typical disinformation. We firmly opposes such slander and smear," the consulate continued. "Educational exchange and cooperation between China and the U.S. align with the laws and common interests of both sides, and are transparent and beyond reproach." "Kean University is known for promoting educational equity and inclusivity, and its cooperation with China will provide more learning and development opportunities for students of all ethnic backgrounds in the U.S.," the consulate added. "We urge some people in the U.S. to remove their ‘colored glasses,’ view the cooperation objectively and positively." Fox News Digital reached out to Kean University for comment, but did not receive a response. Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.

Late 3 point shot preserves Magic's 108-104 comeback win over CelticsA representative of the United States-backed faction in Syria's resurgent civil war has warned that the Islamic State militant group ( ISIS ) was poised to take advantage of the nationwide chaos brought on by a large-scale rebel offensive that has reversed years of government gains. The Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Turkey-backed Syrian National Army launched their surprise push last week and have since seized the country's second-largest city of Aleppo, Hama to the south, and appear to be closing in the strategically located Homs. Unrest has spread elsewhere in the country as well, with Syrian troops reportedly leaving their positions in the east and ISIS rapidly moving in. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which leads the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) with the support of United States troops, has mobilized to defend against both Turkey-backed rebels and ISIS on two fronts as the Syrian military's lines of control collapse. "The Syrian Democratic Forces are concerned about the social structure of the Syrian people in the areas controlled by the Authority and the factions supported by Turkey," Sinam Mohamad, the representative of the SDF-affiliated Syrian Democratic Council in Washington, told Newsweek . "This concern is also reflected in our areas." "The dramatic collapse of the regime forces creates a vacuum that will certainly be exploited by the Islamic State organization ISIS, which still poses a threat to the region as a whole," she said. The SDF and Syrian government, led by President Bashar al-Assad and backed by Iran and Russia, have alternatively clashed and allied with one another at times. Both sides view rebels and ISIS as a threat to their respective positions. They waged largely separate offensives to defeat ISIS after it seized large parts of the country a decade ago. While these campaigns largely dismantled ISIS' self-proclaimed caliphate, the group has retained militant cells in the country and thousands of fighters and families remain held in SDF-led prisons. ISIS has also stepped up attacks abroad in recent years, particularly through its Afghanistan-based Khorasan branch. In Syria, both Syrian troops and SDF forces have operated in the northeast alongside their respective allies. However, with Syrian troops appearing to abandon their positions adjacent to SDF-held territory amid the rebel offensive in the northwest, SDF spokesperson Farhad Shami announced Friday that the group had deployed fighters to secure the key eastern city of Deir Ezzor. "The developments taking place in our homeland, Syria, pose a threat to the security of our people and our Deir Ezzor region," Shami said in a statement. "In particular, Turkish occupation-backed mercenary groups and ISIS mercenaries are reactive in the Deir Ezzor desert." "Accordingly, in order to protect our people, our Deir Ezzor Military Council fighters were deployed in the Deir Ezzor city and west of the Euphrates River," he added. "Our primary objective is to protect our security and the security of our people. We are committed to fulfilling this historic mission to the fullest extent." The SDF had also attempted to secure defensive positions in majority-Kurdish areas of Aleppo, Tel Rifaat and al-Shibah, but rebels appear to have severed links between these regions and the AANES. At the same time, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's political wing, the Syrian Salvation Government, issued a statement last Saturday promising to guarantee the security of Kurdish communities. Still, large numbers of Kurdish people have evacuated toward SDF-held territory. Mohamad said the Syrian Democratic Council was aware of the rebels' vows to respect Syrian diversity but was also preparing for any outcome, including through close coordination with the U.S. "As for the other factions involved under the leadership of the Authority, we see and receive a promise for the sake of Syria for all, but we are waiting for words to turn into actions," Mohamad said. "We are ready for all scenarios, and certainly the safety of our people is at the top of our priorities," she continued. "As for Washington, it is aware of what is happening in Syria and the extent of the risks, and we have open channels with them regarding the issues of combating terrorism and terrorist organizations." She said that the SDF has opted to remain focused on the battle against ISIS. "The Syrian Democratic Forces have never fought or attacked any force in Syria except those terrorist organizations," Mohamad said. "The SDF has taken the position of defending the gains of the people in northeastern Syria and has closely monitored the latest situation in Syria. The SDF will not fight on behalf of anyone in order to achieve the political interests of others." The rebel advances mark the most dramatic shifts in years for Syria's civil war, which began in 2011 after anti-government protests and crackdowns by security forces devolved into armed conflict. Then, too, the Syrian government lost control of key cities and swathes of territory, only to reverse these losses later into the conflict. But the successive losses of Aleppo and Hama to insurgents and the imminent threat of losing Homs puts Assad in one of the most precarious positions throughout the 13-year conflict. An insurgent capture of Homs would leave Syria's western coastline, a stronghold of Assad's Alawite sect, isolated from the rest of the nation and allow the opposition forces to also push toward the government-held capital of Damascus to the south. Iran and factions of its Axis of Resistance coalition, particularly Iraq-based militias such as the Nujaba Movement, have pledged their support for Assad. Meanwhile, the Lebanese Hezbollah, long considered the most powerful Axis of Resistance faction that played a key role in past Syrian government offensives against rebels, is today reeling from a 14-month battle with Israel in connection with the ongoing war in Gaza. Assad's government has continued to express confidence in its ability to mount a counterattack against the rebels with the aid of its allies, including Russia, whose warplanes continue to strike insurgents. "Our valiant armed forces are carrying out a qualitative operation towards Dar al-Kabira - Talbiseh - Rastan in the northern countryside of Homs, with cover from the joint Syrian-Russian aircraft, artillery, missiles and armored forces, eliminating dozens of terrorists amidst a state of panic, confusion and mass flight in their ranks, and destroying a large number of their vehicles, equipment and weapons," the Syrian Defense Ministry in a statement said Friday. Omar Rahmoun, the spokesperson for Syria's National Reconciliation Committee, said that Moscow and Tehran remained committed to the Syrian government's defense. "The position of Russia and Iran for fourteen years and until now is a fixed position in standing by the Syrian state and supporting it against the Takfiri groups," Rahmoun told Newsweek , referring to Sunni Islamists who consider other sects of Islam such as Alawites and other Shiite Muslims to be apostates. "Both countries confirmed their position in support of Syria," he added, "especially in light of the recent developments." Rahmoun also said that the Syrian government has received "Arab support" as well in light of recent calls between Assad and the heads of Iraq and the United Arab Emirates. As for Turkey and the U.S., he argued that both nations "have a major role in arming and supporting the opposition, especially in the recent attack." "Turkish support for the factions is clear, even if Turkey denies it because Turkey has ambitions in Syrian territory," Rahmoun said. "It seeks to achieve its goals under the banner of supporting the opposition. Certainly, the recent attack will make the solution difficult, complicate matters, and reduce the chances of a political solution." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly criticized the U.S. for its support of the SDF, which Ankara considers to be an offshoot of the militant Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK). Turkish forces and partnered rebel groups such as the Syrian National Army have conducted attacks against SDF positions throughout the war. The U.S., which is allied to Turkey through NATO , has occasionally condemned such attacks but has largely directed its operations against ISIS and Iran-backed militias that have stepped up rocket and drone attacks against U.S. positions in Iraq and Syria throughout the conflict in Gaza. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Tuesday that it had conducted strikes against weapons systems after a rocket attack against U.S. troops at a position in eastern Syria. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Pentagon press secretary Air Force Major General Pat Ryder asserted that defeating ISIS remained the goal of the U.S. deployment in Syria and its partnership with the SDF. "Our forces are in Syria to conduct a counter-ISIS operation, right, the enduring defeat of ISIS. They have partnered with the SDF on those missions," Ryder said. "Certainly, they communicate with the SDF on a frequent basis, as partners do. But our forces in that region were threatened. We took action to mitigate that threat and will do so again." He asserted that the U.S. had "no role" in the situation in northwestern Syria and also did not actively coordinate with the SDF on its seizure of government-held positions in the east, where he said he was so far unaware of any "significant" ISIS operations. "Our forces are in Syria to conduct the enduring defeat of ISIS mission," Ryder said. "We're doing that in partnership with the SDF. And I'm just going to leave it there."

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A lopsided, shutout loss has left the beat-up New Orleans Saints limping into the final two games of a lost season — and into a rather cloudy future beyond that. Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi figured that a visit to playoff-bound Green Bay would be a tall order for his injury-riddled squad, whose prominent missing players included starters at quarterback, running back and receiver. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

UAAGI Chief Marketing Executive Lyn Buena says Lynk & Co is targeting a growing middle class Interview by Kap Maceda Aguila WHEN IT was formally launched in the Philippines last April at the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS), Lynk & Co (distributed by United Asia Automotive Group, Inc. or UAAGI) wanted to change the average car buyer’s notion that China-headquartered car marques are known for delivering value for money and hardly anything else — certainly not the characteristics associated with more premium brands. Lynk & Co leverages its affinity with the Volvo and Geely brands, being a joint venture of both. For one thing, Lynk & Co vehicles “are designed and built using advanced architectural platforms such as CMA, SEA, and BMA. These platforms allow for model scalability and adaptability in light of new energy solutions, such as translation of Lynk & Co’s designs to accommodate new electric vehicle technologies,” according to a company release. “(It is a) premium, global vehicle (brand) that ticks all the right boxes in terms of design aesthetic, safety, and modern connectivity,” UAAGI Group Managing Director and Lynk & Co Philippines Brand Head Froilan Dytianquin had said during the Lynk & Co preview ahead of the MIAS launch. Meanwhile, UAAGI Chairman Rommel Sytin said that the brand “not only elevates UAAGI’s entire auto brand portfolio, but also allows us to cater to a wider audience of Filipino motorists and their discerning tastes and preferences.” We caught up with UAAGI Chief Marketing Executive Lyn Manalansang-Buena on the sidelines of the inauguration of Lynk & Co’s fourth operational dealership — this one located along Quezon Avenue. Paramount Cars, Inc. President Jessica Lee-Sy had noted in her speech that the country today boasts 21 Chinese car brands, with more poised to enter the market. We asked Mrs. Manalansang-Buena how Lynk & Co intends to stand out in this crush of competitors, and more. Here are excerpts from our interview: VELOCITY: How do you see the industry shaping up, and how does Lynk & Co position itself differently from the other Chinese brands that are out there? What particular segment of the buying market are you eyeing? LYN MANALANSANG-BUENA : I agree it’s a crowded marketplace now, but at the end of the day, I think it has a lot to do with the product that you offer. We’re very fortunate because Lynk & Co, in cooperation with its mother company Geely, has produced very premium cars. Because of a rising middle class, a lot of people are going to want cars that are more rewarding — not just a basic tool that can get you from point A to point B. That’s exactly what Lynk & Co offers, something that will make you feel good about your purchase — (providing) an environment that you’re happy with. It’s something that I feel is a significant proposition for a new breed of middle-class workers in the Philippines. There’s a lot of discovery about brands that are not as known but offer good technology, premium environment, and safety. I think that’s a very strong proposition in terms of our lineup in Lynk & Co. What’s the timeline for growing the network? We have two dealerships that will open by the first half of next year, and our plan is to have eight open showrooms by the end of 2025, conservatively. We have partners north and south of NCR. That’s the plan: To have more presence in very specific areas where we feel the market is ready for a brand like Lynk & Co. You’re planning to release electrified options as well. Are seeing you an uptick in demand from your customers and the industry in general for electrified powertrains? Because of the distinct profile of the Lynk & Co audience, I think they’re one of the first adopters. They’re among the first to embrace new things, new technologies — so long as it makes sense, because they’re also very discerning. As long as we can make sense of that, the infrastructure is ready, the technology and after-sales are supported which is what we have in UAAGI — because UAAGI is very well known for its exceptional after-sales services across our four brands — I think yes, we are doing those steps. We are being cautiously optimistic, but we’re reading the market very well because it evolves fast. We want to make very calculated, smart moves whenever we choose a product to introduce.

'Same Same, But Different': Fans spot similarities between PV Sindhu-Venkata Sai and Naga Chaitanya-Sobhita's wedding moments [PICS]

A new ‘barcade’ in the heart of the Exchange District is hoping to be a successful launch title for a new generation of players. "Even the way that the space is set up, where you are almost choosing your own adventure, you're exploring the space, you're discovering new things each time in very much the same way that you would explore a video game,” said Adam Bumbolo, Co-owner of Fireside Design-Build. Ahead of an anticipated opening in January, walking into Select Start brings people to a place where 1980s sci-fi pop culture meets Japanese influences. “The shock and awe of the whole space, it's so amazing; it's so dense,” said Tyler Davies, lead designer at Fireside Design-Build. “I can't wait for people to be able to take this all in themselves.” Here is a look at a motorized art installation engineered by the Fireside Design-Build team patrons will see once they enter Select Start, taken on Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. (Joseph Bernacki/CTV News Winnipeg) Bumbolo’s interior design team is nearing their final level of work after transforming this 8,000-square-foot space. “There's little nods and Easter eggs all through the space,” said Jaclyn Wiebe, co-owner of Fireside Design-Build. “I think that's where we got really excited to make this space something that you can't just discover in one visit.” Many pieces of art inside the space were designed as homage and a love letter to the video game giant Nintendo, which was founded as a Japanese playing card company in 1889. “When you walk into the space, there is a neon sign that says ‘Leave luck to Heaven,’” Bumbolo said. “That is the translation of Nintendo into English.” While ‘Leave Luck to Heaven’ is commonly assumed to be the translation, there has yet to be a historical validation for the company’s English translation that turned 135 years old in September. Mel McManus is part of the ownership group for Select Start. He was inspired to open a business in the Exchange District after seeing a similar concept in downtown Nashville. 'These games are a conversation starter' McManus spent hours playing Nintendo’s Super Punch-Out!! at the former Magicland Arcade on Portage Ave. as a teen. He and his friends bought into what they believe will be a venue with multi-generational appeal. “Someone in their early twenties is going to love the feeling they get from this place,” McManus said. “These games are a conversation starter.” Mel McManus, co-owner of Select Start said he spent countless hours in the 1980s playing Nintendo’s Super Punch Out!! arcade machine. Here is a look at the 1983 game on display inside Select Start on Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. (Joseph Bernacki/CTV News Winnipeg) Phantom Amusement at The Forks sees that nostalgic appeal daily with players young and old remarking on the games they offer. “Oh, I remember playing this game as a kid, or maybe they have their kids with them, and then they tell their kids about the games that they used to play as kids and get their kids involved in it,” said David Morris, founder of the Manitoba Pinball League. “It's just a circle of fun that we really love to be a part of here.” Mark Jaslowski, owner of Phantom Amusement, said nowadays many older arcade machines can be restored to their original look and play, something that would have been less likely years ago. “There's a lot of suppliers of parts; parts are being remanufactured so you can relive your childhood and a lot of games,” Jaslowski said. “A lot of times when the games were made, they weren't really going to be around forever. The operators, you know, you own them for a few years, you sell them, flip them. A lot of things have now changed in the hobby. The games are every bit as fun as they used to be. You don't forget that.” Davies did not get to experience the golden age of the arcade. That did not stop his creative design plans for the space. His admiration of early 1980s technology and sci-fi movies from the era led him to a design coined ‘vaporwave.’ “Vaporwave distilled down to its most basic form is an aesthetic movement that came about sort of in the early 2010s, tapping into a lot of nostalgia for early technology, the early Apple computers, a lot of Japanese influences, but also a lot of Romanesque influences,” Davies said. Beginning with a blank slate, Davies had a lot of room to work with. He paired Japanese and American cultures together for a postmodern look, hoping to attract new generations. “I didn't get to live through this era, but to be able to live vicariously through creating this space,” Davies said. “I'm a dork. I'm a nerd. I love digging into stuff. I love being able to live in a space that I didn't necessarily get to enjoy.” Tyler Davies (left), Jaclyn Wiebe (middle), and Adam Bumbolo (right) from Fireside Design-Build have spent countless hours designing the interior of Select Start. Here is the team ahead of opening on Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. (Joseph Bernacki/CTV News Winnipeg) Select Start’s ownership group hired Bumbolo’s team five years ago to begin working on this ambitious project. Like McManus, Bumbolo saw potential to develop a unique space based on business models he toured in Toronto and Chicago. 'You begin to completely buy into the fantasy that you are in a high-rise in downtown Tokyo' “The slight difference for us is that we wanted to prioritize the social aspect, not just on video games,” Bumbolo said. “We wanted to make sure that this was a bar and a restaurant and a gathering space. The arcade is definitely the liveliness and the heart of the space, but we really wanted to be able to create a space for Winnipeg to gather, socialize, and come together.” After years of working in the same building, Bumbolo said the illuminated cityscapes that are designed on many of the walls in Select Start lend themselves to creating a space that is unlike what The Exchange District has seen before. “After about an hour's worth of time in this room, even for us who have been in here for years, you begin to forget that you're actually in Winnipeg,” Bumbolo said as he laughed. “You begin to completely buy into the fantasy that you are in a high-rise in downtown Tokyo.” The group is hopeful people will be able to enjoy the celebration of nostalgia and futurism in the New Year.29 Pet Products That I Honestly Believe Were Invented By Geniuses

MadamLead/iStock via Getty Images Today, we put Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ( NASDAQ: RYTM ) in the spotlight for the first time since the early summer of 2023 . The stock has made a nice move up recently. The company also has several key Live Chat on The Biotech Forum has been dominated by discussion of lucrative buy-write or covered call opportunities on selected biotech stocks over the past several months. To see what I and the other season biotech investors are targeting as trading ideas real-time, just join our community at The Biotech Forum by clicking HERE . Bret Jensen has over 13 years as a market analyst, helping investors find big winners in the biotech sector. Bret specializes in high beta sectors with potentially large investor returns. Bret leads the investing group The Biotech Forum , in which he and his team offer a model portfolio with their favorite 12-20 high upside biotech stocks, live chat to discuss trade ideas, and weekly research and option trades. The group also provides market commentary and a portfolio update every weekend. Learn More . Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.How Taiwan’s Authoritarian Past Shapes Its Security Politics Today

Stocks closed higher on Wall Street ahead of the Christmas holiday, led by gains in Big Tech stocks. The S&P 500 added 1.1% Tuesday. Trading closed early ahead of the holiday. Tech companies including Apple, Amazon and chip company Broadcom helped pull the market higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.3%. American Airlines shook off an early loss and ended mostly higher after the airline briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical issue. Treasury yields held steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury was little changed at 4.59% THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. Tech companies led a broad rally for U.S. stocks Tuesday, a boost for the market in a holiday-shortened trading session. The S&P 500 rose 0.8% in midday trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 273 points, or 0.6%, as of 12:18 p.m. Eastern time. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite was up 1%. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.9%, while semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, rose 0.8%. Super Micro Computer jumped 5.8%. Tesla climbed 5.1%, one of the biggest gains among S&P 500 stocks. Amazon.com rose 1.6% American Airlines slipped 0.1% after the airline briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical issue. U.S. Steel rose 1.1% a day after an influential government panel failed to reach consensus on the possible national security risks of the nearly $15 billion proposed sale to Nippon Steel of Japan. NeueHealth surged 68.9% after the health care company agreed to be taken private in a deal valued at roughly $1.3 billion. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.61% from 4.59% late Monday. European markets were mostly higher. Markets in Asia mostly gained ground. U.S. markets will close at 1 p.m. Eastern and stay closed Wednesday for Christmas. Wall Street has several economic reports to look forward to this week, including a weekly update on unemployment benefits on Thursday. Tuesday’s rally comes as the stock market enters what’s historically been a very cheerful season. The last five trading days of each year, plus the first two in the new year, have brought an average gain of 1.3% since 1950. The so-called “Santa rally” also correlates closely with positive returns in January and the upcoming year. So far this month, the U.S. stock market has lost some of its gains since President-elect Donald Trump’s win on Election Day, which raised hopes for faster economic growth and more lax regulations that would boost corporate profits. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Even so, the stock market remains on pace to deliver strong returns for 2024. The benchmark S&P 500 is up about 26% so far this year and remains within roughly 1.3% of the all-time high it set earlier this month — its latest of 57 record highs this year. Alex Veiga, The Associated PressArticle content ATLANTA — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023, spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the centre said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia. pic.twitter.com/aqYmcE9tXi Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. A president from Plains A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential centre where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 “White House Diary” that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. President Jimmy Carter’s leadership, intellect, and moral example ennobled our country, during and ever since his presidency. And then, the world Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the centre began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors. He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the centre’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” ‘An epic American life’ Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners. He acknowledged America’s historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. “I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,” Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. “He was not a great president” but also not the “hapless and weak” caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was “good and productive” and “delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.” Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton’s secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat’s forward that Carter was “consequential and successful” and expressed hope that “perceptions will continue to evolve” about his presidency. “Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,” said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for “an epic American life” spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. “He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,” Alter told The Associated Press. A small-town start James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter’s political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery’s tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian, would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it “inconceivable” not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. “My wife is much more political,” Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn’t long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox _ and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist “Dixiecrats” as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as “Cufflinks Carl.” Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. ‘Jimmy Who?’ His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader’s home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats’ national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: “Jimmy Who?” The Carters and a “Peanut Brigade” of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter’s ability to navigate America’s complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared “born-again Christian,” Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC’s new “Saturday Night Live” show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter “Fritz” Mondale as his running mate on a “Grits and Fritz” ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady’s office. Mondale’s governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname “Jimmy” even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band’s “Hail to the Chief.” They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington’s social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that “he hated politics,” according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Accomplishments, and ‘malaise’ Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation’s second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon’s opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn’t immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his “malaise” speech, although he didn’t use that word. He declared the nation was suffering “a crisis of confidence.” By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he’d “kick his ass,” but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with “make America great again” appeals and asking voters whether they were “better off than you were four years ago.” Reagan further capitalized on Carter’s lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: “There you go again.” Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages’ freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. ‘A wonderful life’ At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with “no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.” Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. “I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,” Carter told the AP in 2021. “But it’s turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.” Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said in 2015. “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” — Former Associated Press journalist Alex Sanz contributed to this report.

The story of Jesus did not begin with his birth in Bethlehem, but rather with the Easter experience. Jesus was put to death on Saturday (Sabath) evening. On Sunday morning (the first day of the week), the disciples went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body according to the Jewish custom. However, they did not find his body. An angel told them, ‘He is not here; he has risen. Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee: that the Son of man was destined to be handed over into the power of sinful men and be crucified, and rise again on the third day.’ Jesus’ resurrection was not only about the resuscitation of his physical body but it was also about how his Spirit now rises and lives in the lives of his disciples and the early Christian community. The early Christian community experienced in Jesus liberation, life and hope. They experienced Jesus as the Christ, the anointed one, the messiah, and Son of God. In Jesus they found life that was worth living and dying for. The Easter experience charged them with a mission to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. Thus the Easter experience saw the beginnings of the Jesus story. From the empty tomb to the manger The story of Jesus was first proclaimed orally. The message was simply that Jesus who was crucified and died is now risen. He is the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God. As the authors of the four gospels, Mathew, Mark, Luke and John began to write about the life, teachings, and his ministry they began to include the earlier parts of the life, particularly his ancestral origins and birth. Only Mathew and Luke’s Gospels record the story of the birth of Jesus and they are the primary sources of the story of the birth of Jesus. Mathew’s gospel Mathew presents Jesus’ genealogy making him a descendant of Abraham and David. The genealogy locates Jesus in the Jewish Salvation history. As expected of a patriarchal society, Mathew lists the men who were part Jesus’ genealogy. Surprising, the genealogy records four women (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba) who were known to be sexually scandalous. These women also played an important role in Jesus’ genealogy and God’s plan. Mary, the mother of Jesus also gave birth in an extraordinary circumstance. The inclusion of these women shows that God works even in the crooked and messy lines of human history. The genealogy presentation format changes when Mathew introduces Joseph. Rather than introducing Joseph as the father of Jesus, Mathew introduces Joseph as the husband of Mary of whom Jesus Christ-the Messiah was born. Joseph is of the house of David. In Mathew’s gospel, the angel appears to Joseph instructing him to take Mary as his wife. Mathew makes an important point about Jesus’ identity, namely that he is Son of David as well as Son of God. Luke’s gospel Luke does not record the genealogy of Jesus; instead, he begins with the Angel appearing to Zechariah to announce the birth of John the Baptist. Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth are in their old age and they longed to have a child. John’s birth follows the story of some old couples in the Old Testament who conceived a child in their old age. In the Book of Genesis God promises to Abraham and Sarah that they will have child. In the Book of the Prophets (1 Samuel) tells the story of another old couple Elkanah and Hannah who give birth to Samuel. The two books, Genesis and the Prophets represent the Jewish bible. The birth of John prepares the time of Christ. Birth of John links the three era in Judeo-Christian faith: Law, Prophets, and the time of Jesus. The four gospels all write about John the Baptist because he has an important role in God’s plan. John’s gospel John’s gospel totally omitted the story of the birth of Jesus. Instead, he moves the Jesus story beyond the Judaism history of salvation to include the history of creation. “In the beginning with was the Word: The Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” John locates Jesus Christ with God before creation came into being. Jesus the Christ, the Word was in the beginning with God. Jesus the Christ-Word existed before the Jesus of Nazareth. Message of the story of the birth of Jesus The four gospels have a common intention, to show the relevancy of Jesus to the whole of world history. God is at work from the beginning of creation; Jewish salvation history; the time of Jesus and the future. Christmas therefore remembers, celebrates and reminds us that God has been working right from the beginning of the universe, in human history and will guide the future through Jesus Christ. Christmas calls us to work with God for liberation, justice, peace and love. Christmas calls us to read the signs of the times and to interpret them in the light of the gospels. Today Fiji faces challenges from drugs, past and present political traumas, domestic violence, impacts of climate change and globalisation and other social issues. May this Christmas inspire us to reflect and participate in God’s plan, even in the darkest moments of our history. May you have the peace and joy of Christmas Father Christmas poses for a photo with children outs TappooCity in Suva. Picture: ANASEINI DIMATE Families enjoys the sight of the Christmas tree at Damodar City in Suva. Picture: LITIA RATOVAFORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CorVel Corporation (NASDAQ: CRVL) today announced the effectiveness of a three-for-one forward stock split, along with a proportionate increase in the number of authorized shares of its common stock to accommodate the stock split. The Company filed an amendment to its Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effect the stock split and proportionate increase in the number of authorized shares of its common stock. The amendment will be effective on December 24, 2024. As a result of the stock split, every one share of common stock outstanding or held in treasury on December 23, 2024, the record date for the stock split, was split into three shares of common stock. The additional shares of common stock are expected to be distributed on December 24, 2024. Trading is expected to begin on a post-stock split adjusted basis at market open on December 26, 2024. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This Press Release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which statements are subject to considerable risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include all statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this Press Release, including statements regarding the timing of the distribution of the additional shares and the timing of trading on a post-stock split basis. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed, assumed, or implied by the forward-looking statements. Some of the risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to materially differ from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements are described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, as well as in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement made in this press release is based only on information currently available to the Company and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by applicable law or the listing rules of the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, whether to conform such statements to actual results or changes in expectations, or as a result of the availability of new information.

A potentially botched traffic stop by three Billings Police officers has led to more than 170 criminal cases investigated by the officers being reviewed, with several felony cases already dismissed. In May 2023, three officers responding to a traffic stop obtained consent from the driver to search the vehicle by what the Yellowstone County Attorney’s Office deemed deceptive means. Starting in October of this year, the county attorney’s office has compiled a list of criminal cases investigated by the three officers and is asking defense attorneys to review those cases for any potential misconduct. “My attorneys are going to get together with defense attorneys,” Yellowstone County Attorney Scott Twito said Friday, “and we’re going to figure out how this issue involving these officers will impact their cases. That’s my constitutional obligation.” The three officers have been placed on leave pending an internal investigation, said Billings Police Chief Rich St. John. In that May 1, 2023, traffic stop, Billings Police Officers Matthew Bistline, Ian Busta and Blaine Lane responded, according to a letter issued by Twito on Wednesday. Although verbal consent seemed to have been given to search the vehicle, one conversation recorded on the officers’ body cameras “appeared to focus on obtaining written consent of the driver through a deceptive manner,” Twito wrote. During that conversation, two of those officers either removed or shut off their body cameras. “Because of these circumstances, it is possible that in this case, the written consent was obtained by deceptive means,” Twito wrote. Tyler Dugger, a defense attorney based in Billings, represented the woman stopped by the three officers. She was charged with criminal possession of dangerous drugs and her case was weeks away from trial when she told Dugger there may have been misconduct on the responding officers' part. Although Dugger declined to share specific details he found from reviewing body camera footage of the stop, he said he found some elements of the officers' behavior to be "concerning" and "problematic." Dugger disclosed his findings to the prosecutor and the case was subsequently dismissed. Starting in October, the Yellowstone County Attorney’s Office launched a massive investigation into all active criminal cases involving the three officers. The north side of the Yellowstone County District Courthouse is seen on Friday. Not long after Twito’s office became aware of the details revealed in the traffic stop in late October, he made identifying all cases in which the three officers played a role a priority, he said. “It was an added extra obligation,” he said, “but it’s an important obligation.” The intent of the letter, Twito told the Gazette, is to notify defense attorneys their clients may potentially be impacted, and to invite those attorneys to review those cases. “Being a police officer is a tough job,” Billings attorney Joe Zavatsky said, “but we have to hold them to high standards because that is the government, and when the government is treating individuals unfairly that is not good.” Zavatsky, with Alpine Law, is representing two clients whose cases have been flagged by the Yellowstone County Attorney’s Office for review. In the moment after an officer asks for consent to search a vehicle, Zavatsky said, a million things can be going through a person’s mind, regardless of whether or not they have anything illegal in their vehicle. Even if a driver says, “no,” Zavatsky explained, an officer can seize their vehicle pending a search warrant. “You’re in such a hard spot right there to make a decision,” he said, “and if an officer is not being forthright in how they’re explaining that, then it tips the scales in an unjust and unfair way.” with his letter, Twito included a list of all active cases currently under review, and is asking defense attorneys to inform their clients and discuss case resolutions with prosecutors. In total, the YCAO has identified 178 potentially compromised criminal cases. Those active cases date back to 2021, and include men and woman accused of murder, rape and assault. The majority of those cases are in the pretrial stage of resolution. Zavatsky said he received the announcement of the investigation, along with the list of impacted cases on Wednesday. The two cases in which he’s named as a defense attorney, he said, will likely not be impacted. In the case of Panda Emily Aradia, BPD Officer Lane shot Aradia after she brought a loaded handgun into the Billings Clinic and threatened staff. The shooting was captured on camera, Zavatsky said, and as such will not impede the appeal filed on Aradia’s behalf to the Montana Supreme Court. The second client represented by Zavatsky on the list, Jane Nicole Knowshisgun, recently reached a plea agreement with county prosecutors in which she admitted to tampering with evidence in a homicide case. Her case will also likely not be impacted, Zavatsky said. Although Zavatsky has not gone through each case named by the YCAO, he said the role of the three officers will probably be more limited in the serious cases, like the nine murder cases. For homicide cases in particular, he said, BPD detectives perform most of the investigation, and none of the three officers were part of the BPD Investigations Division. Dugger commended county prosecutors and BPD for their proactive response. In the weeks leading up to the letter from Twito, Dugger said he's represented several clients whose cases have been dismissed, and estimated that roughly a third of his 10 active criminal cases mentioned in the list probably will be impacted. Bistline, Lane and Busta have all been disciplined over the past four years for violating BPD policy, according to disciplinary records obtained by the Gazette. Those policy violations have included reaching excessive speeds during pursuits, violating the department’s policy regarding gathering and preserving evidence and violating the BPD’s ethical standards in use of social media. Most of those violations resulted in those officers receiving oral or written warnings. Bistline, who joined BPD in the summer of 2021, has been disciplined five times for violating BPD policy, according to data from the department. Prior to moving to Billings, he was a deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. In March 2020, he was The investigation concluded the shooting was not unlawful. Two years into his service as a BPD officer, Bistline received the Officer of the Year Award from the Montana Association of Chiefs of Police at ceremony in which Gov. Greg Gianforte was present. Bistline was also one of seven enforcement officers in May 2022. Last month, a coroner’s jury concluded that the Gazette previously reported. Officer Lane, another one of the first responders who shot Yellowtail when he drew a toy pistol on police, has been disciplined by the department five times in the past four years. In those four years, Lane has been reprimanded for improper use and care of a police vehicle and violating the department’s code of conduct in his use of social media. Busta has faced five disciplinary actions in the past four years for his conduct as an officer. In 2023, he received an oral warning for violating the department’s video recording policy, and earlier this year he was required to undergo “education base discipline” for violating BPD’s policy regarding emergency responses and police pursuits. In an email to the Gazette, Chief St. John confirmed that the three officers were the subject of an internal investigation focusing on any potential misconduct. "Although no disposition has been determined," St. John said, "the seriousness of the allegation and potential negative effect on criminal justice processes required I put them on leave out of an abundance of caution. More information will be available when the investigation and administrative process are complete." Situations in which the YCAO has to undergo a massive evaluation of its caseload are rare, Twito said, but they do happen, such as in 2018 The technician was fired, and the thefts jeopardized dozens of criminal cases. Working with all of the people who encompass the criminal justice system in Billings, Twito said, there’s always the potential for similar scenarios. “This is a process that’s rare,” he said, “but we’ve gone through it before.” “What I can say is we need to let that process unfold.” Now that prosecutors have combed through their caseload to best of their abilities, Dugger said, it is now the job of defense attorneys to review their own cases to confirm which, if any, will be affected. The cases likely to be impacted the most, he said, are those in which Bistline, Lane and Busta served as the primary investigators. As such, it is more than likely Billings Municipal Court will have a larger number of impacted cases. The City Attorney's Office did not immediately respond for comment. "The next step," Dugger said, "and the open question right now is potential action in closed cases." Get local news delivered to your inbox! {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.Governor Seyi Makinde has acknowledged plans to inaugurate a Sharia Court in Oyo State but insists the initiative must comply with the Nigerian Constitution. The move, set to be inaugurated by the Supreme Council of Shari’ah in Nigeria on January 11, 2025, has drawn criticism from Southwest youths Makinde reiterated his commitment to upholding the law, emphasizing that any initiative violating constitutional provisions would face opposition CHECK OUT: Education is Your Right! Don’t Let Social Norms Hold You Back. Learn Online with LEGIT. Enroll Now! Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has acknowledged plans to inaugurate a Sharia Court in the state. However, the governor emphasized that such a move must comply with the Nigerian Constitution. As reported by The Guardian, the Supreme Council of Shari’ah in Nigeria (Oyo State chapter), will inaugurate the court by January 11, 2025. This development has sparked mixed reactions, with some Southwest youths opposing the initiative, citing concerns about extremism and questioning its benefits for the region. Read also "Switch off the light": Tinubu urges Nigerians to learn how to manage electricity bill, video trends PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app! In a video shared by his Senior Special Assistant on New Media, Olorundare Olamide Wilson, Makinde clarified his stance. He stressed that while he respects citizens' rights to advocate for initiatives, any attempt to establish a Sharia Court must align with the law. “I said that people may try, but for me, the law and Constitution of Nigeria are what I’m sworn to. If they are within the law, fine. But if they are not, they should expect that I will insist that the law must be followed,” Makinde stated. Southwest youths have voiced concerns over the potential inauguration, arguing that Sharia law has not significantly benefited northern states that practice it. They called for investments in education and economic development instead of religious courts, The Punch reported. The event's legality remains a key issue, with Makinde reiterating his commitment to upholding constitutional provisions. Read also Christmas: Christians warned against pilgrimage to Israel, major reasons emerge PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: Legit.ng