South Korea arrests ex-defense minister over martial law, Yonhap News saysThe mum of Coleen Rooney has said 'I've finally got my daughter back' in a heartfelt I'm A Celebrity moment. The WAG's jungle moments have captured the heart of the nation and made her one of the favourites to win. But as her mum held her daughter closely in her arms during a camp visit, she realised how nervous Coleen was about how she was being perceived back home. In an exclusive interview with our sister publication, the Mirror , Colette McLoughlin opened up about her moment with her daughter in the jungle and how grateful she is to see her daughter get her confidence back after the Wagatha Christie trial. Mum Colette said: “ As I held her, one of the things she said to me was ‘mum, have I been boring?’ It broke my heart hearing that but I said, ‘no, you've been yourself and that’s all that matters. “She is obviously thinking about what people are thinking, but she needn’t worry. If she went in shouting and being loud, that wouldn’t be her. We've seen the true Coleen." The proud mum said that her daughter’s jungle experience has been just what she needed after a tough two years centred around her High Court battle, and she believes that the show has helped get her zest for life back. Colette explained: “Absolutely, the show’s helped it come back, and also her confidence, because she was really lacking in it. “It was horrendous, because at one time during the trial, we lost Coleen . Coleen wasn't Coleen. She couldn't be herself. We didn't know before the trial what was going on because she didn't tell us. We noticed a difference in her behaviour, in her attitude, she even distanced herself. “So when it all came out, it was a relief for us, really, because then we knew what was going on. But now we've got her back fully.” After so long apart, Colette was eager to find out on her camp visit just how Coleen was doing in the jungle. But she was left under no illusions just how hard the experience had been. Colette said: “She said that she didn’t want me to go, and I said ‘come home now, come home. But then she calmed down, and I asked her: ‘how is it?’ "She said that she had a headache for the first few days because she was getting no sugar, and must have been detoxing, but then she said how hard it had been.” As viewers saw, the arrival of her boys lifted her spirits tremendously. And in the minutes before seeing their mum, they were practically bubbling over with excitement. “They keep asking: ‘Is she here, really?’ They kept thinking she was going to jump out from behind a bush any minute. We kept saying to them 'five more minutes and you'll see your mum again'. They just couldn't wait. It was so lovely.” When the moment came, it brought a tear to Colette’s eye. “I heard almost a squeal of a cry from her, and my heart just lifted when I saw her,” she says. “It was wonderful seeing the boys in her arms, and they were so excited.” Soon the boys were having a VIP tour of camp from their mum . “They really wanted to see the dunny and the beds, and were asking endless questions,” Colette laughs. “They were obsessed. Coming away was hard but we told them it won’t be long before you see your mum again, and they accepted that, although Cass got quite emotional at the end.” With Coleen in the jungle, and Wayne busy managing Plymouth Argyle on the south coast, Colette has been looking after the boys with her husband Tony. “Her dad sobbed this morning when he watched Coleen with the boys,” she says. “He's very protective of Coleen and all his children, and it really moved him.” She says that the boys have been a delight to look after and are “used to being with me and their granddad so it's nothing new.” And while she is in Australia, her two eldest boys Kai, 15, and Klay, 11 have been busy Facetiming her. “They are saying how proud of their mum they are, especially the drinking trials ... .everyone is particularly impressed by how she just downed it,” Colette laughs. She is also in regular contact with husband Wayne on Facetime. “Today he was saying: ‘get in there’ when she got through. He's over the moon, he really is. He obviously misses her but he is really proud of how she is doing,”she says. Like the millions of viewers at home, the whole family have been impressed by her calmness under pressure when it comes to the trials. But for Colette , this was never in doubt. “ Coleen is very patient, she takes her time, and she’ll think things through. She would never give up, that’s not her,” she says. “She hesitated a little putting her hand up at the trials but that was out of her being polite. She was giving other people a chance, because she's done quite a few. And she didn't want to be seen to be too pushy.” Fans of the show have lapped up Coleen’s hilarious anecdotes - including her bizarre meeting with Donald Trump. But for Colette one story is very much her personal favourite. “I love the one about Wayne proposing in a petrol station and how they celebrated with corned beef hash back home,” she says “That’s where they are happiest, when they’re around family.” She says her and Wayne are “just a normal couple ” despite being in the public eye since they were teenagers. “She lives in her car and is always driving the boys around....I don’t know how she does it, getting them to football, getting them to school . The day starts at 6am on the dot,” she says, adding laughing: “I said to her in the jungle ‘have you had a rest?’ and she looked at me and said: ‘No’. She said: 'I've been up and down there all the time to get wood.'” There have been more poignant moments in camp too. During one discussion, Coleen told how Wayne can’t watch Kai play football anymore because of all the attention he receives. “The boys feel it...they want their dad to be with them ,” she says. “People come up to him, sadly, thinking it's their right. It’s not that easy to refuse them, but he just wants to spend time with his own children.” For Colette, she always knew that Coleen would cope with the great outdoors - after loving their £200 caravan growing up. “She had baths in a tin bath outside the caravan..these were all the memories she's kept,” she says. With all eyes on the final, Colette says she has no expectations as to how her daughter will fare. But one thing’s for sure: she couldn’t be prouder...or excited for that matter. “I’ve been in trouble with everyone back home because I’ve been ringing them so excited, and I haven’t realised what the time is and I am waking them all up,” she laughs. “Coleen wanted people to see her for who she is. And I think she's achieved that. It is the Coleen we know, but now it’s the Coleen everyone knows." Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.How Poland became one of Europe’s biggest success storiesDec 13 (Reuters) - Software firm Databricks is nearing a deal that could become one of the largest venture capital funding rounds in history, as investors have shown a strong appetite to own a piece of the fast-growing data analytics firm, three sources said on Friday. The round, almost twice oversubscribed, could top $9.5 billion when it is finalized next week, exceeding the company's original goal and higher than what was discussed earlier , the sources told Reuters, cautioning the final number could still go up. The San Francisco-based company, which helps enterprises process and analyze their data, is expected to fetch a valuation of over $60 billion at a price of $92.50 per share. That price is considered a bargain in the eyes of some investors, given that the company's projected revenue for the next fiscal year is $3.8 billion, said the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss private matters. Thrive Capital and returning investors Andreessen Horowitz, Insight Partners, as well as Singaporean sovereign wealth fund GIC are expected to lead this mega round, according to one of the sources. In conjunction with the equity raise, the company is also in talks to raise $4.5 billion in debt financing, including a $2.5 billion term loan from direct lenders, one of the sources added. Bloomberg first reported on the private debt raise. Databricks, founded in 2013, is a data analytics and artificial-intelligence company. It provides a cloud-based platform to help enterprises build and govern data and AI applications. Databricks and Thrive Capital declined to comment. Insight, Andreessen Horowitz and GIC did not immediately respond to request for comment. This high-profile round would mark a jump in valuation for the 11-year-old company that has yet to make a profit. The firm was valued at $43 billion in September. The move would also be a major win for early employees, as the company plans to dedicate the funding to buy back expiring restricted stock units from early employees and cover the associated tax costs. As part of the deal, the company plans to issue preferred shares to investors participating in the round, the sources said. Databricks has benefited from the AI boom by selling more tools that help clients build and deploy AI applications using the growing volume of data they already store with the company. It competes with Snowflake (SNOW.N) , opens new tab , which commands a market cap of about $56 billion with expected revenue of $3.4 billion in the fiscal year ending in January 2025. The move to raise outsized funding specifically to address the expiring employee options issue, instead of adding to its balance sheet, mirrors a move by payment company Stripe, which raised $6.5 billion last year at a valuation of $50 billion. Such mega deals highlight the amount of funds available in the venture capital system and the appetite for top-notch names. Investors are doubling down on AI companies and supporting firms to remain private longer, enabling rarely seen round sizes such as OpenAI's $6.5 billion raise at a $165 billion valuation and xAI's $6 billion raise. The move signals that Databricks and other top public market candidates are in no rush to go public, despite expectations of a resurgence of venture capital-backed initial public offerings in 2025. Sign up here. Reporting by Krystal Hu in Toronto, Kenrick Cai in Vancouver and Echo Wang in New YorkEditing by Matthew Lewis Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab Thomson Reuters Krystal reports on venture capital and startups for Reuters. She covers Silicon Valley and beyond through the lens of money and characters, with a focus on growth-stage startups, tech investments and AI. She has previously covered M&A for Reuters, breaking stories on Trump's SPAC and Elon Musk's Twitter financing. Previously, she reported on Amazon for Yahoo Finance, and her investigation of the company's retail practice was cited by lawmakers in Congress. Krystal started a career in journalism by writing about tech and politics in China. She has a master's degree from New York University, and enjoys a scoop of Matcha ice cream as much as getting a scoop at work. Thomson Reuters Kenrick Cai is a correspondent for Reuters based in San Francisco. He covers Google, its parent company Alphabet and artificial intelligence. Cai joined Reuters in 2024. He previously worked at Forbes magazine, where he was a staff writer covering venture capital and startups. He received a Best in Business award from the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing in 2023. He is a graduate of Duke University. Thomson Reuters Echo Wang is a correspondent at Reuters covering U.S. equity capital markets, and the intersection of Chinese business in the U.S, breaking news from U.S. crackdown on TikTok and Grindr, to restrictions Chinese companies face in listing in New York. She was the Reuters' Reporter of the Year in 2020.

NEW YORK , Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of ASP Isotopes Inc. ("ASPI" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: ASPI ). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether ASPI and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On November 26, 2024 , Fuzzy Panda Research ("Fuzzy Panda") published a short report alleging that ASPI is utilizing outdated laser enrichment technology and is connected to individuals previously charged with securities fraud . Specifically, Fuzzy Panda claimed that ASPI is masquerading as a new, innovative Uranium enrichment company while in reality, it is leveraging old and uneconomic technology, and the report cites conversations with former executives from customers and competitors who have deemed ASPI's technology virtually worthless. Fuzzy Panda further stated that ASPI's technology was once considered for acquisition by Centrus Energy Corp., a nuclear fuel supplier, but was rejected as it was not valued even at $2 million . Finally, the report concludes by asserting that ASP Isotopes might be the most egregious case yet of a paid stock promotion based on outdated technology, with a history of government research indicating that the technology is commercially nonviable. On this news, ASPI's stock price fell $1.80 per share, or 23.53%, to close at $5.85 per share on November 26, 2024 . Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York , Chicago , Los Angeles , London , Paris , and Tel Aviv , is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz , known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud , breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com . Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: Danielle Peyton Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 646-581-9980 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP“House of the Dragon” Season 2 steps up the truly fantastic elements promised in its title. There are way more dragons and Dragonriders in this turn of the same wheel that Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) and Danenyrs Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) will one day attempt to break, many years from the time of George R.R. Martin’s cheekily historiographical telling of the great Targaryen civil war. But for the entire filmmaking team on the HBO series , more spectacle meant focusing on finding ways to make the series look and feel both visually and emotionally grounded. This starts with showrunner Ryan Condal and the “ House of the Dragon ” writing team. Most book adaptations are about synthesis and building visual expressions of what’s conveyed through a first- or third-person narration, but because “House of the Dragon” is a patchwork quilt of different, fictional historians weighing in on events with their own particular biases (shoutout to Mushroom ), Condal and the writers are doing a lot more additive work. For Season 2, that meant not only organically building in the Dragonseeds who will eventually claim their (bastard) birthright but finding moments of emotional context for the decisions our core characters make and then the emotional context of the unintended consequences those decisions create. But every department works in this way — from Ramin Djawadi’s score providing the most immediate route to our characters’ interior life to the VFX team building out dragons so that they each have a sense of real personality to go with their massive scale. Production designer Jim Clay told IndieWire that he believes his role is to create “the psychological climate for the writer’s narrative. And, of course, that plays directly to the actors who must feel. That atmosphere, that mood. [Actors] must feel that they’re really in that space.” In the videos below, watch how VFX supervisor Dadi Einarsson, VFX producer Tom Horton, production designer Jim Clay, and showrunner Ryan Condal all manage to keep “House of the Dragon” grounded, even when those dragons are soaring overhead. Season 2 gave the “House of the Dragon” VFX team a clear gift and a clear challenge: More dragons, please. And so VFX supervisor Dadi Einarsson and VFX producer Tom Horton approached the new designs with clarity as a goal. They wanted each dragon to have its own personality and be as immediately clear to the audience as any other character on the show through their size, color, movement, and expressions. But they also wanted the dragons’ size to be clear to the filmmakers. “It’s very easy in an action sequence in previz to create a very exciting looking sequence when the dragons are low-resolution CG. It all looks great, but when you get all the flesh on the dragons, and the size, and you see a real person on it, suddenly you realize that the dragon is traveling a little too fast, and turning the corner a little too rapidly,” Horton told IndieWire. So for Season 2, the team used motion control cameras on the dragon-riding so that each glorious aerial swoop over a battlefield and each horrified closeup of a rider in trouble could be precisely controlled. “Having the dragons all consistent with one another, having the camerawork feel like it has the constraints of real camerawork. Gives the audience a kind of a base of believability, even though it’s all fantasy and it doesn’t exist, but, you know, having it rooted in something that they’re familiar with helped them suspend their disbelief,” Einarsson told IndieWire. In the video above, watch how Einarsson, Horton, and the VFX team built dragons from digital bones and sinew. There’s no rest for the weary on Season 2 of “House of the Dragon,” and so even though production designer Jim Clay continued to explore familiar places like Dragonstone and King’s Landing, he needed to expand them for Season 2. Clay built out the craggy, sharp corners of Dragonstone to cage Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) in a prison of her own making while he tied the exteriors of the Red Keep to the wider world of King’s Landing, and the common people ever under Aegon’s (Tom Glynn-Carney) shadow. Clay also built a new version of Harrenhal, designed to be as psychologically torturous to Daemon (Matt Smith) as it is wrecked by the history of dragons in Westeros. It’s a great example of physical sets melding with the set extensions and dragon VFX to create a space that threatens to swallow Daemon’s sanity. However painstakingly designed the final VFX ends up being, the work during production still requires the actors and the filmmakers to make huge mental leaps to “see” the fantastical elements and the larger scale of Westeros. So Clay designs the sets of “House of the Dragon” to act as an imaginative bridge everyone can cross confidently — at least with more confidence than the Dragonseeds. “I always feel it must be incredibly hard for the actors to, you know, have to imagine the space in their head and still perform their character. Whereas if I can give them the 360 [degree] surrounding environment, I feel I’m at least setting them off with a bit of a plus,” Clay said. In the video above, watch how Clay starts the filmmaking of “House of the Dragon” off on the right road and crafts a psychological landscape to immerse both the actors and the audience in each unique environment. With “House of the Dragon” Season 2, showrunner Ryan Condal wanted to make sure that each expansion feels at least as satisfying from a structural storytelling point of view as the expanded visuals and spectacle do. Neither the Blacks nor the Greens really want an all-out war, but the choices they make pull them into a spiral from which they cannot escape. It was important, therefore, that the Battle of Rook’s Rest, which kicks off hostilities, feels like a series of reveals and reversals in which characters think they’re in control and realize too late that events are in control of them. “We really have to deliver on this visually, but it can’t just be a visual spectacle. There has to be a character engagement and simple cinematic storytelling engagement that gets people sitting forward in their seat,” Condal told IndieWire. For Rook’s Rest, that engagement is two-fold from a structural, writing perspective. First, there’s traps within traps and the suspense of who will wriggle out of what — wAemond (Ewan Mitchell) and Ser Cristan Cole (Fabien Frankel) think they’ve cornered Rhaenys (Eve Best), but the arrival of Aegon spoiling their plans and maybe the war. Then Condal ties the horrifying reality of what dragons do on a battlefield directly to Cole. “When one of [the dragons] dies or falls or crashes, it’s bad news for everybody on the ground. You see how this very seasoned, experienced soldier is changed by the realization that a nuclear arm went off. He realizes that he is essentially a moot object in this new generation of modern warfare,” Condal said. “What I was really interested in, on a thematic level, is how does this change the game for warfare.” In the video above, watch how Condal changes the game “House of the Dragon” is playing across battlefields literal, political, and emotional. Everything in Season 2 gets more complicated, and Condal makes sure that we feel what each character loses by it.

Catholic-New Iberia has already defeated two of the top three seeds in the Division III Select bracket. Now, the Panthers attempt to take down the top seed, Dunham, in Friday afternoon’s LHSAA Prep Classic Division III Select championship game in New Orleans. Dunham takes on Catholic-New Iberia as part of the second day of the three-day Prep Classic taking place at the Caesars Superdome. How to watch Dunham vs. Catholic-New Iberia in 2024 Louisiana high school football playoffs: Live stream LHSAA Prep Classic Division III Select state championship Follow The Sporting News correspondent Buck Ringgold (@Bucks_Ballpark) for all of the live updates and scoring from New Orleans. Scroll down for live score and game updates from kickoff to the postgame. Refresh this page for the latest. CATHOLIC-NEW IBERIA 17, DUNHAM 14 2Q Refresh for updates. SECOND QUARTER - Catholic-New Iberia with plenty of momentum now. Panthers force another Dunham punt and get the ball with nearly three minutes to go in the half. - TOUCHDOWN CATHOLIC-NEW IBERIA . Panthers take their first lead on the day as QB Luke Landry, with a flick of his left arm, throws a 1-yard TD pass to Bennett Woodring, one play after Landry threw a 34-yard pass to Jaiden Mitchell. PAT puts Panthers up three (Catholic-New Iberia, 17-14 | 5:07, 2nd) - Catholic-New Iberia gets a third-down sack, and forces Dunham to punt. Panthers get the ball back with a chance to take their first lead on the day. - TOUCHDOWN CATHOLIC-NEW IBERIA . Panthers find the end zone for the first time this afternoon, as Tristan Lewis takes a handoff and bounces off several tacklers and into the end zone, finishing off a 14-yard run. PAT is good (Dunham, 14-10 | 9:59, 2nd) - Both teams punt the ball away to one another as the first quarter ends. FIRST QUARTER - TOUCHDOWN DUNHAM . Tigers quickly move down the field again and score a second TD, as QB Elijah Haven finds receiver Jarvis Washington Jr. from 36 yards out (Dunham, 14-3 | 3:21, 1st) - FIELD GOAL CATHOLIC-NEW IBERIA . Panther QB Luke Landry avoided a third-down sack by firing a short pass to Owen Morris which turned into a long gain deep in Dunham territory. That eventually set up a 35-yard field goal by Bennett Boudreaux. (Dunham, 7-3 | 5:24, 1st) - TOUCHDOWN DUNHAM . QB Elijah Haven runs a keeper 5 yards into the end zone on third down, completing a 75-yard opening drive by the Tigers. (Dunham, 7-0 | 9:05, 1st) - Dunham already in the red zone on the opening series. - Dunham will field the opening kickoff to start this game and we are under way. PREGAME - Coming to you from the Caesars Superdome, as Catholic-New Iberia gets set to take on Dunham. ABOUT CATHOLIC-NEW IBERIA (12-1) In their quarterfinal, the No. 7-seeded Panthers (12-1) upended No. 2 seed Isidore Newman, 31-0. Then in last week’s semifinal, they rallied late, getting a successful onside kick and a field goal in the closing seconds to win at No. 3 seed Calvary Baptist, 33-31. Catholic-New Iberia has one of the premier quarterbacks in the state in senior Luke Landry, who has thrown for more than 2,600 yards and 37 TDs. Making its seventh title-game appearance, the Panthers won it all in 1962 and again in 2017. ABOUT DUNHAM (13-0) Dunham has put up strong numbers on both sides of the ball. Dunham, led by perhaps the top-ranked quarterback in the Class of 2027 in sophomore Elijah Haven, has averaged 34.9 points per game while allowing 12.2 points per contest. In the quarterfinal round two weeks ago, the Tigers survived No. 9 seeded Lafayette Christian, winning 34-30. Then last week, they rolled past No. 5 seeded Bunkie, 46-22. Dunham is making its third appearance in a state championship game. The Tigers won it all in 2004 in Class 1A and then played for the Division III Select title two years ago.A big shopping deadline is drawing near for some people, and it has nothing to do with the holidays. Millions of people use flexible spending accounts to help pay for health care, and some may lose money left in those accounts if they don’t spend it by year’s end. There are many ways to spend that use-it-or-use it balance __ think raiding the local drugstore __ but it’s important to understand FSA rules before going on a shopping spree. Here are some things to consider. What are flexible spending accounts? FSAs let you set aside money from your paycheck before taxes to cover a wide range of medical expenses like copays, deductibles, eyeglasses and other supplies. They are set up through your employer, and individuals can set aside up to $3,300 in these accounts. Figuring out the right amount to set aside can be tricky because it involves forecasting how much care you might need. And you have to use the money by a certain point or you lose it. More from Be Well How to avoid financial stress during the holiday season Are you catching holiday blues instead of cheer? Here are some ways to find peace Stay sober and have a jolly holiday season with these expert tips What are the deadlines? They can vary by employer or plan administrator. In some cases, you may have to spend the money by Dec. 31 or you will lose it. But many plans offer a grace period in the new year to let people use their remaining funds or they allow participants to carry over some of the leftover balance. “Make sure you understand the clock and the rules,” said David Feinberg of Justworks, a technology company that helps small businesses with benefits. There are limits. The IRS, for instance, limits the balance carried over to $660 for 2025. Any amounts over that could be lost if they are still in your account by the plan deadline. How can I spend my FSA balance? Think of medical expenses not covered by insurance. The IRS keeps a huge list of eligible expenses for both FSAs and health savings accounts. But companies can limit the expenses they’ll reimburse, so employees should check with their employers. Eligible expenses can include travel costs to the doctor’s office, eyeglasses, bandages, sunscreen, condoms and tampons. FSA dollars may even be used to cover things like gym memberships or electric massagers if you have a doctor’s note stating that they are medically necessary. But they don’t cover things like health insurance premiums or certain cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening. Do you have any receipts from health care you could submit, like the copayment for a doctor’s office visit? That would qualify. Some plan administrators watch for stockpiling. Don’t buy a crate of aspirin to use up your balance. Limit purchases to about a year’s supply. Items can be bought in stores or online. What is an HSA and how does it differ? Health savings accounts, or HSAs, also allow you to set aside money before taxes. The difference is that you won’t lose the balance, you can keep the account if you leave your job, and some plans let you invest the money. HSAs can only be paired with high-deductible insurance plans. Account holders can contribute several thousand dollars each year, depending on the type of coverage they have. FSAs work with more types of coverage. And the help they offer can be more immediate. The money you decide to set aside over the course of the year is available right away. That can help people facing a big medical expense like a surgery at the start of a year, said Nicky Brown of Health Equity, which manages about 3 million FSAs. ____ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Is the NORAD Santa tracker safe from a government shutdown?MAUREEN CALLAHAN: The odious ghouls at MSNBC have just desecrated Laken Riley's grave... and proven why Trump deserved to win By MAUREEN CALLAHAN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 21:52, 22 November 2024 | Updated: 22:32, 22 November 2024 e-mail 18 View comments 'Laken Riley's killer never stood a chance.' That was the actual headline on MSNBC's website Friday morning, topping a piece sympathetic to the illegal migrant who savagely attempted to rape Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, before bashing her head in and killing her. Sick, sick, sick. The only person who never stood a chance was Laken Riley. But that's the far-left for you, failing to learn a single lesson from the drubbing they took on Election Day. Failing to be humbled, failing to self-examine, failing to detach from their simplistic, reductive orthodoxy that racializes everything, including a horrific, wholly preventable crime that took the life of a promising young woman. MSNBC legal analyst Danny Cevallos wrote this indefensible piece, lamenting that the killer caught 'no breaks' in his bench trial, and that the defense 'apparently had no chance with the judge, either'. In case the expressed sympathy wasn't apparent, the original headline made that clear — until, that is, a torrent of online outrage, including from Joe Rogan , who tweeted 'What the f*** is this sh**'. WTF, indeed. 'Laken Riley's killer never stood a chance.' That was the actual headline on MSNBC's website Friday morning, topping a piece sympathetic to the illegal migrant who savagely attempted to rape Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, before bashing her head in and killing her. Sick, sick, sick. The only person who never stood a chance was Laken Riley. MSNBC legal analyst Danny Cevallos wrote this indefensible piece, lamenting that the killer caught 'no breaks' in his bench trial, and that the defense 'apparently had no chance with the judge, either'. (Pictured: Jose Ibarra in court). Riley's killer, Jose Ibarra, is a member of the vicious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. He sat in court with the bored, sometimes aggravated expression of the career criminal he is, but MSNBC would have you shed tears for him . And this newsroom wonders why parent company Comcast is looking to be rid of it. Ibarra has a lengthy rap sheet, including an arrest in September 2023, in New York City — where he was living for free in Midtown's once-posh Roosevelt Hotel — for 'acting in a manner to injure a child' aged under 17, as well as for a 'motor vehicle violation'. What did the NYPD do? Cut him loose, of course. That's District Attorney Alvin Bragg's New York for you, run and ruined, as so many other formerly great American cities, by soft-on-crime liberal policies and a welcome mat laid out, cash and pre-paid cards stuffed underneath, for all manner of violent illegal immigrants. After Ibarra's arrest in September, the Biden-Harris administration rewarded him with a free flight to Georgia, to see his brother, which they deemed 'humanitarian'. Five months later, he assaulted and murdered Laken Riley. Yet Georgia's feckless, ultra-leftist DA Deborah Gonzalez, who later removed herself from this case, refused to seek the death penalty for Ibarra. Her concern, she said, was for 'collateral consequences to undocumented immigrants'. For anyone still wondering why Donald Trump won the election, this is why. Americans are sick of leftist garbage polluting our courts, our politics and our media — a media in which nomenclature has become more important than anything else, even the loss of innocent human life. Here was President Biden on, yes, MSNBC in March, after mangling Riley's name during his State of the Union address — an attempt that came only after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene yelled, 'Say her name!' from the gallery. Biden had his regrets, but they did not involve poor Laken. No: The sitting US president, an international embarrassment, was only sorry that he had used the wrong terminology to describe Riley's killer. 'I shouldn't have used "illegal",' Biden told the insufferably smug Jonathan Capehart. 'It's "undocumented".' Capehart: 'So you regret using that word?' Biden: 'Yes.' Of course MSNBC is being spun off into the sun. Of course they're shedding eyeballs and relevance by the day. For anyone still wondering why Donald Trump won the election, this is why. (Pictured: Biden at his State of the Union address in March). Rachel Maddow, their biggest star, just took a humiliating $5 million pay cut. Meanwhile, shameless hypocrites Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski just groveled before Trump, a man they spent months calling a Nazi, a fascist, and a killer of women. Jose Ibarra is an actual killer, but the brain trust at MSNBC still doesn't get it. Nor do they care to. Here was Maddow, along with race-baiter Joy Reid and former Biden press secretary-slash-mediocrity Jen Psaki on Super Tuesday in March, insulting Trump voters in Virginia who named 'the border and immigration' their No. 1 issue. You know, those toothless, illiterate racist hicks that mystify the otherwise kind, inclusive, non-bigoted liberals at MSNBC who consider incorrect pronouns an act of violence. 'Trump has indoctrinated people with this fear of people who don't look like them being a threat to them,' Psaki said. 'Well,' Maddow said, 'Virginia does have a border with West Virginia.' The ever-predictable Reid: 'They're voting on race. They're voting on this idea of an invasion of brown people over the border.' Three months later, 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, tortured for hours, strangled, then thrown in a creek in Texas by two illegal Venezuelan migrants. Read More MAUREEN CALLAHAN: The scandal behind Morning Joe hosts' marriage tells you why they must be fired One of her killers was wearing an ankle monitor courtesy of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, for all the good that did. But to MSNBC and their declining faithful, concerns about the open border, and the killings of innocent girls and women, are apparently racist. Full stop. Even none other than their demigod, Bill Clinton, said that if illegal migrants had 'all been properly vetted' by the Biden-Harris administration, Riley's murder 'probably wouldn't have happened'. And that was while ostensibly stumping for Kamala! But MSNBC would have us forget how Laken Riley suffered, or how deeply her parents suffer now. On Tuesday, prosecutors laid out a tick-tock of Riley's final moments, from setting out on her morning jog at about 9.03 am, then activating her phone's 911 function minutes later, while Ibarra attempted to rape her. According to Riley's smartwatch, she fought Iberra for 18 minutes. That is an extremely long time. Frustrated, he finally smashed her skull in with a rock and strangled her, leaving her breasts and genitals exposed. This is a man who never should have been in the United States. This is why every branch of government has gone red. Rachel Maddow, MSNBC's biggest star, just took a humiliating $5 million pay cut. Meanwhile, shameless hypocrites Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski (pictured) just groveled before Trump, a man they spent months calling a Nazi, a fascist, and a killer of women. Riley, prosecutors said, 'fought for her dignity... Her encounter with him was long. Her fight with him was fierce.' Riley's fight left Iberra's DNA under her fingernails. His guilt has never been in question. But Tuesday's testimony, which included crime scene photos and details from the autopsy, was so devastating that Riley's mother left the courtroom for the day. Still, shameless liberal mouthpieces would have us believe that Riley's assault and murder is no big deal. Just as Martha Raddatz of ABC News (what a joke) scolded JD Vance last month, saying that only 'a handful' of apartment complexes in Colorado had been overtaken by Venezuelan gang members carrying long guns. 'Martha,' Vance asked incredulously, 'do you hear yourself?' That's the only question anyone with common sense is asking MSNBC and all ultra-progressive media: Do you, in fact, hear yourself? Because most of us can no longer bear to listen. Share or comment on this article: MAUREEN CALLAHAN: The odious ghouls at MSNBC have just desecrated Laken Riley's grave... and proven why Trump deserved to win e-mail Add comment

* Fed widely expected to cut rates by 25 bps on Wednesday * Some investors brace for "hawkish cut," with Fed suggesting pause in easing cycle * S&P 500 up 27% in 2024, with Nasdaq breaching 20,000 as latest equities milestone By Lewis Krauskopf NEW YORK, Dec 13 (Reuters) - A banner year for U.S. stocks gets one of its last big tests with the coming week’s Federal Reserve meeting, as investors await the central bank's guidance on interest rate cuts. The Nasdaq Composite index breached 20,000 for the first time ever in the past week, another milestone for equities in a year during which the tech-heavy index has gained 32% while the S&P 500 has risen about 27%. Expectations that the Fed will cut interest rates have supported those gains. But while the central bank is expected to lower borrowing costs by another 25 basis points next week, investors have moderated their bets on how aggressively policymakers will move next year due to robust economic growth and sticky inflation. Bond yields, which move inversely to Treasury prices, have risen in recent sessions as a result, taking the benchmark U.S. 10-year yield to a three-week high of 4.38% on Friday. While stocks have pushed higher despite the rise in yields, the 10-year is approaching the 4.5% level some investors have flagged as a potential trip-wire for broader market turbulence. "Anything that results in an expectation that maybe the Fed moves even more slowly from here than investors were expecting could create a little bit of downside for stocks," said Jim Baird, chief investment officer with Plante Moran Financial Advisors. The trajectory of monetary policy is closely monitored by investors, as the level of rates dictates borrowing costs and is a key input in determining stock valuations. Interest rate expectations also sway bond yields, which can dim the allure of equities when they rise because Treasuries are backed by the U.S. government and seen as virtually risk-free if held to term. Fed fund futures indicated a 96% chance the Fed will cut by 25 basis points when it gives its policy decision on Wednesday, according to CME FedWatch data as of Friday. But the path for rates next year is less certain. Fed fund futures are implying the rate will be at 3.8% by December of next year, down from the current level of 4.5%-4.75%, according to LSEG data. That is about 100 basis points higher than what was priced in September. The Fed's summary of economic projections released at the meeting will provide one indication of where policymakers see rates heading. Officials penciled in a median rate of 3.4% for the end of next year when the summary was last released in September. One sign of potential support for a slower pace of cuts came from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who this month said the economy is stronger now than the central bank had expected in September. Another factor that could make Fed officials more cautious about future cuts is the presidential election of Donald Trump, whose pro-growth economic policies and favoring of tariffs are causing concerns about stronger inflation next year. Analysts at BNP Paribas said they expect a "hawkish cut," with the central bank likely to "open the door for a pause in further cuts of undefined length." Carol Schleif, chief market strategist at BMO Private Wealth, said markets "will be trying to read into how worried is the Fed about inflation." November data released in the past week showed progress in lowering inflation toward the U.S. central bank's 2% target has virtually stalled. Still, analysts say the market's momentum favors more gains into year end, while sentiment among investors in surveys remains bullish - though some market technicals suggest the rally in stocks may have grown stretched. The percentage of Nasdaq constituents hitting 52-week highs has declined since the rally after the Nov 5 election, implying fewer stocks are supporting the advance, Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist for LPL Financial, said in a note on Thursday. “History suggests the tech-heavy index could be due for a breather before longer-term momentum resumes,” Turnquist said. (Reporting by Lewis Krauskopf; Editing by Ira Iosebashvili and Nick Zieminski)No damage was reported after a 4.1 magnitude earthquake rattled the Maniwaki area, western Quebec, Sunday morning, according to Earthquakes Canada. The epicentre was 75 kilometres northwest of Maniwaki. It happened at 8:02 a.m. The earthquake was felt by some residents in Ottawa and Gatineau. One resident from Kanata told CTV News Ottawa they wondered whether it woke them up. Another resident reported snow falling off the roof of their home. Earthquakes Canada received reports from people feeling it from Pembroke to Montreal, and as far south as Brockville. No damage would be expected from the earthquake, according to Earthquakes Canada. More to come Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks Here Are All The Best Amazon Boxing Day Deals You Can Find On Beauty Products In Canada These Walking Pads Will Help You Get 10,000 Steps Every Day (And They're On Sale In The Name Of Boxing Day) 10 Family Calendars And Planners That'll Help You Keep Track Of Everything In The New Year Home If You're Headed Somewhere Warm On Vacation, Don't Forget To Pack These 16 Things Our Guide To The Best Snow Shovels In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) 14 Of The Best Home Security Devices You Can Find Online Right Now (And They've Got The Reviews To Prove It) Gifts The Clock Is Ticking — Shop These 25 Last-Minute Amazon Prime Gifts Now If You Have An Amazon Prime Account, These 70+ Crowd-Pleasing Gifts Will Still Arrive Before Christmas If You Have An Amazon Prime Account, These 50 Brilliant Stocking Stuffers Will Still Arrive Before Christmas Beauty 20 Products Your Dry, Dehydrated Skin Will Thank You For Ordering 14 Hydrating Face Masks That’ll Save Your Skin This December 12 Budget-Friendly Products To Add To Your Winter Skincare Routine Deals 11 Bestselling Coffee Makers And Espresso Machines You Can Get On Sale Right Now Don’t Walk, Run! These LEGO Kits Are On Sale For Boxing Day 2024 The Waterpik Advanced Water Flosser Will Make Cleaning Your Teeth So Much Easier — And It's 41% Off For Boxing Day Ottawa Top Stories BREAKING NEWS | 4.1 magnitude earthquake in western Quebec felt in Ottawa and Montreal Clouds, rain, fog patches in the forecast for Ottawa this Sunday Ottawa OPP seizes $28K, suspected drug tablets following traffic stop on Highway 417 Driver, 17, charged after going more than 100 km/h over the limit on Hwy. 401 in eastern Ontario What's happening in Ottawa over the Christmas holidays Natural gas leak near Cornwall, Ont. resolved: TC Energy International teams make their debut at the Bell Capital Cup in Ottawa Families enjoy unique programming at Ottawa museums over holiday break CTVNews.ca Top Stories A plane crashes and bursts into flames while landing in South Korea, killing 179 A passenger plane skidded off a runway at a South Korean airport Sunday, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames after its front landing gear apparently failed to deploy. All but two of the 181 people on board died in one of the country's worst aviation disasters. Runway at Halifax airport resumes regular operations after landing incident An aircraft incident at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport caused temporary delays to all flight operations Saturday night. Canadian model Dayle Haddon dies from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning Dayle Haddon, an actor, activist and trailblazing former 'Sports Illustrated' model who pushed back against age discrimination by reentering the industry as a widow, has died in a Pennsylvania home from what authorities believe was carbon monoxide poisoning. Trump appears to side with Musk, tech allies in debate over foreign workers roiling his supporters U.S. president-elect Donald Trump appears to be siding with Elon Musk and his other backers in the tech industry as a dispute over immigration visas has divided his supporters. Azerbaijan's president says crashed jetliner was shot down by Russia unintentionally Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said Sunday that the Azerbaijani airliner that crashed last week was shot down by Russia, albeit unintentionally, and criticized Moscow for trying to 'hush up' the issue for days. Online child exploitation spiked during lockdowns. Police worry it's here to stay Online predators are becoming increasingly resourceful in trolling media platforms where children gravitate, prompting an explosion in police case loads, said an officer who works for the RCMP Integrated Child Exploitation Unit in British Columbia. Rolex stolen from Keanu Reeves' LA home turns up in Chile Police in Chile say they have recovered three watches belonging to 'John Wick' star Keanu Reeves – including a US$9,000 Rolex – that are thought to have been stolen from the actor's Los Angeles home in late 2023. What type of stretch is best before or after a workout? As you head into the gym, you likely already have a workout plan in mind. Maybe you're taking a light jog on the treadmill, or you're working on some bicep curls on arm's day. To get the most out of your gym session, consider first how you start and end your workouts. Musk causes uproar for backing Germany's far-right party ahead of key elections Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk caused uproar after backing Germany's far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of key parliamentary elections in the Western European country, leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor in protest. Atlantic Runway at Halifax airport resumes regular operations after landing incident An aircraft incident at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport caused temporary delays to all flight operations Saturday night. No one injured after vehicle crashes into Shoppers Drug Mart: N.S. RCMP RCMP is investigating after a vehicle crashed into a Shoppers Drug Mart in Lower Sackville, N.S. on Saturday. One dead in two-vehicle collision in Sackville, N.B. One person has died following a two-vehicle collision in Sackville, N.B., Friday. Toronto ‘Significant rainfall,’ and heavy fog expected in the GTA, much of southern Ontario Sunday It’s expected to be a foggy and rainy day across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Sunday, with as much as 30 mm of rain expected in some locations. SIU investigating after Toronto cops discharge sock round, less-lethal firearm at man that resulted in serious injuries The province’s police watchdog is investigating after Toronto officers discharged sock round and less-lethal firearm at a man who had allegedly stabbed another person in the city’s Rockcliffe-Smythe area on Saturday morning. 1 person in hospital, suspect in police custody following stabbing in Fairbank One person is in hospital, and a suspect is in custody following a stabbing in Toronto’s Fairbank neighbourhood on Saturday. Montreal Freezing rain alert and smog warning remain in effect in Montreal Drivers in and around the Montreal area are advised to take caution as a freezing rain weather alert and smog warning remain in affect. Friend of Quebec man killed in Florida boat explosion says his sister also injured A childhood friend of the Quebec man killed in a Florida boat explosion earlier this week says one of the victim's sisters was among the other six passengers injured in the blast. Women’s hockey looks to expand coverage and support as spotlight grows More girls and women than ever are lacing up their skates and hitting the ice. The rising popularity of women's hockey is driven by inspiration believes hockey coach Hanna Bunton Northern Ontario Pair of 911 calls leads to two impaired driving arrests in three hours A pair of 911 calls from concerned citizens led to two separate impaired driving charges in a single northern Ontario town within three hours. Online child exploitation spiked during lockdowns. Police worry it's here to stay Online predators are becoming increasingly resourceful in trolling media platforms where children gravitate, prompting an explosion in police case loads, said an officer who works for the RCMP Integrated Child Exploitation Unit in British Columbia. Five southern Ont. hunters fined $37K for moose hunt offences in northern Ont. A multi-year moose hunting investigation resulted in five people being convicted of moose hunting offences and fined a total of $37,000, plus $9,250 in victim surcharges. Windsor A plane crashes and bursts into flames while landing in South Korea, killing 179 A passenger plane skidded off a runway at a South Korean airport Sunday, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames after its front landing gear apparently failed to deploy. All but two of the 181 people on board died in one of the country's worst aviation disasters. Community partners in Windsor propose education campaign to veer people away from payday loans In a move aimed at combatting the financial strain caused by payday loans, the City of Windsor is considering the launch of a comprehensive education campaign to promote alternative financial options. Ex-boyfriend arrested for violating bail conditions Chatham-Kent police have made an arrest after a man allegedly violated his bail conditions. London Fatal crash in Middlesex County Middlesex County OPP attended the scene of a fatal motor vehicle collision in Strathroy-Caradoc early Sunday morning. A plane crashes and bursts into flames while landing in South Korea, killing 179 A passenger plane skidded off a runway at a South Korean airport Sunday, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames after its front landing gear apparently failed to deploy. All but two of the 181 people on board died in one of the country's worst aviation disasters. St. Thomas fraud victim loses nearly $100K to job scam According to police, the victim was investing money into a company that they believed they were employed by for over a month. Kitchener Cambridge industrial plant dealing with major damages after fire A fire Saturday morning has a Cambridge industrial plant dealing with major damage. Minor flooding possible with snow melt, rain on way: GRCA The Waterloo Region and the city of Guelph will be wrapping up 2024 with unusually warm weather over the weekend. Stretch of Kitchener road closed after gas leak at abandoned building Kitchener Fire is investigating after a "strange odor" was reported on Courtland Avenue East Saturday. Barrie Region under rainfall warning, fog advisory Many areas across Simcoe Muskoka, upper York Region and Grey County are under rainfall warnings and fog advisories as of Sunday morning. Deluxe taxi goes up in flames in Barrie parking lot Some locals were quick to pull out their cellphones and capture a minivan as it went up in hot flames in a Barrie parking lot. Boxing Day bust: Police allege shopper stole from LCBO amid holiday rush While Boxing Day is known for securing the best deals, one local shopper took things too far and allegedly tried to score a deal at a free cost. Winnipeg The most-read stories on CTV Winnipeg in 2024 Historic events, community pride and significant losses dominated headlines in Manitoba in 2024. Here’s a list of the most-read stories of each month of 2024 on CTV News Winnipeg. Cross-country ski race returns to Windsor Park The Prairie Holiday Loppet made its long-awaited return to Winnipeg’s Windsor Park Saturday, with dozens of racers hitting the trails. Have you seen Genevieve? RCMP search for woman last seen on Christmas Eve Thompson RCMP are searching for a woman who went missing from Split Lake earlier this week. Calgary 1 arrested after 3 stabbed in Airdrie, including 2 youth Airdrie RCMP have arrested a male in connection with multiple aggravated assaults that left three people injured. A plane crashes and bursts into flames while landing in South Korea, killing 179 A passenger plane skidded off a runway at a South Korean airport Sunday, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames after its front landing gear apparently failed to deploy. All but two of the 181 people on board died in one of the country's worst aviation disasters. Tornadoes in Texas and Mississippi kill 2 and injure 6 as severe weather system moves east At least two people were killed and six more injured as several tornadoes touched down in Texas and Mississippi on Saturday, damaging homes and flipping vehicles as the storm system moved east across Alabama early Sunday. Edmonton Edmonton street photographer captures moments and people one frame at a time A local photographer who is passionate about capturing moments in one-hundredth of a second embraced many styles of his trade before landing on one which truly represents his mantra: street photography. 2 vehicles fall through ice at Sylvan Lake, promoting police warning RCMP issued a warning Saturday after two vehicles fell through the ice on Sylvan Lake. A plane crashes and bursts into flames while landing in South Korea, killing 179 A passenger plane skidded off a runway at a South Korean airport Sunday, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames after its front landing gear apparently failed to deploy. All but two of the 181 people on board died in one of the country's worst aviation disasters. Regina Regina man showcases local bead supply business Jeramy Hannah recently began selling beading supplies, after he realized the beaders in his life were struggling with a lack of local vendors, prompting him to create a business called Bead Bro. 'A great holiday memory': Echo Valley Provincial Park gets plenty of visitors at Skate the Park launch Families and groups of friends made use of the good weather as the new season of Skate the Park got underway at Echo Valley Provincial Park. Missing 89-year-old Moose Jaw man found dead, no foul play suspected: Police Saskatoon U18 provincials curling tournament underway in PA Teams from across Saskatchewan are in Prince Albert for the U18 curling provincials. Police made two arrests following a shooting in Saskatoon A swift response from Saskatoon police led to the arrest of a man and woman following a reported shooting Friday afternoon. Saskatoon fire crews battle house fire Saskatoon firefighters responded to a house fire on the 100 block of Klassen Crescent Friday afternoon. Vancouver Vancouver man defrauded Chinese developers of US$500K, court rules A Vancouver man has been ordered to pay more than US$500,000 after a B.C. Supreme Court judge found he had defrauded the would-be developers of a real estate project in China of that amount. Vince Dunn's second goal comes in overtime as Kraken rally past Canucks 5-4 Vince Dunn scored his second goal of the game 2:15 into overtime as the Seattle Kraken rallied from a three-goal, third-period deficit to defeat the Vancouver Canucks 5-4 on Saturday afternoon. Burnaby RCMP investigating bear spray incident at Metrotown Mounties in Burnaby are investigating after several bystanders were affected by bear spray outside the Metrotown mall Friday evening. Vancouver Island Victoria police seek witnesses, additional victims after hit-and-run spree A woman is facing seven charges after allegedly committing multiple hit-and-run crashes in a stolen vehicle while impaired, according to police in B.C.'s capital. Vancouver man defrauded Chinese developers of US$500K, court rules A Vancouver man has been ordered to pay more than US$500,000 after a B.C. Supreme Court judge found he had defrauded the would-be developers of a real estate project in China of that amount. New Canadians, non-traditional demographics boost minor hockey uptake in B.C. Participation in hockey in British Columbia was struggling in 2021 — the pandemic had dealt a heavy blow to player registrations, and numbers had already been flagging before COVID-19 arrived. Kelowna B.C. team building 100 beaver 'starter homes' in the name of wetland preservation More than 70 manmade beaver dams have been installed in Interior waterways since the B.C. Wildlife Federation project launched last year with the goal of building 100 dams by the end of 2025. B.C. man charged with drug trafficking and weapons offences after CBSA investigation A resident of B.C.'s Interior has been charged with weapon and drug trafficking offences after an investigation launched by border agents at Vancouver International Airport earlier this year. B.C woman awarded nearly $750K in court case against contractor A B.C. woman has been awarded nearly $750,000 in damages in a dispute with a contractor who strung her along for a year and a half and failed to complete a renovation, according to a recent court decision. Stay Connected

South Korean opposition to propose new impeachment Bill after bid to impeach President Yoon failsAll India Muslim Jamaat issues fatwa discouraging New Year celebrations

UConn head coach Dan Hurley insists he's not overvaluing Wednesday night's game between his 25th-ranked Huskies and No. 15 Baylor in Storrs, Conn. Sure, it comes on the heels of the two-time reigning national champion Huskies (5-3) responding to losing all three games during the Maui Invitational with a blowout victory over Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday. UConn, which had won 17 consecutive games entering the Maui tournament, fell 23 spots from No. 2 to nearly out of the Associated Press Top 25 poll released Monday. "I think it's such a long season and we're eight games in," Hurley said when asked about facing the Bears. "Our performance in Maui shocked the college basketball world and the sports world, and obviously a lot went on there." "I don't think it's a must-win game in Game 9 of the season, but it's an opportunity to play in Gampel (Pavilion), where we play great and are very comfortable, and we know we're gonna have a great crowd." "We also know we're playing a top-level team, so it's a big game for us and it's a big game for them." Wednesday's game signifies the start of a tough stretch in UConn's schedule. The Huskies will visit Texas on Sunday and challenge No. 7 Gonzaga in New York on Dec. 14 before beginning Big East play on Dec. 18 against Xavier, which fell from No. 22 to out of the poll on Monday. But let's go back to Saturday's 99-45 dismantling of the Hawks. Jaylin Stewart started in place of the injured Alex Karaban (head) and joined Liam McNeeley by scoring 16 points to put UConn back in the win column. Solo Ball contributed 12 points, Aidan Mahaney had 11 and Tarris Reed Jr. (10 points, 12 rebounds) and Jayden Ross (10 points, 10 rebounds) each recorded a double-double. "This experience they're getting, (Stewart), Jayden Ross, Solo Ball, these guys are going to keep getting better and better," Hurley said. "Jaylin Stewart has flashed. That Memphis game (in which he scored 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting), he flashed a lot in that one. "... These sophomores are just going to keep getting better and better. That's why I do think we do need the grace and support of our people here at UConn. Because they're going to be such different players in January and February." On Tuesday, Hurley told reporters that Karaban would remain out for Wednesday's game. Coming off a split in the Bahamas, Baylor (5-2) bounced back from a 77-62 setback to then-No. 11 Tennessee on Nov. 22 with a decisive 91-60 victory over New Orleans last Wednesday. "I know we're all a little tired," Bears coach Scott Drew said. "Whenever you come back from the Bahamas and a trip like that, the first game, you can be playing in mud. And I think the guys did a pretty good job, for the most part." Jayden Nunn drained six of his seven 3-pointers in the first half and finished with a season-high 23 points to power Baylor past the Privateers. Robert Wright III scored 18 points, Jeremy Roach had 17 and Miami transfer Norchad Omier recorded his third consecutive double-double after finishing with 12 points and a season-high 13 rebounds. --Field Level Media

Women and LGBTQ+ people take up guns after Trump’s win: ‘We need to protect ourselves’Former B.C. NDP MLA Dan Coulter dead at 49 after 'medical emergency'

Rainham man jailed over drugs found in car after number plate recognition alertCINCINNATI — Saturday's wild overtime win over the Denver Broncos was the most important in what has been a mostly disappointing season for the Cincinnati Bengals. Not only did the Bengals (8-8) win their fourth straight for the first time this season and keep their slim playoff hopes alive, but they also finally made enough plays late to win a close game. Seven of their previous eight losses were by one score. And Cincinnati also got a win over one of the league's better teams. Its seven previous victories came against sub-.500 teams. Joe Burrow, in the midst of the best season of his career, threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Tee Higgins with 1:07 left in overtime to win it 30-24. The final drive followed two critical stops by the Cincinnati defense. “We’ve known we had a good football team all along,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “And those (close) games are disappointing that we came up short, but they didn’t change our process. They didn’t change what our guys believed in. We didn’t have to change everything we did. We still believed in what we were doing. And now we’ve won four in a row, and we have to make it five in a row.” The playoffs are still a long shot. To get there, the Bengals will have to go into Pittsburgh and beat the Steelers next weekend in the regular-season finale and also count on other bubble teams losing. What's working The Bengals are playing their best football of the season. Burrow, battered by the Denver pass rush, completed nearly 80% of his passes in piling up 412 yards and three touchdowns. It marked his eighth straight game with at least 250 yards and three touchdown passes, extending his NFL record. ... Receiver Ja'Marr Chase, who had nine catches for 102 yards against the Broncos, could finish the season with the receiving triple crown — most catches, yards and touchdowns. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Cincinnati, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. Credit: AP/Jeff Dean What needs help The offensive line continues to struggle, even with the return of starting left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. Burrow rarely had a clean pocket, was constantly on the run and was sacked seven times and hit 15 times. Stock up The Cincinnati defense, much maligned this season, forced two Denver punts in overtime. The second one led to the Bengals' game-winning drive. Linebacker Germaine Pratt intercepted Bo Nix to end a Denver drive in the fourth quarter. “For them to rise up and get those two stops and allow the offense a shot to go win it (is) big-time stuff,” Taylor said. Higgins caught 11 passes for 131 yards and was the recipient of all three of Burrow's touchdown passes. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) celebrates with wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) after a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. Credit: AP/Jeff Dean "Everybody can see what kind of player he is," Burrow said of Higgins, who is playing this season with the franchise tag. “He elevates us to a different level when he’s playing like that.” Stock down Kicker Cade York, who was signed in early December to fill in for the injured Evan McPherson, had a chance to win the game with 2:49 left in overtime, but his 33-yard field-goal attempt bounced off the left upright. Injuries RB Chase Brown sprained his ankle in an awkward slide as the Bengals tried to run out the clock in regulation. ... OT Amarius Mims suffered an injury to his right hand. Key number 499 — total yards by the Bengals against Denver. Next steps The Bengals finish the season at Pittsburgh. The Steelers beat them 44-38 on Dec. 1.

On Tuesday, Dec. 10, The Business Journal hosted its 11th annual Best of Central Valley Business Awards dinner. Some of the Valley’s biggest names in business were in attendance at Pardini’s Catering to celebrate their achievements and be featured as one of the Valley’s top honorees, voted on by readers of The Business Journal. Today, The Business Journal highlights its professional services and business support award recipients. Congratulations to all winners. 1st Finalist: Mike Karbassi 2nd Finalist: Nathan Magsig Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer has had a busy year capped off by readers voting him Best Elected Official for three years in a row. Dyer was re-elected as mayor in March, capturing over 81% of the vote for his second term. The mayor can tout some successes that resonated with voters, including addressing homelessness near freeways, graffiti, blight and lowering the crime rate. Dyer continues to spread his message of “One Fresno” to unify the city, and has also been a longtime advocate for the Downtown area. Just this October, he announced the start of infrastructure improvements to water and sewer systems in Downtown Fresno and Chinatown. Last month, Dyer visited the Persian Gulf country of Qatar to promote Fresno as a prime investment opportunity. The trip was funded by the Qatari Embassy. “They’ve already invested over $70 billion in the US, and I’m here to ensure they see Fresno as an excellent opportunity,” said Dyer. Dyer has also been active in bringing attention to the city’s Façade Improvement Program to enhance the public-facing side of small businesses. He has also been busy securing state funds to improve various facets of the city. Including $52.1 million in funding for improvements to local road and air transportation systems. 1st Finalist: Ratzlaff Tamberi & Wong 2nd Finalist: Moore, Grider & Co. Moss Adams LLP for the third year straight has been voted the best accounting firm in the Central Valley by Business Journal readers. “We’re always honored and humbled to be nominated for these kind of awards,” said Chris Morse, partner in charge at the Moss Adams Fresno branch. “I think it’s validation of all the hard work that the team puts in taking care of our clients, but also taking care of each other.” Founded in Seattle, Washington, Moss Adams got its start in the Valley in 2016 with a team of just 25 accountants, according to Morse. Today the Fresno branch alone has about 90 active accountants, each specialized in one or more industry groups. Going into the New Year, Morse said the Moss Adam team’s focus will be on the possible impacts of the “micro” and “macro” economy on their client base. “For us, it’s staying focused on our two main assets, which are our people and our clients, putting them at the forefront of our decisions,” Morse said. 1st Finalist: Fennemore Dowling Aaron 2nd Finalist: Baker Manock & Jensen Since 1951, McCormick Barstow LLP has grown to be one of the biggest law firms in the Central Valley with more than 80 attorneys working across three different states and representing clients in a variety of industries. For the 11th year in a row, McCormick Barstow LLP has secured its spot as Best Law Firm in the Central Valley. This accomplishment is thanks to the quality of not just the work that they do, but the quality of the lawyers they employ and a “client first” mentality, according to Dave McNamara, a partner with the firm. To McNamara, fostering a collaborative environment amongst the team, as well as mentoring younger lawyers, helps make the firm stronger and opens more doors for growth. “When I started with the firm, there were many people I could go to for mentoring,” said McNamara, who started with McCormick Barstow in 1987. “There’s always opportunities to learn and people have an open door policy, so here we get the benefit of learning, not only from your own mistakes, but those of your colleagues.” 1st Finalist: Jeffery Scott Agency 2nd Finalist: Cohen Communications This year marks many things for JP Marketing, including continuing their now 11-year streak as Business Journal readers’ best marketing agency in the Central Valley. “It’s an honor, and we’re so excited to be able to be part of the business award since the very beginning. I’d like to say that we’re just really about celebrating and supporting Central Valley businesses. I know that we’re excited to see a lot of our business partners on the list,” said Jeanna Antonino, vice president of operations. Antonino also talked about how for around the last year and a half, the company has been refining its brand story and looking toward the future leading up to its 30th anniversary this month. Specifically, how they have tried to position themselves as the “creator” that collaborates closely with its clients, who it refers to as the “heroes” working to support the local community. “It’s important to us to make sure that we’re helping the community and helping our clients within the community achieve their goals,” Antonino said. Founded by current CEO Jane Olvera Majors in 1994, the company has kept its California/Central Valley focus helping its clients achieve their goals regardless of the type of campaign. Antonino explained how their team sees their role as “creators” helping “heroes.” In recent years the company has worked on campaigns like Beautify Fresno and the California Highway Patrol 2023 anti-street racing/sideshow campaign. 1st Finalist: Clovis Chamber of Commerce 2nd Finalist: Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce For the 11th straight year, the Fresno Chamber of Commerce has been voted as the best chamber of commerce. The Fresno Chamber of Commerce has won the award every year since the debut of the “Best of” awards in 2014, when it was known as the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce. Scott Miller has been CEO of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce since 2021 when he took over as interim CEO. “We’re very appreciative,” Miller said of being named a finalist for the award. “We’re very honored that we have made the list again and can’t wait to come to the event.” It was another successful year for the Fresno Chamber of Commerce. One of the several bright sports was Leadership Fresno Class 39. Leadership Fresno is a nine-month program “designed to empower you to shape and understand our community like never before. Have conversations with our incredible LF alumni, hear their inspiring stories, and uncover the endless benefits this program offers,” according to a Facebook post from the Fresno Chamber of Commerce. While mentoring current community leaders through Leadership Fresno, the chamber is also preparing future leaders with its Junior Board program. “It is made up of mostly valedictorian level kids from around the county who are learning about all of the different things that it takes to make Fresno County run,” Miller said. “It’s really been a great year for the chamber.” 1st Finalist: Denham 2nd Finalist: Hire Up Staffing Services This year marks the ninth in a row that PrideStaff has been voted as best employment service in the Central Valley. Headquartered in Fresno, PrideStaff was founded in 1978, expanding with franchises in 1995. There is a total of 85 PrideStaff locations across the country, with more opening in 2025. PrideStaff works with more than 200 companies in the counties of Fresno, Kings, Madera and Tulare, issuing approximately 30,000 W-2 forms annually — with more than 5,000 of them being local. PrideStaff Vice President of Branch Operations Sean Akin said 2024 was both challenging and rewarding, with the team navigating a competitive talent market where finding skilled candidates remains a challenge. Despite the challenges, Akin said PrideStaff is able to connect their clients with the talent they needed. He said many professionals are reevaluating their career paths, leaving traditional industries for roles with more flexibility, work-life balance and opportunities in emerging fields. The transitioning presidential administration is leaving businesses optimistic, Akin said, and its expected demand for talent will continue across all sectors. He said the team at PrideStaff is honored to be nominated once again. “This nomination reflects the hard work and dedication of our team and the trust of our clients and candidates,” Akin said. “It’s a testament to our mission of making meaningful connections that drive success. Regardless of the outcome, we’re grateful for the recognition and inspired to continue delivering excellence in staffing.” 1st Finalist: Caltronics Business Systems 2nd Finalist: Automated Office Systems For the past 10 years straight, California Business Machines has been Business Journal readers’ best office equipment company. President Teri Brymer credits this decade’s achievement to their focus on customer service and flexibility for the future. “We’ve always had a mission that our customer comes first,” Brymer said. “We have to understand their needs and figure out what the solution is to their needs.” Founded by her parents in 1953 selling typewriters and adding machines, Brymer has grown the business since taking over in 2011 to now include but not limited to phone systems, EV chargers and copiers/printers. With no plans to end her run with the business, Brymer started making moves to have the company continue after her. Despite receiving many offers over the years, she searched for someone who held the same values as her and would keep both the company and employees intact. She would eventually find the perfect fit in WiZiX Technology Group, with the merger announced in August of this year. “[WiZiX] had its beginnings in Fresno, and they’ve operated in the Central Valley and then in the Northern California,” Brymer said. “So, I consider them still a local company or a small company. Rather than in our industry, there are what we call mega dealers.” As California Business Machines looks to the future, Brymer is confident that the WiZiX merger will only strengthen the company’s position as the premier office equipment provider in the region. With a renewed focus on growth and innovation, the next decade of excellence is sure to be even brighter. 1st Finalist: Turner Security Systems, Inc. 2nd Finalist: Geil Enterprises, Inc. D.B.A. CIS Security Matson Alarm Co. is once again victorious in the Best Local Security Company category for The Best of Central Valley Business Awards. Trina Paige, general manager of Matson Alarm, expresses her deep gratitude for the award. She notes that the company has a long history in the Central Valley, dating back to 1974. “Founded in 1974 by brothers Larry and Mike Matson, Matson Alarm joined the Pye-Barker Fire & Safety family of companies in 2022 with the goal of enhancing its service offerings to customers and providing more growth opportunities for its team members,” said Paige. They offer a full selection security products for commercial and residential customers, such as alarm monitoring, fire alarm systems, commercial security systems, cameras, video monitoring, and access control systems. Paige explains that they always consider the needs of their consumers first. “The Matson Alarm team is local to the community, and work is completed in-house by individuals who know the area and are committed to protecting the community,” said Paige. “While local, the company also has the advantage of being supported with additional resources and the expertise of Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, the U.S. leader in fully integrated life safety systems.” Paige mentions that security is important today because there have been “emergent threats” to people’s and businesses’ safety. They want to collaborate with their customers to help them feel safe. “With modern technology used by Matson, customers are empowered to manage their properties from wherever they are and know that they are backed by 24/7 monitoring,” said Paige. “That peace of mind is important.” On Tuesday, Dec. 10, The Business Journal hosted its 11th A Fresno County wildlife sanctuary is being recognized for its Party City, a national retail chain specializing in party supplies, A Fresno area nonprofit organization whose goal is to reduceLegit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements. CHECK OUT: Don't let unemployment hold you back. Start your digital marketing journey today. The former governor of Niger state, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu , has said that to protect the security personnel, Nigeria must formulate a policy that stipulates the death penalty for anyone who kills uniform personnel. He stated this at the National Institute of Security Studies (NISS), in Abuja during a graduation ceremony for members of the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC), 17. According to Aliyu, the death penalty measure would encourage security personnel. As reported by Leadership on Saturday, December 7, the former governor stressed that patriotism must be taken to the highest level. PAY ATTENTION : Standing out in social media world? Easy! "Mastering Storytelling for Social Media" workshop by Legit.ng. Join Us Live! The two-time governor, spoke while reacting to the death of over 30 soldiers in Niger state in 2023. He wondered why anyone would threaten and kill personnel while on duty and still go free. Aliyu said: Read also Tobi Adegboyega: UK judges explain why Nigerian-born pastor's deportation was approved “I am happy that the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa is here. Although, they say the CDS or the military are not involved in issues of policies. But let me say this; I have not seen any country where about 38 soldiers would be killed and there will be deafening silence afterwards. I want to recommend that anybody that kills uniform person must die.” However, to buttress the former governor's assertion, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu , who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the event, stated that all those threatening Nigeria’s peace must be brought to book whether they are in the country or abroad. PAY ATTENTION : Legit.ng Needs Your Opinion! That's your chance to change your favourite news media. Fill in a short questionnaire Source: Legit.ng

Rúben Amorim has said he expects to have the final say on Manchester United transfers despite being handed the title of head coach at Old Trafford rather than manager. Amorim arrived from Sporting CP as part of a revamped structure at the club, which includes sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox. Editor's Picks Rúben Amorim at Man United: Predicting his team, formation, transfers 1d Gabriele Marcotti, Mark Ogden Amorim vows to return Man United glory years 5h Rob Dawson Ipswich-Man United: Time, how to watch, stats, team news 8h ESPN A source has told ESPN that while Amorim will have a voice in recruitment decisions, he will have less influence that predecessor Erik ten Hag and the process will be led by Ashworth and Wilcox . Speaking at his first United news conference on Friday, Amorim insisted it is vital that he signs off any additions and departures. "Everybody has to work together and for that we have to improve the process of recruitment, the data, the profile of players we want," Amorim said. "But I have to have a strong position on that because I am the coach. I know how to play, so I think it's all together but the final word should be the manager. "Not just because it's your right but your responsibility. Because, in the end, the result is to me, so I think it's all together to improve the process of recruitment. "I have a great responsibility when we choose players because this is something that should be done this way. I'm the manager, the head coach, so I have to choose the players." Amorim smiled throughout his first meeting with the media since accepting United's offer and looked relaxed ahead of his first game against Ipswich Town on Sunday. He said that he has "belief" in the players he's inherited despite the team sitting 13th in the Premier League table. However, he accepted that maybe the players have lost belief in themselves after a difficult start to the season under Ten Hag. "That's for sure but this is normal in every team," he said. "When you don't win games, you start to be suspicious of the way of playing. You can understand when they walk to the game or the warm up, you can feel if they are confident or not, so that is a normal thing. "I think I have to help them to feel that. It will take time but they are ready to cope with the demands of the Premier League because they have proved that. "You can see even this year and last year sometimes they have a bad first half and then in the second half without any tactical change, they will turn up and change things. They have to find the mindset to play this way through all the game."