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casino online legit Day 6 10:32 From frying eggs to spooky solitaire, unwrapping the top under-the-radar video games of 2024 It was a strange year for the video games industry. The deluge of layoffs of 2023 continued into 2024 , with studios being shut down and publishers like Sony and Microsoft shedding hundreds of jobs or more. While the gaming business continues to be risky — especially after the pandemic lockdown boom cooled — many critically acclaimed games big and small hit consoles, PCs and mobile. Some of them, including Astro Bo t and Balatro , were celebrated at The Game Awards in Los Angeles last night. (The CBC is a member on its jury that helps vote for the winners .) Here are the best titles of 2024, as chosen by CBC gaming enthusiasts. Animal Well Nintendo Switch, Sony PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC Explore a dense, interconnected labyrinth and unravel its many secrets in Animal Well. (Shared Memory/Bigmode) Animal Well is a 2D puzzle platformer where you control a tiny bouncing blob with eyes thrown into a mazelike world that evokes classic games like Metroid . It was lovingly crafted by a single developer, Billy Basso, over seven years. He created the beautiful art style, the music and, most importantly, the seemingly endless layers of puzzles sure to delight and confound you. This well goes much, much deeper than it first lets on. Many of the puzzles don't have one set way to solve them. Instead, the game gives you a suite of tools and leaves you to figure out how to use them to overcome what's in front of you. It leads to moments where you feel like you've outsmarted the creator — an extremely satisfying and hard-to-pull-off design accomplishment. — Sean Trembath Astro Bot PlayStation 5 Almost no one makes 3D run-and-jump video games anymore, but Team Asobi's latest proves that Nintendo isn't the only one who can pull it off. The ingenious level designs flip expectations on your head as your chibi robot rockets across pits with a dog-slash-rocket pack, or shrinks to the size of an ant to view the world through a microscope. It's also a love letter to the history of PlayStation, with hundreds of Funko Pop-like representations of past characters. While it makes me want more actual follow-ups to Ape Escape or Jumping Flash , Astro Bot — this year's game of the year at the Game Awards — is a breath of fresh air. — Jonathan Ore Balatro Switch, PlayStation 5, PC, Mobile Balatro , a solitaire-like game with poker elements, appears deceptively simple at first: create poker hands out of a selection of cards to score points in the form of chips with increasingly large blinds. The genius of Canadian indie designer LocalThunk's game comes in the hundreds of modifiers that can inflate and multiply your score, as special versions of playing cards, enchanted tarot cards and joker cards starring a creepy clown named Jimbo enter the fray. Before long, you're concocting multilayered schemes to score millions of points in one round, as real-time hours evaporate into the void. That secret sauce earned Balatro three Game awards, including best debut indie game. — Jonathan Ore Dragon Age: The Veilguard PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC Dragon Age: The Veilguard is the latest game in the series by Edmonton-based Bioware. The last instalment, Dragon Age: Inquisition, came out nearly 10 years ago. (Bioware/Electronic Arts) The veil holding magic and demons at bay is at threat of being torn down. In steps Rook, our unlikely hero, to unite factions and uncover secrets and prevent a penitent Elven god from wreaking havoc on the world. Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a fresh-faced revival for the decades-old franchise beloved by fantasy RPG players everywhere. Where older games were complicated and clunky, Veilguard streamlines and simplifies, while still crafting a compellingly rich cast of characters. With callbacks to old storylines and plenty of opportunities to learn the lore, this game will satisfy long-time fans and total newbs. — Danielle McCreadie Shift - NB 8:14 Gaming with Dani: Game Awards Final Fantasy VII Rebirth PlayStation 5 Classic locations, like Cloud's hometown of Nibelheim, are recreated with an astounding level of detail (and high resolution) in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. (Square-Enix) Final Fantasy VII Rebirth takes on the impossible task of revisiting and recontextualizing the most infamous character death in video game history. Square-Enix's retelling of the seminal 1997 role-playing game stumbles in spots, as it blows up quiet moments into bombastic set pieces more often than needed. But that doesn't get in the way of the dozens of hours you'll spend exploring the vibrant landscapes along the way, while encountering fantastical monsters and charming supporting characters. The new side stories featuring Cloud and his mercenaries will bring a smile to any fan's face. Sometimes it all comes down to saving a neighbour's dog, set to the nostalgia-tugging tunes that won best score and music at the Game Awards. — Jonathan Ore REVIEW Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown revives a classic series with swashbuckling success Metaphor ReFantazio PlayStation 4/5, Xbox, PC Have you ever wanted to become king or queen? Metaphor gives you a window into a fantasy world where anyone can be royalty, as long as you win the people's hearts in a tournament for the ages. This turn-based RPG from the makers of the Persona series reinvents the genre by offering a mix of real-time action and turn-based combat. Where it really shines, though, is the incredible narrative it weaves, sold by its extremely talented voice actors in a heartfelt story with twists and turns aplenty. It's a game you'll be thinking about long after the credits roll — it earned three Game awards, including best narrative and art direction. — Ryan Turford Mouthwashing PC Mouthwashing is a narrative-driven first-person horror game following the dying crew of a shipwrecked space freighter. (Wrong Organ) Mouthwashing is a strange experience, set on an interstellar delivery ship that is weeks away from a crash landing. The game follows the former and current captains and their crew, who are trying to make the best of their doomed voyage. Each sequence shows the crew getting more and more unhinged, as it becomes clear there's no escaping their fate. The gameplay is straightforward: you solve puzzles, escape looming, hallucinatory creatures, and talk to your shipmates. Yet whether it's the giant text shrieking "TAKE RESPONSIBILITY" or the way the story slips between reality and dreams, developer Wrong Organ has figured out how to make sure its style and substance sing together. — Arman Aghbali Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox, PC Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown revives the classic game series with a return to the two-dimensional point of view, and takes design inspiration from games like Metroid and Castlevania. (Ubisoft Montpellier) If you've never played a Prince of Persia game before, here's the gist: some mystery, some crossed swords, some time travel. What makes The Lost Crown special is that it can make you feel invincible — if you respect every parry, every jump and how many health potions you have. A classic platformer role-playing game with a huge map designed for unravelling and revisiting, The Lost Crown throws you into the story and action, with strong voice acting and satisfying combat. Plan to spend hours executing the perfect leaps and spins to get all the hidden secrets. — Anand Ram Review Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a glorious, messy retelling of one of gaming's greatest stories The Rise of the Golden Idol Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox, Mobile (via Netflix) Players must unravel mysteries like murder scenes or prison escapes in The Rise of the Golden Idol. (Color Gray Games/Playstack) The sequel to 2022's The Case of the Golden Idol continues Color Gray Games' reinvention of the classic point-and-click adventure game genre with a series of delicious murder mysteries set in the 1970s. Every level is a snapshot in time that depicts a tense scene, be it the moment a scientist spontaneously bursts into flames or the moment a couple discovers a fresh corpse in the snow. Players will find themselves staring at a scene for half-hours at a time, wondering if they've missed a critical clue. But once the story fully reveals itself, you'll feel like the world's greatest detective. — Jonathan Ore Silent Hill 2 PlayStation 5, PC Konami's psychological horror classic Silent Hill 2 was remade with modern visuals and mechanics in 2024, led by the studio Bloober Team. (Bloober Team/Konami) James Sunderland receives a letter from his wife, Mary, that claims she's waiting for him in a town called Silent Hill. The only problem? Mary died three years ago. Delightfully terrifying, this remake of the 2001 classic uses 3D audio and visual design to limit the player's vision and evoke an overall sense of dread. It balances simple yet effective combat and an array of unique puzzles with options to adjust the difficulty of each separately. For fans of the series, there are many Easter eggs all through the town that gesture toward the original. While the eerie atmosphere of the game almost never let me feel safe, unravelling the mystery and learning more about James and Mary's relationship was enough to pull me back in time, again and again. — Natasha Ramoutar Tactical Breach Wizards PC Tactical Breach Wizards mixes sci-fi, fantasy and quirky humour to form a tactical role-playing game that's earned praise for its accessible take on the genre. (Suspicious Developments) This game puts you in command of a crack spec ops squad — except your crew features a wannabe detective-witch who can chain lightning between enemies and a "necro-medic" who resurrects her allies by shooting them in the head with a revolver. While other tactics games can be unforgiving, Tactical Breach Wizards lets you rewind your turn over and over again until you get something that resembles perfection. It makes you feel like a genius, and the typically English humour of creator Tom Francis shines throughout this surprisingly poignant world-spanning story. — Akshay Kulkarni Thank Goodness You're Here Switch, PlayStation 4/5, PC, MacOS Explore an off-kilter northern English town called Barnsworth in the comedy game Thank Goodness You're Here! (Coal Supper/Panic) Comedy is a tricky subject in video games, as the need for perfect timing is complicated by the player's control potentially throwing everything off. TGYH fixes this by making the entire game a big box of jokes. You play a repairman — who's as tall as a pint glass with a lemon for a head — in the fictional northern English town of Barnsworth helping out residents with odd jobs. Humour varies wildly from dry British wit to absurdist gross-out gags, sort of like a cross between Black Adder and Rocko's Modern Life . Where most games elicit a chuckle at best, TGYH regularly summons raucous belly laughs. It's the funniest video game in years. — Jonathan OreAfter-hours movers: Intuit, NetApp, Ross Stores, GAPRussia looks to be packing up its helicopters and air defenses at its base in Syria, new satellite images showWASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Sunday that the sudden collapse of the Syrian government under Bashar Assad is a “fundamental act of justice” after decades of repression, but it was “a moment of risk and uncertainty” for the Mideast. Speaking at the White House, Biden said the U.S. was not sure of Assad's whereabouts, but was monitoring reports he was seeking refuge in Moscow. Biden credited action by the U.S. and its allies for weakening Syria's backers — Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. He said “for the first time” that they could no longer defend Assad's grip on power. “Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East," Biden said. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. WASHINGTON (AP) — The sudden collapse of the Syrian government under Bashar Assad is forcing the Biden administration and the incoming Trump team to confront intensifying questions about the possibility of greater conflicts across the Middle East. President-elect Donald Trump said Sunday that Assad had fled his country, which his family had ruled for decades , because close ally Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, “was not interested in protecting him any longer.” Those comments on Trump's social media platform came a day after he used another post to decry the possibility of the U.S. intervening militarily in Syria to aid the rebels, declaring, “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT." The Biden administration had no intention of intervening, according to President Joe Biden's national security adviser. Biden was meeting with his national security team at the White House on Sunday. He was expected to make public comments later in the day. The U.S has about 900 troops in Syria, including forces working with Kurdish allies in the opposition-held northeast to prevent any resurgence of the Islamic State group. Assad's fall adds to an already tense situation throughout much of region on many fronts, including Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza and its fragile cease-fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump, who takes office Jan. 20, 2025, made a connection between the upheaval in Syria and Russia's war in Ukraine , noting that Assad's allies in Moscow, as well as in Iran, the main sponsor of Hamas and Hezbollah, “are in a weakened state right now.” The Syrian opposition that brought down Assad is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham . The Biden administration has designated the group as a terrorist organization and says it has links to al-Qaida, although Hayat Tahrir al-Sham says it has since broken ties with al-Qaida. Vice President-elect JD Vance , a veteran of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, wrote on own social media Sunday to express skepticism about the insurgents. “Many of ‘the rebels’ are a literal offshoot of ISIS. One can hope they’ve moderated. Time will tell,” he said, using another acronym for the group. Trump has suggested that Assad's ouster can advance the prospects for an end to fighting in Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia in February 2022. Trump wrote that Putin's government “lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine” and the Republican called for an immediate cease-fire, a day after meeting in Paris with the French and Ukrainian leaders . Daniel B. Shapiro, a deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, said the American military presence will continue in eastern Syria but was “solely to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS and has nothing to do with other aspects of this conflict.” “We call on all parties in Syria to protect civilians, particularly those from Syria’s minority communities to respect international military norms and to work to achieve a resolution to include the political settlement,” Shapiro said. “Multiple actors in this conflict have a terrible track record to include Assad’s horrific crimes, Russia’s indiscriminate aerial bomb bombardment, Iranian-back militia involvement and the atrocities of ISIS," he added. Shapiro, however, was careful not to directly say Assad had been deposed by the insurgents. “If confirmed, no one should shed any tears over the Assad regime,” he said. As they pushed toward the Syrian capital of Damascus, the opposition freed political detainees from government prisons. The family of missing U.S. journalist Austin Tice renewed calls to find him. “To everyone in Syria that hears this, please remind people that we’re waiting for Austin,” Tice’s mother, Debra, said in comments that hostage advocacy groups spread on social media. "We know that when he comes out, he’s going to be fairly dazed & he’s going to need lots of care & direction. Direct him to his family please!” Tice disappeared in 2012 outside Damascus, amid intensification of what became a civil war stretching more than a decade. ___ Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Manama, Bahrain, contributed to this report. Will Weissert, The Associated Press

Donald Trump’s views concerning the involvement of transgender athletes in organised sport – specifically, the participation by trans-male athletes in women’s sport – are nothing if not simplistic and clear. “Men” must be kept out of women’s sport. Full stop, new paragraph. According to the incoming US president, the “problem” of transgender athlete participation in women’s sport is easy to solve. The fundamental flaw in Trump’s invective is that policy born as a by-product of fear and loathing is invariably bad policy. Trump draws no distinction between transgender athletes competing in the Olympics and transgender athletes competing in a game of under-10s pee-wee football. However, the imperatives that are relevant to protecting the integrity of Olympic competition aren’t determining factors when it comes to participation sport. The rules governing transgender participation in Saturday morning sport have no correlation to how, for example, US Swimming should handle transgender women swimming against cisgender women in national championships. The next Olympic Games will be staged in Los Angeles in 2028 during the final year of Trump’s presidency. Just as America’s culture wars could implode a whole nation before the opening ceremony, the Olympic movement itself may be in for a reckoning before the end of the next Games cycle. Credit: Simon Letch Designing, implementing and enforcing transgender policy in sport at any level, from the grassroots to Olympic competition, isn’t about fear and isn’t about division for the sake of dividing. Instead, it’s the complicated process of balancing the interests of transgender athletes with all other competitors and the paramount importance of the core integrity of sport. This is all relevant not only because Trump will be back in the White House but also because by this time next year the International Olympic Committee will be under new leadership (an election for the IOC’s presidency will take place in less than four months’ time). Of the seven nominated candidates to replace the outgoing Thomas Bach, the candidate of greatest prominence, or at least the loudest public advocate for change within the Olympic Movement, is Sebastian Coe, twice an Olympic champion and current president of World Athletics. As with Trump, Coe presents as an agent for change . He is opposed to transgender participation in Olympic competition on the grounds that if you don’t protect the female category of competition in Olympic-level sport, then female sport itself will be lost. When you think about it, that position is not remotely similar to Trump’s. Not at all. As Lord Coe correctly identifies, it’s a core failing of the IOC that it has not enacted any detailed or overarching guidance to world sport and the myriad international federations that sit within its structures as to how Olympic sports should set transgender policy. It is the IOC’s policy failures that permitted the boxing competition in Paris 2024 to become so mired in conjecture due to the participation of Algeria’s Imane Khelif, when the IOC (and not World Boxing) ran that competition. Likewise, the IOC’s transgender policy is weak. In late 2021, the IOC published its Framework on Fairness, Inclusion and Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations. Unfortunately, however, that framework comprised six pages of high-level statements of principle without much in the way of adequate detail. International federations were left to set their own policies, as required. In one section of its framework, the IOC states its position that athletes should be allowed passage to compete in the available category that aligns with their self-determined gender identity. In the next section, the IOC forces responsibility onto the international federations to ensure no athletes are afforded disproportionate and unfair competitive advantages if permitted to compete in a gender category not aligned with their biological gender. Imane Khelif celebrates her gold medal with her team and fans in Paris. Credit: Eddie Jim All of which is as clear as mud. For political reasons or otherwise by reason of weakness, the IOC under its current leadership plainly doesn’t want the responsibility of setting transgender policy across all sports. Yet to pass that complex responsibility onto the international federations is inconsistent with the IOC’s functions. Lord Coe is irrefutably correct that in terms of Olympic competition and international-standard elite sport the sanctity of the integrity of sport itself must be protected and preserved, no matter the cost. Otherwise, elite sport may as well not exist in the first place. He’s also correct that the IOC must set clear and unequivocal policy to protect the integrity of female sport and female athletic competition. It is extremely difficult to design policy to integrate transgender athlete participation in elite sport, especially when the integrity of competition is already under constant attack. If gender is kaleidoscopic, sport is black and white. Besides horse racing, some forms of motorsport and mixed doubles tennis, men and women typically don’t compete against each other. If gender is kaleidoscopic, sport is black and white. It’s in Olympic and international-level athletic competition where records are set and legacies forged. The playing field must not only be balanced, it must be known to be balanced. Rules must demand that a competing transgender athlete derives no unfair and disproportionate competitive advantage by competing in their chosen gender, if that’s different to their biological gender. The IOC’s absolute imperative must be that transgender athletes be prohibited from competing in Olympic competition if to allow those athletes to compete would mean they enjoyed any material competitive advantage. Whatever leadership position the IOC must take to set such rules within that philosophy, it must do so. Some international federations have braved the frontier, given the IOC’s contrasting tepidness. World Aquatics was the first international federation to set policy to stipulate that a female transgender athlete is ineligible for international competitions in the female category, unless either they never experienced male puberty or where they had their male puberty pharmacologically surpassed before their 12th birthday and before any physical signs of male puberty were physically detectable. Straightforward? Yes. Harsh? Yes. Necessary? Also yes. Those rules are simple, not open to interpretation or manipulation, and lacking subjectiveness. No element of the application of the rules requires measurement, or monitoring. In contrast, the IOC’s rules are all over the shop. Some researchers who know way more than me will tell you that the medical and scientific evidence isn’t absolute in demonstrating that transgender athletes – and male-to-female athletes in particular – benefit by everlasting physical and physiological advantages over their cisgender fellow competitors. Perhaps that’s the correct analysis that will prevail three decades on. But that alone can’t be a reason for the IOC and governing bodies to sit on their hands in the meantime. To do that would be to fail the current generation of Olympians, and the next. Sebastian Coe at least stands for something. Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter .Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah agree to a ceasefire after nearly 14 months of fighting

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. BAM-T has pulled its €6.45-billion ($9.5-billion) offer to take Spanish drug maker Grifols SA private after failing to agree on the purchase price, walking away from the specialist pharmaceutical company that has expanded its business into Canada. The private equity arm of Brookfield teamed up with the founding family behind Grifols to table a non-binding joint proposal to the Grifols board earlier in November, after months of negotiations. The proposal and its tentative offer price was publicly disclosed on Nov. 19, but Grifols resisted the takeover, suggesting the offer significantly undervalued the company. The deadlock over the offer price came after months of talks and work to raise financing for a deal, and in spite of support from the Grifols family, who own nearly 30 per cent of the multinational pharmaceutical company’s shares. Grifols specializes in producing blood plasma-based products, which are part of life-saving medicines used to treat people with compromised immune systems from cancer treatment, autoimmune disorders or other reasons. Its push into Canada has included a controversial partnership with Canadian Blood Services to pay plasma donors, even though the national charity typically relies on voluntary donors. “After extensive due diligence,” and considering the company’s reaction to the potential offer, “this morning Brookfield informed the Grifols Transaction Committee that in the current circumstances it is not in a position to continue with a potential offer for Grifols,” Brookfield said in a regulatory statement on Wednesday. Spokespeople for Grifols did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But a Grifols family spokesperson confirmed Brookfield’s withdrawal to Reuters News, citing “a discrepancy over the price.” It is not clear if talks could be rekindled or if Brookfield could consider making a new bid. Grifols shares fell 9 per cent to €9.69 on a Spanish stock exchange on Wednesday. Bloomberg News first reported Brookfield’s decision to withdraw its proposal. Grifols became an attractive takeover target earlier this year after a short-seller, Gotham City Research, accused the company of overstating its earnings and understating its debt, contributing to a plunge in the company’s share price. The company denied wrongdoing but made changes to its governance, leadership and regulatory reporting. In spite of that pressure from investors, Grifols has a strong position in the health care market after years of rising demand from a number of countries for immunoglobin, which is used to treat sick patients. It is one of only three major global companies that specializes in plasma. The Spanish company has pushed into new countries including Canada and Egypt by striking public-private partnerships, a strategy that sets it apart from its main rivals, Australia’s CSL Ltd. and Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. Grifols’s status as an agent for Canadian Blood Services helped it sidestep a ban on paying for plasma in Ontario, but other provinces such as British Columbia have resisted allowing it to operate. With a report from Reuters News.

AQI in City reaches 400: Lahore again world’s second most polluted city LAHORE:Air Quality Index (AQI) of the provincial capital touched 400 while the average AQI was 208 ranking the City as second in the list of world’s top 10 most polluted cities here on Wednesday. Data collected from IQAir revealed that the average AQI of the City was 208, which came in the category of very unhealthy. It said the PM2.5 concentrations in Lahore was currently 26.6 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value. The highest AQI in the City was recorded at Sundar Raiwind where it was 477 while it was 332 at Polo Ground Cantt. Meanwhile, Met office said continental air was prevailing over most areas. They predicted that cold and dry weather was expected in most parts of the country. Smog/fog (in patches) was likely to prevail in isolated plain areas of Punjab and upper Sindh during morning/night. Wednesday's minimum temperature was recorded at Leh where mercury dropped to -09°C, while in Lahore, it was 12.2°C and maximum was 26.5°C. Meanwhile, Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said all institutions concerned in Punjab have been in a state of war for the elimination of smog and impacts of climate change for the past eight months. While talking with The News here on Wednesday, she said recently she met with a delegation of Asian Development Bank delegation led by Emma XIaoqin in which detailed discussion on smog-related regulation, action, technology, infrastructure, mid-term, long-term and short-term plans took place. ‘A full-scale crackdown on violation of smog rules is under way under the Multi-Sectoral Action Plan, the Department of Environmental Protection has been equipped with technology for monitoring,’ she maintained, adding with the support of the World Bank, we have worked on the e-Mass Transit programme, six AQI monitors have been installed for smog calculation while 30 monitors were in the pipeline. ‘There is a strong focus on technology and interventions. We are sending our people to Beijing for a study mission on smog and, we are also scientifically studying smog,’ she added. Talking about local issues related to smog, she said we have to introduce our own expertise. She said to prevent burning of crops, 1,000 super seeders have been given to farmers at a 60% subsidy and factories are also being provided financial and technical assistance for installation of emission control systems. Marriyum Aurangzeb said during the last eight months, we have worked on smog at every level and informed the citizens. We have to become experts on this subject at the local level as well and we have started research and study on smog at the local universities. ‘Smog has been included in the curriculum of schools and educational institutions, we are at the short-term level but are also working on the long-term measures,’ she stated and said now smog has become a problem not only of Lahore but of the whole of Punjab. Smog Observatory is being established, plastic ban is being imposed. For the first time, vehicle fitness certification has been made mandatory,’ she maintained. ‘Infrastructure, mapping, study, research technology, surveillance challenges have been tackled. A dynamic and comprehensive campaign has been launched for the first time. We are moving towards bio refinery and e-revolution,’ the minister revealed. Smog cannot be eliminated overnight, with these continuous efforts, it will take us at least 10 years, the senior minister said adding this time, due to the direction and speed of the easterly winds, our smog has increased further. Punjab has been battling seasonal levels of smog coming from 75 percent across the border, dialogue has been initiated with the Foreign Office, she concluded.Jury awards $310 million to parents of teen killed in fall from Orlando amusement park ride ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The parents of a 14-year-old Missouri boy who fell to his death from a Florida amusement park ride has won a $310 million verdict against the attraction's Austrian builder. The Orlando jury on Thursday ordered Funtime to pay Tyre Sampson's parents $155 million each. The trial lasted only a day as Funtime never appeared in court to defend itself. Icon Park had already settled with Sampson’s family for an undisclosed amount. Sampson stood 6 foot, 2 inches tall and weighed 380 pounds. He fell from the Orlando Free Fall ride at Icon Park because the harness did not fit him and he wasn't warned. Princess of Wales takes another step in return to public life after chemotherapy with carol service LONDON (AP) — The Princess of Wales is taking another step in her return to public life following cancer treatment as she hosts her annual Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey. This year’s concert is designed to celebrate the support people give to one another, especially as they struggle through difficult times, a theme that may have particular resonance for the princess after abdominal surgery and chemotherapy forced her to step back from public duties for much of 2024. The princess, often referred to simply as Kate, alluded to this in a letter thanking the 1,600 people invited to attend the event because of their efforts to help others in their communities. Hall of Famer Randy Moss is stepping away from ESPN for an extended time to deal with health issue Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss is stepping away from his ESPN analyst role for an extended time to focus on a personal health challenge, the network said in a statement. Moss revealed last week that he’s dealing with a health issue and asked fans to pray for him and his family. The 47-year-old ESPN football analyst made his announcement on Instagram from the set of the network’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” show. He directed his message to men and urged them to get checkups and bloodwork done, without specifying any particular illness. More than a million oven gloves are being recalled after consumers report 92 minor burns NEW YORK (AP) — More than one million pairs of oven gloves are being recalled due to a burn hazard, after dozens of injury reports. Video and e-commerce retailer QVC is recalling about 1.1 million of its “Temp-tations Oven Gloves” because they fail to provide sufficient heat protection. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, QVC has received 162 reports of insufficient heat protection, including 92 minor burns. Consumers in possession of the now-recalled gloves are urged to stop using them immediately — and contact QVC for a refund. Lionel Messi wins MLS MVP award, the latest trophy on a long list of honors for the Inter Miami star FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi is the MVP of Major League Soccer for 2024. The award comes after a season where he missed 15 of Inter Miami’s 34 regular-season matches with injuries or commitments to Argentina’s national team. He still factored into a league-high 36 goals by scoring 20 and assisting on 16 others. His 2.1 goal contributions per 90 minutes played is the best by any player in any season in MLS history. MLS revealed the voting results Friday. Messi edged out Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernández for the award, which is determined by a poll of players, club technical staff and select media members. Alternative healer gets 10 years in UK prison for death of woman at slap therapy workshop LONDON (AP) — An alternative healer who advocated “slapping therapy” to treat a range of maladies has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the death of a 71-year-old diabetic woman who stopped taking insulin during his workshop. Hongchi Xiao, 61, was sentenced Friday after being convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence for failing to get medical help for Danielle Carr-Gomm in 2016. Prosecutors say she was howling in pain and frothing at the mouth during the fourth day of a workshop. The California healer promoted paida lajin therapy that advocates slapping to release “poisonous waste” from the body. He was previously convicted of manslaughter in the death of a six-year-old boy in Australia. Stellantis recalling more than 300,000 Ram trucks for braking system defect Stellantis is recalling more than 300,000 Ram Heavy Duty pickup trucks because a faulty part could cause certain braking and tracking systems to fail. The Netherlands-based automaker said the hydraulic control unit on the trucks is prone to failure, which can cause the anti-lock brake, electronic stability control and traction control systems to not work properly. Stellantis said regular braking systems are not affected by the defective part and that it’s unaware of any related injuries. The trucks in question are all model years 2017-18 and include the Ram 2500, 3500, 4500 and 5500. The company is unaware of any injuries related to the defect. El Salvador's president is triumphant after his bet on bitcoin comes true SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele is triumphant about his big bet on bitcoin as the cryptocurrency reached historic highs, surpassing $100,000 for the first time. Bitcoin has been legal tender in the country since 2021 but it never quite matched the president’s enthusiasm. The value of the government’s reported investment now stands at more than $600 million. Bitcoin has rallied mightily since Donald Trump’s election victory last month, exceeding the $100,000 mark on Wednesday night, just hours after the president-elect said he intends to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to be the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. NBA returning to China for pair of Suns-Nets preseason games in 2025 The NBA is returning to China next season. The league has struck a deal to play preseason games there more than five years after the league was effectively banned for Commissioner Adam Silver not punishing Daryl Morey for tweeting support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong. Brooklyn and Phoenix will play games in China’s gambling hub of Macao on Oct. 10, 2025, and again two days later. There are more games planned for China in 2026, a source told The Associated Press. F1 champion Max Verstappen to become first-time father with girlfriend Kelly Piquet ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen is set to become a father for the first time with his girlfriend Kelly Piquet. There’s racing heritage on both sides of the family. Verstappen secured his fourth F1 title last month and Kelly’s father Nelson Piquet was a three-time champion in the 1980s. Verstappen says on Instagram that "we couldn’t be happier with our little miracle.” Verstappen is aiming to win his 10th F1 race of the year at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday. Practice gets underway later.Trader Up 900% In 11 Months Is Watching These Two Hot Growth Stocks Very CloselyMoot on 'Advances in Material Sciences' kicks off

Sam Prendergast and Jodie Barrett at Leinster - there is magic in the air following opening Champions Cup win

Intech Investment Management LLC Makes New Investment in Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:WOOF)

Why Marvell Technology (MRVL) Stock Is SkyrocketingRussian state news agencies say ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad is in Moscow and given asylum DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Russian state news agencies say the ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad has arrived in Moscow with his family and been given asylum, hours after close ally Russia said he left Syria after negotiations with rebel groups. The Russian agencies, Tass and RIA, cited an unidentified Kremlin source. The Associated Press is not immediately able to verify the reports but has contacted the Kremlin for comment. Assad reportedly left Syria early Sunday, and Syrians have been pouring into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, ending the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule. The fall of Bashar Assad after 13 years of war in Syria brings to an end a decades-long dynasty BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad has fled the country. Assad’s departure on Sunday brings to a dramatic close his nearly 14-year struggle to hold onto power in a brutal civil war that became a proxy battlefield for regional and international powers. Assad’s exit stood in stark contrast to his first months as Syria’s unlikely president in 2000, when many hoped he would be a young reformer after three decades of his father’s iron grip. But faced with protests of his rule that erupted in March 2011, Assad turned to his father's brutal tactics to crush dissent. A long stalemate was quickly broken when opposition groups in northwest Syria launched a surprise offensive late last month. Who is Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency that toppled Syria's Assad? BEIRUT (AP) — Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the militant leader who led the stunning insurgency that toppled Syria’s President Bashar Assad, has spent years working to remake his public image and that of his fighters. He renounced longtime ties to al-Qaida and depicts himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance. The extent of that transformation from jihadi extremist to would-be state builder is now put to the test. The 42-year-old al-Golani is labeled a terrorist by the United States. He has not appeared publicly since Damascus fell early Sunday. But he and his insurgent force, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, stand to be a major player in whatever comes next. Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutions WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump says he can’t guarantee his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won’t raise prices for American consumers. And he's suggesting once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. The president-elect made the comments in a wide-ranging interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday. He also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere. Trump often mixed declarative statements with caveats, at one point cautioning “things do change.” Trump calls for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and says a US withdrawal from NATO is possible WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump is pushing Russian leader Vladimir Putin to act to reach an immediate ceasefire with Ukraine. Trump describes it as part of his active efforts as president-elect to end the war despite being weeks from taking office. Trump also said he would be open to reducing military aid to Ukraine and pulling the United States out of NATO. Those are two threats that have alarmed Ukraine, NATO allies and many in the U.S. national security community. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says any deal would have to pave the way to a lasting peace. The Kremlin's spokesman says Moscow is open to talks with Ukraine. The hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's elusive killer yields new evidence, but few answers NEW YORK (AP) — Police don’t know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a targeted attack, not a random one. On Sunday morning, police declined to comment on the contents of a backpack found in Central Park that they believe was carried by the killer. South Korean prosecutors detain ex-defense chief over martial law imposition SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean prosecutors have detained a former defense minister who allegedly recommended last week’s brief but stunning martial law imposition to President Yoon Suk Yeol. Local media say that ex-Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun voluntarily appeared on Sunday at a Seoul prosecutors’ office, where he had his mobile phone confiscated and was detained. A law enforcement official says Kim was later sent to a Seoul detention facility. Kim's detention came a day after Yoon avoided an opposition-led bid to impeach him, with most ruling party lawmakers boycotting a floor vote to prevent a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. Trump's return may be a boon for Netanyahu, but challenges abound in a changed Middle East TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is jubilant about President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House. Trump's first term policies skewed heavily in favor of Israel, and he has picked stalwart Israel supporters for key positions in his administration. But much has transpired since Trump left office in early 2021. The turmoil in the Middle East, the lofty ambitions of Netanyahu’s far-right governing coalition and Netanyahu’s own personal relationship with the president-elect could dampen that enthusiasm and complicate what on the surface looks like a seamless alliance. A farming project in South Africa is helping deaf people build skills and find jobs JOHANNESBURG (AP) — In South Africa, where the general unemployment rate is over 32%, deaf people face even steeper hurdles. Unlike their counterparts who can hear and speak, they must struggle to communicate in sign language while trying to gain opportunities for jobs and skills development. Now a deaf entrepreneur who quit her job at one of the biggest banks in the country has created an organization where the deaf can be trained in agriculture, develop their skills and earn a sustainable living. The farming sector is emerging as a solace for those with disabilities who also face the dire levels of unemployment in Africa’s most developed economy. First 12-team College Football Playoff set, Oregon seeded No. 1 and SMU edges Alabama for last spot SMU captured the last open spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff, bumping Alabama to land in a bracket that placed undefeated Oregon at No. 1. The selection committee preferred the Mustangs (11-2), losers of a heartbreaker in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, who had a far less difficult schedule than Alabama (9-3) of the SEC but one fewer loss. The first-of-its-kind 12-team bracket marks a new era for college football, though the Alabama-SMU debate made clear there is no perfect formula. The tournament starts Dec. 20-21 with four first-round games. It concludes Jan. 20 with the national title game in Atlanta.

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shareholder rights law firm Robbins LLP is investigating Proficient Auto Logistics, Inc. (NASDAQ: PAL) to determine whether certain Proficient Auto Logistics officers and directors violated securities laws and breached fiduciary duties to shareholders. Proficient Auto Logistics focuses on providing auto transportation and logistics services in North America. What Now: If you own shares of Proficient Auto Logistics, Inc. and have lost money in your investment, contact us for more information about your rights. All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses. Contact us to learn more: Aaron Dumas, Jr. (800) 350-6003 adumas@robbinsllp.com Shareholder Information Form About Robbins LLP : A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002. Since our inception, we have obtained over $1 billion for shareholders. To be notified if a class action against Proficient Auto Logistics, Inc. settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today. Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Aston Villa had a stoppage-time goal disallowed as they drew 0-0 with Juventus in the Champions League. Morgan Rogers looked to have given Unai Emery’s side another famous win when he slammed a loose ball home at the death, but referee Jesus Gil Manzano ruled Diego Carlos to have fouled Juve goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio and the goal was chalked off. It was a disappointment for Villa, who remain unbeaten at home in their debut Champions League campaign and are still in contention to qualify automatically for the last 16. A very controversial finish at Villa Park 😲 Morgan Rogers' late goal is ruled out for a foul on Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio and the match ends 0-0 ❌ 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/MyYL5Vdy3r — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 27, 2024 Emiliano Martinez had earlier displayed why he was named the best goalkeeper in the world as his wonder save kept his side level in the second half. The Argentina international paraded his two Yashin Trophies on the pitch before kick-off at Villa Park and then showed why he won back-to-back FIFA awards when he denied Francisco Conceicao. Before Rogers’ moment of drama in the fourth minute of added time, the closest Villa came to scoring was in the first half when Lucas Digne’s free-kick hit the crossbar. But a draw was a fair result which leaves Villa out of the top eight on goal difference and Juventus down in 19th. Before the game Emery called Juventus one of the “best teams in the world, historically and now”, but this was an Italian side down to the bare bones. Only 14 outfield players made the trip from Turin, with striker Dusan Vlahovic among those who stayed behind. The opening 30 minutes were forgettable before the game opened up. Ollie Watkins, still chasing his first Champions League goal, had Villa’s first presentable chance as he lashed an effort straight at Di Gregorio. Matty Cash then had a vicious effort from the resulting corner which was blocked by Federico Gatti and started a counter-attack which ended in Juventus striker Timothy Weah. Villa came closest to breaking the deadlock at the end of the first half when Digne’s 20-yard free-kick clipped the top of the crossbar and went over. Martinez then produced his brilliant save just after the hour. A corner made its way through to the far post where Conceicao was primed to head in at the far post, but Martinez sprawled himself across goal to scoop the ball away. How has he kept that one out?! 🤯 Emi Martinez with an INCREDIBLE save to keep it goalless at Villa Park ⛔️ 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/OkcWHB7YIk — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 27, 2024 Replays showed most of the ball went over the line, but the Argentinian got there with millimetres to spare. At the other end another fine goal-line block denied John McGinn as Manuel Locatelli got his foot in the way with Di Gregorio beaten. The game looked to be petering out until a last-gasp free-kick saw Rogers slam home, but whistle-happy official Gil Manzano halted the celebrations by ruling the goal out.

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New CPEC playbookThe Aragalaya or the struggle started in March 2022 and ended in November 2022 with the ouster and resignation of then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. It was the result of deep and unprecedented public anger at the events of the previous year when in 2021 there was a complete breakdown of the economy, fuel and electricity and cooking gas were not available and people were in dire straits due to high double digit inflation. Sri Lanka then declared bankruptcy and till Indian assistance came in form of a much needed dollar infusion plus a good word with the IMF, Sri Lanka seemed to be on the brink. People blamed the corrupt practices of the Government of the time and their utter mismanagement of the economy for the crisis. And anger and disgust at the entire political dispensation found expression in violent ways too with many houses of politicians being burnt and them feeling the heat of public anger. With Gotabaya Rajapaksa leaving office and temporarily the country, and Ranil Wickremesinghe taking over, the worst of the anger seemed dissipated and it seemed like everything would return to normal. Ranil W as the new president enforced law and order very firmly. And a potential attempt to storm Parliament was thwarted by the police. It was deemed that such an act though a felt need of segments of the population (as a way of demonstrating anger at the political establishment) would destabilise the country and the economy even more. President Ranil Wickremesinghe and his team set about addressing the issues related to the economy and secured an IMF agreement that was crucial to get the country back on track. But the austerity measures agreed with the IMF and implemented resulted in an already struggling population (with increased prices due to inflation) now saddled with extra taxes finding themselves squeezed from both sides. The population used to the populist tax structure of the Gota regime had to suddenly absorb the impact of IMF driven taxes. This caused severe hardships to many in the population and though the Government and administration continued to communicate the need for this ‘bitter pill’ clearly it was too bitter for most. Also the fact that Ranil Wickremesinghe relied on the same 225 politicians to set the economy right made him the target of accusations. He was called ‘Ranil Rajapaksa’ to suggest that he is a protector of the Rajapaksas. The NPP under Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who in 2019 had only three seats in the 225 seat Parliament started actively organising themselves as an alternative on the back of the Aragalaya. They constantly reminded people of the misdeeds of the current crop of politicians and blamed them squarely for the plight of the people. And promised a new political culture if elected that would transfer power from the failed elite politicians and bring it to the ordinary man on the street (who he represents). The JVP which has a militant past, did not project itself and instead focused on a new brand NPP and an untainted leader AKD (Anura Kumara Dissanayake) as an alternative to the current crop. The lead up to the 2024 Presidential election which saw a very aggressive campaign mounted by NPP under AKD who even visited many foreign countries including the US and India giving credence to the belief that his stock is rising among the masses. The most important thing is that the on the ground activation of the campaign was very intense. While the UNP machinery on the ground was split between SJP and the few UNPers and with the SLPP folk keeping a low profile due to negative public sentiment towards them, AKD and his team mobilised voters effectively and efficiently. The Presidential election in October saw Anura Kumara Dissanayake assume office with a significant gap over the next candidate Sajith Premadasa. The voter had spoken and it was clear the people wanted change even at the risk of empowering a party and leader who was previously inexperienced in governance. Parliament was dissolved and the General election was called immediately. In exactly 54 days as the constitution provides. And the well-oiled election machinery of NPP continued its juggernaut on the same platform of ‘change’ and clean government. The election results declared on 15 November 2024 are a watershed in Sri Lankan political history. The people have willed and voted for a complete change. Most old names no longer feature – the 2024 Parliament will have a totally fresh new look. Led by AKD as the President and his team in the NPP. Not only has NPP got a majority but it now has 159 out of 225 seats which gives it more than two-third majority to run the country. In a media interview prior to the General election, AKD was quoted as saying that they are looking for a simple majority (113) and that two-third majority are only sought by ‘oppressive’ regimes. Clearly the people have granted him more than what he sought. The people of Sri Lanka have shown they do not have short memories. Certainly not if a smart politician keeps reminding them of their suffering and provides a credible alternative. The Aragalaya can now be declared over. What some elements of the population sought to do – bulldoze Parliament – has been achieved via the popular vote. Now the onus is on the NPP to deliver. To make sure the economy is revived. To ensure no defaults. To ensure compliance with all IMF obligations. At the same time to deliver on the people’s wishes – a transparent clean government that mitigates the suffering of the common man and provides hope and give fuel to the aspirations of the young in Sri Lanka. Two cliched statements both proven true are apt at this stage. “With great power comes great responsibilities” and “Absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Let’s hope and pray for the sake of the pearl that it’s the former that will be true here than the latter. The Aragalaya ends. Now what’s next for Sri Lanka is the moot question.