338 jili Innovating in an era of heightened conflict and contracting co-operationThe other evening a good friend and I were sitting around, enjoying each other’s company as seniors will do, when the topic of what hunting will be like 30 years in the future came up. We have both been around enough years to witness many changes in hunting in Pennsylvania. We remember when safety orange wasn’t mandatory. A hunter could only tag one deer per year. Antlerless permits were hard to come by. Crossbows were illegal. Small game was abundant, and fur prices were high. In some ways, it was the good old days. In other ways, today is better. Our biggest concern was the ever-increasing age of the average hunter here in Pennsylvania, now over 50 years of age and getting higher. As these older hunters drop out, and fewer young hunters taking up the pastime, what changes will be necessary? Let’s start with funding. While it’s true the Pa. Game Commission makes money from timber sales and mineral rights, both of which are a product of the state gamelands system, with fewer and fewer hunters buying licenses how long will it be before the taxpayer, not the hunter, will be saddled with the expense incurred by the commission? The only answer will be extra and increased taxes, just like most other states, so get ready to open your wallet. As trapper numbers go down, who is going to control muskrat and beaver populations? My guess is the government will need to somehow pay either to manage these species or at least to repair the damage to roadways caused by an over-abundance of rodent erosion. Will the remaining hunters be asked to control the deer population, or will paid sharpshooters be needed? Pennsylvania already holds top honors for most deer/auto collisions in the nation. Who will farmers go to for help if crop damage is out of control? Will the loss of license money cause the state to sell off state game lands? These properties are now paid for by the hunter, but are open to all to enjoy. It would be a shame for them to disappear. Will there be an overpopulation of bears, leading to more bear/human conflicts? Will diseases such as rabies, distemper, and mange run rampant as nature replaces the hunter? Will fewer people be interested in protecting our woods and waterways if they no longer have a personal interest in protecting them? Or will we simply turn them into more shopping centers? Will organizations such as the National Wild Turkey Federation and Ducks Unlimited, which spend thousands on land improvement and preservation, cease to exist? Then again, maybe life will be like a Disney movie and somehow suddenly everything will be great and mankind and nature will go skipping away hand in hand. What will the next 30, 50 or 100 years bring? Only time will tell, my friend, but until then we can only guess.

Supreme Court decision could have endless impact on transgender medical careFight Back Against Moss Growth With Choice Home Commercial ServicesNigel Farage has threatened legal action against Kemi Badenoch unless the Conservative leader apologises for accusing Reform of faking claims that it has more members than the Tory party. A row between the two deepened on Friday, with Farage opening up Reform’s website for inspection by a selected group of journalists. He branded allegations that a live digital counter was programmed to overtake the Tories rather than representing genuine membership numbers as “wild conspiracy theories”. Four news organisations were invited to inspect the website, including its code, to ensure the veracity of Reform’s claims. However, The Times was not included. Farage suggested that he was open to an independent audit of the figures, even if the Conservatives did not follow suit. “I think genuine party memberships have always been a source of contention ever since I was about 4ft 11in” he said, according to The Spectator .Monday, December 30, 2024 Facebook Instagram Twitter WhatsApp Youtube Personal Finance Education Entertainment Jobs Alert Sports Hindi Technology Complaint Redressal. Fact-Checking Policy Correction policy Authors and Team DNPA Code of Ethics Onwership and Funding Cookie Policy Terms of Service Disclaimer Contact US About Us More Search Home Personal Finance New Rule 2025: From LPG to PF, these big changes will be... Personal Finance New Rule 2025: From LPG to PF, these big changes will be implemented from January 1, it will affect every pocket By Shyamu Maurya December 30, 2024 0 11 Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Telegram New Rule 2025: From LPG to PF, these big changes will be implemented from January 1, it will affect every pocket Rule Change From 1st January: There are only two days left for the year 2024 to end and preparations have begun to welcome the new year 2025. At the same time, from January 1, 2025, there are going to be important changes in many rules in the country. This includes rules ranging from LPG prices to EPFO. Let us know what will change this time from January 1 and what will affect you. Rule Change From 1st January: Usually, the government changes the price of LPG on the first of every month. In the past few days, there have been many changes in the prices of 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder. However, the prices of 14 kg kitchen cylinder have remained stable in the country for a long time. In such a situation, a change in the price of LPG cylinder is expected this time too. PF account holders may get a special gift in the beginning of the year 2025, through which withdrawal of PF money will be possible from ATM machine. The Labor Ministry is working on this. Recently, Labor Secretary Sumita Dawra said that the Ministry of Labor and Employment is upgrading its IT system to streamline PF withdrawal and improve service. Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given great news for feature phone users. Now UPI payment of up to Rs 10,000 can be made using UPI 123Pay. This facility will start from January 1, 2025. Earlier this limit used to be Rs 5,000. Recently, the Reserve Bank of India has given a big relief news for farmers. RBI has increased the limit of loan available to farmers without guarantee to Rs 2 lakh. The new rules will come into effect from January 1, 2025. Earlier this limit was Rs 1.60 lakh. The National Stock Exchange has announced a change in the expiry day of its contracts. This will come into effect from January 1, 2025. NSE had issued a circular in this regard on November 29. Now the monthly contracts of FinNifty, MidCPNifty and NiftyNext50 will expire on the last Thursday of the respective month. The monthly and quarterly contracts of BankNifty will expire on the last Thursday of the expiry month. Tags epfo Rule Change Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Telegram Previous article Bank license canceled: RBI canceled license of these 11 banks, see the full list here Next article School Closed: Big relief for school students! Now schools will remain closed for so many days, timings of these schools changed Shyamu Maurya Shyamu has done Degree in Fine Arts and has knowledge about bollywood industry. He started writing in 2018. Since then he has been associated with Informalnewz. In case of any complain or feedback, please contact me @informalnewz@gmail.com RELATED ARTICLES Personal Finance School Closed: Big relief for school students! Now schools will remain closed for so many days, timings of these schools changed December 30, 2024 Personal Finance Bank license canceled: RBI canceled license of these 11 banks, see the full list here December 30, 2024 Personal Finance TDS deduction new rule: Now more money will remain in the bank account even after paying income tax? check complete details December 30, 2024 - Advertisment - Most Popular School Closed: Big relief for school students! Now schools will remain closed for so many days, timings of these schools changed December 30, 2024 Bank license canceled: RBI canceled license of these 11 banks, see the full list here December 30, 2024 TDS deduction new rule: Now more money will remain in the bank account even after paying income tax? check complete details December 30, 2024 New recharge plan: BSNL launches new 425 day plan; Jio-Airtel and Vi’s problems increase December 30, 2024 Load more Recent Comments Gul Mohiudin on Kavita sister-in-law wore a sari without a blouse, seeing the pictures you will also be... Venkatesh on Urfi Javed crossed all limits, wore a front open hoodie top without inner, see photos and videos Gul Mohiudin on Malaika Arora came out in a backless strappy dress late at night, someone had to handle the gown and someone held her hand Gul Mohiudin on Priyanka Chopra reached award function without bra, shame had to be saved repeatedly in open jacket Venkatesh on Disha Patani shared a bo*ld picture while taking a bath, seeing Tiger Shroff’s heart beat will increase EDITOR PICKS School Closed: Big relief for school students! Now schools will remain closed for so many days, timings of these schools changed December 30, 2024 Bank license canceled: RBI canceled license of these 11 banks, see the full list here December 30, 2024 TDS deduction new rule: Now more money will remain in the bank account even after paying income tax? check complete details December 30, 2024 POPULAR POSTS School Closed: Big relief for school students! Now schools will remain closed for so many days, timings of these schools changed December 30, 2024 Bank license canceled: RBI canceled license of these 11 banks, see the full list here December 30, 2024 TDS deduction new rule: Now more money will remain in the bank account even after paying income tax? check complete details December 30, 2024 POPULAR CATEGORY Personal Finance 18153 Entertainment 17065 India 4565 News 3786 Technology 2271 Jobs Alert 794 Travel 652 Education 451 ABOUT US INFORMALNEWZ brings the Latest News & Top Breaking headlines on Politics and Current Affairs. Up-to-date news coverage, aggregated from sources all over the world by informal Newz. Find latest news coverage of breaking news events, trending topics, and compelling articles. Contact us: informalnewz@gmail.com FOLLOW US Facebook Instagram Twitter WhatsApp Youtube © - 2024 - informalnewz | Izon web Pvt. Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Contact Us - Izon Web Pvt. Ltd. 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Left-hander Max Fried agrees to $218 million, 8-year contract with Yankees, AP source says DALLAS (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that Max Fried and the New York Yankees have agreed to a $218 million, eight-year contract, the largest deal for a left-handed pitcher in baseball history. New York made the move two days after outfielder Juan Soto left for a pending $765 million, 15-year contract with the rival Mets. Fried, who turns 31 in January, gets the fourth-highest contract among pitchers behind the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole and Washington’s Stephen Strasburg. Fried broke the mark for lefties set by David Price at $217 million. Mbappe, Vinicius and Bellingham on target as Real Madrid beats Atalanta 3-2. Liverpool wins again Real Madrid’s big stars turned on the style to revive the Spanish giant’s faltering Champions League title defense. Galacticos Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham all scored in a 3-2 win at Italian league leader Atalanta. It was only Madrid’s third win in the competition’s revamped league phase and leaves the 15-time champion in the unseeded playoff positions in 18th place. In contrast Liverpool leads the way after maintaining its perfect record in Europe this season after a 1-0 win against Girona. Mohamed Salah scored his 50th Champions League goal to seal it for Liverpool. Analysis: After Juan Soto's megadeal, could MLB see a $1 billion contract? Probably not soon For the second straight Major League Baseball offseason, a norm-shattering contract has been the talk of the winter, with Juan Soto agreeing with the New York Mets on a $765 million, 15-year deal that’s the richest in baseball history. It comes almost exactly one year after the Los Angeles Dodgers forked out a princely sum of $700 million on a 10-year, heavily deferred deal for two-way Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani. The way it’s going, a contract approaching $1 billion doesn’t seem out of the question. But several factors are working against it — at least in the near future. Joe Burrow's home broken into during Monday Night Football in latest pro-athlete home invasion ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (AP) — Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s home was broken into during Monday Night Football in the latest home invasion of a pro athlete in the U.S. Authorities said Tuesday no one was injured in the break-in, but the home was ransacked. Deputies weren’t immediately able to determine what items were stolen. Both the NFL and NBA issued alerts to players following prior break-ins, urging them to take precautions. The homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were broken into in October. In the NBA, Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr. had their homes broken into. Scottie Scheffler in a landslide to win PGA Tour player of the year for third straight time Scottie Scheffler is the PGA Tour player of the year in a vote that had about as much drama as some of his victories. Scheffler earned 91% of the vote in winning the Jack Nicklaus Award for the third straight season. He joins Tiger Woods as the only players to win three straight times. Woods won it five times in a row, and three straight times on another occasion. Scheffler won seven times on the PGA Tour against only the strongest fields. He also won the FedEx Cup. He also won the Masters green jacket and an Olympic gold medal. MLB investigated to ensure no early Sasaki deal in place, pitcher likely to pick team mid-January DALLAS (AP) — Major League Baseball investigated to ensure no team had an advance deal in place for Roki Sasaki, and the agent for the Japanese pitcher says picking a club will be “like the draft in reverse.” On the first day of Sasaki’s 45-day window to sign with an MLB team, agent Joel Wolfe says the 23-year-old right-hander likely will sign shortly after the 2025 international signing pool window opens on Jan. 15 and wouldn’t wait until the Jan. 23 deadline. Sasaki helped Japan win the 2023 World Baseball Classic and has a fastball clocked at 102.5 mph. Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg says cancer has returned, spread CHICAGO (AP) — Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg says the prostate cancer he thought had been eliminated by radiation has returned and spread. The Chicago Cubs great made the announcement on Instagram on Tuesday. Sandberg announced in January that he had metastatic prostate cancer and in August said he was cancer-free after chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Sandberg was the National League MVP in 1984 and a 10-time All-Star during 15 seasons for the Cubs from 1982 to 1997, with 282 home runs and 344 stolen bases. After his playing career, he served as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies from 2013 to 2015, going 119-159. Nolan Arenado open to switch from third base to first and leaving Cardinals for a team he approves DALLAS (AP) — Nolan Arenado is open to a trade from the St. Louis Cardinals, at age 33 wanting to be on a World Series contender. Agent Joel Wolfe says “it’s like his biological clock is ticking and if the team’s not winning it’s driving him crazy every day.” An eight-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove third baseman, Arenado is open to a switch to first base. He hit .272 with 16 homers and 71 RBIs this year, his poorest season in a decade. St. Louis acquired Arenado from Colorado ahead of the 2021 season. Washington Nationals win lottery for No. 1 pick in next amateur baseball draft, Angels No. 2 DALLAS (AP) — The Washington Nationals will have the No. 1 overall pick in the amateur draft next summer. The Nationals won the draft lottery through a drawing of ping-pong balls at the winter meetings in Dallas. Unlike last year, when the Nationals were ineligible after initially coming out with the top spot, they will get to make the first pick in July in Atlanta during All-Star Game festivities. The Los Angeles Angels got the second overall pick for next summer. Seattle, Colorado, St. Louis and Pittsburgh round out the six lottery picks. Athletes in $2.8 billion college lawsuit tell judge they want to create a players' association The athletes whose lawsuit against the NCAA is primed to pave the way for schools to pay them directly also want a players’ association to represent them in the complex contract negotiations that have overtaken the industry. Grant House, Sedona Prince and Nya Harrison wrote to the judge overseeing what’s known as the House Settlement, saying that although they are generally happy with the terms of the proposed settlement “there still remains a critical need for structural changes to protect athletes and prevent the failures of the past.”US lawmakers concluded a two-year investigation Monday into the Covid-19 outbreak that killed 1.1 million Americans -- backing the theory that the virus likely leaked from a Chinese laboratory. A 520-page report from the Republican-controlled House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic looked at the federal and state-level response, as well as the pandemic's origins and vaccination efforts. "This work will help the United States, and the world, predict the next pandemic, prepare for the next pandemic, protect ourselves from the next pandemic, and hopefully prevent the next pandemic," panel chairman Brad Wenstrup said in a letter to Congress. US federal agencies, the World Health Organization and scientists across the planet have arrived at different conclusions about the most likely origin of Covid-19, and no consensus has emerged. Most believe it to have spread from animals in China, but a US intelligence analysis said last year that the virus may have been genetically engineered and escaped from a virology lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where human cases first emerged. The congressional panel was persuaded by the lab leak theory after meeting 25 times, conducting more than 30 transcribed interviews and reviewing more than one million pages of documents. The investigation included two days of interviews behind closed doors with Anthony Fauci, the government scientist who became the nation's most trusted expert in the chaotic early days of the 2020 outbreak. Fauci's clashes with former and incoming president Donald Trump over the response sparked fury on the right, and he now lives with security protection following death threats against his family. Republicans accuse the 83-year-old immunologist of helping to set off the worst pandemic in a century by approving funding passed on to Chinese scientists they accuse of manufacturing the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes Covid-19. Among its headline conclusions, the report said the National Institutes of Health had indeed funded contentious "gain-of-function" research -- which seeks to enhance viruses as a way of finding ways to combat them -- at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Fauci angrily denied covering up the origins of Covid-19 before the panel in June, arguing that it would be "molecularly impossible" for the bat viruses studied at the lab to be turned into the virus that caused the pandemic. But the panel's report said SARS-CoV-2 "likely emerged because of a laboratory or research related accident." The probe found that lockdowns "did more harm than good" and that mask mandates were "ineffective at controlling the spread of Covid-19," contradicting other research showing that masking in public does reduce transmission rates. Social distancing guidelines also came under criticism, although travel restrictions were deemed to have saved lives. Investigators found that Trump's Operation Warp Speed -- the publicly-funded project to develop Covid vaccines -- was a "tremendous success" but that school closures would have an "enduring impact" on US children. ft/jgc

Jimmy Carter, the third US president to visit India, dies at 100Central Connecticut's defense makes 7 interceptions to earn NEC's bid to FCS playoffs

In a civil lawsuit, Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jay-Z have been accused of raping a 13-year-old girl at an afterparty for the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. In an amended civil complaint, a woman identified as Jane Doe alleges she was raped by Combs, 55, and Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, during the party at a New York City residence. The accuser is now in her late 30s. The complaint, which was obtained by The Post, also claims the assault happened while an unnamed female celebrity watched. According to the document, the accuser was invited to the after-party by a limousine driver who claimed to work for the artist and told Jane Doe that the mogul liked younger girls and “fit what Diddy was looking for.” Prior to their interaction, she claimed she had been standing outside of Radio City Music Hall trying to get inside the VMAs and walking up to limousines that were dropping guests off at the venue. The plaintiff, who was 13 at the time of the alleged incident, alleged that she was asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement when she arrived at the after-party and alleges she was later given a drink that she believes was drugged. The plaintiff claimed she was approached by Combs during the party, and he had a “crazed look in his eyes” as he allegedly told her, “You are ready to party!” according to the complaint. The accuser further alleged that Combs threw her toward a wall, where she fell down. She got up and “stumbled,” at which point Combs allegedly grabbed her again and “threw her on the bed,” the complaint states. The plaintiff claims that Jay-Z removed her clothes, held her down and raped her while Combs and an unidentified female celebrity watched. She alleged Combs also raped her as Jay-Z and the female celebrity watched. Jane Doe is seeking unspecified damages. Her attorney, Tony Buzbee, previously announced that he was representing more than 100 people accusing Combs of misconduct. The amended complaint was filed on Sunday and named Jay-Z, despite the initial complaint, filed in October, not referencing Jay-Z by name. Jay-Z’s lawyers have filed a motion asking a judge to dismiss the claim. He also wants the identity of the anonymous accuser to be “disclosed immediately” to the public. The Roc Nation founder, 55, defended himself against the allegations in a statement posted to social media on Sunday. Jay-Z, who has Blue Ivy, 12, and twins Rumi and Sir, 7, with Beyoncé, vehemently denied the claims and said his “only heartbreak is for my family.” “My wife and I will have to sit our children down , one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of young people,” his statement, posted on Roc Nation’s X account , read in part. “I mourn yet another loss of innocence. Children should not have to endure such at their young age. It is unfair to have to try to understand inexplicable degrees of malice meant to destroy families and human spirit,” the statement continued. A day later, the record executive stepped out alongside his wife and oldest daughter for the red carpet premiere of “Mufasa: The Lion King.” In the Disney film, Beyoncé is the voice of Nala while Blue Ivy voices lioness cub Kiara. Even his mother-in-law, Tina Knowles , attended the event and posed with the rapper. Hours earlier, Knowles claimed her social media account — which “liked” a post about the Jay-Z and Combs lawsuit — was hacked. Following the family’s night out, 50 Cent went online to troll Jay-Z for his attendance at the red carpet. The rapper, 49, posted pictures of the famous family at the event to his Instagram, writing , “Jay said they said I rapped [sic] a kid, everybody get dressed we going to see Mufasa LOL.” He has since deleted the post. Over the years, 50 Cent has notoriously trolled Combs and is now making a Netflix documentary about the sexual assault allegations against the disgraced mogul. Combs was arrested in September on charges of racketeering and sex trafficking and has been denied bail three times. He’s behind bars at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn while awaiting his May 2025 trial.

NEHMA gift shop adds holiday-themed giftsNEW YORK , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tannenbaum Helpern is pleased to announce that Anne-Mette Elkjær Andersen has joined the Firm as partner in the Firm's Corporate practice. Anne-Mette is a highly qualified corporate attorney focusing on cross border and U.S. mergers and acquisitions, international business transactions, and corporate transactions and corporate compliance for engineering & architecture firms. Her decades of experience include advising clients on strategic purchases and sales in many sectors, including engineering, architecture, and other licensed professional design professions; defense; software; renewable energy; oil and gas; technology; retail and manufacturing; service; aviation; and shipping and rail, among others. Anne-Mette comes to Tannenbaum Helpern from the New York office of Holland & Knight, where she counseled clients on international M&A, financing and securities, performed regulatory and licensing work for professional design corporations, and assisted startup and emerging growth companies enter the U.S. market. Her clients include U.S. and foreign established privately and publicly held corporations and emerging companies on stock and asset sales, joint ventures, and SPAC matters, among others. Her experience also includes advising foreign bank clients on loan and financing agreements involving U.S.-based subsidiaries of foreign clients. Anne-Mette's primary experience is with private strategic buyers and sellers, and she also has experience in public and private securities offerings and initial public offerings (IPOs), including simultaneous offerings both in the U.S. and internationally. Anne-Mette began her career in Denmark as a lawyer with the Danish Ministry of Justice. She also spent four years with the Danish law firm Reumert & Partners (now Kromann Reumert), primarily in the areas of general corporate law, M&A and insolvency law. While practicing in Denmark , Anne-Mette represented, among others, U.S., Canadian, and Danish corporations in M&A transactions and other corporate matters. Managing Partner Andrew W. Singer commented, "Anne-Mette will expand our Corporate and M&A practices, facilitate increased opportunities for our clients and increase our ability to pursue new client relationships, especially in overseas markets and the professional design professions. Welcome, Anne-Mette!" "Anne-Mette is a welcome addition to Tannenbaum Helpern . Her capabilities and international reach add to our existing platform and relationships, both in the U.S. and globally," said Drew Jaglom , Chair of Tannenbaum Helpern's Corporate practice. Regarding her arrival, Anne-Mette added, "It's my privilege to join Tannenbaum Helpern . I'm excited to be a part of such a talented team of attorneys, and a Firm that is focused on the future!" About Tannenbaum Helpern Since 1978, Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP has combined a powerful mix of insight, creativity, industry knowledge, legal talent and experience to successfully guide clients through periods of challenge and opportunity. Our mission is to deliver the highest quality legal services in a practical and efficient manner and to provide the judgment, common sense and legal acumen of well trained, business minded lawyers, all within a culture that fosters an inclusive and respectful workplace. Through our commitment to exceptional service and driven by a focus on results, Tannenbaum Helpern continues to earn the loyalty of our clients and a reputation for excellence. For more information, visit www.thsh.com . Jennifer Papantonio Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer papantonio@thsh.com 212.702.3147 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anne-mette-elkjaer-andersen-joins-tannenbaum-helpern-as-partner-in-the-firms-corporate-practice-group-302320136.html SOURCE Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLPThe Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on Wednesday in a case that could shape the way gender-affirming health care is provided in the U.S. — specifically for minors. The case in question comes from Tennessee, where the state banned medical care such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery for transgender minors regardless of parental consent and recommendations from a health care provider. Tennessee’s ban, as it was passed, would require transgender minors who already received gender-affirming care to stop their treatments within nine months of the law’s effective date as well as establish a path of legal action against medical professionals who provide the treatments. RELATED STORY | Ohio governor signs bill limiting bathroom use by transgender students Shortly after the state’s legislation passed the ban in 2023, the American Civil Liberties Union sued on behalf of three families with transgender youths and a Memphis-based medical doctor who wanted to block the ban from going into effect. The U.S. Justice Department later joined in opposition to the law. The plaintiffs argue that Tennessee’s ban violates the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause by discriminating against trans youth on the basis of sex. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has said the law is meant to protect minors from harm in the state. In the lower courts, he claimed that there is uncertainty around the risks and benefits of transition care for minors. RELATED STORY | Supreme Court will take up state bans on gender-affirming care for minors Over half of the states in the U.S. have enacted some type of ban on gender-affirming care for minors to date. The Supreme Court’s decision in the case US v. Skirmetti could have implications across the country. If the Supreme Court rules that Tennessee’s ban is unconstitutional, then similar bans passed by other states could also be deemed unconstitutional. But if the high court affirms that laws prohibiting healthcare for transgender minors do not violate the equal protection clause, then those bans could remain in place.

Bonding over mutual interests? Study says it's 'similarity-effect'Crime stories have captivated and shocked the nation over the past 12 months. 1. RTP riven by internal conflict This year, the Royal Thai Police (RTP) was embroiled in internal conflicts among its high-level officials, leading to administrative shake-ups. Former prime minister Srettha Thavisin intervened by issuing a sudden order transferring Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol, then national police chief, to the Office of the Prime Minister for 60 days. During his absence, his deputy, Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet, was appointed as acting national police chief. Pol Gen Torsak was in conflict with his then-deputy Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, also known as "Big Joke", due to mutual accusations of involvement in high-profile corruption cases, particularly those related to online gambling and money laundering. After the investigation concluded, Pol Gen Torsak was reinstated as national police chief in June, where he served until his retirement at the end of September. Pol Gen Surachate, meanwhile, faces serious legal challenges, with the Criminal Court issuing an arrest warrant against him on charges of money laundering. He was dismissed from the police force. Despite attempts to seek justice through various agencies and the Supreme Administrative Court, all upheld the decision. The scandal ensured Pol Gen Surachate could not be considered a candidate for national police chief, and also ended his career in law enforcement, despite his having several years remaining before his mandatory retirement in 2031. The internal strife within the RTP and subsequent government interventions highlighted the challenges faced by the force in maintaining its integrity and public trust amid allegations of corruption and internal discord. 2. Fugitive Paeng Nanod found in Bali After evading authorities for over seven months, fugitive Chaowalit Thongduang, also known as “Paeng Nanod”, was apprehended in Bali, Indonesia, in a joint operation between Thai and Indonesian authorities. Chaowalit, 37, a native of tambon Nanod in Phatthalung province’s Muang district, is a notorious offender with a lengthy history of over 10 major convictions, including murder, armed assault and attempted homicide. On Oct 20 last year, he was sent from Nakhon Si Thammarat Central Prison to Maharaj Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital for dental treatment. He fled corrections staff on Oct 22 into the Banthad mountain range, which stretches across Phatthalung, Trang and Satun provinces. Despite a massive manhunt, he long managed to evade capture. He released video clips in which he claimed he was a victim of injustice and said his application for bail had not been handled fairly. His clips sparked a nationwide manhunt, led by Provincial Police Region 9 and the Immigration Bureau (IB). Investigators tracked his associates, some of whom travelled suspiciously frequently to Indonesia. Among them was a close female companion whose testimony provided crucial leads. Through collaboration with Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, a special task force was formed. The team worked with Indonesian authorities to locate Chaowalit on the tourist island of Bali, where he was found hiding in a rented room. Chaowalit was extradited to Thailand in early June to face justice after seven months on the run. He now faces additional charges related to his escape, compounding his already substantial criminal record. 3. The iCon group loses lustre One of the big scandals of the year concerned The iCon Group, the direct sales company allegedly involved in public fraud and pyramid schemes. A total of 7,875 people filed complaints against the company and claimed to have lost 1.64 billion baht in total. The iCon Group was founded by CEO Waratphon Waratvorakul in 2018, claiming it was involved in “online retail sales”. After six years of operation, it has 368,257 members and is known as a fast-growing business. Its accumulated financial statement from the year 2019-2023 reported around 10.6 billion baht in revenue. One reason for its success is the company hired celebrities to represent it, and portrayed their roles as if they were company executives. Those celebrities included Yuranunt “Sam” Pamornmontri, Kan Kantathavorn, and Pechaya “Min” Wattanamontree. On Oct 7, a group of damaged parties filed a complaint with the Central Investigation Bureau claiming The iCon Group lured them into investing in online e-commerce courses and purchase its products. They were unable to find customers and were advised to sign up members instead, in return for which they were to be paid commissions in a model similar to a pyramid scheme. More damaged parties came forward as victims with some saying their lost loved ones who committed suicide in despair of losing their savings or running up huge debts to The iCon Group. CIB officers arrested 18 suspects including the CEO, executives and three celebrities. They were charged with public fraud and crimes related to the Computer Act. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) later took over the case and investigated the company for money laundering, while the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) worked on additional asset seizures from the suspects. The probe led to additional charges for those executives including fraudulent borrowing (pyramid scheme-linked offences) and breaching the Direct Sales and Marketing Act. The DSI impounded assets worth 747 million baht from the 18 suspects for future compensation. The seized assets included real estate and luxury vehicles. The investigation also expanded to people who allegedly demanded a bribe from Mr Waratphon, including politician Samart Janechaijittawanich, former assistant minister of justice and former member of the Palang Pracharath Party; Ms Wilawan, the mother of Mr Samart; and Kritanong Suwannawong, a former chairwoman of the online network promotion coordination centre. All 20 suspects have been detained at the Bangkok Remand Prison and Central Women’s Correctional Institution, except Mr Samart’s mother who was given bail. Mr Waratphon, however, insists his company is a real business selling dietary supplements and denies all charges. 4. Lawyer Sittra crashes down to earth High-profile lawyer Sittra Biabungkerd became the talk of the town when he and his wife were arrested in November over his alleged embezzlement scheme. On Nov 7, Mr Sittra, 44, and his wife, Pathitta Biabungkerd, were arrested on a highway in Chachoengsao on fraud and money laundering charges. The high profile lawyer ran the Sittra Law Firm, which represented many famous clients in recent years. One included Suchanun Sucharitchinsri, also known as Minnie, who was suspected of running online gambling websites and linked to a close aide of former deputy police chief, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn. The scandal came to light when client Jatuporn Ubonlert, 58, filed a complaint with police saying Mr Sittra defrauded her of 71 million baht in an online lottery scheme which did not exist. Ms Jatuporn, who lives in France with her French husband, said she gave Mr Sittra the money after he claimed he could secure her rights to run an online lottery platform. The money was for the development of software which Mr Sittra had still failed to materialise after two years. Ms Jatuporn also paid Mr Sittra legal fees as her adviser of 300,000 baht a year. She decided to scrap the contract and demanded a refund but Mr Sittra claimed the money was a gift. Police expanded the investigation and arrested three others: Pinthira Kariwan, sister of his wife, Nuwat Yongyut and his girlfriend Sarini Nuchanart. They were charged with jointly laundering money and colluding to launder money, in relation to a 39 million baht fraud in which Mr Sittra claimed he could help Ms Jatuporn pay for a famous Chinese singer to perform in Thailand via cryptocurrency. But the money was later divided among the lawyer’s team. In addition, Mr Sittra allegedly forged documents when he bought a Benz for Ms Jatuporn. Police found he gained 1.5 million baht from 12.9 million baht payments on the car. He also asked Ms Jatuporn to pay 9 million baht for a hotel design when the actual cost was only 3.5 million baht, further raising her hackles. The Anti-Money Laundering Committee froze the assets of Mr Sittra and his associates totalling 71 million baht. Mr Sittra and his wife were charged with fraud and money laundering. The five suspects have been jailed at the Bangkok Remand Prison and the Central Women’s Correctional Institution, with the case still ongoing. 5. ‘PAO dispute’ behind fatal shooting Chaimet Sitsanitpong, a Prachin Buri provincial council member, was shot dead at the house of Soonthorn Vilawan, chairman of the Prachin Buri Provincial Administration Organisation (PAO), on the night of Dec 11. Chaimet, 48, was the adopted son of Mr Soonthorn, 85, an influential figure in the province and father of former deputy education minister Kanokwan Vilawan. Despite claiming he was resting in his bedroom when the gun went off, Mr Soonthorn has been named as one of seven suspects in the case, including two aides of Mr Soonthorn who are the alleged shooters. A political conflict is thought to be behind the fatal attack, as Chaimet supported his wife, Napaphat Anchasanichamon, to run for chairmanship of the Prachin Buri PAO under the Pheu Thai Party’s banner. At the same time, Mr Soonthorn insisted on fielding a Bhumjaithai Party candidate. Some audio clips containing heated arguments between the two over matters including the unsettled local election matter were leaked after the shooting. Most recently, the national police chief asked the Crime Suppression Division to take over the probe from local police. Police believe the murder was calculated and suspect Mr Soonthorn wanted his stepson dead. The case shows how truly nasty politics at the local level can be.Farmers have announced a 'Punjab Bandh' on Monday leading to the expected closure of all shops across the state and disruptions in road and rail services. However, emergency services will continue to operate. There will also be no supply of milk, fruits, and vegetables until the protest ends on Monday evening as several trade organisations lent their support to the bandh. "Farmer union leaders will enforce a chakka jam on roads and rail lines from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Government and private institutions are requested to stay closed. Only emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, marriage vehicles, or anyone in a dire emergency, will be allowed to pass," reports quoted a senior farm leader as saying. The decision to give a call for a 'Punjab bandh' was taken last week by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM). Sarwan Singh Pandher -- who happens to be the coordinator of both forums -- said traders, transporters, employees unions, toll plaza workers, labour, ex-servicemen, Sarpanches and teachers' unions, social and other bodies, and some other sections have lent their support to the bandh. Farmers under the banner of SKM (Non-Political) and KMM have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces. With Jagjit Singh Dallewal's indefinite hunger strike entering its 34th day on Sunday, farmer leaders at Khanauri said they have been following the Gandhian way to continue their protest and it is up to the government to decide whether it wants to use force to evict their senior leader. He further said the farmers wanted to make it clear that whatever situation arises the responsibility will lie with the Centre and the constitutional bodies. Rail movement and road traffic will remain closed on Monday. In support of the farmers' Bandh call, bus services in Punjab will remain suspended on Monday. While the PRTC bus services will be shut for four hours, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the private bus operators have announced their full support, thus declaring the suspension of services across the state from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday. Besides a legal guarantee on the MSP for crops, the farmers are demanding a debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in the electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21 are also part of their demands. This bandh, the farmer leader said, will force the Centre to accept the demands of farmers. He slammed the Union government for failing to accept the demands of farmers. Farmers under the banner of SKM (Non-Political) and KMM have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after security forces stopped their march to Delhi. A "jatha" (group) of 101 farmers made three attempts to enter Delhi on foot on December 6, December 8, and again on December 14. Security personnel in Haryana prevented them from proceeding. There will be a complete bandh on December 30, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said. However, emergency services will remain operational. Punjab farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said the call for a 'Punjab bandh' on December 30 is getting good support from various sections. The decision to give a call for a 'Punjab bandh' was taken last week by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. To ensure the success of the bandh, SKM (Non-political) and KMM convened a meeting of transporters, employees, traders and others at the Khanauri protest site last Thursday. (With inputs from IANS) Two policemen die of suicide in Telangana Maha CM asks CID to seize properties of accused involved in Beed Sarpanch murder case "Reimagining Jammu and Kashmir" is a visual masterpiece of resilience and progress, a must read

Nebraska defensive end Jimari Butler enters transfer portal

The stock market has been hitting new highs this year as excitement continues to build with respect to artificial intelligence (AI) and the opportunities that may open up for many businesses. But while retail investors have been eagerly buying up stocks, Warren Buffett has been fairly quiet and doing more selling than buying. The Oracle of Omaha has cautioned investors in the past "to be fearful when others are greedy," which reflects his overall cautious approach to investing. Minimizing losses are a priority for him, and AI likely wouldn't fall into his circle of competence, which is what he focuses on when deciding which stocks to buy. Are You Missing The Morning Scoop? Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free » Should investors take Buffett's conservatism in the markets this year as a red flag? Valuations are high based on historical levels In the third quarter, Buffett continued selling stocks, and Berkshire Hathaway 's cash balance reached more than $325 billion, which is higher than the nearly $277 billion it reported a quarter earlier. He has been selling shares of Apple and Bank of America for multiple periods, two top holdings in the Berkshire portfolio, and hasn't been making big moves with that money, resulting in a growing cash balance. But given how expensive the stock market has become these days, it's perhaps little wonder that he's taking a cautious position. One metric investors should pay close attention to is the S&P 500 Shiller price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, which averages inflation-adjusted earnings over the past decade. Today, the ratio is well above what it has averaged since 2000. The previous times it has been this high, there have been significant declines in the market the following year. The Shiller P/E ratio was higher in 2021. The following year, in 2022, the S&P 500 would crash by more than 19%. In the early 2000s, the market underwent a significant dot-com crash due to the tech bubble. Many value-oriented investors may be concerned that the same could be happening with AI stocks today; many of them are trading at egregious multiples. Shareholders of Palantir Technologies , for example, don't seem to be balking at its massive earnings multiple of more than 300. A value-focused option for investors to consider Even if you're worried about valuations or the possibility of a crash in the markets, it may not necessarily mean that you should sell all of your stocks and pull all of your money out. If a correction takes place, some stocks will inevitably be hit much harder than others. Stocks trading at more reasonable valuations could weather the storm better than stocks which are at obscene multiples. Meanwhile, trying to time the market and waiting for ideal investing conditions is not an optimal strategy as it could result in you missing out on gains along the way. An alternative for investors is to consider an exchange-traded fund (ETF) which prioritizes value investments. A good example of that is the Vanguard Value Index Fund ETF Shares (NYSEMKT: VTV) . The fund has a low expense ratio of 0.04% and tracks the U.S. Large Cap Value index. With the average holding in the ETF averaging an earnings multiple of just over 20, investors are getting exposure to more attractively priced stocks than the overall S&P 500 index, which is averaging a multiple of nearly 26. The top holding in the Vanguard fund is Buffett's own Berkshire Hathaway, but at just 3% of the fund's weight, it doesn't represent a huge chunk of the overall portfolio. Investors will also get access to many other blue chip stocks with the ETF, including UnitedHealth Group and Home Depot . Historically, the fund has underperformed the S&P 500, but in a possible downturn, it could be the better buy, especially given how expensive many growth stocks are right now. Investors should prepare for a possible correction Timing the market is risky, but what can be even riskier is holding stocks which trade at extremely high premiums because they can be vulnerable to a sell-off at a moment's notice. When stocks are highly valued, expectations will also be high, and any sign that a company could face difficulty could prompt investors to hit the sell button. It doesn't have to be a bad earnings report, as corrections could happen at any time investors start to smell trouble ahead. That's why it's important to consider valuations and potentially move money into cheaper stocks which may not only provide more protection during a downturn but may possess more upside in the long run. And if you aren't sure which stocks to buy or sell, a good option is to consider the Vanguard Value ETF or similar types of investments which prioritize value stocks. Don’t miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you’d have $380,291 !* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $43,278 !* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $484,003 !* Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. See 3 “Double Down” stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of November 18, 2024 Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Bank of America, Berkshire Hathaway, Home Depot, Palantir Technologies, and Vanguard Index Funds-Vanguard Value ETF. The Motley Fool recommends UnitedHealth Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy . Warren Buffett Is Being Fearful When the Markets Are Being Greedy. Is This a Red Flag for Investors? was originally published by The Motley Fool