IDX Dynamic Innovation ETF (NASDAQ:DYNI) Short Interest UpdateIf there was one unforgettable weekend destination in 2024, it was the Visayas Art Fair (VAF), which transformed 31 galleries into an artistic labyrinth inviting everyone to lose themselves in creativity. Over three vibrant days from Nov. 22 to 24 at Oakridge Business Park, VAF 2024 turned creativity into an interactive experience. With live demos, workshops, film screenings and artist talks, the event drew visitors of all ages eager to immerse themselves in the world of art. The fair, which has historically united artists from the country’s Visayas region while engaging those from the National Capital Region, continues to push boundaries by boosting the economic potential of the art scene. VAF emphasizes that art should never exist in isolation, as the creative process thrives on external influences such as conversations with other artists, exposure to different cultures and the cross-pollination of ideas. Now in its fourth run, VAF has remained steadfast in its goal of transcending geographic and cultural divides.

2024: A pivotal year of political shifts, economic recovery and global upheaval

DrBalcony App Redefines Balcony Inspections with Unparalleled EfficiencyBaijiayun was honored with the title of "Exclusive Member Unit" by the Beijing Educational Informationization Industry Alliance.Public sector staff investigating potential miscarriages of justice are going into the office just twice a year, The Telegraph can reveal. The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) scrutinises the convictions of people or found guilty. Despite handling such serious and sensitive work, the organisation describes itself as “remote-first”, with few employees attending its headquarters in central Birmingham regularly. The commission’s chairman is over its handling of the wrongful rape conviction of . Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said it was “concerning” the organisation had such a “loose operating model” that allowed staff to “rarely” go into the office. The Telegraph has been exposing in both the public and private sectors, which experts have argued is a cost to productivity and the economy as a whole. A website advertising jobs at the CCRC tells prospective candidates: “As a remote-first organisation the majority of our staff work from home, travelling to the office a couple of times a year on average. “This means that you can work anywhere in the UK.” The commission is currently hiring for a head of investigations, which the job description states will be “based at home”, with some required travel across the country. Working from home is listed as one of the “benefits” a successful candidate can “look forward to”, with candidates told: “Remote working (anywhere in the UK) – we will supply all the kit you need to work from home comfortably and safely.” It comes as following the case of Mr Malkinson, who spent 17 years in jail over a rape he did not commit. Mr Malkinson, who was released from prison in 2020 and only had his conviction quashed in July 2023, twice applied for his case to be referred for appeal by the CCRC, but was turned down. Following a review that found that Mr Malkinson had been “failed” by the commission, Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor, said that she was seeking to remove , the CCRC chairman. It is understood that the decision over Ms Pitcher’s future is now in the hands of an independent panel, which will go on to make a recommendation on whether she should keep her position. The commission has now been told to look back over all cases which have the “possibility of DNA opportunities”, with thousands expected to be reviewed. Most appellants have already lost an appeal before the CCRC examines their case. However, if staff can uncover new evidence or failings in the conviction process, then the organisation may send the conviction back to the Court of Appeal. Only an appeal court can ultimately decide if a conviction is unsafe. The commission, an independent public body funded by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) receives about 1,500 applications for reviews each year. It has referred about 3 per cent of applications to the appeal courts since it was founded. Mr Jenrick said: “The CCRC handles the most sensitive cases. “It is concerning that they are operating such a loose operating model, rarely even going into the office. “This is indicative of a broader problem, with unconscionably long delays in our courts and the system not even operating at the capacity the Lady Chief Justice has said is available.” It comes as MoJ figures showed on Thursday that court backlogs have risen to around 73,000 cases, which is nearly double the pre-pandemic number of 38,000. The Lady Chief Justice has previously criticised the Government’s decision not to fund crown courts to operate at maximum capacity. A CCRC spokesman said: “We are a remote working organisation. Remote working allows us to recruit high-calibre staff from across the UK. “Technology allows our staff to work safely, securely and effectively from home, and they are provided with the equipment they need to do this. “A small number of staff work in our Birmingham office each day and others visit as needed.”Enhancing Your Analytical Capabilities with Berthold HPLC Detectors

One day, when actor and comedian Rosie O'Donnell was in her 50s, her body ached and her arms felt sore, but she pushed through the pain, not realizing she was having a massive heart attack. She had surgery to put in a stent that saved her life. Shortly after her 2012 heart attack, O'Donnell shared her experience on her blog. During her 2015 television standup special, she spoke about how the experience changed her life. The segment included a heart attack acronym the comedian coined: HEPPP (hot, exhausted, pain, pale, puke). O'Donnell's candidness about her heart attack helped spread awareness about how it can present differently in women. She's one of countless celebrities over the years who have opened up about their health conditions, including breast cancer, HIV, depression, heart disease and stroke. When celebrities reveal and discuss their health issues, the impact can be far-reaching. It not only helps to educate the public, but it also can reduce stigma and inspire others. "Health disclosures by celebrities do matter, and we know this from decades of research across a lot of different health conditions and public figures," said Dr. Jessica Gall Myrick, a professor of health communication at Pennsylvania State University in University Park. "They absolutely do influence people." Some of the earliest celebrity health disclosures happened in the 1970s and 1980s with U.S. presidents and first ladies. When first lady Betty Ford was diagnosed with breast cancer just weeks after Gerald Ford became president in 1974, she spoke openly about her diagnosis, inviting photographers into the White House and helping make talk of cancer less taboo. In 1987, first lady Nancy Reagan used her breast cancer diagnosis as a chance to advocate for women to get mammograms. Her disclosure came two years after President Ronald Reagan's colon cancer diagnosis, about which the couple was equally as vocal. "Individuals throughout the country have been calling cancer physicians and information services in record numbers," the Los Angeles Times reported after Nancy Reagan's widely publicized surgery. The public showed a similar interest years earlier following Betty Ford's mastectomy. Another major milestone in celebrity health disclosures came in 1991, when 32-year-old NBA superstar Earvin "Magic" Johnson revealed he had tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. "Life is going to go on for me, and I'm going to be a happy man," Johnson assured fans during a news conference. He immediately retired, only to return to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996. His disclosure, along with his work as an advocate for safe sex, helped shatter stigmas around HIV and AIDS. Calls to testing centers increased significantly in the days and weeks after Johnson's announcement. "That celebrity disclosure really helped people see there was a wider susceptibly to HIV," Gall Myrick said. "People were more likely to say, 'I need to think about my own risks.' It was very powerful." When it comes to heart and stroke health, President Dwight Eisenhower helped make heart attacks less frightening and mysterious. During a news conference in 1955, millions of Americans learned from the president's doctors about his heart condition, his treatment, and concrete steps they could take to reduce their own heart attack risk. Other notable figures have shared their health experiences over the years. Soap opera legend Susan Lucci , who was diagnosed with heart disease in 2018, has advocated for women's heart health. Basketball great Kareem Abdul Jabbar talks about his irregular heartbeat, known as atrial fibrillation, and advocates for regular health screenings. Lawyer, author and television personality Star Jones continues to speak about heart disease risk after having lifesaving heart surgery in 2010. Longtime TV and radio personality Dick Clark brought stroke and aphasia into the national spotlight when he returned to hosting "New Year's Rockin' Eve" in Times Square just a year after his 2004 stroke and continued until his death in 2012. And actor and comedian Jamie Foxx recently revealed he had a stroke last year. "Celebrity disclosures represent teachable moments," said Dr. Seth M. Noar, director of the Communicating for Health Impact Lab at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. "Searches for different health conditions often spike in the wake of these types of announcements. They cause people to think about these health issues, learn more about them, and in some cases change their behaviors." Celebrities have also highlighted the importance of CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator, or AED, to restore a person's heartbeat if they experience cardiac arrest. Interest in CPR and AEDs spiked in 2023 after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during an NFL game broadcast on national TV. Views of the American Heart Association's hands-only CPR pages jumped more than 600% in the days following Hamlin's cardiac arrest. Three months later, around 3 million people had watched the AHA's CPR video. Family members of celebrities who have died from a heart issue have also spread awareness. After actor John Ritter died of an undiagnosed aortic dissection in 2003, his wife, actor Amy Yasbeck, started the Ritter Foundation to raise awareness about the condition and help others avoid a misdiagnosis. A literature review published in Systematic Reviews in 2017 found that people are conditioned to react positively to celebrity advice. Research also has found that people often follow advice from celebrities who match how they perceive – or how they want to perceive – themselves. The most effective celebrity disclosures are frequently the ones that tell a compelling story and include clear steps people can take to apply lessons the celebrity learned to their own health situation, Gall Myrick said. "People are more likely to take action when they feel confident and capable." Research has shown that celebrity disclosures often impact calls to hotlines and page views on health-related websites, and they can spark behavioral and even policy changes. Anecdotally, Gall Myrick said, people ask their doctor more questions about health conditions and request medical screenings. Celebrities can have a big impact because people tend to have parasocial relationships with them, Gall Myrick said. These are one-sided relationships in which a person feels an emotional connection with another person, often a celebrity. People may feel as if they know the basketball player they've watched on the court for years, or the Hollywood actor they've followed, she said. They want to comfort them after a health disclosure. Social media has only increased this feeling of familiarity, as celebrities regularly share mundane – but fascinating – details of their daily lives, like what they eat for breakfast, their favorite socks, or the meditation they do before bed. "We spend a lifetime being exposed to celebrities through the media, and over time, you get to know these public figures," Gall Myrick said. "Some feel like friendships." A study published in the journal Science Communication in 2020 compared reactions to actor Tom Hanks, who had COVID-19 early in the pandemic, and an average person with COVID-19. Researchers found that participants identified more with Hanks when it came to estimating their own susceptibility to COVID-19. The participants also felt more emotional about the virus that causes COVID-19 when thinking about it in relation to Hanks versus an average person. When a celebrity reveals a health condition, it's a surprise that may feel personal, especially if they are well-liked and the health issue is dramatic and sudden. "We feel like we know them, and the emotional response is what can then push people out of their routine," Gall Myrick said. Noar said a celebrity health story is often a more interesting and powerful way to learn about a health condition than just the facts, which can feel overwhelming. People are drawn to the slew of media coverage that typically follows a celebrity disclosure, he said. "Some of these high-visibility public figures' stories are now woven into some of these illnesses," Noar said. For example, Angelina Jolie is often linked to the BRCA1 gene mutation after the actor shared she had a preventive double mastectomy because of her elevated breast cancer risk and had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed because of her increased risk for ovarian cancer. "It's a narrative, a story that humanizes the condition in a way that very informational communication really doesn't," Noar said. "People remember it, and it can potentially be a touch point." After a disclosure, patients may bring up a celebrity's story during a doctor's appointment and connect it to their own care. Today's multiplatform digital culture only amplifies celebrity messages. "You're seeing everyday people react to these events, and that can have a ripple effect too," Gall Myrick said. "We know from research that seeing messages more than once can be impactful. Often it's not just one billboard or one commercial that impacts behavior; it's the drip drip drip over time." Still, there's a cautionary tale to be told around the impact of celebrity health news, especially if the celebrity has died. An unclear cause of death may lead to speculation. Gall Myrick said that guesswork could potentially end up hurting rather than helping if patients were to act on misinformation or a lack of information. "Maybe the death was atypical or it needs more context," she said. "That's where advocacy groups and public health organizations come in. They need to be prepared for announcements or disclosures about celebrity deaths, and to fill in some of those gaps." American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!

Leaders who play favorites at work think it promotes excellence and healthy competition. It also breeds resentment.Donald Trump might, perhaps inadvertently, shake up where Hollywood looks to shoot tentpoles and TV shows. With the entertainment industry in a spending slump after the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes, shooting facilities and production crews north of the U.S. border have had a slow year. But Trump’s election victory sparked optimism when it boosted the American dollar against the Canadian loonie, ostensibly providing Hollywood producers even more savings by tapping the country’s extensive production infrastructure, especially in Toronto and Vancouver. Now Trump’s threat of a 25 percent tariff on Canadian and Mexican exports to the U.S. appears likely to depress the value of the Canadian dollar even further, making it even cheaper for Hollywood to shoot in Canada. “This kind of FX [foreign exchange] fluctuation consistently benefits Canadian service production. It also enhances the value that comes out of international co-productions,” says Noah Segal, co-president of Toronto-based production company Elevation Pictures The value of the loonie, or Canada’s dollar, had already tumbled to just over 70 cents against the American greenback, a low not seen since mid-2020. And the major studios and streamers have already begun returning north to shoot originals, whether big budget tentpoles or small indie films, albeit on tighter budgets than the pre-strike boom time. Paul Bronfman, chairman and CEO of Comweb Corp. and a senior adviser to Pinewood Toronto Studios, tells that the beneficial exchange rate might present cost-conscious producers with an offer they can’t refuse. “The Canadian dollar is already down,” he says. “If it goes below 70 cents, it’s going to be too good for the Americans to resist.” That impact includes VFX studios potentially having to pay more to purchase American visual effects software and hardware if the Canadian dollar continues to fall, or indie producers facing higher costs for Los Angeles-based satellite offices and employees. Not surprisingly, Canadian indie producers are busily finding ways to work around the U.S. trade policy threat. Says Josh Bowen, co-CEO and head of animation at Cutting Class Media: “You can work around any tariff by being innovative and giving your partners reasons to still buy stuff from you. And so if that means I’m essentially providing a discount with the way that I’m doing things already, then that’s great value to my partner when still providing great quality.” Jennifer Twiner McCarron, CEO and Chair of Thunderbird, which produces originals like the animated and scripted series like , stands to be positively impacted by the tariff when doing service production work for major U.S. studio and streaming clients. She notes that, given Trump’s antagonistic relationship with Hollywood, he may not be too bothered by more productions leaving L.A. for Canada. It would, after all, be a typically Trumpian way to stick it to California and governor Gavin Newsom, who in late October unveiled a plan to double the state’s tax incentive program to to staunch a production exodus. “I don’t know how motivated Trump is to make sure that all the work stays in Hollywood. It’s not the first industry he’s going to double over to help, let’s say that,” she says. “Everyone is looking for ways to do high-quality content at a cheaper price point. And we would still have our great tax incentives in place.” Canadian visual effects studios also see upside from a depressed loonie as they can already execute for less money and are close to and technologically entwined with the U.S. market. “I can see that in the number of shows starting to shoot here,” Neishaw Ali, CEO and executive producer at Spin VFX in Toronto, says. She adds if Hollywood players remove any currency risk by locking in a Canadian dollar at 70 cents to do visual effects up north at some point in 2025, “our American friends will do very well.” Nicholas Tabbarok, an indie producer with Toronto-based Darius Films, faces a double-sided impact from a lower Canadian dollar bringing more American business and film financing north. Any pre-sale or investment from American sources will offer more value to stateside partners, which could help with acquisitions and financing. But when the Canadian industry gets busier producing original productions by American filmmakers, Tabbarok has to compete with major studios and streamers for soundstages, rental equipment and crews. “If I’m making a $10 million movie, I’m renting gear and hiring crew against Netflix’s tentpole movie,” he explains. A question mark remains over whether Trump’s tariff threat will apply to U.S. buyers of licensed Canadian content, leading local film and TV producers to look to Ottawa to help avoid the impact of potential American trade measures likely to fall hardest on the domestic auto and oil industries. “I’m hopeful that the Canadian government will be successful in convincing the U.S. government to spare us much of the brunt of this policy,” Anthony Leo, co-president of indie producer Aircraft Pictures, insists. Other studio operators up north are also optimistic about 2025. Eoin Egan, co-managing partner and COO at Cinespace Studios, added, “Toronto’s unique combination of stable incentives, world-class infrastructure, and unmatched crew talent — combined with its commitment to crew and performer diversity — establishes it as a premier destination for film and television production ... we look forward to the opportunities that 2025 will bring.” THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day More from The Hollywood Reporter

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Syrian rebel commander Hassan Abdul Ghany said in a social media post on Thursday that his forces have entered the city of Hama, a strategically vital position south of the previous insurgent conquest, Aleppo. The rebels appeared to control much of the city by Thursday afternoon. The rebel offensive reached Hama on Tuesday, engaging in heavy combat with the Syrian army and its Iran-backed militia allies. Syrian state media insisted the attack on Hama was repelled, but Syrian media said the same about Aleppo until rebel occupation of the city could no longer be denied, and there was soon little doubt that insurgents were in control of the city. Hama is a major milestone for the insurgency because the regime of Bashar Assad kept it under control throughout the entire Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011. The civil war arguably began in Hama when Assad brutally suppressed protests against his rule, but rebels were never before able to capture the city. Conquering Hama would put the insurgents about a third of the way to reaching the capital, Damascus. The next major stop on the way to Damascus would be the crossroads city of Homs. Hama is also important because it lies near three major minority populations: the Christians of Muhrada, the Ismaili Muslims of Salamiya, and the Alawites. The Ismaili are a small sect of Shia Islam that was brutalized by the Islamic State. The Alawites are the Shiite sect from which Bashar Assad and much of the Syrian ruling elite hail. The insurgent offensive is led by Hayat Tharir al-Sham (HTS), a jihadi offshoot of al-Qaeda. HTS leaders have promised to protect religious minorities in conquered territory, but there is not much faith in their promises. They might prove especially hostile to Assad’s Alawites, who are a major source of political support for the dictator. Christian leaders are already sounding alarms about the dangers facing Syria’s Christian community. HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Julani declared on Thursday that Hama was fully under the control of rebel forces. Footage broadcast by Al Jazeera News showed rebel forces moving freely through Hama and speaking with civilian residents. Al Jazeera reported that a “significant” number of Hama residents fled after rebels penetrated the city. The report also said the insurgents have captured the military airport in Hama, which has been used by the Syrian military to launch airstrikes against rebel forces. Julani issued a statement warning Iran-backed Iraqi militias, sent into Syria to support the Assad regime, to stay away from Hama. The rebel leader advised Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sundai to “keep Iraq away from entering into the flames of a new war tied to what is happening in Syria.” The Syrian army admitted later on Thursday it had withdrawn its forces from the city to “preserve civilian lives and prevent urban combat,” but claimed it was preparing to launch a counterattack. “I think it’s going to be very hard for the Russians and the Syrians to be able and regain momentum immediately, because now that the opposition is gaining control of Hama, they’re going to be launching a major offensive on Homs,” Royal United Services Institute associate fellow Samuel Ramani told Al Jazeera. “If Homs is taken, Damascus is under serious threat,” he added. “At the moment, we are closely monitoring what is happening in Syria. We are in constant dialogue with our Syrian friends, with Damascus,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. “Depending on the assessment of the situation, we will be able to talk about the degree of assistance that is needed by the Syrian authorities to cope with the militants and eliminate this threat,” Peskov said.R S Sharma Steps Down As Non-Executive Chairperson Of ONDC In 3 MonthsThe Minnesota Twins have reportedly agreed to a new deal with one of their top bullpen arms, at least on paper. On Friday, KSTP Sports' Darren "Doogie" Wolfson reported that the Twins and relief pitcher Brock Stewart agreed to a one-year contract worth $870,000, with up to $30,000 in incentives. The agreement allows both sides to avoid arbitration. Follow Inside the Twins on Facebook Hear Brock Stewart, #MNTwins agree at $870K. Can earn an additional $30K in incentives. Stewart, 33, has been fantastic the past two seasons when healthy. The problem, like for several other Twins players, is he hasn't been healthy very often. Related: Minnesota Twins add only 2 prospects to 40-man ahead of Rule 5 deadline In 2023, he appeared in 28 games for Minnesota, posting a 0.65 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 27.2 innings, but missed from June 27 through Sept. 25 due to right elbow soreness. This past season, he didn’t allow a run until his 13th appearance and again posted great strikeout numbers but missed 12 weeks with shoulder tendinitis, then missed the rest of the season with a shoulder strain after returning for three rough outings in July. His raw stuff is filthy, pairing a high-90s fastball with a good sweeper, plus a sinker, cutter and changeup to mix in. However, the Twins desperately need him to stay healthy. Related: With pinched payroll, Twins have hardly any offseason spending room On paper, the Twins have an elite bullpen, with Stewart and Jorge Alcala behind Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran. Thanks to health issues and inconsistency, Minnesota's bullpen posted a 4.12 ERA last season, 19th in MLB. The Twins still have several other arbitration-eligible players to negotiate with this offseason. Stewart has two more years of control after 2025. Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

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New Jersey Drone Mystery Prompts Senator Patrol, FBI ProbeBaijiayun was honored with the title of "Exclusive Member Unit" by the Beijing Educational Informationization Industry Alliance.