Police hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's masked killer after 'brazen, targeted' attack on NYC streetStrengthening Economic Ties: India and Sri Lanka’s Path to Recovery

SMU owns second half in win over Longwood

Wall Street stocks finished a low-key session little changed on Thursday as US Treasury bond yields retreated and a report pointed to higher holiday retail sales. Holiday consumer data showed a 3.8-percent increase in US retail spending from November 1 to December 24, according to a Mastercard SpendingPulse review of a key period for retailers. "Solid spending during this holiday season underscores the strength we observed from the consumer all year," said Michelle Meyer, chief economist for the Mastercard Economics Institute. Equities veered in and out of positive territory throughout the post-Christmas trading round when several overseas bourses were closed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 0.1 percent at 43,325. The broad-based S&P 500 slipped less than 0.1 percent to 6,037, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index dipped 0.1 percent to 20,020. Large technology companies that have led the market in much of 2024 mostly took a breather. These included Netflix, Tesla and Amazon, all of which declined. Among individual companies, United States Steel fell 3.0 percent after would-be acquirer Nippon Steel of Japan pushed back the time-frame of its targeted acquisition to the first quarter of 2025 from the fourth quarter of 2024. The move came after a US government panel could not reach consensus on whether the transaction harmed US national security, pushing the decision to President Joe Biden, who has criticized the takeover. (AFP)

Speeding Ticket KC Traffic Law Firm: Introducing Modern Solutions with a Personal Touch 12-13-2024 09:30 PM CET | Associations & Organizations Press release from: ABNewswire Kansas City, Missouri - In today's fast-paced digital world, Speeding Ticket KC Traffic Law Firm [ https://speedingticketkc.com/]is redefining the traditional approach to traffic law. Serving Kansas City, Missouri, and beyond, the firm combines modern technology with an old-fashioned commitment to personalized client service. At the heart of this innovative law firm is Chris Simons, a dedicated local traffic attorney [ https://speedingticketkc.com/ ] who personally handles each case from start to finish. Clients can rest assured knowing they'll receive direct, individualized support, including access to Simons' personal cell phone number and email. This unique approach ensures that every client feels heard, valued, and supported throughout their legal journey. Image: https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXe4icB0LJmdaFzPACWmjTLlYWkVRmfFeZy_Yb-wST1gmrVsWLkrbOPQvBBdT2cJFKW4fWPukyup3W7AHUOP3SCPEpsryWXyoSsFEIPaL4ervWgnESGNE5NixsC5i_y6aOUjJQoo?key=tsV_abrnlyHr4XNvzYIreJ5h Effortless Traffic Violation Solutions With a focus on convenience, Speeding Ticket KC has created a seamless electronic process to handle basic traffic matters. Whether it's a speeding ticket or another common traffic issue, clients can address their legal concerns without ever leaving the comfort of their homes. "Our goal is to make handling traffic violations as stress-free and straightforward as possible. We understand how busy life can get, and our electronic system is designed to save clients time and hassle while maintaining the high level of service they deserve." The process is simple: * Submit Your Ticket: Clients can upload their traffic tickets directly through the firm's website. * Consultation: Chris Simons reviews each case, offering honest, straightforward advice tailored to the client's unique situation. * Resolution: The firm works diligently to resolve traffic issues quickly and effectively, striving for outcomes that minimize impact on clients' driving records. Old-Fashioned Service in a Digital Era While technology plays a significant role in Speeding Ticket KC's operations, the firm has retained a traditional emphasis on personal interaction. Simons believes that trust and communication are critical to client satisfaction. Unlike larger firms where clients may feel like just another case number, Speeding Ticket KC prides itself on offering a boutique experience. Simons takes the time to answer questions, address concerns, and provide clarity at every step of the process. We believe that Clients deserve a real connection with their attorney. That's why I make myself personally available to every client. Whether it's via email or a direct phone call, I'm here to help. Serving Kansas City and Beyond Based in Kansas City, Missouri, Speeding Ticket KC Traffic Law Firm [ https://speedingticketkc.com/about-us/ ] serves clients across the region and beyond. Whether you're a local resident or an out-of-state driver passing through, the firm is equipped to handle your traffic law needs with professionalism and care. Contact Speeding Ticket KC Traffic Law Firm For anyone seeking reliable, efficient traffic law representation, Speeding Ticket KC Traffic Law Firm is here to help. * Website: speedingticketkc.com [ https://speedingticketkc.com/ ] * Email: Info@speedingticketkc.com Let Speeding Ticket KC take the stress out of your traffic law concerns. About Speeding Ticket KC Traffic Law Firm Speeding Ticket KC Traffic Law Firm is a modern legal service provider specializing in traffic violations. Founded by traffic attorney Chris Simons, the firm combines digital efficiency with a personalized approach to deliver exceptional client service. From minor traffic infractions to complex cases, Speeding Ticket KC is committed to protecting clients' rights while making the legal process as straightforward as possible. Media Contact Company Name: Speeding Ticket KC Traffic Law Firm Contact Person: Christopher Simons Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=speeding-ticket-kc-traffic-law-firm-introducing-modern-solutions-with-a-personal-touch ] Country: United States Website: https://speedingticketkc.com/ This release was published on openPR.

Hunter, Jeanty give Heisman ceremony a different vibeEVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Tayshawn Comer scored 18 points as Evansville beat Campbell 66-53 on Sunday night. Comer had six rebounds and six assists for the Purple Aces (3-4). Cameron Haffner scored 16 points and added six rebounds. Gabriel Pozzato shot 3 for 5, including 2 for 3 from beyond the arc to finish with 10 points. Jasin Sinani led the way for the Fighting Camels (3-4) with 22 points. Colby Duggan added 11 points and Nolan Dorsey totaled eight points, seven rebounds and four steals. Evansville took the lead with 1:45 left in the first half and never looked back. The score was 34-28 at halftime, with Haffner racking up eight points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

NoneSouth Korea's acting president faces impeachment vote as court meets on martial law case

Seeman, former actor, director and current Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) Chief met superstar Rajinikanth in Chennai sparking news about a potential political collaboration. The visit is said to have lasted for an hour, and it is speculated that the two discussed about politics in the state. However, Seeman tends to disagree with the rumors. Seeman talks about meeting Rajinikanth Talking to a Tamil news channel, Seeman said the purpose of his visit was just to have a friendly chat, where they discussed about each other's well-being. He stated that it is always a pleasure meeting Rajinikanth as he is highly successful in the film industry, and has close connections with many political figures. Rajinikanth was once heavily criticised by Seeman when he wanted to enter politics. When asked why he criticised Rajinikanth's political ambition, he said "Politics is a harsh and unforgiving field, one must endure criticism and insults. In today’s climate, it is especially challenging for honest individuals to thrive in politics.” About Rajinikanth's future films Rajinikanth is currently working on Coolie, action thriller directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Kalanithi Maran's Sun Pictures. The film stars Rajinikanth in the lead role, alongside Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Shruti Haasan and Sathyaraj in key roles. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Tamil, Entertainment News and around the world.Major stock indexes on Wall Street drifted to a mixed finish Friday, capping a rare bumpy week for the market. The S&P 500 ended essentially flat, down less than 0.1%, after wavering between tiny gains and losses most of the day. The benchmark index posted a loss for the week, its first after three straight weekly gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.1%, ending just below the record high it set on Wednesday. There were more than twice as many decliners than gainers on the New York Stock Exchange. Gains in technology stocks helped temper losses in communication services, financials and other sectors of the market. Broadcom surged 24.4% for the biggest gain in the S&P 500 after the semiconductor company beat Wall Street’s profit targets and gave a glowing forecast, highlighting its artificial intelligence products. The company also raised its dividend. The company's big gain helped cushion the market's broader fall. Pricey stock values for technology companies like Broadcom give the sector more weight in pushing the market higher or lower. Artificial intelligence technology has been a focal point for the technology sector and the overall stock market over the last year. Tech companies, and Wall Street, expect demand for AI to continue driving growth for semiconductor and other technology companies. Some tech stocks were a drag on the market. Nvidia fell 2.2%, Meta Platforms dropped 1.7% and Google parent Alphabet slid 1.1%. Among the market's other decliners were Airbnb, which fell 4.7% for the biggest loss in the S&P 500, and Charles Schwab, which closed 4% lower. Furniture and housewares company RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, surged 17% after raising its forecast for revenue growth for the year. All told, the S&P 500 lost 0.16 points to close at 6,051.09. The Dow dropped 86.06 points to 43,828.06. The Nasdaq rose 23.88 points to 19,926.72. Wall Street's rally stalled this week amid mixed economic reports and ahead of the Federal Reserve's last meeting of the year. The central bank will meet next week and is widely expected to cut interest rates for a third time since September. Expectations of a series of rate cuts has driven the S&P 500 to 57 all-time highs so far this year . The Fed has been lowering its benchmark interest rate following an aggressive rate hiking policy that was meant to tame inflation. It raised rates from near-zero in early 2022 to a two-decade high by the middle of 2023. Inflation eased under pressure from higher interest rates, nearly to the central bank's 2% target. The economy, including consumer spending and employment, held strong despite the squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. A slowing job market, though, has helped push a long-awaited reversal of the Fed's policy. Inflation rates have been warming up slightly over the last few months. A report on consumer prices this week showed an increase to 2.7% in November from 2.6% in October. The Fed's preferred measure of inflation, the personal consumption expenditures index, will be released next week. Wall Street expects it to show a 2.5% rise in November, up from 2.3% in October. The economy, though, remains solid heading into 2025 as consumers continue spending and employment remains healthy, said Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY. “Still, the outlook is clouded by unusually high uncertainty surrounding regulatory, immigration, trade and tax policy,” he said. Treasury yields edged higher. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.40% from 4.34% late Thursday. European markets slipped. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.1%. Britain’s economy unexpectedly shrank by 0.1% month-on-month in October, following a 0.1% decline in September, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. Asian markets closed mostly lower.

Donald Trump Jr’s friends worried about ‘social climbing’ new girlfriend: reportTCU's TD barrage breaks open tight game vs. Arizona

NEW YORK — Same iconic statue, very different race. With two-way star Travis Hunter of Colorado and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty leading the field, these certainly aren't your typical Heisman Trophy contenders. Sure, veteran quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel from top-ranked Oregon and Cam Ward of No. 15 Miami are finalists for college football's most prestigious award as well, but the 90th annual ceremony coming up Saturday night at Lincoln Center in New York City offers a fresh flavor this year. To start with, none of the four are from the powerhouse Southeastern Conference, which has produced four of the past five Heisman winners — two each from Alabama and LSU. Jeanty, who played his home games for a Group of Five team on that peculiar blue turf in Idaho more than 2,100 miles from Manhattan, is the first running back even invited to the Heisman party since 2017. After leading the country with 2,497 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns, he joined quarterback Kellen Moore (2010) as the only Boise State players to be named a finalist. People are also reading... "The running back position has been overlooked for a while now," said Jeanty, who plans to enter the 2025 NFL draft. "There's been a lot of great running backs before me that should have been here in New York, so to kind of carry on the legacy of the running back position I think is great. ... I feel as if I'm representing the whole position." With the votes already in, all four finalists spent Friday conducting interviews and sightseeing in the Big Apple. They were given custom, commemorative watches to mark their achievement. "I'm not a watch guy, but I like it," said Hunter, flashing a smile. The players also took photos beneath the massive billboards in Times Square and later posed with the famous Heisman Trophy, handed out since 1935 to the nation's most outstanding performer. Hunter, the heavy favorite, made sure not to touch it yet. A dominant player on both offense and defense who rarely comes off the field, the wide receiver/cornerback is a throwback to generations gone by and the first full-time, true two-way star in decades. On offense, he had 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns this season to help the 20th-ranked Buffaloes (9-3) earn their first bowl bid in four years. On defense, he made four interceptions, broke up 11 passes and forced a critical fumble that secured an overtime victory against Baylor. Hunter played 688 defensive snaps and 672 more on offense — the only Power Four conference player with 30-plus snaps on both sides of the ball, according to Colorado research. Call him college football's answer to baseball unicorn Shohei Ohtani. "I think I laid the ground for more people to come in and go two ways," Hunter said. "It starts with your mindset. If you believe you can do it, then you'll be able to do it. And also, I do a lot of treatment. I keep up with my body. I get a lot of recovery." Hunter is Colorado's first Heisman finalist in 30 years. The junior from Suwanee, Georgia, followed flashy coach Deion Sanders from Jackson State, an HBCU that plays in the lower level FCS, to the Rocky Mountains and has already racked up a staggering combination of accolades this week, including The Associated Press player of the year. Hunter also won the Walter Camp Award as national player of the year, along with the Chuck Bednarik Award as the top defensive player and the Biletnikoff Award for best wide receiver. "It just goes to show that I did what I had to do," Hunter said. Next, he'd like to polish off his impressive hardware collection by becoming the second Heisman Trophy recipient in Buffaloes history, after late running back Rashaan Salaam in 1994. "I worked so hard for this moment, so securing the Heisman definitely would set my legacy in college football," Hunter said. "Being here now is like a dream come true." Jeanty carried No. 8 Boise State (12-1) to a Mountain West Conference championship that landed the Broncos the third seed in this year's College Football Playoff. They have a first-round bye before facing the SMU-Penn State winner in the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal on New Year's Eve. The 5-foot-9, 215-pound junior from Jacksonville, Florida, won the Maxwell Award as college football's top player and the Doak Walker Award for best running back. Jeanty has five touchdown runs of at least 70 yards and has rushed for the fourth-most yards in a season in FBS history — topping the total of 115 teams this year. He needs 132 yards to break the FBS record set by Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders at Oklahoma State in 1988. In a pass-happy era, however, Jeanty is trying to become the first running back to win the Heisman Trophy since Derrick Henry for Alabama nine years ago. In fact, quarterbacks have snagged the prize all but four times this century. Gabriel, an Oklahoma transfer, led Oregon (13-0) to a Big Ten title in its first season in the league and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. The steady senior from Hawaii passed for 3,558 yards and 28 touchdowns with six interceptions. His 73.2% completion rate ranks second in the nation, and he's attempting to join quarterback Marcus Mariota (2014) as Ducks players to win the Heisman Trophy. "I think all the memories start to roll back in your mind," Gabriel said. Ward threw for 4,123 yards and led the nation with a school-record 36 touchdown passes for the high-scoring Hurricanes (10-2) after transferring from Washington State. The senior from West Columbia, Texas, won the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback of the Year award and is looking to join QBs Vinny Testaverde (1986) and Gino Torretta (1992) as Miami players to go home with the Heisman. "I just think there's a recklessness that you have to play with at the quarterback position," Ward said. 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Israel says rabbi who went missing in the UAE was killed. The government arrests 3Manmohan Singh, the former Indian prime minister whose economic reforms made his country a global powerhouse, has died at the age of 92, current leader Narendra Modi said on Thursday. India "mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders," Modi posted on social media platform X shortly after news broke of Singh's passing. "As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people's lives." Singh was taken to a hospital in New Delhi after he lost consciousness at his home on Thursday, but could not be resuscitated and was pronounced dead at 9:51 pm local time, according to a statement by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Singh, who held office from 2004 to 2014, is credited with having overseen an economic boom in Asia's fourth-largest economy in his first term, although slowing growth in later years marred his second stint. "I have lost a mentor and guide," opposition Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a statement, adding that Singh had "led India with immense wisdom and integrity." "Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride," said Gandhi, a scion of India's powerful Nehru-Gandhi dynasty and the most prominent challenger to Modi. Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the opposition in parliament's upper house, said "India has lost a visionary statesman, a leader of unimpeachable integrity, and an economist of unparalleled stature." President Droupadi Murmu wrote on X that Singh will "always be remembered for his service to the nation, his unblemished political life and his utmost humility." Born in 1932 in the mud-house village of Gah in what is now Pakistan, Singh studied economics to find a way to eradicate poverty in India and never held elected office before taking the vast nation's top job. He won scholarships to attend both Cambridge, where he obtained a first in economics, and Oxford, where he completed his PhD. Singh worked in a string of senior civil posts, served as a central bank governor and also held various jobs with global agencies including the United Nations. He was tapped in 1991 by then Congress prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao to reel India back from the worst financial crisis in its modern history. In his first term Singh steered the economy through a period of nine-percent growth, lending India the international clout it had long sought. (AFP)I Tested Camp Snap's Screen-Free Camera (and It's the Perfect Under-$100 Gift!)

Blues supporters also sang the name of head coach Maresca during the closing stages of an emphatic success sealed by goals from Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer and substitute Jadon Sancho. Bottom club Southampton briefly levelled through Joe Aribo but were a man down from the 39th minute after captain Jack Stephens was sent off for pulling the hair of Marc Cucurella. Chelsea, who have endured an underwhelming period since Todd Boehly’s consortium bought the club in 2022, climbed above Arsenal and into second place on goal difference, seven points behind leaders Liverpool. “It was a very good feeling, especially because you can see that they are happy, that is our target,” Maresca said of the atmosphere in the away end. “We work every day to keep them happy and tonight was a very good feeling, especially the one that they can see that Chelsea’s back. This is an important thing.” Maresca rotated his squad in Hampshire, making seven changes following Sunday’s impressive 3-0 win over Aston Villa. Following a sloppy start, his side, who stretched their unbeaten run to six top-flight games, could easily have won by more as they hit the woodwork three times, in addition to squandering a host of chances. “I’m very happy with the five we scored,” said the Italian. “I’m not happy with the first 15, 20 minutes, where we struggled. The reason why we struggled is because we prepared the game to press them man to man and the first 15, 20 minutes we were not pressing them man to man. “After 15, 20 minutes we adjust that and the game was much better. For sure we could score more but five goals they are enough.” Southampton manager Russell Martin rued a costly “moment of madness” from skipper Stephens. The defender’s ridiculous red card was the headline mistake of a catalogue of errors from the beleaguered south-coast club as they slipped seven points from safety following an 11th defeat of a dismal season. “I don’t think anyone will be as disappointed as Jack,” Martin said of Stephens, who was sent off for the second time this term after tugging the curls of Cucurella as Saints prepared to take a corner. “I haven’t got to sit down and talk with him about that at all. He will be hurt more than anyone and it’s changed the game for us tonight, which is disappointing. “I think they have to describe it as violent conduct; it’s not violent really but there’s no other explanation for that really. It’s a moment of madness that’s really cost us and Jack.” Southampton repeatedly invited pressure with their risky attempts to play out from defence, with goalkeeper Joe Lumley gifting Chelsea their second goal, scored by Nkunku. While Saints were booed off at full-time, Martin, who was missing a host of key players due to injuries and suspensions, praised the effort of his depleted team. “When they see such a big scoreline and a couple of the goals we concede, I understand it (the jeers),” he said. “It’s football, it’s emotive, people feel so much about it, it’s why it’s such a special sport in this country and so big. “I understand it but I feel really proud of the players tonight, some of the football we played at 11 v 11 was amazing. “For an hour with 10 men we’ve dug in so deep, there were some big performances. I’m proud of them for that and I’m grateful for that because that’s not easy in that circumstance.”How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Stock market today: Wall Street drifts to a mixed close in thin trading following a holiday pause Stock indexes drifted to a mixed finish on Wall Street as some heavyweight technology and communications sector stocks offset gains elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 slipped less than 0.1% Thursday, its first loss after three straight gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Gains by retailers and health care stocks helped temper the losses. Trading volume was lighter than usual as U.S. markets reopened following the Christmas holiday. The Labor Department reported that U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years. Treasury yields fell in the bond market. Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment on Thursday took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military later said it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. Holiday shoppers increased spending by 3.8% despite higher prices New data shows holiday sales rose this year even as Americans wrestled with still high prices in many grocery necessities and other financial worries. According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, holiday sales from the beginning of November through Christmas Eve climbed 3.8%, a faster pace than the 3.1% increase from a year earlier. The measure tracks all kinds of payments including cash and debit cards. This year, retailers were even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there were five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Mastercard SpendingPulse says the last five days of the season accounted for 10% of the spending. Sales of clothing, electronics and Jewelry rose. Finland stops Russia-linked vessel over damaged undersea power cable in Baltic Sea FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Finnish police say authorities detained a ship linked to neighboring Russia as they investigate whether it damaged a Baltic Sea power cable and several data cables. It was the latest incident involving disruption of key infrastructure. Police and border guards boarded the Eagle S and took control as they investigate damage to the Estlink-2 undersea power cable. The cable brings electricity from Finland to Estonia across the Baltic Sea. The cable went down on Wednesday. The incident follows damage to two data cables and the Nord Stream gas pipelines. Both have been termed sabotage. Russian ship that sank in the Mediterranean was attacked, owner says MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian operator of a cargo ship that sank in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria says it has been hit by a series of explosions in an act of sabotage. Oboronlogistica is a state-controlled company that operated the Ursa Major freighter. The company said the vessel was wrecked by three powerful explosions just above the water line in what it described as a “terrorist attack” that caused it to sink on Monday. The company said in a statement carried by Russia’s state RIA Novosti news agency on Thursday that the explosions left a hole in the ship’s starboard and filled the engine room with acrid smoke. That hampered the crew’s attempts to access it. Undersea power cable linking Finland and Estonia hit by outage, prompting investigation FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Finland’s prime minister says authorities are investigating an interruption in a power cable under the Baltic Sea between his country and Estonia. Petteri Orpo said on X that power transmission through the Estlink-2 cable suffered an outage Wednesday. Authorities have been on edge about undersea infrastructure in the Baltic after two international data cables were severed in November and the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Germany were blown up in September 2022. Japan to maximize nuclear power in clean-energy push as electricity demand grows TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese government panel has largely supported a draft energy policy calling for bolstering renewables up to half of Japanese electricity needs by 2040. It also recommends maximizing the use of nuclear power to accommodate the growing demand for power in the era of AI while meeting decarbonization targets. Cabinet is expected to formally approve the plan by March following a period of public consultation. The policy says nuclear energy should account for 20% of Japan’s energy supply in 2040, with renewables expanded to 40-50% and coal-fired power reduced to 30-40%. Working Well: Returning to the office can disrupt life. Here are some tips to navigate the changes NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of workers are facing an unsettling reality heading into 2025. After years of working from the comfort of home, they're being told it’s time to return to the office full-time for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic. That can bring a host of challenges, including losing time with family. Workers at Amazon, AT&T and other companies have been called back to the office five days a week. Experts have advice to share about how to navigate the changes when an employer calls you back to the office. Workers can convey what they need, seek flexibility and if all else fails, consider other options. US applications for unemployment benefits hold steady, but continuing claims rise to 3-year high WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years. The US Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claim applications ticked down by 1,000 to 219,000 for the week of Dec. 21. That’s fewer than the 223,000 analysts forecast. Continuing claims, the total number of Americans collecting jobless benefits, climbed by 46,000 to 1.91 million for the week of Dec. 14. That’s more than analysts projected and the most since the week of Nov. 13, 2021. Weekly applications for jobless benefits are considered representative of U.S. layoffs.

Key Leadership Appointments Bring New Skills and Capabilities to Organization EMERYVILLE, Calif. , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kyverna Therapeutics, Inc. (Kyverna), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing cell therapies for patients with autoimmune diseases, announced the recent appointments of Dan Maziasz as Chief Business Officer, Cara Bauer as Chief Human Resources Officer, and Tracy Rossin as Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Communications and Investor Relations. "I'm pleased to welcome three industry leaders to our Kyverna team," said Warner Biddle , Chief Executive Officer of Kyverna. "Dan, Cara and Tracy bring important new skills and capabilities to Kyverna as we continue to support the company's next phase of growth and work to bring a transformative change to patients living with severe autoimmune diseases." Mr. Maziasz brings over 25 years of leadership and business experience across several leading biotechnology and large pharmaceutical companies. Mr. Maziasz most recently served as Chief Business Officer at Atara Biotherapeutics, the first company in the world to receive regulatory approval of an allogeneic T-cell immunotherapy. At Atara, Mr. Maziasz led various corporate initiatives including strategic planning, licensing transactions with industry partners, and research collaborations with academic groups. Before his time at Atara, Mr. Maziasz was Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Business Development at Kite Pharma, a global cell therapy leader, prior to its acquisition by Gilead Sciences. Mr. Maziasz also spent more than a decade at Amgen, where he held roles of increasing responsibility in the US, Europe , and Asia across business development, corporate strategy, finance, and commercial functions. Ms. Bauer brings more than 25 years of experience in global human resources leadership to Kyverna, having served most recently as Global Head of Human Resources at Kite, a Gilead Company, where she oversaw all HR strategy and operations during a period of hypergrowth and global expansion which strengthened the company's leadership position in cell therapy. Prior to this role, she served as the Global Head of HR for the Entertainment Division at Riot Games where she worked directly with the founders to build an Entertainment Studio separate from the core gaming business. Ms. Bauer has also held various HR leadership roles at companies such as Netflix, Amgen, Gartner and Novo Nordisk. Ms. Rossin brings more than 20 years of strategic communications experience to Kyverna, having most recently served as the Head of Public Affairs at Kite, where she was responsible for leading corporate, product and employee communications in addition to patient advocacy. Prior to this role, she served as Vice President, Global Head of Communications at Innate Pharma, an oncology-focused biotech company, where she led both corporate and financial communications. Ms. Rossin also spent more than 12 years at AstraZeneca/MedImmune, where she held multiple U.S. and global communications roles for key therapeutic areas across AstraZeneca's portfolio before serving as the Head of Corporate Affairs at MedImmune, the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca. Before joining AstraZeneca, she held various positions at global public relations agencies working with corporate and healthcare related clients. Inducement Grant In connection with the appointment of Mr. Maziasz as Kyverna's Chief Business Officer, on December 9, 2024 , Kyverna granted Mr. Maziasz an option to purchase 350,000 shares of its common stock (Option). The Option was granted pursuant to the Kyverna Therapeutics, Inc. 2024 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan, as approved by the Compensation Committee of Kyverna's Board of Directors on September 14, 2024 , and was granted as an inducement material to Mr. Maziasz's employment with Kyverna in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The exercise price of the Option was $4.86 , the closing price of Kyverna's common stock on December 9, 2024 , the date of grant. The Option will vest over four years, with 25% of the total number of shares subject to the Option vesting on the one-year anniversary of Mr. Maziasz's appointment and 1/48th of the total number of shares subject to the Option vesting monthly thereafter, subject in each case to Mr. Maziasz's continued service to Kyverna on each vesting date. Kyverna is providing this information in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). About Kyverna Therapeutics Kyverna Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: KYTX) is a patient-centered, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing cell therapies for patients suffering from autoimmune diseases. Our lead CAR T-cell therapy candidate, KYV-101 is advancing through clinical development with sponsored clinical trials across two broad areas of autoimmune disease: rheumatology and neurology, including Phase 2 trials for stiff-person syndrome, multiple sclerosis and myasthenia gravis, a Phase 1/2 trial for systemic sclerosis, and two ongoing multi-center Phase 1/2 trials in the United States and Germany for patients with lupus nephritis. Kyverna's pipeline includes next-generation CAR T-cell therapies in both autologous and allogeneic formats with properties intended to be well suited for use in B cell-driven autoimmune diseases. For more information, please visit https://kyvernatx.com . Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute "forward-looking statements." The words, without limitation, "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "will," "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these or similar identifying words. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, those related to: the potential impact of the clinical outcomes from the ongoing clinical programs; the potential impact of the new data on the treatment efficacy and safety profile of KYV-101; the potential that the results of the ongoing trials could drastically change the treatment landscape for the targeted autoimmune diseases; Kyverna's goals to develop certain paradigm-shifting treatment options; the potential for KYV-101 to provide durable, immunosuppressant-free remission for autoimmune disease patients; Kyverna's beliefs about the differentiated properties of KYV-101; and Kyverna's clinical trials, investigator-initiated trials and named-patient activities. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: uncertainties related to market conditions, and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of Kyverna's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q that Kyverna has filed or may subsequently file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on the current expectations of Kyverna's management team and speak only as of the date hereof, and Kyverna specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 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