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winner 777 casino login Pope Francis on Saturday installed 21 new cardinals, many of whom are key figures in his reform agenda: A Dominican preacher who acted as the spiritual father for Francis' recent gathering of bishops, a Neapolitan "street priest" like himself, and a Peruvian bishop who has strongly backed his crackdown on abuse. Francis' 10th consistory to create new princes of the church is also the biggest infusion of voting-age cardinals in his 11-year pontificate, further cementing his imprint on the group of men who will one day elect his successor. With Saturday's additions, Francis will have created 110 of the 140 cardinals under 80, thus eligible to vote in a conclave. Francis appeared at the ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica with a significant bruise on his chin but presided over the ritual without apparent problems. A Vatican spokesman said later Saturday that the bruise was caused by a contusion Friday morning when Francis hit his nightstand with his chin. The pontiff, who turns 88 later this month, appeared slightly fatigued on Saturday but carried on as normal with the scheduled ceremony. Francis has suffered several health problems in recent years and now uses a wheelchair due to knee and back pain. In 2017, while on a trip to Colombia, Francis sported a black eye after he hit his head on a support bar when his popemobile stopped suddenly. An expanded consistory His consistory brings the number of voting-age cardinals well over the 120-man limit set by St. John Paul II. But 13 existing cardinals will turn 80 next year, bringing the numbers back down. This consistory is notable too because the 21 men being elevated aren't the same ones Francis named Oct. 6 when he announced an unusual December consistory. One of Francis' original picks, Indonesian Bishop Paskalis Bruno Syukur, the bishop of Bogor, asked not to be made a cardinal "because of his desire to grow more in his life as a priest," the Vatican said. Francis quickly substituted him with the Naples archbishop, Domenico Battaglia, known for his pastoral work in the slums and rough parts of Naples. Battaglia is one of five Italians getting the red hat, keeping the once-dominant Italian presence in the College of Cardinals strong. Turin is getting a cardinal in its archbishop, Roberto Repole, as is Rome: Baldassare Reina, who on the same day Francis announced he was becoming a cardinal also learned that Francis had promoted him to be his top administrator for the diocese of Rome. Francis, who is technically bishop of Rome, has been conducting a years-long reorganization of the Rome diocese and its pontifical universities. Reina – who is also grand chancellor of the pre-eminent Pontifical Lateran University – will be expected to execute the reform. Another Italian is the oldest cardinal: Angelo Acerbi, a 99-year-old retired Vatican diplomat. He is the only one among the 21 new cardinals to be older than 80 and thus ineligible to vote in a conclave. Francis' picks on Saturday also include the youngest cardinal: the 44-year-old head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Melbourne, Australia, Mykola Bychok. "I think that there is a special sign which was made by the Pope to nominate me as the youngest cardinal in the world," Bychok said. "Ukraine has been fighting for three years, officially and maybe unofficially from 2014, after the occupation of the Crimean Peninsula and two regions, Donetsk and Lugansk. ... Maybe my weak voice will help to stop this war not only in Ukraine but as well in other countries around the world." Yet another Italian is one of two Vatican priests who do jobs in the Holy See that don't usually carry the red hat: Fabio Baggio is undersecretary in the Vatican development office. Francis also decided to make a cardinal out of George Jacob Koovakad, the priest who organizes the pope's foreign travels. High-profile roles in Francis' reforms are picked Other picks have high-profile roles in Francis' reforms. The archbishop of Lima, Peru, Carlos Gustavo Castillo Mattasoglio, made headlines recently because of an extraordinary essay he penned for El Pais newspaper in which he called for the suppression of an influential Peruvian Catholic movement, the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, which also has a presence in the U.S. Castillo called the group a "failed experiment" of the church in Latin America, one of several conservative, right-wing movements that cropped up in the 1970s and 1980s as a counterweight to the more left-leaning liberation theology. "My hypothesis is that the Sodalitium obeys a political project," Castillo wrote. "It is the resurrection of fascism in Latin America, artfully using the church by means of sectarian methods." Francis has recently expelled the Sodalitium's founder and several top members following a Vatican investigation. Castillo is one of five new Latin American cardinals named by history's first Latin American pope. They include the archbishop of Santiago del Estero, Argentina, Vicente Bokalic Iglic; the archbishop of Porto Alegre, Brazil, Jaime Spengler; the archbishop of Santiago, Chile, Fernando Natalio Chomali Garib and the archbishop of Guayaquil, Ecuador, Luis Gerardo Cabrera Herrera. Francis has long sought to broaden the geographic diversity of the College of Cardinals to show the universality of the church, particularly where it is growing. Asia got two new cardinals: Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, the archbishop of Tokyo; and Pablo Virgilio Sinogco David, the bishop of Kalookan, Philippines. Africa also got two new cardinals: the archbishop of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Ignace Bessi Dogbo, and the bishop of Algiers, Algeria, Jean-Paul Vesco. "There hasn't been an African pope, but it's a possibility in the church," Dogbo said in an interview on the eve of his installation. "And I think that this eventuality - which is not necessarily a demand - if this eventuality were to arise, the universal church would have to be ready to take it on." Francis also tapped the archbishop of Tehran, Iran, Dominique Joseph Mathieu, the bishop of Belgrade, Serbia, Ladislav Nemet, while the lone North American cardinal named is the archbishop of Toronto, Frank Leo. A more inclusive church The Lithuanian-born cardinal-elect, Rolandas Makrickas, has a special job in this pontificate: As the archpriest of the St. Mary Major basilica, he hosts Francis every time the pope returns from a foreign trip, since the pope likes to pray before an icon of the Madonna in the church. Additionally, Makrickas oversaw a recent financial reform of the basilica and would have been involved in identifying the future final resting place for Francis, since the Argentine pope has said he will be buried there. Perhaps the most familiar new cardinal to anyone who has been following Francis' reform agenda is the Dominican Timothy Radcliff, the spiritual father of the just-concluded synod, or gathering of bishops. The years-long process aimed to make the church more inclusive and responsive to the needs of rank-and-file Catholics, especially women. A British theologian, the white-robed Radcliffe often provided clarifying, if not humorous interventions during the weeks-long debate and retreats. At one point he set off a mini-firestorm by suggesting that external financial pressures influenced African bishops to reject Francis' permission to allow blessings for gay couples. He later said he just meant that the African Catholic Church is under pressure from other well-financed faiths. As the synod was winding down, he offered some valuable perspective. "Often we can have no idea as to how God's providence is at work in our lives. We do what we believe to be right and the rest is in the hands of the Lord," he told the gathering. "This is just one synod. There will be others. We do not have to do everything, just try to take the next step." Pope Francis Vatican City Italy PopeBy TRÂN NGUYỄN SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California, home to some of the largest technology companies in the world, would be the first U.S. state to require mental health warning labels on social media sites if lawmakers pass a bill introduced Monday. The legislation sponsored by state Attorney General Rob Bonta is necessary to bolster safety for children online, supporters say, but industry officials vow to fight the measure and others like it under the First Amendment. Warning labels for social media gained swift bipartisan support from dozens of attorneys general, including Bonta, after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called on Congress to establish the requirements earlier this year, saying social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people. “These companies know the harmful impact their products can have on our children, and they refuse to take meaningful steps to make them safer,” Bonta said at a news conference Monday. “Time is up. It’s time we stepped in and demanded change.” State officials haven’t provided details on the bill, but Bonta said the warning labels could pop up once weekly. Up to 95% of youth ages 13 to 17 say they use a social media platform, and more than a third say that they use social media “almost constantly,” according to 2022 data from the Pew Research Center. Parents’ concerns prompted Australia to pass the world’s first law banning social media for children under 16 in November. “The promise of social media, although real, has turned into a situation where they’re turning our children’s attention into a commodity,” Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, who authored the California bill, said Monday. “The attention economy is using our children and their well-being to make money for these California companies.” Lawmakers instead should focus on online safety education and mental health resources, not warning label bills that are “constitutionally unsound,” said Todd O’Boyle, a vice president of the tech industry policy group Chamber of Progress. “We strongly suspect that the courts will set them aside as compelled speech,” O’Boyle told The Associated Press. Victoria Hinks’ 16-year-old daughter, Alexandra, died by suicide four months ago after being “led down dark rabbit holes” on social media that glamorized eating disorders and self-harm. Hinks said the labels would help protect children from companies that turn a blind eye to the harm caused to children’s mental health when they become addicted to social media platforms. “There’s not a bone in my body that doubts social media played a role in leading her to that final, irreversible decision,” Hinks said. “This could be your story.” Common Sense Media, a sponsor of the bill, said it plans to lobby for similar proposals in other states. California in the past decade has positioned itself as a leader in regulating and fighting the tech industry to bolster online safety for children. The state was the first in 2022 to bar online platforms from using users’ personal information in ways that could harm children. It was one of the states that sued Meta in 2023 and TikTok in October for deliberately designing addictive features that keep kids hooked on their platforms. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, also signed several bills in September to help curb the effects of social media on children, including one to prohibit social media platforms from knowingly providing addictive feeds to children without parental consent and one to limit or ban students from using smartphones on school campus. Federal lawmakers have held hearings on child online safety and legislation is in the works to force companies to take reasonable steps to prevent harm. The legislation has the support of X owner Elon Musk and the President-elect’s son, Donald Trump Jr . Still, the last federal law aimed at protecting children online was enacted in 1998, six years before Facebook’s founding.Top council leader quits over claims he sent refugees explicit messages Click here to visit the Scotland home page for the latest news and sport By TOM GORDON DEPUTY SCOTTISH POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 23:08 GMT, 9 December 2024 | Updated: 23:08 GMT, 9 December 2024 e-mail View comments The leader of one of Scotland’s biggest councils has resigned after being accused of sending explicit messages to Ukrainian refugees. Cammy Day quit as head of City of Edinburgh Council a day after the allegations emerged, leaving the Labour administration running the capital in turmoil. The 50-year-old said reports about his ‘personal life’ were undermining the council’s work, but did not address the claims head-on. Police Scotland is investigating his conduct and the Labour Party has suspended him. Councillor Day, a former community development worker who has been a councillor in the Forth ward since 2008, bowed to public pressure after the revelations came to light. It has been claimed he bombarded Ukrainian refugees with explicit messages on social media and dating apps and asked to meet them. One said they ‘felt under pressure’ and ‘afraid of his influence’ given his ‘high position’. Another said: ‘It was too much and I didn’t know how to say I didn’t want him to contact me any more.’ Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called the situation ‘deeply distressing’ on Sunday but stopped short of saying Mr Day should resign. Cammy Day, 50, said reports about his ‘personal life’ were undermining the council’s work – but did not address the claims head-on Click here to visit the Scotland home page for the latest news and sport Advertisement The party yesterday installed his former deputy, Mandy Watt, as the new Labour group leader on the council. Mr Day then took six hours to issue his resignation statement. He said: ‘The recent commentary on my personal life is detracting from the important work this Labour-led council does for the people of Edinburgh. It undermines the dedicated efforts of my colleagues and council officers. ‘That’s why it’s time for me to step aside as leader. ‘I have yet to be contacted by the police but want to reiterate that I will cooperate fully with their ongoing inquiries.’ Labour, which is the third largest party on the council, has led the city since 2022 with support from the Tories and Liberal Democrats, but now faces a political meltdown. Recent by-election wins have buoyed Lib Dem hopes of regaining control of the authority. The matter is likely to be settled when councillors choose a new leader on December 19. Lib Dem group leader Kevin Lang said he was ‘pleased’ Mr Day had gone given the ‘extremely serious’ allegations. ‘For the council, it’s now important to choose a new leader who can focus properly on the big issues facing our city,’ he said. SNP group leader Councillor Simita Kumar added: ‘This resignation should have come sooner, and in my view should have come with an apology. ‘Our city deserves better, and so do the complainants.’ Earlier, First Minister John Swinney said the allegations were ‘deeply concerning’. He added: ‘When matters of this type are raised, regardless of who they are raised about, they have got to be examined and examined fully and comprehensively so that the concerns that have been expressed can be properly addressed.’ Police Scotland said inquiries are ‘ongoing’. Labour Scotland Share or comment on this article: Top council leader quits over claims he sent refugees explicit messages e-mail Add comment

China on Monday launched an investigation into US chip giant Nvidia for allegedly violating its anti-monopoly laws, a top government agency said, as the two countries race for global chipmaking dominance. Beijing's state administration for market regulation, the authority on antitrust issues, launched the probe "in accordance with the law," according to a statement shared online. Nvidia is also suspected of violating commitments it made in 2020, the statement said, when it acquired Israeli data center firm Mellanox. After Beijing announced the probe, shares in Nvidia dropped 2.6 percent by Wall Street's close on Monday, precipitating a US stocks retreat. "We are happy to answer any questions regulators may have about our business," an Nvidia spokesman said in a statement. Nvidia succeeds "on merit... and customers can choose whatever solution is best for them," the California-based company added. China and the United States have in recent weeks clashed over exports of key chipmaking technology, where Nvidia is a major player. Beijing last week said it would restrict exports to the United States of some components critical to making semiconductors, after Washington announced curbs targeting China's ability to make advanced chips. Among the materials banned from export are the metals gallium, antimony and germanium, China's commerce ministry said in a statement that cited "national security" concerns. In its own latest curbs, Washington has announced restrictions on sales to 140 companies, including Chinese chip firms Piotech and SiCarrier, without additional permission. The move expands Washington's efforts to restrict exports of state-of-the-art chips to China, which can be used in advanced weapons systems and artificial intelligence. The new US rules also include controls on two dozen types of chipmaking equipment and three kinds of software tools for developing or producing semiconductors. The US tech behemoth has seen its profits soar on the back of strong demand for its artificial intelligence technology. In November, Nvidia surpassed Apple to become the highest-valued company in the world as the AI boom continues to excite Wall Street. But the Chinese market has been a rare weak spot. The US government in 2023 restricted Nvidia from selling some of its top AI chips to China, which the United States sees as a strategic competitor in the field of advanced semiconductors. Although Nvidia in November reported record high quarterly revenue, investors were wary of US-China tensions reheating with the return of Donald Trump to the White House. But during an event in Hong Kong last month, Nvidia's Taiwan-born CEO Jensen Huang told reporters "open science and open research in AI is absolutely global" and that "nothing" would stop that. mya/sn/jgc/mlmMiami turned into an art lover’s paradise and luxury playground once again for this past weekend. The iconic event brought the city to life with a whirlwind of gallery shows, exclusive parties, and rooftop gatherings you had to see to believe. From the Walls to the sand-swept shores of , every corner . This year’s Basel wasn’t just about the art hanging on the walls — it never is! — it was about the art of the experience. Luxury fashion houses transformed penthouses into immersive installations, while some of the world’s biggest artists mingled with industry insiders and A-listers under the Miami moonlight. Celebrities were out in full force, blending seamlessly into the scene while turning heads at secret soirées and champagne-filled afterparties. From Grey Goose vodka and MSCHF’s debut of the A.I.R. Chateau with Janelle Monae, Victoria Monet, Kehlani, Big Sean, and Diplo, Soho House’s surprise performance with Chance the Rapper, to Palm Tree Crew’s exclusive Pre-Opening Celebration with Keinemusik, Kygo, Future, Alix Earle, John Summit, Ivanka Trump, among other top-tier parties and activations, this year’s Art Basel was one for the books. Missed it this year? Yikes, but no worries. We’re giving you an exclusive look at the weekend’s highlights—the kind of glamorous, envy-inducing snapshots that remind us why Art Basel Miami is the place to be every December. Palm Tree Club’s Pre-Opening Celebration The pre-opening party sponsored by Tequila Don Julio, Poppi, Ripple, Kitson Yachts, and Wajer Yachts, offered an exclusive preview of the hotel and restaurant ahead of its official opening. The party kicked off with a thrilling performance by German trio Keinemusik, who came back together for the first time earlier this year, on the property’s stunning waterfront stage. VIPs including Palm Tree Crew co-founders Kygo and Myles Shear, Leo DiCaprio, Future, Alix Earle, Braxton Berrios, John Summit, Diplo, Ivanka Trump, Jaelen Phillips, Taylor Fritz, Rickie Fowler, Corey Gamble, Wendi Murdoch, Michael Hess, Foodgod, in addition to hospitality leaders David Grutman, Noah Tepperberg, and Will Makris, as well as business leaders Barry Sternlicht, Wayne Boich, Jamie Reuben, Brad Garlinghouse, Allie and Bruce Eichner, among others. Sinan Tuna’s Star-Studded Soirée Sinan Tuna, Turkish entrepreneur and CEO of Farmasi threw the Art Basel party of the year and the guest list was as exclusive as it gets. Hosted at his $30 million Hibiscus Island home, the star-studded event featured electric performances by PAWSA and Kaz James and additional entertainment by DJ Zack Bia and DJ Cruz. The invitations to the highly coveted bash included rings made exclusively for Sinan’s Art Basel Party, only 250, by London-based jeweler Cadaro. The multi-tiered white gold ring with diamonds has an estimated value of $10,000. The A-list crowd included models, Winnie Harlow, Taylor Hill, Maria Borges, Sofia Resing, DJ and Producer, Diplo, NFL Star, Odell Beckham Jr., City of Miami Mayor, Francis Suarez, soccer great Ronaldo, and Lenny Hochstein as well as some of the hottest names in art, fashion, and music. Guests sipped custom cocktails, with specialty engraved 1942 Don Julio bottles and a custom RUMOR Rosé bar, and mingled amidst cutting-edge art installations while a massive 10-minute fireworks display, known as the ‘Sky Full of Stars’ showered the crowd. Derrick Adams celebration at The Miami Beach EDITION Derrick Adams in partnership with Google Shopping and The Miami Beach EDITION hosted a star-studded event in celebration of Miami Art Week with special performances by En Vogue and Tierra Whack. The lively fete celebrated Google Shopping’s partnership with the artist, who launched an exclusive capsule collection of pieces The evening in the momentous city welcomed art-world luminaries, friends and fans including Derrick Adams, Artist, Stephanie Horton, Senior Director, Global Consumer Marketing at Google, Diplo, DJ, Malik Yoba, Actor, Adot Gak, Model, Mickalene Thomas, Artist, Nicolle Fuller, Designer, Dustin Yellin, Artist, Kennedy Yanko, Artist, Tschabalala Self, Artist, Sandrine Charles, Founder of Black in Fashion Council, Quiana Parks, DJ and Artist, Antuwan Sargeant, Gagosian, Nour Rizk, Model, Arnaud Frisch, Founder of Silencio, Jen Roberts, CEO Design Miami, and more. Night Shift Party hosted by American Express® and Delta Air Lines The one-night-only party at Jon & Vinny’s residency at the Rubell Museum commenced at 10pm with music from Andre Power and Sky Jetta. After midnight Jon & Vinny’s iconic pizzas were distributed to the invite-only crowd including Yara Shahidi, Kelly Hughes, Carol Doche, Kaya Tolstova, Jason Tartick and more. The late night fete concluded after 2am with a closing DJ set from James Blake. Grey Goose x MSCHF’s A.I.R. Chateau Grey Goose vodka and art collective MSCHF—of the viral “Big Red Boots”– hosted Janelle Monae, Victoria Monet, Kehlani, Big Sean Chanel Iman, the evening’s headlining DJ Diplo, singer Destin Conrad, artist Sami Miro, celebrity stylist Kollin Carter, DJ Francis Mercier, the Miami Heat’s Hayward Highsmith, and more, at the debut of the A.I.R. Chateau: an exclusive, one-night-only artists-in-residence (A.I.R.) celebrating the launch of the new ultra-premium vodka GREY GOOSE Altius. MSCHF’s art pieces were on display throughout the space for guests to be fully immersed in their designs, including an icy, Altius-blue rendition of the Big Red Boots, towering stacks of Blur, and more. Secret Soho Sounds: Beach Tent Edition with Chance the Rapper Secret Soho Sounds is a series of surprise performances from musical greats, coming to the Houses globally. Chance the Rapper took the stage at Soho Beach House Miami for a surprise performance as part of Soho House’s “Secret Soho Sounds” series. Teddy After Dark Party Gallery Media Group partnered with Maybelline for ‘Teddy After Dark Party’ to celebrate new Teddy Tiny product during Miami Art Week. The party featured a host of influencers and talent including The Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Melissa Gorga. Swagger Magazine Creators Gala Swagger Magazine brought an unparalleled experience to Miami Art Week, brought to life by Sommsation, the preeminent luxury wine experience. Guests enjoyed “Liquid Art” in the form of independent, hard-to-get wine and champagne offerings by Sommsation. The event was filled with incredible energy among Miami tastemakers, celebrities, and influencers, including Jimmy Akingbola, Cindy Prado, DJ KUFF, Narine Arakelian, and more. Serpentine Americas Foundation Bettina Korek, CEO of Serpentine, and Hans Ulrich Obrist, Artistic Director of Serpentine welcomed artists, supporters, patrons and friends to a celebration of Serpentine and the Serpentine Americas Foundation’s 10th Anniversary Year and launch of the Lauren Halsey monograph during Art Basel Miami Beach. The event took place at Casa Tua, in Miami, and was hosted by Serpentine Americas, Ted and Simona Vassilev and with additional support from Northern Trust. Bettina Korek, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Rebecca Allen, Sarah Arison, Beeple, Carlita, Sadie Coles, Thomas Dane, Rufus Du Sol, Derek Fordjour, John Gerrard, Miles Greenberg, Noah Horowitz, Yinka Ilori, Jewel, JR, Marc Lotenberg were just some of the special guests of the evening. The IKEA Sleepeasy IKEA US returned to Miami Art Week, bringing its viral Sleepeasy activation to Wynwood with a unique Miami flare. The highly anticipated immersive sleep experience was revealed to a packed house of artists, celebrities, notable influencers, and press, including Ayesha Perry-Iqbal, CT Hedden, Eliad Cohen, Marco Arrieta and more. Guests entered the one-of-a-kind speakeasy pop-up through a reimagined Swedish-Cuban Cafecito. From there, they were transported through murals by local artists HOXXOH, Tati Suarez, and ABSTRK to a dreamy space with larger-than-life interactive experiences showcasing the new IKEA sleep range and the six sleep essentials. NYLON House NYLON celebrated Miami Art Week and the release of its first NYLON Nights issue with the latest edition of NYLON House. The exclusive celebration, presented by e.l.f. Cosmetics, featured a live performance by three-time Grammy winning rapper, actor and philanthropist Ludacris presented by Movado as well as a DJ set by global house music sensation HUGEL. The evening celebrated the release of NYLON’s latest cover star Camila Cabello, who was also in attendance. Guests enjoyed specialty signature Casamigos cocktails throughout the night and an immersive experience by e.l.f. Cosmetics inspired by its recently released ‘Get Ready With Music’ The Album. Guests were also treated to Venezuelan style cachitos and danishes by James Beard Award Finalist Caracas Bakery. VIP attendees included Camila Cabello, Ludacris, Janelle Monáe, Chanel Iman, John Summit, Mischa Barton, Tinx, Taylor Fritz, Dale Moss, Yvesmark Cherry, Chloe Bean, Joey Joy, Nigel Xavier, and more. BACARDÍ x BIGFACE Coffee Opening Miami HEAT star and coffee connoisseur Jimmy Butler opened BIGFACE Coffee’s first-ever brick-and mortar shop in Miami’s Design District during Art Basel week! BACARDÍ Rum helped Jimmy welcome A-list friends including DJ Khalid, Carmelo Anthony, and Paul Pogba celebrated the occasion with BACARDÍ X BIGFACE Café Con Ocho cocktails, a twist on the trendy espresso martini crafted with BIGFACE coffee brand and BACARDÍ Ocho Rum. From Joe Jonas snagging the exclusive Rum Room Domino Club jacket to Jimmy Butler hosting A-list friends like DJ Khaled, Carmelo Anthony, and Paul Pogba, this event truly highlighted the intersection of art, coffee, and culture. D’USSE Cognac and Hit-Boy D’USSÉ cognac and GRAMMY award-winning producer Hit-Boy hosted rappers Chance the Rapper, SAINt JHN, Joey Bada$$, Vic Mensa, producer Mike Will Made It, singer Swae Lee, Love Island USA Season 6’s breakout couple Leah Kateb & Miguel Harichi, WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick, and more at The Faena Hotel to toast the launch of “The Set,” a new augmented reality (AR) DJ experience from D’USSÉ cognac featuring Hit-Boy. The event, which blended music, art, and technology highlighting D’USSÉ’s first foray into AR experiences, featured DJ sets from Spinser Tracy and Chase B.

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An archbishop's knock formally restores Notre Dame to life as winds howl and heads of state look onDalton Knecht's hot streak for the Los Angeles Lakers continued on Thursday in the team's 119-118 loss to the Orlando Magic. Despite the loss, Knecht played well and scored 17 points while making 42.9% of his 3-point shots. The rookie guard only scored over 10 points in a game once in his first 10 games but has now scored 14 or more in five straight games. When the Lakers drafted him with the 17th pick in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft, it surprised many that he fell so far. ESPN's Brian Windhorst decided to reveal the real reason why teams weren't keen on using a high draft pick on him. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images "Scouts are skeptical about three-year college players, turned off by almost all four-year college players and usually slam the notebook on the mere idea of drafting a five-year college player like Knecht," Windhorst wrote in a Friday column. "Teams draft on upside and 23-year-olds and upside don't go together, which is why scouts lowered Knecht on their draft boards. "But the Lakers saw impressive measurables at the draft combine: a 6-foot-9 wingspan, a 39-inch vertical and the fastest shuttle run in the field. As one longtime talent evaluator pointed out: Knecht led the SEC in scoring last season, and the list of players who have done that -- Pete Maravich, Bernard King, Shaquille O'Neal and Dominique Wilkins, among them -- should've earned him more respect on draft night." It's easy to under why teams would be apprehensive to draft a 23-year-old rookie, but the Lakers have a short window to be successful as LeBron James turns 40 in December. Related: Lakers Star LeBron James Announces He's Stepping Away From Social MediaAgartala: Tripura Police on Saturday detained 10 Bangladeshi nationals, belonging to the Hindu community, after they illegally entered India by fleeing their village due to unrest and tensions in the neighbouring country, an official said. A police officer said that the 10 Bangladeshi nationals including two women, three teenagers and an elderly person were detained from the Ambassa railway station in Tripura before boarding a Silchar (Assam)-bound train. “We would initiate legal proceedings against the Bangladeshi nationals as per law,” the official said. Sankar Chandra Sarkar, who led the intruders, said that after facing continuous threats and intimidation, they fled from their Dhanpur village in Kishoreganj district. “After trekking the forested hills of an arduous route overnight, we entered India on Saturday through Kamalpur (in Tripura’s Dhalai district). We were trying to go to Silchar in Assam to stay in a rented house. “We would never return to Bangladesh under any circumstances. The situation in Bangladesh is very grim. Attacks on the lives and properties of Hindus have become an everyday affair,” Sarkar, who worked as a driver to run the house, said. Talking to the media, he said that they sold some of their properties before fleeing into India, but they had to abandon many of their properties and household goods and assets. Sarkar claimed that thousands of Hindu families wanted to come to India, but they were unable to do so for various reasons. “During the Awami League government headed by then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, we were happy and there was no enmity between the Hindus and Muslims in our areas. But after the caretaker government headed by Muhammad Yunus assumed office, they were continuously harassed and threatened,” the visibly panicky middle-aged man said. Over the last four months, over 550 Bangladeshi nationals and over 63 Rohingyas were arrested by the Government Railway Police, Border Security Force (BSF), and Tripura Police from the Agartala railway station and various other places in Tripura after they illegally entered India. After the Bangladesh unrest began in June-July, BSF enhanced surveillance along the 4,096-km India-Bangladesh border with the neighbouring country to prevent transborder crime and infiltration, BSF officials said. Five Indian states – West Bengal (2216 km), Tripura (856 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Mizoram (318 km) and Assam ( 263 km) share a border with Bangladesh. The BSF on a number of occasions foiled several infiltration attempts by hundreds of Bangladeshi nationals comprising Hindus and Muslims.

Eagles WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring) ruled out vs. Rams

What To Expect From Trump 2.0

Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed at least 34 Palestinians, health officials in the enclave say, as Qatar voiced hope of fresh momentum in efforts to reach a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. or signup to continue reading The health officials said that an Israeli strike hit a house in Gaza City late on Saturday, killing four women. The Israeli military did not provide an immediate comment on Saturday's strikes across Gaza. The death toll was revised upwards from 30 reported earlier in the day by the Palestinian health ministry, which also said dozens were wounded. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and militants in the daily death tallies, and Reuters could not independently verify the figures. Israel accuses the Islamist group of using civilian population and property as shields. Hamas denies this. Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said Qatar was engaging with the incoming Trump administration on Gaza after sensing fresh momentum for ceasefire talks following the US election. Donald Trump's Middle East envoy has travelled to Qatar and Israel to kick-start the US President-elect's diplomatic push for a ceasefire and hostage release deal before his inauguration on January 20, a source briefed on the talks told Reuters on Thursday. Hamas said on Saturday a ceasefire agreement could only be reached if it secured an end to the war in Gaza, reaffirming its outstanding position. Israel says the war can only end once Hamas is eradicated. "Stopping the war and aggression is the condition for any agreement," said a Hamas statement, quoting a top official of the group, Mohammad Darwish. Hamas has not appointed a new leader after Israel killed the group's chief, Yahya Al-Sinwar, in Gaza on October 17, but the statement described Darwish as the head of the leading council. Darwish met with Turkey's foreign minister on Friday and Iran's foreign minister on Saturday to discuss the developments in Gaza and the region, the statement said. Both meetings were held in Doha, Qatar, which announced earlier on Saturday that officials were trying to revive the ceasefire talks. "He (Darwish) explained that Hamas was open to offers by the mediators as long as they served the interest of our people and ending their suffering," the statement said. The war in Gaza has been raging for over 14 months, with much of the enclave laid to waste and more than 44,000 Palestinians killed, according to Gaza health authorities, as Israeli forces continue their drive to wipe out Hamas and rescue hostages taken by the militant group. The deadliest Israeli-Palestinian violence in decades began when Hamas stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking more than 250 hostages back to Gaza. In the occupied West Bank on Saturday, a Palestinian man was shot dead by Israeli forces at a checkpoint, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. Police said a security guard had shot him after he threw firecrackers at the forces there and that a knife was found on his person. The Israeli military said that on Friday it killed several Hamas militants who were identified as operating from a structure in Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, according to a statement issued on Saturday. Palestinian health officials said at least 20 people, including six children and five women, were killed in that attack. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement AdvertisementFortis: Buy, Sell, or Hold in 2025?

California researchers say the world may be just one genetic tweak away from human-to-human transmission of the H5N1 bird flu virus — a worrisome mutation that could open the door to widespread human infections and possibly even a pandemic, according to some experts. In a study published Thursday in the journal Science, Scripps Research Institute biologists determined that a single mutation of the hemagglutinin protein — the “H” in H5N1 — could transform a virus that has so far sickened or killed mostly birds and cows into a pathogen that targets cells in human beings. The finding comes amid a growing number of H5N1 outbreaks among California dairy cows, as well as a state-ordered recall of raw milk products . Since the virus began infecting the nation’s dairy stock in March, infectious disease experts have warned that unprotected contact between dairy workers and infected cows could enable the virus to evolve in a manner that threatens humans. Now, Scripps researchers suggest the path for such a genetic change may be much shorter than state and national health officers anticipated. “This really surprised us,” said study coauthor James Paulson, a biochemist and molecular biologist. This one mutation “satisfies a requirement for transmission,” he said. Richard Webby, director of the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Center for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals and Birds, said the study’s finding countered prevailing thought on the virus — specifically, that it would take multiple mutations for the virus to pose a threat to humans. “This will likely cause a stir,” said Webby, who is also a researcher in the department of infectious diseases at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., and was not involved in the Scripps research. “I think most of us thought it would probably need more than one change,” Webby said. Yoshihiro Kawaoka, a virologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Tokyo, called the Scripps teams’ finding a “significant discovery” and said it was “critical because, given the mutation rate of influenza viruses, one in every 10,000 particles of the bovine H5N1 virus could carry this mutation.” That means the potential emergence of an H5N1 virus “that can recognize human receptors is closer than we may have thought,” he said. Several months ago, Paulson and coauthor Ian Wilson, a Scripps structural biologist, decided they’d investigate the current H5N1 strain, and see what it would take for it to cause a human pandemic. Paulson is an expert in researching where and how different influenza viruses bind to cells when they enter a host. Wilson studies the structure of influenza virus proteins. The scientists began their research by accessing a global influenza database and locating the genetic sequence for A/Texas/37/2024 — the strain of H5N1 bird flu found in a Texas dairy worker. They then examined the hemagglutinin proteins, or spikes, on the outer surface of the virus, since those enable it to latch onto the cell membrane of its host. Animals such as birds and humans have different docking stations on their cells — known as sialic acid receptors. In order for a flu virus to open a door into a cell and begin replicating, it needs just the right spike, or key. Although more than 50 humans have been infected by H5N1, many of these cases involve dairy workers who were likely sprayed in the eyes and nose with milk from infected cows. Researchers postulate that repeated exposure of this sort allowed the virus to push into the cells — a brute force entry more than a lock-picking. Ordinarily, person-to-person transmission of a flu virus “is mainly through the air from droplets from a sneeze or cough, which contains very little virus,” Paulson said. “In this context, the virus needs to be able to recognize human-type receptors to bind to cells in the human airway in amounts sufficient to cause infection.” In order to figure out what it would take for the virus to gain the right docking equipment to unleash a human pandemic, Paulson, Wilson and their team looked at previous flu outbreaks that had jumped the bird-human divide, including the influenza outbreaks of 1918, 1957, 1968 and 2009 — as well as some earlier research. They “selected a number of positions” on the hemagglutinin protein “to mutate, one at a time” with amino acids they knew had been implicated in previous pandemics. Then they attempted to bind these altered “H” proteins with human and bird receptor analogues. Lo and behold, when they switched a glutamine to a leucine at position 226, it no longer bound to the bird receptors, but instead exclusively to those of humans. Paulson said it was especially interesting because this mutation had occurred before in earlier strains of H5N1, including one from around 2010 — but “at that time, that single mutation was not sufficient to change receptor specificity. So, the unexpected thing is that virus has changed in subtle ways — evolved, if you will — so that now that single mutation does change the receptor specificity.” Although the researchers demonstrated that it was possible for the virus to become a threat to humans with just one genetic change, that does not mean nature will follow that specific path. A multitude of factors can influence the evolution of an organism, and they are not easily predicted. This may be why the virus has not yet gained the ability to widely infect humans, some say. “Despite more than 50 human infections with bovine H5N1, we have not seen evidence of this virus adapting to humans on a larger scale,” Kawaoka said. “This suggests that ... additional mutations are likely required for the virus to become fully transmissible between humans.” Paulson acknowledged that the “context of the total biological picture is extremely important.” He said the research focused on just “one property that is important for the virus to be successful when adapting to a new host,” but there are others that may also be important. For instance, H5N1 in the past was known to cause severe respiratory disease. But recently, it’s mostly been associated with conjunctivitis and only occasionally with mild, upper respiratory disease in people. “Why is that? I don’t think anybody knows,” Paulson said. What is known is that the virus is moving swiftly through a variety of species around the globe — with ample opportunity to mutate and adapt. As of Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had confirmed H5N1 infections in 58 people: 35 as a result of working with infected dairy cows, 21 from infected poultry, and in two cases, the source is unknown. In addition, 707 dairy herds across 15 states have also been infected. And in just the last 30 days, 23 commercial poultry farms in California have come down with the virus — affecting more than 5.6 million birds. Get local news delivered to your inbox!