LISBON, Portugal (AP) — The goals are flying in again for Arsenal — and it just happens to coincide with the return from injury of Martin Odegaard. Make that eight goals in two games since the international break for Arsenal after its 5-1 hammering of Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday, tying the English team’s heaviest ever away win in the competition. Odegaard is back in Arsenal’s team after missing two months with an ankle injury . In that time, Mikel Arteta’s attack stuttered, with a 2-0 loss to Bournemouth and a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle dropping the Gunners well off the pace in the Premier League. There was also a 0-0 draw at Atalanta in the Champions League as well as a 1-0 loss to Inter Milan last month, when Odegaard made his comeback from injury as an 89th-minute substitute. Since then, Arsenal hasn’t lost and the goals have returned. After a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday came the cruise in Lisbon — and Odegaard was at the heart of everything as Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end. “He’s an unbelievable player,” Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka said of Odegaard. “The day he returned, there was a big smile on my face. You can see the chemistry we have. I hope he stays fit for the rest of the season.” Odegaard was involved in the build-up to Arsenal’s first two goals against Sporting — scored by Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz — and was fouled to win the penalty converted by Saka in the 65th to restore Arsenal’s three-goal lead at 4-1. Odegaard was seen flexing his leg after that but continued untroubled and was substituted in the 78th minute. The last thing Arteta would want now is another injury to Odegaard as Arsenal attempts to reel in first-place Liverpool in the Premier League. Liverpool is already nine points ahead of fourth-place Arsenal after 12 games. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerHere's what we know about this year's Spotify Wrapped music listening recaps
AP News Summary at 5:00 p.m. ESTWASHINGTON − reached an agreement Tuesday with outgoing President Joe Biden's White House that will allow for to finally begin three weeks after Trump's election victory. But Trump is not signing a separate agreement with the General Services Administration, which would have unlocked federal funding, government buildings and cybersecurity technology for the transition. Instead, his transition will be backed by private donors and operate as a "self-sufficient organization." The memorandum of understanding between Trump and the Biden White House − announced by Trump's − allows Trump and his transition team to access non-public government information, receive government briefings and deploy personnel inside the federal agencies and departments they will soon take over. "This engagement allows our intended Cabinet nominees to begin critical preparations, including the deployment of landing teams to every department and agency, and complete the orderly transition of power," Wiles said in a statement. Under the Presidential Transition Act, transition agreements were supposed to be signed Oct. 1 ahead of Election Day. reported Trump had concerns about a mandatory ethics pledge in the GSA memorandum of understanding − which remains remains unsigned − that included avoiding conflicts of interest in the White House. Rather than the GSA's ethics pledge, the Trump transition team said it plans to use its "existing ethics plan for those involved," which will meet federal requirements and be posted on the General Services Administration's website. Trump is also vowing not to use taxpayer funding for transition costs, although the financial arrangement was not immediately clear. over the weekend that Trump has so far kept secret the donors who are funding his transition. "Donors to the transition will be disclosed to the public," the Trump transition team said in a statement on the new agreement. "Consistent with Transition policy already in place, the Transition will not accept foreign donations." Biden ensured a smooth transition in a Rose Garden speech following Trump's election victory over , Biden's vice president. Biden welcomed Trump to the White House for a Nov. 13 meeting in a display of that commitment. "Like President Biden said to the American people from the Rose Garden and directly to President-elect Trump, he is committed to an orderly transition," White House spokeswoman Saloni Sharma said in a statement. Sharma said the agreement between Trump and the Biden White House will allow authorized members of the Trump transition team to have access to White House employees, facilities and information. She said the Trump transition team has also agreed to "important safeguards" to protect non-public information and prevent conflicts of interest, including who has access to the information and how the information is shared. "While we do not agree with the Trump transition team’s decision to forgo signing the GSA MOU, we will follow the purpose of the Presidential Transition Act, which clearly states that 'any disruption occasioned by the transfer of the executive power could produce results detrimental to the safety and wellbeing of the United States and its people.'"
bound4blue is seeking to further consolidate its leading position in maritime’s rapidly evolving Wind Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS) segment with the appointment of Daniel Mann as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). Mann joins the team after four years as VP Business Development at Silverstream Technologies, and over 25 years supporting and growing various maritime and energy businesses worldwide. This includes a decade at Rolls-Royce Marine, over five years at Siemens, and more than two years at MAN Energy Solutions. In his new position Mann will play a key role in accelerating bound4blue’s roll-out of its breakthrough DNV Type Approved eSAIL®. The unique, fully autonomous suction sail technology works by dragging air across an aerodynamically optimised surface to generate exceptional propulsive force. This helps shipowners and operators slash fuel consumption and emissions, lower OPEX, comply with regulatory demands, and play their part in shipping’s voyage towards enhanced sustainability. “It’s not often an opportunity like this comes along,” Mann says. “The WAPS niche is growing rapidly, with wind finally being accepted as one of the prime enablers for a greener maritime future. Within that segment, suction sails are the technology of choice, with bound4blue firmly established as the pioneer and trusted industry partner. Daniel Mann – aiming to drive further growth at pioneering wind propulsion company bound4blue “So, in that respect there’s a personal opportunity to make a mark within a sector and company set for ‘take off’, and a business opportunity to really seize on the huge market potential and cement bound4blue’s position as the standard-bearer for shipping’s wind revolution. Green technology and the decarbonisation of shipping are passions of mine. I look forward to helping grow this business and help customers worldwide meet their most ambitious climate goals.” bound4blue eSAILs® are simple to install, operate and maintain – with very few moving parts – and suitable for almost all shipping types, both retrofits and newbuilds. Their ability to harness a free, readily available and inexhaustible green energy, cutting conventional fuel consumption, has stoked an upsurge of industry interest. Shipping companies such as Maersk Tankers, Eastern Pacific Shipping, Klaveness Combination Carriers, Marflet, Odfjell and Louis Dreyfus Company, amongst others, have signed recent eSAIL® contracts, with a growing number of installations now scheduled worldwide. As, David Ferrer, CTO and co-founder, bound4blue explains, the foundations for “a new era of growth” are firmly in place. He comments: “We have a proven solution that opens a profitable path to sustainability, instantly delivering powerful financial and environmental advantages for forward-thinking owners. With the advent of new regulations, and an increasing appreciation of WAPS benefits, we believe conditions are primed for a rapid upswing in the eSAIL® adoption curve. “Daniel has the expertise and ambition to help us realise that potential – building even stronger customer relationships and connecting us with new markets and opportunities. It’s great to be able to welcome him on board at bound4blue. Exciting times lie ahead; for us and the industry we serve.” bound4blue eSAILs® are available in three model sizes, from 12m to 36m in height, with optional tilting systems. Relevant vessel segments include, but are not limited to, Tankers, Bulkers, Ro-Ros, Cruises, Ferries, Gas Carriers, and General Cargo ships. The units enhance compliance with existing and upcoming regulations, including improving vessel CII ratings, boosting EEDI and EEXI, complying with the advent of FuelEU Maritime, and contributing to saved allowances within the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. Source: bound4blueStock market today: Wall Street ends mixed after a bumpy week
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 23, 2024-- Last Wednesday, attorneys from Susman Godfrey LLP and Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff, LLP filed an antitrust lawsuit on behalf of CDS Litigation, LLC, against Align Technology, Inc. (“Align”), the American Dental Association (“ADA”), and the American Association of Orthodontists (“AAO”). The lawsuit, filed in the Superior Court of California, alleges that the Defendants engaged in a multi-year coordinated and illegal conspiracy to eliminate their most serious market competitor to protect their industry dominance at the expense of consumers’ ability to access effective, affordable, and proven orthodontic care. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Is he a hero? A killer? Both? About the same time the #FreeLuigi memes featuring the mustachioed plumber from “Super Mario Brothers” mushroomed online, commenters shared memes showing Tony Soprano pronouncing Luigi Mangione , the man charged with murdering the UnitedHealthcare CEO in Manhattan , a hero. There were posts lionizing Mangione’s physique and appearance, the ones speculating about who could play him on “Saturday Night Live,” and the ones denouncing and even threatening people at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s for spotting him and calling police. It was all too much for Pennsylvania's governor, a rising Democrat who was nearly the vice presidential nominee this year. Josh Shapiro — dealing with a case somewhere else that happened to land in his lap — decried what he saw as growing support for “vigilante justice.” The curious case of Brian Thompson and Luigi Mangione captivated and polarized a media-saturated nation. It also offers a glimpse into how, in a connected world, so many different aspects of modern American life can be surreally linked — from public violence to politics, from health care to humor (or attempts at it) . It summons a question, too: How can so many people consider someone a hero when the rules that govern American society — the laws — are treating him as the complete opposite? Luigi Mangione, a suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, on Monday at the police station in Altoona, Pa. Writings found in Mangione's possession hinted at a vague hatred of corporate greed and an expression of anger toward “parasitic” health insurance companies. Bullets recovered from the crime scene had the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” reflecting words used by insurance industry critics, written on them. A number of online posts combine an apparent disdain for health insurers — with no mention of the loss of life. “He took action against private health insurance corporations is what he did. he was a brave italian martyr. in this house, luigi mangione is a hero, end of story!” one anonymous person said in a post on X that has nearly 2 million views. On Monday, Shapiro took issue with comments like those. It was an extraordinary moment that he tumbled into simply because Mangione was apprehended in Pennsylvania. Shapiro's comments — pointed, impassioned and, inevitably, political — yanked the conversation unfolding on so many people's phone screens into real life. “We do not kill people in cold blood to resolve policy differences or express a viewpoint,” the governor said. “In a civil society, we are all less safe when ideologues engage in vigilante justice.” But to hear some of his fellow citizens tell it, that's not the case at all. Like Bonnie and Clyde, John Dillinger, D.B. Cooper and other notorious names from the American past, Mangione is being cast as someone to admire. Luigi Nicholas Mangione is escorted into Blair County Courthouse on Tuesday in Hollidaysburg, Pa. Regina Bateson, an assistant political science professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has studied vigilantism, the term to which Shapiro alluded. She doesn’t see this case as a good fit for the word, she says, because the victim wasn’t linked to any specific crime or offense. As she sees it, it's more akin to domestic terrorism. But Bateson views the threats against election workers , prosecutors and judges ticking up — plus the assassination attempts against President-elect Donald Trump this past summer — as possible signs that personal grievances or political agendas could erupt. “Americans are voicing more support for — or at least understanding of — political violence,” she said. Shapiro praised the police and the people of Blair County, who abided by a 9/11-era dictum of seeing something and saying something. The commenters have Mangione wrong, the governor said: “Hear me on this: He is no hero. The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this morning." A person demonstrates Monday near the McDonald's restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where police earlier in the day arrested Luigi Nicholas Mangione, 26, in the Dec. 4 killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO in Manhattan. Even shy of supporting violence, there are many instances of people who vent over how health insurers deny claims. Tim Anderson's wife, Mary, dealt with UnitedHealthcare coverage denials before she died from Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2022. “The business model for insurance is don’t pay,” Anderson, 67, of Centerville, Ohio, told The Associated Press . The discourse around the killing and Mangione is more than just memes. Conversations about the interconnectedness of various parts of American life are unfolding online as well. One Reddit user said he was banned for three days for supporting Kyle Rittenhouse, who was acquitted after testifying he acted in self-defense when he fatally shot two people in 2020 during protests. “Do you think people are getting banned for supporting Luigi?” the poster wondered. The comments cover a lot of ground. They include people saying the UnitedHealthcare slaying isn't a “right or left issue" and wondering what it would take to get knocked off the platform. “You probably just have to cross the line over into promoting violence,” one commenter wrote. “Not just laughing about how you don’t care about this guy.” Luigi Mangione is taken into the Blair County Courthouse on Tuesday in Hollidaysburg, Pa. Memes and online posts in support of the 26-year-old man, who's charged with killing UnitedHealthcare's CEO, have mushroomed online. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.Bombers GM Walters sees no need to blow up roster despite another Grey Cup loss
NEW YORK — Same iconic statue, very different race. With two-way star Travis Hunter of Colorado and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty leading the field, these certainly aren't your typical Heisman Trophy contenders. Sure, veteran quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel from top-ranked Oregon and Cam Ward of No. 15 Miami are finalists for college football's most prestigious award as well, but the 90th annual ceremony coming up Saturday night at Lincoln Center in New York City offers a fresh flavor this year. To start with, none of the four are from the powerhouse Southeastern Conference, which has produced four of the past five Heisman winners — two each from Alabama and LSU. Jeanty, who played his home games for a Group of Five team on that peculiar blue turf in Idaho more than 2,100 miles from Manhattan, is the first running back even invited to the Heisman party since 2017. After leading the country with 2,497 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns, he joined quarterback Kellen Moore (2010) as the only Boise State players to be named a finalist. "The running back position has been overlooked for a while now," said Jeanty, who plans to enter the 2025 NFL draft. "There's been a lot of great running backs before me that should have been here in New York, so to kind of carry on the legacy of the running back position I think is great. ... I feel as if I'm representing the whole position." With the votes already in, all four finalists spent Friday conducting interviews and sightseeing in the Big Apple. They were given custom, commemorative watches to mark their achievement. "I'm not a watch guy, but I like it," said Hunter, flashing a smile. The players also took photos beneath the massive billboards in Times Square and later posed with the famous Heisman Trophy, handed out since 1935 to the nation's most outstanding performer. Hunter, the heavy favorite, made sure not to touch it yet. A dominant player on both offense and defense who rarely comes off the field, the wide receiver/cornerback is a throwback to generations gone by and the first full-time, true two-way star in decades. On offense, he had 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns this season to help the 20th-ranked Buffaloes (9-3) earn their first bowl bid in four years. On defense, he made four interceptions, broke up 11 passes and forced a critical fumble that secured an overtime victory against Baylor. Hunter played 688 defensive snaps and 672 more on offense — the only Power Four conference player with 30-plus snaps on both sides of the ball, according to Colorado research. Call him college football's answer to baseball unicorn Shohei Ohtani. "I think I laid the ground for more people to come in and go two ways," Hunter said. "It starts with your mindset. If you believe you can do it, then you'll be able to do it. And also, I do a lot of treatment. I keep up with my body. I get a lot of recovery." Hunter is Colorado's first Heisman finalist in 30 years. The junior from Suwanee, Georgia, followed flashy coach Deion Sanders from Jackson State, an HBCU that plays in the lower level FCS, to the Rocky Mountains and has already racked up a staggering combination of accolades this week, including The Associated Press player of the year. Hunter also won the Walter Camp Award as national player of the year, along with the Chuck Bednarik Award as the top defensive player and the Biletnikoff Award for best wide receiver. "It just goes to show that I did what I had to do," Hunter said. Next, he'd like to polish off his impressive hardware collection by becoming the second Heisman Trophy recipient in Buffaloes history, after late running back Rashaan Salaam in 1994. "I worked so hard for this moment, so securing the Heisman definitely would set my legacy in college football," Hunter said. "Being here now is like a dream come true." Jeanty carried No. 8 Boise State (12-1) to a Mountain West Conference championship that landed the Broncos the third seed in this year's College Football Playoff. They have a first-round bye before facing the SMU-Penn State winner in the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal on New Year's Eve. The 5-foot-9, 215-pound junior from Jacksonville, Florida, won the Maxwell Award as college football's top player and the Doak Walker Award for best running back. Jeanty has five touchdown runs of at least 70 yards and has rushed for the fourth-most yards in a season in FBS history — topping the total of 115 teams this year. He needs 132 yards to break the FBS record set by Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders at Oklahoma State in 1988. In a pass-happy era, however, Jeanty is trying to become the first running back to win the Heisman Trophy since Derrick Henry for Alabama nine years ago. In fact, quarterbacks have snagged the prize all but four times this century. Gabriel, an Oklahoma transfer, led Oregon (13-0) to a Big Ten title in its first season in the league and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. The steady senior from Hawaii passed for 3,558 yards and 28 touchdowns with six interceptions. His 73.2% completion rate ranks second in the nation, and he's attempting to join quarterback Marcus Mariota (2014) as Ducks players to win the Heisman Trophy. "I think all the memories start to roll back in your mind," Gabriel said. Ward threw for 4,123 yards and led the nation with a school-record 36 touchdown passes for the high-scoring Hurricanes (10-2) after transferring from Washington State. The senior from West Columbia, Texas, won the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback of the Year award and is looking to join QBs Vinny Testaverde (1986) and Gino Torretta (1992) as Miami players to go home with the Heisman. "I just think there's a recklessness that you have to play with at the quarterback position," Ward said. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Innovation in Therapeutic and Nutritional Uses Drives Nanocapsules Market for Cosmetics to USD 2.4 Billion by 2034President-elect Donald Trump has once again suggested he wants to revert the name of North America’s tallest mountain — Alaska's Denali — to Mount McKinley, wading into a sensitive and decades-old conflict about what the peak should be called. Former President Barack Obama changed the official name to Denali in 2015 to reflect the traditions of Alaska Natives as well as the preference of many Alaska residents. The federal government in recent years has endeavored to change place-names considered disrespectful to Native people. “Denali” is an Athabascan word meaning “the high one" or “the great one.” A prospector in 1896 dubbed the peak “Mount McKinley” after President William McKinley, who had never been to Alaska. That name was formally recognized by the U.S. government until Obama changed it over opposition from lawmakers in McKinley's home state of Ohio. Trump suggested in 2016 that he might undo Obama's action, but he dropped that notion after Alaska's senators objected. He raised it again during a rally in Phoenix on Sunday. “McKinley was a very good, maybe a great president,” Trump said Sunday. “They took his name off Mount McKinley, right? That’s what they do to people.” Once again, Trump's suggestion drew quick opposition within Alaska. “Uh. Nope. It’s Denali,” Democratic state Sen. Scott Kawasaki posted on the social platform X Sunday night. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski , who for years pushed for legislation to change the name to Denali, conveyed a similar sentiment in a post of her own. “There is only one name worthy of North America’s tallest mountain: Denali — the Great One,” Murkowski wrote on X. Various tribes of Athabascan people have lived in the shadow of the 20,310-foot (6,190-meter) mountain for thousands of years. McKinley, a Republican native of Ohio who served as the 25th president, was assassinated early in his second term in 1901 in Buffalo, New York. Alaska and Ohio have been at odds over the name since at least the 1970s. Alaska had a standing request to change the name since 1975, when the legislature passed a resolution and then-Gov. Jay Hammond appealed to the federal government. Known for its majestic views, the mountain is dotted with glaciers and covered at the top with snow year-round, with powerful winds that make it difficult for the adventurous few who seek to climb it. ___ Rush reported from Portland, Oregon.
Shares of SEALSQ Corp. plunged more than 18% in early Friday trading, a sharp reversal after the stock’s value quadrupled earlier this week. Although, the stock later staged a partial recovery and was down just 6% by midday. The selloff followed the company’s announcement on Thursday of a public offering aimed at raising $10 million by issuing 7.69 million ordinary shares at $1.30 each. Wednesday marked the stock’s best day this year, with prices nearly doubling. However, concerns over shareholder dilution and the broader implications of the offering seemed to have tempered this momentum. Retail interest in SEALSQ has surged dramatically amid the volatility. Data from Stocktwits showed a 42% spike in message activity over the past 24 hours to Thursday, adding to a staggering 9,908% increase in chatter since Monday. The number of users tracking the stock also climbed by 11% in the last 24 hours, following a 50% increase earlier in the week. The direct offering has sparked significant debate on the platform over whether existing shareholders’ ownership will be reduced, given that the public offering price was above the market price at the time. SEALSQ plans to use the funds to accelerate the deployment of its next-generation post-quantum semiconductor technology and ASIC capabilities in the U.S. The offering is expected to be finalized by Monday. Despite the steep drop, the stock is up nearly 50% so far this year. For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.< Read also: Broadcom Joins Trillion-Dollar Club Driving Marvell, Astera, And Other Chip Stocks To Record Highs: Retail Is Doubling Down
Dec 18, 2024 Weak fluorination strategy unlocks graphene's potential for optoelectronic and energy applications ( Nanowerk News ) Researchers from Tohoku University and collaborators have developed a weak fluorination strategy to address the zero-bandgap limitation of graphene . The findings are published in Applied Physics Letters ( "Photoluminescence and transport properties of fluorinated graphene via a weak fluorination strategy" ). In most electronic materials, a "gate," i.e., a bandgap, exists that can either stop or allow electricity to pass. This is how we control electricity in things like computers or phones. But graphene has no such gate, meaning it conducts electricity continuously and cannot be turned off. To counteract this, scientists have often added a small amount of fluorine atoms to graphene, slightly changing its structure and introducing a bandgap, without damaging its core advantages. Fluorination, however, relies on the use of hazardous chemicals rendering it dangerous and impractical to apply at a large scale. "We developed an environmentally-friendly approach, one where we utilized fluoropolymers under controlled conditions to achieve selective fluorination," said Dr. Yaping Qi, assistant professor at Tohoku University. "This advancement also enables enhanced photoluminescence and tunable transport properties while maintaining high carrier mobility, making graphene more applicable for use in optoelectronic and energy devices." Characterization of the Gr and FGr. (Image: Yue Xue, Yaping Qi, Tong Tong, et al.) Qi and her colleagues used advanced techniques, including photoluminescence (PL) mapping and Raman spectroscopy, to analyze how fluorination changes graphene's structure and optical properties. Their tests showed that fluorinated graphene has improved light-emitting abilities, making it promising for use in LEDs, sensors, and other energy technologies. This work also connects to recent developments in van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures, which are created by layering different 2D materials to achieve multiple functions. Such structures have potential uses in memory storage, artificial intelligence, and photoelectric devices. "The integration of fluorinated graphene into vdW heterostructures opens up exciting possibilities, especially for flexible electronics and systems that can perform multiple tasks at once," said stated Dr. Xichan Gao, a co-author and assistant professor at the Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR) at Tohoku University. "This research demonstrates how environmentally friendly processing can significantly improve the functional properties of graphene," adds Qi. "Combining fluorination with strain engineering opens new possibilities for the development of scalable, high-performance 2D materials, providing a pathway to enhance graphene's practical utility while maintaining a focus on safe and scalable material processing techniques." Source: Tohoku University (Note: Content may be edited for style and length)
