Scott Boland will have the chance to make a statement against India with the pink ball after he was picked in the Prime Minister’s XI squad for next week’s match in Canberra. The Victorian quick was named in the squad for the first Test in Perth but will get some crucial overs under his belt after being limited to just two first class matches this summer, including the Australia A fixture against India A earlier this month. Boland’s ability to swing the ball and target the stumps could put him in the mix for a Test recall in the second Test in Adelaide where India will be hoping to avoid a repeat of what happened four years ago when they were bowled out for just 36. It’s why this match at Manuka Oval starting on November 30 will be so important to their preparations for the tricky conditions they’ll face under lights at the Adelaide Oval in the second Test that starts on December 6. Former Test opener Matt Renshaw is also in the squad on the back of his century in the Sheffield Shield last week, while Test aspirant Sam Konstas is one of many young guns hoping to impress selectors. “The squad contains a mix of experience combined with some promising emerging players in Australian cricket,” National selection panel chair George Bailey said. “The Prime Minister’s XI match presents an opportunity for a highly talented squad to impress against a strong Indian team in their only pink-ball hitout prior to the second Test. “We are utilising the opportunity to maintain Scott Boland’s match fitness in his preparations as part of the Test squad. “We thank the Prime Minister for his input into the squad which sees some of the country’s most exciting young cricketers mixed with some highly experienced players.” Anthony Albanese is excited to see what his side can produce under the leadership of Jack Edwards. “The Prime Minister’s XI has a rich history within Australian Cricket and I am delighted to confirm the squad for this summer’s match against India,” the Prime Minister said. “Taking on India, one of the best sides in world cricket featuring the likes of Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant, will be an amazing experience for the squad, particularly knowing that millions of fans around the globe will be watching the match. “I want to thank Jack Edwards for taking on the role of captain and look forward to watching him lead a side which will compete strongly while remaining true to the traditions and values of the Prime Minister’s XI.” Prime Minister’s XI squad to play India: Jack Edwards (c) Charlie Anderson Mahli Beardman Scott Boland Jack Clayton Aidan O’Connor Ollie Davies Jayden Goodwin Sam Harper Hanno Jacobs Sam Konstas Lloyd Pope Matt Renshaw Jem RyanRECOMMENDED — Japanese society is famously polite but rising numbers of rude, abusive, even violent customers is changing thatThree-day agri expo in Mardan from 27th MARDAN: The Mardan Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industries and the city government will jointly organize a three-day “Trade, Solar and Agriculture Expo” from November 27. Speaking to a joint news conference at the Mardan Press Club, Mayor Mardan Himayatullah Mayar, Taj Muhammad, President of Mardan Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industries, Ihsanullah Bacha President of Markazi Tanzeem-e-Tajran Mardan and others said that the expo will be held from November 27 to 29 at a local wedding hall from 9am to 10pm. They added that various experts would participate in the expo, and stalls of various items would be set up. They added that there would be women’s cooking competitions, while a draw would be held every hour in the expo. They highlighted that Mardan was a big commercial centre in terms of trade and it was important in terms of agricultural produce. They said that the expo would encourage farmers and cultivators to adopt modern methods including community farming and group farming. They said that this activity would benefit local industry and traders. They said that the expo would help change traditional thinking about agriculture and trade and encourage the adoption of modern technological methods. They added that various delegations from the provinces would participate in the expo. They said that the people of Mardan should participate in the expo and take advantage of this opportunity.
By CHRIS MEGERIAN and COLLEEN LONG WASHINGTON (AP) — In the two weeks since Donald Trump won the presidency, he’s tried to demonstrate his dominance by naming loyalists for top administration positions, even though many lack expertise and some face sexual misconduct accusations. It often seems like he’s daring Congress to oppose his decisions. But on Thursday, Trump’s attempt to act with impunity showed a crack as Matt Gaetz , his choice for attorney general, withdrew from consideration. Trump had named Gaetz, a Florida congressman, to be the country’s top law enforcement official even though he was widely disliked by his colleagues, has little legal experience and was accused of having sex with an underage girl, an allegation he denied. After being plagued by investigations during his first presidency, Trump wanted a devoted ally in charge of the Justice Department during his second. However, it was never obvious that Gaetz could win enough support from lawmakers to get confirmed as attorney general. Trump chose for a replacement Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general who defended him during his first impeachment trial and supported his false claims of voter fraud. Now the question is whether Gaetz was uniquely unpalatable, or if Trump’s other picks might exceed his party’s willingness to overlook concerns that would have sunk nominees in a prior political era. The next test will likely be Pete Hegseth, who Trump wants to lead the Pentagon despite an allegation of sexual assault that he’s denied. So far, Republicans are rallying around Hegseth , an Army veteran and former Fox News host. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the controversy over Gaetz would have little bearing on Trump’s other choices. He said they would be considered “one at a time.” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, suggested otherwise, claiming “the dominoes are falling.” “The drip drip of evidence and truth is going to eventually doom some others,” he said. Trump’s election victory was a sign that there may not be many red lines left in American politics. He won the presidential race despite authoritarian, racist and misogynist rhetoric, not to mention years of lies about election fraud and his role in sparking the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He was also criminally convicted of falsifying business records to pay hush money, and he was found liable for sexual abuse in a civil case. Empowered by voters who looked past his misconduct and saw him as a powerful agent of change, Trump has shown no deference to Washington norms while working to fill his second administration . The transition team hasn’t pursued federal background checks for Trump’s personnel choices. While some of his selections have extensive experience in the areas they’ve been chosen to lead, others are personal friends and Fox News personalities who have impressed and flattered Trump over the years. Several have faced allegations involving sexual misconduct . Hegseth is facing the most scrutiny after Gaetz. Once Trump announced Hegseth as his nominee for Pentagon chief, allegations emerged that he sexually assaulted a woman in California in 2017. The woman said he took her phone, blocked the door to the hotel room and refused to let her leave, according to a police report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing, the report said. However, he paid the woman a confidential settlement in 2023. Hegseth’s lawyer said the payment was made to head off the threat of a baseless lawsuit. Trump’s choice for secretary of health and human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has faced allegations of misconduct too. A woman who babysat for him and his second wife told Vanity Fair magazine that Kennedy groped her in the late 1990s, when she was 23. Kennedy did not deny the allegation and texted an apology to the woman after the article was published. That isn’t the only hurdle for Kennedy; he’s spent years spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories about vaccines, raising fears about making him a top health official in the new administration. Linda McMahon, chosen by Trump to be education secretary, is fighting a lawsuit connected to her former company, World Wrestling Entertainment. She’s accused of knowingly enabling sexual exploitation of children by an employee as early as the 1980s, and she denies the allegations. Tulsi Gabbard is another person who could face a difficult confirmation battle, but for very different reasons. The former Democratic representative from Hawaii has been a vocal Trump ally, and he chose her to be national intelligence director. But there’s grave concern by lawmakers and national security officials over Gabbard’s history of echoing Russian propaganda. Critics said she would endanger relationships with U.S. allies. Gaetz was investigated by federal law enforcement for sex trafficking, but the case was closed without charges and Republicans have blocked the release of a related report from the House Ethics Committee. However, some allegations leaked out, including that Gaetz paid women for sex. One of the women testified to the committee that she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old girl, according to a lawyer for the woman. As Gaetz met with senators this week, it became clear that he would face stubborn resistance from lawmakers who were concerned about his behavior and believed he was unqualified to run the Justice Department. “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction,” Gaetz wrote on social media when announcing his withdrawal. Sen. Mike Braun, an Indiana Republican, said he believed there were four to six members of the caucus who would have voted against Gaetz, likely dooming his nomination, and “the math got too hard.” He said some of the issues and allegations around Gaetz were “maybe beyond the pale.” “I think there were just too many things, it was like a leaky dike, and you know, it broke,” Braun said. Trump thanked Gaetz in a post on Truth Social, his social media website, without addressing the substance of the allegations against him. “He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect,” Trump wrote. Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Stephen Groves and Lisa Macaro contributed from Washington. Jill Colvin in New York and Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, also contributed.Mexico Looks Past Trump Threats With $2.7 Billion Port ExpansionNone
Quest Partners LLC purchased a new position in Humana Inc. ( NYSE:HUM – Free Report ) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 2,212 shares of the insurance provider’s stock, valued at approximately $701,000. Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Swedbank AB raised its stake in shares of Humana by 3.0% in the third quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 105,976 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $33,567,000 after acquiring an additional 3,085 shares during the last quarter. Heritage Oak Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Humana during the 2nd quarter worth about $3,456,000. Mandatum Life Insurance Co Ltd increased its position in Humana by 115.4% in the 3rd quarter. Mandatum Life Insurance Co Ltd now owns 14,000 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $4,434,000 after acquiring an additional 7,500 shares in the last quarter. APG Asset Management US Inc. raised its stake in shares of Humana by 3.0% in the second quarter. APG Asset Management US Inc. now owns 67,669 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $25,274,000 after acquiring an additional 1,955 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Humana by 472.1% during the first quarter. Cetera Advisors LLC now owns 10,098 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $3,501,000 after purchasing an additional 8,333 shares in the last quarter. 92.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts have issued reports on HUM shares. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Humana from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $519.00 to $253.00 in a research report on Monday, October 7th. Leerink Partnrs lowered Humana from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on Humana from $349.00 to $250.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 3rd. Oppenheimer dropped their price objective on shares of Humana from $400.00 to $280.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. Finally, Leerink Partners cut Humana from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and cut their target price for the company from $400.00 to $250.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. Twenty analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Humana currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $315.86. Humana Trading Up 0.8 % Shares of Humana stock opened at $298.11 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.76 and a quick ratio of 1.76. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $276.83 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $330.64. Humana Inc. has a 1 year low of $213.31 and a 1 year high of $527.18. The company has a market capitalization of $35.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.40, a P/E/G ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.52. Humana ( NYSE:HUM – Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The insurance provider reported $4.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.48 by $0.68. The company had revenue of $29.30 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $28.66 billion. Humana had a net margin of 1.18% and a return on equity of 13.20%. Research analysts forecast that Humana Inc. will post 15.86 EPS for the current year. Humana Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be given a $0.885 dividend. This represents a $3.54 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.19%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 31st. Humana’s payout ratio is 31.36%. Humana Profile ( Free Report ) Humana Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides medical and specialty insurance products in the United States. It operates through two segments, Insurance and CenterWell. The company offers medical and supplemental benefit plans to individuals. It has a contract with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to administer the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition prescription drug plan program; and contracts with various states to provide Medicaid, dual eligible, and long-term support services benefits. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HUM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Humana Inc. ( NYSE:HUM – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Humana Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Humana and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .The cryptocurrency world has seen a monumental shift in recent years. Meme coins, once just a quirky addition to the market, have turned into serious players. Their potential for quick gains has caught the eyes of savvy investors and trendsetters alike. Amidst this chaos, a few standout coins have captured attention for their unique features and growth potential. Today, we’re diving into the top meme coins to buy and hold for the long term , focusing on three of the most buzz-worthy ones: BTFD Coin, Shiba Inu, and Dogecoin. Each of these tokens offers something different, yet they share the same underlying principle: the power of community-driven hype and engagement. Here’s why these coins deserve a spot on your investment radar. 1. BTFD Coin: A New Era of Meme Coin Investment BTFD Coin is making waves, not just as a meme coin but as a pioneer of innovation in the space. The project stands out with its Play 2 Earn (P2E) game and a unique staking platform that has caught the attention of investors. In its current presale stage, the coin has already raised over $700,000 within its first week, showing that the hype surrounding BTFD Coin is real. The BTFD Coin ecosystem is built to deliver long-term value. 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And with over 18 billion BTFD coins sold and more than 1,700 holders already on board, the future looks promising. 2. Shiba Inu: The “Dogecoin Killer” If there’s one meme coin that’s made its mark and stayed relevant, it’s Shiba Inu. Dubbed the “Dogecoin Killer,” Shiba Inu has earned its place in the meme coin hall of fame. Created as an Ethereum-based token, Shiba Inu quickly garnered a massive following and became the poster child for the meme coin movement. What sets Shiba Inu apart? It’s its strong, dedicated community and the strategic development of its ecosystem. ShibaSwap, the coin’s decentralised exchange, allows users to trade tokens, provide liquidity, and stake their coins to earn rewards. The Shiba ecosystem is also expanding with the introduction of Shibarium, a layer-2 solution aimed at reducing transaction costs and enhancing network scalability. Investors looking to hold onto Shiba Inu for the long term have benefited from the coin’s volatile but upward-moving price. The community’s ongoing efforts to integrate Shiba into real-world applications, such as partnerships and NFT projects, offer hope for future growth. This coin might not have the flashy gaming mechanics that BTFD Coin boasts, but its established track record and innovative developments make it a solid option for meme coin enthusiasts. Why did this coin make it to this list? Because it’s a symbol of how meme coins can evolve from a joke to a legitimate investment. Shiba Inu has proven that staying power and community engagement can drive a coin to new heights. As more investors look for long-term gains, Shiba Inu stands out as a proven contender. 3. Dogecoin: The OG Meme Coin It wouldn’t be right to talk about meme coins without giving a nod to the original: Dogecoin. What started as a joke in 2013 has grown into one of the most recognised and traded cryptocurrencies in the world. While its price history has been nothing short of a rollercoaster, Dogecoin remains a favourite among meme coin fans and investors alike. Dogecoin’s community is the key to its enduring success. With strong support from high-profile figures like Elon Musk and a dedicated group of enthusiasts, Dogecoin has become synonymous with the meme coin culture. But beyond the hype, Dogecoin has also made strides to increase its utility. Recent updates focus on enhancing transaction speed and efficiency, making it a more practical choice for everyday use. For those thinking about long-term holding, Dogecoin has shown that it can bounce back from market dips and create substantial gains. Although Dogecoin doesn’t have the same advanced ecosystem features as BTFD Coin or Shiba Inu, its status as the first mover in the meme coin space adds a level of trust that newer projects might not yet have. Why did this coin make it to this list? Because Dogecoin is the original meme coin that changed the game. Its combination of widespread recognition, a strong community, and ongoing development makes it a go-to for meme coin enthusiasts who are in it for the long haul. Conclusion: Why Meme Coins Are Worth Considering Meme coins have come a long way from being just a trend. They’ve evolved into digital assets that combine community spirit, innovative technology, and investment potential. BTFD Coin, Shiba Inu, and Dogecoin each offer unique opportunities. If you’re looking to dive into meme coins, holding onto the right ones for the long term could be the move. Among these, BTFD Coin stands out with its active presale, Play 2 Earn game, and strong staking options, making it an exciting choice for early investors. Shiba Inu continues to grow with its ecosystem advancements, and Dogecoin maintains its iconic status as the first meme coin that started it all. So, if you’re ready to explore the world of meme coins, now’s the time. Join the BTFD Coin presale now and secure your place in one of the most thrilling presale journeys in recent times. Don’t miss out—these meme coins could be your next big investment. Website: https://www.btfd.io/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/BTFD_COIN Telegram: https://t.me/btfd_coin Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.
As we gathered this Thanksgiving, it was easy to take abundance for granted. Leftovers are practically guaranteed. It wasn’t always this way. For most of history, there were no Thanksgiving feasts. Hunger, if not starvation, was the norm. Today, supermarkets are stocked with exotic foods from all over the world. Most of it is more affordable than ever. Even after President Joe Biden’s 8% inflation, Americans spend less than 12% of our income on food, half of what they spent 100 years ago. Why? Because free markets happened. Capitalism happened. When there is rule of law and private property, and people feel secure that no thief or government will take their property, farmers find new ways to grow more on less land. Greedy entrepreneurs lower costs and deliver goods faster. Consumers have better options. Yet today many Americans trash capitalism, demanding government “fixes” to make sure everyone gets equal amounts of this and that. But it’s in countries with the most government intervention where there are empty store shelves and hungrier people. In socialist Venezuela, affordable food is hard to find. In Cuba, government was going to make everything plentiful. But people suffered so much that, to prevent starvation, the Castros broke from communist principles and rented out state-owned land to private capitalists. Millions still go hungry around the world. The cause is rarely drought or “income inequality” or colonialism, but government control. Corruption, tariffs, political self-dealing and short-sighted regulations block food from reaching those who need it most. Last week, we celebrated the Pilgrims, who learned this lesson the hard way. When they first landed in America, they tried communal living. The harvest was shared equally. That seemed fair. But it failed miserably. A few Pilgrims worked hard, but others didn’t, claiming “weakness and inability,” as William Bradford, the governor of the colony, put it. They nearly starved. Desperate, Bradford tried another approach. “Every family,” he wrote, “was assigned a parcel of land.” Private property! Capitalism! Suddenly, more pilgrims worked hard. Of course they did. Now they got to keep what they made. Bradford wrote, “It made all hands very industrious.” He spelled out the lesson “The failure of this experiment of communal service, which was tried for several years, and by good and honest men proves the emptiness of the theory ... taking away of private property, and the possession of it in community ... would make a state happy and flourishing.” Fast forward 400 years, and many Americans have forgotten what Bradford learned. I see why socialism is popular. The idea of one big, harmonious collective feels good. But it brings disaster. Family dinners already have plenty of disagreements — children fight; adults bicker. Imagine what that would be like among millions of strangers. Collectivist systems encourage dependency, stifle initiative and waste resources. The same communal conceit that nearly starved the Pilgrims destroyed lives in the Soviet Union and led to mass starvation in China. When everyone is forced into the same plan, most people will take as much as they can and produce as little as they can get away with. Economists call it the “tragedy of the commons” referring to a common plot of land, controlled by, say, sheep owners. Each has an incentive to breed more sheep, which then eat the common’s grass until all of it is gone, and everyone goes hungry. Only when the commons is divided into private property does each owner agree to limit his herd’s grazing so there will be enough for his sheep to eat tomorrow. These same principles apply to many aspects of our lives: We thrive when individuals have a deed to their property and are confident that they can keep what they create. Then they create more. That’s what the Pilgrims learned: Incentives matter. Capitalist ownership is what creates American abundance. Every Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for free markets and private property. They are the ingredients of prosperity.
South Korea's martial law confusion deepens cautionSale certificate issued in pursuance to a court's auction not required to be stamped: SCVikings waive former starting cornerback Akayleb Evans in another blow to 2022 draft class
By CHRIS MEGERIAN and COLLEEN LONG WASHINGTON (AP) — In the two weeks since Donald Trump won the presidency, he’s tried to demonstrate his dominance by naming loyalists for top administration positions, even though many lack expertise and some face sexual misconduct accusations. It often seems like he’s daring Congress to oppose his decisions. But on Thursday, Trump’s attempt to act with impunity showed a crack as Matt Gaetz , his choice for attorney general, withdrew from consideration. Trump had named Gaetz, a Florida congressman, to be the country’s top law enforcement official even though he was widely disliked by his colleagues, has little legal experience and was accused of having sex with an underage girl, an allegation he denied. After being plagued by investigations during his first presidency, Trump wanted a devoted ally in charge of the Justice Department during his second. However, it was never obvious that Gaetz could win enough support from lawmakers to get confirmed as attorney general. Trump chose for a replacement Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general who defended him during his first impeachment trial and supported his false claims of voter fraud. Now the question is whether Gaetz was uniquely unpalatable, or if Trump’s other picks might exceed his party’s willingness to overlook concerns that would have sunk nominees in a prior political era. The next test will likely be Pete Hegseth, who Trump wants to lead the Pentagon despite an allegation of sexual assault that he’s denied. So far, Republicans are rallying around Hegseth , an Army veteran and former Fox News host. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the controversy over Gaetz would have little bearing on Trump’s other choices. He said they would be considered “one at a time.” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, suggested otherwise, claiming “the dominoes are falling.” “The drip drip of evidence and truth is going to eventually doom some others,” he said. Trump’s election victory was a sign that there may not be many red lines left in American politics. He won the presidential race despite authoritarian, racist and misogynist rhetoric, not to mention years of lies about election fraud and his role in sparking the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He was also criminally convicted of falsifying business records to pay hush money, and he was found liable for sexual abuse in a civil case. Empowered by voters who looked past his misconduct and saw him as a powerful agent of change, Trump has shown no deference to Washington norms while working to fill his second administration . The transition team hasn’t pursued federal background checks for Trump’s personnel choices. While some of his selections have extensive experience in the areas they’ve been chosen to lead, others are personal friends and Fox News personalities who have impressed and flattered Trump over the years. Several have faced allegations involving sexual misconduct . Hegseth is facing the most scrutiny after Gaetz. Once Trump announced Hegseth as his nominee for Pentagon chief, allegations emerged that he sexually assaulted a woman in California in 2017. The woman said he took her phone, blocked the door to the hotel room and refused to let her leave, according to a police report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing, the report said. However, he paid the woman a confidential settlement in 2023. Hegseth’s lawyer said the payment was made to head off the threat of a baseless lawsuit. Trump’s choice for secretary of health and human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has faced allegations of misconduct too. A woman who babysat for him and his second wife told Vanity Fair magazine that Kennedy groped her in the late 1990s, when she was 23. Kennedy did not deny the allegation and texted an apology to the woman after the article was published. That isn’t the only hurdle for Kennedy; he’s spent years spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories about vaccines, raising fears about making him a top health official in the new administration. Linda McMahon, chosen by Trump to be education secretary, is fighting a lawsuit connected to her former company, World Wrestling Entertainment. She’s accused of knowingly enabling sexual exploitation of children by an employee as early as the 1980s, and she denies the allegations. Tulsi Gabbard is another person who could face a difficult confirmation battle, but for very different reasons. The former Democratic representative from Hawaii has been a vocal Trump ally, and he chose her to be national intelligence director. But there’s grave concern by lawmakers and national security officials over Gabbard’s history of echoing Russian propaganda. Critics said she would endanger relationships with U.S. allies. Gaetz was investigated by federal law enforcement for sex trafficking, but the case was closed without charges and Republicans have blocked the release of a related report from the House Ethics Committee. However, some allegations leaked out, including that Gaetz paid women for sex. One of the women testified to the committee that she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old girl, according to a lawyer for the woman. As Gaetz met with senators this week, it became clear that he would face stubborn resistance from lawmakers who were concerned about his behavior and believed he was unqualified to run the Justice Department. “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction,” Gaetz wrote on social media when announcing his withdrawal. Sen. Mike Braun, an Indiana Republican, said he believed there were four to six members of the caucus who would have voted against Gaetz, likely dooming his nomination, and “the math got too hard.” He said some of the issues and allegations around Gaetz were “maybe beyond the pale.” “I think there were just too many things, it was like a leaky dike, and you know, it broke,” Braun said. Trump thanked Gaetz in a post on Truth Social, his social media website, without addressing the substance of the allegations against him. “He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect,” Trump wrote. Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Stephen Groves and Lisa Macaro contributed from Washington. Jill Colvin in New York and Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, also contributed.Amanda Hernández | (TNS) Stateline.org CHICAGO — Shoplifting rates in the three largest U.S. cities — New York, Los Angeles and Chicago — remain higher than they were before the pandemic, according to a report last month from the nonpartisan research group Council on Criminal Justice. Related Articles National News | Bill Clinton is out of the hospital after being treated for the flu National News | NORAD’s Santa tracker was a Cold War morale boost. Now it attracts millions of kids National News | Heavy travel day off to a rough start after American Airlines briefly grounds all flights National News | Prosecutors withdraw appeal of dismissed case against Alec Baldwin in fatal movie set shooting National News | Today in History: December 24, former defense secretary pardoned in Iran-Contra scandal The sharp rise in retail theft in recent years has made shoplifting a hot-button issue, especially for politicians looking to address public safety concerns in their communities. Since 2020, when viral videos of smash-and-grab robberies flooded social media during the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans have expressed fears that crime is out of control. Polls show that perceptions have improved recently, but a majority of Americans still say crime is worse than in previous years. “There is this sense of brazenness that people have — they can just walk in and steal stuff. ... That hurts the consumer, and it hurts the company,” said Alex Piquero, a criminology professor at the University of Miami and former director of the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics, in an interview. “That’s just the world we live in,” he said. “We need to get people to realize that you have to obey the law.” At least eight states — Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, New York and Vermont — passed a total of 14 bills in 2024 aimed at tackling retail theft, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The measures range from redefining retail crimes and adjusting penalties to allowing cross-county aggregation of theft charges and protecting retail workers. Major retailers have responded to rising theft since 2020 by locking up merchandise, upgrading security cameras, hiring private security firms and even closing stores. Still, the report indicates that shoplifting remains a stubborn problem. In Chicago, the rate of reported shoplifting incidents remained below pre-pandemic levels throughout 2023 — but surged by 46% from January to October 2024 compared with the same period a year ago. Shoplifting in Los Angeles was 87% higher in 2023 than in 2019. Police reports of shoplifting from January to October 2024 were lower than in 2023. Los Angeles adopted a new crime reporting system in March 2024, which has likely led to an undercount, according to the report. In New York, shoplifting rose 48% from 2021 to 2022, then dipped slightly last year. Still, the shoplifting rate was 55% higher in 2023 than in 2019. This year, the shoplifting rate increased by 3% from January to September compared with the same period last year. While shoplifting rates tend to rise in November and December, which coincides with in-person holiday shopping, data from the Council on Criminal Justice’s sample of 23 U.S. cities shows higher rates in the first half of 2024 compared with 2023. Researchers found it surprising that rates went up despite retailers doing more to fight shoplifting. Experts say the spike might reflect improved reporting efforts rather than a spike in theft. “As retailers have been paying more attention to shoplifting, we would not expect the numbers to increase,” said Ernesto Lopez, the report’s author and a senior research specialist with the council. “It makes it a challenge to understand the trends of shoplifting.” Impact on retailers, communities In downtown Chicago on a recent early afternoon, potential shoppers shuffled through the streets and nearby malls, browsing for gifts ahead of the holidays. Edward Johnson, a guard at The Shops at North Bridge, said that malls have become quieter in the dozen or so years he has worked in mall security, with the rise of online retailers. As for shoplifters, Johnson said there isn’t a single type of person to look out for — they can come from any background. “I think good-hearted people see something they can’t afford and figure nothing is lost if they take something from the store,” Johnson said as he patrolled the mall, keeping an eye out for lost or suspicious items. Between 2018 and 2023, most shoplifting in Chicago was reported in the downtown area, as well as in the Old Town, River North and Lincoln Park neighborhoods, according to a separate analysis by the Council on Criminal Justice. Newly sworn-in Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke this month lowered the threshold for charging retail theft as a felony in the county, which includes Chicago, from $1,000 to $300, aligning it with state law. “It sends a signal that she’s taking it seriously,” Rob Karr, the president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, told Stateline. Nationally, retailers are worried about organized theft. The National Retail Federation’s latest report attributed 36% of the $112.1 billion in lost merchandise in 2022 to “external theft,” which includes organized retail crime. Organized retail crime typically involves coordinated efforts by groups to steal items with the intent to resell them for a profit. Commonly targeted goods include high-demand items such as baby formula, laundry detergent and electronics. The same report found that retailers’ fear of violence associated with theft also is on the rise, with more retailers taking a “hands-off approach.” More than 41% of respondents to the organization’s 2023 survey, up from 38% in 2022, reported that no employee is authorized to try and stop a shoplifter. (The federation’s reporting has come under criticism. It retracted a claim last year that attributed nearly half of lost merchandise in 2021 to organized retail crime; such theft accounted for only about 5%. The group announced this fall it will no longer publish its reports on lost merchandise.) Increased penalties Policy experts say shoplifting and organized retail theft can significantly harm critical industries, drive up costs for consumers and reduce sales tax revenue for states. Those worries have driven recent state-level action to boost penalties for shoplifting. California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a package of 10 bills into law in August aimed at addressing retail theft. These measures make repeated theft convictions a felony, allow aggregation of crimes across multiple counties to be charged as a single felony, and permit police to arrest suspects for retail theft even if the crime wasn’t witnessed directly by an officer. In September, Newsom signed an additional bill that imposes steeper felony penalties for large-scale theft offenses. California voters also overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure in November that increases penalties for specific drug-related and theft crimes. Under the new law, people who are convicted of theft at least twice may face felony charges on their third offense, regardless of the stolen item’s value. “With these changes in the law, really it comes down to making sure that law enforcement is showing up to our stores in a timely manner, and that the prosecutors and the [district attorneys] are prosecuting,” Rachel Michelin, the president and CEO of the California Retailers Association, told Stateline. “That’s the only way we’re going to deter retail theft in our communities.” In New Jersey, a bipartisan bill making its way through the legislature would increase penalties for leading a shoplifting ring and allow extended sentences for repeat offenders. “This bill is going after a formally organized band of criminals that deliver such destruction to a critical business in our community. We have to act. We have to create a deterrence,” Democratic Assemblymember Joseph Danielsen, one of the bill’s prime sponsors, said in an interview with Stateline. The legislation would allow extended sentences for people convicted of shoplifting three times within 10 years or within 10 years of their release from prison, and would increase penalties to 10 to 20 years in prison for leading a retail crime ring. The bill also would allow law enforcement to aggregate the value of stolen goods over the course of a year to charge serial shoplifters with more serious offenses. Additionally, the bill would increase penalties for assaults committed against retail workers, and would require retailers to train employees on detecting gift card scams. Maryland legislators considered a similar bill during this year’s legislative session that would have defined organized retail theft and made it a felony. The bill didn’t make it out of committee, but Cailey Locklair, president of the Maryland Retailers Alliance, said the group plans to propose a bill during next year’s legislative session that would target gift card fraud. Retail theft data Better, more thorough reporting from retailers is essential to truly understanding shoplifting trends and its full impact, in part because some retail-related crimes, such as gift card fraud, are frequently underreported, according to Lopez, of the Council on Criminal Justice. Measuring crime across jurisdictions is notoriously difficult , and the council does not track organized retail theft specifically because law enforcement typically doesn’t identify it as such at the time of arrest — if an arrest even occurs — requiring further investigation, Lopez said. The council’s latest report found conflicting trends in the FBI’s national crime reporting systems. The FBI’s older system, the Summary Reporting System, known as SRS, suggests that reported shoplifting hadn’t gone up through 2023, remaining on par with 2019 levels. In contrast, the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System, or NIBRS, shows a 93% increase in shoplifting over the same period. The discrepancy may stem from the type of law enforcement agencies that have adopted the latter system, Lopez said. Some of those communities may have higher levels of shoplifting or other types of property crime, which could be what is driving the spike, Lopez said. Despite the discrepancies and varying levels of shoplifting across the country, Lopez said, it’s important for retailers to report these incidents, as doing so could help allocate law enforcement resources more effectively. “All law enforcement agencies have limited resources, and having the most accurate information allows for not just better policy, but also better implementation — better use of strategic resources,” Lopez said. Stateline staff writer Robbie Sequeira contributed to this report. ©2024 States Newsroom. Visit at stateline.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Türkiye ranks second in number of universities in THE rankingsA professor in the Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Ilorin, Oyebisi Mistura Azeez, has advised people to minimise exposure to petroleum emissions to prevent cardiovascular health in humans and animals. Delivering the 269th inaugural lecture of the university, titled, “The Matter of the Heart on the Survival of Animal and Man”, Professor Azeez highlighted dangers of emissions from pollutants such as diesel, petrol, and kerosene. She warned against their adverse health effects, including cardiovascular challenges and sudden deaths. Professor Azeez advised humans and animals, particularly grazing livestock along highways, to minimise exposure to these pollutants. The professor, who emphasised the interplay between environmental factors, cardiovascular health, and the need for advanced research tools, stressed the foundational role of physiology in medical and veterinary education and outlined strategic recommendations aimed at fostering cardiovascular health, improving veterinary practices, and safeguarding public health. She advocated planting and utilisation of Moringa and other medicinal plants, emphasising their antioxidant properties and effectiveness in mitigating effects of environmental toxins on exposed individuals and animals. Professor Azeez also called for acquisition of modern research tools comparable to those used globally, adding that such equipment would enhance the university’s research capabilities and support the institution’s 1:10:100 academic excellence agenda as envisioned by the Vice-Chancellor. Stressing the importance of preventive healthcare, she recommended regular monitoring of blood pressure and other vital parameters for early detection and management of health issues. She called on governments and institutional managers to ensure hygienic environments free from open-air emissions from diesel engines and generators. This, she noted, would protect workers and residents from the harmful effects of such pollutants. Professor Azeez proposed incorporating ECG technology into veterinary care to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular issues, particularly in animals exposed to environmental toxins and exotic species. Recognising the potential of antioxidants in combating environmental toxins, she urged increased funding for research into medicinal plants with antioxidant properties. These studies could offer solutions for mitigating the harmful impacts of hydrocarbons on cardiovascular and respiratory health. She advocated for the provision of safer migration routes for grazing livestock during the dry season to reduce their exposure to environmental hazards. Professor Azeez sought collaborative efforts among governments, academic institutions, and the public to implement the recommendations, saying that safeguarding cardiovascular health is vital to the survival and well-being of both humans and animals. READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE Get real-time news updates from Tribune Online! Follow us on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive stories and interviews, and much more. Join our WhatsApp Channel now
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Concerns have been raised about the care and support people receive while facing long waits in A&E. A major new survey has found that many emergency care patients felt they were not able to get help with their condition while waiting. And more than a quarter said they were given no pain relief while in the queue to see a medic. The survey results have prompted concerns about patient experience as the NHS heads into winter, which is traditionally a busy time for emergency and urgent care services. The health watchdog, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), published the results of a survey of 45,500 people who used NHS urgent and emergency care services (UEC) in England this year. The CQC said that the "stream of demand" for care is driving lengthy waits for some and causing "difficultly for some patients in accessing information, emotional support and adequate pain relief". The survey found: Among A&E patients, 60% said they felt that doctors or nurses "completely" explained their condition or treatment to them in a way that they could understand, more than a quarter (28%) said this only happened "to some extent" and 11% said it did not happen at all. Of the 27% of survey respondents who arrived at A&E by ambulance, 61% said they were handed over to A&E staff within 15 minutes, but 17% reported waiting more than an hour. Over a quarter (28%) of patients treated at a major A&E centre, who responded to the survey, reported waiting for more than an hour to be assessed by a nurse or doctor after arriving at A&E. Additionally, 47% stated they were unable to receive help with their condition or symptoms while waiting. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of patients revealed they waited more than four hours to be admitted, transferred or discharged at A&E. For those requiring assistance with medications for a pre-existing medical condition while in the department, over a quarter of urgent treatment centre (UTC) respondents (26%) and a similar proportion of A&E respondents (28%) claimed they did not receive that help. Less than half of people attending either an A&E (42%) or an urgent treatment centre (47%) who needed help with pain relief believed that staff "definitely" helped them control their pain. Moreover, over a quarter in both services said they were not given any help with pain relief – 27% in A&E and 26% in an urgent treatment centre. The CQC indicated that the results also demonstrate "scope for improvements in discharge" after a third of patients seen in A&E reported they were not provided information on how to care for their condition at home. One in five (21%) of people discharged from an A&E department claimed that they were not informed who to contact if they were worried about their condition or treatment after leaving A&E. . Nearly a third of A&E patients and almost a quarter of those attending urgent treatment centres (UTCs) reported that hospital staff failed to discuss their ongoing health and social care needs before discharging them. The CQC noted that difficulty in securing a prompt GP appointment and a desire for same-day treatment were key factors driving people to seek urgent and emergency care. Chris Dzikiti, the CQC's interim chief inspector of healthcare, commented: "Urgent and emergency care services nationally continue to be under intense pressure – something reflected in recent national performance data, something we hear first-hand from frontline clinicians and something that is further evident in today’s survey findings. "The results demonstrate how the stream of demand is continuing to drive lengthy waits, and cause difficultly for some patients in accessing information, emotional support and adequate pain relief. "They also show the impact for staff when the number of people seeking urgent and emergency care is so high and resources are stretched. "With pressures on services only likely to increase as we head into winter, ensuring the best possible experience throughout the entirety of the patient journey is a task that needs input from all parts of the health and care system. "Over a third of people surveyed went to A&E before contacting another service and of those that did seek help elsewhere first, many said they were directed to A&E. We must support services in their efforts to collaborate locally, ensure a joined-up approach and help people to access the care they need, when they need it from the service that is best able to deliver. Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, commented on the report's findings, highlighting that "patients are suffering the consequences of a system that is in crisis, while staff continue to shoulder the burden of delivering effective and safe care in these conditions". He added: "Issues within and outside the emergency department are negatively impacting patients’ experiences, as seen in this survey, with a high proportion enduring long wait times due to the lack of in-patient beds and inability to discharge people who are well enough to go home. "No emergency department clinician wants to be treating a patient who is vulnerable and in need of care in a corridor and no patient wants to be put in this position. It’s degrading, demoralising and dangerous." "The pressure in EDs will only continue to mount as we head into winter, when we know the inevitable spike in demand will hit." "Those in power need to read the results of this survey, hear the voices of the patients who have expressed their experiences and concerns, and act on them now." ChronicleLive is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our communities. We have a number of communities to join, so you can choose which one you want to be part of and we'll send you the latest news direct to your phone. You could even join them all! To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press 'join community'. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice . Join the ChronicleLive Breaking News and Top Stories community Join our Court & Crime community Join the Things to do in Newcastle and the North East community Join our Northumberland community Join our County Durham community Join our Sunderland community Join our NUFC community Join our SAFC community Join our Great North Run communityColumbia, a perennial football loser, wins Ivy League title for first time since 1961
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