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fortune gems legit The Yomiuri Shimbun 6:00 JST, November 22, 2024 The harmful effects of generative artificial intelligence (AI) are widespread, causing confusion and chaos. This is the first installment in a series examining how society should deal with the situation. * * A fabricated video went viral on social media the day before the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election. The video was created to look like a report from CBS News and said the Federal Bureau of Investigation was advising people to “vote remotely” due to a potential terrorist attack. Taking the situation seriously, the FBI released a statement on Nov. 5 reading, “This video is not authentic and does not accurately represent the current threat posture or polling location safety.” The video appeared to have been created with artificial intelligence by a group with links to Russia and was immediately deleted. At the end of October, a fake video clip was posted in which a man posing as an election committee staff member sifted through mail-in ballots from the swing state of Pennsylvania and ripped up votes cast for Republican candidate Donald Trump one after another, murmuring “F—ing Trump!” U.S. and European media reflected on the unprecedented scale of disinformation and conspiracy theories circulating online in the election, and forces hostile to the United States increased their interference. As the voting day approached, groups linked to Russia, China and others were said to have stepped up their interference by posting a succession of fake images and videos. “The easiest way for foreign governments to win in an information operation is to sow chaos,” Bret Schafer, a senior fellow of the U.S. research organization Alliance for Securing Democracy, said. Shafer added that Russia tried to support Trump, who is friendly toward the country. “As domestic turmoil deepens [due to disinformation], the United States is forced to focus on internal issues, leaving less attention and resources to address international affairs,” Schafer said. The rapid technological improvement of generative AI has made it possible to instantly create a large number of elaborate fake images and videos, resulting in countless bits of unconfirmed information that denigrates rival candidates being sent from various camps, political parties and supporters via social media. The expansion of online echo chambers, in which people only hear from those whose opinions match their own, is said to have further divided the country. President Joe Biden’s administration pledged to develop legislation to regulate AI, but it was not in time for the presidential election. Twenty states have passed state laws regulating AI, and some states have banned the spread of election-related false information created with AI, but the effect was limited. Tim Harper, a senior policy analyst of the citizens group Center for Democracy & Technology, urged active implementation of a federal regulatory regime. “There are definitely solutions that the United States at the federal level can and should put in place to better protect elections from the spread of misinformation and disinformation from deceptive, manipulated AI content,” Harper said. In Japan, fake videos were spread around the time the campaign for the House of Representatives election that kicked off on Oct. 15. In the videos, voices apparently generated by having AI learn to mimic voices of former prime ministers were making anti-Liberal Democratic Party remarks. One of them uses what is apparently AI-generated audio mimicking former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s voice to introduce more than 120 people — mainly LDP members — as “candidates who should lose” with such comments as “full of greed.” The fake voice urged people to “vote them down.” The clip got more than 30,000 views on YouTube and spread on X, formerly Twitter. In another video, a voice that appeared to have been generated by having AI learn to imitate that of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was discussing the relationship between candidates and the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, commonly known as the Unification Church. The videos came with a note stating that none of those comments were made by the prime ministers, but the posters apparently intended to enhance the videos’ credibility by using former prime ministers’ voices. Before the start of the campaign, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry on Oct. 11 requested 14 social media companies, including Meta Platforms Inc. — which manages Facebook — and X Corp., to take measures against false information on the internet. An official said the ministry “had not confirmed large-scale dissemination of false information,” but there are no provisions in the Public Offices Election Law specifically about generative AI, and no full-scale discussion has been underway for regulations. In September last year, fake recordings emerged on the messaging app Telegram, which features a high degree of confidentiality, two days before Slovakia’s general elections. The recordings were purported to be conversations of pro-European liberal Progressive Slovakia (PS) party leader Michal Simecka discussing a plan to manipulate votes. It was later revealed that the audio was an AI-generated fake, but the recordings had already gone viral on other social media. The PS came second in the election, and a left-wing party that opposed military support for Ukraine took power. The recordings were spread by mainly pro-Russian politicians. “It really represents a threat to democracy,” PS member Jan Hargas said of generative AI. “I think that’s why I believe that it’s a warning sign for the elections to come in the future.”Small Battery Cell, Big Power Output - Ce-link's 200w Portable Power Station Launched the New Handheld Energy TrendAirbnb, Inc. ( NASDAQ:ABNB – Get Free Report ) CEO Brian Chesky sold 38,461 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $133.58, for a total value of $5,137,620.38. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 12,537,369 shares in the company, valued at $1,674,741,751.02. This trade represents a 0.31 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link . Brian Chesky also recently made the following trade(s): Airbnb Trading Down 1.4 % ABNB stock opened at $133.38 on Friday. Airbnb, Inc. has a 1-year low of $110.38 and a 1-year high of $170.10. The firm has a market cap of $84.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.80, a P/E/G ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.13. The business’s 50 day moving average is $135.66 and its 200-day moving average is $133.91. The company has a current ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 1.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. Barclays boosted their price target on Airbnb from $100.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Susquehanna boosted their price target on Airbnb from $130.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a research report on Monday, November 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Airbnb from $121.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Argus cut Airbnb from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price objective on Airbnb from $135.00 to $158.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nineteen have given a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Airbnb presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $139.48. View Our Latest Analysis on ABNB Institutional Investors Weigh In On Airbnb Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Airbnb in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Hollencrest Capital Management grew its position in Airbnb by 6,666.7% during the 3rd quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management now owns 203 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in Airbnb during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. grew its position in Airbnb by 73.6% during the 2nd quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 375 shares of the company’s stock worth $57,000 after acquiring an additional 159 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quarry LP bought a new stake in Airbnb during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $55,000. 80.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Airbnb ( Get Free Report ) Airbnb, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates a platform that enables hosts to offer stays and experiences to guests worldwide. The company’s marketplace connects hosts and guests online or through mobile devices to book spaces and experiences. It primarily offers private rooms, primary homes, and vacation homes. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Airbnb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Airbnb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Boston Scientific Corp. stock underperforms Monday when compared to competitorsAirbnb, Inc. ( NASDAQ:ABNB – Get Free Report ) CEO Brian Chesky sold 38,461 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $133.58, for a total value of $5,137,620.38. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 12,537,369 shares in the company, valued at $1,674,741,751.02. This trade represents a 0.31 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link . Brian Chesky also recently made the following trade(s): Airbnb Trading Down 1.4 % ABNB stock opened at $133.38 on Friday. Airbnb, Inc. has a 1-year low of $110.38 and a 1-year high of $170.10. The firm has a market cap of $84.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.80, a P/E/G ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.13. The business’s 50 day moving average is $135.66 and its 200-day moving average is $133.91. The company has a current ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 1.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. Barclays boosted their price target on Airbnb from $100.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Susquehanna boosted their price target on Airbnb from $130.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a research report on Monday, November 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Airbnb from $121.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Argus cut Airbnb from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price objective on Airbnb from $135.00 to $158.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nineteen have given a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Airbnb presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $139.48. View Our Latest Analysis on ABNB Institutional Investors Weigh In On Airbnb Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Airbnb in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Hollencrest Capital Management grew its position in Airbnb by 6,666.7% during the 3rd quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management now owns 203 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in Airbnb during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. grew its position in Airbnb by 73.6% during the 2nd quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 375 shares of the company’s stock worth $57,000 after acquiring an additional 159 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quarry LP bought a new stake in Airbnb during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $55,000. 80.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Airbnb ( Get Free Report ) Airbnb, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates a platform that enables hosts to offer stays and experiences to guests worldwide. The company’s marketplace connects hosts and guests online or through mobile devices to book spaces and experiences. It primarily offers private rooms, primary homes, and vacation homes. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Airbnb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Airbnb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Thomas Frank unhappy with officials in game with BrightonElon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the leaders of Trump's new "Department of Government Efficiency," have found themselves at odds with some of Trump's far-right supporters over their support for H-1B visas, which allow foreign skilled professionals to work in America. The debate was sparked over the Christmas holiday when , a conservative social media figure who faced criticism when she traveled with President-Elect Donald Trump on some campaign stops, criticized Trump's appointment of Silicon Valley entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan as his senior policy adviser for artificial intelligence. Criticizing a post from Krishnan where he advocated the removal of country caps for green cards, Loomer called the appointment "deeply disturbing," prompting an online battle between the business leaders who say the work visas are essential to employing high-qualified foreign and Trump supporters who argued it was a way for business leaders to have cheap labor rather than provide job opportunities for Americans. Both Ramaswamy and Musk made numerous posts on X claiming H-1B visas are essential because American culture doesn't prioritize success in science and engineering careers compared to other countries. "Our American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long (at least since the 90s and likely longer). That doesn't start in college, it starts YOUNG," Ramaswamy posted on X. "A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers," he added. Musk, who has said he once worked in the United States on an H-1B visa, said he has depended on these work visas for the operation of his tech companies and that they are essential due to the number of skilled workers needed to handle the rise of new technologies. "OF COURSE my companies and I would prefer to hire Americans and we DO, as that is MUCH easier than going through the incredibly painful and slow work visa process," he posted. "HOWEVER, there is a dire shortage of extremely talented and motivated engineers in America." Loomer and other far-right conservatives have also argued that the expansions of such programs would go against Trump's immigration crackdown. While she and others have accused Musk and Ramaswamy of hindering Trump's aggressive immigration proposals, the business leaders have argued that any such reforms would not hinder the program's extensive vetting process. "Maybe this is a helpful clarification: I am referring to bringing in via legal immigration the top ~0.1% of engineering talent as being essential for America to keep winning," Musk wrote on X. "This is like bringing in the Jokic's or Wemby's of the world to help your whole team (which is mostly Americans!) win the NBA," he said, referencing two foreign-born basketball stars. Now, the business leaders are being accused of using Trump for their own personal gain. "We are substituting a third world migrant invasion for a third world tech invasion. Same shit," Loomer posted on X. "Except this invasion won't be done by rapist foreigners who look and smell like garbage. It will be done by career leftist tech billionaires who hate Trump deep down inside." Further showing a divide among conservatives over the issue, former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley also weighed in, pushing back on a post from Ramaswamy and arguing American workers should be prioritized over . "There is nothing wrong with American workers or American culture," she said. "All you have to do is look at the border and see how many want what we have. We should be investing and prioritizing in Americans, not foreign workers." In June, David Sacks, who will be the president-elect's AI and crypto czar, interviewed Trump for his "All In" podcast and asked Trump if he would expand H-1B work visas for after fixing the border -- to which Trump said "yes." In that same episode, Trump also promised to award all international graduates with green cards, saying, "I want to do, and what I will do, is you graduate from a college, I think you should get, automatically as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country. That includes junior colleges, too." His campaign later walked back that promise, saying there would be a vetting process. "He believes, only after such vetting has taken place, we ought to keep the most skilled graduates who can make significant contributions to America," Karoline Leavitt, incoming White House press secretary, said in a statement to ABC News at the time. "This would only apply to the most thoroughly vetted college graduates who would never undercut American wages or workers."

Christian Krüeger on the hole where his son, Filip, died in April. michael bamberger Do you remember the second Saturday in April this year? Saturday, April 13, 2024. It was exceptional and ordinary, as most days are. The third round of the 2024 Masters was played on that Saturday. That would place it for many golf fans, and maybe jog the memory for some others, even if they are who not. By sunset at Augusta on that Saturday, Scottie Scheffler had a one-shot lead in the tourney. Tiger Woods made the 36-hole cut but, spent by Friday’s fierce winds, shot a third-round 82. Ludvig Åberg , a promising 24-year-old Swedish golfer in his first Masters, had a showy tee time for Saturday afternoon, 2:15, and shot 70. Fantastisk! On it goes, that Saturday. So fantastic and ordinary and everything else. Maybe you played that day. Maybe you watched the tournament. Maybe you cleaned the garage. In Sweden, a golf fan named Christian Krüeger, in his late 50s, was organizing his day so he could watch Åberg on the Swedish telecast, even though it would be late at night in Gothenburg, where Christian was playing in a national tennis tournament for senior amateur players. Christian’s wife, Susanne, at their home in Stockholm, was less likely to watch it. She was drawn to more aerobic sports. When their three kids were young, Christian, a finance executive, had a three-year plan to get down to a single-digit handicap. He would rise in the predawn darkness to practice and play. “Keep this up,” Susanne told him, “and you’ll be a single-digit golfer — and a single father.” Christian took a leave from golf. Whatever sports their two sons and daughter played, Susanne and Christian played, too. The Krüeger fivesome was always playing. They skied and skated; they played tennis and squash; they swam and biked. They climbed mountains. Outdoor activity was a way of life for them. What else would you expect? They’re Swedish! The middle child, Filip Krüeger, was 4,000 miles from his parents on that Saturday. He had left Sweden for Philadelphia in 2018 to play squash at Drexel. In his five years at the university — his eligibility extended by the pandemic — he was the team captain four times. He had graduated from Drexel and was living in an apartment in downtown Philadelphia with his girlfriend. He was starting a career in finance, like his father, like his mother. He was loaded with promise and half-broke, in that just-out-of-college way. His family was affluent, in that unassuming Swedish way. A rustic country house, high-tech cold-weather coats. In Philadelphia, that Saturday morning in mid-April was windy, cool and gray. Filip and his friends were on for golf, off for golf, then on again. There was a small posse of them, Drexel squash players from different countries who, since the pandemic, had fallen deep into the rabbit hole of golf. Their text chain made the rounds, four guys raised their hands, and off they went, by car, to a nearby course, Filip and three of his buddies, heading out to the Melrose Country Club, just outside the city limits. The course was once private and pristine and was now public and run down, but it was fine for them. They were regulars. The price was right — $50, mandatory cart — and it was seldom crowded. Some of its holes were originals by Perry Maxwell, a Golden Age design legend, but that meant nothing to Filip and his golf pals. It had what they wanted: 18 holes of fresh air, outdoor golf. That Saturday had turned into a lovely spring day in Philadelphia. By afternoon, the clouds had lifted and Melrose was awash in spring sunlight. It was about 3 p.m. when the four squash-playing golfers reached the ninth tee. The rest of the day and weekend was shaping up nicely for Filip. He’d play the back nine, watch the last hour of the Masters telecast. He’d catch up with Hatti, his girlfriend, who was with work colleagues in Connecticut. Maybe he’d play squash Sunday morning, watch the fourth round of the Masters Sunday afternoon, do some prep Sunday night to get ready for the workweek. He was always doing something. *** MELROSE’S NINTH HOLE IS A PAR-4, about 330 yards long. A pretty ordinary hole, really. To the far left, you can see the traffic on Tookany Creek Parkway. Between the parkway and the fairway, there’s a large swath of scraggly rough. In the rough, there’s a cluster of tall, tangled trees. One of the trees, a red oak, about 200 yards off the tee and about 100 feet tall, was right on the edge of the fairway. Right on the edge of the fairway, with an odd and pronounced lean toward the fairway — and limbs that stretched far over it. Nobody’s favorite tree. But you could say that of the whole left side of the hole. It was a bogey waiting to happen. Bogey or worse. Best to avoid the entire region. But, as is often the case in golf, this ninth hole at Melrose offered more appealing options, too. All you had to do was orient yourself to its right side, where there were fewer trees in play, manageable rough and a welcoming fairway. On the Saturday in mid-April when Filip and his friends were playing Melrose, the ninth fairway was the picture of spring, practically dancing in the sunlight. If you were on the hunt for beauty, you could find it on that hole, as you can find it most anywhere. The feminine sweep of its fairway. The modest hill leading to its simple, elevated table-top green. The wide open up-the-middle entrance to the green, but its gatekeepers, too: a trap on its right side, a severe hill on its left. You see holes like this throughout rural Scotland, on courses way off the tourist trail. Nobody would call the ninth at Melrose postcard-ready. But it did have a certain something. As he stood on the ninth tee, Filip Krüeger took a photo on his phone. One of his partners is on the tee in the foreground. On the left side you can see the rough with its hodgepodge of trees. And, to the right of the rightmost tree, a broad stretch of fairway, its grass green and inviting, like the GO light on a traffic signal. *** THIS SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN MID-APRIL is going too fast. Can we slow down the clock here, go to four corners, do something ? Along those same lines: this paint-by-words portrait of Filip Krüeger is inadequate. For starters, the four-time captain thing. Nobody at Drexel can recall anything like that happening before. He graduated from Drexel . True, but insufficient: He had a joint degree in engineering and finance. You don’t ChatGBT your way to that degree. Yes, Filip was, as noted,starting a career in finance in Philadelphia. But nobody thought Philadelphia would be able to contain him, and neither would a career in finance. Filip had, through squash, friends from all over the world and, traveling in that college-kid bare-bones way, had already seen a lot of it, with a notion to see the rest. As for his girlfriend, Hatti. Hatti Specter. She was more than Filip’s girlfriend. She and Filip met through squash at Drexel, and they were a committed couple. Flying to Stockholm during the dark days of the pandemic they pretended to be married, to ease the entry requirements. It didn’t take much pretending. They were beshert , to use a Yiddish word Hatti’s family has known forever, and the Krüeger had come to know: destined, fated. Meant to be. *** SQAUSH RUNS THROUGH THE SPECTER FAMILY. Arlen Specter, the longtime Pennsylvania senator, played a lot squash, almost to his final days. His son Shanin, a Pennsylvania trial lawyer, is a serious squash player with a court at home. Shanin’s wife, Tracey, a triathlete, life coach and cook, played college and adult competitive squash. Shanin and Tracey have four daughters, and for Hatti, the youngest, squash has been a lifelong passion. The gleaming, public Arlen Specter U.S. Squash Center, the national home for American squash, is on the Drexel campus. The Drexel team plays across the street, on courts named for Shanin’s law firm, the Kline & Specter Squash Center, on Market Street in the University City section of West Philadelphia. The firm’s office is a mile away, across the Schuylkill River, on Locust Street in downtown Philadelphia, near the Racquet Club. Shanin is never far from squash. He’s also, at work, never far from City Hall and its courtrooms, and never far from Philadelphia’s federal court buildings. When Shanin was a kid, his father was Philadelphia’s district attorney. Later, Shanin’s mother, Joan Specter, was a Philadelphia city council member. When she died in June, at age 90, her life in politics was discussed prominently at her funeral, but so was her earlier career, as a commercial baker of apple pies. She owned cooking schools and wrote a food column. She was a foodie, a stylish and slender one. Nobody left the post-service spread at Mrs. Specter’s funeral hungry. I’m really speaking for myself, but I do think it had to be true for everybody there. Now would be a good time to point out that my wife and I have counted Shanin and Tracey as friends for years. Christine and I are drawn to the Specter home for any number of reasons. I could start with Tracey’s own cooking but it goes far deeper than that. *** BACK TO MID-APRIL. On that Saturday night in Augusta, I had planned to have dinner with my friend Ryan French, but it didn’t come together, a victim of the no-phones policy at the Masters. On Sunday, Scottie Scheffler won the tournament and I wrote-up the broadcaster Verne Lundquist, descending from the CBS booth at 16 for a final time. On Monday, I took a colleague with a car problem to the Hertz office at the Augusta airport, played the six-hole First Tee course in Augusta, got lunch and started a leisurely drive home. I spent Monday night at the Fairfield Inn in Roanoke Rapids, N.C. I’m stalling here, reciting all this mundane activity, hoping it might trigger something for you. Your Saturday. Your Sunday. Your Monday. Your any day. There’s a new version of Our Town on Broadway now. Maybe you know the play. In the third act, Emily, the protagonist, is dead, but through the magic of Thornton Wilder’s writing and his omnipotent creation, the Stage Manager, she is able to relive her 12th birthday, in all its majesty and ordinariness. Emily: Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?—every, every minute? STAGE MANAGER: No. (Pause.) The saints and poets, maybe—they do some. On Tuesday, April 16, while driving on I-95 near Baltimore, a luscious song came on the car radio. Mine Forever, by Lord Huron, an indie-folkie rock band with a big following on some college campuses and pockets of popularity beyond that. I knew the band but not the song. About six years ago, Christine and I had heard Lord Huron when Shanin and Tracey hired the band for a big-bash family-and-friends party, for Shanin’s 60th. By text, cruising north on I-95, I told Shanin that Lord Huron had just made a rare radio appearance. I signed off with, “Hope you’re well.” “Unfortunately, not well,” Shanin wrote back. He briefly described a freakish accident involving Hatti’s boyfriend, on a golf course in suburban Philadelphia, three days earlier. “Devastating,” Shanin wrote in a text, “and very difficult to comprehend.” *** FILIP SNAPPED THAT PHOTO ON Melrose’s ninth tee, put his ball on a peg, made a big swing with a driver . . . and hit a ground-ball duff that went nowhere. It happens. But then he crushed a high, drawing 5-iron, as pure as could be. It might have reached the base of the hill that leads to the green, but the shot nicked a tree — a limb, actually, jutting out from that 100-foot-tall red oak and stretching over the fairway. The shot got knocked down. Filip got in the passenger seat of the cart. His friend José López, a former Drexel squash player and a civil engineer from El Salvador, got behind the wheel. José drove down the left side of the hole on the half-crumbling cart path, but they weren’t thinking about that. They were heading to their shots and planning their next ones. That’s golf. Your ball is like a dictator. It tells you where to go. But the golfer is a dictator, too, trying to boss that golf ball around. They were just about to pass the tall red oak with the odd lean and the protruding limb when, without warning, it gave way. No wind burst, no anything, just a 90-year-old tree collapsing, as if a sniper had hit it. It’s hard to imagine: 50 tons of tree, 100,000 pounds, standing one second, crashing into ground the next. The tree fell suddenly, violently, with terrifying speed, exposing its root system as the tree’s base was ripped out of the ground. A part of the tree landed on the passenger side of the cart, crushing it. The other two playing partners, slightly ahead of José and Filip and on the other side of the fairway, called 9-1-1. All manner of emergency medical professionals came racing down Tookany Creek Parkway. EMTs and firefighters and police officers were on the scene in minutes. José was walking around in shock, unaware that he was bleeding profusely from a laceration on his arm. Filip’s death, in all likelihood, was immediate. *** THE AFTERMATH OF A QUICK and inexplicable death triggers a storm of its own. Investigations are set in motion. Professionals from different fields step in, to document and report, to conduct tests, collect samples, take statements. There are dozens of people who need to be called. There are protocols, standard operating procedures, in place. There’s a book. But every quick and inexplicable death has a preamble that is all its own. How did this tragic perfect storm, one that leads to unimaginable sorrow, come to be in the first place? What preceded it? And as you dive into that preamble, something extraordinary happens. The mundane becomes beautiful. What was meaningless is suddenly stamped FOREVER. Filip’s final photo, final scorecard, final drive, even if it was a duff. His final 5-iron, right on the sweet spot, a shot that looked so good, until it ticked that tree on the left. Filip started the round 5-7-4, then went 5-5-6. (Golf loves threes, doesn’t it?) Followed by a miracle, a par on 7, and a return to earth, a double on 8. Eight holes, 11 over par. Filip was always taking photos. The last one he took captured the tree that claimed his life. That 100-foot-tall red oak, with its old-age lean and its outstretched arm. What are the chances? What are the chances that a tree would fall on a moving golf cart and result in a death? Hard to get your arms around it. Filip’s final scorecard: 1. 5 2. 7 3. 4 4. 5 5. 5 6. 6 7. 4 8. 5 The box for 9 remains empty. *** IN HIS ALMOST 26 YEARS, Filip had lived a rich, rich life, as a squash player, team captain, student, world traveler, son, brother, friend, work colleague, golfer with the bug, boyfriend. Twenty-five years, 10 months, six full days and most of a seventh. That final Saturday afternoon in mid-April. *** I KNOW FILIP. I didn’t in fact, but I feel like I do. I watched a video of his memorial service, from late April, organized by Hatti and held in a large auditorium on the Drexel campus. (Christine and I were at a family wedding.) At a court-naming ceremony in Filip’s honor at the Drexel squash courts in November, attended by a hundred or more people, I was bowled over by the spirit of the event, the presence of the former Drexel president, Susanne Krüeger’s ability to comfort others , the quality of the Swedish treats on catering tables against a back wall. Over the past half-year or so, I have had the chance to talk about Filip with Susanne and Christian Krüeger; Tracey and Shanin Specter; his friend and golf partner José López; Noel Heaton, a former Drexel squash player and Filip’s closest friend; and Hatti. Most especially Hatti. You can sense Filip’s energy, playfulness and intelligence when you hear Hatti and others talk about him. You get a sense of his presence, his charisma. He was tall, lean and fit, with blue eyes, a mop of thick reddish hair and a half-goofy smile. When he played squash with Shanin, the question was not who would win. The question, at least for Filip, was how long he should stretch the points out so Shanin could get a workout without collapsing on the court. Shanin described their matches as “charitable events.” Filip’s long arms, in concert with his competitive desire, helped him get to almost any shot while playing squash. He used those long arms to hug sweaty opponents in victory and defeat. But they were bad for his golf — they looped around, trying to do too much. He was working on it. He played golf casually — mulligans, improved lies, gimmes — but he was serious about getting better. Filip and Noel often went to Five Iron Golf, an indoor range a short walk from the apartment Filip shared with Hatti. Before that, all through his five years at Drexel, Filip lived with Noel, a Canadian, along with two other Drexel squash players, one from Colombia, the other from India. They called their apartment the U.N. Filip traveled easily and well, and no matter where he went, in the U.S. or anywhere else, he was attuned to the world around him. In Mumbai, Filip stopped to listen to the call for prayer from minarets, considered the lives in the city’s vast slums, engaged his shoeless caddie in conversation. Filip was open, curious and empathetic. Those qualities were in his bones. Hatti studied public health at Drexel. She’s 24 and graduated Drexel last year. In the wake of Filip’s death, Hatti has thrown herself into her work, first as a campaign aid and now as a legislative aid to Sarah McBride of Delaware, an incoming member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the first openly transgender person elected to the House or Senate. Hatti was at a fundraiser for McBride in Connecticut, where McBride’s brother lives, when Filip died. One of Hatti’s sisters and a cousin drove from Philadelphia to Connecticut to tell Hatti the news. NOOOOOO! No-no-no-no-no. That cannot be true. When Hatti speaks of Filip, tears can drop from her eyes and run down her cheeks like a dripping faucet on a sink. But the crying has no effect on her breathing, no effect on her ability to say exactly what she wants to say. In the days immediately after Filip’s death, she wrote down what she did, who she called, what she thought. She’s loaded with emotion and precision, an uncommon combination. It’s some one-two punch. The morning after the accident, early on that Sunday, Hatti was at the Montgomery County coroner’s office. She was there before it opened. She wanted to see her Filip’s body. An officer there advised against it. Hatti was insistent. The officer was, too: “It’s not the way you want to see him for the last time.” Hatti, strong-willed by nature, relented. In his work life, as a trial lawyer, Shanin Specter has seen a lot of catastrophic death. In his private life, he has not. The phrase Act of God is used often when insurance claims and the legal system collide under freakish circumstances. We’re not going down that road here, owner culpability, case law in accidental death, insurance riders, Act-of-God standards. We’re here to honor Filip and his love of sport, life, people. No lawsuit has been filed in the matter. There likely will be a private settlement. Shanin said a Melrose owner told him, “Take the keys to the course.” “We don’t want the course,” Shanin said in response, as he recounted the conversation. (The managing owner of the course did not respond to interview requests, one by email, one by phone, both received.) “What we want is to make sure nothing like this happens again.” Shanin would like to see course operators be required to release annual public reports assessing the health of the trees on the courses they run. By one 12-year study, falling trees kill an estimated 30 to 40 people annually in the United States. A small percentage of those deaths occur on golf courses, but there is no known number. Most of these deaths are caused by an ill-fated meeting of extreme wind with a tree suffering from a decaying root system or disease. There is no established national standard for what constitutes reasonable golf-course care, or what constitutes negligence, for that matter. Tree maintenance is a fundamental part of course safety. Filip’s parents are leaving the matter of the settlement to Shanin. A payment will change nothing. “Whatever the family gets, they would pay that for 10 more minutes with their son,” Shanin said. *** YOU LIKELY HAVE THE BIG PICTURE, for Filip as a young man and for Filip and Hatti as a young couple. They had been together for almost five years when Filip went out for golf that day and Hatti went to Connecticut for a fundraiser, and they were bound for — we can all guess. Hatti went to Sweden for a memorial service for Filip in May and is planning a trip this winter to visit Filip’s parents. The families are linked forever. Tracey and Shanin offered this to Susanne and Christian: You lost a son but gained a daughter. *** JOSÉ TOLD ME THAT THE 5-IRON, the one Filip used to play his final shot, was in the back of the cart when the tree fell and, astoundingly, the club was not damaged at all. It’s still in play. Over the course of a round, different players from the Drexel squash-and-golf crowd will take shots with it. They’ll say, “Four hands on that shot.” Noel, a low-handicap golfer and now a squash pro at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, had no interest in golf in the aftermath of Filip’s death. Another squash pro at the Cricket Club redirected Noel’s thinking: “If Filip knew you had stopped playing, he would be so disappointed.” Noel returned to golf, with purpose. *** ON A SATURDAY IN MID-NOVEMBER, seven months after Filip’s death, the Krüeger family came from Sweden to Philadelphia and the Drexel squash center to attend the court-naming ceremony for their middle child. It was a moving event, more joyful than solemn. Susanne and Christian and their children, Victor and Frida, greeted Filip’s friends, posed for photographs, spoke publicly and privately, rooted for Drexel in a squash match. As the day was wrapping up, I asked Christian if he had any interest in making a trip to Melrose. He did. The following morning, the Specter and Krüeger families had brunch together in a downtown apartment, part of a hotel, where the Krüegers were staying. In the afternoon, I picked up Christian there and we drove to Melrose. Neither of us had been there before. The course is in Cheltenham township just over the border from a sprawling section of Philadelphia sometimes called the Great Northeast. During the drive, Christian talked about his experiences as an exchange student for a year in a North Carolina high school. About the great Swedish tennis player Björn Borg and the golfer Jesper Parnevik’s father, a Swedish comedian. He talked about his company’s investment in a popular London show based on the music of the Swedish band Abba. The conversation was easy and genial. We turned off Tookany Creek Parkway and into the Melrose driveway. Its parking lots were in poor condition and nearly empty. The massive mustard-colored clubhouse, surely once elegant, was now hulking and uninviting, fading. We had not called ahead to make arrangements of any sort. The afternoon was mild but also dank. There wasn’t much sunlight left. We saw an older man putting his clubs in his car and asked him to point us toward the ninth hole. He told us that the front nine was on the other side of parkway. He then talked about the course and how its condition had deteriorated over time. He said that the Melrose owners were closing the course, for good, in a couple of weeks, at the end of November. He had played there for years but expressed all this in a what-are-you-gonna-do manner. “I’ll find somewhere else to play,” he said. Christian and I walked through a tunnel that takes you under the parkway and to the front nine. Once there, we made a guess about direction and walked with purpose. The course was almost empty. We hiked up a hill and reached its modest summit. We stopped, looked around, and found ourselves taking deep breaths of the fall air. It was invigorating. We figured out that we were on the fourth tee. We walked from there to nine. Christian had told me that he and Susanne had experienced moments and days when they were hounded by despair and sorrow. But he also said he had never felt the need or desire to see a therapist, minister or medical professional. He knew many people in the shackles of grief did, but he did not. He said he found peace by being with, and talking, to his wife, his children, his friends, the Specters, his work colleagues, Filip’s friends and teammates and coaches — and Hatti. His mental health, he said, required talking openly, expressing everything, being active and engaged. It required remembering, sharing, mourning, celebrating. He did not allow himself to consider the bizarre confluence of events. They had happened, and they could not be changed. Regret was a waste of time, and time is precious. Christian stood on the ninth tee. For a long moment, he was still and silent, absorbed by all the surrounded him, all that had happened there. The tee was dry and baked out, with more bare spots than grass. Then, the moment over, Christian began reenacting Filip’s last movements, the shots he played, the photos he took, the friends he was with, the views he saw. There was nothing compulsive about it. He was just putting pieces together, as one puts together pieces from a puzzle. He took that last photo here. The duffed drive probably went there. Then the 5-iron. He and José got in the cart. We walked down the fairway, the cart path to our left. A lone golfer finished the hole and began the drive to the other side of the course, where the clubhouse is located. Since Filip’s death many trees had been removed from the course. But as Christian and I walked up the ninth hole and looked left, the tangled hodgepodge of trees was still there, minus one. The tree that claimed Filip’s life was gone, with a blanket of sawdust and a grassy hump marking where it had been. In the vicinity, we saw yellow caution tape laying sloppily on the ground. Christian noted that, how nobody had even bothered to collect the yellow tape . He walked around, looked around, absorbing, collecting. He was in the place where son had spent the final moments of his life, this patch of tired golf course. The father offered a valedictory: “There is something beautiful about it.” There was no false cheer in his voice. More like acceptance and appreciation, tempered by sorrow. *** A FEW DAYS LATER I LEARNED that the Melrose owners had filed plans with Cheltenham township, seeking to build 300 townhomes on the property’s 116 acres, for a 55-and-over community. There was a news story about the proposed development in a local paper in early April, two weeks before Filip died. The plan to shutter the course at the end of the 2024 season was already in place. Course maintenance was not a high priority — the online reviews will tell you that. The newspaper story said the development plans called for 40 acres of open space. *** TWO SONGS FROM THE SOUNDTRACK. Track 1. The young people like to play music while they play golf, and there was music playing in the cart Filip shared with José throughout their round on that Saturday in mid-April. It was at a low volume, in the background, but that round, like all their rounds, had a soundtrack. On their eighth and ninth holes they were playing music by a German musician and DJ named Adam Port and a group called Keinemusick. José selected the music but he and Filip both enjoyed it. It falls into no simple category. Techno house music with beats and instruments that bring to mind Africa or Berlin or Portugal or all three. A reviewer somewhere on the web wrote that Port’s music “makes time fade into insignificance.” An interesting take. Filip and his friends — their whole generation, really — grew up with the world at their fingertips, via the internet. For Filip, it was a starting point but that’s all it was. He always had his passport handy. *** Track 2. I met Hatti several times on the Drexel campus in University City, to talk about Filip. Lord Huron, the band that played at the big-bash party the Specters threw when Shanin turned 60, came up in our conversation at least once. On one occasion, after an interview on a warm mid-summer day, I gave Hatti a lift downtown, where she was meeting friends. While we drove, I played the Lord Huron song I heard while driving home from Augusta, Mine Forever. It opens with a demand and segues into a request and there’s no clock on either: If you ever wanna see my face again, I wanna know; If you ever get lonely, please let me know. Near the song’s end, there’s a short, powerful refrain: In my mind you’re mine forever; in my mind you’re mine forever; in my mind you’re . . . The song concludes, hauntingly, with 15 seconds of whispered French: Je ne t’oublierai pas. Je te laisserai dans la lumière déclinante. Vivre jusqu’à ta mort. Je te verrai dans une autre vie. A translation: I won’t forget you. I’ll leave you in the fading light. Live until you die— I will see you in another life. We arrived at Rittenhouse Square, bustling with life, draped by beautiful manicured trees, some with peeling bark in the summer heat. Hatti had not heard the song before. “I like it,” she said. She grabbed her backpack, hopped out of the car and into the sunshine, another person in the afternoon crowd. The author welcomes your comments at Michael.Bamberger@Golf.com . Suggested listening : Track 1 (Lord Huron) | Track 2 (Adam Port) Latest In News Golf.com Contributor Michael Bamberger writes for GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com. Before that, he spent nearly 23 years as senior writer for Sports Illustrated . After college, he worked as a newspaper reporter, first for the (Martha’s) Vineyard Gazette, later for The Philadelphia Inquirer . He has written a variety of books about golf and other subjects, the most recent of which is The Second Life of Tiger Woods . His magazine work has been featured in multiple editions of The Best American Sports Writing. He holds a U.S. patent on The E-Club, a utility golf club. In 2016, he was given the Donald Ross Award by the American Society of Golf Course Architects, the organization’s highest honor.NonePaige DeSorbo Says She’ll Use This Acne Spot Treatment ‘Until the End of Time'

‘Gladiator II’ review: Are you not moderately entertained?

The NFL issued a security alert to teams and the players’ union on Thursday following recent burglaries involving the homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the league says homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.” Law enforcement officials noted these groups target the homes on days the athletes have games. Players were told to take precautions and implement home security measures to reduce the risk of being targeted. Some of the burglary groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets, including attempted home deliveries and posing as grounds maintenance or joggers in the neighborhood. Burglars have entered through side doors, via balconies, or second-floor windows. They’ve targeted homes in secluded areas and focus on master bedrooms and closet areas. Players were warned to avoid updating any social media with check-ins or daily activities until the end of the day. Posting expensive items on social media is discouraged. The homes of Mahomes and Kelce were broken into within days of each other last month, law enforcement reports show. The break-ins happened just before and the day of Kansas City’s 26-13 home victory over the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 7, where Kelce’s superstar girlfriend Taylor Swift watched from the stands. No injuries were reported in either case.

MORRISTOWN, N.J. , Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. ("AWH," or the "Company" or "Ascend") AAWH AAWH , a vertically integrated multi-state cannabis operator focused on bettering lives through cannabis, today announced it has received authorization from the Company's Board of Directors to commence a share buyback program ("Buyback Program"). Pursuant to a normal course issuer bid ("NCIB") commencing on January 2, 2025 , the Company may repurchase up to the lesser of: (i) 10,215,690 shares of the Company's class A common stock ("Common Shares"), representing approximately 5.0% of AWH's outstanding Common Shares; and (ii) US$2.25 million worth of Common Shares, in the open market. As of December 24, 2024 , there were a total of 204,313,808 issued and outstanding Common Shares. "With the initiation of this share buyback program, we are taking another meaningful step to continue to create shareholder value," said Sam Brill , Chief Executive Officer. "Our prior share repurchase, together with the recent open market purchases by members of our board of directors, demonstrate our strong confidence in our strategy and our commitment to driving returns for our investors. With our strong foundation and the impact of our ongoing initiatives, we are excited about the opportunities the new year will bring." Common Shares may be purchased on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE"), the OTCQX, or alternative trading systems, subject to applicable legal, regulatory and contractual requirements. All purchases made will be through the selected purchasing member, ATB Securities Inc. The total number of Common Shares purchased, timing of purchases, and share price are dependent upon market conditions and business considerations, any applicable securities law requirements, CSE rules and any determination of best use of cash available at the time. Any Common Shares purchased will be cancelled. The Buyback program will expire on January 1, 2026 , and may be suspended, terminated or modified at any time for any reason. While the Company intends to proceed with the Buyback Program, it is under no obligation to purchase any Common Shares for the duration of the Buyback Program. About Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. AWH is a vertically integrated operator with assets in Illinois , Maryland , Massachusetts , Michigan , Ohio , New Jersey , and Pennsylvania . AWH owns and operates state-of-the-art cultivation facilities, growing award-winning strains and producing a curated selection of products for retail and wholesale customers. AWH produces and distributes its in-house Common Goods, Simply Herb, Ozone, Effin', and Royale branded products. For more information, visit www.awholdings.com . Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release includes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation (together, "forward-looking statements"), which may include, but are not limited to, the plans, intentions, expectations, estimates, and beliefs of the Company. Words such as "expects", "does not expect", "is expected", "continue", "will", "anticipates", "plans", "estimates", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "believes" and "intends" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the preceding statement, all statements in this press release relating to the proposed NCIB, the commencement date thereof, the number of Common Shares, if any, that may be purchased pursuant to the NCIB, improving the Company's profitability, maximizing the Company's asset efficiency, and enhancing the Company's cash flow generation to drive substantial shareholder value are forward-looking statements. We caution investors that any such forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current projections and expectations about future events and financial trends, the receipt of all required regulatory approvals, and on certain assumptions and analysis made by the Company in light of the experience of the Company and perception of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments and other factors management believes are appropriate. Forward-looking statements involve and are subject to assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual events, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future events, results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements herein. Such factors include, among others, the risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and in the Company's other reports and filings with the applicable Canadian securities regulators on its profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and with the SEC on its profile on EDGAR at www.sec.gov . In respect of the forward-looking statements, the Company has provided such statements and information in reliance on certain assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable at this time. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking statements herein are reasonable, in light of the use of assumptions and the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in such statements, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties, should not place undue reliance upon such forward-looking statements and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking statements could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements herein are made as of the date hereof, and except as required by applicable laws, the Company assumes no obligation and disclaims any intention to update or revise any forward-looking statements herein or to update the reasons that actual events or results could or do differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the content of this news release. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ascend-wellness-holdings-announces-share-buyback-program-302339778.html SOURCE Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Larry Wilson: The lost art of college students talking to each other

New Delhi, December 28: Blue Origin on Saturday announced that its massive new rocket New Glenn has successfully completed a crucial test, paving the way for its launch. Known as the hotfire test, it was the first test of the integrated launch vehicle. During the test, the vehicle remained firmly clamped to the launchpad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. “The seven-engine hotfire lasted 24 seconds and marked the first time we operated the entire flight vehicle as an integrated system,” the Jeff Bezos-owned company said. The hotfire, which was the final major milestone before the first flight, included numerous inert functional and tanking tests. “Next stop launch,” said Bezos, while posting a video of the engines firing. Blue Origin Secures FAA Approval for Its New Glenn Vehicle for Historic Orbital Launch From Florida. Meanwhile, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday issued a commercial space launch license for New Glenn’s launch. However, the company is yet to reveal the date of the first flight of New Glenn. New Glenn’s debut launch was originally targeted for 2020, but delays in the BE-4's development have postponed it repeatedly. Officials at Blue Origin had promised to launch this year. It was expected to launch in October with two small Mars-bound orbiters for NASA. Dr Eldho Varghese, Dr T G Sumithra, Two CMFRI Scientists Earn Prestigious NAAS Recognition for Their Contribution to Fisheries and Agricultural Science. It was scrubbed when it became clear Blue Origin would not be ready in time. Standing 98 metres tall, New Glenn is the largest and most powerful rocket ever built and launched. It is named after NASA astronaut John Glenn, the first American astronaut to orbit Earth, completing three orbits in 1962. The rocket, which has been on the launchpad for weeks, will now be rolled back to the hangar for technicians to install the payload -- a prototype of a spacecraft called Blue Ring that Blue Origin is developing to move other spacecraft around on Earth. "Well, all we have left to do is mate our encapsulated payload...and then LAUNCH!" Dave Limp, CEO of Blue Origin, posted on X. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 28, 2024 05:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com ).

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are closing lower as Wall Street ends a holiday-shortened week on a down note. The S&P 500 fell 1.1% Friday and the the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 333 points, or 0.8%. The Nasdaq composite dropped 1.5%. The “Magnificent 7” stocks weighed on the market, led by declines in Nvidia, Tesla and Microsoft. Even with the loss, the S&P 500 had a modest gain for the week and is still headed for its second consecutive annual gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.62%. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks are dragging down the market Friday as Wall Street closes out a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 fell 1.3%, with more than 90% of stocks in the benchmark index losing ground. The benchmark index was managing to hold onto a modest gain for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 418 points, or 1%, to 42,878 as of 1:43 p.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite fell 1.8%. Technology stocks were the biggest weight on the market Friday. Semiconductor giant Nvidia slumped 2.7%. Its enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes. Other Big Tech stocks losing ground included Microsoft, with a 2% decline. A wide range of retailers also fell. Amazon fell 1.9% and Best Buy slipped 1.8%. The sector is being closely watched for clues on how it performed during the holiday shopping season. Energy stocks held up better than the rest of the market, with a loss of just 0.1% as crude oil prices rose 1.4%. The S&P 500 gained nearly 3% over a 3-day stretch before breaking for the Christmas holiday. On Thursday, the index posted a small decline. “There's just some uncertainty over this relief rally we've witnessed since last week,” said Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist for LPL Financial. Despite Friday's drop, the market is moving closer to another standout annual finish . The S&P 500 is on track for a gain of around 25% in 2024. That would mark a second consecutive yearly gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The gains have been driven partly by upbeat economic data showing that consumers continued spending and the labor market remained strong. Inflation, while still high, has also been steadily easing. A report on Friday showed that sales and inventory estimates for the wholesales trade industry fell 0.2% in November, following a slight gain in October. That weaker-than-expected report follows an update on the labor market Thursday that showed unemployment benefits held steady last week. The stream of upbeat economic data and easing inflation helped prompt a reversal in the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy this year. Expectations for interest rate cuts also helped drive market gains. The central bank recently delivered its third cut to interest rates in 2024. Even though Inflation has come closer to the central bank's target of 2%, it remains stubbornly above that mark and worries about it heating up again have tempered the forecast for more interest rate cuts. Inflation concerns have added to uncertainties heading into 2025, which include the labor market’s path ahead and shifting economic policies under incoming President Donald Trump. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Amedisys rose 4.7% after the home health care and hospice services provider agreed to extend the deadline for its sale to UnitedHealth Group. The Justice Department had sued to block the $3.3 billion deal, citing concerns he combination would hinder access to home health and hospice services in the U.S. The move to extend the deadline comes ahead of an expected shift in regulatory policy under Trump. The incoming administration is expected to have a more permissive approach to dealmaking and is less likely to raise antitrust concerns. In Asia, Japan’s benchmark index surged as the yen remained weak against the dollar. Stocks in South Korea fell after the main opposition party voted to impeach the country’s acting leader. Markets in Europe gained ground. Bond yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.61% from 4.59% late Thursday. The yield on the two-year Treasury slipped to 4.31% from 4.33% late Thursday. Wall Street will have more economic updates to look forward to next week, including reports on pending home sales and home prices. There will also be reports on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity.3 Americans held for years in China have been released, the White House saysRoJDesign This article updates my review published in May in light of SLYV’s current portfolio and recent performance . SLYV strategy SPDR® S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF ( NYSEARCA: SLYV ) was launched on 9/25/2000 and tracks the S&P SmallCap Quantitative Risk & Value (QRV) provides you with risk indicators and data-driven, time-tested strategies. Get started with a two-week free trial now. Fred Piard, PhD. is a quantitative analyst and IT professional with over 30 years of experience working in technology. He is the author of three books and has been investing in data-driven systematic strategies since 2010. Quantitative Risk & Value Learn more Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Rare golden eagle found dead after a wind turbine tore off its wing, vet experts say - in first recorded incident of its kind By NICK FORBES Published: 22:00 GMT, 25 November 2024 | Updated: 22:08 GMT, 25 November 2024 e-mail 4 View comments A golden eagle has died after a 'wind turbine strike' in Dumfries and Galloway, an investigation has concluded. The death of the locally-fledged bird, named Sparky, is the first recorded incident of its kind in the south of Scotland, according to conservation body South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project (SSGEP). The group, which monitors and researches the golden eagle population in the area, said they learned 'something untoward' had happened to the three-year-old raptor on the afternoon of August 22 this year from their satellite tagging system. They quickly found the body, which was lying 15 metres from a turbine base with its wing detached, and worked with staff at the wind farm to secure the body for pathological investigations. After carrying out a number of tests, on Monday the Veterinary Investigation Centre at Scotland's Rural College in Dumfries concluded Sparky's fatal injuries were 'typical of those associated with a wind turbine strike'. SSGEP project manager Dr Cat Barlow said: 'Our satellite tagging system allowed us to immediately detect that something untoward had happened to Sparky at Windy Rig wind farm in Galloway. 'This ensured investigators could quickly recover the body before weather and wild scavengers destroyed any evidence. 'Without our team's surveillance and ability to respond promptly, we may never have known what led to Sparky's death. A conservation group found the body which was lying 15 metres from a turbine base with its wing detached Sparky and sibling at Eyrie Site. The death of the locally-fledged bird, named Sparky, is the first recorded incident of its kind in the south of Scotland After carrying out a number of tests, on Monday the Veterinary Investigation Centre at Scotland's Rural College in Dumfries concluded Sparky's fatal injuries were 'typical of those associated with a wind turbine strike' 'Gathering knowledge from the satellite tags is vital to ensuring the continued protection of golden eagles and further reinforces the importance of our work to monitor golden eagles in southern Scotland.' She added: 'Though sustainable energy is key to addressing the climate crisis and protecting our natural world in the long-term, as Sparky's death shows, death through wind turbine collision is a risk, so it is important that charities like ours exist to support work to mitigate risks to golden eagles - both at existing sites and when new development proposals are being considered. 'We can use our unique insights to advise decision-makers, so that developments do not harm golden eagles, habitats or their prey. 'Through our monitoring work and technology, we are uniquely placed to do this in the south of Scotland.' Chris Rollie, chair of the Dumfries and Galloway Raptor Study Group - after one of whose members Sparky was named - said they were 'devastated' to learn of Sparky's death. He continued: 'Evidence to date has suggested golden eagles tend to avoid wind farms, but without the state-of-the-art satellite tagging that SSGEP provides, incidents of this nature are hard to detect. 'This reinforces the urgent need for decision-makers to work closely with the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project and our raptor study group as further wind farms are approved.' Morag Watson, director of onshore at Scottish Renewables, which represents the renewable energy sector in Scotland, said: 'All wind farms in Scotland go through years of environmental monitoring before they are built and evidence to date has suggested golden eagles tend to avoid well-sited wind farms, so it is incredibly sad to hear about this incident. Sparky's death comes after that of another eagle, named Thistle (file image of a golden eagle) issued by the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project 'The renewable energy industry works closely with bodies including the Scottish Government, NatureScot, RSPB and others to better understand bird behaviour and make sure wind developments are sensitive to bird populations. Read More Guilty, man who kept birds including 90 eagles in squalid conditions 'We look forward to working with the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project and utilising its expertise to allow the onshore wind sector to play an important role in the protection of golden eagles in southern Scotland.' Sparky's death comes after that of another eagle, named Thistle, which had been translocated by SSGEP in August 2022. Thistle was found to have been killed by another territorial eagle in what the group described as 'normal population behaviour'. Since it was set up in 2017, SSGEP has 'translocated', or introduced, more than 40 golden eagles to the area, as well as tagging a number of locally-fledged birds, and the population is now at the highest level for three centuries. The project had been due to conclude this year, but the group, which previously received public funding from a number of sources, now plans to continue its work as a standalone charity. Share or comment on this article: Rare golden eagle found dead after a wind turbine tore off its wing, vet experts say - in first recorded incident of its kind e-mail Add commentNEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 25, 2024-- Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II (NYSE American: ATEK.U, ATEK, ATEK WS) (“ATEK” or the “Company”) received an official notice of noncompliance (the “NYSE American Notice”) from NYSE Regulation (“NYSE”) stating that the Company is not in compliance with NYSE American continued listing standards due to the failure to timely file the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 (the “Delinquent Report”) by the filing due date of November 19, 2024 (the “Filing Delinquency”). The Company intends to file the Delinquent Report in the near future, however, there is currently no anticipated date for when such Filing Delinquency will be cured via the filing of the Delinquent Report. The Company expects, however, to regain compliance with the NYSE American continued listing standards once the Delinquent Report has been filed. In the interim, the NYSE American Notice has no immediate effect on the listing or trading of the Company’s Class A common stock listed on NYSE American. There can be no assurance that the Company will ultimately regain and remain in compliance with all applicable NYSE American listing standards. About Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II (NYSE American: ATEK.U, ATEK, ATEK WS), incorporated in Delaware, is a special purpose acquisition company incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. ATEK is the third SPAC founded by Isabelle Freidheim, who also serves as its Chief Executive Officer, with Kirthiga Reddy as President and Jennifer Calabrese as Chief Financial Officer. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made in this press release are not historical facts but may be considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the “safe harbor” provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” “intend,” or continue or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology or expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These statements are based on the current expectations of the Company’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s plan to file the Delinquent Report within the provided cure period to regain compliance with the NYSE American continued listing standards. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on, by any investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of the Company. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the Company’s ability to file the Delinquent Report within the Initial Cure Period to regain compliance with the NYSE American continued listing standards; general economic, political and business conditions; the number of redemption requests made by the Company’s stockholders in connection with a potential business combination; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company; the risk that the approval of the Company’s stockholders for a potential transaction is not obtained; expectations related to the terms and timing of a potential business combination; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of a business combination; the risk that a business combination may not be completed by the Company’s business combination deadline and the potential failure to obtain an extension of its business combination deadline in the Company’s upcoming Annual Meeting of Stockholders; costs related to a business combination; and other risks that will be detailed from time to time in filings with the SEC, including those risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on September 27, 2024 and in subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive. There may be additional risks that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in these forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements provide the Company’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. And while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. Nothing herein should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that the results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125554143/en/ CONTACT: Bevel PR Athena@bevelpr.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA NEW YORK INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FINANCE SOURCE: Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/25/2024 04:05 PM/DISC: 11/25/2024 04:05 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125554143/enTraditionally, New Year's Eve is the time for parties and celebrations which result in the most drinking and mark the busiest day for DUI arrests during the year, according to Wyoming County Sheriff Brad Ellison. Parties, business get-togethers, family gatherings and other celebrations can result in DUI (driving under the influence) incidents, according to law enforcement officials. Choosing a designated driver before any celebration is the best way to avoid mishaps or a tragedy, Ellison emphasized. While New Year’s Eve is the busiest day for DUI arrests, the problem is ongoing throughout the year. Drunk-driving deaths account for approximately one-third of all traffic deaths each year. In 2018, one person died every 50 minutes in a drunk-driving-related accident, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While the holidays are a time for celebration, festivities can turn tragic because of the actions of impaired drivers. Over the last five years in West Virginia, 23% of the state’s total vehicle fatalities were alcohol-related, according to the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program. In 2022, 60 of West Virginia's 264 fatalities involved an alcohol-impaired driver. In December 2021, according to the NHTSA, 1,013 people died nationwide in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes in December 2021 alone. In December 2022, the most recent data year available, 1,062 people died in drunk driving traffic crashes – the most since 2007. From 2018 to 2022, NHTSA recorded more than 4,750 deaths in drunk driving traffic crashes during the month of December. Ellison encourages those attending social functions where alcohol will be served to name a designated driver, someone who won’t drink during the festivities and can safely drive afterwards. “If you drink, then call somebody to drive you home. “Have a plan if you're going out and will be drinking,” Ellison emphasized. “Give your keys to somebody while you're still sober,” he said. Those hosting a celebration and see a guest about to drive after drinking should take his or her keys, the sheriff noted. Additionally, all drivers should be cautious and watch for other drivers who may not maintain control of their vehicles. Driving defensively saves lives. The decision to drive sober should never be a tough one, according to officials. Impaired driving of all types is illegal and can be deadly – to the driver, to his or her passengers, and to other road users. Nationally, it is illegal to drive with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. In addition, it is illegal to drive under the influence of drugs. From 2019-2021, NHTSA conducted a study at several trauma centers and medical examiner offices involving drivers who were seriously injured or killed. The study found that among drivers in trauma centers, about 25% had active THC, which is found in marijuana, in their system. Between 2008 and 2017, of those drivers killed in crashes and tested for marijuana, marijuana presence nearly doubled, NHTSA statistics indicate. Alcohol and drug consumption lowers inhibitions, causing users to make bad decisions they would not otherwise make. While a breathalyzer will reveal alcohol levels in the blood stream, it is only one of a series of tests that can prove the driver is impaired, according to officials. Field sobriety tests can determine the coordination and stability levels of the driver. The amount of alcohol it takes to make someone drunk depends on height and weight as well as tolerance levels, according to officials. Law enforcement officers do not have to prove a driver is drunk, but merely impaired, officials maintain. Prescription medications can have the same effect as alcoholic beverages. Those prescriptions carry warnings. Currently the legal limit for determining intoxication is .08, Ellison said. The limit is .15 for those under 21 years of age, Ellison noted, though it is illegal for that age group to consume any amount of alcohol. In West Virginia, a DUI with a BAC of 0.08% to 0.149% is the basic DUI offense. If convicted, there is a possibility of up to six months of jail time and a fine of $100 to $500 for the first offense. Aggravated DUI, with a BAC of 0.15% or greater, also applies to first offense DUI arrests. If convicted, the mandatory sentence is a minimum of 48 hours (of which 24 must actually be served in jail) and up to six months in jail and a fine of $200 to $1,000. Because people under 21 are prohibited from consuming alcohol at all, those under 21 and caught driving with a BAC between 0.02% and 0.079% can still be charged with a DUI. If convicted, there is no jail penalty, but there is a mandatory fine. Also in West Virginia, DUI resulting in injury is an offense that arises when a driver is under the influence and is involved in a vehicle crash in which anyone other than the driver suffers an injury. If convicted, the mandatory sentence is not less than 24 hours in jail and not more than one year in jail in addition to fines of $200 to $1,000. Intoxicated drivers involved in a vehicle crash which results in the death of another individual through an act of reckless disregard for the safety of others may be charged with a felony crime. If convicted, the mandatory sentence is not less than two years and not more than 10 years in prison along with a fine ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. Any DUI offense carries a substantial fine and can carry a jail sentence in addition to the loss of the driver’s license. The third offense carries a one- to three-year jail sentence because it’s a felony, sometimes permanent loss of the driver’s license, and a fine ranging in the thousands of dollars.Citius Oncology, Inc. Reports Fiscal Full Year 2024 Financial Results and Provides Business Update

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Derrin Boyd had 22 points in Charleston's 79-64 victory over Northern Kentucky on Wednesday. Boyd also added six rebounds for the Cougars (5-2). AJ Smith scored 12 points and added five rebounds and three steals. Justas Stonkus finished 4 of 4 from the field to finish with 12 points. The Norse (1-5) were led in scoring by Sam Vinson, who finished with 21 points, six rebounds and two steals. Trey Robinson added 12 points, 12 rebounds and five steals for Northern Kentucky. Dan Gherezgher Jr. also had 11 points. Boyd led his team in scoring with 12 points in the first half to help put them up 38-30 at the break. Charleston pulled away with a 7-0 run in the second half to extend a six-point lead to 13 points. Boyd led the way with a team-high 10 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Who are the Border Patrol chaplains? And why does the agency need more of them now?TEL AVIV, Israel, and BEIRUT — Celebratory gunfire rang out in the Lebanese capital Beirut overnight Tuesday to mark the start of a ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon to end almost 14 months of fighting. The truce, brokered by the United States and France, went into effect at 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday. Fighting, however, continued up to the zero hour, with Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon far into the night. Underlining the potential fragility of the truce, the Israeli military says it fired toward suspects in a prohibited zone just hours into the ceasefire, and the suspects left. Israel's defense minister, Israel Katz, said they were Hezbollah operatives in a border village. In a joint statement , President Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron said the deal "will cease the fighting in Lebanon, and secure Israel from the threat of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations operating from Lebanon." They said it "will create the conditions to restore lasting calm and allow residents in both countries to return safely to their homes" along the border. Hezbollah started firing rockets into northern Israel in support of Hamas after the Palestinian militant group led an attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire since then. The fighting — which intensified eight weeks ago, when Israel initiated a ground invasion of southern Lebanon aimed at eliminating Hezbollah fighters and weapons capabilities from the border region — has killed more than 3,700 people in Lebanon, according to Lebanese health officials, and around 80 people in northern Israel, according to Israeli officials. The conflict has driven more than 1.2 million Lebanese — about a fifth of the population — from their homes, according to the United Nations . Israel estimates about 60,000 people evacuated northern communities to flee Hezbollah's rockets. Israel also stepped up airstrikes across Lebanon in recent months, which damaged homes and infrastructure, and killing the group's top officials — including longtime chief Hassan Nasrallah , its senior commander in the south, Mohammed Nasser , and rocket and missile commander Ibrahim Qubaisi. Israel has fulfilled its military objectives, primarily eliminating Hezbollah infrastructure, says Randa Slim, director of the Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues Program at the Middle East Institute. "On the border, it's pretty much destroyed," Slim says. "But on top of that, they have wiped out their military command council, as well as their political leadership, top senior political leadership. So these are severe blows to Hezbollah, which is going to take a long, long time to recover from." Many Lebanese already began trying to return to their southern villages, despite Israeli military warnings not to do so yet, while Israeli troops are still deployed. In southern Lebanon, Patricia Taleb, 24, was driving Wednesday to reach the home she was forced to abandon earlier. "We know that this is the end days of the war. We know that ultimately it's going to be OK," she told NPR. For now, Israel is discouraging its residents from returning to their abandoned homes in the border area. Education Minister Yoav Kisch said on Israel Army Radio there will be a 30- to 60-day period of renovating buildings and institutions damaged by Hezbollah fire before Israel initiates a return of Israeli residents. Orna Peretz, an Israeli displaced from Kiryat Shmona, a town less than a mile from the Israel-Lebanon border, told NPR he thinks Hezbollah — founded during Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war — has been taught a lesson "it never endured in its entire lifetime." "There is a good deal here that had to come because of the international pressure. And we have somewhere to return to," he said. Alluding to the devastation that Israel has inflicted on southern Lebanon, he added: "The Lebanese have nowhere to return to." The terms of the ceasefire The ceasefire agreement calls for a 60-day timeframe for Hezbollah fighters to withdraw from an area south of the Litani River — effectively creating a buffer between the militants and northern Israel. Israeli forces are expected to similarly withdraw to the Israeli side of the border. To ensure security in the area, the deal calls for thousands of Lebanese government soldiers to deploy to the south, along with U.N. peacekeeping forces known as UNIFIL , according to a copy of the deal seen by NPR. A U.S.-led international panel will monitor for violations of the terms of the agreement. In addition, the agreement calls for Lebanese government authorities to prevent Hezbollah or any other armed group from carrying out attacks on Israel. It further requires Lebanon's military and security forces be the only armed group allowed to operate in southern Lebanon, and that Lebanese authorities prevent the reestablishment and rearming of any non-state armed group in the country. Israel has pledged to aggressively respond to any breach of the terms. "Any violation of the ceasefire will be met with fire," Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters. He said Israeli "soldiers are still positioned in southern Lebanon, in villages and areas from which the forces will gradually withdraw in accordance with the agreement." "This is all going to be about the enforcement," says Shalom Lipner, a Jerusalem-based Middle East expert at the Atlantic Council. "They're telegraphing that there will not be any exceptions [as] in the past." "The stated intent is that at the smallest infraction, they will go through the motions of reporting this to the [U.S.-led international] supervisory committee and [if] Israel doesn't get satisfaction, they will take action on their own," he says. Iran and Israel's Arab neighbors have welcomed the ceasefire After the U.S.- and-France brokered deal was announced in Paris, Iran — which has long been the primary backer of both Hezbollah and Hamas militants in Gaza — said it welcomed the news to end "aggression against Lebanon." Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei emphasized Tehran's "firm support for the Lebanese government, nation and resistance." In separate statements, Jordan and Egypt each said Israel's "aggression in Gaza" should be stopped. Jordan called the Lebanon ceasefire "an important step." Egypt's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Cairo hopes the ceasefire "will contribute to the beginning of the de-escalation phase in the region." It called for Israel to allow "full access to humanitarian aid without obstacles in light of the catastrophic humanitarian conditions in the [Gaza] Strip, in addition to stopping the unjustified violations in the West Bank." Saudi Arabia said it hoped the ceasefire "will lead to the implementation of [U.N.] Security Council Resolution 1701," referring to a previous agreement renewing UNIFIL's mandate at the end of a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. Saudi Arabia called for "the preservation of Lebanon's sovereignty, security and stability and the return of the displaced to their homes in safety and security." Palestinians in Gaza and some Israelis have misgivings Still, some Israelis remain skeptical. "This deal, we still know nothing about it," Avraham Moreno, displaced from Shlomi, a village on the border with Lebanon, tells NPR. "We have very, very mixed feelings, even though we really want to return home." And in Gaza, there are worries as well. Wala Hanuna, 34, a Palestinian displaced by Israel's nearly 14-month military offensive there , worried that the Israeli military would now be free to wreak more destruction on the territory. "We read the news that the Israeli army fighting in Lebanon will go now to Gaza," she said. "Maybe the war here will last another year, with no one thinking how we will get out of this." Hamas, the militant group that Israel has been fighting in Gaza, thanked Hezbollah for its "pivotal role ... in support of the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian resistance, and the great sacrifices," including the death of Nasrallah. On the Lebanese side of the border, "many of the country's displaced may not be able to return home for months, as Israel has razed entire villages near the 'Blue Line' border," according to David Wood, a senior analyst on Lebanon at Crisis Group. The Blue Line is the demarcation in southern Lebanon from where Israel withdrew in 2000. Humanitarian aid agencies see challenges ahead The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, says the fighting has limited access to southern Lebanon, where more than 188,000 people live in more than 1,000 government-assigned collective shelters, many of which have reached maximum capacity. "The heavy bombardments have also had a devastating impact on public services and infrastructure," the agency said. In a statement on the ceasefire, UNICEF said it hopes the agreement "will bring an end to the war which has killed more than 240 children, injured around 1,400, and upended the lives of countless others." "Urgent work must now begin to ensure this peace is sustained. Children and families must be able to return to their communities safely, especially those displaced in shelters and host communities," the agency said. Scott Neuman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Lauren Frayer contributed reporting from Beirut; Kat Lonsdorf and Daniel Estrin contributed from Tel Aviv.

NDP ready to open 'gates' to pass Liberal GST holiday bill separate from $250 rebate