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Picture this: A diplomat steps into a negotiation room equipped not just with policy briefs, cultural insights and traditional intelligence but also a rich dataset that maps public sentiment, economic indicators, social trends, emerging concerns and potential allies in the opposing nation. With a few clicks, the diplomat identifies key influencers, potential allies, and confidently navigates the conversation, offering tailored solutions and anticipating objections. This is not the future — it’s the present. Welcome to the transformative era of Big Data in diplomacy, a game-changer in global relations. Together, let’s explore the critical questions surrounding this evolution. 1. Why Big Data matters in diplomacy? Diplomacy has always relied on information. From dispatches carried by couriers centuries ago to classified cables of the 20th century, data has been the lifeblood of international relations. The 21st century’s explosion of digital information demands a revolutionary approach; the volume, variety, and velocity of modern data surpass traditional methods. Today, Big Data enables the diplomatic structures to: 1. Understand public sentiment, from local to regional to global: Social media analytics reveal how populations perceive policies, leaders, and international events in real time. Get the pulse. 2. Anticipate trends and crises, leaving room for black swans: Predictive analytics can identify patterns signalling unrest or humanitarian crises, allowing for proactive measures. Plan for the likely, prepare for the unlikely. 3. Strengthen negotiations: Data insights provide leverage by highlighting shared interests, pain points, or opportunities for collaboration. Turn insights into influence. A real-world example: Social media’s role in crisis response During the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, social media has become a critical source of real-time intelligence for governments, international organisations, and the global public. Platforms such as X, Telegram, and TikTok have offered unprecedented insights into the dynamics of the war, from troop movements to civilian responses. Citizens on the ground document events in real time, creating a decentralised flow of information that supplements traditional intelligence channels. For example, open-source intelligence (OSINT) communities have analysed satellite images, geotagged social media posts, and live-streamed videos to track military activities and humanitarian crises. Governments and NGOs have leveraged these data points to craft policies, assess the impact of sanctions, and coordinate aid efforts. This scenario underscores the urgency for diplomats and policymakers to integrate digital intelligence into their workflows. As the Ukraine-Russia conflict demonstrates, the ability to parse, verify, and act on vast amounts of digital data can shape global responses to crises, highlighting both the power and challenges of Big Data in modern diplomacy. 2. How are countries leveraging Big Data? Global case studies: Pioneers in Big Data diplomacy The United States: The US Department of State uses data analytics to evaluate public diplomacy efforts. For example, analysing sentiment from international social media campaigns helps refine messages and target the right audiences. Estonia : Known as a digital trailblazer, Estonia’s e-Residency program collects data that informs its foreign and trade policies, creating a bridge between the digital and diplomatic mediums. The country uses anonymised data from its e-Residency programme to strengthen trade relations and attract investments. China : Through its Belt and Road Initiative, China tracks trade patterns and assesses economic and political dependencies, using this information to strategically expand its influence across participating countries. Japan : Japan employs Big Data to predict and prepare for natural disasters. These insights extend to diplomatic discussions, where Japan shares its expertise with partner nations, bolstering its soft power. These examples raise important questions: How can diplomats balance data’s potential with concerns about privacy and misinformation? What role should ethics play in leveraging Big Data for diplomacy? Big Data challenges in diplomacy While the promise of Big Data is immense, we can all agree that the challenges are equally significant: 1. Data overload: With so much information, distinguishing noise from actionable insights requires advanced tools and skills. 2. Privacy and ethical concerns: Using data responsibly is critical to maintaining public trust. Misuse of data could erode public trust or spark diplomatic backlash. 3. Technological capacity gaps: Many diplomatic missions lack the infrastructure or expertise to harness Big Data effectively. A path forward: Key questions for practitioners • What tools and partnerships are essential for integrating Big Data into diplomatic efforts? • How can ministries of foreign affairs ethically collaborate with the private sector to bridge technological gaps? • What digital diplomacy training programs can equip diplomats to become fluent in data analysis? • How can diplomats integrate data insights into traditional processes without losing the human touch? Inspiration from the private sector Businesses like Google and Amazon use Big Data to predict customer behaviour and optimise strategies. Diplomacy can adopt similar practices. For example: • Real-time dashboards: Create embassy-specific dashboards to track local sentiment and emerging crises. • Data analysts in embassies: Embed specialists to interpret complex datasets and support decision-making. Big Data diplomacy: A call to action - Leading in the digital diplomatic age The question is no longer whether Big Data belongs in diplomacy — it’s how fast and effectively it can be integrated. As the volume of global data continues to grow exponentially, nations that adapt will find themselves leading on the global stage, while those that don’t risk being left behind. Will your nation be a pioneer or a spectator in this transformation? The time to act is now. By embracing Big Data, diplomacy can not only solve today’s challenges but also shape a more stable, informed, and collaborative global future. Let’s explore together avenues and innovative ways harnessing collective expertise and forward-thinking approaches to drive impactful, effective change in diplomacy. IG handle: https://www.instagram.com/diplomats.digital?igsh=dWVpOW1zYXEya2x4 Related Story Doha Global South Health Policy initiative makes great progress: Gates Foundation official Winners of Qatar's Global Dialogue Award honoured at ceremony
ELLICOTTVILLE, N.Y. — As the snow continues to fall in some parts of Western New York, winter activities are gearing up for the season. Holiday Valley made an announcement on Monday that the ski resort is ready to welcome visitors on Friday. RELATED: Here are the latest snow totals from across Western New York The social post made on X, shown below, said the season will open on Friday, Dec, 6 at 9 a.m. with night skiing lasting until 10 p.m. Holiday Valley also said they plan to open Mardi Gras, Yodeler, Tannenbaum, and Creekside lifts as long as the weather forecast holds. The exact number of slopes available is to be determined. 🚨 We are thrilled to announce that we will be opening for the 2024-25 ski & snowboard season this Friday, December 6 at 9AM. Night skiing also beings on Friday so lifts will run until 10PM. pic.twitter.com/0Hs3HvZQiRThe International Monetary Fund (IMF) has disclosed that about 90 per cent of African Union (AU) economies will require mobilizing greater tax revenues, among other reforms, to experience growth. This was disclosed in the IMF’s “G2O REPORT ON STRONG, SUSTAINABLE, BALANCE, AND INCLUSIVE GROWTH,” dated November 2024. The IMF report states that economic activity in the African Union (AU) is forecast to accelerate, with growth increasing from 3.3 per cent in 2023 to 4.4 per cent in 2029, thereby returning close to pre-pandemic average levels (4.4 per cent in 2000-2019). Related Stories Top 10 fastest growing economies in Africa by IMF projection We must not follow blindly World Bank, IMF advice – Attahiru Jega tells FG For the AU, a union of which Nigeria is a part, the IMF maintained that reforms targeting fiscal policies, governance, and education and skills rank highest. The report stated that in about three-quarters of AU economies, governance reform needs rank very high, often with the aim of strengthening the rule of law, fighting corruption, improving public financial management (PFM) and anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) frameworks, and enhancing transparency, efficiency, and accountability of the government and state-owned enterprise sector. The report advised African governments to not just mobilize greater tax revenues but also control public spending while ensuring transparency. “Almost 90 per cent of AU economies require high-priority reforms of fiscal policy, including mobilizing greater tax revenues, controlling public spending, and enhancing transparency, while also maintaining essential social spending. “For about half of AU countries, high priority is also assigned to reforms aimed at improving education and skills, with frequent references to the need to increase the quality and access to primary, secondary, and tertiary education, reduce skill mismatches, and bolster skills and vocational training. “For about 40 per cent of AU countries also, reforms to business regulation, credit markets, and the green sector are assigned high importance,” the report noted. IMF, in a statement on its website on November 21, 2024, projected that growth is more robust across the African Union, which joined the G20 last year, but added that the continent’s booming populations mean their economies also must create jobs for millions of young people entering the labor market. Moreso, the IMF stated that economic growth is likely to be less sustainable over the medium and long term because public debt ratios remain high across several G20 countries and the AU, adding that rising debt service costs constrain fiscal space. “In addition, frontier markets in Africa are still grappling with high borrowing costs, despite some moderation in spreads so far in 2024, and some emerging markets may have trouble refinancing debt maturing on the horizon at sustainable interest rates, as borrowing costs have become sensitive to countries fiscal buffers,” the report added. Nigeria’s economy in the first and second quarters of the year grew by 2.98% and 3.19%, respectively, amid a surge in inflation and further depreciation of the naira. The GDP growth rate in the first two quarters of 2024 surpassed the figure for 2023, representing resilience despite severe macroeconomic shocks with a spike in gasoline prices and a 28-year high inflation rate. Nigeria’s inflation rate only began to slow down in July 2024 after 19 months of consistent increase dating back to January 2023. However, after two months of a slowdown hiatus, inflation continued to rise on the back of an increase in petrol prices by the NNPCL in September. In a recent interaction with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, President Bola Tinubu said that his government is already engaging stakeholders and sensitizing Nigerians to expand the country’s economy’s tax base for inclusive developmental growth. He said the federal government is doing this without necessarily increasing the tax burden on Nigerians, who have already contributed a lot.
Police hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's masked killer after 'brazen, targeted' attack on NYC street NEW YORK (AP) — A gunman killed UnitedHealthcare’s CEO on Wednesday in a “brazen, targeted attack” outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, police said, setting off a massive search for the fleeing assailant hours before the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting nearby. Brian Thompson, 50, was shot around 6:45 a.m. as he walked alone to the New York Hilton Midtown from a nearby hotel, police said. The shooter appeared to be “lying in wait for several minutes” before approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Police had not yet established a motive. “Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” Tisch said, adding that the shooting "does not appear to be a random act of violence.” Surveillance video reviewed by investigators shows someone emerging from behind a parked car, pointing a gun at Thompson’s back, then firing multiple times from several feet away. The gunman continues firing, interrupted by a brief gun jam, as Thompson stumbles forward and falls to the sidewalk. He then walks past Thompson and out of the frame. “From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. Then Wednesday's targeted fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk thrust the executive and his business into the national spotlight. Thompson, who was 50, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group Inc for 20 years and run the insurance arm since 2021 after running its Medicare and retirement business. As CEO, Thompson led a firm that provides health coverage to more than 49 million Americans — more than the population of Spain. United is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the privately run versions of the U.S. government’s Medicare program for people age 65 and older. The company also sells individual insurance and administers health-insurance coverage for thousands of employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year, making it the largest subsidiary of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. His $10.2 million annual pay package, including salary, bonus and stock options awards, made him one of the company's highest-paid executives. Hegseth fights to save Pentagon nomination as sources say Trump considers DeSantis WASHINGTON (AP) — A defiant Pete Hegseth fought to save his nomination to be Donald Trump's defense secretary Wednesday as the president-elect considered possible replacements in the face of growing questions about the former Fox News host's personal conduct and ability to win Senate confirmation. Hegseth met with legislators on Capitol Hill, conducted a radio interview and released an opinion article denying allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking. He insisted he was “not backing down one bit," that Trump was still supporting him and he planned to return Thursday for more meetings with lawmakers. But the president-elect's team was looking at alternatives including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Trump himself remained quiet about Hegseth while issuing a flurry of statements on social media Wednesday about other nominees and his news coverage. Hegeth, asked if he'd meet with Trump on Thursday, said he'd meet with him “anytime he'd like." Hegseth is the latest nominee-designate to be imperiled by personal baggage after the recent withdrawal of Trump’s initial pick for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, whose vulnerabilities were well-documented. But Hegseth’s past, including the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies, was not widely known. Supreme Court seems likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on medical treatments for transgender minors WASHINGTON (AP) — Hearing a high-profile culture-war clash, the Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The justices’ decision, not expected for several months, could affect similar laws enacted by another 25 states and a range of other efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people, including which sports competitions they can join and which bathrooms they can use. The case is being weighed by a conservative-dominated court after a presidential election in which Donald Trump and his allies promised to roll back protections for transgender people, showcasing the uneasy intersection between law, politics and individual rights. The Biden administration's top Supreme Court lawyer warned a decision favorable to Tennessee also could be used to justify nationwide restrictions on transgender healthcare for minors. In arguments that lasted more than two hours, five of the six conservative justices voiced varying degrees of skepticism of arguments made by the administration and Chase Strangio, the ACLU lawyer for Tennessee families challenging the ban. Peter Navarro served prison time related to Jan. 6. Now Trump is bringing him back as an adviser WASHINGTON (AP) — Former White House adviser Peter Navarro, who served prison time related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, will return to serve in Donald Trump’s second administration, the president-elect announced Wednesday. Navarro, a trade adviser during Trump’s first term, will be a senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, Trump said on Truth Social. The position, Trump wrote, “leverages Peter’s broad range of White House experience, while harnessing his extensive Policy analytic and Media skills.” The appointment was only the first in a flurry of announcements that Trump made on Wednesday as his presidential transition faced controversy over Pete Hegseth, Trump’s choice for Pentagon chief. Hegseth faces allegations of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement, and Trump has considered replacing him with another potential nominee. As he works to fill out his team, Trump said he wanted Paul Atkins, a financial industry veteran and an advocate for cryptocurrency, to serve as the next chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He wrote on Truth Social that Atkins “recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before.” Trump also said he was changing course on his choice for White House counsel. He said his original pick, William McGinley, will work with the Department of Government Efficiency, which will be run by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy with the goal of cutting federal spending. Now David Warrington, who has worked as Trump’s personal lawyer and a lawyer for his campaign, will serve as White House counsel. Israeli strikes on a Gaza tent camp kill at least 21 people, hospital says KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes tore through a tent camp for displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza on Wednesday, sparking fires and killing at least 21 people, according to the head of a nearby hospital, in the latest assault on a sprawling tent city that Israel designated a humanitarian safe zone but has repeatedly targeted. The Israeli military said it struck senior Hamas militants “involved in terrorist activities” in the area, without providing additional details, and said it took precautions to minimize harm to civilians. The strike on the Muwasi tent camp was one of several deadly assaults across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. An Israeli attack in central Gaza killed at least 10 more people, including four children, according to Palestinian medics. Israel’s devastating war in Gaza, launched after Hamas’ October 2023 attack, shows no signs of ending after nearly 14 months. Hamas is still holding dozens of Israeli hostages, and most of Gaza’s population has been displaced and is reliant on international food aid to survive. Israel is also pressing a major offensive in the isolated north, where experts say Palestinians might be experiencing famine. The Biden administration has pledged to make a new push for a Gaza ceasefire now that there's a truce in Lebanon between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah, ending more than a year of cross-border fighting. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump demanded this week the release of hostages held by Hamas before he is sworn into office in January. South Korean President Yoon's martial law declaration raises questions over his political future SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning martial law declaration lasted just hours, but experts say it raised serious questions about his ability to govern for the remaining 2 1/2 years of his term and whether he will abide by democratic principles. The opposition-controlled parliament overturned the edict, and his rivals on Wednesday took steps to impeach him. One analyst called his action “political suicide.” Yoon’s political fate may depend on whether a large number of people in coming days take to the streets to push for his ouster. Here's a look at the political firestorm caused by the martial law declaration, the first of its kind in more than 40 years. Yoon's declaration of emergency martial law on Tuesday night was accompanied by a pledge to eliminate “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces at a single stroke.” He vowed to protect the country from “falling into the depths of national ruin.” Yoon, a conservative, cited repeated attempts by his liberal rivals in control of parliament to impeach his top officials and curtail key parts of his budget bill for next year. French lawmakers vote to oust prime minister in the first successful no-confidence vote since 1962 PARIS (AP) — France’s far-right and left-wing lawmakers joined together Wednesday in a historic no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes that forces Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his Cabinet members to resign, a first since 1962. The National Assembly approved the motion by 331 votes. A minimum of 288 were needed. President Emmanuel Macron insisted he will serve the rest of his term until 2027. However, he will need to appoint a new prime minister for the second time after July’s legislative elections led to a deeply divided parliament. Macron will address the French on Thursday evening, his office said, without providing details. Barnier is expected to formally resign by then. A conservative appointed in September, Barnier becomes the shortest-serving prime minister in France’s modern Republic. White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official on Wednesday said at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could still grow. The U.S. believes that the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. Harris found success with women who have cats, but Trump got the dog owner vote: AP VoteCast WASHINGTON (AP) — The lead-up to the 2024 election was all about cat owners. But in the end, the dogs had their day. President-elect Donald Trump won slightly more than half of voters who own either cats or dogs, with a big assist from dog owners, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters. Dog owners were much more likely to support the Republican over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Cat owners were split between the two candidates. About two-thirds of voters said they own a dog or cat, but pet owners don't usually get much attention from politicians. This year, however, past comments by Trump's running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, about “childless cat ladies” briefly became a campaign issue — and Taylor Swift signed her Instagram endorsement of Harris in September as “Taylor Swift Childless Cat Lady.” Harris did end up decisively winning support from women who owned a cat but not a dog. Still, those voters were a relatively small slice of the electorate, and pet owners as a whole did not seem to hold Vance's remarks against the GOP ticket. Childless or not, women who only owned a cat were more likely to support Harris than were dog owners, or voters who had a cat and a dog. About 6 in 10 women who owned a cat but not a dog supported Harris, according to AP VoteCast. She did similarly well among women who did not own either kind of pet.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — DJ Lagway threw two touchdown passes, Montrell Johnson ran for 127 yards and a score, and Florida upset No. 9 Mississippi 24-17 on Saturday to knock the Rebels out of College Football Playoff contention. The Gators (6-5, 4-4 Southeastern Conference), who topped LSU last week, beat ranked teams in consecutive weeks for the first time since 2008 and became bowl eligible. The late-season spurt provided another vote of confidence for coach Billy Napier, who is expected back for a fourth season. Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3), which entered the day as a 10-point favorite, lost for the first time in four games and surely will drop out of the 12-team playoff picture. The Rebels ranked ninth in the latest CFP and needed only to avoid stumbling down the stretch against Florida and lowly Mississippi State to clinch a spot in the playoff field. But coach Lane Kiffin’s team failed to score in three trips inside the red zone and dropped countless passes in perfect weather. No. 2 OHIO ST. 38, No. 5 INDIANA 15 COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Will Howard passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another, TreVeyon Henderson ran for a score and No. 2 Ohio State beat previously undefeated No. 5 Indiana. All Ohio State (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten, CFP No. 2) has to do now is beat Michigan at home next Saturday and it will earn a return to the Big Ten championship game for the first time since 2020 and get a rematch with No. 1 Oregon. The Ducks beat Ohio State 32-31 in a wild one back on Oct. 12. The Hoosiers (10-1, 7-1, No. 5 CFP) had their best chance to beat the Buckeyes for the first time since 1988 but were hurt by special teams mistakes and disrupted by an Ohio State defense that sacked quarterback Kurtis Rourke five times. Howard finished 22 for 26 for 201 yards. Emeka Egbuka had seven catches for 80 yards and a TD. No. 8 GEORGIA 59, UMass 21 ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Carson Beck threw four touchdown passes, Nate Frazier ran for 136 yards with three scores and No. 8 Georgia overwhelmed Massachusetts as the Bulldogs tried to protect their College Football Playoff hopes. Georgia (9-2, No. 10 CFP) needed the big offense from Beck and Frazier to rescue a defense that gave up 226 rushing yards. UMass (2-9) played its first game under interim coach Shane Montgomery, the offensive coordinator who retained his play-calling duties after replacing fired coach Don Brown on Monday. Jalen John led the Minutemen with 107 rushing yards and a touchdown. Georgia extended its streak of consecutive home wins to 30, the longest active streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision. No. 10 TENNESSEE 56, UTEP 0 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nico Iamaleava threw for 209 yards and four touchdowns to lead No. 10 Tennessee to a victory over UTEP. The Volunteers (9-2) overcame a sluggish start to roll up the impressive win. Both teams were scoreless in the first quarter, but Tennessee found its rhythm. Grad student receiver Bru McCoy, who hadn’t caught a touchdown pass this season, had two. Peyton Lewis also ran for two scores. Tennessee’s defensive line, which had no sacks in last week’s loss to Georgia, had three against the Miners. UTEP (2-9) struggled with two missed field goals and three turnovers. Tennessee’s offense came alive with 28 points in the second quarter. In the final four drives of the quarter, Iamaleava completed 11 of 12 passes for 146 yards and touchdowns to Squirrel White, Ethan Davis and McCoy. No. 11 MIAMI 42, WAKE FOREST 14 MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Cam Ward passed for 280 yards and threw two touchdowns to Jacolby George on another record-breaking day, Mishael Powell ran an interception back 76 yards for a touchdown and No. 11 Miami pulled away late to beat Wake Forest. The Hurricanes (10-1, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference, No. 8 College Football Playoff) can clinch a berth in the ACC title game with a win at Syracuse next weekend. Ward completed 27 of 38 passes, plus ran for a score. He broke two more single-season Miami records, both of which had been held for 40 years by Bernie Kosar — most passing yards in a season and most completions in a season. Ward now has 3,774 yards on 268 completions this season. Kosar threw for 3,642 yards on 262 completions in 1984. Demond Claiborne had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown for Wake Forest (4-7, 2-5). Claiborne also rushed for 62 yards for the Demon Deacons, and starting quarterback Hank Bachmeier was 8 of 14 passing for 86 yards and a touchdown. No. 13 SMU 33, VIRGINIA 7 CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Kevin Jennings threw for a career-high 323 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another, and No. 13 SMU clinched a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game by routing Virginia. Isaiah Smith and Jared Harrison-Hunte each had two sacks to help the Mustangs (10-1, 7-0, No. 13 CFP) extend their winning streak to eight. They would earn an automatic bid into the expanded College Football Playoff by beating 11th-ranked Miami or 17th-ranked Clemson in the ACC title game on Dec. 7 in Charlotte, North Carolina. SMU had to get there first, and Jennings led the way again, bouncing back from an interception and a fumble to complete 25 of 33 passes to six different receivers, including TD tosses to Jordan Hudson and Matthew Hibner. Brashard Smith provided a little balance on offense, running for 63 yards and his 13th touchdown of the season. SMU’s defense overwhelmed UVa’s offensive line, sacking Anthony Colandrea nine times and allowing the Cavaliers (5-6, 3-4) just 173 yards. Special teams contributed, too, with Roderick Daniels Jr. returning a punt 48 yards and Collin Rogers making two field goals. No. 24 ILLINOIS 38, RUTGERS 31 PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Luke Altmyer found Pat Bryant for a catch-and-run, 40-yard touchdown pass with 4 seconds left, sending No. 24 Illinois to a wild victory over Rutgers. Illinois (8-3, 5-3 Big Ten) was down 31-30 when it sent long kicker Ethan Moczulski out for a desperation 58-yard field goal with 14 seconds to go. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano then called for a timeout right before Moczulski’s attempt was wide left and about 15 yards short. After the missed field goal was waved off by the timeout, Illinois coach Bret Bielema sent his offense back on the field. Altmyer hit Bryant on an in cut on the left side at the 22, and he continued across the field and scored untouched in a game that featured three lead changes in the final 3:07. Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) gave up a safety on the final kickoff return, throwing a ball out of bounds in the end zone as players passed it around hoping for a miracle touchdown. Altmyer was 12-of-26 passing for 249 yards and two touchdowns. Bryant finished with seven receptions for 197 yards.
Dancing queens
Trudeau told Trump Americans would also suffer if tariffs are imposed, a Canadian minister saysU.S. says North Korea ready for nuclear test, awaits political go-aheadBRENTWOOD, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 18, 2024-- Ardent Health (NYSE: ARDT), a leading provider of healthcare in growing midsize urban communities across the U.S., today announced the Company will participate in the 43rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference being held Jan. 13-16, 2025, in San Francisco. The management team will present at the conference beginning at 2:15 p.m. PT on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. A live audio webcast of the presentation will be available at the investor relations section of the Company’s website, at ir.ardenthealth.com , and a replay will be available for 90 days using the same link. In conjunction with the conference, the Ardent management team will be available to participate in one-on-one meetings with investors registered to attend the conference. Interested investors should contact their J.P. Morgan representative to schedule meetings. About Ardent Health Ardent Health (NYSE: ARDT) is a leading provider of healthcare in growing mid-sized urban communities across the U.S. With a focus on people and investments in innovative services and technologies, Ardent is passionate about making healthcare better and easier to access. Through its subsidiaries, the Company delivers care through a system of 30 acute care hospitals and more than 200 sites of care with over 1,800 affiliated providers across six states. For more information, please visit ardenthealth.com . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241218439414/en/ CONTACT: Investor Contact: Dave Styblo Investor.Relations@ardenthealth.com (615) 296-3016Media Contact: Rebecca Kirkham rebecca.kirkham@ardenthealth.com (615) 296-3635 KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA TENNESSEE UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MANAGED CARE HOSPITALS GENERAL HEALTH HEALTH SOURCE: Ardent Health Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/18/2024 04:30 PM/DISC: 12/18/2024 04:28 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241218439414/en
No. 22 St. John's, Georgia pack busy schedule with game on SundayGAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — DJ Lagway threw two touchdown passes, Montrell Johnson ran for 127 yards and a score, and Florida upset No. 9 Mississippi 24-17 on Saturday to knock the Rebels out of College Football Playoff contention. The Gators (6-5, 4-4 Southeastern Conference), who topped LSU last week, beat ranked teams in consecutive weeks for the first time since 2008 and became bowl eligible. The late-season spurt provided another vote of confidence for coach Billy Napier, who is expected back for a fourth season. Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3), which entered the day as a 10-point favorite, lost for the first time in four games and surely will drop out of the 12-team playoff picture. The Rebels ranked ninth in the latest CFP and needed only to avoid stumbling down the stretch against Florida and lowly Mississippi State to clinch a spot in the playoff field. But coach Lane Kiffin’s team failed to score in three trips inside the red zone and dropped countless passes in perfect weather. No. 2 OHIO ST. 38, No. 5 INDIANA 15 COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Will Howard passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another, TreVeyon Henderson ran for a score and No. 2 Ohio State beat previously undefeated No. 5 Indiana. All Ohio State (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten, CFP No. 2) has to do now is beat Michigan at home next Saturday and it will earn a return to the Big Ten championship game for the first time since 2020 and get a rematch with No. 1 Oregon. The Ducks beat Ohio State 32-31 in a wild one back on Oct. 12. The Hoosiers (10-1, 7-1, No. 5 CFP) had their best chance to beat the Buckeyes for the first time since 1988 but were hurt by special teams mistakes and disrupted by an Ohio State defense that sacked quarterback Kurtis Rourke five times. Howard finished 22 for 26 for 201 yards. Emeka Egbuka had seven catches for 80 yards and a TD. No. 8 GEORGIA 59, UMass 21 ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Carson Beck threw four touchdown passes, Nate Frazier ran for 136 yards with three scores and No. 8 Georgia overwhelmed Massachusetts as the Bulldogs tried to protect their College Football Playoff hopes. Georgia (9-2, No. 10 CFP) needed the big offense from Beck and Frazier to rescue a defense that gave up 226 rushing yards. UMass (2-9) played its first game under interim coach Shane Montgomery, the offensive coordinator who retained his play-calling duties after replacing fired coach Don Brown on Monday. Jalen John led the Minutemen with 107 rushing yards and a touchdown. Georgia extended its streak of consecutive home wins to 30, the longest active streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision. No. 10 TENNESSEE 56, UTEP 0 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nico Iamaleava threw for 209 yards and four touchdowns to lead No. 10 Tennessee to a victory over UTEP. The Volunteers (9-2) overcame a sluggish start to roll up the impressive win. Both teams were scoreless in the first quarter, but Tennessee found its rhythm. Grad student receiver Bru McCoy, who hadn’t caught a touchdown pass this season, had two. Peyton Lewis also ran for two scores. Tennessee’s defensive line, which had no sacks in last week’s loss to Georgia, had three against the Miners. UTEP (2-9) struggled with two missed field goals and three turnovers. Tennessee’s offense came alive with 28 points in the second quarter. In the final four drives of the quarter, Iamaleava completed 11 of 12 passes for 146 yards and touchdowns to Squirrel White, Ethan Davis and McCoy. No. 11 MIAMI 42, WAKE FOREST 14 MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Cam Ward passed for 280 yards and threw two touchdowns to Jacolby George on another record-breaking day, Mishael Powell ran an interception back 76 yards for a touchdown and No. 11 Miami pulled away late to beat Wake Forest. The Hurricanes (10-1, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference, No. 8 College Football Playoff) can clinch a berth in the ACC title game with a win at Syracuse next weekend. Ward completed 27 of 38 passes, plus ran for a score. He broke two more single-season Miami records, both of which had been held for 40 years by Bernie Kosar — most passing yards in a season and most completions in a season. Ward now has 3,774 yards on 268 completions this season. Kosar threw for 3,642 yards on 262 completions in 1984. Demond Claiborne had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown for Wake Forest (4-7, 2-5). Claiborne also rushed for 62 yards for the Demon Deacons, and starting quarterback Hank Bachmeier was 8 of 14 passing for 86 yards and a touchdown. No. 13 SMU 33, VIRGINIA 7 CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Kevin Jennings threw for a career-high 323 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another, and No. 13 SMU clinched a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game by routing Virginia. Isaiah Smith and Jared Harrison-Hunte each had two sacks to help the Mustangs (10-1, 7-0, No. 13 CFP) extend their winning streak to eight. They would earn an automatic bid into the expanded College Football Playoff by beating 11th-ranked Miami or 17th-ranked Clemson in the ACC title game on Dec. 7 in Charlotte, North Carolina. SMU had to get there first, and Jennings led the way again, bouncing back from an interception and a fumble to complete 25 of 33 passes to six different receivers, including TD tosses to Jordan Hudson and Matthew Hibner. Brashard Smith provided a little balance on offense, running for 63 yards and his 13th touchdown of the season. SMU’s defense overwhelmed UVa’s offensive line, sacking Anthony Colandrea nine times and allowing the Cavaliers (5-6, 3-4) just 173 yards. Special teams contributed, too, with Roderick Daniels Jr. returning a punt 48 yards and Collin Rogers making two field goals. No. 24 ILLINOIS 38, RUTGERS 31 PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Luke Altmyer found Pat Bryant for a catch-and-run, 40-yard touchdown pass with 4 seconds left, sending No. 24 Illinois to a wild victory over Rutgers. Illinois (8-3, 5-3 Big Ten) was down 31-30 when it sent long kicker Ethan Moczulski out for a desperation 58-yard field goal with 14 seconds to go. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano then called for a timeout right before Moczulski’s attempt was wide left and about 15 yards short. After the missed field goal was waved off by the timeout, Illinois coach Bret Bielema sent his offense back on the field. Altmyer hit Bryant on an in cut on the left side at the 22, and he continued across the field and scored untouched in a game that featured three lead changes in the final 3:07. Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) gave up a safety on the final kickoff return, throwing a ball out of bounds in the end zone as players passed it around hoping for a miracle touchdown. Altmyer was 12-of-26 passing for 249 yards and two touchdowns. Bryant finished with seven receptions for 197 yards.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Missouri’s governor on Monday denied clemency for Christopher Collings , a death row inmate facing execution for sexually assaulting and killing a 9-year-old girl and leaving her body in a sinkhole. Collings, 49, is scheduled to receive a single injection of pentobarbital at 6 p.m. CST Tuesday at the state prison in Bonne Terre, Missouri, for the 2007 killing of fourth-grader Rowan Ford. It would be the 23rd execution in the U.S. this year and the fourth in Missouri. “Mr. Collings has received every protection afforded by the Missouri and United States Constitutions, and Mr. Collings’ conviction and sentence remain for his horrendous and callous crime,” Republican Gov. Mike Parson said in a statement. Parson’s decision likely sealed Collings’ fate. Earlier Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied an appeal on behalf of Collings, without comment. No additional appeals are planned, Collings' attorney, Jeremy Weis, said. Parson's decision was not unexpected — a former sheriff, Parson has overseen 12 previous executions without granting clemency. Weis said Parson has allowed other executions to proceed for inmates with innocence claims, intellectual disabilities and for men who were “reformed and remorseful” for their crimes. “In each case of redemption, the Governor has ignored the evidence and sought vengeance,” Weis said in a statement. Collings confessed to killing Rowan, a child who referred to him as “Uncle Chris” after Collings lived for several months with the girl’s family in tiny Stella, Missouri. Rowan was killed on Nov. 3, 2007. Her body was found in a sinkhole outside of town six days later. She had been strangled. The clemency petition said an abnormality of Collings’ brain causes him to suffer from “functional deficits in awareness, judgment and deliberation, comportment, appropriate social inhibition, and emotional regulation.” It also noted that he suffered from frequent and often violent abuse as a child. “The result was a damaged human being with no guidance on how to grow into a functioning adult,” the petition stated. The petition also challenged the fairness of executing Collings when another man charged in the crime, Rowan’s stepfather, David Spears, also confessed but was allowed to plead to lesser crimes. Spears served more than seven years in prison before his release in 2015. Collings told authorities that he drank heavily and smoked marijuana with Spears and another man in the hours before the attack on Rowan, according to court records. Collings said he picked up the sleeping child from her bed, took her to the camper where he lived and assaulted her there. He said he strangled the child with a rope when he realized she recognized him. Collings told investigators that he took the girl's body to a sinkhole. He burned the rope used in the attack, along with the clothes he was wearing and his bloodstained mattress, prosecutors said. Spears also implicated himself in the crimes, according to court documents and the clemency petition. A transcript of Spears’ statement to police, cited in the petition, said he told police that Collings handed him a cord and that he killed Rowan. “I choke her with it. I realize she’s gone. She’s ... she’s really gone,” Spears said, according to the transcript. It was Spears who led authorities to the sinkhole where her body was found, according to court documents. No phone listing could be found for Spears. The Supreme Court appeal challenged the reliability of the key law enforcement witness at Collings’ trial, a police chief from a neighboring town who had four AWOL convictions while serving in the Army. Failure to disclose details about that criminal history at trial violated Collings’ right to due process, Weis contended. “His credibility was really at the heart of the entire case against Mr. Collings," Weis said in an interview. Three men have been executed in Missouri this year — Brian Dorsey on April 9, David Hosier on June 11 and Marcellus Williams on Sept. 24. Only Alabama, with six, and Texas, with five, have performed more executions than Missouri in 2024. Jim Salter, The Associated Press
NonePICKERING, ON , Nov. 22, 2024 /CNW/ - MTL Cannabis Corp. MTLC ("MTL" or the " Company ") announces that due to the Canadian postal strike (the " Postal Strike "), the Company has adjourned the Annual General and Special Meeting (the " Meeting ") scheduled for Thursday, December 12, 2024 . The Company has adjourned the Meeting to ensure it satisfies the notice and delivery requirements pursuant to applicable corporate and securities laws. The record date will remain the same and the proxy cut-off date will be moved to 9:00am (Vancouver Time) December 24, 2024 . The Meeting will be reconvened on December 30, 2024 , at 9:00am (Vancouver Time). Materials for the Meeting are posted under the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.mtlcorp.ca/investors . In the event that the Postal Strike ends prior to the Meeting, the Company will mail the materials for the Meeting in the ordinary course. Emails providing a proxy with the voting control number and instructions for voting will be sent by the Company's transfer agent, Odyssey Trust Company, to registered shareholders. Shareholders who do not receive an email from Odyssey Trust Company with their proxy should contact Odyssey Trust Company at 1-888-290-1175 or email shareholder@odysseytrust.com to request their proxy and voting control number. Beneficial holders should contact their broker to request a voting information form, voting control number, and instructions for voting. Copies of the Company's financial statements and related management discussion & analysis are available on the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca and applicable paper copies will be delivered once the Postal Strike concludes. About MTL Cannabis Corp. MTL is the parent company of MTL Cannabis, a licensed producer operating from a 57,000 sq ft licensed indoor grow facility in Pointe Claire , Québec; Abba Medix Corp., a licensed producer in Pickering, Ontario that operates a leading medical cannabis marketplace; IsoCanMed Inc., a licensed producer in Louiseville , Québec growing best-in-class indoor cannabis, in its 64,000 sq. ft. production facility; and Canada House Clinics Inc., operating clinics across Canada that work directly with primary care teams to provide specialized cannabinoid therapy services to patients suffering from simple and complex medical conditions. As a flower-first company built for the modern street, MTL Cannabis uses proprietary hydroponic growing methodologies supported by handcrafted techniques to produce products that are truly craft for the masses. MTL Cannabis focuses on craft quality cannabis products, including lines of dried flower, pre-rolls and hash marketed under the "MTL Cannabis", "Low Key by MTL" and "R'belle" brands for the Canadian market through nine distribution arrangements with various provincial cannabis distributors. MTL Cannabis has also developed several export channels for bulk and unbranded GACP quality cannabis. It is MTL's goal for Abba Medix Corp. to become the leading distributor of medical cannabis in Canada and for Canada House Clinics to be the leading Canadian provider of medical cannabis clinic services. For further information, please visit www.mtlcorp.ca/ or the Company's public filings at www.sedarplus.ca . Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information. This press release contains forward- looking statements, including statements that relate to, among other things, the Company's clinic, production and technology businesses, its future plans, the Company's markets, objectives, goals, strategies, intentions, beliefs, expectations and estimates, and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "would", "likely", "possible", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "objective" and "continue" (or the negative thereof) and words and expressions of similar import. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Material assumptions used to develop forward-looking information in this news release include, the regulations related to cannabis use under the Cannabis Act ( Canada ); Company liquidity and capital resources, including the availability of additional capital resources to fund its activities and repay its outstanding indebtedness; level of competition; the ability to adapt products and services to the changing market; the ability to attract and retain key executives; the ability to execute strategic plans; continued integration of business unit, expansion activities at all our operating locations; and the leveraging of cash flow from operations to accelerate growth and further improve the Company's balance sheet. Additional information about material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations and about material factors or assumptions applied in making forward-looking statements may be found in the Company's Listing Statement dated August 14, 2023 and its most recent annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis under "Risk and Uncertainties" as well as in other public disclosure documents filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE MTL Cannabis Corp. View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2024/22/c3120.html © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Two students wounded and gunman dead after shooting at Northern California elementary school
Jessica Alba and Tracey Nyberg’s Lady Metalmark Entertainment has boarded “Queens,” Switzerland’s official selection for the international feature Oscar, as executive producer. The film follows two teenage sisters living in Peru in 1992 as the country slides into political unrest. They are about to leave with their mother to live in the U.S. but they need their father to sign consent papers — he’s been absent for years but now he decides to win back his two “queens.” Abril Gjurinovic, Luana Vega and Jimena Lindo star. The film won the Audience Award at this year’s Locarno Film Festival and the Grand Prix in Generation Kplus at the Berlinale, after world premiering at the Sundance Film Festival. Reynicke, who co-wrote the screenplay with Diego Vega Vidal, drew on her own experience of leaving Peru as a young girl during a period of political turmoil in the early 1990s. She now lives in Switzerland, and the film is a Swiss-Peruvian co-production. The films is a great fit for actor, producer and businesswoman Alba (she founded the Honest Company). Her shingle Lady Metalmark Entertainment is committed to work with diverse artists and to champion female-driven, culturally diverse and Latino inspired stories. “We are honored to join Klaudia Reynicke’s extraordinary film ‘Queens’ as executive producers,” said Alba and Nyberg in a joint statement. “This powerful story illuminates the unshakable strength of a mother’s love and her relentless drive to create a better future for her children. Capturing stellar performances amidst the rugged beauty of Lima, Peru, Klaudia is a filmmaker of exceptional talent — something we are excited for audiences to discover as they laugh and cry alongside Elena and her daughters, with a story that will resonate long after the credits roll.” “In ‘Queens,’ I wanted to craft a film that was both personal and universal, a story about sisterhood, identity, migration and love,” said Reynicke. “Jessica Alba understands these themes on an emotional level, which is why having her as an executive producer feels like a dream. With her passion and heritage guiding the film, Queens becomes more than just a story, it’s a tribute to the strength of families and the hope that carries us forward. I am equally thrilled that her partner, Tracey Nyberg, is joining us as an executive producer, bringing her expertise and dedication to amplify the impact of this story. This collaboration is a testament to the power of women supporting each other to tell stories that matter — stories about childhood, parenthood, resilience, and the strength we find in hope.”