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PITTSBURGH , Dec. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB ) ("FNB" or the "Company") today announced the pricing of its offering of $500 million aggregate principal amount of its fixed rate / floating rate senior notes due 2030 (the "Notes"). The Notes will bear interest at 5.722% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 11 and December 11 , of each year, commencing on June 11, 2025 , and ending on December 11, 2029 . Starting on December 11, 2029 , the Notes will bear interest at a floating rate per annum equal to Compounded SOFR plus 1.93%, payable quarterly in arrears on March 11, 2030 , June 11, 2030 , September 11, 2030 and on the maturity date. The offering is expected to close on December 11, 2024 , subject to customary closing conditions. The Company expects to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include investments at the holding company level, capital to support the growth of the Company's banking subsidiary and refinancing of outstanding indebtedness. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., and WauBank Securities LLC are serving as joint book-running managers, and Bancroft Capital, LLC, BMO Capital Markets Corp., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, and Piper Sandler & Co. are serving as co-managers. FNB has filed a shelf registration statement (including a base prospectus) and a prospectus supplement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for the offering to which this communication relates. Before investing, prospective investors should read the registration statement (including the base prospectus), the prospectus supplement and other documents FNB has filed and will file with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into the registration statement and the prospectus supplement for more complete information about FNB and the offering, including the risks associated with the securities and the offering. This announcement is for informational purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any offer or sale of any securities, in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. The securities are neither insured nor approved by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus, copies of which may be obtained free of charge from the SEC's website at: www.sec.gov . Alternatively, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus if you request it by contacting: Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC Attn: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014, email: [email protected] , or BofA Securities, Inc., NC1-022-02-25, 201 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, Attn: Prospectus Department, Email: [email protected] . About F.N.B. Corporation F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB ), headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , is a diversified financial services company operating in seven states and the District of Columbia . FNB's market coverage spans several major metropolitan areas including: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ; Baltimore, Maryland ; Cleveland, Ohio ; Washington, D.C. ; Charlotte , Raleigh , Durham and the Piedmont Triad ( Winston-Salem , Greensboro and High Point ) in North Carolina ; and Charleston, South Carolina . The Company has total assets of $48 billion and approximately 350 banking offices throughout Pennsylvania , Ohio , Maryland , West Virginia , North Carolina , South Carolina , Washington, D.C. and Virginia . FNB provides a full range of commercial banking, consumer banking and wealth management solutions through its subsidiary network which is led by its largest affiliate, First National Bank of Pennsylvania , founded in 1864. Commercial banking solutions include corporate banking, small business banking, investment real estate financing, government banking, business credit, capital markets and lease financing. The consumer banking segment provides a full line of consumer banking products and services, including deposit products, mortgage lending, consumer lending and a complete suite of mobile and online banking services. FNB's wealth management services include asset management, private banking and insurance. The common stock of F.N.B. Corporation trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FNB" and is included in Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index with the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) Regional Banks Sub-Industry Index. Customers, shareholders and investors can learn more about this regional financial institution by visiting the F.N.B. Corporation website at www.fnbcorporation.com . Information on FNB's website does not constitute part of, and is not incorporated by reference in, the prospectus or prospectus supplement. SOURCE F.N.B. CorporationAs the release date for "Moon Clang" draws near, fans of comedy and cinema alike are eagerly counting down the days until they can experience this uproarious romp on the big screen. With its blend of humor, heart, and unexpected twists, the film promises to be a refreshing and entertaining start to the New Year.NoneCox Enterprises Nearing One-Third of its Ambitious Goal to Empower 34 Million People to Live More Prosperous Lives by 2034

Visitors Borussia Dortmund will be looking to build on the positive aspects of their 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich last weekend when they travel to Borussia-Park where they will face Borussia Monchengladbach in their 13th Bundesliga game of the season on Saturday. The home team are 10th with 17 points and lost 3-1 against Freiburg on November 30, while BVB are fifth with 20 points and Nuri Sahin 's side appear to have finally found some consistency. © Imago Though the hosts managed to produce just two fewer shots than Freiburg's 17, the victors were able to create four big chances and only faced one themselves. Boss Gerardo Seoane was scathing of his players for conceding just one minute after they had halved the deficit in the 61st minute, saying: "Especially the [third] goal conceded after the 2-1 was scored at the stupidest moment. You score the goal, have a good feeling, have a few minutes with more possession, then get the 3-1 - that was groundbreaking for the final phase." Seoane's side have scored 18 goals and conceded on 17 occasions in the top flight, records which make them the league's 10th best offensive and eighth best defensive team. Die Fohlen are in mixed overall form having won two, drawn two and lost two of their six most recent games, though they have only lost once in their last six Bundesliga matches, achieving victory three times and drawing twice. It should be noted that the hosts have won their past four home outings, scoring 10 and conceding three in that period. © Imago As for BVB, they had to settle for a point against Bayern on Saturday, a match in which they limited the Bavarians to just one shot on target in the first half but faced four attempts on target in the second. Sahin said that his side deserved the draw, telling reporters: "I saw a very good Dortmund team today and I'm proud of the lads. We did a good job. Bayern has lots of quality. They changed the system at half-time and were able to push us back deep a few times. However, we had some good counter-attacking opportunities too." The Dortmund boss had come under scrutiny in previous weeks for his team's performances during October – a month in which they were defeated four times – but since the start of November, the visitors have won four, drawn one and lost just one. In fact, their 3-1 loss against Mainz 05 on November 9 can be explained in part by the fact they were reduced to 10 men in the 27th minute when the scoreline was 0-0. BVB's form away from home has been poor this term, as while they beat Dinamo Zagreb 3-0 on November 27, they lost the prior six away fixtures. © Imago Borussia Monchengladbach could be without centre-back Luca Netz for a few days, so perhaps the hosts will field Marvin Friedrich and Ko Itakura in the heart of defence. Midfielder Yvandro Borges Sanches is likely to miss out until January, though Florian Neuhaus may only miss a few more days, and this could mean Seoane starts Rocco Reitz and Julian Weigl together in the middle of the pitch in their absence. In the forward line, Alassane Plea , Franck Honorat and Robin Hack can be expected to start behind striker Tim Kleindienst . Borussia Dortmund will be without forward Karim Adeyemi due to a hamstring injury, as well as defender Waldemar Anton as a result of a groin issue. Sahin could station a back four consisting of Julian Ryerson , Niklas Sule , Nico Schlotterbeck and Ramy Bensebaini in front of goalkeeper Gregor Kobel . Striker Serhou Guirassy is certain to start, and he could be supported by Maximilian Beier , Julian Brandt and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens . Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup: Nicolas; Scally, Friedrich, Itakura, Ullrich; Reitz, Weigl; Honorat, Plea, Hack; Kleindienst Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup: Kobel; Ryerson, Sule, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Sabitzer, Nmecha; Beier, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens; Guirassy Borussia Monchengladbach have been strong at home this term, and though their overall form is mixed, it would not be surprising if they opened the scoring. However, Dortmund's performances have significantly improved in recent weeks and they will hope to translate their good home form into better showings on the road. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here .To subscribe, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To pitch a ‘My Turn’ guest column, email jdalessio@news-gazette.com . Want to purchase today’s print edition? Here’s a map of single-copy locations. Sign up for our daily newsletter here It’s what’s not in any of the nearly 300 pieces of legislation about to become law in the Land of Lincoln that irks Mahomet Republican state Sen. Chapin Rose to no end. “What should have become law is (Champaign Democratic) Senator ( Paul ) Faraci 's and my bill to protect the Mahomet Aquifer from carbon sequestration,” Rose said Friday for the umpteenth time since a plan to ban the practice fell flat in Springfield last month, putting the sole source of drinking water for hundreds of thousands of central Illinoisans at risk. Plenty of other bills, on topics ranging from corporal punishment to catalytic converters, cleared both the House and Senate and will soon take effect statewide. Here’s an overview, winners and losers, style from Editor JEFF D'ALESSIO . The ‘Fight for $15’ is over — starting Wednesday, legislation signed six years ago by Gov. J.B. Pritzker will take full effect, with Illinois’ minimum wage increasing by $1 an hour. WINNER: Minimum-wage workers Come Wednesday, only Washington state ($16.66), California ($16.50), Connecticut ($16.35) and New York ($15.50 to $16.50) will guarantee workers a higher hourly rate than Illinois’ $15. It’s the seventh (and final scheduled) raise in six years in Illinois, part of a staggered scale put in motion in 2019 by then-new Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who raised the state’s minimum wage from $8.25 to $9.25 in 2020, by 75 cents six months later and by a buck on every New Year’s Day since. To help small businesses with 50 or fewer employees get by, the state provides a tax credit through 2027 for wages paid to minimum-paid workers. For too long, insurance companies asked Illinoisans to fail first — denying or delaying necessary treatment for profit. No longer is that the case. Today, I'm proud to sign into law the Healthcare Protection Act that puts power back into the hands of patients and their doctors. pic.twitter.com/cx9Njcvwtu LOSER: Health-insurance providers No industry received as many mentions on the laundry list of new laws in the Land of Lincoln than health insurers. Among the new must-covers for insurance companies doing business in Illinois: medically prescribed hearing aids for all (not just those under 18); medically necessary prosthetics or custom orthotic devices; at-home pregnancy tests; genetic cancer screenings for high-risk patients; annual prostate-cancer screenings, cervical smears and Pap smears; and mental-health care for first responders. The state also put limits on the total price of medically necessary epinephrine injectors ($60 or less for a two-pack) and life-saving inhalers ($25 for a 30-day supply). WINNER: Stressed-out students Senate Bill 2872 gives schools the option of dedicating 20 minutes a week to activities aimed at reducing students’ anxiety and prioritizing their mental and physical health. Like yoga, for one. Stretching. Meditation. Quiet time. There’s just one catch, area superintendents say. “One of the main issues will be where to find the time in the day for an extra 20 minutes,” Villa Grove’s Carol Munson says. Carol Munson “We know that brain breaks, or what this law calls relaxation time, is important,” acknowledges Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley’s Jeremy Darnell , adding that his district already carves out time daily for P.E. and recess for all K-8 students. “The amount of time and structure of activity is variable according to development needs by age, but we do believe that play and relaxation are important. Jeremy Darnell "To many people, carving out 20 minutes of time seems simple but spanning 14 years of age difference with anything mandated is actually quite difficult. Legislation like this is well-intended, along with the countless other mandates that come out of the General Assembly, but the school day is still only seven hours and every mandate carves time away from something else.” Cute little bottles of shampoo and other toiletries are being phased out by hotels across the country, including Illinois. LOSER: Travelers who don’t pack toiletries Here’s one less thing the staff at Urbana's Hotel Royer will have to deal with when it opens on who-knows-what-date: SB 2960 prohibits establishments from providing those mini bottles of shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash and other personal-care products often found in guests’ bathrooms. The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association backed the bill, which is designed to cut down on waste from single-use plastic products. It takes effect on July 1, 2025 for hotels with 50 or more rooms and on Jan. 1, 2026 for hotels with less than 50. WINNER: Those who chose “lose 25 pounds” for a New Year’s resolution, only to lose steam by February The good news: That one-year gym membership you signed up for will be easier to get out of at this time next year, thanks to House Bill 4911. It mandates that all gyms and fitness centers must allow customers to cancel their memberships by email or online. Another consumer-friendly change that kicks in on New Year’s: Businesses that lure in customers via free trials or promotional periods must notify them at least three days before their subscription is automatically renewed at the paid rate. A pile of stolen catalytic converters. LOSER: Catalytic converter thieves Best of luck finding a recycler to buy your stolen loot after Tuesday. In an effort to curb a trend that was already on the decline, sellers will be required to provide a vehicle title that proves ownership and dealers must keep records of every vehicle title and identification number from which the part was taken. This 80-foot majestic green ash at 604 W. Pennsylvania Ave. is among the trees that earned "legacy" status in Urbana. WINNER: Trees Taking a cue from Urbana — a proud Tree City USA designee every year since the mid-‘70s — the state signed off on its own Legacy Tree Program, which includes a task force that “shall establish recommendations to promote the identification, awareness, commemoration and preservation of significant trees within the state.” LOSER: Paddle-wielding private school principals Believe it or not, corporal punishment is still permissible in private schools in all but a handful of states. The exceptions: Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and now Illinois, courtesy an edit to HB 4175. It amends Illinois School Code to expressly prohibit employees at nonpublic schools from engaging in "slapping or paddling a student, the prolonged maintenance of a student in a physically painful position or the intentional infliction of bodily harm on a student." WINNER: Child actors No more 12-hour shoots for 12-year-olds with two lines in a network pilot. Illinois' Child Labor Law of 2024 puts limits on how many hours in a 24-hour day a child is permitted to work and be on set of a TV, movie or related entertainment production. The on-set limits, broken down by age: two hours for babies between 15 days and six months; four hours for seven months to 2 years; five hours for ages 3-5; seven hours for ages 6-8 if it’s a school day (eight hours if not); and nine hours for ages 9-15. Kam Cox LOSER: Fans who long for the old days of college athletics For an explanation of HB 307 — the latest twist in name, images and likeness and a win for student-athletes — we turned to the area’s foremost authority on the topic: Kam Cox , assistant athletic director for strategic initiatives at the University of Illinois. The bill’s main purpose, he says, “was to realign Illinois law with the most immediate and important changes to the NCAA's NIL rules. Since our state law amendments in summer 2022, there have been several key areas where injunctions, lawsuits or otherwise have encouraged the NCAA to adjust its NIL policies, but our state law remained stable during that time.” In response, the state legislature made three key adjustments, which Cox took time to outline for us on Friday: 1. “Prohibitions against third-party use of NIL opportunities as a recruiting inducement were removed from the state law. Following the injunction against enforcing this NCAA rule in a case involving the collective supporting the University of Tennessee, the NCAA announced that it would not enforce the third-party recruiting inducement prohibitions nationwide. The new state law removes the old provisions to mirror the new NCAA policy and also to anticipate similar changes that will come next year after the settlement of a major lawsuit, as explained below. 2. “Additional language was provided to allow Illinois student-athletes to earn NIL compensation directly from their institutions. In anticipation of next year's final certification of the House class-action settlement, the legislature wanted to make sure that Illinois law was not an inadvertent barrier to institutions that choose to provide increased benefits for student-athletes. 3. “Old law was amended to make clear that Illinois institutions may help facilitate student-athlete NIL activities. NCAA legislation regarding the permitted level of institutional support in NIL activities has repeatedly changed, but a new NCAA bylaw allows greater institutional support under certain conditions. The new law merely aligns with this approach.” Said Cox: “At DIA, we are looking forward to seeing the law become effective in January.” 🚨🚨 BIG NEWS! Legislation enabling Illinois residents to start using mobile driver’s licenses and state IDs was signed into law today by @GovPritzker . New technology will ensure privacy and safety for Illinois residents. #HB4592 pic.twitter.com/jECizGqhuT WINNER: Illinois motorists It could be a year or two before SB 0275 is put into action but no later than on July 1, 2027, you’ll have the option of purchasing a driver’s license that’s good for eight years — twice as long as is currently allowed — at a one-time cost of $60. LOSER: Word watchers Those who believe law enforcement lingo is fine as is won’t like an amendment to the Illinois Crime Reduction Act. It outlaws the term “offender” and replaces it with “justice-impacted individual” when describing those in the Adult Redeploy Illinois program, which is aimed at keeping non-violent offenders from going to prison. Posters like this one, from DCFS, will soon be required at a variety of establishments statewide. WINNER: Child abuse victim advocates Per the terms of the Child Abuse Notice Act, all hotels, motels, bus stations, hospital emergency rooms, tattoo and body piercing establishments and indoor entertainment or sporting facilities with a capacity of at least 5,000 will be required to post — “in a conspicuous place” — a DCFS notice with information on what constitutes physical and sexual abuse and how to report such abuse. It must be at least 8.5 inches by 11 inches in size and written in a 16-point font. Heads up #Illinois landlords: New law kicks in Jan 1. LL can't take 'retaliatory action' vs tenant-- can't evict, increase rent, decrease service, or even file lawsuit in many situations. Read attached law--it's not long. #CRE #RRE #RealEstate @vjeannek https://t.co/A3ocKwy6VL pic.twitter.com/aJ8gqivlN3 LOSER: Retaliatory landlords Effective Wednesday, landlords will be strictly prohibited from "knowingly terminating a tenancy, increasing rent, decreasing services, (or) bringing or threatening to bring a lawsuit against a tenant for possessing or refusing to renew a lease or tenancy" if the tenant has “filed a government complaint about code violations, complained of specific code violations to media or local organizations or complained or asked for repairs related to health ordinances, building code, the renter’s lease or other regulations.” WINNER: Journalism Coming as soon as the 2025-26 school year: Illinois Student Assistance Commission-awarded scholarships for students who commit to working for a local news organization in the state for a period of no less than two years. LOSER: Employers that advertise salary as being “commensurate with experience” From here on out, businesses with 15 or more employees must include a pay scale and benefits information in every job posting. WINNER: Crime victims With the exception of some coroner or medical examiner investigations, DNA collected from victims of crimes to aid in investigations cannot be entered into any DNA database. E-cigarettes are now by far the most commonly used tobacco product among middle- and high-school students. The electronic devices, which can appear harmless, are not a safe alternative to cigarette smoking. LOSER: Deceptive vaping businesses Now against the law in Illinois, per a change to the Preventing Youth Vaping Act: advertising, marketing or promoting electronic cigarettes “in a manner that is likely to cause a (young) person to mistake the electronic cigarette for a product that is not a tobacco product.” WINNER: Those who conduct training for a living They’ll do big business in Illinois, with new laws requiring law enforcement and correctional officers to be trained on the best procedures and techniques when engaging with individuals with autism, and teachers, administrators and other school personnel to be schooled on emergency procedures, including the Heimlich maneuver, hands-only CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator. The Teamsters took to social media to try to convince Gov. J.B. Pritzker to sign the Worker Freedom of Speech Act. LOSER: Bosses who cross the First Amendment line Under the Illinois AFL-CIO-backed Worker Freedom of Speech Act, no employee can be made to attend work meetings where politics or religion are the topics of discussion if neither is part of their job. Nor can a boss discipline them for opting out or reporting a violation of the act. Exempted: non-profit and advocacy organizations where politics or religion may be in the job description. WINNER: Electric scooter riders On any road, sidewalk or trail where bicycles are allowed, low-speed electric scooters can now be, too — provided a municipality or park district approves of it. NEWS: IL is the 5th state to require climate change education in public schools!🤓 Thanks to @GovPritzker & bill champs Rep @jyangrohr , @StateRepKim & @SenALJohnson , students will learn about the environmental impacts of climate change as well as the solutions that mitigate it. pic.twitter.com/3Ex7QISKuw LOSER: Climate change deniers This ought to go over well in some of the redder sections of Illinois: A law that kicks in during the 2026-27 school year will require public schools to provide “learning opportunities on the impacts of climate change and solutions for addressing the crisis.” According to the Illinois Environmental Council, ours is the fifth state to embrace climate change education, joining California, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York.Louisville tops Winthrop 76-61 to give coach Pat Kelsey first win over former team

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svetikd/E+ via Getty Images Introduction AstroNova ( NASDAQ: ALOT ) posted a negative Q2 that was impacted by customer delays and (now) expressed troubles integrating their recently acquired MTEX, prompting what appears to be a full-scale organizational realignment. This is on top of their announced Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of ALOT 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.

Secondly, economic restructuring and industrial upgrading continue to drive innovation and technological advancement in key sectors. High-tech industries such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and new energy vehicles have seen rapid growth, contributing significantly to China's overall industrial output. This shift towards a more innovative and knowledge-based economy positions China for sustainable long-term development and global competitiveness.The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.Pride, bragging rights and more than $115M at stake when final college playoff rankings come out

Furthermore, the recent decision by major oil-producing countries to maintain production cuts has further tightened the supply of oil in the market, exacerbating price volatility. OPEC and its allies have signaled their commitment to supporting oil prices by extending production cuts, despite growing calls for increased output to meet rising demand. This decision has had a direct impact on oil prices, as traders anticipate a potential supply crunch in the coming months.Title: Celebrity Couple Xiang Zuo and Xiao Hua's New Hairstyles Spark Joy in the Kitchen

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Protesters demand immediate reopening of routes to Parachinar An image from the MWM sit-in in Karachi on December 25, 2024.— Facebook@UlemaOfQom The Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) continued their sit-in at Numaish on the fifth consecutive day on Saturday to protest against the Parachinar situation and to express solidarity with the city’s residents. Sit-ins at around 10 other locations across Karachi also continued for a third day. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) Sindh President Mahmood Moulvi, IPP Central Executive Committee member and former Sindh governor Imran Ismail, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leaders, as well as lawyers and social figures participated in the central sit-in at Numaish and expressed solidarity with the protesters. During his speech at the protest, MWM central leader Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi responded to Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab’s remarks about the sit-ins. Naqvi claimed that Wahab became mayor through a fake mandate, and that he was speaking the language of the establishment. The MWM leader pointed out that the mayor has not spoken a word about the blockade of Parachinar’s routes for 80 days, during which 130 children died due to the roadblocks. Naqvi said Karachi’s residents are more distressed by the destruction of roads than by sit-ins, adding that the mayor should focus on his work rather than adding salt to the wounds of the victims. He stressed that Karachi has always been the centre of anti-establishment and anti-dictatorship protests. He called for the leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to take notice of Wahab’s “anti-people” statements. MQM-P leader Shabbir Kaimkhani said on the occasion: “We are Hussaini, and stand against oppression. As a party we have been voicing our concerns against terrorism for the past 40 years. We condemn the incidents of terrorism in Parachinar.” Kaimkhani demanded the immediate opening of the routes to Parachinar, and announced that they would raise an effective voice in the provincial assembly against this injustice. Former governor Ismail said: “The terrorist attack in Parachinar is not the first incident. In Quetta (Balochistan) terrorists had targeted pilgrims. These systematic acts of terrorism are happening in our beloved country.” He said that people adhering to any religion or sect deserve equal rights. “We do not support those spreading sectarianism. We condemn the terrorism in Parachinar, and call for solidarity with its people.” IPP leader Moulvi offered his condolences to the families of the deceased and the injured. “We stand with the people of Parachinar in these difficult times. The current situation is the result of the incompetence of the federal and provincial governments. The routes must be opened.” Other leaders who participated in the protest included MQM-P Rabita Committee member Masood Mahmood, MNA Abdul Hafeez, MPA Anjum Mirza, MPA Amir Siddiqui, Allama Manzoorul Haq Thanvi, Allama Baqar Hussain Zaidi, Allama Nisar Ahmed Qalandri, Maulana Muhammad Hassan Raisi, Shabir Reza, Shamsul Hassan Shamsi, Ishaq Qurayati, Malik Ghulam Abbas and Hassan Sagheer Abdi. The citywide protests have been causing commuters difficulties in reaching their respective destinations despite the fact that the traffic police have announced alternative routes, and have been diverting traffic toward them.MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin public worker and teachers unions scored a major legal victory Monday with a ruling that restores collective bargaining rights they lost under a 2011 state law that sparked weeks of protests and made the state the center of the national battle over union rights. That law, known as Act 10, effectively ended the ability of most public employees to bargain for wage increases and other issues, and forced them to pay more for health insurance and retirement benefits. Under the ruling by Dane County Circuit Judge Jacob Frost, all public sector workers who lost their collective bargaining power would have it restored to what was in place prior to 2011. They would be treated the same as the police, firefighter and other public safety unions that were exempted under the law. Republicans vowed to immediately appeal the ruling, which ultimately is likely to go before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. That only amplifies the importance of the April election that will determine whether the court remains controlled 4-3 by liberal justices. Former Gov. Scott Walker, who proposed the law that catapulted him onto the national political stage, decried the ruling in a post on the social media platform X as “brazen political activism.” He said it makes the state Supreme Court election “that much more important.” Supporters of the law have said it provided local governments more control over workers and the powers they needed to cut costs. Repealing the law, which allowed schools and local governments to raise money through higher employee contributions for benefits, would bankrupt those entities, backers of Act 10 have argued. Democratic opponents argue that the law has hurt schools and other government agencies by taking away the ability of employees to collectively bargain for their pay and working conditions. Union leaders were overjoyed with the ruling, which affects tens of thousands of public employees. “We realize there may still be a fight ahead of us in the courts, but make no mistake, we’re ready to keep fighting until we all have a seat at the table again,” said Ben Gruber, a conservation warden and president of AFSCME Local 1215. The law was proposed by Walker and enacted by the Republican-controlled Legislature in spite of massive protests that went on for weeks and drew as many as 100,000 people to the Capitol. The law has withstood numerous legal challenges over the years, but this was the first brought since the Wisconsin Supreme Court flipped to liberal control in 2023. The seven unions and three union leaders that brought the lawsuit argued that the law should be struck down because it creates unconstitutional exemptions for firefighters and other public safety workers. Attorneys for the Legislature and state agencies countered that the exemptions are legal, have already been upheld by other courts, and that the case should be dismissed. But Frost sided with the unions in July, saying the law violates equal protection guarantees in the Wisconsin Constitution by dividing public employees into “general” and “public safety” employees. He ruled that general employee unions, like those representing teachers, can not be treated differently from public safety unions that were exempt from the law. His ruling Monday delineated the dozens of specific provisions in the law that must be struck. Wisconsin Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said he looked forward to appealing the ruling. “This lawsuit came more than a decade after Act 10 became law and after many courts rejected the same meritless legal challenges,” Vos said in a statement. Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state's largest business lobbying organization, also decried the ruling. WMC President Kurt Bauer called Act 10 “a critical tool for policymakers and elected officials to balance budgets and find taxpayer savings." The Legislature said in court filings that arguments made in the current case were rejected in 2014 by the state Supreme Court. The only change since that ruling is the makeup of Wisconsin Supreme Court, attorneys for the Legislature argued. The Act 10 law effectively ended collective bargaining for most public unions by allowing them to bargain solely over base wage increases no greater than inflation. It also disallowed the automatic withdrawal of union dues, required annual recertification votes for unions, and forced public workers to pay more for health insurance and retirement benefits. The law was the signature legislative achievement of Walker, who was targeted for a recall election he won. Walker used his fights with unions to mount an unsuccessful presidential run in 2016. Frost, the judge who issued Monday's ruling, appeared to have signed the petition to recall Walker from office. None of the attorneys sought his removal from the case and he did not step down. Frost was appointed to the bench by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who signed the Walker recall petition. The law has also led to a dramatic decrease in union membership across the state. The nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum said in a 2022 analysis that since 2000, Wisconsin had the largest decline in the proportion of its workforce that is unionized. In 2015, the GOP-controlled Wisconsin Legislature approved a right-to-work law that limited the power of private-sector unions. Public sector unions that brought the lawsuit are the Abbotsford Education Association; the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Locals 47 and 1215; the Beaver Dam Education Association; SEIU Wisconsin; the Teaching Assistants’ Association Local 3220 and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 695.