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Pinion has 22 points as Arkansas State beats No. 16 Memphis 85-72President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday tried to defuse panicky liberal fearmongering over him and instead gin up excitement for his sweeping agenda for the country. Throughout the 2024 campaign, liberal foes seized on Trump’s rhetoric to paint him as someone who intended to rip up institutional norms and was hellbent on vengeance. But Trump, in a prerecorded chat with NBC’s “Meet the Press” — his first sit-down broadcast television interview since winning the election — the 78-year-old Republican confronted many of those concerns head-on and seemingly strived to portray himself as a pragmatist. Here are some of the top takeaways from Trump’s interview: Hands-off approach to DOJ and FBI The incoming president signaled that he would largely be deferring to instead of directing Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and loyalist Kash Patel in their potential posts at the helm of the Justice Department and FBI, respectively. Trump was asked if he wanted Bondi to investigate special counsel Smith and the team that had been prosecuting the president-elect for several alleged crimes. “I think he’s very corrupt,” Trump said of Smith. Still, “I want her to do what she wants to do,” Trump said of Bondi and any probes she may undertake. Trump also was asked about the list of 60 so-called “Deep State” actors that Patel has reportedly compiled. The president-elect was asked whether he wanted to see the people investigated. “No,” Trump said — although he left the door open for Patel to do so. “I think he’s going to do what he thinks is right,” Trump said. “If they think that someone was dishonest, or crooked or corrupt politicians, I think he probably has an obligation to do it.” Asked to clarify if he would instruct such an investigation, Trump responded, “No, not at all.” ‘They should go to jail’ One moment from the wide-ranging interview that is sure to fire up critics came when the president-elect suggested that members of the since-defunct House Select Jan. 6 Committee should be jailed. The panel had been probing Trump’s alleged role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riots on Capitol Hill. “For what they did, honestly they should go to jail,” Trump vented about members of the committee. But later, when asked if he would direct his US attorney general and FBI director to go after them,” Trump replied, “No, not at all. “I think they’ll have to look at that. But I’m not going to [ask]. I’m going to focus on drill baby drill,” Trump said, referring to the push for more oil and gas production. The Biden administration is mulling whether to issue blanket pardons for individuals whom Trump may target such as the committee’s members, including former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), according to multiple reports . Dramatic cuts to Social Security are off the table Ever since the GOP’s election victory, Republican lawmakers have expressed renewed energy in taking on the national debt and slashing the government. Trump further fueled this excitement by naming entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy as co-heads of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an entity that is not actually a government department. But he ruled out making dramatic cuts to at least one program, Social Security. “We’re not touching Social Security other than we might make it more efficient, but the people are going to get what they get,” Trump said. “And we’re not raising [requirement] ages or any of that stuff.” Won’t fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell early In October, Trump drew unease from market analysts by contending that a president should have some sway over monetary policy and by being noncommittal about whether he’d remove Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell before his term expires. “No, I don’t think so. I don’t see it,” Trump replied when asked about whether he’d boot Powell, whose term ends in May 2026. Trump nominated Powell to helm the Fed in late 2017, and President Biden opted to retain him. In other countries, central banks that aren’t sufficiently separated from the political process often become more susceptible to issues such as inflation. Will stay in NATO if ... Trump also clarified that he intends to keep the US in NATO, provided that the powerful military alliance “pays its bills. “They have to pay their bills. If they pay their bills, absolutely,” Trump replied when asked about remaining in the alliance. “NATO’s taking advantage of us,” he said. “They take advantage of us on trade. ... And on top of that, we defend them. So it’s a double whammy.” NATO members are expected to pony up 2% of their nation’s gross domestic product on defense. In the wake of the Ukraine war, all but eight of the 32-nation bloc meet that obligation, according to data from the Atlantic Council. Trump added that Ukraine “probably should” expect less military assistance from the US under his watch. He revealed that he hasn’t spoken with Russian leader Vladimir Putin “recently.” Backs off threat about prosecuting Biden In August 2023, Trump suggested on Truth Social that he would name a special counsel or special prosecutor to go after President Biden, presumably over the commander-in-chief’s alleged dealings with son Hunter’s supposed influence-peddling. “No, I’m not doing that unless I find something that is reasonable, but that’s not going to be my decision, that’s going to be Pam Bondi’s decision and to a different extent, Kash Patel,” Trump told NBC. “I’m really looking to make our country successful. I’m not looking to go back into the past,” Trump explained. “Retribution will be through success.” Doesn’t think he’ll change on abortion Trump deviated from Republican orthodoxy on abortion in April when he declared that he would not pursue federal restrictions on the controversial procedure. During the NBC interview, Trump suggested he would stick to that, although he gave himself some wiggle room. “I’ll probably stay with exactly what I’ve been saying for the last two years. And the answer is no,” Trump said when asked about such restrictions, including access to abortion pills. “Things change. I think they change. I hate to go on shows like Joe Biden, ‘I’m not going to give my son a pardon,’ ” Trump mused, referring to Biden’s reversal on pardoning his son. “I don’t like putting myself in a position like that. “Things do change. But I don’t think it’s going to change at all.” Protecting “Dreamers,” ending birthright citizenship Trump repeated his call to end so-called birthright citizenship, in which illegal migrants can cross the border and have children on US soil who will automatically become citizens because of the 14th Amendment. But as for “Dreamers,” individuals whose families already brought them illegally into the country at a young age and who have since grown up here, Trump suggested he would work with Democrats to figure it out. “The Dreamers are going to come later, and we have to do something about the Dreamers, because these are people that have been brought here at a very young age, and many of these are middle-aged people now,” Trump said. “I will work with the Democrats on a plan, and [see] if we can come up with a plan. But the Democrats have made it very, very difficult to do anything. Republicans are very open to the Dreamers.” No family separation for migrants — although they could all get the boot together The president-elect also underscored that he was keen on avoiding a repeat of the controversial family separation policy that stoked blowback during his first administration. “I don’t want to be breaking up families,” Trump said. “So the only way you don’t break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back. “We don’t have to separate families,” Trump said. “We’ll send the whole family very humanely back to the country where they came.” Moderator Kristen Welker pressed him about the implications for children who were in the US legally despite their parents being present illegally. “Then the family has a choice: The person that came in illegally can go out or they can all go out together,” he said. Trump said he would prioritize deporting violent illegal immigrants who have committed other crimes. Day One Trump teased that he would pursue a busy Day One agenda jammed-packed with executive orders on a range of issues such as the economy and the border. “I won on groceries. Very simple word, groceries,” Trump reflected on his election victory, referring to the economy. “When you buy apples, when you buy bacon, when you buy eggs, they would double and triple the price over a short period of time,” he said, referring to the previous administration. The president-elect also indicated that he would mull pardons for Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol rioters when he assumes the Oval Office once again. “I’m going to be acting very quickly,” Trump teased. “I’m going to look at everything. We’re going to look at individual cases.”

Published 5:18 pm Friday, December 27, 2024 By Minnesota Public Radio By Anika Besst It seemed like companies couldn’t hire information technology analysts fast enough in 2014 when Michael Deneen began his IT career. Job counts nationally soared in the 2010s and early 2020s, but then the market flattened and a profession that looked like it might grow uninterrupted started shedding jobs. Laid off twice this year from Minnesota IT jobs, Deneen said he’s found it hard to snag the next gig. “Before I could have three, four offers lined up and would have to choose between them,” the Columbia Heights man said. “It’s like I’m struggling to even get a foot in the door in places that I’m more than qualified for.” Even with the state’s relatively low 3.5 percent unemployment rate, some mid-career Minnesotans and those just coming out of college are seeing a job market now that worries them. Recent layoffs at Cargill in the Twin Cities and last week’s announcement that Arctic Cat, the Minnesota snowmobile maker, will shutter its manufacturing operations next year in Thief River Falls and St. Cloud, have added to the anxiety. Analysts say Minnesota’s job market remains robust, but for some there’s a skills matchup problem as some sectors grow while others flatten or decline. ‘Shouldn’t be this way’ Health care, government, leisure and hospitality and transportation are among the Minnesota sectors that continue to show strong job growth, according to state data. Other industries are growing slower, including construction and manufacturing. “We’ve heard from some folks that maybe it has taken a little longer than what they remember in the past if they were previously unemployed. Some individuals don’t say that at all,” said Sara Garbe, workforce development supervisor at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. “November and reaching December, we certainly see a slowdown of hiring and folks may mention things like that they’ve heard from recruiters that maybe a decision won’t be made until after the holidays or after the first or the last quarter of the year,” added Garbe, whose staff works with new job seekers and those in mid-career. For recent college grads who haven’t landed work, the holiday season can bring its own pressures. Raina Hofstede, 22, studied English at Harvard University. Since graduating in May and coming back to Minnesota, she said job prospects have been nearly nonexistent. “I feel kind of directionless in the time period that I’m waiting,” said Hofstede, who grew up in Coon Rapids. “I feel like I really want to plan. I’m at a point where, like, I’d love to get things moving.” She’s applied to post-undergrad internships and career-advancing work. She’s looking into publishing, creative writing spaces and museums and hopes a stint working in comedy clubs while at Harvard might intrigue an employer. The search and the uncertainty around it is a grind, she acknowledged. “I think, as time goes on, and this feels sad, but I think as time goes on, my belief in myself slowly drops a little bit more with more rejections, and so I feel like I’ll be applying to less and less competitive things as I move forward,” Hofstede said.LEDOR Metoilli is a TikToker who has built a huge following through his car reviews. The social media star reviews cars that you would expect to see everyday as well as the most elite cars in the industry. Getting his start His first full review was posted on TikTok in January 2022 and covered his new CLK 320. In the video, he revealed that he loved its headlight washers, as well as its frame-less and pillar-less windows. The video went viral and he has since opened up about how the overwhelming positive response encouraged him to go further. He said it "gave me the courage to say 'okay let me post some more'". Read More on influencers His friends gave him the final push to go further with the channel. As of November 2024, Ledor has 149,000 followers on TikTok. He has also launched a successful Instagram account which has over 30,000 followers. Life of luxury Ledor regularly reviews high-end vehicles on his social media accounts. Most read in Motors In one video, he drives an Alpina B12 5.7 Switchtronic which he jokingly refers to as the "ultimate mafia car". In another TikTok, he races around in the suave Mercedes-AMG GT R Roadster. Ledor loves a bargain Ledor doesn't just drive luxury cars though. Fans love him because he still reviews more affordable cars . In one video, he explains the differences between buying a cheaper van compared to a more premium one. Ultimately, he concludes that Vauxhall Mavonos and Renault Masters are the best vehicles to buy, if you are on the lookout for a van. His humour remains unchanged too. In one hilarious TikTok, Ledor reviews a Little Tike car where he complains about its 200ml of boot space and lack of leg room. In the caption, he jokes that it is "the worst car in the world".

KYIV, Ukraine — NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the nearly 33-month-old war. The conflict is “entering a decisive phase,” Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday, and “taking on very dramatic dimensions.” Ukraine’s parliament canceled a session as security was tightened following Thursday's Russian strike on a military facility in the city of Dnipro. In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was in retaliation for Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. Putin said Western air defense systems would be powerless to stop the new missile. Ukrainian military officials said the missile that hit Dnipro had reached a speed of Mach 11 (about 8,373 mph) and carried six nonnuclear warheads each releasing six submunitions. Speaking Friday to military and weapons industries officials, Putin said Russia is launching production of the Oreshnik. “No one in the world has such weapons,” he said with a thin smile. “Sooner or later, other leading countries will also get them. We are aware that they are under development." But he added, "we have this system now. And this is important.” Testing the missile will continue, “including in combat, depending on the situation and the character of security threats created for Russia,” Putin said, noting there is ”a stockpile of such systems ready for use.” Putin said while it isn’t an intercontinental missile, it’s so powerful the use of several of them fitted with conventional warheads in one attack could be as devastating as a strike with strategic — or nuclear — weapons. Gen. Sergei Karakayev, head of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, said the Oreshnik could reach targets across Europe and be fitted with nuclear or conventional warheads, echoing Putin's claim that even with conventional warheads, “the massive use of the weapon would be comparable in effect to the use of nuclear weapons.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov kept up Russia's bellicose tone Friday, blaming “the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries” in supplying weapons to Ukraine to strike Russia. "The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in the event that our concerns were not taken into account have also been quite clearly outlined," he said. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, widely seen as having the warmest relations with the Kremlin in the European Union, echoed Moscow's talking points, suggesting the use of U.S.-supplied weapons in Ukraine likely requires direct American involvement. “These are rockets that are fired and then guided to a target via an electronic system, which requires the world’s most advanced technology and satellite communications capability,” Orbán said on state radio. “There is a strong assumption ... that these missiles cannot be guided without the assistance of American personnel.” Orbán cautioned against underestimating Russia’s responses, emphasizing that the country’s recent modifications to its nuclear deployment doctrine should not be dismissed as a “bluff.” “It’s not a trick... there will be consequences,” he said. Separately in Kyiv, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský called Thursday's missile strike an “escalatory step and an attempt of the Russian dictator to scare the population of Ukraine and to scare the population of Europe.” At a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Lipavský also expressed his full support for delivering the necessary additional air defense systems to protect Ukrainian civilians from the “heinous attacks.” He underlined that the Czech Republic will impose no limits on the use of its weapons and equipment given to Ukraine. Three lawmakers from Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, confirmed that Friday's previously scheduled session was called off due to the ongoing threat of Russian missiles targeting government buildings in central Kyiv. In addition, there also was a recommendation to limit the work of all commercial offices and nongovernmental organizations "in that perimeter, and local residents were warned of the increased threat,” said lawmaker Mykyta Poturaiev, who added this is not the first time such a threat has been received. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office continued to work in compliance with standard security measures, a spokesperson said. Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate said the Oreshnik missile, whose name in Russian means “hazelnut tree,” was fired from the Kapustin Yar 4th Missile Test Range in Russia’s Astrakhan region, and flew 15 minutes before striking Dnipro. Test launches of a similar missile were conducted in October 2023 and June 2024, the directorate said. The Pentagon confirmed the missile was a new, experimental type of intermediate-range missile based on its RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. Thursday's attack struck the Pivdenmash plant that built ICBMs when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. The military facility is located about 4 miles (6 1/2 kilometers) southwest of the center of Dnipro, a city of about 1 million that is Ukraine’s fourth-largest and a key hub for military supplies and humanitarian aid, and is home to one of the country’s largest hospitals for treating wounded soldiers from the front before their transfer to Kyiv or abroad. The stricken area was cordoned off and out of public view. With no fatalities reported from the attack, Dnipro residents resorted to dark humor on social media, mostly focused on the missile’s name, Oreshnik. Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russia struck a residential district of Sumy overnight with Iranian-designed Shahed drones, killing two people and injuring 13, the regional administration said.. Ukraine’s Suspilne media, quoting Sumy regional head Volodymyr Artiukh, said the drones were stuffed with shrapnel elements. “These weapons are used to destroy people, not to destroy objects,” said Artiukh, according to Suspilne. —— Associated Press journalists Lorne Cook in Brussels, Samya Kullab in Kyiv, Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, and Justin Spike in Budapest, Hungary, contributed. —— Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Himanshi Khurana all praise for Saba Qamar’s acting prowessFDA chief defends work on obesity, food to SenateTexas public school districts can soon begin purchasing new reading and math textbooks developed by the Texas Education Agency . During a Nov. 22 meeting, the State Board of Education voted to adopt a set of state-created elementary school reading and language arts; kindergarten through eighth grade math; and algebra 1 materials, known as Bluebonnet Learning . The current situation The board voted 8-7 to approve the Bluebonnet reading materials for classroom use, with three Republicans joining the board’s four Democrats in opposition to the materials. The TEA has been criticized for including frequent biblical references in the reading textbooks. Critics say the Bible stories are inappropriate for public schools and could isolate students with different religious beliefs, while proponents of the curriculum assert it will help close student achievement gaps and reduce teacher workloads. Board members voted 13-2 to approve the state math textbooks. The SBOE was still considering other materials proposed by additional publishers as of 12:30 p.m., Nov. 22. The TEA and 25 other publishers submitted over 140 materials to the SBOE in May. Approved materials will likely be available for districts to purchase in February or March, according to the TEA, and teachers can begin using them during the 2025-26 academic year. Use of the state-sanctioned materials is optional, but districts that do so would receive additional funding—up to $60 per student—to purchase and print them. Districts currently receive about $171 per student to acquire textbooks. “Today’s [SBOE] vote for high-quality curriculum will ensure all students are receiving appropriate grade-level instruction and is an important step to boosting student outcomes statewide,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said on social media shortly after the vote. Zooming in This is the first time Texas has created state-owned instructional materials. The TEA began developing the Bluebonnet materials in 2020. They were published for SBOE approval under House Bill 1605 , a 2023 law that overhauled Texas’ public school curriculum standards. The state textbooks are designed to be printed for classroom use. Families will be able to access free PDFs online, but there are no interactive digital aspects. Other approved materials include printed, digital and hybrid lesson plans. Ahead of a preliminary vote Nov. 19 , SBOE member Kevin Ellis, R-Lufkin, said the Bluebonnet materials would give school districts more options. Ellis voted in favor of the state curriculum. “I want to know, does [the curriculum] teach kids to read? That's the most important thing to me,” Ellis said. “I've also heard a lot about the rigor, about the grade level, and I think those are aspects that are up to a curriculum director who decides if this is right for their district.” Board member Staci Childs, D-Houston, who opposed the state textbooks, said Nov. 22 that Christian references in the textbooks outweigh information about other major religions. Christianity and the Bible are mentioned 3 times in the kindergarten materials, 4 times in the first grade materials, 17 times in the second grade materials, 190 times in the third grade materials, 81 times in the fourth grade materials and 66 times in the fifth grade materials, Childs said. “If a parent or a teacher who didn't feel comfortable teaching this were to bring this up to a court, I believe they would be successful,” Childs said. “In my good conscience... I just do not feel that these materials are yet reflective of the experiences and the nuance of Texas students.” How we got here Dozens of publishers, including the TEA, released thousands of pages of proposed instructional materials in May. Nearly 300 people were trained to conduct an extensive review of the proposals this summer, while hundreds of Texans submitted online and in-person comments. During public testimony Nov. 18, some Texans expressed concerns that Bible stories in the Bluebonnet textbooks verge on proselytizing and interfere with parents’ rights to teach their children about a religion at home. Abby Burnham, a Jewish parent, said she faced “repeated attempts to promote Christian ideologies” as a Texas public school student. “I vividly remember when I expressed discomfort as a student and a teacher told me that I should just get used to it, that that is the world that I live in,” Burnham said Nov. 18. “That moment stayed with me—not because it reflects the fairness or diversity I believe in, but because it made me feel like I don't belong.” TEA leaders have insisted religious references in the curriculum are not meant to promote a certain religion and instead will provide students with cross-curricular knowledge and important context about American history. “I have not seen any Bluebonnet [material] that uses solely Christian religious references,” TEA Commissioner Mike Morath told the SBOE Nov. 20. “Any assertion of that is incorrect.” Christie Slape, who chairs the Williamson County chapter of Moms for Liberty , said Sept. 10 the state textbooks would help improve student outcomes and ensure teachers do not have to build their own curriculum. “For parents, printed materials allow them to engage in reviewing, discussing and practicing lessons with their child, fostering a much needed return to parental involvement in their child's education,” Slape said. “For children, most importantly, they provide rigorous, age-appropriate lessons and literature that are on paper and not on a glowing screen.” In the classroom Several Texas school districts, including Temple ISD , have piloted the TEA’s elementary-level materials in classrooms since 2021. TISD teachers and a district administrator traveled to Austin Nov. 18 to testify in support of the Bluebonnet curriculum. “The curriculum is for all diverse learners, flexible for various teacher expertise and inclusive for families,” kindergarten teacher Jomeka Gray told the board. “I am confident that my students will continue to have positive outcomes as they move forward in their academic journey.” Lisa Adams, a deputy superintendent for TISD, said students on campuses that implemented the state textbooks began “outperforming their grade-level peers” within the first few months of the pilot program. Lubbock ISD began piloting the TEA’s elementary-level materials at four schools during the 2021-22 school year. All 28 elementary schools in LISD were using the materials by the 2023-24 school year.

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OAKLAND — The race to be Oakland’s next mayor may have officially kicked off Monday, but the starting line is eerily quiet — and may continue to be until Rep. Barbara Lee makes up her mind about whether to run. Lee, the longtime East Bay congresswoman and stalwart of progressive politics, said late last week in a social media post that she will announce her decision in early January, noting the decision was “not one I take lightly.” In the meantime, Lee has held numerous private meetings with city officials about the issues affecting Oakland, from the ongoing budget crisis to homelessness to policing, two sources with direct knowledge of those conversations told this news organization. The policy “deep dive,” as a source not authorized to speak publicly put it, might offer reassurance to skeptics who worry that the retiring legislator, who has represented Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley and San Leandro in Congress since 1998, would struggle to adapt to running a city full-time. But the larger consequence of Lee’s decision-making timeline is that the run-up to the April 15 special election to replace Mayor Sheng Thao has largely stalled. Most candidates are holding off until Lee makes a move. Hours after the formal start on Monday of the candidate filing period, which lasts until Jan. 17, only two people had scheduled appointments to pull papers for the office — Peter Liu and Mindy Ruth Pechenuk , a pair of fringe prospects who are unlikely to make a dent in the race. Loren Taylor, the runner-up in the 2022 mayoral election, said Monday he plans to pull papers in the coming days, noting in an interview that his desire to help Oakland grow as a city won’t be affected by whom he’s running against. But others, such as former Councilmember Ignacio De La Fuente and lobbyist Isaac Kos-Read, have said they’re holding off. “To be candid, I’m getting a little restless — but out of respect I have to wait,” De La Fuente said Monday in an interview. “Hopefully, she’ll make a decision soon.” An open letter published last week by numerous Oakland leaders urging Lee to run included sign-offs from City Council members Nikki Fortunato Bas, Treva Reid and Dan Kalb, as well as prospective candidate Kos-Read. The letter included signatures from both labor leaders and local political figures who otherwise have often clashed on issues like crime and public spending. “We need someone who can bring the new ideas, policies, resources and opportunities that the people of Oakland deserve,” the letter read. “That person is Barbara Lee.” There are other examples of weighty political races symbolically put on hold amid “will they, won’t they” tension involving potential candidates, including late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s indecision to run for California governor in 1998. But the upcoming special election in Oakland is unique in how strongly some local leaders seem to be thinking past the election entirely in their overtures to Lee, said political expert Dan Schnur. “These communities and business and labor leaders aren’t begging her to run because they think she’s the only one who can win,” Schnur said. “They think she’s the only one who can govern.” The clearest sign of how many in the city view Lee — who has often weighed in on local affairs to oppose Thao’s recall or support striking teachers or chastise the departing A’s — might be a billboard that popped up in recent weeks along Interstate 880 in East Oakland. “Thank You, Barbara Lee,” it reads, “for bringing over half a billion dollars of federal funds into Oakland in 2024!” The billboard, hoisted near the highway’s High Street exit, also links to a website, thankyoubarbaralee.com, which lists some of Lee’s accomplishments and includes a sign-up form “to add your name to our letter of gratitude!” Both the physical and digital ads were created by the East Oakland Youth Development Center. Selena Wilson, the nonprofit’s CEO, said the gesture had nothing to do with the upcoming special election and was solely intended to honor the congresswoman for her longtime support of the center. Nationally, Lee is perhaps best known for being the only member of Congress to oppose the use of military force following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Her entry into the race would bring a layer of gravitas to the top political office in Oakland, a city whose reputation took a hit after crime rose and the economy declined during the pandemic. But it may also bring back memories of the mayoral tenure of the late Rep. Ron Delllums, whose decorated legacy was hurt by the perception that he was an absentee leader during the Great Recession, or former Gov. Jerry Brown, whose time as mayor coincided with the infamous Riders police brutality scandal. Taylor, meanwhile, is steadfast about wanting to lead, an ambition that has not diminished in the two years since his loss to Thao by fewer than 700 ranked-choice votes. “I think the fact that the others are playing a game of political calculus,” he said, “is indicative of where their leadership commitment is and how confident they are in what they’re bringing to the table.”

It has become clear that Afia Schwar is bored with her life after staying abroad for a few months. Her recent outbursts on social media is beginning to sound like a cry for help. In a startling admission, Afia claimed she has been pregnant 12 times this year, but chose to terminate all the pregnancies because she “didn’t pray to be pregnant.” Afia shared a video as evidence, displaying a pregnancy test kit to substantiate her claims. She explained her decision, saying, “I didn’t pray to get pregnant, so I got rid of them. It’s not by force to keep something I didn’t ask for.” She also took the opportunity to mock her long-standing rival, Deloris Frimpong Manso, popularly known as Delay. In a scathing comment aimed at Delay, Afia said, “Some people are out there praying for just one child, but God keeps favouring me with babies I don’t even need. Who’s truly blessed now?” Afia’s comments have sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many criticising her for being insensitive and trivialising a deeply personal and sensitive issue. Others have expressed shock at how she was bragging about taking off her pregnancy. Delay has not responded to Afia’s comments, but her fans have taken to social media to defend her, praising her resilience and class for not engaging in the constant provocations by the “crazy woman”. See the video below; Source:Ghanacelebrities.comHERZLIYA, Israel and CALGARY, Alberta , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Innocan Pharma Corporation (CSE: INNO) (FSE: IP4) (OTCQB: INNPF ) (the "Company" or "Innocan") a pharmaceutical technology company focusing on developing innovative drug delivery platform technologies and an owner of a proprietary intellectual property portfolio, is pleased to share its annual "State of Research and Development" update for 2024. This year, the Company achieved significant milestones in advancing research and development for its drug delivery platforms as well as its intellectual property portfolio. During 2024, Innocan achieved significant milestones in both scientific and regulatory domains. Preclinical studies of its liposome-cannabidiol technology (LPT - CBD ( demonstrated high CBD bioavailability, along with long-lasting pain relief and improved well-being in various animal models. Building on this compelling data, the Company secured agreement from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the preclinical and Phase 1 clinical development plan to advance LPT-CBD as a treatment for chronic pain in humans. Additionally, the FDA acknowledged LPT-CBD's development under the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway, which provides Innocan with an accelerated route to patent utilization and commercialization. On the veterinary front, LPT-CBD's innovation was recognized by the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), which granted Innocan a fee waiver for 2024 and issued a number that identifies an Investigational New Animal Drug (INAD). This designation allows Innocan to facilitate correspondence and data exchange with the CVM to support the development of LPT-CBD as a new veterinary drug. Iris Bincovich, CEO of Innocan Pharma, commented: "In 2024, we not only met but surpassed our FDA-related goals, achieving regulatory milestones ahead of schedule. With the FDA 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway meeting behind us, these advancements position us to accelerate our development in 2025, bringing us closer to delivering innovative pain management solutions for both human and veterinary applications." The 505(b)(2) FDA regulatory pathway offers a streamlined approach for developing a long-acting injectable cannabinoid using a liposomal drug delivery platform to treat chronic pain. By leveraging existing pre-clinical data from approved products, this pathway is expected to significantly shorten both development time and cost. This pathway facilitates innovative formulations like liposomal delivery, by allowing for modifications to dosage forms, administration routes, or drug combinations, all while adhering to stringent safety and efficacy standards. This approach is expected to accelerate market entry and address unmet medical needs in chronic pain management. Company ' s Update on its Activity in Research and Development and FDA interactions On February 26, 2024 , the Company announced the latest findings from the Company's pharmacokinetic study of its liposome CBD platform ("LPT-CBD") in rabbits. In agreement with studies conducted in other animals (mice, dogs, goats, and sheep) this study resulted in prolonged exposure of CBD obtained following a single subcutaneous LPT-CBD injection. This data along with data obtained from other organisms injected with the Company's liposomal CBD, consistently demonstrates that a detectable CBD level could be maintained for weeks following a single injection. On March 5, 2024 , the Company announced the results of a recent tissue distribution study of its liposome CBD platform (LPT-CBD), that indicated the potential of LPT-CBD to support a new therapeutic venue for neurological disorders. In this study, CBD was found to be in the brains of both mice and rabbits weeks after LPT-CBD was subcutaneously injected to them. LPT technology provides a long presence of CBD in the blood enabling CBD to pass the blood brain barrier (BBB) and deliver long brain exposure. On April 22, 2024 , the Company announced that it had submitted its letter of application for a Pre-IND meeting, the first phase in the FDA approval process in the United States for LPT-CBD. Innocan's Pre-IND meeting request letter to the FDA represents a key milestone and important first step in seeking approval of its LPT-CBD therapy for use in humans. The objective of the Pre-IND meeting is to obtain guidance from the FDA on the preclinical and clinical development plan, enabling the initiation of an investigational new drug ("IND") program in the United States . On May 9, 2024 , the Company announced the successful pre-clinical treatment of amputee female donkey with a liposomal-CBD injection. Miri, a-7-year-old female donkey, had undergone amputation of her right front limb, leaving the weight burden primarily on her left front limb. This led to an inflammatory disease affecting the soft tissue that connects the foot bone to the hoof, seemingly causing extreme pain and limited mobility. In a compassionate act, Miri was administered a liposomal-CBD injection. The effect was immediate as Miri regained her ability to walk and move as she had before her inflammatory disease developed. On May 21, 2024 , the Company announced significant advancements in the regulatory process for its LPT - CBD, which provides an innovative solution in non-opioid pain management. The FDA granted Innocan an INAD number and approved an initial meeting with the Company to discuss the strategic path forward. The meeting with the FDA was on July 31, 2024 , where Innocan presented its preclinical results and proposed clinical development plan. The meeting is key to launching human clinical trials for the LPT-CBD injectable drug, developed to provide a novel treatment option for chronic pain. On June 11, 2024 , the Company announced the success and conclusion of a preliminary safety evaluation of Innocan's single injection and sustained-release LPT-CBD conducted on minipigs. Recognized by the FDA as an excellent model for toxicology, minipigs are small breeds of miniature domestic pigs which share strong similarities with humans in crucial aspects such as drug metabolism, skin structure, genetics, and physiological mechanisms. In this preliminary safety study, minipigs received a single subcutaneous injection of LPT-CBD and were closely monitored for pharmacokinetics and basic safety parameters over one month. The animals all exhibited good drug tolerance and did not manifest any drug-related adverse reactions. On July 2, 2024 , the Company announced that it engaged the Past President of the Eastern Pain Association, Dr. William K. Schmidt , to support its LPT-CBD submission process to the FDA for chronic pain. His extensive expertise in pain-related clinical development and regulatory affairs will strongly contribute to Innocan's team during the LPT-CBD submission process with the FDA. Dr. Schmidt brings over 25 years of pharmaceutical industry clinical trial experience, specializing in analgesic and narcotic antagonist drug development. On July 26, 2024 , the Company announced that the CVM) granted the Company a sponsor fee waiver and assigned an INAD number for its LPT-CBD product. This represented a significant step for the Company, as an INAD designation facilitates correspondence and data exchange with CVM to support LPT-CBD development as a new veterinary drug. The Company further announced that following the assessment of LPT-CBD's scientific package, the CVM recognized Innocan's contribution to pursuing innovative animal drug products and technology and granted the Company a sponsor fee waiver for fiscal year 2024. Over the past year, repeated administration of LPT-CBD in dogs and other animals demonstrated both efficacy and tolerability, providing sufficient evidence for the INAD application. On September 3, 2024 , the Company announced that it received a positive response from the FDA following Innocan's successful pre-IND Type B meeting with the FDA held in July, for its lead drug product LPT-CBD. The FDA has agreed to LPT-CBD's submission under the 505(b)(2) New Drug Application (NDA) by establishing a scientific bridge to the reference listed drug. The 505(b)(2) abbreviated pathway, as it is often described, typically enables a faster route to patent utilization and commercial approval. This pathway is a significant milestone for Innocan, as it may pave the way for a streamlined and accelerated FDA approval process for LPT-CBD, while allowing Innocan to advance its patent protected innovation. In addition, Innocan has reached an alignment with the FDA on both its non-clinical development plan and the clinical study design for LPT-CBD's proposed IND filing for a Phase I clinical study. On October 9, 2024 , The Company announced that Dr. Joseph V. Pergolizzi, Jr. , M.D., a member of the Company's Scientific Advisory Board, was recognized among the top 2% most cited scientists in the world in a new list published by Stanford University . This achievement underscores Dr. Pergolizzi's long-term contribution to medical science and his influential role in shaping global healthcare practices. Dr. Pergolizzi was appointed to be part of Innocan's Scientific Advisory Board in September 2023 . His role focuses on promoting pharmaceutical human product R&D and supporting the Company's planned FDA filing for new medications. His expertise in pain management, critical care medicine, and regulatory processes are key in advancing the issuer's pharmaceutical developments. On October 11, 2024 , the Company announced promising results from a multi-year compassionate therapy using repeated LPT-CBD injections for pain relief in dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis. The therapy consistently demonstrated pain reduction and improved mobility, with effects lasting for several weeks after each injection as expected. These results further demonstrate that LPT-CBD can be a viable treatment option for managing chronic pain and enhancing the quality of life in animals. In two ongoing cases, dogs suffering from osteoarthritis who were treated with LPT-CBD after failing to respond to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and oral CBD, showed noticeable pain relief, substantially improved mobility and increased well-being which was clearly noticeable. Both dogs remained on LPT-CBD treatment for 2 and 2.5 years, respectively after their owners reported significant improvement in quality of life, receiving the treatment in addition to other conventional treatments. About Innocan Innocan is an innovator in the pharmaceuticals and wellness sectors. In the pharmaceuticals sector, Innocan developed a CBD-loaded liposome drug delivery platform with exact dosing, prolonged and controlled release of synthetic CBD for non-opioid pain management. In the wellness sector, Innocan develops and markets a wide portfolio of high-performance self-care and beauty products to promote a healthier lifestyle. Under this segment Innocan carries on business through its 60% owned subsidiary, BI Sky Global Ltd. which focuses on advanced, targeted online sales. www.innocanpharma.com For further information, please contact: Iris Bincovich, CEO +1-516-210-4025 +972-54-3012842 +44 203 769 9377 [email protected] NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking information Certain information set forth in this news release, including, without limitation, information regarding research and development, collaborations, the filing of potential applications with the FDA and other regulatory authorities, the potential achievement of future regulatory milestones, the potential for treatment of conditions and other therapeutic effects resulting from research activities and/or the Company's products, requisite regulatory approvals and the timing for market entry and potential for patent utilization and commercialization is forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. By its nature, forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond Innocan's control. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by Innocan, including expectations and assumptions concerning the anticipated benefits of the products, satisfaction of regulatory requirements in various jurisdictions and satisfactory completion of requisite production and distribution arrangements. Forward-looking information is subject to various risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed in this news release. The key risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: general global and local (national) economic, market and business conditions; governmental and regulatory requirements and actions by governmental authorities; and relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, customers, business partners and competitors. There are also risks that are inherent in the nature of product distribution, including import / export matters and the failure to obtain any required regulatory and other approvals (or to do so in a timely manner) and availability in each market of product inputs and finished products. The anticipated timeline for entry to markets may change for a number of reasons, including the inability to secure necessary regulatory requirements, or the need for additional time to conclude and/or satisfy the manufacturing and distribution arrangements. As a result of the foregoing, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information contained in this news release concerning the timing of launch of product distribution. A comprehensive discussion of other risks that impact Innocan can also be found in Innocan's public reports and filings which are available under Innocan's profile at www.sedar.com . Readers are cautioned that undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information as actual results may vary materially from the forward-looking information. Innocan does not undertake to update, correct or revise any forward looking information as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2570689/Innocan_Pharma_Logo.jpg SOURCE Innocan Pharma Corporation

Parents were rejoicing this week as Roblox, the popular online game marketed to children , announced that they were introducing some big changes to their controversial chat features. It was confirmed that the platform would be implementing significant updates to its safety systems and parental controls – including blocking those under 13 from messaging others online – as soon as 2025. While many have been reassured by the new rules, that have complimented the Australian government’s ban on social media for children under 16, many online safety experts are warning parents to not get too sucked into what they view as a false sense of hope. According to former detective and child safety expert, Kristi McVee , the changes to Roblox’s chat options appear to be positive on the surface, but parents need to dig a little deeper to make sure their children are completely safe while using the app. “Whilst Roblox has made what appears positive changes to protect children under the age of 13, the changes are a fake ‘security’ measure for parents and less than what Roblox can do to protect children,” Kristi told Kidspot. “My biggest beef which the surface level protective measures Roblox released, is that it puts the onus back on the parents to ensure children are safe on their game. These changes were made purely as a ‘reputation saving exercise’ after being labeled a ‘pedophile’s hellscape’ in the Hindenburg Report in October.” According to Kristi, putting the responsibility back on the parents is a major red flag relating to the new rules. “Roblox chose to make it a parent’s responsibility to keep kids safe instead of blocking and removing the millions of predatory adults who prey upon kids in the game and the millions of inappropriate games and content that our children have access to,” she insists. “They know that the game users and content are problematic, yet they have taken the easy option to make parents responsible for a game specifically targeted and aimed at children. “For children under the age of 13 years, a parent account NEEDS to be set up and linked to their children’s account to be able to set up the new safety measures, however, from 13 years plus, they no longer have any control over their accounts.” Similar to many people’s concerns about the social media ban on under 16 seeing children lie about their ages, Kristi admits she is also concerned that this ‘trend’ will filter into online games such as Roblox. “As a detective and cyber safety educator, I saw numerous children set up accounts using fake dates of birth to varying social media platforms to enable access. What’s to stop any child from creating accounts doing this? There is no age verification, so anyone can create a 13-plus account and start playing/talking to strangers,” she points out. “Kids are very resourceful and will find a way if they want to. As parents, we need tech companies and especially platforms designed for our kids to take some accountability and do more. “They have ways to identify and remove these predatory accounts, yet they choose to turn a blind eye and tell parents it’s their fault if their child is abused on our platform,” she adds. Now is not the time to panic, however. If your child does play Roblox , there are ways to keep them safe. “If you choose to let your children on Roblox, ensure they have the right date of birth and use whatever settings are available to you,” Kristi suggests. “Regularly supervise and play alongside them, be in the room with them, and check their usage weekly. “Get to know the platform and how it works, identify what games your child is playing, and be mindful of 3rd party messaging apps like Discord. Kids might not talk to each other in the game, but they can still communicate via other messaging apps,” she adds. Earlier this week, Chief Safety Officer Matt Kaufman made the announcement that Roblox would be making some significant changes to its platform to make it safer for some of its youngest users. Though he said that connecting with others is core to the Roblox experience , Kaufman also acknowledged that safety is of the utmost importance. As a result of this, users under the age of 13 will no longer be able to message others on Roblox outside of games or experiences. There will also be a built-in setting introduced limiting users under 13 to public broadcast messages only within a game or experience. By default, users under 13 will not be able to directly message others – however, parents can change this setting in Parental Controls.