lottery yesterday results

KORU Medical Systems to Participate in Piper Sandler’s 36th Annual Healthcare Conferencelottery yesterday results 。

Meeting his second grandchild in the fall of 2018 made Bill James-Abra want to take action. As he gazed at the infant while an older grandchild stood on his knee, he began wondering about the world they would grow up in. “I found myself thinking, ‘what kind of world are these kids going to inherit, and what do I want to do about that?’ And that led to me then thinking that there was a gap in Stratford to start an environmental group,” James-Abra said. A few months later, he connected with former Stratford resident Anne Carbert to form Climate Momentum, a local volunteer group that advocates for climate action. With an unavoidable slowdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, this month marks the third anniversary of what James-Abra calls Climate Momentum’s second birthday. Although the group started off small – self-described as the “two people and a website” era – Climate Momentum quickly grew from a few networking social events, or “Climate Mixers,”to hosting its first major event, the Fridays for Future march and rally, on Sept. 20, 2019. That march saw the fledgling group partner with the Stratford District secondary school eco-club for a protest that saw 250 people hike from the school to Market Square in solidarity with Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. Carbert joined the group because she realized that not much was happening to address climate change, despite government agreements like the Kyoto Protocol, and the problem was just getting worse. “My concern was that we were kind of letting a problem of global proportions continue unchecked, and that this was going to affect ecosystems and people everywhere. We were becoming more aware of what the kind of crisis situations might be, in terms of extreme weather and displacement of communities and loss of forest and animal life and that kind of thing,” Carbert said. Canada officially withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol in December 2012 and, despite signing the 2016 Paris Agreement, which aims to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 C above preindustrial levels, national carbon emissions have only dropped slightly, excluding the impacts of the pandemic shutdowns, from 731 megatonnes that year to 702 megatonnes in 2023. Because she did not see the federal or provincial governments taking nearly enough action, Carbert said she saw the opportunity to focus her efforts on the community level. “We wanted people to see local solutions and local actions that were happening and kind of feel that momentum and build on it,” she said. Beyond that 2019 march, the group enjoyed a lot of other successes in that first year, including a letter-writing campaign leading up to Stratford city council’s declaration of a climate emergency in February 2020. Although the group went virtual during the COVID-10 pandemic, its members still managed to find a way to fight for the environment, including holding a Fridays for Future shoe strike that September. With the COVID-related gathering restrictions still in place, When it was again able, Climate Momentum met together in December 2021 at the home of one its members for a “rebirth,” James-Abra said. Since then, the grassroots group has seen a rapid upward resurgence, moving meetings to downtown’s revel coffeehouse and, once it outgrew that space, to Avondale United Church. It now boasts 15 to 18 regular members, sends out a newsletter twice a month, and its follower count is nearly 600 on Instagram and just more than 500 on Facebook. The group has also recently launched its monthly Climate Conversation, which take a deep dive into different issues related to climate change each month. Climate Momentum, James-Abra said, has four main areas of focus: the urban canopy and tree cover, building codes, power generation and public transit. However, James-Abra would still like to see more involvement from the community. “As the guy who’s trying to organize it, I’d always like to see things move faster and see more engagement . . . . And the focus on these projects will, I hope, give more opportunity for people in the community to see where they can plug in and join and be part of the action,” he said. Although Climate Momentum is not a youth-led organization, concerned students have been involved almost from the beginning. This includes Sammie Orr, who helped organize the 2019 Fridays for Future marches, as well as the shoe strike, as well as Rachael Stephan and Emily Adam, who presented to council on the night it declared a climate emergency. Everything that happened at that first march were things the then-youth organizers had called for, Carbert said. “Those who were eager to take a leadership role did so since there’s so much at stake for them. We were learning from each other, working together and planning things and learning about the issues,” she added. The current youth involved in Climate Momentum include Stratford District graduate Ava Cappie, who has become the group’s social media manager, and current student Ewan Mann, the group’s youth representative. They each spend about one to two hours a week in their work with the group. Mann explained he is pretty much a normal member of Climate Momentum, except he’s “40 years younger than everyone else.” Despite still being young, Mann got involved with the group because he wants others to have an opportunity to be young. “If nothing happens now, nothing’s going to happen later and then nothing will happen ever,” he said. Mann’s work with Climate Momentum and the school’s eco-club have helped him decide on a career in environmental engineering. While Stratford may not yet be greatly impacted by climate change, we can still see the effects close to home, Cappie said. She noted the torrential rainstorm that drenched Toronto this past summer, when roughly 100 millimetres of rain over the span of about 3.5 hours caused more than an estimated $1 billion in damage. “Even though we’re not seeing it directly in Stratford every single day, it’s still happening. And if you compare 10 years ago to now kind-of weather trends, we’re having more intense swings,” she said. Cappie added she does not want to leave climate action solely up to climate scientists since it’s an issue that has a profound impact on everyone. “They’re experts, and they know what they’re doing, but we also need to acknowledge that, if things are going the way that they’re going right now, the future is not very bright,” she said. Perhaps the biggest moment for the climate change conversation in Stratford came when the city adopted its Climate Action Plan in August this year. That plan followed previous commitments from the city to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 30 per cent from 2017 levels by 2030 and achieve net–zero emissions by 2050. While James-Abra said he was encouraged by the plan shortly after it was endorsed, he acknowledged he “has a general impatience with the situation we find ourselves in” when it comes to climate change and that “we will have our hands full hitting that 30 per cent mark.” While Mann also liked the plan, the results still seems very far away. He said he thinks those targets should have been set sooner so that was quicker action. “If I’m given a school project and it’s due at the end of the semester, I’m going to do it five weeks before the end of the semester, so I feel like it might be procrastinated a bit,” he said. Cappie agreed, but said the plan still represented a great first step for the city. “I think setting up structures for these changes is great, and it’s a step in the right direction, but it’s nice to kind of have some, like, little things currently happening,” she said. In the coming weeks and years for the advocacy group, James-Abra said he would like to see Climate Momentum focus on two or three projects that work in parallel with the city’s climate action plan. “It gives us the opportunity to just be talking about climate change and practical solutions with more and more people in the community. It’s a question of always trying to gather in more people for meaningful work on goals that are realizable here in the community,” he said.After rough start under coach Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks' defense has become a strengthNone

PHOENIX, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leslie’s, Inc. (“Leslie’s”, “we”, “our”, “its”, or “Company”; NASDAQ: LESL), the largest and most trusted direct-to-consumer brand in the U.S. pool and spa care industry, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2024. Jason McDonell, Chief Executive Officer, said, “Our fourth quarter results were in line with our revised expectations on the top-line, and we saw strong performance in our Pro segment with some continued softness in store traffic and larger-ticket and discretionary categories. Profitability was affected by deleverage from the sales decline and a one-time contract item, though we have remained disciplined on SG&A expenses.” McDonell added, “While we continue to operate in a dynamic environment, which has been felt acutely across the pool industry for the last two years, I see a bright future and compelling opportunities for Leslie’s. Since joining Leslie’s in September, I’ve been in the market talking with customers, vendors, and associates and it’s clear that Leslie’s is a trusted brand with a rich legacy and a strong market leadership position. I see meaningful opportunities to enhance these attributes and build on our competitive advantages by putting the customer at the center of everything we do. With the customer as our north star, we are developing and beginning to execute on the strategy and initiatives to drive long-term profitable growth. I look forward to detailing our strategic roadmap in the coming quarters and thank all of our stakeholders for their support as we build a stronger future together.” Fourth Quarter Highlights Fiscal 2024 Highlights Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Outlook The Company expects the following for the first quarter of fiscal 2025: *Note: A reconciliation of non-GAAP guidance measures to corresponding GAAP measures is not available on a forward-looking basis without unreasonable effort due to the uncertainty of expenses that may be incurred in the future, although it is important to note that these factors could be material to our results computed in accordance with GAAP. Conference Call Details A conference call to discuss the Company’s financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2024 is scheduled for today, Monday, November 25, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial 877-407-0784 (international callers please dial 1-201-689-8560) approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available online at https://ir.lesliespool.com/ . A recorded replay of the conference call will be available within approximately three hours of the conclusion of the call and can be accessed online at https://ir.lesliespool.com/ for 90 days. About Leslie’s Founded in 1963, Leslie’s is the largest and most trusted direct-to-consumer brand in the U.S. pool and spa care industry. The Company serves the aftermarket needs of residential and professional consumers with an extensive and largely exclusive assortment of essential pool and spa care products. The Company operates an integrated ecosystem of over 1,000 physical locations and a robust digital platform, enabling consumers to engage with Leslie’s whenever, wherever, and however they prefer to shop. Its dedicated team of associates, pool and spa care experts, and experienced service technicians are passionate about empowering Leslie’s consumers with the knowledge, products, and solutions necessary to confidently maintain and enjoy their pools and spas. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Operating Measures In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), we use certain non-GAAP financial measures and other operating measures, including comparable sales growth, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income (loss), and Adjusted diluted earnings per share, to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies, to make budgeting decisions, and to compare our performance against that of other peer companies using similar measures. These non-GAAP financial measures and other operating measures should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for our results as reported under GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures and other operating measures are not calculated in the same manner by all companies, and accordingly, are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies and may not be appropriate measures for performance relative to other companies. Comparable Sales Growth We measure comparable sales growth as the increase or decrease in sales recorded by the comparable base in any reporting period, compared to sales recorded by the comparable base in the prior reporting period. The comparable base includes sales through our locations and through our e-commerce websites and third-party marketplaces. Comparable sales growth is a key measure used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest (including amortization of debt issuance costs), taxes, depreciation and amortization, management fees, equity-based compensation expense, loss (gain) on debt extinguishment, loss (gain) on asset and contract dispositions, executive transition costs, severance, costs related to equity offerings, strategic project costs, merger and acquisition costs, and other non-recurring, non-cash or discrete items. Adjusted EBITDA is a key measure used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA is also frequently used by analysts, investors, and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry, when considered alongside other GAAP measures. We use Adjusted EBITDA to supplement GAAP measures of performance to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies, to make budgeting decisions, and to compare our performance against that of other companies using similar measures. Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized measure of financial performance under GAAP but is used by some investors to determine a company’s ability to service or incur indebtedness. Adjusted EBITDA is not calculated in the same manner by all companies, and accordingly, is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies and may not be an appropriate measure for performance relative to other companies. Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an indicator of a company’s operating performance in isolation from, or as a substitute for, net income (loss), cash flows from operations or cash flow data, all of which are prepared in accordance with GAAP. We have presented Adjusted EBITDA solely as supplemental disclosure because we believe it allows for a more complete analysis of results of operations. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to represent, and should not be considered more meaningful than, or as an alternative to, measures of operating performance as determined in accordance with GAAP. In the future, we may incur expenses or charges such as those added back to calculate Adjusted EBITDA. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by these items. Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share Adjusted net income (loss) and Adjusted diluted earnings per share are additional key measures used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. Adjusted net income (loss) and Adjusted diluted earnings per share are also frequently used by analysts, investors, and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry, when considered alongside other GAAP measures. Adjusted net income (loss) is defined as net income (loss) adjusted to exclude management fees, equity-based compensation expense, loss (gain) on debt extinguishment, loss (gain) on asset and contract dispositions, executive transition costs, severance, costs related to equity offerings, strategic project costs, merger and acquisition costs, and other non-recurring, non-cash, or discrete items. Adjusted diluted earnings per share is defined as Adjusted net income (loss) divided by the diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements about us and our industry that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including statements regarding our future results of operations or financial condition, business strategy, value proposition, legal proceedings, competitive advantages, market size, growth opportunities, industry expectations, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” or “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions. Our actual results or outcomes could differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including, among others: You should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We have based the forward-looking statements contained in this press release primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition, and operating results. The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 28, 2024 and in our other filings with the SEC. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time-to-time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. The results, events, and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur, and actual results or outcomes could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this press release, and while we believe that information provides a reasonable basis for these statements, that information may be limited or incomplete. Our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain, and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on these statements. The forward-looking statements made in this press release are based on events or circumstances as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information, changed expectations, the occurrence of unanticipated events or otherwise, except as required by law. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, outcomes or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, or investments. Contact Matthew Skelly Vice President, Investor Relations Leslie’s, Inc. investorrelations@lesl.com (1) See section titled “GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation.” (1) Includes depreciation related to our distribution centers and store locations, which is reported in cost of merchandise and services sold and SG&A in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. (2) Represents charges related to equity-based compensation and our related payroll tax expense, which are reported in SG&A in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. (3) Represents non-recurring costs, such as third-party consulting costs related to first-generation technology initiatives, replacements of systems that have been no longer supported by our vendors, investment in and development of new products outside of the course of continuing operations, or other discrete strategic projects that are infrequent or unusual in nature and potentially distortive to continuing operations. These items are reported in SG&A in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. (4) Includes certain senior executive transition costs and severance associated with completed corporate restructuring activities across the organization, losses (gains) on asset dispositions, merger and acquisition costs, and other non-recurring, non-cash, or discrete items as determined by management. Amounts are reported in SG&A in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. (5) Represents a change in valuation allowance for deferred taxes that management does not believe are indicative of our ongoing operations. This item is reported in income tax expense in our consolidated statements of operations and we note they may reoccur in the future. (6) Represents the tax effect of the total adjustments based on our combined U.S. federal and state statutory tax rates. Amounts are reported in income tax expense (benefit) in our condensed consolidated statements of operations.November 27 - Alabama A&M linebacker Medrick Burnett Jr. died Tuesday night due to a head injury sustained exactly one month earlier in a game against Alabama State. He was 20. Alabama A&M announced Burnett's death on Wednesday. "Today, our Bulldog family is heartbroken by the loss of Medrick Burnett Jr.," Alabama A&M athletic director Dr. Paul A. Bryant said in a statement. "Medrick was more than an exceptional athlete; he was a remarkable young man whose positive energy, leadership, and compassion left an indelible mark on everyone who knew him. While words cannot adequately express our grief, we are humbled by the strength of his family, who stood by his side throughout this unimaginable ordeal. "We extend our deepest condolences and prayers to Medrick's parents, siblings, and loved ones. We also offer our heartfelt support to his teammates, coaches, and the entire Alabama A&M community who are mourning this loss. In this moment of sorrow, we come together to honor Medrick's legacy and celebrate the light he brought to our lives." According to a GoFundMe page from his sister, Dominece James, Burnett was injured in a head-to-head collision in the 27-19 loss against Alabama State in the Magic City Classic at Birmingham. She displayed a hospital picture showing her brother heavily inundated with tubes and other equipment. James said her brother had severe brain swelling and bleeding. WAFF-TV in Huntsville, Ala., displayed a video of the play in which he was hurt, though it is unclear exactly how he was injured so severely. The footage also showed Burnett being taken off the field on a stretcher. Burnett gave a thumbs-up to the crowd while being wheeled off. According to the station, Burnett's condition worsened in the days following the game. Burnett, a redshirt freshman from Lakewood, Calif., had five tackles in seven games this season. He was a transfer from Grambling State. Alabama A&M (6-5) is scheduled to play at Florida A&M on Friday. --Field Level Media Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tabTransfer: Mourinho begs Cristiano Ronaldo to join Fenerbahce

But the City boss has vowed to stay on and lift the club back to the top even if they are sent all the way down to the National League. Guardiola ended speculation over his immediate future this week by extending his contract, which had been due to expire at the end of the season, through to the summer of 2027. That has given the club some stability at a time of great uncertainty as they fight 115 charges related to alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations. City have denied all wrongdoing but their punishment if found guilty could be severe, with demotion even a possibility. Guardiola has strongly defended the club in the past and is happy to continue doing so. The Spaniard said: “I don’t enjoy it, I prefer not to be in that position, but once it’s there I love it because, when you believe in your club, and the people there – I believe what they say to me and the reasons why. “I cannot say yet because we’re awaiting the sentence in February or March – I don’t know when – but at the same time, I like it. “I read something about the situation and how you need to be relegated immediately. Seventy-five per cent of the clubs want it, because I know what they do behind the scenes and this sort of stuff. “I said when all the clubs accused us of doing something wrong, (and people asked) what happens if we are relegated, (I said) I will be here. “Next year, I don’t know the position of the Conference they are going to (put) us, (but) we are going to come up and come up and come back to the Premier League. I knew it then and I feel it now.” The immediate priority for Guardiola, who said his contract negotiations were completed in “just two hours”, is to arrest a run of four successive defeats in all competitions. Yet, ahead of their return to action against Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, the champions continue to grapple with a lengthy injury list. Mateo Kovacic is their latest casualty after sustaining a knock on international duty that could keep him out for up to a month. On the positive side, defenders Nathan Ake, John Stones and Manuel Akanji could feature and Jack Grealish is also closing in on a return after a month out. Much to Guardiola’s frustration, Grealish was called up by England for their recent Nations League games, although he later withdrew. Guardiola said: “I want the best for Jack and I want the best for Jack with the national team but the doctor said to me that he was not ready to play. “I know (England) want him but they have 200 players to select from and Jack was not fit. He had to recover from many things.” Kyle Walker played for England against both Greece and the Republic of Ireland despite limited game time since suffering injury in the October international break. Guardiola said: “If he is fit I like him to play in the national team. It is not a problem, don’t misunderstand me. “Kyle has a dream to make 100 caps for the national team. Do I want to cancel this dream? Absolutely not. “But if you are not fit, if you cannot play here, you cannot play for the national team. It is quite obvious.”

Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.

Narrow Wins Define Maharashtra Assembly PollsMANKATO, Minn. — City and police officials attempted to reassure members of the Muslim community of Mankato recently after concerns about a suspected arson at a mosque. “Every single Mankatoan has value and should feel safe,” said Jeremy Clifton, Mankato’s recently appointed director of public safety, before a gathering of about 40 attendees at the Islamic Center of Mankato on Friday. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get the latest news, sports, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.

World reaches $300 bn climate finance deal at COP29Tallinn (Estonia), Nov 23 (AP) Belarus has granted asylum to a former Polish judge who faced espionage charges at home following his defection in May to the Kremlin-allied country. A decree published on Friday by Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus' autocratic president, described Tomasz Szmydt as being “prosecuted for political reasons” in Poland. The country is an EU and NATO member that has lent vocal support to Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression. Szmydt's defection to Belarus in May trained the focus on Poland as a key target for Russian intelligence activity and ignited a bitter political row over the circumstances of his rapid ascent through the ranks of the Polish justice system. Poland's prosecutors and special services launched an investigation the same month after Belarus media reported that Szmydt arrived in the country and asked for protection. Warsaw responded days later by putting Szmydt on a wanted list, a step toward an international arrest warrant on spying allegations that would restrict his ability to travel internationally. Polish officials have been working to determine how harmful Szmydt's knowledge of any classified information might be to the interests of Warsaw and its Western allies. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has publicly called him a traitor. Szmydt fled to Belarus after resigning from his post as a judge at the Warsaw Administrative Court, saying in a public statement that he was doing so in protest against Poland's “harmful and unjust” policy toward Belarus and Russia. A short time later, he appeared at a press conference in Belarus, praising Lukashenko's regime and presenting himself as a victim of repression. A Polish court later that month lifted Szmydt's immunity, allowing him to be tried in absentia for spying allegations that he has denied. Szmydt was notorious in Poland for having engaged in a 2019 online smear campaign against other judges that was sponsored by the Justice Ministry under the previous right-wing government. Three years later, he appeared to switch sides, appearing in a TV documentary to expose what he said was unethical behaviour by judges close to the ruling party. Szmydt's defection came as a shock in Poland, which has a history of distrust of Russia. Belarus has been one of the Kremlin's few close allies since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Lukashenko has relied on Moscow's subsidies and support. In return, he has allowed Moscow to use Belarusian territory to send troops and weapons into the neighbouring state, and to deploy tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil. Authorities in Minsk have been ratcheting up repressive measures ahead of a presidential election in January in which the strongman leader is seeking a seventh term, including by arresting hundreds of people who have shown solidarity with Kyiv. Authorities responded to massive protests following the widely disputed 2020 election of Lukashenko with a wide-ranging crackdown in which about 65,000 people were arrested. Major opposition figures were either imprisoned or fled the country, and human rights activists say Belarus is holding about 1,300 political prisoners. (AP) PY PY (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)

Disney influencer Dominique Brown dies after medical emergency at event

'Quite a debate': Alabama, Miami first teams out of CFP fieldPalakkad punch for BJP raises more questions than answers as vote erosion detected from stronghold regions

Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.Sumair appointed ‘ICC Champions Trophy Tournament Director’

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday expressed deep sadness over the passing away of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Singh, the architect of India’s economic reforms, died in Delhi on Thursday night. He was 92. Singh’s death was announced by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, where he was admitted in the Emergency ward around 8.30 PM in a critical condition. Terming the former PM as an intellectual statesman, the chief minister said Singh had embodied humility, wisdom and integrity. Deeply saddened by former Prime Minister and renowned economist, Shri Manmohan Singh Ji’s demise. An intellectual statesman, Dr Singh embodied humility, wisdom, and integrity. From his economic reforms in 1991 as Finance Minister to his leadership as Prime Minister, he served the... pic.twitter.com/PAhiHfozMD “Deeply saddened by former Prime Minister and renowned economist, Manmohan Singh Ji’s demise. An intellectual statesman, Dr Singh embodied humility, wisdom, and integrity,” said Naidu in a post on ‘X’. From his economic reforms in 1991 as Finance Minister to his leadership as Prime Minister, he served the nation tirelessly and uplifted millions, he said. Further, he observed that the passing of Singh is a great loss to the nation, offering condolences to the latter’s family, loved ones and admirers.Kyle McCord leads Syracuse to first eight-win regular season in six years with win over UConn