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Report: Iowa CB Jermari Harris opts out of rest of seasonEuropean countries suspend Syrian asylum decisions after Assad's fallVice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla is the Chief of Naval Staff, he was appointed to the position by President Tinubu in June 2023. A seasoned navigator, he is expected to lead the Nigerian Navy in manning Nigeria’s vast maritime frontier which stretches a formidable 84,000 nautical miles, with over 3,000 lakes and rivers, the former equating with a third of Nigerians landmass. This herculean task demands a leader that is determined, disciplined, with a wealth of experience and exceptionally focused vision, to harness the potentials in both the Maritime Sector and develop the nation’s Blue Economy, who also appreciates the imperatives of building the capacity of the Nigerian Navy to secure its maritime environment, as well as extend it to the Gulf of Guinea CNS Ogalla may not command all the salient qualities demanding of his formidable and highly demanding office. No one, even him nor President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who appointed him, genuinely expected that he possess such conspicuous qualities. Ikechukwu simply came in unexpectedly, simply put the current CNS came on board as a dark horse. His emergence was greeted with mixed reactions. Not many believe in his capacity, and his capability to deliver just as the C-in-C knew. But today he has proven many wrong. Ogalla has shown that, one’s ethnicity is not what is required to deliver on a job like this. He has proved that contrary to misconceptions about him, he is a man prepared for the job. Under the leadership of CNS Ogalla, the Nigerian Navy maritime security made significant improvements in legitimate shipping activities due to reduction of crimes in Nigerian waters, leading to appreciable rise in oil production and progressive decline in oil theft and illegal oil bunkering activities. Ogalla through the annual sea inspection exercise has made giant strides in positively impacting on the readiness for combat operations of the naval personnel, which also has exposed other maritime agencies to the benefits of interagency cooperation. This has led to positive rise in oil production as several companies have reported 100 per cent terminal factor. The sustained presence of Nigerian Navy ships at sea, deployment of technology for surveillance, improved inter agency collaboration and international partnerships as facilitated by exercises such as DEIN ABAJI which translates to ‘Calm Waters’ in Kalabari dialect, has led to unprecedented breakthroughs as well as curb maritime threats in line with the statutory roles of the Nigerian Navy which include protecting the maritime environment for national economic prosperity, and supporting existing domestic and regional maritime security initiatives. Ogalla utilized his comprehensive strategy; the Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy (TSMS), and his vast knowledge of the maritime domain and tactical operations to tackle maritime crimes and promote economic growth. This holistic agenda which includes the designation of Special Courts for Maritime Crimes, Advocacy Campaigns to enlist community support, and Socioeconomic Crime Prevention Strategies, also focuses on enhancing naval capabilities through fleet renewal, operational readiness, and infrastructural development, and the prioritization of human capital development through personnel welfare and motivation, manpower training, and youth and sports development has greatly impacted on the Nigerian Navy. Part of his strategy of is to effectively implement a robust maritime stakeholders’ engagement and interagency cooperation. By implementing these measures, the CNS aims to safeguard Nigeria’s maritime interests, promote economic growth, and enhance regional stability. Through this robust confidence-building, partnership and interagency relationship dialogue, he initiates the various security outcomes within Nigeria’s maritime domain and the littorals, including land-based engagements in fulfilment of national interest. The synergy has led to intelligence sharing amongst various agencies such as NIMASA, NPA, NDLEA, NOSDRA, and NEMA, as well as many foreign bilateral meetings and talks with the American Chief of Naval Service, Operation (CNO), and also enhanced trust, confidence building, synergy and operational successes. A strong believer in a highly motivated professional naval force, CNS Emmanuel Ogalla, set in various measures and alternatives aimed at maintaining and equipping a professionally competent and ethical naval force, which will leverage on all the elements of national powers to effectively defend Nigeria’s maritime area against all forms of threat and deliver the imperatives of national security. In order to give action to his words, the CNS carried out various practical reforms and projects aimed at recapitalizing the Naval ship, one of such is the re-equipping of the Naval Shipyard Limited to construct and fabricate small boats, big vessels and other facilities of the Navy, has eliminated capital flight and encouraged the training and development of skilled manpower not just within the Navy but as a means to entrepreneurial development and self-employment. This move has in no small measure reduced capital flight and enhanced, as well as encouraged the training and development of skilled manpower. As part of his commitment and dedication to the welfare of his personnel, Vice Admiral Ogalla conducts frequent inspection and supervisory tours of the various Naval ships aimed at fostering closer ties, as well as establishing the welfare of the personnel. Those visits served as a morale booster and helped to motivate the personnel, as it equally becomes an avenue for having firsthand knowledge of the conditions of the personnel. The visit has been adjudged to greatly increase the morale of the officers and men, as well as a forum for a one-on-one with the CNS. For instance, in one fell swoop operation, within three months, the Nigerian Navy recorded a debilitating breakthrough against the criminals, leading to the seizure of 95 wooden boats, 119 de-activated storage tanks refining ovens, 447 deactivated dugout pits, 120 deactivated Illegal Refining Sites, 13 seized fibre boats, 9 seized vehicles, 74 arrested suspects, and 14 arrested vessels including MT KALI, MT HARBOUR SPIRIT, MT SAISNIL, MV TOKITO, MT VINILLARIS and MT SWEET MIRI, among others. Some of the arrested vessels include MT KALI, MT HABOUR SPIRIT, MT SAISNIL, MV TOKITO, MT VINILLARIS, and MT SWEET MIRI. The Nigeria Navy under his watch, has shown avowed commitment to the ideals of the Tinubu Presidency, by supporting land operations in all the geopolitical zones of the country, winning the war against evil and ensuring a crime-free Nigeria through the strategy of Maritime Domain Awareness Capacity, he strategy has also compelled naval personnel to civility, and activated deterrent measures to curb negligence and unprofessional conduct of personnel but also provided all year-round situation awareness of Nigeria’s maritime domain extending to the limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone. With the capitalization of 2 XSeaward Defense Boats (SDB); constructed locally, the various Platforms, thereby ensuring and supporting its anti-piracy, anti-CoT, anti-IUU and anti-illegal drugs, combined with the acquisition of 2nd Offshore Survey Vessels, 2 by 32m FPBs and helicopters (NNS CHALAWA, P196-Seaward Defense Boat, NNS ZUR P195 – Seaward Defense Boat and NNS OCHUZOR Survey Vessels and the delivery of 2 by 76m OPVs from Turkey, the Nigeria Navy remains the most dominant in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) and the 4th largest in Africa. Presently, under Vice Admiral Ogalla, the Nigerian Navy has over 50 capital ships and several hundreds of boats to cover the maritime space and internal waters. While the capital ships are used to patrol the sea, the small vessels carry out routine patrols also. His non-kinetic approach has brokered several peace initiatives amongst communities and deepened community-military harmony within Nigeria’s Oil/Gas littoral area. Not leaving out the welfare of the personnel, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has also demonstrated leadership and empathy by ensuring the construction of 50 units of 3 bedrooms, 128 units of 2 bedrooms and 120 units of 2 bedrooms apartments in Galadimawa, Asokoro Abuja, Lagos, Calabar and Port-Harcourt. With an eye on sustainability, intellectual development and research, the Chief of Naval Staff on the 1st of June, 2024 launched the International Maritime Institute (IMION), an institution which will serve as a confluence for maritime discourse, the scintillation of ideas, and a vehicle for the articulation of maritime strategy on the African Continent. With the launch of this crowning glory, the CNS intends to decimate, with a single shot, an institution which will also serve as a think-tank for maritime strategic thinkers, practitioners and allies with a far-reaching benefit of enhancing effective interaction, idea sharing and research into maritime strategic affairs affecting not only the Gulf of Guinea but the rest of the world, in such thematic areas as, maritime and ocean governance, maritime security, law enforcement, hydrography, blue economy, and climate change amongst others. Under Ogalla’s visionary leadership, Nigeria’s war against oil theft has witnessed unprecedented success. His bold strategies, collaborative approach, and commitment to personnel welfare have transformed the Nigerian Navy into a formidable force. The Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy has yielded remarkable results, significantly boosting national security and contributing to global maritime stability. Ogalla’s efforts have solidified his legacy as a champion of maritime security and economic growth, earning the confidence of Nigerians and international partners alike. It is instructive to note that the FALCON eye system of the Nigerian Navy is a state-of-the-art surveillance facility that incorporates various sensors located along the nation’s enormous coastline, such as Radars, long-range Electro Optic Systems with thermal or night vision capability, Automatic Identification System receivers, Weather Stations and marine Very High-Frequency Radios for communication. The device consists of over-the-horizon radars with a range of 200 miles, long-range electro-optical systems with a range of 30 miles, and automatic identification system (AIS) receivers. These are linked to three regional control centres and a network operations centre to provide real-time situational awareness of the country’s waters. The integration of these technologies has led to the generation of real-time situational awareness of the activities of vessels in the Nigerian maritime domain and some selected parts in the Gulf of Guinea. Presently, the deployment of technology has assisted in attaining real-time aerial surveillance. Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors can provide continuous aerial surveillance of pipelines, oil facilities, and surrounding areas, capturing real-time data and visual feeds. Drones can capture detailed images and videos, allowing for the identification of unauthorized activities, potential threats, and illegal taps on pipelines, all of these enhance rapid response. In the area of criminal detection, prevention and deterrence, with detection being the key reason for the deployment of the technology, early detection and deterrence can be easily and promptly achieved. Early detection, advanced sensors and AI algorithms are now effectively and efficiently used to detect anomalies such as leaks, illegal taps, and unauthorized movements along pipelines thereby preventing wastages and the dangers of scooping and its potential risk. Thermal imaging by drones equipped with thermal cameras is also used to identify heat signatures from illegal activities or equipment tampering, even in low visibility conditions such as nighttime or dense vegetation, this has become a potent tool for deterrence, while the physical visible presence of drones also acts as a deterrent to potential thieves, reducing the likelihood of thefts. While in flight, drones programmed to send automated alerts can automatically alert security personnel and local authorities upon detecting suspicious activities, enabling rapid intervention. The deployment of innovative mandatory of the technology has led to an unprecedented high level of safety for all personnel and minimization of access to hazardous areas, thereby reducing the risk of injury or exposure to toxic substances and dangerous situations including armed attacks by oil thieves. Instead Naval personnel can now monitor and respond to incidents from a safe distance, enhancing overall safety and minimizing direct human involvement. All these leads also to overall cost efficiency, the strengthening of the operational capacity of the Navy and the enhancement of its capability to keep personnel abreast of global trends relating to evolving technological advancements in the maritime industry, as well as maintain a competitive edge during operations. Aside, the use of AI has greatly improved the Nigerian Navy’s decision-making processes, such as predicting the most fuel-efficient way to operate a vessel and has also affected the ship’s navigation system, radar operations or threat-detection systems to help operators’ process information faster, effectively respond to a range of maritime threats such as illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU); drug smuggling; and piracy, eliminating the loss in revenue suffered annually by Nigeria of about $70 million to IUU fishing perpetrated by a host of foreign fleets, mostly Chinese. Part of the achievements of the automatic mode is that the CMS can detect a target and identify, classify and prioritize targets before deploying weapons, although people are involved in decisions about when and how to use weapons. As part of another landmark breakthrough, the CNS has established an overarching control facility at Naval Headquarters in Abuja. The Command-and-Control Centre is filled with television screens on one wall, directly faced by at least a dozen individual workstations for monitoring the sensors. The Command-and-Control Centre is to enable the Nigerian Navy generate a comprehensive intelligence picture of activities within the maritime environment. This can thereafter be analyzed in appropriate cases, dispatching a Nigerian Navy ship for interdiction, investigation, and/or subsequent arrest of erring vessels. The various operations with clear mandate to tackle Crude Oil Theft (COT), Illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism and a host of other criminalities on the nation’s maritime area have significantly disrupted oil thieves and vandals, leading to the recovery of substantial amounts of stolen products and the dismantling of illegal refining sites, with the recovery of massive quantities of stolen products, the dismantling of Illegal Refining Sites, arrest of suspects, and seizure of stolen products, are clearly eloquent testimonies of a determined result-oriented leader. Today, the Nigerian Navy is at its highest state of operational readiness and ranks as the 4th largest Navy in Africa. Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla’s footprints are clearly on the rock of time, as a clear case of not judging a book by its cover. Adebayo is a maritime communication expert based in Abuja.

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The eHealth Exchange said that by designating it as its Qualified Health Information Network, the Indian Health Service is now exchanging health data under the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement. WHY IT MATTERS While most federal health agencies are evaluating their TEFCA strategies, IHS, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the first that delivers or pays for healthcare to go live with its data modernization efforts, according to eHealth Exchange. "I’ve been working with other federal agencies to stress the importance and value of participating in TEFCA – for them, and more importantly, for the American people," Dr. Micky Tripathi, assistant secretary for technology policy, national coordinator for health information technology and acting chief artificial intelligence officer at HHS, said in the network's announcement last week. "IHS is showing leadership in its decision to join TEFCA," Tripathi added. The comprehensive health service delivery system provides care for approximately 2.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who belong to 574 federally recognized tribes in 37 states. IHS has 45 hospitals, including 19 critical access hospitals, 59 health centers and 32 health stations. The agency has been working with eHealth Exchange since 2011 when the network was originally formed, the network said in a statement. "While we work through tribal consent requirements, we wanted to ensure technical readiness for TEFCA exchange with the private sector, public health and regional and state health information exchanges," Mitch Thornbrough, IHS chief information officer, noted. "eHealth Exchange continues to be the principal way agencies exchange clinical data with the private sector," added Jay Nakashima, president of eHealth Exchange. THE LARGER TREND IHS has been an eHealth Exchange participant since 2020 and has long-standing representation on its coordinating committee, a group of federal and non-federal participants who collectively provide governance, oversight, management and support of the trust framework for its network participants. Last year, the agency announced that it would update its electronic health records through a 10-year, $2.5 billion Health Information Technology Modernization Program , replacing the 40-year-old system with Oracle technology to be built, configured and maintained by General Dynamics Information Technology. "With the new EHR system, patients will have better access to their own health information, providers can more effectively coordinate patient care in and out of our network, and we can better track the health of tribal communities overall," IHS Director Roselyn Tso said in a statement at the time. Like Epic , Oracle announced plans to become a QHIN – a pillar of network-to-network exchange – in October. The EHR vendor said its cloud infrastructure could speed up data sharing by minimizing technology layers needed for electronic health information sharing, including medical imaging. HHS also released the latest version of TEFCA, initially implemented under the 21st Century Cures Act and live as of one year ago , in October. ASTP said that v2.1 addresses a structure for interoperability disputes and establishes a framework for assessing potential TEFCA participants. It adds Participant and Subparticipant Terms of Participation, setting forth requirements that each participant and subparticipant must agree to and comply with to participate in TEFCA. ON THE RECORD "eHealth Exchange has been our national network of choice for over a decade," said Thornbrough in a statement. "As we contemplated our participation in TEFCA, eHealth Exchange was a logical choice." "As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited about the opportunity to expand TEFCA connectivity to even more federal agencies," said Nakashima said.South Korea's embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law, as most ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify public protests calling for Yoon's ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea, with a survey suggesting a majority of South Koreans support the president's impeachment. Yoon's martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party, but it is also determined to oppose Yoon's impeachment apparently because it fears losing the presidency to liberals. After the motion fell through, members of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party rallied inside the National Assembly, chanting slogans calling for Yoon's impeachment or resignation. The party's floor leader, Park Chan-dae, said it will soon prepare for a new impeachment motion. "We'll surely impeach Yoon Suk Yeol, who is the greatest risk to Republic of Korea," party leader Lee Jae-myung said. "We'll surely bring back this country to normal before Christmas Day or year's end." RELATED STORY | South Korean parliament defies president by lifting declaration of martial law Despite escaping the impeachment attempt, many experts worry Yoon won't be able to serve out his remaining 2 1⁄2 years in office. They say some ruling party lawmakers could eventually join opposition parties' efforts to impeach Yoon if public demands for it grow further. The ruling party risks "further public outrage and national confusion if they don't find a formula fast for Yoon's departure," said Duyeon Kim, a senior analyst at the Center for a New American Security in Washington. On Saturday, tens of thousands of people densely packed several blocks of roads leading up to the National Assembly, waving banners, shouting slogans and dancing. Protesters also gathered in front of PPP's headquarters near the Assembly, angrily shouting for its lawmakers to vote to impeach Yoon. A smaller crowd of Yoon's supporters, which still seemed to be in the thousands, rallied in separate streets in Seoul, decrying the impeachment attempt they saw as unconstitutional. Impeaching Yoon required support from 200 of the National Assembly's 300 members. The Democratic Party and five other small opposition parties, which filed the motion, have 192 seats combined. But only three lawmakers from PPP participated in the vote. The motion was scrapped without ballot counting because the number of votes didn't reach 200. RELATED STORY | Family of kidnapped American reporter still believes his is alive in Syria National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik called the result "very regrettable" and an embarrassing moment for the country's democracy that has been closely watched by the world. Opposition parties could submit a new impeachment motion after a new parliamentary session opens next Wednesday. If Yoon is impeached, his powers will be suspended until the Constitutional Court decides whether to remove him from office. If he is removed, an election to replace him must take place within 60 days. Earlier Saturday, Yoon issued a public apology over the martial law decree, saying he won't shirk legal or political responsibility for the declaration and promising not to make another attempt to impose martial law. He said would leave it to his party to chart a course through the country's political turmoil, "including matters related to my term in office." "The declaration of this martial law was made out of my desperation. But in the course of its implementation, it caused anxiety and inconveniences to the public. I feel very sorry over that and truly apologize to the people who must have been shocked a lot," Yoon said. Since taking office in 2022, Yoon has struggled to push his agenda through an opposition-controlled parliament and grappled with low approval ratings amid scandals involving himself and his wife. In his martial law announcement on Tuesday night, Yoon called parliament a "den of criminals" bogging down state affairs and vowed to eliminate "shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces." The turmoil resulting from Yoon's bizarre and poorly-thought-out stunt has paralyzed South Korean politics and sparked alarm among key diplomatic partners like the U.S. and Japan. "Yoon's credibility overseas has been undermined by declaring martial law, so he won't be able to exercise leadership in his foreign policies especially when his days are numbered," Kim, the analyst, said. "Its government bureaucracy will need to continue business as usual for existing alliance and foreign policy initiatives as best it can because there is a lot of important work to do globally." Tuesday night saw special forces troops encircling the parliament building and army helicopters hovering over it, but the military withdrew after the National Assembly unanimously voted to overturn the decree, forcing Yoon to lift it before daybreak Wednesday. The declaration of martial law was the first of its kind in more than 40 years in South Korea. Eighteen lawmakers from the ruling party voted to reject Yoon's martial law decree along with opposition lawmakers. PPP later decided to oppose Yoon's impeachment motion. Yoon's speech fueled speculation that he and his party may push for a constitutional amendment to shorten his term, instead of accepting impeachment, as a way to ease public anger over the marital law and facilitate Yoon's early exit from office. Lee told reporters that Yoon's speech was "greatly disappointing" and that the only way forward is his immediate resignation or impeachment. His party called Yoon's martial law "unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup." Lawmakers on Saturday first voted on a bill appointing a special prosecutor to investigate stock price manipulation allegations surrounding Yoon's wife. On Friday, PPP chair Han Dong-hun, who criticized Yoon's martial law declaration, said he had received intelligence that during the brief period of martial law Yoon ordered the country's defense counterintelligence commander to arrest unspecified key politicians based on accusations of "anti-state activities." Hong Jang-won, first deputy director of South Korea's spy agency, told lawmakers Friday that Yoon had ordered him to help the defense counterintelligence unit to detain key politicians including Han, Lee and Woo. The Defense Ministry said Friday it suspended three military commanders including the head of the defense counterintelligence unit over their involvement in enforcing martial law. Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho has told parliament that Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun ordered the deployment of troops to the National Assembly. Opposition parties accused Kim of recommending to Yoon to enforce martial law. Kim resigned Thursday, and prosecutors imposed an overseas travel ban on him.

The Michigan Wolverines dominated the Ohio State Buckeyes in the kicking game on Saturday as Buckeyes kicker Jayden Fielding missed two chip shot field goals giving the Wolverines a chance to take the lead with a fourth quarter field goal. Michigan kicker Dominic Zvada made good on a 21-yard kick that gave his team a 13-10 lead, prefacing a defensive stop that gave coach Sherrone Moore's team its fourth straight victory in the series. Afterward, the former Arkansas State kicker, who transferred to Ann Arbor this offseason, was succinct in his social media post celebrating his team's big win. Michigan Wolverines place kicker Dominic Zvada (96) makes a field goal against Ohio State Buckeyes during the second quarter of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Credit: Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch "#GoBlue," Zvada wrote on his X account in celebration of the win. Michigan's newfound hero in the kicking game was serenaded with posts made by fans on social media after the big victory. Zvad pic.twitter.com/Ixht28VNqG I knew you would do it. Great work, man. Go Blue forever! https://t.co/sh7T1SccRp Zvada finished the season 15-of-16 on field goal attempts including 6-of-6 from distances of 50 yards or more, filling in nicely for departed kicker James Turner from last year's National Championship winning Wolverines team. He made both of his field goals on the day in Columbus along with an extra point, scoring seven of the Wolverines' 13 points in their narrow three-point win over the highly favored Buckeyes. Related: What Blake Corum Said After Michigan's Fourth Straight Win Over Ohio StatePM Images When I see securities producing extremely attractive yields, the immediate thing what comes to my mind is that most likely it is some form of a value trap. Namely, abnormal yields usually are there because of how the market has Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of KBDC either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Fruit Cultivation Global Market Report 2024: A Comprehensive Overview and ProjectionsSeoul, Dec 22 (IANS): Kia, South Korea's second-biggest carmaker by sales, said on Sunday it will launch the compact SUV “Syros" in India next year to boost sales. Kia, the maker of K5 sedans and Sorento SUVs, unveiled the new model for the first time in India on Sunday. The Syros SUV will be released in two trims, one with a 1.0-liter gasoline turbocharged engine and the other with a 1.5-litre diesel engine, the company said in a press release. Starting with sales in India, Kia plans to introduce the compact car in the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America and the Middle East, it said, reports Yonhap news agency. The new model is equipped with safety features such as the front collision avoidance, lane-keeping assistance, surround view monitor and driver awareness warning systems. The company didn't provide the vehicle's price. Meanwhile, Kia India has announced up to 2 per cent price hike across its entire lineup, effective from January 1, “primarily due to rising commodity prices and escalating supply chain-related costs”. “At Kia, we are committed to delivering exceptional, technologically advanced vehicles of the highest quality to our valued customers. However, due to the persistent rise in commodity prices, unfavourable exchange rates, and increased input costs, a necessary price adjustment has become unavoidable,” said Hardeep Singh Brar, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Kia India. Despite these challenges, Kia is absorbing a significant portion of the cost increase, minimizing the financial impact on our customers, so they can continue enjoying their favourite Kia vehicles without major dent on their pockets, he added. Kia has sold 1.6 million units in India and overseas markets combined to date. Its best-selling innovation, Seltos, has surpassed 670,000-unit sales, followed by Sonet with over 480,000 units, Carens with 214,400 units and Carnival with over 15,000 units.None

By Ross Cristantiello Since she ran for the office of State Auditor, Diana DiZoglio has been pushing for an audit of the Massachusetts Legislature. Despite numerous setbacks she won over almost 72% of voters, who gave her office the explicit ability to audit the Legislature by approving Question 1 last month. But DiZoglio and leaders on Beacon Hill are still at odds, with Attorney General Andrea Campbell potentially caught in the middle. Multiple twists and turns have happened since election day. Here’s where things stand right now. When do the changes to the General Laws of Massachusetts that resulted from Question 1’s passage actually take effect? It depends on who you ask. At a press conference last week, DiZoglio asserted that the new law would go into effect on Dec. 5. That date marked 30 days since the election. She cited the state constitution, which states that approved ballot measures “shall take effect in thirty days after such state election or at such time after such election as may be provided in such law.” DiZoglio also referenced a guide to ballot questions published by Secretary of State Bill Galvin’s office that specifically lists Dec. 5 but gave more context. “The Constitution states that a law proposed by an initiative petition takes effect thirty days after the state election, or at such time after the election as may be provided in such law,” the guide reads. “The courts have not definitively decided whether this means thirty days after the election, or thirty days after the certification of the election results by the Governor’s Council, which usually occurs in late November or early December.” The guide advised petitioners working on ballot measures that they state in the measure’s wording itself specifically when it is to become effective if approved. An explicit effective date was not included in the wording of Question 1. Galvin’s office disputed DiZoglio’s assertion, telling State House News Service that successful ballot questions do not take effect until 30 days after election results are certified by both the governor and Governor’s Council. This took place last Wednesday, meaning Question 1 would take effect on Jan. 3. “As Secretary Galvin explained last week, it has long been his interpretation of the law that ballot questions take effect 30 days after certification of the election, because that is when the election officially ends. Given that ballots can arrive for up to 10 days after Election Day, the possibility of recounts, and other canvassing measures, election results are not always even certified or final within 30 days of Election Day,” a spokesperson for Galvin’s office said Monday. A letter from the House and Senate Counsels to DiZoglio in late November aligned with Galvin’s interpretation. It pointed out that Question 1 contained no provision with an effective date and that the 30-day period does not start until the election is certified by the governor and the Governor’s Council. When reached for comment Monday, a spokesperson for House Speaker Ron Mariano referred back to that letter. DiZoglio told Boston.com that she was “surprised and disappointed” by the disagreements over the effective date, and that her office had been operating under the assumption that it would go into effect Dec. 5. “I was quite taken aback to hear that there’s now a differing opinion being offered,” she said. A few days after the election, DiZoglio sent a letter to Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka informing them that her office would soon be conducting a “performance audit” of the Legislature. She sought to arrange an “entrance conference” and said that her office would need access to more records and could make inquiries with State House staffers. In their late November response, the House and Senate Counsels said that the Legislature would respond to any audit engagement letters only after the 30-day period that begins with the certification of the election results. Last week, DiZoglio sent another, largely similar “engagement letter” to Mariano and Spilka. So far, Senate Counsel has only directed DiZoglio’s office back to their late November letter asserting that DiZoglio’s request was premature. DiZoglio said she was hopeful for cooperation, but is ready to pursue legal action if necessary. “Should they not respond to our office again, we unfortunately will have to seek assistance from the Attorney General’s office again and have requested that, should they not comply with the new audit law, the Attorney General represent the people in litigation if necessary.” she told Boston.com. Last year, Campbell declined to back a potential lawsuit that would have forced the Legislature’s compliance. In a Nov. 27 letter, Campbell said that more time was needed not only for the law to go into effect, but for her to assess how the Legislature responds and if that warrants litigation. When reached for comment Monday, a Campbell spokesperson referred back to the Nov. 27 letter. “I understand from your letter and associated public comments that you are eager to undertake an audit of the Legislature—and, if necessary, litigate about its scope. But no such litigation is ripe,” Campbell wrote to DiZoglio at the time. DiZoglio said she is asking residents to contact Campbell’s office to urge her to wade into the fight on behalf of the voters who approved Question 1. “I am cautiously optimistic that, now that the voters have come out and spoken very loudly and clearly... that the Attorney General will have a change of heart at some point soon and stand with the voters by representing them in court if necessary to ensure compliance by legislative leaders who continue to balk at the idea of an audit,” she told Boston.com. Regardless of Campbell’s ultimate decision, outside groups could get involved. DiZoglio appeared last week with leaders from the conservative Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance and the progressive group Act on Mass, which have both supported her efforts. “We’re always looking to sue the state,” Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance spokesperson Paul Craney said when asked about the possibility of outside groups suing the state to uphold the new law. Last month, House lawmakers approved a rule change that grants DiZoglio the authority to select a private, external auditing firm to conduct an audit. While the lawmakers said that the change was meant to prevent the politicization of an audit, DiZoglio said it was equivalent to “ slapping voters in the face .” The House business manager has contacted DiZoglio’s office to set up a meeting in January about the new rule. DiZoglio said this week that she is happy to meet with leaders, but is telling them that any meeting in the new year would be about the full scope of an audit conducted by her office, not the rule change or the possibility of selecting an outside auditing firm. DiZoglio insisted that the auditor’s office is not subject to House rules, and that those rules do not supersede the laws of the state. Even if she were to choose an outside auditing firm, it would be limited in what information it could request, as it would not have subpoena authority over the house like the State Auditor’s office. “A private auditing firm comes in and looks at only the discrete information regarding financials that the agency that hires them allows them to see. They do nothing else.” she said. Since an outside auditing firm would be under contract with the House, it could be limited in what information can even be shared with the public, Dizoglio added. “House leaders were not interested in providing an opportunity to work together in their rules change,” she said. “They were looking for an opportunity to invite me to conspire with them to break the law. And I will do no such thing.” Ross Cristantiello Ross Cristantiello, a general assignment news reporter for Boston.com since 2022, covers local politics, crime, the environment, and more. Boston.com Today Sign up to receive the latest headlines in your inbox each morning. Be civil. Be kind.China’s new hobbies will be bad news for most retailers. A fad for biking, hiking, and other physical endeavours has helped companies like $10 billion Amer Sports AS.N tempt shoppers, and the maker of trail shoes and skis is growing sales despite a sluggish economy. But a yen for adventure won’t necessarily be a boon for other brands. Amer, known for its Arc’teryx, Salomon and Wilson brands, will report results for the three months to the end ofSeptember on Tuesday. Quarterly revenue from Greater China is forecast to top $280 million and account for around a fifth of the total, according to the average of analysts’ forecast collected by Visible Alpha. That puts the region’s sales growth on track to hit 40% this year – outpacing other markets. Since Amer’s New York listing in January, its shares have sprinted ahead 50% and now trade on 28 times earnings for the next 12 months, a premium to pure-play consumer stocks like LVMH LVMH.PA and Chinese liquor giant Kweichow Moutai 600519.SS, which both trade on 20 times. Other outdoorsy bets are also enjoying a good run. Sales of Lululemon LULU.O athletic apparel, Shimano 7309.T bike gear and Deckers Outdoor’s DECK.N Hoka sneakers are all climbing. Events such as marathons and even ultra marathons are increasingly common, and popular: only 15% of applicants for the Beijing Marathon nabbed a spot last year. The market for sports clothing and footwear could expand at a compound annual growth rate of 9% between 2022 and 2027, per Euromonitor research cited in Amer’s prospectus. To compare, luxury sales in the world’s second-largesteconomy areforecast to fall by a fifth or more this year, according to a recent Bain & Companyreport. However, overall consumer goods and services aren’t generally keeping up with niche outdoor brands. True, retail sales grew 4.8% year-on-year in October, the fastest pace since February. But government stimulus and incentives flattered the figures by temporarily boosting purchases of big-ticket items like cars and electronics, according to Tommy Wu, an economist at Commerzbank. E-commerce giants Alibaba 9988.HK and JD.com 9618.HK reported tepid earnings last week. Returning retail sales growthto pre-pandemic norms around 10% will be a slog. One reason is that many shoppers now value experiences more than material acquisitions against a gloomy economic outlook. This trend also explains recent phenomena such as so-called “special forces travel” – eschewing once-popular shopping destinations like Paris or Hong Kong for domestic tourist hotspots on a minimal budget – and the rise of camping and road trips. If that’s the trend, China’s big spenders could be more inclined to splurge on hostels and hiking poles thanLouis Vuitton handbags. Some might not buy anything at all: a recent rage for nocturnal cycling involvesstudents spendingthe equivalent of a few dollars each to borrow bikes. Investors can find consumer bright spots, but the retail sector isn’t out of the woods. Source: Reuters Breakingviews (Editing by Robyn Mak and Aditya Srivastav)

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Michigan football has secured a commitment from the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 class. Belleville five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood flipped his verbal pledge from LSU to the Wolverines on Thursday night in a historic moment for Michigan on the recruiting trail. Underwood’s decision, which he posted on Instagram , comes amid Michigan’s public push to pry him away from the Tigers over the past month. Multiple recruiting services reported that the Wolverines had pitched NIL offers in the millions. Underwood posted on his Instagram page last week a graphic of him in LSU gear that said he was “likely to decline Michigan’s $10.5M NIL offer.” Although he deleted the post shortly after, many viewed it as an indication that he would sign with the Tigers on national signing day Dec. 4. Underwood took an official visit to LSU on Nov. 8 when it faced Alabama, and many recruiting experts reported following the trip that they expected him to remain in the Tigers’ class. But LSU has lost three straight games to fall to 6-4 this season, and Michigan continued to recruit the top-ranked prospect nationally. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder was a four-year starter at Belleville, leading the team to three straight state title games, winning two. His senior season ended last week in a 35-21 loss to Detroit Catholic Central. “YES SIR!” Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore posted shortly after Underwood’s announcement. “The Best players in Michigan go to Michigan.” Michigan’s passing game has struggled throughout 2024 and badly needed an infusion of talent at the position. The Wolverines lost a commitment from Fort Myers (Fla.) Bishop Verot four-star quarterback Carter Smith earlier this month, another indication they were all-in on Underwood. Underwood becomes the second five-star recruit for the Wolverines this cycle and 19th commit overall. By landing Underwood, Michigan’s class catapulted from No. 14 to No. 9 in the 247Sports Composite national rankings. Since the 247Sports Composite launched in 2000, Underwood is the second No. 1 overall recruit to commit to Michigan, joining defensive lineman Rashan Gary in 2016. “Potential franchise signal caller with the ideal blend of size, arm talent and athleticism,” 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins wrote in his scouting report. “Has continued to improve as a passer and has gotten much more in tune with his mechanics. However, the biggest revelation in his final prep campaign has been his ability to move the chains with his legs as he builds speed and dodges defenders as an open-field runner with a frame that’s north of 6-foot-3 and pushing 215 pounds. Displays excellent pocket awareness for his age and isn’t one that panics as pressure builds. Does best to stay on schedule and hit his marks with authority, showing the ability to not only challenge tight coverage windows with velocity over the middle, but also throw with both touch and anticipation to the second and third levels.” Underwood’s commitment comes one day after his teammate, 2025 four-star safety Elijah Dotson, flipped to Michigan from Pitt . The Wolverines now have four of the top five-ranked players in the state this cycle.

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The suspect in the high-profile killing of a health insurance CEO that has gripped the United States graduated from an Ivy League university, reportedly hails from a wealthy family, and wrote social media posts brimming with cerebral musings. Luigi Mangione, 26, was thrust into the spotlight Monday after police revealed his identity as their person of interest, crediting his arrest to a tip from a McDonald's worker. He has been connected by police to the fatal shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson last week in broad daylight, in a case that has laid bare deep frustrations and anger with the nation's privatized medical system. News of his capture triggered an explosion of online activity, with Mangione quickly amassing new followers on social media as citizen sleuths and US media try to understand who he is. While some lauded him as a hero and lamented his arrest, others analyzed his intellectual takes in search of ideological clues. A photo on one of his social media accounts includes an X-ray of an apparently injured spine, though no explicit political affiliation has emerged. Meanwhile, memes and jokes proliferated, many riffing on his first name and comparing him to the "Mario Bros." character Luigi, sometimes depicted in AI-altered images wielding a gun or holding a Big Mac. "Godspeed. Please know that we all hear you," wrote one user on Facebook. "I want to donate to your defense fund," added another. According to Mangione's LinkedIn profile, he is employed as a data engineer at TrueCar, a California-based online auto marketplace. A company spokesperson told AFP Mangione "has not been an employee of our company since 2023." Although he had been living in Hawaii ahead of the killing, he originally hails from Towson, Maryland, near Baltimore. He comes from a prominent and wealthy Italian-American family, according to the Baltimore Banner. The family owns local businesses, including the Hayfields Country Club, per the club's website. - Standout student - A standout student, Mangione graduated at the top of his high school class in 2016. In an interview with his local paper at the time, he praised his teachers for fostering a passion for learning beyond grades and encouraging intellectual curiosity. He went on to attend the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, where he completed both a bachelor's and master's degree in computer science by 2020, according to a university spokesperson. While at Penn, Mangione co-led a group of 60 undergraduates who collaborated on video game projects, as noted in a now-deleted university webpage, archived on the Wayback Machine. On Instagram, where his following has skyrocketed from hundreds to tens of thousands, Mangione shared snapshots of his travels in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Hawaii. He also posted shirtless photos flaunting a six-pack and appeared in celebratory posts with fellow members of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. However, it is on X (formerly Twitter) that users have scoured Mangione's posts for potential motives. His header photo -- an X-ray of a spine with bolts -- remains cryptic, with no public explanation. Finding a coherent political ideology has also proved elusive. Mangione has linked approvingly to posts criticizing secularism as a harmful consequence of Christianity's decline. In April, he wrote, "Horror vacui (nature abhors a vacuum)." The following month, he posted an essay he wrote in high school titled "How Christianity Prospered by Appealing to the Lower Classes of Ancient Rome." In another post from April, he speculated that Japan's low birthrate stems from societal disconnection, adding that "fleshlights" and other vaginal-replica sex toys should be banned. ia/nroUnited Nations Edducation Scientific and Cultural organization (UNESCO), in partnership with the Institute for Research Advocacy and Development (IRADA), held here a national consultation to foster dialogue on digital governance and freedom of expression in Pakistan. The discussion centered on implementing UNESCO’s Guidelines for Governance of Digital Platforms, aiming to balance freedom of speech with the challenges of disinformation and harmful online content. Antony Kar Hung Tam, Officer-in-Charge of UNESCO in Pakistan, highlighted the need for collaborative efforts to tackle these issues. “Addressing disinformation and harmful content online, while protecting freedom of expression and access to information, is a shared responsibility,” he said. Government representatives echoed similar concerns. Muhammad Shahzad, Director General at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, emphasized the importance of managing hate speech and disinformation without curbing legitimate discourse. Ahmed Shamim Pirzada, Director General of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), pointed out that digital governance challenges extend beyond Pakistan, requiring global cooperation for solutions. The UNESCO Guidelines outline a framework for digital governance, urging states, platforms, and civil society to ensure human rights are respected in the digital space. These include self-regulation, co-regulation, and statutory mechanisms, along with media literacy, cultural diversity, and robust content moderation practices. At a recent UNESCO Executive Board session in October 2024, Pakistan spearheaded a resolution to counter disinformation while protecting freedom of expression and access to information. The resolution called for collaborative, evidence-based approaches involving governments, media, and digital platforms. The session stressed the importance of digital and media literacy education, fact-checking initiatives, and transparent technological solutions as key tools to combat disinformation in line with international human rights laws. Prior to the national consultation, UNESCO and IRADA conducted four provincial-level discussions to gather recommendations from diverse stakeholders, including academia, civil society, and media professionals. These inputs were refined and presented during the national event. Participants proposed several measures, such as strengthening cooperation among stakeholders. Promoting media and information literacy. Enhancing content moderation and accountability by digital platforms. These proposals were discussed in detail during a panel session, providing a foundation for a national regulatory framework aligned with UNESCO’s guidelines. UNESCO and IRADA aim to establish a multistakeholder advocacy forum to promote the implementation of the consultation’s recommendations. This forum will work on creating evidence-based strategies that integrate global best practices with regional concerns to govern digital platforms effectively. The consultations have also led to a roadmap for implementing the Guidelines for Governance of Digital Platforms. The roadmap focuses on enabling digital rights, protecting fundamental freedoms, and fostering an inclusive and secure online environment for Pakistan’s citizens. Through these initiatives, UNESCO and its partners are setting the stage for a digital governance model that ensures freedom of expression while addressing the pressing challenges of the digital age.At first glance, President-elect Donald Trump’s most controversial Cabinet nominees are an odd list of ideologues and eccentrics chosen for political loyalty more than any substantive qualifications. But a more important and potentially dangerous factor ties their nominations together: They are foot soldiers in a power grab that, if it succeeds, would weaken the institutional guardrails that limit the president’s powers and concentrate more authority in Trump’s hands. Pete Hegseth, the Fox News host who could become defense secretary, has proposed purging military officers he sees as too committed to diversity, including Gen. C.Q. Brown Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “The Pentagon likes to say our diversity is our strength,” Hegseth said in June. “What a bunch of garbage.” (“Pete’s a leader,” former Trump aide Steve Bannon said. “He’s kind of a madman — but hey, you need that.”) Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who as director of national intelligence would oversee the CIA and 17 other agencies, has criticized the Biden administration’s support for Ukraine so fervently that a Russian state television host once called her “our girlfriend.” Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the anti-vaccine activist who is Trump’s nominee for Health and Human Services, has said he wants to fire hundreds of senior officials in the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health on “day one.” Trump has encouraged him to “go wild.” Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, Trump’s nominee for attorney general, didn’t last long. He withdrew his name from consideration amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Gaetz had promised to purge the Justice Department and FBI of anyone who might get in the president’s way. Their pledges are all in keeping with Trump’s broader promise to dismantle much of the federal bureaucracy and bring what remains under his personal control. During his first term, Trump often expressed frustration at the legal and political limits on what he could do as president. In 2018, he expressed an expansive view of his powers under the Constitution: “I have an Article II, where I have the right to do whatever I want.” But in practice, he found himself hemmed in by experienced Cabinet officials, White House lawyers and military officers, some of whom dubbed themselves “the adults in the room.” His attorneys general, Jeff Sessions and Bill Barr, quietly sidelined his demands that they prosecute Hillary Clinton and other top Democrats. His last defense secretary, Mark Esper, resisted his proposal to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy active-duty troops against demonstrators in Washington and other cities. So it’s no surprise that he wants to bring those national security agencies to heel. But Trump’s plans to expand his personal authority extend much further. He has vowed to weaken civil service rules that protect federal bureaucrats from being fired if they disagree with their bosses’ decisions. “We will pass critical reforms making every executive branch employee fireable by the president,” he said last year, adding: “I will wield that power very aggressively.” Trump also has proposed weakening Congress’ power to direct spending. He plans to revive the practice of “impounding” funds — blocking agencies from spending money that Congress has appropriated for programs he doesn’t like. A 1974 law made impoundment illegal, but Trump has suggested he will ignore the prohibition and challenge it in court. And Trump warned the Senate that if it refuses to confirm any of his Cabinet nominees, he may put them in office anyway — by using “recess appointments,” which allow a president to fill top jobs when Congress isn’t in session. And if the Congress doesn’t recess, Trump threatened to adjourn both chambers under a presidential power laid out in the Constitution for “extraordinary occasions.” That makes it all the more important that Republicans in the Senate preserve their constitutional powers, subject Trump’s nominees to searching scrutiny and reject any that are unqualified, dangerous or both. They will help determine whether Trump can undo the checks and balances the Founders wrote into the Constitution and turn the executive branch into an instrument of a would-be autocrat’s will. McManus is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times. Get local news delivered to your inbox!