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Tech Bytes: Is China’s critical mineral export ban the beginning of a new trade war?UCF will attempt to shake off a dreadful offensive performance when it collides with LSU on Sunday afternoon in the third-place game of the Greenbrier Tip-Off in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. The Knights (4-1) couldn't get anything going against No. 19 Wisconsin on Friday, going 21-for-62 from the field (33.9 percent) and just 2-for-17 from 3-point range (11.8 percent) en route to an 86-70 loss. Jordan Ivy-Curry finished with 13 points while Keyshawn Hall and Dior Johnson added 11 apiece for UCF, which never led and fell behind by as many as 23. Knights coach Johnny Dawkins is hoping that his team's struggles don't carry over into the meeting with the Tigers (4-1). "We have to do better offensively," Dawkins said. "We have to space the floor better. We have to balance our offense between our perimeter and our bigs. Those are things that we didn't do consistently (on Friday)." LSU also needs to clean things up after committing 15 turnovers in a 74-63 setback against Pitt on Friday. Tigers forward Jalen Reed doesn't believe giving the ball away will be a lingering issue. "I feel like a lot of our turnovers were more on us than them," Reed said. "I feel like a lot of the turnovers were careless, but we're a better team than that and I feel like we'll take care of the ball better moving forward." Reed and Vyctorius Miller each posted 14 points in the loss to the Panthers, with Reed also hauling in seven rebounds. Cam Carter chipped in 11 points. Carter is putting up a team-leading 16.4 points per game. Jordan Sears (12.0 points per game), Reed (11.0) and Miller (10.2) also have scoring averages in double figures. Ivy-Curry (16.8 points per game), Hall (16.2) and Darius Johnson (13.0) have been leading the way for UCF. Sunday marks the first-ever meeting between the Knights and Tigers. --Field Level Media

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President Emmanuel Macron hosted three-way talks with Zelensky and Trump at the Elysee Palace, discussing what the incoming American president had termed a world that was a "little crazy". Hours after their meeting, the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden announced a new $988 million military assistance package for Ukraine. The package features drones, ammunition for precision HIMARS rocket launchers, and equipment and spare parts for artillery systems, tanks and armoured vehicles, the Pentagon said in a statement. Zelensky's meeting with Trump just before the three men headed to Notre Dame for the re-opening ceremony of the great Paris cathedral was his first face-to-face encounter with tycoon-turned-politician since his election victory. The meeting was of huge importance to Zelensky, given fears in Kyiv that Trump, who once boasted he could end Russia's war on Ukraine in 24 hours, may urge Ukraine to make concessions to Moscow. It also offered a unique chance for Macron to gain insights into how a second Trump presidency will look when he takes office in January. The trip to Paris is Trump's first international visit since his November 5 election win. "We all want peace. But it is very important for us... that the peace is just for all of us and that Russia, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin or any other aggressor has no possibility of ever returning," Zelensky said according to the presidential website. "And this is the most important thing -- a just peace and security guarantees, strong security guarantees for Ukraine," he added. Trump has scoffed at the billions of dollars in US military assistance to Ukraine and has spoken of forcing a quick settlement. But Zelensky also thanked Trump for his "unwavering resolve" describing the talks as "good and productive". Trump and Macron embraced and shook hands several times on the steps of the French presidential palace, with Trump given a full guard of honour despite not yet being in office. "It seems like the world is going a little crazy right now and we will be talking about that," Trump told reporters as he prepared to sit down for the talks with Macron. Despite tensions between the two men during his first term, Trump hailed his ties with the centrist French leader, saying: "We had a great relationship as everyone knows. We accomplished a lot." Macron told Trump it was "a great honour for French people to welcome you" for the re-opening ceremony at Notre Dame, which was devastated by a blaze in 2019 during Trump's first term. "You were president at that time and I remember the solidarity and the immediate reaction," Macron added, speaking in English. When he first took office in 2017, Trump's ties with Macron -- then also a fresh face on the world stage -- began warmly despite their obvious political differences. Their long and muscular handshakes -- which saw each man seek to assert his superiority -- became a light-hearted focus of attention before ties cooled, then soured, following disputes about climate change, trade and defence. Trump earlier wrote on his Truth Social platform that the United States should "not get involved" in the situation in Syria, where fast-moving rebel forces say they have begun to encircle the capital Damascus. The Republican's return to power has rung alarms in Paris and many European capitals after his promises on the campaign trail to force an end to fighting in Ukraine and levy tariffs on trading partners. In his own reaction to the discussions, Macron wrote on social media: "Let us continue our joint efforts for peace and security." European allies have largely enjoyed a close working relationship with Biden on the crisis in the Middle East, but Trump is likely to distance himself and ally the United States even more closely with Israel. In a sign of the importance of Trump's one-day trip to Paris, he was accompanied by his pick for White House chief of staff, Susie Wiles, as well as his Near East and Middle East advisors, Steve Witkoff and Massad Boulos, according to a guest list issued by the Elysee Palace. Tesla tycoon and Trump advisor Elon Musk, who was also on the line during a phone call between the incoming president and Zelensky last month, also flew into the French capital was present at the Notre Dame ceremony. sjw/adp/jj

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs earned a much-deserved extended rest after their Christmas Day rout of the Pittsburgh Steelers, which capped an unbeaten stretch of three games in 11 days and clinched them the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs . That extended rest? Well, it can be just about as long as Chiefs coach Andy Reid wants it to be. The Chiefs (15-1) face the Broncos in their regular-season finale next weekend, a game whose kickoff remains up in the air. But it will be at least 10 days after their 29-10 win in Pittsburgh, a nice rest for a weary team whose bye was back in Week 6. But with nothing to play for in that game, Reid could conceivably give some of his most important players the entire week off ahead of the playoffs. And now that the Chiefs have a first-round bye , that means they wouldn't face anybody until at least Jan. 18 in the divisional round, meaning a full 24 days between games. “It's been almost 10 weeks of football, grinding on this short schedule at the very end of the year,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “We'll see how Week 18 goes — who plays, who doesn't play. That's up to Coach. But having this break, getting healthy, getting ourselves ready for the playoffs, it was super important, especially with the guys we have banged up.” The Chiefs dominated the Steelers without four-time All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, who was resting his sore calf on Wednesday. They also have not had cornerback Chamarri Conner, who has been out with a concussion, or D.J. Humphries, the former Pro Bowl left tackle who appeared in one game for Kansas City before straining his hamstring. All of them figure to be healthy for the playoffs. The same for guys who have been dealing with minor injuries, such as right tackle Jawaan Taylor, who played against the Steelers despite straining his hamstring the previous week against Houston, and running back Isiah Pacheco, who dinged up his ribs in the win in Pittsburgh. “It will definitely help with some of the guys that are banged up, to get guys back, freshened up a little bit,” said Reid, who has rested important players in Week 18 in the past, including last season against the Chargers. “I think it will be a positive for us.” The trick is to decide exactly how much rest to give everyone. For those dealing with injuries, that full 24-day span without a game could be exactly what they need. For others, it might be too long between games, and getting at least a half of play against the Broncos would help prevent some rust from setting in. “I was just talking to my family about it,” Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie said. “My rookie year, we were able to get, you know, all home games, and you just can't be out (on the road) in the playoffs. I mean, I'm excited to go out there. I know we got the first round, you know, off, but I mean, I can't wait to play now.” What’s working The Chiefs won the Super Bowl last season with a wide receiver group that — outside of Rashee Rice — was lacking in dynamic ability. But with the trade for DeAndre Hopkins, the return of Hollywood Brown from an injury and the emergence of rookie Xavier Worthy, the Chiefs have gone from a position of peril to one of profound strength. What needs help The Chiefs have struggled to the run the ball consistently the past few weeks. Pacheco gained just 18 yards on six carries before hurting his ribs against Pittsburgh, and Kareem Hunt was held to 20 yards on nine carries — a 2.2-yard average. Stock up Worthy has smashed through the rookie wall, just as Rice did at this point last season, and has proven to be more than a speedster. He had eight catches for 79 yards and a touchdown Wednesday, giving him at least five catches in each of his past five games. Stock down Pacheco has not been the same after missing more than two months to injury. He has been held to 55 yards rushing or fewer in each of his past five games, and he's averaging just 2.7 yards per carry over his past three. Injuries There were no significant injuries sustained against the Steelers. Key number 77 — Travis Kelce caught his 77th touchdown pass, breaking a tie with Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez for the Chiefs record. Kelce finished with eight catches for 84 yards and a score against Pittsburgh, making him the third tight end in NFL history with at least 1,000 receptions. Gonzalez had 1,325 and Jason Witten had 1,228 while Kelce has 1,004 and counting. Next steps The Chiefs get the long weekend off before deciding who will play in Denver in their regular-season finale. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflIn one of his most famous statements, former PM Manmohan Singh before demitting office as the prime minister in 2014 had said, "history will be kinder to me", asserting that his leadership was not as weak as projected at that time. In what can be termed his last press conference as the Prime Minister, the former PM said in 2014, "I do not believe that I have been a weak Prime Minister." He added, "I honestly believe that history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media or for that matter the Opposition in Parliament. Given the political compulsions, I have done the best I could do. I have done as well as I could do according to the circumstances." He was responding to a volley of questions regarding criticism that his leadership was "weak" and he was not decisive on many occasions. Singh had also chosen the press conference to launch a blistering attack on BJP's then prime ministerial candidate Modi and referred to the 2002 Gujarat riots under the Chief Minister. The BJP at that time had projected Modi as a strong leader while targeting Singh over the issue of "weak" leadership in the run-up to the next Lok Sabha polls. "If you measure the strength of Prime Minister by presiding over mass massacre of innocent citizens on streets of Ahmedabad, then I do not believe in it. I do not think that this kind of strength this country needs least from its Prime Minister," Singh had said. "I have full confidence that the next Prime Minister will be from the UPA. It will be disastrous for the country to have Narendra Modi as Prime Minister. I sincerely believe what Narendra Modi is saying is not going to materialise," he had said. Maintaining that his two terms as prime minister in UPA I and UPA II displayed the Congress's ability to run a coalition government and dispelled the perception that this party cannot run coalitions, Singh said though some compromises were made in the process, they were on "peripheral issues and not on national problems". "Nobody has asked me to step down because of any inadequacy that characterised my tenure as prime minister," was his response when asked about "negative" perceptions within Congress about his leadership. (With agency inputs)

NEW YORK — Richard Parsons, one of corporate America's most prominent Black executives who held top posts at Time Warner and Citigroup, died Thursday. He was 76. Parsons, who died at his Manhattan home, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2015 and cited “unanticipated complications” from the disease for cutting back on work a few years later. The financial services company Lazard, where Parsons was a longtime board member, confirmed his death. David Zaslav, the president and CEO of Time Warner successor Warner Bros. Discovery, remembered Parsons as a “great mentor and friend” and a “tough and brilliant negotiator, always looking to create something where both sides win.” “All who got a chance to work with him and know him saw that unusual combination of great leadership with integrity and kindness,” Zaslav said, calling him “one of the great problem solvers this industry has ever seen.” Get the latest breaking news as it happens. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy . Parsons’ friend Ronald Lauder told The New York Times that the cause of death was cancer. Parsons stepped down Dec. 3 from the boards of Lazard and Lauder's company, Estée Lauder, citing health reasons. He had been on Estée Lauder’s board for 25 years. Parsons, a Brooklyn native who started college at 16, was named chairman of Citigroup in 2009, one month after leaving Time Warner Inc., where he helped restore the company’s stature following its much-maligned acquisition by internet provider America Online Inc. AOL/Time Warner CEO Dick Parsons helps announce a new partnership to produce "Showtime at the Apollo" variety show Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2002, in New York's Harlem neighborhood. Credit: AP/Beth A. Keiser He steered Citigroup back to profit after financial turmoil from the subprime mortgage crisis, which upended the economy in 2007 and 2008. Parsons was named to the board of CBS in September 2018 but resigned a month later because of illness. Parsons said in a statement at the time that he was already dealing with multiple myeloma when he joined the board, but “unanticipated complications have created additional new challenges.” He said his doctors advised him to cut back on his commitments to ensure recovery. “Dick’s storied career embodied the finest traditions of American business leadership,” Lazard said in a statement. The company, where Parsons was a board member from 2012 until this month, praised his “unmistakable intelligence and his irresistible warmth.” Time Warner CEO, Richard D. Parsons, participates in the White House Conference on the Economy: Financial Challenges for Today and Tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2004, at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington. Credit: AP/Lawrence Jackson “Dick was more than an iconic leader in Lazard’s history — he was a testament to how wisdom, warmth, and unwavering judgment could shape not just companies, but people’s lives,” the company said. “His legacy lives on in the countless leaders he counseled, the institutions he renewed, and the doors he opened for others.” Parsons was known as a skilled negotiator, a diplomat and a crisis manager. Although he was with Time Warner through its difficulties with AOL, he earned respect for the company and rebuilt its relations with Wall Street. He streamlined Time Warner’s structure, pared debt and sold Warner Music Group and a book publishing division. He also fended off a challenge from activist investor Carl Icahn in 2006 to break up the company and helped Time Warner reach settlements with investors and regulators over questionable accounting practices at AOL. Parsons joined Time Warner as president in 1995 after serving as chairman and chief executive of Dime Bancorp Inc., one of the largest U.S. thrift institutions. In 2001, after AOL used its fortunes as the leading provider of Internet access in the U.S. to buy Time Warner for $106 billion in stock, Parsons became co-chief operating officer with AOL executive Robert Pittman. In that role, he was in charge of the company’s content businesses, including movie studios and recorded music. He became CEO in 2002 with the retirement of Gerald Levin, one of the key architects of that merger. Parsons was named Time Warner chairman the following year, replacing AOL founder Steve Case, who had also championed the combination. The newly formed company’s Internet division quickly became a drag on Time Warner. The promised synergies between traditional and new media never materialized. AOL began seeing a reduction in subscribers in 2002 as Americans replaced dial-up connections with broadband from cable TV and phone companies. Parsons stepped down as CEO in 2007 and as chairman in 2008. A year later AOL split from Time Warner and began trading as a separate company, following years of struggles to reinvent itself as a business focused on advertising and content. Time Warner is now owned by AT&T Inc. A board member of Citigroup and its predecessor, Citibank, since 1996, Parsons was named chairman in 2009 at a time of turmoil for the financial institution. Citigroup had suffered five straight quarters of losses and received $45 billion in government aid. Its board had been criticized for allowing the bank to invest so heavily in the risky housing market. Citigroup returned to profit under Parsons, starting in 2010, and would not have a quarterly loss again until the fourth quarter of 2017. Parsons retired from that job in 2012. In 2014 he stepped in as interim CEO of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers until Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer took over later that year. “Dick Parsons was a brilliant and transformational leader and a giant of the media industry who led with integrity and never shied away from a challenge,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. Parsons, a Republican, previously worked as a lawyer for Nelson Rockefeller, a former Republican governor of New York, and in Gerald Ford’s White House. Those early stints gave him grounding in politics and negotiations. He also was an economic adviser on President Barack Obama’s transition team. Parsons, whose love of jazz led to co-owning a Harlem jazz club, also served as Chairman of the Apollo Theater and the Jazz Foundation of America. And he held positions on the boards of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the American Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Parsons played basketball at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and received his law degree from Albany Law School in 1971. He is survived by his wife, Laura, and their family.

ST. ALBANS CITY — As each morning reminds us: It’s cold outside. Every winter, our planet tilts its northern half away from the sun, shortening the days and lowering the temperatures, yet everybody needs a place to stay warm. This year more than most, the follow-up question has become: “At what price?” As the debate around energy use continues, Vermont and its residents face the age-old challenge of finding the best way to heat their homes at the cheapest cost. From heat pumps to wood stoves, there are more options available than ever, but the conversation has also gotten more complicated, especially as the state wrestles with its own age-old problem — keeping taxes low. To get a comprehensive solution to your heating needs, the Messenger recommends talking to a professional heating specialist. But in the meantime, here’s our next best effort to explain what Vermonters need to know as they deal with another cold winter and rising heating costs. Layers, movement and energy In Vermont, most of the state’s underlying social issues are related to housing in some way, and heat joined the list this summer, thanks in part, to the Clean Heat Standard. But then, Vermont has always been cold. So what changed his past year? Like everything else since the COVID-19 pandemic, the latest conversation around indoor heating has been spurred by rising costs, changing demographics and a lackluster housing stock. Admittedly, explaining all that isn’t going to help anyone actually keep their homes warm. Instead, this past week, I sat down with Dwight Decoster, who thinks a lot about how to keep a place toasty. He’s the head of the Champlain Valley Weatherization program, a Colchester-based nonprofit where he and his team upgrade 240 homes per year as part of a state-funded program. To meet with Decoster, a homeowner can apply to the program through the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, where applicants are weighed and ranked according to need. There’s a point system, but if you fit the state’s criteria, Decoster’s crew could show up to take a look over your property and start identifying the best ways to bring it up to 21st century heating standards. Through the program, a client can get their homes weatherized for free. “It’s one of the best kept secrets in Vermont ,” he said. To get started with a new client, Decoster said it requires two visits by energy experts to lay out what they do with each house, because it takes so much time to help people wrap their heads around the concept of what they want to do. Decoster said he tends to start his conversations about heat by relating it to how people get ready to go outside in the winter. To weatherize your home — like to weatherize yourself — you start with putting on your hat. Since heat rises, Decoster and his team look into the roof and the attic to make sure everything is nice and tight. Then, they focus on the foundation to keep your footers dry, followed by the final check — the exterior walls. To keep the warm air in and your house zipped up, they usually add a few layers — usually including some sprayed cellulose insulation — and then you essentially have a house buttoned up for the winter. The weatherized results should better encapsulate the thermal energy that’s generated in a house. Every home has some sort of heat-generating device, but Decoster said a house that leaks hot air is essentially throwing away the energy costs needed to generate it. “The (investment) payback on air sealing is like seven years,” he said. “The average payback on insulation is 10 to 12 years. So you see how obviously, customers want to get their biggest bang for their buck. But air sealing and insulation need to go together.” Decoster and his crew often start with a blower to kick-off each weatherization project. The machine forces air into a house, and a thermal imaging device can identify the various sources heat may be leaking from. Decoster compared the process to trying to stop up the light that can be seen outlining a closed door. If a door’s gap isn't tight enough, that’s plenty of space for it to shine through. Heat functions in the same way, as thermal energy moves toward a colder low pressure space. Usually, weatherization involves adding more insulation, but Decoster said doing so is kind of moot until those holes can be tightened up. Along those same lines, any homeowner can make necessary adjustments today to help prevent heat from escaping, he said. Check to make sure there is a weather strip on your door. For a quick test, Decoster said shut your front door, turn out the lights inside, turn on the porch lights and check for any silhouetting. Lock your windows at night. Even with double locking windows, the extra pressure against the frame creates a better air seal. Look on the outside of the house, by taking a walk around it. Check for any faults in air paths that could lead in and out, like range hoods or bathroom fans. Insulate your attic hatch. Decoster said he spent an hour adding a weather strip to the attic when he first moved into his house, and it can completely change the airflow throughout a structure. If you’re a little more DIY, Decoster said spraying insulation can be done by a relatively handy person. He recommends cellulose over fiberglass insulation, as it's cheaper and much greener from an environmental perspective. History and energy use Ask energy expert Jim Stiles about the most efficient heating solution he can think of, and he heads underground. “The one that has really captured my attention for many decades now is the groundsource heat pumps, or sort of, twist on that, a thermal energy network,” he said. Stiles is the chair of the City of St. Albans Climate & Energy Advisory Committee. The group’s focus has been on fixing up city property to find cost efficiencies, but he can imagine a much bigger mission of helping establish an underground thermal network for the city. The idea is far from being a reality any time soon, but the concept behind the technology is to create a system of underground pipes that holds thermal energy — via warm water or coolant — that each building attached to the system could easily share. It’s kind of like huddling for warmth, but on a streetwide level and if huddling was more of a shared utility. “It’s ideal in terms of where you most hope to be,” Stiles said. “For the people and places where it makes good engineering sense, it has other advantages because of the reduced demand for electricity.” While such a system could be beneficial for Vermont, Stiles recognizes the steep ask required for such a system. The infrastructure would include installing underground pipes — likely taking a few million in grant funding — and there’s no previous success to point to in Vermont to show the proof of concept. In the grand scheme, however, the concept does solve the basic problem for Vermonters, Stiles said. There’s a natural lack of heat in Vermont’s northern climate, and a row of weatherized homes connected to a thermal network would be able to capture a lot of the heat that currently goes to waste in many of Vermont’s neighborhoods. The cost to do it, however, is just too much in the current economic climate, especially as oil companies tend to sink millions into securing their holds on energy markets, Stiles noted. “It’s there, but it’s value engineering,” Decoster said. “A lot of these really energy efficient builders, they'll give you a package. ‘This is the most energy efficient I can build. And we back off from there.’” But then again, that’s how most efficiency upgrade discussions tend to head. In the long run, energy efficiency saves money, but the upfront costs are usually too expensive until there are more adopters. Decoster gave his own example. He knows people in the climate field who can construct houses that heat and cool themselves, adapt to the weather, have zero emissions and can generate their own electricity. Getting to green is possible. But making that technology affordable, that’s another question. “In Vermont, you’d be talking the top tenth of 1% that can afford that technology, the average Vermonter, no way,” Decoster said. “In my house, I have a wife who’s really good who knows when to put the shades up when she wants them. She knows how the air flows in her house.” As for the debate around the Clean Heat Standard, those rhetorical guidelines around the latest climate tech have hyper-focused on air source heat pumps. Underground systems, as considered by Stiles, also use heat pumps, but the difference primarily lies in the source of the heat itself. Air from Vermont’s cold winters — compared to the earth a few hundred feet down — tends to be much colder, making it a worse heat source for a heat pump. Using them as the only source of heat was generally frowned upon by those interviewed for this piece, due to their inefficiencies related to Vermont’s climate. The Vermont Public Utility Commission, however, is still hacking out new rules to try to encourage the use of heat pumps, although the final details could end up being much different. With that said, everyone interviewed for this piece encouraged the use of heat pumps as a secondary source, as they still deliver heating efficiencies. This past May, Americans for Prosperity — a conservative think tank — even ended up sending out a five-part mailer campaign to stir up a political defense against the Clean Heat Standard, as it tied into complaints around affordability. The policy’s effectiveness was also under contention. As proposed, the Clean Heat Standard’s stated goal was to essentially lower the overall amount of energy used by Vermont by giving fuel providers and distributors the additional task of helping Vermonters with the transition to cleaner alternatives. In theory, the effort would have shielded Vermont residents from the ebbs and flows of gas prices, which are affected by much bigger players in the world — both private and public — than the State of Vermont. Instead, the effort is currently leaning toward a much simpler solution set of some sort of fee system to collect incentive dollars to help pay for heat pump house conversions, although the exact rules — as well as the policy’s effectiveness — are still in contention. They are due in January. Getting a heat pump Most people have seen a heat pump without recognizing it. Like electrical panels, air conditioners and cell towers, the devices are literally designed to be as inconspicuous as possible. Vermont, as a state, is one of the earliest adopters of the device, installing 63,000 of the units last year. “It’s kind of like a small filing cabinet tipped on its side horizontally, connected to a refrigerant line,” he said. Some sit outside a home like an air conditioner. Some are fitted inside a house’s already-installed heating system, with mini-splits functioning as space heaters. The really fancy ones take advantage of underground thermal systems, as Stiles preferred. VGS technicians install a ductless mini-split heatpump at a residential dwelling. To create heat, they essentially function like reverse air conditioners, pulling heat from one source to shoot hot air into an enclosed space, or to warm up liquid when attached to a water heater. Installing them, however, can be tricky. Tim Perrin, VGS’s director of energy management and services, explained some of the considerations with me this past week over Zoom. Many households can benefit from a heat pump, Perrin said, but so much depends on the set-up of each house and its existing heating source. In Vermont, for example, roughly 6 in 10 households rely on gas-powered furnaces attached to a central air system. In such cases, Perrin said even an air source heat pump could help carve out some efficiencies, as the heat pump can do much of the heavy lifting to bring a home up to higher temperature before it becomes a better trade-off to switch to a primary fuel source and warm a space up the rest of the way. Usually, the time to switch between two heating sources is when the temperature measures between 40 and 50 degrees. The extra device also gives property owners some options, Perrin said. They can switch to whatever heating option works best at each temperature, and if there’s a major upswing in fuel prices, households can more easily adapt. But that doesn’t mean that heat pumps can be programmed and forgotten. There is something of a learning curve to running the devices, Perrin said. Unlike a central heating system, where you can set a temperature and wait for the furnace to kick in, heat pumps can be a little more finicky. They require annual cleaning, and heat exchange is often localized — depending on the design, of course. Relatedly, solutions often require some customization to fit each space. Like Decoster, Perrin also stressed the importance of weatherization attached to all these conversations. Heating a space is a combination of both generation and retention, and there’s not much point in addressing one without tackling the other. In older houses, for example, past construction techniques often created houses that were a little more loose and actually encouraged air flow, Stiles said, which robbed the house of its heat. Instead, people hunkered down in limited parts of the house, dressed with the expectation of the cold. “They dressed very warm and lived very cold in the winter,” Stiles explained. These days, we’ve made some progress. During a custom-fit, Perrin said a heat pump expert will examine the space to double check for weatherization issues, as well as, begin the conversation around potential conversion. “This is where understanding the heating needs of a home might be effective to find that technical balance point,” Perrin said. “At some point, the outside air temperature is just able to heat the home and it starts to be necessary to have some sort of supplemental heating source to support the home on really cool days.”

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NoneNEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Casey Simmons scored 18 points as Yale beat Vermont 65-50 on Saturday. Simmons had eight rebounds and three steals for the Bulldogs (5-5). Nick Townsend scored 13 points while shooting 4 for 10 (2 for 4 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line and added six rebounds. Bez Mbeng had 11 points and went 4 of 11 from the field (2 for 5 from 3-point range). The Catamounts (5-6) were led by TJ Hurley, who recorded 21 points. Shamir Bogues added 12 points for Vermont. Ileri Ayo-Faleye finished with seven points and three blocks. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .NCC cadets embark on entrepreneurship and skill devpt programme

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7 tips to prepare for next year’s taxes nowThe white-bearded Christian saint whose acts of generosity inspired America’s secular Santa Claus figure is known worldwide — but Saint Nicholas’ origin story is not. The legends surrounding jolly old St. Nicholas — celebrated annually on Dec. 6 — go way beyond delivering candy and toys to children. St. Nicholas was a fourth century Christian bishop from the Mediterranean port city of Myra (in modern-day Turkey). “Much of the rest is legend. There’s not really a lot of hard historical evidence about St. Nicholas,” said the Rev. Nicholas Ayo, author of “Saint Nicholas in America: Christmas Holy Day and Holiday.” But whether the stories are true is not so much the point, said Ayo, an 89-year-old retired Notre Dame University professor named after St. Nicholas. “There’s no Santa Claus that lands on the roof, but there’s a desire in people’s heart for an unconditional love that doesn’t depend on your behavior, but the fact that you’re somebody’s child.” Devotion to St. Nicholas — also referred to as St. Nick — spread during the Middle Ages across Europe and he became a favorite subject for medieval artists and liturgical plays, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. He is the patron saint of Greece and Russia, Moscow and New York, as well as charities, children and pawnbrokers. He also is the patron saint of sailors. In 1807, Italian sailors took the remains of St. Nicholas from Myra to the seaport of Bari, on the southeast coast of the boot of Italy. They built a church in his honor; relics believed to be his are kept in Bari’s 11th century basilica of San Nicola. St. Nicholas Day is celebrated every year on Dec. 6, typically by filling the stockings and shoes children leave out overnight with sweets and toys. It also is a fitting date for the patron saint of sailors. “The December feast day of Saint Nicholas coincides with the beginning of the winter storm season on the Mediterranean,” Ayo wrote. Legends surrounding St. Nicholas’ generosity appear in texts ranging from medieval manuscripts to modern-day poems, including how he interceded on behalf of wrongly condemned prisoners and miraculously saved sailors from storms. One of the most famous legends, Ayo said, features the aging father of three young women who didn’t have means to pay for their dowry. St. Nicholas is said to have thrown gold pieces into the man’s window. “It is the quintessential Nicholas,” Ayo wrote. “It requires no miracle, no credulity from the hearer, and no superstition at any level. What is needed is only a generous heart ready to give of his wealth in a self-effacing way that others may come to know a deep love in their life.” k inspired Santa Devotion to St. Nicholas seems to have faded after the 16th century Protestant Reformation, except in the Netherlands where his legend remained as Sinterklaas. In the 17th century, Dutch Protestants who settled in New York brought the Sinterklaas tradition with them. “The Dutch had St. Nicholas on the bow of the first ship that went into New York harbor,” Ayo said. Eventually, St. Nicholas morphed into the secular Santa Claus. Artist Thomas Nast, an engraver in Morristown, New Jersey, who illustrated the front cover of Harper’s magazine for many years, played a key role in the transformation, Ayo said. “He followed the description of Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas — and Clement Clarke Moore’s ‘Twas the Night before Christmas’ poem,” Ayo said. “So, that’s how that got changed. But in Europe, the bishop shows up in bishop’s clothing at the door sometimes.”Dr. Manmohan Singh: The economist who shaped India's economic future

NEW YORK (AP) — Gerard O'Keefe's 25 points helped Columbia defeat Merchant Marine 98-49 on Saturday. O'Keefe added five rebounds for the Lions (9-1). Blair Thompson scored 11 points while going 5 of 9 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and added six rebounds. Josiah Cunningham had nine points and went 3 of 6 from the field (1 for 4 from 3-point range). Drew Zalescik led the Mariners in scoring, finishing with 21 points and six rebounds. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Nick Bonino has had an incredible career at the NHL level for a long time, but now the 36-year old is officially heading overseas after struggling to find interest in the NHL as a free agent this past off-season. With more and more young talent coming through the NHL system every single season, we've seen plenty of veterans take their careers overseas in the last 18 months. Now, another has joined the ranks, as 36-year old Nick Bonino is officially signing in the Slovenian Hockey League with HK Olimpija Ljubljana, officially ending his tenure in the NHL for now. The former sixth-round draft pick made his debut with the Anaheim Ducks back in 2009, playing in an impressive 868 games over that time with the Ducks, Canucks, Penguins, Predators, Wild, Sharks and Penguins. The best seasons of his career came in 2015/16 and 16/17, where he was a key part of the Pittsburgh Penguins back-to-back Stanley Cup successes, which would represent the two times he hoisted the Cup in his career. After playing in 45 games for the Rangers a season ago, tallying just 1 goal and 5 points in that time, Bonino simply couldn't find interest as a free agent this summer, so he will now head to Slovenia for the rest of this season. During his career, Bonino has tallied 159 goals and 358 points, so while he was never a big star, to get that type of production as a sixth rounder speaks volumes to his talent. It's unclear if he believes a return to the NHL or North America is likely next season, but for now he's taking his talents overseas, and if he can spark something we may see a return one day or the option to find a role in a higher league in Europe. This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

From PSX highs to debt traps: Pakistan’s economic reality in 2024 A foreign currency counts Pakistani rupee notes at a shop in Karachi, on March 2, 2023. — Online The year 2024 marked a transformative yet tumultuous chapter for Pakistan’s economy, blending breakthroughs with setbacks. From record-breaking stock market performance to persistent inflation and systemic issues, the economic narrative reflected both resilience and fragility. Shaped by crucial policy decisions, global trends and structural challenges, the year encapsulated a complex journey of growth amid volatility. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); One bright spot was the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) hitting record highs. Improved investor sentiment and foreign inflows buoyed the benchmark KSE-100 index, reflecting optimism over macroeconomic stabilisation. Progress on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) front played a significant role, with stringent reforms beginning to yield results, narrowing the fiscal deficit and stabilising foreign exchange reserves. Despite these gains, structural challenges persisted. The tax-to-GDP ratio remained low, corruption and inefficiencies plagued public institutions and political instability hampered economic decision-making. Frequent turnover of key policymakers further complicated long-term planning. Former finance minister Miftah Ismail offered a grim assessment, accusing the government of failing to meet IMF commitments and implement necessary reforms. “This government has done nothing to rise up to the challenges facing our economy,” he said, listing unfulfilled promises such as pension reforms, taxation of shopkeepers and reducing government ministries. He criticised the administration for prioritising political survival over economic measures. Debt remained a pressing concern. External debt exceeded $130 billion, creating immense repayment pressures. Domestic debt also burgeoned due to fiscal shortfalls and borrowing. “We are in a debt trap where net governmental revenues after taxes are less than the interest on the debt,” Ismail noted, urging measures to widen the tax base and rationalise fiscal policies. Agriculture emerged as a rare success, growing by 6.3 per cent in FY24. Wheat production surged 11.6 per cent, cotton rebounded 108.2 per cent, and rice grew 34.8 per cent, driven by favourable weather and policy interventions. This performance contributed to a modest GDP growth of 2.5 per cent, though systemic issues like low productivity and inadequate investment persist. Rupee stability and monetary policy The rupee displayed intermittent stability, closing the year at around Rs280 to the dollar, aided by tighter monetary policies and reduced speculation. Measures like anti-smuggling initiatives narrowed the gap between interbank and open-market rates. Sana Tawfiq of Arif Habib Limited credited these efforts with maintaining manageable deficits and stabilising the currency. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) played a crucial role, keeping interest rates high to curb inflation, which eased from alarming peaks. In June, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) reduced the policy rate by 150 basis points (bps) to 20.5 per cent, reflecting easing inflationary pressures. Economist Ammar Habib Khan commended the SBP’s efforts but noted high rates earlier in the year dampened industrial activity. IMF engagement: a necessary lifeline The country’s engagement with the IMF defined 2024. Fulfilment of IMF conditions facilitated financial inflows, stabilising foreign exchange reserves from a precarious $4 billion. However, reliance on IMF programmes underscored the country’s inability to generate sustainable growth independently. Experts stressed the importance of structural reforms to reduce this dependency. Experts agree that sustainable recovery hinges on overdue reforms. Dr Khaqan Hassan Najeeb outlined a roadmap focusing on fiscal consolidation, energy sector reforms, and privatisation of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). He criticised the government’s inaction, particularly regarding entities like Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). “The government’s reluctance to act has thwarted privatisation,” he said, lamenting the absence of advertisements for utility company sales. The energy sector’s inefficiency remains a significant drag, contributing to high circular debt and unaffordable tariffs. Reducing technical and non-technical losses and rationalising government expenditures are essential. While macroeconomic indicators improved, ordinary Pakistanis faced harsher realities. Poverty rates rose from 40.2 per cent in FY23 to 40.5 per cent in FY24. Inflation, though lower than its peak, continued to erode purchasing power, and high tax rates stifled growth. Dr Najeeb highlighted the need for inclusive policies to address challenges like inadequate education and high stunting rates. A glimpse into 2025 Looking ahead, experts predict GDP growth of 2-3 per cent in 2025, with inflation falling to single digits. Achieving these targets will require disciplined fiscal management and meaningful reforms. Khan emphasised reducing subsidies and investing in productive sectors. Ismail advocated for privatisation, empowered local governance, and rationalised expenses to drive sustainable growth. The lessons of 2024 are clear: Pakistan must use the breathing room provided by the IMF to address structural deficiencies. “Authorities need to focus on deregulation, private sector participation, and finding new growth engines,” said Dr Najeeb. Without significant changes, Pakistan risks remaining trapped in a recurring pattern of crises and external dependence. The writer is a Geo.tv staffer.EUREKA — 2024 was a busy year in Woodford County. A Eureka farmer and a country singer found fame. The county reorganized it animal control service. Renovation of the county courthouse uncovered forgotten history. A Goodfield restaurant made it's TV debut and later was closed by a fire. Judges and politicians took office and moved on. A teenager nearly killed in an ATV crash worked hard to recover, and a beloved Roanoke-Benson teacher was mourned. Following is a month-by-month look at these any many more highlights. January Eureka joined other area public library branches to make the switch to go fine free on an official basis for any overdue materials. Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton was the guest speaker for Eureka College’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. program. The sheriff’s department was given the green light to take over responsibilities for the county’s animal control service in which two deputies would work consecutive 12-hour shifts. The county board came to terms on a 24-month lease agreement with Merle and Michelle Blunier for use of the couple’s kennel facility four miles north of Eureka. Michelle Blunier would also serve as a kennel attendant. Heather Leman remained as the county’s animal control warden on an interim basis. Eureka qualified for the Illinois High School Association state dance competition. The holiday home tour was resurrected after a two-decade absence. The event, sponsored by the United Methodist Church, raised $2,250 for the Eureka Area United Fund. February Members of the Chad Leman family of rural Eureka were featured in a commercial for Illinois Farm Families that aired during Super Bowl LVIII. The county board revised the animal control ordinance where Sheriff Matt Smith will be appointed warden along with two deputies. Meals on Wheels sought more volunteers. Eureka College received approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a radio station to operate on FM 103.1. March America’s Best Restaurants made a stop at Busy Corner Restaurant in Goodfield to film segments for a future episode. As part of a restructuring plan by the Peoria Diocese, St. Luke Catholic Church in Eureka and St. Joseph Catholic Church in Roanoke would be recommended for closure, while Benson-based St. John’s Catholic Church would stay open. Saint Patrick Catholic Church of Minonk would merge with Wenona-based St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The Woodford County Sheriff’s Department stepped up patrols over the St. Patrick Day weekend. Eureka College won a pair of first place awards at the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System conference in New York City. Former part-time county dispatcher Kevin McCumber continued in his role as interim clerk for the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. Ex-Eureka teacher Sara Kaufman was named recipient of the Mary Lou and Keith Hauge Retiree Award by the Illinois Education Association. Victoria Nguyen of Bloomington, an employee with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Peoria, died in a two-vehicle crash along Interstate 74 in the extreme southeast portion of the county. Sheriff Matt Smith was named the county’s animal control warden. Eureka agricultural teacher and Future Farmers of America (FFA) adviser Sawyer Cottrell was named the top groundbreaker by Compeer Financial. Eureka College graduate Joe Hermes unveiled a country music single titled, “Baptized by the South.” April TheMenu309 opened in the former Maurie’s Sugar Shoppe across from the county courthouse on N. Main St. (Illinois Route 117) in Eureka. High school seniors Cora Strawn (Eureka), Bella Fortner (Fieldcrest) and Addy Heineke (Roanoke-Benson) were chosen Good Citizen Award recipients by the Bloomington-based Joseph Bartholomew Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). Eureka College students watched the solar eclipse. Former Roanoke-Benson industrial arts teacher Eric Bates died from injuries in a motorcycle accident four miles southeast of Mackinaw. Several collectibles from the Ronald Reagan Museum & Archives located on the Eureka College campus were made available online. The county board tabled a resolution whether or not to declare Woodford a place for asylum seekers and migrants as a possible destination. Pekin resident Lisa Hofmann died after a forklift accident at the Case New Holland plant on the east side of Goodfield. A recycling event at St. Luke Catholic Church in Eureka that was a joint effort with the Boosters 4-H Club and Laborers Local No. 996 of Roanoke filled almost 25 bins. May The county courthouse underwent a $4.5 million renovation that uncovered pieces of art that depicted local history. The Benson ambulance squad obtained a $26,000 grant from the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal. A remodeling project continued in the dining room at the Apostolic Christian Home of Roanoke. The Ross Clymer and Friends Community Recycling event saw almost 200 participants and 24 full bins. It was at Eureka’s St. Luke Catholic Church as a joint effort between the Boosters 4-H Club of Eureka and Roanoke-Based Laborers Local No. 996. The resolution to allow asylum seekers and migrants to arrive was approved by the county board. The Peoria Diocese decided to close two county Catholic parishes, St. Luke in Eureka and St. Joseph in Roanoke and merge them with Metamora-based St. Mary. Saint John in Benson would join St. Mary of El Paso, while St. Patrick in Minonk would consolidate with the Lostant, Toluca and Wenona parishes. These were supposed to go into effect after the first of July K. Edward Holderle was appointed the new chair to the Eureka College board of trustees, while C. Mark Palmer took office as secretary. Graduates Sandy Baner and Siji Moore along with Jane Campbell were picked to the board. Eureka teachers Molly Baner, Brandi Edwards and April Worner each received $100 and the Early Career Educator Award through the Delta Kappa Gamma. The Apostolic Christian Homes of Eureka and Roanoke celebrated National Nursing Home Week. Illinois Central College student and Eureka graduate Noah Wynkoop obtained a gold medal in the category of diesel equipment technology at the SkillsUSA Illinois Elite Career competition in Peoria. A dedication ceremony was held at the Upper Lake Eureka Park for a Charters of Freedom monument in the form of brick platforms with cases containing replicas of the Bill of Rights, U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. June The Nate Hoffman Memorial Melanoma Adventure Race took place at Eureka Lake. The Walking for Amy fundraiser to benefit the American Cancer Society was held at Roanoke Park and generated over $16,800. The first Congerville Summer Family Night series kicked off at the village hall. The Race with Your Heart was held at Lake Eureka. Recent Eureka High School graduates Brady Monk, Hallie Rocke and Cora Strawn were selected as the recipients of a $1,000 scholarship through the Congerville Eureka Goodfield Community Youth Recreation Association. Eureka Pubic Library and Minonk’s Filger Library participated in the Tri-County Library Crawl. Librarian Joel Shoemaker released a book titled, “Silas on Sundays,” a children’s book for those in the LGBTQ+ community Frank and Jane Kandel of Eureka observed their 55th wedding anniversary. Recent Fieldcrest graduate Allison Tjaden received a $1,000 scholarship through Helena-Agri Enterprises. A dead blackbird found near Metamora tested positive for the West Nile virus, the first confirmed case in the county. Erik Brewer was reappointed to the county housing authority. July The Bob and Evelyn Duncan Memorial Golf tournament took place at the Fairlakes course south of Secor. Eureka’s Ken and Judy Knepp celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. An Illinois appeals court ruled a third trial should take place in the case of Maya Nodine, who was twice convicted in the death of Joy Hattan in a two-vehicle crash along Route 89 south of Washburn just a week before Christmas in 2021. Members of the county’s American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (ASCME) donated sick and/or vacation time to a highway department employee who battled health issues and required hospitalization near Chicago. The county 4-H Fair took place at Farm Bureau Park just east of Eureka. Roanoke held its sesquicentennial celebration. Eleventh Judicial Circuit Judge Charles Feeney, a native of El Paso and a former Woodford County state’s attorney, retired after three-plus decades in law. State’s Attorney Greg Minger was appointed to replace Feeney on the bench. August The combined efforts of the Eureka ($175,000) and Minonk ($156,000) runs to Peoria raised a combined $331,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. A fire in an apartment complex in Eureka claimed the life of 58-year-old Jennifer Adams. Over a dozen others were displaced by the blaze. Eugene Doherty was appointed to the 4th District Appellate Court to replace Lisa Holder White, now an Illinois Supreme Court justice. Woodford was one of 41 counties in the district. Jeff Schumacher was elected president of the Eureka Rotary Club. Lisa Jording resigned as the county’s zoning administrator and was replaced on an interim basis by Deb Breyman. Martin Clinch was reappointed to the zoning board. Eureka High School freshman Hank Wettstein suffered severe head and other injuries in a near-fatal all-terrain vehicle crash on his uncle's farm. He later was taken to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago for extensive rehabilitation. September Evergreen Farm Services (FS) acquired the liquid fuel division of Eureka-based Yoder Oil. The Greater Eureka Kiwanis Club held a yard sale in the 400 block of East Pearson Street. The Eureka Rotary Club held a pork chop fundraiser at the Goodfield State Bank branch along Route 117 (South Main Street). The county board picked former Assistant State's Attorney Erik Gibson to replace Greg Minger as state’s attorney. The Glory Stompers, a local teenage band that formed in the late 1960s, reunited for a concert at the Rutland American Legion. The group comprised Minonk natives Bill Barr, Doug Emlen, Bob Hakes, Dave Reiter and Sam Thorp. October Jyl Zubiate was installed as president of the Eureka Greater Area Kiwanis Club. Roanoke resident Chad Martin, who is the president and chief executive officer of Goodfield State Bank, was chosen as second vice chair with the Springfield-based Community Bankers Association of Illinois. Impact Life held blood drives in Eureka and Minonk to assist those residents in the southeastern U.S. affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The county board approved an intergovernmental agreement with the village of Bayview Gardens for animal control services. It also issued a special use permit to Annette Monge to operate a dog service training/dog boarding facility two miles west of Metamora. Jared Schieber and Jeff Schrock were reappointed to the Congerville Rural Fire Protection District. Eureka High School won the Class 1A division of Illinois Marching Band Championships at Hancock Stadium on the Illinois State University campus in Normal. The Eureka United Methodist Church held a soup/pie event. November Republican incumbent Dennis Tipsword was elected to another term as state representative for the 105th District, while Chris Balkema captured the open 53rd District State Senate seat. The Illinois secretary of state's office branch in Roanoke switched to a “one-stop shop” for driver-related services. A fire caused the temprary closure of the Busy Corner Restaurant in Goodfield. Carol Anderson of Eureka and Metamora’s Dennis Tipsword were recognized for service to the county’s historical society, which also assumed responsibility of the Eureka Holiday Home Tour. The county opted to pay for repair costs for its animal control kennel located north of Eureka. December Eureka High School freshman Hank Wettstein returned to school for the first time since his late summer ATV accident. He will attend once a week with the hope to return some time in the second semester. An ad hoc committee will be created to study the future of the county’s animal control operation. Kevin McCumber Joe Hermes INSIDE : Year in review in Woodford County sports, B1 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!