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circus ringmaster AP News Summary at 6:42 p.m. ESTThe people that president-elect has selected to lead federal health agencies in his second administration include a retired congressman, a surgeon and a former talk-show host. All of them could play pivotal roles in fulfilling a new political agenda that could change how the government goes about safeguarding Americans' health — from health care and medicines to food safety and science research. And if Congress approves, at the helm of the team as Department of Health and Human Services secretary will be prominent environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine organizer By and large, the nominees don't have experience running large bureaucratic agencies, but they . Centers for Medicare and Medicaid pick Dr. hosted a talk show for 13 years and is a well-known wellness and lifestyle influencer. The pick for the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. and for surgeon general, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, are frequent Fox News contributors. Many on the list were critical of COVID-19 measures like masking and booster vaccinations for young people. Some of them have ties to Florida like many of Trump's other Cabinet nominees: represented the state in Congress for 14 years and is affiliated with a medical group on the state's Atlantic coast. Nesheiwat's brother-in-law is , R-Fla., tapped by Trump as national security adviser. Here's a look at the nominees' potential role in carrying out what Kennedy says is the task to “reorganize” agencies, which have an overall $1.7 billion budget; employ 80,000 scientists, researchers, doctors and other officials; and affect the lives of all Americans. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The Atlanta-based CDC, with a $9.2 billion core budget, is charged with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats. Kennedy has long attacked vaccines and criticized the CDC, repeatedly alleging corruption at the agency. He said on a 2023 podcast that there is "no vaccine that is safe and effective,” and urged people to resist . Decades ago, Kennedy found common ground with , the 71-year-old nominee to run the CDC who served in the Army and worked as an internal medicine doctor before he represented a central Florida congressional district from 1995 to 2009. Starting in the early 2000s, Weldon had a prominent part in a debate about whether there was a relationship between a vaccine preservative called thimerosal and autism. He was a founding member of the Congressional Autism Caucus and tried to ban thimerosal from all vaccines. Kennedy, then a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, believed there was a tie between thimerosal and autism and also charged that the government hid documents showing the danger. Since 2001, all vaccines manufactured for the U.S. market and routinely recommended for children 6 years or younger have contained no thimerosal or only trace amounts, with the exception of inactivated influenza vaccine. Meanwhile, study after study after study found no evidence that thimerosal caused autism. Weldon's congressional voting record suggests he may go along with Republican efforts to downsize the CDC, including to eliminate the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, which works on topics like drownings, drug overdoses and shooting deaths. Weldon also voted to ban federal funding for needle-exchange programs as an approach to reduce overdoses, and the National Rifle Association gave him an “A” rating for his pro-gun rights voting record. Food and Drug Administration Kennedy is extremely critical of the FDA, which has 18,000 employees and is responsible for the safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs, vaccines and other medical products — as well as overseeing cosmetics, electronic cigarettes and most foods. Makary, Trump’s pick to run the FDA, is closely aligned with Kennedy on . The professor at Johns Hopkins University who is a trained surgeon and cancer specialist has decried the overprescribing of drugs, the use of pesticides on foods and the undue influence of pharmaceutical and insurance companies over doctors and government regulators. Kennedy has suggested he'll clear our “entire” FDA departments and also recently threatened to fire FDA employees for “aggressive suppression” of a host of unsubstantiated products and therapies, including stem cells, , and like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. Makary's contrarian views during the COVID-19 pandemic including the need for masking and giving young kids COVID vaccine boosters. But anything Makary and Kennedy might want to do when it comes to unwinding FDA regulations or revoking long-standing vaccine and drug approvals would be challenging. The agency has lengthy requirements for removing medicines from the market, which are based on federal laws passed by Congress. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services The agency provides health care coverage for more than 160 million people through Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, and also sets Medicare payment rates for hospitals, doctors and other providers. With a $1.1 trillion budget and more than 6,000 employees, Oz has a massive agency to run if confirmed — and an agency that Kennedy hasn't talked about much when it comes to his plans. While Trump tried to scrap the Affordable Care Act in his first term, Kennedy has not taken aim at it yet. But he has been critical of Medicaid and Medicare for covering expensive weight-loss drugs — though . Trump said that he would protect Medicare, which provides insurance for older Americans. has endorsed expanding Medicare Advantage — a privately run version of Medicare that is popular — in during his failed 2022 bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania and in a with a former Kaiser Permanente CEO. Oz also said in a Washington Examiner with three co-writers that aging healthier and living longer could help fix the U.S. budget deficit because people would work longer and add more to the gross domestic product. Neither Trump nor Kennedy have said much about Medicaid, the insurance program for low-income Americans. Trump's first administration reshaped the program by allowing states to introduce work requirements for recipients. Surgeon general Kennedy doesn't appear to have said much publicly about what he'd like to see from surgeon general position, which is the nation's top doctor and oversees 6,000 U.S. Public Health Service Corps members. The surgeon general has little administrative power, but can be an influential government spokesperson on what counts as a public health danger and what to do about it — suggesting things like warning labels for products and issuing advisories. The current surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, in June. Trump's pick, Nesheiwat, is employed as a New York City medical director with CityMD, a group of urgent care facilities in the New York and New Jersey area, and has been at City MD for 12 years. She also has appeared on Fox News and other TV shows, authored a book on the “transformative power of prayer” in her medical career and endorses a brand of vitamin supplements. She encouraged COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, calling them “a gift from God” in a February 2021 Fox News op-ed, as well as anti-viral pills like Paxlovid. In a 2019 Q&A with the , Nesheiwat said she is a “firm believer in preventive medicine” and “can give a dissertation on hand-washing alone.” National Institutes of Health As of Saturday, Trump had not yet named his choice to lead the National Institutes of Health, which funds medical research through grants to researchers across the nation and conducts its own research. It has a $48 billion budget. Kennedy has said he'd drug development and infectious disease research to shift the focus to chronic diseases. He'd like to keep NIH funding from researchers with conflicts of interest, and criticized the agency in 2017 for what he said was not doing enough research into the role of vaccines in autism — . ___ Associated Press writers Amanda Seitz and Matt Perrone and AP editor Erica Hunzinger contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Mike Stobbe, The Associated PressDFA: No need to cancel South Korea trips; just be cautious

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Nomadic shawl vendors from the Indian side of Kashmir told VOA Friday that extremist Hindu groups have been harassing, threatening and obstructing them from selling their goods in Himachal Pradesh, a northern Indian state. Hindu groups claim that the local shopkeepers lose business when nomadic vendors sell their wares nearby. Sandeep Dhawal, police superintendent in the Bilaspur district, quoted in Friday’s edition of the Indian Express, a leading Indian newspaper, acknowledged that more than a dozen shawl vendors filed a complaint at the Ghumarwin police station. Dhawal said a similar dispute arose last year between Kashmiri hawkers and local shopkeepers, who claimed financial losses because of the vendors. “No physical assault has been reported,” he told the Indian Express. “We have requested the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Bilaspur to mediate and resolve the issue amicably. A meeting between both parties is expected within the next day or two.” The Indian Express reported that senior officials attributed the harassment claims to “business rivalry” between the Kashmiri vendors and local shopkeepers affiliated with the Ghumarwin Beopar Mandal. A police investigation is under way. The traders said they have been visiting the region for more than 30 years but are facing threats and pressure this year to leave the state, where they stay for a few months annually. Kashmir vendors sell leather jackets, socks, bags and Kashmir-handmade Pashmina shawls. They also sell ladies suits. They move to different states of India to sell these items in the beginning of November and return after March. They carry their goods on their shoulders and sell them anywhere they find customers. “For the past three days we have been forced by some Hindu extremist groups to stop selling our goods. They tell us to pack up our belongings and go back to Kashmir,” a trader currently residing in the Ghumarwin area of Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, said to VOA on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. “These threats and intimidations used to happen occasionally, but this year when we go to the market to purchase food and other essentials, we are mistreated there as well,” he said. He noted it has become difficult for them to even “step out” of their rented accommodations. The trader said he and his fellow vendors asked the Hindu groups whether they considered Kashmiris less Indian. “We also told them, ‘If people from other parts of India can work in Kashmir, then why we can’t work here?’” the trader said. “Instead of apologizing, they threatened us with dire consequences if we don’t leave Himachal Pradesh. They also accused us of being anti-nationals and terror sympathizers.” Thousands of Kashmiris travel every winter to various Indian states to sell handmade goods such as shawls, suits and leather jackets door-to-door or street-to-street. They say they sometimes face difficulties — verbal abuse, physical assault and boycott calls — because of their regional identity and the growing communal tensions in India. The traders say such incidents were rare before 2014, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party came to power. “Before 2014, only an insane person would make such statements or resort to violence, but today it has become common,” Peerzada Mohammad Shafi Shah, a leather jacket vendor, told VOA from Salt Lake City, West Bengal. “Muslims, particularly Kashmiris, are seen as enemies in almost every part of India. There are three to four states where communalism is so high that the majority of Kashmiris have stopped going there,” Shah said. “Had the government of Jammu and Kashmir, or J&K, taken action in the beginning, things could have been much better.” The traders in Himachal Pradesh claimed people affiliated with Hindu extremist groups have threatened them and the owners of buildings where they stay, either individually or in groups. “We are being warned that they are being polite now, and if we do not comply, they will return and their language will be different,” another Kashmiri shawl seller told VOA, on the condition of anonymity out of fear for his safety. “No one else has issues with us except them. They give absurd reasons, like claiming that local shopkeepers in Himachal Pradesh suffer because of us, even though their line of work is entirely different from ours,” he said. Maqsood Khan, one of the traders, said that following the police complaint, the deputy superintendent of the Ghumarwin police department visited them. He said the police officer spoke with representatives on both sides of the disagreement and instructed the accused persons not to harass the Kashmiri traders. “The deputy superintendent of police told the opposing party that we, too, have the right to sell our products, just like the local shopkeepers in the area,” he said. “This has eased temporarily,” but the situation will be remedied “only after the representatives of both sides will express each other’s concerns in front of [the] deputy commissioner.” Meanwhile, Ifra Jan, the spokesperson of J&K’s ruling party, National Conference, told VOA by phone the lives and security of Kashmiri traders across India is crucial to her party. “When we got to know about the harassment case, when these people were mishandled and abused and threatened, the Chief Minister of J&K Omar Abdullah immediately got in touch with chief minister of Himachal Pradesh,” Jan said. “The Himachal Pradesh government has now taken cognizance of the matter, and his office is ensuring a safe and secure environment for the Kashmiri traders and students living there.” VOA contacted the Ghumarwin police department about the latest developments in the situation, although officers there said only higher officials can speak about the matter, and they were not available for comment. Earlier in November, a female official from a Panchayat, a local self-government body in Indian villages, told Kashmiri shawl sellers not to trade in Himachal Pradesh. In a video, she told them to leave the village and chanted “hail Lord Ram” — one of the revered deities in Hinduism. She later apologized for those comments after being summoned to the Himachal Pradesh police station. “We want to put an end to this unwanted controversy and live happily and peacefully alongside [our] Hindu brethren in the state,” Khan the trader said. “We urge governments of both regions to do the needful” and take steps to end the harassment, “to address the issue once and for all.”Fortinet (NASDAQ:FTNT) Price Target Raised to $95.00 at Cantor Fitzgerald

PALERMO, Calif. (AP) — Two children were wounded in a shooting Wednesday at a small religious K-8 school in Northern California and the shooter died from a suspected self-inflicted gunshot, sheriff’s officials said. The children’s conditions were not immediately known. The shooting occurred Wednesday afternoon at the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists, a private, K-8 school in Palermo, a community of 5,500 people about 65 miles (104 km) north of Sacramento. Butte County Sheriff Kory L. Honea said the 911 calls reported “an individual on campus who had fired shots at students,” and said that the shooter did not appear to have a connection to the school. The motive was not immediately known, he continued. One student was flown to a nearby hospital, Honea said. Authorities rushed students to the Oroville Church of the Nazarene to be reunited with their families, the sheriff’s office said. The school has been open since 1965 and caters to fewer than three dozen children, according to its website. The Associated PressAtria Investments Inc Has $273,000 Position in Spire Inc. (NYSE:SR)Japan Industrial Production (YoY) down to -2.8% in November from previous 1.4%

Peter Odili, an erstwhile Governor of Rivers State, has said that Governor Siminilayi Fubara courageously stopped the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, from making the state his private estate The ex-governor disclosed that Governor Fubara summoned an unusual fortitude to confront the quest by Wike to capture Rivers State through ferocious but unnecessary political war. Odili made this statement at a Christmas Ballard organized by him in honour of Governor Fubara and his family. He stated that his family decided to host the Rivers State Governor to a night of varieties of sing-song and other activities in appreciation of the fortitude and sterling leadership qualities he has demonstrated. The former governor further explained that it is now over 12 months, since the 25th of October, 2023, when a fierce existential fight, though unnecessary, was waged against Governor Fubara over the soul of Rivers State. “With assuring fortitude, Governor Fubara confronted the challenge, prevented the quest by one man to capture the State as a private estate, emancipated Rivers people, steadied governance and made civil servants and Rivers people happier as it used to be until he left office in 2007”, he said. Responding, Governor Fubara said that God has proved Himself worthy as the Ultimate Liberator of the State and its people because He ensured total triumph over the political crisis and those behind it. He added that while the political antagonism lasted, God gave him a new perspective to leadership, adding that with the strength of support from Rivers people, he stopped seeing the crisis as a problem but as a necessary enabler in governance. “And not just because I want to accept it, I get stronger in this course every day when I look at the support I am getting from the true Rivers people. “So, it is not me being strong. My strength is drawn from every one of you that is here. You gave me encouragement; you do the work for me; you make the calls for me. So, why won’t I stand up for you? “But we also believe strongly that the ultimate game changer, the ultimate liberator, and the ultimate fighter still remains God Almighty. And because we have Him on our side, victory is assured,” he said. According to him, God is in control of the affairs of the state, adding that as they look forward to a very prosperous 2025, they should be assured that it will be better than what had been experienced. He assured of the determination of his administration to make every succeeding year in the state better with remarkable records of progress, stressing that the excitement experienced among Rivers people during the Christmas celebrations is indicative of a brighter future ahead. Governor Fubara, who vowed to continue to do what is right, said it is also delighting to see true leaders of the State and well-meaning Rivers people standing on the right side of history despite the pressures to surrender to tyranny and oppression.6,000 inmates escape from a high-security prison as post-election violence roils Mozambique

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Fortinet ( NASDAQ:FTNT – Free Report ) had its target price increased by Stifel Nicolaus from $84.00 to $90.00 in a research note released on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a hold rating on the software maker’s stock. Several other equities research analysts have also commented on FTNT. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Fortinet from $105.00 to $106.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday. StockNews.com upgraded Fortinet from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Susquehanna boosted their price objective on Fortinet from $65.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on Fortinet from $88.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald boosted their price objective on Fortinet from $65.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nineteen have issued a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $88.93. Get Our Latest Analysis on Fortinet Fortinet Price Performance Insider Activity at Fortinet In other Fortinet news, CFO Keith Jensen sold 4,250 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.83, for a total transaction of $386,027.50. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 4,689 shares in the company, valued at $425,901.87. This represents a 47.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Also, CEO Ken Xie sold 23,307 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $81.89, for a total value of $1,908,610.23. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 48,915,530 shares in the company, valued at $4,005,692,751.70. This trade represents a 0.05 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last three months, insiders have sold 51,095 shares of company stock worth $4,058,575. Insiders own 18.00% of the company’s stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FTNT. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Fortinet by 16.8% during the first quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 43,859 shares of the software maker’s stock worth $2,996,000 after purchasing an additional 6,309 shares in the last quarter. Lake Street Advisors Group LLC increased its position in shares of Fortinet by 20.3% during the first quarter. Lake Street Advisors Group LLC now owns 5,401 shares of the software maker’s stock worth $369,000 after acquiring an additional 912 shares during the period. Crewe Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Fortinet during the first quarter worth $110,000. Delap Wealth Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Fortinet during the first quarter worth $210,000. Finally, CreativeOne Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Fortinet during the first quarter worth $732,000. 83.71% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Fortinet ( Get Free Report ) Fortinet, Inc provides cybersecurity and convergence of networking and security solutions worldwide. It offers secure networking solutions focus on the convergence of networking and security; network firewall solutions that consist of FortiGate data centers, hyperscale, and distributed firewalls, as well as encrypted applications; wireless LAN solutions; and secure connectivity solutions, including FortiSwitch secure ethernet switches, FortiAP wireless local area network access points, FortiExtender 5G connectivity gateways, and other products. Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Fortinet With Risk Tolerance, One Size Does Not Fit All Tesla Investors Continue to Profit From the Trump Trade 3 Warren Buffett Stocks to Buy Now MicroStrategy’s Stock Dip vs. Coinbase’s Potential Rally What is MarketRankTM? How to Use it Netflix Ventures Into Live Sports, Driving Stock Momentum Receive News & Ratings for Fortinet Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fortinet and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .In the ever-evolving world of online gaming, the concept of Zephon Factions is set to revolutionize player alliances and strategic dynamics in the virtual realm. Emerging from the intersection of artificial intelligence and virtual reality technologies, the announcement of Zephon Factions promises a new era of gaming experiences defined by adaptability and immersive narratives. At the heart of Zephon Factions is a sophisticated AI that enables dynamic faction evolution . Unlike traditional game factions that remain static, Zephon Factions will evolve based on player interactions and the overarching storyline. These factions are designed to adapt and reconfigure themselves in real time, responding to in-game events and player behavior, allowing for a more personalized and engaging gameplay experience. What sets Zephon Factions apart is its use of adaptive storytelling . This feature allows the game’s narrative to shift and change, creating a living storyline that reacts to the choices and actions of its players. As a result, no two gameplay experiences will be the same, adding an element of unpredictability that enhances replay value and player engagement. Looking to the future, Zephon Factions could redefine how players perceive alliances and adversaries in games. By continuously learning and evolving, these factions can offer unprecedented levels of strategic depth and emotional investment. As more details emerge, the gaming community remains eagerly poised to explore the boundaries of what Zephon Factions can bring to the virtual world. Zephon Factions: Transforming the Future of Online Gaming In the dynamic world of digital gaming, Zephon Factions represents a groundbreaking leap forward with innovative technologies offering unparalleled gaming experiences. As the gaming community eagerly anticipates its launch, Zephon Factions promises not only to redefine player alliances but also to reshape the strategic dimensions of gaming itself. Key Features of Zephon Factions 1. Dynamic Faction Evolution: Zephon Factions introduces a groundbreaking feature where factions evolve in real-time. Powered by advanced artificial intelligence, these factions adapt based on player interactions and storyline developments. This results in an ever-changing landscape where players can experience unique and personal gameplay matches. 2. Adaptive Storytelling: Unlike traditional games, where narratives remain static, Zephon Factions features a living storyline that evolves with player decisions. This adaptive storytelling enhances replayability, ensuring that each visit to the game offers a fresh and unpredictable adventure. Pros and Cons Pros: – High Replay Value: With evolving storylines, players are encouraged to explore multiple scenarios. – Enhanced Engagement: The game’s ability to adapt to player actions fosters deeper emotional investment. – Strategic Depth: Dynamic factions add layers of complexity to strategic gameplay. Cons: – Complexity for Beginners: New players might find the evolving dynamics challenging to grasp initially. – Resource Demands: The advanced AI and VR technologies behind Zephon Factions require significant processing power. Potential Controversies As with any innovative technology, Zephon Factions may face scrutiny regarding its reliance on AI-driven narratives. Concerns about AI predictability or fairness could arise, prompting discussions about transparency and player autonomy in game design. Market Trends and Predictions The introduction of adaptive storytelling and dynamic factions represents a significant trend in the gaming industry, where immersion and personalization are prioritized. As developers look toward the future, games like Zephon Factions will likely pave the way for more interactive and responsive gaming ecosystems, potentially influencing broader trends within the market. Future Innovations Speculation is rife about further enhancements to Zephon Factions, including potential integrations with augmented reality (AR) and expanded multiplayer features that could further revolutionize the gaming experience. As technology continues to evolve, Zephon Factions is well-positioned to remain at the forefront of innovation within the virtual realm. For more information about Zephon Factions and its future developments, make sure to stay updated by visiting credible gaming platforms and news sources.