Judge rejects an attempt by Trump campaign lawyer to invalidate guilty plea in Georgia election case99bet canada 。

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Week 9: Herb Jones remains roster-worthy despite potential scoring regression

IMPERIAL– Every Friday evening at Faith Assembly in Imperial, something remarkable happens. A group of young adults gathers for Vertical Young Adults, a ministry that has grown into a vibrant, close-knit community under the leadership of Omar Garcia. What began as a small group of four has transformed into a thriving congregation of 50 people, all seeking connection, growth, and purpose. Omar Garcia, the leader of Vertical Young Adults, shared the journey of the ministry’s development. “When I first started coming to Faith Assembly, there weren’t many young adults,” he explained. “So I made it my mission to grow that number.” With the mentorship of Faith Assembly Pastor Carlos Roacho, Omar turned Vertical into “a bridge to the church” for young adults, particularly those who may have never attended church before. Omar’s vision has come to life, with many new believers not only attending Sunday but also serving within the church. “To see 30 to 40 young adults at church every Sunday—that’s a goal accomplished,” Omar said. One of the biggest obstacles Omar encountered while leading Vertical was managing the demands of the ministry alongside his work responsibilities. Initially, it was difficult for him to find volunteers to assist with various tasks, which added to the challenge. However, as time passed, the group members began stepping up and taking on responsibilities like leading worship and teaching. This shift allowed Vertical to grow into a self-sustaining community that can function smoothly even without Omar's presence at every meeting. Vertical Young Adults focuses on creating a strong foundation in scripture and faith, emphasizing the transformative power of a relationship with Jesus. The ministry provides a welcoming and supportive environment where young adults facing challenges like addiction, mental health struggles, and personal difficulties can find hope and healing. “People come in hurt but leave feeling inspired, loved, and worthy,” Omar said. Two members of Vertical, Ashley Salgado and Justin Mendibles, spoke about their personal journeys and how the ministry has transformed their lives. Ashley first discovered Vertical through a friend but hesitated to attend due to social anxiety. “When I finally came, I loved it,” she said. “Everyone was so welcoming.” For Justin, it was Omar’s encouragement that brought him to the group. “Omar believed I had a purpose here, and because of him, I got closer to God,” he said. Both Ashley and Justin shared how being part of Vertical has significantly impacted their lives, offering healing and personal growth. For Ashley, the support she received from the group and the power of prayer played a crucial role in helping her overcome her struggles with addiction and mental health challenges. She found a sense of peace and fulfillment through her faith in Jesus. Similarly, Justin, who had been battling depression and suicidal thoughts, experienced a complete turnaround in his life. The encouragement and sense of belonging he found within the group helped him find hope and purpose, transforming his perspective and strengthening his faith. Ashley and Justin emphasized the unique support and acceptance they’ve found at Vertical. “No matter how close you are to God, this group welcomes you like family,” Justin said. Ashley added, “There’s no judgment here. We’re always there for each other.” For Omar, the most rewarding part of leading Vertical is witnessing the transformation. “Seeing people walk through those doors hurt and leave feeling loved—that’s what keeps me going,” he said. Omar hopes to see Vertical expand further, attracting more young adults and continuing to provide a welcoming space where they can deepen their faith and develop leadership skills. His vision for the ministry is to create a community where individuals not only feel safe and supported but also find the opportunity to strengthen their relationship with Jesus and grow spiritually. To those hesitant about joining a faith-based group, Ashley and Justin have a simple message: give it a chance. “You never know how one day can change your life,” Justin said. Vertical opens doors every Friday at 6:30 p.m. with a prayer group. At 7 p.m. the rest of the group enters, and worship begins. Most services are completed by 8:30 p.m. but the group always plans an after-service hangout. Whoever chooses to stay will drive to a local restaurant for a late bite or will come back with take-out food so they can continue to hang out. Vertical Young Adults meets at Faith Assembly's Kids Center located at 320 S. J Street in Imperial. Leadership can be contacted via Instagram at www.instagram.com/ivfaithya Their next event is a Friendsgiving Potluck, Friday, Nov. 29, at 7 p.m. Omar has already ordered over 100 tamales for the group and everyone will be bringing something to add to the table. Any young adult interested in attending should contact their Instagram page for more information.live Updated 3m ago Heading into championship week The fifth College Football Playoff rankings of the 2024 season will be released today. The final rankings will be released on Sunday, Dec. 8. So who will be in the top 12 tonight? Who's No. 13? Check back throughout the day for our staff predictions, analysis and more. Time: 7 p.m. TV: ESPN Austin Mock's CFP projections: Austin's season-long updates can be found here . Power 4 teams shouldn't be punished I'm against the idea that any Power 4 team should be knocked out of the bracket for losing in its conference championship game. For me, this puts SMU at the heart of the most important discussion this week. If Clemson beats the Mustangs on Saturday, the ACC is set to steal the lone remaining at-large bid that could otherwise go to a team among the SEC's group of three-loss contenders. Advertisement What will committee do with Alabama, Miami? The College Football Playoff field is mostly set. The bubble isn’t very big, but the central debate heading into the conference championship games seems clear: Will the committee elect to place three-loss Alabama into the field ahead of two-loss Miami — or even SMU if the Mustangs lose the ACC title game against Clemson? Continue reading here. GO FURTHER College Football Playoff Bubble Watch: What will committee do with Alabama and Miami? Day’s Michigan problem is worse than Ohio State fans feared COLUMBUS, Ohio — It’s become an annual cliche from Ryan Day when he says the keys to beating Michigan are running the ball and winning the turnover battle. He said it last year after Ohio State lost in Ann Arbor. He said it again after Saturday’s 13-10 loss to Michigan, his fourth in a row in the rivalry and one of the biggest upsets in series history. “We have to run the ball, especially in this game,” said Day, who’s now 1-4 against the Wolverines. “We weren’t able to do that. We tried a couple different schemes, couldn’t quite get into a rhythm on that, and that ultimately, along with turnovers and missed field goals, was the difference in the game.” Continue reading here. GO FURTHER Ryan Day’s Michigan problem is even worse than Ohio State fans feared Why does Day even want Ohio State job? Adam Cairns / USA Today Network via Imagn Images COLUMBUS, Ohio — It’s an image that will remain in Ohio State lore for many years to come: Head coach Ryan Day, minutes after his No. 2 Buckeyes lost, inexplicably, to unranked Michigan 13-10, in a daze as players from both teams fought at midfield. He asked a player returning to the sideline, “What happened?” It’s a big-picture question that will remain in lore, too. Day is 66-10 and has had four top-five finishes in the coaches poll in five seasons as Ohio State’s full-time head coach. Ohio State is one of three teams to finish in the AP top 10 each of the past five years, along with Alabama and Georgia. The Buckeyes have the second-best win percentage since 2019, behind Georgia. Day has put his team in the College Football Playoff three times since 2019; he’s made a New Year’s Six bowl his other seasons, and that streak will continue this year. It is a truly remarkable record. Continue reading here. GO FURTHER Would Ohio State fire Ryan Day? A better question to ask: Would Day even want this job? Arizona State deserves attention TUCSON, Ariz. — The Arizona State Sun Devils gathered at midfield, an enormous mass of maroon and gold celebrating Saturday’s 49-7 win against rival Arizona at Arizona Stadium. Suddenly, Cam Skattebo broke from the pack, lifting the Territorial Cup in his right hand and charging for the stands where Arizona State fans awaited. Skattebo had just rushed for 177 yards and three touchdowns, lifting No. 16 Arizona State to its 10th win and a place in the Big 12 Championship Game, an improbable tale for both the bruising running back and the program he represents. Heisman Trophy ballots are sent out on Monday. Like his team, Skattebo began the season as an incredible long shot. Also, like his team, Skattebo has shown he belongs. “He has to be one of the best backs in yards from scrimmage in all of Power 4 football,’’ Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham said outside the locker room. “How are there many players more impactful than him and what he’s done for this program, picked dead last to playing potentially in the conference championship?” Continue reading here. GO FURTHER Arizona State will play for Big 12 championship, and its overlooked star deserves Heisman consideration Rise of Tennessee and fall of Miami Another week brought more chaos at the top of the college football world. And when one or two of the top teams in the country fall, that means others rise in the College Football Playoff race. Continue reading here. GO FURTHER College Football Playoff odds stock watch: The rise of Tennessee and fall of Miami Advertisement SEC vs. ACC will be interesting Tonight is the night ... kind of. The first and last CFP rankings are the most intriguing, but tonight's will be close and will set the table for championship week. There are plenty of storylines to delve into, but the biggest in my mind: the unspoken battle between the ACC and SEC. We looking at the SEC and Big Ten as the big two in the sport on the field, but who gets into the Playoff will be a Southern battle: Will the committee give a three-loss Alabama/South Carolina/Ole Miss a legitimate path? Or will it give Miami grace after a second loss and/or confirm SMU's status in the 12-team field regardless of a loss on Saturday? Get ready for some generational lobbying this week from commissioners Greg Sankey (SEC) and Jim Phillips (ACC), athletic directors, coaches and players on both sides. Clemson somehow still has a shot Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images Oregon Texas Boise State Clemson Penn State Notre Dame Ohio State Georgia Tennessee Indiana SMU Arizona State How wild has this college football season been? Clemson lost 17-14 to South Carolina on the last day of the regular season, only to earn a spot in the ACC title game thanks to Syracuse’s 42-38 come-from-behind victory against Miami that knocked out the Hurricanes. This is nowhere near Dabo Swinney’s best Clemson team — he reached the College Football Playoff in the four-team era six times and won two national championships. But Swinney and Clemson (9-3) have a chance to earn a top-four seed in the 12-team Playoff field as one of the highest-ranked conference champions with a victory against SMU (11-1) in the ACC Championship Game. What to do with Buckeyes? The major talking point this week surrounds Ohio State. What will the committee do about a team that lost as a 20-point favorite at home but has been No. 2 all season? On one hand, Ohio State's loss is a bad one, but it does have two top-10 wins and a one-point loss at Oregon. It makes sense for Ohio State to drop to seven or eight, but there seems to be a growing debate around whether Tennessee should jump Ohio State for the final hosting spot. Either way, Ohio State is going to be nervous for the next week because nobody wants to go on the road in the first round. How Alabama kept CFP hopes alive TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — It was the biggest question all week: Which Alabama team would show up against Auburn? The dominant team that has flashed at times this season or the flat team that’s prone to maddening losses, like Oklahoma last week. The answer was somewhere in between in its 28-14 win in the Iron Bowl, but the important thing is that Alabama extended its winning streak over the Tigers to five straight. Then, a few upsets opened the door just a little bit more for a possible College Football Playoff bid. Continue reading here. GO FURTHER The good and bad in Alabama’s Iron Bowl win over Auburn: Crimson Tide film study Who’s in? Who’s safe? Who’s on bubble? We have seen college football teams back into the College Football Playoff, losing their last regular-season or conference title game and still earning a spot in the four-team field. This happened to Alabama in 2017 after losing the Iron Bowl and to Ohio State after it lost to Michigan in 2022. That was the same season TCU of the Big 12 became the first team to lose its conference championship game (to Kansas State) and still get in. In all those cases, that loss was the team’s only loss. Now with a 12-team CFP, backing into the Playoff has a whole new meaning. Looking at you, Ohio State (10-2). Miami (10-2), too. What we learned about the College Football Playoff in the last full weekend of the regular season is we have a pretty good idea of who will be in the College Football Playoff heading into championship weekend. Continue reading here. GO FURTHER What we learned about the College Football Playoff: Who’s in? Who’s safe? Who’s on bubble? Advertisement What does top 12 look like? Oregon Texas Notre Dame Georgia Tennessee Penn State SMU Ohio State Indiana Boise State Alabama Miami Texas finally has a resume that can live up to where the committee has been putting it, while Georgia and Tennessee have the quality wins to overcome Penn State's lack of bad losses. Per these rankings, projecting the highest-ranked team in each league winning the conference title games, you’ve got Oregon, Texas, SMU and Boise State as your top four seeds. That leaves first-round matchups of No. 12 Arizona State at No. 5 Notre Dame, No. 11 Alabama at No. 6 Georgia, No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Tennessee and No. 9 Ohio State at No. 8 Penn State. But that also means Penn State and Georgia could fall after title-game losses. Also, sorry Hurricanes, you’re out. Could the ACC get 3 teams? Jerome Miron / Imagn Images Clemson has no shot to get into the top 12 except for the automatic berth that comes with winning the ACC Championship game on Saturday. The Tigers, who have three losses and no real good wins, will get their shot as bid-stealers against SMU. That's a rare role for Clemson, which has been the favorite in the ACC title games it has played in. But if Clemson wins that game, could the conference somehow get three teams in the College Football Playoff field? SMU shouldn't be penalized for a loss and should make the field either way. Could Miami sneak in? Or will all this be moot and the ACC gets only one spot? Either way, the ACC will be interesting, which it usually is not. Week 14 projections My pool of teams did not change from last week to this week, but Ohio State’s inexplicable home loss to Michigan and Miami’s loss at Syracuse certainly shook up the seeding. For weeks I had the Buckeyes winning the Big Ten title game and landing the No. 1 seed. Now, I have them as the No. 9 seed, playing a first-round road game at No. 8 seed Tennessee. Though it’s certainly possible those two 10-2 teams would be flipped. Continue reading here. GO FURTHER College Football Playoff 2024 projections: A new No. 1, Ohio State hits the road Most likely bracket These are the teams that have the best odds of making the new 12-team College Football Playoff, according to our model. The top four seeds go to the highest-ranked conference champions, with a fifth conference champion making the bracket too. Continue reading here. GO FURTHER College Football Playoff 2024 projections: What now for Ohio State? No. 3 seed Boise State?

For many across the Middle East, the came as a relief: the first major sign of progress in the region since war began more than a year ago. But for Palestinians in Gaza and families of hostages held in the territory, the only to inaugurate a newer, grimmer period of the conflict there. For them, it marked yet another missed opportunity to end fighting that has stretched on for nearly 14 months. Palestinians had hoped that any ceasefire deal with Hezbollah would include a truce in Gaza as well. The families of people kidnapped when in October 2023, meanwhile, wanted part of the agreement to include returning their loved ones. Instead, the ceasefire was . “We feel this is a missed opportunity to tie in the hostages in this agreement that was signed today,” said Ruby Chen, whose son, Itay Chen, was taken hostage from an Israeli military base and has been declared dead. As much as they were intertwined, the two wars have been very different. In Lebanon, Israel said its aim was to drive Hezbollah back from the countries’ shared border and end the militant group’s barrages into northern Israel. The ceasefire is intended to do that. In Gaza, Israel’s goals . Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been resolute in insisting that Hamas must be completely destroyed and Israel must retain lasting control over parts of the territory. Months of talks have failed to get Netanyahu to back down from those demands — or to convince Hamas to release hostages under those terms. For Palestinians in Gaza, that means continuing misery under an Israeli campaign that has and driven almost the entire population from their homes. Hundreds of thousands while living in squalid tent cities as the second winter of the war brings cold rains and flooding. ”They agree to a ceasefire in one place and not in the other? Have mercy on the children, the elderly and the women,” said Ahlam Abu Shalabi, living in tent in central Gaza. “Now it is winter, and all the people are drowning.” Palestinians feel resigned to continued war The war between Israel and Hamas began on Oct. 7, 2023, when militants attacked Israel from Gaza, killing around 1,200 people and taking some 250 hostage. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has rained devastation on the Palestinian territory, killing over 44,000 people, according to local health officials. The officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and fighters in their count, say over half of the dead are women and children. Hezbollah began firing into Israel a day after Hamas’ attack in solidarity with the Palestinian militant group. The two sides have exchanged near-daily barrages since. Moving thousands of troops to its northern border, Israel ramped up bombardment of southern Lebanon and launched a ground invasion there two months ago, . Palestinians now fear Israel’s military can return its full focus to Gaza — a point that Netanyahu made as he announced the ceasefire in Lebanon on Tuesday. “The pressure will be more on Gaza,” said Mamdouh Younis, a displaced man in a central Gaza tent camp. Netanyahu, he said, can now exploit the fact that “Gaza has become alone, far from all the arenas that were supporting it, especially the Lebanon front.” Israeli troops are already engaged in , where a two-month offensive has cut off most aid and caused experts to warn . Strikes all over the territory regularly kill dozens. In signing onto the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah reversed its long-held position that it wouldn’t stop its barrages across the border unless Israel ends the war in Gaza. “This could have a psychological impact, as it will further entrench the understanding that Palestinians in Gaza are alone in resisting against their occupiers,” said Tariq Kenney Shawa, a U.S. policy fellow at Al-Shabaka, a Palestinian think tank. Hamas may dig its heels in It also leaves Hamas — its capabilities already severely damaged by Israel’s offensive — to fight alone. Hamas official Osama Hamdan appeared to accept Hezbollah’s new position in an interview Monday. “Any announcement of a ceasefire is welcome. Hezbollah has stood by our people and made significant sacrifices,” Hamdan told the Lebanese broadcaster Al-Mayadeen, which is seen as politically allied with Hezbollah. Khalil Sayegh, a Palestinian analyst, said the ceasefire could make Hamas even less popular in Gaza, by proving the failure of its gambit that its attack on Israel would rally other militant groups to the fight. “It’s a moment where we can see the Hamas messaging become weaker and weaker, as they struggle to justify their strategy to the public,” said Sayegh. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday that the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire could help force Hamas to the negotiating table because it would show the group that the “cavalry is not on the way.” But Hamas experts predicted that it would only dig in both on the battlefield and in talks. Hamas has insisted it will only release all the hostages in return for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. “I expect Hamas will continue using guerrilla warfare to confront Israeli forces in Gaza as long as they remain,” said Shawa. Hostage families lose hope Dozens of Israelis thronged a major highway in Tel Aviv on Tuesday night, protesting for the return of the hostages as the country waited to hear if a ceasefire in Lebanon had been agreed. Around 100 people taken hostage are still held in Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Most of the other hostages seized by Hamas were released during a ceasefire last year. Ricardo Grichener, the uncle of 23-year-old hostage Omer Wenkert, said the ceasefire with Hezbollah showed how the Israeli government was openly disregarding the hostages. Even though Israel has inflicted greater damage on Hamas in Gaza than on Hezbollah in Lebanon, he said “the decision to postpone a deal in Gaza and release the hostages is not based on the same military success criteria.” The most recent effort to wind down the war stalled in October. U.S. President Joe Biden said Tuesday he would begin a renewed push, but his administration is now in its waning days after the reelection of former President Donald Trump. “This ceasefire doesn’t concern our hostages. I believe that Netanyahu forgot about them, and he just wants to keep fighting in Gaza,” said Ifat Kalderon, clutching a photo of her cousin, Ofer Kalderon, who is a hostage and a father to four. “Ofer yesterday had his 54th birthday. His second birthday in Gaza,” she said. “It’s unbelievable that he’s still there.”Indore: SGSITS Receives Rs 1 Crore Support Form Startups, HAL Collab To Boost Innovation

By JILL COLVIN and STEPHEN GROVES WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role: Helping Donald Trump try to get his most contentious Cabinet picks to confirmation in the Senate, where Vance has served for the last two years. Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and spent the morning sitting in on meetings between Trump’s choice for attorney general and key Republicans, including members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The effort was for naught: Gaetz announced a day later that he was withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations and the reality that he was unlikely to be confirmed. Thursday morning Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth, the “Fox & Friends Weekend” host whom Trump has tapped to be the next secretary of defense. Hegseth also has faced allegations of sexual assault that he denies. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings in coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump’s picks. Vance is taking on an atypical role as Senate guide for Trump nominees The role of introducing nominees around Capitol Hill is an unusual one for a vice president-elect. Usually the job goes to a former senator who has close relationships on the Hill, or a more junior aide. But this time the role fits Vance, said Marc Short, who served as Trump’s first director of legislative affairs as well as chief of staff to Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who spent more than a decade in Congress and led the former president’s transition ahead of his first term. ”JD probably has a lot of current allies in the Senate and so it makes sense to have him utilized in that capacity,” Short said. Unlike the first Trump transition, which played out before cameras at Trump Tower in New York and at the president-elect’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, this one has largely happened behind closed doors in Palm Beach, Florida. There, a small group of officials and aides meet daily at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort to run through possible contenders and interview job candidates. The group includes Elon Musk, the billionaire who has spent so much time at the club that Trump has joked he can’t get rid of him. Vance has been a constant presence, even as he’s kept a lower profile. The Ohio senator has spent much of the last two weeks in Palm Beach, according to people familiar with his plans, playing an active role in the transition, on which he serves as honorary chair. Mar-a-Lago scene is a far cry from Vance’s hardscrabble upbringing Vance has been staying at a cottage on the property of the gilded club, where rooms are adorned with cherubs, oriental rugs and intricate golden inlays. It’s a world away from the famously hardscrabble upbringing that Vance documented in the memoir that made him famous, “Hillbilly Elegy.” His young children have also joined him at Mar-a-Lago, at times. Vance was photographed in shorts and a polo shirt playing with his kids on the seawall of the property with a large palm frond, a U.S. Secret Service robotic security dog in the distance. On the rare days when he is not in Palm Beach, Vance has been joining the sessions remotely via Zoom. Though he has taken a break from TV interviews after months of constant appearances, Vance has been active in the meetings, which began immediately after the election and include interviews and as well as presentations on candidates’ pluses and minuses. Among those interviewed: Contenders to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray , as Vance wrote in a since-deleted social media post. Defending himself from criticism that he’d missed a Senate vote in which one of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees was confirmed, Vance wrote that he was meeting at the time “with President Trump to interview multiple positions for our government, including for FBI Director.” “I tend to think it’s more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45,” Vance added on X. “But that’s just me.” Vance is making his voice heard as Trump stocks his Cabinet While Vance did not come in to the transition with a list of people he wanted to see in specific roles, he and his friend, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who is also a member of the transition team, were eager to see former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. find roles in the administration. Trump ended up selecting Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence , a powerful position that sits atop the nation’s spy agencies and acts as the president’s top intelligence adviser. And he chose Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services , a massive agency that oversees everything from drug and food safety to Medicare and Medicaid. Vance was also a big booster of Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who will serve as Trump’s “border czar.” In another sign of Vance’s influence, James Braid, a top aide to the senator, is expected to serve as Trump’s legislative affairs director. Allies say it’s too early to discuss what portfolio Vance might take on in the White House. While he gravitates to issues like trade, immigration and tech policy, Vance sees his role as doing whatever Trump needs. Vance was spotted days after the election giving his son’s Boy Scout troop a tour of the Capitol and was there the day of leadership elections. He returned in earnest this week, first with Gaetz — arguably Trump’s most divisive pick — and then Hegseth, who has was been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, according to an investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. Vance hosted Hegseth in his Senate office as GOP senators, including those who sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee, filtered in to meet with the nominee for defense secretary. While a president’s nominees usually visit individual senators’ offices, meeting them on their own turf, the freshman senator — who is accompanied everywhere by a large Secret Service detail that makes moving around more unwieldy — instead brought Gaetz to a room in the Capitol on Wednesday and Hegseth to his office on Thursday. Senators came to them. Vance made it to votes Wednesday and Thursday, but missed others on Thursday afternoon. Vance will draw on his Senate background going forward Vance is expected to continue to leverage his relationships in the Senate after Trump takes office. But many Republicans there have longer relationships with Trump himself. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, said that Trump was often the first person to call him back when he was trying to reach high-level White House officials during Trump’s first term. “He has the most active Rolodex of just about anybody I’ve ever known,” Cramer said, adding that Vance would make a good addition. “They’ll divide names up by who has the most persuasion here,” Cramer said, but added, “Whoever his liaison is will not work as hard at it as he will.” Cramer was complimentary of the Ohio senator, saying he was “pleasant” and ” interesting” to be around. ′′He doesn’t have the long relationships,” he said. “But we all like people that have done what we’ve done. I mean, that’s sort of a natural kinship, just probably not as personally tied.” Under the Constitution, Vance will also have a role presiding over the Senate and breaking tie votes. But he’s not likely to be needed for that as often as was Kamala Harris, who broke a record number of ties for Democrats as vice president, since Republicans will have a bigger cushion in the chamber next year. Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.Indore (Madhya Pradesh): In a landmark move to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, SGSITS (Shri .G.S. Institute of Technology and Science), one of Indore's premier educational institutions, has secured a major boost through a partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Under a newly signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), HAL will provide state-of-the-art equipment worth Rs 1 crore for the institution's Fabrication Lab, Die, and Design Rooms. This initiative is part of HAL's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts aimed at supporting the growth of technology and innovation in academic institutions. The MoA was formally signed in the presence of key dignitaries, including Inder Singh Parmar, the minister for technical education and chairman of the SGSITS Governing Body. Other prominent attendees at the event included Dr Divya Gupta, independent director and chairperson of HAL's CSR Committee; Saket Chaturvedi, CEO of MIG Complex; and Subrata Mondal, general manager (GM) of HAL's AOD division. SGSITS was represented by Dr Nitesh Purohit, director of the Institute, along with Tapan Mukherjee and Ramesh Vyas, directors of the SGSITS Incubation Forum. Key aspects of agreement Equipping Fabrication Lab, Die, and Design Rooms at SGSITS with advanced tools and machinery so as to enhance technical infrastructure of the college Support prototyping, product design, and manufacturing processes, encouraging practical learning and fostering an innovation-driven culture. Help create a robust ecosystem for startups within the institution, offering them access to high-quality equipment and mentorship. Pave the way for students and young entrepreneurs to work on groundbreaking projects, develop new technologies, and take their ideas to market. 'Important step in strengthening capabilities of SGSITS' Incubation Forum' In his address, Inder Singh Parmar lauded the partnership, stating that it marks an important step towards strengthening the infrastructure and capabilities of SGSITS' Incubation Forum. He emphasized that the initiative will not only support startups but also inspire innovation and entrepreneurship across the state. He further highlighted the role of such collaborations in bridging the gap between industry and academia, ensuring that students are well-prepared for real-world challenges. The collaboration with HAL, he noted, will also foster stronger ties between educational institutions and industries, creating opportunities for knowledge sharing and skill development. Future Implications Support from HAL is expected to accelerate the growth of the incubation centre at SGSITS, positioning it as a hub for innovation in the region. Startups and young entrepreneurs will benefit from not only the technical resources but also the guidance of industry experts and faculty members, creating a conducive environment for sustainable growth and technological advancements. The equipment will be made available to startups incubated at SGSITS, providing them with the infrastructure needed to prototype, test, and refine their products. This will also help students gain hands-on experience with industry-grade tools, enhancing their technical skills and preparing them for future careers in technology and engineering. By fostering collaboration between academia and industry, the initiative is set to provide invaluable resources to young innovators and entrepreneurs, helping them transform their ideas into successful enterprises. With strong industry backing and state-of-the-art infrastructure, the SGSITS Incubation Forum is poised to play a key role in shaping the future of technological innovation in the region.

Best Cryptocurrency for the 2025 Bull Run Should I Buy Cardano ADA or Rexas Finance RXS

NoneBecton Dickinson's BDX short percent of float has fallen 9.59% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 1.90 million shares sold short , which is 0.66% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.13 days to cover their short positions on average. Why Short Interest Matters Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. Short selling is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises. Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish. See Also: List of the most shorted stocks Becton Dickinson Short Interest Graph (3 Months) As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Becton Dickinson has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted. Comparing Becton Dickinson's Short Interest Against Its Peers Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis. According to Benzinga Pro , Becton Dickinson's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.91%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers. Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it. This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.With nearly all of the votes counted, left-leaning Mr Milanovic won 49% while his main challenger Dragan Primorac, a candidate of the ruling conservative HDZ party, trailed far behind with 19%. Pre-election polls had predicted that the two would face off in the second round on January 12, as none of the eight presidential election contenders were projected to get more than 50% of the vote. Mr Milanovic thanked his supporters but warned that “this was just a first run”. “Let’s not be triumphant, let’s be realistic, firmly on the ground,” he said. “We must fight all over again. It’s not over till it’s over.” Mr Milanovic, the most popular politician in Croatia, has served as prime minister in the past. Populist in style, the 58-year-old has been a fierce critic of current Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and continuous sparring between the two has been a recent hallmark of Croatia’s political scene. Mr Plenkovic has sought to portray the vote as one about Croatia’s future in the EU and Nato. He has labelled Mr Milanovic “pro-Russian” and a threat to Croatia’s international standing. “The difference between him (Mr Primorac) and Milanovic is quite simple: Milanovic is leading us East, Primorac is leading us West,” he said. Though the presidency is largely ceremonial in Croatia, an elected president holds political authority and acts as the supreme commander of the military. Mr Milanovic has criticised the Nato and European Union support for Ukraine and has often insisted that Croatia should not take sides. He has said Croatia should stay away from global disputes, thought it is a member of both Nato and the EU. Mr Milanovic has also blocked Croatia’s participation in a Nato-led training mission for Ukraine, declaring that “no Croatian soldier will take part in somebody else’s war”. His main rival in the election, Mr Primorac, has stated that “Croatia’s place is in the West, not the East”. However, his bid for the presidency has been marred by a high-level corruption case that landed Croatia’s health minister in jail last month and which featured prominently in pre-election debates. Trailing a distant third in the pre-election polls is Marija Selak Raspudic, a conservative independent candidate. She has focused her election campaign on the economic troubles of ordinary citizens, corruption and issues such as population decline in the country of some 3.8 million. Sunday’s presidential election is Croatia’s third vote this year, following a snap parliamentary election in April and the European Parliament balloting in June.

Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100 ATLANTA (AP) — Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died. He was 100 years old and had spent more than a year in hospice care. The Georgia peanut farmer served one turbulent term in the White House before building a reputation as a global humanitarian and champion of democracy. He defeated President Gerald Ford in 1976 promising to restore trust in government but lost to Ronald Reagan four years later amid soaring inflation, gas station lines and the Iran hostage crisis. He and his wife Rosalynn then formed The Carter Center, and he earned a Nobel Peace Prize while making himself the most internationally engaged of former presidents. The center said he died peacefully Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family. Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’ PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — The 39th and longest-lived U.S. president, James Earl Carter Jr., died Sunday at the age of 100. His life ended where it began, in Plains, Georgia. He left and returned to the tiny town many times as he climbed to the nation’s highest office and lost it after four tumultuous years. Carter spent the next 40 years setting new standards for what a former president can do. Carter wrote nearly a decade ago that he found all the phases of his life challenging but also successful and enjoyable. The Democrat's principled but pragmatic approach defied American political labels, especially the idea that one-term presidents are failures. The Latest: Former President Jimmy Carter is Dead at age 100 Former President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia. Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. He left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. Jimmy Carter: A brief bio Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died at his home in Plains, Georgia. His death comes more than a year after the former president entered hospice care. He was 100 years old. Jetliner skids off runway and bursts into flames while landing in South Korea, killing 179 SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A jetliner skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames in South Korea after its landing gear apparently failed to deploy. Officials said all but two of the 181 people on board were killed Sunday in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters. The 737-800 operated by Jeju Air plane arrived from Bangkok and crashed while attempting to land in the town of Muan, about 290 kilometers (180 miles) south of Seoul. Footage of the crash aired by South Korean television channels showed the plane skidding across the airstrip at high speed, evidently with its landing gear still closed. Tornadoes in Texas and Mississippi kill 2 and injure 6 as severe weather system moves east HOUSTON (AP) — A strong storm system is threatening to whip up tornadoes in parts of the U.S. Southeast, a day after severe weather claimed at least two lives as twisters touched down in Texas and Mississippi. Strong storms moving eastward Sunday are expected to continue producing gusty, damaging winds, hail and tornadoes through Sunday. That is according to National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Pereira. So far, the line of severe weather has led to about 40 tornado reports from southeastern Texas to Alabama, Pereira said, but those reports remain unconfirmed until surveys of damage are completed. Israeli hospital says Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgery TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An Israeli hospital says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgery. Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center said his prostate was removed late Sunday and that he was recovering. Netanyahu’s office had said Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close ally, would serve as acting prime minister during the procedure. Doctors ordered the operation after detecting an infection last week. Netanyahu is expected to remain hospitalized for several days. With so much at stake, Netanyahu’s health in wartime is a concern for both Israelis and the wider world. Syria's de facto leader says it could take up to 4 years to hold elections BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s de facto leader has said it could take up to four years to hold elections in Syria, and that he plans on dissolving his Islamist group that led the country’s insurgency at an anticipated national dialogue summit for the country. Ahmad al-Sharaa, who leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group leading the new authority in Syria, made the remarks in an interview Sunday. That's according to the Saudi television network Al-Arabiyya. It comes almost a month after a lightning insurgency led by HTS overthrew President Bashar Assad’s decades-long rule, ending the country’s uprising-turned civil war that started back in 2011. A fourth infant dies of the winter cold in Gaza as families share blankets in seaside tents DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A fourth infant has died of hypothermia in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by nearly 15 months of war are huddled in tents along the rainy, windswept coast as winter arrives. The baby's father says the 20-day-old child was found with his head as “cold as ice” Sunday morning in their tent. The baby’s twin brother was moved to the intensive care unit of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Their father says the twins were born one month premature and spent just a day in hospital, which like other Gaza health centers has been overwhelmed and only partially functions. Musk causes uproar for backing Germany's far-right party ahead of key elections BERLIN (AP) — Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has caused uproar after backing Germany’s far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of key parliamentary elections in the Western European country, leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor in protest. Germany is to vote in an early election on Feb. 23 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party governing coalition collapsed last month in a dispute over how to revitalize the country’s stagnant economy. Musk’s guest opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag, published in German over the weekend, was the second time this month he supported the Alternative for Germany, or AfD.By Lewis Krauskopf NEW YORK (Reuters) - A banner year for U.S. stocks gets one of its last big tests with the coming week’s Federal Reserve meeting, as investors await the central bank's guidance on interest rate cuts. The Nasdaq Composite index breached 20,000 for the first time ever in the past week, another milestone for equities in a year during which the tech-heavy index has gained 32% while the S&P 500 has risen about 27%. Expectations that the Fed will cut interest rates have supported those gains. But while the central bank is expected to lower borrowing costs by another 25 basis points next week, investors have moderated their bets on how aggressively policymakers will move next year due to robust economic growth and sticky inflation. Bond yields, which move inversely to Treasury prices, have risen in recent sessions as a result, taking the benchmark U.S. 10-year yield to a three-week high of 4.38% on Friday. While stocks have pushed higher despite the rise in yields, the 10-year is approaching the 4.5% level some investors have flagged as a potential trip-wire for broader market turbulence. "Anything that results in an expectation that maybe the Fed moves even more slowly from here than investors were expecting could create a little bit of downside for stocks," said Jim Baird, chief investment officer with Plante Moran Financial Advisors. The trajectory of monetary policy is closely monitored by investors, as the level of rates dictates borrowing costs and is a key input in determining stock valuations. Interest rate expectations also sway bond yields, which can dim the allure of equities when they rise because Treasuries are backed by the U.S. government and seen as virtually risk-free if held to term. Fed fund futures indicated a 96% chance the Fed will cut by 25 basis points when it gives its policy decision on Wednesday, according to CME FedWatch data as of Friday. But the path for rates next year is less certain. Fed fund futures are implying the rate will be at 3.8% by December of next year, down from the current level of 4.5%-4.75%, according to LSEG data. That is about 100 basis points higher than what was priced in September. The Fed's summary of economic projections released at the meeting will provide one indication of where policymakers see rates heading. Officials penciled in a median rate of 3.4% for the end of next year when the summary was last released in September. One sign of potential support for a slower pace of cuts came from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who this month said the economy is stronger now than the central bank had expected in September. Another factor that could make Fed officials more cautious about future cuts is the presidential election of Donald Trump, whose pro-growth economic policies and favoring of tariffs are causing concerns about stronger inflation next year. Analysts at BNP Paribas said they expect a "hawkish cut," with the central bank likely to "open the door for a pause in further cuts of undefined length." Carol Schleif, chief market strategist at BMO Private Wealth, said markets "will be trying to read into how worried is the Fed about inflation." November data released in the past week showed progress in lowering inflation toward the U.S. central bank's 2% target has virtually stalled. Still, analysts say the market's momentum favors more gains into year end, while sentiment among investors in surveys remains bullish - though some market technicals suggest the rally in stocks may have grown stretched. The percentage of Nasdaq constituents hitting 52-week highs has declined since the rally after the Nov 5 election, implying fewer stocks are supporting the advance, Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist for LPL Financial, said in a note on Thursday. “History suggests the tech-heavy index could be due for a breather before longer-term momentum resumes,” Turnquist said. (Reporting by Lewis Krauskopf; Editing by Ira Iosebashvili and Nick Zieminski)

TORONTO (AP) — Hannah Miller scored a power-play goal with 1:38 remaining in the game, lifting the Toronto Sceptres to a 3-1 victory over the Boston Fleet in the Professional Women’s Hockey League season opener on Saturday. With Boston standout Hilary Knight in the penalty box for a vicious boarding penalty on Sceptres defender Renata Fast, Miller made good on her rebound attempt on a shot by Daryl Watts with a half-open net. Fast recovered for an assist on the winner before 8,089 fans at Coca-Cola Coliseum. The Fleet challenged the goal, but video review deemed Miller’s shot was good. Sarah Nurse got Toronto on the board with a short-handed tally 11:50 into the first period and Emma Maltais added an empty-net strike with 12 seconds left. Boston’s Hilary Knight opened the scoring 3 minutes in, sending a slap shot past Toronto goalie Kristen Campbell, who registered 18 stops on the night. Toronto outshot Boston 41-19. Boston goalie Aerin Frankel, a big reason why her team advanced to the Walter Cup final last spring, had 38 saves. Sceptres: Billie Jean King MVP Natalie Spooner missed the season opener. The PWHL scoring champion underwent left knee surgery in June after getting injured in Game 3 of Toronto’s first-round series against Minnesota. Fleet: Defender Emma Greco played her first game for Boston. She was part of the Walter Cup-winning Minnesota team that defeated Boston in a three-game series last spring. With the game tied 1-1, the Sceptres failed to score during a 59-second 5-on-3 advantage midway through the second period. Boston blocked five shots during the span. Last year, Toronto enjoyed an 11-game win streak en route to its regular-season championship, including three wins against Boston. Boston will play its home opener on Wednesday, a rematch with the Walter Cup-champion Minnesota. Toronto visits Ottawa on Tuesday. AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey