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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's decision to break his word and pardon his son Hunter has spurred a broader discussion about what else he should be doing with the broad clemency powers of the presidency before he leaves office in January, including whether he should be pardoning Donald Trump. Biden on Tuesday ducked questions about his son, ignoring calls for him to explain his reversal as he was making his first presidential trip to Angola . He dismissed shouted questions about the matter with a laugh during a meeting with Angolan President João Lourenço at the presidential palace, telling the Angolan delegation: “Welcome to America.” Biden was not scheduled to take questions from the press during his trip to Africa, and he has largely avoided interactions with reporters since President-elect Trump’s victory last month. Biden’s decision to offer his son a blanket pardon for actions over the past 11 years has sparked a political uproar in Washington, after the president repeatedly had said he would not use his extraordinary powers for the benefit of his family. Biden claimed that the Justice Department had presided over a “miscarriage of justice” in prosecuting his son, using some of the same language that Trump uses to describe his own legal predicaments. Biden's reversal drew criticism from many Democrats , who are working to calibrate their approach to Trump as he prepares to take over the Oval Office in seven weeks. There is concern the pardon — and Biden's claims that his son was prosecuted for political reasons — will erode their ability to push back on the incoming president’s legal moves. And it has threatened to cloud Biden's legacy as he prepares to leave office on Jan. 20. Hunter Biden is the closest presidential relative ever to be granted clemency, but other leaders have pardoned family members and close friends. Bill Clinton pardoned his brother Roger for drug charges after Roger Clinton had served his sentence. By the time Trump left office after his first term, he had issued 144 pardons, which included Charles Kushner , the father of his son-in law, Jared Kushner. He also pardoned fervent supporters Steve Bannon, Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn and other people convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. In the months after the 2020 election, Trump and his allies were trying to overturn his loss, a failed effort that culminated in the violent riot by his supporters at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. There were discussions at the time over whether Trump would preemptively pardon some of those involved in the effort — and maybe even himself — before he left office. But that never happened. Now, Democrats are having similar discussions about preemptive pardons on their side because of Trump's rhetoric on the campaign trail. He's made no secret of his desire to seek revenge on those who prosecuted him or crossed him. He talks about "enemies from within." He's circulated social media posts that call for the jailing of Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former Vice President Mike Pence and Sens. Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer. He's also taken aim at Liz Cheney, a conservative Republican who campaigned for Harris, promoting a social media post that suggested he wanted military tribunals to punish her because she was guilty of treason. Sen. Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, said last week on Boston Public Radio that Biden might consider broad pardons to protect people against whatever wrath Trump may seek, but also as a way to move the country past this acrimonious and divided time. “I think that without question, Trump is going to try to act in a dictatorial way, in a fascistic way, in a revengeful first year at least of his administration toward individuals who he believes harmed him,” Markey said. Presidents enjoy expansive pardon powers when it comes to federal crimes . That includes granting clemency to people who have not yet been charged, as President Gerald Ford did in 1974 when he pardoned his predecessor, Richard Nixon, over the Watergate scandal. The decision at the time caused an uproar but has been seen in the ensuing decades as a move that helped restore order. Markey cited Ford's pardon as a way for the country “just to close that chapter and move on to a new era.” Biden could do the same, Markey said, to help the country move on “to an agenda that deals with the ordinary families.” Sen. Joe Manchin, the Democrat-turned-independent from West Virginia, took it a step further and suggested Biden should even pardon Trump for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, federal charges that are now evaporating with Trump's upcoming return to the White House. “Why don't you go ahead and pardon Donald Trump for all his charges?" he said in an interview with CNN. “It would have gone down a lot more balanced. I'm just saying, wipe them out.” At the same time, Democratic lawmakers and criminal justice reformers are pushing Biden to grant pardons to broad groups of Americans. Democrats Ayanna Pressley, Jim Clyburn and Mary Gay Scanlon wrote to Biden on Nov. 20, asking him to use his clemency powers to "address longstanding injustices in our legal system, and set our nation on the path toward ending mass incarceration.” The letter, also signed by 61 others, suggested Biden could use his powers to send a powerful message of criminal justice reform and "rectify unjust and unnecessary criminal laws passed by Congress and draconian sentences given by judges.” “We encourage you to use your clemency powers to help broad classes of people and cases, including the elderly and chronically ill, those on death row, people with unjustified sentencing disparities, and women who were punished for defending themselves against their abusers,” they wrote. So far, Biden has pardoned 25 people. Most presidents tend to grant a flurry of clemency requests at the end of their terms, and it's likely Biden will do the same. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has said Biden is “thinking through that process very thoroughly.” Weissert reported from Luanda, Angola.BROOKFIELD, News, Nov. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (“BIP”) (NYSE: BIP; TSX: BIP.UN) today announced that the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) accepted a notice filed by BIP of its intention to renew its normal course issuer bid for its outstanding limited partnership units (“LP Units”) and its cumulative class A preferred limited partnership units (“Preferred Units”, and together with LP Units, “Units”). Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation (“BIPC”) (NYSE/TSX: BIPC) also today announced that the TSX accepted a notice filed by BIPC of its intention to renew its normal course issuer bid for its outstanding class A exchangeable subordinate voting shares (“Exchangeable Shares”). BIP and BIPC believe that the renewed normal course issuer bid will provide the flexibility to use available funds to purchase Units or Exchangeable Shares, as applicable, should they be trading in price ranges that do not fully reflect their value. Under BIP’s normal course issuer bid, the Board of Directors of the general partner of BIP authorized BIP to repurchase up to 5% of the issued and outstanding LP Units, or up to 23,088,572 LP Units. At the close of business on November 19, 2024, there were 461,771,450 LP Units issued and outstanding. Under BIP’s normal course issuer bid, it may repurchase up to 126,133 LP Units on the TSX during any trading day, which represents 25% of the average daily trading volume of 504,532 LP Units on the TSX for the six months ended October 31, 2024, calculated in accordance with the rules of the TSX. BIP currently has four series of Preferred Units outstanding and that trade on the TSX. Under BIP’s normal course issuer bid, BIP is authorized to repurchase up to 10% of the total public float of each series of Preferred Units as follows: Calculated as at November 19, 2024. For the 6 months ended October 31, 2024. In accordance with TSX rules, any daily repurchases with respect to each of the Series 1, Series 9 and Series 11 Preferred Units will be limited to 25% of the average daily trading volume on the TSX of the respective series and any daily repurchases with respect to the Series 3 Preferred Units will be limited to 1,000 Preferred Units. Under BIPC’s normal course issuer bid, the Board of Directors of BIPC authorized BIPC to repurchase up to 10% of the total public float of Exchangeable Shares, or up to 11,889,600 Exchangeable Shares. At the close of business on November 19, 2024, there were 132,029,368 Exchangeable Shares issued and outstanding and 118,896,006 Exchangeable Shares in the public float. Under BIPC’s normal course issuer bid, it may repurchase up to 46,896 Exchangeable Shares on the TSX during any trading day, which represents 25% of the average daily trading volume of 187,586 Exchangeable Shares on the TSX for the six months ended October 31, 2024, calculated in accordance with the rules of the TSX. Repurchases under each normal course issuer bid are authorized to commence on December 2, 2024 and each normal course issuer bid will terminate on December 1, 2025, or earlier should BIP or BIPC, as applicable, complete its repurchases under its respective normal course issuer bid prior to such date. Under BIP’s current normal course issuer bid that commenced on December 1, 2023 and expires on November 30, 2024, BIP previously sought and received approval from the TSX to repurchase up to 23,107,234 LP Units, 498,926 Series 1 Preferred Units, 498,586 Series 3 Preferred Units, 798,659 Series 9 Preferred Units and 993,619 Series 11 Preferred Units. BIP has not repurchased any Units under its current normal course issuer bid in the past twelve months. Under BIPC’s normal course issuer bid that commenced on December 1, 2023 and expires on November 30, 2024, BIPC previously sought and received approval from the TSX to repurchase up to 11,867,195 Exchangeable Shares. BIPC has not repurchased any Exchangeable Shares under its current normal course issuer bid in the past twelve months. Repurchases of Series 1, Series 3, Series 9 and Series 11 Preferred Units will be effected through the facilities of the TSX and/or alternative trading systems. Repurchases of LP Units and Exchangeable Shares will be effected through the facilities of the TSX, the NYSE and/or alternative trading systems. All Units and Exchangeable Shares acquired by BIP and BIPC, respectively, under the applicable normal course issuer bid will be cancelled. Repurchases will be subject to compliance with applicable United States federal securities laws, including Rule 10b-18 under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as well as applicable Canadian securities laws. BIP and BIPC intend to enter into automatic share purchase plans on or about the week of December 23, 2024 in relation to their respective normal course issuer bids. The automatic share purchase plans will allow for the purchase of Units or Exchangeable Shares, as applicable, subject to certain trading parameters, at times when BIP or BIPC ordinarily would not be active in the market due to its own internal trading blackout periods, insider trading rules or otherwise. Outside these periods, the Units or Exchangeable Shares will be repurchased in accordance with management’s discretion, subject to applicable law. About Brookfield Infrastructure Brookfield Infrastructure is a leading global infrastructure company that owns and operates high-quality, long-life assets in the utilities, transport, midstream and data sectors across the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe. We are focused on assets that have contracted and regulated revenues that generate predictable and stable cash flows. Investors can access its portfolio either through Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE: BIP; TSX: BIP.UN), a Bermuda-based limited partnership, or Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation (NYSE, TSX: BIPC), a Canadian corporation. Further information is available at https://bip.brookfield.com . Brookfield Infrastructure is the flagship listed infrastructure company of Brookfield Asset Management, a global alternative asset manager with over US$1 trillion of assets under management. For more information, go to https://brookfield.com . Contact Information Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The words “believes,” “may” or derivations thereof and other expressions which are predictions of or indicate future events, trends or prospects and which do not relate to historical matters identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding potential future repurchases by BIP of its Units and by BIPC of its Exchangeable Shares pursuant to their respective normal course issuer bids and, as applicable, automatic repurchase plans. Although BIP and BIPC believe that these forward-looking statements and information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, the reader should not place undue reliance on them, or any other forward-looking statements or information in this news release. The future performance and prospects of BIP and BIPC are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results of BIP and BIPC to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by the statements in this news release include: general economic conditions; interest rate changes; availability of equity and debt financing; the performance of Units and Exchangeable Shares or the stock exchanges generally; and other risks and factors described in the documents filed by BIP and BIPC with securities regulators in Canada and the United States including under “Risk Factors” in BIP’s and BIPC’s most recent Annual Reports on Form 20-F and other risks and factors that are described therein. Except as required by law, BIP and BIPC undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.Opinions expressed by Digital Journal contributors are their own New York City thrives on precision and punctuality—here, time is not just money; it is everything. As one of the busiest and most fast-paced cities in the world, NYC residents expect services to be delivered promptly and efficiently, especially during life transitions like moving. The fact that Perfect Moving and Storage has built a stellar reputation in an industry often associated with stress, delays, and uncertainty is nothing short of remarkable. Perfect Moving and Storage has risen to prominence by offering a simple yet powerful promise: to deliver on time, every time. The company’s commitment to this ideal has earned it top ratings across platforms, from Google to Yelp, making it a leader in the moving and storage industry in New York City. Perfect Moving and Storage specializes in a range of services tailored to the diverse needs of New Yorkers. The company offers residential and commercial moving services, long-distance relocations, and innovative storage solutions, including eco-friendly crate rentals. One way Perfect Moving distinguished itself from competitors in a crowded market is through its eco-friendly approach, offering sustainable and reusable crates. With over 10,000 customers served annually, Perfect Moving has become a household name and a company that embodies reliability and excellence. In a city where delays can lead to financial losses and inconvenience, Perfect Moving and Storage provides a “perfect” moving experience. Their commitment to care, professionalism, and timeliness has become synonymous with the brand. Whether moving across Manhattan or to a neighboring state, the team ensures every step is handled with precision. To fully understand the importance of Perfect Moving and Storage’s on-time service, one must recognize the challenges of moving in New York City. With narrow streets and strict building regulations, delays—even by minutes—can result in lost access to elevators, traffic fines, or extra charges. New Yorkers expect efficiency and professionalism in all areas of life, including moving. The company understands this reality all too well. “New Yorkers expect things to happen fast and on schedule,” says the company’s sales manager Peter Lagator. “Being late is not an option for us. We have built our business on the promise that we will be there when we say we will, and our customers trust us because we deliver on that promise.” But beyond convenience, Perfect Moving and Storage’s commitment to timeliness reflects a deeper understanding of the emotional toll that moving can take. For many, moving marks a significant life event, and by delivering on time, the company helps alleviate the stress that often accompanies it. Perfect Moving and Storage’s leadership takes a hands-on approach, engaging in all aspects of the business, from operations to customer service. Their philosophy is straightforward: prioritize the customer, and success will follow. This approach has resulted in an outstanding online reputation, with consistent 5-star ratings on platforms like Google, Yelp, and TrustPilot. The company’s success has not been without challenges, from dealing with the logistical hurdles of NYC’s congested streets to building trust in an industry not always known for reliability. One of its key advancements has been integrating technology into the company’s operations. “We use AI-driven logistics to ensure that our trucks are on the most efficient routes, avoiding traffic and delays,” Peter Lagator explains. “Our team can track the progress of every move in real-time, and customers can stay informed throughout the process. It’s all about transparency and making sure our clients feel confident that their move is in good hands.” Lagator also credits the company’s focus on training and employee development as a critical factor in its success. By investing in his team and fostering a culture of accountability, he ensures that the company’s high standards are consistently met. Perhaps most notable is Perfect Moving and Storage’s eco-friendly approach to moving. Recently, the company has introduced sustainable crate rentals, offering customers an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cardboard boxes. These crates have reduced waste and streamlined the packing process, offering clients a more efficient and sustainable solution. A key differentiator for Perfect Moving and Storage is its focus on customer service. Unlike many moving companies that treat jobs as mere transactions, Perfect Moving assigns a dedicated move coordinator to each client. This personalized approach reduces confusion and stress, allowing customers to feel more in control of their move. Peter Lagator believes that the company’s success is also due to its focus on continuous improvement. “We are always looking for ways to improve our service,” he says. “Whether it’s investing in new technology, training our staff, or finding ways to make the process more efficient, we never stop evolving.” Technology has played a crucial role in Perfect Moving and Storage’s ability to maintain its promise of on-time service. The company uses AI-powered logistics software to optimize routes, considering real-time traffic data, construction delays, and other potential roadblocks. This technology allows drivers to make adjustments on the fly, ensuring that they arrive on time, regardless of external factors. “We’ve embraced technology because it allows us to be more efficient and transparent,” Peter Lagator explains. “Our customers appreciate knowing that they can rely on us to be on time, and the technology we use helps us deliver on that promise.” Perfect Moving and Storage’s goals are clear. In the short term, it plans to expand its footprint beyond New York City, offering services to neighboring states while maintaining the same high standards that have earned them their top ratings. Long-term, the company is focused on continuing its push toward sustainability. “We want to lead the way in making the moving industry more eco-friendly,” Peter Lagator says. “Our crate rental program is just the beginning. We’re exploring other ways to reduce our carbon footprint and make moving a more sustainable process.” But no matter how the company evolves, one thing is certain: Perfect Moving and Storage will continue to prioritize what matters most to its customers—on-time service, transparency, and a commitment to making moving as stress-free as possible.

India News | Heavy Snowfall Disrupts Life in Kashmir; Flights, Rail Services Suspended, Jammu-Srinagar Highway ClosedChargers RB J.K. Dobbins unlikely to play against Falcons because of knee injury

The New York Giants , at 2-8, don’t have much to hang their hat on. The defense’s efforts have largely been wasted by an inept offense. Quarterback Tommy DeVito will be the third passer to see the field this season. Things have gone from bad to worse, and the bye week’s changes aren’t guaranteed to make Sunday go any better. New York will return from the break to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. It will do so as touchdown underdogs, hoping to leave a mark on the NFC playoff picture from the outside. At the very least, the Giants are almost entirely healthy heading into Week 12. © Lucas Boland-USA TODAY Sports The team released the following injury report on Thursday. LIMITED FULL Notably, Thibodeaux was a full participant, an upgrade from his limited status on Wednesday. He was eligible to return from injured reserve and the team opened his practice window as it emerged from the bye. Getting a starter back in a full capacity should be meaningful for a Giants squad that needs all the help it can get. No team has averaged more sacks per game, but the pass rush could take another step forward with Thibodeaux’s return, which now seems inevitable. Related: WATCH: Daniel Jones Says Goodbye Further, Slayton should get the green light for Sunday, too. A concussion forced him to stay home while the team traveled to Munich in Week 10. The rest, along with the bye week, allowed Slayton to return to practice as a full participant. Receiver Jalin Hyatt was encouraging in his absence, potentially pushing for more playing time as the season rolls along. There isn’t yet reason to be concerned about Lawrence nor Nubin, the two defensive starters listed as limited on Thursday. Lawrence has been getting veteran courtesies for much of the season, while Nubin has played virtually every snap as a rookie. Phillips is a name to watch as he was a late addition to the injury report, having not been listed on Wednesday. Still, as a full participant, he’s expected to go against a strong Buccaneers offense. With nobody held entirely out of practice, New York looks to be at full strength on Sunday. That bodes well for a team in desperate need of a win. Related: Giants' Tommy DeVito Must Improve One Skill

NEW YORK , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lument Finance Trust, Inc. (NYSE: LFT ) ("LFT" or the "Company") announced the declaration of a cash dividend of $0.08 per share of common stock with respect to the fourth quarter of 2024. The Company also announced the declaration of a one-time special cash dividend of $0.09 per share of common stock due to real estate investment trust tax considerations. These dividends are payable on January 15, 2025 , to common stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2024 . The Company also announced the declaration of a cash dividend of $0.4921875 per share of 7.875% Cumulative Redeemable Series A Preferred Stock. The dividend is payable on January 15, 2025 to preferred stockholders of record as of the close of business January 2, 2025 . About LFT LFT is a Maryland corporation focused on investing in, financing and managing a portfolio of commercial real estate debt investments. The Company primarily invests in transitional floating rate commercial mortgage loans with an emphasis on middle-market multi-family assets. LFT is externally managed and advised by Lument Investment Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. Additional Information and Where to Find It Investors, security holders and other interested persons may find additional information regarding the Company at the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov/ or the Company website www.lumentfinancetrust.com or by directing requests to: Lument Finance Trust, 230 Park Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10169, Attention: Investor Relations. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the safe harbor contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. You can identify forward-looking statements by use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "estimate," "plan," "continue," "intend," "should," "may," "will," "seek," "would," "could," or similar expressions or other comparable terms, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's beliefs, assumptions and expectations of its future performance, taking into account all information currently available to the Company on the date of this press release or the date on which such statements are first made. Actual results may differ from expectations, estimates and projections. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements in this press release and should consider carefully the factors described in Part I, Item IA "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 , which is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov , and in other current or periodic filings with the SEC, when evaluating these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the Company's control. Except as required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lument-finance-trust-inc-declares-quarterly-cash-dividends-for-its-common-and-preferred-stock-and-announces-special-cash-dividend-distribution-302330846.html SOURCE Lument Finance TrustAs the artificial intelligence revolution accelerates, two titans dominate the chip industry: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and Nvidia. Both have seen their stock prices soar, but which is the ultimate AI investment today? Spotlight on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) While not as glamorous as AI-driven software companies, TSMC’s expertise in semiconductor production has proven vital. In Q3, its revenue surged by 36% to $23.5 billion, with earnings leaping by 54% to $1.94 per American Depository Receipt. These impressive results are fueled by tech giants’ significant investments in cutting-edge AI chips. The company’s strategy hinges on its advanced production techniques, including the recent introduction of 3-nanometer chips, and ambitious plans to begin 2-nanometer chip production in 2025. TSMC currently commands a 90% market share for the world’s most advanced processors, securing its leadership in semiconductor manufacturing as AI infrastructure spending soars. Nvidia’s Power Play Unlike TSMC, Nvidia excels in designing the semiconductors crucial for AI data centers. Recent demand spikes saw Nvidia’s Q3 sales rocket by 94% to $35.1 billion, with non-GAAP earnings climbing 103% to $0.81 per share. This growth was largely driven by a 112% increase in data center revenue. Nvidia’s CEO anticipates AI infrastructure spending might hit $2 trillion in the next five years, positioning the company to capitalize significantly on this trend. Nvidia’s chips currently power between 70% and 95% of AI data centers, cementing its dominance in the sector. The Winner: Taiwan Semiconductor Both companies dominate their niches, but for investors seeking value, TSMC may be the more attractive choice. With a forward P/E ratio of 23.0, it’s comparatively cheaper than Nvidia, which stands at 32.7. As AI technology evolves, both TSMC and Nvidia remain pivotal players. However, for those keen on a more cost-effective option, Taiwan Semiconductor emerges as the more appealing investment today. Investing in the AI Revolution: TSMC vs. Nvidia – Which Stock Holds the Edge? As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and Nvidia lead the charge in the chip sector, playing pivotal roles in the AI ecosystem. While TSMC excels in semiconductor production, Nvidia dominates in designing AI-centric semiconductors. Here’s a deeper dive into the investment potential of these two industry leaders. TSMC: Scaling New Heights with Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Specifications and Innovations TSMC’s strength lies in its mastery of semiconductor manufacturing. The company commands a staggering 90% market share in advanced processing chips, thanks to its innovative production techniques. Their recent rollout of the 3-nanometer chips and plans to advance to 2-nanometer chips by 2025 highlight their commitment to staying ahead technologically. Market Position and Strategy TSMC’s robust market position is bolstered by significant investments from tech giants seeking high-performance AI chips. This ensures steady revenue growth and secures TSMC’s leadership as a crucial supplier in the AI landscape. The company’s ambitious roadmap further fortifies its status in semiconductor advancements, crucial for AI infrastructure. Nvidia: Powering the AI Data Center Revolution Market Analysis and Growth Predictions Nvidia has established itself as a leader in designing semiconductors that empower AI data centers. Its recent performance saw revenues soaring by 94% to $35.1 billion, with a notable 112% increase in data center revenues. As AI infrastructure spending is predicted to reach $2 trillion within five years, Nvidia is strategically positioned to harness this expansion. Features and Compatibility Nvidia’s GPUs are integral to modern AI applications, powering between 70% and 95% of current AI data centers. This widespread adoption underscores their compatibility and essential role in AI computing tasks, enabling everything from complex calculations to real-time data processing. Investment Insights: Comparing TSMC and Nvidia Pros and Cons – TSMC : Offers investors a cost-effective entry with a forward P/E ratio of 23.0. Its leading market share and cutting-edge manufacturing position make it a strong contender for those focusing on value investments. – Nvidia : Although trading at a higher P/E ratio of 32.7, Nvidia’s strategic edge in the rapidly expanding AI data center domain could justify the premium. The potential ROI driven by significant AI infrastructure investment creates an attractive case for growth-focused investors. Use Cases and Compatibility Both companies are indispensable to the AI sector but cater to different needs. TSMC’s chips are foundational for AI hardware, while Nvidia’s designs are vital for the operational capabilities of AI systems, particularly in data-heavy environments. Future Predictions and Trends As AI technologies evolve, both TSMC and Nvidia are expected to remain pivotal. TSMC’s continued excellence in chip production and pioneering of smaller, more efficient chips will likely maintain their leadership. Nvidia’s dominance in AI-centered semiconductors means they are poised to capture significant portions of the forthcoming surge in AI infrastructure spending. For potential investors, those drawn to a comparatively undervalued yet fundamentally strong stock may favor TSMC. Meanwhile, those seeking growth opportunities in AI data processing could find Nvidia more appealing. For more insights about Nvidia, you can explore the official Nvidia website, and for TSMC, visit their official site .Joe Biden's pardon of his son Hunter spurs broader discussion on who else should be granted clemency

Former Brazilian president indicted over alleged coup plot

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Revolve Renewable Power Corp. REVV REVVF (" Revolve " or the " Company "), a North American owner, operator and developer of renewable energy projects, is pleased to announce that CEO Myke Clark will present live at the Small Cap Growth Virtual Investor Conference hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on December 5 th , 2024. DATE : December 5 th TIME: 11:30am ET LINK: https://bit.ly/3Yknp3z Mr. Clark is also available for 1x1 meetings. Mr. Clark will provide an update on Revolve's renewable energy project pipeline and corporate catalysts, including: A review of Q1, F2025 results including a 300% increase in the Company's long-term recurring revenue stream. The recent completion of a major interconnection milestone at the Company's 49.6MW Primus Wind project in the U.S. The recent acquisition of a 30 MW solar development project in Alberta, Canada and the current permitting process. This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event. It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates. Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com . For further information contact: Myke Clark, CEO IR@revolve-renewablepower.com 778-372-8499 A bout Revolve Revolve was formed in 2012 to capitalize on the growing global demand for renewable power. Revolve develops utility-scale wind, solar, hydro and battery storage projects in the US, Canada and Mexico. The Company has a second division, Revolve Renewable Business Solutions which installs and operates sub 20MW "behind the meter" distributed generation (or "DG") assets. Revolve's portfolio includes the following: Operating Assets: 11MW (net) of operating assets under long term power purchase agreements across Canada and Mexico covering wind, solar, battery storage and hydro generation; Under Construction: a 3MW CHP project and a 450kWp rooftop solar project that are both under construction and expected to be operational later this year; and Development: a diverse portfolio of utility scale development projects across the US, Canada and Mexico with a combined capacity of over 3,000MWs as well as a 140MW+ distributed generation portfolio that is under development. Revolve has an accomplished management team with a demonstrated track record of taking projects from "greenfield" through to "ready to build" status and successfully concluding project sales to large operators of utility-scale renewable energy projects. To-date, Revolve has developed and sold over 1,550MW of projects. Going forward, Revolve is targeting 5,000MW of utility-scale projects under development in the US, Canada and Mexico, and in parallel is rapidly growing its portfolio of revenue-generating DG assets. Non-IFRS Measures This press release refers to certain non-IFRS measures including Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA"). Non-IFRS measures and industry metrics do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. These measures are provided as additional information to complement IFRS measures by providing further understanding of our results of operations from management's perspective. Accordingly, these measures should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of our financial information reported under IFRS. The term EBITDA consists of net loss or gain and excludes interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. The most directly comparable measure to EBITDA calculated in accordance with IFRS is net gain or net loss . The term EBITDA margin consists of the percentage of net loss or gain and excludes interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. These measures, have limitations, and are provided in addition to, and not as an alternative for, and should be read in conjunction with, the information contained in our financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP (including the notes), included in our filings on SEDAR+ at sedarplus.ca and posted on our website. Financial Projections The Company's financial projections are inherently speculative and may prove to be inaccurate. Any financial projections provided in this press release have been prepared in good faith based upon the estimates and assumptions considered reasonable by management. However, projections are no more than estimates of possible events and should not be relied upon to predict the results that the Company may attain. Future oriented financial information in this press release includes statements with respect to forecasted revenues and EBITDA that are expected to be generated by the Project. There is a risk that the assumptions related to these revenue and EBITDA forecasts may not be met and that the Project will not meet the conditions to start construction. The projections are based upon several estimates and assumptions and have not been examined, reviewed or compiled by independent accountants or other third-party experts, including assumptions with respect to the anticipated expenses and future revenues from the Project. These assumptions may vary from the actual results. Accordingly, there is no assurance that future events will correspond to management's assumptions for the Project. Any variations of actual results from projections related to the Project may be material and adverse. Future-oriented financial information and financial outlooks, as with forward-looking information generally, are, without limitation, based on the reasonable assumptions of the Company and management as at the date hereof. Our actual financial position and results of operations and the Project may differ materially from management's current expectations and, as a result, our revenue, profitability, EBITDA may differ materially from any revenue, and profitability profiles provided in this press release. Such information is presented for illustrative purposes only and may not be an indication of our actual financial position or results of operations. Revolve does not provide reconciliations for forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures as Revolve is unable to provide a meaningful or accurate calculation or estimation of reconciling items and the information is not available without unreasonable effort. This is due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing or number of various events that have not yet occurred, are out of Revolve's control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted, and that would impact the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measure. For these same reasons, Revolve is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information. Forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures may vary materially from the corresponding GAAP financial measures. Forward Looking Information The forward-looking statements contained in this news release constitute ‘‘forward-looking information'' within the meaning of applicable securities laws in each of the provinces and territories of Canada and the respective policies, regulations and rules under such laws and ‘‘forward-looking statements'' within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, ‘‘forward-looking statements"). The words "will", "expects", "estimates", "projections", "forecast", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "targets" (and grammatical variations of such terms) and similar expressions are often intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward looking statements in this press release include statements with respect to the proposed acquisition of the Project. This forward-looking information and other forward-looking information are based on our opinions, estimates and assumptions considering our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we currently believe are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. Despite a careful process to prepare and review the forward-looking information, there can be no assurance that the underlying opinions, estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Material factors underlying forward-looking information and management's expectations include: the receipt of applicable regulatory approvals; the absence of material adverse regulatory decisions being received and the expectation of regulatory stability; the absence of any material equipment breakdown or failure; availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the stability of credit ratings of the Company and its subsidiaries; the absence of unexpected material liabilities or uninsured losses; the continued availability of commodity supplies and stability of commodity prices; the absence of interest rate increases or significant currency exchange rate fluctuations; the absence of significant operational, financial or supply chain disruptions or liability, including relating to import controls and tariffs; the continued ability to maintain systems and facilities to ensure their continued performance; the absence of a severe and prolonged downturn in general economic, credit, social or market conditions; the successful and timely development and construction of new projects; the absence of capital project or financing cost overruns; sufficient liquidity and capital resources; the continuation of long term weather patterns and trends; the absence of significant counterparty defaults; the continued competitiveness of electricity pricing when compared with alternative sources of energy; the realization of the anticipated benefits of the Company's acquisitions and joint ventures; the absence of a change in applicable laws, political conditions, public policies and directions by governments, materially negatively affecting the Company; the ability to obtain and maintain licenses and permits; maintenance of adequate insurance coverage; the absence of material fluctuations in market energy prices; the absence of material disputes with taxation authorities or changes to applicable tax laws; continued maintenance of information technology infrastructure and the absence of a material breach of cybersecurity; the successful implementation of new information technology systems and infrastructure; favourable relations with external stakeholders; our ability to retain key personnel; our ability to maintain and expand distribution capabilities; and our ability to continue investing in infrastructure to support our growth. Such uncertainties and risks may include, among others, market conditions, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required regulatory approvals in a timely fashion, or at all; the availability of financing, fluctuating prices, the possibility of project cost overruns, mechanical failure, unavailability of parts and supplies, labour disturbances, interruption in transportation or utilities, adverse weather conditions, and unanticipated costs and expenses, variations in the cost of energy or materials or supplies or environmental impacts on operations, disruptions to the Company's supply chains; changes to regulatory environment, including interpretation of production tax credits; armed hostilities and geopolitical conflicts; risks related to the development and potential development of the Company's projects; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; the availability of tax incentives in connection with the development of renewable energy projects and the sale of electrical energy; as well as those factors discussed in the sections relating to risk factors discussed in the Company's continuous disclosure filings on SEDAR+ at sedarplus.ca . There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers are cautioned that given these risks, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of their dates. Other than as specifically required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company does not undertake to update this information at any time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. "Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release." © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Schwab Charles Corp executive sells $188k in stock

Government-wide acquisition contracts, aka GWACs, are one of the cornerstones of the federal IT market. At our final Power Breakfast of 2024, we will look at these contracts through several discussions of why they continue to be so important and where they are going. The event starts at 7:45 a.m. on Dec. 6 with breakfast and registration at the Carahsoft Conference Center in Reston, Virginia. The program kicks off at 8:30 a.m. and will wrap up at around 10:30. Follow this . Our program will start with a one-on-one conversation featuring Joanne Woytek, program director of the NASA SEWP vehicle. She is in the midst of getting SEWP VI into the market and that will mark the end of a remarkable government career. Woytek will share insights on how contracting has evolved since she helped launch SEWP in 1993. The conversation will include trends in the market, the role industry can play and why GWACs continue to be so important in the market. After that is a panel discussion featuring Larry Hale, deputy assistant director for IT category management at the General Services Administration; and Katherine Thompson, deputy executive director for Army Contracting Command. They will category management, emerging priorities, the future of major GWACs and tech trends. Winning a seat on contracts such as Alliant, OASIS and RS3 is only the first step. What do you do after that will be the topic of our third session, featuring industry practitioners who will share their best advice on how companies can leverage their positions on these lucrative contract vehicles. The panel will feature Amber Hart, co-founder of The Pulse of GovCon; Brian Seagrave, chief technology officer at Deep Water Point & Associates; and Joe Salgado, general manager for GWACs and IDIQs at Red Team Consulting. Molly Broemmelsiek from our data partner GovTribe will wrap up the Power Breakfast with a data presentation on how agencies use GWACs to meet their mission. As always with our Power Breakfasts, there will be opportunities for networking and meeting your peers in the market. Follow .Is Canada running out of time to make its buildings net zero?Return to Paradise review: Anna Samson shines in Death in Paradise spin-off which stretches the spin-off concept

Trump-Musk bromance ‘attractive to young Aussie males’ lacking political role models

AI In Telecommunication Market to Witness Stunning Growth | Major Giants Amdocs, NVIDIA, Google Cloud 12-24-2024 05:35 PM CET | Advertising, Media Consulting, Marketing Research Press release from: HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Pvt. Ltd. AI In Telecommunication Market HTF MI recently introduced Global AI In Telecommunication Market study with 143+ pages in-depth overview, describing about the Product / Industry Scope and elaborates market outlook and status (2024-2032). The market Study is segmented by key regions which is accelerating the marketization. At present, the market is developing its presence. Some key players from the complete study are Ericsson, Huawei, IBM, Nokia, Google Cloud, AT&T, ZTE, Cisco, Qualcomm, Salesforce, Infosys, Amdocs, H2O.ai, NVIDIA, C3.ai, DataRobot. Download Sample Report PDF (Including Full TOC, Table & Figures) 👉 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/3997773-global-ai-in-telecommunication-market-24?utm_source=Akash_OpenPR&utm_id=Akash According to HTF Market Intelligence, the Global AI In Telecommunication market is expected to grow from 10 Billion USD in 2024 to 28 Billion USD by 2032, with a CAGR of 15.5% from 2024 to 2032. The AI In Telecommunication market is segmented by Types (Network Optimization, Fraud Detection, Predictive Maintenance, Chatbots), Application (5G Networks, Customer Support, Network Security, IoT) and by Geography (North America, LATAM, West Europe, Central & Eastern Europe, Northern Europe, Southern Europe, East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, Oceania, MEA). Definition: The AI in Telecommunication Market involves using artificial intelligence to optimize network performance, enhance customer support, and enable predictive maintenance. It drives innovations in 5G, IoT, and other communication technologies. Dominating Region: • North America Fastest-Growing Region: • Asia-Pacific Market Trends: •Edge AI, Automated Troubleshooting, AI-Driven Analytics Market Drivers: •5G Deployment, IoT Expansion, Need for Efficiency Market Challenges: •Data Privacy, Implementation Costs, Skills Gap Have a query? Market an enquiry before purchase 👉 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/3997773-global-ai-in-telecommunication-market-24?utm_source=Akash_OpenPR&utm_id=Akash The titled segments and sub-section of the market are illuminated below: In-depth analysis of AI In Telecommunication market segments by Types: Network Optimization, Fraud Detection, Predictive Maintenance, Chatbots Detailed analysis of Tank Container Shipping market segments by Applications: 5G Networks, Customer Support, Network Security, IoT Geographically, the detailed analysis of consumption, revenue, market share, and growth rate of the following regions: • The Middle East and Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, Egypt, etc.) • North America (United States, Mexico & Canada) • South America (Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, etc.) • Europe (Turkey, Spain, Turkey, Netherlands Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.) • Asia-Pacific (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia). Buy Now Latest Edition of AI In Telecommunication Market Report 👉 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=3997773?utm_source=Akash_OpenPR&utm_id=Akash AI In Telecommunication Market Research Objectives: - Focuses on the key manufacturers, to define, pronounce and examine the value, sales volume, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis, and development plans in the next few years. - To share comprehensive information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (opportunities, drivers, growth potential, industry-specific challenges and risks). - To analyze the with respect to individual future prospects, growth trends and their involvement to the total market. - To analyze reasonable developments such as agreements, expansions new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. - To deliberately profile the key players and systematically examine their growth strategies. FIVE FORCES & PESTLE ANALYSIS: In order to better understand market conditions five forces analysis is conducted that includes the Bargaining power of buyers, Bargaining power of suppliers, Threat of new entrants, Threat of substitutes, and Threat of rivalry. • Political (Political policy and stability as well as trade, fiscal, and taxation policies) • Economical (Interest rates, employment or unemployment rates, raw material costs, and foreign exchange rates) • Social (Changing family demographics, education levels, cultural trends, attitude changes, and changes in lifestyles) • Technological (Changes in digital or mobile technology, automation, research, and development) • Legal (Employment legislation, consumer law, health, and safety, international as well as trade regulation and restrictions) • Environmental (Climate, recycling procedures, carbon footprint, waste disposal, and sustainability) Get 10-25% Discount on Immediate purchase 👉 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/3997773-global-ai-in-telecommunication-market-24?utm_source=Akash_OpenPR&utm_id=Akash Points Covered in Table of Content of Global AI In Telecommunication Market: Chapter 01 - AI In Telecommunication Executive Summary Chapter 02 - Market Overview Chapter 03 - Key Success Factors Chapter 04 - Global AI In Telecommunication Market - Pricing Analysis Chapter 05 - Global AI In Telecommunication Market Background or History Chapter 06 - Global AI In Telecommunication Market Segmentation (e.g. Type, Application) Chapter 07 - Key and Emerging Countries Analysis Worldwide AI In Telecommunication Market Chapter 08 - Global AI In Telecommunication Market Structure & worth Analysis Chapter 09 - Global AI In Telecommunication Market Competitive Analysis & Challenges Chapter 10 - Assumptions and Acronyms Chapter 11 - AI In Telecommunication Market Research Methodology Key questions answered • How Global AI In Telecommunication Market growth & size is changing in next few years? • Who are the Leading players and what are their futuristic plans in the Global AI In Telecommunication market? • What are the key concerns of the 5-forces analysis of the Global AI In Telecommunication market? • What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors? • What are the different prospects and threats faced by the dealers in the Global AI In Telecommunication market? Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter-wise sections or region-wise report versions like North America, LATAM, Europe, Japan, Australia or Southeast Asia. Nidhi Bhawsar (PR & Marketing Manager) HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited Phone: +15075562445 sales@htfmarketreport.com About Author: HTF Market Intelligence Consulting is uniquely positioned to empower and inspire with research and consulting services to empower businesses with growth strategies. We offer services with extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events, and experience that assist in decision-making. This release was published on openPR.Looking to Grow Your Wealth? These 4 US Growth Stocks Should Do the Trick

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — It was during the pandemic when the Rev. Kira Austin-Young and her puppet-maker husband, Michael Schupbach, were going a little stir-crazy that they came up with the idea. Instead of a star or some stylized humanoid angel to top their Christmas tree, why not create a biblically accurate angel? The result was a pink, blue and gold-feathered creature with six wings and dozens of eyes that went a little bit viral. "I think in, particularly, the times of the world that we're in, where things seem kind of scary and weird, having a scary and weird angel sort of speaks to people," she said. This Dec. 12, 2021, photo shows the biblically accurate angel Christmas tree topper created by the Rev. Kira Austin-Young and her puppet-maker husband, Michael Schupbach, atop the tree in their former home in Nashville, Tenn. There are a number of different kinds of angels that show up in the Bible, said Austin-Young, associate rector of the Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin in San Francisco. For the most part, we don't get a lot of description of them, but both Revelations at the end of the Bible and some of the books of the prophets in the Old Testament describe strange creatures around the throne of God. People are also reading... "Some of them have six wings with eyes covering the wings," she said. Others have multiple animal heads. "I think one of the delightful things about the Bible and the Scripture is just kind of how bizarre it can be and just how kind of out there it can be." About 7 in 10 U.S. adults say they believe in angels, according to a poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research conducted last year. Still, there's no agreement about what they look like or even exactly what they are. Social media is full of various interpretations of "biblically accurate angels" imagined not just in tree toppers but also drawings, tattoos, even makeup tutorials. The many-eyed creatures reject traditional portrayals of angels in Western art, where they often look like humans with wings, usually white and often blonde or very fair. Esther Hamori, a professor of Hebrew Bible at Union Theological Seminary, makes a distinction between angels and other "supernatural species" in the Bible like seraphim and cherubim, but she said she loves the biblically accurate angel trend, even if it conflates them. "It shows that people are thinking about ways in which the Bible contains far stranger things than what's often taught," the author of "God's Monsters: Vengeful Spirits, Deadly Angels, Hybrid Creatures, and Divine Hitmen of the Bible" wrote in an email. "The biblical heavens are filled with weird, frightening figures. In the Bible, God has an entourage of monsters." One of Austin-Young's favorite portrayals of the annunciation — a favorite theme of Christian art depicting the archangel Gabriel's appearance to Mary to announce that she is going to bear the son of God — is by Henry Ossawa Tanner. It conceives of Gabriel as a vaguely humanoid shaft of light. "It kind of makes you rethink, 'What would that be like to be approached by an angel?'" she said. "If it's somebody you don't know, or if it's a strange creature, or if it's just this kind of manifestation of God's message to you. ... That could be anything." ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Holiday lights illuminate the world Coco Jones performs Dec. 4 during the 92nd annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony in New York. The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree after being lit Dec. 4 during the 92nd annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony in New York. A 42-meter-tall candle, which is actually an illuminated medieval tower, shines Nov. 30 in the historic city centre of Schlitz, Germany. A large inflatable Santa Claus decorates the stall of a Christmas tree dealer Dec. 3 on the outskirts of Frankfurt, Germany. People walk through the annual year-end illumination Dec. 16 in the Roppongi district of Tokyo. A child plays Dec. 9 among space-themed holiday lights near a replica of shuttle Independence at Space Center Houston. A visitor takes photos of a Christmas tree Nov. 20 at the Lotte World Tower in Seoul, South Korea. The Los Angeles County Christmas Tree is lit up Dec. 2 at the Jerry Moss Plaza at Music Center in Los Angeles. People take pictures with Christmas decorations Nov. 22 at the waterfront of the Victoria Harbour in West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong. Traditional luminarias, also known as farolitos, flicker Dec. 13 throughout the Jemez Historic Site during the annual Lights of Gisewa event in Jemez Springs, New Mexico. Visitors pose in a sledge for a picture Dec. 5 with Christmas lights and decorations in the background at Covent Garden in London. People look at the illuminations Nov. 16 at the Wiener Chritkindlmarkt, one of Vienna's most popular Christmas markets, in front of City Hall in Vienna, Austria. Visitors walk in front of an illuminated Christmas tree Dec. 16 at Cathedral Square in Vilnius, Lithuania. Actors welcome visitors for the Christmas festival of lights Dec. 13 at a zoo in Johannesburg, South Africa. In this photo taken with a long exposure, a person walks a dog past Christmas lights in a park Dec. 15 in Lenexa, Kan. People ride a chain carousel Dec. 11 at the Red Square Christmas Fair in Moscow. Spectators walk on the Champs Élysées Avenue after attending the Nov. 24 illumination ceremony for the Christmas season in Paris. People stand on a bridge Dec. 9 as Christmas lights illuminate the Darsena dei Navigli, the neighborhood named for the canals that run through this area of Milan, Italy. The supermoon rises Nov. 14 behind street lights in Santiago, Chile. In a timed exposure, motorists pass a pair of cowboys boots, standing 40 feet tall and 30 feet long, that were decorated with lights for the holidays, on Dec. 10 in San Antonio. Visitors stand before an illuminated installation, one of many displayed across the Cologne Zoo as part of the China Lights Art Festival, on Dec. 20 in Cologne, Germany. Visitors walk through the "Cathedral" on the Christmas light trail Nov. 12 as it returns for its 12th year, with a showcase of new installations set within the UNESCO World Heritage Site landscape of Kew Gardens in London. People experience the holiday lights Dec. 11 at the Cheekwood Estate and Gardens in Nashville, Tenn. Red Square, the GUM department store, center, and St. Basil's Cathedral, right, are decorated for the New Year and Christmas festivities, seen Dec. 13 through a window of the Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow in Moscow, Russia. A woman looks at disco and Christmas balls illuminated with lights on display Dec. 18 for the Christmas Festival at a popular outdoor shopping mall in Beijing. The Kremlin Wall, the Spasskaya Tower, Red Square, the GUM department store, St. Basil's Cathedral and the Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge over the Moscow River are decorated Dec. 13 for the New Year and Christmas festivities in Moscow, Russia. Christmas lights are displayed Nov. 20 on Regent Street in London. A couple stops to view Christmas lights on the facade of a building Dec. 4 in downtown Lisbon. A Christmas wreath and lights adorn the Windansea surf shack Dec. 12 on Windansea Beach in San Diego. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!The surreptitious and sweeping nature of President Biden’s maneuver to pardon his son was so jarring that it reportedly caught the Justice Department’s Office of the Pardon Attorney off guard. Days after a family Thanksgiving powwow in Nantucket, Biden, 82, publicly announced that he was breaking his and the White House’s longstanding public pledge and bestowing his troubled son with a blanket pardon for any offenses committed — or possibly committed — between Jan. 1, 2014, and Dec. 1, 2024. Typically, presidents consult with the Office of the Pardon Attorney when making such decisions, but the office was surprised by his move, one source told Politico . Standard practice for the Office of the Pardon Attorney generally recommends complete pardons for individuals who already completed their sentences. Hunter Biden wasn’t set to face sentencing until next week. Therefore, the Office of the Pardon Attorney likely would not have recommended such action for the president’s scandal-scarred son, the New York Times first reported. Moreover, the lame-duck president went a step further and departed from typical norms by issuing a “full and unconditional” pardon broader than any done in modern history except for former President Gerald Ford’s controversial clemency for his predecessor Richard Nixon. Critics within the Democratic Party and progressive circles have fretted that Biden has given President-elect Donald Trump a fresh excuse and precedent to issue similarly broad pardons. “I know that there was a real strong sentiment in, you know, wanting to protect Hunter Biden, 54, from unfair prosecution,” Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) told CNN. “But this is going to be used against us when we’re fighting the misuses that are coming from the Trump administration.” Still, presidents have long enjoyed sweeping discretion under the Constitution to grant clemency, with the major limitation restricting them from committing a crime such as bribery when issuing a pardon. Biden is far from the first president to bypass the Office of the Pardon Attorney’s recommendations. Trump, 78, for example, granted clemency on numerous occasions to individuals who hadn’t been recommended by that office. In issuing his pardon, the 46th president claimed that “Hunter was treated differently” and blamed his son’s prosecution on his political opponents, echoing Trump’s rhetoric on the four indictments he faced. Ironically, it had been Biden’s own Justice Department that pursued the charges against the first son. Trump decried the outgoing president’s pardon as “an abuse and miscarriage of justice.” “Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years?” he added in a Truth Social post, hinting that he may pardon some of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol rioters. During the twilight days of his first term, Trump’s administration had received a request for a similarly broad pardon of former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), subsequent congressional testimony claimed. But that was rejected. Trump also dangled a possible self-pardon, something that has been untested in the courts, but that idea was similarly turned down, the New York Times reported . During the Biden administration, the Office of the Pardon Attorney fielded almost 12,000 requests for the president’s intervention. Thus far, the president has doled out 157 clemencies, including 25 pardons to eliminate convictions and 132 commutations to shrink sentences, per da ta from the Office of the Pardon Attorney. It is not clear if those statistics include the president’s pardon of Hunter Biden. By contrast, Trump had granted clemency on 238 occasions, including 94 commutations and 144 pardons, according to the Office of the Pardon Attorney. The Post contacted spokespeople for both the White House and the Office of the Pardon Attorney for comment. On Tuesday, US District Judge Maryellen Noreika ordered that “all proceedings in this case are hereby terminated” for the three counts against him related to possession of a firearm while addicted to illicit drugs. The nine-count tax evasion case in California was not marked closed as of 4 p.m. EST on Tuesday, though the defense team has filed a motion over the pardon.

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“My twin sister Nicola got sick when she was 24 years old. It was determined that she had stomach cancer and passed away two months to the day she was diagnosed.” Natasha Benn lost her sister to a rare and aggressive form of stomach cancer in 1993. Before Nicola, her mother had passed away from the same cancer when Benn was two. So did her grandmother, aunt, and great-grandfather. “My dad always thought it might be some kind of hereditary component to the type of cancer that my mom had, but it was never confirmed at the time,” Benn said. Shortly after Nicola's death, a gastroenterologist strongly suggested that Benn undergo surgery to remove her stomach, given the close genetic link between the twins. Nine months later, the young woman decided to go forward with full gastrostomy, unbeknownst to her if she was carrying the same ailment. Grieving the loss of her sister and uncertain if she had made the right decision, Benn received news six years later confirming her choice had been the correct one. After performing a biopsy on the young woman’s stomach, pathologists discovered traces of cancer in the organ’s lining - something that could not have been detected even with an endoscopy. Little did they know, the Benns, along with another family from Detroit, were part of a groundbreaking discovery that transformed the lives of countless families. For the first time in history, researchers identified a genetic mutation in Natasha’s stomach which they named CDH1. This mutation was found to carry an 83 per cent risk of developing stomach cancer and 60 per cent likelihood of lobular breast cancer. Thanks to the technological advances and research, organizations like BC Cancer can find this mutation through risk-free, non-evasive, and efficient ways. A simple sample of saliva, or blood, can be all that’s needed to determine if one carries the rogue gene. “Genetic testing can be helpful in clarifying whether or not you have an increased risk [of cancer] and then determining what's available in terms of screening and prevention for those specific types of cancer,” said Jennifer Nuk, leader in genetic counsellor for the BC Cancer Hereditary Cancer Program. For decades, identifying hereditary cancer solely relied on analyzing one’s family history, without having certainty if members were carriers of the ailment, explained Nuk. In the early days of genetic testing, means were limited, costly, and slow. Today, however, researchers can examine more genes than ever before with greater efficiency, at a higher rate, for a fraction of what it once cost. “We've had families that were seen years ago where it looks like there was something going on in the family... and we didn't find anything,” said Nuk. “Now we go back to test that same family [and] we're actually picking up mutations because the technology has improved so much.” Though many remain to be studied, Nuk and her team can now detect rogue genes causing numerous cancers including ovarian, breast, and colon. The lead geneticist added that the services offered by the program are twofold; genetic testing to identify individuals carrying mutated genes, and the provision of personalized care plans for those at increased cancer risk. “If we can figure out someone's at higher risk... we have a much better chance of offering better outcomes for the patient,” she said. People are provided with comprehensive information and a range of options, allowing them to make informed decisions about their next steps. As prevention is key to combating cancer, Nuk and her team will discuss and propose to their patients appropriate screening options, such as mammograms or MRIs, as well as preventative measures like vaccines and surgeries suited to their respective conditions. In turn, Nuk added that if one treatment can be given over another more invasive one, this will ultimately result in a better quality of life for individuals and benefit the overall health-care system. Since its inception in 1997, the prevention program has not only saved thousands of lives but also reduced health-care costs for taxpayers, freed up time and resources for other cancer patients, and alleviated the burden on B.C.'s hospitals. Benn and her sisters benefited from this very program. “My older sister did have the gene and decided to go through with the surgery and had her stomach removed,” she said. “[It] was riddled with cancer and she's still living today.” Her other sister, luckily, tested negative for the CDH1 mutation. Benn herself, facing a significant breast cancer risk from possessing the gene, opted for a preventative mastectomy. Reflecting on her journey, the self-proclaimed “cancer avoider” acknowledges the challenges she faced, including the grief of losing her sister and the uncertainty that followed her surgery. However, she strongly recommends the importance of prioritizing preventative care. “To have that knowledge and to be willing to [use it] is so important,” said Benn. “I know a lot of people avoid going to the doctor, especially when you might be feeling completely healthy, but you don't know what else is happening in your body. “Having a screening place that you can go to determine if you have a history of any kind of illness that you can prevent it in advance, why wouldn't you go?”LISTEN: Bruce McAvaney on sacrifices, his biggest critic, what's next

More than 50 Schuylkill Countians will travel to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 18 for the annual People’s March. Community members are invited to take part in the national demonstration, which is expected to bring tens of thousands of people to the nation’s capital to march for women’s rights and other social issues. Local Democratic leaders are now accepting registrations for a charter bus trip to the march sponsored by the Schuylkill County Democratic Women’s League. The People’s March, formerly the Women’s March, began in 2017 as a worldwide rally for gender equality, civil rights and other issues in response to newly inaugurated President Donald Trump. The event has been rebranded as the People’s March this year. After making a successful trek to D.C. for the inaugural march, the Women’s League will return to the event’s home base eight years later, on Jan. 18 — two days before Trump assumes office for his second term. The bus will depart from Cressona Mall at 5:30 a.m. and return that evening. The march is slated to occur 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Washington. The motorcoach will arrive at Washington’s Union Station, in close walking distance to all of the major hubs for the march and rally activities. To reserve a spot on the bus, email schcoladydems@gmail.com or call 570-593-0329. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Marybeth Matz, a member of the Women’s League, is excited to follow up the 2017 event with another march for “women’s empowerment, gender equality, human rights and our fundamental freedoms.” “It truly was an energizing day making history,” Matz recalled of the inaugural event. Matz hopes this year’s event will send a message to the state’s and country’s elected officials. She said she was inspired to step up and take action following the “disappointing” results of the general election. “I want to collectively remind those who are elected to office that they’re here to represent us,” she said. “I want a positive future for my family and my granddaughter.” Claire Kempes, treasurer of the league, said the group is marching for the same issues that were being challenged during the 2017 march. She urged people to be more involved in their democracy and make their voices heard through events like the People’s March. Kempes said that gerrymandering and a lack of truthful reporting from the media are among her concerns at the national level. “All of those reasons are why we need to exercise our right to freedom of speech,” Kempes said, “and we need to do it while we still can.” Colleen Kucirka, Women’s League president, also stressed the event’s importance. “Women’s issues right now, and everybody’s issues, are at risk,” she said. Kucirka said that, for those unable to attend the march, there are many opportunities to make a difference. People are welcome to make an appointment and speak with Women’s League officers, and they can get involved with any number of local political organizations across the county, not just those centered in Pottsville, Kucirka said. Like many other groups across the U.S., the Women’s League has held local marches and rallies in conjunction with the annual Women’s March. Matz said the league’s motorcoach will accommodate up to 56 people. About 52 attended the first bus trip in 2017, joining some 200,000 fellow supporters in Washington.Joe Biden's pardon of his son Hunter spurs broader discussion on who else should be granted clemencyOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Alabama faces a tougher roadblock than it might appear in its quest to maintain positioning for the College Football Playoff. Sure, Oklahoma has struggled in its first Southeastern Conference season. The Sooners (5-5, 1-5 SEC) have lost four straight conference games. The Sooners have fired their offensive coordinator and they have the worst offense in the league. But they have a tough defense, too. Linebacker Danny Stutsman, a midseason AP All-American, anchors a nasty unit that has kept the Sooners competitive in losses at Ole Miss and Missouri. He ranks second in the SEC with 96 tackles. Defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. has scored four defensive touchdowns since the start of the 2023 season, tied for the most nationally. Defensive end R Mason Thomas has seven sacks, with six coming in the fourth quarter of close games. Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer is paying attention. “It’s going to take a great week of preparation,” DeBoer said. “A physical football team all around. Their defense is, I think, an extremely tough defense in all ways — just what they do with their scheme and then with their personnel, the way they fly around.” Plus, Oklahoma is motivated. It’s Senior Day for a program that would become bowl eligible with a win. Beating the seventh-ranked Crimson Tide could cure a lot of ills for the Sooners. “I think they know they could be a great example for what fight and what belief and what finishing and what improving and what proving people wrong looks like,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said. “And I think this is a group of guys that are committed to doing that.” Alabama (8-2, 4-2) has more answers than most. Jalen Milroe has passed for 15 touchdowns and rushed for 17. Freshman receiver Ryan Williams has 40 catches for 767 yards and eight touchdowns. “Yeah, incredibly explosive, and they have great playmakers everywhere," Venables said. “Certainly, it starts — everything goes through the quarterback.” There has been much talk about what a third loss would do to Alabama's playoff hopes. DeBoer said his team isn't focused on that. “I think we're really honed in and the guys really believe on and have understood the significance of really focusing on where we’re at right now,” he said. “We talk about the next play is the most important play, the next game is the most important game. We haven’t thought about anything beyond Oklahoma.” Milroe is only the fourth SEC quarterback since 2007 to have at least 15 passing touchdowns and 17 rushing touchdowns in a single season. The others won the Heisman Trophy during their seasons — Florida's Tim Tebow in 2007, Auburn's Cam Newton in 2010 and Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel in 2012. “I think it just starts with doing what’s best for the team, and that’s what Jalen is all about," DeBoer said. Since returning to the lineup early against South Carolina four games ago, Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold has completed 70 of 112 passes for 705 yards with five touchdowns with no interceptions. Still, his fumble that was returned for a touchdown in the final minute against Missouri was the difference in a 30-23 loss. Arnold has dealt with significant criticism all season. “That goes along with that position at a place like the University of Oklahoma,” Venables said. “That’s a position that’s a little bit ... it’s a bit like the head coach position. There’s a different type of microscope and there’s a different type of focus and that’s okay he’s got broad shoulders to handle that.” Oklahoma running back Jovantae Barnes ran for career highs of 203 yards and three touchdowns against Maine two weeks ago, then he sat out last week's loss to Missouri. He's listed as questionable on this week's injury report. He leads the Sooners with 577 yards rushing this season. Venables is impressed with what DeBoer has done in his first year at Alabama since taking over for Nick Saban. “One of Kalen’s strengths as a football coach — a very successful coach — is he takes a group of players that he has, and their staff figures out what they can do,” Venables said. “They major in that, put them in position to be successful based on the players’ strengths. They’ve done a nice job of doing that throughout the course of the season.” Oklahoma beat heavily favored Alabama 45-31 in the Sugar Bowl to cap the 2013 season, a game that helped pump energy into the Sooner program under Bob Stoops. Alabama got revenge in 2018, beating the Sooners 45-34 in the College Football Playoff. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football