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fortune gems 3 tada download OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will chair a meeting of the cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations today, amid increasing calls for his resignation. A mid-day adjustment to Trudeau's itinerary was issued by the Prime Minister's Office and notes he will take part in the meeting virtually, though a specific time wasn't listed. It's been a chaotic week for the governing Liberals, starting with Chrystia Freeland's cabinet resignation just hours after she was set to table the fall economic statement. Freeland and new Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc have previously spoken with the media at the conclusion of these cabinet committee meetings. The committee was reformed following Donald Trump's re-election, and a chief topic of discussion at the meetings has been border security after the incoming president threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian products. Several Liberal MPs publicly called for Trudeau to step down as Liberal leader since Freeland's resignation, and the NDP has joined the other major opposition parties in saying it no longer has confidence in the minority Liberal government. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 23, 2024 David Baxter, The Canadian Press

Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s pick for intel chief, faces questions on Capitol Hill amid Syria fallout

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Venture capital firm Energy Innovation Capital (EIC), global digital and AI transformation consulting firm A&MPLIFY by Alvarez and Marsal , world class engineering and research university Virginia Tech , leading cloud and AI platform Amazon Web Services (AWS) , and DC region real estate owner and developer JBG SMITH today announced the launch of the Virtus Innovation Center (Virtus) in National Landing ( www.virtusinnovation.com ). While Washington, DC is the epicenter for energy policy and national security, there is untapped potential in the market and a lack of innovation programs that effectively bridge capital formation, incubation, and acceleration for early-stage companies. Once funding is secured, Virtus’ differentiated platform aims to leverage the collective expertise of its partners to provide startup companies the physical resources, capital, and strategic support they need to develop innovative national security and energy technologies. The plan for Virtus’ integrated approach includes: Venture Fund: The launch of an early-stage fund, in an effort to provide capital for companies pioneering emerging technologies in the focus areas of national security and energy resilience. Incubator: A 40,000-square-foot facility located within JBG SMITH’s National Landing portfolio that includes coworking and convening space to foster collaboration between start-ups and participating partners, lab and prototyping space, and access to Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (“SCIF”) space. Accelerator: Programming structured to facilitate innovation collaboration between start-ups, corporate sponsors, government agencies, and academic institutions, as well as support services, events, and grand innovation challenge thesis development. The Virtus Innovation Center will be an independent organization managed by a board of directors comprising sponsors and partners. It is being developed by principals from EIC and A&MPLIFY by Alavarez and Marsal. It is supported by JBG SMITH, AWS, and Virginia Tech. EIC invests across industrial and energy technologies and managing a portfolio with $350 million AUM. A&MPLIFY by Alvarez and Marsal brings its digital, AI, innovation, federal, and energy expertise. Virginia Tech provides distinguished research capabilities and human capital with critical skills, and JBG SMITH will provide the physical space for the incubator alongside high quality amenities, both physical and digital, it is delivering across the National Landing neighborhood. “Over the last 20 years the team at EIC has invested in 150 industrial technology companies enabling electrification, decarbonization, AI, autonomy, and critical technology onshoring. The convergence of these sectors has created significant national security and energy resiliency innovation opportunities,” said Andrew Lackner, Managing Partner of EIC Virtus. “The Virtus Innovation Center will enable startups to leverage DC’s defense and energy ecosystem to accelerate the commercialization of dual-use technologies. We look forward to collaborating with startups, corporations, federal agencies, and other investors to accelerate technologies critical to the national interest of the US.” “We’ve seen the success that is possible when startups and corporations work together to find better technological solutions, and Virtus Innovation Incubator is an exciting opportunity to accomplish that in an established and global industry,” said Bob Ghafouri, Co-Founder and Managing Director at A&MPLIFY by Alvarez & Marsal. “Large, forward-thinking companies are engaging successfully with startups, looking at startups as discovery arms and co-collaborators for innovation.” “With the increasing importance of supporting the growth and energy demand of Artificial Intelligence, the intersection of energy and defense has become a national security priority,” said Matt Kelly, JBG SMITH CEO. “As the incubator partner of the Virtus Innovation Center, we are well-positioned with our physical space near the Pentagon and AI infrastructure to collaborate and scale innovation across the startup community to create new solutions for defense and energy.” Virtus aims to meet the heightened demand for technological advancement in energy and security, driven by various factors including: increased geopolitical activity and the evolving complexity of physical and digital threats; the multi-decade shift to lower-carbon energy; and the exponential growth of data, large language models, data centers, and widespread digitalization across sectors that has transformed how work is done. Virtus will also directly benefit from its strategic location in National Landing, which offers a high concentration of defense-tech and adjacent industries, all of which are clustered together with immediate proximity to the Pentagon, Amazon HQ2, Virginia Tech’s $1B Innovation Campus and dozens of relevant private enterprises and government agencies, including seven of the ten largest recipients of federal defense spending. “Virginia Tech could not be more excited to collaborate with Virtus and partners to ensure cutting-edge technologies with dual-use applications including artificial intelligence, integrated communications and networking, and quantum information and sensing reach the marketplace to support the pressing needs of the nation,” said Eric Paterson, Virginia Tech National Security Institute Executive Director. “With proximity to the nation’s Capital, the institute and Innovation Campus bring vast expertise, unique research facilities, and mission-oriented initiatives, which position us to assist partners in the curation of new startups that seek to solve emerging national security challenges.” Learn more about the Virtus Innovation Center: www.virtusinnovation.com About A&MPLIFY by Alvarez & Marsal A&MPLIFY is the artificial intelligence and digital transformation unit of Alvarez & Marsal. We are marketers, product managers, technologists and data scientists from industry, consulting and technology with innovation studios across the US, Europe, Asia, Latin America, Australia and the Middle East. To learn more, visit www.a-mplify.com . About Alvarez & Marsal Founded in 1983, Alvarez & Marsal is a leading global professional services firm. Renowned for its leadership, action and results, Alvarez & Marsal provides advisory, business performance improvement and turnaround management services, delivering practical solutions to address clients' unique challenges. With a world-wide network of experienced operators, world-class consultants, former regulators and industry authorities, Alvarez & Marsal helps corporates, boards, private equity firms, law firms and government agencies drive transformation, mitigate risk and unlock value at every stage of growth. To learn more, visit AlvarezandMarsal.com . About Energy Innovation Capital (EIC) Energy Innovation Capital invests in companies that are developing industrial technologies transforming energy, national security, and resource intensive industries. EIC currently manages four venture capital funds with AUM of $350M, a corporate innovation partnership program, and an active portfolio of 33 companies. For more information, please visit www.energyinnovationcapital.com . About JBG SMITH JBG SMITH owns, operates, invests in, and develops mixed-use properties in high growth and high barrier-to-entry submarkets in and around Washington, DC, most notably National Landing. Through an intense focus on placemaking, JBG SMITH cultivates vibrant, amenity-rich, walkable neighborhoods throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Approximately 75.0% of JBG SMITH's holdings are in the National Landing submarket in Northern Virginia, which is anchored by four key demand drivers: Amazon's new headquarters; Virginia Tech's under-construction $1 billion Innovation Campus; the submarket’s proximity to the Pentagon; and our retail and digital placemaking initiatives and public infrastructure improvements. JBG SMITH's dynamic portfolio currently comprises 13.1 million square feet of high-growth multifamily, office and retail assets at share, 98% of which are Metro-served. It also maintains a development pipeline encompassing 9.3 million square feet of mixed-use, primarily multifamily, development opportunities. JBG SMITH is committed to the operation and development of green, smart, and healthy buildings and plans to maintain carbon neutral operations annually. For more information on JBG SMITH please visit www.jbgsmith.com . About Virginia Tech In 1987 Virginia Tech was designated an R1 institution, which is the highest designation for research universities. With locations in Blacksburg and Roanoke, Virginia, and the Washington D.C. metro area including the Innovation Campus, Virginia Tech offers approximately 280 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 38,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students across the commonwealth. The university’s research enterprise encompasses over $419 million in sponsored research expenditures in fiscal year 2023. Virginia Tech is one of six senior military colleges in the U.S., a National Security Agency Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Research , Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations, and an Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence. One of the university’s seven research institutes , the Virginia Tech National Security Institute brings together transdisciplinary researchers, programs, and resources from across the university, integrating student learning and cutting-edge research at a scale unmatched by other organizations, producing research and impacting policy related to legal and practical challenges facing national intelligence, defense, law enforcement, homeland security, and cybersecurity communities that are relevant to current questions of national security law and policy and that aid senior policymakers, key departments, and agencies.

Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL) is in a discussion to have a Test in Fiji on October 10 , 2025. This is to warm-up for the Pacific Bowl Championship. Fiji Bati head coach Wise Kativerata confirmed the move. “That’s one thing we want to try and bring to Suva during the Fiji Day celebration,” he said. “We’re talking to two nations to see what we come up with.” Kativerata indicated some highlights for this year included the pre-season National Rugby League (NRL) match between Newcastle Knights and Melbourne Storm at Lautoka’s Churchill Park on February 24 which was a success for FNRL. “We also hosted the Pacific Bowl Championship in Suva two months ago which was a good boost for the game. “We have got to start working really hard for the next three years in building a pathway as we got Papua New Guinea coming in,” Kativerata added. 2025 plans He added they are planning to build an academy for the under-14 to 18 grade next year in all parts of Fiji. “The under 19 to 23 is the Resident squad. “We are going to focus more on schools and islands including Vanua Levu to bring them up to come to Viti Levu,” Kativerata said. “We’re going to Tailevu North and Naitasiri as well. Something we need to go after are the players because 2028 is just around the corner and we want to set up a pathway system.” Kativerata said they aim to change the young players’ mindset. “It takes years to get to the top and that’s why we need to educate our young Fijian kids,” he said. Kativerata was hopeful that the Melbourne Storm will play more games in Fiji next year. Wakeham cleared Kativerata said that former West Tigers halfback Brandon Wakeham can still be include in the Fiji Bati squad. This is after Fox Sports reported that the alleged drug charges were dropped against the 25-year-old on November 12. Wakeham was arrested in May 15 near Brookvale Oval and charged with taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug, greater than a large commercial quantity, taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug, greater than an indictable and less than a commercial quantity and participating in a criminal group. “If he’s (Wakeham) playing good football in high class environment like reserve grade or NRL system then we’re going to consider that looking at what Wakeham bring to the table,” he said. “Next year is important that we put a core player for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup so we’re going to work in a combination that stays leading towards the World Cup.” Feedback: ioane.asioli@fijisun.com.fjBy Lizette Chapman | Bloomberg Software company Palantir Technologies and Costa Mesa-based weapons maker Anduril Industries plan to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence in the US military and are inviting other companies to join the effort. Under an agreement announced Friday, battlefield information created by sensors, vehicles, robots and weapons will be collected by Anduril’s Lattice software and then pulled into a secure Palantir platform that will prepare the data for use in AI training and development. The data gathered would include information classified at the highest levels of secrecy. The move is the latest in a series of partnerships announced by defense tech companies this week seeking to put AI technology to greater use in military applications. On Wednesday, Anduril unveiled plans to work with OpenAI on anti-drone systems, and Palantir on Thursday signed an accord with Shield AI to collaborate on autonomous flight systems. The agreements highlight the growing importance of artificial intelligence to the US military as it seeks to maintain an edge over China and other adversaries, creating an opening for contractors to deliver new technology. Palantir’s partnership with Anduril builds on years of coordination between the two companies backed by billionaire venture investor Peter Thiel and signals an expansion of Silicon Valley’s role in reshaping the US defense industry. Earlier this year, Palantir won the US Army’s Titan contract, making it the first software company to win a prime contract and propelling its government business past analyst estimates. The Denver-based company, co-founded by Thiel in 2003, has seen huge demand for its AI products from both commercial and government customers, sending its shares soaring. At more than $173 billion, its market capitalization now surpasses that of Lockheed Martin Corp. Co-founded by early Palantir employee and Founders Fund General Partner Trae Stephens, Anduril sells its reusable rockets, drones and submarines and related software platform Lattice to the US and allied countries. Investors last valued it at $14 billion on expectations of continued growth in those sectors as it builds a factory to increase production while exploring new growth areas. Last month, it won a contract with the US Space Command. Despite progress by startups like Anduril in winning defense dollars, venture-backed startups are far from replacing legacy defense contractors. Elon Musk’s SpaceX won more than 80% of all government spending awarded to startups tracked by the Silicon Valley Defense Group, according to a report earlier this year that doesn’t include Palantir because it is public. Executives from companies including Palantir and Anduril along with Musk have called for changes in how the Defense Department purchases weapons and other technology to be faster, cheaper and more streamlined. Musk, the world’s richest man, was asked by President-elect Donald Trump to co-chair an advisory panel to make the US government more efficient. In announcing their new AI effort Friday, Palantir and Anduril described it as a consortium they intend to eventually expand to other industry partners. “No single company is capable of delivering on the promise of AI for national security,” they said in their announcement. “It takes a team of companies that are willing and able to ensure that the U.S. government remains the world leader in fielding advanced technologies that keep our citizens safe.” Related Articles Business | Can AI chatbots make your holiday shopping easier? Business | OpenAI Sam Altman ‘not that worried’ about rival Elon Musk’s influence in the Trump administration Business | Apple readies more conversational Siri in bid to catch up in AI Business | Siri gets smarter as Apple adds AI to iPhone Business | How Big Tech won big against regulation in California this year

NEW YORK -- As New York City prosecutors work to bring murder charges against Luigi Mangione in the brazen killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, supporters of the suspect are donating tens of thousands of dollars for a defense fund established for him, leaving law enforcement officials worried Mangione is being turned into a martyr. Several online defense funds have been created for Mangione by anonymous people, including one on the crowdfunding website GiveSendGo that as of Sunday morning had raised over $100,000. NOTE: The video above is from a previous report. The GiveSendGo defense fund for the 26-year-old Mangione was established by an anonymous group calling itself "The December 4th Legal Committee," apparently in reference to the day Mangione allegedly ambushed and gunned down Thompson in Midtown Manhattan as the executive walked to his company's shareholders conference at the New York Hilton hotel. "We are not here to celebrate violence, but we do believe in the constitutional right to fair legal representation," the anonymous group said in a statement. The crowdfunding campaign prompted donations from thousands of anonymous donors across the country, many of them leaving messages of support for Mangione, including one person who called themselves "A frustrated citizen" and thanked Mangione for "sparking the awareness and thought across this sleeping nation." The GiveSendGo fund for Mangione appeared to be briefly taken down before it was restored on Thursday. In a statement to ABC News, a spokesperson for GiveSendGo said the company "operates with a principle of not preemptively determining guilt or innocence." "Our platform does not adjudicate legal matters or the validity of causes. Instead, we allow campaigns to remain live unless they violate the specific terms outlined in our Terms of Use. Importantly, we do allow campaigns for legal defense funds, as we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to access due process," the GiveSendGo spokesperson said. The spokesperson added, "We understand the concerns raised by such campaigns and take these matters seriously. When campaigns are reported, our team conducts a thorough review to ensure they comply with our policies. While other platforms may choose a different approach, GiveSendGo's core value is to provide a space where all individuals, no matter their situation, can seek and receive support, with donors making their own informed decisions." Other crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe have also taken down campaigns soliciting donations for Mangione's defense. "GoFundMe's Terms of Service prohibit fundraisers for the legal defense of violent crimes," the crowdfunding website said in a statement. "The fundraisers have been removed from our platform and all donors have been refunded."Amazon and Etsy have removed from their websites merchandise featuring Mangione, including T-shirts and tote bags reading "Free Luigi" and the phrase "Deny, Defend, Depose," words police said were etched in the shell casings discovered at the scene of Thompson's homicide. "Celebrating this conduct is abhorrent to me. It's deeply disturbing," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told ABC News senior investigative reporter Aaron Katersky in an interview Wednesday night. "And what I would say to members of the public, people who as you described are celebrating this and maybe contemplating other action, that we will be vigilant and we will hold people accountable. We are at the ready." Prosecutors at the Manhattan district attorney's office have begun presenting evidence to a grand jury as they work to try to secure an indictment against Mangione, sources told ABC News on Thursday. Mangione's attorney, Thomas Dickey of Altoona, Pennsylvania, where the suspect was arrested Monday following a five-day manhunt, said his client is presumed innocent and will plead not guilty to any charges filed against him. Mangione is contesting extradition to New York. Asked about people contributing to Mangione defense funds that have popped up, Dickey said, "People are entitled to their opinion and, like I said, if you're an American and you believe in the American criminal justice system, you have to presume him to be innocent and none of us would want anything other than that if that were us in their shoes. So, I'm glad he had some support." In a later interview on CNN, Dickey said he is leaning toward not accepting any money from his client's supporters for his defense. "To be honest with you, I probably wouldn't," Dickey told CNN. "I just don't feel comfortable about that. So, I don't know. I haven't given that much thought. Obviously, my client appreciates the support that he has, but I don't know, it just doesn't sit right with me, really." Retired FBI special agent Richard Frankel said that in previous politically-charged violent crimes, suspects have received unsolicited support. "We saw it with the Unabomber," said Frankel, an ABC News contributor, referring to Ted Kaczynski -- the mathematician-turn-domestic terrorist who blamed technology for a decline of individual freedom and mailed handcrafted explosives to targeted individuals between 1978 and 1995. Frankel said Eric Rudolph, who detonated a bomb in Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park during the 1996 Olympic Games and carried out three additional bombings as he eluded capture for five years, also attracted supporters. "In my opinion, they're supporting individuals who have committed potentially terrorist acts, but it's a politically charged act," Frankel said Referring to the Thompson killing, Frankel added, "You can be up in arms about the healthcare industry, but you can't threaten or actually hurt members of the healthcare industry." Most recently, Marine veteran Daniel Penny was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man who was acting erratically on a New York City subway, after supporters donated more than $3 million to his legal defense fund. Law enforcement officials have expressed concern that Mangione is being turned into a martyr. Someone this week pasted "wanted posters" outside the New York Stock Exchange naming other executives. A bulletin released Wednesday by the Delaware Valley Intelligence Center, a multi-agency law enforcement intelligence-sharing network based in Philadelphia, included a photo of a banner hanging from an overpass reading, "Deny, Defend, Depose." "Many social media users have outright advocated for the continued killings of CEOs with some aiming to spread fear by posting 'hit lists,'" the bulletin, obtained by ABC News, reads. Meanwhile, New York Police Department investigators continue to build a murder case against Mangione, who is being held in Pennsylvania on charges stemming from his arrest there, including illegal possession of ghost gun and fraudulent identification. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the charges in Pennsylvania. On Wednesday, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that the three shell casings recovered at the scene of Thompson's shooting matched the gun found in Mangione possession when he was arrested. She also confirmed that Mangione's fingerprints were recovered from a water bottle and the wrapper of a granola bar found near the crime scene.BETHLEHEM, Pa., Dec. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OraSure Technologies, Inc. ("OTI”) (NASDAQ: OSUR), a leader in point-of-need and home diagnostic tests and sample management solutions, today announced the acquisition of Sherlock Biosciences, Inc., a global health company bringing next-generation diagnostics to consumers and healthcare providers. This acquisition expands OraSure's innovation pipeline with the addition of Sherlock's molecular diagnostics platform, which is able to provide rapid results with strong sensitivity and specificity in a disposable format that is well-suited for over-the-counter usage. Sherlock's first molecular self-test is for Chlamydia Trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria Gonorrhoeae (NG) which will expand OraSure's portfolio of rapid diagnostics for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), subject to regulatory approvals. Test results are expected to be provided in under 30 minutes by analyzing DNA and RNA from self-collected swabs using isothermal amplification. In addition, Sherlock has been developing a pipeline of other molecular tests, along with several next-generation technology platforms, including Ambient Temperature Amplification and CRISPR-based technologies that have the potential to further reduce costs and improve performance of its platforms. Sherlock's CT/NG self-test is in clinical studies and is expected to be submitted to the FDA by the end of 2025 for review. Subject to regulatory approvals, revenue from Sherlock's CT/NG test is expected to contribute to OTI's growth beginning in 2026, benefitting from OraSure's existing infrastructure, commercial capabilities, and strong customer relationships. OTI estimates that testing for CT/NG represents a total addressable market of more than $1.5 billion. The vast majority of CT/NG tests in the U.S. are processed in a centralized lab, and the introduction of an affordable, rapid self-test has the potential to drive significant incremental market expansion. Additionally, public health channels play a key role in STI screening, which is an area where OraSure has a strong presence. "The acquisition of Sherlock represents the next step in OTI's innovation strategy,” said Carrie Eglinton Manner, President and CEO of OraSure. "Sherlock brings valuable capabilities with an advanced molecular platform that aims to deliver lab-like accuracy in a format that expands access to diagnostic insights through convenient, effortless tests. We are excited to welcome Sherlock's talented team to OTI and believe that Sherlock's unique capabilities will contribute significantly to the expansion of our pipeline of diagnostic tests in infectious disease, sexual health, and beyond.” Conference Call Information OraSure will host a conference call to discuss the acquisition of Sherlock Biosciences at 5:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. A webcast of the conference call will be available on the investor relations page of OraSure's website at https://orasure.gcs-web.com/events-and-presentations . Please click on the webcast link and follow the prompts for registration and access at least 10 minutes prior to the call. The webcast will be archived on OraSure's website shortly after the call has ended and will be available for approximately 90 days. To participate in the live conference call, please follow the link below to pre-register. After registering, you will be provided with access details via email. https://register.vevent.com/register/BIb938f5bae2a442d9acdb83f4bdd9286d About OraSure Technologies, Inc. OraSure Technologies, Inc. ("OraSure”) transforms health through actionable insight and powers the shift that connects people to healthcare wherever they are. OraSure improves access, quality, and value of healthcare with innovation in effortless tests and sample management solutions. OraSure, together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, DNA Genotek Inc., is a leader in the development, manufacture, and distribution of rapid diagnostic tests and sample collection and stabilization devices designed to discover and detect critical medical conditions. OraSure's portfolio of products is sold globally to clinical laboratories, hospitals, physician's offices, clinics, public health and community-based organizations, research institutions, government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and direct to consumers. For more information on OraSure Technologies, please visit www.orasure.com Forward Looking Statements This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Federal securities laws, including with respect to products, product development and manufacturing activities, the Company's acquisition of Sherlock, revenue growth, cash flow, increasing margins and other matters. Words such as "expects,” "estimates,” "forecasts,” "intends,” "plans,” "projects,” "could,” "may,” "should,” "will” or other similar words and expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results. Known and unknown factors that could cause actual performance or results to be materially different from those expressed or implied in these statements include, but are not limited to: the Company's ability to integrate Sherlock's business and achieve the intended benefits of the acquisition on the timeline expected or at all; Sherlock's ability to seek and obtain regulatory approval for products in development; the Company's ability to satisfy customer demand; ability to reduce the Company's spending rate, capitalize on manufacturing efficiencies and drive profitable growth; ability to achieve the anticipated cost savings as a result of the Company's business restructuring, including from insourcing third party manufacturing and exiting microbiome services; ability to market and sell products, whether through the Company's internal, direct sales force or third parties; impact of significant customer concentration in the genomics business; failure of distributors or other customers to meet purchase forecasts, historic purchase levels or minimum purchase requirements for the Company's products; ability to manufacture or have manufactured products in accordance with applicable specifications, performance standards and quality requirements; ability to obtain, and timing and cost of obtaining, necessary regulatory approvals for new products or new indications or applications for existing products; ability to comply with applicable regulatory requirements; ability to effectively resolve warning letters, audit observations and other findings or comments from the FDA or other regulators; the impact of the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19”) pandemic on the Company's business, supply chain, labor force, ability to successfully develop new products, validate the expanded use of existing collector products, receive necessary regulatory approvals and authorizations and commercialize such products for COVID-19 testing, and demand for the Company's COVID-19 testing products; changes in relationships, including disputes or disagreements, with strategic partners or other parties and reliance on strategic partners for the performance of critical activities under collaborative arrangements; ability to meet increased demand for the Company's products; impact of replacing distributors; inventory levels at distributors and other customers; ability of the Company to achieve its financial and strategic objectives and continue to increase its revenues, including the ability to expand international sales and the ability to continue to reduce costs; impact of competitors, competing products and technology changes; reduction or deferral of public funding available to customers; competition from new or better technology or lower cost products; ability to develop, commercialize and market new products; market acceptance of oral fluid or urine testing, collection or other products; market acceptance and uptake of microbiome informatics, microbial genetics technology and related analytics services; changes in market acceptance of products based on product performance or other factors, including changes in testing guidelines, algorithms or other recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or other agencies; ability to fund research and development and other products and operations; ability to obtain and maintain new or existing product distribution channels; reliance on sole supply sources for critical products and components; availability of related products produced by third parties or products required for use of the Company's products; impact of contracting with the U.S. government; impact of negative economic conditions; ability to maintain sustained profitability; ability to utilize net operating loss carry forwards or other deferred tax assets; volatility of the Company's stock price; uncertainty relating to patent protection and potential patent infringement claims; uncertainty and costs of litigation relating to patents and other intellectual property; availability of licenses to patents or other technology; ability to enter into international manufacturing agreements; obstacles to international marketing and manufacturing of products; ability to sell products internationally, including the impact of changes in international funding sources and testing algorithms; adverse movements in foreign currency exchange rates; loss or impairment of sources of capital; ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; exposure to product liability and other types of litigation; changes in international, federal or state laws and regulations; customer consolidations and inventory practices; equipment failures and ability to obtain needed raw materials and components; cybersecurity breaches or other attacks involving the Company's systems or those of the Company's third-party contractors and IT service providers; the impact of terrorist attacks, civil unrest, hostilities and war; and general political, business and economic conditions, including inflationary pressures and banking stability. These and other factors that could affect the Company's results are discussed more fully in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC”), including the Company's registration statements, Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings with the SEC. Although forward-looking statements help to provide information about future prospects, readers should keep in mind that forward-looking statements may not be reliable. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no duty to update these statements.Nordstrom to be acquired by Nordstrom family and a Mexican retail group in $6.25 billion deal

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has strengthened partnerships with both domestic and international stakeholders to boost trade facilitation. It noted that the Nigeria Customs Act 2023, had successfully redefined its operational priorities to address emerging threats, enhance efficiency and improve collaboration, saying that the country had once again brought global attention to the transformative role of NCS in safeguarding Nigeria’s borders. Speaking at the 18th Africa Security Watch Conference in Doha, Qatar, the Comptroller-General of the service, Adewale Adeniyi represented by the National Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, shared a comprehensive account of the service’s achievements in balancing security enforcement with trade facilitation. In his keynote address titled: “Protecting National Security Through Effective Border Control: The Nigeria Customs Example,” Adeniyi emphasised the vital role of border management in national security, describing borders as more than just geographical boundaries. According to him, borders are critical gateways that determine a nation’s capacity to protect its citizens, safeguard its economy, and foster security. He noted that the Nigeria Customs Act 2023 represents a legislative milestone that has repositioned the NCS to thrive in a dynamic environment. Also, the Comptroller general remarked that NCS made significant strides in 2024 as Customs generated a record-breaking ₦5.1 trillion in revenue, a feat that underscores the agency’s innovative use of technology and improved compliance frameworks. Adeniyi stressed that the achievement was not merely about numbers but also reflected the efficiency and resilience of the Customs workforce. However, he explained how, through intelligence-led operations, saying that the NCS had intercepted several arms shipments, including 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition in Onne Seaport. He explained: “These efforts have significantly disrupted the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, which remain a persistent threat to national security. Additionally, the NCS’s collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) led to so many interceptions of illicit drugs.” Also, he noted that in combating wildlife trafficking, officers of the service intercepted 4,200 kilogrammes of pangolin scales and ivory, underscoring the NCS’s dedication to biodiversity conservation and international compliance. In the area of fighting against economic saboteurs, who venture into smuggling and diversion of petroleum products, CGC Adeniyi discussed the impact of Operation Whirlwind and highlighted how the Service, in collaboration with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), intercepted over 695,000 litres of smuggled Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). He revealed that the use of geospatial technologies, such as satellite feeds and geo-mapping, has enhanced the Service’s surveillance and enforcement capabilities, ensuring that these operations are not only effective but sustainable. In addition, a Gala/Award Night convened as part of the African Security Watch Conference held on 12 December 2024, in Doha, Qatar, the NCS clinched the coveted ‘Best National Security Service in West, East, and Central Africa 2023/2024’ award. These accolades recognise the service’s outstanding performance in fortifying Nigeria’s borders, enhancing trade facilitation, and curbing transnational crimes through innovative enforcement strategies and technological advancements.

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World Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News. Democratic utopia? Religious-extremist dystopia? Anarchic gangland rule? The world is watching tensely as Syria struggles to emerge from 50 years of Assad dynasty repression. The ex-prime minister of Syria’s fallen regime was led out of his offices under armed arrest. “I won’t leave, and I don’t intend to leave,” Mohammad Ghazi al Jalali said in a video statement. “I expect in a peaceful manner to guarantee the continuity of the public authorities, institutions and the safety and security for all citizens.” His sudden, uncharacteristic concern for the public good was mirrored by his captives. The terrorist organisation Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a derivative of al-Qaeda, promised an uncommonly tolerant transition of power. “Tomorrow morning when institutions start to conduct their business of services, security and policemen, I hope from everyone who carries a weapon to go to his base and to commit to his division, battalion or brigade,” added HTS commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani (whose real name is Ahmed al-Sharaa). “We will not accept or allow the chaos of arms or firing on the streets at all.” Al-Golani said his hardline Islamist group was working to form a new government. A map of reported control of terrain in Syria from the Institute for the Study of War. The success or failure of this transition will pave the way for the entire Middle East. As will any new government’s characteristics. Syria, after all, is a vast and geographically complex land with many diverse cultural groups. “We should not expect a democratic secular rule,” says Charles Sturt University Islamic Studies director Mehmet Ozalp . “The new government is also unlikely to resemble the ultra-conservative theocratic rule of the Taliban.” But Syria’s rebel factions are not the only forces attempting to shape the battered nation’s future. Russia still wants its Middle Eastern bases. Iran still wants a military and cultural “buffer zone” between itself and Israel. And, beneath the surface, Islamic State extremists are still striving to create their kingdom of heaven. “For too long, Syria has been neglected by the United States and its Western allies, which deemed the Assad regime unmovable, until they discovered it wasn’t,” argues Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) analyst Natasha Hall and International Crisis Group (CG) director Joost Hiltermann . This picture shows empty sells at Sednaya prison in Damascus, synonymous with the worst atrocities of ousted president Bashar al-Assad's rule. Picture: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP What is to come? “Levantine history teaches us to be deeply concerned when dealing with such a fractious society in trauma after a decade of internecine war, torn in different directions by various foreign and non-state actors,” warns London-based geostrategist Alexander Patterson. What unfolds over the next few days will likely set the scene for what will come. “Syria’s future, and the region’s, is filled with uncertainty,” adds International Crisis Group director Joost Hiltermann. “Clashes are already ongoing between the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) armed groups in the north and the Kurdish-dominated SDF (Syria Defence Force).” Now is the time for payback. Jubilant rebel forces must reward their backers. And the hunt is on for members of Assad’s secret police and privileged elites. But it’s also a time to establish a new pecking order. “The new leadership will now try to ensure there are no armed groups capable of contesting their rule, particularly remnants of the old Assad regime and smaller factions that were not part of the opposition forces,” predicts Ozalp. People in Damascus celebrate on December 9, 2024, after Islamist-led rebels declared that they have taken the Syrian capital. Picture: Bakr ALKASEM / AFP But will this be done in a manner that establishes the rule of law? Or as a continuation of the millennia-old culture wars? “Military collapses and local dealmaking would suggest that efforts to adapt existing structures may be the initial approach,” says Patterson. “The rebels would be well advised to be inclusive; an Iraq 2003-style purge of the Baath party would result in the same sort of broad insurgency that sparked – and mass executions would be even worse. This will be a key question to watch. “ And Syria’s victorious rebels represent an unlikely alliance. They are a diverse assembly of cultural groups, sects and political movements. “HTS will have to share power with other Syrians,” Patterson adds. “We may be unsurprised to witness a descent into chaotic power struggles between factions, or – if homework has been done – we may be surprised by a less radical government than HTS’s terrorist pedigree would suggest.” Terrorists, or freedom fighters? “Syrians are celebrating the fall of a dictator who put them through a protracted civil war and the end of his family’s half-century iron grip on the country,” international relations analyst James Horncastle writes in The Conversation . “But the opposition forces that brought him down in 2024 aren’t the ones supported by the United States and its allies in 2013. Fundamentalist groups, versus the Americans’ preferred moderate organisations, now dominate the opposition.” A woman reacts as people gather at Sednaya prison in Damascus looking for loved ones on December 9, 2024. Picture: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP Western nations rallied to support the “Arab Spring” uprising of Syria’s populace in 2011. But the battle against Islamic State quickly shifted their attention elsewhere. “Syrian opposition forces have undergone a stark evolution following years of struggle,” explains Horncastle. “The loss of western allies and the enduring nature of the Syrian civil war itself gave rise to increasingly radicalised voices. Most prominent among them is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.” The Sunni-Islamic HTS is designated a terrorist group by its primary backer - Turkey. But Turkey is less lenient towards ethnic Kurds seeking to establish a new homeland in Syria’s northeast. It has designated this US-backed community a terrorist organisation. And it has launched regular cross-border attacks on the group’s strongholds. “Meanwhile, thousands of Islamic State fighters remain in prisons in the northeast under SDF control,” warn Hall and Hiltermann. “Those fighters, should they escape or if cells should reemerge, would be a major spoiler for any post-Assad government and for the region.” Adding fuel to the fire is Israel’s invasion of the demilitarised zone on its border with Syria. It and the US have been conducting large-scale airstrikes against suspected chemical weapons depots, ammunition dumps and Islamic State encampments. In the meantime, Al-Golani appears set to be anointed the founding president of a new Syrian regime. But his success will depend on how power is distributed. Israeli soldiers stand near tanks near the border with Syria on December 9, 2024. Picture: Amir Levy/Getty Images “It seems the opposition was not prepared to take over the country so quickly, and they may not have a power-sharing agreement,” Ozalp says. “This will need to be negotiated and worked out quickly.” Fragile unity “It’s important to note that these disparate forces were never entirely united,” says Horncastle. “Instead, the Syrian opposition ranged from liberal and moderate elements to Islamic fundamentalist forces. The only thing that truly united them was opposition to al-Assad’s tyranny.” That unifying force has now fled to Moscow. And the power vacuum the dictator left behind is pulling in many different directions. “A radical Islamic fundamentalist government must remain the core assumption if HTS seizes power over the heads of others,” Patterson warns in his essay for the Royal United Services Institute. “This would not bode well for a country crippled by sanctions and reliant on Iranian fuel and foreign humanitarian aid.” So far, HTS chief al-Golani is making all the right noises. In an interview with CNN, he asserted that his circle of followers had evolved their interpretation of Islamic dogma. He sought to reassure listeners that he would protect the freedom and rights of different religious and ethnic groups. “The question of whether this tone will remain and whether other insurgent groups and opposition factions will follow his lead is another question,” argues Hall and Hiltermann. “As more Syrians return to the country, including various opposition leaders, there will be inevitable tensions.” People in Damascus celebrate on December 9, 2024. Picture: by Bakr ALKASEM / AFP And the reality on the ground is not pleasant. Syria’s economy has been all but destroyed. Some 14 years of civil war have slashed activity by 85 per cent. Infrastructure has been destroyed. Crops and orchards are left untended. Hyperinflation is running rampant. Now, the 4.82 million people who fled the tyranny and devastation (about one-fifth of the total population) are looking to return home. “Many people may find their homes looted or new families living in them. Armed groups within Syria and the exiled opposition may struggle for power,” the CSIS and CG analysts note. “Preventing further tragedy will require Western countries and Gulf Arab states, in particular, to reach out to the new leaders in Damascus and steer them toward pragmatic, if not democratic, governance. Having at last regained hope from the fall of the House of Assad, the Syrian people expect no less from the countries that have for so many years allowed the country’s agony to continue at their expense.” Jamie Seidel is a freelance writer | @jamieseidel.bsky.social More Coverage Chilling pictures of Syrian ‘death camp’ Shannon Molloy, Jack Evans and APF ‘Bloodthirsty’: World reacts to Assad downfall Heath Parkes-Hupton Originally published as Bashar al-Assad’s demise is unlikely to lead to peace More related stories News Pic of CEO suspect released, internet loses it Suspected killer Luigi Mangione’s arrest evoked a frenzied response on social media – but not for the reason you might think. Read more Animals Why cicadas are so much louder this year Summer means a lot of things: hot weather, long nights and loud cicadas. And those noisy insects seem to be turning up the decibels this year. 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