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Rumors are swirling ahead of the 2024 Game Awards Thursday — but they’re not about who will take home the show’s prizes. Instead, most of the buzz ahead of the 10th anniversary of the Geoff Keighley -hosted event, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, is surrounding what big announcements and trailers video game developers and publishers will choose to release out of the show. Will Take-Two Interactive use this as its moment to finally reveal the release date for “Grant Theft Auto 6”? Will Skydance Interactive and Disney unveil details surrounding their closely guarded “Star Wars” game? Will Xbox surprise gamers and quickly reveal the first downloadable content (DLC) for MachineGames’ new hit “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle”? “I always say, people get excited to see one thing because they know it exists — but what about all those things that you don’t know exist? That’s what’s kind of fun,” Keighley tells Variety . “We always see the fake lists online of, ‘All these things are getting announced.’ And it’s just because those are things people know exist. And I’m like, but, what if there’s a whole set of other things out there?” Keighley and Game Awards executive producer Kimmie Kim, director Richard Preuss and production designer LeRoy Bennett are remaining tight-lipped on that front, but have plenty to say about the work that’s gone into prepping the 10th annual Game Awards. “What’s interesting about our show is that all the clips are online,” Keighley said, noting the show has always been free to watch (and rewatch) via YouTube and the Game Awards’ social media channels. “You can see it. It used to be on anniversary shows, you have to roll all these clips and all the things that happen because you can’t find them anywhere else. For us, our shows have been very accessible to everyone for a decade. So we’re going to tip our hat to some great people and moments that have been part of our show’s history — but we’re also going to focus a lot on the future. And with our show, it’s half an award show and half a look-forward to what’s coming next. This audience really does want to see the future, so we’ll be focused not just on what’s happening in 2025 in gaming, but I think you’ll see some things that are even further out at the show.” It took time, but over the past decade, the Game Awards has gained the trust of the gaming industry to break these big moments and publishers plan a year out to have their titles and announcements revealed during the show. “I come from awards shows like the Oscars or the VMAs where, the day when we’ve finished and the show goes out, we plan for the next year,” Kim says. “And there’s a similar vibe here, where we’re working closely with the vast majority of game companies always thinking ahead, how they wanted to collaborate years ahead, which we didn’t see the first couple years.” During that 10-year time period, the production quality of the show has also evolved to keep up with the industry it’s showcasing. For the 2024 show, the production team is working with more LED screens than ever before for those anniversary surprises. “Over the years that I’ve been designing the show, every year, I’m trying to push technology boundaries and try different things,” Bennett says. “There’s a certain format that we have to stick to because of just the nature of the awards, the games, and how you show the video games on the screens and stuff. But I constantly try to change the look of the show and the production within the format. This year involves a lot more LED screens and modules than we’ve ever had before. It’s a very architectural LED-based set.” While game developers, execs and fans will be celebrating Thursday, it must be noted that the SAG-AFTRA strike against major gaming publishers rages on and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight at the moment for contract negotiations, which largely surround the issue of generative AI in video games. Keighley and the Game Awards team are monitoring the situation and have kept this in mind when booking talent for the show. “We’re learning about it as it evolves and we’ve seen some of the comments around what’s a struck game, what is not a struck game, and can people appear or not?” Keighley says. “So we want to be respectful of the performers and their choices and how they want to participate in the evolving situation. We’re looking at it day by day and trying to be very respectful and we hope for a positive resolution.” Over the past 10 years, Kim says the level of prestige has risen for the show, while it’s also managed to maintain its indie status — not airing on a specific network or streamer behind a paywall, but on YouTube — and create a kind of general tribute to the year in video games. “There’s definitely people invested in it,” Kim said. “There’s a friendship and partnership where this is a team, doing this together, which I really find it interesting and unique to any other award shows, in a way. So it became one of these true community coming together moments when planning things ahead. That’s very helpful for producing the show, and also such a morale booster and rewarding thing that we able to create.” Preuss agrees with the all-for-one-and-one-for-all sentiment that he’s seen from the gaming industry when it comes to the Game Awards — not something typical of a competition-based event where people are duking it out for the top prizes. “The nice thing about this show from year to year is that there are these surprises, there are these special announcements. And it’s so much more than about the awards,” Preuss says. “It is a total celebration of the industry in a way that I don’t think other awards do. They celebrate, of course, the accomplishments of that year, which the Game Awards does — but there is a just a greater history within the show and it also always looks to the future.” The industry might be in love with the Game Awards — but they don’t love its lengthy runtime. While not alone in that particular issue, a common complaint for the Oscars, Emmys and other top events, Preuss says they are working on improving it each year. “Similar to a lot of other award shows, it’s all about pumping the gas and the brakes to keep the show running as tight as possible, so that there’s no awkward pauses,” Preuss says. “And that’s where our crew is so great, in terms of having the next band set up, or getting The Muppets — who’ve joined us many years and are back again — set up. Keeping our show very tight, but also doing our best to let things breathe appropriately.”FBI Director Christopher Wray announced he will resign at the end of President Joe Biden's term, paving the way for President-elect Donald Trump's nominee, Kash Patel, to potentially take over . "This is the best way to avoid dragging the Bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important in how we do our work," Wray said during a town hall on Wednesday . Trump responded on social media, calling Wray's resignation a "great day for America." Trump appointed Wray during his first term but criticized him and the FBI's search for classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home. Although Wray still had years left in his term, Trump nominated Kash Patel to lead the agency. Trump's cabinet picks continue their fight to secure confirmation on Capitol Hill. "It's about earning support in this process in ongoing conversations," said Pete Hegseth, Trump's nominee for Defense Secretary . Controversial Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth met with Senator Susan Collins for more than an hour on Wednesday. Collins said she pressed him on various claims of misconduct, which he denies, but fell short of saying she would support him. "We had a good discussion, I'm not going to go into every question I asked," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. Momentum appears to be shifting in Hegseth's favor. "I had a good exchange, and we'll see what the process bears," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. "He's much better off this week than he was last week," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina. Analysts say Hegseth is not the only one under pressure. "There have been some challenges to some senators. There's been some real arm twisting in terms of the threat of mounting primary challenges against them," said Todd Belt of George Washington University. Also on the Hill, Secretary of Homeland Security nominee and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem pushed back on allegations that she neglected her state during major flooding this year.
Sabuy bondholders get SEC notificationEight years and $10 billion later, GM has decided to pull the plug on its grand robotaxi experiment. The automaker's CEO, Mary Barra, made the surprise announcement late on Tuesday, arguing that a shared autonomous mobility service was never really in its "core business." It was too expensive and had too many regulatory hurdles to overcome to make it a viable revenue stream. Instead, GM would pivot to "privately owned" driverless cars — because, after all, that's what the people really wanted. "Customers like to drive," Barra said in a call with investors. "And there's times they don't like to drive." If some of this sounds familiar, Ford essentially made the same decision two years ago when it pulled its funding for Argo AI, the autonomous driving startup it had financed since 2017. It cited as one of its reasons a belief that partial autonomy — often described as Level 3 or Level 3-plus — will have more near-term payoffs. Automakers are tapping out of the robotaxi business Automakers are tapping out of the robotaxi business. With all the money being spent on electric vehicles, the auto industry has decided to cut its losses on autonomous mobility. Only one transformational, prohibitively expensive, once-in-a-generation shift at a time. "I think this is more a recognition that autonomous vehicle technology is going to take a decade or more to provide driverless rides at a national scale," said Phil Koopman, an AV expert from Carnegie Mellon University. "GM decided that they would rather make money selling private cars while waiting for the technology to mature than continue to invest billions of dollars standing up robotaxi businesses city by city." Turmoil behind the scenes To be sure, there's been a lot of technological progress. Not too long ago, Cruise had driverless cars ferrying passengers across San Francisco. The company even said it was on the cusp of winning government approval to deploy its steering wheel- and pedal-less Origin shuttles in a... Andrew J. Hawkins
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DALLAS — More than 60 years after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, conspiracy theories still swirl and any new glimpse into the fateful day of Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas continues to fascinate. President-elect Donald Trump promised during his reelection campaign that he would declassify all of the remaining government records surrounding the assassination if he returned to office. He made a similar pledge during his first term, but ultimately bended to appeals from the CIA and FBI to keep some documents withheld. At this point, only a few thousand of the millions of governmental records related to the assassination have yet to be fully released, and those who have studied the records released so far say that even if the remaining files are declassified, the public shouldn't anticipate any earth-shattering revelations. "Anybody waiting for a smoking gun that's going to turn this case upside down will be sorely disappointed," said Gerald Posner, author of "Case Closed," which concludes that assassin Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. Friday's 61st anniversary is expected to be marked with a moment of silence at 12:30 p.m. in Dealey Plaza, where Kennedy's motorcade was passing through when he was fatally shot. And throughout this week there have been events marking the anniversary. Nov. 22, 1963 When Air Force One carrying Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy touched down in Dallas , they were greeted by a clear sky and enthusiastic crowds. With a reelection campaign on the horizon the next year, they had gone to Texas on political fence-mending trip. But as the motorcade was finishing its parade route downtown, shots rang out from the Texas School Book Depository building. Police arrested 24-year-old Oswald and, two days later, nightclub owner Jack Ruby fatally shot Oswald during a jail transfer. A year after the assassination, the Warren Commission, which President Lyndon B. Johnson established to investigate the assassination, concluded that Oswald acted alone and there was no evidence of a conspiracy. But that hasn't quelled a web of alternative theories over the decades. The collection In the early 1990s, the federal government mandated that all assassination-related documents be housed in a single collection in the National Archives and Records Administration. The collection of over 5 million records was required to be opened by 2017, barring any exemptions designated by the president. Trump, who took office for his first term in 2017, had boasted that he'd allow the release of all of the remaining records but ended up holding some back because of what he called the potential harm to national security. And while files have continued to be released during President Joe Biden's administration, some still remain unseen. The documents released over the last few years offer details on the way intelligence services operated at the time, and include CIA cables and memos discussing visits by Oswald to the Soviet and Cuban embassies during a trip to Mexico City just weeks before the assassination. The former Marine had previously defected to the Soviet Union before returning home to Texas. Mark S. Zaid, a national security attorney in Washington, said what's been released so far has contributed to the understanding of the time period, giving “a great picture” of what was happening during the Cold War and the activities of the CIA. Withheld files Posner estimates that there are still about 3,000 to 4,000 documents in the collection that haven’t yet been fully released. Of those documents, some are still completely redacted while others just have small redactions, like someone's Social Security number. “If you have been following it, as I have and others have, you sort of are zeroed in on the pages you think might provide some additional information for history,” Posner said. There are about 500 documents that have been completely withheld, Posner said, and those include Oswald’s and Ruby’s tax returns. Those files, the National Archives says on its website, weren't subject to the 2017 disclosure requirement. Trump's transition team hasn’t responded to questions this week about his plans when he takes office. A continued fascination From the start, there were those who believed there had to be more to the story than just Oswald acting alone, said Stephen Fagin, curator of the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, which tells the story of the assassination from the building where Oswald made his sniper's perch. “People want to make sense of this and they want to find the solution that fits the crime," said Fagin, who said that while there are lingering questions, law enforcement made “a pretty compelling case” against Oswald. Larry J. Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said his interest in the assassination dates back to the event itself, when he was a child. “It just seemed so fantastical that one very disturbed individual could end up pulling off the crime of the century," Sabato said. “But the more I studied it, the more I realized that is a very possible, maybe even probable in my view, hypothesis.”Donald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trolling
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In the wake of the Assad regime’s collapse , Israel did the world a major service. Over the past few days, the Israeli Air Force struck dozens of alleged Syrian chemical weapons sites to prevent these capabilities from falling into the hands of potential terrorists. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced on Monday, “We attacked strategic weapons, the residual chemical weapons capabilities, long-range missiles and rockets, so they won’t fall into the hands of radicals.” The United States, apparently content to let Jerusalem handle this critical military task while it struck Islamic State targets in Syria, must now help finish the job. With a bit of luck, diplomacy will be sufficient, but the effectiveness of talking likely depends on speaking softly while carrying a big stick. The priority for Washington is to pressure Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) — the power behind Syria’s new governing authority — to let international inspectors in and certify Damascus’ chemical weapons are verifiably eliminated. HTS is a US- and UN-designated terrorist organization that is an offshoot of al-Qaeda, so more than a little caution is in order. A US official told Axios on Sunday that Washington believes it has “good fidelity” on Syria’s chemical weapons inventory, and that these capabilities are not currently at risk for acquisition by non-state groups. Thanks, on the latter, no doubt, goes to Jerusalem. To the end, the Assad regime possessed a robust stockpile of chemical weapons, along with chemical agents, precursors, and associated research capabilities, munitions, storage, and testing sites. The US State Department assessed as recently as May 2024 that Syria had an undeclared chemical weapons program, which it used to attack its own people on at least 50 verified occasions between 2012 and 2019. The actual figure is likely far higher . In 2013, Damascus used the debilitating nerve agent, sarin, to murder 1,400 people in Ghouta. Threatened with US airstrikes, Syria agreed to join the Chemical Weapons Convention, which would entail surrendering its arsenal. It pretended to comply, and Washington played along. But Damascus used sarin again to attack civilians in Khan Shaykhun in 2017, and chlorine gas to kill dozens in Douma in April 2018, among dozens of other instances. Donald Trump, then in his first term, responded with air strikes both times. Last month, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) reported that it still could not assert Syria’s chemical weapons program is fully dismantled. The OPCW affirmed on Monday that it stands ready to help, pledging continued “commitment to clarifying gaps, discrepancies, and inconsistencies in Syrian chemical weapons declaration amidst political transition.” HTS has publicly indicated that it does not seek to use chemical weapons, has offered to secure regime chemical weapon sites, and has pledged cooperation with international monitors. If those pledges are not fulfilled, HTS or other jihadists could exploit Assad’s chemical weaponry for their own purposes. They could use them in attacks, pass them to allies for use abroad, or sell the weapons to other groups. Washington, which has initiated communications with HTS through intermediaries such as Turkey, must now pressure HTS to follow through on its pledges if Syria is to receive any form of American sanctions relief or assistance. The HTS-backed government desperately needs both things. Thirteen years of civil war reduced the economy to rubble. If sanctions remain in place, reconstruction will be extraordinarily difficult. The United States must also insist that HTS ensure OPCW inspectors remain safe . The findings of OPCW investigations , as well as new documentation that may come to light, will help ensure Syria’s chemical weapons assets are fully destroyed and dismantled and related evidence can be used to initiate prosecutions against those responsible for using them on Assad’s behalf. Jerusalem acted swiftly and wisely by destroying Syria’s chemical weapon stocks. Washington must now ensure HTS lets international inspectors finish the job. Andrea Stricker is deputy director of the Nonproliferation and Biodefense Program and a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). Follow her on X @StrickerNonpro . FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focused on national security and foreign policy.
O P I N I ON The recent vote of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BoMA) to yet again delay work on the new Beech Street School is disappointing at best, downright harmful at worst. The community at large depends on a lively, vigorous school system. This move will stifle our current growth and momentum as a city. I suppose though, that is what people wanted. By voting for the same people over and over again, whose only real interest in politics is personal gain, we continue as a community to elevate the worst examples of public service. People love the drama, but this isn’t an episode of reality TV—far removed from our every day life. The vote on Tuesday night has real consequences for Manchester. I’d like to remind the Board of Mayor and Aldermen of the history of a few things they cited as being reasons not to move forward with the new Beech Street School. The Manchester Board of School Committee (MBOSC) asked for a tax cap budget—we were denied. Furthermore, the BoMA took $4.2 million out and told us to do more with less; now they want to cite funding issues with the Manchester School of Technology (MST) building projects as evidence of the MBOSC and the School District’s “inability” to manage our finances. The BoMA denied the sale of two of those plots of land from the MST building project stating they wanted to help MST “find a way” to retain them for the benefit of the students, yet have fallen short (see BoMA Committee on Lands and Building minutes from March 21, 2023). MST came with their own solution to fund the building project, were denied, and now the BoMA is wondering why it can’t move forward? Why are we sitting on potential houses that could be built and sold to benefit the city and our education system? Because the BoMA doesn’t want to fund education at even a base level. They want to enfold the School District and the MBOSC as a city department, bringing it under their full control. Aldermen have made it no secret that they would prefer the MBOSC not exist. However, we must persist. The BoMA believes they are in a position to refute professional architects, developers, and contractors, having no experience themselves, who say it is in our community’s best interests financially to build a new Beech Street School. At the MBOSC, we value the education and experience those professionals bring. We listen, we ask questions, and we discuss (pragmatically) how to move forward—making compromises on wish list items recognizing that the project in its totality is more important than the desire of one committee member’s over another’s. As for transparency, let’s not forget the combined (public) BoMA and MBOSC meeting on March 4 th —where the BoMA were all afforded the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers about the Long Term Facilities Projects. SMMA gave a full presentation on both Phases 1 and 2, answering questions about how cost differentials between renovations and new builds function. We have nothing to hide. It’s all on the School District’s website and in the meeting minutes posted on the City’s website. It’s clear though, that the BoMA is fragmented by partisan politics—even though “alderman” is supposed to be a nonpartisan position. Tuesday’s vote was a clear representation of this issue. Mayor Ruais cast the tie breaking vote—with GOP/conservative members voting in opposition to the land transfer and Democratic members supporting the measure. There is no compromise with them, yet we continue to vote the same people into office year after year and wonder why so little seems to get done? With such a dysfunctional BoMA, MBOSC must continue to exist. We are a functioning body that respects one another and respects the trust the community has placed in us to ensure an effective and successful school district. If the School District and the MBOSC were to be folded into a city department, the chaos of the BoMA would only further infect the city. Just look at the damage they’ve done by their continuous attempts to sabotage the progress the MBOSC has made on behalf of the city. Look at the BoMA’s inability to own any of it. The BoMA slashed the budget and is now parading a recent $6.5 million supplemental appropriation from last year’s Free & Reduced Lunch enrollments as if they are somehow being extra generous this year—never mind those funds come the State (see the packet from 10/30/24 BoMA meeting). They denied the sale of two plots of land making false promises of help to MST, and now the BoMA has decided they are construction experts—led by a man who is a personal injury attorney. Look at us and look at them. Don’t fall for it. They aren’t effective. They want you to think they are, though. They act as if they are saving you money by slashing our education budget, when, in the long run, we will suffer more as a community if we don’t invest now. They simultaneously demand more of a system that has been historically, systematically, and unconstitutionally underfunded—all to appear as if they “care.” All to get your vote again in November 2025. At the end of the show, it’s all smoke and mirrors. Don’t be fooled. Jessica Spillers is the Manchester Board of School Committee Member for Ward 8 Beg to differ? Agree to disagree? Comment below. Got issues of your own? Get up on The Soapbox. Submissions on topics of general interest can be submitted for consideration to publisher@inklink.news, subject line: The Soapbox. You can also DIY your submission here .Funding fuels production ramp-up at U.S.-based facility, bringing advanced lead detection and smart home technology to market SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Notation Labs Inc. announced today the successful completion of a $2 million credit facility to scale up production of its innovative QwelTM smart home device. This funding provides the company with the financial flexibility and liquidity needed to expand manufacturing capacity and meet increasing customer demand as it prepares for market launch. The company has already initiated component procurement and manufacturing, including the order of 20,000 circuit boards from U.S.-based suppliers. Final assembly of the initial Qwel units will take place at the company's facility in Phoenix, Arizona . What Is Qwel TM ? QwelTM is a cutting-edge leak detection and prevention system designed to safeguard homes with advanced AI and machine learning technology. Its highly accurate sensors monitor critical factors like water pressure, temperature, flow rate and humidity to provide comprehensive protection. For more information about QwelTM or to stay updated on its release, visit https://www.qwel.io/ . About Notation Labs, Inc.: Notation Labs designs, engineers, and manufactures innovative smart water solutions to deliver high-quality products that empower homeowners. With a suite of advanced technologies, the company helps educate consumers on water conservation and equips them to make sustainable choices in their everyday lives. Driven by a mission to protect water resources for future generations, Notation Labs is at the forefront of water conservation efforts, leveraging breakthroughs in AI, machine learning, and Internet of Things (IoT) technology. The company is committed to making cutting-edge, water-saving devices that are not only highly effective but also affordable and accessible to households worldwide. By combining engineering excellence with a focus on sustainability, Notation Labs is redefining how consumers manage and conserve water. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/notation-labs-secures-2-million-credit-facility-to-accelerate-production-of-qwel-a-cutting-edge-lead-detection-and-prevention-system-302328185.html SOURCE Notation Labs, Inc.
Verisk Analytics Inc. stock underperforms Wednesday when compared to competitors
With technical prowess and considerable style, Marta danced around two sliding defenders, outwitted a goalkeeper and calmly scored as another player rushed forward in desperation to stop her. It was more Marta Magic. That goal last weekend helped propel the Orlando Pride into Saturday's National Women's Soccer League championship game against the Washington Spirit. Barbra Banda also scored in the Pride's 3-2 semifinal victory over the Kansas City Current . While Banda has had an incredible first season with the Pride, captain Marta has been the talisman that has helped lead the team in its remarkable turnaround this year. The last time the Pride were in the NWSL playoffs was in 2017 — Marta's first year with the club. But this season they nearly went undefeated, going 23 games without a loss to start the season before losing 2-0 to the Portland Thorns with just two regular-season games left. “I think because of the way that we did it, during this season, from beginning to now, it’s something very special that I’ve never had before with any other club that I’ve played for," Marta said. "Plus year by year, we see in America, strong competition. This is the best league in the world. And you never know what’s going to happen, and it’s hard to keep winning the games, being in the first place almost like the whole season. That’s why it’s really different and so special.” Marta’s goal was the latest gasp-inducing moment in a stellar career filled with them. Known by just her first name, the 38-year-old is a six-time FIFA world player of the year. "Let's see if tomorrow I can do something similar — or even better," Marta said on Friday. Her teammate Kylie Strom chimed in: “That was the greatest goal I've ever witnessed, hands down." Appropriate. Earlier this year, FIFA announced that the best goal in women's soccer each year would earn the Marta Award. In a lighthearted moment the day before the title match, Marta was asked if she thought it was possible she might give the award to herself. “You guys need to decide, because who votes for the best goal in the year? It’s you. It’s the people in the public. So it should be really interesting, like Marta’s Award goes to Marta!” she said with a laugh. Marta has played in six World Cups for Brazil and played this summer in her sixth Olympics, winning a silver medal after falling in the final to the United States . She previously said this would be her final year with the national team. But since then Brazil was named the host of the 2027 Women's World Cup. "I had a conversation with my coach, the national team coach, and I was really clear about playing in 2027. I told him it’s not my goal anymore,” she said. “But I’m always available to help the national team. And if they think I still can do something during this preparation for the World Cup, yeah, I would be happy to help them." Marta's club career started in Brazil when she was just 16. She has also played in Sweden and in the U.S. professional women's leagues that came before the NWSL. With nine regular-season goals, Marta has had one of her best seasons since she joined the Pride. “I can never pick a side, I never pick favorites — but I love to see this for Marta," U.S. coach Emma Hayes said. “Marta is someone we all like, admire and are grateful for. And that goal was just like prime Marta at her best. And so grateful for and thankful for her that she got the opportunity with another game with her team.” The Pride went 18-2-6 this season, clinching the NWSL Shield for the first trophy in club history. Orlando also set a record with 60 regular-season points to finish atop the standings. “We are sitting top of the table, but I think there still are a lot of doubters. I think there’s people out there who say, maybe this was a one-off season,” Strom said. “But we’re here to prove them all wrong. So I think we do carry a bit of that underdog mentality still with us.” The second-seeded Spirit advanced to the title match at Kansas City's CPKC Stadium last weekend on a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw against defending champions Gotham FC. The Spirit's roster includes Trinity Rodman, a standout forward who formed the so-called “Triple Espresso” trio with Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith for the United States at the Olympics. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
The Case For Salutogenic Health: A 360° Solution With Prosocial AI
NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s recent dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral were not just exercises in policy and diplomacy. They were also prime trolling opportunities for Trump. Throughout his first term in the White House and during his campaign to return, Trump has spun out countless provocative, antagonizing and mocking statements. There were his belittling nicknames for political opponents, his impressions of other political figures and the plentiful memes he shared on social media. Now that's to the Oval Office, Trump is back at it, and his trolling is attracting more attention — and eyerolls. On Sunday, Trump turned a photo of himself seated near a smiling first lady Jill Biden at the Notre Dame ceremony for his new perfume and cologne line, with the tag line, “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist!” The first lady’s office declined to comment. When Trudeau hastily flew to Florida to meet with Trump last month over the president-elect's on all Canadian products entering the U.S., that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. The Canadians passed off the comment as a joke, but Trump has continued to play up the dig, including in on his social media network referring to the prime minister as “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.” After decades as an entertainer and tabloid fixture, Trump has a flair for the provocative that is aimed at attracting attention and, in his most recent incarnation as a politician, mobilizing fans. He has long relished poking at his opponents, both to demean and minimize them and to delight supporters who share his irreverent comments and posts widely online and cheer for them in person. Trump, to the joy of his fans, first publicly needled Canada on his social media network a week ago when he with a Canadian flag next to him and the caption “Oh Canada!” After his latest post, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Tuesday: “It sounds like we’re living in a episode of South Park." “his approach will often be to challenge people, to destabilize a negotiating partner, to offer uncertainty and even sometimes a bit of chaos into the well established hallways of democracies and institutions and one of the most important things for us to do is not to freak out, not to panic.” Even Thanksgiving dinner isn't a trolling-free zone for Trump's adversaries. On Thanksgiving Day, from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” with President Joe Biden and other Democrats’ faces superimposed on the characters in a spoof of the turkey-carving scene. The video shows Trump appearing to explode out of the turkey in a swirl of purple sparks, with the former president stiffly dancing to one of his favorite songs, Village People’s “Y.M.C.A." In his most recent presidential campaign, Trump mocked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, refusing to call his GOP primary opponent by his real name and instead dubbing him “Ron DeSanctimonious.” He added, for good measure, in a post on his Truth Social network: “I will never call Ron DeSanctimonious ‘Meatball’ Ron, as the Fake News is insisting I will.” As he campaigned against Biden, Trump taunted him in online posts and with comments and impressions at his rallies, deriding the president over his intellect, his walk, his golf game and even his beach body. After Vice President Kamala Harris took over Biden's spot as the Democratic nominee, Trump repeatedly suggested she never worked at McDonalds while in college. by appearing at a Pennsylvania McDonalds in October, when he manned the fries station and held an impromptu news conference from the restaurant drive-thru. Trump’s team thinks people should get a sense of humor. “President Trump is a master at messaging and he’s always relatable to the average person, whereas many media members take themselves too seriously and have no concept of anything else other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director. “President Trump will Make America Great Again and we are getting back to a sense of optimism after a tumultuous four years.” Though both the Biden and Harris campaigns and launched other stunts to respond to Trump's taunts, so far America’s neighbors to the north are not taking the bait. “I don’t think we should necessarily look on Truth Social for public policy,” Miller said. Gerald Butts, a former top adviser to Trudeau and a close friend, said Trump brought up the 51st state line to Trudeau repeatedly during Trump’s first term in office. “Oh God,” Butts said Tuesday, “At least a half dozen times.” “This is who he is and what he does. He’s trying to destabilize everybody and make people anxious,” Butts said. “He’s trying to get people on the defensive and anxious and therefore willing to do things they wouldn’t otherwise entertain if they had their wits about them. I don’t know why anybody is surprised by it.” Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.Jason Kelce’s fate over phone smashing incident confirmed
Accenture PLC Cl A stock outperforms competitors on strong trading dayQuoteMedia, Inc. ( OTCMKTS:QMCI – Free Report ) – Equities researchers at Noble Financial issued their FY2024 earnings per share estimates for QuoteMedia in a research note issued on Wednesday, November 20th. Noble Financial analyst M. Kupinski forecasts that the company will post earnings of ($0.01) per share for the year. Noble Financial also issued estimates for QuoteMedia’s FY2025 earnings at ($0.01) EPS. QuoteMedia Price Performance QuoteMedia stock opened at $0.18 on Thursday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $0.20 and a 200 day moving average price of $0.19. QuoteMedia has a 52 week low of $0.17 and a 52 week high of $0.27. About QuoteMedia QuoteMedia, Inc provides financial data, market research information, analytics, news feeds, and financial software solutions to online brokerages, banks, clearing firms, financial service companies, media portals, and public corporations worldwide. It collects, aggregates, and delivers delayed and real-time financial data content through the Internet. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for QuoteMedia Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for QuoteMedia and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Ever wanted to bring your dog with you aboard a cruise ship? Do you have a business focused on dogs and their families? If you answered yes to either question, you’ll be excited to learn that what’s being called the first-ever dog-friendly cruise is being planned aboard Margaritaville at Sea’s Islander out of the Port of Tampa in November 2025. And business opportunities await. Cruise ships famously don’t allow dogs other than service animals. Organizers of this cruise anticipate selecting from a long line of hopefuls. A “waitlist for all dog parents who have dreamt of bringing their furry friends along for their vacations will open soon,” a news release says. Organizers are calling for 250 dogs, “their owners and their closest humans” to become “inaugural ambassadors” for the cruise, which they promise will offer “unique experiences and activities including gifts and samples from top vendors, dog shows and trainings, guest speakers, costume contests, parades, and more.” The event is being staged by two organizations — Cruise Tails and Expedia Cruises of West Orlando. The website cruisetails.com seeks sponsors and investors in hopes of turning the cruise into a recurring event. Sponsorship and partnership opportunities are available for companies seeking brand visibility “across a passionate pet-loving audience,” the site says. And participants must sign photo waivers, the website says, adding, “We anticipate the fun will be all over social media and even in the press. In fact, the 250 chosen will undoubtedly be asked by sponsors to try products and post about them.” Cruise Tails was formed by Steve Matzke, a Bradenton-based entrepreneur listed on LinkedIn as beginning his career this month as an “independent consultant.” Matzke spent four years prior to that as senior director of external relations for the American Accounting Association, and 12 years before that as director of faculty and university initiatives for the American Institute of CPAs, his LinkedIn profile shows. Expedia Cruises of West Orlando was founded in 2019 by Dawn von Graff, an avid traveler who has taken more than 75 cruises and visited more than 80 countries, and her husband. She owned a computer networking firm, worked as an international tour manager, and was a top salesperson for Marriott before forming Expedia Cruises of West Orlando as a full-service travel agency. Details including dates, prices and itineraries have not yet been released. According to the website, organizers hope to select the inaugural 250 dogs based partly on how the dogs perform in a “video talent singing contest” as well as “a variety of criteria” to be announced “over the next few weeks.” The bigger the dog’s entourage, the better chance it will have to be chosen, the website says. “Preference will be given to dogs in a group which includes one dog cabin traveling with two or more associated cabins of friends or family without dogs,” it says. A spokeswoman for Margaritaville at Sea says the organizers are chartering the Islander, and the cruise will not be available for booking to the general public. Each dog will have “private relief stations” on their cabin balconies, and when dogs don’t make it to the relief station, each will have its own “pet butler” to ensure “their cabin and the boat remain in top condition,” a Cruise Tails spokeswoman said. Participants must agree to follow protocols on board, including keeping their dogs in permitted areas and making sure they are up to date with appropriate vaccinations. Dogs will not be allowed in dining areas, the ship’s casino, pool decks, lounges or music venues, according to the news release. Organizers will also be looking for workers and vendors. “We’re going to need dog walkers, pet butlers, and so much more,” the website says. And “if you have a proven skill like pet massage, grooming and pet walking or if you make custom dog costumes, have a unique dog product you would like to promote or are a well-known dog expert, we would love to chat with you.” Calls for pet handlers and vendors will be posted “in the next few months,” the site says. Whether the event turns into the profitable industry that its organizers hope for will undoubtedly depend on how the first one unfolds. A spokeswoman did not immediately have answers to such questions of what will happen to dogs that get aggressive with humans or other dogs? Will owners be required to purchase additional insurance to cover any possibilities? Will food be provided and how will feedings be handled? Contributors on Reddit.com posted mixed reactions to the announcement on Monday. “Cruises are already floating petri dishes. This doesn’t seem like a very good idea,” said one. “Now all decks are poop decks,” said another. A couple of posters worried about dogs going overboard. One said, “sounds awesome if you like dogs,” while another chimed in, “Better than a gorilla-friendly cruise, I suppose.” Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071, on Twitter @ronhurtibise or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com.