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lightning roulette FMC Corp. stock underperforms Thursday when compared to competitors despite daily gainsDefending champions India delivered a commanding performance to storm into the semi-finals of the men's Junior Asia Cup hockey tournament with a resounding 16-0 win over Chinese Taipei here on Saturday. Dilraj Singh led the charge with four goals, while Rosan Kujur and Sourabh Anand Kushwaha scored hat-tricks, as India completely outclassed their opponents. With three consecutive victories, the PR Sreejesh-coached side sits atop Pool A with nine points, ahead of Japan (6) and has qualified for the last-four with a round to spare. India will face Korea in their final group match on December 1, with the semifinals scheduled for December 3. India began cautiously, with Yogember Rawat opening the scoring in the 7th minute. However, the floodgates opened in the second quarter as Sourabh Kushwaha (20th, 28th), Dilraj Singh (17th), and Rosan Kujur (23rd) combined to give India a 5-0 lead at halftime. The third quarter saw India at their ruthless best, netting eight goals. Kujur completed his hat-trick with strikes in the 32nd and 42nd minutes, while Dilraj added two more in the 40th and 45th minutes. Arshdeep Singh (37th, 44th), Priyobarta Talem (31st), and Sharda Nand Tiwari (39th) joined the scoring spree. In the final quarter, Araijeet Singh Hundal (54th) opened the scoring before Dilraj completed his four-goal blitz in the 57th minute. Kushwaha wrapped up the match with his third goal in the 58th minute, sealing India’s dominant display. Chinese Taipei’s defense was overwhelmed throughout the match, unable to cope with India’s relentless pressure. Goalkeeper Ting-Shuo made a valiant save in the 35th minute, but his efforts were not enough to stem the tide as India’s attacking prowess left the Taipei defense inundated and struggling to contain wave after wave of Indian attacks. This tournament doubles as a qualifier for next year’s FIH Hockey Junior World Cup, which will be hosted by India. The top six teams will qualify, but as hosts, India have already secured their spot. Having finished already among top six, the seventh-placed team will also earn a berth. India have been the most successful team in Junior Asia Cup history with four titles (2004, 2008, 2015, 2023). Published - December 01, 2024 05:16 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Hockey / sport

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (AP) — Jayden Brown had 17 points in Cent. Conn. St.'s 64-56 victory against Binghamton on Sunday. Brown added eight rebounds for the Blue Devils (3-3). Jordan Jones scored 15 points and added five rebounds. Davonte Sweatman shot 3 of 10 from the field, including 2 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 6 from the line to finish with 14 points. Tymu Chenery led the way for the Bearcats (2-5) with 16 points and four assists. Nehemiah Benson added 14 points and six rebounds for Binghamton. Gavin Walsh also had nine points and eight rebounds. NEXT UP Cent. Conn. St.'s next game is Sunday against UMass-Lowell at home. Binghamton squares off against Niagara on Friday. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by and data from . The Associated PressThe appeal, run by charity Ambition, Aspire, Achieve (AAA) in partnership with the Newham Recorder, has successfully completed its mission for the 47th consecutive year. The final gifts have been distributed over the last ten days, and in the run up to Christmas Eve. Bank of New York Mellon (Image: AAA) Teams from Thought Machine, a cloud banking technology company, Janus Henderson Investors, and the Bank of New York Mellon were among those at the appeal’s toy warehouse, donated by Gallions Reach Shopping Park, Beckton, in the final few days. The Thought Machine team worked with academy players from West Ham United, who volunteered and brought gifts for the appeal. Gallions Reach Shopping Park donated a toy warehouse (Image: AAA) Gifts from the Holiday Inn Express, Stratford, James Asser MP and John Ratomski from Irons Supporting Foodbanks also boosted the final total. West Ham Academy squad members visited the warehouse to volunteer and donate gifts (Image: AAA) Jonny Boux, chief executive of AAA, said: "On behalf of all at Ambition Aspire Achieve and most importantly the children who are benefiting from the appeal, a huge thank you to all who have so generously given their support. "The final weeks of the appeal have seen a surge of donations and our roll of honour this year is full of acts of kindness from the many who responded to our call out for help in November. "Times continue to be tough for many, but the support provided by businesses, local schools, community groups, and a huge number of individuals have made a tremendous difference. "We can’t thank them all enough for helping to make the appeal success." Janus volunteers (Image: AAA) Appeal organisers have received high numbers of requests to raise gifts for children this year. Paula Blake, toy appeal co-ordinator, said this reflects "the ongoing challenges local families are experiencing". She added: "The contributions from many have been truly inspiring and have made all the difference. "Everyone has really pulled together to help make a magical Christmas for the many children referred, it’s been a great collective effort. "Thank you, many times over to all who have donated so generously and supported this year. "We couldn’t have done it without you."

Here are some quick-hitting notes from the availability: » Virginia Tech had four quarterbacks going through drills during the open portion of practice. Pop Watson and Davi Belfort were getting the first reps, followed by walk-ons Jackson Sigler and Ben Locklear . Kyron Drones and Collin Schlee were not on the practice field while in “treatment protocol,” according to Hokies coach Brent Pry . Pry and Bowen both said they are preparing four quarterbacks this week. Drones and Schlee will likely go back and forth between treatment and the practice field, while Watson and Belfort get the bulk of the on-field reps. “We’re preparing multiple guys to play, we’re preparing four guys to play right now. And I was impressed with the young guys today at practice,” Bowen said Tuesday. “We’ve got a lot of growth to do in that room. We’ll see where we get to from a health standpoint by the time we reach Saturday, but it’s certainly a challenge getting that many guys ready to play. There are only so many reps at practice, but I don’t view it as a challenge in a negative way but in a positive way with opportunities and we can kind of shape a game plan around what people’s strengths are and have multiple versions of that and see where we get by Saturday.” » Watson appeared in two games in 2023 and made two appearances this season before playing for three quarters last weekend at Duke. Pry said Watson gained “good film” by being thrown into the fire for the first time at Tech. He completed 12 of 25 passes for 146 yards and one interception, and he was credited with minus-4 rushing yards because of being sacked seven times. Watson, with the game experience, will have a better understanding of what he needs in the game plan. “You’ve got to think, he’s played sparingly here and there, a lot of it being mop-up time last year. A little bit this year. To see him in live action when the game’s on the line and you’re in the flow of the game, you’ve got the full game plan at your disposal when you’re playing quarterback,” Bowen said. “I thought it was good to see him and his confidence in that. I didn’t think the moment was too big. Then I think now you go down from that, that’s a big piece of it. You don’t find that out about a quarterback until you get in the game. Then the next piece of it is, OK, well where is our process in the decision-making and that stays true in the game. And those are the things that certainly I think need to get a lot better to play winning football on offense at the quarterback position.” » Belfort has spent most of the season serving as the scout team quarterback. Defensive players have raved about Belfort’s speed and what he’s brought to preparing the starting defense for the opposing quarterbacks. Belfort has moved up to No. 2 quarterback this week and will need to be ready in case Watson has to exit the game and both Drones and Schlee aren’t available. “He’s really improved his speed. Davi’s very conscientious. Good decision-maker. Still coming along in a lot of ways, he’s a young guy. But Davi puts in the work. He’s prepared. He’s prepared like a starter all year,” Bowen said. “We have the quarterbacks go through, if you’re not the two guys, there’s a lot of time invested in that position during the week. Way more above and beyond what the normal required hours are in meetings and things like that. And what Davi’s done, what we have those young quarterbacks do, they do scouting reports every week on the opponent to really keep them in the game, to teach them how to watch film. Both myself and Coach Crist, that’s a crucial part of their development. It’s not just seeing the film and understanding the defense and understanding the game plan. It’s understanding how to do those things. You don’t do those things at that level in high school. So he’s done that all year, as well as Pop, as well as Jackson and Ben, and I think that’s kept them in the flow. I think he does a really good job of, although not getting the reps, of going through the mental process as though he’s going to play. And I think that makes it easy when you’re getting some reps in practice, whether that be with the twos or the threes, it makes that transition a little bit easier.” » Keli Lawson rotated between Will and Star linebacker in last weekend’s game at Duke. He had five tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss while backing up Caleb Woodson at Will and Keonta Jenkins at Star. Lawson played at Star during the 2022 season before moving to Will and playing inside the box during the 2023 campaign. Jenkins and Kaleb Spencer had been the primary Star linebackers through 10 weeks. “He can cover a lot of ground. We joke he can reach the Lane Stadium lights from the practice field with his arms as long as he is,” Quinn said of Lawson. “He covers a lot of ground when you bring him on a pressure. He is deceptively fast and, as long as he is, he’s able to stay off blocks a lot of times. He’s got such a great wingspan that when he gets into windows of throws and things like that, he does a really nice job. But is it nice having long, tall guys that can run. Obviously we’ve tried to recruit those kind of guys to the position if you look at him, Keonta, Gabe Williams and the body types. That’s the type of guys we want to play with.” » Jenkins delivered what could have been a potential game-altering play with less than two minutes remaining against the Blue Devils. Jenkins punched the ball out of Star Thomas' grasp, and defensive end Cole Nelson recovered it to give the Hokies a chance to potentially tie the game in the final minutes. "When I caused the fumble, it kind of surprised me. I seen the ball, I seen it laying on the ground, I for sure thought it was a scoop-and-score. That’s what I was hoping," Jenkins said. "That’s kind of what I wanted. I was disappointed in anything else. But we got the ball and got our offense a chance to go out there and score. I was happy that I made a play, but I really wish it was a scoop-and-score to win the game." » Tailback Bhayshul Tuten originally injured his left ankle late in the Hokies’ win over Georgia Tech and aggravated the injury two weeks later against Clemson. The setbacks derailed Tuten’s special season that had vaulted him into consideration for All-America status. He could have opted out for the remainder of the season and turned his attention to a professional career, but elected to finish out the season with the Hokies. “Just finishing with my guys. Since winter we’ve been grinding out to finish the season strong, and that’s my goal to stick by my brothers and not give up so early because of a little bang up,” Tuten said. “I’ve got time to heal after the season, so I’d rather finish out the last couple of games for the year and take a couple of weeks off to get healthy.” » Tuten rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown last week at Duke to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark. He became the 19th player in program history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. “Definitely a big achievement. I didn’t get to hit it last year, so coming in with the year I’ve had this year, definitely a great feeling,” Tuten said. “That’s a team goal for the offense. The O-line did their thing. It’s not just a goal for me, but it’s a goal for everyone. When I accomplished that goal, it’s a team effort.” » Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw has shifted focus to defense in recent weeks. The Graham High School product arrived at Tech as a slot receiver and he served as Jaylin Lane ’s primary backup last season, but he fell on the depth chart behind Lane, Ayden Greene and Takye Heath this season. Turner-Bradshaw was seen warming up with the defensive backs prior to last weekend’s game at Duke. “We started messing with it a few weeks back. You know, like all these skill guys, if it’s not working out on one side, you want to give them a shot on the other,” Pry said at his Tuesday press conference. “Right now, he’s embraced it. He’s giving it a go. He’s got great speed and quickness. It’s hard, whether you’re covering the receiver in the slot or out to the big field. You need a really good skill set to do that, and he has that, as far as speed and quickness. So we’ll give him a shot at it and see where it goes.” » Freshman Quentin Reddish did not play for the first time since the season opener. Pry said Reddish was injured and it came down to a “pregame decision” for him to not play. Reddish wore No. 25 for the game. Reddish’s injury meant Devin Alves got his most extensive playing time as the third safety. He primarily played at field safety with Jaylen Jones dealing with an undisclosed injury. “He dressed for the game and the medical staff didn’t feel good about him going, so he didn’t play at all,” Pry said of Reddish. “Devin got some snaps, did a nice job in pass coverage. Got a couple guys on the ground in perimeter tackling. We didn’t ask him to do much down in the box, but I thought from a coverage standpoint he did fine.”

AP Business SummaryBrief at 6:02 p.m. ESTPOET Technologies Inc. ( CVE:PTK – Get Free Report ) shares shot up 18.1% on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as C$8.43 and last traded at C$8.24. 322,979 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 128% from the average session volume of 141,842 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$6.98. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Northland Capmk raised POET Technologies to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, November 18th. Read Our Latest Stock Report on PTK POET Technologies Stock Up 18.1 % Insider Buying and Selling In other POET Technologies news, Senior Officer Vivek Rajgarhia sold 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$7.24, for a total value of C$36,219.00. Also, Director James Lee sold 25,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$6.95, for a total value of C$173,712.50. 0.82% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. About POET Technologies ( Get Free Report ) POET Technologies Inc designs, develops, manufactures, and sells discrete and integrated opto-electronic solutions in Canada, the United States, Singapore, and China. The company offers integration solutions based on the POET Optical Interposer, a novel platform that allows the seamless integration of electronic and photonic devices into a single multi-chip module using advanced wafer-level semiconductor manufacturing techniques. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for POET Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for POET Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said his government is making all efforts to ensure Odisha is counted among the strongest, prosperous and fastest-growing states of the country by 2036, when the eastern state will be celebrating its 100th foundation day. While addressing a gathering at the Odisha Parba event in Delhi, PM Modi on Sunday said that Odisha, which was once considered as a backward state, has huge potential in sectors like tourism, port-based industries, seafood export, steel, energy etc. "There is immense potential for port-based industrial development in Odisha. Therefore, trade will be promoted here by developing Dhamra, Gopalpur, Astaranga, Pallur, and Subarnarekha ports. Odisha is also the mining and metal powerhouse of India. This strengthens Odisha's position in the steel, aluminum and energy sectors. By focusing on these sectors, Odisha can explore new paths to prosperity," said PM Modi. ओडिशा की सांस्कृतिक समृद्धि, वास्तु और विज्ञान हमेशा विशेष रहे हैं। हमें यहां की हर पहचान को दुनियाभर में ले जाने के लिए निरंतर इनोवेटिव कदम उठाने हैं। pic.twitter.com/tEjjcWgeqn "Odisha records huge production of cashew, jute, cotton, turmeric and oilseeds, and it is our endeavour to ensure these products reach big markets and our farmers benefit from this. There is huge scope for expansion of trade in the seafood processing industry in Odisha. We are making efforts so that Odisha seafood becomes a brand and there is a huge demand for it in the international market. Odisha should become one of the preferred destinations for investors. Our government is committed to improving the Ease of Doing Business in Odisha," he further added. He also said that the BJP government in Odisha has given approval to investment proposals to the tune of Rs 45,000 crore during the first 100 days after coming to power. PM Modi noted that Odisha's huge potential can be used in the right direction to take it to new heights of development. Emphasising the strategic location of Odisha, PM Modi asserted: "I believe, Odisha can get a significant benefit from its strategic location. It is easy to access the domestic and international market from here. Odisha is an important hub for trade with East Asia and South-East Asia. The importance of Odisha in the global value chain will increase in the coming days. Our government is also working on the target to raise exports from Odisha." He said that Odisha has immense potential for urbanisation and the Central government is taking various concrete steps on this. He said the Union government is committed to the construction of dynamic and well-connected cities in large numbers. "We are endeavouring to develop tier-II cities of Odisha; especially new opportunities will be created in western Odisha districts with the development of new infrastructure," PM Modi said. He also mentioned the just-concluded famous Bali Yatra at Cuttack, calling it a symbol of India and Odisha's maritime prowess. Lauding the courage of the sailors of the past, the Prime Minister said that they were brave enough to sail and cross the seas despite the absence of modern technology like today. He added that the traders used to travel by ship to places like Bali, Sumatra, Java in Indonesia, which helped promote trade and enhance the reach of culture to various places. PM Modi also emphasised that today, Odisha's maritime power had an important role in the achievement of a developed India's resolve. He also remembered the contributions of saints and scholars from Odisha to the enrichment of culture in India. The Prime Minister remarked that the saints and scholars have played a great role in nourishing the cultural richness by ensuring great literature like Saral Mahabharat, Odia Bhagawat have reached the common people at their doorsteps. He added that there is extensive literature related to Mahaprabhu Jagannath in Odia language. He also said that the nation is remembering the contributions of Utkal Kesari Hare Krishna Mehtab whose 125th birth anniversary the government is celebrating on a large scale. PM Modi said that the culture of Odisha has greatly strengthened the spirit of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat', in which the sons and daughters of the state have made huge contributions. "We can see many examples of the contribution of Odia literature to the cultural prosperity of India," PM Modi said. नई दिल्ली में ओडिशा पर्व पर आज यहां की समृद्ध विरासत और अद्भुत संस्कृति का साक्षी बनने का सौभाग्य मिला। pic.twitter.com/dlKuVhblco Meanwhile, PM Modi also took to X and wrote: "Today, I had the privilege of being a witness to the rich heritage and wonderful culture of Odisha at the Odisha Festival in New Delhi." The Prime Minister also shared a few photographs of the event. Union Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, President of Odia Samaj, Siddharth Pradhan were also present at the occasion, among others.

President Biden on Sunday issued a sweeping pardon of his son Hunter, who was convicted earlier this year on federal gun and drug charges, and pleaded guilty to tax charges in California. The presidential pardoning process is one that has long courted controversy, especially since many presidents issue pardons when they are leaving the White House. One of the most famous —and controversial— pardons in history happened less than one month into President Gerald Ford's term. On Sept. 8, 1974, Ford announced from the Oval Office that he would "grant a full, free and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed." Ford's own press secretary resigned over the pardon, and Ford's approval rating dropped 20 points over the following days. His approval rating never recovered and he went on to lose the 1976 presidential election. What is a presidential pardon? Presidents are granted the authority to issue pardons under Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution . The Constitution's framers were heavily influenced by the English legal tradition of pardon, which dates back to the 7th century, and Alexander Hamilton introduced the concept of the presidential pardon at the Constitutional Convention. Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution declares: "The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment." There are four different types of clemency that fall under the president's pardoning power: pardon, amnesty, commutation and reprieve. As outlined by the White House, a pardon releases a person from punishment and restores all civil liberties; amnesty is the same as the pardon but is extended to an entire class of individuals; commutation reduces the sentence imposed by a federal court, and a reprieve delays the imposition of a sentence or punishment. Pardons, however, may not be issued in cases of impeachment or if it is an "offense against the United States," such as treason. The Office of the Pardon Attorney at the Department of Justice issues guidelines for the application of clemency, but presidents do not need to follow them. To be pardoned, a person must have been convicted in a United States District Court, the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, or a military court-martial — so a president cannot issue a pardon for a state conviction. What does a pardon mean for the pardoned person? A pardon can help eliminate some of the consequences of conviction and restore a person's civil rights. According to the Justice Department, the offense is not removed from a person's criminal record when they are pardoned but instead the conviction and the pardon both appear on the record. But the pardon can be helpful in obtaining licenses, bonding or employment. Who has Biden pardoned while in office? Hunter Biden is the 26th person Mr. Biden has pardoned so far. Most pardons relate to drug offenses, a practice started by former President Barack Obama. In September 2023, Mr. Biden granted clemency for three Iranians who were accused of moving $6 billion in a restricted Iranian account as part of a prisoner swap. At this point in President-elect Donald Trump's first term, he had pardoned 29 people. Who did Trump pardon during his first term? Trump issued a slew of pardons on Jan. 19, 2021, shortly before he left office. Trump pardoned 74 people and commuted the sentences of another 70. Among those pardoned were Steve Bannon , GOP fundraiser Elliott Broidy, Albert J. Pirro and rapper Lil Wayne. Prior to those pardons, Trump pardoned more than 30 people in December 2020, including his son-in-law Jared Kushner's father, Charles Kushner, who had been convicted of witness tampering, tax evasion and illegal campaign contributions in 2005. Ahead of his second term, Trump has nominated Charles Kushner to be the ambassador to France. Earlier in his term, Trump pardoned Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio , Dinesh D'Souza , his first national security adviser Michael Flynn , former George W. Bush aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby and Oregon ranchers Dwight L. Hammond and Steve D. Hammond. In 2020, Trump issued a full pardon for Alice Marie Johnson, whose sentence he had commuted in 2018 after lobbying from Kim Kardashian. Johnson is a great-grandmother who had served 22 years in federal prison for what was a first-time criminal offense, which had come to Kardashian's attention. In total over four years in office, Trump issued 237 acts of clemency, including 143 pardons and 94 commutations. The only presidents since 1900 who issued fewer acts of clemency were George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, according to the Pew Research Center . Who did Obama pardon while in office? Obama issued 212 pardons and 1,715 commutations while in office, including for 568 people who were serving life sentences. In 2014, Obama launched the Clemency Initiative , which allowed federal prisoners to apply for leniency, especially those serving for nonviolent drug offenses. In the Obama White House archives , his administration touts that those whose sentences were commuted were "incarcerated under outdated and unduly harsh sentencing laws." Although Obama encouraged prisoners to apply for leniency under the Clemency Initiative, a report by the Justice Department Inspector General in 2018 found that initiative was poorly planned and not implemented properly, while also suffering from poor communication and bureaucratic feuds. "We found that the Department did not effectively plan, implement, or manage the Initiative at the outset," Inspector General Michael Horowitz wrote in the report. Which president has pardoned the most people in history? President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who served 13 years in office, issued the most pardons: 3,687. Have past presidents pardoned family members? Although Mr. Biden is the first president to pardon his son, he is not the first to pardon a family member. Former President Bill Clinton pardoned his brother Roger Clinton and Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, his son-in-law's father. Abraham Lincoln, meanwhile, pardoned his sister-in-law , Emilie Todd Helm, who was the widow of a Confederate general, under the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction. Can a president issue a preemptive pardon? Ford's infamous pardon of Nixon was a preemptive pardon, since Nixon had not been charged with a crime. Former President Jimmy Carter also issued preemptive pardons for Vietnam draft evaders, as did Lincoln in the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, which allowed for former Confederates to be pardoned if they took an oath to the U.S. President George H.W. Bush also pardoned his secretary of defense, Caspar Weinberger, along with five others, for his alleged role in the Iran-Contra scandal after he was indicted but before his trial. Mr. Biden's pardon of Hunter covers any crimes Hunter Biden may have committed from Jan. 1, 2014, through Dec. 1, 2024, even if he has not yet been charged. Hunter Biden's first plea agreement in Delaware fell apart because his lawyers sought full immunity from future prosecution. Can another president undo a previous presidential pardon? The pardon language in Article II of the Constitution does not include any language about revoking pardons, although only a few presidents have exercised that power. On President Andrew Johnson's last day in office, he issued several pardons — three of which President Ulysses S. Grant reversed on his first day by calling back the U.S. Marshal so they were never delivered. A fourth was allowed to stand since it had been delivered. According to Washington Monthly , an 1868 textbook by Supreme Court Associate Justice Joseph Story on the Constitution says a presidential pardon can be revoked if the president was impeached. In recent history, both Clinton and Trump have been impeached — although their pardons did stand after their terms. Former President George W. Bush, meanwhile, revoked one of his own pardons . In December 2008, shortly before leaving office, Bush pardoned 19 people, including Isaac Robert Toussie of Brooklyn, N.Y., who had been convicted of making false statements to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and of mail fraud. One day later, Bush reversed the decision, with White House press secretary Dana Perino citing "information that has subsequently come to light," including on the extent and nature of Toussie's prior criminal offenses. She also said that neither the White House counsel's office nor the president had been aware of a political contribution by Toussie's father that "might create an appearance of impropriety." Joe Biden Hunter Biden Caroline Linton is an associate managing editor on the political team for CBSNews.com. She has previously written for The Daily Beast, Newsweek and amNewYork.

The Tarkov wipe is almost here. What is likely to be one of, if not the final pre-wipe event in Escape From Tarkov has kicked off, signalling that the next Tarkov wipe is likely to launch within the next 48 hours. As announced on the official Escape From Tarkov social media accounts, the traditional fire sale pre-wipe event has kicked off, with traders selling a ton of their items for just a single rouble. This follows around a week of pre-wipe events that has included a lot of the other usual events we see each wipe, and some new ones, including the addition of smugglers . Now, if you head into Tarkov , you can buy almost everything from the traders for just a single rouble, or whichever currency they typically ask for. This means you have a day or so to build all your best weapons and finally get to try them out, or come up with some builds that you could use when the next wipe starts. However, everyone will also be in the same boat, so expect to see some very kitted out PMCs for the next few hours. Despite some worries, the fire sale event all but confirms that the next Escape From Tarkov wipe will launch this week . The fire sale is traditionally the last or penultimate pre wipe event we get, and each one tends to last around 24 hours, so that means the wipe is coming very soon. Urgent New Gmail Security Warning For Billions As Attacks Continue Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Clues And Answers For Wednesday, December 25 NYT ‘Strands’ Today: Hints, Spangram And Answers For Wednesday, December 25th After looking like this would be the case for a while, it is now all but confirmed that the next Tarkov wipe will arrive tomorrow, December 26, or Friday, December 27. I’d be putting my money on the 26th, given wipes tend to arrive on a Thursday, but last minute delays could push that back further. When the wipe does arrive there will obviously be some server downtime and then the usual issues with server loads when they do go back up, so even if it does launch on the 26 maybe don’t end your festive celebrations early in the hope you can jump into Tarkov first thing in the morning. But when you are able to get into Escape From Tarkov there will be a big new update that is set to add a lot of new toys . There will be new weapons, including a massive new sniper rifle that looks like one of the coolest weapons Tarkov has added for a while, and a mysterious new type of extraction we know very little about.The crypto world has seen some amazing success stories, like Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Dogecoin (DOGE), where early investors made significant profits. Now, Lightchain AI (LCAI is stepping up as the next big opportunity, offering something fresh with its blend of blockchain and artificial intelligence technology. It’s definitely catching the eye of investors looking for the next game-changer. With its presale priced at just $0.003, Lightchain AI presents an intriguing opportunity for investors wondering if a $200 investment today could lead to $20,000 or more in returns, much like the historic growth of Shiba Inu and Dogecoin. Shiba Inu and Dogecoin Pinnacle of Meme Coin Success Both Shiba Inu and Dogecoin shot up in worth, driven by group excitement and viral fame. Dogecoin, first made as a prank, turned into a cultural event due to its low price and support from people like Elon Musk. It reached gains of more than 10,000% at its highest point turning small buys into huge profits! In the sam͏e way, Shiba Inu came into the market as a Dogecoin slayer and used its meme fame to grab investor attention. By mixing smart ads and guesswork charm, SHIB gave huge profits, even beating Dogecoin at some times of rising prices. But, these projects mainly rely on market feelings and do not have strong real-world uses which makes them weak to changes. Lightchain AI New Contender With Real-World Utility Lightchain A I emerges as a groundbreaking contender in the blockchain space, offering real-world utility through its innovative approach to decentralized technology. Unlike many projects that remain speculative, Lightchain AI integrates practical applications across industries such as healthcare, finance, logistics, and education. Its decentralized framework ensures scalability and transparency, making it adaptable to diverse use cases. The platform’s emphasis on secure, privacy-preserving computations fosters trust while addressing critical issues like data sovereignty and accessibility. Its community-focused model drives innovation, supported by a roadmap that prioritizes partnerships and ecosystem growth. Lightchain AI is making waves by combining smart tokenomics with a focus on solving real-world problems. It’s a project that’s all about making a difference, with an exciting future ahead! With its practical applications and strong potential, it’s a great chance for anyone looking to invest in something meaningful. Could Lightchain AI Rival Shiba Inu and Dogecoin’s Returns? To evaluate if Lightchain AI could replicate or surpass the growth of Shiba Inu and Dogecoin, it’s important to consider its market positioning and unique value propositions. Shiba Inu and Dogecoin rose to prominence on the strength of their communities and meme culture. Lightchain AI, on the other hand, introduces deflationary tokenomics, a focus on innovation, and real-world applications, making it appealing to a broader range of investors. At only $0.003 in its presale , a $200 investment in Lightchain AI would give you about 66,667 LCAI tokens. If the price increases to $0.30—a reasonable goal with its exciting potential—that investment could soar to $20,000, offering a possible 100x return. With the potential for real-world applications and industry adoption, the upside could be even bigger, making Lightchain AI a high-reward opportunity, though with some risks to consider. Why Lightchain AI’s Model Is Built for Growth Innovative Consensus Mechanism : Lightchain AI uses a cool new Proof of Intelligence (PoI) system, where nodes earn rewards for doing AI tasks, making the network safer and faster. It’s different from the usual ways other blockchains work. Clear Roadmap: Lightchain AI has a solid plan with big goals, like launching its testnet in January 2025 and the mainnet in March 2025, showing that it’s set for steady growth. Strong Tokenomics: There are 10 billion LCAI tokens in total. Here’s how they’re spread out: 40% for the presale, 28.5% for staking rewards, 15% for liquidity, 5% for marketing, 6.5% for the treasury, and 5% for the team. This helps keep things balanced and fair. Strategic Vision: By mixing AI with blockchain, Lightchain AI aims to solve big problems like scalability and privacy. It’s focused on real-world use in areas like healthcare and finance, making it ready to grow and be widely used. These factors, coupled with LCAI's low presale price and strong development team, make it a compelling investment opportunity in the rapidly evolving cryptocurrency space. Next Big Opportunity? Shiba Inu and Dogecoin proved that small investments can lead to massive gains in the cryptocurrency world. Lightchain AI , with its focus on real-world utility and innovative technology, offers a fresh narrative that could appeal to both speculative investors and those seeking meaningful blockchain applications. With a presale price of $0.003, a $200 investment in Lightchain AI could potentially rival or exceed the returns seen by Shiba Inu and Dogecoin investors during their peak growth periods. For those willing to embrace the risks of an early-stage project, Lightchain AI presents an exciting opportunity to be part of a transformative ecosystem that blends blockchain and artificial intelligence. The question now is will you take the leap? Yes, Lightchain AI may not have the same viral appeal as its meme-based counterparts, but it offers a solid foundation for long-term growth and impact. As the blockchain industry continues to evolve, Lightchain AI represents a potential game-changer with real-world applications and tangible returns. https://lightchain.ai https://lightchain.ai/lightchain-whitepaper.pdf https://x.com/LightchainAI https://t.me/LightchainProtocol Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.

LOS ANGELES — The longest winning streak in college basketball has come to an end with No. 6 UCLA taking down defending champion and No. 1 South Carolina in convincing fashion, 77-62 . For the past two seasons, Dawn Staley’s team has taken care of any team that crossed its path with a program-record 43 consecutive wins, with only four games being single-digit victories. But on Sunday afternoon inside Pauley Pavilion, the Gamecocks didn’t look anything like the most dominant team in the game. The Bruins were in control from start to finish, grabbing the first points of the game and holding onto a lead it never relinquished. UCLA started the contest on a 15-2 run and the lead was in double-digits for nearly the entire game. The Bruins led by 21 points at halftime and the closest South Carolina was able to get to in the second half was 15 points in the final minute. The win represents the program's first against a No. 1-ranked team. Staley said prior to Sunday’s contest she knew UCLA center Lauren Betts presented a big challenge. A likely first-round pick in the 2025 WNBA draft should she declare, Betts controlled the paint and made the Gamecocks earn anything they could get near the bucket. The Gamecocks shot a low 36.4% percentage (24-for-66) from the field while the Bruins made 47.5% (28-for-59) of their buckets. South Carolina had no alternative but to shoot from the perimeter, and it was very successful with a 8-for-11 mark from 3-point line. The only problem was the Bruins were able to match it with 10 made 3-pointers on 21 attempts. Anytime South Carolina appeared to be establishing any sort of rhythm, the Bruins would come right down the court and halt it to send the crowd into a frenzy. The result will be the latest to shake up the top 10 in women’s basketball, with the Bruins victory coming one day after No. 5 Notre Dame went into Los Angeles and took down No. 3 Southern California. It’s still the first month of the regular season, but Cori Close’s team now has a signature victory, something the Bruins have been looking for quite some time and will be a big boost for a team that is hunting to get to its first Final Four since the NCAA sponsored the game. Sunday also marked the first time South Carolina had lost a November game since 2019. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more .Georgia's Smart, Texas' Sarkisian say all the right things ahead of SEC title game

Ludhiana, 25 Dec, 2024 (Yes Punjab News) Dr. Poonam Aggarwal Sachdev, Principal Food Technologist and former Head of the Department of Food Science and Technology at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has been honoured with the “Prof Jiwan Singh Sidhu Award” for Best Professor for 2023 by the Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India). With over 33 years of service at PAU, Dr. Sachdev is celebrated for her exceptional contributions to teaching, research, and mentoring in food science. During her tenure, she laid a strong foundation by securing multiple externally funded research projects, establishing key business incubators, and achieving remarkable milestones, including three registered patents and over 300 research and extension publications. Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal (Vice-Chancellor), Dr. Ajmer Singh Dhatt (Director of Research), Dr. M.I.S. Gill (Dean, Postgraduate Studies), Dr. C.S. Aulakh (Dean, College of Agriculture), and Dr. Savita Sharma (Head of the Department of Food Science and Technology) and Dr TS Riar, Additional Director Communication Centre congratulated Dr. Poonam Aggarwal Sachdev on receiving this prestigious award.

Alabama A&M fires football coach Connell Maynor after 7 seasonsTULSA, Okla. (AP) — Tulsa fired football coach Kevin Wilson on Sunday and will elevate wide receivers coach Ryan Switzer on an interim basis for the remainder of the season. The Golden Hurricane lost to South Florida 63-30 on Saturday, dropping their record to 3-8. The school's decision concludes Wilson's two-year tenure with a 7-16 record, including 3-12 in American Athletic Conference play. “With the rapidly evolving landscape of college athletics, we know the importance of positioning our football program and athletic department to thrive and excel in the upcoming years,” athletic director Justin Moore said in a statement. “Our standard will be to play in bowl games every season, compete for conference titles, and build a program that everyone connected to the Golden Hurricane will be proud of." Wilson spent six years as Indiana’s head coach, going 26-47 from 2011 to 2016. He then joined Urban Meyer’s staff at Ohio State and stayed on under Meyer’s successor, Ryan Day, before taking over at Tulsa. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley says President-elect Donald Trump’s new pick for U.S. Attorney General is “impressive” and “well-qualified.” Grassley, the incoming chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met Monday with Pam Bondi, the former Florida Attorney General and Trump’s pick to lead the Justice Department. The 59-year-old Trump ally was part of a team of lawyers that defended the then-president during his first Senate impeachment trial, where he was accused — but not convicted — of attempting to coerce Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate then-former Vice President Joe Biden, his political rival. Bondi also was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his New York hush-money criminal trial that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. Trump’s sentencing in the case is on hold. A New York judge last month postponed it, giving Trump’s lawyers time to seek a dismissal, and could choose to freeze the case for four years while Trump holds office. Bondi, who served as Florida Attorney General from 2011 to 2019, also was involved in efforts to delegitimize the results of the 2020 presidential election that Trump lost to Biden, falsely claiming that Trump had “won Pennsylvania” at a news conference in Philadelphia and claiming voter fraud, according to reporting by the Tampa Bay Times. She also served on a federal commission during Trump’s first term focused on combating drug addiction and the opioid crisis. Trump named Bondi as his nominee to serve as the country’s top federal law enforcement officer after his first choice, Republican former Florida U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations. Gaetz has vehemently denied the allegations. “Pam Bondi is a well-qualified nominee with an impressive legal career, including eight years as Attorney General of the State of Florida and nearly two decades spent as a prosecutor,” Grassley said in a statement Monday after meeting with Bondi in his Senate office. “Bondi is prepared to refocus the Justice Department (DOJ)’s attention where it ought to be: on enforcing the law and protecting Americans’ safety.” Trump’s pick of Bondi comes as critics fear he will use the Justice Department to prosecute his political enemies. “For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans — Not anymore,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again.” Grassley, 91, who has been a staunch advocate of federal whistleblowers and government oversight, said “I’ve found that the Justice Department is often the first to stand in Congress’ way when it’s seeking answers. “It’s time the DOJ prioritize transparency and recommit itself to blind justice, unlike what we’ve seen over the last four years,” he said in a statement. “To achieve this, Bondi will need to show unfailing support for whistleblowers, demonstrate respect for the DOJ Office of Inspector General’s independent oversight and commit to working with Congress to shed light on the Biden administration’s weaponization of the DOJ.” Current U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has defended the department’s integrity and impartiality against claims of politicization. Trump was indicted in two criminal cases by special counsel Jack Smith, whom Garland brought in from outside the department to run the investigations. Grassley said the Senate Judiciary Committee “will move swiftly” to consider Bondi’s nomination when the 119th Congress convenes in January. The Associated Press contributed to this report.Not long ago gold seemed to have lost its lustre. In the decades after President Richard Nixon abandoned the gold standard in 1971, the yellow metal fell out of favour with central banks, which hoarded their reserves in dollars instead. In the 1980s and 1990s investors and households grew weary of its miserly returns. Goldbugs were dismissed as eccentric doom-mongers. Gold was alluring when forged into a shiny bauble and useful in specialist manufacturing, but it was hardly a serious financial asset. How it glitters now. Its price has soared by a third since the end of 2023, reaching an all-time high of almost $2,750 per troy ounce. The rush has been fuelled by war, inflation and fiscal profligacy around the world, which have drawn in family offices and Costco shoppers. Yet perhaps no buyers have been as voracious as the world’s central banks, which have hoovered up hundreds of tonnes of the stuff over the past two years. Gold now makes up 11% of their reserves, up from 6% in 2008. This shift brings with it important consequences for America’s dominance of the global financial system. Even as the dollar remains unchallenged as the world’s reserve currency, its power is diminishing. For some central banks, the interest in gold reflects anxiety about the state of the world. Others have a narrower concern: that their reliance on the dollar, always uncomfortable and annoying, has become dangerous. Buying has been enthusiastic in China, India and Turkey, and it began to ratchet up in the spring of 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine, and America and its allies sought to cripple Russia financially, using sanctions. These included freezing some $280bn in state assets held overseas, and kicking Russian banks off swift, an interbank messaging service crucial for making cross-border payments. Visa and Mastercard, American firms which process debit- and credit-card transactions in almost every country in the world, pulled out of Russia, too. Hence the search for sanctions-proof alternatives to the dollar. Some central banks are buying physical bars of gold and attempting to ship them to vaults at home, suggesting that they want to protect themselves from economic warfare. Countries worried about America’s power are also trying to trade in their own currencies. According to the Federal Reserve, the share of Chinese goods trade invoiced in the yuan has shot up to a quarter, from a tenth in 2020. Officials in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa—which met this week at a BRICS summit in Kazan, on the Volga—are working towards a new set of cross-border payment rails that would circumvent the dollar-based correspondent-banking system which dominates today. A few years ago the idea that central banks might be able to issue tokens and use these to settle cross-border transactions quickly and cheaply would have been a pipe-dream. But the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the central bank for central banks, has been developing such a system. It is being used for live test transactions. The BIS payments mechanism was not designed for the BRICS, but it could serve as a template for a new system. What does all this mean for the mighty greenback? Ever since China emerged as an economic force, worries have swirled that the dollar would be displaced as a reserve currency, much as it itself supplanted sterling a century ago. But you need only look at central bankers’ actions over the past few years to see that there is no reserve currency of second resort. Central banks worried about sanctions are turning to gold, not the yuan. Rather than devising a whole new payments system, the bricS could have simply agreed to use one of their currencies for trade between them. They have not done so. Chinese manufacturers may be invoicing in yuan, but bilateral trade between Brazil and India is not going to be settled via Beijing. The dollar will therefore not be dislodged as the world’s reserve currency. The technology might be ready, but to scale up new cross-border payment rails requires a degree of co-operation and trust between the BRICS that may not yet exist. Even if it did, many of the dollar’s privileges—greater purchasing power, lower yields—would remain. Nevertheless, the power that has been conferred on the dollar by its reserve-currency status is diminishing. Central-bank reserves held in physical gold are out of Uncle Sam’s reach. As more countries settle more of their transactions without passing through the American banking system, sanctions will become less effective. Clarification note (October 25th 2024): An earlier version of this article said the BIS payments system was ready to enter operation. It is being used for live transactions, but to become operational would require participants to agree to launch it. Subscribers to The Economist can sign up to our new Opinion newsletter , which brings together the best of our leaders, columns, guest essays and reader correspondence. © 2024, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com