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After spending the holidays at home, No. 3 Iowa State is ready to hit the road for its Big 12 Conference opener on Monday night. And Cyclones coach T.J. Otzelberger knows exactly what he wants his players to pack. It's not a tangible item such as shirts or socks, but more of a mindset that can help his team succeed in a hostile environment. "When you enter into league play, I think it becomes even more important when you go on the road that you're a team that focuses on getting stops on the defensive end of the floor," Otzelberger said. "You hear all the time people will say, 'Defense travels.'" Iowa State (10-1) and Colorado (9-2) will meet for the second time this season when they tip off Monday in Boulder, Colo. The matchup will count as the teams' first conference game because the first meeting was Nov. 27 at the Maui Invitational, which did not count toward the Big 12 standings. The Cyclones won that contest 99-71 thanks in part to Milan Momcilovic, who scored a team-high 24 points. Iowa State shot 60.3 percent from the field, compared with 41.8 percent for Colorado. Monday's matchup could have a different feel. Colorado has four consecutive wins since its loss against Iowa State, and the Buffaloes are 8-0 on their home court to start the season. Colorado coach Tad Boyle praised his players for developing good habits such as making the right pass instead of forcing low-percentage shots. It is something he wants to see again when Iowa State comes to town. "The assist totals have been a function of taking care of the ball -- you've got to take care of it to get an assist, obviously -- and sharing the ball, having good spacing," Boyle said. "And guys finishing. You've got to make shots when you're open. You've got to finish at the rim. So it's a function of a lot of things that are going on well. "That's why teams with high assists are usually high-functioning, high-efficiency teams." Iowa State, which has won seven straight games, also is functioning at a high level, as it has six players averaging double-digit points. Keshon Gilbert leads the way at 16.5 points per game, and Curtis Jones is close behind at 16. The other four players scoring in double digits are Momcilovic (11.6), Joshua Jefferson (11.5), Dishon Jackson (11) and Tamin Lipsey (10.1). Colorado is led by Julian Hammond III (13.1 ppg), while Elijah Malone (12) and Andrej Jakimovski (11.2) also are scoring in double digits. Trevor Baskin leads the Buffaloes with 6.5 rebounds per game. Otzelberger warned his team not to get too comfortable after beating Colorado by 28 points in November. "They've got a terrific coach," he said. "They're guys now that, when we played them the first time, hadn't had as much experience because their roster was so new from last year. Now those guys have had more and more opportunities to play together, to have success together. So we've got to focus on the things we can do." Monday will mark the 150th all-time matchup between the schools. Iowa State leads the series 79-70, but the Buffaloes have a 48-17 series advantage in Boulder. --Field Level MediaThe way Brentford have ended 2024 is completely different to how they started the year. Twelve months ago, Thomas Frank’s side were ravaged by injuries and had just lost five Premier League games in a row — including a 4-1 home defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers where Nathan Collins made a couple of huge mistakes against his former club. Advertisement So in January 2024, everybody was feeling low, and things did not improve quickly. By the end of the 2023-24 campaign, Brentford were in 16th place and were grateful simply to avoid relegation. This season has been a lot more fun. Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa have hit new levels, Mikkel Damsgaard has finally overcome his injury issues to become a creative force, while new signing Sepp van den Berg has made an instant impact. Brentford are flying high and dreaming of a top-10 finish. Here, The Athletic breaks down Brentford’s year of two halves. Best moment Ivan Toney’s return from an eight-month suspension for breaching the Football Association’s betting rules had been built up as a huge moment. Before kick-off against Nottingham Forest on January 20, a compilation video of the striker’s best goals appeared on a huge screen while WWE legend The Undertaker’s entrance music blasted through the speakers. When Danilo opened the scoring for Forest, it looked like Toney’s homecoming party had been spoiled. Then the England international drilled a free kick into the bottom corner and the entire ground went wild. Toney’s final six months at Brentford were disappointing but nobody will forget that night. Worst moment It may not qualify as a moment, but Brentford went on a nine-game winless run between February and April last season. The injuries were piling up and they edged closer to the relegation zone. It was a tense time that was only alleviated by victories over Sheffield United and Luton Town who went on to be relegated. For something more specific, the final five minutes of Brentford’s trip to Craven Cottage in November were a disaster. They were about to earn three points, despite playing poorly, when Ben Mee replaced Mbeumo to shore up the defence. Fulham took advantage of Brentford dropping off and substitute Harry Wilson scored two freak goals to complete a dramatic comeback. Frank had a look of horror on his face as Fulham’s players and staff celebrated around him. Best game Brentford’s 5-1 victory over Luton on April 20 felt significant for two reasons. It virtually guaranteed them a fourth year in the top flight and it offered a teasing glimpse of the future. Toney was unavailable through injury but it did not matter as Mbeumo, Wissa, Keane Lewis-Potter and Kevin Schade ran riot. Advertisement Fast forward to this season and that quartet have reached new heights. They have torn apart nearly every team who has visited the Gtech Community Stadium and the sweetest result was October’s 4-3 victory over Ipswich Town . Kieran McKenna’s side took a shock 2-0 lead before Wissa scored twice just before half-time. Mbeumo scored a penalty but Liam Delap equalised in the 86th minute to rescue 10-man Ipswich an unlikely point. Or so it seemed until deep in stoppage time when Mbeumo floated a cross into the box and it somehow flew past everybody into the bottom corner. The Premier League’s great entertainers had delivered another box-office hit. Best player Lewis-Potter is excelling in the unfamiliar role of left-back while Nathan Collins keeps improving. Damsgaard’s first two years with Brentford were difficult and he struggled to make an impact, but the 24-year-old has got seven direct goal contributions in the league this season (two goals, five assists), more than he managed (two) in his previous 49 appearances. It is hard to look past Wissa and Mbeumo, though. They stepped up while Toney was banned and have maintained that level since he joined Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli in August. Mbeumo has probably had more standout moments but, for his consistency since January with 17 league goals in 30 games, Wissa takes the crown. The stat that sums up 2024 Brentford became the first side in history to score inside the opening minute of three Premier League games in a row. Their inventive approach to set pieces now includes kick-offs as well as corners and throw-ins. GO DEEPER Brentford scored in the first minute yet again — this is how they do it Favourite quote “I’m very aware the grass is not greener in the garden next door even if it looks like it. Then you get in there, take a closer look and see there are a lot of weeds in the grass.” It feels like Frank is constantly linked with a move to another club but this quote from an interview with The Athletic in May suggests it will take something truly special to convince him to end his eight-year association with Brentford. Advertisement Did that really happen? Schade had scored twice in 41 appearances before Brentford hosted Leicester City in November. The 23-year-old’s devastating speed frightens defenders but his finishing needs a lot of refinement. Yet the Germany international turned into prime Thierry Henry on that Saturday afternoon. He kept bursting into space down the left and caused havoc. Ultimately he scored a hat-trick, including a delightful chip with his weaker left foot, and set up Wissa’s equaliser. It felt like a breakthrough moment for a young player whose time at Brentford has been disrupted by injury. Player to watch in 2025 Brentford signed Igor Thiago from Club Brugge for a club-record fee of €36.5million ($38.1m; £30.1m) nearly a year ago but, due to a knee injury which required surgery, he has only made a few appearances. It will be exciting to see how the Brazilian dovetails with Mbeumo, Wissa and Schade when he is fully integrated into the side. A wish for 2025 Aaron Hickey and Rico Henry have both been out injured for over 12 months. It was always going to take time for Henry to come back from tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) but Hickey, frustratingly, has suffered multiple setbacks in his recovery from a hamstring injury. Hopefully, it won’t be too much longer until they are back on the pitch. (Top photo: Mbeumo and Wissa celebrate Brentford’s third goal against Ipswich in October; Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Horoscope Today: Astrological Predictions on December 30, 2024, For All Zodiac Signslodibet free 200 。

NSW Premier visits Autism Community Network's Autistic Adults Social ClubDAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — A few days after insurgents in Syria overthrew President Bashar Assad , his ruling Baath party announced it was freezing its activities, marking a stunning change in fortunes for the political group that had ruled for more than six decades. Many members of the party's leadership have gone into hiding and some have fled the country. In a symbolic move, Syria's new rulers have turned the former party headquarters in Damascus into a center where former members of the army and security forces line up to register their names and hand over their weapons. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Austin Ekeler was concussed late in the Commanders' loss and taken to hospital for evaluation

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The 2024 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development International Migration Outlook report has shown that the top three nationalities for the Health and Care visa for 2023 were Indians, Nigerians, and Zimbabweans. In a statement issued on November 14, but made available to our correspondent on Saturday, the Health and Care visa is a skilled worker visa available for those who are taking on a role in eligible health or social care jobs or who are qualified doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals, or adult social care professionals. The OECD’s annual publication analyses recent developments in migration movements and policies in its countries. Each edition provides the latest statistical information on immigrant stocks and flows, immigrants in the labour market, and migration policies. It said in 2023, migration to OECD countries reached record levels for the second year in a row, as not only have 6.5 million permanent migrants arrived in the last year but the number of temporary migrants and asylum seekers have skyrocketed. The increasing migration flows raise legitimate concerns, according to the report, but they also point to major opportunities. It noted that buoyant labour demand in host countries has been a key driver of migration over the past two years, and international cooperation on migration is gradually progressing. It added that in many OECD countries facing widespread labour shortages and looming demographic changes, growing numbers of labour migrants have contributed to sustained economic growth. Related News Men lacking morning erection need medical examination, say urologists People want to know how long their haemorrhoids will last Nigerian NGO gets global recognition at Japan Expo The report read, “The United Kingdom is the other country where family migration soared, with 373,000 new family migrants in 2023, a 60 per cent increase compared to 2022. Seventy percent of family migrants in the United Kingdom were accompanying family members of labour migrants. “The Health and Care visa for accompanying family members accounted for the bulk of the increase. Indeed, more than half of family migrants who settled in the United Kingdom in 2023 benefited from this visa (203,000, against 81,000 in 2022). Starting March 2024, new care workers under the Health and Care visa are no longer eligible to sponsor accompanying dependents. “The top three nationalities for the Health and Care visa were Indians (58,000,+75 per cent compared to 2022), Nigerians (51,000, +204 per cent), and Zimbabweans (25 100, +153 per cent).” On contrasting trends in permanent-type labour migration across OECD countries, the report revealed that permanent labour migration to OECD countries remained at a high level in 2023 with just under 1.2 million workers, as in 2022. “Almost a quarter of these migrant workers went to the United Kingdom (282 000, 48 per cent more than in 2022) of which more than half were health professionals issued a “Skilled worker visa – Health and care”. In 2023, Canada admitted 145,000 workers as permanent residents (+seven per cent), including 52,000 through Provincial Nominee Programs (+37 per cent). “A record number of approximately 93,000 migrant workers settled in Germany in 2023. Several other countries registered record figures for permanent labour migration in 2023, including Japan and France (90,000 and 59,000, respectively), and Korea and Greece, although at lower levels (13,000 and 12,000, respectively). “Labour migration to the United States (excluding accompanying family) fell quite sharply in 2023 compared to 2022 (by -43 per cent, to 82,000). However, the overall level remained relatively high and higher than pre-2021 levels. Labour migration decreased from 2022 to 2023 in half of the observed countries, including New Zealand (-46 per cent), Ireland (-23 per cent), the Netherlands (-15 per cent), Estonia (-37 per cent), and Lithuania (-55 per cent), all of which had received record worker inflows in 2022.”Will Miami QB Cam Ward sitting out second half of bowl affect his draft stock?Embarrassed Spotify users beg platform to hide Drake as their Wrapped top artist

Austin Ekeler was concussed late in the Commanders' loss and taken to hospital for evaluation

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NEW YORK (AP) — No ex-president had a more prolific and diverse publishing career than Jimmy Carter . His more than two dozen books included nonfiction, poetry, fiction, religious meditations and a children’s story. His memoir “An Hour Before Daylight” was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2002, while his 2006 best-seller “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” stirred a fierce debate by likening Israel’s policies in the West Bank to the brutal South African system of racial segregation. And just before his 100th birthday, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation honored him with a lifetime achievement award for how he wielded “the power of the written word to foster peace, social justice, and global understanding.” In one recent work, “A Full Life,” Carter observed that he “enjoyed writing” and that his books “provided a much-needed source of income.” But some projects were easier than others. “Everything to Gain,” a 1987 collaboration with his wife, Rosalynn, turned into the “worst threat we ever experienced in our marriage,” an intractable standoff for the facilitator of the Camp David accords and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. According to Carter, Rosalynn was a meticulous author who considered “the resulting sentences as though they have come down from Mount Sinai, carved into stone.” Their memories differed on various events and they fell into “constant arguments.” They were ready to abandon the book and return the advance, until their editor persuaded them to simply divide any disputed passages between them. “In the book, each of these paragraphs is identified by a ‘J’ or an ‘R,’ and our marriage survived,” he wrote. Here is a partial list of books by Carter: “Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President” “The Blood of Abraham: Insights into the Middle East” (With Rosalynn Carter) “Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life” “An Outdoor Journal: Adventures and Reflections” “Turning Point: A Candidate, a State, and a Nation Come of Age” “Always a Reckoning, and Other Poems” (With daughter Amy Carter) “The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer” “Living Faith” “The Virtues of Aging” “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood” “Christmas in Plains: Memories” “The Hornet’s Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War” “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis” “Faith & Freedom: The Christian Challenge for the World” “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” “A Remarkable Mother” “Beyond the White House” “We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work” “White House Diary” “NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter” “A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power” “A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety”

Merkel laments influence of big business on TrumpThe Embassy of Mexico in Jamaica says Jamaicans travelling to Mexico do not need to have a US visa, but "it will help in the facilitation of your entrance". Jamaicans on social media have been warning others not to go to Mexico for vacation if they do not have a US visa, amid reports of Jamaicans being detained and turned back at airports in the North American country. In a media release on Wednesday, the Mexican Embassy said Jamaican nationals do not need a visa to enter Mexico and Mexican nationals do not need a visa to enter Jamaica due to an agreement between the authorities of both countries. "If you are a holder of a US Visa it will help in the facilitation of your entrance but it is not a requirement," the embassy stated. It said, before entering the country, foreigners should present at the migration desk of the National Institute of Migration the following: - Passport or identity and travel document that is valid in accordance with international law with at least six months of validity remaining and, if applicable, visa or immigration document; - Information and personal data that are required; - Reason for the trip; - Place of habitual residence or place of origin; - Address and length of stay in the national territory; through proof of a hotel reservation with the hotel's address or an invitation letter from your host in Mexico, accompanied by their address and a copy of their official ID. - If applicable, name, denomination or business name and address of the natural or legal person who will employ or invite him/her; - Activities that he/she is engaged in in his/her country or place of origin and those that he/she will carry out in the national territory; - The means of subsistence during his/her stay in the national territory, except in the case of foreign persons who carry a Mexican visa, and proof of economic solvency. - The transportation that he/she will use to carry out his/her departure, such as a confirmed round-trip ticket. The Mexican Embassy said if irregularities are noticed in the documentation presented, the Federal Immigration Agent assigned to immigration filtration will send persons to do a second review. Here, the traveller will be called to an interview where they will be asked for precise information about their visit to Mexico and a review will be carried out on the documents presented. The embassy, said, for this reason, strongly advises that persons have all their information printed in advance. Another important recommendation is that travellers have a Mexican point of contact, including their number and address. Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com .Bypoll verdict to decide fate of three political dynasties in KarnatakaDriving through the Medical Innovation District in Fort Worth’s Near Southside, it’s impossible to overlook the various construction layouts, workers, vehicles and cranes turning dirt and moving projects forward. After all, every major health system in Fort Worth — Baylor Scott & White Health, Cook Children’s Health Care System, JPS Health Network, Medical City Healthcare, Moncrief Cancer Institute and Texas Health Resources — is undergoing a major expansion that will help grow the city’s medical capabilities in the coming years. Robert Sturns, the city’s director of economic development, said these plans are driven by “a need for these institutions to expand their capacity based on the massive population growth that Fort Worth — and North Texas in general — has seen over the past several years.” “It’s important that Fort Worth’s medical ecosystem continues to keep pace with its population growth, so high-quality patient care is accessible to as many people as possible,” he said in a statement. Major health systems across Tarrant County say their expansion projects will provide upgraded technology and better care to patients, officials said in interviews with the Report. “I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say it’s probably the most exciting time in the history of the Near Southside’s Medical District,” Mike Brennan, president of Near Southside Inc., said. Get essential daily news for the Fort Worth area. Sign up for insightful, in-depth stories — completely free. Here’s what you can expect to see. Baylor Scott & White to raise new Fort Worth garage, building Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center is currently undergoing construction on a new five-story parking garage that will improve access and parking as part of “a long-term plan to grow our campus,” according to the hospital’s website . Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center is the Fort Worth branch of Baylor Scott & White Health. The Fort Worth hospital has 538 beds and offers a range of medical services, which include emergency care, labor and delivery, surgery and cancer care. The Fort Worth hospital is also constructing a new four-story office building called Baylor All Saints Professional Pavilion II that will sit on top of the parking garage. The office building, which totals 100,000 square feet, is expected to be complete in the first quarter of 2025, according to LoopNet. Charles Williams , president of Baylor Scott & White All Saints, said he is proud to be building on a legacy “of more than 100 years of service in our communities.” “For us, growth isn’t just physical buildings,” he said in a statement. “That means we want to help our patients and customers with what they need to live better, whether it is high-quality care in a hospital setting, convenient care when and where they want it, like on their smartphones or in the comfort of their homes, or wellness offerings to avoid needing ‘sick care’ altogether.” Cook Children’s lays groundwork for 10-year expansion plan Cook Children’s Health Care System is setting the stage for growth by embarking on a 10-year master plan to expand and enhance its Fort Worth medical center located in the heart of the Medical District. The plan will kick off with the construction of a 700,000-square-foot medical tower that is currently labeled as the West Tower. The facility will be an extension of the existing medical center — which currently spans 2.5 million square feet — and make way for an expansion of the neonatal intensive care with an additional 37 beds. The West Tower also allows for an expansion and redesign of the pediatric intensive care unit and increases capacity for hematology and oncology services. The building will add additional operating rooms and imaging services. Cook Children’s anticipates it will start construction of the West Tower by the end of 2025. The health system previously declined to provide information about the total cost of the tower. “It’s an ambitious plan, but it’s exactly what we need to support the growing population and demand for services in our area,” Rick W. Merrill, president and CEO of Cook Children’s Health Care System, said in a statement. The pediatric health system’s master plan will add a total of 1 million square feet to the medical campus over the span of 10 years. JPS nears completion of first project in master facility plan Since 2018, JPS Health Network — also known as the Tarrant County Hospital District — has been undergoing construction on its master facility plan . The hospital system’s master facility plan is supported by an $800 million bond package voters approved in 2018. The plan details new facilities, including a medical home , psychiatric emergency center , medical outpatient building, pavilion expansion and a new hospital. JPS leaders originally estimated the total cost of the plan at roughly $1.2 billion with the county hospital prepared to contribute $400 million to ensure the expansion. But progress on the master facility plan slowed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, JPS president and CEO Dr. Karen Duncan previously told the Report. Six years later, the hospital district estimated the total cost of the plan would jump to $2.1 billion due to increased labor costs, price of materials and inflation affecting the health care industry. Because of financial changes and reprioritization , JPS has since removed three medical homes that were included in the original proposal from its master facility plan. The only medical home currently in the plan is set to open in southwest Fort Worth in early 2025. This will be the first JPS master facility plan project to be completed. “Texas has one of the highest populations of uninsured individuals , so for JPS to be able to provide that access for those individuals who would have no opportunity to have access to health care ... is really exciting for us,” Duncan told the Report in a follow-up interview. Per the original plans, JPS’ next project, the psychiatric emergency center, is set to open in summer 2025. That project will increase the hospital district’s behavioral health capacity from 30 beds to roughly 90. The master facility plan will conclude with new hospital towers in winter 2029 — more than a decade after the approval of the bond package. “Whether it’s building the design or starting construction, all of those (master facility plan) projects have now started,” she said. “We are still working through the towers. Is it one? Is it two? Is it three? That doesn’t have an answer yet.” Medical City Fort Worth to grow its Tarrant reach Medical City Fort Worth recently confirmed to the Report it is in the planning stages of a $37 million expansion project that will include a cardiac laboratory and four operating rooms. Construction, which is budgeted at $18 million, is set to begin in early 2025. The new laboratory and operating rooms will take up roughly 17,380 square feet within the existing hospital, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. In a follow-up interview with the Report, Medical City Fort Worth CEO John Hoover said the hospital decided to expand its services to keep up with the population growth in Tarrant and surrounding Parker and Johnson counties. Hoover did not provide additional information about the remaining $19 million of the expansion plans, but said some of those costs are linked to permitting and architectural fees. Medical City Fort Worth is also in the early stages of exploring an expansion of its Tower B , which currently houses emergency services, surgical patient rooms and neuro intensive care unit rooms, Hoover added. “We’ve begun the beginning phases of engagement with our architects and some contractors around a vertical tower expansion, so that could range anywhere from 30 to up close to 100 incremental beds,” he told the Report. Moncrief Cancer Institute looks to expand its facility UT Southwestern is looking to grow its Moncrief Cancer Institute with a $177 million expansion project. Moncrief Cancer Institute offers medical and surgical oncology, chemotherapy, imaging and a compounding pharmacy. UT Southwestern currently owns a parcel across the street from the cancer center and intends to use the property to expand by nearly 65,000 square feet to accommodate a new radiation oncology facility and parking garage. Before its plan can become a reality, the cancer center has to navigate several government entities for the nod on one major request that is necessary for the expansion: to permanently close a block of South Jennings Avenue . In late June, representatives for UT Southwestern received unanimous approval from Fort Worth’s Urban Design Commission for the street closure recommendation. The proposal will head to Fort Worth City Council at a later date for final approval. Dr. Jonathan Efron, executive vice president for health system affairs at UT Southwestern, said the medical center wants to grow the capabilities of cancer services in Fort Worth. “What we have found is that within the Fort Worth area, unlike in Dallas, there is a shortage of the machines that provide radiation therapy,” he told the Report. “Some patients are having to travel elsewhere every day and we’re excited to fill that void.” If Moncrief Cancer Institute receives the final necessary approval, the project is expected to break ground in spring 2025 and complete construction in spring 2028. Texas Health Fort Worth to renovate floors in its Justin Tower Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth completed work on its nine-story Jane and John Justin Tower in early 2022. The $300 million expansion project — the largest in the history of the nonprofit Texas Health Resources — added 440,00 square feet, 144 patient beds, 15 surgical suites and new preoperative and post-operative units to the Fort Worth campus. Jared Shelton, who was named president of Texas Health Fort Worth in September, told the Report the addition of the Justin Tower has been “an unbelievable success” as the hospital grows its service areas to patients from across Texas. “Everybody who’s been in (Justin Tower) recognizes what a blessing it is for our campus to be able to offer the latest and greatest in health care, larger rooms — the most up-to-date technology,” he said. “It’s really a legacy project for Texas Health Fort Worth.” With the success of Justin Tower has come a growing need for more services. The tower has almost immediately filled up, Shelton added. Texas Health Fort Worth is in the planning process of building out areas on the fourth and fifth floors of the tower. Renovations are set to begin at the end of the first quarter of 2025 and will last through 2026, Shelton said. “Those (floors) were shelled out for us to be able to grow into as there was patient demand, and we’re already seeing that demand,” he said. “It’ll add around 70 beds to Justin Tower.” David Moreno is the health reporter for the Fort Worth Report. His position is supported by a grant from Texas Health Resources. Contact him at david.moreno@fortworthreport.org or @davidmreports . At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here . Your support makes TWICE the impact today. As November draws to a close , time is running out to double your impact. Thanks to the generosity of the Nicholas Martin Jr. Family Foundation, every dollar you give will be matched—up to $15,000. Will you give today to help trusted, local reporting thrive in Fort Worth and Tarrant County? Related Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative for adhering to standards for ethical journalism . Republish This Story Republishing is free for noncommercial entities. Commercial entities are prohibited without a licensing agreement. Contact us for details. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License . Look for the "Republish This Story" button underneath each story. To republish online, simply click the button, copy the html code and paste into your Content Management System (CMS). Do not copy stories straight from the front-end of our web-site. You are required to follow the guidelines and use the republication tool when you share our content. The republication tool generates the appropriate html code. You can’t edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. You can’t sell or syndicate our stories. Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization. If you use our stories in any other medium — for example, newsletters or other email campaigns — you must make it clear that the stories are from the Fort Worth Report. In all emails, link directly to the story at fortworthreport.org and not to your website. If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @FortWorthReport on Facebook and @FortWorthReport on Twitter. You have to credit Fort Worth Report. Please use “Author Name, Fort Worth Report” in the byline. If you’re not able to add the byline, please include a line at the top of the story that reads: “This story was originally published by Fort Worth Report” and include our website, fortworthreport.org . You can’t edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. Our stories may appear on pages with ads, but not ads specifically sold against our stories. You can’t sell or syndicate our stories. You can only publish select stories individually — not as a collection. Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization. If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @FortWorthReport on Facebook and @FortWorthReport on Twitter. by David Moreno, Fort Worth Report November 24, 2024

Sri Lanka took another significant step toward textile circularity with a four-day program under the GTEX Phase II initiative, organized by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The event, which combined a two-day training-of-trainers session with a workshop on Circular Economy Business Models for the Textile and Clothing Industry, reflects the nation’s ongoing commitment to a sustainable textile future. The workshop, held from December 16th to 19th, provided around 90 participants with a comprehensive understanding of circularity in textiles. Key sessions focused on designing for circularity, enhancing reverse logistics for reuse and recycling, and exploring advanced textile recycling technologies and quality standards. These insights aim to position Sri Lanka as a frontrunner in the global sustainable textile movement. The program began with a training-of-trainers session attended by 19 Sri Lankan academics, textile professionals, and government representatives. By embedding knowledge locally, it ensures the scalability and sustainability of circular practices across the country. In 2025, GTEX Sri Lanka plans to train approximately 500 industry professionals and students, enabling wider adoption of these innovative business models. “Sustainability is no longer an option but a necessity. Through this program, we are equipping Sri Lanka’s textile industry with the tools to stay competitive in global markets while addressing the urgent need for circularity,” said Matthias Knappe, Head of Fibres, Textiles, and Clothing at ITC. Yohan Lawrence, Secretary General of the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), echoed this sentiment, stating, “This initiative reinforces Sri Lanka’s commitment to building a responsible, future-ready textile sector. It’s an important step toward aligning our industry with international standards and making it more resilient to global market demands.” The GTEX/MENATEX Phase II program is a multi-country initiative supporting export competitiveness in the textile and clothing sectors of Sri Lanka, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia. It focuses on sustainability and circularity as key drivers of growth, while also addressing the sector’s potential for job creation and poverty reduction. By fostering transformational change in the industry, the program helps participants meet international sustainability standards and aligns closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In Sri Lanka, GTEX collaborates with key organizations such as JAAF, the Export Development Board (EDB), the Central Environmental Authority, and the University of Moratuwa to implement these practices effectively. “The collaboration between local institutions, industry players, and international partners ensures a holistic approach to transforming Sri Lanka’s textile and clothing industry,” Knappe added. “It’s about creating a more sustainable and inclusive ecosystem, which benefits everyone from manufacturers to end consumers.” This concerted effort aims to prepare Sri Lanka’s textile sector for a competitive, sustainable future, balancing environmental responsibilities with economic opportunities. Photo Caption: The "Circularity in Action" Training of Trainers (ToT) workshopNone

Published 12:00 am Monday, December 30, 2024 By Guest Columnist The death of cursive handwriting reared its ugly head during the recent presidential election. Since 2010, according to Yahoo News, many states have dropped cursive writing from their curricula as they shifted to Common Core State Standards for English. As a result, many Gen Z Americans lack a distinctive cursive signature, which posed a problem for Gen Z voters who used mail-in ballots last month. Since officials had great difficulty matching Gen Z mail-in-ballot signatures to the signatures the government had on file for them, many of their ballots were tossed. This problem has renewed interest in the cursive debate. As it goes, the origin of cursive dates back centuries. It was the result of technological innovations in writing — inkwells and quill pens made from goose feathers. Since the ink dripped when you lifted the quill from the paper, it made sense to connect letters and words together in one flowing line — and cursive writing was born. My mother and father were taught to master cursive in the 1940s. Both mastered incredibly elegant handwriting. I grew up in the 1970s, the era of Bic ballpoint pens. Such pens didn’t leak and, technically, didn’t re quire cursive writing. But the good nuns of St. Germaine Catholic School made us master it anyway. They’d be horrified to see the chicken scratch I write now, though I have an excuse. I am a product of the electronic era. I do all my writing on a computer. I’ve become very fast at keying-in my thoughts. When I write by hand, though, I am so agitated by the slowness, I rush it along. My dad joked that I should have been a doctor! In any event, with such modern technological innovations, some argue that cursive is no longer needed and is also costly and time-consuming to teach. Curses to that, say others. More than a decade ago, Katie Zezima argued in The New York Times that if people are not taught cursive, they’ll be more at risk of forgery; printing in block letters is much easier to replicate. And the development of fine motor skills will be thwarted, she added. Besides, she asked, how will people unfamiliar with cursive read important documents, such as the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution? To be sure, it has become such a growing problem that the government is spending taxpayer money to transcribe historical cursive documents, so that Gen Z can read them. I’m certainly a proponent of moving forward with innovation. I’m able to run a communications and video-production business from anywhere on Earth without any need for cursive handwriting. Then again, I wonder that in our eagerness to advance, we tossed out the baby with the bath water. The mail-in-ballot issue certainly should make us see the need for distinct cursive signatures, but there’s a human element to keeping cursive, too. One of my most prized possessions is a letter written by my father’s father in 1924 consoling a woman whose mother had just died. He wrote the letter when he was 21. I was given the letter in 1997 by the son of the woman my grandfather wrote the letter to. I was struck by how similar my grandfather’s writing style was to my father’s — how similar his writing style was to mine — and I was moved by the beauty and artfulness of his signature. I can’t imagine a world in which letters written in cursive are no longer left behind for future generations to cherish. See Tom Purcell’s syndicated column, humor books and funny videos featuring his dog, Thurber, at TomPurcell.com. Email him at Tom@TomPurcell.com.Welcome to Mid-Day's Top News at this hour! We bring you a curated selection of the most significant and compelling news from around the globe. Stay informed with the latest developments in the nation, Mumbai, entertainment, sports, and more. Let's dive into the headlines shaping our world today. Markets decline in early trade amid unabated foreign fund outflows, weak global trends Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty declined in early trade on Monday amid unabated foreign fund outflows and weak trends in the global markets. The 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex declined 142.26 points to 78,556.81 in early trade. The NSE Nifty dipped 48.35 points to 23,765.05. Dust storm in West Asia is making Mumbai air quality worse While Mumbai is already grappling with the effects of localised pollution and winter moisture, both of which are deteriorating air quality, dust travelling from West Asia appears to be adding to Mumbaikars’ woes. A dust storm originating in Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan is exacerbating the city’s already poor air quality, resulting in haze and low visibility. Experts note that a similar phenomenon occurred thrice in 2022, each time worsening the city’s air quality. Check that medicine again: Probe reveals how fake companies are flooding market with ineffective tablets with no active pharmaceutical ingredient Investigations into the multi-crore spurious drug racket—where fake medicines worth R185 crore were seized in Thane over last few months—have revealed a shocking fact: medicines supplied to government hospitals in Nagpur lacked Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), the key component that makes medicines effective. Without API, these drugs cannot cure patients. However, Food and Drug Authority (FDA) labs only screen for API and do not analyse other ingredients, FDA officials citied workload constraints as the reason behind it. India let it slip! Having fought their way back into the fourth Test in spectacular style, India made a clutch of schoolboy errors to allow Australia to grab the initiative at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. Mohanlal: I never stop feeding the excited kid in me What inspires one of the country’s biggest superstars to direct a children’s movie? That is where we begin our conversation with Mohanlal, as his new drama, Barroz, hits theatres across the country. “Children are increasingly drawn to screens, be it to participate in games, watch videos, or scroll through social media content. [This consumption] comes at the cost of the outdoor activities that were once a staple part of people’s childhood. Children would climb trees, play in the fields, tell stories, and explore their creativity in ways that shaped their understanding of the world. Today, those moments of wonder and connection are becoming rare. So, I thought we should do something for children,” he says of his directorial debut that is being widely dubbed as a visual spectacle.

DULUTH, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 30, 2024-- Primerica, Inc. (NYSE: PRI), a leading provider of financial services and products in the United States and Canada, announced today the release of the Primerica Household Budget IndexTM (HBITM), a monthly index illustrating the purchasing power of middle-income households with income between $30,000 and $130,000. In November 2024, the average purchasing power for middle-income families was 103.6%, up from 103.1% in October 2024. This marks the seventh consecutive month purchasing power rose for middle-income families. Spending power is at its highest level since January 2021 and is up 2.8% from a year ago. The recent recovery is driven primarily by gas prices continuing to fall in November while the cost of other necessity goods remained steady. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241229899335/en/ Primerica Household Budget IndexTM - In November 2024, the average purchasing power for middle-income families was 103.6%, up from 103.1% in October 2024. This marks the seventh consecutive month purchasing power rose for middle-income families. Spending power is at its highest level since January 2021 and is up 2.8% from a year ago. For more information on the Primerica Household Budget IndexTM, visit www.householdbudgetindex.com . About the Primerica Household Budget IndexTM (HBITM) The Primerica Household Budget IndexTM (HBITM) is constructed monthly on behalf of Primerica by its chief economic consultant Amy Crews Cutts, PhD, CBE®. The index measures the purchasing power of middle-income families with household incomes from $30,000 to $130,000 and is developed using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Bureau of the Census, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. The index looks at the cost of necessities including food, gas, utilities, and health care and earned income to track differences in inflation and wage growth. The HBITM is presented as a percentage. If the index is above 100%, the purchasing power of middle-income families is stronger than in the baseline period and they may have extra money left over at the end of the month that can be applied to things like entertainment, extra savings, or debt reduction. If it is under 100%, households may have to reduce overall spending to levels below budget, reduce their savings or increase debt to cover expenses. The HBITM uses January 2019 as its baseline. This point in time reflects a recent “normal” economic time prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Periodically, prior HBITM values may be revised due to revisions in the CPI series and Consumer Expenditure Survey releases by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Beginning with the October 2023 release of the HBITM data, health insurance costs will no longer be included in the calculation of the HBITM data as part of the healthcare component because of some newly acknowledged methodology that has been used by the BLS to calculate the health insurance CPI. The health insurance CPI, as calculated by BLS, does not measure consumer costs of health insurance such as the cost of premiums paid or a combination of premiums and deductibles, but rather premium values retained by health insurers. We do not believe it accurately reflects consumer experiences. The healthcare component will continue to include medical services, prescription drugs and equipment. Prior published values have been adjusted to reflect this change. For more information visit householdbudgetindex.com . About Primerica, Inc. Primerica, Inc., headquartered in Duluth, GA, is a leading provider of financial products and services to middle-income households in North America. Independent licensed representatives educate Primerica clients about how to better prepare for a more secure financial future by assessing their needs and providing appropriate solutions through term life insurance, which we underwrite, and mutual funds, annuities and other financial products, which we distribute primarily on behalf of third parties. We insured approximately 5.7 million lives and had approximately 2.9 million client investment accounts on December 31, 2023. Primerica, through its insurance company subsidiaries, was the #2 issuer of Term Life insurance coverage in the United States and Canada in 2023. Primerica stock is included in the S&P MidCap 400 and the Russell 1000 stock indices and is traded on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PRI”. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241229899335/en/ CONTACT: Public Relations Gana Ahn, 678-431-9266 gana.ahn@primerica.comInvestor Relations Nicole Russell, 470-564-6663 nicole.russell@primerica.com KEYWORD: GEORGIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: FAMILY PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONSUMER WOMEN INSURANCE FINANCE MEN SOURCE: Primerica, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/30/2024 12:00 AM/DISC: 12/30/2024 12:01 AM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241229899335/en

New On The Block Starbucks SBUX is looking to sell a stake in its Chinese operations. Same-store sales in China fell 14% last quarter, with the Seattle-based coffee retailer seeking partnerships to adapt to tough economic and competitive pressures . Bankruptcy Block Snack producer Hearthside Food Solutions went bankrupt. The private equity-owned company looks to offload the $1.9 billion in debt accumulated under the ownership of Partners Group Holding AG and Charlesbank Capital Partners . The two firms bought Hearthside for more than $2.4 billion. Assets and liabilities hover between $1 billion and $10 billion. Last year, bankrupt private equity portfolio companies in the U.S. outpaced the number of bankruptcies in 2020 . It remains to be seen whether 2024 will be worse. Northvolt filed for bankruptcy with debt of $5.8 billion. Recall how the Swedish battery maker, which supplies Volkswagen AG VWAGY and Bayerische Motoren Werke AG BMWYY , bargained with banks to raise debt last year . Now, it’s hoping to restructure under U.S. Chapter 11. See Also: Benzinga Bulls And Bears: Tesla, Disney, Gold — And Hedge Funds Project Bitcoin To Hit $100K-$150K Updates From The Block Google ‘s $2-billion investment in Anthropic is in jeopardy, according to Bloomberg . Anthropic is a Jeff Bezos -backed rival to artificial intelligence (AI) innovator OpenAI . The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recommended in a court filing Wednesday that Alphabet Inc ‘s GOOG GOOGL Google divest its Chrome browser to dismantle its monopoly on online search. It doesn’t end there. Google should be barred from doing any deals with companies that control where consumers search for information, regulators say. That includes AI products . Ricky Williams ‘ Highsman merges with hemp brand Frozen Fields , forming Top Seed Inc . The partnership blends cannabis and hemp sectors, leveraging R&D to enhance products and control supply chains . MakeMyTrip acquires Happay from CRED . The deal is expected to enhance corporate travel and expense management solutions in India. Happay’s team will integrate with MakeMyTrip, supporting over 900 clients post-acquisition . Amcor plc AMCR and Berry Global Group, Inc. BERY agreed to merge in an all-stock transaction, with the deal valuing Berry stock at $73.59 per share . Nippon Steel NISTF executives have traveled to Pennsylvania to garner support for their $15 billion acquisition bid for U.S. Steel X . The Japanese steel giant is encountering political resistance in Washington. Takahiro Mori , vice-chair of Nippon Steel, arrived in Pittsburgh on Saturday to advocate for the acquisition. The deal faces opposition from both President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump , who prefer U.S. Steel to remain under American ownership . Notes From The Block Joshua Robinson , co-founder of Darwin Financial Company , announced a $55-million financing deal with INYOAG LLC . The funds will help develop a solar-powered mine in Inyo County, California where there are proven reserves of silver, lead, zinc, tungsten, and copper. Here’s our conversation with Robinson: Robinson : The deal structure is a $55M project financing package split into three components: $17.5 million and $12.5 million in six-year notes tied to sulfide and oxide production respectively, plus a $20-million conditional equity commitment that only triggers if the mine hits $10 million in monthly revenue. We get 17% of gross revenues from both production tracks, structured through secure lockbox arrangements. It’s not a straight equity investment, we specifically designed it this way to provide further upside exposure. Yes, we’ve deliberately structured this to create multiple layers of upside potential, which is pretty unique in the mining space. We’ve created a hybrid model that offers both near-term cash flow from production and significant expansion potential. We’re already seeing interest from established mining players, but we’re particularly excited about bringing new investors into the space who understand the strategic value of critical minerals. China’s recent actions really highlight the urgency here. They’ve already implemented export controls on germanium and gallium, and just added antimony to that list. This isn’t theoretical anymore, it’s actively happening. We need to build regional resilience in our supply chains, particularly for these minerals that are crucial for defense and technology. The Darwin Mine gives us a unique opportunity to establish a domestic source for multiple critical minerals in a single asset, which is rare to find. The 100MW facility wouldn’t just power the mine. It would generate significant excess clean energy that we can sell back to the grid. What’s particularly interesting is that we can develop utility-scale energy storage systems using minerals we’re already producing. It creates a virtuous cycle where our mining operations directly support clean energy deployment For 2025, our key goals are reaching 300 tons per day on sulfide production within six months and 200 tons per day on oxide within nine months of funding. That puts us at $ 10 million in monthly revenue, which then triggers the deeper mine development program. For last week’s Deal Dispatch, click here . Now Read: Nvidia Rides AI Wave To Replace Intel On Dow Jones Industrial Average, Ending Its 25-Year Run Image: Benzinga © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.