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NOGALES, Ariz., Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd. (NYSE American: APT), a leading manufacturer of products designed to protect people, products and environments, including disposable protective apparel and building products, today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a $2.0 million expansion of the Company’s existing share repurchase program. With this authorized expansion, the Company now has approximately $2.8 million available to repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.8 million of which remains from the previous expansion, most recently announced in October 2024. Management anticipates repurchasing shares through open market purchases or through privately-negotiated transactions and intends to retire all shares purchased through the share repurchase program. Open market purchases may be executed by the Company’s broker through a pre-arranged repurchase plan, which operates in accordance with the guidelines specified under Rule 10b5-1 and Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any transactions under the repurchase plan will be effected in accordance with the terms of the plan, including specified price, volume and timing conditions, and will be applied against the amount authorized for the Company’s share repurchase program. Other open market and privately-negotiated purchases may occur from time to time outside the repurchase plan based on market and general business conditions, subject to applicable rules and regulations. About Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd. Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd. is the parent company of Alpha Pro Tech, Inc. and Alpha ProTech Engineered Products, Inc. Alpha Pro Tech, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets innovative disposable and limited-use protective apparel products for the industrial, clean room, medical and dental markets. Alpha ProTech Engineered Products, Inc. manufactures and markets a line of construction weatherization products, including building wrap and roof underlayment. The Company has manufacturing facilities in Nogales, Arizona; Valdosta, Georgia; and a joint venture in India. For more information and copies of all news releases and financials, visit Alpha Pro Tech’s website at http://www.alphaprotech.com . Certain statements made in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements instead of historical facts and may be identified generally by the use of forward-looking terminology and words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “potentially,” “may,” “continue,” “should,” “will” and words of similar meaning. Without limiting the generality of the preceding statement, all statements in this press release relating to the Company’s strategy, including the number of shares of common stock to be repurchased by the Company, if any, are forward-looking statements. We caution investors that any such forward-looking statements are only estimates based on current information and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results contained in the forward-looking statements. We cannot give assurances that any such statements will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated by us include the risks, uncertainties and assumptions described from time to time in our public releases and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. Specifically, these factors include, but are not limited to, changes in global economic conditions; the inability of our suppliers and contractors to meet our requirements; potential challenges related to international manufacturing; the inability to protect our intellectual property; competition in our industry; customer preferences; the timing and market acceptance of new product offerings; security breaches or disruptions to the information technology infrastructure; the impact of legal and regulatory proceedings or compliance challenges; and volatility in our common stock price and our investments. We also caution investors that the forward-looking information described herein represents our outlook only as of this date, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or developments after the date of this press release. Given these uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Company Contact: Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd. Donna Millar 905-479-0654 e-mail: ir@alphaprotech.com Investor Relations Contact: Hayden IR Cameron Donahue 651-653-1854 e-mail: cameron@haydenir.comPutin's Men 'Snatch' Storozhove From Ukraine Army; Russian Battle Moves To Velyka Novosilka | WatchThe best women’s snow pants for skiing, sledding and beyond
NEW YORK -- Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is returning to the World Blitz Championship on Monday after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans. Lamenting the incident, International Chess Federation president Arkady Dvorkovich said in a statement Sunday that he'd let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing "appropriate jeans" with a jacket, and other "elegant minor deviations" from the dress code. He said Carlsen's stand -- which culminated in his quitting the tournament Friday -- highlighted a need for more discussion "to ensure that our rules and their application reflect the evolving nature of chess as a global and accessible sport." Carlsen, meanwhile, said in a video posted Sunday on social media that he would play -- and wear jeans -- in the World Blitz Championship when it begins Monday. "I think the situation was badly mishandled on their side," the 34-year-old Norwegian grandmaster said. But he added that he loves playing blitz -- a fast-paced form of chess -- and wanted fans to be able to watch. He said that he was encouraged by his discussions with the federation after Friday's showdown. "I think we sort of all want the same thing," he suggested in the video on his Take Take Take chess app's YouTube channel. "We want the players to be comfortable, sure, but also relatively presentable." The events began when Carlsen wore jeans and a sport coat Friday to the Rapid World Championship, which is separate from but held in conjunction with the blitz event. The chess federation said that longstanding rules prohibit jeans at these tournaments, and players are housed nearby to make outfit adjustments easy if needed. An official fined Carlsen $200 and asked him to change pants, but he refused and wasn't paired for a ninth-round game, the federation said at the time. The organization noted that another grandmaster, Ian Nepomniachtchi, was fined earlier in the day for wearing sports shoes, changed and continued to play. Carlsen has said that he offered to wear something else the next day, but officials were unyielding. He said "it became a bit of a matter of principle," so he quit the rapid and blitz championships. In the video posted Sunday, he questioned whether he had indeed broken a rule and said changing clothes would have needlessly interrupted his concentration between games. He called the punishment "unbelievably harsh." "Of course, I could have changed. Obviously, I didn't want to," he said. "I stand by that."The ultimate good health gift guide: Boost your loved ones' wellbeing for 2025 with our health gurus' Christmas picks By MAIL ON SUNDAY Published: 16:54 GMT, 8 December 2024 | Updated: 17:06 GMT, 8 December 2024 e-mail View comments From a blender that makes healthy ice cream at push of a button to goggles that show how far you've swum, we've created the ultimate 2024 gift guide for you to treat your health-conscious loved ones this Christmas ... Must-have tech Fitbit Sense 2 advanced smartwatch £219 The latest smartwatch from health and fitness line Fitbit is brand's most advanced – able to identify users' stress patterns as well as advise on managing users with guided breathing exercises and meditation. It also analyses sleep patterns, monitors heart rate and much more. ee.co.uk Fitbit's latest smartwatch (left) is able to identify users' stress patterns, while Suri's electric toothbrush has taken social media by storm for its compact size and sustainable make-up Suri Sustainable Electric Toothbrush, now £63.75 This award-winning device took social media by storm this year. It's half the size of traditional electric toothbrushes – making it portable – and is also made from sustainable materials. trysuri.com DeluxeSkin Period Pain Relief £79.99 This battery-operated device uses a combination of heat and massage therapy to relieve period pain and cramping. It is cordless and can be worn discreetly under clothes – a vast improvement on clutching a hot water bottle to your stomach. Battery life is about three hours. deluxeskin.uk DeluxeSkin's device uses a combination of heat and massage therapy to relieve period pain and cramping, while OpenSwim's headphones using bone-conduction technology that converts sound to vibrations which travel into the inner ear OpenSwim Pro bluetooth waterproof on-ear headphones £135 These miraculous headphones by Shokz are 100 per cent waterproof – using bone-conduction technology that converts sound to vibrations which travel into the inner ear. They work in depths of up to two metres for two hours, as well as on dry land. argos.co.uk Fit for Christmas Form Smart Swim 2 goggles £249 These futuristic goggles provide real-time metrics as you swim – displaying heart rate, time, distance, pace and stroke rate on the lenses. Wearers can opt in to personalised coaching, as well as workout and training plans, which provide motivating lap-by-lap instructions in the goggles. They have a 14-hour battery life. selfridges.com These Form Smart Swim 2 futuristic goggles provide real-time metrics as you swim, while WholyMe's Target relief balm uses natural ingredients to soothe aches in muscles and joints WholyMe Target relief balm £34.99 Packed with 12 powerful natural ingredients, including arnica, juniper and frankincense, this organic balm – free of ultra-processed ingredients – soothes aches in muscles and joints. boots.com Cork foot massage tools set £37 This set, made by classic German sandal company Birkenstock comes with two massage balls and a roller to ease tension and soothe achy soles. birkenstock.com Birkenstock's massage tools set includes two balls and a roller to ease tension and soothe achy soles, while Gen Z's favourite runners, Hokas, have ultra-padded soles and are amazingly light Hoka Clifton 9 £130 Gen Z's favourite running shoe Hoka have ultra-padded soles but they are amazingly light – making for an even more effortless walk or jog. And the colour range would please any runner wanting to impress. jdsports.com Treats for food fans Wonder Oven £155 The latest offering from cult cookware brand Our Place is a six-in-one oven that can air fry, bake, roast, grill, reheat and toast. It requires far less oil than other methods, which produces much healthier meals. selfridges.com Our Place's Wonder Oven is a six-in-one oven that can air fry, bake, roast, grill, reheat and toast, while Tenderheart is a cookbook that can help you achieve your five-a-day with delicious dishes Tenderheart by Hetty Lui McKinnon £35 This cookbook can help achieve your five-a-day, with each chapter dedicated to a different fruit or vegetable. It is full of healthy yet delicious dishes that can turn veg from a side dish into the main event. waterstones.com Ninja Creami ice cream & frozen dessert maker £149.99 This ice-cream maker can transform frozen fruit into sorbet in minutes. For healthier alternatives to the naughty tub of Ben & Jerry's, you can also use the machine to create your own frozen yogurt, smoothies and more. johnlewis.com Ninja's ice-cream maker can transform frozen fruit into sorbet in minutes, and drinking rose chai tea can ease pain and inflammation, aid digestion, relieve cramps and protect cells JP's Originals Rose Chai Tea £12 Natural health advocates claim rose tea can ease pain and inflammation, aid digestion, relieve cramps and even protect cells from 'damage'. It also smells gorgeous and is wonderfully soothing and relaxing to drink. harrods.com Grandkids go-to Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil £19 This TikTok-famous hair oil comes with tween and teen approval. The serum combines Mirsalehi honey, coconut and sweet almond oil to quench dry hair and repair damage right at the cuticle. Hair looks shinier, less frizzy and more supple – and we think it's the bee's knees. selfridges.com Gisou's TikTok-famous hair oil comes with tween and teen approval, as does the Owala Freesip water bottle Owala Freesip water bottle £23 Move over Stanley, the Owala is the new cult water bottle. The stainless-steel flask has triple-layer insulation to keep drinks cold, can be sipped or swigged, and comes with a flip-top that can be locked shut to keep germs out and stop leaks. It also comes in a dazzling array of colours. owalalife.com Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence gel £24.99 This serum, which went viral earlier this year, is made from snail slime – and is surprisingly effective. It reduces redness, hydrates the skin, smoothes blemishes and is safe for most skin types – including sensitive and young skin. selfridges.com Cosrx's serum reduces redness, hydrates the skin, smoothes blemishes and is safe for most skin types. Pickleball has taken Britain by storm, and is great for getting the kids moving Nettie Pickleball Set £140 Get the kids in your life moving with this fun pickleball set – the racket game that took Britain by storm this summer. The kit comes with two brightly coloured paddles, pickleballs and sweatbands – plus a handy tote bag to carry all the gear around. freepeople.com Beauty bonus boost Dermalogica Pro-Collagen Banking Serum £89 Y2K (the trendy term used by Gen Z to describe the 2000s) skincare brand Dermalogica is having a comeback with its heralded collagen serum – said to firm skin and protect it from pollution damage. selfridges.com Dermalogica's Pro-Collagen Banking Serum is said to firm skin and protect it from pollution damage, while Isamaya and Facegym's Sculpt tool helps release tension while contouring Isamaya x Facegym Sculpt 01 £50 It may look like a torture device, but Facegym's latest tool is nothing but pleasurable. Each part of the facial massager targets a different area of the face and scalp, releasing tension while contouring the jaw and lifting the brows. facegym.com Dyson Airwrap i.d. multistyler and dryer £479.99 Dyson's futuristic Airwrap – which uses hot air to curl or straighten hair without causing heat damage – produced with a new edition this year. This has six different brushes, dryers and curling barrels in two colours. dyson.co.uk Dyson's Airwrap uses hot air to curl or straighten hair without causing heat damage. Biodance's Bio-collagen Real Deep Mask is said to give flawless 'glass skin' Bio-collagen Real Deep Mask £28 These Korean collagen face masks by Biodance wowed fans on the internet this year – and are said to be the ultimate ticket to flawless 'glass skin'. The full-face mask turns clear when the ingredients have soaked in and peels off in a satisfying sheet. Box of four. superdrug.com Dream gifts Body Compression Sock £96 Ever heard the phrase 'sleep like a baby'? Now (at a price) you can. Swaddelini's adult swaddle helps cradle you to sleep, with soft fibres that allow for breathable compression. It's gone viral on TikTok thanks to those who've used it to help nod off during red-eye flights. swaddelini.com Swaddelini's adult swaddle helps cradle you to sleep, while Ross J. Barr's sleep patches go on your temples 15 minutes before bed to help ease you into sleep Ross J. Barr Sleep Patches £15 Pop these patches on your temples 15 minutes before bed to ease into sleep quickly and help deeper rest. They work best when you massage in the essential oils to release the herbs, and can be left on all night. rossbarr.com Ostrichpillow Heatbag £60 Did you know hot water bottles have a two-year lifespan – and ignoring this risks one bursting with disastrous consequences? This microwavable heatbag is great for soothing aches and pains, snuggling on the sofa, or keeping toes warm without the same dangers. ostrichpillow.co.uk Ostrichpillow's microwavable heatbag is great for soothing aches and pains. Briiv's air purifier uses natural materials to filter out toxins as you sleep Briiv Air Filter £329 ( briiv.co.uk ) Some studies estimate that indoor air pollution can be three-and-a-half times worse than outdoor pollution in British towns and cities, so it's vital to ensure the air in our homes is as clean as possible. This air purifier uses natural materials – equivalent to hundreds of houseplants – to filter out toxins as you sleep. TikTok Share or comment on this article: The ultimate good health gift guide: Boost your loved ones' wellbeing for 2025 with our health gurus' Christmas picks e-mail Add comment
Zoren: Former Channel 3 co-anchor turns up as 6abc reporterBlueprints of more than 20 prisons leaked on dark webNEW YORK (AP) — Police don't know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a targeted attack , not a random one. They know he ambushed Thompson at 6:44 a.m. Wednesday as the executive arrived at the Hilton for his company’s annual investor conference, using a 9 mm pistol that resembled the guns farmers use to put down animals without causing a loud noise. They know ammunition found near Thompson’s body bore the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by insurance industry critics . The fact that the shooter knew UnitedHealthcare group was holding a conference at the hotel and what route Thompson might take to get there suggested that he could possibly be a disgruntled employee or client, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Police divers were seen searching a pond in Central Park, where the killer fled after the shooting. Officers have been scouring the park for days for any possible clues and found his backpack there Friday. They didn’t immediately reveal what, if anything, it contained but said it would be tested and analyzed. On Sunday morning, police declined to comment on the contents of the backpack, or on the results of the search in the pond, saying no updates were planned. Investigators have urged patience, saying the process of logging evidence that stands up in court isn’t as quick as it looks like on TV . Hundreds of detectives are combing through video recordings and social media, vetting tips from the public and interviewing people who might have information, including Thompson’s family and coworkers and the shooter’s randomly assigned roommates at the Manhattan hostel where he stayed. Investigators caught a break when they came across security camera images of an unguarded moment at the hostel in which he briefly showed his face. Retracing the gunman’s steps using surveillance video, police say, it appears he left the city by bus soon after the shooting outside the New York Hilton Midtown. He was seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later, Kenny said. With the high-profile search expanding across state lines, the FBI announced late Friday that it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, adding to a reward of up to $10,000 that the NYPD has offered. Police say they believe the suspect acted alone. Police distributed the images to news outlets and on social media but so far haven’t been able to ID him using facial recognition — possibly because of the angle of the images or limitations on how the NYPD is allowed to use that technology, Kenny said. Late Saturday, police released two additional photos of the suspected shooter that appeared to be from a camera mounted inside a taxi. The first shows him outside the vehicle and the second shows him looking through the partition between the back seat and the front of the cab. In both, his face is partially obscured by a blue, medical-style mask.
Lawsuit challenging Wisconsin wedding barn law allowed to proceedOusted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus, Russian state media sayAndrew Callahan: It’s time to forget about Jerod Mayo getting fired
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ANSA MD De Souza a new SRC chairmanApple Sued for Knowingly Hosting Child Sexual Abuse Material on Its Products, Failing to Protect SurvivorsUS President Joe Biden on Sunday said deposed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad should be "held accountable" but called the nation's political upheaval a "historic opportunity" for Syrians to rebuild their country. In the first full US reaction to Assad's overthrow by an Islamist-led coalition of rebel factions, Biden also warned that Washington will "remain vigilant" against the emergence of terrorist groups, announcing that US forces had just conducted fresh strikes against militants from the Islamic State organization. "The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice," Biden said, speaking from the White House. "It's a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria." Asked by reporters what should happen to the deposed president, who reportedly has fled to Moscow, Biden said that "Assad should be held accountable." Biden -- set to step down in January and make way for Republican Donald Trump's return to power -- said Washington will assist Syrians in rebuilding. "We will engage with all Syrian groups, including within the process led by the United Nations, to establish a transition away from the Assad regime toward independent, sovereign" Syria "with a new constitution," he said. However, Biden cautioned that hardline Islamist groups within the victorious rebel alliance will be under scrutiny. "Some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human right abuses," Biden said. The United States had "taken note" of recent statements by rebels suggesting they had since moderated, he said, but cautioned: "We will assess not just their words, but their actions." Biden said Washington is "clear eyed" that the Islamic State extremist group, often known as ISIS, "will try to take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish" itself in Syria. "We will not let that happen," he said, adding that on Sunday alone, US forces had conducted strikes against ISIS inside Syria. The US military said the strikes were conducted by warplanes against Islamic State operatives and camps. Strikes were carried out against "over 75 targets using multiple US Air Force assets, including B-52s, F-15s, and A-10s," the US Central Command said on social media. Earlier, Biden met with his national security team at the White House to discuss the crisis. Assad's reported departure comes less than two weeks after the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group challenged more than five decades of Assad family rule with a lightning rebel offensive that broke long-frozen frontlines in Syria's civil war. They announced Sunday they had taken the capital Damascus and that Assad had fled, prompting celebrations nationwide and a ransacking of Assad's luxurious home. A Kremlin source told Russian news agencies that the deposed leader was now in Moscow, along with his family. The US military has around 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq as part of the international coalition established in 2014 to help combat the Islamic State jihadist group. It has regularly struck targets in the country including those linked to Iranian-backed militias. Tehran was a major backer of Assad's government. Biden also confirmed US authorities believe the American journalist Austin Tice, who was abducted in Syria in 2012, still lives. "We believe he's alive," Biden said, but the US has yet "to identify where he is." bur-sms/mlm
The E-J Group Welcomes State Electric Corporation to the OrganizationA big battery will plug into the solar corridor to the south of Canberra, with the profits to go to the taxpayer in a revenue-sharing first. Located next to existing powerlines and solar farms, construction has begun on Eku Energy's $400 million project that will bring 200 jobs for local tradies. The 250 megawatt/500 MW hour Williamsdale battery energy storage system located 35km south of Canberra will store enough renewable energy to power one-third of the capital for two hours during peak demand periods when it comes online in 2026. A critical energy asset for greater energy security and a bulwark against future price spikes, it is also a crucial step in the fight against climate change, according to ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr. Importantly, a revenue-sharing deal means profits from the project will flow to the ACT and pay for more clean energy and other services for a growing population, he said in Williamsdale. "That is an important principle for our community, who want to see investment in renewable energy and battery storage not only supporting the effectiveness and reliability of our energy network but generating revenue." Recently re-elected and already the nation's longest-serving political leader, Mr Barr says the revenue-sharing model could be extended nationally as a good template for government procurement. Working with Evoenergy, Tesla Energy and the Australian Energy Market Operator, the Williamsdale battery will also be part of the NSW energy market and the broader east coast energy market. "The electrons flow in real time so what we would be replacing is the next most expensive form of generation when we dispatch," Eku Energy chief executive Daniel Burrows told AAP. It will provide additional supply when the market is tight, which should help lower wholesale prices and support making more clean energy available when it is required, he said. The battery will also provide more grid security by responding within milliseconds to demand and storing energy when it is abundant. "What we have in Australia is a prevalence of distributed energy - rooftop solar, large-scale wind and batteries - and a reasonably sophisticated grid," Mr Burrows said. "As we're doing business all around the world, other businesses, other governments, other industry players are looking to what happens here as to how we might manage the energy transition." Not a player in a nuclear energy future, he says Eku Energy focuses on projects that are "genuinely the most cost-effective and will stand the test of time". A $500 million community grants program set up by the company will be available to eligible local non-profit organisations for employment and education, social and environment initiatives. Another $500,000 will go to an Australian National University program that has been a testing ground for neighbourhood batteries and other technology. "Research funding in this area helps ensure we remain at the forefront of advancing technology for a clean energy future," Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program co-director Heather Logie says. Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water Suzanne Orr donned high-vis gear to shovel dirt alongside Mr Barr in her first public engagement in her new portfolio. Simon Corbell, the architect of the ACT's clean energy transition as a Labor minister more than a decade ago, is one of her heroes, she told AAP. "Everyone has a different journey in coming to politics and mine has definitely been flavoured by the environmental movement," she said. Ms Orr, first elected in 2016, replaced former energy and emissions reduction minister Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury in the new government that has taken power without the ACT Greens as a partner. Canberra has already achieved a nation-leading 100 per cent renewable electricity supply and the ACT is aiming for net-zero emissions by 2045. The territory is phasing out household gas, with support for households to buy new appliances, electric vehicles, solar panels and batteries. But Ms Orr said the next stage of the transition will be more than "care and maintenance" of what has already been achieved. "I don't think anyone wants to rest on their laurels," she said. The Big Canberra Battery project that Mr Barr began as climate action minister will include the large-scale system in Williamsdale and neighbourhood-scale batteries at nine government sites.
Layouts of more than 20 have been leaked onto the , amid fears they could be exploited to smuggle drugs into jails or aid an escape. Extra security checks have been deployed at jails across England and Wales after the plans, believed to have been taken from a contractor, were shared online. Prison chiefs have launched an investigation into the leak of the plans, which include details of security cameras and sensors on perimeter fences. Prison staff have been ordered to increase patrols and perimeter checks until the investigation assesses the risks from the leak. Prison service sources said the investigation was trying to establish whether it was simply a hack of the plans, which were then posted on the dark web, or if it was masterminded by an organised crime gang to help them deliver drugs and phones into prisons via drones or to facilitate an escape. “We are unclear about the motivation. It might just be someone who has hacked a contractor and posted it on the dark web,” said one source. “Additional security measures have been put into prisons including extra perimeter checks.” Prison officials who work at the jails were sent an internal email titled “security alert” to inform them of the security breach earlier this month. They were told that the breach could affect the security of the jails’ perimeters, internal fences that have security cameras and technology installed within them to alert attempted breaches and raise an alarm. The memos to staff reported that there had been a data loss that had led to “vulnerabilities” to these security systems. This meant there was a risk that members of the public had been made aware of information that put prisons’ perimeters “at risk”. This may be from people “attempting to convey items into the establishment/aid an escape”, the email warned. It urged staff to be extra vigilant and alert to any changes in prisoners’ behaviour that may be connected with the security breach. Staff at prisons affected were told there was no specific intelligence about who was behind the leaks but added: “We must not be complacent to this risk.” and a counter-terrorism expert who reviewed extremism in prisons for the government, said that organised crime groups could use copies of the layouts along with other public information to coordinate drone deliveries of drugs and weapons, and potentially orchestrate an escape. “If plans of high-security prisons have been leaked, co-ordinating that with open-source material or Google maps could aid an escape after an attack on the exterior of the prison,” he told The Times, which first revealed the leak. “Much more plausible is using additional data to co-ordinate drone drops. But if you can deliver half a kilo of drugs via a drone then you can deliver weapons, explosives, whatever you want. These places are wide open.” A senior prisoner service source said security measures had been put in place to make sure every jail was secure. “The plans only show how things are at a certain point. We can change them to make sure security is in the right place,” said the source. “We can move cameras. We are able to mitigate the risks.” The leak comes amid a surge in . Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons, has found up to three quarters of inmates at prisons are now testing positive. He said organised crime gangs were of cannabis into prisons via ever more ingenious approaches because of the “enormous” mark-ups that they could make from selling the drugs in jails. Earlier this month, an inspection report revealed Garth high-security prison near Leyland in Lancashire had become “an airport” because so many drugs were being delivered to its inmates by drones. At Manchester prison, inmates ripped out the element from their kettle, burned a hole in the perspex windows of their cells so that drones could fly in and deliver drugs, and mobile phones, which are used to coordinate the influx of drugs. In another jail, HMP Oakwood, in Wolverhampton, the gangs disguised the drug payloads in grass then dropped them via drones onto the prison’s playing fields so that they could not be spotted by officers and could be retrieved by the prisoners.star-studded new Christmas action movie , its biggest movie in the US this week, has plenty of fans — like legendary video game designer , who tweeted that it was “great fun. While it lacks some realism, it’s a ‘Christmas movie’ with a 90s action-thriller vibe that the whole family can enjoy.” And he’s right, I suppose. If, that is, you overlook the fact that the plot strains credulity, the married main characters have fewer sparks between them than wet kindling, and you ignore the reality that this movie is basically the brain-dead love child of and 2002’s . Other than all that, two thumbs up! In all seriousness, has its moments. I watched it over the weekend, excited mostly by the prospect of Jason Bateman playing a villain. And he certainly gets the vibe right, even though he talks way more than you’d expect from a genuinely scary bad guy. There’s also a tense fight scene in a car on the highway that I thought was pretty exciting and well-executed. The premise of the story is pretty simple: Bateman is a menacing, mysterious antagonist who strong-arms a dopey TSA agent (Taron Egerton) into letting a package loaded with the nerve agent Novichok get cleared and loaded onto a plane. For the first 30 minutes or so, though, not much of anything happens beyond Egerton and his on-screen wife Sofia Carson over-acting every chance they get. Sign up for the most interesting tech & entertainment news out there. By signing up, I agree to the and have reviewed the Once Bateman’s scary suitcase of Novichok is finally rolling through the TSA scanner, however, really starts to fall apart. It felt like every five minutes I was rolling my eyes at the implausibility of one plot development after another, one of the most ludicrous being the Los Angeles cop who — on the basis of a scratchy recording reconstructed from a device that had been burned to a crisp — not only manages to put the villains’ entire plan together, but she races to LAX and everyone just sort of falls in line with whatever this random cop orders them to do. Meanwhile, don’t get me started on all the heroics that Egerton’s TSA agent is able to pull off just in the nick of time, like remembering how to defuse a complex nerve agent bomb after Bateman’s character verbally walked him through it one time. Or, towards the end of , when Egerton needs to sneak onto a plane and rides a baggage van out onto the tarmac and basically unscrews one thing at the bottom of the plane before hopping inside at the last possible second. ? More like, stop putting me on.
Lawsuit challenging Wisconsin wedding barn law allowed to proceed
In this interview, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Quidax, an African-focused digital assets exchange, Buchi Okoro, speaks on digital assets and crypto industry in Nigeria, the new regulatory frameworks by the SEC and the opportunities for cryptocurrencies in Nigeria. How has the crypto industry been performing recently? The past few months have been remarkable. Bitcoin and cryptocurrency, in general, have seen significant growth, thanks, partially to the Trump-Pump, or Trump Effect, following the election of President-elect Donald Trump. This is creating more optimism, interest and activity in the market. This is an exciting time for the industry, as more people are recognizing its potential. His nomination of pro-crypto advocate Paul Atkins to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission further improved confidence in the market and indicates President-elect Trump’s potentially favorable stance on cryptocurrencies. We have also observed increased regulation and licensing efforts, which are positive developments. These steps provide clarity and a structured framework for operators to participate in the ecosystem. The Nigerian crypto industry is experiencing a pivotal moment, and it’s fantastic to see stakeholders moving toward creating a robust and sustainable market. The Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in particular has taken commendable steps, including bringing operators into the sandbox and issuing licenses under a well-defined framework. This bold move has made it easier for companies like Quidax to engage in the ecosystem confidently and securely. What has Quidax’s experience been like working with the SEC? Our journey with the SEC has been long and evolving. We started the process some time ago, but things shifted dramatically in 2024 with the arrival of the new administration at the SEC, led by the Director-General, Dr. Emomotimi Agama. This leadership team truly understands cryptocurrency and digital assets, and their knowledge was evident in the new licensing framework they developed. Engaging with the SEC now is like night and day compared to previous years. The new leadership, including the board, Director-General, and executive commissioners, brought a fresh perspective. Their proactive approach has been a game changer, making it easier for operators to align with regulatory expectations. Do you feel the new SEC administration understands digital assets better than before? Absolutely. The current administration has demonstrated a deeper understanding of digital assets, and this clarity is reflected in how they engage with the industry. As the No 2 worldwide in crypto adoption, as stated by ChainAnalysis report, Nigeria has an important role to play in the global cryptocurrency ecosystem, and the SEC’s framework enables us to participate meaningfully and capture value locally from the global industry. Having this structure in place ensures that operators, investors, and the government can all benefit. It’s a significant step forward for digital inclusion and economic growth. What is the broader impact of cryptocurrency in Nigeria? Cryptocurrency offers immense potential for Nigeria. On a personal level, it provides individuals with opportunities to invest, earn, and create wealth. Beyond that, it drives innovation, job creation, and entrepreneurship. Nigeria is already ranked No. 2 globally in crypto adoption, according to ChainAnalysis. Without a clear framework, however, we risk losing out on foreign direct investment (FDI) in this space. In the absence of regulatory clarity, much of the value generated within Nigeria’s crypto ecosystem flows out, boosting foreign companies without benefiting our local economy. When you consider the tax revenue potential and the ability to support startups building in Nigeria, the opportunities are immense. With the right regulatory environment, we can unlock a new wave of growth and innovation. How does Quidax contribute to the crypto ecosystem? Our role is to provide a safe, secure, and reliable platform for crypto transactions. We ensure that customers are properly verified through Know Your Customer (KYC) processes and that their investments are secure. We are also committed to collaboration. Whether it’s working with regulators, law enforcement, or other stakeholders, our goal is to create a safe ecosystem for everyone. Quidax enables customers to seamlessly buy, sell, and move digital assets within a regulated environment, making it easier for people to participate in the crypto economy. What is your outlook for the crypto industry in 2025? Globally, 2025 will likely be an exciting year for cryptocurrency. The optimism following recent market rallies, driven partly by global events like the U.S. election, suggests continued momentum. I’m cautiously optimistic about sustained growth in the market. In Nigeria, the crypto industry is poised for even greater impact. Cryptocurrency provides a unique avenue for Nigerians to connect with the global economy, offering opportunities for financial growth and innovation. With platforms like Quidax leading the way, we’ll see increased adoption, better education, and a more vibrant ecosystem. Is Nigeria’s regulatory environment ready to support the crypto industry’s growth? The current framework is a massive leap forward compared to where we were just a few years ago. However, regulation is an evolving process, especially in an industry as dynamic as crypto. As operators, regulators, and other stakeholders continue to learn and adapt, I believe we’ll see even more refined policies that ensure investor safety and market stability. This is the SEC’s primary mandate and we’re committed to working closely with the regulators to build a thriving and secure ecosystem.Bridgeline Announces Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2024I don't like to look back on decisions I made in the past and think about how different things might be now if I had taken another path. For instance, I see little point in wondering how my life would have changed if I had attended a different university or not become a journalist. The same applies to economic policies. However, the timing of economic policy, as opposed to its content, is a different matter. In economic policies, timing is as important as, if not more important than, the content. We often see cases where well-designed policy measures fail to produce the desired effects, or even worsen the situation, because they are implemented too late or too early. Conversely, even poorly prepared measures can achieve better-than-expected results when implemented at the right time. Unfortunately, the Bank of Korea’s recent policy actions appear to fall into the former category. In October, the central bank lowered its policy interest rate for the first time in nearly four and a half years. This decision was based on inflation stabilizing, household debt growth slowing due to tightened government macroprudential policies, and risks easing in the foreign exchange market. The central bank also noted that, while the local economy was expected to continue its trend of moderate growth, uncertainties surrounding the growth outlook had heightened due to the delayed recovery in domestic demand. However, the effect of the rate cut on financial and economic conditions was very limited. Of course, market players agreed that the rate cut was better than nothing in the sense that policymakers were finally paying attention to weakening economic conditions. But the decision came too late to achieve its typical effect of encouraging people to invest more in riskier assets, such as equities, and spurring businesses to continue spending — even by increasing borrowing. In fact, most conventional indicators had pointed to the need for a rate cut much earlier in the year. Inflation was declining and poised to fall below the central bank’s 2 percent target, economic growth showed signs of missing expectations, and employment figures were disappointing. While acknowledging that the weakening macroeconomic conditions warranted a policy shift, the central bank refused to lower the interest rate earlier, citing concerns about rising real estate prices in Seoul and the surrounding region, high household debt levels and a volatile dollar-won exchange rate. However, these justifications were far from economically sound. First, real estate prices were not rising rapidly on a national level. Apartment prices were indeed climbing in the Seoul metropolitan area, but housing prices nationwide were largely flat -- or even declining when adjusted for inflation. Its concern over high household debt levels also appeared unfounded. While South Korea’s household debt is high by international standards and poses long-term risks to the financial system, it is not solely the central bank’s responsibility to address this issue. The underlying causes of high household debt include structural factors such as the country’s unique house rental system, underdeveloped banking practices and relatively limited household income sources beyond wages due to the underdeveloped local capital market. The central bank’s concerns about the volatile dollar-won exchange rate were also questionable. While some argue that lower interest rates could trigger capital outflows and weaken the local currency’s value, research shows that interest rates are just one of many factors influencing exchange rates. Eventually, the Bank of Korea decided to cut the policy rate at its October meeting. Yet this significant decision failed to alleviate public concerns or boost the economy as expected. As conditions deteriorated further, the central bank implemented another rate cut in November. It is highly unusual for the central bank to lower interest rates at two consecutive policy meetings in the absence of a crisis, such as the US subprime mortgage crisis or the COVID-19 pandemic. This move was clearly intended to signal to investors and other economic actors that policymakers were committed to supporting the economy. However, the financial markets reacted in an entirely unexpected way. Instead of increasing their holdings of stocks and other won-denominated assets, investors sold them off. Rather than conveying confidence that policymakers could turn the situation around, the successive rate cuts sent the opposite message -- that the economy might be in far worse condition than previously thought. Regrettably, the Bank of Korea’s monetary policy over the past two months will likely be remembered as a textbook example of well-intentioned policy implemented at the wrong time, forcing the entire economy to bear unnecessary costs. To make matters worse, the economy is now falling deeper into chaos due to political instability sparked by the president’s sudden failed attempt to impose martial law. The Bank of Korea may face no choice but to implement a third consecutive rate cut at its next policy meeting if the situation continues to hurt economic sentiment. It would definitely be a scenario the Bank of Korea could not have imagined when it continued to ignore signals from traditional macroeconomic indicators suggesting it was time to take action. The inconvenient truth is that someone will have to bear the cost. Yoo Choon-sik Yoo Choon-sik worked for nearly 30 years at Reuters, including as the chief Korea economics correspondent, and briefly worked as a business strategy consultant. The views expressed here are the writer’s own. -- Ed.None
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Hospice, or end-of-life care, is an interesting beast. We live in a society that is especially bad at talking about death. Which is kind of funny, since we are all going to experience death, at some point. Today, I want to tell you about a frequent conversation I have with patients when they come into our care. I call it, “You are more than parts,” meaning the material and organs that make up your physical body. So much of healthcare is about curing (or fixing) material problems, not hospice. Hospice is a specialized form of palliative (comfort-based) care. When people are referred to the hospice level of care it is after hearing something like, “There is nothing else we (medicine) can do.” For perfectly understandable reasons, folks (and their families) often come in pretty defeated or depressed. Who wouldn’t be after hearing that? That’s where Hospice of the Panhandle and I, as a Clinical Chaplain and part of the interdisciplinary team providing your care, come in. Hospice is about supporting people through their end-of-life circumstances. Chaplains serve as sojourners or companions on your journey. Our role is not about changing your mind, convincing you of anything, or dragging you from your beliefs into ours. What Chaplains do is assess one’s beliefs and resources, identify concerns/issues, and develop plans of care to address those concerns. Chaplains listen to your stories, especially the things weighing on your spirit. Then, gently observe where there are misalignments of beliefs or breaks in one’s relationships with self, others, the world around them, or the divine. My conversations frequently start with the obvious observation, “You aren’t dead, yet!” Hearing that one has reached the extent of what can be done medically can be devastating. To me, words like cancer or hospice are like lightning strikes – out on the horizon they get your attention, but when striking us or someone we love, that flash is blinding and the boom disorienting. However, you are more than parts that can be replaced through surgery or tweaked by diet or medicines. You are a complete human being, with hopes, dreams, fears, goals, and a whole host of competing needs...and you aren’t dead yet! You, or your loved one, may very well be beyond the limits of curative interventions for the body, but you are so much more than parts. Even when your body is failing, your mind, soul, and spirit can still benefit from attending to those needs. Being at “end of life” frequently gives people permission to focus on finishing well, whatever that means to them. Hospice, as a level of healthcare, is about quality of life, for the remainder of life...this is a very individual process. Let me close with a movie quote – Miracle Max says in The Princess Bride, “There’s a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive.” The goal of your entire hospice team – Doctors, Nurses, Social Workers, Aides, or Chaplains – is to help you live fully, until you are all dead and, therefore, truly beyond the concerns of this life. Blessings to you and your family.SEOUL, December 30 (Sputnik) - South Korean authorities will check all Boeing 737-800s in the country after the plane crashed at Muan International Airport, the republic's transport ministry said. On Sunday, 7C 2216 of Jeju Air heading from Bangkok to Muan in South Korea with 181 people on board overrun the runway while landing and crashed into a fence. Just two people survived, 179 were killed in the crash. The ministry said at a briefing that it would conduct a special inspection of Boeing 737-800 aircraft belonging to all local airlines to "analyze the maintenance system in detail." "We will closely examine aspects such as the aircraft's operation level, inspection records, and maintenance before and after flights to ensure that all relevant regulations are followed," the ministry said, as quoted by the Yonhap agency. Yesterday, 12:55 GMT In South Korea, according to the Aviation Technology Information System (ATIS), a total of 101 737-800 aircraft are used by various airlines, mostly by low-cost carriers. Among them, Jeju Air, whose plane crashed, operates 39 aircraft, T'way Air operates 27, Jin Air operates 19, Eastar Jet operates 10, Air Incheon operates four, and Korean Air operates two. On the morning of December 30, another Jeju Air plane experienced landing gear problems and was able to return to its departure airport. The plane that crashed in Muan had the same issue.
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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — First it was Canada, then the Panama Canal. Now, Donald Trump again wants Greenland. The president-elect is renewing unsuccessful calls he made during his first term for the U.S. to buy Greenland from Denmark, adding to the list of allied countries with which he’s picking fights even before taking office on Jan. 20. In a Sunday announcement naming his ambassador to Denmark, Trump wrote that, “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.” Trump again having designs on Greenland comes after the president-elect suggested over the weekend that the U.S. could retake control of the Panama Canal if something isn’t done to ease rising shipping costs required for using the waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He’s also been suggesting that Canada become the 51st U.S. state and referred to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “governor” of the “Great State of Canada.” Greenland, the world’s largest island, sits between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. It is 80% covered by an ice sheet and is home to a large U.S. military base. It gained home rule from Denmark in 1979 and its head of government, Múte Bourup Egede, suggested that Trump’s latest calls for U.S. control would be as meaningless as those made in his first term. “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale,” he said in a statement. “We must not lose our years-long fight for freedom.” Trump canceled a 2019 visit to Denmark after his offer to buy Greenland was rejected by Copenhagen, and ultimately came to nothing. He also suggested Sunday that the U.S. is getting “ripped off” at the Panama Canal. “If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America, in full, quickly and without question,” he said. Panama President José Raúl Mulino responded in a video that “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to,” but Trump fired back on his social media site, “We’ll see about that!” The president-elect also posted a picture of a U.S. flag planted in the canal zone under the phrase, “Welcome to the United States Canal!” The United States built the canal in the early 1900s but relinquished control to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999, under a treaty signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter. The canal depends on reservoirs that were hit by 2023 droughts that forced it to substantially reduce the number of daily slots for crossing ships. With fewer ships, administrators also increased the fees that shippers are charged to reserve slots to use the canal. The Greenland and Panama flareups followed Trump recently posting that “Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State” and offering an image of himself superimposed on a mountaintop surveying surrounding territory next to a Canadian flag.
