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With technical prowess and considerable style, Marta danced around two sliding defenders, outwitted a goalkeeper and calmly scored as another player rushed forward in desperation to stop her. It was more Marta Magic. That goal last weekend helped propel the Orlando Pride into Saturday's National Women's Soccer League championship game against the Washington Spirit. Barbra Banda also scored in the Pride's 3-2 semifinal victory over the Kansas City Current . While Banda has had an incredible first season with the Pride, captain Marta has been the talisman that has helped lead the team in its remarkable turnaround this year. The last time the Pride were in the NWSL playoffs was in 2017 — Marta's first year with the club. But this season they nearly went undefeated, going 23 games without a loss to start the season before losing 2-0 to the Portland Thorns with just two regular-season games left. “I think because of the way that we did it, during this season, from beginning to now, it’s something very special that I’ve never had before with any other club that I’ve played for," Marta said. "Plus year by year, we see in America, strong competition. This is the best league in the world. And you never know what’s going to happen, and it’s hard to keep winning the games, being in the first place almost like the whole season. That’s why it’s really different and so special.” Marta’s goal was the latest gasp-inducing moment in a stellar career filled with them. Known by just her first name, the 38-year-old is a six-time FIFA world player of the year. "Let's see if tomorrow I can do something similar — or even better," Marta said on Friday. Her teammate Kylie Strom chimed in: “That was the greatest goal I've ever witnessed, hands down." Appropriate. Earlier this year, FIFA announced that the best goal in women's soccer each year would earn the Marta Award. In a lighthearted moment the day before the title match, Marta was asked if she thought it was possible she might give the award to herself. “You guys need to decide, because who votes for the best goal in the year? It’s you. It’s the people in the public. So it should be really interesting, like Marta’s Award goes to Marta!” she said with a laugh. Marta has played in six World Cups for Brazil and played this summer in her sixth Olympics, winning a silver medal after falling in the final to the United States . She previously said this would be her final year with the national team. But since then Brazil was named the host of the 2027 Women's World Cup. "I had a conversation with my coach, the national team coach, and I was really clear about playing in 2027. I told him it’s not my goal anymore,” she said. “But I’m always available to help the national team. And if they think I still can do something during this preparation for the World Cup, yeah, I would be happy to help them." Marta's club career started in Brazil when she was just 16. She has also played in Sweden and in the U.S. professional women's leagues that came before the NWSL. With nine regular-season goals, Marta has had one of her best seasons since she joined the Pride. “I can never pick a side, I never pick favorites — but I love to see this for Marta," U.S. coach Emma Hayes said. “Marta is someone we all like, admire and are grateful for. And that goal was just like prime Marta at her best. And so grateful for and thankful for her that she got the opportunity with another game with her team.” The Pride went 18-2-6 this season, clinching the NWSL Shield for the first trophy in club history. Orlando also set a record with 60 regular-season points to finish atop the standings. “We are sitting top of the table, but I think there still are a lot of doubters. I think there’s people out there who say, maybe this was a one-off season,” Strom said. “But we’re here to prove them all wrong. So I think we do carry a bit of that underdog mentality still with us.” The second-seeded Spirit advanced to the title match at Kansas City's CPKC Stadium last weekend on a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw against defending champions Gotham FC. The Spirit's roster includes Trinity Rodman, a standout forward who formed the so-called “Triple Espresso” trio with Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith for the United States at the Olympics. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Denmark is poised to cement its place as a leader in medical cannabis regulation. On November 19, Minister of the Interior and Health Sophie Løhde proposed making the country's medical cannabis trial scheme permanent, a bold move following years of steady growth in patient participation. The trial scheme, introduced in 2018, aimed to provide patients with conditions such as multiple sclerosis and cancer access to medical cannabis treatments. Extended in 2021, the program is set to expire at the end of 2025. However, its success has been undeniable. Over the last three years, more than 20,000 prescriptions have been redeemed, and approximately 1,800 patients are currently benefiting from cannabis-based medicines. Minister Løhde highlighted the program’s impact: "We see that many patients who receive medical cannabis prescriptions appear to benefit from the treatment. This includes cancer patients suffering from severe nausea after chemotherapy and people with multiple sclerosis experiencing intense pain." The government's proposal reflects its commitment to ensuring continued legal access to medical cannabis for patients. Minister Løhde emphasized the need for collaboration, stating, "We first need to hear the perspectives of the parties involved in the agreement." On November 19, Løhde invited representatives from political groups behind the original agreement—SF, Liberal Alliance, Red-Green Alliance, Danish People’s Party, and the Alternative—to discuss the scheme's future. Denmark's cannabis industry also welcomed the news. Thomas Skovlund Schnegelsberg , CEO of Danish MMJ producer Stenocare, expressed optimism about the proposal. "It is excellent news for patients and Stenocare that the government is now taking steps toward permanent legalization. We are confident that the future of medical cannabis treatment is in good hands," adding that "the permanent legalization will establish a clear framework for the future, offering clarity beyond December 2025 and justifying investments in new products that deliver value to both doctors and patients." As negotiations unfold, Denmark appears ready to solidify its role as a pioneer in regulated medical cannabis, offering hope and legal options to patients across the country. Cover image made with AI © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

MONTREAL — More than a dozen groups have refused to vacate a community centre in Montreal’s Ahuntsic neighbourhood despite an eviction order from their landlord, Quebec’s largest school service centre. The community groups were supposed to clear out by 5 p.m. Friday, but there were no moving trucks in sight. Rémy Robitaille, director of Solidarité Ahuntsic, which represents the 13 groups in the building, said they haven’t budged because they simply don’t have anywhere else to go. Robitaille said the organizations provide vital services for immigrants, refugees and seniors, as well as food bank services and French language classes for newcomers — a total of 25,000 people each year. It will take an emergency eviction order from a judge to expel the 13 groups, which he said they would contest in court. “Who will give those services?” he said Friday. “We expect a reaction from the government.” The Centre de services scolaire de Montréal, which owns the building, said it has rented out the space to organizations serving the community but now needs the building to provide urgently needed French language courses for newcomers. It added that it needs to relocate French language services offered at William-Hingston Centre in Parc-Extension, another neighbourhood farther east, because of renovations to that building. “In order to fulfil our primary mission of providing schooling, and to avoid a disruption in services in the absence of another real estate solution to accommodate all our students, we must regain full possession of the building,” the CSSDM said in a statement. It also accused Solidarité Ahuntsic of refusing to sign a lease since 2018. Robitaille responded by saying the CSSDM raised the monthly rent for the whole building from about $8,000 to $24,000 — an increase the community groups have refused to pay. Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough Mayor Émilie Thuillier said she has tried to help them find another location over the past year, with no luck. Thuillier, Ahuntsic-Cartierville MP Mélanie Joly and other elected officials have called on the Quebec government to allow the 13 organizations to stay in the building for five more years. “The services they offer to the residents of the riding are essential to ensuring the social safety net of the sector. In a context of inflation, food insecurity and housing crisis, many citizens resort to the assistance offered by these resources,” Joly said in a press release in May. “What we’re saying to the government is that we want five years more so that the 13 organizations can stay in the building while we are constructing another one,” Thuillier said, explaining that the borough has already identified a new location suitable for a community centre nearby but it will not be ready to house the organizations for a few years. In the meantime, the mayor is asking the provincial government to give the CSSDM more funding so that it can rent spaces elsewhere for its French courses. Thuillier added that French language classes are currently offered in the building but that its state of disrepair means there will be a three-to four-year wait for those courses if the school service centre does take over. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2024. Joe Bongiorno, The Canadian Press12 November 2024, Baku, Azerbaijan. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and Ismahane Elouafi, EMD of CGIAR attend the inauguration of the Food and Agriculture Pavilion FAO/CGIAR during COP29. Credit: FAO/Alessandra Benedetti This created an unprecedented opportunity to bolster food systems against climate change, improve their environmental impacts, and concretize support for smallholder farmers – some of the people most affected by climate change, land degradation, and biodiversity loss. Across the summits, negotiators broadly agreed on the need to integrate food systems into the UN's three environmental frameworks, a step in the right direction given the interconnectedness of food and agriculture, and the environment at large. However, to build on the flagship UAE Declaration on food systems at the COP28 climate talks in 2023, the global community must urgently ramp up financing and action to make good on the ambitious goals set. In other words, the next 12 months to the COP30 climate talks in Brazil are critical for "walking the talk" of the COPs this year. To make the most of the opportunity for food systems to support environmental and climate goals, several steps are needed. The first is increased investment into low-emissions technologies and innovations for food systems. This includes both investment into new and emerging solutions as well as financing for scaling up existing technologies. Just as increased investment and support in recent decades led to a solar energy boom, causing the price of solar panels to fall sharply and became cheaper than fossil fuels, food systems need similar long-term and sustained investments. Channelling international finance towards agricultural research and development would accelerate and scale affordable, impactful, and clean technologies that curb emissions and enhance biodiversity...

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A team that previously boycotted at least one match against the San Jose State women's volleyball program will again be faced with the decision whether to play the school , this time in the Mountain West Conference semifinals with a shot at the NCAA Tournament on the line. Five schools forfeited matches in the regular season against San Jose State, which carried a No. 2 seed into the conference tournament in Las Vegas. Among those schools: No. 3 Utah State and No. 6 Boise State, who will face off Wednesday with the winner scheduled to play the Spartans in the semifinals on Friday. Wyoming, Nevada and Southern Utah — which is not a Mountain West member — also canceled regular-season matches, all without explicitly saying why they were forfeiting. Nevada players cited fairness in women’s sports as a reason to boycott their match, while political figures from Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Nevada suggested the cancellations center around protecting women’s sports. In a lawsuit filed against the NCAA , plaintiffs cited unspecified reports asserting there was a transgender player on the San Jose State volleyball team, even naming her. While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans women’s volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity and through school officials has declined an interview request. A judge on Monday rejected a request made by nine current conference players to block the San Jose State player from competing in the tournament on grounds that she is transgender. That ruling was upheld Tuesday by an appeals court. “The team looks forward to starting Mountain West Conference tournament competition on Friday,” San Jose State said in a statement issued after the appeals court decision. “The university maintains an unwavering commitment to the participation, safety and privacy of all students at San Jose State and ensuring they are able to compete in an inclusive, fair and respectful environment.” Boise State did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. “Utah State is reviewing the court’s order," Doug Hoffman, Aggies associate athletic director for communications, said in an email. "Right now, our women’s volleyball program is focused on the game this Wednesday, and we’ll be cheering them on.” San Jose State, which had a first-round bye, would be sent directly to the conference title game if Utah State or Boise State were to forfeit again. If the Spartans make the title game, it's likely the opponent would not forfeit. They would face top-seeded Colorado State, No. 4 Fresno State or No. 5 San Diego State — all teams that played the Spartans this season. The conference champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!J Studios Co-authored by Treading Softly. When it comes to some of the biggest purchases you'll ever make in your life, few can top a home purchase. For most of us, purchasing a home will be one of the largest single transactions High Dividend Opportunities, #1 On Seeking Alpha HDO is the largest and most exciting community of income investors and retirees with over +8000 members. We are looking for more members to join our lively group! 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NonePalantir Technologies ( PLTR 2.09% ) stock was in red-hot form in 2024 as investors showed increasing interest in this software platforms specialist thanks to strong demand for the company's artificial intelligence (AI)-focused offerings, which led to nice accelerations in its top- and bottom-line growth. As of this writing, the stock is up an eye-popping 380% this year, and now trades at an extremely rich valuation. With a price-to-sales ratio of 75 and a trailing earnings multiple of 412, Palantir is not an ideal candidate for investors looking to buy an artificial intelligence (AI) stock at a reasonable valuation. Of course, the forward earnings multiple of 217 indicates that the company's bottom line is expected to improve remarkably in the coming year, but that rich valuation also means that any signs of weakness in Palantir's growth story could send the stock spiraling downward. There is a good chance that Palantir can sustain its impressive growth in the long run considering the lucrative AI software platforms market that it is serving, but it's still a risky investment. Those looking for a more reasonably priced company that's trying to capitalize on this opportunity might want to consider C3.ai ( AI 0.70% ) . Its stock notched more modest gains of 23% in 2024 and has been in the news for the wrong reasons of late . But it's also trading at significantly cheaper valuations than Palantir and is tapping a similar addressable market. As such, now would be a good time to ask if C3.ai can follow in its bigger peer's footsteps and deliver eye-popping gains to investors. Plenty of room for growth in AI software According to market research firm IDC, the AI software platforms market generated $28 billion in revenue in 2023. The firm forecasts that this market could be worth a whopping $153 billion by 2028, which means that there is room for more than one company to thrive in this space. Both Palantir and C3.ai are thus far just scratching the surface of a massive opportunity. Palantir's revenue over its past four reported quarters was $2.65 billion. C3.ai, on the other hand, generated $325 million. More importantly, both companies saw upticks in their growth rates since the beginning of 2023. PLTR Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts. What's more, both companies reported almost identical growth rates in their latest quarters. While Palantir's revenue increased 30% year over year to $726 million in the third quarter of 2024 to $726 million, C3.ai's top line jumped 29% year over year to $94 million in its fiscal 2025 second quarter, which ended on Oct. 31. Both also increased their full-year revenue guidance as the demand for their generative AI software solutions increased among both commercial and government customers. It is worth noting that Palantir initially made its name by supplying software platforms and analytics solutions to U.S. government agencies, but it has lately been focusing on winning more commercial customers in the enterprise AI software space. A similar story is unfolding at C3.ai. The company has "entered into new and expanded agreements with the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marine Corps, the Defense Logistics Agency, and the Chief Digital Artificial Intelligence Office, among others," CEO Tom Siebel said the latest earnings conference call . Meanwhile, C3.ai has partnered with major cloud service providers such as Microsoft , Amazon , and Google to ensure a broader reach for the 100-plus enterprise AI applications that it offers. The company also offers an enterprise AI application development platform that allows customers to build their own solutions, apart from industry-specific solutions that help customers integrate generative AI into their operations. The company, in short, seems to be positioning itself to make the most of the huge addressable opportunity in the AI software market. But will that be enough for it to succeed to the degree that Palantir has? Strong growth is in the cards for both companies C3.ai is currently a much smaller company than Palantir. However, its top-line growth was almost the same as Palantir's last quarter, and both companies have enjoyed an uptick in their growth in the past couple of years. In addition, both companies expect to report a 25% increase in their top lines in the current fiscal year. Palantir's revenue is expected to land at $2.79 billion in 2024, while Palantir is expected to clock $388 million in revenue in the current fiscal year. Analysts anticipate robust double-digit percentage growth over the next couple of years as well. PLTR Revenue Estimates for Next Fiscal Year data by YCharts. Even better, analysts have increased their growth expectations from both companies. That's not surprising considering the size of the markets they serve, and there is a good chance that their growth prospects could continue improving as the adoption of generative AI software increases. So, even though C3.ai is expected to remain a smaller company than Palantir over the next couple of years, its solid growth and end-market opportunities make it an ideal alternative for anyone looking to benefit from the growth of the AI software market at a reasonable valuation. After all, C3.ai's sales multiple of 13 is less than a fifth of its bigger counterpart, even as their growth rates are almost equal. That's why investors looking for the next Palantir would do well to keep C3.ai on their watch lists or buy it now, as its improving growth profile could lead to healthy share price gains.

Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more . This year, scientists were able to pull back the curtain on mysteries surrounding figures across history, both known and unknown, to reveal more about their unique stories. In some cases, analysis of ancient DNA helped fill knowledge gaps and change preconceived notions. A prime example is how aDNA research is reframing the way people understand the archaeological site of Pompeii, which remains trapped beneath a layer of ash thousands of years after Mount Vesuvius’ eruption in AD 79 doomed the Roman town. Genetic traces collected from the bones of victims showed that what was once considered to be a mother holding her son in their final moments was an unrelated adult male who likely offered comfort to a child before they perished, and they challenged other long-held assumptions. Here are some of the ways science sparked a new understanding of historical figures in 2024, and in some cases, led to more mysteries that have yet to be untangled. A detailed analysis of tooth enamel, tartar and bone collagen helped researchers uncover details about “Vittrup Man,” a Stone Age migrant who died violently in a swamp in northwest Denmark about 5,200 years ago. His remains, recovered from a peat bog in Vittrup, Denmark, in 1915, were found alongside a wooden club that was likely used to beat him over the head. But little else was known about him. Using cutting-edge analytical methods, Anders Fischer, project researcher in the department of historical studies at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, and his colleagues set out to “find the individual behind the bone” and tell the story of the oldest known immigrant in Denmark’s history . Vittrup Man grew up along the Scandinavian coast and belonged to a hunter-gatherer community, enjoying a diet of fish, seals and whales. But his life changed drastically in his late teens when he made the move to Denmark and shifted to a farmer’s diet, eating sheep and goat. He died between the ages of 30 and 40. Vittrup Man may have been killed as a sacrifice, or perhaps he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. But Fischer found the use of multiple techniques to uncover aspects of his identity gratifying. “In the Vittrup case we meet a genuine first-generation immigrant and can follow his remarkable geographic and dietary transition from northern to southern Scandinavia and from a fisher-hunter-gatherer to a farmer way of life,” he said. Separately, researchers were able to connect the identity of a skeleton found in a castle well to a passage from an 800-year-old Norse text . The Sverris saga, which related the story of the real-life King Sverre Sigurdsson, includes a description of an invading army tossing the body of a dead man down a well at Norway’s Sverresborg castle in 1197 in a likely attempt to poison the water supply. A team of scientists recently studied bones uncovered in the castle’s well in 1938. Using radiocarbon dating, the researchers determined that the remains were about 900 years old. Genetic sequencing of tooth samples laid bare that “Well-man” had a medium skin tone, blue eyes, and light brown or blond hair. And in a twist, his genetics couldn’t be traced to the local population. “The biggest surprise for all of us was that the Well-man did not come from the local population, but rather that his ancestry traces back to a specific region in southern Norway. That suggests the sieging army threw one of their own dead into the well,” study coauthor Michael D. Martin, a professor in the department of natural history at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology’s University Museum in Trondheim, said in October. Improvements in molecular genetics over nearly two decades have helped researchers get to the bottom of a longstanding historical puzzle of a so-called “lost prince” who appeared seemingly out of nowhere in mid-19th century Germany. For 200 years, there was speculation that an enigmatic man named Kaspar Hauser was secretly a member of German royalty. When he was found wandering without identification in Nuremberg in May 1828 at the age of 16, Hauser was barely able to communicate with those questioning him. A story about Hauser being a kidnapped prince , taken from the royal family of Baden in what’s now southwest Germany, spread like wildfire. There have been multiple studies of genetic data taken from items that belonged to Hauser, but the conflicting results led to a stalemate with no answers. This year, researchers conducted a new analysis of Hauser’s hair samples and were able to prove that his mitochondrial DNA, or genetic code passed down on the maternal side, did not match the mitochondrial DNA from the Baden family. Disproving the royal hoax may have solved one mystery, but another one has taken its place. Just who was this man? As his tombstone reads, Hauser remains “the riddle of his time.” Classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven died at 56 in 1827 after a lifetime of ailments including deafness, liver disease and gastrointestinal complaints. The composer expressed his wish that his ailments be studied and shared so “as far as possible at least the world will be reconciled to me after my death.” In May, researchers published a study showing high levels of lead detected in authenticated locks of Beethoven’s hair and suggested the composer had lead poisoning, which may have contributed to his recurring health woes. The findings built on previous revelations after Beethoven’s genome was made publicly available to investigate the complicated nuances of his health. In addition to lead, Beethoven’s locks also contained increased amounts of arsenic and mercury — but how did they get there? The substances were likely from an accumulation of a lifetime diet of fish from the polluted Danube River and plumbed wine, which was sweetened and preserved with lead. The new findings add to a better understanding of the composer as well as the complex, sweeping symphonies he left behind that orchestras still play around the world. “People say, ‘The music is the music, why do we need to know about any of this stuff?’ But in Beethoven’s life, there is a connection between his suffering and the music,” William Meredith, Beethoven scholar and study coauthor, said in May. A study of skeletal remains using new DNA analysis techniques shed light on the fate of family members of the first US president, George Washington, in March. Washington’s younger brother Samuel, who died in 1781, and 19 other members of the family were buried in a cemetery at Samuel’s estate near Charles Town, West Virginia. But some of the graves were unmarked, most likely to prevent grave robbing, Courtney L. Cavagnino, a research scientist with the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System’s Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, told CNN in March. Cavagnino led a team that studied remains excavated from the cemetery in 1999, identifying two of Samuel’s grandsons as well as their mother. The study team carried out the excavations to find Samuel’s final resting place, but the whereabouts of his grave remain a mystery . However, the techniques used in the study could be employed to identify unknown remains of those who have served in the military, going as far back as World War II. Meanwhile, a separate investigation of unmarked graves found at the British settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, revealed a long-hidden scandal within the family of the colony’s first governor, Thomas West. Researchers analyzed DNA from two male skeletons within the graves, and both men were related to West through a shared maternal lineage. One of the men, Capt. William West, was born to West’s spinster aunt, Elizabeth — and illegitimate. Details of West’s birth were deliberately removed from the family’s genealogical records at the time, researchers found, suggesting that the secret of his true parentage is what inspired him to set sail across the Atlantic Ocean and join the colony. Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe is associated with celestial discoveries during the 16th century. But he was also an alchemist devoted to brewing secret medicines for elite clients, such as Rudolf II, the Holy Roman emperor. Renaissance alchemists kept their work covert, and few alchemical recipes have survived to modern times. Although Brahe’s alchemical lab, located beneath his castle residence and observatory Uraniborg, was destroyed after his death, researchers carried out a chemical analysis of glass and pottery shards recovered from the site. The analysis detected elements such as nickel, copper, zinc, tin, mercury, gold, lead and a big surprise: tungsten, which hadn’t even been described at the time . It’s possible that Brahe isolated it from a mineral without realizing it, but the discovery raises new questions about his secretive work. Separately, centuries after German astronomer Johannes Kepler made sketches of sunspots in 1607 from his observations of the sun’s surface, the pioneering drawings helped scientists piece together the history of the sun’s solar cycle. While each cycle of waxing and waning solar activity typically takes about 11 years, there have been times when the sun behaved differently than expected. And Kepler’s long-forgotten drawings , made before the advent of telescopes, were dusted off this year when scientists analyzed them to learn more about the Maunder Minimum, a period of extremely weak and abnormal solar cycles between 1645 and 1715. Kepler’s drawings were made using a camera obscura, a device that utilized a small hole in the wall of the instrument to project the sun’s image on a sheet of paper. His sketches captured sunspots, which helped astronomers determine that the solar cycles were still occurring as expected when Kepler observed them, rather than lasting for abnormally long amounts of time as previously believed. Brahe and Kepler, along with Sir Isaac Newton and Galileo Galilei, were giants who replaced the medieval view of the world with a modern one, said Kaare Lund Rasmussen, lead author of the Brahe study and a professor emeritus in the department of physics, chemistry and pharmacy at the University of Southern Denmark. And this year, both Brahe and Kepler’s centuries-old work have contributed new pieces that help scientists reconstruct the puzzles of the past.

Marta's magic helped get the Pride to Saturday's NWSL title game against the Washington SpiritST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (AP) — Maverick McNealy steadied himself after a rugged start Saturday with a 4-under 66 and caught up with Vince Whaley in a wild third round at the RSM Classic in which a half-dozen players had at least a share of the lead. Read this article for free: Already have an account? As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Starting at $14.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (AP) — Maverick McNealy steadied himself after a rugged start Saturday with a 4-under 66 and caught up with Vince Whaley in a wild third round at the RSM Classic in which a half-dozen players had at least a share of the lead. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (AP) — Maverick McNealy steadied himself after a rugged start Saturday with a 4-under 66 and caught up with Vince Whaley in a wild third round at the RSM Classic in which a half-dozen players had at least a share of the lead. McNealy looked as though he might have the lead when he hit wedge on the final hole that rolled just by the cup and settled 8 feet away. He missed the putt, still in great position to go after his first PGA Tour victory. Whaley, also winless on tour, birdied the 18th for a 63 and will be playing in the final group for the first time on the PGA Tour. McNealy, who joined him at 14-under 198, also shared the 54-hole lead in 2021 at the season opener in Napa, California. Whaley was playing with a sense of freedom not everyone has at the final PGA Tour event this year. He was playing on a medical extension and fulfilled the necessary points in July. The next step was finishing in the top 125 in the FedEx Cup. He secured that last week with a tie for fifth in the Bermuda Championship. Everything else feels like a bonus, and there could be no greater perk than a victory to get into the Masters and PGA Championship, along with a two-year exemption. “I’ve really got nothing to lose and everything to gain, so I’m just excited for the opportunity,” Whaley said. Opportunity abounds going into the final round. Daniel Berger shot a 63 and played his way into the final group, just two shots behind. He was tied with former Sea Island winner Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., (65), Michael Thorbjornsen (67) and Patrick Fishburn (69). Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., (71) dropped 23 spots to tie for 47th at 3 under. Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., (70) was 1 under. Berger and Thorbjornsen were among those who arrived at Sea Island outside the top 125, the number required to keep full status on tour on next year. Thorbjornsen already has that locked up as the No. 1 player in the PGA Tour University ranking. Berger needed a big week and he’s delivering, even though he says he doesn’t feel stress. Berger missed 19 months with a back injury that he feared might end his career. Now he’s healthy enough to have played 27 times this year. “Regardless when I play well, I’m going to be fine,” said Berger, who played in the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. “When you miss that much amount of time it takes a little bit of a while to get back. It’s just a matter of being patient and eventually good things come around.” Henrik Norlander and Hayden Springer, also on the wrong side of No. 125, each shot 63 and were among those tied for 12th, a position that currently would let them move into the top 125. Joel Dahmen, who had to make a 5-foot par putt on Friday to make the cut, shot 70 and was tied for 61st. He is at No. 124 and his future depends on a big round Sunday, along with how Thorbjornsen, Berger, Norlander and Springer fare. Closer to the top, eight players were separated by three shots. That includes Luke Clanton, the Florida State sophomore and No. 1 amateur in the world who already has three top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour and was going after another one. ___ AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf Advertisement

Noida: Filmmaker Boney Kapoor and Bhutani Infra-backed firm Bayview Projects has submitted the master plan for the development of the first phase of the much-anticipated Noida International Film City and hopes to complete the work within three years post approval, officials have said. For Bayview Projects, Kapoor submitted the master plan to the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) on Tuesday. YEIDA CEO Arun Vir Singh confirmed receiving the master plan and told reporters, “It will be our endeavour to ensure that the plan is approved at the earliest if it conforms to all norms and guidelines.” The ambitious project of the Uttar Pradesh government is to be built on a 1,000-acre land in a public-private partnership in Sector 21 of YEIDA along the Yamuna Expressway near Delhi. About 230 acre will be developed in the first phase. Bayview Projects won the bid on January 31 with the offering of 18 per cent revenue share to the Uttar Pradesh government – the highest among four bidders. Addressing the media alongside Singh, Kapoor detailed his vision for the film city’s development, emphasising its potential to revolutionise filmmaking in India and attract global talent. Kapoor said the first phase of the project would include the completion of sound stages and a dedicated film university. Also Read: Agastya Nanda joins Ranbir Kapoor for Kapoor family’s Christmas lunch “The university is being built to train talent from across the country, particularly Uttar Pradesh, enabling individuals to come with a script and leave with a complete film,” Kapoor said. Facilities will encompass all aspects of production, including post-production, he added. “Filmmakers won’t need to go elsewhere for resources. Everything, including ?equipment and infrastructure, will be available right here,” he said. The first phase, targeted for completion within three years, will serve as a foundation for expanding the film city, he said. Kapoor plans to invite filmmakers from around the world to utilise the infrastructure. “Our aim is to make this a one-stop destination for filmmaking,” he added. Kapoor outlined several standout features of the film city like Virtual Studios, underwater filming facilities, etc. Additionally, there will be a designated floor equipped with advanced technology to replace traditional green screens, enabling actors to visualise scenes on LED screens in real-time, he said. There will also be large water tanks for shooting complex underwater scenes and ship-based sequences, he added. Kapoor envisions a setup similar to Parliament’s visitor galleries, where the public can witness live shooting and interact with directors or actors during breaks, depending on their convenience. Drawing parallels to international filmmaking hubs, Kapoor expressed confidence in positioning Noida International Film City as a global destination. “Once Phase One is ready, we’ll reach out to international filmmakers and directors who’ve shifted from Los Angeles to Canada, Italy, and Spain. Our aim is to provide them with world-class facilities at significantly reduced costs? potentially saving up to 50 per cent,” he said. Kapoor also highlighted the importance of government incentives. “Just as other countries offer subsidies, we’ll work with the central and state governments to secure incentives for filmmakers, making this destination more attractive.” Beyond filmmaking, the film city will also feature auditoriums, hotels, and food and beverage setups, transforming it into a tourist destination. Kapoor said, “Mathura is just an hour-and-a-half away. With proper hospitality, this area could become a magnet for visitors seeking a blend of filmmaking and tourism.” Kapoor also shared plans to begin shooting a film of his own in the Noida Film City to inspire confidence in the project. “I aim to start with one of my own films here after March. Filmmakers often follow trends, and if I lead by example, others will see the potential of this facility.”Wisconsin 67, Nebraska-Omaha 65

Dusty May, No. 14 Michigan try to continue strong start vs. Arkansas

Denver Nuggets Announce Historic Nikola Jokic Achievement - Sports IllustratedPGA Tour SchedulePercentages: FG .491, FT .286. 3-Point Goals: 7-19, .368 (Johnston 2-2, Anderson 2-4, Bronson 1-2, Molnar 1-3, P.Smith 1-5, Hien 0-1, House 0-2). Team Rebounds: 3. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 4 (Bowser 3, Molnar). Turnovers: 9 (Bowser 2, P.Smith 2, Bronson, Hien, Humphries, Johnston, VanderWal). Steals: 6 (Bowser 2, Bronson, Hien, Molnar, P.Smith). Technical Fouls: None. Percentages: FG .315, FT .571. 3-Point Goals: 4-23, .174 (Camara 1-3, Oden 1-4, Johnson 1-5, Berry 1-8, Harris 0-1, Wilkins 0-2). Team Rebounds: 3. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 5 (Gibson 3, Berry, Jones). Turnovers: 14 (Johnson 5, Berry 4, Kelly 2, Camara, Harris, Wilkins). Steals: 3 (Berry, Kelly, Oden). Technical Fouls: None. A_784 (881).

‘A game changer’: RIDE Longmont takes off

Shoppers spot Easter eggs on Tesco, Asda and Morrison's shelves - 3 months earlyAnother Rose looks to blossom with Canadian women’s soccer team

IPS Pooja Yadav is married to IAS Vikalp Bhardwaj -- a 2016 batch Kerala cadre IAS officer. The duo met at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie, fell in love and tied the knot on February 18, 2021. Published: December 25, 2024 6:18 PM IST By : Clearing the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is not every one’s cup of tea as it requires immense hard work, dedication, and mental resilience to clear perhaps the toughest exam in the country. Lakhs of aspirants take a crack at the UPSC CSE each year, but only a small fraction manage to clear the tough test, and the successful ones often have an inspirational and heartwarming backstory, detailing the trials and tribulations on their journey of becoming an IAS, IPS, or IFS officer. One such shining example is IPS Pooja Yadav, a 2018 batch IPS officer, who overcame hardships and setback, both financial and personal, left a high-paying job abroad, and aced the UPSC CSE to realise her dream of becoming a civil servant. Let us take brief look at her motivating journey. Who is IPS Pooja Yadav? Born in a middle-income household in Sonipat, Haryana on September 20, 1988, Pooja Yadav completed her schooling in her hometown, and later earned a B.Tech degree in Biotechnology and then an M.Tech in Food Technology and Management. After completing her education, Pooja Yadav headed overseas in order to pursue a career, and worked in Germany and Canada for a while, but later returned to India, as she realised that she was contributing to the economy and development of a foreign country, rather than her own, Once back in India, Pooja decided to pursue a career as a civil servant by clearing the UPSC exams. While preparing for the UPSC CSE, the young woman did various part-time jobs to make ends meet, including working as a part-time receptionist, and tutoring children. Pooja Yadav devoted her time in preparing for the UPSC CSE but failed to clear the tough exam in her first attempt. However, the setback did not deter her from pursuing her goal of becoming a civil servant, and ultimately her dedication bore fruit in 2018 when she cracked the UPSC test with an impressive All-India Rank (AIR) of 174, and was accorded the Gujarat cadre. Currently IPS Pooja Yadav is posted as DCP Traffic in Rajkot City, Gujarat, and has earned high praise for her tough action against traffic violators. IPS Pooja Yadav personal life IPS Pooja Yadav is married to IAS Vikalp Bhardwaj — a 2016 batch Kerala cadre IAS officer. The duo met at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie, fell in love and tied the knot on February 18, 2021. Pooja is also an avid social media user, and has achieved a sort of celebrity status on Instagram where she has over 324k followers. In an interview, Pooja said she believes social media as an effective platform for public engagement and sharing ideas. For breaking news and live news updates, like us on or follow us on and . Read more on Latest on . TopicsMy Retirement Goal: Live Off Passive Recurrent Income(CNN) — Like millions of American teens, Kailey Corum is savvy about the dangers of TikTok — but she’s also wary about government efforts to shut it down. The Virginia high school student uses the platform to catch up on news, listen to music and discover cooking tips. She chooses her words carefully when describing whether she trusts the Supreme Court to decide the fate of an app that 17% of teenagers report using “almost constantly.” “I don’t put, exactly, full faith into it,” said Corum, a junior, as she stood outside the Supreme Court after a recent tour of the building with her classmates. “But there’s not much personally I can do.” In the coming months, the Supreme Court will decide a series of blockbuster cases that could significantly transform the lives of the nation’s teenagers — potentially limiting access to vaping products , upholding a ban on transgender care for minors and deciding whether the controversial TikTok law can be squared with the First Amendment. The appeals have made their way to the justices — including two who still have teenage children — at a moment when lawmakers are engaging in fierce culture war fights over school book bans , transgender student athletes and the teaching of American history – prompting a flood of litigation that is already working its way through federal courts. The disputes are heating up even as there are signs that young people are especially disillusioned with Washington generally and the Supreme Court specifically. A Marquette Law School poll last week found the high court’s approval among Americans 18-29 stands at 44%, lower than any other age category. “It does feel like the biggest cases are ones that will directly implicate children’s interests,” said Aaron Tang, a law professor at the University of California, Davis, who specializes in education law. “I don’t think we should be surprised that more and more cases are going to get to the court directly implicating young people when so many state and local lawmakers are legislating with morality and young people on their minds.” The Supreme Court added to its “teenager term” on Wednesday by agreeing to hear arguments in the fast-moving challenge to the widely bipartisan TikTok ban President Joe Biden signed in April. The law followed years of concern that TikTok’s Chinese parent company poses a national security risk. It would allow TikTok to continue to operate in the US if its US-based subsidiary makes a clean break from Chinese ownership. Pediatricians and other experts have for years warned about the potential harms of social media for teenagers, but it was national security — not social science — that ostensibly prompted Congress to approve the TikTok ban. Because of that, the questions now pending at the Supreme Court don’t deal with how young people interact with the app, even though they will be most affected by the court’s decision. The ban is set to take effect January 19. “The court, I don’t think, is thinking of this in terms of children,” said Leslie Y. Garfield Tenzer, a law professor at Pace University who focuses on social media. “We all think of TikTok as being essential to teens and content creation — and Ariana Grande doing the ‘Wicked’ dance and everyone mimicking it — but the reason that the ban is in place is not because of that type of content,” Tenzer said. “It’s because of the fear that the People’s Republic of China can manipulate us.” That disconnect between the legal questions raised in the case and the potential impact on young people and their parents is a theme that runs through several of the major cases this term. A majority of the court’s justices signaled this month they are prepared to back a divisive Tennessee law that bans gender-affirming care for minors. Much of that argument on December 4 focused on whether courts should defer to state lawmakers in making those difficult choices. Far less time was spent on the transgender minors who have described the care as essential. The court notably declined to consider a question about whether parents have a right to direct care for their children. A case pending about the Food and Drug Administration’s effort to yank vaping products from shelves , meanwhile, has less to do with the health risks for youth than with whether the agency followed the proper legal protocols when it stepped in to regulate the multibillion-dollar industry. Nineteen percent of high school students vaped in 2020, the FDA says, a far higher share than that of students who smoked. At the center of both disputes are questions about whether state lawmakers and agencies overstepped when they enacted policies they say are necessary to protect young people. At least one conservative — Justice Clarence Thomas — appeared potentially persuaded by Tennessee’s argument that its transgender care ban applies to people based on age rather that sex and on their medical choices — a distinction that would make it easier for the state to defend the law in federal court. “So why isn’t this simply a case of age classification when it comes to these treatments as opposed to a ban?” Thomas asked the attorney for the Biden administration. Texas is making similar arguments in a case the court is set to hear next month concerning a state law that requires age verification for sexually explicit web sites. Opponents, including the porn industry, say the law violates the First Amendment by making it harder for adults to access adult content online. But supporters say the law is first and foremost about safeguarding minors. “Texas seeks to protect kids from some of the most prurient sexual content imaginable,” attorneys for the state wrote in court papers. “Texas has addressed only websites dedicated to pornography, has allowed them to comply by using common age-verification technology, and has not imposed criminal penalties. Such a modest but important law satisfies any level of scrutiny.” Because of the way lawsuits move through the federal judiciary, the Supreme Court is limited in how it frames its cases and who is heard. While the justices did not grant a separate appeal from the transgender minors and their families affected by Tennessee’s ban, the court did allow their attorney to present arguments earlier this month. Still, experts say the cases that will affect teenagers that are now pending give attention to young people only secondarily. “The court isn’t directly evaluating what it thinks will be best for young people,” Tang said. “The court is evaluating whether state lawmakers — or the FDA, in the vaping case — were correct in their assessment of what would be best for young people.” That worries advocates who work with teenagers, who fear that some of the most contentious fights playing out in Congress and statehouses across the country are more about politics than they are about protecting minors. A Gallup-Walton Family Foundation survey from earlier this year found that 44% of voting-age members of Gen Z said they trust the Supreme Court “very little,” while 20% said they had “quite a lot” or “a great deal” of trust in the court. “What we have heard from them is an increase in distrust and an increase in disillusionment with government institutions,” said Diana Thu-Thao Rhodes, a vice president at Advocates for Youth, a reproductive and sexual rights organization. “The impact is directly on young people,” she said, “and yet we don’t necessarily hear the voices of young people.” Spencer Rahim, also a high school junior from Virginia, said that most teenagers he knows manage to find ways around the concerns many have about TikTok. Some, for instance, simply avoid posting personal material. “To me,” he said, “it’s not really that big of a concern.” Less certain for Rahim, however, is how the justices will tackle the issue. “They need to listen to the people a little bit more,” he said. The-CNN-Wire TM & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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