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The team that President-elect Donald Trump has selected to lead federal health agencies in his second administration includes a retired congressman, a surgeon and a former talk-show host. All could play pivotal roles in fulfilling a political agenda that could change how the government goes about safeguarding Americans' health — from health care and medicines to food safety and science research. In line to lead the Department of Health and Human Services secretary is environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine organizer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Trump's choices don't have experience running large bureaucratic agencies, but they know how to talk about health on TV . Centers for Medicare and Medicaid pick Dr. Mehmet Oz hosted a talk show for 13 years and is a well-known wellness and lifestyle influencer. The pick for the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Marty Makary, and for surgeon general, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, are frequent Fox News contributors. Many on the list were critical of COVID-19 measures like masking and booster vaccinations for young people. Some of them have ties to Florida like many of Trump's other Cabinet nominees: Dave Weldon , the pick for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, represented the state in Congress for 14 years and is affiliated with a medical group on the state's Atlantic coast. Nesheiwat's brother-in-law is Rep. Mike Waltz , R-Fla., tapped by Trump as national security adviser. Here's a look at the nominees' potential role in carrying out what Kennedy says is the task to “reorganize” agencies, which have an overall $1.7 trillion budget, employ 80,000 scientists, researchers, doctors and other officials, and effect Americans' daily lives: The Atlanta-based CDC, with a $9.2 billion core budget, is charged with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats. Kennedy has long attacked vaccines and criticized the CDC, repeatedly alleging corruption at the agency. He said on a 2023 podcast that there is "no vaccine that is safe and effective,” and urged people to resist the CDC's guidelines about if and when kids should get vaccinated . The World Health Organization estimates that vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives over the past 50 years, and that 100 million of them were infants. Decades ago, Kennedy found common ground with Weldon , 71, who served in the Army and worked as an internal medicine doctor before he represented a central Florida congressional district from 1995 to 2009. Starting in the early 2000s, Weldon had a prominent part in a debate about whether there was a relationship between a vaccine preservative called thimerosal and autism. He was a founding member of the Congressional Autism Caucus and tried to ban thimerosal from all vaccines. Kennedy, then a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, believed there was a tie between thimerosal and autism and also charged that the government hid documents showing the danger. Since 2001, all vaccines manufactured for the U.S. market and routinely recommended for children 6 years or younger have contained no thimerosal or only trace amounts, with the exception of inactivated influenza vaccine. Meanwhile, study after study after study found no evidence that thimerosal caused autism. Weldon's congressional voting record suggests he may go along with Republican efforts to downsize the CDC, including to eliminate the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, which works on topics like drownings, drug overdoses and shooting deaths. Weldon also voted to ban federal funding for needle-exchange programs as an approach to reduce overdoses, and the National Rifle Association gave him an “A” rating for his pro-gun rights voting record. Kennedy is extremely critical of the FDA, which has 18,000 employees and is responsible for the safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs, vaccines and other medical products, as well as overseeing cosmetics, electronic cigarettes and most foods. Makary, Trump’s pick to run the FDA, is closely aligned with Kennedy on several topics . The professor at Johns Hopkins University who is a trained surgeon and cancer specialist has decried the overprescribing of drugs, the use of pesticides on foods and the undue influence of pharmaceutical and insurance companies over doctors and government regulators. Kennedy has suggested he'll clear out “entire” FDA departments and also recently threatened to fire FDA employees for “aggressive suppression” of a host of unsubstantiated products and therapies, including stem cells, raw milk , psychedelics and discredited COVID-era treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. Makary's contrarian views during the COVID-19 pandemic included questioning the need for masking and giving young kids COVID-19 vaccine boosters. But anything Makary and Kennedy might want to do when it comes to unwinding FDA regulations or revoking long-standing vaccine and drug approvals would be challenging. The agency has lengthy requirements for removing medicines from the market, which are based on federal laws passed by Congress. The agency provides health care coverage for more than 160 million people through Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, and also sets Medicare payment rates for hospitals, doctors and other providers. With a $1.1 trillion budget and more than 6,000 employees, Oz has a massive agency to run if confirmed — and an agency that Kennedy hasn't talked about much when it comes to his plans. While Trump tried to scrap the Affordable Care Act in his first term, Kennedy has not taken aim at it yet. But he has been critical of Medicaid and Medicare for covering expensive weight-loss drugs — though they're not widely covered by either . Trump said during his campaign that he would protect Medicare, which provides insurance for older Americans. Oz has endorsed expanding Medicare Advantage — a privately run version of Medicare that is popular but also a source of widespread fraud — in an AARP questionnaire during his failed 2022 bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania and in a 2020 Forbes op-ed with a former Kaiser Permanente CEO. Oz also said in a Washington Examiner op-ed with three co-writers that aging healthier and living longer could help fix the U.S. budget deficit because people would work longer and add more to the gross domestic product. Neither Trump nor Kennedy have said much about Medicaid, the insurance program for low-income Americans. Trump's first administration reshaped the program by allowing states to introduce work requirements for recipients. Kennedy doesn't appear to have said much publicly about what he'd like to see from surgeon general position, which is the nation's top doctor and oversees 6,000 U.S. Public Health Service Corps members. The surgeon general has little administrative power, but can be an influential government spokesperson on what counts as a public health danger and what to do about it — suggesting things like warning labels for products and issuing advisories. The current surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, declared gun violence as a public health crisis in June. Trump's pick, Nesheiwat, is employed as a New York City medical director with CityMD, a group of urgent care facilities in the New York and New Jersey area, and has been at City MD for 12 years. She also has appeared on Fox News and other TV shows, authored a book on the “transformative power of prayer” in her medical career and endorses a brand of vitamin supplements. She encouraged COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, calling them “a gift from God” in a February 2021 Fox News op-ed, as well as anti-viral pills like Paxlovid. In a 2019 Q&A with the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation , Nesheiwat said she is a “firm believer in preventive medicine” and “can give a dissertation on hand-washing alone.” As of Saturday, Trump had not yet named his choice to lead the National Institutes of Health, which funds medical research through grants to researchers across the nation and conducts its own research. It has a $48 billion budget. Kennedy has said he'd pause drug development and infectious disease research to shift the focus to chronic diseases. He'd like to keep NIH funding from researchers with conflicts of interest, and criticized the agency in 2017 for what he said was not doing enough research into the role of vaccines in autism — an idea that has long been debunked . Associated Press writers Amanda Seitz and Matt Perrone and AP editor Erica Hunzinger contributed to this report. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. This story has been corrected to reflect that the health agencies have an overall budget of about $1.7 trillion, not $1.7 billion. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!Alex Gault, Watertown Daily Times, N.Y. (TNS) A special election still hasn’t been formally called for New York’s 21st Congressional District, but that isn’t stopping Upstate New York businessman Anthony T. Constantino from starting his campaign for the House seat. Constantino, 42, is a businessman and somewhat recent political activist — he runs Sticker Mule, a well-known printing, labeling and manufacturing company based in Amsterdam, Montgomery County. Constantino is also a recent feature in national headlines — he’s a big fan of President-elect Donald Trump, and recently got attention for putting a large Vote for Trump sign on his company’s factory in downtown Amsterdam. The 100-foot sign, lit day and night, can be seen from the New York State Thruway, and led to a court fight between Constantino and Amsterdam elected officials who believed the sign violated city ordinances. The state courts sided with Constantino, who has vowed to keep the sign up in perpetuity going forward. Constantino bills himself as a local tech CEO, and said he wasn’t heavily involved in politics before Trump entered the political world, although he’s supported Trump and donated to him in 2016. “I was one of the first people to get canceled,” he said in an interview at his factory. “I supported him when [he] was candidate Trump, made a $500 donation, and I got canceled for it.” Constantino said someone on social media discovered he had made the donation, which is a matter of public record, and took to the internet to denounce Constantino. At the time, Sticker Mule had become an established name in the branding and merchandising world. The company was a leader in labelmaking, T-shirt screenprinting and sticker making. Plenty of politically involved groups, including a number of campaigns for federal office, use Sticker Mule products, and some people spoke out against Constantino for supporting a candidate who, at the time, seemed to be unlikely to win. He did, and although Constantino continued supporting Trump through his first term and second run for the office, he stayed relatively quiet. He even registered as a Democrat to assist a friend in a primary campaign for Albany city mayor, although he has since registered as a Republican. Constantino reengaged with national politics after the first assassination attempt on the president-elect, while he spoke at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania in July. That’s when he put up the sign on his factory in Amsterdam, and when he sent out a letter in support of Trump to the Sticker Mule customer list — a move that garnered more backlash from some customers who said they felt it was an inappropriate use of their information. Constantino said he felt it was important to speak up then, because the stakes of the political disagreements in the U.S. had hit a fever pitch. “It gone to the point where bullets are flying, I want to do something as a citizen to try to fix this situation,” he said. “I decided the best way was simply to admit I support him.” And now, Constantino is eyeing a shot at boosting his influence even more, representing Northern New York in Congress. He’s got a similar early background to longtime Rep. Elise M. Stefanik , R-Schuylerville, who is slated to become the Trump White House’s U.N. ambassador next year. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP Constantino is two years older than Stefanik, and attended the Albany Academy for Boys, the brother school of the congresswoman’s alma mater, the Albany Academy for Girls. He said he’s stayed in touch with the congresswoman and recently discussed his campaign with her. A spokesperson for Stefanik didn’t respond to a request for comment on that discussion. When news that Stefanik was to vacate her seat came through, Constantino said he started getting calls from a number of people in his orbit, urging him to run for the seat. It’s not a traditional campaign by any means — in a special election, there is no primary race. Instead, for both Republicans and Democrats, the party chairs in each of the counties vote on a candidate, with their votes weighted by their proportion of the party’s total registered voters in the district. Constantino said he’s starting his campaign by speaking to each of the 15 Republican committee chairs, starting with his home county and moving north and west over the coming weeks. He has some competition in that process. People with knowledge of discussions have said that state Sens. Daniel G. Stec, R-Queensbury and Jacob Ashby, R-Rensselaer, Assemblymen Chris L. Tague, R-Catskill, and Robert J. Smullen, R-Herkimer, Rensselaer County Executive Steven F. McLaughlin, outgoing Rep. Marcus J. Molinaro, R-Tivoli, and a handful of local business leaders are considering running as well. If he gets the party’s support and their nomination in the special election, he said he’ll be campaigning on his tech and marketing background, trying to bring a new energy to the race for Congress in a region that has handily reelected its incumbent congressperson for a decade by wider and wider margins each time. “I’m going to do things that people have never seen before,” he said. He’s pledged to sink $2.6 million of his own money into his campaign — money he made by buying stock in Tesla after Elon Musk bought X, formerly Twitter, and investors showed concerns over the company’s strength. Constantino sees himself as similar to big name tech CEOs like Musk, OpenAI’s Samuel H. Altman or Mark Cuban of “Shark Tank” fame. Like those men have gotten involved in politics, on one side or the other, Constantino said he has done the same. He said he believes he is one of the reasons New York swung so far to the right in this year’s election — Trump did more than 11 percentage points better among New York voters than he did in 2020, the biggest shift of any one state. “I think you could say, objectively, I’m the strongest voice for President Trump in New York state, I think probably across the entire state.” He said he believes the sign on his factory is one of the most effective in American history, because it was discussed in the news and generated controversy and attention in a Democratic-leaning region. Constantino also took on other political projects — he’s held debate sessions discussing Trump’s policies with anyone who wants to, and held one such session in Manhattan, where he said he changed many minds on Trump. He’s also founded a group called Trump for Peace, taking the position that Trump is the candidate who will end the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and protect global peace going forward, and he founded a group called StickerPAC, which focused on creating and distributing pro-Trump memorabilia during the campaign. Trump is a big part of Constantino’s platform. He said he’ll go with the president-elect on anything he puts forward as president. Broadly, he said the key to improving things for NY-21 is to end the long-running outmigration in New York, and get the state back on track to gaining population in proportion to the rest of the country. “I’m the strongest voice for championing the fact that people need to come back to New York state,” he said. On Trump’s plan to enforce tariffs on goods shipped into the United States from abroad, Constantino said he would be supportive. As a business owner, he said he isn’t worried about tariffs. He didn’t know how many of his company’s products would be impacted by a tariff, but said as a business owner he is happy to work within the lines set by government, as long as those lines are equally enforced on everyone. “I’m fine with whatever regulatory structure the president thinks makes the most sense,” he said. On agricultural policy, Constantino didn’t have an answer. Congress is set to pass another yearlong extension of the Farm Bill, which sets agricultural policy for the country as well as food benefits programs. It’s already a year overdue, and with Republican control in Washington next year now assured, that party’s priorities are likely to guide the next five-year Farm Bill. Constantino said that if he was elected he would hire advisers to help him navigate agricultural policy. “I’m gonna learn from very talented advisors and also from talking to farmers what makes the most sense,” he said. “I’ll advocate for what makes the most sense, but I don’t have a specific answer on that.” Congress is also set to decide on the next steps for tax policy. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expires in 2025 and with Republican control, it’s likely to be reauthorized with some changes. One expected change is the removal of the State and Local Tax deduction cap, which allows taxpayers to deduct what they pay in sales, property and other local and state taxes from their federal taxable income. A cap of $10,000 was put on SALT deductions in 2017, but Trump has said he would like to remove it next year. “Taxes being too high, we gotta get costs under control to fix that,” Constantino said. “But in terms of specific mechanisms we (use to) get taxes down, I’m gonna need to spin up my team and really study the issues to make a correct judgment.” On the border, Constantino supports a broad lockdown on border crossings, an end to the catch-and-release policy that allows people awaiting asylum to remain in the U.S. For immigration, he believes the U.S. needs to be incredibly selective on who it allows to become a resident or citizen as well. “I think the United States of America is sort of a giant corporation,” he said. “It should operate in the same way. If you run a company, I want the best people coming in for my business. We want the best possible people coming into our country.” Constantino said he would support the construction of a missile defense site on Fort Drum, a project that Stefanik has been pushing for years with limited success. The plan calls for a multi-million dollar installation for a missile system that could shoot down incoming ICBMs from hostile nations in the east. For years, the annual defense funding bill has required the Department of Defense move forward with an installation on Fort Drum, but DoD has repeatedly said they don’t see a need to build a site on the east coast, and defense technology and policy experts have said that missile defense systems are spotty at best, and an east coast installation would be ultimately unnecessary. “Elise was championing the missile defense site at Fort Drum,” Constantino said. “I’m going to be following through on that, making sure it gets done.” When asked about the technological and operational concerns over the installation, Constantino said he would push for the project to be as effective as possible. “I’m a perfectionist,” he said. “I think the idea of a missile defense system makes a lot of sense, but we want everything done the best possible way.” While Constantino sets up his campaign, he’ll be talking with the rest of the NY-21 Republican committee chairs. The chairs can’t make a formal announcement of who they’re nominating until Stefanik formally vacates her seat, likely to happen sometime in January, which will start a roughly 3-month timeline from then to the election for the Republican and Democratic, plus any independent or third-party nominees who qualify, to make their case to voters. ___ RECOMMENDED • silive .com Top ’80s and ’90s indie band leaves Elon Musk-owned X following Trump election Nov. 21, 2024, 1:32 p.m. Trump’s lawyers tell judge to drop hush money conviction and ignore prosecutors Nov. 20, 2024, 5:32 p.m. (c)2024 Watertown Daily Times (Watertown, N.Y.) Visit Watertown Daily Times (Watertown, N.Y.) at www.watertowndailytimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Bitcoin (BTC), the leading cryptocurrency has experienced a slight dip in its price as it is trading at USD 93,389.50 on December 30, 2024, down from USD 94,178.57 recorded yesterday. Despite the minor fluctuation in Bitcoin price, experts remain optimistic about the cryptocurrency's performance in the future. Reports indicate that Bitcoin could reach an all-time high by mid-January 2025 amid growing investor interest and market momentum. Bitcoin Price Falls Today to USD 94,446 Amid Crypto Market Fluctuations. $93,389.50 #Bitcoin #BTC $BTC $USD — Bitcoin (@Bitcoin) December 29, 2024 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter (X), Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)Former President Jimmy Carter died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia. He was 100. Sitting, future and former presidents have weighed in on the extraordinary life of the former president who served in office from 1977-1981. Following his single term in the White House, Carter established the Carter Center, became involved in observing elections in developing countries, volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and taught Sunday day school at his local church in Georgia. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, 22 years after leaving office, "for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights and to promote economic and social development." Here's what the presidents have had to say following Carter's death. Former presidents react to Jimmy Carter's death George W. Bush In a statement, Bush and his wife, Laura Bush, sent their condolences and prayers to the Carter family. “James Earl Carter, Jr., was a man of deeply held convictions. He was loyal to his family, his community, and his country. President Carter dignified the office. And his efforts to leave behind a better world didn’t end with the presidency. His work with Habitat for Humanity and the Carter Center set an example of service that will inspire Americans for generations. Joe Biden In a joint statement, President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, called Carter an "extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian" and a "dear friend." Biden also ordered an official state funeral in Washington, D.C. for Carter. "And to all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility. He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong." Donald Trump In a statement posted to Truth Social, former and President-elect Donald Trump said Carter was part of an "exclusive club" of members who understood the responsibility of the presidency and leading the nation. "The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude. Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time. We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts and prayers." Barack Obama Former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, released a joint statement on Carter's death, noting his accomplishments in and out of office and his devotion to Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, where Carter taught Sunday school. "Whenever I had a chance to spend time with President Carter, it was clear that he didn’t just profess these values. He embodied them. And in doing so, he taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice, and service. In his Nobel acceptance speech, President Carter said, “God gives us the capacity for choice. We can choose to alleviate suffering. We can choose to work together for peace.” He made that choice again and again over the course of his 100 years, and the world is better for it. Maranatha Baptist Church will be a little quieter on Sundays, but President Carter will never be far away – buried alongside Rosalynn next to a willow tree down the road, his memory calling all of us to heed our better angels. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and everyone who loved and learned from this remarkable man."
Australia’s sharemarket is likely to open lower after a sell-off in the world’s largest technology companies hit US stocks in the final stretch of a stellar year. Futures are pointing to a drop of 0.35 per cent, or 29 points, on Monday morning across the local bourse, to 8228, as traders take stock of a pullback in the US last week. Nasdaq, one of the “Magnificent Seven” companies, bore the brunt of last week’s selling. Credit: Bloomberg In the US, during a session of slim trading volume – which tends to amplify moves – the S&P 500 lost 1.1 per cent and the Nasdaq 100 slipped 1.4 per cent. While every major industry succumbed to Friday’s slide, tech megacaps bore the brunt of the selling. That’s after a torrid surge in which the group of companies dubbed the “Magnificent Seven” accounted for more than half of the US equity benchmark’s gains in 2024. “I think Santa has already come. Have you seen the performance this year?” said Kenny Polcari from financial advising firm SlateStone Wealth. “[This] week is another holiday-shortened week, volumes will be light, moves will be exaggerated. Don’t make any major investing decisions this week.” Steve Sosnick, from Interactive Brokers said while the market was in holiday season, he had fielded more inquiries than expected. Loading “The best I can figure out is that there are large accounts, pension funds and the like, who need to rebalance their holdings before year-end,” he said. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 trimmed last week’s gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.8 per cent on Friday. A gauge of the “Magnificent Seven” sank 2 per cent, led by losses in Tesla and Nvidia. The Russell 2000 index of small caps dropped 1.6 per cent. The yield on 10-year Treasuries rose 4 basis points to 4.62 per cent. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index wavered. Funds tied to several of the major themes that have driven markets and fund flows over the past three years stumbled during the week ending Christmas Day, according to data compiled by EPFR. Redemptions from cryptocurrency funds hit a record high while technology sector funds extended their longest outflow streak since the first week of 2023, the firm said. This year’s rally in US equities has driven the expectations for stocks so high that it may turn out to be the biggest hurdle for further gains in the new year. And the bar is even higher for tech stocks, given their massive surge in 2024. A Bloomberg Intelligence analysis recently found that analysts estimate a nearly 30 per cent earnings growth for the sector next year, but tech’s market-cap share of the S&P 500 index implies closer to 40 per cent growth expectations may be embedded in the stocks. “The market’s largest companies and other related technology darlings are still being awarded significant premiums,” said Jason Pride and Michael Reynolds at Glenmede. “Excessive valuations leave room for downside if earnings fail to meet expectations. Market concentration should reward efforts to regularly diversify portfolios.” Bloomberg The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the day’s trading. Get it each weekday afternoon . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Shares Investing Aussie dollar Bonds Most Viewed in Business Loading
I’m Puerto Rico’s new representative in Congress; we should put statehood asideLittler, who won the Grand Slam of Darts last week, hit checkouts of 170, 164 and 136 as he threatened to overturn an early deficit, but Humphries held his nerve to win the last three legs. “I’m really, really proud of that one to be honest,” Humphries told Sky Sports. FOR THE SECOND TIME 🏆🏆 Luke Humphries retains his 2024 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals title, beating Luke Littler 11-7 in the final. pic.twitter.com/QUhxvSbGeu — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2024 “I didn’t feel myself this week playing-wise, I felt like I was a dart behind in a lot of the scenarios but there’s something that Luke does to you. He really drives me, makes me want to be a better player and I enjoy playing him. “He let me in really early in that first session to go 4-1 up, I never looked back and I’m proud that I didn’t take my foot off the gas. These big games are what I live for. “Luke is a special talent and he was right – I said to him I’ve got to get these (titles) early before he wins them all. “I’d love to be up here and hitting 105 averages like Luke is all the time but he’s a different calibre, he’s probably the best player in the world right now but there’s something about me that never gives up. “This is a great way to go into the worlds.” HUMPHRIES GOES BACK-TO-BACK! 🏆 Luke Humphries retains his Players Championship Finals title! Cool Hand puts on an absolute clinic to defeat Luke Littler 11-7 in an epic final! 📺 https://t.co/AmuG0PMn18 #PCF2024 | Final pic.twitter.com/nZDWPUVjWE — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2024 Littler, who lost the world championship final to Humphries last year, said: “It was tough, missed a few doubles and if you don’t take chances early on, it’s a lot to come back. “I hit the 170 and the 164 but just didn’t have enough in the end. “It’s been a good past two weeks. I just can’t wait to go home, chill out, obviously practice at home for the worlds. That’s it now, leading up to the big one.”
South Florida defeats Portland 74-68HJ Shipbuilding & Construction Develops 88,000m3 Eco-Friendly Ammonia CarrierWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Xavier Bell had 29 points in Wichita State's 87-72 victory over Friends University on Sunday. Bell shot 11 of 16 from the field and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line for the Shockers (10-3). Quincy Ballard added 17 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks. Corey Washington totaled 16 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Collin Maclin finished with 18 points for the Falcons. Cahlese Lee added 11 points and two steals. Randy Woolf Jr. recorded 10 points, five assists and two steals. Wichita State took the lead with 8:30 left in the first half and never looked back. Bell led his team in scoring with 21 points in the first half to help put them up 45-36 at the break. Wichita State pulled away with a 12-1 run in the second half to extend a nine-point lead to 20. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by and data from . The Associated Press
Rutgers 77, Georgia Southern 60KENILWORTH, N.J. , Nov. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Northeast Science and Technology (NEST) Center, a premier 100+ acre campus dedicated to research and development innovations, announced today that Revlon, a global leader in cosmetics and personal care, will relocate its New Jersey -based science and innovation (R&D) lab to the NEST campus. Lise Jorgensen , Revlon's Chief Scientific Officer, said: "Revlon selected NEST for its existing lab infrastructure, which will help us further amplify our innovation capabilities, and provide a state-of-the-art setting to meet our specific R&D needs. This substantial investment in our R&D capabilities marks a critical and exciting step in Revlon's future and reinforces our commitment to develop the most advanced consumer-inspired products for our brands around the world." Revlon's research labs, pilot manufacturing, and office functions will be centralized within a 62,000-square-foot space within the 1.2M SF building now known as 15 NEST, the building that up until recently served as Merck's global research headquarters. Notably, Revlon will be the first tenant to occupy 15 NEST since Merck's departure earlier this year. "Revlon's decision to join NEST is an exciting step towards our vision of a dynamic, collaborative, innovation ecosystem," said Matthew Flath , Onyx Equities' Senior Vice President Asset Management, who oversees the NEST campus. "With their decades-long legacy in beauty and personal care, Revlon complements the forward-thinking research environment at NEST and is helping to establish a community where leading science and technology companies unite to innovate, thrive, and elevate industry standards." Revlon's decision to join NEST comes on the heels of CoreWeave's recent announcement that it plans to lease 280,000 square feet of space on the campus. Both companies cited NEST's ideal location and best-in-class lab and utility infrastructure as part of their selection criteria. Dan Loughlin of JLL and Jonathan Scheinberg of Outshine Properties represented the ownership group of Onyx Equities, Machine Investment Group, and Pivot Real Estate Partners; and Daniel Levine and Daniel Reider from Newmark represented Revlon. To learn more about NEST's growth and the opportunities it offers, visit NESTCenter.com . About Northeast Science and Technology (NEST) Center Conveniently located in Kenilworth, NJ , the Northeast Science and Technology (NEST) Center is a 100+ acre campus that is purpose-built and zoned for life science innovation, answering a need for immediately available, turn-key, and customizable office, laboratory, and bio-manufacturing space in the tri-state area. Formerly the global headquarters of Merck, the Onyx Equities-led venture acquired the campus February 2023 and have since begun work with partners Machine Investment Group, Pivot Real Estate Partners, and Outshine Properties to develop it into a hub of research and innovation in the Northeast region of the United States . For more information about NEST, visit www.NestCenter.com . About Onyx Equities, LLC Headquartered in Woodbridge, New Jersey , Onyx Equities, LLC is a leading full-service real estate firm specializing in investment, asset repositioning, and ground-up development. Since its founding in 2004, Onyx has acquired more than $4 billion worth of diverse real estate assets throughout New Jersey , New York , and Pennsylvania , and has executed over $1 billion in capital improvement projects under its signature repositioning program. For more information about Onyx Equities, visit www.OnyxEquities.com . About Machine Investment Group Machine Investment Group is a real estate investment platform focused on investing in opportunistic, distressed, and special situations across all major asset classes in diverse geographies throughout the United States . Machine principals are directly responsible for deploying over $2.0 BN in capital to date. With a strong reputation, solutions-oriented approach, and extensive lender relationships, Machine aims to deliver consistent, opportunistic returns while minimizing losses. For more information, please visit https://machineinv.com/ . About Revlon Group Holdings LLC Revlon Group Holdings LLC ("Revlon") has developed a long-standing reputation as a color authority and beauty trendsetter in the world of color cosmetics and hair care. Since its breakthrough launch of the first opaque nail enamel in 1932, Revlon has provided consumers with high quality product innovation, performance and sophisticated glamour. In 2016, Revlon acquired the iconic Elizabeth Arden company and its portfolio of brands, including its leading designer and celebrity fragrances. Today, Revlon's diversified portfolio of brands is sold in over 100 countries around the world in most retail distribution channels, including prestige, salon, mass, and online. Revlon is among the leading global beauty companies, with some of the world's most iconic and desired brands and product offerings in color cosmetics, skin care, hair color, hair care and fragrances under brands such as Revlon, Revlon Professional, Elizabeth Arden , Almay, Mitchum, CND, American Crew, Creme of Nature, Cutex, Juicy Couture, Elizabeth Taylor , Curve, John Varvatos and Christina Aguilera . Contact: Corrie A. Fisher , media relations Email: Onyx@knbcomm.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/revlon-signs-lease-to-relocate-its-new-jersey-based-science-and-innovation-lab-to-the-northeast-science--technology-nest-center-302310137.html SOURCE Northeast Science and Technology (NEST)Maybe it’s because there are so many games, or maybe it’s because the rise of digital distribution and subscriptions means there are more sub-groups of game-players and fewer massive mainstream hits, but it feels like this year the “best games” lists are more diverse and individual than ever. Even as someone who tries to play broadly across all platforms, there are some games cropping up on end-of-year lists that I didn’t play, and some of the best ones I did play draw blank looks when I discuss them with others. So, while it’s impossible to make anything approaching an objective list of the best, I’ve attempted it anyway. Here they are in no particular order. I didn’t have ‘help a rapping tree’ on my 2024 bingo card, but I’m glad it happened. Astro Bot PS5 At once a celebration of PlayStation’s 30-year history and a whimsical Nintendo-style platformer the likes of which the brand has never seen before, Astro Bot is a beautiful theme park of running and jumping, filled with hidden depth, incredible gimmicks and great music. I’m not a huge fan of the emotionless robot protagonist or the Sony branding, but the combination of flawless gameplay design, hilarious environments, oodles of nostalgia and cutting-edge tech puts this on par with some of Mario’s most memorable outings. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Side-scrolling platform adventure games are ubiquitous and there were heaps of good ones this year, but the best was also a return to relevance for a beloved franchise. The fictional Mount Qaf is a wonderful setting that blends Iranian history and Arabian mythology with the series’ penchant for vicious traps and time distortion, while new protagonist Sargon brings a fresh and edgy vibe that marries the acrobatic focus of the Sands of Time trilogy with the methodical platforming of older Prince adventures. By invoking familiar poker hands, Balatro brings the satisfying hook of a rougelite game to a wider pool of players who have no idea what that is. Balatro Android, Apple Arcade, iOS, PC, PS5, Switch Xbox In an industry plagued by gambling disguised as play, it’s gratifying that one of this year’s most successful games employs the aesthetic of cards and casinos with no gambling to be found. Upgrade and augment your deck with special powers and tarot effects, stack up game-changing jokers to synergise with your favourite cards, and try to break the game with impossibly powerful poker hands. The work of one individual developer, it’s incredible, and arguably addictive, but you’ll pay no more than the purchase price. Super Mario Party Jamboree Switch Mario Party is a dependable choice for casual group play or a family game night. But, unexpectedly, Jamboree is the absolute height of the series. There are heaps of playable characters, more than 100 great new minigames, seven unusually interesting and diverse game boards and extra modes for playing on your own or online with randos. But the icing on the cake is the ability to enforce “pro mode” to make the winner less chance-based, opening up the possibility of truly competitive play, and it’s so much fun. It may take its broad structure from one third of a decades-old game, but Rebirth has plenty original to say. Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth PS5 I was expecting a middle chapter for Square’s epic three-part remake of a 1997 classic, but this turned out to be so much more. From the layered character customisation and combat systems that feed seamlessly into one another, to the completely optional collectible card game that I quickly became obsessed with, this is unexpectedly a much broader, deeper and more open game than its predecessor. An astonishing RPG that more than stands on its own merits, and even overshadows part one for ambition and creativity, it’s a remarkable achievement. Star Wars Outlaws PC, PS5, Xbox A streamlined and multi-planet take on Ubisoft’s familiar open-world action, paired with an original-trilogy-era Star Wars tale that follows an up-and-coming scoundrel rather than a Jedi or Imperial, Outlaws has everything a long-suffering franchise fan could hope for in a sandbox scum and villainy game. The overarching story is a bit of a letdown, but the main appeal here is simply being able to exist in this rich and incredibly well-realised universe, being a dirtbag and pulling off heists. Fans of Monty Python or The Mighty Boosh will find a lot to love exploring Barnsworth. Thank Goodness You’re Here PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox A cartoony and hilariously vulgar adventure set in a small northern England town, this is a point-and-punch exploration game that’s fondly reminiscent of classic daft British sketch comedy, with heaps of funny visuals and sound effects plus the voice talents of Matt Berry and others. Mechanically it couldn’t be simpler, but the writing and timing are masterful. From an unexpected exposed penis in a seagull-gathering side-mission to a prolonged sequence combining fish and cigarettes, it’s crassly artful and unforgettable. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Switch Despite her name being in the titles, Princess Zelda has had few starring roles in Nintendo’s beloved adventure epics. This game marks a change in that regard, and introduces a brilliant new approach to items and combat where Zelda can copy and paste objects and enemies to fight and solve puzzles, but it’s otherwise business as usual for the series; this is a beautiful, joyful and surprising fantasy world to explore, with just the right mix of nostalgia and innovation. Eventually you’ll be filling out pages of details before you can even grasp the nature of the crime you’re supposed to be solving. And you’ll be loving it. The Rise of the Golden Idol Netflix, PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox The first Golden Idol was a wonderfully epic tale of paranormal serial murder, and Rise is even better. Set 200 years later, you’re tasked with solving 20 crimes, each painted as a beautifully grotesque painted moment. You analyse the scene to collect clues, words and names, then use those to fill in the blanks and uncover the truth. It’s like a multidimensional murder sudoku, which only gets more complex and tells a compelling alternate history detective story. Dragon Age: The Veilguard PC, PS5, Xbox Bioware is responsible for some of the greatest role-playing games ever, but this is their best in more than a decade. The narrative and fantasy settings are incredible, and the action-focused combat feels great, but the true strength is in the constant choice-making that affects your friendships in real and unexpected ways. Early on, the game makes you choose between two companions, the consequence of which leaves one with permanent visible bruises and scars for the rest of the game. This is Dragon Age telling you how it’s going to be. Unicorn Overlord has the familiar Vanillaware look, but it may be the studio’s deepest game yet. Unicorn Overlord PS5, Switch, Xbox Vanillaware has spent two decades crafting interesting and complex games with astounding hand-drawn art. The studio has a cult following but I think Unicorn Overlord might be its first true breakout hit. It’s a twist on the traditional turn-based tactical RPG, where instead of just skirmishing you define the parameters of each unit’s actions and priorities ahead of time, and then watch as they play out in battle. And, of course, it’s gorgeous. Sonic x Shadow Generations PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Since 2011’s excellent Sonic Generations was already a reimagining of the series’ high points, half of this new package is arguably remaking remakes. But the other half — an all-new campaign featuring Shadow the Hedgehog — contains some of the most excellent 3D Sonic gameplay ever made. It serves as a great introduction to the character alongside his big-screen debut, but it also presents his tortured backstory and most memorable game moments in a surprisingly cohesive and enjoyable manner. No combat, no explanations, just a blob in a cursed VHS tape of ghostly animals. Animal Well PC, PS5, PS Plus, Switch, Xbox Animal Well , another amazing work from a solo developer, is on the surface a stunning CRT-filtered Metroid-like with a spooky animal theme. But dig a little deeper past the cursed herons and sleepy capybara and you’ll find a complex latticework of puzzles combined with interesting power-ups, a focus on physics play and a near total lack of combat. Some secrets require specific power-ups from around the world (a yo-yo, a slinky, a frisbee), while others need lateral thinking or knowledge gleaned from other areas. UFO 50 PC A package of 50 new games, styled and presented as a library of retro titles by a fictional company for their fictional home computer, this compilation evokes the feeling of finding a dusty 1980s machine and a box full of disks, and putting them in to see what you find. The games are all surprisingly full in scope, and they run the genre gamut from beat-em-ups to top-down driving games to narrative horror. Best of all are the two-player options, which offer a peerlessly strange retro bonding experience. The Great Circle takes Indy to many cultural epicentres around the globe, from Italy to Egypt to the Himalayas and more. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Game Pass, PC, Xbox Games based on movie franchises can go very wrong, but MachineGames (the Swedish studio known for the Nazi-hunting 2010s Wolfenstein series), had a clear vision for the world’s most famous archeologist . Each level is an exploratory puzzle with dozens of smaller riddles within, filled with fascists to sneak around and artefacts to recover. Combat is slapstick, gunplay is scarce, the iconic whip gets plenty of creative use and voice actor Troy Baker puts in an astonishing Harrison Ford impersonation. The narrative overall (concerning a trek across the globe to stop the Nazis achieving a mystical power) is the best the franchise has seen since 1989. Get news and reviews on technology, gadgets and gaming in our Technology newsletter every Friday. Sign up here. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article Video games Tim Biggs is a writer covering consumer technology, gadgets and video games. Connect via Twitter or email . Most Viewed in Technology Loading
The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) has been great for Microsoft ( MSFT 1.00% ) . The stock is up 72% since 2022, but that might have some investors wondering if it's still a good investment. After all, the stock's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is currently sitting at 34, which is toward the high end of its 10-year range and higher than the S&P 500 's P/E of 30. Co-founder and former CEO Bill Gates has donated billions worth of Microsoft stock to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and while the foundation continues to hold a large stake in Microsoft, it has sold shares in each of the last four quarters. Keep in mind, the Gates Foundation has regularly sold off Microsoft shares for many years, which obviously reflects its philanthropic mission with the assets. There are other notable billionaire investors who still hold large stakes in Microsoft. Chase Coleman's Tiger Global Management is sitting tight with a $3 billion stake in the third quarter, while John Armitage's Egerton Capital was buying more shares. Microsoft is experiencing tremendous momentum right now, which makes it tempting to follow these billionaires into the stock. But it's still difficult to pay a high P/E for the shares considering the impact of Microsoft's AI investments on its earnings growth. The recent sales by the Gates Foundation may reflect lower return expectations for the stock, which could be a warning for investors. AI is fueling strong revenue growth From a revenue growth perspective, Microsoft's business is performing about as well as any investor could hope. Microsoft cloud revenue grew 22% year over year in the first quarter, reaching $39 billion. Demand for Azure cloud services remains strong. Even Microsoft's personal computing business, including the Xbox gaming business, is enjoying a massive boost following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Despite the stock's high P/E, one reason investors might want to hold is Microsoft's financial fortitude. Companies that produce growing free cash flows over time are going to find ways to surprise to the upside. Microsoft's high-margin business generated a whopping $72 billion in free cash flow over the last year. In the last quarter alone, it returned $9 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. It's returning cash to shareholders while investing heavily in AI infrastructure. Microsoft has already integrated AI services across its software products. AI services contributed 12 percentage points to Azure's 33% year-over-year revenue increase last quarter. The company is clearly well-positioned to monetize AI and grow revenue over the long term. But Microsoft's growth is coming at a cost Microsoft is benefiting from strong demand for AI services, but one warning for investors is the lack of growth on the bottom line. While the company's total revenue grew 16% year over year last quarter, investments in AI pressured free cash flow, which fell 7% over the year-ago quarter. This is likely temporary, but the impact these investments are having on free cash flow in the near term could weigh on the stock's performance. Going back to the Gates Foundation's sales, it's worth noting that the timing of those sales in recent years has correlated with the stock's value. In late 2022, when the stock was cheaper, the Foundation didn't sell any shares, as the stock offered attractive value and return prospects. The Foundation seems to understand the company's value and return prospects as well as anyone. Wall Street expects Microsoft's earnings to increase by nearly 11% in fiscal 2025 (which ends in June). That isn't enough growth to justify the stock's high P/E multiple, especially when there are other Magnificent Seven stocks trading at lower valuations and offering better earnings growth prospects, such as Meta Platforms and Alphabet . For an investor who already owns shares, I wouldn't sell and pay capital gains taxes just because the stock is temporarily expensive. Microsoft is a great business worth holding, but for an investor putting new money to work in the stock market, I would consider other opportunities first.
