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q2523 Judge Issues Painful Ruling Against Target as Shareholder Lawsuit for 2023 'Pride' Campaign Threatens Woke Co.

Urea Cycle Disorder Treatment Market to Grow by USD 215.4 Million (2024-2028), Driven by Rising Prevalence, with AI Redefining Market Landscape - TechnavioFACT FOCUS: Vermont ruling does not say schools can vaccinate children without parental consentSalt Lake City, Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novarad Corporation, a leader in augmented reality (AR) technology, has successfully enabled the first-ever augmented reality-guided brain surgery on a canine patient in the United States, potentially changing the future of veterinary neurosurgery. This pioneering procedure was performed on Geddy, who, as a six-week-old puppy, was abandoned in a high-speed chase involving a stolen car and gunfire in Northern Mississippi. She was rescued by local law enforcement and taken to a veterinarian. After being posted for adoption, Geddy was united with a loving family. During the summer of 2024, Geddy began experiencing seizures and neurological signs and was diagnosed with a brain tumor through MRI. The severity of her condition prompted a referral to the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) with veterinary neurosurgeon scientist Wojciech Panek, DVM, DACVIM, and neurology specialty intern Tessa Arendt, DVM. Panek and his research collaborator, human neurosurgeon and Director of the Penn Brain Tumor Center Nduka Amankulor, MD, from the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) were familiar with an innovative AR technology emerging in human surgeries and recognized the potential for this technology to assist in Geddy’s operation. The augmented reality guidance system known as VisAR, developed by Novarad Corporation and co-invented by Novarad CEO Wendell Gibby, MD, is used in human medical procedures for its precision and accuracy. The decision was made to use VisAR in Geddy's surgery, led by the surgery team of Panek and Amankulor. During the operation, preoperative MRI images were superimposed with anatomical accuracy onto Geddy’s skull, allowing for precise biopsy and tumor resection. Novarad representative Darin Johnson assisted in the calibration of VisAR during surgery. The complex and delicate procedure was a success. “Geddy has recovered from surgery; her owners report no neurological signs nor seizures,” said Panek. “We will continue to monitor Geddy’s recovery, but I am incredibly pleased with her progress. I am extremely grateful to Dr. Gibby and the entire Novarad team for their willingness to partner with Penn Vet to implement their lifesaving AR surgical navigation system, VisAR, in this particularly sensitive canine brain surgery.” “This groundbreaking surgery marks a milestone in veterinary medicine and highlights the incredible potential and promising outcomes of augmented reality in animal healthcare,” said Gibby. “The successful use of VisAR in Geddy's brain surgery is a testament to the power of innovation, the dedication of the Penn Vet and PSOM neurosurgery team, their top-notch research, and the tireless efforts of Novarad to bring this life-saving technology to the forefront of medical care.” Geddy’s remarkable journey, from abandonment to a pioneer in canine veterinary neurosurgery, highlights the incredible advances in veterinary medicine, promising a brighter future for animals and their owners needing complex surgeries. About Novarad Corporation: Novarad Corporation is a leading provider of advanced medical imaging solutions, including cutting-edge augmented reality (AR) technologies. Their innovative products, such as VisAR, are designed to enhance precision and improve outcomes in both human and animal healthcare. Novarad’s solutions have been widely adopted across various medical disciplines and are paving the way for the future of medical procedures. Novarad and Penn Vet established a unique research collaboration to further validate and optimize its use in canine patients with neurological conditions, with several studies ongoing. Attachments Novarad Corporation marketing@novarad.net

CU Buffs AD Rick George: ‘I believe (Coach Prime) wants to be here for the long haul’OTTAWA - The RCMP plans to create a new aerial intelligence task force to provide round-the-clock surveillance of Canada’s border using helicopters, drones and surveillance towers. The move is part of the federal government’s $1.3-billion upgrade to border security and monitoring to appease U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s concerns about the flow of migrants and illegal drugs. Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian and Mexican exports to the U.S. as soon as he is inaugurated next month unless both countries move to improve border security. Canada will also propose to the United States the creation of a North American “joint strike force” to target organized crime groups that work across borders. In addition, the government intends to provide new technology, tools and resources to the Canada Border Services Agency to seek out deadly fentanyl using chemical detection, artificial intelligence and canine teams. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc told a news conference Tuesday he has discussed parts of the plan with American officials and that he is optimistic about its reception. “We have a lot of work ahead of us,” said LeBlanc, who tried to play down the notion Canada was simply bowing to American demands. “The fight against fentanyl is very much a fight that Canadians want to have because of its impact in Canada,” he said. “Deepening, strengthening, being more visible in the posture at the border is something that we’re happy to do with our American partners.” The announcement followed a promise in the fall economic statement Monday to earmark the money over six fiscal years for the RCMP, the border agency, Public Safety Canada and the cyberspies at the Communications Security Establishment. Among the other planned measures: — a Canadian Drug Profiling Centre to complement existing laboratory capacity by allowing for more specialized analysis of synthetic drug samples, helping determine where substances were made; — a Precursor Risk Management Unit to increase oversight over chemicals used to make drugs and monitor emerging illegal drug trends; — an obligation for port owners and operators to provide the border agency with the space and facilities needed to conduct export inspections, just as they currently do for imports; — stronger efforts against money laundering to help starve organized crime groups of profits from human smuggling and drug and firearms trafficking; — and new restrictions on countries that do not rapidly facilitate the return of their citizens in the event of fraudulent entry or a removal order. RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme, who also attended the news conference, said the goal “for us is get the technology out there as soon as we can.” “I can’t just buy a helicopter tomorrow, but there are processes where you can rent the helicopter, and we’re exploring every facet.” Duheme said an aim of the joint strike force would be develop specialists on fentanyl, bringing together law enforcement partners both in Canada and abroad. The union representing rank-and-file Mounties welcomed the move to spend more on border security. National Police Federation president Brian Sauvé said in a statement Monday that members had been protecting the border with limited resources, and the new money will allow them to continue delivering on their mandate. Aaron McCrorie, the border services agency’s vice-president of intelligence and enforcement, said in a recent interview that irregular migration and smuggling of drugs such as fentanyl are common concerns for Canada and the United States. “These aren’t concerns that are unique to the United States. We share those same concerns,” he said. “In that sense, it really speaks to the need for us to work collaboratively.” McCrorie said the Canadian border agency is working closely with U.S. counterparts including Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security, as well as with agencies in Britain, Australia and New Zealand. “Criminal enterprises, organized crime, they don’t respect international boundaries. They collaborate, they exploit weaknesses in the system,” McCrorie said. “And so the best way to confront them is to collaborate on our side, fill those gaps, support each other’s efforts.” He said Canada’s border agency has two targeting officers embedded with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the American agency plans to soon send a targeting officer to Canada. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 17, 2024.

PEMBROKE, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 25, 2024-- Hamilton Re, the Bermuda-based insurance and reinsurance underwriting platform of Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. (NYSE: HG) (“Hamilton” or “the Company”), today announced its expansion into Credit, Bond and Political Risk Reinsurance with the appointment of Sergio Lottimore to the role of Vice President, Credit, Bond and Political Risk Reinsurance. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125313447/en/ Sergio Lottimore, Vice President, Credit, Bond and Political Risk Reinsurance, Hamilton Re. (Photo: Business Wire) Based in Bermuda, Lottimore will report to Peter Riihiluoma, Senior Vice President and Head of Specialty Reinsurance at Hamilton Re. Hamilton Re offers a wide breadth of reinsurance solutions across multiple Property, Casualty and Specialty lines of business to meet the demands of its clients worldwide. The new Credit, Bond and Political Risk Reinsurance offerings will be incorporated within the Specialty Reinsurance portfolio, and further expands our offerings to clients. “Our expansion into Credit, Bond and Political Risk Reinsurance marks a significant milestone for Hamilton Re in its commitment to building a globally diversified reinsurance offering,” said Hamilton Re CEO Megan Graves. “This exciting development is bolstered by Hamilton’s AM Best financial strength rating upgrade to “A” (excellent) announced earlier this year. “I’m delighted to welcome Sergio to Hamilton. He brings dedicated expertise and experience in Mortgage, Trade Credit, Surety, Political Risks and Structured Credit lines to our already strong Specialty Reinsurance team.” Lottimore has 18 years of specialty and financial lines market experience. He joins Hamilton from Validus Re where he was Vice President, Credit Lines Underwriter for three years. Prior to that, he spent 15 years in roles of continuous progression at MS Amlin. About Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. Hamilton is a Bermuda-headquartered specialty insurance and reinsurance company that underwrites risks on a global basis through its wholly owned subsidiaries. Its three underwriting platforms: Hamilton Global Specialty, Hamilton Select and Hamilton Re, each with dedicated and experienced leadership, provide access to diversified and profitable business around the world. For more about our company, visit www.hamiltongroup.com or find us on LinkedIn at Hamilton View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125313447/en/ CONTACT: Media contact Kelly Corday Ferris kelly.ferris@hamiltongroup.comInvestor contacts Jon Levenson and Darian Niforatos investor.relations@hamiltongroup.com KEYWORD: CARIBBEAN UNITED STATES BERMUDA NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES INSURANCE FINANCE SOURCE: Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/25/2024 04:15 PM/DISC: 11/25/2024 04:16 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125313447/enWASHINGTON (AP) — Jason Drake had 21 points in Drexel's 68-65 victory over Howard on Tuesday night. Drake shot 8 for 17 (1 for 5 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line for the Dragons (8-4). Yame Butler went 6 of 10 from the field (3 for 7 from 3-point range) to add 16 points. Marcus Dockery led the Bison (5-7) in scoring, finishing with 14 points and two steals. Blake Harper added 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Cameron Shockley-Okeke had 10 points. Drexel went into halftime leading Howard 36-34. Butler put up 10 points in the half. Drexel used an 8-0 run in the second half to build an 11-point lead at 49-38 with 13:07 left. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .UK-based biometrics and telecommunications technology provider has been acquired by Enghouse Holdings UK Limited to integrate cloud platform and identity verification technologies. Aculab’s software portfolio is made up of face and voice biometrics, AI-powered answering machine detection, signaling products, delivered on-premises or from the cloud, and a communications platform as a service (CPaaS). These are sold to enterprises directly, and also indirectly through healthcare and emergency management system integrators in the U.S. and Europe, according to the announcement. Enghouse Holdings is a subsidiary of Canada-based Enghouse Systems Limited, which sells enterprise software to contact centers and the video communications, healthcare, telecom, public safety and transit markets. “I am pleased with the acquisition by Enghouse, seeing it as a great opportunity to expand the company’s reach while ensuring its innovative legacy continues,” says Alan Pound, chairman and founder of Aculab. CEO Ladan Baghai-Ravary says combining the two companies will create synergies. “Aculab’s team and products expand our existing gateway business, adds a CPaaS solution, and several AI enabled products to the Enghouse Interactive’s product portfolio,” said Steve Sadler, Chairman & CEO of . What will become of Aculab’s work on developing remains to be seen. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Enghouse Interactive to provide biometric authentication to its clientele in 2022. The deal extends a run of acquisitions in biometrics and digital identity during the month of December, including , SecureAuth picking up , Dentity buying , and joining World ID “contributor” Tools for Humanity. | | | | |

Online trolls are “typically younger and male” who spend lots of time down “social media rabbit holes with conspiracy theories”, it is claimed. The profile of Irish tolls is outlined in a new TG4 documentary Online Hate and Trolling. It airs tomorrow and reveals that almost half of Irish adults have experienced some form of online hate. The claim is made by a cyberbullying expert who hears testimony from online abuse victims as they speak openly about their ordeals. The expert - Dr Darragh McCashin – warns that social media companies are not doing enough to remove harmful and offensive. Dr McCashin is a Dublin City University assistant professor at DCU’s School of Psychology and is also chairperson of The Observatory on Cyberbullying, Cyberhate & Online Harassment in the Anti-Bullying Centre. He has studied the psychological characteristics of potential online trolls and reveals all tonight as part of TG4’s award winning series Iniúchadh. The programme demands that tech companies must explain why it remains so difficult for victims to get anonymous, abusive online comments removed. Dr McCashin said: “There is an initial set of demographic predictors of who that person might be. Typically younger, typically male. There is some emerging evidence to say that those who are holding medical cards, Irish born parents, probably have a problematic relationship with technology." READ MORE: Online troll's jab at Doireann Garrihy backfires - as RTE star issues hilarious response READ MORE: Dancing With The Stars' Arthur Gourounlian claims online trolls are 'jealous' of marriage to Brian Dowling Dr McCashin added: “They spend lots of time on social media, going down perhaps various rabbit holes with conspiracy theories or alternative media. They are not on a mission, they are just out to cause chaos.” He added: “We did a survey of just over a thousand near representative sample of Irish adults. Just under half of them had experience of one form of online hate. "Pretty much everyone in that sample had witnessed online hate, whether that is racism or consistent harassment of fellow online users. So, we can take from this, it’s highly prevalent to the extent that it is almost normalised. Men are more likely to be targeted because of age and or nationality. Women are more likely to be because of their gender.” Contributors to the documentary include Fianna Fáil MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, organ donation campaigner Máirtín Mac Gabhann, social media influencer Cian Ó Gríofa, and Belfast-based Irish language advocate Linda Ervine. They all speak openly about the abuse they have endured and how they cope with it. Cian, 29, receives abuse online when he talks about growing up in Ireland as a young gay man. He said: "It bothers me, especially because of young people who follow me. They can see that hatred and see the negative comments and that's probably not a positive thing for them as they could be struggling with their own identity and sexuality. "These comments change public attitudes towards gay and marginalised people and people are then more comfortable that they can say so on social media. They go to a point where they feel comfortable saying things like that in real life and then the next step could be an attack and I think we're heading towards a dangerous future.” MEP Ní Mhurchú was elected earlier this year and has since been regularly subjected to abuse from anonymous online trolls. She said: “Sexual insults, insults because I'm a woman, insults because I'm a politician, and insults because they think my politics is not the same as their politics. They are destroying the mental health of ordinary people.” Ervine has been targeted by hardline Loyalists because of her efforts to make the Irish language more accessible in Belfast. She said: “It hurts, it hurts, because I'm a human being. I don't want to read insulting things. I don't want to read false accusations. I'm doing my job, that's it.” MacGabhann, 34, has a campaign slogan Donate4Daithi to raise awareness because his eight-year-old son Dáithí is waiting on a heart transplant. He said: "As our campaign became more successful and we became more vocal, that's when the online abuse began to increase and the type of trolls appeared. The words I saw were really hard to read about my innocent little son. In the beginning I didn't understand how people could write like this about a little boy who is going through a really bad time in his life. It broke my heart." Investigative journalist Kevin Magee speaks to Appeals Centre Europe about what people can do to resolve content disputes with social media platforms. TG4’s doc An Gréasán Gráiniúil (Online Hate and Trolling) by journalist Magee is on TV from 9.30pm. Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .

Ghana counted ballots on Saturday after a tight election with the ruling party's Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia trying to shake off anger over economic woes and rebuff a challenge by opposition party candidate ex-president John Mahama. Ghana's struggling economy dominated the election, after the west Africa gold and cacao producer went through a debt default, high inflation and negotiations for a $3 billion IMF bailout. Voters were choosing a successor to Bawumia's boss, President Nana Akufo-Addo, who steps down after serving the maximum of two four-year terms. They will also elect the country's new parliament. Voting was mostly calm, but one person was shot dead and four people arrested at a polling station in Nyankpala in the country's northern region, police and local media said. After polls closed at 1700 GMT, election teams immediately began tallying ballots under the watch of agents from political parties before sending them to collation centres. Preliminary results are expected early Sunday, with full presidential results scheduled by Tuesday. "Everyone is complaining prices are high. So I want a change, I want a good president who will bring in changes," Abdullah Mohammed, a student said after voting in Accra's Nima district. With a history of political stability, Ghana's two main parties, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC), have alternated in power equally since the return to multi-party democracy in 1992. Touting the slogan "Break the 8" -- a reference to going past the usual two terms in power -- the NPP hopes Bawumia can lead them to an unprecedented third term. But he struggled to break away from criticism of Akufo-Addo's economic record. "I think we have done a lot of work with our message to the people and the message has been well received," Bawumia said after voting in his northern home Walewale. A UK-educated economist and former central banker, he points to an economy turning a corner and the government's continued plans for digitalisation to ease business, as well as free education and health programmes. But though inflation slowed from more than 50 percent to around 23 percent, and other macro-economic indicators are stabilising, the economic pain was still a clear election issue. Many Ghanaians still say they struggle with the cost of living, scarce jobs and a depreciated cedi currency. Frustration over the economy has opened the way for a comeback challenge from Mahama, who was president from 2012 to 2017 but has since failed twice in presidential bids. The NDC flag-bearer says he will "reset" Ghana and introduce a "24-hour economy", extending industrial hours to create jobs, and also renegotiate parts of the IMF deal. "Other elections have not been as obvious," Mahama said voting in his northern hometown. "With this one, everybody can tell the direction because of the abysmal performance of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government." Some analysts gave him an edge because of voter dismay with NPP, but the former president faced criticism from those who remember financial woes and massive power cuts during his time in office. Shoe saleswoman Esther Adobea said the economic situation hurt, but she was willing to give Bawumia a chance to make things better. "I can see he can handle the country for us. Our economy is not good, but he can do better," she said. Both major candidates are from the north of the country -- traditionally an NDC stronghold, but now more fragmented -- making the region a key battleground. While the economy was key, Ghana also faces an increasing risk of spillover in its northern regions from jihadist conflicts in Niger and Burkina Faso, where military juntas rule. The spread of illegal gold mining also became an election issue. Akufo-Addo promised to stop illegal mining, but it has expanded, poisoning riverways and impacting cacao farmlands -- a major source of export income. bur-pma/jm

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WASHINGTON — The brazen shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has prompted an outpouring of dark online humor from health insurance industry haters. Many commenters online have responded to the news of his death with variations of the phrase “thoughts and prayers are out of network,” a reference to the language insurers often use when refusing to reimburse patients for their health care costs. The motives of Thompson’s killer remain unknown, but police said shell casings discovered at the scene had been inscribed with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” possibly a reference to health insurance industry practices. A manhunt is underway. In response to photos of the suspect seeking tips, commenters on used insurance jargon to explain why they couldn’t help. “My regular insurance doesn’t cover vision so I can’t really see,” one poster wrote. “We need prior authorization first,” wrote another. Some prominent voices on the left, such as journalist , suggested the morbid comments were a legitimate outpouring of discontent in response to the health insurance industry’s attempts to ration health care for millions of people. Others condemned the killing, but said the industry has escaped criticism that it deserves. “Shooting the UnitedHealthcare CEO is a terrible thing to do. It’s deeply immoral and solves nothing,” Cenk Uygur, a host on The Young Turks, Thursday. “At the same time, 76,000 Americans die every year because of the health insurance industry. I also mourn for them. And I don’t see any press coverage or concern for their deaths.” Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), the first public official to chime in, noted that UnitedHealthcare, which is based in his district, merely follows the laws written by Congress. “Like other insurers, they play by rules allowing the industry to net >$100 billion/year while patients go bankrupt from medical debt,” Phillips . “The real culprit is Congress and money in politics, and it’s time for change.” Onetime Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang tried to remind gleeful followers that political violence is bad. “Guys, defending or justifying shooting a man in the street is a path to hell,” he . “Don’t do it.” Thompson’s death also inspired people to share their own horror stories of having coverage denied, either for , for family members or for . Though a vast majority of insured adults said their coverage was “excellent” or “good” in a last year, 58% said they’d had a problem with their policy in the prior 12 months, such as denied claims, provider network problems or trouble with prior authorization. Of those who had problems, half couldn’t get the matter resolved, with 17% saying they’d missed out on care as a result and 15% saying their health declined. There’s no official repository of information on how often insurers deny health claims. ProPublica that limited government data suggest 10% to 20% of claims are denied, but those numbers are aggregates that don’t account for differences between insurers or plans. Dr. Rachael Piltch-Loeb, an assistant professor at CUNY Graduate School of Public Health in New York City, offered a few reasons why people may feel justified using social media to convey “ ” over the killing of an insurance executive. For starters, she said, so many people in this country share the experience of an insurance company denying their health care coverage. That camaraderie stands in sharp contrast to the relatively small number of people who have ever personally known an insurance executive. “People identify with their own emotive experience,” said Piltch-Loeb. “There is a level of ‘othering’ that is naturally occurring when we’re thinking about the murder of somebody, in contrast to this experience that many people have had.” Beyond that, people tend to want to place blame on something or someone to make sense of a bad experience, she said, rather than try to address systematic reasons for why it happened. She gave the example of people’s very different reactions to a naturally occurring hazard, like a tornado, versus an act of terrorism. “In the case of the health insurance industry, that blame is frankly being placed ... on an insurance executive, to the point where it is seemingly justifying his murder,” said Piltch-Loeb. There’s the added dimension of people feeling justified saying whatever they want online, thanks to their anonymity and freedom of speech. People have experienced so much negative rhetoric on social media, and so often, that our society has accepted this as a normal way to talk to each other on the internet, Piltch-Loeb said. “I would have a hard time believing that these same people offline are going to be saying, ‘Oh I’m so glad that guy was murdered,’” she said. Other observers suggested there’s a bigger problem going on here: the normalization of violence. Laura Lyster-Mensh is a death doula at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C. She helps people navigate their health insurance and finances to cover the high costs that come with death, like hospital care and funerals. “I’m very concerned about the cruelty and depersonalization,” Lyster-Mensh said, noting she’s seen people posting laughing emojis on social media when talking about Thompson’s death. “The health care system is a problem. The insurance system is a problem,” she said. “If their response is to normalize and to laugh, that’s not advocacy. That’s not trying to make the world better. That’s just a mob.” Related...Soccer-Saudi Arabia's 2034 World Cup bid chief highlights human rights progressAncient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. At least 19 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 19 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 167,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, which can cause life-threatening infections. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City. Top football recruit Bryce Underwood changes commitment to Michigan instead of LSU, AP source says ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Top football recruit Bryce Underwood has flipped to Michigan after pledging to play at LSU. That's according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the recruit’s plans to join the Wolverines. Underwood pinned a post on his Instagram account, showing a post in which reported that he has committed to Michigan. The 6-foot-3 quarterback played at Belleville High School about 15 miles east of Michigan's campus, and told LSU nearly a year ago he intended to enroll there. Emperor penguin released at sea 20 days after waddling onto Australian beach MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach. The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on sand dunes in temperate southwest Australia about 2,200 miles north of the Antarctic coast. He was released Wednesday from a boat that traveled several hours from Western Australia state's most southerly city of Albany. His caregiver Carol Biddulph wasn't sure at first if the penguin would live. She said a mirror was important to his rehabilitation because they provide a sense of company. Biddulph said: “They’re social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time.” Shohei Ohtani wins third MVP award, first in NL. Aaron Judge earns second AL honor in 3 seasons NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points.

AP Business SummaryBrief at 2:41 p.m. ESTResults of Alberta town's crosswalk vote reflects democratic process: mayor

OTTAWA — The union representing rank-and-file Mounties is welcoming a federal plan to spend $1.3 billion to bolster border security and ensure the integrity of the immigration system. In its fall economic update Monday, the Liberal government said it would invest in cutting-edge technology for law enforcement, so that only people who are eligible to remain in Canada do so. The money, to be spread over six fiscal years, is earmarked for the RCMP, Public Safety Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency and the cyberspies at the Communications Security Establishment. RCMP members enforce laws between official points of entry and investigate criminal activities related to the border. National Police Federation president Brian Sauvé says members have been protecting the border with limited resources, and the new money will allow them to continue delivering on their mandate. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc is expected to join other ministers this afternoon to provide more details on the plan. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 17, 2024. Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press