lottery dream interpretation numbers
lottery dream interpretation numbers

Biden's broken promise on pardoning his son Hunter is raising new questions about his legacy WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s decision to go back on his word and pardon his son Hunter wasn't all that surprising to those who are familiar with the president's devotion to his family. But by choosing to put his family first, the 82-year-old president has raised new questions about his legacy. Biden has held himself up as placing his respect for the American judicial system and rule of law over his own personal concerns. It was part of an effort to draw a deliberate contrast with Republican Donald Trump. Now, both his broken promise and his act of clemency are a political lightning rod. Some Democrats are frustrated over Joe Biden reversing course and pardoning his son Hunter ATLANTA (AP) — Already reeling from their November defeat at the polls, Democrats now are grappling with President Joe Biden's pardoning of his son for a federal felony conviction — after the party spent years slamming Donald Trump as a threat to democracy who operates above the law. The White House on Monday struggled to defend the pardon, claiming the prosecution was politically motivated — a page out of Trump's playbook. That explanation did not satisfy some Democrats who are angry that Biden’s reversal could make it harder to take on Trump. Hezbollah fires into Israel-held area after multiple Israeli strikes in Lebanon since truce began JERUSALEM (AP) — Hezbollah fired into a disputed border zone held by Israel after multiple Israeli strikes inside Lebanon since a ceasefire took hold last week. The militant group said the volley, its first during the truce, was a warning shot in response to what it called repeated Israeli violations. Israeli leaders threatened to retaliate, further straining the fragile U.S.- and French-brokered ceasefire. Israeli strikes in recent days, including a string of hits on Monday, have killed at least four people in Lebanon. U.S. officials said the ceasefire was largely holding. Key players in Syria's long-running civil war, reignited by a shock rebel offensive BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s civil war has exploded back onto the world stage after insurgents poured out of their main bastion in northwestern Syria and seized large parts of nearby Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, and dozens of nearby towns and villages.. The insurgents offensive triggered the heaviest clashes in the country since a March 2020 cease-fire brokered by Turkey and Russia, who back rival sides in the conflict. Five countries have military presence in Syria including the U.S. that has troops deployed in the country’s east, Turkey that controls parts of northern Syria, Israel that has presence in the Golan Heights and Russia and Iran that have been a main backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Woman driving drunk who killed bride still in her wedding dress sentenced to 25 years in prison A woman who admitted to drinking and who was driving well over twice the speed limit when she smashed into a golf cart killing a bride who had just got married at a South Carolina beach has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. Jamie Lee Komoroski pleaded guilty Monday to reckless homicide and three felony driving under the influence charges. Police said the 27-year-old drank at several bars on April 28, 2023, and was driving 65 mph on a narrow Folly Beach road when she slammed into a golf cart leaving a wedding. The bride, 34-year-old Samantha Miller, died still wearing her wedding dress. Florida woman sentenced to life for zipping boyfriend into suitcase, suffocating him A 47-year-oldFlorida woman has been sentenced to life in prison for zipping her boyfriend into a suitcase and leaving him to die of suffocation amid a history of domestic and alcohol abuse. Circuit Judge Michael Kraynick imposed the sentence Monday in Orlando on Sarah Boone for the 2020 killing of 42-year-old Jorge Torres. A jury deliberated only 90 minutes Oct. 25 before convicting Boone of the second-degree murder of Jorge Torres after a 10-day trial. Boone had insisted she was herself a victim of domestic violence at the hands of Torres and had pleaded not guilty. Already buried under snow, Great Lakes region expected to see more stormy weather this week Some storm-weary residents of the Great Lakes region have seen continued snowfall and are facing the prospect of even more accumulations this week. Lake-effect snow continues to fall on parts of western New York that were already blanketed with a foot or more over the past four days. Lake-effect snow warnings are in effect through Tuesday night in parts of Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania. Snow fell in western Michigan overnight, and heavier, persistent snow of up to a foot was expected to follow into Monday. Meanwhile, Alaska's capital got more than a foot of snow over the weekend. The National Weather Service says the wintry weather is stronger than Juneau usually sees this time of year. Stock market today: Rising tech stocks pull Wall Street to another record NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks pulled Wall Street to another record amid mixed trading. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% Monday after closing November at an all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. Super Micro Computer, a stock that’s been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared after saying an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or the company’s board. Retailers were mixed coming off Black Friday and heading into what’s expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. Cyber Monday shoppers expected to set a record on the year's biggest day for online shopping Consumers in the U.S. are scouring the internet for online deals as they look to make the most of the post-Thanksgiving shopping marathon on Cyber Monday. The National Retail Federation coined the term for the Monday after Black Friday in 2005. Even though e-commerce is now part and parcel of many people’s regular routine, Cyber Monday continues to be the biggest online shopping day of the year, thanks to steady discounts and a fair amount of hype. Several major retails actually started their Cyber Monday promotions over the weekend. Consumer spending for the online shopping days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday provides an indication of how much shoppers are willing to spend for the holidays.Mexican singer Dulce, an iconic figure of ballad and romantic music who conquered several generations in Mexico with her powerful voice, died at the age of 69 in Mexico City after medical complications, her family and staff announced on Wednesday (Dec. 25). “With deep sorrow and sadness, we confirm the sensitive passing of our beloved Dulce, an exceptional artist and a wonderful person who left an indelible mark in the hearts of all those who knew her,” reads a statement posted on Dulce’s Instagram account, along with a photograph of the artist. The news of the death of the singer born Bertha Elisa Noeggerath Cárdenas was confirmed by the National Association of Actors (ANDA), the union to which the singer belonged, in a message on social media. “The National Actors Association deeply regrets the passing of our colleague Bertha Elisa Noeggerath Cárdenas, ‘Dulce’, a member of our union. Our condolences to her family, friends and colleagues. May she rest in peace,” reads the message published on X. After the artist’s sister Isabel Noeggerath announced the singer’s death in a brief Facebook post , a wave of messages from various Mexican show-business figures appeared on social networks. “My dear Dulce, your departure makes me so sad, you don’t know how much I will miss you, dear friend, thank you for all the wonderful moments we shared my doll, thank you for your love, your friendship, for always joining your voice with mine and for always being for me. Fly very high my Dulce, I will always keep you in my heart, I adore you and I will admire you forever! A tremendous artist won the sky, lots of light on your path,” wrote singer Rocío Banquells on X. “Farewell my dearest Dulce! What a great gift it was to share with you! I’m going to miss you!” expressed singer Manoella Torres on Instagram. “Today we have to face a loss that fills us with sadness. Dulce was a person who left her mark on those of us who were fortunate enough to know her. Our hearts go out to her family, friends and colleagues in this difficult moment. Rest in peace,” wrote Argentine singer Amanda Miguel in a message on X. Dulce was born on July 29, 1954, in the border city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, and was a renowned artist in the Latin music scene. According to what she told on several occasions, in 1974 she met José José, who by then was already a great figure in music, and who was captivated by her voice. He was the one who got her an audition with Polygram record executives, said the artist in an interview with Imagen Televisión. In 1978 she achieved fame by participating in different musical events, such as the Mallorca Festival and the Yamaha Song Festival in Tokyo. With her fusion of ballad and pop, she made a place for herself in the music industry in Mexico and Latin America with hits such as “Tu Muñeca,” “Lobo,” “Déjame Volver Contigo,” “Aún lo Amo,” “Hielo,” “Fui Demasiado Fácil,” “Soy Una Dama,” “Cara Cara,” “Pájaro Herido,” “Échame la Culpa a Mí” and “Cuál de los Dos.” She also performed “Amor en Silencio,” the main theme of the 1988 soap opera of the same name, written by Marco Antonio Solís. Between 2011 and 2018, Dulce was part of the GranDiosas tour, along with Rocío Banquells, María Conchita Alonso and Karina.
China's mega hydel project along Brahmaputra serves as wake-up call for India's pending hydroelectric project
The S&P 500 rose 0.2% from its all-time high set on Friday to post a record for the 54th time this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 128 points, or 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. Super Micro Computer, a stock that’s been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared 28.7% to lead the market. Following allegations of misconduct and the resignation of its public auditor , the maker of servers used in artificial-intelligence technology said an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or by the company’s board. It also said that it doesn’t expect to restate its past financials and that it will find a new chief financial officer, appoint a general counsel and make other moves to strengthen its governance. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up the market. Gains of 1.8% for Microsoft and 3.2% for Meta Platforms were the two strongest forces pushing upward on the S&P 500. Intel was another propellant during the morning, but it lost an early gain to fall 0.5% after the chip company said CEO Pat Gelsinger has retired and stepped down from the board. Intel is looking for Gelsinger’s replacement, and its chair said it’s “committed to restoring investor confidence.” Intel recently lost its spot in the Dow Jones Industrial Average to Nvidia, which has skyrocketed in Wall Street’s frenzy around AI. Stellantis, meanwhile, skidded following the announcement of its CEO’s departure . Carlos Tavares steps down after nearly four years in the top spot of the automaker, which owns car brands like Jeep, Citroën and Ram, amid an ongoing struggle with slumping sales and an inventory backlog at dealerships. The world’s fourth-largest automaker’s stock fell 6.3% in Milan. The majority of stocks in the S&P 500 likewise fell, including California utility PG&E. It dropped 5% after saying it would sell $2.4 billion of stock and preferred shares to raise cash. Retailers were mixed amid what’s expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record and coming off Black Friday . Target, which recently gave a forecast for the holiday season that left investors discouraged , fell 1.2%. Walmart , which gave a more optimistic forecast, rose 0.2%. Amazon, which looks to benefit from online sales from Cyber Monday, climbed 1.4%. All told, the S&P 500 added 14.77 points to 6,047.15. The Dow fell 128.65 to 44,782.00, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 185.78 to 19,403.95. The stock market largely took Donald Trump’s latest threat on tariffs in stride. The president-elect on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs against a group of developing economies if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. Trump said he wants the group, headlined by Brazil, Russia, India and China, to promise it won’t create a new currency or otherwise try to undercut the U.S. dollar. The dollar has long been the currency of choice for global trade. Speculation has also been around a long time that other currencies could knock it off its mantle, but no contender has come close. The U.S. dollar’s value rose Monday against several other currencies, but one of its strongest moves likely had less to do with the tariff threats. The euro fell amid a political battle in Paris over the French government’s budget . The euro sank 0.7% against the U.S. dollar and broke below $1.05. In the bond market, Treasury yields gave up early gains to hold relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed above 4.23% during the morning before falling back to 4.19%. That was just above its level of 4.18% late Friday. A report in the morning showed the U.S. manufacturing sector contracted again last month, but not by as much as economists expected. This upcoming week will bring several big updates on the job market, including the October job openings report, weekly unemployment benefits data and the all-important November jobs report. They could steer the next moves for Federal Reserve, which recently began pulling interest rates lower to give support to the economy. Economists expect Friday’s headliner report to show U.S. employers accelerated their hiring in November, coming off October’s lackluster growth that was hampered by damaging hurricanes and strikes. “We now find ourselves in the middle of this Goldilocks zone, where economic health supports earnings growth while remaining weak enough to justify potential Fed rate cuts,” according to Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide. In financial markets abroad, Chinese stocks led gains worldwide as monthly surveys showed improving conditions for manufacturing, partly driven by a surge in orders ahead of Trump’s inauguration next month. Both official and private sector surveys of factory managers showed strong new orders and export orders, possibly partly linked to efforts by importers in the U.S. to beat potential tariff hikes by Trump once he takes office. Indexes rose 0.7% in Hong Kong and 1.1% in Shanghai. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.As the investigation continues, authorities are urging anyone with information related to the shooting to come forward and assist in bringing the perpetrator to justice. The swift apprehension of the suspect is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of law enforcement officers, who work tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of the community.One children's advocate counts 33 reports in 30 years into problems at Oranga Tamariki and its predecessors. Why is change at our child protection agency so hard to come by? Ten months after five-year-old Malachi Subecz was murdered by his carer, Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier drove out to Porirua to visit the little boy's uncle and cousin. He was there to deliver the findings of his investigations into their complaint that Oranga Tamariki had dismissed concerns about Malachi being abused. As he sat across the table from Malachi's whanau, Boshier remembers choking up. "It was an incredibly emotional experience, traumatic, in fact," he recalls. "But it was the right thing to do, to acknowledge the terrible acts of abuse this poor child had suffered. "And I think they could see that. They could see that we actually cared to the point where it was quite emotional for us." Boshier had reason to be emotional. His investigation found a "litany of failures" by Oranga Tamariki to follow its own policies after the Children's Ministry dismissed or ignored several reports of concern about Malachi's care. Just a few months earlier, Boshier had delivered the findings of his investigation into the uplift of newborn pēpi, He Take Kōhukihuki , which found process, system and record-keeping issues. "These were also underlying factors in Oranga Tamariki's failings in the Malachi Subecz case," Boshier says. He remembers feeling "enormous change" would be needed to prevent another case like this happening again. "Oranga Tamariki assured me following my investigation into the case of Malachi Subecz that there would be dramatic change. "Of course, I hoped it would be the last time I would have to investigate such a case." It was not to be. In February this year, Boshier's office released another report. Children in Care: Complaints to the Ombudsman 2019-2023 again identified poor record-keeping, inaccurate information and failures to follow up reports of concern as recurring themes. An RNZ investigation last week highlighted similar failures in the cases of two families, with devastating consequences for both. This is the final part of an RNZ investigative series into Oranga Tamariki. Read Part 1 , Part 2 and Part 3 . And despite promises of system-wide changes by agencies involved in child protection following Malachi's death in 2021, a September analysis by Aroturuki Tamariki Independent Children's Monitor found vulnerable children are no better off now than when he died. The reports added to an already teetering pile. Child Matters chief executive Jane Searle counts 33 reviews into the ministry and its predecessors over the last 30 years. "They all say similar things. These problems are not new. It's just that they're getting worse." So if the problems are known, and the need for change recognised, what will it take to actually make it happen? A broken system For Jane Searle, radical investment in the ministry's structure and culture is the only thing that will break the cycle. "It's going to take a lot of time, a lot of resources and very good leadership to do that. We've struggled to have the political desire to do that on a large level." There are good social workers trying to do their best in a system that is broken, she says. "But there are also cases of bad practice that have happened over many years which are difficult to change because it is such a huge organisation." The many reports and reviews all suggest similar solutions, but few have actually been enacted. "We haven't invested in the training and capacity building of Oranga Tamariki social workers and also ensuring that their workloads are manageable. And we also haven't invested in the capacity for community organisations to respond and play the important role that they play." Searle is equally concerned the ministry doesn't have robust IT systems that allow staff to do their jobs properly. "It's a hard job to protect vulnerable children and young people anyway, but if the organisation is not set up structurally to do that, with the right leadership and investment, it is going to continue to fail." Central to the issue is Oranga Tamariki's two-decade-old case management system, CYRAS, which its chief social worker Nicolette Dickson admits is "old and difficult" to use. A $62.5 million upgrade will start next year and won't be completed until about 2030, though the first stage should be complete by the end of next year, Dickson says. "This will make a significant difference in the way we're managing record-keeping. We won't have solved the whole problem but we will have made a really good start." "I just want a clear picture" Behind every record - complete, partial or missing - is a person. Ihorangi Reweti-Peters was just seven months old when he was placed into state care. Now 19, he's had over 14 different placements and experienced abuse from caregivers who were meant to protect him. After being officially discharged from state care last year, he's been trying to piece together his early years from Oranga Tamariki's records, but chunks of his time in care are missing from his file. "There are parts of my time in care which are not accurately recorded or they are parts missing ... so I don't know what happened." Some of the records from his first year of life are missing - lost when the ministry transferred files from paper to digital in 2006, he says. "I just want to know my whole journey through Oranga Tamariki, from the day that the first report of concern was made to when I left. "I just want a clear picture, which may be able to provide me with some closure to the negative experiences that I've had within Oranga Tamariki." Reweti-Peters, who is now a state care advocate, says there are hundreds of others like him. He's hopeful, but sceptical, that improvements will be forthcoming. "Oranga Tamariki has on multiple occasions said they are working on changes to accurately record and gather data but we haven't seen the results of that yet. "This is really important work. I would hope it would be able to get done quicker, to provide closure to survivors and to accurately monitor and record information." The IT and record-keeping upgrade can't come soon enough for Aroturuki Tamariki Independent Children's Monitor chief executive Arran Jones, as it will finally allow him to do his job properly. His agency, established in 2019 to monitor Oranga Tamariki's compliance with National Care Standards regulations, has struggled to carry out this task for the last three years due to "gaps" in OT's data about the children in its care. The regulations prescribe basic standards that must be met for children in state care, such as regular school attendance or whether they see a dentist or doctor once a year. But Jones doesn't know if the ministry is complying with all these standards. "They just don't have the information centrally to be able to tell whether the kids are getting what they need. These are legal requirements on Oranga Tamariki, and they are still unable to provide the information." Through its own self-monitoring process, Oranga Tamariki admits it has only been "partially compliant" with the national care standards the last two financial years. Jones also worries the recent loss of 419 back office jobs at Oranga Tamariki - including cuts to its information management and a reorganisation of its data team - could hinder progress. "I have spoken to the chief executive to gain an assurance that it wouldn't impact on the supply of information to us so that we can do our work. I guess my response to this will be a wait and see what impact it may have." Nicolette Dickson says keeping track of 80 standards for more than 5000 children in state care is challenging, due to the limitations of the case management system. Instead, the ministry has opted to report on a few lead indicators, and Dickson says what it has reported so far has shown improvements. "For example, in 2022, 72 percent of children in care had had an assessment of their needs completed. By 2024, this had risen to 90 percent. "So whilst I do accept the monitor's concern that the level of our detail and data and information doesn't enable a full picture over every aspect of the care standards, we have progressively improved the quality of information we provided to the monitor and seen progressive improvements." The upgrade in the pipeline will allow them to provide better quality information about children in state care, she says. Children's and Young Person's Commissioner Claire Achmad says the ministry has a duty and obligation to collect information about a child's situation in state care that can be held on their file and made available to them - which needs to be done even without a reliable case management system. "Because that will form an important part of their understanding of their identity and their story, and so Oranga Tamariki needs to be maintaining a clear focus on this all the time, regardless of whether it's in the process of upgrading its information and record keeping system." Like Searle, she says this will take resourcing and a culture change to get right. "I continue to call for Oranga Tamariki to focus on getting the basics right to ensure every child in the care of the state has their full range of rights upheld in all circumstances every day. "We know right now that Oranga Tamariki is too far away from that. But I do believe that with that focus, change is possible." "We have an absolutely clear focus on what needs to change" Dickson admits the ministry has lost its focus. "Oranga Tamariki and its predecessors have had a history of trying to be all things to all communities, to all families, and falling short actually." Dickson should know. She's worked at the ministry for more than 20 years, starting as a social worker before rising up the ranks to management. She's now its chief social worker and deputy chief executive of professional practice after the two roles were combined in a restructure earlier this year. She says the basic tenets of social work haven't changed much over that time - though it has become more complex with the rise of methamphetamine - but support for social workers has declined. "When I was a young social worker we had really strong systems of support, supervision, training and for a while that slipped away," she says. "I can't speak to why things may have slipped away, but I do know there's been a very clear shift back to focusing on the core fundamentals to make sure our social workers have the support they need to do a really busy, complex and demanding job." This shift came after a 2021 Oranga Tamariki ministerial advisory board report, Kahu Aroha, recommended the ministry get back to its core social work purpose and offer better support and training for social workers. "That's really provided a blueprint for making sure that we are focused on developing the best tools, resources, learning and support and coaching supervision for our staff," Dickson says. The ministry has three key priorities: providing a high level response to the kids that need it the most; enabling communities to take a lead and early response; and working with other agencies in health and education to plug the gaps. There's no timeframe for when these will be achieved, as it's about "progressive, long-term sustainable change over time," Dickson says. "Real, substantive, complex change isn't something that you can put a timeframe on. It's something you have to be relentlessly focused on day by day. "We have an absolutely clear focus on what needs to change." When it comes to record-keeping issues, the ministry regularly reviews cases and we "look at our practice really closely" so it knows where it can improve, she says. "We know there are areas where we've still got work to do, but what I am confident about as chief social worker, is that the areas that get in the way of our social workers doing a good job are actively being addressed." Despite the challenges, ministry social workers are doing amazing work every day, Dickson says. "We have social workers who, on a daily basis, are out there changing lives, sometimes saving lives. I understand why that's a narrative that sometimes doesn't get a lot of air time but there are truly amazing professionals we have working for this organisation." She strongly disagrees with suggestions that significant work is not being done to improve its record-keeping track record. "I do appreciate the sense that change isn't happening as quickly as people may want." She also rejects Boshier's assertion that the ministry intentionally or systematically provides incorrect information to the Family Court. "We've taken action in each case to understand the recommendations he's made. We've looked at areas of recording and the way we manage our court practices," she says. "These are longstanding challenging problems that exist across many care and protection systems across the world." But she agrees with Boshier that the ministry needs a sustained plan of improvement. "I have confidence that the plan is in place, underway and actively being worked on." A matter of records Proposed law changes may also beef up record-keeping at Oranga Tamariki, along with other government agencies. As part of its response to the Abuse in Care Inquiry, the government announced last week that it will amend the Public Records Act. The proposed changes will give greater powers to Archives New Zealand to make sure agencies are fulfilling their legal obligation to keep and maintain proper records of everything they do. The changes are a direct response to problems raised by survivors during the Inquiry about trouble accessing their state care records, including being given heavily redacted documents and incomplete files. The man in charge of ensuring all government agencies complies with their obligations is Archives New Zealand's director of government record-keeping Antony Moss. He believes the amendments could be a game-changer for a public sector that's "still struggling with the fundamentals of good record-keeping". "Overall we'd say the maturity in public sector information management is not at the level that we as the regulator would want it to be." At the moment, Archives can only audit government agencies on their information management practices every five years, and compliance with any issues that pop up are largely voluntary, Moss says. The proposed changes will allow Archives to conduct more frequent audits, issue improvement notices for any problems identified, and set deadlines for agencies to fix them. Moss says large, complex agencies like Oranga Tamariki, which have been through multiple reiterations over the years, often struggle with good record-keeping. A 2023 audit commissioned by Archives found most of the ministry's information practices were sub-optimal. Only five of the 20 areas assessed were operating well. While failures to comply with the Public Records Act can incur fines of up to $10,000, not a single individual or organisation has ever faced prosecution since it was brought into force in 2005. Moss says it's better to work with government agencies to lift their game than to prosecute them, and he hopes the proposed changes will encourage the whole public sector to invest in this area. "Of course, getting those investment plans in place for agencies to keep their systems up to date over years and decades is always a challenge, certainly in the current fiscal environment." His small team audits around 20 of public agencies a year, but he's hoping this will increase, and that they can encourage more agencies to undergo self-audits to monitor their own progress. A long way to go It will take more than new IT systems and tinkering with laws to avoid the same mistakes being repeated at Oranga Tamariki, Peter Boshier says. He believes there are two fundamental reasons for the systemic failures in record-keeping at Oranga Tamariki: discipline and culture. Boshier, a former Family Court Principal, says he came from a background where there is a strong culture in record-keeping. "Other agencies like the police, or health, also have strong record-keeping cultures, so there is no reason why Oranga Tamariki cannot. "I just think there is a lack of culture in how important these things are. There needs to be a cultural change, that this is just as important as the social work itself." The culture of an organisation is driven by its leadership, he says, although he is reluctant to directly criticise Oranga Tamariki's leaders. "That's an area for discussion between the chief executive and the Minister," he says. "But you've got to ask, is there a disconnect between the head office of Oranga Tamariki and perhaps what senior leaders aspire to and the way that's being interpreted inside offices? "I don't know the answer, but I would suggest to you that that could be an issue." He's frustrated by the lack of consequences for the organisation when it makes the same mistakes again and again. "We've found in our various reports that the organisation's own policy and guidelines are not being followed and kept. "Is there a consequence? We were told that there was so in Malachi Subecz's case. The chief executive said: 'This is unacceptable to me, and I will take steps in that particular site to require accountability.'" This perhaps explains his exasperation when a few weeks ago he issued yet another opinion highlighting the same issues. "How come that happened? Why is it that leadership appears not to be able to bring about a change at that fundamentally important site office level?," he asks. Boshier doesn't have the answers. "I sense the culture of the organisation needs to be shifted, and that will take time. I would like to see strident, clear, forceful leadership of expectation and consequence in the same way that most agencies would require it." He believes that every time his office issues another repetitive warning highlighting the same problems "faith diminishes" in the ministry's ability to do its job. "People are bound to become a little cynical, so that really is what Oranga Tamariki is facing." And while he's critical and possibly also cynical himself, he is also genuinely hopeful - optimistic even - that positive change can occur. "I am an inherent optimist that behaviour is capable of change, and culture is capable of change, providing there is a will and a willingness, and there is strong, concerted, clear leadership. "Both of those things are going to ultimately determine whether this organisation is capable of the quantum shift that's needed. "I will only be satisfied when I have actual measures of change; I want to see a decrease in serious complaints of the kind I am seeing now. This agency has a long way to go."
Off the pitch, Rafael was known for his infectious personality and positive attitude. He always gave his all for the teams he played for and was a respected figure in the dressing room. His commitment to the game and his team spirit made him a valuable asset to any squad.After 9 Wins in 8 Games, Guangxia Holds Comfortable Lead With Easy Schedule Ahead
What we need to offset inflation and expensive stock valuations ... will Trump deliver? ... expect volatility to remain ... how short-term options can mean big returns overnight We think the combination of pro-growth policies, still-low inflation, continuing rate cuts, and AI-driven economic tailwinds will propel stocks broadly higher in 2025. That comes from our hypergrowth expert Luke Lango. Of the variables Luke identified, we’re focused on “pro-growth policies.” That’s because they have the best chance of mitigating the biggest threat to your portfolio value in 2025 – reinflation. Looking at the data, it’s easy to agree with her. The last handful of months of core PCE inflation (the Fed’s favorite inflation gauge) have been flat or slightly higher on a month-to-month basis: May: 0.1% June: 0.2% July: 0.2% August: 0.2% September: 0.3%. (The October reading arrives next week.) The Fed isn’t going to raise rates to deal with this. We’ve begun a rate-cutting cycle, and a U-turn now – even the hint of a U-turn – would be like tossing a grenade into the economy. If we want to help hurting Main Street America... and ease lofty stock valuations via real earnings growth... and offset inflation ... then the answer is simple: Grow like crazy. Specifically, outgrow inflation. Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers had a great one-liner when asked about any advice he’d give President-elect Trump: We need to be able to build, baby, build in the United States. Here’s more from MarketWatch : [Summers] argued there were too many barriers to constructing data centers, energy production facilities and electricity transmission systems to help power the AI revolution and new green technologies. “These are potentially complex and risky technologies, and the government needs to, less by law than by moral force, establish close connections where real experts within government who are closely monitoring and following developments” in the sector, he said. From Thomson Reuters : President-Elect Trump has the potential to impact a wide range of policy provisions, from the economy to a raft of regulatory rules and directives... The regulatory landscape under Trump is also expected to see significant shifts. Deregulation would be a key theme, affecting sectors from energy to finance... As we discussed in the Digest at the start of the week, in a rosy scenario, Trump tax cuts and deregulation increases demand for goods and services... business investment increases... hiring increases... wage growth increases... so, overall productivity skyrockets. No, prices wouldn’t come down (they’re entrenched at this point). They might even climb again. But in this ideal hypothetical, growth-based wages and economic opportunities will rise to offset higher prices and inflation, and then some. So, the net, felt effect is positive. But for this to happen, it’s all about growth. That’s how we spike the punchbowl and keep this party going in 2025. For a sense of this, let’s turn to Eric Fry’s lead analyst in Investment Report , Thomas Yeung: [The result of the run-up in the market] has been a surge in average valuations – a fact Eric and I have been highlighting over the past several weeks. The Shiller PE Ratio, which averages earnings over a 10-year business cycle, now sits at 37.0, its highest level since the heady days of 2021. When the Shiller PE Ratio was last at this level in December 2021, stocks tumbled 19% over the following year. The Shiller PE has climbed since Thomas wrote this. As I write Friday, it’s up to 37.95. The chart below, dating to 1860, will give you some context for how extreme this level is. Will Trump’s pro-growth policies create an earnings explosion that gently lets the air out of this overinflated balloon? We’ll find out beginning next year. If not, today’s lofty valuation increases the likelihood of volatility – stocks roar on good news but drop sharply on not-so-good news. Now, while such an environment is tough on long-term investors, it’s a dream for traders. Jonathan is the lead analyst at our corporate partner Masters in Trading . After spending 25 years learning his craft on the Chicago trading floors and inside private investment firms, Jonathan now offers up live trading ideas, market commentary, and trading education each morning. This week, we’ve introduced Digest readers to how Jonathan is trading short-term options. This includes zero-day options, which expire on the very same day they’re issued. As we detailed yesterday , zero-day options can be incredibly lucrative, potentially rewarding traders with quadruple-digit returns – sometimes in just hours. But for this to happen, it requires big moves in the underlying stock. Translation, lots of volatility. Jonathan believes today’s market is ripe for such moves: I’ve been hammering one point home all week... All this short-term volatility isn’t going anywhere. And with volatility remaining elevated, we have many ways to capitalize on whatever the markets throw at us. One opportunity on Jonathan’s radar comes from QQQ, which is an ETF that tracks the Nasdaq 100 Index: Take a look at the daily chart below. The $500 mark is standing out as a critical level right now. After QQQ hit a high just above $515, it pulled back, but it’s consistently found support right around that $500 area. This isn’t just a coincidence — it’s where buyers and sellers are battling it out, making it the key level to watch. Why does this matter? Because levels like this often act as a launchpad for the next big move. If QQQ holds above $500, we could see another push higher. But if it breaks below, we could be looking at some serious downside action. Either way, this is where opportunity lives, and this is why we trade short-term options like 3DTE, 2DTE, and even 0DTE — to move fast and capitalize on these shifts. If you’re less familiar, “DTE” stands for “days to expiration” which circles us back to the short-term options trades I highlighted a moment ago. That’s when he’ll be broadcasting in real time, demonstrating how zero-day and short-term options work. This will be a live, one-time-only event. Now, if options make you nervous, I get it. They have a questionable reputation. But I’d encourage you to join Jonthan so you can see for yourself why that reputation is unfair – and why these short-term options can be so powerful, both for protecting and making money. On the “making money” side, let’s return to Jonathan and the QQQ set-up he just identified: We’ve seen this play out before. Earlier this year, during a similar setup, I highlighted a key level in our live class. Members positioned themselves using short-term puts ahead of a market pullback, and when the QQQ dropped 2.4%, our model portfolio saw gains as high as 179.9% overnight. This is what it’s all about — being prepared, staying disciplined, and taking advantage of these moments. Tuesday’s live event is all about helping you understand how these options work... the market conditions that increase the chances of such triple/quadruple-digit overnight returns... and the right way to avoid taking unnecessary risk. On that note, here’s Jonathan: A solid fundamental understanding of the market, the strategic use of options, and disciplined risk management forms the cornerstone of successful trading. My career on the front lines of the exchanges has shown that these principles, when applied systematically, can offer major advantages, even in volatile markets. To reserve your seat for Jonathan’s One-Day Winners Live Summit this Tuesday at 11 a.m. Eastern, sign-up here. If we get loads of it, our inflation and valuation problems shrink. If we don’t get it, we’re left with a very expensive stock market. And that could mean major fireworks. But that just points us back to Jonathan and how he trades unpredictable markets. We hope you’ll join him on Tuesday to learn how to put volatility in your corner . Have a good evening, Jeff Remsburg
As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, António found himself at a crossroads. Would he continue his exploration of Beijing's hidden treasures, or would he heed the call of his heart and return to Portugal, the place he had long considered home?
How – and When – Donald Trump Will Affect Your Life
As the winter transfer window approaches, all eyes will be on Manchester United to see how they handle the situation with Rashford. Will they hold out for a high offer from a top club, or will they seek to negotiate a deal that benefits both the player and the team? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the coming months are sure to bring significant changes and developments for one of England's most iconic football clubs.
Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Trailer Teases New Game, Features HBO Likenesses By During 2024 presentation, released the first official trailer, previewing its upcoming game set in the iconic world of and using the likenesses from the series. What happens in the Game of Thrones: Kingsroad trailer? The Game of Thrones: Kingsroad trailer highlights the story set in the upcoming game. Following the death of King Robert Baratheon, the fight for the Iron Throne is on. In the game, players will forge their path trying to survive in the world of Westeros, navigating the politics and combat that comes with the territory. Game of Thrones: Kingsroad is set to release on mobile devices sometime in 2025, with other platforms to be determined at a later date. Check out the Game of Thrones: Kingsroad trailer below: Players will be able to select one of three classes, the knight, sellsword, or assassin. Each will offer its own specific style of play and will all feature different archetypes. Sellsword and knights, like the ones found in the trailer, use their swords to attack, with differing styles, while the assassin dual-wields daggers and is more agile. “In Game of Thrones: Kingsroad, you will embark on a journey to restore your house’s legacy, forging alliances through trials and betrayals while navigating a realm rife with intrigue, danger, and opportunity,” reads the game’s official description. “The game’s original storyline expands on that of the legendary TV series, allowing you to forge your own path amidst the power struggles of noble houses and the looming threat of what lies beyond the Wall.” Anthony Nash has been writing about games and the gaming industry for nearly a decade. When he’s not writing about games, he’s usually playing them. You can find him on Twitter talking about games or sports at @_anthonynash. Share article
In addition to the event, exclusive merchandise and limited-edition collectibles will be available for purchase, allowing fans to take home a piece of the Sonic universe to treasure forever. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the world of Sonic, there will be something special for everyone to discover at this unforgettable event.