tjili casino
tjili casino
Biden opens final White House holiday season with turkey pardons and first lady gets Christmas tree WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has kicked off his final holiday season at the White House, issuing the traditional reprieve to two turkeys who will bypass the Thanksgiving table to live out their days in Minnesota. The president welcomed 2,500 guests under sunny skies as he cracked jokes about the fates of “Peach” and “Blossom.” He also sounded wistful tones about the last weeks of his presidency. Separately, first lady Jill Biden received the delivery of the official White House Christmas tree. And the Bidens are traveling to New York later Monday for an early holiday celebration with members of the Coast Guard. Couple charged in ring suspected of stealing $1 million in Lululemon clothes MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Connecticut couple has been charged in Minnesota with being part of a shoplifting ring suspected of stealing around $1 million in goods across the country from upscale athletic wear retailer Lululemon.Jadion Anthony Richards and Akwele Nickeisha Lawes-Richards, both of Danbury, Connecticut, were charged this month with one felony count of organized retail theft. Both went free last week after posting bail bonds of $100,000 for him and $30,000 for her. They're also suspected in thefts from Lululemon stores in Colorado, Utah, New York and Connecticut. They're due back in court next month. Formula 1 expands grid to add General Motors' Cadillac brand and new American team for 2026 season LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 will expand the grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a federal investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti, who has since stepped aside. The 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is retiring from international soccer U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is retiring from international soccer. Naeher is on the team’s roster for a pair of upcoming matches in Europe but those will be her last after a full 11 years playing for the United States. Naeher was on the U.S. team that won the Women’s World Cup in 2019 and the gold medal at this year's Olympics in France. She’s the only U.S. goalkeeper to earn a shutout in both a World Cup and an Olympic final. Bah, humbug! Vandal smashes Ebenezer Scrooge's tombstone used in 'A Christmas Carol' movie LONDON (AP) — If life imitates art, a vandal in the English countryside may be haunted by The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Police in the town of Shrewsbury are investigating how a tombstone at the fictional grave of Ebenezer Scrooge was destroyed. The movie prop used in the 1984 adaption of Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol” had become a tourist attraction. The film starred George C. Scott as the cold-hearted curmudgeon who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve who show him what will become of his life if he doesn’t become a better person. West Mercia Police say the stone was vandalized in the past week. Megachurch founder T.D. Jakes suffers health incident during sermon at Dallas church DALLAS (AP) — The founder of Dallas-based megachurch The Potter's House, Bishop T.D. Jakes, was hospitalized after suffering what the church called a “slight health incident.” Jakes was speaking to churchgoers after he sat down and began trembling as several people gathered around him Sunday at the church. Jakes' daughter Sarah Jakes Roberts and her husband Touré Roberts said in a statement on social media late Sunday that Jakes was improving. The 67-year-old Jakes founded the non-denominational The Potter's House in 1996 and his website says it now has more than 30,000 members with campuses in Fort Worth and Frisco, Texas; and in Denver. At the crossroads of news and opinion, 'Morning Joe' hosts grapple with aftermath of Trump meeting The reaction of those who defended “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski for meeting with President-elect Trump sounds almost quaint in the days of opinionated journalism. Doesn't it makes sense, they said, for hosts of a political news show to meet with such an important figure? But given how “Morning Joe” has attacked Trump, its viewers felt insulted. Many reacted quickly by staying away. It all reflects the broader trend of opinion crowding out traditional journalist in today's marketplace, and the expectations that creates among consumers. By mid-week, the show's audience was less than two-thirds what it has typically been this year. Pilot dies in plane crash in remote woods of New York, puppy found alive WINDHAM, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities say a pilot and at least one dog he was transporting died when a small plane crashed in the snowy woods of the Catskill Mountains, though a puppy on the flight was found alive with two broken legs. The Greene County sheriff’s office says Seuk Kim of Springfield, Virginia, was flying from Maryland to Albany, New York, when the plane crashed at about 6:10 p.m. Sunday in a remote area. Officials believe the pilot died from the impact. The surviving dog was hospitalized, while a third dog was not located. The flight was connected with a not-for-profit group that transports rescue animals. Warren Buffett gives away another $1.1B and plans for distributing his $147B fortune after his death OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Investor Warren Buffett renewed his Thanksgiving tradition of giving by handing out more than $1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four of his family's foundations Monday, and he offered new details about who will be handing out the rest of his fortune after his death. Buffett has said previously that his three kids will distribute his remaining $147.4 billion fortune in the 10 years after his death, but now he has also designated successors for them because it’s possible that Buffett’s children could die before giving it all away. Buffett said he has no regrets about his decision to start giving away his fortune in 2006. Pop star Ed Sheeran apologizes to Man United boss Ruben Amorim for crashing interview MANCHESTER, England (AP) — British pop star Ed Sheeran has apologized to Ruben Amorim after inadvertently interrupting the new Manchester United head coach during a live television interview. Amorim was talking on Sky Sports after United’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich on Sunday when Sheeran walked up to embrace analyst Jamie Redknapp. The interview was paused before Redknapp told the pop star to “come and say hello in a minute.” Sheeran is a lifelong Ipswich fan and holds a minority stake in the club. He was pictured celebrating after Omari Hutchinson’s equalizing goal in the game at Portman Road.In the fast-paced and often harsh world of social media, cyberbullying has become a prevalent issue. Celebrities, with their large following, are not immune to this online abuse. Recently, popular Chinese actress Zhao Lusi found herself in a position where she had to offer comfort and support to some of her fans who were being bullied by others online.
R alph Taylor, a homegrown leader in Caribbean tourism and hospitality, declared that the three critical sectors of entrepreneurship, tourism, and youth will shape the Caribbean’s future and urgently require a collective focus. In a recent speech coinciding with the acceptance of an honorary Doctorate of Laws (LLD) from The University of the West Indies (The UWI) at Cave Hill Campus in his native Barbados, Taylor praised the university’s focus on teaching entrepreneurship. At the same time, he proposed placing greater emphasis on developing realistic business projects, especially for at-risk youth. Asserting that the youth entrepreneurship ecosystem ought to be leveraged as strategically as possible, Taylor highlighted the various stakeholders involved: government, the private sector, nonprofits, national youth representatives, media and, most importantly, families. He urged the university to lead the process through its entrepreneurship program and the Cave Hill School of Business and Management. Taylor stated that this approach could yield significant economic benefits for the country, local communities, and the university, including economic development, diversification, job creation, establishment of viable new businesses, successful products, and an enhancement of university income and prestige. Taylor is a pioneer in the all-inclusive resort concept in Barbados and currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arcadia Hotels & Resorts, parent company of The Soco Hotel in Barbados and The Soco House in St Lucia. Lauding the university’s success and international recognition for its tourism and hospitality program, Taylor suggested it was time for The UWI to take the next step and build a prestigious resort on the University’s Cave Hill campus overlooking the Bridgetown Port, which could be staffed by students. Cornell University in the United States, rated the world’s best tourism university, owns a hotel which is run by students. You Might Be Interested In A ‘very good’ year for tourism, says Symmonds Cruise visitors make rounds in The City South coast restaurants woo diners back Taylor suggested a similar hospitality initiative would enhance Barbados’ tourism profile while better preparing graduates for the workforce. It would also provide students the opportunity to balance academics with practical experience, making them more well-rounded and competent for the challenging but rewarding world of hospitality. Academics visiting for conferences and meetings, travelers seeking a unique experience, and students from around the world would be the key market for this initiative. This model would position the university program in a different space, ensuring that the region develops, recruits and deploys its best thinkers and the most competent leaders in tourism and hospitality management. “I think this is necessary if we are to be globally competitive and among the leaders in tourism and hospitality worldwide,” he stated. Dealing with at-risk youth across the Caribbean, he averred, was both urgent and deeply complex as rising levels of youth violence impose devastating effects on families and communities. “This violence, often rooted in economic disenfranchisement, social inequality, and a lack of opportunities, threatens our fragile tourism ecosystem and the ability to maintain our sterling global reputation.” Taylor called for policies, strategies, plans, and practical programs to reintegrate these youths into mainstream society as productive citizens, whether through employment or entrepreneurship. He challenged the region’s private sector to come forward and make meaningful contributions to assist in resolving the problem of youth crime and violence. Pointing to the research and work of the University’s Institute of Criminal Justice and Security as a step in the right direction, he urged The UWI to go deeper to better integrate with the wider society and community groups. He encouraged further community-based studies to get to the root of the growing youth deviance and violence, and to work collaboratively with social partners in finding solutions to the problem. Taylor asserted that a democratic civic university actively partners with its surrounding community to implement a curriculum aimed at improving residents’ lives. He emphasized that focusing on positive change and community betterment benefits not only the local population but also enhances the university’s academic offerings and overall success. (PR)
South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over short-lived martial law
Unlike scores of people who scrambled for the blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight in recent years, Danielle Griffin had no trouble getting them. The 38-year-old information technology worker from New Mexico had a prescription. Her pharmacy had the drugs in stock. And her health insurance covered all but $25 to $50 of the monthly cost. For Griffin, the hardest part of using the new drugs wasn’t access. It was finding out that the much-hyped medications didn’t really work for her. “I have been on Wegovy for a year and a half and have only lost 13 pounds,” said Griffin, who watches her diet, drinks plenty of water and exercises regularly. “I’ve done everything right with no success. It’s discouraging.” In clinical trials, most participants taking Wegovy or Mounjaro to treat obesity lost an average of 15% to 22% of their body weight — up to 50 pounds or more in many cases. But roughly 10% to 15% of patients in those trials were “nonresponders” who lost less than 5% of their body weight. Now that millions of people have used the drugs, several obesity experts told The Associated Press that perhaps 20% of patients — as many as 1 in 5 — may not respond well to the medications. It's a little-known consequence of the obesity drug boom, according to doctors who caution eager patients not to expect one-size-fits-all results. “It's all about explaining that different people have different responses,” said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity expert at Massachusetts General Hospital The drugs are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists because they mimic a hormone in the body known as glucagon-like peptide 1. Genetics, hormones and variability in how the brain regulates energy can all influence weight — and a person's response to the drugs, Stanford said. Medical conditions such as sleep apnea can prevent weight loss, as can certain common medications, such as antidepressants, steroids and contraceptives. “This is a disease that stems from the brain,” said Stanford. “The dysfunction may not be the same” from patient to patient. Despite such cautions, patients are often upset when they start getting the weekly injections but the numbers on the scale barely budge. “It can be devastating,” said Dr. Katherine Saunders, an obesity expert at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-founder of the obesity treatment company FlyteHealth. “With such high expectations, there’s so much room for disappointment.” That was the case for Griffin, who has battled obesity since childhood and hoped to shed 70 pounds using Wegovy. The drug helped reduce her appetite and lowered her risk of diabetes, but she saw little change in weight. “It’s an emotional roller coaster,” she said. “You want it to work like it does for everybody else.” The medications are typically prescribed along with eating behavior and lifestyle changes. It’s usually clear within weeks whether someone will respond to the drugs, said Dr. Jody Dushay, an endocrine specialist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Weight loss typically begins right away and continues as the dosage increases. For some patients, that just doesn't happen. For others, side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea force them to halt the medications, Dushay said. In such situations, patients who were counting on the new drugs to pare pounds may think they’re out of options. “I tell them: It's not game over,” Dushay said. Trying a different version of the new class of drugs may help. Griffin, who didn't respond well to Wegovy, has started using Zepbound, which targets an additional hormone pathway in the body. After three months of using the drug, she has lost 7 pounds. “I'm hoping it's slow and steady,” she said. Other people respond well to older drugs, the experts said. Changing diet, exercise, sleep and stress habits can also have profound effects. Figuring out what works typically requires a doctor trained to treat obesity, Saunders noted. “Obesity is such a complex disease that really needs to be treated very comprehensively,” she said. “If what we’re prescribing doesn’t work, we always have a backup plan.” The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.The use of windshields on electric scooters has become increasingly common among riders seeking protection from wind and cold weather while commuting. However, these windshields can obstruct the rider's field of vision and compromise their ability to react to sudden changes in traffic conditions. Moreover, poorly installed or inadequately secured windshields may detach while in motion, posing a significant risk of accidents and injuries.How to win election in red states? The Democrats can learn from this fiery American evangelical pastorThomas Friedman: Mr. Trump, do you realize how much the world has changed since you were president?
Stephen Collinson Global chaos delivered via social media is back. Between 2017 and 2021, Donald Trump had the world on a precipice, bracing for his next move, gaming out whether his bluster was a bluff, an overture to a deal or a break with history, as he sowed mayhem to push adversaries off balance. Those days are here again, nearly eight weeks before his second term begins. The president-elect’s online threats Monday of new trade wars with Canada, Mexico and China turned the United States back into an agent of instability, which can pitch a foreign friend or foe into a crisis in an instant. Trump said America’s two Western Hemisphere neighbors would be punished if they didn’t stop the flow of undocumented migration and fentanyl across their borders. And he demanded China stop shipments of the drug as well. His first major global brouhaha since winning reelection posed the following questions that will help define the character of his second term. Is Trump serious about massive tariff hikes that could increase prices for US consumers as soon as he begins a second presidency, which was won partly because voters were so frustrated with inflation and costs of housing and groceries? Or is the president-elect indulging his view that life and politics is one big real estate deal? And is he setting out an extreme position to create leverage for agreements that might be modest but polish his dealmaker’s brand? There’s a third possibility — that Trump feels liberated by his election victory and is determined to drive his America First project further than a first term in which his most volatile instincts were often restrained by establishment aides. Many of Trump’s voters deeply disdain the political, economic, trading and diplomatic systems that they believe have hurt them financially and serve US and global elites. They want their MAGA hero to tear them down, without much idea what would replace them. Trump could, therefore, simply be creating headlines to show supporters that he’s already fighting for their interests. Or he could have something more sweeping in mind. The second path could take America and the world into risky territory. The idea that he might go for broke could drag the US into trade wars that wreck the economy and spark dangerous standoffs in a world that is far more volatile since he left office four years ago. “There are plenty of examples (of) Trump’s verbal threats forcing and compelling action on the part of other parties, particularly when it comes to foreign countries,” Pete Seat, a former spokesman in President George W. Bush’s White House, said on “CNN News Central” on Tuesday. “The real question is what will happen in these next two months?” If all three nations make meaningful moves, Seat said, “Trump may back off on this. Otherwise, we’re all going to see price increases.” The issue of whether Trump is bluffing or is planning to go all in with a revolutionary presidency is not confined to trade. He has ambitious plans to gut the federal government with a new effort co-chaired by Elon Musk. But going all in would cause huge political and economic disruption that might backfire. Similarly, Trump vowed a mass deportation of up to 10 million undocumented migrants. But such an operation that would cost billions of dollars could buckle the agricultural sector and would also come with high political costs. This equation is mirrored abroad. Some in the West fear Trump will pull the US out of NATO or refuse to defend an alliance member attacked by Russia. Would the president-elect really blow apart the most successful military alliance in history — or is he just trying to wring more defense spending from some of Europe’s lagging powers? In other words, does Trump have in mind a presidency driven by spectacle and brinkmanship that succeeds, like his first, in delivering mostly incremental change? Or is he really, as some of his fans want, trying to tear everything down? Trump’s sudden warning on Monday of 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, with a further 10% hike above existing tariffs on Chinese goods, was the latest sign that the president-elect plans to quickly throw his muscle around. It caused a scramble in Ottawa, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau jumped on the phone with Trump for what he insisted was a “good call.” Within hours, Trump had got the attention of new Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, as she warned of like-for-like retaliation of Trump tariffs after January 20. The president-elect’s gambit has created an immediate yard stick to judge whether his second presidency will be an attempt to push through far deeper disruption. There’s no guarantee that Canada, Mexico and China will back down immediately. Still, deaths from overdoses of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are falling. And Trump’s promises to impose hardline immigration policies are likely to deter many migrants from approaching the US southern border. Therefore, Trump could create an illusion of change to cover a decision to back down if he needs to. Trump’s trade war rhetoric is a reminder that in his worldview, the United States has few friends — only adversaries against whom it can choose to win or lose. According to this view, it’s fine for a big powerful country like the US to use its natural advantages to push around smaller neighbors, even if they are allies. But Trump must also size up his opponents both north and south of the border. Trudeau is politically weakened, and his Liberals are in danger of losing a general election due next year to Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre. The prime minister therefore has a huge incentive to avoid a trade war that could cause havoc in the Canadian economy. Both Canada and Mexico are dependent on their trade with the United States because of their geographical realities and may have no choice but to make concessions. But Sheinbaum is new in office, has plenty of political capital and may be keen to stand up to perceived bullying by a new US president. The case of China is distinct from Trump’s threats to Canada and Mexico. The president-elect significantly stiffened policy toward America’s new superpower rival in his first term. A trade war led to a deal, which again Trump hailed, but that largely dissolved during the pandemic and after China declined to buy the vast quantities of agricultural goods that the then-president said it would. Trade is only one source of friction between Washington and Beijing, and many of Trump’s team — including Sen. Marco Rubio, his pick for secretary of state — believe that China poses an existential security and economic threat to the United States. This then could be the first salvo in a large and more intense period of confrontation across the Pacific rather than merely a ruse to draw President Xi Jinping to the table. Trump’s early turn against his neighbors will put other allies on notice — especially in Europe, where leaders are bracing for their own trade showdown with Trump, as well as dealing with tensions over how to end the war in Ukraine. Initial reaction to Trump’s broadside against Canada and Mexico suggests that many observers see his outburst as a negotiating tactic. A Trump transition official told CNN on Tuesday, “We know what works.” In his first term, Trump used the threat of a trade war to force Canada and Mexico to the table to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. The new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement was touted by Trump as a triumph — but it didn’t fundamentally reshape the global economy or significantly improve a hollowed-out US industrial base that Trump pledged to revive in his 2016 and 2024 campaigns. It’s a measure of his desire to foment discord that Trump is effectively threatening to tear up one of his own first-term achievements. “What Donald Trump is proposing as an alpha-disrupter is to disrupt the largest trade market in the world,” Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Democrat, told CNN on Tuesday. Is he serious? Thanks to Trump’s early setting of expectations, the world will soon find out.
Furthermore, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for proper waste management and recycling infrastructure in order to prevent such environmental disasters from occurring in the future. It highlights the importance of education and awareness regarding the proper disposal and recycling of waste, as well as the need for stricter enforcement of environmental regulations to prevent harmful activities like burning plastic waste.The interception of the giant terror ants highlights the pivotal role that customs authorities play in safeguarding biodiversity and protecting ecosystems from the impacts of invasive species. By remaining vigilant and proactive in their inspections, customs officers can help prevent the spread of harmful alien species that threaten our environment.Harris dismisses ‘project fear’ approach to Sinn Fein
‘You get in that comfort zone’: Dolphins recruit targets Blues recall amid Knights home truth — Off-season Central
Percentages: FG .441, FT .682. 3-Point Goals: 6-28, .214 (Mayock 2-8, G.Jones 1-2, Daniels 1-3, Nausadis 1-3, Iturbe 1-6, Ball 0-1, Stephens 0-2, Rogers 0-3). Team Rebounds: 8. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 1 (Michaels). Turnovers: 14 (Stephens 5, Iturbe 3, Nausadis 3, Daniels, Samuels, Whittaker). Steals: 11 (Stephens 4, Daniels 2, G.Jones, Mayock, Rogers, Samuels). Technical Fouls: None. Percentages: FG .333, FT .808. 3-Point Goals: 1-9, .111 (Carillo 1-5, Santiago 0-1, Moya 0-3). Team Rebounds: 9. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 2 (Hernandez 2). Turnovers: 20 (Carillo 5, Davila 3, Matos 3, Rodriguez 3, Moya 2, Santiago 2, C.Martinez, Hernandez). Steals: 9 (Carillo 3, Davila 2, Rodriguez 2, Moya, Santiago). Technical Fouls: None. .Netanyahu, Gallant could be arrested if they visit Italy: Defense ministerAdditionally, Lululemon's localized marketing strategies have played a significant role in its success in county towns. By understanding the unique preferences and behaviors of consumers in these areas, the brand has been able to tailor its product offerings and promotional activities to better cater to their needs. This personalized approach has helped Lululemon build brand loyalty and foster stronger connections with its customers, setting it apart from competitors who take a more generic approach to marketing.
