Sailors killed in Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race identified

How to Watch Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Games – Wednesday, December 11

The Social Security Administration is the federal agency responsible for delivering monthly benefits for those Americans who qualify for the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs in the country. As the year comes to an end, the SSA has confirmed that all beneficiaries will receive their increased Social Security checks starting January 2025 . With the new 2.5% cost of living adjustment increase, beneficiaries will receive checks between $715 and $4,995 per month so they can keep pace with inflation and cover their monthly costs. Increased checks from Social Security will reach beneficiaries’ accounts as of January 2025 According to the Social Security payment schedule , beneficiaries will receive their increased checks starting on January 3rd for those retirees, survivors, and disabled Americans who requested their first benefits before May 1997. After this payment, the federal agency will deliver other checks to OASDI beneficiaries on the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of the month following the next conditions: Based on the new increase standards for 2025, OASDI beneficiaries will receive the following payment amounts: Besides retirement, survivor, and disability insurance benefits, the Social Security Administration will also send benefits from the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program to low-income Americans over 65 years and disabled people under challenging financial circumstances that meet SSA’s income and recourse requirements. Even though SSI recipients always get paid on the first day of the month, they will receive an extra payment on January 31st as the first of February falls on a weekend. Therefore, on the last day of the month, SSI recipients will receive, on average, $715 per month, while those who applied as individuals can receive up to $967 and American couples up to $1,450. The Senate is running for the final push on Social Security benefits expansion The Senate is ready to vote on legislation called the Social Security Fairness Act , which would offer full Social Security benefits to millions of Americans. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer unveiled the process for a final vote, which would end regulations that presently limit Social Security payouts for almost 2.8 million Americans. A Senate version of the bill, which was filed last year, garnered 62 cosponsors, and the House passed the legislation on a bipartisan vote. However, for the bill to pass Congress, at least 60 senators must still support it. After that, it would go to the current administration. Under the law, the Social Security Trust funds—which were already predicted to be insufficient to provide full benefits starting in 2035—would be further taxed. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that over ten years, it will significantly increase federal deficits by $195 billion. According to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a typical two-earner couple retiring in 2033 would receive $25,000 less in lifetime Social Security benefits if the policy is approved. It would also accelerate the Social Security program’s insolvency date by roughly six months.ATLANTA — Garrison Mathews made a career-best seven 3-pointers and scored a season-high 25 points off the bench as the Atlanta Hawks knocked off the Minnesota Timberwolves 117-104 on Monday night. Trae Young had 29 points and seven assists and De'Andre Hunter added 19 points to help the Hawks halt a three-game losing streak. Young was listed as questionable with a bruised heel but showed no ill effects. Naz Reid scored 23 off the bench for the Timberwolves, who have lost three straight. Anthony Edwards had 16 points and six rebounds in his only regular-season appearance in his hometown. He shot 7 for 20 from the floor and committed five turnovers while being guarded by NBA defensive player of the month Dyson Daniels most of the night. Daniels finished with eight steals. Mathews was 5 for 5 from 3-point range with 15 points in the first half and 7 for 8 for the game. The Hawks sprinted out to a 30-11 lead as the Timberwolves shot 4 for 20 with five turnovers, but Minnesota rallied quickly and took a 55-52 halftime lead thanks in part to 11 points off the bench from both Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Takeaways Timberwolves: On a day when Edwards was fined $75,000 for criticizing officials, the Timberwolves came out flat. They rebounded in the first half but faded in the fourth quarter, adding to a frustrating season. Minnesota (14-14) was 22-6 on Christmas Day last season. Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) drives against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Atlanta. Credit: AP/Mike Stewart Hawks: After a blowout loss to the Grizzlies with Young sidelined, the Hawks bounced back and reached .500 on the season heading into Christmas with a strong performance. Key moment The Hawks went on an 8-0 run early in the third quarter that turned an 89-87 deficit into a 95-89 lead. Mathews had seven points during the spurt. Atlanta pulled away from there. Key stat The Hawks were 18 for 36 from 3-point range. Up next The Timberwolves will play on Christmas for the third time in franchise history when they visit the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. The Hawks host the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.

Qatar tribune Tribune News Network Doha The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), Google Cloud and Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) announced the official opening of the Google Cloud Centre of Excellence (CoE) at the Business Innovation Park in Ras Bufontas Free Zone. The milestone reflects the successful, long-standing collaboration between MCIT, Google Cloud and QFZ to further accelerateQatar’s digital innovation, cloud adoption, and skills development. The Google Cloud Center of Excellence will play a pivotal role in building digital capacity within the State of Qatar. The Center of Excellence was officially inaugurated by Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Faisal Al Thani, CEO of Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ); Reem Al-Mansoori, Assistant Undersecretary of Digital Industry Affairs at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT); and Ghassan Costa, Regional Country Manager of Google Cloud, in a ceremony attended by several high-profile dignitaries and distinguished guests.The ceremony featured keynote remarks, a ribbon-cutting, and a tour of the new Center of Excellence. The CoE builds on the launch of the Doha Google Cloud Region last year, which brought Google Cloud’s state-of-the-art technology to Qatar to enhance cloud adoption across industries and allow businesses to access powerful data analytics, machine learning, and AI capabilities. The CoE further amplifies Qatar’s digital transformation journey by providing world-class cloud training, supporting startups in scaling their businesses, and facilitating cutting-edge research on cloud-based solutions. In addition to these offerings, the Center will serve as an incubator for high-potential startups and a hub for cloud innovation, positioning Qatar as a regional leader in digital transformation, and supporting its efforts to build a knowledge-based economy in alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Faisal Al Thani, CEO of Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ), said: “This marks a true milestone in Qatar’s digital capability-building journey. Our years of collaboration with MCIT and Google Cloud have culminated in this achievement. What makes the Center of Excellence particularly significant is its role as an enabler, localizing technology and building human capital that goes beyond utilizing cutting-edge technologies to actively creating and innovating with them. Qatar is emerging as the premier hub for digital innovation in the MENA region, a transformation that reflects the collective commitment of government and private stakeholders who believe in our nation’s vision. As momentous as today’s announcement is, I want to emphasize that this is just one step in our ongoing journey. QFZ will continue to attract world industry leaders to Qatar, further cementing our position as a global technology destination.” On the occasion,Reem Al-Mansoori, Assistant Undersecretary of Digital Industry Affairs, at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), said: “The launch of the Google Cloud Center of Excellence is a further step in our journey towards transforming Qatar into a regional leader in cloud computing and digital innovation. This collaboration aligns with Qatar’s National Vision 2030 and our Digital Agenda 2030, enabling us to upskill our workforce, provide further meaningful support to startups in Qatar, and foster sustainable economic growth. The Google Cloud CoE in Qatar will provide a new benchmark for the region in driving innovative technological advancements.” Ghassan Kosta, Regional Country Manager of Google Cloud, said: “Google Cloud is proud to partner with Qatar Free Zones Authority and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and to launch this state-of-the-art Center of Excellence. Our goal is to equip individuals and businesses with the tools they need to succeed in the digital age. Through the CoE, we will provide training, support, and resources that will help foster a community of cloud innovators, ultimately contributing to becoming a leader in digital transformation across the region.” The collaboration between MCIT, QFZ, and Google Cloud dates back to before 2020 when Google Cloud first announced that it would launch a cloud region in Doha, the first such facility in the GCC and North Africa region. This collaboration deepened in 2021 with the agreement to develop the Center of Excellence, followed by a supplementary Memorandum of Understanding between QFZ and Google Cloud in 2022 to further support the CoE’s establishment and operations. The same year saw MCIT and Google Cloud sign a framework agreement aimed at accelerating digital transformation initiatives and adoption of digital and cloud technologies. In May of 2023, the Doha Google Cloud Region was officially launched. The Google Cloud Center of Excellence is set to play a key role in Qatar’s digital transformation efforts, providingessential cloud-based training and support to businesses and individuals alike. This initiative underscores the commitment of MCIT, QFZ and Google Cloud to building a future-ready, innovation-driven economy. Through this collaborative effort, the CoE will foster a new era of growth, digital innovation, and technological excellence in Qatar and beyond. Copy 03/12/2024 10The NBA's five-game Christmas lineup was the league's most-watched in five years, with the games averaging about 5.25 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN and its platforms, the league said Thursday based on Nielsen's preliminary numbers. It's an 84% rise over the NBA's Christmas numbers from 2023. The Los Angeles Lakers’ 115-113 victory over the Golden State Warriors — a game pitting Olympic teammates LeBron James and Stephen Curry — averaged 7.76 million viewers and peaked with about 8.32 million viewers toward the end of the contest, the league said. Those numbers represent the most-watched NBA regular season game in five years. “I love the NFL,” James said in his televised postgame interview Wednesday night. “But Christmas is our day.” The NBA said all five Christmas games on its schedule — San Antonio at New York in Victor Wembanyama's holiday debut, Minnesota at Dallas, Philadelphia at Boston, Denver at Phoenix and Lakers-Warriors — saw year-over-year viewership increases. Wednesday's numbers pushed NBA viewership for the season across ESPN platforms to up 4% over last season. The league also saw more than 500 million video views on its social media platforms Wednesday, a new record. For the NBA, those are all good signs amid cries that NBA viewership is hurting. “Ratings are down a bit at beginning of the season. But cable television viewership is down double digits so far this year versus last year," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this month. “You know, we’re almost at the inflection point where people are watching more programing on streaming than they are on traditional television. And it’s a reason why for our new television deals, which we enter into next year, every game is going to be available on a streaming service.” Part of that new package of television deals that the NBA is entering into next season also increases the number of regular season games broadcast on television from 15 to 75. AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA

Former Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene is transferring to Michigan with one year of eligibility remaining. Confirming earlier reports, Keene posted an image of himself in a Wolverines uniform on social media on Monday. Keene passed for 2,892 yards with 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 12 games for the Bulldogs in 2024. Fresno State opened the season with a 30-10 loss at Michigan on Aug. 31, with Keene throwing for 235 yards with one touchdown and two picks. Including two seasons at UCF (2021-22), Keene has completed 67.8 percent of his passes for 8,245 yards with 65 TDs and 28 interceptions in 39 games. Keene's competition for the starting job at Michigan includes incoming freshman Bryce Underwood, the 247Sports Composite's No. 1 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class. --Field Level Media

Stocks down 1,991 points amid future contracts rollover pressure A stock broker watches share prices during a trading session at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) in the Provincial Capital on February 13, 2024. — Online KARACHI: Stocks fell 1,991 points on Thursday amid security concerns on the border and pressure on future contracts’ rollover. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 index decreased by 1,991.49 points or 1.77 per cent to 110,423.32 points against 112,414.81 points recorded in the last session. The highest index of the day remained at 112,480.6 points, while the lowest level was recorded at 109,858.88 points. Ahsan Mehanti, an analyst at Arif Habib Corp, said, “Stocks fell sharply lower amid political uncertainty, concerns over the cautious SBP policy easing and uncertainty over the outcome of slippages on tax collection [targets set by the IMF].” He said that pressure on future contracts’ rollover, weak rupee and foreign outflows played a catalyst role in the bearish activity. The KSE-30 index decreased by 730.12 points or 2.06 per cent to 34,778.04 points against 35,508.15 points. Traded shares decreased by 252 million shares to 628.026 million shares from 880.598 million shares. The trading value dropped to Rs33.582 billion from Rs54.455 billion. Market capital narrowed to Rs14.014 trillion against Rs14.251 trillion. Of the 450 companies active in the session, 113 closed in green, 284 in red and 53 remained unchanged. Analyst Naveed Nadeem at Topline Securities said that the benchmark index experienced a decline, closing the session at 110,423 points, down by 1,991 points or 1.77 per cent. “The market has been influenced by increased leverage and the expiry of December contracts,” he said. “Furthermore, the ongoing security concerns at the borders are affecting investor sentiment.”The primary drivers of the downward movement were FFC, OGDC, PPL, MARI and LUCK, which collectively accounted for an alarming 996 points of the index’s overall decline. The highest increase was recorded in Nestle Pakistan Limited, which rose by Rs198.81 to Rs7,430.81 per share, followed by Mitchells Fruit Farms Limited, which increased by Rs17.44 to Rs266.05 per share. A significant decline was noted in Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited, which fell by Rs232.6 to Rs20,767.41 per share; Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited followed it, which closed lower by Rs198.1 to Rs9,001.9 per share. Analyst Muhammad Hasan Ather at JS Global said, “This decline was driven by rising leverage, year-end portfolio adjustments and security concerns at the borders. Despite the bearish sentiment, the market’s trailing earnings yields suggest potential for above-average long-term returns.” He added, “Falling interest rates and lower returns on alternative investments indicate that equities will remain attractive, providing promising opportunities for investors moving forward.” Fauji Foods Ltd remained the volume leader with 93.341 million shares, which closed higher by Rs1.44 to Rs16.39 per share. WorldCall Telecom, with 49.879 million shares, followed it, which closed lower by 6 paisas to Rs1.72 per share. Other significant turnover stocks included TRG Pak Ltd, BO Punjab, Hascol Petrol, K-Electric Ltd., Silk Bank Ltd, Fauji Cement, Cnergyico PK and Pak Elektron. In the futures market, 303 companies recorded trading, 67 of which increased, 234 decreased, and 2 remained unchanged.

From wealth and success to murder suspect, the life of Luigi Mangione took a hard turnAmazon is facing a strike of 10,000 workers, the largest in its history, as the company is dealing with the holiday crunch. According to , the strike began after Amazon executives failed to meet a deadline to negotiate with employees wages and working conditions. “If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed. We gave Amazon a clear deadline to come to the table and do right by our members. They ignored it,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “These greedy executives had every chance to show decency and respect for the people who make their obscene profits possible. Instead, they’ve pushed workers to the limit and now they’re paying the price. This strike is on them.” Employees say Amazon doesn’t care for them, despite claiming it does. “Amazon is one of the biggest, richest corporations in the world,” said Gabriel Irizarry, a driver at DIL7 in Skokie, Ill. “They talk a big game about taking care of their workers, but when it comes down to it, Amazon does not respect us and our right to negotiate for better working conditions and wages. We can’t even afford to pay our bills.” Amazon is notoriously , going to great lengths to undermine organizing efforts, including to monitor such employees. The company has faced repeated criticism for its stance, with its own to tone down its efforts, and a US judge ordering the company to . Despite Amazon’s well-known stance, employees are counting on the equally well-known reputation of the Teamsters union to help them. “I’ve seen the Teamsters win big battles,” said Dia Ortiz, a worker at DBK4 in New York. “We’re ready to do what it takes to win this one.” Only time will tell if the strike has any effect.

Chris Cenac Jr., the top center in the Class of 2025 according to the ESPN100, has committed to play for the Houston Cougars. The five-star recruit announced his decision Tuesday via the Bleacher Report's B/R App. Cenac previously said he wouldn't make his decision until the spring, but his stock soared over the summer after his impressive play on the Puma Pro 16 circuit with Dallas-based YGC, vaulting him into the national top-10 rankings. The 6-foot-10 New Orleans native was reportedly choosing between LSU, Auburn, Arkansas, Baylor, Kentucky, Tennessee and others before making the decision to join Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson's team. "I just like the coaching staff a lot, I like their plan to develop me and I like coming into a winning program," Cenac told 247Sports. "I'm looking forward to producing and just helping them win more. But the main thing was development and them being able to get me better so I can be ready for that next level." Cenac's rating of .9978 by 247Sports Composite makes him the Cougars' highest-rated commit in the modern era, according to multiple outlets. "They see me as a four who can kind of play all over the court and do everything," Cenac told 247Sports. "I can get rebounds, push the ball, shoot and play all over the floor." With Cenac joining other Houston commits like five-star shooting guard Isaiah Harwell, four-star point guard Kingston Flemings and three-star wing Bryce Jackson, Houston's Class of 2025 is ranked No. 2 in the nation by 247Sports and ESPN. --Field Level Media

Biggest Townsville headlines from May 2024Connecticut Sun fans will have one chance to see Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever play at Mohegan Sun Arena next season. The other ‘home’ game will be in Boston. The 2025 WNBA regular season schedule was released on Monday, and the Sun announced that the team’s July 15 game against the Fever will take place at TD Garden in Boston, where the franchise hosted the first-ever WNBA game in that city this past season. Clark and the Fever will play at Mohegan Sun Arena on August 17, and twice in Indiana, on May 30 and June 17. The Sun sold out TD Garden , home to the Boston Celtics and Bruins, last season for a game against the Los Angeles Sparks. The announced attendance of 19,156 was hailed as the highest in franchise history. The Sun said presale tickets for the game against the Fever in Boston this season will be on sale exclusively on the Connecticut Sun mobile app, and tickets for all regular season games will be available on Ticketmaster at a date to be announced. The 2025 WNBA season will feature a league-record 44 games from mid-May through early September. The Sun will tip off the season on Sunday, May 18 at 1 p.m. against the Washington Mystics at Mohegan Sun Arena. The team’s annual Camp Day game will be held Wednesday, July 9 at 11 a.m. against the Seattle Storm. Sun 2025 Opponent Breakdown: Atlanta Dream: Home: June 6, September 1, September 10; Away: May 25, September 8 Chicago Sky: Home: June 15, August 13; Away: August 23, September 3 Dallas Wings: Home: May 27, June 20; Away: August 27 Golden State Valkyries: Home: July 27; Away: June 22, August 11 Indiana Fever: Home: July 15*, August 17; Away: May 30, June 17 Las Vegas Aces: Home: May 20, July 6; Away: June 25, August 10 Los Angeles Sparks: Home: July 24; Away: July 13, August 7 Minnesota Lynx: Home: August 30; Away: May 23, June 29 New York Liberty: Home: August 1, August 3; Away: June 1, August 25 Phoenix Mercury: Home: June 18, September 6; Away: August 5 Seattle Storm: Home: July 9, July 28; Away: June 27, July 11 Washington Mystics: Home: May 18, August 21; Away: June 8, August 19 *Game to be played at TD Garden.