golden empire jili slot Former NHL star Thornton back as co-GM of Canada's Spengler Cup squad CALGARY — Former NHL star Joe Thornton and Calgary Flames front office executive Brad Pascall are heading the management team for Canada's Spengler Cup squad for a second straight year. Canadian Press Dec 12, 2024 2:47 PM Dec 12, 2024 2:50 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message CALGARY — Former NHL star Joe Thornton and Calgary Flames front office executive Brad Pascall are heading the management team for Canada's Spengler Cup squad for a second straight year. Hockey Canada announced its 2024 Spengler Cup management group Tuesday, with Thornton and Pascall working as co-GMs and Hnat Domenichelli joining them as an assistant. Thornton made his international management debut at last year's Spengler Cup, when Canada lost 4-3 to Czech squad HC Dynamo Pardubice in the semifinals. He ended his 25-year professional playing career after the 2021-22 NHL season and finished with 1,539 points in 1,714 games with Boston, San Jose, Toronto and Florida. His international career includes gold with Canada at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver and a Spengler Cup title in 2004 while playing for the tournament host team, Switzerland's HC Davos. Pascall is currently in his 11th season as assistant general manager of the Calgary Flames, and his second as vice-president of hockey operations. Domenichelli has served as general manager of HC Lugano in Switzerland since 2019. As a player, he had an 18-year professional career that included 922 games in the NHL, American Hockey League and Switzerland's National League. The Spengler Cup runs Dec. 26-31 in Davos. The hosts are the defending champions. Canada and Davos are tied for the most Spengler Cup titles with 16, though Canada hasn't won since 2019. The 2020 and 2021 tournaments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2024. The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Alberta News Man who set fires at Calgary City Hall lost testicle during police standoff: watchdog Dec 12, 2024 3:40 PM Former Alberta premier Rachel Notley quitting legislature seat as of Dec. 30 Dec 12, 2024 2:31 PM Ontario mulls U.S. booze ban as Trump brushes off Ford's threat to cut electricity Dec 12, 2024 2:28 PMIn the first major flex of his influence since Donald Trump was elected, Elon Musk brought to a sudden halt a bipartisan budget proposal by posting constantly on his X megaphone and threatening Republicans with primary challenges. The social media warnings from the world's wealthiest man preceded Trump's condemnation of a measure negotiated by GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson, which effectively killed the stopgap measure that was designed to prevent a partial shutdown of the federal government. Washington was scrambled a day after Musk's public pressure campaign. Trump on Thursday declined to say if he had confidence in Johnson, telling NBC News, “We'll see.” And there was no clear path to keeping the government open beyond Friday, raising the specter of a government shutdown heading into the holidays. Congressional Democrats mocked their GOP counterparts, with several suggesting Trump had been relegated to vice president. “Welcome to the Elon Musk presidency,” Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia of California wrote on X. What was clear, though, is Musk’s ascendance as a political force, a level of influence enabled by his great wealth. In addition to owning X, Musk is the CEO of Tesla and Space X. “There is no doubt he does wield a lot of influence over Republicans right now due to his proximity to Trump,” said Chris Pack, former communications director for the National Republican Congressional Committee and the Senate Leadership Fund. But Pack also said that Musk's threats pose potential risks for House Republicans, who begin next year with a five-seat majority that will shrink temporarily because of Trump’s nomination of some GOP lawmakers to administration posts. “This isn’t going to help pass the agenda if you are going to cost a bunch of Republicans in very razor-thin moderate seats if you’re going to make them lose in primaries,” Pack said. “All that does is give the keys to these districts over to the Democrats.” Musk spent an estimated $250 million during the presidential campaign to support Trump, contributing heavily to America PAC, a super political action committee that deployed canvassers, aired TV ads and reached voters digitally in battleground states. He had signaled after the election he was willing to back GOP primary challenges to Republican members of Congress seeking re-election in 2026 who waver on Trump's appointments and agenda. He renewed the threat pointedly Wednesday. “Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!” he wrote on X. He also called it “one of the worst bills ever written.” Musk wasn't alone in fanning GOP anger against the bill, which included several compromise measures to get Democratic support in the Senate in the final weeks before Republicans take control of that chamber. Biotech entrepreneur and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who is Musk’s partner leading the new Department of Government Efficiency, also posted against the bill, as did Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. Musk played down his role at times, suggesting after some praise online, “All I can do is bring things to the attention of the people, so they may voice their support if they so choose.” And the president-elect told NBC News that he had spoken to Musk prior to the Tesla CEO's first posts. “I told him that if he agrees with me, that he could put out a statement,” Trump said. Karoline Leavitt, the incoming White House press secretary, pushed back against Democratic critics who suggested Musk was calling the shots. “As soon as President Trump released his official stance on the CR, Republicans on Capitol Hill echoed his point of view," Leavitt said in a statement, referring to the continuing resolution. "President Trump is the leader of the Republican Party. Full stop.” Throughout the day Wednesday, Musk replied to posts on X from Republican House members announcing opposition to the bill with words of thanks, and punctuating their public commitments. And he took a victory lap after Trump came out against the bill: “The voice of the people was heard. This was a good day for America." He was responding to Kentucky Rep. Andy Barr's post: “The phone was ringing off the hook today. And you know why? Because they were reading tweets...from Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.” Conservative activists at the annual AmericaFest gathering in Phoenix cheered Musk Thursday and hailed the suggestion he could replace Johnson as speaker. There’s no requirement that the speaker be an elected member of the House of Representatives. “Should Mike Johnson remain speaker of the House?” conservative media host Jack Posobiec asked his audience during a live taping of his talk show, prompting a chorus of “Noooooo!!!” from his audience. Johnson had been scheduled to attend AmericaFest, but canceled after the budget deal fell apart. “Should Elon Musk be speaker of the House?” Posobiec asked his audience, prompting cheers. Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa. Associated Press Bill Barrow contributed to this report from Phoenix.

Merging Advertising and TV PlatformsAerospace Testing Market worth $6.68 Billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 4.8% 11-22-2024 08:12 PM CET | Associations & Organizations Press release from: ABNewswire Aerospace Testing Market The global Aerospace Testing Market in terms of revenue is estimated to be worth $5.29 billion in 2024 and is poised to reach $6.68 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period. The report "Aerospace Testing Market [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/certificate-testing-market-32924426.html?utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=PaidPR&utm_campaign=aerospacetestingmarket ] by Material Testing, Environmental Testing, Structural/Component Testing, Avionics/Flight & Electronics Testing, Propulsion System Testing, In-house, Commercial, Military & Defence, Space Exploration - Global Forecast to 2029" The global Aerospace testing market was valued at USD 5.29 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 6.68 billion by 2029; it is expected to register a CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period. Download PDF Brochure @ [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=32924426&utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=PaidPR&utm_campaign=aerospacetestingmarket ] Browse 150 market data Tables and 70 Figures spread through 260 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Aerospace Testing Market" View detailed Table of Content here - https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/certificate-testing-market-32924426.html [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/certificate-testing-market-32924426.html?utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=PaidPR&utm_campaign=aerospacetestingmarket ] Image: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Images/certificate-testing-market_oveview.webp [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/certificate-testing-market-32924426.html?utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=PaidPR&utm_campaign=aerospacetestingmarket ] Aviation technology advancements, such as lightweight composites, new avionics components, and autonomous and electric aircraft, are the primary drivers of aerospace testing industry . As regulatory and safety standards grow, so does the need for intensive testing throughout all phases of product design and manufacture, as well as periodic maintenance, to validate reliability and safety. In addition, the growing frequency of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities due to increasing international commercial and defense fleets aggravates the demand for testing services. Along with environmental concerns and meeting sustainability goals, manufacturers are developing fuel efficient, low emission systems and therefore testing services are necessary to meet industry standards and ensure safety in next generation aerospace systems. Avionics/Flight & Electronics Testing services segment to account for the largest market share in the forecasted year. Avionics/flight & electronic testing services are becoming more in demand with modern aeronautical electronics becoming more complex and more integrated into modern aircraft. As the technology of aerospace develops, so would similarly the technology of avionics systems become more sophisticated, and more dependent on a higher level of sophisticated technology (navigation, communication, flight control, safety features) which themselves are already subject to rigorous tests to meet high levels of safety, reliability and regulatory safety. Moreover, as other next generation technologies are being developed such as autonomous flight systems, electric propulsion, and advanced sensors, avionics and electronics testing will be even more crucial. Moreover, this segment requires specialized testing services because these systems must run reliably at different altitudes, temperatures, and emissions. Commercial end-user accounted for the largest market share of in the forecasted year. Commercial aviation takes the largest share of the aerospace testing industry due to the need to test new aircraft models and the strict safety regulations that must be followed in order to maintain operational reliability. As air travel demand continues to rise around the globe, and these markets continue to grow, there is an ever-increasing demand for the testing and certification of commercial aircraft components and systems such as engines, avionics and the airframe structural integrity. Despite this, commercial aviation remains ahead as a result of high safety, efficiency, and regulatory standards requirements, making it the largest segment of the aerospace testing market. North America is expected to hold the largest share of the Aerospace testing market during the forecast period. North America dominates the aerospace testing industry with state-of-the-art testing facilities and a strong presence of aerospace manufacturers and defense contractors. In particular, the U.S. hosts global leaders in companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman which demand severe testing for commercial, military and space applications. Due to strong government support, large defense budgets, and stringent regulations in North America, aerospace testing thrives. The aerospace testing industry relies heavily on government funding for research and development. As a result, safety standards can be maintained, and innovation can flourish in the industry. Government regulations also mandate that all aerospace products meet strict safety and performance specifications, and in turn, the demand for testing aerospace products is extremely comprehensive. Key Players- The key companies that offer aerospace testing industry include Element Materials Technology (UK), SGS SA (Switzerland), Intertek Group plc (UK), Applus+ (Spain), TUV SUD (Germany), TUV Rheinland (Germany), TUV NORD Group (Germany), Rohde & Schwarz (Germany), Eurofins Scientific (Luxembourg), The Boeing Company (US), Airbus (Netherlands), MISTRAS Group (US), Lockheed Martin Corporation (US), Bureau Veritas (France), and DEKRA (Germany). Media Contact Company Name: MarketsandMarkets Trademark Research Private Ltd. Contact Person: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=aerospace-testing-market-worth-668-billion-by-2029-at-a-cagr-of-48 ] Phone: 18886006441 Address:1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445 City: Delray Beach State: Florida Country: United States Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/certificate-testing-market-32924426.html This release was published on openPR.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry warns sanctions have ‘dangerous implications’ for the ‘strategic stability of the region’. Pakistan has denounced new US sanctions on the country’s ballistic missile programme as “discriminatory” and said they put the region’s peace and security at risk. Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday warned in a statement that the sanctions “have dangerous implications for strategic stability of our region and beyond”. It also cast doubt on US allegations that targeted businesses were involved in weapons proliferation because previous sanctions “were based on mere doubts and suspicion without any evidence whatsoever”. It also accused the US of “double standards” for waiving licensing requirements for advanced military technology to other countries. The sanctions freeze any US property belonging to the targeted businesses and bar Americans from doing business with them. The US Department of State said one such sanctioned entity, the Islamabad-based National Development Complex, worked to acquire items for developing Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile programme that includes the SHAHEEN series of ballistic missiles. The other sanctioned entities are Akhtar and Sons Private Limited, Affiliates International and Rockside Enterprise. The latest US sanctions came months after similar measures were slapped on other foreign entities, including a Chinese research institute, after the US State Department accused them of working for the National Development Complex, which it says was involved in the development and production of Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missiles. Pakistan became a declared nuclear power in 1998, when it conducted underground nuclear tests in response to those carried out by its rival and neighbour India. The two sides regularly test-fired their short-, medium- and long-range missiles. ‘Emerging threat to US’ Later on Thursday, a senior White House official said Pakistan is developing long-range ballistic missile capabilities that eventually could allow it to strike targets outside of South Asia, including in the United States. Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer said Islamabad’s conduct raised “real questions” about the aims of its ballistic missile programme. “Candidly, it’s hard for us to see Pakistan’s actions as anything other than an emerging threat to the United States,” Finer told the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace audience. “Pakistan has developed increasingly sophisticated missile technology, from long-range ballistic missile systems to equipment that would enable the testing of significantly larger rocket motors,” he said. If those trends continue, Finer said, “Pakistan will have the capability to strike targets well beyond South Asia, including in the United States.”With the launch of the highly anticipated iPhone 16 series, Apple is once again asserting its dominance in the smartphone arena. The introduction of the A18 Bionic chip and upgraded Apple Intelligence has everyone buzzing about features like real-time translation, advanced computational photography, and a more intuitive Siri. However, just when you thought the competition couldn’t get fiercer, Infinix has stepped onto the scene with its ground-breaking Infinix AI ♾️ system, ready to challenge Apple’s supremacy. While Apple focuses on refining its impressive tech, Infinix is making bold moves that could potentially outshine some of Apple’s latest offerings. Let’s take a closer look at how Infinix AI ♾️ is raising the bar and why you should pay attention. Apple Intelligence has Siri; Infinix AI ♾️ has Folax, and it offers much more than a typical voice assistant. Embracing multimodal input, it allows you to interact through text, voice, and even file commands. Imagine asking Infinix AI ♾️to summarize an article, fetch the latest headlines, or solve complex math problems—all through effortless voice interaction. It is set to provide a richer experience, making even the iPhone 16’s advanced features feel ordinary. Infinix AI ♾️ is not just about taking photos; it’s about providing solutions. Got a tricky math problem? Snap a picture, and Infinix AI ♾️ will not only give you the answer but also guide you through the solution step-by-step. It’s like having a personal tutor in your pocket—ideal for students and lifelong learners alike. While Apple’s Live Text allows you to copy text from images, solving problems in real time is a step Apple hasn’t taken yet. Apple’s Visual Look-Up can identify landmarks, but Infinix AI ♾️ goes far beyond mere recognition. Imagine pointing your camera at a monument and not just learning its name, but receiving rich historical context, fun facts, and nearby recommendations. Infinix’s Visual Look Up ♾️ acts as your historian, botanist, and travel guide all in one. For travel enthusiasts, Infinix transforms adventures into immersive experiences, while Apple’s offerings still feel a bit surface-level Time is precious, and Infinix AI’s Live Texts ♾️ feature shines in this aspect. Whether you’re dealing with lengthy notes or complex reports, simply take a snap, and it will summarize the key points instantly. Forget the tedious task of reading entire PDFs or emails— it cuts straight to the essentials. While Apple’s Live Text helps extract text, summarizing it is still left to the user, giving Infinix a clear edge for those juggling tight schedules. Sure, Apple’s Visual Look-Up can identify objects, but Infinix AI ♾️ adds a creative flair that Apple can’t match. Capture a photo, and watch Infinix AI ♾️ generate witty captions, imaginative storylines, or creative tags for your social media. Whether you’re a content creator or just looking to enhance your Instagram game, Infinix AI’s Magic Create ♾️ turns each snapshot into a storytelling moment. While Apple leaves creativity up to you, Infinix is providing a helping hand for those wanting to instantly elevate their content. Infinix AI ♾️ doesn’t stop at basic identification; it dives deeper. Snap a picture of a plant, and Infinix AI ♾️ will not only tell you its species but also provide detailed information about its care, origin, and even medicinal uses. It’s like carrying an encyclopedia in your pocket, ready to teach you something new with every click. Apple’s Visual Look Up offers basic identification, but Infinix AI ♾️ enriches the learning experience with insightful knowledge that truly expands your understanding. While Apple’s iPhone 16 is undoubtedly a technological marvel, Infinix AI ♾️ presents a fresh, versatile, and engaging experience that extends beyond traditional functionality. From solving complex problems to enriching your travel experiences, Infinix AI ♾️ showcases features that Apple has yet to explore fully. As the tech world gears up for the iPhone 16 launch, don’t overlook Infinix AI ♾️. With its impending debut in early October 2024, we could witness a significant shift in the AI landscape. This new contender might be the breakthrough needed to challenge Apple’s longstanding dominance. The future of AI innovation is shaping up to be an exciting battle, and it’s one you won’t want to miss. Also Read: PTA Taxes Portal Find PTA Taxes on All Phones on a Single Page using the PhoneWorld PTA Taxes Portal

Donald Trump is trying to 'humiliate' Justin Trudeau with Canada jokes, ex-Trump adviser saysSports on TV for Friday, Dec. 20

Former Uvalde schools police chief loses bid to toss criminal charges related to 2022 shootingMiddle East latest: Israeli strikes in Gaza kill more than 50 people, including kidsSAN FRANCISCO — Character.AI, once one of Silicon Valley’s most promising AI startups, announced on Thursday new safety measures to protect teenage users as it faces lawsuits alleging its chatbots contributed to youth suicide and self-harm. The California-based company, founded by former Google engineers, is among several firms offering AI companions — chatbots designed to provide conversation, entertainment and emotional support through human-like interactions. In a Florida lawsuit filed in October, a mother claimed the platform bears responsibility for her 14-year-old son’s suicide. The teen, Sewell Setzer III, had formed an intimate relationship with a chatbot based on the “Game of Thrones” character Daenerys Targaryen and mentioned a desire for suicide. According to the complaint, the bot encouraged his final act, responding “please do, my sweet king” when he said he was “coming home” before taking his life with his stepfather’s weapon. Character.AI “went to great lengths to engineer 14-year-old Sewell’s harmful dependency on their products, sexually and emotionally abused him, and ultimately failed to offer help or notify his parents when he expressed suicidal ideation”, the suit said. A separate Texas lawsuit filed on Monday involves two families who allege the platform exposed their children to sexual content and encouraged self-harm. One case involved a 17-year-old autistic teen who allegedly suffered a mental health crisis after using the platform. In another example, the lawsuit alleged that a Character.AI encouraged a teen to kill his parents for limiting his screen time. The platform, which hosts millions of user-created personas ranging from historical figures to abstract concepts, has grown popular among young users seeking emotional support. Critics say this has led to dangerous dependencies among vulnerable teens. In response, Character.AI announced it has developed a separate AI model for users under 18, with stricter content filters and more conservative responses. The platform will now automatically flag suicide-related content and direct users to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. “Our goal is to provide a space that is both engaging and safe for our community,” a company spokesperson said. The company plans to introduce parental controls in early 2025, allowing oversight of children’s platform usage. For bots that include descriptions like therapist or doctor, a special note will warn that they do not replace professional advice. New features also include mandatory break notifications and prominent disclaimers about the artificial nature of the interactions. Both lawsuits name Character.AI’s founders and Google, an investor in the company. The founders, Noam Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas Adiwarsana, returned to Google in August as part of a technology licensing agreement with Character.AI. Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said in a statement that Google and Character.AI are completely separate, unrelated companies. “User safety is a top concern for us, which is why we’ve taken a cautious and responsible approach to developing and rolling out our AI products, with rigorous testing and safety processes,” he added.

2024 was a chaotic year, as always. Each year does seem to be adding a touch more chaos than the last recently. Strangely enough, it was nothing in the chaotic present that gripped my mind and imagination as much as one weird and brutal incident from the past: the death of filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini. The basic situation is this: on November 2 1975, Pasolini was on a beach in Ostia where he was savagely beaten and run over several times by a car. The situation has seen renewed interest as time and technology have allowed it, and as Pasolini's cinematic profile has only grown in the past five decades, culminating in an excellent FT investigation this year that really sought to place all the cards on the table. It is obvious the killer(s) had motive, a specific intent behind murdering one of Italy’s most groundbreaking filmmakers. Who he was is certainly the crux of all this. His homosexuality was a long-pinned motive, hate assumed as the primary driver behind such a vicious murder. His testicles were crushed by a metal bar, an obvious symbol of this kind of motivation. And Italy was certainly no safe haven for those openly gay in 1975. But the full story and context behind his murder are not as cut and dry as a manic bigoted attack. The political dimension of his death has long been underplayed, going almost unconsidered in official investigations. Pasolini was a Marxist in the post-remnants of fascist Italy. He is known as a filmmaker across the world, but at home he was just as likely to be seen as an author, poet, and philosopher, and was widely read at the time as a columnist (back when such things had a significantly wider influence). Read more: Jean-Luc Godard: the 20th century giant that changed film forever Pasolini’s international profile was also rising, with the shock arthouse release of his film Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom making its way around in the same year of his death. The ‘most shocking’ accolades it receives tend to undervalue the film’s vision of how cruel and soul-eroding the effects of fascism are on its spiritual level. Fascists tend to not like to be seen as what they are, it reveals who they are too much. But there is also a more direct threat, such as in that year when Pasolini accused the leaders of the Christian Democrats of being in the pockets of the Mafia and helping to cover up neofascist bombings during the tumultuous Years of Lead. These are risky things to say out loud. This introduces the central question mainly looming over his death: was this a political assassination? The quest to answer this properly and officially has been long-winded, seen steps of progress and many more roadblocks, been ignored then reignited. It still waits to be answered, with hope that returning to DNA in the present day can tie up any loose knots. It is most assumed outside the legal system that it was indeed a political assassination, that a 17-year-old named Giuseppe Pelosi, along with several others, killed him on behalf of a Mafia cabal with major links to neofascism, that had found some measure of power and influence in Italy’s political system and underworld. This makes the most sense, particularly given the context. Pasolini was a loud thinker, unapologetically. 20th-century Italy had seen communism as the second alternative to the status quo. By 1975, fascists would have again likely pictured communist influence as a threat to their next political ascendency. With links in a political structure and the means to an end accessed through the underworld, they could get rid of him easily and obfuscate what they were trying to do. Read more: ‘This feels like an experiment to see how long I last in the film industry’ But there are holes everywhere in the story. The way Pasolini was murdered did not indicate a one-man job. Others have confessed, only to recant their confessions. And how far does the trail go down considering the scope and breadth of forces likely involved in the murder? It could reveal something about Italy's relationship with power at that time, something that wasn’t quite understood. I’m not looking to solve this myself, it’s way outside my investigative talents, but there is something fascinating in this death. Something particularly haunting, not lifelike. It is cliché to say that the director’s murder scene is not unlike something in his films, an example of art manifesting itself into our own strange, cruel reality. It’s a sharp inversion of film attempting to be the reflector rather than the reflected. The supposed killer could even masquerade as one of his broody young male protagonists. The attention to detail is palpable. As haunting, tragic, and weirdly cinematic as Pasolini’s murder is, there is a lesson in his death, and it seems to favour much of how he himself viewed the world. That fascism – as a concept, a philosophy, a mode of politics – is soul-destroying, a conduit towards a facsimile of society. Hopefully one day there will be justice for Pasolini’s murder, but that won’t stop his tragic death from still meaning something important and necessary.