Blockade of Democracy: Rahul Gandhi Stopped en Route to Violence-Hit SambhalVast Updates Shareholders at Annual General Meeting on Significant Progress Towards Delivering ...U.S. President Jimmy Carter, center, congratulates Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat, left, and Israeli Premier Menachem Begin, right, in three-way handshake on March 26, 1979 on the north lawn of the White House, Washington, D.C., after signing the historic U.S.-sponsored peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. AFP-Yonhap Jimmy Carter, the 100-year-old former U.S. president and Nobel peace laureate who rose from humble beginnings in rural Georgia to lead the nation from 1977 to 1981, has died, his nonprofit foundation said Sunday. Carter had been in hospice care since mid-February 2023 at his home in Plains, Georgia — the same small town where he was born and once ran a peanut farm before becoming governor of the Peach State and running for the White House. Carter died "peacefully" at his home in Plains, "surrounded by his family," the Carter Center said in a statement. "My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love," Chip Carter, the former president's son, said in the statement. Carter was the oldest living ex-U.S. leader and the nation's longest-lived president — an outcome that seemed unlikely back in 2015 when the Southern Democrat revealed he had brain cancer. But the U.S. Navy veteran and fervent Christian repeatedly defied the odds to enjoy a long and fruitful post-presidency, after four years in the Oval Office often seen as disappointing. During his single term, Carter placed a commitment on human rights and social justice, enjoying a strong first two years that included brokering a peace deal between Israel and Egypt dubbed the Camp David Accords. But his administration hit numerous snags — the most serious being the taking of U.S. hostages in Iran and the disastrous failed attempt to rescue the 52 captive Americans in 1980. He also came in for criticism for his handling of an oil crisis. In November of that year, Republican challenger Ronald Reagan clobbered Carter at the polls, relegating the Democrat to just one term. Reagan, a former actor and governor of California, swept into office on a wave of staunch conservatism. Isaac Feiner, left, and Kate Battaglia, right, leave flowers at the bust of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter at the Carter Presidential Center Atlanta, Ga., Dec. 29. EPA-Yonhap Active post-presidency As the years passed, a more nuanced image of Carter emerged — one that took into account his significant post-presidential activities and reassessed his achievements. He founded the Carter Center in 1982 to pursue his vision of world diplomacy, and he was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his tireless efforts to promote social and economic justice. He observed numerous elections around the world and emerged as a prominent international mediator, tackling global problems from North Korea to Bosnia. Carter, known for his toothy smile, said basic Christian tenets such as justice and love served as the bedrock of his presidency. He taught Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist, his church in Plains, well into his 90s. In recent years, he had received various hospital treatments, including when he revealed in August 2015 that he had brain cancer and was undergoing radiation. Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter helps build a house as he visits the construction site of houses being built by Carter's Habitat for Humanity foundation for victims of the January 2010 earthquake in Leogane, 33km south of Port-au-Prince, on Nov. 26, 2012. AFP-Yonhap 'Leader, statesman and humanitarian' Tributes poured in from White House leaders past, present and incoming. Bill Clinton said Carter "worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world," while Donald Trump said Americans owed the Democrat "a debt of gratitude." George W. Bush said Carter's legacy would "inspire Americans for generations," while Barack Obama said the former leader "taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice, and service." "America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian," current President Joe Biden and his wife Jill said in a statement. "For anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning -- the good life -- study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility." In April 2021, the Bidens met with the Carters at their home in Plains. The White House later released a photo showing the couples smiling together, although only Rosalynn was seen by the press outside, bidding the Bidens farewell while using a walker. Rosalynn, Carter's wife of 77 years, died on Nov. 19, 2023 at age 96. The former president, who looked frail, poignantly appeared at her memorial service in a wheelchair, with a blanket on his lap bearing their likenesses. Carter is survived by the couple's four children, three sons and a daughter. (AFP)
Trump's FBI pick Kash Patel goes scorched earth on MSNBC guest in wild letter Kash Patel's lawyer sent a letter threatening legal action against Olivia Troye Sign up for the latest with DailyMail.com's U.S. politics newsletter By SARAH EWALL-WICE, SENIOR U.S. POLITICAL REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM IN WASHINGTON, DC Published: 22:47 GMT, 4 December 2024 | Updated: 22:52 GMT, 4 December 2024 e-mail 8 View comments The lawyer of Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump 's pick to lead the FBI , sent a letter to an MSNBC commentator threatening to take legal action unless she retracts her remarks about him on the network. Olivia Troye, who once served in the Trump administration before becoming a fierce critic of the president-elect, shared the letter by Patel's attorney on social media. 'Litigation will be filed against you if you fail to publicly retract defamatory statements you made about Mr. Patel on MSNBC on December 2, 2024,' the letter reads. It accuses her of making 'several false and defamatory statements' about Patel. During the MSNBC segment, Troye called Patel a 'delusional liar' and accused him of lying about intelligence. She accused him of 'making things up on operations' to the point where he was accused of putting 'the lives of Navy SEALs at risk in an operation when it came to Nigeria .' Troye also accused Patel of misinforming Vice President Mike Pence . President-elect Trump's pick for FBI director threatened legal action against Olivia Troye after she criticized him during an appearance on MSNBC She claimed she would have to double-check his work so she did not pass on misinformation to the vice president while working for him as a special adviser during the Trump administration. The letter from Patel's lawyer called her criticism of him a 'complete fabrication.' 'At no point did Mr. Patel ever lie about national intelligence, place Navy Seals at risk, or misinform the Vice President,' the letter reads. The letter accused her of not only having 'knowledge of the falsity of this smear' but doing so 'with the malicious intent of degrading his character and of cynical self-promotion.' The letter demanded she retract her remarks with a public statement on her X account within five days of receiving the letter. 'Unless this step is taken, Mr. Patel will take swift legal action to uphold his rights and reputation,' the letter stated. It also directed her to preserve documents related to Patel including emails, texts and other electronic messages, recordings, voice mails, drafts, notes communications, documents, data and electronically stored information. It asked for confirmation of receipt of the letter and intention to retract statements as well as confirmation she intends to retain documents and data. Olivia Troye called Patel a 'delusional liar' and accused him of lying about intelligence in Trump's first term during an appearance on MSNBC on December 2 But Troye decided to make the entire letter public on social media, positing it on X and the Bluesky social platform. ' This aligns with his threats against the media & political opponents, revealing how he might conduct himself if confirmed in the role, Troye wrote in her post. 'I stand by my statements—my priority remains the safety & security of the American people, she continued. 'I am not the only one who has expressed concerns about him. So why me? And so it begins,' she finished. Olivia Troye responded to threatened legal action by posting the letter and her response on social media The letter sent to Olivia Troye's lawyer from the law firm representing Trump's FBI pick Kash Patel threatening legal action Troye, who previously also served in the Department of Homeland Security during Trump's first term and the Defense Department during the Bush administration came out as a fierce critic of Trump after serving in his first administration. She was one of multiple former Trump officials to speak out against him during the 2024 campaign including from the state of the Democratic National Convention. Olivia Troye speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August Troye with then-Vice President Mike Pence. she served as his homeland security and counterterrorism adviser Trump announced on Saturday that he intended to nominate Patel, a close ally and controversial pick, to be the next FBI director, cutting short the tenure of current FBI Director Christopher Wray. Patel served as chief of staff to the acting defense secretary during Trump's first term as well as on the National Security Council and as an adviser to the acting director of national intelligence. He is a 2020 election denier who has also been a vocal critic of the bureau he is being tapped to lead accusing the FBI of 'deep state' activities. Patel has also gone after the media claiming during a December 2023 podcast taping on Steve Bannon's show that they will 'come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections.' Patel would have to be confirmed by the Senate to become the next FBI director. In her appearance on MSNBC's The Reidout on Monday, Troye warned Patel is someone wh o 'openly has contempt for people in national security, for people especially at DOJ and the FBI.' She called it 'insane' if he becomes FBI director and said she fears for the law enforcement officers who will have to navigate working for him. Politics Share or comment on this article: Trump's FBI pick Kash Patel goes scorched earth on MSNBC guest in wild letter e-mail Add commentLouisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signs income and corporate tax cuts passed by GOP-dominated legislature
Blockade of Democracy: Rahul Gandhi Stopped en Route to Violence-Hit SambhalNone
CrowdStrike reports first full quarter results after causing biggest worldwide tech disruption in historyHeadwater Exploration Inc. ( OTCMKTS:CDDRF – Get Free Report ) announced a dividend on Tuesday, December 24th, investing.com reports. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, January 1st will be given a dividend of 0.0721 per share on Wednesday, January 15th. This represents a dividend yield of 6.54%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. Headwater Exploration Stock Down 0.3 % Headwater Exploration stock opened at $4.52 on Friday. Headwater Exploration has a 52 week low of $4.06 and a 52 week high of $6.26. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $4.80 and a 200 day moving average price of $4.96. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Raymond James initiated coverage on Headwater Exploration in a report on Friday, October 18th. They set a “market perform” rating and a $8.50 price objective for the company. About Headwater Exploration ( Get Free Report ) Headwater Exploration Inc engages in the exploration, development, and production of petroleum and natural gas in Canada. It holds interest in the Marten Hills area located in Alberta, and McCully Field area located in New Brunswick. The company was formerly known as Corridor Resources Inc and changed its name to Headwater Exploration Inc in March 2020. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Headwater Exploration Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Headwater Exploration and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Meta to build $10 billion AI data center in Louisiana as Elon Musk expands his Tennessee AI facilitySYDNEY, Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vast Renewables Limited (“Vast”) (Nasdaq: VSTE), a leading Australian green energy technology company, held its Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) on November 27, updating shareholders on progress towards deploying its next generation concentrated solar power (“CSP”) solution to deliver clean, continuous dispatchable power and heat. The AGM saw Vast’s Chairman, Peter Botten, and CEO, Craig Wood, provide updates on the company’s achievements throughout 2024 and the outlook for the year ahead. All resolutions were successfully passed at the AGM, with Craig Wood, Colin Richardson and William Restrepo all re-elected as Directors. The AGM follows Vast’s recent announcement that it has signed an updated funding agreement to access up to $30 million of its existing $65 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (“ARENA”). The funding and Vast’s progress throughout 2024 pave the way for another successful year ahead. Vast’s technology is set to be deployed at utility-scale in Port Augusta, South Australia at the Vast Solar 1 (“VS1”) project to deliver green, reliable and affordable energy for South Australia’s grid. The technology will also power a world-first co-located renewable methanol production facility, Solar Methanol 1 (“SM1”). A real world, in-demand application for hydrogen, renewable methanol has the potential to decarbonise shipping and is already being used to power major container vessels. Leveraging Australia’s natural resources, the projects are set to be a catalyst for a domestic Australian CSP industry, creating highly skilled green manufacturing and operational jobs, and helping Australia become an export powerhouse by supplying Australian green technology to clean energy projects around the world. Vast is attracting significant interest from major investors, industry and international governments. Along with funding from ARENA, Vast is backed by EDF and Nabors Industries, and Vast’s renewable methanol project is supported by Mabanaft and the German Government. The following addresses were made by Vast’s Chairman Peter Botten and CEO Craig Wood during Vast’s Annual General Meeting on November 27, 2024. Chairman’s Address from Peter Botten 2024 has been a pivotal year in the growth of Vast since the business combination with Nabors Energy Transition Corp was completed in December last year. Significant progress has been made this year towards Vast’s vision of delivering continuous, carbon free energy to the world, leveraging our next generation CSP technology As announced earlier this week, Vast has secured up to $30m of funding from ARENA. This is an important signal of confidence from ARENA in the potential of Vast’s technology to power Australia’s energy transition, and we’re grateful for their ongoing support. Vast continues to progress towards final investment decision on our utility-scale CSP reference project in Port Augusta, South Australia (VS1). The project paves the way for Vast’s pipeline of utility-scale projects in Australia and internationally. Alongside generating green electricity for the grid, we believe Vast’s technology will have a key role to play in reducing the cost of sustainable fuels production. Vast is also progressing a co-located renewable methanol production facility (SM1) at the Port Augusta site, partnering with German fuels giant Mabanaft on that project. During the year, Vast also expanded its presence in the US market, signing a project development partnership with Houston-based renewables developer GGS Energy. As Vast looks to 2025, the key focus will be on: We continue to see growing demand for the continuous, affordable electricity and heat our CSP technology can deliver. We believe it will be a critical solution to decarbonise the grid and phase out coal in sunny countries. We also see continued demand for our technology to power sustainable fuels production as well as off-grid use cases, including mining, industrial processes and data centres. CEO’s Address from Craig Wood As Peter mentioned, our utility-scale CSP reference project in Port Augusta, VS1, is progressing well. The plant will have 30MW capacity and 8 hours of thermal storage, providing dispatchable overnight power critical to stabilising South Australia’s grid. We recently finalised the FEED stage and we’re working diligently with our partners towards achieving Final Investment Decision in Q1 2025 with construction to commence shortly thereafter. The project has received support from the Australian Government, including from ARENA and the Department for Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water. The co-located renewable methanol plant, SM1, is also progressing well through the pre-FEED stage. The project will produce 7,500 tonnes of renewable methanol per annum, which will help decarbonise the local maritime industry. As a world-first project, we’re thrilled to be partnering with German company Mabanaft on this effort. Financial close is currently targeted for 2025. Vast continues to strengthen our market-leading proprietary CSP technology, and to build out our manufacturing capability ahead of delivering Vast equipment into the VS1 project. Our solution leverages the abundant sunshine in sunbelt countries like Australia to power homes, industry and transport with green, reliable and affordable energy. We continue to improve the cost and performance of our modular, scalable technology, and to de-risk its manufacture and operation. Vast equipment is currently being produced at our facility in Queensland, Australia, and we’ll be scaling up our manufacturing capability to deliver to the Port Augusta projects starting in 2025. Throughout 2024, we’ve also invested in our business systems and capabilities to set ourselves up for success. Vast has had a strong emphasis on safety during 2024, and we are focused on improving our safety performance as we head towards construction on site next year. We are investing in a new ERP to replace legacy systems as our requirements continue to evolve. We are also developing the quality and project control systems necessary to deliver the Port Augusta projects. All of this activity means Vast’s team has continued to grow throughout the year, both in Australia and the US. This growth will continue early into 2025, and then accelerate as we move into construction of the VS1 and SM1 projects. As Peter mentioned, we were delighted to announce earlier this week that Vast continues to enjoy strong support from ARENA as evidenced by up to $30m of funding being made available to the business, subject to certain milestones being achieved. This funding is important as it creates a runway to support Vast in completing the necessary activities to achieve financial close on VS1 and SM1, and to continue the build out of our Australian green technology manufacturing business. As part of that release, we also updated the estimated capital cost for VS1 to AUD360-390million. We look forward to another successful year in 2025 as we move into construction on VS1 and SM1, deliver Vast technology through our manufacturing business, and expand our project development pipeline in Australia, the US and other global markets. We thank you, our shareholders, all of our partners and our employees for their ongoing support. About Vast Vast is a renewable energy company that has CSP systems to generate, store, and dispatch carbon-free, utility-scale electricity, industrial heat, or a combination to enable the production of sustainable fuels. Vast’s CSP v3.0 approach utilises a proprietary, modular sodium loop to efficiently capture and convert solar heat into these end products. On December 19, 2023, Vast listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “VSTE”, while remaining headquartered in Australia. Visit www.vast.energy for more information. Contacts For Investors: Caldwell Bailey ICR, Inc. VastIR@icrinc.com For US media: Matt Dallas ICR, Inc. VastPR@icrinc.com For Australian media: Nick Albrow Wilkinson Butler nick@wilkinsonbutler.com Forward Looking Statements The information included herein and in any oral statements made in connection herewith include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included herein, regarding the Port Augusta project, Vast's future financial performance, Vast's strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used herein, including any oral statements made in connection herewith, the words "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "project," "should," "will," the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on Vast management's current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, Vast disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Vast cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of Vast. These risks include, but are not limited to, general economic, financial, legal, political and business conditions and changes in domestic and foreign markets; Vast's ability to obtain financing on commercially acceptable terms or at all; Vast’s ability to manage growth; Vast's ability to execute its business plan, including the completion of the Port Augusta project , at all or in a timely manner and meet its projections; potential litigation, governmental or regulatory proceedings, investigations or inquiries involving Vast, including in relation to Vast's recent business combination; the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of Vast's recent business combination; costs related to that business combination; changes in applicable laws or regulations and general economic and market conditions impacting demand for Vast's products and services. Additional risks are set forth in the section titled "Risk Factors" in the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended June 30, 2024, dated September 9, 2024, as amended on November 7, 2024, and other documents filed, or to be filed with the SEC by Vast. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described herein and in any oral statements made in connection therewith occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact Vast's expectations can be found in Vast's periodic filings with the SEC. Vast's SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov
As 2024 winds down, I checked records to check the last time common Nigerians celebrated Christmas and New Year with desired joy, jubilation and happiness. For over two decades, the story had been of hoping that the incoming year would be better. Yet the succeeding year was always worse than the preceding one. We are on the same trend today. The year 2024 is ending not only on a bad but also on a deadly note. Friendly palliative gatherings became deadly palliative assemblies. Calling to question the policies that made palliative an option in caregiving. Pervasive poverty and hunger have turned hitherto decent communities in Nigeria into beggars’ enclaves. This year started on a bad note with high interest rates from the carryover policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Monetary Policy Committee, rising domestic prices or inflation partly as a result of rising energy prices generally and fuel prices in particular, coupled with massive depreciation of the naira, which turned out to be deliberate devaluation to keep the exchange rate at over N1,500 per US dollar! The aim was to make the monetisation of the oil money look huge and federal allocations to the three tiers of government bigger than they used to be. These policies were inimical to economic growth and the development or survival of businesses and human existence. These negative factors or policies that fuelled the deepening hardship being witnessed throughout 2024 started early, even from 2023 and with progressive intensity. Many medium and small businesses went under, and large businesses had to scale down production because of the high cost of production and declining consumer spending. Loss of jobs for many hitherto employed became a common phenomenon with loss of income for households and extended families, as well as loss of revenue to the government in terms of taxes. The expectations that all the presidential travels in search of foreign investments would start yielding fruits came to zero as some existing foreign businesses were leaving due to a bad policy mix. Foreign investors will prefer to invest in an economy with 50 million high- or middle-income citizens who can buy their products than a country of 200 million with two-thirds of the low-income or poverty-stricken citizens. The majority of such country’s citizens would not be able to buy the products despite the low unit cost of production. Foreign businessmen and women will prefer to invest in a country with stable or low inflation that assures them of moderate cost of production to make their outputs and products competitive in prices such that imported commodities of the same nature would not be cheaper and preferred by citizens. Foreign investors would prefer countries with strong and stable domestic currencies such that when they feel they have made huge profits, the exchange rate would not, at the repatriation stage, turn it into a massive loss. One wonders how much brainstorming goes into Nigeria’s policy initiatives, implementation and evaluation. More appropriately, with the doggedness with which our government stuck to its policies once it is introduced, we may ask if there are alternative policies or Plan B to every policy made, such that a fall-back position is created when policy outcomes are not producing the expected feedback. The economy is swimming in huge local and foreign debts and requiring humongous debt servicing which deprives the economy of funds for development, more so when the borrowed funds were hardly used for projects that could yield return and payback. Nigeria’s government now spends over 65 per cent of its revenue on servicing debts. Sometimes citizens are made to believe that there is nothing bad in borrowing. In addition, they claim that the United States is the biggest debtor in the world. They even go as far as saying that the US owes China humongous debt. All those statements are half-truths. Related News Justice ministry to renovate buildings with N2bn in 2025 Afenifere leader hopeful of better life in 2025 FG spends N8.73bn on airport power infrastructure in 2024 —Report If the government borrows too much from the domestic market, it deprives the private sector of the opportunity to borrow money for investments, even cheaply. In competition for funds or loans from the financial market between the public and private sectors, the lenders will give preference to the public because a government exists forever while businesses can go bankrupt. Also, it is the government that will be able to pay the high interest rates that the banks will demand in the face of high demand for loans. This is what is referred to as ‘crowding out effects’. Unfortunately, the public sector is unlikely to put the funds into efficient use that the private sector would. Part of the loans will be spent on consumption, part stolen and part mismanaged or expended on over-invoice projects. The same thing would likely happen to foreign loans. On the issue of the United States and the rest of us, it is fallacious to deride America with its debt. Virtually every country is working for the US as we all want to have our reserves in dollars, thus making us indebted to the country. When a country borrows from the World Bank or IMF, the currency in the dollar, the US currency which makes such debtor indebted to America! If the US owes a country, it can easily print dollars, its currency (it does not need to do that anyway), to offset the debt whereas other countries will have to work to earn dollars to pay off their debts. More importantly, the US has enough assets over and above its debt value. Until another global currency emerges and the US is borrowing and paying back in that currency, we are not on the same level. So, don’t be deceived by the statement on the US indebtedness. The important thing to note is that no highly indebted country can develop until it has been able to reduce the debt to below 20 per cent of revenue and less than 40 per cent of GDP. Our condition in this respect is precarious. Yet, the 2025 budget is largely dependent on fresh loans! Debt, particularly foreign debt, is like opium that countries get addicted to and require rehabilitation to get over it. Nigeria is already hooked! The year 2024 witnessed the actual rebirth in the oil sector with production output from the Dangote refinery and for the first time in decades, one of Nigeria’s nearly forgotten local refineries, the Port Harcourt refinery, came alive with production to compete with Dangote’s business. It is a good sign of possible good things to come. But with the pre-determined or manipulated price far above production cost, the citizens may not reap the benefits. The Nigerian factor from the government and the business community will not make the benefits of the fuel sector trickle down. For instance, the manipulated price was, by some agreement and as announced, brought down below N1,000 per litre at pump price but the prices at the fuel stations, including NNPC outlets remained above N1,000 for one week thereafter. What a country! The outgoing year sees some fight against corruption outside the political circle. Two major events are quite recent and have to do with the Abuja duplexes pinned to an ex-CBN governor but are yet to be confirmed officially beyond the confiscation of the property. The arrests of foreigners and Nigerians involved in cybercrime activities, are still in Abuja. The issues of ex-governors and now legislators, the former accountant-general, and other people at the corridor of power whose files have been with the Economic Financial Crime Commission over the years are being deliberately and gradually forgotten. The high cost of education at all levels is causing another dimension in the drop-out saga and rising number of ‘Yahoo boys’ and Association of Yahoo mothers; the rising cost of Medicare that is returning people to the elewe omo (traditional medicine) with attendant high mortality rates among pregnant women and children; the absence of clear cut policy on agriculture, particularly ranching that is sustaining farmers-herders clash and food insecurity; the government’s principal officers and hangers-on arrogance and carefree attitude about the precarious living conditions of ordinary Nigerians; and other glaring nefarious activities of the political class are a carryover from 2024 to 2025. Such situations are indicative that those who survive 2025 will only thank God that they did not live good lives in the year. I wish the government could disappoint me.By Aaron Webb As the 2024 season draws to a close, Oshae Baker has firmly cemented his legacy as one of the most accomplished and versatile players in the University of Tennessee at Martin football history. With a Playoff game against New Hampshire on the horizon, Baker has already made an indelible impact on the Skyhawks’ program, showcasing unmatched talent, leadership, and playmaking ability. Baker’s career at UTM began with a bang in 2021, when he was named Phil Steele FCS Freshman All-American and earned Phil Steele All-OVC third-team honors. As a freshman, Baker played a pivotal role in helping UTM secure the OVC Championship and a spot in the NCAA Division I playoffs. He compiled 68 total tackles, four interceptions, 2.0 sacks, and nine pass breakups, quickly establishing himself as one of the top young defenders in the country. In 2022, Baker continued to elevate his game, earning All-OVC second-team honors as a kick returner and Phil Steele All-OVC fourth-team honors as a defensive back. His 46 tackles, eight pass breakups, and 5.0 tackles for loss highlighted his all-around ability. One of his most memorable plays came with a 41-yard interception return for a touchdown against Lindenwood, adding a spark to the Skyhawks' defense. However, it was in 2023 that Baker truly cemented his place as a Skyhawk legend. That year, he earned Big South-OVC Football Association first-team, Phil Steele All-Conference first-team, and FCS Football Central All-Conference first-team honors. Baker’s impact on the field was undeniable: he totaled 49 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 11 passes defended, and an interception. His performance helped lead UTM to its inaugural Big South-OVC Football Association championship. In addition, he was ranked fourth in the league with 11 passes defended and fifth in punt return average (5.4 yards per return). He also contributed two quarterback hurries and forced a fumble, showcasing his all-around game. Baker’s playmaking ability extended beyond defense. As a return specialist, he averaged 5.4 yards per punt return, including a season-long 25-yard return against Charleston Southern. His knack for flipping field position and setting up his offense was a critical component of the Skyhawks’ success. Heading into his final career game against New Hampshire, Baker’s legacy is already secure. He has been named to the Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List for 2024 and earned Preseason All-American honors. His selection to Phil Steele’s Preseason All-OVC second team and his ranking as the 5th best returning FCS corner by HERO Sports are further testaments to his dominance on the field. Throughout his career, Baker has not only excelled individually but also helped elevate UTM football to new heights. His leadership, both on and off the field, has been invaluable to the program. As a senior, he continues to serve as a mentor and role model for his teammates, setting the standard for excellence and work ethic and has led the Skyhawks to four conference championships. Baker’s impact extends beyond the football field. A standout at Seminole High School, he earned ESPN Orlando Special Teams "Dude" of the Year honors, and his impressive high school career paved the way for his success at UTM. Over the past four years, he has proved himself as one of the most well-rounded and accomplished players in FCS football, excelling in multiple roles and earning countless accolades. In summary, Oshae Baker leaves behind an incredible legacy at UTM. His achievements—ranging from Freshman All-American honors to multiple All-Conference selections, including his first-team nods in 2023—underscore his dominance and versatility as a defensive back and return specialist. As he prepares for his final game against New Hampshire, Baker’s place in UTM football history is already secure, and his impact will be felt for years to come. © Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORKBALTIMORE (AP) — Marcus Banks had 14 points in UMBC's 92-69 victory against Morgan State on Wednesday. Banks added six rebounds for the Retrievers (5-4). Bryce Johnson added 11 points while going 4 of 7 (2 for 3 from 3-point range) and also had six assists. Devan Sapp had 10 points and shot 2 of 6 from the field, including 1 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 5 for 6 from the line. The Bears (3-6) were led by Ahmarie Simpkins, who recorded 16 points, 11 rebounds and two steals. Wynston Tabbs added 16 points and two steals for Morgan State. Kiran Oliver had 11 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Unprecedented Scope for Growth in Advanced Life Support ALS Training Manikins Market
NoneWindtree Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Provides Key Business UpdatesCHICAGO, Nov. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 FSR Cardiac Sarcoidosis Grant, providing $200,000 in funding to advance groundbreaking research aimed at improving the diagnosis, management, and treatment of cardiac sarcoidosis and doubling FSR's investment from 2023. FSR has awarded two grants, each in the amount of $100,000, to Dr. Eliot Peyster, MD, MSc, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Ravi Karra, MD, MHS, Associate Professor of Medicine and Pathology at Duke University. These grants support innovative projects designed to improve diagnostic accuracy and clinical care for cardiac sarcoidosis patients. Dr. Peyster's research project, Establishing a True Gold Standard for Cardiac Sarcoidosis Diagnosis with Quantitative Multi-marker Immunofluorescence , applies advanced spatial biology techniques to create a new diagnostic gold standard for cardiac sarcoidosis, leveraging quantitative multi-marker immunofluorescence. His expertise spans cardiovascular diseases, heart failure, and translational research, with a focus on adapting cutting-edge technologies to improve patient care. "This generous award from the FSR will enable us to test a novel, modern, and very promising new approach to diagnosing cardiac sarcoidosis,” says Dr. Peyster. "The work we will perform as part of this award has the potential to be practice-changing and will hopefully lead to earlier disease detection and better outcomes for patients.” Dr. Karra's research project, Repurposing 99mTc-Tilmanocept Imaging for Cardiac Sarcoidosis , focuses on adapting macrophage-specific imaging agents to improve cardiac sarcoidosis diagnosis and monitoring. His translational program at Duke University combines developmental biology and epidemiology to advance early-phase clinical trials and improve care for heart failure patients. "With generous support from the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, we are excited to test whether an imaging agent specific to macrophages can be used to better diagnose and follow cardiac sarcoidosis,” says Dr. Karra. "This work is part of a bench-to-bedside approach from my lab and has the potential to address a significant, unmet need in the field of sarcoidosis.” "We are thrilled to support these extraordinary projects through FSR's Cardiac Sarcoidosis Grant," says Mary McGowan, FSR's CEO. "The insights gained from this research have the potential to revolutionize the diagnosis, outcome evaluation, and treatment strategies not only for individuals with cardiac sarcoidosis but also for a wide range of other inflammatory diseases." FSR is dedicated to accelerating sarcoidosis research through its fellowships, pilot and cardiac grants, and other disease-specific initiatives. To date, FSR has provided more than $7 million in funding to support sarcoidosis research worldwide. To learn more about FSR's funding opportunities, visit https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/fsr-grants/ . About Sarcoidosis Sarcoidosis is a rare inflammatory disease characterized by granulomas-tiny clumps of inflammatory cells-that can form in one or more organs. Despite advances in research, sarcoidosis remains challenging to diagnose, with limited treatment options and no known cure. Approximately 175,000 people live with sarcoidosis in the United States. About the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) is the leading international organization dedicated to finding a cure for sarcoidosis and improving care for those living with the disease through research, education, and support. For more information about FSR and its community programs, visit: www.stopsarcoidosis.org . Media contact: Cathi Davis Director of Communications and Marketing 312-341-0500 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6e117b7a-964e-442d-b5ed-d7fff74c93b9
Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’
Blame it on the food and drink?Georgetown ventures out of D.C. for first time to face West Virginia
Georgetown ventures out of D.C. for first time to face West VirginiaNEW YORK (AP) — Lawyers for Sean “Diddy” Combs tried for a third time Friday to persuade a judge to let him leave jail while he awaits his sex trafficking trial, but a decision won’t come until next week. Judge Arun Subramanian said at a hearing that he will release his decision on Combs’ latest request for bail after Combs’ lawyers and federal prosecutors file letters addressing outstanding issues. Those letters are due at noon on Monday, Subramanian said. Combs’ lawyers pitched having him await trial under around-the-clock surveillance either his mansion on an island near Miami Beach or — after the judge scoffed at that location — an apartment on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Their plan essentially amounts to putting Combs on house arrest, with strict limits on who he has contact with. But prosecutors argue that Combs has routinely flouted jail rules and can’t be trusted not to interfere with witnesses or the judicial process. “The argument that he’s a lawless person who doesn’t follow instructions isn’t factually accurate,” Combs lawyer Anthony Ricco argued. “The idea that he’s an out-of-control individual who has to be detained isn’t factually accurate.” Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he coerced and abused women for years with help from a network of associates and employees while silencing victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings. His trial is slated to begin May 5. The Bad Boy Records founder remains locked up at a Brooklyn federal jail, where he spent his Nov. 4 birthday. Two other judges previously concluded that Combs would be a danger to the community if he is released and an appeals court judge last month denied Combs’ immediate release while a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals weighs his bail request. Friday’s hearing was the second time Combs was in court this week. On Tuesday, a judge blocked prosecutors from using as evidence papers that were seized from his cell during jail-wide sweep for contraband and weapons at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. As he entered through a side door, Combs waved to relatives including his mother and several of his children in the courtroom gallery, tapping his hand to his heart and blowing kisses at them. He then hugged his lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, before taking a seat at the defense table. He was not handcuffed or shackled and wore a beige jail uniform, occasionally pulling a pair of reading glasses from his pocket as he peered at papers in front of him. Prosecutors maintain that no bail conditions will mitigate the “risk of obstruction and dangerousness to others” of releasing Combs from jail. Prosecutors contend that while locked up the “I’ll Be Missing You” artist has orchestrated social media campaigns aimed at tainting the jury pool. They allege that he has also attempted to publicly leak materials he thinks would be helpful to his case and is contacting potential witnesses via third parties. “Simply put, the defendant cannot be trusted,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik argued. Combs’ lawyer Teny Geragos countered that, given the strict release conditions proposed, “it would be impossible for him not to follow rules.” Michael R. Sisak, The Associated PressGeorgetown is set to play its first road game of the season while West Virginia attempts to build off its successful 2-1 trip to the Bahamas when the former conference rivals meet on Friday in Morgantown, W. Va., as part of the Big 12-Big East Battle. Picked 13th out of 16 in the Big 12 preseason coaches' poll, West Virginia (5-2) has been riding the hot shooting of Javon Small and Tucker DeVries. Small averages a team-high 19 points and shoots 41.3 percent on 3-pointers while DeVries adds 14.9 points per game and hits on 46.9 percent of his threes. Every basket was needed last week as the Mountaineers upset then-No. 3 Gonzaga and then-No. 24 Arizona with a loss to Louisville sandwiched in between. All three contests went into overtime, believed to be a first in program history. First-year coach Darian DeVries, who led Drake to three NCAA Tournaments in the last four seasons, had never seen anything like it. "I've never been a part of three games like that, especially with the quality of opponents that we went up these last three days," he said after the Arizona win. "Just incredible resolve and grit and toughness from our group all three nights." Georgetown has started 7-1 for the first time since the 2018-19 season and has done so with a completely revamped roster that includes 14 freshmen or sophomores. As a result of an inexperienced squad, coach Ed Cooley specifically delayed the Hoyas' first trip out of the nation's capital. "Obviously, the competition is going to change," Cooley said after the Hoyas defeated UMBC 86-62 on Monday. "We systematically scheduled this way to build confidence, continuity and chemistry and let our players feel what it is to win, and that's something hopefully that will have some carryover as we now get ready to head out on the road for the first time." Since losing to Notre Dame on Nov. 16, Georgetown has won five straight games by an average of 25.2 points. Thomas Sorber leads the Hoyas in scoring at 15.8 points per game and leads the conference in rebounding at 8.9 per game. Sorber was named as the Big East Freshman of the Week for the third time in four weeks. Georgetown holds the narrowest of leads in the all-time series at 27-26. The two schools met 27 times between 1995 and 2012 as league foes. The Mountaineers captured their lone Big East Championship in 2010 by defeating the Hoyas 60-58 at Madison Square Garden. --Field Level Media
