hand 777 slot app free

SHANGHAI , Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sentage Holdings Inc. (the "Company", "we", "our") SNTG , is a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with no material operations of its own. Through its China -based operating entities, the Company offers consumer loan repayment and collection management, loan recommendation, and prepaid payment network services in China . The Company today announced its financial results for the first six months of fiscal year 2024 ended June 30, 2024 . The following summarizes such financial results. Financial Highlights for the First Six Months of Fiscal Year 2024 Total operating revenue was $nil in the six months ended June 30, 2024 , compared with $82 for the same period of last year, representing a 100% decrease. The reason for the decrease in revenue was that the Company's existing business had declined while the Company attempting to enter into new businesses. the company has been adjusting and improving its products and services to enhance its competitiveness. These improvements require more time to be completed. Net loss was $1.12 million in the six months ended June 30, 2024 , compared with net loss of $1.08 million for the same period of last year. Basic and diluted loss per share was $0.47 in the six months ended June 30, 2024 , compared with basic and diluted loss per share of $0.46 for the same period of last year. Financial Results for the First Six Months of Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $43,366 , or 4%, to $1,123,711 in the six months ended June 30, 2024 , from $1,080,345 for the same period of last year. The increase was due to the following reasons: Professionals consulting expenses increased by $122,525 or 30% to $ 534,675 in the six months ended June 30, 2024 , from $412,151 for the same period of last year. The increase was primarily due to the company paying more for consulting services to third party professionals. Provision for Income Taxes Provision for income taxes was nil for the six months ended 30 June 2024 , compared with nil for the same period last year. Net Loss Net loss was $1.12 million in the six months ended June 30, 2024 , compared with net loss of $1.08 million for the same period of last year. Loss Per Share Basic and diluted loss per share was $0.47 in the six months ended June 30, 2024 , compared with basic and diluted loss per share of $0.46 for the same period of last year. Cash and Cash Equivalents As of June 30, 2024 , the Company had cash and restricted cash of $1.61million , compared with $2.26 million as of December 31, 2023 . Cash Flow Net cash used in operating activities was $1.09 million , compared with Net cash used in operating activities of $1.01 million for the same period of last year. Net cash used in investing activities was $nil, compared with Net cash used in investing activities of $537 , for the same period of last year. Net cash provided by/ (used in) financing activity was $0.43 million , compared with Net cash used in financing activity of $(4,709) for the same period of last year. About Sentage Holdings Inc. Sentage Holdings Inc., headquartered in Shanghai, China , is a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with no material operations of its own (the "Company"). Through its China -based operating entities, the Company offers consumer loan repayment and collection management, loan recommendation, and prepaid payment network services in China . Leveraging the Company's deep understanding of its client base, strategic partner relationships, and proprietary valuation models and technologies, the Company is committed to working with its clients to understand their financial needs and challenges and offering customized services to help them meet their respective objectives. For more information, please visit the company's website at ir.sentageholdings.com. Forward-Looking Statement Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review risk factors that may affect its future results in the Company's registration statement. For more information, please contact: Sentage Holdings Inc. Investor Relations Department Email: ir@sentageholdings.com Ascent Investor Relations LLC Tina Xiao President Tel: +1-646-932-7242 Email: investors@ascent-ir.com SENTAGE HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS As of December 31, 2023 As of June 30, 2024 USD USD ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,262,881 $ 1,615,725 Restricted cash 26,127 21,101 Accounts receivable, net 284,628 132,049 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 9,118,909 6,720,283 Total current assets 11,692,545 8,489,158 Non-current assets Right-of-use assets, net 72,939 29,133 Plant and equipment, net 64,472 57,395 Intangible assets, net 66,859 58,702 Long-term investments 1,000,000 3,500,000 Deferred tax assets 12,324 12,040 Total non-current assets 1,216,594 3,657,270 Total assets $ 12,909,139 $ 12,146,428 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities Accounts payable $ 5,985 $ 5,847 Lease liabilities 72,230 23,802 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 256,795 237,490 Total current liabilities 335,010 267,139 Non-current liability Due to a related party, non-current 344,235 782,364 Total non-current liability 344,235 782,364 Total liabilities 679,245 1,049,503 Shareholders' equity Class A Ordinary shares, $0.005 par value, 180,000,000 shares authorized, 2,805,325 and 2,805,325 shared issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2024* 14,027 14,027 Class B Ordinary shares, $0.005 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2024* - - Additional paid in capital 55,327,858 55,327,858 Statutory reserves 166,038 166,038 Accumulated deficit (43,363,848) (44,489,252) Accumulated other comprehensive income 85,819 78,254 Total shareholders' equity 12,229,894 11,096,925 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 12,909,139 $ 12,146,428 * Retrospectively restated for one-for-five reverse split with effective date of August 10, 2022. SENTAGE HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS For the six months ended June 30, 2023 2024 OPERATING REVENUE Prepaid payment network service fee 82 - Total operating revenue 82 - OPERATING EXPENSE Selling, general and administrative expenses 1,080,345 1,123,711 Total operating expenses 1,080,345 1,123,711 LOSS FROM OPERATIONS (1,080,263) (1,123,711) OTHER EXPENSES (1,623) (1,693) LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAX PROVISION (1,081,886) (1,125,404) PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES - - NET LOSS (1,081,886) (1,125,404) OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS Foreign currency translation adjustment (57,057) (7,565) COMPREHENSIVE LOSS $ (1,138,943) $ (1,132,969) Loss per common share- basic and diluted $ (0.46) $ (0.47) Weighted average shares- basic and diluted 2,376,764 2,376,764 SENTAGE HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS For the six months ended June 30, 2023 2024 Cash flows from operating activities Net loss $ (1,081,886) $ (1,125,404) Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash and restricted cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 49,087 52,151 Allowance for Credit Losses (2,902) 45,231 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable 37,863 107,348 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 124,441 (101,374) Lease liabilities (44,191) (44,473) Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (97,547) (19,443) Net cash used in operating activities (1,015,135) (1,085,964) Cash flows from investing activity Additions to property, plant and equipment (537) - Net cash used in investing activity (537) - Cash flows from financing activity Proceeds from (Repayment to) related party loans (4,709) 438,129 Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activity (4,709) 438,129 Reconciliation of cash and restricted cash, beginning of period Cash 3,805,135 2,262,881 Restricted cash 23,089 26,127 Cash and restricted cash, beginning of period $ 3,828,224 $ 2,289,008 Reconciliation of cash and restricted cash, end of period Cash 2,724,245 1,615,725 Restricted cash 19,850 21,101 Cash and restricted cash, end of period $ 2,744,095 $ 1,636,826 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and restricted cash (63,749) (4,347) Net decrease in cash and restricted cash (1,084,130) (652,182) Cash and restricted cash, beginning of period 3,828,224 2,289,008 Cash and restricted cash, end of period $ 2,744,095 $ 1,636,826 View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sentage-holdings-inc-announces-financial-results-for-the-first-six-months-of-fiscal-year-2024-302334029.html SOURCE Sentage Holdings Inc. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

TV star Angellica Bell backs Sun’s Xmas SOS Appeal as millions of older people struggle with loneliness over holidayMutodi Sued for US$1,500 in Child Maintenance

Police release new photos as they search for the gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO NEW YORK (AP) — Two law enforcement officials say a masked gunman who stalked and killed the leader of one of the largest U.S. health insurance companies on a Manhattan sidewalk used ammunition emblazoned with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose." The official were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke Thursday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Police also released photos of a person they say is wanted for questioning in the ambush the day before of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The words on the ammunition may have been a reference to tactics insurance companies use to avoid paying claims. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are bringing Trump's DOGE to Capitol Hill WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s DOGE time at the U.S. Capitol. Billionaire Elon Musk and fellow business titan Vivek Ramaswamy arrived on Capitol Hill for meetings with lawmakers. The two are heading up President-elect Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, with its plans to “dismantle” the federal government. Trump tapped the duo to come up with ways for firing federal workers, cutting government programs and slashing federal regulations — all part of Trump's agenda for a second-term at the White House. House Speaker Mike Johnson said there's going to be “a lot of change” in Washington. Hegseth faces senators' concerns not only about his behavior but also his views on women in combat WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth has spent the week on Capitol Hill trying to reassure Republican senators that he is fit to lead President-elect Donald Trump’s Department of Defense in the wake of high-profile allegations about excessive drinking and sexual assault. But senators in both parties have also expressed concern about another issue — Hegseth’s frequent comments that women should not serve in frontline military combat jobs. As he meets with senators for a fourth day Thursday, his professional views on women troops are coming under deeper scrutiny. Hegseth said this week that “we have amazing women who serve our military.” Pressed if they should serve in combat, Hegseth said they already do. Hamas official says Gaza ceasefire talks have resumed after weekslong hiatus ISTANBUL (AP) — A Hamas official says that after a weekslong hiatus international mediators have resumed negotiating with the militant group and Israel over a ceasefire in Gaza, and that he was hopeful a deal to end the 14-month war was within reach. Ceasefire negotiations were halted last month when Qatar suspended its talks with mediators from Egypt and the United States over frustration with a lack of progress between Israel and Hamas. But Bassem Naim, an official in Hamas’ political wing, said Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press that there has been a “reactivation” of efforts to end the fighting, release hostages from Gaza and free Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Why the rebel capture of Syria's Hama, a city with a dark history, matters BEIRUT (AP) — One of the darkest moments in the modern history of the Arab world happened more than four decades ago, when then-Syrian President Hafez Assad launched what came to be known as the Hama Massacre. The slaughter was named for the Syrian city where 10,000 to 40,000 people were killed or disappeared in a government attack that began on Feb. 2, 1982, and lasted for nearly a month. Hama was turned into ruins. The memory of the assault and the monthlong siege on the city remains visceral in Syrian and Arab minds. Now Islamist insurgents have captured the city in a moment many Syrians have awaited for over 40 years. France's Macron vows to stay in office till end of term, says he'll name a new prime minister soon PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to stay in office until the end of his term in 2027 and announced that he will name a new prime minister within days. In his address to the nation on Thursday, Macron came out fighting, laying blame at the door of his opponents on the far right for bringing down the government of Michel Barnier. He said they chose “not to do but to undo” and that they “chose disorder.” The president also said the far right and the far left had united in what he called “an anti-Republican front.” He said he’ll name a new prime minister within days but gave no hints who that might be. 7.0 earthquake off Northern California prompts brief tsunami warning SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The National Weather Service has canceled its tsunami warning for the U.S. West Coast after there was a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. According to the U.S. Geological Survey on Thursday, at least 5.3 million people in California were under a tsunami warning after the earthquake struck. It was felt as far south as San Francisco, where residents felt a rolling motion for several seconds. It was followed by multiple smaller aftershocks. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injury. Yoon replaces the defense minister as South Korea's parliament moves to vote on their impeachments SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s president has replaced his defense minister as opposition parties moved to impeach both men over the stunning-but-brief imposition of martial law that brought armed troops into Seoul streets. Opposition parties are pushing for a vote on motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday evening. They hold 192 seats but need 200 votes for the motion to pass. Yoon’s office said he decided to replace Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun with Choi Byung Hyuk, a retired general who is South Korea’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Kim earlier apologized and said he ordered troops to carry out duties related to martial law. The Foreign Ministry also worked to mitigate the backlash and concern over South Korea's democracy. The US government is closing a women's prison and other facilities after years of abuse and decay WASHINGTON (AP) — The Associated Press has learned that the federal Bureau of Prisons is permanently closing its “rape club” women’s prison in California and will idle six facilities in a sweeping realignment after years of abuse, decay and mismanagement. The agency informed employees and Congress on Thursday that it plans to shutter the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California, and its deactivate minimum-security prison camps in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Florida. Staff and inmates are being moved to other facilities. The closures come amid an AP investigation that has uncovered deep, previously unreported flaws within the Bureau of Prisons. From outsider to the Oval Office, bitcoin surges as a new administration embraces crypto NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin burst on the scene after trust had withered in the financial system and Washington’s ability to protect people from it. Now, it’s Washington’s embrace of bitcoin that’s sending it to records. Bitcoin briefly surged above $103,000 after President-elect Donald Trump said he will nominate Paul Atkins, who's seen as friendly to crypto, to be the Securities and Exchange Commission's next chair. The crypto industry, meanwhile, did its part to bring politicians friendly to digital currencies into Washington. It's a twist from bitcoin's early days, when it was lauded as a kind of electronic cash that wouldn’t be beholden to any government or financial institution.Privacy watchdog concerned as Alberta passes bill to end fall legislature sitting

Tottenham are expected to be active in the January transfer window Tottenham Hotspur look like they are in need of bolstering their squad in the January transfer window. The North Londoners have endured an extremely poor campaign, with the latest defeat to Nottingham Forest being their ninth in the Premier League. They have lost more games than they have won in the league, leaving Ange Postecoglou’s men in the bottom half of the table. Clearly, Spurs are struggling to string positive results and get some momentum. Injuries have been one of the key reasons behind their inability to achieve stability during the first half of the campaign. Ange Postecoglou has been dealing with an unprecedented injury crisis at White Hart Lane, and against Nottingham Forest, he suffered another blow with Radu Dragusin being forced off with an ankle issue. The Australian tactician has discussed Spurs injuries and the toll it has taken on the players to deliver performances every three/four days. It has come to a point where he cannot ask anymore from his players , reminding critics as Jamie O’Hara of the dire situation Tottenham find themselves in terms of their whole squad. Thus, Spurs will be hoping to seize upon any potential market opportunities they get in the upcoming 2025 transfer intervals. Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has claimed that the chiefs at the Hotspur Way could add one or two players who align with the club’s long-term recruitment strategy. Ange Postecoglou was speaking to the media ahead of the crucial game against Wolves on Sunday. He was asked about Spurs’ transfer plans in January and whether the club needs to tweak its recruitment strategy, to which the Australian replied (h/t Football London): “I still think you can be disciplined. It will depend where we’re at when the window opens and we’re getting close to that now, so we’ve got a clearer picture of where we’re at. I still think we have to be disciplined, it’s not just about just bringing anybody in. There’s certainly a need to reinforce if we can. “Everyone knows January’s not an easy time to do that. But the club’s working hard behind the scenes to see what we can do to help players we’ve got at the moment who are giving everything in every game and dipping into every bit of energy they have to try to get us through.” Indeed, doing business in January has historically been tricky, especially now that there have been changes in the formats of the European competitions starting from this season. The games in the Champions League and Europa League have increased, and for clubs who harbour hopes of challenging for multiple competitions or for some who have a limited squad depth, persuading them to sell their players during the winter window will become difficult. Tottenham signed Dragusin from Genoa in January and also agreed a deal with Djurgarden IF for Lucas Bergvall the following month. Likewise, the club officials have to find young talents with potential who can immediately come in and help Big Ange’s side negotiate this challenging period. With the squad stretched beyond limit in certain areas, new players with the right character and profile are required next month. This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.Why the Vikings gave head coach Kevin O’Connell a game ballRapes, torture, killings -- a litany of abuses blamed on Assad forcesAfter more than 50 years, legendary broadcast journalist Chuck Scarborough stepped down from his daily duties anchoring the news at NBC 4 New York. His last day anchoring at the 6 p.m. news at WNBC was Thursday, Dec. 12. Chuck will continue to be a part of the WNBC family and provide special reports and contributions to special station projects and programming. Here's his message to viewers as he closed out his final broadcast: This is my final broadcast as anchor of the evening news on NBC 4 New York. First and foremost, I am profoundly grateful for your trust. Without that, I would not have survived for more than half a century in this job and been allowed to occupy this front row seat to the history of our fascinating metropolis and the world beyond for so long. Four months after I arrived in 1974, President Nixon, who won a landslide election just two-years earlier, resigned. The first presidential resignation in the nation’s history. In 1975, New York City plunged into effective bankruptcy and the Vietnam war came to a chaotic end. The pace of breaking news has been relentless ever since. We’ve been through blackouts together, riots, crime waves, hurricanes, blizzards, economic crises, corruption (public and private), 9/11, wars and a pandemic. But just as important were the stories of human achievement in the arts and sciences, of forgiveness, kindness, recovery, and resilience. If there is one overarching lesson I’ve learned, it is that we are more resilient than we realize – individually and as a city and nation. We get knocked down, and we come back stronger. I will be eternally grateful for the privilege of working with so many dedicated, brilliant and talented broadcast journalists on both sides of the camera, some risking their lives in dangerous places to bring you the news. In this age of algorithms and cable channels herding the citizenry into like-minded silos of A.I., and social media fictions suffocating truth, it has never been more important to do what they do so well: hue to the basic principles of accuracy, objectivity and fairness. I’m going to leave you with a final thought I shared with my NBC colleagues earlier this year when they gathered in the Rainbow Room to celebrate my 50th anniversary with the National Broadcasting Company – itself a quintessential American success story, founded by a Russian immigrant named David Sarnoff, who began by selling newspapers at age 15 to help support his struggling family. I urged my colleagues to do something I still do to re-establish perspective, appreciation, a sense of mission. Walk out on Fifth Avenue, and look back through the Channel Gardens, across the skating rink, above the statue, at this towering building with awe, and say: “I work here. I work here, and this is important. What I do is important. I work for the National Broadcasting Company, the oldest and largest television network in this country, with a storied history.” Feel the weight of that history. The weight of the responsibility that we all bear to get it right, to do it well, to make it interesting. It’s an honor to work with you. That message was aimed at our work here, the grinding challenges of daily news gathering. But it just as easily applies to our city, and to our country, and to all of you – all of us. We all need to lift our eyes occasionally from the political fevers and societal imperfections of the day and appreciate what we have, how far we’ve come, and the opportunity we’ve been given to continue our journey toward a more perfect union. Thank you, and good night.

Police release new photos as they search for the gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO NEW YORK (AP) — Two law enforcement officials say a masked gunman who stalked and killed the leader of one of the largest U.S. health insurance companies on a Manhattan sidewalk used ammunition emblazoned with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose." The official were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke Thursday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Police also released photos of a person they say is wanted for questioning in the ambush the day before of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The words on the ammunition may have been a reference to tactics insurance companies use to avoid paying claims. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are bringing Trump's DOGE to Capitol Hill WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s DOGE time at the U.S. Capitol. Billionaire Elon Musk and fellow business titan Vivek Ramaswamy arrived on Capitol Hill for meetings with lawmakers. The two are heading up President-elect Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, with its plans to “dismantle” the federal government. Trump tapped the duo to come up with ways for firing federal workers, cutting government programs and slashing federal regulations — all part of Trump's agenda for a second-term at the White House. House Speaker Mike Johnson said there's going to be “a lot of change” in Washington. Hegseth faces senators' concerns not only about his behavior but also his views on women in combat WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth has spent the week on Capitol Hill trying to reassure Republican senators that he is fit to lead President-elect Donald Trump’s Department of Defense in the wake of high-profile allegations about excessive drinking and sexual assault. But senators in both parties have also expressed concern about another issue — Hegseth’s frequent comments that women should not serve in frontline military combat jobs. As he meets with senators for a fourth day Thursday, his professional views on women troops are coming under deeper scrutiny. Hegseth said this week that “we have amazing women who serve our military.” Pressed if they should serve in combat, Hegseth said they already do. Hamas official says Gaza ceasefire talks have resumed after weekslong hiatus ISTANBUL (AP) — A Hamas official says that after a weekslong hiatus international mediators have resumed negotiating with the militant group and Israel over a ceasefire in Gaza, and that he was hopeful a deal to end the 14-month war was within reach. Ceasefire negotiations were halted last month when Qatar suspended its talks with mediators from Egypt and the United States over frustration with a lack of progress between Israel and Hamas. But Bassem Naim, an official in Hamas’ political wing, said Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press that there has been a “reactivation” of efforts to end the fighting, release hostages from Gaza and free Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Why the rebel capture of Syria's Hama, a city with a dark history, matters BEIRUT (AP) — One of the darkest moments in the modern history of the Arab world happened more than four decades ago, when then-Syrian President Hafez Assad launched what came to be known as the Hama Massacre. The slaughter was named for the Syrian city where 10,000 to 40,000 people were killed or disappeared in a government attack that began on Feb. 2, 1982, and lasted for nearly a month. Hama was turned into ruins. The memory of the assault and the monthlong siege on the city remains visceral in Syrian and Arab minds. Now Islamist insurgents have captured the city in a moment many Syrians have awaited for over 40 years. France's Macron vows to stay in office till end of term, says he'll name a new prime minister soon PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to stay in office until the end of his term in 2027 and announced that he will name a new prime minister within days. In his address to the nation on Thursday, Macron came out fighting, laying blame at the door of his opponents on the far right for bringing down the government of Michel Barnier. He said they chose “not to do but to undo” and that they “chose disorder.” The president also said the far right and the far left had united in what he called “an anti-Republican front.” He said he’ll name a new prime minister within days but gave no hints who that might be. 7.0 earthquake off Northern California prompts brief tsunami warning SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The National Weather Service has canceled its tsunami warning for the U.S. West Coast after there was a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. According to the U.S. Geological Survey on Thursday, at least 5.3 million people in California were under a tsunami warning after the earthquake struck. It was felt as far south as San Francisco, where residents felt a rolling motion for several seconds. It was followed by multiple smaller aftershocks. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injury. Yoon replaces the defense minister as South Korea's parliament moves to vote on their impeachments SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s president has replaced his defense minister as opposition parties moved to impeach both men over the stunning-but-brief imposition of martial law that brought armed troops into Seoul streets. Opposition parties are pushing for a vote on motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday evening. They hold 192 seats but need 200 votes for the motion to pass. Yoon’s office said he decided to replace Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun with Choi Byung Hyuk, a retired general who is South Korea’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Kim earlier apologized and said he ordered troops to carry out duties related to martial law. The Foreign Ministry also worked to mitigate the backlash and concern over South Korea's democracy. The US government is closing a women's prison and other facilities after years of abuse and decay WASHINGTON (AP) — The Associated Press has learned that the federal Bureau of Prisons is permanently closing its “rape club” women’s prison in California and will idle six facilities in a sweeping realignment after years of abuse, decay and mismanagement. The agency informed employees and Congress on Thursday that it plans to shutter the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California, and its deactivate minimum-security prison camps in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Florida. Staff and inmates are being moved to other facilities. The closures come amid an AP investigation that has uncovered deep, previously unreported flaws within the Bureau of Prisons. From outsider to the Oval Office, bitcoin surges as a new administration embraces crypto NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin burst on the scene after trust had withered in the financial system and Washington’s ability to protect people from it. Now, it’s Washington’s embrace of bitcoin that’s sending it to records. Bitcoin briefly surged above $103,000 after President-elect Donald Trump said he will nominate Paul Atkins, who's seen as friendly to crypto, to be the Securities and Exchange Commission's next chair. The crypto industry, meanwhile, did its part to bring politicians friendly to digital currencies into Washington. It's a twist from bitcoin's early days, when it was lauded as a kind of electronic cash that wouldn’t be beholden to any government or financial institution.Franklin financial SVP Karen Carmack reports stock purchase

Gretchen McKay | (TNS) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette PITTSBURGH — Many Americans consider social media a scourge, but for a home cook, it can be a fun and informative place to get help deciding what to eat. Sure, some of the recipes would-be influencers recommend are in fact pretty abominable — check out @chefreactions on TikTok, Instagram or X for many, many examples — but I have stumbled across some pretty good recipes on many occasions, too. Related Articles Restaurants Food Drink | In season: The universal joy of carrots Restaurants Food Drink | Company issues recall of cookies sold in CT due to unlabeled coconut. What to know Restaurants Food Drink | In the mood for Turkish pastries and a cup of coffee? New cafe to open in hip, historic section of a Connecticut city Restaurants Food Drink | Don’t shun pinot grigio! The good versions of wines you think are bad Restaurants Food Drink | Quick Fix: Horseradish Crusted Snapper with Arugula Pasta One that’s been going viral for a while and but only recently caught my eye shines a spotlight on the creamy, tomatoey dish known as Marry Me chicken. There are probably as many recipes for Marry Me chicken on social media as there are cooks. (Delish claims to have created the video recipe for the original dish, also known as Tuscan chicken, in 2016.) But in my opinion, the best variations hang their chef’s hat on a sauce made with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and cream. Yum! This rich and luxurious entree is a definite step above the “engagement” chicken that caused a similar stir when it made its debut in Glamour magazine in 2004. That proposal-worthy recipe — saved for posterity in the 2011 cookbook “100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know: Engagement Chicken and 99 Other Fabulous Dishes to Get You Everything You Want in Life” — featured a whole chicken roasted with lemon and herbs. Awesome for sure, but not nearly as swoon worthy. I’ve been married for a very long time, so I’m not looking for a dish that will get me engaged. But who wouldn’t want applause when they put dinner on the table? That’s how Delish’s original recipe made it into the latest installment of “Dinner for Four for $25.” Usually when I’m building these economical meals, I do all my shopping in one store. This time, I shopped over the course of a weekend at some of my favorite haunts to see if that made a difference. (And no, I didn’t factor in the cost of gas, but maybe should have!) First stop after downing my Saturday morning latte and Nutella mele at a street-side table at Colangelo’s in the Strip District: Wholey’s Market, where I found boneless chicken breast at the bargain price of $3.89 per pound. I then crossed the street and headed down the block to Pennsylvania Macaroni Co., where I found several varieties of sun-dried tomatoes to chose from. I went with a jar of Ponti sun-dried cherry tomatoes for $5.09 — a definite splurge when your budget is only $25, but an ingredient I knew would deliver plenty of flavor. At Aldi, I found a bag of five huge lemons for $3.89, or 78 cents apiece, and a nice package of fresh broccoli for $2.28. A bargain, considering I would only use about two-thirds of it. The German supermarket chain known for its low prices and no-frills shopping experience (you have to deposit a quarter to get a shopping cart) also had butter — a main ingredient in my sandwich cookie dessert — on sale for $3.99 a pound. A bag of powdered sugar was pretty cheap, too, at just $2.09 for a two-pound bag. “Shopping” my pantry for ingredients I always have on hand, including garlic, olive oil, spices, rice, molasses and vanilla, once again helped keep costs down. Total bill: $24.38, or 62 cents under budget. Not bad when you consider the homemade dessert recipe makes more oatmeal sandwich cookies than a family can/should eat at one sitting. PG tested Sun-dried tomatoes could be considered a splurge item because even a tiny jar is expensive, but their concentrated, sweet and tangy tomato goodness add so much flavor to a dish! They are certainly the star of this chicken dish that has been making the rounds on social media platforms. Some say the entree is so good, you’ll get a marriage proposal out of it. At any rate, the Parmesan cream sauce that gets spooned on top of the chicken and rice will certainly make your diners swoon. This original recipe from Delish.com is a pretty easy dish to get on the table in quick fashion. Just remember to use a dry pot holder to take the pan out of the oven because it will be very hot; I very stupidly used a damp dish towel and now have another cooking scar. 4 (8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 3/4 cup chicken broth 1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan Fresh basil, torn, for serving, optional Cooked rice, for serving Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Generously season chicken with salt and black pepper and cook, turning halfway through, until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a plate. In same skillet over medium heat, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Stir in garlic, thyme and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in broth, tomatoes, cream, and Parmesan; season with salt. Bring to a simmer, then return chicken and any accumulated juices to skillet. Transfer skillet to oven. Bake chicken until cooked through and juices run clear when chicken is pierced with a knife, 10-12 minutes. Arrange chicken on a platter. Spoon sauce over. Top with basil, if using, and serve with cooked rice. Serves 4. — delish.com PG tested Broccoli is a reliable veggie when you need a little something extra to round out a meal and don’t want to spend a fortune. Here, it’s blanched until crisp-tender and then tossed with lemon juice and zest and a pinch of red pepper flakes. I used lemon olive oil (already on hand) for an extra burst of citrus flavor. 1 large bunch broccoli, separated into florets 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter 1 clove garlic, minced Juice and zest of 1/2 lemon 1 pinch (or two) red pepper flakes Flaky salt and freshly ground ground black pepper, to taste Place broccolini in a large skillet with about 2 inches of water; bring to a boil and cook until bright green, 1-2 minutes. Drain. Heat olive oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Stir in garlic and cook until golden and fragrant, 1-2 minutes. Add broccoli; cook and stir until heated through, 2-3 minutes. Squeeze lemon juice and zest over broccoli and season with red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Serves 4. — Gretchen McKay, Post-Gazette PG tested Remember how if you were lucky when you were a kid you got an individually wrapped Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pie in your lunchbox? These soft and chewy oatmeal cookies sandwiched with vanilla buttercream taste exactly the same. Actually, they’re better because they’re not made with corn syrup and artificial flavorings, but rather real butter and brown sugar. It’s important to let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a rack. Otherwise they will fall apart. The icing is very sweet, so you might want to reduce the amount of powdered sugar. For cookies 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 cup packed light brown sugar 1 tablespoon molasses 1 large egg, room temperature 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt For filling 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 3 cups powdered sugar 2 tablespoons heavy cream 2 teaspoons vanilla Pinch of salt Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line two sheet pans with parchment paper. In stand mixer outfitted with whisk attachment add butter, brown sugar and molasses and beat on low speed until combined. Gradually increase speed to medium-high and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl with spatula, then add egg and vanilla extract. Beat on medium-high speed until combined. Add flour, oats, baking soda and salt and beat on low speed until just combined and no streaks of flour remain. Use a 1/2 -ounce cookie scoop tor tablespoon measure to portion out equal amounts of dough. Roll the dough in your hands to smooth the edges, then place 2 inches apart on prepared pans. Bake until cookies have puffed up and are set and firm around the edges but still somewhat soft in the middle, 9-11 minutes. Remove sheet pans from oven and allow cookies to rest on the pans for 5 minutes, then use a metal spatula to transfer cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely. Once cookies have cooled, make filling. In stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter, confectioners’ sugar, cream, vanilla and salt. Beat on low speed, gradually increasing the speed to high, until creamy and fully incorporated, about 45 seconds. If filling is dry, add a small splash or two of cream. Assemble cookies. Using a small offset spatula or butter knife to spread about 2 tablespoons of filling onto the bottom side of one cookie, then place second cookie on top to sandwich. Repeat with remaining cookies and serve. Makes 16 sandwich cookies. —”Sweet Tooth” by Sarah Fennel (Clarkson Potter, $35) ©2024 PG Publishing Co. Visit at post-gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.