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Pep Guardiola admits he is questioning himself after Man City lose to Juventus(Reuters) – OpenAI said on Friday it was testing new reasoning AI models, o3 and o3 mini, in a sign of growing competition with rivals such as Google to create smarter models capable of tackling complex problems. CEO Sam Altman said the AI startup plans to launch o3 mini by the end of January, and full o3 after that, as more robust large language models could outperform existing models and attract new investments and users. Microsoft-backed OpenAI released o1 AI models in September designed to spend more time processing queries to solve hard problems. The o1 models are capable of reasoning through complex tasks and can solve more challenging problems than previous models in science, coding and math, the AI firm had said in a blog post. OpenAI’s new o3 and o3 mini models, which are in internal safety testing currently, will be more powerful than its previously launched o1 models, the company said. The GenAI pioneer said it was opening up an application process for external researchers to test o3 models ahead of the public release, which will close on Jan. 10. OpenAI had triggered an AI arms race after it launched ChatGPT in November 2022. The growing popularity of the company and new product launches helped OpenAI in closing a $6.6 billion funding round in October. Rival Alphabet’s Google released the second generation of its AI model Gemini earlier in December, as the search giant aims to reclaim the lead in the AI technology race. (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );

In the preceding three months, 6 analysts have released ratings for Pagaya Techs PGY , presenting a wide array of perspectives from bullish to bearish. The table below offers a condensed view of their recent ratings, showcasing the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months. Bullish Somewhat Bullish Indifferent Somewhat Bearish Bearish Total Ratings 4 1 1 0 0 Last 30D 0 0 1 0 0 1M Ago 0 0 0 0 0 2M Ago 1 0 0 0 0 3M Ago 3 1 0 0 0 In the assessment of 12-month price targets, analysts unveil insights for Pagaya Techs, presenting an average target of $22.83, a high estimate of $36.00, and a low estimate of $11.00. This current average has decreased by 35.14% from the previous average price target of $35.20. Deciphering Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Analysis The analysis of recent analyst actions sheds light on the perception of Pagaya Techs by financial experts. The following summary presents key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets. Analyst Analyst Firm Action Taken Rating Current Price Target Prior Price Target Rayna Kumar UBS Lowers Neutral $11.00 $33.00 Joseph Vafi Canaccord Genuity Lowers Buy $25.00 $32.00 Michael Legg Benchmark Maintains Buy $21.00 $21.00 Rayna Kumar Oppenheimer Announces Outperform $12.00 - Joseph Vafi Canaccord Genuity Lowers Buy $32.00 $42.00 Hal Goetsch B. Riley Securities Lowers Buy $36.00 $48.00 Key Insights: Action Taken: In response to dynamic market conditions and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their reaction to recent developments related to Pagaya Techs. This insight gives a snapshot of analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company. Rating: Analysts unravel qualitative evaluations for stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings offer insights into expectations for the relative performance of Pagaya Techs compared to the broader market. Price Targets: Delving into movements, analysts provide estimates for the future value of Pagaya Techs's stock. This analysis reveals shifts in analysts' expectations over time. Navigating through these analyst evaluations alongside other financial indicators can contribute to a holistic understanding of Pagaya Techs's market standing. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with our Ratings Table. Stay up to date on Pagaya Techs analyst ratings. If you are interested in following small-cap stock news and performance you can start by tracking it here . Delving into Pagaya Techs's Background Pagaya Technologies Ltd is a financial technology company working to reshape the lending marketplace by using machine learning, big data analytics, and sophisticated AI-driven credit and analysis technology. It was built to provide a comprehensive solution to enable the credit industry to deliver customers a positive experience while simultaneously enhancing the broader credit ecosystem. Its proprietary API seamlessly integrates into its next-gen infrastructure network of partners to deliver a premium customer user experience and greater access to credit. The company generates majority of its revenue from United States. Pagaya Techs's Financial Performance Market Capitalization Perspectives: The company's market capitalization falls below industry averages, signaling a relatively smaller size compared to peers. This positioning may be influenced by factors such as perceived growth potential or operational scale. Revenue Growth: Over the 3 months period, Pagaya Techs showcased positive performance, achieving a revenue growth rate of 23.75% as of 30 September, 2024. This reflects a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the company achieved a growth rate higher than the average among peers in Information Technology sector. Net Margin: Pagaya Techs's net margin is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in achieving strong profitability. With a net margin of -27.07%, the company may encounter challenges in effective cost control. Return on Equity (ROE): Pagaya Techs's ROE lags behind industry averages, suggesting challenges in maximizing returns on equity capital. With an ROE of -13.66%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial performance. Return on Assets (ROA): Pagaya Techs's ROA is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of -4.78%, the company may encounter challenges in delivering satisfactory returns from its assets. Debt Management: The company faces challenges in debt management with a debt-to-equity ratio higher than the industry average. With a ratio of 1.49 , caution is advised due to increased financial risk. Understanding the Relevance of Analyst Ratings Benzinga tracks 150 analyst firms and reports on their stock expectations. Analysts typically arrive at their conclusions by predicting how much money a company will make in the future, usually the upcoming five years, and how risky or predictable that company's revenue streams are. Analysts attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish their ratings on stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter or whenever the company has a major update. Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors. If you want to keep track of which analysts are outperforming others, you can view updated analyst ratings along withanalyst success scores in Benzinga Pro . Breaking: Wall Street's Next Big Mover Benzinga's #1 analyst just identified a stock poised for explosive growth. This under-the-radar company could surge 200%+ as major market shifts unfold. Click here for urgent details . This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.The military's tradition of tracking Santa Claus on his gravity-defying sweep across the globe will carry on this Christmas Eve, even if the U.S. government shuts down, officials said Friday. Each year, at least 100,000 kids call into the North American Aerospace Defense Command to inquire about Santa’s location. Millions more follow online. “We fully expect for Santa to take flight on Dec. 24 and NORAD will track him," the U.S.-Canadian agency said in a statement. On any other night, NORAD is scanning the heavens for potential threats, such as last year's Chinese spy balloon. But on Christmas Eve, volunteers in Colorado Springs, Colorado, are fielding questions like, “When is Santa coming to my house?” and, “Am I on the naughty or nice list?” The endeavor is supported by local and corporate sponsors, who also help shield the tradition from Washington dysfunction. Bob Sommers, 63, a civilian contractor and NORAD volunteer, told The Associated Press that there are "screams and giggles and laughter” when families call in, usually on speakerphone. Sommers often says on the call that everyone must be asleep before Santa arrives, prompting parents to say, "Do you hear what he said? We got to go to bed early." NORAD's annual tracking of Santa has endured since the Cold War, predating ugly sweater parties and Mariah Carey classics. Here's how it began and why the phones keep ringing. The origin story is Hollywood-esque It started with a child's accidental phone call in 1955. The Colorado Springs newspaper printed a Sears advertisement that encouraged children to call Santa, listing a phone number. A boy called. But he reached the Continental Air Defense Command, now NORAD, a joint U.S. and Canadian effort to spot potential enemy attacks. Tensions were growing with the Soviet Union, along with anxieties about nuclear war. Air Force Col. Harry W. Shoup picked up an emergency-only “red phone” and was greeted by a tiny voice that began to recite a Christmas wish list. “He went on a little bit, and he takes a breath, then says, ‘Hey, you’re not Santa,’” Shoup told The Associated Press in 1999. Realizing an explanation would be lost on the youngster, Shoup summoned a deep, jolly voice and replied, “Ho, ho, ho! Yes, I am Santa Claus. Have you been a good boy?” Shoup said he learned from the boy's mother that Sears mistakenly printed the top-secret number. He hung up, but the phone soon rang again with a young girl reciting her Christmas list. Fifty calls a day followed, he said. In the pre-digital age, the agency used a 60-by-80-foot (18-by-24-meter) plexiglass map of North America to track unidentified objects. A staff member jokingly drew Santa and his sleigh over the North Pole. The tradition was born. “Note to the kiddies,” began an AP story from Colorado Springs on Dec. 23, 1955. “Santa Claus Friday was assured safe passage into the United States by the Continental Air Defense Command.” In a likely reference to the Soviets, the article noted that Santa was guarded against possible attack from "those who do not believe in Christmas.” Is the origin story humbug? Some grinchy journalists have nitpicked Shoup's story, questioning whether a misprint or a misdial prompted the boy's call. In 2014, tech news site Gizmodo cited an International News Service story from Dec. 1, 1955, about a child's call to Shoup. Published in the Pasadena Independent, the article said the child reversed two digits in the Sears number. "When a childish voice asked COC commander Col. Harry Shoup, if there was a Santa Claus at the North Pole, he answered much more roughly than he should — considering the season: ‘There may be a guy called Santa Claus at the North Pole, but he’s not the one I worry about coming from that direction,'" Shoup said in the brief piece. In 2015, The Atlantic magazine doubted the flood of calls to the secret line, while noting that Shoup had a flair for public relations. Phone calls aside, Shoup was indeed media savvy. In 1986, he told the Scripps Howard News Service that he recognized an opportunity when a staff member drew Santa on the glass map in 1955. A lieutenant colonel promised to have it erased. But Shoup said, “You leave it right there,” and summoned public affairs. Shoup wanted to boost morale for the troops and public alike. “Why, it made the military look good — like we’re not all a bunch of snobs who don’t care about Santa Claus,” he said. Shoup died in 2009. His children told the StoryCorps podcast in 2014 that it was a misprinted Sears ad that prompted the phone calls. “And later in life he got letters from all over the world,” said Terri Van Keuren, a daughter. "People saying ‘Thank you, Colonel, for having, you know, this sense of humor.’” A rare addition to Santa's story NORAD's tradition is one of the few modern additions to the centuries-old Santa story that have endured, according to Gerry Bowler, a Canadian historian who spoke to the AP in 2010. Ad campaigns or movies try to “kidnap” Santa for commercial purposes, said Bowler, who wrote “Santa Claus: A Biography.” NORAD, by contrast, takes an essential element of Santa's story and views it through a technological lens. In a recent interview with the AP, Air Force Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham explained that NORAD radars in Alaska and Canada — known as the northern warning system — are the first to detect Santa. He leaves the North Pole and typically heads for the international dateline in the Pacific Ocean. From there he moves west, following the night. “That's when the satellite systems we use to track and identify targets of interest every single day start to kick in,” Cunningham said. “A probably little-known fact is that Rudolph’s nose that glows red emanates a lot of heat. And so those satellites track (Santa) through that heat source.” NORAD has an app and website, www.noradsanta.org, that will track Santa on Christmas Eve from 4 a.m. to midnight, mountain standard time. People can call 1-877-HI-NORAD to ask live operators about Santa’s location from 6 a.m. to midnight, mountain time.Vernon Panthers sink teeth in Bruins at Langley basketball tournamentFeyenoord unusual celebration adds to Liverpool FC taunt for sorry Man City

ABC has made the holiday season a little brighter thanks to The Great Christmas Light Fight . Season 12 is currently underway with more elaborate and unique displays. Even though Carter Oosterhouse has been judging for more than a decade, the longtime judge continues to be impressed. The construction expert and interior designer Taniya Nayak has the difficult task of deciding who out of the four families they visit in each episode takes home $50,000 and the coveted trophy. Here Oosterhouse talks about the show’s longevity and what his residence looks like during the holidays with his wife, actress Amy Smart . It’s amazing how this show has become such an annual holiday tradition for families to watch together. Carter Oosterhouse: The Great Christmas Light Fight is the gift that keeps on giving. The more we are on, the more people come up to me at the airport and reflect on how it’s a tradition for them. They tell me, “We know it’s Christmas time when we see this show come on air.” The family programming this embodies is so sweet and perfect for the holiday season. You have the holiday movies on, which are nostalgic and fun. This is a little bit different, yet gives the same moment for families to gather and have a nice little night at home. Disney/Jim Gensheimer How would you say your judging eye has evolved? That’s a good question. I think sometimes as a judge you don’t even realize how these displays continue to get better. And it’s not just bigger. It’s more than more lights. I always say I can pick the winner right when the lights go on, but that’s not always true because now what I’ve seen is the creativity level has skyrocketed. People are more and more creative than ever before. It’s not just about putting lights on a tree or making sure the balance is correct or the color profile is engaging and interesting. It’s really about creativity. What that means is people are starting to tell stories with their lights. That’s fascinating. In scripted or nonscripted TV, it’s all about telling a story. When you watch something, that is why you keep going back to it. Now these families with these light displays are telling stories. As the viewer, it’s so much more dynamic and interesting to the point you have to scratch your head and say, “I’m blown away. I’m shocked. Just when you think you’ve seen them all, you haven’t.” Technology has also advanced within these displays through computer programming and drones. The technology is there and every year it gets better. Sometimes we do have people who are extremely good with computers and putting light and synchronized lights together, but that’s not always the winner. I don’t want to say it’s usually not the winner, but it seems to me what I have learned is over time I go back to the creative ones. Those are going to be the winners. If they can throw tech in there, even better because it makes it faster, more efficient maybe, and more interesting to some degree. As far as technology goes, every year we’re seeing something different. The light fighters who have been doing it for decades and are at the forefront of this technology, really geek out over that. I do too. I love learning more about it. Then some people who are doing it for the first time knock your socks off because they have no frame of reference. They just want to do something they want to do and in their mind is really cool. I’m always amazed at the dedication of these participants. The light fighters work extremely hard. They are very diligent with what they are doing. The families are in the grind. When September comes around, they are starting to put their lights up and it’s all hands on deck. It’s a lot of work. As a judge too, I want to make sure I applaud them and give them the credit they deserve. It is impressive to see the lengths they go. These guys are beyond the next level. They know the drill. They take the kids to school, go to work, and then come home to start working on their display at all hours of the night. Then they get up the next day and do the same thing. The cool thing is I’d say 99 percent of the people are happy to do this for their community. That’s the best part. On your travels, have there been places you never thought about going but are glad you went? For Trading Spaces , we traveled all over the United States. I think that was the indoctrination of a really crazy travel schedule. I’d say the good thing is I can go back to some of these areas. To your point, I do get to see areas that have lit up these lights or sometimes they are theme parks because we do heavyweights as well. We get into bigger areas that have the capability of dressing it up. Those are eye-opening. I’m in this last round of shooting right now where there are plenty of places I’ve said, “I want to bring my daughter back here.” That’s a sign they’ve done a really good job. You and Taniya are solo judging in these episodes, but do you talk much? We touch base a couple of times during the season and before. It’s funny because it is all very similar for us. There is a progression of what these light fighters are doing. I always feel like I can figure it out if they are going to be a top tier when the lights go on. Lately, I feel as you’ve gotten into it, this is not what I expected at all and even better. That’s fun. Taniya and I have been on the same page with all that. Carter Oosterhouse and Amy Smart at “Common Ground” Screening. (Gregg DeGuire/Variety via Getty Images) Does this being known for this show put pressure on you at home to deliver a good display? Does Amy get you to work? Good question. It used to be my wife saying, “So what are we doing? Why aren’t we having any lights?” I say, “I am the judge of The Great Christmas Light Fight . I feel like I would not do a service and carry out the oath of being a judge and fail miserably putting lights up.” Usually, when I get home it’s a lot closer to Christmas. So, we do the inside. I’ve been trying to bring back things people make as a builder and duplicate them. There are a lot of makers out there. You see this guy who has been working in his workshop, who has this crazy Santa Claus walking up a ladder built on a timing system. I think that’s really cool that I want to go home and do that. So I have dabbled in those. You mentioned you’re filming right now for next year. Do you go back and watch the episodes airing as a family at home? We try to, absolutely, when I’m not shooting for next year. We critique. If my daughter is into it, I feel like I’m doing my job. There are tons of shows she can watch, especially during the holidays. I feel if she is into it, I’m doing alright. What’s your go-to Christmas movies to watch? Do you watch Amy’s movie Just Friends ? I feel sometimes people forget that is a Christmas movie. Just Friends , we do watch that. That is definitely a Christmas movie. We go back to all the nostalgic movies. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation , we run back through all that. Now there are all these shows, too. Like these Christmas baking shows. I feel like those are of interest to us too. I guess we’re finding shows I never thought I would watch and falling into. Also, being on a show this long, we’re so thankful it has been on the air this long and having such a successful run. You go through a rollercoaster of emotions. Right now, we’re doing great. It’s fun. It’s a new interest not just on the show but on Christmas too. It’s all about being loved ones. This experience has really helped me dive deeper into the whole Christmas world and look at it from other angles compared to when I first started on the show. Anything you can tease about the episodes to come? There is one episode that is coming up, and what was really of interest was the coordination. Not just of the lights but things that these blow molds were doing within the light display. We see a lot of coordination from the tech world, but when you can take traditional elements and mix those into a newer feel, that was really impressive. There was this choir of blow molds in the show, and that was so dynamic because you think, “Wait? Are those blow molds singing to me now?” There was a ton of them. Not only was it visually interesting but to hear it was amazing. What do you want to see from the show moving forward? I do like the heavyweights. Those are really fun to shoot because they are on such a different level. It’s also the community is helping out as well. You just have more people involved. I’d like to see more of those to tell you the truth because there seems to be a lot more people, which creates a bigger energy. That’s not to say the homes don’t do that. We only do one of these types of episodes a year, but I’d love to see more of them. The Great Christmas Light Fight , Thursdays, 8/7c, ABC More Headlines: ‘Firefly’ Reunion! Who Will Be at Emerald City Comic Con 2025 for ‘Serenity’s 20th Anniversary? ‘Christmas Light Fight’ Host Carter Oosterhouse on Holiday Traditions, Marriage to Amy Smart & More Snoop Dogg Gives Daughter Pre-Wedding Pep Talk in E! Docuseries Sneak Peek (VIDEO) ‘Bold and the Beautiful’ Breakup? Thorsten Kaye on Ridge’s Blowup With Brooke and If He’d Go Back to Taylor ‘Farmer Wants a Wife’ Renewed for Season 3 With a New Host: All the Updates

This recent untoward incident will never let you leave a loaded gun unsecured at home. Here's what happened

LONDON -- When Arsenal signed Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City in the summer of 2022, the pair provided a genuine improvement in quality and mentality to a promising young side. As the Gunners eased their way past AS Monaco 3-0 at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night in the UEFA Champions League , it was tempting to conclude that Mikel Arteta's side are close to leaving both behind. Part of that is the individual regression both Jesus and Zinchenko have seemingly suffered but also the establishment of a fresh pedigree in Europe's biggest competitions led by others -- most obviously on a night like this, Bukayo Saka . Editor's Picks Mohamed Salah: Stay or go? What Liverpool and the player should do Champions League as it happened: Juventus shock Man City, Barca edge Dortmund Inside Amorim's first month at Man United and his next set of challenges Saka's brace settled a contest that felt in the balance for much longer than it should have, not least because of Jesus' first-half profligacy. Twice he raced through on goal, twice his effort lacked conviction and Monaco goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki saved. The flip side is Jesus deserves credit for laying on Saka's opening 34th-minute goal with a clever run and cross which the England international steered home at the back post but he left the field on 73 minutes without a goal to his name, extending a frankly dismal record to just one from his last 32 matches. Jesus and Zinchenko possess a wealth of experience in this competition but his replacement here was Kai Havertz , a 2021 Champions League winner with Chelsea and whose impact was keenly felt: the German's high press forced an error which Saka capitalised on for Arsenal's second before Thilo Kehrer , again under pressure from Havertz, turned the ball into his own net from Saka's cross. And so, where players like Jesus and Zinchenko -- injured once again here -- would have been expected to help navigate the emotional complexities of a challenging night against smart European opposition, Jesus instead resembled more of a passenger as Saka came to the fore. "He keeps surprising us," said Arteta of Saka. "That's what he wants to do. That's the quality that he has, that's the ambition that he has and how he's preparing himself every day. I'm not surprised, but it's very difficult to do what he's doing. "That has been an evolution. He wasn't able to do that at 17, 18 or 19. But he has developed in the right way, mentally, physically, his condition, and his preparation, now he has got the habit of playing every three days and he is consistently doing that at the highest level. "He will continue to do that and for the youngest players, for the old ones, and for all of us he is a great example because of how he behaves daily and because of what he wants to do, which is to have his best version every day, and continue to improve and that's it." Saka's consistency at the highest level is worthy of reiteration. Only Mohamed Salah (16 goals, 12 assists) has registered more goal involvements among Premier League players this season than Saka's nine goals and 12 assists. He moves on to eight Champions League goals, which may still feel a modest tally but it steers him past club legend Dennis Bergkamp and Mesut Özil, whose £42.4 million arrival from Real Madrid in 2013 was also expected to herald the dawn of a new era. Zinchenko's absence deepened Arsenal's defensive issues with Riccardo Calafiori , Ben White , Gabriel Magalhães and Takehiro Tomiyasu all out and, instead of turning to the experience of Kieran Tierney , Arteta opted to make Myles Lewis-Skelly the youngest Arsenal player to start a game in this competition since Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2011. It was only the 18-year-old's seventh senior appearance and the maturity he showed for 64 minutes here only further complicates Zinchenko's route back to the first team. Lewis-Skelly's smart play helped release Jesus for Arsenal's first goal and although Arteta felt compelled to introduce Jurriën Timber as Monaco began to threaten down his flank, the Hale End academy graduate staked a strong claim for further inclusion, completing 45 out of 47 passes. "He's one of our own, 18-years-old and he makes his debut starting in the Champions League," said Arteta. "It's just a joy to watch him and a privilege to give a chance to somebody to start to change his career. He certainly took the chance. It's great that we can trust him and that he can play in this environment with this level." Arsenal's profligacy -- Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Ødegaard were also culpable -- could have cost them on another night and Arteta added: "We should have scored four or five in the first half. It wasn't the case. "We can teach [the players], and sometimes we have to take a step back. [Finishing chances] is a decision they have to take. They cannot be thinking what they have to do and what we have to tell them. We try to give them the right information and the tools. After that, it is their execution and it is a difficult thing to do in football, but we have a lot of talent." While Zinchenko could potentially depart if a suitable offer arises, Arteta has ruled out the possibility of moving Jesus on in the January transfer window. But it is no secret that Arsenal want to strengthen their forward line next year and any funds raised through player sales will be welcome. The Gunners are more likely to wait for the bigger opportunities the summer window represents, and so Jesus may have more chances to prove he is part of Arsenal's present and not their past. He needs to take one soon.Julia Wick | (TNS) Los Angeles Times As California politicos look ahead to 2025, the biggest question looming is whether Vice President Kamala Harris — a native daughter, battered just weeks ago by presidential election defeat — will enter the 2026 California governor’s race. Related Articles National Politics | Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people National Politics | Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America National Politics | Trump invites China’s Xi to his inauguration even as he threatens massive tariffs on Beijing National Politics | Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump National Politics | What Americans think about Hegseth, Gabbard and key Trump Cabinet picks AP-NORC poll Harris has yet to give any public indication on her thoughts and those close to her suggest the governorship is not immediately top of mind. But if Harris does ultimately run — and that’s a massive if — her entrée would seismically reshape the already crowded race for California’s highest office. Recent polling suggests Harris would have a major advantage, with 46% of likely voters saying they were somewhat or very likely to support her for governor in 2026, according to a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies survey co-sponsored by The Times. “If Vice President Harris were to choose to run, I am certain that that would have a near field-clearing effect on the Democratic side,” Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, said during a recent UC Irvine panel interview . Porter, a high-profile Democrat who has been eyeing the wide-open governor’s race, has yet to say whether she plans to run. Porter’s point was broadly echoed in conversations with nearly a dozen California political operatives and strategists, several of whom requested anonymity to speak candidly. Most speculated that a Harris entry would cause some other candidates in the race to scatter, creating further upheaval in down-ballot races as a roster of ambitious politicians scramble for other opportunities. “In politics, you always let the big dogs eat first,” quipped Democratic political consultant Peter Ragone. The current gubernatorial field is a who’s who of California politicians, but lacks a clear favorite or star with widespread name recognition. The vast majority of California’s 22 million voters have yet to pay attention to the race and have little familiarity with the candidates. The list of Democratic candidates includes Los Angeles’ first Latino mayor in more than a century ( Antonio Villaraigosa ); the first female and first out LGBTQ leader of the state Senate ( Toni Atkins ); the sitting lieutenant governor and first woman to hold that post ( Eleni Kounalakis ); the state superintendent of public instruction ( Tony Thurmond ) and the former state controller ( Betty Yee ). Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is serving his second term as California governor, meaning he is ineligible to run again. Several other Democrats, including Porter, outgoing Health and Human Services Director Xavier Becerra and state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta have also publicly toyed with the idea of a run. They could be less likely to enter the fray should Harris decide to run. What the billionaire mall mogul Rick Caruso — who has also been exploring a run — would choose to do is an open question, as Caruso might contrast himself with Harris as a more centrist candidate. The real estate developer was a registered Republican until November 2019. It’s unlikely that Harris will proffer a public decision in the immediate term, leaving plenty of time for political insiders to game out hypotheticals in the weeks and months to come. Harris’ office did not respond to a request for comment. “I think every candidate for governor is trying to get some kind of intel,” Mike Trujillo, a Los Angeles-based Democratic political consultant and former Villaraigosa staffer, said of a potential Harris run. Trujillo speculated that Harris’ current state was probably similar to Hillary Clinton’s hiking sojourns in the Chappaqua woods after losing to Donald Trump in 2016, or Al Gore growing a beard in the bruising aftermath of his 2000 defeat. “The first thing she’s probably thinking about is, ‘Well, can I run again for president in four years?’ Not, ‘Do I run for governor in two years?’” said one political operative who’s worked with Harris in the past. Harris maintains a home in Brentwood and previously served as California’s senator and attorney general. A successful run for governor in 2026 would almost certainly impede a grab for the presidency in 2028. (Though if history is any guide, an unsuccessful run for California governor does not definitively preclude a bid for the Oval Office: Two years after losing the White House to John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon lost the 1962 contest for governor to Pat Brown . The Yorba Linda native became the nation’s 37th president in 1969.) As the chief executive of a state that doubles as the world’s fifth-largest economy, Harris would have more power to steer policy and make changes as a California governor than she did as vice president, where her job required deference to President Biden. But leading a state, even the nation’s most populous, could feel like small potatoes after being a heartbeat (and a few dozen electoral votes) from the presidency. The protracted slog to November 2026 would also be a stark contrast to her ill-fated 107-day sprint toward the White House, particularly for a candidate whose 2020 presidential primary campaign was dogged by allegations of infighting and mismanagement. “I don’t think Kamala Harris has a deep psychological need to be governor of California, or to be in elective office in order to feel like she can contribute to society,” said the operative who’s worked with Harris in the past. “I think some of these people do, but she’s somebody who has enough prominence that she could do a lot of big, wonderful things without having to worry about balancing California’s budget or negotiating with Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel,” the Encino Democrat who chairs the Assembly’s budget committee. Technically, Harris has until March 2026 to decide whether she enters a race. But political strategists who spoke to The Times theorized that she probably would make a move by late spring, if she chooses to do so. “People will be more annoyed if she drops in in June,” a Democratic strategist involved with one of the gubernatorial campaigns said. Sending a clear signal by February would be more “courteous,” the strategist continued, explaining that such a move would give candidates more time to potentially enter other races. Kounalakis is a longtime friend and ally of Harris’ , and the vice president also has long-term relationships with some of the other candidates and potential candidates. California has eight statewide elected offices and campaign finance laws allow candidates to fundraise interchangeably for them, meaning money already raised for a candidate’s gubernatorial campaign could easily be redirected should they decide to run for, say, lieutenant governor instead. There are already a number of candidates running for lieutenant governor, including former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, former state Sen. Steven Bradford and former state Treasurer Fiona Ma. But that office probably would see even more interest should Harris enter the gubernatorial race. It’s a largely ceremonial position, but one that has served as a launching pad for the governorship. Still, even if Harris does enter the race, Republican political strategist Mike Murphy threw cold water on the idea that she would have an automatic glide path to the governor’s office. “It’s like Hollywood. Nobody knows anything. She’s famous enough to look credible in early polling. That’s all we know for sure,” Murphy said. “Does that predict the future? No. Are there a lot of downsides (to a potential Harris candidacy)? Totally, yes.” ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Nebraska will be trying to preserve its perfect in-state record when it hosts South Dakota on Wednesday night in a nonconference game in Lincoln, Neb. The Cornhuskers (4-1) are 3-0 at home and also won Friday at then-No. 14 Creighton, beating their in-state rivals on the road for the second straight time. But the last time they did that, in 2022, they followed that win with a 16-point loss at Indiana to open Big Ten Conference play. "Believe me, we've addressed a lot of things," Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said. "A lot of people are saying some really positive things. You've got to find a way to put that behind you. I've liked how our team has responded and come back to work after that great win at Creighton." Brice Williams leads the Cornhuskers with 18.2 points per game and was one of five players in double figures against Creighton. Juwan Gary topped the list with 16. South Dakota (6-2) comes to town off a 112-50 home win Monday night over Randall, the third non-Division I school it has beat. The Coyotes' last game against a D1 opponent was Friday at Southern Indiana, resulting in a 92-83 loss. This will be South Dakota's second nonconference game against a Big Ten opponent, after a 96-77 loss at Iowa on Nov. 12. In December, the Coyotes also visit Santa Clara, hovering near the top 100 in KenPom adjusted efficiency, before jumping into Big Sky play. "The schedule is very good and that should help us," third-year South Dakota coach Eric Peterson said before the season. "We have some good nonconference games that should help prepare us for the end of the season." Nebraska has held four of its opponents to 67 or fewer points, with Saint Mary's the only one to top that number in the Cornhuskers' lone loss. Opponents are shooting 38.1 percent this season. South Dakota shot below 40 percent in its two previous games before shooting 62 percent against Randall. Isaac Bruns, who scored 20 to lead South Dakota in the Randall game, paces the Coyotes with 12.9 points per game. --Field Level MediaHuawei’s FreeBuds Pro 4 aims to redefine the way we experience wireless audio, blending cutting-edge technology with thoughtful design. As the latest addition to the company’s flagship lineup, these earbuds promise high-resolution sound, exceptional call quality, and intuitive features designed for real-world use. From tackling noisy environments during calls to delivering an immersive music experience with tailored EQ settings, the FreeBuds Pro 4 seems ready to take on the challenges of everyday life. Let’s dive into how they perform. Designer: Huawei Huawei’s FreeBuds Pro 4 comes into a world already saturated by wireless earbuds that promise comfort, clarity, and a stylish form. The design language of these Huawei earbuds should not be ignored, especially considering how many brands forget that we wear these devices as part of our personal style. This isn’t a gaudy attempt at jewelry. Instead, its understated style enhances its appeal, allowing it to complement a wide range of personal aesthetics while remaining functional. The minimalist design ensures that the earbuds feel professional for work calls yet casual enough for everyday use, making them versatile for any scenario. The FreeBuds Pro 4 comes across more like a finely tuned instrument. The materials and finishing radiate a subtle sense of care rather than flamboyance. They feel confident in their presence. While certain earlier earbud models from various brands have been plagued by slippery finishes or cheap-feeling plastic, Huawei took time to produce something that can actually withstand everyday handling without showing scratches the moment you toss them into a bag. I respect that. The subtle branding and finishing details don’t scream for attention, but if you pay attention, you notice the layers of careful craftsmanship. These are refined enough that you can hold them and sense the design decisions that Huawei made. They are small objects that serve multiple roles in a modern lifestyle. Whether it’s transitioning seamlessly from a high-stakes business call to an evening of relaxing music, these earbuds adapt effortlessly. They feel purposeful, combining functional elegance with durability—offering a sense of reliability that makes you proud to use them daily, not as just another disposable gadget. The fit inside my ears is stable and comfortable, thoughtfully crafted to accommodate a wide range of ear shapes. I wore them for hours on end during my flight from Dubai to Dallas, and they remained incredibly comfortable—a testament to Huawei’s ergonomic design. The memory foam ear tips adapt naturally to the ear canal, creating a secure yet unobtrusive seal that minimizes sound leakage while enhancing comfort. This seal plays a vital role in reducing ambient noise, allowing me to immerse myself in music or focus on work without interruption. One of the FreeBuds Pro 4’s most impressive aspects is its lightweight construction. Even after prolonged use, I didn’t feel any strain or pressure on my ears, a crucial feature for long-haul travelers or those wearing them throughout the day. The thoughtful balance of form and function ensures these earbuds feel natural as an extension of your daily routine. The design also fosters a sense of acoustic balance. Whether I was navigating through a bustling airport terminal or seated in a noisy cabin, the FreeBuds Pro 4 delivered a consistent sense of calm. The combination of comfort, practicality, and noise isolation creates an experience that feels uniquely tailored to real-world challenges, making these earbuds more than just another gadget in your bag. The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4 offers a variety of noise control modes that adapt to your environment and personal preferences, enhancing the overall listening experience. The Noise Canceling mode, set to “Ultra,” excels in eliminating background distractions such as bustling terminals or airplane cabins. During my flight from Dubai to Dallas, switching to this mode drowned out the low rumble of the engines and even softened the sharp cries of a nearby baby, making it far easier to focus on music or relax. The Awareness mode is equally practical for situations where you need to stay alert. While waiting for boarding announcements at the airport, I switched to this mode and appreciated how it amplified surrounding sounds just enough to keep me connected to my environment without removing the clarity of my audio. For moments when no active noise cancellation is needed, the Off mode provides a more neutral experience, preserving battery life while still offering the same high-quality audio playback. These modes illustrate Huawei’s thoughtful approach to real-world usability. Moving seamlessly between a quiet office, a busy public space, or even transitioning from one to the other, the earbuds adapt without skipping a beat. What I love most about these transitions is the audible notification that accompanies each mode switch. It’s a simple yet thoughtful addition that ensures I know exactly which setting I’ve selected without needing to glance at the app. This level of intuitive design is rare and makes a noticeable difference in seamless usability. Through its high-end specifications, the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4 offers a refined listening experience. At the heart of its design is the Dual-driver True Sound system combined with retuned Digital Cross-Over technology. This configuration allows precise handling of individual frequency ranges, offering clarity and depth for every track. Supporting this is the powerful 11mm Quad-Magnet Dynamic Driver Unit, ensuring rich and distortion-free sound across different genres. To enhance the audio quality further, Huawei’s proprietary Bluetooth L2HC 4.0 codec enables high-resolution audio transmission at up to 24-bit/48kHz with an impressive 2.3 Mbps speed. These features ensure that music playback remains immersive and true to its original quality, from soft instrumentals to dynamic, bass-heavy tracks. Using the EQ presets provided in the app, I tested various music genres that align with my preferences. Sitting next to a screaming infant on an airplane prior to takeoff, I placed a call to a colleague. The sharp, piercing cries of the baby, alternating between high-pitched wails and desperate sobs, created an environment that felt chaotic and overwhelming. The FreeBuds Pro 4, equipped with advanced bone-conduction VPU microphone technology and an AI noise reduction algorithm, dulled the high-pitched wails to a manageable hum. This ensured my conversation remained uninterrupted. On the other end of the line, my colleague heard my voice with alarming clarity, reporting that the background noise was virtually eliminated. Even in a breezy outdoor space, the wind did not translate into overwhelming mic distortion. Thanks to this technology, the other side of the line received a well-isolated version of my voice. Meetings, calls, and interviews can proceed naturally, even in less-than-ideal conditions. Each preset feels tailored to amplify the strengths of specific genres without resorting to over-processing. The Dual-driver True Sound system works with the Digital Cross-Over technology to provide a clean, distortion-free experience. When playing back lossless audio files at 24-bit/48kHz, as in Fleet Foxes’ Helplessness Blues, the earbuds reveal an extra layer of tonal richness that’s absent in most competing earbuds. The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4 pushes a real sense of precision in their sound. I know these are not pro-audio-grade studio monitors, but they do not need to be. Instead, they strike a healthy balance between detail and warmth. In my ongoing evaluation of audio gear, I place a heavy emphasis on how something works in daily life. Specs, brand names, and press releases can only tell a fraction of the story. The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4 shows the company understands what it means to integrate seamlessly into a user’s world. For example, when moving from a video call on my laptop to playing music on my phone, the Dual Device Connection feature ensures a smooth transition without the need for manual pairing. This functionality, combined with wear detection that pauses and resumes audio automatically, makes the earbuds feel intuitive and effortless to use. The clarity of call quality, the stable performance in streaming high-fidelity audio, and the robust battery life stand out more strongly than any marketing buzz. The brand’s focus on noise cancellation that actually works in varied environments shows care and attention to real-world challenges. The comfort of memory foam ear tips that reduce sound leakage stands out as well. This new Huawei model demonstrates that the company took real-world obstacles into account, from wind noise to inconsistent network conditions. The underlying message from Huawei’s FreeBuds Pro 4 is that refinement and practicality don’t have to sit on opposite ends of the spectrum. High-resolution audio retains its crispness without compromising stable connectivity. The design combines comfort with individuality, avoiding the generic aesthetic that fades into the background. Noise cancellation handles unpredictable environments effectively, not limiting itself to quiet offices. Smart features are thoughtfully implemented to enhance workflows without coming across as gimmicks. All these elements come together in these earbuds and reflect an approach that respects the user’s real-world context. After thorough use, I am impressed with how consistently well these earbuds handle everyday challenges. The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4 is far more than a spec sheet or a flashy launch event. They’re a step toward making wireless earbuds fit into our lives as effortlessly as possible, blending balanced sound reproduction, stable calls, and comfortable ergonomics in a way that rewards those who actually pay attention to what matters.Samsung Galaxy S25 Series: Will Prices Hold Steady or Skyrocket?

Will Kamala Harris run for California governor in 2026? The question is already swirlingSPRINGFIELD — Visitors coming to the Illinois Statehouse to see their lawmakers in action, or just to tour the historic building, may see longer lines to get through security screening during the upcoming legislative sessions. Responding to a significant increase in potential threats to lawmakers and the public in recent years, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’s office recently implemented new emergency rules requiring nearly anyone to pass through security screening upon entering the Statehouse or any building in the Illinois Capitol Complex. “Unfortunately, the world is not getting safer,” Amy Williams, senior legal adviser in the secretary of state’s office, told a legislative oversight committee Tuesday. One of the more serious threats, Williams said, occurred in March when security officials were notified of an active shooter threat, prompting a lockdown of the complex. The lockdown was lifted after investigators determined there was no credible threat, according to reports at the time. In April, police locked down the Capitol for about an hour as the building was cleared following a bomb threat. Illinois State Police arrested a suspect accused of making the threat the following month. So far in 2024, Williams told the committee, the Secretary of State Police Department has responded to 17 threats to the Capitol, nearly twice as many as any other year since 2018. There have also been threats directed at individual lawmakers. In September, a man was arrested for threatening to assassinate Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore. And on Monday, Dec. 9, Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, reported an employee in her district office became ill after opening office mail, according to a social media post. The employee was transported to a local hospital, prompting police to evacuate the building and cordon off a portion of the street while emergency crews responded. In October, Williams said, the secretary of state’s office was advised by a security consultant to increase the number of people required to go through security screening to include everyone other than lawmakers, state government employees and other elected officials. That meant many people who had previously been given unrestricted access to the building — including lobbyists, vendors and members of the news media — now have to go through security screening as well. “Primarily that decision came about because members of the General Assembly, elected officials, are sensibly background checked by their constituents who choose them to go to the Capitol to do the people's work on their behalf,” she said. “And state government employees are background checked by their respective agencies. Lobbyists, vendors and members of the press are not subject to any background check.” To avoid congestion, Williams said the office has set up a “TSA Express-style” screening point at the east entrance of the building for those individuals who previously had unfettered access. The security changes near the tail end of a three-year, $224 million renovation project that will make permanent changes to the way the public enters and exits the Capitol. That project involves restoration and remodeling of the entire north wing of the Capitol. When it’s completed, sometime in 2025, all public access will be through a new entryway on the north side of the building where people will pass through security screening before entering the building itself. Until then, visitors will continue entering through either the east or west doors of the building where metal detectors and baggage x-ray machines are located just inside the building. Lawmakers are tentatively scheduled to return to the Statehouse Jan. 2 for the start of a brief lame duck session. The regular 2025 session begins Wednesday, Jan. 8. The Illinois Flag Commission selected its Top 10 finalists for the state flag redesign contest with public voting slated to begin in January. Members of the commission could select up to 10 of their favorite designs – from the nearly 5,000 submissions – prior to their December 9 meeting where they narrowed their choices to 10 overall. “Having received nearly 5,000 entries, I appreciate the creativity and passion reflected in all the submissions,” said Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, whose office convened the Flag Commission meetings. Starting in January, the public will have the opportunity to vote online at www.ilsos.gov/stateflag for one of the new designs, or one of three former flag designs, including the current state flag, the 1918 Centennial Flag and the 1968 Sesquicentennial Flag. After the public voting period, the commission will report its findings and recommendations to the Illinois General Assembly by April 1, 2025, whose members will vote on whether to adopt a new flag, return to a previous iteration of the flag or retain the current flag. Senate Bill 1818, sponsored by State Senator Doris Turner (48th District—Springfield) and State Representative Kam Buckner (26th District—Chicago), was signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker in 2023, creating the commission to gauge public desire for a new flag. The flag designs eligible for public voting in January can be viewed at www.ilsos.gov/stateflag . Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

The Ottawa Police Service says it continues to receive reports of a card swap fraud involving illegitimate taxis or rideshares. Police say residents should be vigilant when approached by a person asking for assistance in paying for a taxi fare by debit or credit card. The victim is told the driver will not accept cash and is offered change in exchange for paying for the ride with their card. A notice from police warning of the scam was first made in August after a similar issue was reported in Kington, Ont. Police say that in at least one case, the vehicle bore a roof sign and taxi plate stolen from a legitimate taxi company licenced to operate only in Toronto. Ottawa police and bylaw are reminding the public that all licenced taxis in the city will have a City of Ottawa logo located on the right side of the rear bumper. The plate is either blue with white lettering or white with green letters. In addition, a roof sign will indicate the taxi company and plate number. There will be an identification number on both sides of the vehicle and a taximeter with a City of Ottawa seal. Taxi drivers must also have a driver identification card with their photo and driver number. There are only four licenced taxi companies licenced to operate in Ottawa. They are Blue Line Taxi Co. Ltd., Capital Taxi, West-Way Taxi and Executive Cabs. Police are providing the following safety tips: Reports of fraud can be made by calling the Police Reporting Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 7300 or by filing a report online. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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London Man and woman charged following armed robbery in Exeter: OPP According to police, on Saturday afternoon just after 1:00 p.m., the pair entered a residence on Carling Street and assaulted and stole money from the people inside. Blizzard warning shuts down large parts of midwestern Ontario It was a day to stay home, if you could, across much of midwestern Ontario due to weather. 40 to 80 cm of snow in some areas: Blizzard and snow squall warnings up across the region Blizzard and snow squall warnings have rolled across much of southern Ontario – with up to 15 centimeters expected today, and blowing snow reducing visibility on roadways. Kitchener 'Enough is enough': Doug Ford says Ontario could hand encampment drug users $10,000 fines, prison Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his government is introducing a suite of measures to help municipalities “address and dismantle” homeless encampments around the province, including steep fines for people who use drugs. Marathon budget meeting ends without setting Waterloo Region budget Waterloo Region Council was expected to set the 2025 budget on Wednesday, but after a marathon meeting, councillors left the horseshoe without making a final decision. Premier proposing legislation to clear encampments and target illegal drug use Ontario Premier Doug Ford is proposing stronger legislation for breaking up encampments. Barrie Shotgun fired, tv stolen in home invasion, suspects at large Provincial police are seeking suspects allegedly involved in an armed home invasion and robbery in Everett over the weekend. Significant weather event declared in Owen Sound amid weather warning The City of Owen Sound has declared a significant weather event with the region under a blizzard warning on Thursday as lake-effect snow squalls hammer the area. Jack-knifed tractor-trailer caused disruptions on Highway 11 in Gravenhurst A jack-knifed tractor-trailer caused lane closures along Highway 11 near Bethune Drive South in Gravenhurst. Winnipeg Manitoba premier eyes list of possible retaliatory measures for U.S. tariffs Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says his government is preparing a list of potential retaliatory measures if the United States government imposes new tariffs on Canadian goods. RCMP officer shot with replica gun during call A Manitoba RCMP officer was shot with a replica gun during a recent call in Gimli. 'Concerning:' Manitoba homicides spiked in 2024 Manitoba RCMP has seen a spike in homicides in 2024. Calgary ‘Very odd’: Death of young Calgary woman remains a mystery: police Calgary police are calling on the public to come forward with any information they may have following the death of a young woman found unconscious on a northeast pathway. 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B.C. boosts tax incentives to support film and television production The British Columbia government is increasing tax incentives for both local and international film and TV projects in an effort to attract more major productions to the province. Rescued harbour seals released 'home for the holidays' in B.C. Eight rescued harbour seals were released back into the ocean Thursday. Vancouver Island Man charged after victim pinned to tree with vehicle in Victoria A 34-year-old man is facing multiple criminal charges after allegedly striking a man with his vehicle and pinning him against a tree in Victoria, causing serious injuries. B.C. boosts tax incentives to support film and television production The British Columbia government is increasing tax incentives for both local and international film and TV projects in an effort to attract more major productions to the province. Police say 42 vehicles vandalized in 'campaign of destruction' in Nanaimo, B.C. Mounties are investigating after more than 40 vehicles were vandalized in what police described as a "campaign of destruction" across Nanaimo, B.C. Kelowna Study of 2023 Okanagan wildfires recommends limiting development in high-risk areas A study into the devastating wildfires that struck British Columbia's Okanagan region in 2023 has recommended that government and industry limit development in high-fire-risk areas. Kelowna, B.C., to host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026 The Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets will host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026, the Canadian Hockey League said Wednesday. 545 vehicles impounded in 332 days: BC Highway Patrol pleads for drivers to slow down Mounties with the BC Highway Patrol in Kelowna say they've impounded more than 545 vehicles for excessive speed and aggressive driving so far this year. That works out to more than 1.6 per day. Stay Connected

( MENAFN - UkrinForm) Ukraine has successfully completed the testing phase for a range of drones equipped with fiber-optic communication, with the process of obtaining a NATO code nearing completion. As reported by Ukrinform, this information was shared on facebook by the General Staff of the armed forces of Ukraine. "Leading the lineup is the Black Widow Web 10 project drone - a fiber-optic kamikaze. This drone can travel over five kilometers and carry approximately two kilograms of payload. Developers of this project have received NATO codes not only for this model but for an entire range of UAV solutions," the post reads. Colonel Vitalii Dobrianskyi, Head of the Innovation Activities Department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, commented on the achievement, highlighting that a crucial task was accomplished - overcoming enemy electronic warfare systems when using drones. This is not just a new type of weapon but a gateway for further research and development in the field of fiber-optic communication. Robotics and unmanned technologies have gained a new trajectory of development. "FPV drones with this technology are becoming a significant problem for the enemy on the front lines," the General Staff added. As reported by Ukrinform, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that next year's budget allocates 775 billion UAH for the production of Ukrainian drones. MENAFN20122024000193011044ID1109018538 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Prep football | Del Norte falls to Moreau Catholic in NCS semifinals

The need for higher education that is relevant to students’ lives, accessible to everyone, and interconnected on a global scale has been emphasised by experts at a Qatar Foundation (QF)-led discussion during the Doha Forum 2024. Moderated by Francisco Marmolejo, president of Higher Education and Education Advisor, QF, the session brought together educators from east and west to explore the opportunities, challenges, and risks surrounding globalised learning and international education, in a world that has become increasingly polarised. The discussion delved into issues such as the impact of rising nationalism, “anti-intellectualism”, and cost on higher education worldwide, and how it can both benefit and come under threat from Artificial Intelligence. Among the perspectives shared was that of the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF), from which students, faculty, and staff evacuated to Qatar have continued their learning journey at QF’s Education City, through a strategic partnership between Qatar Fund for Development, QF, and the university. “The arrival of the Afghan students into our ecosystem of education has been very refreshing in many ways,” said Marmolejo. “I’m sure it has helped to change the lives of many of our students just by getting a sense of the challenges and the struggles that these students who have become part of our community have brought with them. Ambassador Said T Jawad, chairman of AUAF, stressed the importance of international partnerships in higher education, saying: “There are problems that cannot be solved through one model and in one place – there is every reason to be collaborating, both in terms of our needs as institutions and in terms of solving human problems.” Dr Fanta Aw, director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, told the panel that higher education should not “let a good crisis go to waste”, and that organisations and institutions in the non-education sphere can work in collaboration with the higher education sector to harness opportunities.” Universities have a responsibility to serve their societies as well as their learners, according to Dr Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, who warned: “Unless we provide access for all students, we are not fulfilling our obligations to our students and to our societies, and we are violating that social compact. Dr Ahmad Dallal, president of the American University of Cairo, cited several reasons for his view that “international education has a big problem” – violence leading to student and faculty deaths; increasing nationalism “and the ideological projects being imposed on institutions of higher education”; the cost of education and its “return on investment”; and technology.” The panellists also spoke about the uniqueness of the international education model at QF’s Education City – where branch campuses of international universities stand alongside QF’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University – and how it stands as an example of collaborative learning through enabling students from more than 120 countries to have multiple educational experiences. Related Story Noble International School’s new campus opens Friday EAA spotlights funding for educationHNO International’s Chairman & CEO Releases Exclusive ‘Hydrogen Economy Vision’ Video Interview from the NASDAQ Marketsite HOUSTON, Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — (OTC: HNOI), a leader in hydrogen-based clean energy technologies, is pleased to announce the release of Donald Owens’, Chairman and CEO of HNO International, ‘Hydrogen Economy’ vision interview from the NASDAQ Marketsite, Times Square, New York. Watch the full interview with Stock News Reports here: Leading HNO International’s mission to revolutionize the energy sector, Mr. Owens brings unparalleled expertise in hydrogen production and combustion technology. Transitioning from his early career as a patent attorney, he has secured 19 patents in the hydrogen energy industry, solidifying HNO International’s position as a leader in hydrogen-based clean energy solutions. commented : “Discussing the importance of decentralizing gaseous hydrogen production and empowering entrepreneurs worldwide reaffirms our mission to make hydrogen energy accessible to everyone,” the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at HNO International’s Chairman & CEO Releases Exclusive ‘Hydrogen Economy Vision’ Video Interview from the NASDAQ Marketsite, European companies launch the Alliance to accelerate decarbonisation through the H2med – Hydrogen Economy This Alliance will bring together countries such as Portugal, Spain, France and Germany, reinforcing the... Westwood Insight – Over a fifth of all European Hydrogen projects stalled or cancelled Hydrogen is a key component of Europe’s decarbonisation and net zero ambitions. Individual countries and the EU have published... University of Texas at Austin – UT Joins Industry in Report to Legislature to Advance Texas’ Hydrogen Economy AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin joined top energy companies in issuing a report to...David Hilzenrath, Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group | (TNS) KFF Health News In March, newly installed Social Security chief Martin O’Malley criticized agency “injustices” that “shock our shared sense of equity and good conscience as Americans.” He promised to overhaul the Social Security Administration’s often heavy-handed efforts to claw back money that millions of recipients — including people who are living in poverty, are elderly, or have disabilities — were allegedly overpaid, as described by a KFF Health News and Cox Media Group investigation last year. “Innocent people can be badly hurt,” O’Malley said at the time. Nearly eight months since he appeared before Congress and announced a series of policy changes, and with two months left in his term, O’Malley’s effort to fix the system has made inroads but remains a work in progress. For instance, one change, moving away from withholding 100% of people’s monthly Social Security benefits to recover alleged overpayments, has been a major improvement, say advocates for beneficiaries. “It is a tremendous change,” said Kate Lang of Justice in Aging, who called it “life-changing for many people.” The number of people from whom the Social Security Administration was withholding full monthly benefits to recoup money declined sharply — from about 46,000 in January to about 7,000 in September, the agency said. Asked to clarify whether those numbers and others provided for this article covered all programs administered by the agency, the SSA press office did not respond. Another potentially significant change — relieving beneficiaries of having to prove that an overpayment was not their fault — has not been implemented. The agency said it is working on that. Meanwhile, the agency seems to be looking to Congress to take the lead on a change some observers see as crucial: limiting how far back the government can reach to recover an alleged overpayment. Barbara Hubbell of Watkins Glen, New York, called the absence of a statute of limitations “despicable.” Hubbell said her mother was held liable for $43,000 because of an SSA error going back 19 years. “In what universe is that even legal?” Hubbell said. Paying down the overpayment balance left her mother “essentially penniless,” she added. In response to questions for this article, Social Security spokesperson Mark Hinkle said legislation is “the best and fastest way” to set a time limit. Establishing a statute of limitations was not among the policy changes O’Malley announced in his March congressional testimony. In an interview at the time, he said he expected an announcement on it “within the next couple few months.” It could probably be done by regulation, without an act of Congress, he said. Speaking generally, Hinkle said the agency has “made substantial progress on overpayments,” reducing the hardship they cause, and “continues to work diligently” to update policies. The agency is underfunded, he added, is at a near 50-year low in staffing, and could do better with more employees. The SSA did not respond to requests for an interview with O’Malley. O’Malley announced the policy changes after KFF Health News and Cox Media Group jointly published and broadcast investigative reporting on the damage overpayments and clawbacks have done to millions of beneficiaries. When O’Malley, a former Democratic governor of Maryland, presented his plans to three congressional committees in March, lawmakers greeted him with rare bipartisan praise. But the past several months have shown how hard it can be to turn around a federal bureaucracy that is massive, complex, deeply dysfunctional, and, as it says, understaffed. Now O’Malley’s time may be running out. Lang of Justice in Aging, among the advocacy groups that have been meeting with O’Malley and other Social Security officials, said she appreciates how much the commissioner has achieved in a short time. But she added that O’Malley has “not been interested in hearing about our feelings that things have fallen short.” One long-standing policy O’Malley set out to change involves the burden of proof. When the Social Security Administration alleges someone has been overpaid and demands the money back, the burden is on the beneficiary to prove they were not at fault. Cecilia Malone, 24, a beneficiary in Lithonia, Georgia, said she and her parents spent hundreds of hours trying to get errors corrected. “Why is the burden on us to ‘prove’ we weren’t overpaid?” Malone said. It can be exceedingly difficult for beneficiaries to appeal a decision. The alleged overpayments, which can reach tens of thousands of dollars or more, often span years. And people struggling just to survive may have extra difficulty producing financial records from long ago. What’s more, in letters demanding repayment, the government does not typically spell out its case against the beneficiary — making it hard to mount a defense. Testifying before House and Senate committees in March, O’Malley promised to shift the burden of proof. “That should be on the agency,” he said. The agency expects to finalize “guidance” on the subject “in the coming months,” Hinkle said. The agency points to reduced wait times and other improvements in a phone system known to leave beneficiaries on hold. “In September, we answered calls to our national 800 number in an average of 11 minutes — a tremendous improvement from 42 minutes one year ago,” Hinkle said. Still, in response to a nonrepresentative survey by KFF Health News and Cox Media Group focused on overpayments, about half of respondents who said they contacted the agency by phone since April rated that experience as “poor,” and few rated it “good” or “excellent.” The survey was sent to about 600 people who had contacted KFF Health News to share their overpayment stories since September 2023. Almost 200 people answered the survey in September and October of this year. Most of those who said they contacted the agency by mail since April rated their experience as “poor.” Jennifer Campbell, 60, a beneficiary in Nelsonville, Ohio, said in late October that she was still waiting for someone at the agency to follow up as described during a phone call in May. “VERY POOR customer service!!!!!” Campbell wrote. “Nearly impossible to get a hold of someone,” wrote Kathryn Duff of Colorado Springs, Colorado, who has been helping a disabled family member. Letters from SSA have left Duff mystified. One was postmarked July 9, 2024, but dated more than two years earlier. Another, dated Aug. 18, 2024, said her family member was overpaid $31,635.80 in benefits from the Supplemental Security Income program, which provides money to people with little or no income or other resources who are disabled, blind, or at least 65. But Duff said her relative never received SSI benefits. What’s more, for the dates in question, payments listed in the letter to back up the agency’s math didn’t come close to $31,635.80; they totaled about a quarter of that amount. Regarding the 100% clawbacks, O’Malley in March said it’s “unconscionable that someone would find themselves facing homelessness or unable to pay bills, because Social Security withheld their entire payment for recovery of an overpayment.” He said that, starting March 25, if a beneficiary doesn’t respond to a new overpayment notice, the agency would default to withholding 10%. The agency warned of “a short transition period.” That change wasn’t automated until June 25, Hinkle said. The number of people newly placed in full withholding plummeted from 6,771 in February to 51 in September, according to data the agency provided. SSA said it would notify recipients they could request reduced withholding if it was already clawing back more than 10% of their monthly checks. Nonetheless, dozens of beneficiaries or their family members told KFF Health News and Cox Media Group they hadn’t heard they could request reduced withholding. Among those who did ask, roughly half said their requests were approved. According to the SSA, there has been almost a 20% decline in the number of people facing clawbacks of more than 10% but less than 100% of their monthly checks — from 141,316 as of March 8 to 114,950 as of Oct. 25, agency spokesperson Nicole Tiggemann said. Meanwhile, the number of people from whom the agency was withholding exactly 10% soared more than fortyfold — from just over 5,000 to well over 200,000. And the number of beneficiaries having any partial benefits withheld to recover an overpayment increased from almost 600,000 to almost 785,000, according to data Tiggemann provided. Lorraine Anne Davis, 72, of Houston, said she hasn’t received her monthly Social Security payment since June due to an alleged overpayment. Her Medicare premium was being deducted from her monthly benefit, so she’s been left to pay that out-of-pocket. Davis said she’s going to need a kidney transplant and had been trying to save money for when she’d be unable to work. A letter from the SSA dated April 8, 2024, two weeks after the new 10% withholding policy was slated to take effect, said it had overpaid her $13,538 and demanded she pay it back within 30 days. Apparently, the SSA hadn’t accounted for a pension Davis receives from overseas; Davis said she disclosed it when she filed for benefits. In a letter to her dated June 29, the agency said that, under its new policy, it would change the withholding to only 10% if she asked. Davis said she asked by phone repeatedly, and to no avail. “Nobody seems to know what’s going on” and “no one seems to be able to help you,” Davis said. “You’re just held captive.” In October, the agency said she’d receive a payment — in March 2025. Marley Presiado, a research assistant on the Public Opinion and Survey Research team at KFF, contributed to this report. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

LOUISIANA TECH 65, RICHMOND 62Homeland Security agent pleads not guilty to drug distribution conspiracy charge

Julia Wick | (TNS) Los Angeles Times As California politicos look ahead to 2025, the biggest question looming is whether Vice President Kamala Harris — a native daughter, battered just weeks ago by presidential election defeat — will enter the 2026 California governor’s race. Related Articles National Politics | Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people National Politics | Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America National Politics | Trump invites China’s Xi to his inauguration even as he threatens massive tariffs on Beijing National Politics | Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump National Politics | What Americans think about Hegseth, Gabbard and key Trump Cabinet picks AP-NORC poll Harris has yet to give any public indication on her thoughts and those close to her suggest the governorship is not immediately top of mind. But if Harris does ultimately run — and that’s a massive if — her entrée would seismically reshape the already crowded race for California’s highest office. Recent polling suggests Harris would have a major advantage, with 46% of likely voters saying they were somewhat or very likely to support her for governor in 2026, according to a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies survey co-sponsored by The Times. “If Vice President Harris were to choose to run, I am certain that that would have a near field-clearing effect on the Democratic side,” Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, said during a recent UC Irvine panel interview . Porter, a high-profile Democrat who has been eyeing the wide-open governor’s race, has yet to say whether she plans to run. Porter’s point was broadly echoed in conversations with nearly a dozen California political operatives and strategists, several of whom requested anonymity to speak candidly. Most speculated that a Harris entry would cause some other candidates in the race to scatter, creating further upheaval in down-ballot races as a roster of ambitious politicians scramble for other opportunities. “In politics, you always let the big dogs eat first,” quipped Democratic political consultant Peter Ragone. The current gubernatorial field is a who’s who of California politicians, but lacks a clear favorite or star with widespread name recognition. The vast majority of California’s 22 million voters have yet to pay attention to the race and have little familiarity with the candidates. The list of Democratic candidates includes Los Angeles’ first Latino mayor in more than a century ( Antonio Villaraigosa ); the first female and first out LGBTQ leader of the state Senate ( Toni Atkins ); the sitting lieutenant governor and first woman to hold that post ( Eleni Kounalakis ); the state superintendent of public instruction ( Tony Thurmond ) and the former state controller ( Betty Yee ). Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is serving his second term as California governor, meaning he is ineligible to run again. Several other Democrats, including Porter, outgoing Health and Human Services Director Xavier Becerra and state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta have also publicly toyed with the idea of a run. They could be less likely to enter the fray should Harris decide to run. What the billionaire mall mogul Rick Caruso — who has also been exploring a run — would choose to do is an open question, as Caruso might contrast himself with Harris as a more centrist candidate. The real estate developer was a registered Republican until November 2019. It’s unlikely that Harris will proffer a public decision in the immediate term, leaving plenty of time for political insiders to game out hypotheticals in the weeks and months to come. Harris’ office did not respond to a request for comment. “I think every candidate for governor is trying to get some kind of intel,” Mike Trujillo, a Los Angeles-based Democratic political consultant and former Villaraigosa staffer, said of a potential Harris run. Trujillo speculated that Harris’ current state was probably similar to Hillary Clinton’s hiking sojourns in the Chappaqua woods after losing to Donald Trump in 2016, or Al Gore growing a beard in the bruising aftermath of his 2000 defeat. “The first thing she’s probably thinking about is, ‘Well, can I run again for president in four years?’ Not, ‘Do I run for governor in two years?’” said one political operative who’s worked with Harris in the past. Harris maintains a home in Brentwood and previously served as California’s senator and attorney general. A successful run for governor in 2026 would almost certainly impede a grab for the presidency in 2028. (Though if history is any guide, an unsuccessful run for California governor does not definitively preclude a bid for the Oval Office: Two years after losing the White House to John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon lost the 1962 contest for governor to Pat Brown . The Yorba Linda native became the nation’s 37th president in 1969.) As the chief executive of a state that doubles as the world’s fifth-largest economy, Harris would have more power to steer policy and make changes as a California governor than she did as vice president, where her job required deference to President Biden. But leading a state, even the nation’s most populous, could feel like small potatoes after being a heartbeat (and a few dozen electoral votes) from the presidency. The protracted slog to November 2026 would also be a stark contrast to her ill-fated 107-day sprint toward the White House, particularly for a candidate whose 2020 presidential primary campaign was dogged by allegations of infighting and mismanagement. “I don’t think Kamala Harris has a deep psychological need to be governor of California, or to be in elective office in order to feel like she can contribute to society,” said the operative who’s worked with Harris in the past. “I think some of these people do, but she’s somebody who has enough prominence that she could do a lot of big, wonderful things without having to worry about balancing California’s budget or negotiating with Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel,” the Encino Democrat who chairs the Assembly’s budget committee. Technically, Harris has until March 2026 to decide whether she enters a race. But political strategists who spoke to The Times theorized that she probably would make a move by late spring, if she chooses to do so. “People will be more annoyed if she drops in in June,” a Democratic strategist involved with one of the gubernatorial campaigns said. Sending a clear signal by February would be more “courteous,” the strategist continued, explaining that such a move would give candidates more time to potentially enter other races. Kounalakis is a longtime friend and ally of Harris’ , and the vice president also has long-term relationships with some of the other candidates and potential candidates. California has eight statewide elected offices and campaign finance laws allow candidates to fundraise interchangeably for them, meaning money already raised for a candidate’s gubernatorial campaign could easily be redirected should they decide to run for, say, lieutenant governor instead. There are already a number of candidates running for lieutenant governor, including former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, former state Sen. Steven Bradford and former state Treasurer Fiona Ma. But that office probably would see even more interest should Harris enter the gubernatorial race. It’s a largely ceremonial position, but one that has served as a launching pad for the governorship. Still, even if Harris does enter the race, Republican political strategist Mike Murphy threw cold water on the idea that she would have an automatic glide path to the governor’s office. “It’s like Hollywood. Nobody knows anything. She’s famous enough to look credible in early polling. That’s all we know for sure,” Murphy said. “Does that predict the future? No. Are there a lot of downsides (to a potential Harris candidacy)? Totally, yes.” ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.This transcript is from a CSIS event hosted on December 10, 2024. Watch the full video here. Stephen Morrison: Today we have the great pleasure of being joined by Loyce Pace, assistant secretary at Health and Human Services department for global affairs. (Music plays.) This is the CommonHealth from the CSIS Bipartisan Alliance for Global Health Security, engaging senior leaders on questions of how to address our common health security challenges in this post-COVID moment. (Music ends.) Hello and welcome. I’m J. Stephen Morrison, senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies – CSIS – based in Washington, D.C. CommonHealth Live! is a series of the CSIS Bipartisan Alliance for Global Health Security. Today we have the great pleasure of being joined by a close friend and much-admired colleague and leader in global health, Assistant Secretary at HHS for – in the Office of Global Affairs Loyce Pace. Welcome, Loyce. Thanks so much for joining us today. Loyce Pace: Thank you, Steve. Dr. Morrison: We’re here to talk about the newly released strategy, the Global Strategy of the Department of Health and Human Services, which is fresh out. Just came out a few days ago. We’re going to talk about that strategy and we’re going to talk about some of the bigger dimensions in which it sits. Loyce has been in this position since March of 2021 so she’s been in this leadership role continuously for almost the entire duration of this Biden administration, which brings enormous perspective, I think, across the span of work. This has been an exceedingly busy era in terms of both bilateral and multilateral diplomacy. Loyce has been at the center of all of those affairs. That’s her job – (laughter) – at HHS. That was her job was to lead in many, many different fora. We’ll hear more about that. Now, the global strategy, which I encourage all of you to read – the global strategy is new. It’s new and it’s meant to mark this moment. It comes on the heels of many other strategies that we’ve had issued in the course of this administration in which you participated. We had the National Health Security Strategy for 2023 to 2026. We had the Global Health Security Strategy of 2024. We had the National Biodefense Strategy and Implementation Plan in 2022. We had the Biodefense Posture Review at the DOD that was concluded last year. So there’s been a lot of thinking, a lot of policy formulation. I mean, in this administration it’s remarkable how much of this has happened and been instituted, and all of these efforts require a prodigious amount of work across a span of different actors. You at the top of the frame are trying to fuse these opinions into this consolidated strategy. Congratulations on that. Ms. Pace: Thank you. Dr. Morrison: It’s a remarkable amount of work and it comes on the backdrop of a lot of other remarkable work. So let’s start with as you look at this – this is going to be one of your legacies. You can point to this as a culmination of a lot of work. What are the two to three most significant elements or changes within this which are going to distinguish it as people look at this and they go, OK, well, that marked a certain passage in our thinking? So tell us about that. Ms. Pace: Well, thanks very much, first of all, for the introduction, Steve, and just acknowledging all of the work – the painstaking but rewarding work that we’ve been about this administration. With this global strategy coming out of the Department of Health and Human Services I think, first and foremost, people are going to see equity front and center and that’s something that’s different. It’s not that we haven’t been focused on equity or health equity, broadly speaking, for decades but now we’re finally talking about it, from this president to Secretary Becerra to others across the administration and, certainly, throughout the department. We’re saying, look, we can’t get this work done to protect Americans or to protect Americans by protecting the world unless we have an equity lens. So that’s number one. I think number two in the strategy people might see an increased focus on innovation. When we looked back at the last strategy that we published as a department – the last global strategy back in 2016 – I think we even did a word search to understand how many times innovation, technology, and other such terms were used or referenced and it wasn’t that much, surprisingly. So we wanted to bring this particular version of the document current to reflect all the innovations that we’ve been able to realize, right, and benefit from in the past decade or so and that includes very current information technologies like artificial intelligence and how that can be leveraged to advance global health, let alone the sort of bread and butter manufactured technologies and other very basic, tangible innovations that we lived through with COVID-19. So that’s another important focus. And then I think, finally, we really wanted to pull together themes and kind of connect dots across various priorities. What do I mean by that? We have done a good job, I think, in the global health community talking about the spectrum of diseases, right, from infectious diseases to, say, noncommunicable diseases, from maternal child health to other matters along the spectrum. But we haven’t always leaned into the intersection of, say, health and migration or health and climate. And so we’re able to lift up the work that the department is doing, understanding that the world is multifaceted and complex, and there are agencies within the department that are able to focus at the intersection of health and these other development issues. Dr. Morrison: Thank you. Let me take each of those and dive a little more deeply. On the equity norm it comes through loud and clear, right? Ms. Pace: Good. Dr. Morrison: I mean, it’s right at the front end but it runs through all of the argumentation, and when I ask myself, OK, what in practical terms are we talking about here on equity there were a couple things that I took away as what you mean by equity in actual action – concrete action. One is sexual and reproductive rights. A second is LGBTQ+ rights and protections. A third is low income countries and a right to universal health coverage. Maybe right is not the correct term, but provision. In other words, inequity in terms of the absence of something that should be there as a fundamental basis of our strategy of engagement with our partner countries. And the last is something that you’ve referenced which is manufacturing capabilities in low income countries. Those are the things that I think are the manifestations in concrete terms of this equity norm. And the other thing I wanted to mention is it seems to me the aftermath of COVID equity became a driving preoccupation across the diplomatic domain, right – I mean, in the pandemic treaty negotiations, in the IHR, you know, modifications. In many, many fora that you were in, that you serve in on the boards of the different organizations, of SEFI, Global Fund – that all of the different bilateral regional bodies that you find yourself in there was a surge. This marched forward to become a dominant concern normatively, it seems to me, and that has settled. It has become a process of consolidation of this into things like this, just strategy. Ms. Pace: Sure. Yeah. Dr. Morrison: But say a few words more about that. Ms. Pace: Well, I’m really glad to know that’s come through because that’s exactly what we wanted to do was to take equity from headline to implementation and execution because there’s a real need for equity as strategy, right, and not just this principle that we tout. Of course, there is a moral imperative to a lot of the work that we do but there’s a very strategic imperative, as you well know. So let’s take HIV and the decades of work that we’ve done in that space. One of the reasons we did what we did to try and respond to the crisis in the way that we have and continue to do is because we know that unless we truly reach those who have traditionally or historically been left behind we’re not going to be able to finish this fight and that’s going to have ramifications for these communities, for countries, and for the world. We saw it with COVID, right? One of the reasons that we were also seized with ensuring that we had vaccines at home and abroad is because we wanted to stop this virus in its tracks. And, of course, vaccines weren’t the only answer but they were an important part of the equation once they became available and I often would talk about in the absence of vaccines there’s this risk or opportunity for variants to emerge, right, and we saw that happening as the longer we took to ensure that there was equitable access. So to your point, we are very much focused on how we can improve or drive access to health – health care, health services, public health – through these strategic objectives because that’s the only way we’re going to be able to make progress overall. Dr. Morrison: Thank you. On the innovation and the special focus on AI that, of course, has entered the mainstream discussion of almost everything, right, and it also is – there’s an equity concern in terms of affordable access on new technologies, right? So equity carries into that but it’s also something that is celebratory in the sense that there’s – a certain pessimism has settled into our thinking. Resources have become very tight, the cycle of crisis followed by neglect, the, you know, global health security, global health – what we think of as global health traditionally has entered a period of peril, in a sense, in terms of trying to preserve its prioritization. It’s a slipping priority and the like. Putting innovation forward, it seems to me, is a very good strategy for preserving an optimism and a forward look. It’s also a faith in our capacity as a nation to bring forward new solutions that have not just benefits for Americans but to others. Say more about that because, you know, this strategy is not a pessimistic strategy but it’s occurring in a very pessimistic time. Ms. Pace: Yeah, that’s an important point. I mean, look, America has always led the world in very important ways and I think what we’re trying to do is bring that forward, especially when you think about the history of many of our agencies within the Department of Health, right? You think about the NIH and how historic their innovations have come to be including as recently as with COVID-19 but stretching back, again, decades. But then you have newer agencies like ARPA-H, right, this new research agency and authority that is looking at these sort of Moonshot Initiatives and carrying forward things like the president’s Moonshot Initiative or agenda but also looking at other interesting investments in antimicrobial resistance and Alzheimer’s and the like. And that is exciting, right, because there’s an opportunity for us to translate these innovations in the world and also, let’s not forget, learn from the exchanges we have internationally to benefit what we do here at home. And so coming back to ARPA-H, let alone with our National Institutes of Health, they have these broad-based research communities that they’ve been able to foster over time and they’re purposely and intentionally multinational because we know that genius has no borders, right? We know that the next innovation can truly come from anywhere. But it’s always been the spirit of America, I think, to harness that in thoughtful, meaningful, and really impactful ways. And so I do think that’s the promise – one of the great promises of this strategy and of the innovation that we have. But one more thing about that, too, that I think is important we have to tie it to the equity lens that we were just talking about before. You know, innovation without equity really has no impact, right? It’s really just a good idea that is for the few and not the many, and so it’s important that we have this ethical, equitable approach to anything that we do to understand who benefits. You know, even in the planning phase, right, how we develop these innovations is critically important, who is engaged in that process, so that it does reach the right folks. But regulation and other important components also need to be key as part of this enabling environment for the innovation. It’s not just sort of the products or ideas themselves. Dr. Morrison: Yeah. I’m glad you brought up ARPA-H if only because, you know, we’re entering a period now of a reconsideration of how fast should science be and how big and bold versus slow and incremental, the discovery phase, and how do we invest to bring innovation forward at a faster rate, safer rate, but also have it be of use in low and middle – within partnerships with low and middle income countries. And I wanted to ask you, do you have in your mind a few of the most choice technological challenges, whether we’re talking vaccines, countermeasures, diagnostics. There’s any number of types of innovations. But if you look, like, at the Mpox outbreak, right, which has now become embedded in the Kivus – it’s become embedded in Burundi, in Uganda – it’s a long-term problem. When you talk to folks in the – who are managing that response one question that comes up is, OK, over the long term we need a vaccine that can be used continental wide that’s cheap and affordable and usable. We don’t have that today. We do have a very good JYNNEOS – Ms. Pace: Stand in, yeah. Dr. Morrison: – vaccine, but it doesn’t fit that requirement. We need a level of innovation that’s going to bring that forward. So is it that sort of thing that you – when you’re thinking about accelerating the innovation for the purposes of our global strategy of engagement with our partners in low and middle income countries is that the sort of thing you have in mind is let’s prioritize two or three things that – where we really do want to push hard? Ms. Pace: I think innovation can run the gamut. So you can be referring to products like new vaccines and, of course, there have been endless conversations about what actually deserves or requires investment. I talked about antimicrobial resistance earlier. Speaking of outdated products and the need to innovate in this space, you know, AMR being potentially the next big thing is something that requires that investment and attention, which is why we’ve been making it. But there have been conversations – global conversations – whether they be at WHO or at the G-20 that have asked this very question, right, where do we really make these investments. But what’s exciting about the focus on innovation as well is the ability and even obligation to crowd in other actors to answer this question. This is not just a public sector problem and solution. We have to draw from universities and academia. We need to be drawing from the private sector and industry, and they’re coming forth with these ideas around where we can make these investments and, importantly, making it possible for us to make multiple investments across the board. In other words, we don’t just have to make one bet in one space like in Mpox, which is a good example. But there are other needs, right? Think about the investments we’ve been able to make in the newer dengue vaccine, right, and actually given the outbreaks and increasing outbreaks globally really provide hope and promise in that space. And so it’s – there’s a bit of both/and in this when it comes to kind of where we place those bets. But I want to be sure we’re also talking about, I guess, small I innovation as well, how the workforce – the global health workforce – operates in an environment where you have more climate disasters and conflicts. You know, that in itself is another innovation, right, understanding how we sustain the capacity and also stamina, frankly, of our frontline workers. What are the innovations that can be deployed when it comes to surveillance and testing, for example? How can we even leverage artificial intelligence or some of these larger data models or capacities to innovate in that way, right? So it’s, you know, there are people much smarter than me who are thinking about this every day and that’s one of the reasons why you will see that as a focus in what we’ve put together. Dr. Morrison: Thank you. You mentioned – in your third area around connecting dots and integrating you mentioned health and climate and so I wanted to just touch on that briefly. This is an issue that’s of great concern for us. We’ve created within our Bipartisan Alliance a very ambitious working group around health and climate. We’ve spoken with one of your colleagues, John Balbus, who came on camera earlier. So you’re – this is a nice broadcast companion to hearing from him, who was very impressive and visionary running that new office of climate health and equity at HHS. You mentioned in the report the need for greater support to prepare to the President’s Emergency Plan on Resilience and Equity. Ms. Pace: Adaptation and Resilience. (Laughs.) Dr. Morrison: Adaptation. The President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience. Ms. Pace: Yes. Dr. Morrison: Say a bit more about what has been possible so far. I mean, John was very candid about the limitations but he was very energetic and committed, as you have been. What has been possible in this period up to now and what would you hope for, looking ahead? Ms. Pace: Well, I’m glad you had Dr. Balbus on. He is the best and brightest in this space and has been working tirelessly on this effort. As you mentioned, we have had the – been able to stand up, excuse me, the office of climate change and health equity in the department and, again, recognizing the important intersection of those two pieces. But I would say that we go about this work globally in a couple of different ways. There’s the mitigation track, which John probably talked extensively about, in terms of our decarbonization efforts, let alone the ways that we are trying to work with global partners to forecast what’s coming, right. Unfortunately, we are getting used to some of these weather patterns globally and how they affect quality of life. There are pollution patterns that we can track. There are, obviously, wildfires and huge – Dr. Morrison: Huge migration and demographic changes. Ms. Pace: Exactly. So there’s so much that we can start to get ahead of knowing what’s coming, and our CDC really can do a lot to borrow from partners around the world to inform our work here, right, in this country and vice versa, kind of have that exchange with partners globally based on what we’re doing and learning it inside of the U.S. But then there is an important adaptation component, too, and I talked about workforce a little bit. But I think even when we consider people’s health records what happens when people are fleeing a fire or a flood? What happens to their health information? How can they track their treatment courses and ensure that they are – those are sustained? There are other important components to adaptation as well when we think about the ways we need to just really understand how people are affected by climate disasters and ensure that there is a ready workforce and health infrastructure that can support them in the event of an emergency. So those are the types of ways we’re trying to ensure those pieces are in place. We’ve been able to work with the World Health Organization in there and how this has emerged as well because some of the things that we’re able to do out of the office of global affairs is partner with multilateral institutions in this space. We’ve engaged in the COP conferences the past several years. Obviously, Brazil’s G-20 focused on climate and, you know, you have WHO’s special envoy on climate and health with Dr. Vanessa Kerry. So all of these issues have emerged as priorities across our partners and so it has behooved us as the department of health to meet the moment ourselves and liaise accordingly. Dr. Morrison: Do you – you know, there’s climate as a – climate change as a topic is a polarized, politicized term and so we do run headlong into a very partisan set of divisions within our own society. Language becomes very important in trying to not trigger a negative and immediate negative reaction to get a focus on these issues of what the health impacts are of extreme weather and of rising infectious diseases – dengue and malaria and other things – and what the global demographic changes are looking like, and how do you – what’s your advice on finding the right language to bring a consensus together? Because we’re not going to be able to be effective, I don’t think, in devising a foreign policy around climate and health if we can’t figure out a language that draws both division – both sides of our deeply divided society into support. What are your thoughts on that? I know there’s no easy answer so I’m not pretending that but I would like your thoughts because you’ve had to engage, and we’ve gone through a period where extreme weather has had profoundly destabilizing impacts on populations in red, blue, and purple states in our country. Ms. Pace: Right. (Laughs.) That’s right. Dr. Morrison: Massive numbers of people impacted – Ms. Pace: Right. Dr. Morrison: – in places that they never expected. Asheville, North Carolina never expected they would be at the forefront of this. Ms. Pace: Exactly. And think about the fallout there when it comes to adaptation, right? We needed to be mindful of the supply chain in that very scenario and we’ve seen that play out all over the world. You know, it’s an important question without an easy answer but I think one way we could go about getting past the language and the debate around that language is by focusing more on One Health. I mean, this – you know, honestly, the intersection of climate and health isn’t necessarily a new idea and there are plenty of folks both in the human health and environmental health space that have recognized this intersection for years. Just think about zoonotic spillover, right? (Laughs.) Dr. Morrison: Right. Right. Ms. Pace: We are seeing diseases move between animals and humans. That is a climate and health priority or agenda. That is a One Health agenda, and the more, I think, we can really point to where it’s playing out and, importantly, what that risk entails to either side of that equation the better off we are in trying to at least have a conversation – a constructive conversation about what can be done, and I’ve seen that work, right, when you can really break down for people what the priorities should be given that intersection, given that interplay. It’s worked. You know, we have field epidemiologists now, excuse me, who don’t just focus on kind of the disease detection amongst humans but we are now training our CDC is working with partners to train people in the ag sector to do the same thing amongst animals and to really work together in a meaningful intentional way to stop this spillover where it starts. So that alone is a version of this that we’re talking about. But I think we can take that further to some of these other examples when it comes to extreme weather events and other issues, like you said, that, you know, affect all of us no matter where we’re coming at this issue. Dr. Morrison: Yes. Let’s shift to your diplomatic role. I mean, you’re the lead diplomat from HHS. Many different fora. I want to mention also you have these six attachés around the world. We’ve worked very closely with Erika Elvander in Beijing who has done a spectacular job in the last three and a half, four years in that role. She came in, I think, pretty close in time to that role as your arrival. We hosted the – I think there was – we had the – five of the regional attachés plus Dr. Lim from Geneva here for a forum end of last week and it was quite extraordinary. They were so impactful. They were so strategic in their orientation. They were able to tell these stories around the role they played in these big embassies, really important places, right – South Africa, Kenya, New Delhi, Beijing, Mexico City. Ms. Pace: Mmm hmm. Brasilia. Dr. Morrison: Geneva, Brasilia. I mean, it was very impressive in terms of having a capability that really could recount in specific detail their contribution to advancing our agenda. So kudos to them. I know they fall under your office. They’re an enormous asset, sometimes not very well appreciated either, I think. (Laughter.) So kudos to you. Ms. Pace: Thank you. Dr. Morrison: I just wanted to mention that because it was very – it was really quite inspiring to hear that, to understand the power of this capability, which we did not always have. Ms. Pace: That’s true, and they’re incredible. I mean, it’s – and where they are placed is quite strategic, right? I mean, these are not – these are people who truly partner with the countries where they’re serving. This is not a development sort of top down operation but, rather, when you think about the Mexicos and Brazils or the Indias and the Chinas and other countries you mentioned we are able to have this real partnership because of their advancement in health as well, and whether we’re talking about innovation or immunizations and surveillance and other important components of health these countries are leading the way in their own right and so it behooves us to have this strong tie, and it’s played out in really important ways even in recent years including during COVID. I like to say these attachés were holding up the sky in some cases as Delta was hitting India, right, and these waves were hitting some of these other countries as Omicron was hitting South Africa. So it’s really important to – that we do acknowledge the boots on the ground, the people who are serving as the node for U.S. health initiatives and working, of course, with other U.S. agencies accordingly but are just a critical touch point for us. Dr. Morrison: For us this year, I mean, one of the highlights of our year, 2024, was the ability to host on September 27th the Chinese vice minister of the National Health Commission. Now, there had not been in Washington, D.C., a ministerial level Chinese health official in Washington since 2017. There had been a seven-year gap of that level of contact. Now, we all know what happened, right? We had COVID. We had geopolitical confrontations. We had President Biden and President Xi meet twice and pledge to renew and elevate cooperation on health. But politics kept getting in the way. But we were able to do that. We were able to host the vice minister here at CSIS who then went on to meet with Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm at HHS as well as leadership from four of the National Institutes of Health, also very significant, and to go to the – meet with Victor Dzau at the National Academy of Medicine. Now, I raise all of this because we could never have done this without the help of Erika Elvander, the health attaché in Beijing, and with the support of Ambassador Nick Burns and his whole team. But it took two trips out there. It took endless amounts of consultation. But we are very indebted, very grateful, to the fact that you have these remarkable people in place and that they actually are very responsive and creative in that way. Ms. Pace: That’s good. Dr. Morrison: Tell us about WHO. You know, WHO, you – you’re at the front face of the relationship. It’s a difficult relationship. It may be that when incoming President Trump is inaugurated on January 20th there’s an expectation he may snap back to end the membership, which may start a process of negotiation around reform, a 12-month string in which there could be negotiation. We don’t know. But it’s important for us to be talking now about how healthy is WHO, how important is WHO to U.S. global interests and if there is a quest to strengthen WHO through reform. In your view, what should be the – is it the prequalification process? Is it – what is it that – concretely because these terms get thrown around and WHO is terribly important to U.S. interests. If we walk away we’re handing – we’re ceding a space to our rivals, right – to our adversaries. We’re opening space for heightened influence by both China and Russia. Say a few words about WHO and how you see it today and what would a reform agenda look like. Ms. Pace: Well, I have to say I’ve been really proud of the way we’ve been able to reengage with WHO. It’s critically important and it demonstrates the power of health diplomacy. But health diplomacy or diplomacy overall is not about always going easy on your partners and friends or agreeing, right? Sometimes you have to have tough conversations, and while we’ve applauded a lot of the work that WHO has done we’ve had to have some constructive, productive conversations about how they can improve that work and we’ve done that alongside other member states, importantly, because we’ve remained at the table, and WHO, to their great credit, has been incredibly receptive to it. These are conversations that even stretch back to the previous administration, and so we were happy to continue those discussions, to continue driving that reform agenda and that reform agenda really encompasses quite a bit, right? You think about all of the internal workings of the organization – staffing, budgeting, and the like. You think about the governing practices or the model with the executive board on which I’ve been sitting the past several years and then, obviously, you think about their programmatic agenda and priorities. And so across all of these different areas WHO has been pushing forward to continue to either streamline their work, to look more closely at how those resources are allocated and leveraged, and really look at how – the impact that they have and how that’s communicated. You know, sometimes it’s a matter of us not fully appreciating or understanding why the organization is pursuing what it’s doing, what sort of challenges they’re facing. Sometimes it’s a matter of them just really leaning on the board that much more and the member states more broadly to make tough decisions. You know, they are a member-led organization – Dr. Morrison: Right. Ms. Pace: – and there are 190-plus member states all with different perspectives and priorities. Sometimes it takes a lot of wrangling to ensure that we are doing right by the institution and it doesn’t mean they don’t have a role in making these changes as well but we all have to be a part of that reform effort. So that’s been our approach to our work with WHO and it’s our hope that that is what can continue. Dr. Morrison: So what would you say – what would you identify as the areas where if we want to salvage this relationship and preserve membership what would be the things that, in your view, should be a priority for negotiation? Ms. Pace: Well, I think what we’ve worked with WHO on and what we’ve seen them do, for example, is really – I mean, look, they’ve launched a new global program of work that sets out some clear priorities according to where the needs are globally when it comes to health and well-being. Importantly, they are looking more closely at these social determinants of health, kind of the root causes of issues around health. That way I think while they might have specific programs in a number of disease areas they’re not just playing this game of whack-a-mole trying to save all of these lives from these different conditions or risk, but they can step back and say, well, what is actually driving poor health and well-being globally? What is at the root of this? So that, I think, is going to be important for them to sort of demonstrate that greater return on investment, frankly. You know, the inner workings – the operational pieces – are also quite important. It’s, perhaps, boring to talk about but that is going to be where they can do a lot of convincing to show, hey, we have used this one dollar to do – to save this many lives, to do this many things, and that can be sustained over time. A lot of the work at this point in global health by WHO and a range of other actors is going to need to be structural, right? It’s great when we can provide products and supplies, let alone, you know, providers and other sort of tangible pieces to people all over the world. But it’s more important that WHO, working with partners, can really invest in the capacity of these countries and ensure that countries can take on this work for themselves, which is exactly what they want to do. So the more WHO and its regional offices can demonstrate that evolution and that even independence of partners globally I think that is a winning case that they can make in Washington. Dr. Morrison: Let’s turn to your reflections on the last few years. Let’s start with, like, what are your proudest achievements? Like, what are the two or three proudest – when you’re talking to your grandchildren or your nephews and nieces, you know, and they say, well, what did you actually do on those – in those almost four years? What are going to – what are you going to say? Ms. Pace: You know, I’m proud of the IHRs – the international health regulations – and the way that our team worked so hard with their counterparts around the world to update those, and I will explain to the nieces and nephews and others around me that once upon a time we had a pandemic hit us and we had a plan to fight that pandemic, and we did OK in some ways – we meaning the world, right. There were countries that could use these rules that were in place to tell us what was going on, to protect their people, to protect others. But there were ways that we didn’t quite get it right, and some of that was because we weren’t taking into account the speed of information and the way that moved around the world. We weren’t taking into account the ways that WHO and other actors needed to understand that information, to have access to that information so that they could take actions, right? We weren’t taking into account some of the other core pieces around resources or capacity for countries not only to report what’s happening but then to be supported in that reporting. So those are all the things we were able to do through the amendments to the IHRs was bring them to the present to ensure that if we are affected by something like COVID again we get that much closer to perfect in a way that we – you know, we didn’t quite do this time. But I think it’s important to know that we had a strong base and thank goodness we didn’t have to start from scratch when it came to those amendments. Dr. Morrison: OK. So the IHR reform process. Ms. Pace: Yeah. Dr. Morrison: What are the other items that you’re going to brag about? Ms. Pace: I would say, you know – (laughs) – I’m not good at bragging but I’m thinking about this being Human Rights Day, and something we have done in this administration is really make that connection between health and rights in a way that, again, we’ve seen and heard from our leadership, and in a way that felt surprising, honestly. It was – it seemed that it was a given that we were all here trying to save lives and acknowledging that we would save lives whoever they were, wherever they were. But it started to creep into some of these discussions at WHO and in other forums that, well, wait a minute. You know, do we really want to focus on, for example, LGBTQI+ populations and communities? How much do we need to even sort of gear our work towards these special populations? You and I know that that’s been critical to the health response and health agenda over time but I think there are people who have come into this space who don’t remember that history, who don’t necessarily appreciate the data and evidence around the importance of focusing on these groups. And there was a moment even in the World Health Assembly. I remember speaking up because there was a debate not just over whether we should focus on these communities but whether or not they even existed, and that was heartbreaking to hear because my values and faith tell me that if I can’t see someone I can’t serve them. And so one of my proudest moments is reminding my colleagues that we have to see everyone we are trying to serve. Dr. Morrison: Mmm hmm. Thank you. We’ve done a lot of work on Gaza. We have a series, “Gaza: The Human Toll.” Ms. Pace: Mmm hmm. Yeah. Dr. Morrison: We’ve done 21 one-hour broadcasts. The principal focus is pulling people in from Gaza who are operationally struggling under the worst imaginable circumstances to deal with this humanitarian and health catastrophe that is – you know, that is going to be with us for a very long time. The U.S. policy on this has been very controversial, and will remain very controversial as people sift through what happened and why did this happen in the level of devastation and harm to innocent civilians in this period. One bright spot, it seems to me, in a what otherwise very, very disappointing diplomatic record around in responding to these crises – one bright spot was some work that you did and I want you to talk about that. Ms. Pace: Well, thank you for raising that. Back in ’23 – in the fall of ’23 as things were unfolding in the region the executive board of WHO had a debate and ultimately made a decision to host a special session to discuss what was happening in Gaza in particular and, you know, what happens in these special sessions, I think as you know, is it allows us to shine a light on issues of importance to the health community and it was determined and agreed as part of those discussions leading up to that session that we needed to take a hard look at what the health impact really was as a result of the conflict and this is, you know, citizens or civilians everywhere and anywhere in the region who were being affected. What came of it was the U.S. joined consensus around the need for WHO to continue monitoring that situation, the impact that the conflict was having on health providers and health facilities and, more broadly, on civilians, whether we look at access to food and nutrition, water sanitation, or other very critical aspects that, you know, as you mentioned, have unfolded over, you know, the months – now, you know, more than a year. And so it was important, I think, for us in the health community to set that tone to make it clear that regardless of the very tough geopolitical and diplomatic issues we were going to stand strong and hold the line when it came to health and the importance of focusing on health in whatever space however difficult it is. Dr. Morrison: Well, thank you. You know, the issue of U.S. policy towards Gaza has been, obviously, very divisive across America. It’s been very divisive internally within the U.S. government and we’re going to see a lot of postmortems on this in the coming months and years around all of this and you taking that stand is terribly important. Ms. Pace: Thank you. Dr. Morrison: I just want to say that WHO in this period has been courageous and sustained in its work, from Rik Peeperkorn who’s come on – who’s the head of the operations for WHO in Gaza, to Richard Brennan in Cairo, the head of our emergency operations, to Hanan Balkhy, the head of the EMRO, the regional office in Cairo – we hosted her here, she was very powerful and eloquent. To Dr. Tedros, the secretary general of WHO – the director general of WHO has been consistently on point about what this all means and vocal about all of this, to the polio team, to Hamid Jafari out of Jordan. This has been a terrible and tragic and terribly dangerous and frustrating situation but WHO has just really distinguished itself in this period, and with your support – and I’m grateful that you did what you did – is quite important. Ms. Pace: Thank you. Dr. Morrison: So we’re at the closing moments now and – of this interview and we’re approaching the conclusion of the Biden administration. Tell us what gives you hope and optimism now, looking ahead – what parting advice you have to anyone who is thinking about the future around U.S. leadership in global health. You have laid out a very nice strategy here. You’ve made the case that we’ve covered here around equity, around innovation, around paying attention to the things that now are very much connecting like climate and health. Give us your parting thoughts. Ms. Pace: Well, look, I never imagined that I would be sitting in this chair doing this work, and it’s funny because I, as an advocate, liaise with the office of global affairs all the time and I love that I came to know each of the directors of the office, going back decades, and I’m grateful to them for the – you know, what I was able to step into, I guess. And so my hope even in publishing this strategy now is leaving something for the next person, right, so that they can build on this legacy that we have left over multiple administrations. I think anyone coming into this role or the U.S. government overall I trust that they will focus on the mission and on the people who drive that mission, right. I mean, that’s really what we have, particularly when we talk about health diplomacy. Our currency is our people. You talked about our attachés. We have a whole team of people here in Washington, D.C. We, obviously, have a range of partners abroad, especially when you think about our Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But that’s the work, you know, and the work has been underway in a way that has been making progress over time and I hope that we can all sort of look back and celebrate that progress but, importantly, look forward to know that that progress can be sustained and even elevated in the months and years to come. Thanks a lot for having me. Dr. Morrison: Thank you. Thank you. I want to offer a special thanks to a number of colleagues who pulled all of this together: Sophia Hirshfield and Maclane Speer; my colleagues in the Bipartisan Alliance; our terrific production team – Dhanesh Mahtani, Alex Brunner, Theo Chavez; to your colleagues at OGA who worked very closely with us to make all of this happen. This has been a wonderful conversation. Congratulations on the strategy. Congratulations on your tenure and achievements in this period and thank you for coming and spending time with us today. Ms. Pace: I appreciate it, Steve. Good to see you. Dr. Morrison: Thank you. (END.)Beyonce faces backlash for new engagement ring Beyonce upgrades her ring amid Jay-Z accusations Beyonce received backlash by fans as she showed off her new ring at the premiere of Lion King prequel Mufasa . The 43-year-old singer wore her new bling instead of her $5 million emerald cut-diamond that she has been wearing for years. The new ring, that she started wearing in September, features three large diamonds. As soon as the Diva hitmaker highlighted her ring in pictures from the premiere, fans flocked to social media and slammed the new choice of jewellery. Some commenters saw the moment as distasteful because of the timing of this replacement soon after Queen Bey’s husband Jay-Z was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl with Diddy at a party. A jewellery influencer Julia Chafe noted that Beyonce's upgraded ring featured a “super-elongated emerald cut” diamond in the center with “trapezoid side stones that I've never seen anything similar to before.” She went on to say that she wasn't even sure how the ring's designer had “sourced” the unusual side stones. The fans all unanimously agreed, as a person wrote, “That ring is ugly.” “Girl, i love my jewels in all their forms but .... This is lowkey ugly,” added another. Chiming in, a third criticised, “I think that her ring could pay for kids college tuition, feed even more, and relieve some people's debt. It's ugly and gross in the face off all the poverty in the world [sic].” “The things we focus on Her rings?? What about her husbands accusation of raping a, 13-year-old.??? [sic],” asked another displeased user. Noting the bad timing, one penned, “Hmmm I think this is very insensitive due to the accusations.” Michael Usher reflects on chaotic memories from 2011 Sarah Ferguson's interview Blake Lively honours 'It Ends With Us' author Colleen Hoover in birthday tribute Princess Eugenie explores artistic journey in ITV’s documentary Shahrukh Khan wishes Bollywood legend Rajnikanth ‘coolest’ 74th birthday

Julia Wick | (TNS) Los Angeles Times As California politicos look ahead to 2025, the biggest question looming is whether Vice President Kamala Harris — a native daughter, battered just weeks ago by presidential election defeat — will enter the 2026 California governor’s race. Related Articles National Politics | Biden says healthy women help US prosperity as he highlights White House initiative on their health National Politics | Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America National Politics | Trump invites China’s Xi to his inauguration even as he threatens massive tariffs on Beijing National Politics | Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump National Politics | What Americans think about Hegseth, Gabbard and key Trump Cabinet picks AP-NORC poll Harris has yet to give any public indication on her thoughts and those close to her suggest the governorship is not immediately top of mind. But if Harris does ultimately run — and that’s a massive if — her entrée would seismically reshape the already crowded race for California’s highest office. Recent polling suggests Harris would have a major advantage, with 46% of likely voters saying they were somewhat or very likely to support her for governor in 2026, according to a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies survey co-sponsored by The Times. “If Vice President Harris were to choose to run, I am certain that that would have a near field-clearing effect on the Democratic side,” Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, said during a recent UC Irvine panel interview . Porter, a high-profile Democrat who has been eyeing the wide-open governor’s race, has yet to say whether she plans to run. Porter’s point was broadly echoed in conversations with nearly a dozen California political operatives and strategists, several of whom requested anonymity to speak candidly. Most speculated that a Harris entry would cause some other candidates in the race to scatter, creating further upheaval in down-ballot races as a roster of ambitious politicians scramble for other opportunities. “In politics, you always let the big dogs eat first,” quipped Democratic political consultant Peter Ragone. The current gubernatorial field is a who’s who of California politicians, but lacks a clear favorite or star with widespread name recognition. The vast majority of California’s 22 million voters have yet to pay attention to the race and have little familiarity with the candidates. The list of Democratic candidates includes Los Angeles’ first Latino mayor in more than a century ( Antonio Villaraigosa ); the first female and first out LGBTQ leader of the state Senate ( Toni Atkins ); the sitting lieutenant governor and first woman to hold that post ( Eleni Kounalakis ); the state superintendent of public instruction ( Tony Thurmond ) and the former state controller ( Betty Yee ). Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is serving his second term as California governor, meaning he is ineligible to run again. Several other Democrats, including Porter, outgoing Health and Human Services Director Xavier Becerra and state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta have also publicly toyed with the idea of a run. They could be less likely to enter the fray should Harris decide to run. What the billionaire mall mogul Rick Caruso — who has also been exploring a run — would choose to do is an open question, as Caruso might contrast himself with Harris as a more centrist candidate. The real estate developer was a registered Republican until November 2019. It’s unlikely that Harris will proffer a public decision in the immediate term, leaving plenty of time for political insiders to game out hypotheticals in the weeks and months to come. Harris’ office did not respond to a request for comment. “I think every candidate for governor is trying to get some kind of intel,” Mike Trujillo, a Los Angeles-based Democratic political consultant and former Villaraigosa staffer, said of a potential Harris run. Trujillo speculated that Harris’ current state was probably similar to Hillary Clinton’s hiking sojourns in the Chappaqua woods after losing to Donald Trump in 2016, or Al Gore growing a beard in the bruising aftermath of his 2000 defeat. “The first thing she’s probably thinking about is, ‘Well, can I run again for president in four years?’ Not, ‘Do I run for governor in two years?’” said one political operative who’s worked with Harris in the past. Harris maintains a home in Brentwood and previously served as California’s senator and attorney general. A successful run for governor in 2026 would almost certainly impede a grab for the presidency in 2028. (Though if history is any guide, an unsuccessful run for California governor does not definitively preclude a bid for the Oval Office: Two years after losing the White House to John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon lost the 1962 contest for governor to Pat Brown . The Yorba Linda native became the nation’s 37th president in 1969.) As the chief executive of a state that doubles as the world’s fifth-largest economy, Harris would have more power to steer policy and make changes as a California governor than she did as vice president, where her job required deference to President Biden. But leading a state, even the nation’s most populous, could feel like small potatoes after being a heartbeat (and a few dozen electoral votes) from the presidency. The protracted slog to November 2026 would also be a stark contrast to her ill-fated 107-day sprint toward the White House, particularly for a candidate whose 2020 presidential primary campaign was dogged by allegations of infighting and mismanagement. “I don’t think Kamala Harris has a deep psychological need to be governor of California, or to be in elective office in order to feel like she can contribute to society,” said the operative who’s worked with Harris in the past. “I think some of these people do, but she’s somebody who has enough prominence that she could do a lot of big, wonderful things without having to worry about balancing California’s budget or negotiating with Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel,” the Encino Democrat who chairs the Assembly’s budget committee. Technically, Harris has until March 2026 to decide whether she enters a race. But political strategists who spoke to The Times theorized that she probably would make a move by late spring, if she chooses to do so. “People will be more annoyed if she drops in in June,” a Democratic strategist involved with one of the gubernatorial campaigns said. Sending a clear signal by February would be more “courteous,” the strategist continued, explaining that such a move would give candidates more time to potentially enter other races. Kounalakis is a longtime friend and ally of Harris’ , and the vice president also has long-term relationships with some of the other candidates and potential candidates. California has eight statewide elected offices and campaign finance laws allow candidates to fundraise interchangeably for them, meaning money already raised for a candidate’s gubernatorial campaign could easily be redirected should they decide to run for, say, lieutenant governor instead. There are already a number of candidates running for lieutenant governor, including former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, former state Sen. Steven Bradford and former state Treasurer Fiona Ma. But that office probably would see even more interest should Harris enter the gubernatorial race. It’s a largely ceremonial position, but one that has served as a launching pad for the governorship. Still, even if Harris does enter the race, Republican political strategist Mike Murphy threw cold water on the idea that she would have an automatic glide path to the governor’s office. “It’s like Hollywood. Nobody knows anything. She’s famous enough to look credible in early polling. That’s all we know for sure,” Murphy said. “Does that predict the future? No. Are there a lot of downsides (to a potential Harris candidacy)? Totally, yes.” ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. 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