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heavy duty fishing rod In a potentially game-changing move for the EV industry, Stellantis and Zeta Energy Corp have teamed up to develop the next-generation EV battery with more range, more power, 50% faster charging, and at less than half the cost. Lithium-ion batteries have powered the electric vehicle (EV) revolution since 2008, when Tesla introduced the to the world, powered by 53 kWh of Li-ion goodness, with a range of around 245 miles (394 km). The iconic Roadster nearly doubled the 140-mile (225 km) range of General Motors' 1999 EV1, which powered by an incredibly heavy, 26.4 kWh nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack. Despite lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries having been conceptualized in the 1960s, practical applications were limited due to issues like poor life cycles and capacity loss from something called " ," unique to Li-S batteries. As the battery discharges, sulfur at the cathode side reacts with the lithium, creating lithium polysulfides which diffuse through the electrolyte to the anode leaving deposits. While charging, some polysulfides would migrate back to the cathode, but not all, degrading the battery very quickly. Texas, USA-based Zeta, in partnership with global automotive giant, Stellantis, reckons it's got that figured out. Recent advancements in material technology and the development of barriers and coatings trap these polysulfides, preventing them from "shuttling" between the electrodes, effectively fixing the pesky premature death effect. Li-S is significantly lighter than their Li-ion counterparts. A Li-ion battery typically packs between 150-250 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg) of energy in them. Li-S can achieve up to 400-600 Wh/kg. That's a . Li-S can provide same amount of power with a smaller package – meaning not only greater range in your EV because the batteries are going to weigh 30-50% less, but better handling and performance. The lighter, the better. The two companies also claim improvements in fast-charging speeds by as much as 50% over traditional lithium-ion battery packs. Li-S has a simpler chemistry and doesn't rely on the slow diffusion of lithium ions into solid materials (like the graphite in Li-ion). Instead, reactions occur directly between the lithium and sulfur which is faster and more straightforward. They also operate at lower voltages, so they don't have as much resistance during charging, making them absorb energy more quickly. The kicker: Li-S batteries are expected to cost less than the price per kilowatt-hour than Li-ion. Sulfur is abundant and Zeta's Li-S batteries use waste materials like methane and unrefined sulfur from various industries. They also ditch expensive, hard-to-source materials like cobalt, graphite, manganese or nickel; which Li-ion is also made from. Zeta's approach can utilize locally sourced materials and use existing factories to assemble its batteries, slashing CO2 emissions compared to existing battery tech. Contrary to what you might think of "sulfur" being in the name, it's not like what you find in gunpowder, matches or fireworks. The sulfur in Li-S is in a solid state. Li-S batteries don't have flammable electrolytes like what you'd find in a typical Li-ion battery. It's often the electrolyte that causes battery fires. They're not without any flaws, however, as the the use of a lithium metal anode can pose risks like dendrite formation, which can lead to short circuits. But if you've ever seen an EV battery fire, you know it to be . Fire departments often have to simply wait until the fire burns itself out when a lithium-ion battery "vents" or explodes. Punctures or thermal runaway (usually from over-charging) lead to chain reactions that create a lot of batteries. Li-S batteries are less prone to this as the sulfur's chemical reactions are less exothermic. And without ingredients like cobalt and nickel to fuel a fire, Li-S is considered to be safer than the batteries that , your laptop, your phone, . With Stellantis aiming to roll out Li-S-powered EVs by 2030, this partnership could redefine how we think about electric mobility. Source:River Street Marketplace restaurants officially open, offering something for everyone

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Duplicate Bridge: Dec. 14, 2024The 2024 Imperial Springs International Forum is held in Madrid, Spain on December 12, 2024. Photo: Wang Wenwen/GT Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday sent a congratulatory letter to the 2024 Imperial Springs International Forum held in Madrid, Spain. Xi pointed out that since its establishment 10 years ago, the forum has adhered to advocating multilateralism, conducted in-depth discussions on global governance issues, actively shared China's propositions, and played a positive role in enhancing exchanges and understanding between China and countries worldwide, Xinhua News Agency reported. Xi emphasized that in a world marked by intertwined changes and turmoil, peace and development remain the shared aspirations of all peoples. China stands ready to work with other countries in the spirit of "promoting global solidarity," upholding fairness and justice to safeguard global peace and stability, adhering to win-win cooperation to promote sustainable global development, and committing to inclusiveness and mutual learning to advance human civilization to new heights, Xi said. The 2024 Imperial Springs International Forum was held in Madrid, Spain on Wednesday and Thursday under the theme "Collective Action for One Future." In his opening remarks, Yang Wanming, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said that facing the future, all parties should take practical actions to strengthen unity and cooperation, work together to respond to global challenges, defend and practice true multilateralism, stand on the right side of history, promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind in the spirit of "promoting global solidarity," and contribute to promoting world peace, stability and prosperity. Xue Lan, dean of the Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University who was present at the forum, noted that Xi's letter shows that the Chinese government has utmost sincerity in cooperating with the international community to cope with challenges. "China has accumulated enough experience to fully understand the problems faced by today's world. The key is consensus and the will to solve the problems. It is easier for countries to make a statement on international occasions, but actions matter the most - that's why the theme of this year's forum is significant," Xue told the Global Times on the sidelines of the forum. More than 200 participants from the political, academic, and business circles in over 50 countries from Asia, Europe, Africa, America and Oceania, including over 50 former heads of state, heads of government, and leaders of international organizations, and over 90 internationally renowned experts, scholars, and business leaders attended the forum. Inaugurated in 2014, the Imperial Springs International Forum is now jointly organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Australia China Friendship and Exchange Association, the People's Government of Guangdong Province, and World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid. This year's forum mainly focused on the following topics: global strategic stability, financing for development, enhancing global cooperation, traditional and non-traditional challenges to global security, tackling challenges facing the world economy, United Nations Summit of the Future, the Future of Global Governance, AI and green technology, sustainable development, and people-to-people exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. The Imperial Springs International Forum has been held for eight consecutive sessions, and has become a new type of high-end platform for China to conduct in-depth communication with the rest of the world. This year was the first time that the forum has been held abroad. Josipovic, the former president of Croatia, said that this change is significant as it shows the will to cooperate is even more intensive. Csaba Korosi, a Hungarian diplomat who served as president of the 77th United Nations General Assembly, was also a participant of the forum. He believes that the zero-sum game mentality prevailing in the world is starting to overshadow the necessity of global cooperation on global common goods, and the Imperial Springs International Forum with this year's theme of "Collective Action for One Future" provides an inspiring platform to discuss how countries can tackle it. "The result is a lose-lose game. So it cannot be an alternative for us. It cannot be an acceptable outcome for us. Our responsibility is the collective action, where we can still have a kind of race, but where we have to find the ways of cooperation," Korosi told the Global Times. Maria Fernanda Espinosa, former minister of foreign affairs of Ecuador, told the Global Times that cooperation fits into today's world. "When you think about the security challenges that the world faces, the conflicts that we are experiencing, the environmental crisis, the crisis of poverty and inequalities, all of these challenges require more cooperation in a multilateral system, and that's what it's all about at the end." She expressed appreciation for China's efforts to gather global voices. "China has shown that the voices of the world are important, bringing a community of current and former leaders to discuss the challenges of our times to come up with innovative ideas and solutions. It's really valued," she noted.CEO killer suspect: golden boy who soured on US health system

(BPT) - Tech gifts are consistently some of the most popular presents to give and receive during the holidays. In fact, according to the annual , a record 233 million U.S. adults (89%) will buy tech products during the 2024 holiday season. But with so many devices out there, it can be hard to decide on the perfect option for the loved one on your list. A tablet like the new Fire HD 8 from Amazon offers the versatility of an all-in-one device, with access to streaming, gaming, video chatting, reading or writing all at your fingertips. also features a vibrant 8-inch HD display and lightweight, portable design, for high-quality entertainment on the go. Plus, comes with three new AI features that can help you get the most out of your tablet experience. Check them out below and learn how they can help you with daily tasks this holiday season and beyond. Do you struggle with writing a heartfelt message or finessing a tricky email? Fear not! Writing Assist is here to help. Writing Assist works as part of your Fire tablet's device keyboard and compatible apps, including email, Word documents and social media. In just a few taps, you can transform your writing from good to great. Try Writing Assist's pre-set styles to turn a simple email into a professionally written note. Or, you can ask Writing Assist for grammar suggestions to make your writing more concise, or elaborate on your ideas. You can even "emojify" your writing to add more fun and personality. Say goodbye to scrolling through pages of information. The new Webpage Summaries feature allows you to learn pertinent information as quickly as possible. Available on the Silk browser on Fire tablets, Webpage Summaries provides quick insights on web articles. In a matter of seconds, this feature will distill the key points in an article or on a webpage into a clear, concise summary of what you need to know. With Wallpaper Creator, you can easily add a touch of creative flair and customization to your tablet's home screen. You can choose from one of the curated prompts to get started on creating a unique background. Or, if you're ready to let your imagination run wild, type a description of what you'd like to see. For example, you can ask for an image of a tiger swimming underwater or a watercolor-style image of a desert landscape in space. Wallpaper Creator will then turn your vision into a reality, delivering a high-resolution image that you can use as your tablet's wallpaper. Writing Assist, Webpage Summaries, and Wallpaper Creator are now available on Amazon's new and other compatible Fire tablet devices, including the latest and tablets. To learn more, or to order a new Fire tablet this gift-giving season, visit .

Trump took over the family real estate business in 1971 and used it to build his business brand. As the family's businesses expanded, they faced lawsuits and financial volatility. Here's everything to know about the Trump businesses and increasingly complicated ethical questions. When President-elect Donald Trump was growing up, he worked in the offices and on the construction sites of his father's real estate business, Elizabeth Trump & Son. By 1973, he had taken over the company and given it a now well-known name: The Trump Organization. In the decades since, Trump has pursued global real estate development, reality television shows, a media conglomerate, cryptocurrency, and branded products like Bibles. His signature company has faced financial and legal turmoil throughout the years, but has become synonymous with his trademark brand of business success. When Trump took office in 2017, he handed formal control of the Trump Organization to his two elder sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump . Some questioned whether conflicts of interest persisted for the then-president, who had simultaneous political and professional power. Now that Trump has won a second term in the White House, the Trump Organization will again have to navigate a murky business landscape. Here's everything to know about the Trump Organization and the family's business ventures, including financial volatility, lawsuits, and an increasingly complicated web of ethical questions. Company history Fred Trump was born in New York City in 1905. He started building and selling homes in Queens when he was 19, eventually developing properties in Brooklyn and Staten Island as well. The president-elect was involved with the business since childhood and began officially working for his father shortly after graduating college. He took over the company in 1971 and renamed it in 1973. Key business areas After taking over, Trump helped expand the business, buying properties in Manhattan and outside of New York. He developed the Grand Hyatt Hotel in 1976, despite not having enough money to buy the property (this is among the early plot points in 'The Apprentice, ' a 2024 movie about Trump's business rise). By the 1980s, Trump had established himself as a real estate mogul, boasting properties like Trump Tower and beginning to pursue casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Trump Organization faced financial challenges in these years, with multiple Trump-owned properties filing for bankruptcy in the early 1990s. The president-elect used bankruptcy protections to restructure the company's debts and maintained his image as a successful businessman. Today, the Trump Organization's website lists eight hotels, five of which are in the U.S. It also lists residential properties across the country and globe, with a focus on New York. In addition to the real estate holdings, the organization lists 18 golf courses it owns or is developing. In 1996, Trump bought the Miss Universe Organization , which included Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. He sold the company in 2015, after NBC dropped the show due to remarks he made about Mexican immigrants during his 2016 presidential campaign. The beauty pageant has been awash in controversy in recent years, and some contestants have said that Trump would look at them as they changed backstage. Trump starred as himself in a reality show, 'The Apprentice,' which he hosted from 2004 to 2015. Aspiring business leaders battled each other in challenges and Trump served as the judge, telling a contestant each week, "You're fired!" The show and its spinoff, 'The Celebrity Apprentice,' helped expand Trump's national reach. NBC cut Trump's ties with the program in 2015. After leaving the White House in 2017, Trump formed Trump Media & Technology Group and its flagship product, Truth Social. He founded the company after being kicked off of many mainstream social media sites for his actions on January 6 and now owns a majority stake. Trump Media's financial health shifts with the president-elect's political prospects. Many consider it a "meme stock," since its share price doesn't correlate to its profitability. Trump Media's stock soared after Trump won the 2024 election. The president-elect's stake in the company is his most valuable asset, valued at around $3.5 billion in December, 2024. Since his earliest business days, Trump has profited from branded products , starting with his buildings themselves. During his reality television days, he attached his name to everything from board games to steaks. Trump has continued to sell branded products as a political figure, and financial disclosures released in August reveal that he made more than $12 million off of NFTs and books alone. He also sells sneakers, cologne, and a Trump Bible. Leadership and ownership The Trump Organization is a collection of around 500 privately held companies. Trump ran the day-to-day operations of the company prior to becoming president, but handed control over to his two oldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, when he moved into the White House in 2017. Related stories The company's leadership is composed largely of family loyalists. Eric and Donald Trump Jr. are currently the executive vice presidents. Since the 1970s, most presidents have put their assets into blind trusts, a financial arrangement whereby an independent trustee controls the holdings. During the 2016 campaign, Trump put his assets into a trust controlled his older sons and Allen Weisselberg , the Trump Organization's chief financial officer at the time. The arrangement was not as extensive as a blind trust structure. Trump resigned but didn't sell his stake in the company, which promised not to make any new foreign deals while Trump was president. The Trump Organization also hired an outside ethics advisor at the time and said it would donate any profits from foreign governments to the Treasury Department. Various parties sued Trump over alleged violations of the Constitution's emoluments clause, which prevents presidents from receiving payments or gifts from foreign governments. International governments with interest in US policy decisions spent money at various Trump properties during his term. Three cases about the clause were dismissed without resolution after Trump left office. Related stories Controversies and legal challenges The company's legal troubles predate Trump's time in the White House, stretching back to the era of Fred Trump's leadership. In 1973, the Justice Department sued Fred and Donald Trump for alleged racial discrimination. The parties settled and the Trumps didn't admit any wrongdoing. The company's business practices continued to receive scrutiny throughout the rest of the 20th century, especially as it faced financial difficulties. Trump borrowed money to fund new projects like hotels and casinos, and in 1990 his dad bought more than $3 million worth of casino chips to help a venue make an interest payment. Later, the state of New Jersey found that the transaction was an illegal loan and levied a fine of $65,000. Over the past three decades, Trump and his companies have been engaged in many lawsuits, ranging from bankruptcy proceedings, to fights with gambling patrons, to personal defamation suits. Recently, the company has been entangled in both a civil and criminal fraud trial in New York. In the civil case, the state's attorney general accused the Trump Organization of misleading banks and insurers about property values. A Manhattan judge found Trump guilty in February 2024 and ordered the company to pay almost $364 million before interest, with Trump personally responsible for nearly $355 million of the penalty. By March, judges had lowered Trump's bond to $175 and the president-elect has appealed the case. As part of this case, Weisselberg , the company's former CFO, was sentenced to jail time after admitting to perjury. On the same day the AG first filed the civil fraud case, Trump formed "Trump Organization II " in an apparent attempt to protect his holdings. Anticipating that Trump might try to move his holdings to a company that isn't being sued , the judge made him tell a court-appointed monitor about "any corporate restructuring, disposition or dissipation of any significant assets." New York's criminal suit against Trump ended in 34 convictions , making him the first former president convicted of a felony. A 12-person Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on 34 criminal counts of falsifying business records to hide a $130,000 hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star. The judge in the case has indefinitely postponed Trump's sentencing and the president-elect is now arguing that the case should be thrown out entirely because he has presidential immunity. In July, the Supreme Court ruled that presidents are broadly immune from prosecution, and Trump's legal team is arguing the same should be true for presidents-elect. Next steps for the Trump Organization and other businesses Now that Trump is headed back to the White House, the Trump Organization once again finds itself in a thicket of legal and ethical questions. The company may or may not reinstate its ban on foreign deals once Trump is sworn in for a second term and has business in countries central to America's foreign policy agenda, like Saudi Arabia. In addition to the Trump Organization, Trump Media is another ethical gray area, as people with a vested interest in policy decisions could buy advertisements on Truth Social or shares of stock. Doing so would raise Trump's net worth, given that he owns a majority stake in the company. In September, Trump announced a family crypto venture, World Liberty Financial . The platform is marketed as a way for traders to borrow and lend cryptocurrencies. Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Barron Trump are all involved in the venture. A document from the company lists all four of them as part of the team, but says no Trump family members are employees or officers. Ethics experts have said that World Liberty Financial could also pose conflicts of interest since Trump will oversee crypto regulations as president. The Trump Organization, Trump Media, and World Liberty Financial did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.Ibex Ltd sees $2.97 million in stock sales by PineBridge entities

ALTOONA, Pennsylvania, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Luigi Mangione, the suspect charged with murder in the shooting of a top UnitedHealth executive, briefly struggled with officers and angrily shouted while being escorted into a Pennsylvania courthouse on Tuesday, as a clearer picture of his motives began to emerge a day after his arrest ended a massive manhunt. Mangione , 26, turned toward a group of reporters and yelled in part, "...completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people!" before deputies pushed him away. It was not clear to what he was referring. At the court hearing, his defense lawyer told a judge that Mangione would oppose extradition to New York, where he is charged with murder and other crimes. That decision could delay the process by weeks but is unlikely to block his eventual transfer; for now, Mangione will remain in jail in Pennsylvania, where he faces gun and forgery charges. His attorney, Tom Dickey, said at a news conference that Mangione planned to plead not guilty to the charges. Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth's (UNH.N) , opens new tab insurance arm, one of the largest health insurers in the U.S., was shot dead on the morning of Dec. 4 outside a hotel in Manhattan in what police said was a targeted attack, sparking a manhunt that led to Mangione's arrest. More clues about his possible motivation were coming to light on Tuesday. When arrested, Mangione was in possession of a handwritten manifesto that offered insight into his mindset, according to police. The New York Times reported that an internal New York City Police report analyzing the document concluded that Mangione viewed the killing as a justified response to what he believed to be corruption in the healthcare industry. "These parasites simply had it coming," the manifesto said, according to the Times. Mangione suffered from chronic back pain that limited his daily life, according to friends, his social media postings and other news reports. His profile on X shows a background image of an x-ray with what appears to be screws and plates inserted in a lower back. An employee at TrueCar told Reuters that Mangione worked at the car-buying website as a data engineer from 2022 to late 2023. In mid-2023, Mangione took about two months off for what the employee's manager described as back-related issues. The employee, who asked not to be named, described Mangione as "incredibly smart" and very friendly to his co-workers. He said that the company offered employees health insurance through UnitedHealth as well as other choices, such as Aetna. From January through June 2022, Mangione lived at the Surfbreak co-living community in Honolulu, where he led a book club and surfed, hiked and rock-climbed, the founder of the group, R.J. Martin, told the Hawaiian outlet Civil Beat. Martin said Mangione had suffered back pain caused by misaligned vertebrae pinching Mangione's spinal cord, and he left for the mainland at some point for surgery. But he went "radio silent" in June or July, Martin told Civil Beat. Mangione never showed any indication of violence, Martin later told MSNBC. "The Luigi that I knew is completely incompatible with an assassin," he said, describing him as funny, kind and thoughtful. At one point, Mangione suggested Surfbreak's book club read the manifesto of Ted Kaczynski - the U.S. domestic bomber known as the Unabomber - as a joke, according to Martin. On the book-themed social media site Goodreads, a poster with Mangione's name praised Kaczynski's book "Industrial Society and Its Future" as "prescient" about modern society, called him an "extreme political revolutionary" and suggested violence was a legitimate form of resistance in some circumstances. Mangione was spotted at a McDonald's on Monday by an employee who thought he looked like the gunman in surveillance images released by police. Mangione, an Ivy League graduate who was also the valedictorian of a private all-boys school in Maryland, had a loaded ghost gun - an untraceable firearm assembled from parts - and a silencer, officials said on Monday. Both the weapon and his clothing closely resembled those used by the gunman. He also had multiple fake identifications, including a fraudulent New Jersey ID that matched the one used by the gunman to check into a Manhattan hostel days before the shooting, according to authorities. Mangione's family released a statement saying they knew only what had been reported in the media. "Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi's arrest," the family said in a statement posted to the X account of Maryland lawmaker Nino Mangione. "We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved." The gunman managed to elude capture for days after the attack last Wednesday outside the Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan. Thompson's murder unleashed a wave of frustration from Americans struggling to afford medical care and those who have been denied claims or care. Thompson, a father of two, had been CEO of UnitedHealthcare since April 2021, part of a 20-year career with the company. He had been in New York to attend the company's annual investor conference. Sign up here. Reporting by Julio-Cesar Chavez in Altoona and Rich McKay in Atlanta; Additional reporting by Brad Brooks, Andrew Hay and Kanishka Singh; Writing by Joseph Ax; Editing by Paul Thomasch, Bill Berkrot and Rosalba O'Brien Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tabOn paper, Luigi Mangione had it all: wealth, intellect, athleticism, good looks. But the child of a prominent Maryland family may have spurned it all in a spasm of violence, in a killing that has mesmerized Americans. The 26-year-old was arrested Monday and charged with the murder of Brian Thompson, a health insurance chief executive and father of two who was gunned down in Manhattan last week by someone who, evidence suggests, has endured his own debilitating health crises and grew angry with the privatized US medical system. The cold-blooded killing has laid bare the deep frustration many Americans feel toward the country's labyrinthine health care system: while many have condemned the shooting, others have praised Mangione as a hero. It has also prompted considerable interest in how a young engineer with an Ivy League education could have gone off the rails to commit murder. News of his capture at a Pennsylvania McDonald's triggered an explosion of online activity, with Mangione quickly amassing new followers on social media as citizen sleuths and US media tried to understand who he is. As Americans have looked for clues about a political ideology or potential motive, a photo on his X account (formerly Twitter) includes an X-ray of an apparently injured spine. Mangione lived in Hawaii in 2022 and, according to his former roommate R.J. Martin, suffered from back pain, and was hoping to strengthen his back. After a surfing lesson, Mangione was "in bed for about a week" because of the pain, Martin told CNN. Earlier this year, Martin said, Mangione confirmed he'd had back surgery and sent him photos of the X-rays. Police said the suspect carried a hand-written manifesto of grievances in which he slammed America's "most expensive health care system in the world." "He was writing a lot about his disdain for corporate America and in particular the health care industry," New York police chief detective Joseph Kenny told ABC. According to CNN, a document recovered when Mangione was arrested included the phrase "these parasites had it coming." Meanwhile, memes and jokes proliferated, many riffing on his first name and comparing him to the "Mario Bros." video game character Luigi. Many expressed at least partial sympathy, having had their own harrowing experiences with the US health care system. "Godspeed. Please know that we all hear you," wrote one user on Facebook. Mangione hails from the Baltimore area. His wealthy Italian-American family owns local businesses, including the Hayfields Country Club, according to local outlet the Baltimore Banner, and cousin Nino Mangione is a Maryland state delegate. A standout student, Luigi graduated at the top of his high school class in 2016. A former student who knew Mangione at the elite Gilman School told AFP the suspect struck him as "a normal guy, nice kid." "There was nothing about him that was off, at least from my perception," the person said. Mangione attended the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, where he completed both a bachelor's and master's degree in computer science by 2020, according to a university spokesperson. While at Penn, Mangione co-led a group of 60 undergraduates who collaborated on video game projects, as noted in a now-deleted university webpage. On Instagram Mangione shared snapshots of his travels, and shirtless images of himself flaunting a six-pack. X users have scoured Mangione's posts for potential motives. His header photo includes an X-ray of a spine with bolts attached. Finding a political ideology that fits neatly onto the right-left divide has proved elusive, though he had written a review of Ted Kaczynski's manifesto on online site Goodreads, calling it "prescient." Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, carried out multiple bombings in the United States from 1978 to 1995, in a campaign he said was aimed at halting the advance of modern society and technology. Mangione has also linked approvingly to posts criticizing secularism as a harmful consequence of Christianity's decline, and retweeted posts on the impact mobile phones and social media have on mental health. ia/abo-mlm/nro

Jury awards $310 million to parents of teen killed in fall from Orlando amusement park ride ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The parents of a 14-year-old Missouri boy who fell to his death from a Florida amusement park ride has won a $310 million verdict against the attraction's Austrian builder. The Orlando jury on Thursday ordered Funtime to pay Tyre Sampson's parents $155 million each. The trial lasted only a day as Funtime never appeared in court to defend itself. Icon Park had already settled with Sampson’s family for an undisclosed amount. Sampson stood 6 foot, 2 inches tall and weighed 380 pounds. He fell from the Orlando Free Fall ride at Icon Park because the harness did not fit him and he wasn't warned. Princess of Wales takes another step in return to public life after chemotherapy with carol service LONDON (AP) — The Princess of Wales is taking another step in her return to public life following cancer treatment as she hosts her annual Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey. This year’s concert is designed to celebrate the support people give to one another, especially as they struggle through difficult times, a theme that may have particular resonance for the princess after abdominal surgery and chemotherapy forced her to step back from public duties for much of 2024. The princess, often referred to simply as Kate, alluded to this in a letter thanking the 1,600 people invited to attend the event because of their efforts to help others in their communities. Hall of Famer Randy Moss is stepping away from ESPN for an extended time to deal with health issue Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss is stepping away from his ESPN analyst role for an extended time to focus on a personal health challenge, the network said in a statement. Moss revealed last week that he’s dealing with a health issue and asked fans to pray for him and his family. The 47-year-old ESPN football analyst made his announcement on Instagram from the set of the network’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” show. He directed his message to men and urged them to get checkups and bloodwork done, without specifying any particular illness. More than a million oven gloves are being recalled after consumers report 92 minor burns NEW YORK (AP) — More than one million pairs of oven gloves are being recalled due to a burn hazard, after dozens of injury reports. Video and e-commerce retailer QVC is recalling about 1.1 million of its “Temp-tations Oven Gloves” because they fail to provide sufficient heat protection. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, QVC has received 162 reports of insufficient heat protection, including 92 minor burns. Consumers in possession of the now-recalled gloves are urged to stop using them immediately — and contact QVC for a refund. Lionel Messi wins MLS MVP award, the latest trophy on a long list of honors for the Inter Miami star FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi is the MVP of Major League Soccer for 2024. The award comes after a season where he missed 15 of Inter Miami’s 34 regular-season matches with injuries or commitments to Argentina’s national team. He still factored into a league-high 36 goals by scoring 20 and assisting on 16 others. His 2.1 goal contributions per 90 minutes played is the best by any player in any season in MLS history. MLS revealed the voting results Friday. Messi edged out Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernández for the award, which is determined by a poll of players, club technical staff and select media members. Alternative healer gets 10 years in UK prison for death of woman at slap therapy workshop LONDON (AP) — An alternative healer who advocated “slapping therapy” to treat a range of maladies has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the death of a 71-year-old diabetic woman who stopped taking insulin during his workshop. Hongchi Xiao, 61, was sentenced Friday after being convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence for failing to get medical help for Danielle Carr-Gomm in 2016. Prosecutors say she was howling in pain and frothing at the mouth during the fourth day of a workshop. The California healer promoted paida lajin therapy that advocates slapping to release “poisonous waste” from the body. He was previously convicted of manslaughter in the death of a six-year-old boy in Australia. Stellantis recalling more than 300,000 Ram trucks for braking system defect Stellantis is recalling more than 300,000 Ram Heavy Duty pickup trucks because a faulty part could cause certain braking and tracking systems to fail. The Netherlands-based automaker said the hydraulic control unit on the trucks is prone to failure, which can cause the anti-lock brake, electronic stability control and traction control systems to not work properly. Stellantis said regular braking systems are not affected by the defective part and that it’s unaware of any related injuries. The trucks in question are all model years 2017-18 and include the Ram 2500, 3500, 4500 and 5500. The company is unaware of any injuries related to the defect. El Salvador's president is triumphant after his bet on bitcoin comes true SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele is triumphant about his big bet on bitcoin as the cryptocurrency reached historic highs, surpassing $100,000 for the first time. Bitcoin has been legal tender in the country since 2021 but it never quite matched the president’s enthusiasm. The value of the government’s reported investment now stands at more than $600 million. Bitcoin has rallied mightily since Donald Trump’s election victory last month, exceeding the $100,000 mark on Wednesday night, just hours after the president-elect said he intends to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to be the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. NBA returning to China for pair of Suns-Nets preseason games in 2025 The NBA is returning to China next season. The league has struck a deal to play preseason games there more than five years after the league was effectively banned for Commissioner Adam Silver not punishing Daryl Morey for tweeting support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong. Brooklyn and Phoenix will play games in China’s gambling hub of Macao on Oct. 10, 2025, and again two days later. There are more games planned for China in 2026, a source told The Associated Press. F1 champion Max Verstappen to become first-time father with girlfriend Kelly Piquet ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen is set to become a father for the first time with his girlfriend Kelly Piquet. There’s racing heritage on both sides of the family. Verstappen secured his fourth F1 title last month and Kelly’s father Nelson Piquet was a three-time champion in the 1980s. Verstappen says on Instagram that "we couldn’t be happier with our little miracle.” Verstappen is aiming to win his 10th F1 race of the year at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday. Practice gets underway later.

CARSON, Calif. (AP) — The LA Galaxy and the New York Red Bulls have been Major League Soccer mainstays since the league's inaugural season in 1996, signing glamorous players and regularly competing for championships through years of success and setbacks in a league that's perpetually improving and expanding. Yet just a year ago, both of these clubs appeared to be a very long way from the stage they'll share Saturday in the MLS Cup Final . The Galaxy were one of MLS’ worst teams after a season of internal turmoil and public fan dissent, while the Red Bulls were merely a steady mediocrity seeking yet another coach to chart a new direction. A year later, these MLS founders are meeting in the league's first Cup final between teams from North America's two biggest markets. “Two original clubs being able to put themselves in this situation, I think it’s great,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “To see two clubs that have been at it as long as this league has been around be here, I think it’s a special moment. Couldn’t be two more different and contrasting styles as well, which could make for an interesting game, and I would imagine a high-intensity game.” Everything changed in 2024 after a dismal decade for the Galaxy , who are favored to cap their transformation by winning their team's record sixth MLS championship with a roster that's dramatically different from its past few groups — albeit with one massive injury absence in the final. The transformation of the Red Bulls happened only in the postseason, when a team that hadn't won a playoff game since 2017 suddenly turned into world-beaters under rookie coach Sandro Schwarz. New York struggled through the final three months of league play with only two wins before posting road playoff victories over defending champ Columbus , archrival New York City FC and conference finalist Orlando to storm into the Cup final. “We know about the history (of our club), and we know tomorrow will define what that could mean,” Schwarz said Friday. “To feel the pressure for tomorrow, it’s necessary, because it’s a final, and without pressure it’s not possible to bring the best quality on the field.” The Red Bulls have never won an MLS Cup, only reaching the championship match once before. What's more, they've somehow never won a Cup in any tournament, although they’ve collected three Supporters’ Shields for MLS' best regular-season record. The Galaxy’s trophy case is large and loaded, and those five MLS Cups are on the top shelf. But not much of that team success happened in the past decade for the club that famously brought David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard and many other international stars to Hollywood. In fact, this season has ended a grim era for the Galaxy, who haven't lost all year at their frequently renamed home stadium — which was the site of protests and boycotts just a year ago. The club's fans were tired of LA's steady underachievement and ineptitude in the front office run by team president Chris Klein, who was fired in May 2023. One year ago Thursday, the Galaxy hired Will Kuntz, a longtime Los Angeles FC executive who engineered his new club's roster transformation, most dramatically by landing new designated players Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil — two international talents that LAFC also had in its sights. “I give Will and the group up there a ton of credit,” Vanney said. “It’s one thing to have players you like, and it’s a whole other thing to get them here and get them to connect with your group.” Pec and Paintsil combined for 32 goals and 27 assists while boosting the incumbent talents of striker Dejan Joveljic and Riqui Puig, the gifted Barcelona product who runs the offense from the midfield. The Galaxy clicked in the postseason, scoring a jaw-dropping 16 goals in four matches. Puig has been the Galaxy's most important player all season, but he won't be in the MLS Cup Final after tearing a knee ligament late in last week's conference final victory over Seattle . The loss of Puig — who somehow kept playing on his injured knee, and even delivered the game-winning pass to Joveljic — makes the Galaxy even more difficult to anticipate. “He played a lot in the regular season, so it was not so easy to analyze all these games now without him,” Schwarz said. “But the main focus is to analyze what we need to do, because it’s not clear now how they’re playing without him.” The Galaxy could give some of Puig's responsibilities to Marco Reus, the longtime Dortmund standout who joined LA in August. Reus is nursing a hamstring injury, but Vanney expects him to play. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

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