THREE KEY FACTS Liam Lawson finished 16th at Formula One’s Las Vegas Grand Prix The Kiwi was the last-placed of Red Bull’s four cars Only two race weekends remain as drivers aim to impress Red Bull bosses Alex Powell is an Online Sports Editor for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016, and previously worked for both Newshub and 1News. OPINION When Red Bull do make their decision as to who partners newly-crowned world champion Max Verstappen next year, Kiwi motorsport fans should hope the Las Vegas Grand Prix doesn’t hold too much weight.The demand for in vitro fertilization (IVF) is higher than ever, but a new study reveals that air pollution may be impacting the success of these procedures. Published last month, the research indicates that the delicate process of IVF, which already has a success rate of less than 50%, could be hindered by environmental factors, specifically air pollution. Understanding IVF and Its Vulnerabilities IVF is an assisted reproductive technology that involves extracting eggs from a patient and fertilizing them in a laboratory setting. The resulting embryos are matured for several days, after which they can either be frozen for future use or implanted back into the patient, hoping one will successfully implant and result in a healthy pregnancy. However, recent findings suggest that environmental factors, such as air quality, could significantly influence the outcome. Researchers at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health conducted a study that linked air pollution data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with addresses associated with the eggs and sperm used in IVF cycles. The study analyzed the effects of air pollution on egg development, ovarian stimulation, and sperm quality. Tracking air quality during critical stages of IVF By tracking the air quality during the critical stages of IVF, the team found a clear connection between increased exposure to pollutants and decreased egg survival and embryo quality. Notably, higher concentrations of certain pollutants, particularly on the day eggs were thawed, were associated with lower egg survival rates and fertilization success. A unique aspect of this study, published in Environment International , was the inclusion of donor eggs, allowing researchers to examine how pollution affects both the egg and sperm separately. The use of donor eggs, which come from women living in different environments, enabled the team to distinguish the impacts of pollution on the male and female contributors. Study Sample and Findings The study involved data from 500 egg donors and 915 couples, with the male partner providing sperm. The researchers found that organic carbon, a component of PM2.5 (fine particulate matter), showed a consistent negative effect on egg survival and embryo quality. PM2.5 particles, which are small enough to enter the lungs and bloodstream, are often produced by vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and wildfires, making them a significant environmental health concern. Mary Willis, an assistant professor at the Boston University School of Public Health, praised the study, noting its innovation in examining the timing and biological mechanisms involved. “This is probably one of the only studies where you can get at really, really specific biological mechanisms and timing,” Willis said. “Because it’s IVF, you know exactly when ovarian stimulation is happening. You know exactly when fertilization is happening. So you can get some really specific answers to biological questions that haven’t been answered in the literature.” Widespread Air Pollution and Public Health Concerns Despite its significant findings, the study has its limitations. It primarily focused on individual pollutants, like organic carbon, but air pollution is typically composed of a mix of various pollutants. LaPointe mentioned that future research will involve multi-pollutant analysis to better understand the complex ways in which air pollution affects IVF outcomes. Although air quality has improved in the U.S. over recent decades, nearly 40% of the population still lives in areas with unhealthy levels of ozone or particulate pollution, according to the American Lung Association. Communities of color are disproportionately affected by poorer air quality, increasing the urgency of understanding the health implications, particularly for individuals undergoing fertility treatments. This study follows similar research published earlier in the year, which analyzed data from 3,659 frozen embryo transfers in Australia. That study also found a decrease in the chances of a live birth associated with higher levels of air pollution. Also Read: Cancer Vaccine Is ready! Russia Makes A Big Claim, It Could Be Launched At The Beginning Of 2025
Fresh off their open date, the Baltimore Ravens prepare for their schedule to become busyPakistani police arrest thousands of Imran Khan supporters ahead of rally in the capital
Pixalate Releases Q3 2024 Global Invalid Traffic (IVT) & Ad Fraud Benchmarks: Ad Fraud & IVT Siphons $1.5 Billion in Mobile App Ad Spend and $1.4 Billion from CTV; Web Has Lowest IVT Rate (14%)The for today [Dec 18] include acting appointments and public notification. Government Notice No. Acting Appointment Head Of The Public Service The Cabinet Office Valerie Robinson-James, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors has been appointed to act as Head of the Public Service, The Cabinet Office from 23rd December 2024 to 3rd January 2025. Cherie Whitter Head of the Public Service Notice ID: The Director General who has supervision of BCAA [Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority], in exercise of the power conferred by section 5 of the Public Access to Information [Information Statement] Act 2010, gives the following Notice: Citation This Notice may be cited as the Public Access to Information [Information Statement] BCAA [Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority] Notice 2024 Deposit of information statement Pursuant to the requirements of section 5 of the Public Access to Information Act 2010, notice is hereby given that Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority Information Statement has been deposited for public inspection at— the offices of Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority/BCAA; the Bermuda Archives; the Bermuda National Library; and the Office of the Information Commissioner and shall come into operation on 18th December 2024. Information statement available on website The information statement mentioned in paragraph 2 is available at www.bcaa.bm Made this day 18th December 2024 by Deborah Jackson, Information Officer, BCAA Government Notice No. Acting Appointment Chief Information Officer, Department Of Information And Digital Technologies Cabinet Ministry Delano Seymour, DCIO, Department of Information and Digital Technologies, has been appointed to act as Chief Information Officer, Department of Information and Digital Technologies from the 9th January to 16th January, 2025 inclusive. Cherie-Lynn Whitter Head of the Public Service Government Notice Number: ___________ Acting Appointment – Collector Of Customs Mr. Tracey Kelly, Assistant Collector of Customs, has been appointed to act as Collector of Customs during the period Wednesday 25th December, 2024 through to Sunday the 05th January, 2025 inclusive. Cherie Whitter [Mrs.] Head of the Public Service Government Notice No. Acting Appointment Registrar Of Companies Ministry Of Finance Ms. Maria Boodram, Head of Registration, has been appointed to act as Registrar of Companies during the period 30th December 2024 – 10th January 2025. Cherie-Lynn Whitter The Head of the Public Service Government Of Bermuda National Certification Notice Type: Government Notice Notice Sub Type: Notice of National Certification Notice ID: Public Authorities/Department: Workforce Development Publication Date: Gazette Notice Regulation 26 [d] National Occupational Certification Regulations 2008 Electricians Pursuant to Section 8 of the National Occupational Certification Act, 2004, the Minister of Economy and Labour has granted National Occupational Certificates in the occupation of Electricians to the persons listed below. The certification deems that the persons have completed the requirements and achieved the standards established by the National Certification & Apprenticeship Board of Bermuda and National Electrical Code 2014. These persons are now entitled to engage in the occupation of Electrician and to use the title “Nationally Certified” for a period of 5 years. Residential Certification Residential & Commercial Certification The Hon. Jason Hayward JP. MP Ministry of Economy and Labour The Hon. Zane DeSilva JP. MP Chairman National Certification and Apprenticeship Board The official notices above have been republished from the relevant section on the official Government website. If you wish to view ‘hard copies’, the Department of Libraries & Archives prints them and you can visit the main library on Queen Street or the Government Archives in the Government Administration Building on Parliament Street to view them. :Can't fix blame on one person, says Telugu film industry HYDERABAD: Telugu film industry came out Friday in support of Allu Arjun , saying he alone could not be held responsible for the Dec 4 theatre stampede that left a woman dead. Writer-director Trivikram Srinivas went to Nampally criminal court where Allu was produced after his arrest and spoke in support. Top producer Dil Raju was at Chikkadpally police station after police arrested Allu. He, however, refused to speak to the media. Actor Nani took to social media, saying: "We are all at fault here. One person is not responsible for this. I wish the kind of enthusiasm govt authorities and media show in anything related to people from cinema was also there for common citizens. Then we can all live in a better society". Balakrishna, actor and MLA of Andhra Pradesh's governing TDP, joined the chorus for Allu, terming his arrest "an act of injustice". "We will stand with Allu Arjun at this time," Balakrishna said. Actor Rahul Ramakrishna dubbed Allu's arrest "a tactic of the state to lay blame easily on soft targets like film celebrity figures". "The failure of law and order is not one man's fault or responsibility. Aren't cinemas and theatres public spaces? Isn't an individual allowed to visit one according to their choice? Regardless of the star's appearance and the tragic incident, why did police let such a huge crowd run amok in the first place?" Ramakrishna wrote. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .Bass 2-8 0-0 6, Okon 0-1 0-0 0, Hines 6-13 4-6 19, Knox 3-9 0-3 8, Madlock 7-14 2-4 17, Mack 6-9 0-0 18, Walker 2-7 2-2 8, Simpsom 0-2 0-0 0, Andrews 0-1 0-0 0, Fulcher 1-2 0-0 2, Kaego 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-66 8-15 78. Harris 2-8 0-0 5, Lyles 1-3 1-2 3, Gray 4-7 2-2 11, T.Johnson 3-10 0-0 8, N.Johnson 7-12 8-8 25, Scott 3-8 0-0 8, Hardman 6-7 1-2 19, Okonkwo 3-5 2-5 8, Young 3-8 4-4 10, Musiime-Kamali 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 32-69 18-23 97. Halftime_Akron 50-41. 3-Point Goals_Alabama St. 16-33 (Mack 6-9, Hines 3-5, Knox 2-4, Walker 2-4, Bass 2-7, Madlock 1-3, Simpsom 0-1), Akron 15-35 (Hardman 6-7, N.Johnson 3-5, Scott 2-5, T.Johnson 2-6, Gray 1-1, Harris 1-5, Lyles 0-2, Young 0-4). Rebounds_Alabama St. 25 (Madlock 5), Akron 49 (Harris, Okonkwo 10). Assists_Alabama St. 13 (Knox 4), Akron 21 (Harris, Gray, T.Johnson 4). Total Fouls_Alabama St. 19, Akron 14. A_1,589 (5,500).
The year in money: inflation eased, optimism ticked upwardPakistani police arrest thousands of Imran Khan supporters ahead of rally in the capitalEnabling high-performance and energy-efficient inference with LLMs, multimodal models, and agentic AI systems FuriosaAI Logo. (PRNewsfoto/FuriosaAI) Enabling high-performance and energy-efficient inference with LLMs, multimodal models, and agentic AI systems FuriosaAI Logo. (PRNewsfoto/FuriosaAI) SANTA CLARA, Calif. , Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FuriosaAI , an emerging leader in AI semiconductor solutions, is closing out the year with rapid technical and customer progress with its second-generation chip, RNGD (pronounced 'Renegade'). The recently announced AI solution has achieved compelling performance metrics in real-world enterprise deployments meeting the demand for inference with advanced large language and multimodal models. The new performance benchmarks showcase RNGD's ability to meet industry-leading throughput demands for Llama 3.1 models, including the 8B and 70B variants, with additional optimizations already in progress. The company also announced key software features that bring advanced optimization for customers currently sampling RNGD hardware in their production environments. These achievements represent the first phase of Furiosa's vision for AI infrastructure that overcomes the inherent limitations of GPUs. RNGD delivers winning throughput metrics with Llama 3.1 8B and 70B : Building on the AI-native Tensor Contraction Processor (TCP) architecture of RNGD , Furiosa is redefining real-world AI deployments, delivering unmatched performance, programmability, and power efficiency. Furiosa's RNGD recently achieved a throughput of 3,200–3,300 Tokens per Second (TPS) when running the LLaMA 3.1- 8B model. In single-user scenarios, RNGD consistently delivers 40–60 TPS performance. Additionally, RNGD demonstrates exceptional power efficiency, consuming 181W per card, with further optimization efforts underway. Rather than excessively boosting per-user performance, the company aims to maintain performance levels exceeding typical text-reading speeds (10–20 TPS or higher) while optimizing for multi-user environments and achieving a balanced performance approach. Furiosa is advancing the performance and efficiency of the LLaMA 3.1- 70B model. With just two RNGD cards, LLaMA 3.1- 70B can be executed effectively. Currently, a single server supports up to 100 concurrent user queries, with ongoing optimizations aiming to achieve 8,000 TPS per server when equipped with 8 RNGD cards. With the release of SDK v2024.3.0, Furiosa will expand the range of preloaded models. The SDK will also include support for tensor parallelism, enabling seamless processing across multiple elements without requiring model modifications, and a torch.compile, providing the foundation for executing customized models. Integration with HuggingFace Optimum will further empower customers to leverage a broader variety of models. Advanced optimization tools delivered to early RNGD customers: Building on these milestones, domestic and global enterprise customers are conducting tests with Furiosa to find a more efficient solution for scaling the inference of their self-developed models, compared to their existing setup. Their objective is to manage TCO effectively as they prepare for large-scale AI adoption. Furiosa plans to provide a high-quality AI development environment through a powerful and user-friendly SDK optimized for RNGD. The SDK v2024.1.0, currently available through the Early Access Program (EAP), is designed to handle high-performance processing of multiple LLM serving requests. It incorporates optimization techniques such as PagedAttention, Block KV Cache, and Continuous Batching, while also supporting various token sampling methods, including Greedy, Beam Search, and Top-k/p. These features allow developers to seamlessly create AI services customized to meet a wide range of requirements. The SDK and online sample will be available after the release of v2024.3.0. Furiosa remains committed to delivering the most sustainable AI deployment solutions through rigorous optimization at an unprecedented pace. "With RNGD now in customers' hands, we are accelerating the next generation of frontier LLMs to unlock emerging Agentic AI applications—bringing advanced reasoning capabilities to enterprise verticals, all at dramatically lower costs," said June Paik , Co-Founder and CEO of FuriosaAI. Furiosa Expands Global Footprint with Strategic Leadership Appointment Furiosa is scaling production and expanding its leadership team with the appointment of Alex Liu as Senior Vice President of Product and Business. A Technology Emmy Award winner and co-founder of NETINT Technologies, Alex brings over 20 years of expertise in startup management, technology innovation, and strategic leadership. At NETINT, he spearheaded groundbreaking achievements, including the development of the world's first VPU SoC, setting new industry benchmarks and securing the prestigious 2024 Technology Emmy Award. At Furiosa, Alex will lead global product management, go-to-market strategies, and partnerships to drive innovation and align the company's AI-native technologies with a vision to empower the development of planet-scale AI infrastructure. RNGD is currently sampling with customers, and mass production will ramp up in partnership with TSMC for 2025 availability. To learn more about Furiosa, please visit https://furiosa.ai/ . About FuriosaAI FuriosaAI is a semiconductor company dedicated to creating sustainable AI computing solutions that make powerful AI accessible to all. With its innovative Tensor Contraction Processor architecture, FuriosaAI is revolutionizing the AI hardware landscape, offering unparalleled efficiency and programmability for the most demanding AI workloads. For more information, please visit https://furiosa.ai/ . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/furiosaai-ends-2024-on-a-high-note-llama-3-1-performance-sdk-release-leadership-expansion-302336756.html SOURCE FuriosaAI
AP Top 25: Alabama, Mississippi out of top 10 and Miami, SMU are in; Oregon remains unanimous No. 1
( MENAFN - GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rakovina Therapeutics Inc. (TSX-V: RKV, the“ Company ”,“ Rakovina ”, or“ Rakovina Therapeutics ”) a biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing new cancer therapies based on novel DNA-damage response technologies is pleased to announce the closing of a $3.0 million private placement. The private placement consists of 50,000,000 units (the“ Units ”) at a price of $0.06 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a“ Common Share ”) and one Common Share purchase warrant (each, a“ Warrant ”). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to subscribe for and purchase one Common Share of the Company for a period of 24 months from the date of issue at a price of $0.10 per Common Share. Rakovina retains the right to accelerate the Warrant exercise period if, upon written notice to the holder, the 20-day volume-weighted average price of its Common Shares exceeds $0.30. In connection with the Private Placement, the Company paid cash finder's fees to Canaccord Genuity Corp., Ventum Financial Corp., Haywood Securities Inc., Research Capital Corporation, Hampton Securities Limited, Ewing Morris & Co. Investment Partners Ltd. and Leede Financial Inc. (each a“ Finder ”, and collectively, the“ Finders ”) in the aggregate amount of $180,841 and issued a total of 3,021,872 non-transferable finder's warrants (each, a“ Finder's Warrant ') to the Finders, in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the“ TSXV ”). Each Finder's Warrant entitles the holder thereof to subscribe for and purchase one Common share of the Company for a period of 24 months from the date of issue at a price of $0.10 per Common Share, subject to acceleration on the same terms as the Warrants issued in connection with the private placement. The private placement is subject to the final acceptance of the TSXV and all securities issuable in connection with the private placement are subject to a hold period of four months plus one day from the date of issuance, in accordance with applicable securities laws. The proceeds of the private placement will be used to accelerate both discovery and development of the Company's proprietary drug candidates, shortlisted from the Deep Docking and Variational AI platforms. “This overwhelming response from our investors underscores the strength of our science, the extraordinary talent and dedication of our team and the transformative potential of our therapies,” said Jeffrey Bacha, Executive Chairman of Rakovina Therapeutics.“We are deeply grateful for the trust placed in us and remain resolute in our mission to utilize leading AI technologies to develop innovative solutions for cancer care.” The Company extends its heartfelt thanks to its investors, partners, and team for their unwavering support as Rakovina continues its work to bring new hope to patients and families affected by cancer. Rakovina is pleased to announce its engagement of Fairfax Partners Inc. as its Investor Relations (IR) partner. With extensive expertise in investor engagement strategies, Fairfax will implement a comprehensive six-month IR program designed to enhance Rakovina's market presence and expand its investor base. The program, which includes an option to renew for an additional six months, focuses on complementing traditional IR efforts with targeted online marketing campaigns, activation of a robust social media influencer network, and collaboration with external consultants and global wealth management channels. These initiatives will support Rakovina's strategic plan for 2025 by institutionalizing its investor base and strengthening its distribution capabilities. Under the agreement, Fairfax will receive a monthly fee of $5,000 plus GST, a one-time setup fee of $15,000 plus GST, and a marketing budget of $120,000 plus GST, disbursed as follows: $80,000 upon signing and $40,000 two months later. Services provided by Fairfax include inbound and outbound phone communications, website and social media management, marketing material preparation, news release support, and roadshow assistance, ensuring Rakovina's IR efforts align with market expectations. Fairfax Partners Inc., located at 306-1238 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC, confirms that neither its directors nor officers hold any securities of Rakovina. For inquiries, please contact .... “We are thrilled to partner with the seasoned team at Fairfax Partners to expand our investor base and increase awareness of Rakovina Therapeutics' vision. Fairfax's creative and forward-thinking approach to investor relations will be a critical asset as we enter a pivotal year. By harnessing their extensive network and digital expertise, we aim to significantly enhance our market presence and deliver lasting value to our shareholders,” said Mr. Bacha. About Rakovina Therapeutics Inc. Rakovina Therapeutics Inc. is dedicated to developing innovative cancer therapies targeting the DNA-damage response. The company has established a development pipeline of novel DNA-damage response inhibitors by leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to accelerate the identification and optimization of drug candidates. Rakovina Therapeutics aims to advance one or more of these candidates into human clinical trials in collaboration with pharmaceutical partners and secure marketing approvals from Health Canada, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and other international regulatory agencies. Further information may be found at . The TSXV has neither approved nor disapproved the content of this press release. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This release includes forward-looking statements regarding the Company and its respective business, which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the terms of the private placement, the closing of the private placement, the receipt of final TSXV approval, the proposed business plan of the Company; the Company's commitment to advancing new cancer therapies; the ability of the Company to extract value from its AI collaborations; the Company's ability to execute on its business plans while maintaining high standards of research; the ability of Pharma Inventor Inc. to accurately provide medicinal chemistry support; the projected timeline and effectiveness of the Company's strategy to utilize the Deep Docking AI platform; and the Company's ability to generate shareholder value. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as“plans”,“is expected”,“expects”,“scheduled”,“intends”,“contemplates”,“anticipates”,“believes”,“proposes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events, or results“may”,“could”,“would”,“might” or“will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements are based on the current expectations of the management of the Company. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur by certain specified dates or at all and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting the Company, including risks regarding the medical device industry, economic factors, regulatory factors, the equity markets generally and risks associated with growth and competition. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events, or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. The reader is referred to the Company's most recent filings on SEDAR for a more complete discussion of all applicable risk factors and their potential effects, copies of which may be accessed through the Company's profile page at For Further Information Contact: David Hyman, Chief Financial Officer ... Invest Relations &Media Michelle Seltenrich ... 778-773-5432 MENAFN13122024004107003653ID1108991733 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.HYDRAA commissioner A.V. Ranganath on Sunday denied reports in some newspapers and on social media about his residence allegedly being in the buffer zone of Krishna Kant Park’s Peddacheruvu. He said said his house was almost a kilometre away from the park. In a press release, Ranganath stated his house is “about one kilometre from the lake’s bund, and nearly 380 metres from aerial distance.” He stated that his house is towards the lake’s bund area, and the irrigation department considers only 5-10 metres of land from the lake’s bund area as buffer zone. Through the press release, he stated “25 years ago, there was a lake in Krishna Kanth Park’s land called Peddacheruvu. In 1980, my father A.P.V. Subbayya constructed the house, and for 44 years we've been living in the same house. Even if the old lake’s buffer zone is considered, we’re well away from the area.” Explaining how FTL is determined towards the bund side, he said “For any lake, FTL and buffer zones are not fixed around the lake’s bund. But to accommodate for any repairs, a 5-10 metre buffer zone is allocated towards the bund side. And my home, even at an aerial distance, is nearly 380 metres away.” He requested media personnel not to spread misinformation about his house being in the buffer zone of the lake.The political circumstances that surrounded the publication of "Ultimatum," once a best-selling novel that imagined an American effort to annex Canada, may ring familiar to anyone following recent headlines. A US leader announces tariffs on Canadian imports, signaling a more confrontational relationship, and a prime minister named Trudeau scrambles to respond. But the American, in this case, was former president Richard Nixon and the Canadian leader was Pierre Elliott Trudeau -- father of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Nixon and the elder Trudeau are long dead, but the author of "Ultimatum," published in 1973, is D-Day veteran Richard Rohmer, the honorary lieutenant general of the Canadian Armed Forces, who recently turned 101. Still an avid news consumer and writer, Rohmer told AFP that remarks by President-elect Donald Trump implying that Canada could be absorbed by the United States should not be laughed off. "This man has to be taken seriously," he said. "He is a man with great imagination who has ideas about what he can do and what he cannot do, and as far as Canada is concerned." Trump mocked Trudeau this week as the "governor" of a state, rather than prime minister of the giant US neighbor -- a taunt beyond any seen during Trump's first term. The president-elect's jibe followed Fox News reports that, in talks with Trudeau in Florida, he had suggested that if Canada could not withstand his threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canadian imports, then it should be absorbed as the 51st US state. While some analysts dismissed the barbs as "Trump being Trump," it hit a sensitive nerve in Canada. Days after meeting Trudeau, Trump posted an AI-generated image showing himself standing high atop a mountain next to a Canadian flag, gazing forward. Former Quebec premier Jean Charest responded on X by tartly cautioning Trump to "think twice before invading Canada." Charest recalled the War of 1812, when US advances on Canadian territory ended in defeat -- and the torching of the White House. Yet not everyone in Canada views US annexation as a terrible idea. A poll by the Leger research firm conducted after Trump's comments found that 13 percent of Canadians would like the country to become a US state, with support strongest among men and Conservative Party supporters. Trudeau has not publicly responded to Trump's taunts. An op-ed piece in the Toronto Star said Trump was behaving "like a toddler," and the prime minister was wise to not "rise to the bait." For Laura Stephenson, chair of the political science department at Western University, Trump's musings amount to an escalation compared to a tariff threat. "We're in a different world now. Annexation isn't the same as 'I'm going to hurt your industry.'" Even if an active confrontation with the US remains unthinkable, Stephenson told AFP that such mockery can be "humiliating" to Canadians. She said many Canadians identify themselves explicitly as "not American," and Trump's poking at the issue "has all sort of implications for Canadian identity." University of Toronto political scientist Renan Levine, on the other hand, suggested Trump's ribbing could be a "good sign" for Canadians, as it implies a bond with Trudeau. "He's basically signaling, 'I have a certain level of comfort with you and we can exchange wisecracks,'" Levine told AFP. Rohmer said the moment calls for patriotism. The success of his book "Ultimatum" came at a curious time in Canadian fiction, with a flurry of books, including a novel by acclaimed author Margaret Atwood, exploring conflict with the US. Rohmer said his book likely tapped into a thirst for national pride that Canadians crave but are notorious for suppressing. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland responded to Trump's mockery by saying "Canada is the greatest country in the world" -- while adding that such a boast was not "appropriately Canadian." When asked if he thought Trump's insults should prompt Canada to assert its strength, Rohmer said: "I think we should, but I have no idea how." bs/bbk/bgs
The comedian Duncan Norvelle, whose catchphrase “chase me” made him a staple of British Saturday night TV in the 1980s, has died aged 66. He had suffered from a chest infection and sepsis. His partner Lynn Trevallion said: “His type of comedy doesn’t happen anymore, he’s probably last of the legends of true variety comedy, so many have passed now. “He was a gentle comedian, never swore on stage. Sir Ken Dodd loved Duncan, because he said he was like him, ‘a good, clean act’, and he invited Duncan on his 80th birthday to be the entertainment for him.” A clip on YouTube of Norvelle appearing on the impenetrable 80s quiz show 3-2-1 gives a flavour of his act. He sidles onstage wearing a mullet and blue tuxedo jacket, then flirtatiously offers the carnation in his buttonhole to a bearded man in the front row of the audience, inviting him to “chase me”. Though his act played on the gay stereotypes of the time, Norvelle was heterosexual. He was part of a generation of comics, including Cannon and Ball and Jim Davidson, who became TV stars after cutting their teeth in working men’s clubs and variety shows. They were eventually replaced in the mainstream by a more left-leaning, anarchic and political aware crop of comics initially known as “alternative comedians” including Ben Elton and French and Saunders. Born in Horton, in Leicestershire, Norvelle rose to standup performances in venues including the London Palladium and appeared on shows TV such as Wogan, The Bob Monkhouse Show and The Keith Harris Show. In 1985, he hosted the pilot episode for a dating show called It’s a Hoot!, which later became Blind Date presented by Cilla Black. “In the pilot, Duncan hadn’t been able to get the logistics, but Cilla was great at all the army-like manoeuvres – turn left here, look into that camera, introduce this now,” Alan Boyd, head of entertainment at London Weekend Television, told the Guardian . Norvelle had suffered a stroke in 2012 which left him partially paralysed, though he continued to perform. “He got back on stage after his stroke and just proved to everyone that he could still get a standing ovation every single time he did a show,” Trevallion said. “And he did loads and loads of shows after his stroke because they said he quite possibly would never walk or talk properly, and he could talk perfectly.” Davidson sent his “heartfelt condolences” to Norvelle’s family, adding: “Rest in peace Duncan. You were, and always will be, a proper comedian.” Comedian Jimmy Cricket, another star of the era, said: “Duncan was a charismatic performer who thrilled audiences up and down the country with his style of humour and hilarious impressions, he was also a man of indomitable spirit! RIP old friend.” Gary Bushell, the former TV critic of the Sun, wrote: “So sorry to hear we have lost loveable comic Duncan Norvelle. Angels are chasing him now.”President-elect Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he will appoint Kari Lake, an election denier and purveyor of conspiracy theories who is deeply loyal to Trump, as director of Voice of America (VOA), a U.S.-funded news service for international audiences. Lake lost both a gubernatorial race and a Senate election in Arizona within the span of the past two years. She claimed in both contests, without any evidence whatsoever, that her losses were due to election fraud — echoing Trump’s false claims of election fraud after he lost the 2020 presidential election to President Joe Biden. In his post on Truth Social , Trump insisted that Lake would “ensure that the American values of Freedom and Liberty are broadcast around the World FAIRLY and ACCURATELY,” deriding other news media as being “fake news” — a complaint he frequently lobbies against the press after journalists publish reports on his corruption and wrongdoings. Trump’s post suggests that he will attempt to use the VOA to promote propaganda on his behalf. Importantly, the position of VOA director is not appointed by the president — instead, a seven-person panel called the International Broadcasting Advisory Board (IBAB) picks the person who heads the news agency. Six members of IBAB are selected by presidents to four-year terms, with the seventh member being the Secretary of State in an ex officio role. All seven members require Senate confirmation, though in the Secretary of State’s case, their approval is usually focused on other functions of their office, rather than the management of media produced by the U.S. government. Furthermore, the six members who are not the Secretary of State must be politically divided evenly — no more than three of the six can belong to the same political party, per the law that established IBAB . All of these conditions mean that, while Republicans will technically comprise a majority of the board once Trump’s Secretary of State choice is sworn in, it will still be very difficult for Lake to become head of the VOA. However, there is another workaround Trump can take: passing a new law that gives himself greater powers to interfere with VOA’s work and independence, including by giving the president the ability to directly appoint the agency’s director. Indeed, current law regulating the VOA and IBAB came about due to allegations of abuse during the first Trump administration . With Republican majorities in both houses of Congress, that law can be repealed and replaced with one that gives Trump the authority to appoint whomever he wants. Trump’s post didn’t allude to that action being considered, but the news of Lake as his choice to lead VOA has worried some employees of the agency nonetheless. “We’re hoping that the guardrails will hold,” a VOA employee told CNN . Journalists were quick to criticize Trump’s Truth Social post, noting that Lake would use VOA to promote far right propaganda and conspiracy theories. Lake is “an unhinged conspiracy theorist who lashes out at the press, hobnobs with far-right and antisemitic extremist outlets,” Media Matters for America senior fellow Matthew Gertz wrote on the social media site X. If Trump is successful at getting Lake appointed, it will “drive out the responsible journalists who work there and destroy the mission of VOA,” Tom Nichols of The Atlantic wrote in a Bluesky post . “Putting Kari Lake at the head of Voice of America is not only an attack on journalism and the duty to tell the truth, it’s an assault and an insult to every person around the world who turns to VoA to look up to America,” journalist Steven Beschloss said .(The Center Square) – Although it remains unclear how many Democratic Senators will vote for the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, some House members in the party have explained why they voted yes, despite a provision restricting military-funded transgender surgeries for minors. The nearly $900 billion bill passed the House 281-140 Wednesday, with 200 Republicans and 81 Democrats voting in favor versus 124 Democrats and 16 Republicans voting against it. Most of the NDAA consists of bipartisan agreements, such as pay raises for service members, strengthened ties with U.S. allies, and funding of new military technology. But a critical point of contention is a Republican addition that would prohibit the military’s health program from covering any gender dysphoria treatments on minors that could "result in sterilization.” The must-pass bill is so critical that nearly 40% of House Democrats voted in favor–but not without expressing their disappointment. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., condemned Republican colleagues who, she said, “chose to sully this bill with political culture wars;” nevertheless, she voted in favor. “While it doesn't address everything we asked for and consider important, including the full ability of parents to make their own decisions about healthcare for their children, it marks a rare moment of productive bipartisan agreement on what is arguably the most crucial legislation we take up as a body each year,” Houlahan said. The bill’s provision does not forbid service members’ children from receiving transgender therapy. It forbids the military’s health insurance provider, TRICARE, from covering treatments on minors that “may result in sterilization.” Reps. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, and Terri Sewell, D-Ala., also voted in favor of the bill despite their displeasure at the ban. “The NDAA is a hugely important bill. We had to pass it, which is why I voted yes,” Landsman posted on X Friday. “However, the anti-trans language that was attached to it was mean and awful and should never have been included.” “I have serious concerns about some remaining provisions that were placed in the bill for political purposes,” Sewell said Wednesday. “Still, the responsibility to support our service members and provide for our national security is one that I do not take lightly, which is why I ultimately chose to support the bill.” Besides the importance of annual military funding, another reason some House Democrats assented to the legislation is because they were successful in axing other House Republican amendments, such as a plan to eliminate reimbursements for service members who travel to obtain abortions. The Senate is expected to pass the bill within the next few days, after which President Joe Biden is expected to sign it into law.
By BARBARA ORTUTAY, AP Technology Writer Nearly half of American teenagers say they are online “constantly” despite concerns about the effects of social media and smartphones on their mental health, according to a new report published Thursday by the Pew Research Center. As in past years, YouTube was the single most popular platform teenagers used — 90% said they watched videos on the site, down slightly from 95% in 2022. Nearly three-quarters said they visit YouTube every day. There was a slight downward trend in several popular apps teens used. For instance, 63% of teens said they used TikTok, down from 67% and Snapchat slipped to 55% from 59%. This small decline could be due to pandemic-era restrictions easing up and kids having more time to see friends in person, but it’s not enough to be truly meaningful . X saw the biggest decline among teenage users. Only 17% of teenagers said they use X, down from 23% in 2022, the year Elon Musk bought the platform. Reddit held steady at 14%. About 6% of teenagers said they use Threads, Meta’s answer to X that launched in 2023. The report comes as countries around the world are grappling with how to handle the effects of social media on young people’s well-being. Australia recently passed a law banning kids under 16 from social networks, though it’s unclear how it will be able to enforce the age limit — and whether it will come with unintended consequences such as isolating vulnerable kids from their peers. Related Articles National News | Texas sues New York doctor for prescribing abortion pills by telemedicine National News | American released from Syrian prison is flown out of the country, a US official says National News | How to protect your communications through encryption National News | Companies tighten security after a health care CEO’s killing leads to a surge of threats National News | Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge Meta’s messaging service WhatsApp was a rare exception in that it saw the number of teenage users increase, to 23% from 17% in 2022. Pew also asked kids how often they use various online platforms. Small but significant numbers said they are on them “almost constantly.” For YouTube, 15% reported constant use, for TikTok, 16% and for Snapchat, 13%. As in previous surveys, girls were more likely to use TikTok almost constantly while boys gravitated to YouTube. There was no meaningful gender difference in the use of Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook. Roughly a quarter of Black and Hispanic teens said they visit TikTok almost constantly, compared with just 8% of white teenagers. The report was based on a survey of 1,391 U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 conducted from Sept. 18 to Oct. 10, 2024.Analysis: Win or lose at UNC, Belichick's NFL legacy cemented
Ministers said an extra £15 million will be made available for supply chain businesses and workers affected by changes at Tata’s Port Talbot site in south Wales. Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said the move means a fund to support businesses across Wales heavily reliant on Tata steel will be increased to £30 million. She also announced that more businesses will be able to apply for the funds, and the value of individual grants is increasing to up to £250,000 for businesses to invest in equipment, property, technology. The Government said there has been “significant demand” on the existing funding, with almost 40 businesses employing 2,000 people having begun the application process. Grants worth millions of pounds are expected to be released in the new year. The increase in funding is in anticipation of more people leaving Tata in early 2025 through the company’s voluntary redundancy scheme. Ms Stevens said: “This Government is acting decisively to support workers and businesses in Port Talbot. “We are doubling the funding available to businesses and workers and widening access to grants to ensure we support as many people as possible. “In just four months we have announced more than £40 million in investment. We said we would back workers and businesses affected by the transition at Port Talbot and we are doing exactly that. “While this remains a very difficult time for Tata workers, their families and the community, we are determined to support workers and businesses in our Welsh steel industry, whatever happens.”Women's representation in tech sector improving in 2024, says report
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