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The Golden Knights will be down two key players Monday against the Philadelphia Flyers. Defenseman Zach Whitecloud is day-to-day with an upper-body injury and will miss his first game of the season, while center William Karlsson is out due to personal reasons. Karlsson and his wife Emily are expecting their second child. Brett Howden will move to third-line center in Karlsson’s place and skate with left wing Tanner Pearson and right wing Pavel Dorofeyev. Left wing Mason Morelli will make his season debut. Robert Hagg will replace Whitecloud on the third defense pair and skate with Nic Hague. Whitecloud’s injury puts the Knights down three defensemen. Alex Pietrangelo is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, while Ben Hutton is week-to-week with an upper-body injury. This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.Kohl's Announces CEO Transition ProcessThunderbird Entertainment Group Announces Completion of Annual Grant of RSUs and PSUs to Board of Directors and Executive Management and Renegotiated CEO Compensation

Dec 11 (Reuters) - Photoshop maker Adobe (ADBE.O) , opens new tab forecast fiscal 2025 revenue below Wall Street estimates on Wednesday, suggesting the company's investments to weave AI into its software applications were taking longer than expected to bear fruit. Shares of the San Jose, California-based company fell nearly 9% in extended trading. The company forecast annual revenue for 2025 between $23.30 billion and $23.55 billion, compared with estimates of $23.78 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. Adobe is making significant investments in AI-driven image and video generation technologies in response to the growing competition from well-capitalized startups such as Stability AI and Midjourney. Although Adobe projected strong growth for the second half of the year in June, its forecast on Wednesday indicated the company was still struggling to monetize its AI push. "While the market's initial fears about AI disruption have subsided, Adobe's continued lack of AI monetization makes it increasingly difficult to pick them as a clear AI winner," said Charlie Miner, analyst at Third Bridge. The company's advancements into video-generation technology put it head-to-head with ChatGPT maker OpenAI, which boasts its own model, Sora. Adobe expects foreign exchange volatility and its shift towards subscriptions to cut into its fiscal 2025 revenue by about $200 million. However, DA Davidson analyst Gil Luria said the company is well-positioned to benefit from a return of enterprise spending, including from AI. "Adobe's image and video AI generation capabilities are getting broad adoption, which should continue to grow as the models get better," Luria said. Last month, the company added software tools that let customers use AI to create images based on Adobe's library of stock images. It forecast first-quarter revenue between $5.63 billion and $5.68 billion, which fell short of estimates of $5.73 billion. Adobe's fourth-quarter revenue rose 11% to $5.61 billion from a year ago, beating market expectations of $5.54 billion. On an adjusted basis, the company earned $4.81 per share, compared with estimates of $4.66. Sign up here. Reporting by Kritika Lamba and Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri and Shreya Biswas Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tabSAY the name JK Rowling and be ready to take cover as sanctimonious snowflakes screech hate about her views on transgender people. But attempts by leftie woke warriors to cancel the Harry Potter author have failed, with news she will definitely play a key role in a £1.6billion, ten-year TV adaptation of her books about the boy wizard. Advertisement 10 JK Rowling has not let the woke army distract her, with news she will definitely play a key role in a £1.6billion, ten-year TV adaptation of her books about the boy wizard Credit: Getty 10 Daniel Radcliffe Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, stars of the Harry Potter movie franchise, have previously slammed her comments on transgender rights Credit: Alamy 10 The Harry Potter author commenting on double rapist 'Isla Bryson' who wanted to be sent to a women's prison Credit: Twitter/JK Rowling Furious trans activists had complained about Rowling being an executive producer on the show, which is being made in Britain for American TV channel HBO’s streaming service Max. Rowling has previously come under fire for claiming the “trans women are women” mantra is “idiotic”, and for campaigning to preserve safe spaces and women’s toilets for biological females only. JK Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement. HBO But she denies being transphobic — and now excitement about the new TV project has drowned out calls for a boycott of her participation. At the weekend, HBO said: “We are proud to once again tell the story of Harry Potter — the heartwarming books that speak to the power of friendship, resolve and acceptance. Advertisement READ MORE ON JK ROWLING LORDS SNUB JK Rowling says she's turned down peerage TWICE after call for her to join Lords “JK Rowling has a right to express her personal views. “We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement.” The announcement has quietened those who have lined up to deny the 59-year-old her views on transgender questions. Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, stars of the Harry Potter movie franchise, have previously slammed her comments on transgender rights. Advertisement Most read in News TV BALLSED UP Lorraine apologises on air for using phrase she 'didn't know' was a swear word BEACH BABE Jean Johansson flaunts incredible toned figure & endless legs on Barbados beach HOST'S PAIN BBC's Glenn Campbell makes shock admission as he gives tumour battle update COMIC'S CASTLE Still Game star takes £150,000 hit to offload luxury £4m Scots castle Casting open to public But Daniel, who played Harry, and Rupert, famed as Potter’s pal Ron Weasley at wizard school Hogwarts, have now both said they are looking forward to HBO bringing back the characters they played in eight films. And well they might — the TV series, which promises to “dive deep into each one of the iconic books” is a seriously big deal. Neville Longbottom delivers an emotional speech Thousands of children have auditioned to play Harry, Ron and their friend Hermione Granger — portrayed in the films by Emma Watson — ahead of the expected start of filming in the spring . Meanwhile, Gary Oldman , who played wizard Sirius Black in the movies, has put his hat in the ring for future projects, saying, “Maybe in a few years I can play [Hogwarts headmaster] Dumbledore”. Advertisement His former fellow cast members, including Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes and Jim Broadbent , have all defended Rowling’s right to express her opinions. If there’s a better hill to die on than the rights and safety of women and children, I’ve never found it. JK Rowling These public displays of support for the writer reflect a shift in Holly-wood, which appears to be tiring of political correctness, which has proven to be a turn-off at the box office. Four years ago when Rowling mocked “people who menstruate” as a term to describe “women”, she faced a huge backlash from stars including Emma Watson. But rather than be cowed by the criticism, JK has continued to stand up for her beliefs. Advertisement Last week she posted defiantly: “If there’s a better hill to die on than the rights and safety of women and children, I’ve never found it.” The appeal of the story of orphan schoolboy Harry who discovers he has magical powers appears to be just as strong as ever. Since the first novel was published in 1997, and followed by six sequels, more than 600million books have been sold across the world. Shops selling merchandise, such as scarves and wands, continue to open and next month streaming platform Amazon Prime Video launches a Great British Bake Off-style TV show titled Harry Potter: Wizards Of Baking. Advertisement When anti-Rowling campaigners called for a boycott of the Hogwarts Legacy video game last year, their protest had little or no effect as sales soared past 12million in just a couple of months. Meanwhile, stage play Harry Potter And The Cursed Child is still going strong in London’s West End after eight years. 10 Four years ago when Rowling mocked 'people who menstruate' as a term to describe 'women', she faced a huge backlash from stars including Emma Watson Credit: Getty 10 Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe has also been critical of the author who made him famous Credit: Getty Advertisement 10 Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasely, is another member of the film franchise who has attacked Rowling's campaigning Credit: Getty It is no surprise, then, that HBO parent company Warner Bros, whose eight Harry Potter films made around £ 7 billion combined, was keen to return to the Hogwarts school of Witch-craft and Wizardry. The movie giant’s streaming channel Max, previously known as HBO Max, will air the TV series in 2026. Succession and Killing Eve producer Francesca Gardiner will lead the project with British director Mark Mylod, whose CV includes Game Of Thrones. Advertisement There are rumours Brit actor Mark Rylance, star of BBC period drama Wolf Hall, is in line to play Hogwarts Professor Albus Dumbledore . In September it was announced that the casting process for all the young Hogwarts characters — from Harry to his nemesis and fellow wizarding student Draco Malfoy — would be open to the public. They are looking for talented kids aged nine to 11 who live in the UK or Ireland. No acting experience is necessary, although show bosses have also been scouting stage schools. Advertisement The website taking applications has now closed due to the huge response. It is a massive boost for the British TV industry, with the bulk of the series set to be made at Warner Bros’ studios in Leavesden, near Watford. The budget for each of the ten seasons is reckoned to be around £159million and the plan is to film each series back to back because bosses do not want the cast to age too much on screen. But it will be tricky because there are strict regulations about the hours school-age actors and actresses are allowed to work. Advertisement Daniel Radcliffe, now aged 35, who had the most scenes in the Potter movies, had to be taught on set between shoots. He earned a reported £86million from the films but it is unlikely any of the wannabe Harrys eyeing up the TV gig would enjoy the same sort of payday. Daniel has backed the remake, saying: “It’ll be cool to see the torch get passed on.” Rupert Grint agrees, telling GQ magazine: “I’d love to see Harry Potter be adapted into a TV show. Advertisement “It would really work.” Rowling, who is worth an estimated £945million, retains the rights to her books and she has always insisted strongly on having her say about any Potter-related projects. It was thanks to the Gloucestershire-born author, who now lives in Scotland , that the movies were not Americanised. HBO and Max chairman and CEO Casey Bloys says Rowling has been “very, very involved in the process of selecting the writer and director” for the telly series. Advertisement Bloys also denied that her comments about trans issues had “affected the casting or hiring of writers or production staff”. Indeed, Warner Bros are not the only ones who wish to work with the hugely imaginative writer. Even though the BBC twice apologised last year after Rowling was described during its programmes as “anti-trans”, the corporation keep adapting her Cormoran Strike crime novels into TV shows. Activists are trying to organise yet another boycott of my work, this time of the Harry Potter TV show. As forewarned is forearmed, I’ve taken the precaution of laying in a large stock of champagne. JK Rowling This December, her fictional detective played by Tom Burke will return for a BBC One four-part dramatisation of her 2022 novel The Ink Black Heart. Advertisement Meanwhile, plenty of actors are backing JK. Broadbent, who played Hogwarts’ Professor Horace Slug-horn in two Potter films, said, “JK Rowling is amazing”, and Bonham Carter, who portrayed evil Bellatrix Lestrange, commented: “She has been hounded.” Fiennes, who played Lord Voldemort, described the attacks on the author as “appalling”, and Evanna Lynch, witch Luna Love-good in the films, said: “I do wish people would just give her more grace and listen to her.” But this type of comment is at odds with much of Gen Z. Advertisement Not that JK is too worried about being cancelled, as she just shrugs if all off. Read more on the Scottish Sun 'DISAPPOINTED' Harry Potter steam train blasted by passengers who 'dreaded' return journey COLD BEERS SPFL side spotted going for a PINT after their bus got stuck in the snow Last April she said: “Activists are trying to organise yet another boycott of my work, this time of the Harry Potter TV show. “As forewarned is forearmed, I’ve taken the precaution of laying in a large stock of champagne.” 10 There are rumours Brit actor Mark Rylance, star of BBC period drama Wolf Hall, is in line to play Hogwarts Professor Albus Dumbledore Credit: Getty Advertisement 10 Rowling has not been afraid to tweet her opinions on trans issues - such as the case of Andrew Miller, also known as Amy George, who identifies as a transgender woman Credit: Twitter/JK Rowling 10 Rowling on the case of Sandra Norris who was convicted for possession of child sex abuse images Credit: Twitter/JK Rowling 10 The author makes her feelings known about Kate Neeves being appointed as the UN Women UK delegate Credit: Twitter/JK Rowling JK HAS DEFIED HATE By Julie Bindel, feminist and friend of JK Rowling JK ROWLING’S pinned tweet, in response to a trans activist claiming he burns her books and toasts marshmallows over the flame, reads: “I get the same royalties whether you read them or burn them. Enjoy your marshmallows!” Having bullied the majority into submission for so long, these activists are now losing ground. Increasingly, they are ignored and sidelined. Rowling is a feminist hero. Since first speaking out against the crazed gender ideology that has swept much of the world, including treasured institutions, she has made an immeasurable difference to women and girls everywhere. As one of the most famous authors ever, Rowling had no need to take a stand on this contentious, toxic issue – she did it because she could not remain silent. Having spent millions supporting orphaned children and other disadvantaged groups through her charitable work, she decided that adding her voice to the fight against those determined to see an end to female-only spaces and facilities would be worth the inevitable backlash. And what a backlash: in addition to innumerable rape and death threats, she has been publicly maligned by those whose fame and fortune she helped create. The actors who played Harry, Ron and Hermione have all stuck the knife in. As a lesbian, and as someone lucky enough to be able to call Rowling a personal friend, I know their claims are utter fabrication. Calls to boycott the new HBO Harry Potter TV series is nothing but bullying and posturing. I don’t know how those responsible sleep at night, when the ideology Rowling speaks out against leads to children being unnecessarily medicalised for life. Asked by a trans activist why she wanted to “die on this hill”, Rowling replied in her usual forthright manner: “If there’s a better hill to die on than the rights and safety of women and children, I’ve never found it.”Essex Property Trust Inc. stock rises Wednesday, still underperforms market

7 Supergoop! Black Friday Deals to Stock Up On ASAP 2024Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) attacked California for its slow ballot counting process, which still hasn't concluded weeks after Election Day . He mentioned two Republican incumbents, Reps. Michelle Steel (R-CA) and John Duarte (R-CA), who have watched their voting leads disappear with Democratic ballots streaming in late. MEET THE NEW CONGRESS: THE HOUSE AND SENATE FRESHMEN ELECTED TO SERVE NEXT YEAR "We are on the eve of Thanksgiving and California still hasn’t finished counting votes," DeSantis posted on X on Wednesday afternoon. "Post-election day ballot 'dumps' continue to net Democrat votes over two GOP incumbents. This may reduce the Republican majority in the US House to a razor thin 220-215. What a farce." Steele conceded defeat in California’s 45th Congressional District just hours later. DeSantis's slamming of California is a continuation of the feud he has with Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), who he debated about a year ago in a publicized red versus blue, Florida against California face-off on Fox News. Both got in jabs against each other and fueled presidential speculation. FIVE DEMOCRATS IN PRIME POSITION TO BE FACE OF THE PARTY IN 2028 For DeSantis, it temporarily boosted his campaign against eventual President-elect Donald Trump. He ignited a social media mockery of Newsom by holding up a human "poop map" of San Francisco that showed the locations of feces across the city. And for Newsom, it boosted his profile in a time when cries for President Joe Biden to step down were at a low whimper. His viral moment came with a stabbing remark aimed at the Florida governor: “There’s one thing in closing that we have in common, is neither of us will be the nominee for our party in 2024." Those cries would grow in the coming months until Biden relented and stepped down. Newsom got a chunk of the presidential speculation before Vice President Kamala Harris snatched the nomination and kept it. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Now post-election, both governors will be term-limited and forced to step down after the 2026 elections. That would open a pathway for either politician to run in the 2028 presidential election if they choose, and both will likely be involved in speculation. DeSantis's attack could be the opening shot in a feud that carries into November of 2028.

With artificial intelligence (AI) booming, semiconductor giants Nvidia and Broadcom are racing to meet skyrocketing demand. With AI’s relentless need for computing power, both companies are poised for immense growth. Nvidia has captured the spotlight, thanks to its revolutionary GPU technology. Already famed for its Hopper accelerator chips, the tech titan is introducing “Blackwell,” its latest AI architecture. Market experts project an average earnings surge of 38% for Nvidia, underscoring high expectations for this cutting-edge innovation. Conversely, Broadcom has diversified its portfolio both in chips, including advanced AI inference chips, and enterprise infrastructure software. This shift is paying off; AI related revenues have skyrocketed by 220% within a year. Analysts foresee Broadcom’s earnings growing about 22% annually, as the company targets a potential $90 billion AI market opportunity by 2027 through strategic deals, likely involving industry giants like OpenAI and Apple. However, investors face a conundrum: which stock promises the best returns by 2025? Analyzing the Price/Earnings-to-Growth (PEG) ratios, Nvidia appears a better value with a PEG of 1.2, compared to Broadcom’s 1.8. Nvidia’s enticing PEG ratio highlights a possibly lucrative investment, even though the risk associated with innovation remains. Despite the risks, AI’s trajectory suggests it’s here to stay. Nvidia’s strategic rollouts position it favorably to maintain its AI leadership. While Broadcom’s more balanced portfolio draws less dependency on AI, Nvidia’s potential growth edges out its rivals for those eyeing substantial returns in the near future. As AI continues its boom, both companies are well-situated, but Nvidia seems the top contender heading into 2025. Semiconductor Showdown: Nvidia vs. Broadcom in the AI Revolution As the AI industry experiences unprecedented expansion, semiconductor giants Nvidia and Broadcom are racing to meet the surging demands for advanced computing power. Here’s a closer look at the new developments, market strategies, and future forecasts for these technology leaders, expected to lead innovation in the AI landscape. Nvidia’s Edge with Blackwell Technology Nvidia has consistently been at the forefront of AI innovation, primarily due to its groundbreaking GPU advancements. Building on its success with the Hopper accelerator chips, Nvidia is now unveiling its new AI architecture, “Blackwell.” This new technology is poised to boost Nvidia’s market position and growth potential, which analysts estimate could see a 38% increase in average earnings. Nvidia’s continuous innovations signify its commitment to staying at the top of AI technological development, opening avenues for more robust AI use cases. Broadcom’s Strategic Diversification Unlike Nvidia, Broadcom has adopted a more diversified strategy by integrating advanced AI inference chips with enterprise infrastructure software. This diversification strategy has significantly paid off, as reflected by a remarkable 220% increase in AI-related revenues over the past year. Analysts predict that Broadcom’s earnings could grow by approximately 22% annually. By targeting a $90 billion AI market opportunity by 2027 through strategic partnerships, including potential alliances with tech giants like OpenAI and Apple, Broadcom is positioning itself to capture significant AI market share. Investment Analysis: Nvidia vs. Broadcom For investors deliberating between Nvidia and Broadcom, analyzing the Price/Earnings-to-Growth (PEG) ratios provides insightful data. Nvidia holds a more attractive PEG ratio at 1.2 compared to Broadcom’s 1.8, suggesting it might offer better value for prospective investors. This metric highlights Nvidia’s stronger growth potential over the next few years, making it an enticing candidate despite the inherent risks associated with rapid tech innovation. Future Growth and Market Potential Looking towards the future, notwithstanding the risks, the AI revolution promises sustained presence and growth. Nvidia’s strategic advancements position it favorably to maintain its AI leadership. On the other hand, Broadcom’s balanced approach with its diversified portfolio reduces its dependency on the AI sector alone. However, from a potential growth perspective, Nvidia seems to stand out, especially for investors eyeing significant returns by 2025. As AI continues to reshape industries, both Nvidia and Broadcom are well-poised to capitalize on this trend. Yet, for those seeking substantial growth within a short timeline, Nvidia emerges as a compelling contender, potentially driving transformational changes alongside the AI wave. For more insights into Nvidia and Broadcom’s groundbreaking technologies, visit their respective domains: – Nvidia – Broadcom

Yes, an Italian village is offering $1 homes to Americans following the electionFormer NHL player Paul Bissonnette attacked during altercation at Scottsdale steakhouse

Jonathan Knowles My last update on ImmunityBio, Inc. ( NASDAQ: IBRX ) followed the FDA-approval of Anktiva (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept) for the treatment of BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). I conducted a discounted cash flow analysis that valued Anktiva at $2.3 billion (net present value) based on a 50% market share 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. This article is intended to provide informational content and should not be viewed as an exhaustive analysis of the featured company. It should not be interpreted as personalized investment advice with regard to "Buy/Sell/Hold/Short/Long" recommendations. The predictions and opinions presented are based on the author's analysis and reflect a probabilistic approach, not absolute certainty. Efforts have been made to ensure the information's accuracy, but inadvertent errors may occur. Readers are advised to independently verify the information and conduct their own research. Investing in stocks involves inherent volatility, risk, and speculative elements. Before making any investment decisions, it is crucial for readers to conduct thorough research and assess their financial circumstances. The author is not liable for any financial losses incurred as a result of using or relying on the content of 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.

Bad Axe: Wisconsin wary of rival Minnesota with bowl bid in peril

Johnson Controls International PLC stock underperforms Monday when compared to competitorsLil Wayne, GloRilla, Camila Cabello to perform at College Football National ChampionshipThe NFC’s No. 1 seed will come down to the final week when the Detroit Lions host the Minnesota Vikings. The winner takes the NFC North and gets a first-round playoff bye and home-field advantage until the Super Bowl. The loser becomes the No. 5 seed and must play on the road in the wild-card round. The Vikings (14-2) held on for a 27-25 victory over the Green Bay Packers to set up the high-stakes showdown in Week 18. The Lions (13-2) visit the San Francisco 49ers (6-9) on Monday night in a rematch of the NFC title game. Win, lose or tie, they have to beat the Vikings again. Detroit beat Minnesota 31-29 in Week 7. The Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East and locked up the No. 2 seed with a 41-7 rout of the Dallas Cowboys. However, coach Nick Sirianni has a tough decision to make this week. Saquon Barkley is 101 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season record for yards rushing in a season. Sirianni has to decide whether to rest Barkley and most of his starters to prepare for the playoffs or let his star try for the 40-year-old record. The Los Angeles Rams (10-6) were on the verge of clinching the NFC West. They would lock it up Sunday night if the Commanders beat the Falcons. The outcome of the Atlanta-Washington game has a major impact on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7). If the Falcons win, they’d remain first in the NFC South and would win the division with a victory against Carolina next week. If the Falcons lose, the Buccaneers would take over first place and would secure the division with a victory over New Orleans next week. The Commanders would secure a wild-card spot with a win against Atlanta. If they lose, Seattle stays mathematically alive for a wild card and the Buccaneers could also find a path to the playoffs as a wild-card team. Three teams in the AFC have already secured their seeds. The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs (15-1) won the AFC West weeks ago and clinched the No. 1 seed. The AFC East champion Buffalo Bills (13-3) are the No. 2 seed. The AFC South champion Houston Texans (9-7) are the No. 4 seed. The Baltimore Ravens (11-5) would win the AFC North and get the No. 3 seed with a win or tie against Cleveland next weekend or a loss or tie by Pittsburgh, which hosts Cincinnati. If they don’t win the division, the Steelers have already clinched a wild-card berth. The Los Angeles Chargers (10-6) also secured a wild-card spot. They’ll be no lower than the sixth seed. The final AFC playoff spot comes down to the Broncos (9-7), Dolphins (8-8) or Bengals (8-8). Denver clinches with a win or tie against the Chiefs. The Dolphins need the Broncos to lose and they must beat the Jets on the road to get in. The Bengals must win and the Broncos and Dolphins have to lose for them to get in. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Harris tells advisers to keep her options open for another run for president – or California governor

A thing of beauty may be said to be a joy forever, but it is not one hundred percent true. A thing of beauty may fade, deteriorate, decay and the beauty then begins to decline and vanish. But still, something beautiful is worth hailing while we see it or feel it. Adetshina Ms Chidimma Vanesa Adetshina is the reason for this little homily on beauty today. The 23 year-old law student has beauty and a complicated identity. Her father is a Nigerian of Enugu extraction. Her mother is a Mozambican and she was born in Soweto in South Africa. Soweto has a history that neither South Africans nor the world can afford to forget. The pretty lady who has been living in South Africa was trying to compete for the Miss Universe South Africa in the hope that if she won she would represent that country of her birth in the global Miss Universe competition. But the country that went through hell due to apartheid but which got liberated by the weight of Nigeria’s voice and resources treated her very shabbily. I think the apartheid struggle taught South Africans the wrong lesson, namely that xenophobia was and is an admirable quality. South Africa has treated Nigerians several times as if Nigeria is their enemy, not their enabler. The two countries may be competing politically and economically but that should not deprive them of their humanity or their spirit of brotherhood and adorable co-existence. As two prominent countries in the same continent they have a lot to live for. But that is a story for another day. To cut a long story short South Africa did not let Chidimma to contest in their country. Nigeria invited her to come and contest under the Nigerian flag. She came, she contested, she won. That gave her the opportunity to contest at the global level a couple of weeks ago in Mexico. She did not get the top prize. That went to a 21-year old girl from Denmark, Viktoria Kjaer Theivlig who is a multi-talented beauty, an entrepreneur, a dancer and an animal activist. Our girl Chidimma emerged as the first runner up and the winner for the Africa and Oceania Regions. This is a feat when you realize that there were contestants from 130 countries, a sharp increase from 94 beauties that competed in 2018. This is the second time that Nigeria would win a major beauty pageant. In 2001 Miss Agbani Darego won the Miss World contest. That remains a record for which Nigeria must be proud. Before then no one in Nigeria thought that it was possible for a Nigerian to win a major international beauty contest because there are actually no universally accepted criteria for beauty in the world. Most African women have big buttocks. Most white women have flat buttocks. Most African women are of medium height. Most white women are higher in height. So it can be said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, whether the beholder is white or black, tall or short, fat or slim. It is instructive that the white lady who represented South Africa in the competition Mia Le Roux suddenly withdrew from the competition based on alleged “health challenges.” Some online irritants described it as “karma at work.” So South Africa that lost the opportunity of giving Chidimma the chance to feature for them lost out completely because of its xenophobic tendencies. The craze for ethnicity and xenophobia in Africa must be something to agitate the minds of African leaders. While our leaders make grand speeches on African unity at their major conferences they are not interested in working on policies that can cement that unity among Africans. The recent very primitive treatment of Nigeria’s Super Eagles players and officials in Libya is an ugly example. And on top of the ill-treatment they had the temerity to defend it as something that was done by their government and not their football organization. And to add insult to injury they said their sovereignty must be respected. That would never happen in any of the developed countries some of whom are opening their doors to educated immigrants from other countries to gain the benefits of globalization and universal education. Despite the problem of racism in America, it has produced a Black American President Barack Obama and a non-white Vice President Kamala Harris. Britain has also produced Rishi Sunak who is not a regular British citizen. And even a Nigerian woman Kemi Badenock is now leading a major political party, the Conservative Party in the UK. When will African leaders grow up and accept the fact that the world is becoming a global village with universality of values. The Governor of Enugu State where Chidimma comes from Dr Peter Mbah has made the girl the State’s Brand Ambassador. A good decision because as Mbah said “Chidimma’s story will serve as a beacon of hope to our young people particularly young women.” For me the real beauty apart from the physical beauty of this girl is her perseverance, her tenacity and her resilience. Even as the competition was on some South Africans were writing petitions to the organisers to disqualify our girl. She kept pushing on relentlessly to her goal. She is a determined and focused person. She says to other young people through the BBC. “Don’t give up on your dreams, set those goals for yourself. It might seem too scary, but set them. Always do anything in your power to make you achieve them.” Those words indicate that the real beauty in her is from within. So she is not a peacock with external beauty only. She has complete beauty which will last forever. That complete beauty is made up of her tenacity, perseverance, grace under pressure, resilience and the knowledge that you cannot be a pretty woman without being a source of trouble to the world because every pretty person is a source of envy. And, often, it is not her fault.

The Midtown assassin ‘s alleged weapon of choice in the brazen execution of United HealthCare CEO Brian Thompson is believed to be a 3D-printed ghost gun — a nearly untraceable weapon that has become a major problem for the NYPD in recent years. When the NYPD first released that grainy image of the assassin taking deadly aim at Thompson outside Hilton hotel on West 54th Street on the morning of Dec. 4, many suggested it looked like a highly-proficient murder weapon used by a professional hitman, equipped with a silencer. Others thought it might have been a gun typically used on farms to euthanize livestock. However, NYPD Inspector Courtney Nilan of the Intelligence Division said she almost instantly recognized the firearm used in the assassination as a potential ghost gun. Nilan has made a career out of battling the rising prominence of ghost guns and raising awareness of their danger as technology advances to the point where anyone with a 3D printer can manufacture a deadly weapon. This has given Nilan the unique authority and skillset on ghost guns. Once she saw a clearer image of the firearm, she said she immediately knew it was 3D-printed and the continuation of a disturbing trend that sees people printing guns in their own homes. “As soon as we actually saw images of the gun, I knew it was a ghost gun because the lower receiver had a unique design,” Nilan told amNewYork Metro in an interview. “And with 3D printing of firearms, you could print them in basically any type of unique design you wanted. And with ghost guns, what we are seeing in New York City, and as is the rest of the country, is a shift away from the commercially ordered kits and a shift towards 3D printing of firearms.” Luigi Mangione is led into the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, PA for an extradition hearing Dec. 10, 2024. Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images The blood-covered crime scene in Midtown where Brian Thompson was shot dead on Dec. 4, 2024. Photo by Dean Moses Just a few short years ago, according to Nilan, it was only possible to print a small portion of a firearm — but today, illegal gun manufacturers can print 90% of a firearm, along with accessories. In this incident, it’s believed that the suspect assassin — 26-year-old Luigi Mangione of Maryland — allegedly fixed a 3D-printed suppressor to the 3D-printed gun. Nilan believes the ability to print deadly accessories draws people in even further but, in doing so, the process could have contributed to the gun jamming that fateful morning. “It could have been that he’s not a frequent gun user, so he didn’t exactly know how to handle it. It could be that by screwing in and adding the suppressor, maybe that changed the calibration of the gun a little bit. There are a lot of different factors,” Nilan explained. “The 3D print malfunction is usually cracking, and that did not happen in this case.” Nilan says her team could possibly be able to trace the design used to make the gun used in Thompson’s demise. “I’ve already expressed interest in the Intelligence Division seeing that gun. We cannot, per se, determine if he made it unless he admits it, or if he purchased it from somebody else who made it. But what we can do is try to match it up to the file design,” Nilan said. “Once they (detectives) do subpoenas on all his computers and cell phones, we could potentially help them identify if he did make it himself or not. Like if that design was downloaded onto his computer and whatnot.” For years, Nilan has been banging the drum on the dangers of 3D printing ghost guns in a way that seems eerily prophetic in light of what took place last week. Just two or three years prior, a 3D-printed ghost gun would crack and even explode after pulling the trigger just a few times, now though, they can operate akin to a commercially made firearm. Moreover, they can be customized with 3D-printed Glock switches and auto sears with several cheap pieces of plastic. Another challenge for ghost gun investigators, Nilan said, are that hundreds of thousands of different designs are being passed around online, leaving the NYPD to face a mounting battle against the polymer pipeline. “We have to keep playing Whack a Mole. Another reason why they have gone towards 3D printing now is because so many states have done civil and criminal litigation against the online kit retailers, all those online websites that have been selling the ghost gun kits for so long there has been state and federal legislation,” Nilan said. “Even two years ago, we saw this growing in popularity in other states, and we saw this as something, we identified this as a potential problem.” Nilan pointed to the disturbing rise with several large cases this year alone. In 2022, police only recovered four ghost guns, in 2023, they retrieved 42 through their investigations, and in 2024 so far they have acquired 110. “Our goal, which we did, was to get them before they were able to sell them on the street. Because we have a lot of people that are home manufacturers, but there has been instances this year, you know, of individuals just arrested on the street with a gun, and it happens to be a 3D-printed firearm,” Nilan said. Nilan hopes that New York will pass legislation making it illegal to download the files to make 3D-printed guns — and help prevent horrific shootings like Thompson’s execution going forward.

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