The latest Canada’s Food Price Report forecasts a food price increase of 3 to 5 percent in 2025, increasing overall food costs for the average family of four by $801.56. The report by Dalhousie University’s Agri‐Food Analytics Lab predicts prices for fruit and seafood will rise 1 to 3 percent, dairy products and baked goods will rise 2 to 4 percent, and vegetables and restaurant food will rise 3 to 5 percent, while meat will rise by 4 to 6 percent. A typical family of four with a teenage son and a pre-teen daughter will shell out $16,833.67 for food in 2025 while a single mom with two young children can expect to pay $9,566.40, the report estimates. It will cost $3,189.01 to feed a 6- to 11-month-old child next year, $3,184.18 for a 4- to 8-year-old boy, and $3,849.74 for a girl between the ages of 9 and 13. A teenage boy will be the most expensive to feed in 2025, coming in at $4,809.98. The report’s authors used three different machine learning and AI models to determine the costs, and then had experts weigh in on the numbers. This year, the authors also utilized large language models to process information beyond raw data. A number of factors such as climate challenges, geopolitical conflicts, and a weaker Canadian dollar are likely to significantly increase food costs, the report said. It predicted that the expected weakening of the Canadian dollar compared to the American dollar will reduce the buying power of importers. The current exchange rate is 1.3866 CAD to USD, and is forecasted to fall further if the incoming U.S. administration under Donald Trump goes ahead with its threat of 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods. The report also noted that wheat prices were impacted by droughts in North America and wetter-than-normal conditions in Europe in 2023, while commodities such as coffee, cocoa, and citrus saw significant price increases due to high temperatures and weather events. “Extreme weather events continue to prove challenging for food producers facing an unpredictable climate for growing crops and raising livestock,” the report said. Additionally, the report warned that Canada’s agri-food sector has become less competitive in the last five years, while the incoming Trump administration could widen the competitiveness gap between the two countries and force Canadian grocers to stock more foreign goods. With the Trump administration likely to roll back more environmental regulations, the report warned Canada’s carbon tax may give American farmers “another cost advantage with Trump’s less restrictive environmental stance.” Canada’s cattle herd was at its smallest since 1987 while America’s cattle herd was at its smallest since 1951, causing beef prices to rise in 2024. They are expected to rise further in 2025. The report said droughts, higher feed costs, and elevated interest rates have also contributed to the price increase, and many consumers may choose other protein sources like fish and pork in the new year. Last year’s price projections fell within the expected ranges or saw lower-than-predicted increases, the report said.Nebraska saw a football player announce a transfer for a third straight day Wednesday, this time a rotational member of the defensive line. Kai Wallin will move on after two seasons as a Husker, he announced on social media. He appeared in 11 games this fall with four tackles and recorded half a sack at Purdue. The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder said he “deliberated, consulted and prayed” about his decision. “While I hope to continue to grow and evolve and make an impact on a new field, I will never forget the honor it was to wear a Nebraska jersey,” Wallin wrote in part. Wallin played a year of junior-college ball before arriving at Nebraska in 2023. The Sacramento native redshirted his first season before logging 89 snaps this year including 13 against Wisconsin. He saw single-digit snaps in five games behind a senior-heavy starting line. The defender has two years of eligibility remaining. Wallin is the 10th Husker to announce his intent to enter the transfer portal since Nov. 25. Migration among defenders has been higher as defensive coordinator Tony White and defensive line coach Terrance Knighton both left in recent days for Florida State. NU coach Matt Rhule said earlier Wednesday the roster churn – especially attrition – will continue in earnest as the team continues to trim closer to next season’s mandated limit of 105. “There’s going to be more,” Rhule said. “Everybody’s journey is different.”

NoneUse of AI tools in healthcare has been accelerating, with growing trust in results produced and delivered by such tools. RAMP, one such tool already in action at UVA Health, focuses on delivering actionable, verifiable and explainable machine learning, integrating it as a decision support tool into clinical workflow to improve insights into patient health trends and facilitate faster delivery of necessary care, improving patient outcomes. AI-driven predictive analytics models use complex real-time and historical patient data to provide healthcare professionals with actionable insights, and to alert care teams if the patient is in need of immediate attention. Valentina Baljak is a senior data scientist at UVA Health. She holds a doctorate in information science and technology, applied machine learning. UVA Health created and uses RAMP today. Baljak and two of her colleagues will discuss AI, RAMP and much more at HIMSS25 in March in Las Vegas in their session entitled "Real-Time Analytics Monitoring Platform: Usable AI in Action." We spoke with Baljak to get an understanding of what she and her colleagues will be talking about in the session and what HIMSS25 attendees can hope to take away from their talk. Q. What is the primary theme you will address in your session and why is it relevant to healthcare and health IT today? A. With the recent emergence of generative AI models , this topic is getting more traction in the healthcare field. In this work, we are focusing on clinical decision-making support tools in real time. Artificial intelligence isn't a new term. At UVA Health we have been developing real-time predictive systems for several years now, and one of the biggest lessons we have learned is that the shape AI should take is the one that addresses your needs the best. Clinicians won't get behind tools they can't explain. Building trust in our models and tools meant close collaboration at every step, right from Day One. We want to provide a blueprint on how to build a system that works in your environment, and to raise awareness to the importance of transparency, accountability and explainability of your models. This is especially important in the medical setting, with real-time predictions that can have a significant impact on patient outcomes. Q. You will be focusing sharply on AI. How is it being used in healthcare in the context of your session's focus? A. The key aspect of RAMP is real-time data collection from the EHR and other data sources. The ability to write results back to patient records in an EHR and alert care teams in real time makes RAMP a crucial tool in the clinical setting. Technologies used here are fairly established and all open source. Python provides a solid basis for our ML development, back-end connectivity and data processing. Connections to various data sources are built with FiHR, REST API and custom HL7. The website is built with Angular. As our latest major expansion, we are building a new predictive model on top of our largest real-time data stream, built with Kafka to collect all vitals and EKG waveforms from bedside monitors. Q. Attendees will come to your session looking to bring knowledge home. What is one takeaway they can expect? A. AI is a fundamental part of modern healthcare, taking different shapes depending on the need. Selecting the right AI approach is crucial, given the high stakes. If you have in-house expertise and resources, then developing a custom AI system is a powerful alternative to vendor-provided black-box systems. Valentina Baljak's session, "Real-Time Analytics Monitoring Platform: Usable AI in Action," is scheduled for Tuesday, March 4, at 12:45 p.m. at HIMSS25 in Las Vegas .The Dallas Cowboys are shutting down CeeDee Lamb for the rest of the season after the star wideout played through a shoulder injury for nearly two months. Lamb initially sprained the AC joint in his right shoulder on Nov. 3 but has not missed any of the Cowboys' first 15 games this season. "Additional examinations and scans this week on CeeDee Lamb's shoulder have determined that his injury has now progressed to a point that he will be listed as ‘Out' for the remaining two games of the season," a team spokesperson said in a statement to media outlets. "He will undergo a process of treatment and rehabilitation for his shoulder, is not currently expected to require surgery and is projected to make a full recovery." The Cowboys (7-8), eliminated from playoff contention, face two division rivals to close the season. They visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday and will host the Washington Commanders in Week 18. Lamb, 25, hauled in 101 receptions for 1,194 yards and six touchdowns this season. It marked his fourth straight 1,000-yard season, and he may be selected to a fourth straight Pro Bowl for his efforts. Lamb signed a four-year, $136 million contract extension in August, covering the 2025-28 seasons. --Field Level Media

NoneDortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck taken off on stretcher with ankle injury in loss to Barcelona

NoneThe German Embassy in Nigeria has announced the upcoming visit of Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, from December 10 to 12, 2024 to Abuja and Lagos. In Lagos, he will engage with business representatives, visit a start-up hub, and meet with members of Nigeria’s cultural sector and civil society. According to the statement by the embassy, the visit aims to strengthen the robust Nigeria-Germany relations and to express Germany’s appreciation of Nigeria. This visit follows the recent engagements between the two nations, including the visit of Olaf Scholz German Chancellor to Nigeria in October 2023 and the visit of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Germany in November 2023. President Steinmeier’s visit marks the third high-level exchange between the two countries since President Tinubu’s inauguration, highlighting the close ties and mutual interests shared by both nations. The statement notes that the visit also signifies a commitment to working together as strategic partners, given that both countries are the strongest economies and the most populous nations on their respective continents. The state reads: “German Embassy in Nigeria is pleased to announce the visit of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, His Excellency Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Nigeria on the 10th to 12th of December 2024. “The visit aims to underline the strength of Nigeria-Germany relations and to mark Germany’s appreciation of Nigeria. “This high frequency of visits is proof of the close relations between both countries and the serious interest of Germany in Nigeria. It is also evidence of a willingness to work together as strategic partners – an obvious fit, as both countries share striking commonalities, including being the strongest economy and the most populous country on their respective continents”. “President Steinmeier will be accompanied by a business delegation of CEOs and high-ranking board members of some of Germany’s most successful companies in the fields of IT, hightech and energy – an indication of the rising interest of German businesses in opportunities to invest in Nigeria”. During his visit, President Steinmeier will meet with President Tinubu and the President of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), His Excellency Dr. Alieu Omar Touray. During his Lagos trip, he will meet with Dr. Nike Okundaye, popularly known as Mama Nike, of the Nike Art Gallery, and Prof. Wole Soyinka, the renowned author and Nobel Laureate for Literature. There will also be an opportunity to tour the city of Lagos to gain insights into the urban development of this megacity, including its environmental and social challenges. The President of the Federal Republic of Germany serves as the Head of State, representing Germany both domestically and internationally. His role is largely ceremonial, focusing on mediation and communication, rather than day-to-day politics. This visit is expected to further strengthen the important bilateral relations between Germany and Nigeria.

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South Korea's embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law, as most ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify public protests calling for Yoon's ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea, with a survey suggesting a majority of South Koreans support the president's impeachment. Yoon's martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party, but it is also determined to oppose Yoon's impeachment apparently because it fears losing the presidency to liberals. After the motion fell through, members of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party rallied inside the National Assembly, chanting slogans calling for Yoon's impeachment or resignation. The party's floor leader, Park Chan-dae, said it will soon prepare for a new impeachment motion. "We'll surely impeach Yoon Suk Yeol, who is the greatest risk to Republic of Korea," party leader Lee Jae-myung said. "We'll surely bring back this country to normal before Christmas Day or year's end." RELATED STORY | South Korean parliament defies president by lifting declaration of martial law Despite escaping the impeachment attempt, many experts worry Yoon won't be able to serve out his remaining 2 1⁄2 years in office. They say some ruling party lawmakers could eventually join opposition parties' efforts to impeach Yoon if public demands for it grow further. The ruling party risks "further public outrage and national confusion if they don't find a formula fast for Yoon's departure," said Duyeon Kim, a senior analyst at the Center for a New American Security in Washington. On Saturday, tens of thousands of people densely packed several blocks of roads leading up to the National Assembly, waving banners, shouting slogans and dancing. Protesters also gathered in front of PPP's headquarters near the Assembly, angrily shouting for its lawmakers to vote to impeach Yoon. A smaller crowd of Yoon's supporters, which still seemed to be in the thousands, rallied in separate streets in Seoul, decrying the impeachment attempt they saw as unconstitutional. Impeaching Yoon required support from 200 of the National Assembly's 300 members. The Democratic Party and five other small opposition parties, which filed the motion, have 192 seats combined. But only three lawmakers from PPP participated in the vote. The motion was scrapped without ballot counting because the number of votes didn't reach 200. RELATED STORY | Family of kidnapped American reporter still believes his is alive in Syria National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik called the result "very regrettable" and an embarrassing moment for the country's democracy that has been closely watched by the world. Opposition parties could submit a new impeachment motion after a new parliamentary session opens next Wednesday. If Yoon is impeached, his powers will be suspended until the Constitutional Court decides whether to remove him from office. If he is removed, an election to replace him must take place within 60 days. Earlier Saturday, Yoon issued a public apology over the martial law decree, saying he won't shirk legal or political responsibility for the declaration and promising not to make another attempt to impose martial law. He said would leave it to his party to chart a course through the country's political turmoil, "including matters related to my term in office." "The declaration of this martial law was made out of my desperation. But in the course of its implementation, it caused anxiety and inconveniences to the public. I feel very sorry over that and truly apologize to the people who must have been shocked a lot," Yoon said. Since taking office in 2022, Yoon has struggled to push his agenda through an opposition-controlled parliament and grappled with low approval ratings amid scandals involving himself and his wife. In his martial law announcement on Tuesday night, Yoon called parliament a "den of criminals" bogging down state affairs and vowed to eliminate "shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces." The turmoil resulting from Yoon's bizarre and poorly-thought-out stunt has paralyzed South Korean politics and sparked alarm among key diplomatic partners like the U.S. and Japan. "Yoon's credibility overseas has been undermined by declaring martial law, so he won't be able to exercise leadership in his foreign policies especially when his days are numbered," Kim, the analyst, said. "Its government bureaucracy will need to continue business as usual for existing alliance and foreign policy initiatives as best it can because there is a lot of important work to do globally." Tuesday night saw special forces troops encircling the parliament building and army helicopters hovering over it, but the military withdrew after the National Assembly unanimously voted to overturn the decree, forcing Yoon to lift it before daybreak Wednesday. The declaration of martial law was the first of its kind in more than 40 years in South Korea. Eighteen lawmakers from the ruling party voted to reject Yoon's martial law decree along with opposition lawmakers. PPP later decided to oppose Yoon's impeachment motion. Yoon's speech fueled speculation that he and his party may push for a constitutional amendment to shorten his term, instead of accepting impeachment, as a way to ease public anger over the marital law and facilitate Yoon's early exit from office. Lee told reporters that Yoon's speech was "greatly disappointing" and that the only way forward is his immediate resignation or impeachment. His party called Yoon's martial law "unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup." Lawmakers on Saturday first voted on a bill appointing a special prosecutor to investigate stock price manipulation allegations surrounding Yoon's wife. On Friday, PPP chair Han Dong-hun, who criticized Yoon's martial law declaration, said he had received intelligence that during the brief period of martial law Yoon ordered the country's defense counterintelligence commander to arrest unspecified key politicians based on accusations of "anti-state activities." Hong Jang-won, first deputy director of South Korea's spy agency, told lawmakers Friday that Yoon had ordered him to help the defense counterintelligence unit to detain key politicians including Han, Lee and Woo. The Defense Ministry said Friday it suspended three military commanders including the head of the defense counterintelligence unit over their involvement in enforcing martial law. Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho has told parliament that Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun ordered the deployment of troops to the National Assembly. Opposition parties accused Kim of recommending to Yoon to enforce martial law. Kim resigned Thursday, and prosecutors imposed an overseas travel ban on him.Josh Gottheimer trades in Microsoft options, buys and sells various stocks

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NEW YORK , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) declared a quarterly dividend of 70 cents per outstanding share of the corporation's common stock. The dividend is payable on January 10, 2025 to Omnicom common shareholders of record at the close of business on December 20, 2024. About Omnicom Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) is a leading provider of data-inspired, creative marketing and sales solutions. Omnicom's iconic agency brands are home to the industry's most innovative communications specialists who are focused on driving intelligent business outcomes for their clients. The company offers a wide range of services in advertising, strategic media planning and buying, precision marketing, retail and digital commerce, branding, experiential, public relations, healthcare marketing and other specialty marketing services to over 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit www.omnicomgroup.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/omnicom-declares-dividend-302324450.html SOURCE Omnicom Group Inc.