best betting strategy for 50/50 Javon Small scored 31 points to rally West Virginia to an 86-78 overtime upset of No. 3 Gonzaga in the opening round of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, Wednesday in Nassau, Bahamas. The Mountaineers (4-1) trailed by 10 points early in the second half and by five in the final minute. But over the final 19 seconds of regulation, Tucker DeVries scored five straight points to send the game to overtime. In the extra session, Small scored five points and West Virginia held Gonzaga to a single field goal, which came after the outcome was decided with 19 seconds left. Amani Hansberry added a career-high 19 points and eight rebounds for West Virginia, which advances to the semifinals Thursday against another surprise first-round winner, Louisville, which stunned No. 15 Indiana. Braden Huff scored 19 points and Khalif Battle added 16 points for Gonzaga (5-1) which settles for a consolation-round game Thursday against Indiana. Nolan Hickman tallied 13 points. Ryan Nembhard delivered seven points and 12 assists for the Bulldogs. Huff put Gonzaga in position to win when he made three hook shots in the final 2:34 of regulation as the Bulldogs turned a one-point deficit into a 69-66 lead. Two free throws by Nembhard expanded the lead to 71-66 with 25 seconds left. But DeVries followed with a 3-pointer from the top of the key and then made a mid-court steal and drew a foul with 5.9 seconds left. His two free throws sent it to overtime. The Mountaineers never trailed in overtime. Sencire Harris wrapped it up with a steal and a breakaway slam that put West Virginia up 84-76 with 26 seconds left. Battle, a transfer from Arkansas, scored eight points in a span of 90 seconds late in the first half as the Bulldogs took control on their way to a 39-31 lead at the break. Gonzaga earned its biggest lead early in the second half when Graham Ike scored inside with an assist from Nembhard to make it 43-33. But West Virginia responded with a 17-2 run, fueled by Small as he hit two 3-pointers and two layups. Hansberry drained a trey and DeVries grinded for a putback layup to give the Mountaineers a 50-45 lead with 12:26 left. DeVries finished the game with 16 points and four blocks. --Field Level MediaLiverpool ended a 15-year wait for a win over Real Madrid as goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo put them on the brink of guaranteeing a place in the last 16 with a fifth successive win. They say revenge is a dish best served cold and on a chilly night on Merseyside Liverpool finally got one over on their European nemesis for the first time since 2009, also on this ground, with a deserved 2-0 success. They could even afford the rare sight of Mohamed Salah missing a penalty, moments after Caoimhín Kelleher added another moment to a highlight reel already substantial for a second-choice goalkeeper by saving Kylian Mbappe’s spot-kick. Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo was on target against the European champions (Peter Byrne/PA) Victory over the 15-time winners has seemed especially long in coming as seven defeats and a draw in the last eight meetings barely tell the whole story after two heartbreaking final losses in 2018 and 2022. And while extending their 100 per cent record to maintain top spot and providing a huge morale boost ahead of Sunday’s visit of Manchester City the result cannot erase the hurt previously inflicted. This injury-ravaged Madrid side still contains two players of their generation in Mbappe and Jude Bellingham but they are currently not the force they were, although you would still not rule them out of being involved in Munich in May such is their pedigree in the competition. But for now the Arne Slot bandwagon rolls on with a remarkable 17th win in 19 matches. For a while it appeared Darwin Nunez, who has been strangely lacking in his traditional catalytic chaos this season, would take centre-stage as he looked up for the challenge in his third successive start. But while the will was there he was all out of luck as in only the fourth minute he saw his shot saved by Thibaut Courtois and only just cleared off the line by Raul Asencio after the ball rebounded back off the defender. That chance had been created deep in Liverpool territory where, much to Anfield’s delight, Salah robbed Mbappe to spring the counter-attack. Nunez then found the Real goalkeeper, man of the match in their 2022 final victory over Liverpool in Paris, in the way of his close-range stab. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. In between, in typical style, Nunez had gone down in the penalty area after Asencio had raised his hands to the Uruguayan’s throat and then brought one of the loudest cheers of the night by beating Bellingham with a Cruyff turn not far from the Liverpool area. Another huge cheer rang out for the 21-year-old Conor Bradley, whose perfectly timed tackle on the edge of the penalty area dispossessed a charging Mbappe on a one-man counter-attack. Still Liverpool probed for the opener – with a Nunez header across goal too far in front of Diaz, whose header from Mac Allister’s chip was palmed away – and that continued after the break as they sensed Real were there for the taking. It came seven minutes in when Mac Allister collected a pass from Bradley, instructed to play further forward in the second half, and clipped an angled shot through the crowd and past Courtois. Moments later the Argentina international had even more time to pick his spot from the edge of the area but placed his shot wide. But the pivotal moment came in the 61st minute. Andy Robertson needlessly left his trailing leg in the way for Lucas Vazquez to trip over and referee Francois Letexier wasted no time in pointing to the spot. However, Kelleher guessed the right way to deny Mbappe and Anfield exploded again. To be fair to the French official, who had been frustrating Liverpool with his decisions all night, was equally as quick to award Salah a penalty when Ferland Mendy tripped him. Mohamed Salah missed a penalty but Liverpool had done enough (Peter Byrne/PA) Many of the crowd were already cheering as the ball left the Egyptian’s foot but, for once, his aim was off and for a brief moment the ground was swallowed up in a vacuum of disbelieving silence. But it did not last long as Gakpo rose highest to power home Robertson’s cross and Anfield could enjoy some long-awaited payback. The only concern, with City four days away, were late injuries to Bradley and centre-back Ibrahima Konate.

Biden gives life in prison to 37 of 40 federal death row inmates

Police officers stand near a body covered by a tarp outside of Feather River Adventist School after a shooting Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in Oroville, Calif. (Michael Weber/The Chico Enterprise-Record via AP) Police officers stand near a body covered by a tarp outside of Feather River Adventist School after a shooting Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in Oroville, Calif. (Michael Weber/The Chico Enterprise-Record via AP) Emergency personnel state outside the Feather River Adventist School after a shooting Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in Oroville, Calif. (Michael Weber/The Chico Enterprise-Record via AP) Police tape blocks a road outside the Feather River Adventist School after a shooting Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in Oroville, Calif. (Michael Weber/The Chico Enterprise-Record via AP) Police officers stand near a body covered by a tarp outside of Feather River Adventist School after a shooting Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in Oroville, Calif. (Michael Weber/The Chico Enterprise-Record via AP) PALERMO, Calif. (AP) — Two children were wounded in a shooting Wednesday at a small religious K-8 school in Northern California and the shooter died from a suspected self-inflicted gunshot, sheriff’s officials said. The children’s conditions were not immediately known. The shooting occurred Wednesday afternoon at the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists, a private, K-8 school in Palermo, a community of 5,500 people about 65 miles (104 km) north of Sacramento. Related Articles National News | Abandoned mines in the US pose dangers to people and property when land gives way National News | Dog food recalled in 7 states for salmonella risk after puppy litter gets sick, FDA says National News | White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign National News | Powell: Fed’s independence from politics is vital to its interest rate decisions National News | United Healthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York Butte County Sheriff Kory L. Honea said the 911 calls reported “an individual on campus who had fired shots at students,” and said that the shooter did not appear to have a connection to the school. The motive was not immediately known, he continued. One student was flown to a nearby hospital, Honea said. Authorities rushed students to the Oroville Church of the Nazarene to be reunited with their families, the sheriff’s office said. The school has been open since 1965 and caters to fewer than three dozen children, according to its website.Mishal Husain ‘to step down from Radio 4 Today programme’

Stock market today: Losses for Big Tech pull US indexes lower

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AP News in Brief at 6:04 p.m. ESTThis includes spoilers for the film Inside Llewyn Davis , a movie that its co-writer and director Joel Coen once said “doesn’t really have a plot” so don’t worry too much if you haven’t seen it. “If it was never new, and it never gets old, then it’s a folk song.” These are the first spoken words by Oscar Issac in Inside Llewyn Davis , the Joel and Ethan Coen masterpiece released in 2013, and their last perfect movie. They followed-up with the zany Hail, Caesar! and short film collection The Ballad of Buster Scruggs , both very good but not a punch to the solar plexus like Llewyn . Having just seen A Complete Unknown , which shares the setting of the folk revivalism scene of New York’s Greenwich Village in the early 1960s, it has been much on my mind. The Coen Brothers are currently on their own making inferior work, Joel with the surprisingly dull The Tragedy of MacBeth and Ethan with the lightweight Drive-Away Dolls . It’s a little ironic, because much of Inside Llewyn Davis hinges on the titular character unable to find footing after he splits from his partner, the unseen Mikey Timlin, voiced by Marcus Mumford. (In the movie, Timlin is dead; in real life, Joel and Ethan just need to have a good meal this holiday season and work things out.) Both Llewyn and Unknown begin specifically in 1961. The last scene of the Coen Brothers’s film (also the first scene, as it employs a record-stuck-in-a-groove gimmick) shows Llewyn Davis, the Job of folk music, at his absolute nadir, about to get ethered by a 20-year-old Dylan on the night that made him famous. Just as Davis is exiting the club, the Minnesota newcomer is spotted introducing his music to the crowd (and a critic from the New York Times ). He takes the stage just after Davis’s “never new” comment. Dylan, of course, skyrocketed to success off the back of his own compositions. Though the folk revivalism scene has a huge footprint in the culture, there haven’t been too many movies about it. Paul Mazursky’s Next Stop, Greenwich Village is set earlier (and it’s about actors, not singers) and Milos Forman’s Taking Off (to pull just one goodie out of a hat) is set later, focusing on plugged-in hippies. By which I mean it’s set in the counterculture rock world that Dylan helped invent when he “went electric” at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, the climax of A Complete Unknown. Inside Llewyn Davis ’s unnamed Dylan easter egg sixty seconds before the credits roll is one of the few direct representations of someone from the scene in that movie. The closest other one is F. Murray Abraham’s Bud Grossman, who is basically representing Albert Grossman, Dylan’s manager played by Dan Fogler in A Complete Unknown . The real Grossman actually ran the Gate of Horn club, where Abraham’s version serves Llewyn Davis the atomic diss “I don’t see a lot of money here” after Davis sings his brain out on “The Death of Queen Jane.” (Joan Baez, played by Monica Barbaro in A Complete Unknown , recorded the same song on her fifth album.) The trio group Grossman pitches back to Davis is meant to be the real band Peter, Paul and Mary, who are seen in the wings of A Complete Unknown , and who hit paydirt by making the first substantial recordings of Dylan’s songs, easing his unusual voice onto the radio. Davis’s dismissal of the offer, like him waving away royalties to “Please Mr. Kennedy,” like him telling his sister to throw away his seaman’s license, like him not making the exit to Akron, like him not being more thoughtful to people in general, is one in a long list of poor decisions that doom him to wander the slushy streets of New York and Chicago in search of a couch and some kindness. At first glimpse, Inside Llewyn Davis looked to be a biopic of the folk legend Dave Van Ronk, but that’s not really accurate. The commonalities are that Van Ronk, like Davis, spent some time in the Merchant Marine and that he released an album called Inside Dave Van Ronk . The copy of the album Inside Llewyn Davis within the movie Inside Llewyn Davis looks almost exactly the same—same font, some expression on the face of a guy hanging out in a doorway. The main difference is that Van Ronk’s cover has a cute cat poking its head out. That’s not on the cover seen in the movie—instead, the cat (or, more accurately, cats) are a major character in the film. But Llewyn Davis isn’t Dave Van Ronk at all. Oscar Issac’s clear, soulful tone sounds nothing like Van Ronk’s gruff gravel, and by all accounts Van Ronk was a beloved figure (something of an avuncular one to young Dylan when he first came to town), and also a righteous man. Llewyn Davis gets decked on MacDougal Street by an angry husband in the movie. In 1969, Van Ronk was beaten by cops during the Stonewall Uprising, standing up for gay rights. Though not named, the actor Michael Chernus plays a very Van Ronk-looking character early in A Complete Unknown , directing Timothée Chalamet’s young Dylan to the right address to meet the ailing Woody Guthrie. Dylan really did seek out Guthrie when he first came to New York, though the new film fudges some of the specifics. What’s important, though, is how so many of the old guard embraced the newcomer, letting him hop from couch to couch during his early days, much like Llewyn Davis does while wearing out his welcome in his later ones. A funny moment in Inside Llewyn Davis , when he spies a piece of mail addressed to Albert Milgram (whom he knows as cowboy hat-wearing country singer Al Cody, played by Adam Driver), foreshadows the moment when Elle Fanning’s character Sylvia Russo (based on Dylan’s real life early girlfriend Suze Rotolo) sees a package meant for Robert Zimmerman, Dylan’s birth name. That’s just about the only exact note sung in both films. But what’s remarkable about this unanticipated double feature is how they nail the specifics of the time—the locations, the clothing, the props, the vibe. (Not that I was personally alive back then, but I’ve read a lot about the period and lived in the area as a college student closer in time to then than to now, if that makes any sense.) Inside Llewyn Davis conquered social media with memes—Oscar Isaac and a cat will do that—but won no Academy Awards. It only got nominated for two, cinematography and sound mixing. Many awards soothsayers have Chalamet as a front runner for the 2025 Oscars , and he’s well deserving of the praise. It’ll be some extra slush in Llewyn Davis’s shoe if Bob Dylan eclipses him once more. Jordan Hoffman is a writer and critic in New York City. His work also appears in Vanity Fair, The Guardian, and the Times of Israel. He is a member of the New York Film Critics Circle, and tweets at @JHoffman about Phish and Star Trek.

Texans get visit from longtime foe Derrick Henry when the Ravens visit on Christmas Day( MENAFN - Gulf Times) The World Military Equestrian Championship kicked off on Wednesday with an impressive opening ceremony at Al Shaqab's Longines Indoor Arena. Hosts Qatar picked up a silver medal in the first event with First Lieutenant Hamad Ali al-Attiyah finishing second with a flawless round of 32.11 secs in the 120/125 class. Romania's Captain Schumann-Raducanu Norbert topped the event clocking 31.43 secs while Ecuador's Captain Mosquera Salgado Xavier Alejand finished third with a time of 34.52 secs. Action continues today with the event culminating on Saturday following a rest day tomorrow. As many as 15 nations comprising three riders each are taking part in the competition hosted by Qatar Military Sports Association under the auspices of the International Military Sports Council (CISM). Major Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani and First Lieutenant Salman Mohammed al-Emadi are other members of Qatar's squad. MENAFN27112024000067011011ID1108934396 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.CorVel Announces Three-For-One Forward Stock Split and Authorized Share Increase

JAMAICA, N.Y. , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) today announced that Turkish Airlines will begin operations at the new terminal when it opens in 2026. Turkish Airlines will also unveil a brand new, state-of-the-art lounge for its premium customers, launching the next phase of the award-winning airline's growth at its top U.S. gateway. The New Terminal One, set to be the largest international terminal in the United States , will offer best-in-class amenities and innovative technology for a transformational and efficient travel experience. The New Terminal One is a key component of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's $19 billion transformation of JFK Airport into a world-class gateway, which will include two new terminals, the modernization and expansion of two existing terminals, a new ground transportation center, and an entirely new, simplified roadway network. Turkish Airlines, which currently flies 19 times weekly from JFK Airport to its hub at Istanbul , providing seamless connections to its extensive global network, will continue to offer top-tier service from the new terminal. As part of its expansion in the JFK market, Turkish Airlines will open an 11,000-square-foot lounge in the New Terminal One – twice the size of the airline's lounge at the existing Terminal 1. The new lounge will feature premium amenities, expansive views of JFK Airport's airfield and provide direct boarding access to aircraft, offering unmatched convenience for Turkish Airlines' business class customers and top-tier frequent flyers. Recognized for its exceptional in-flight service, Turkish Airlines recently received the World Class Award from the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) for the fourth consecutive year, placing it among just 10 airlines in the world to have received this prestigious recognition. Turkish Airlines was also chosen as the Best Airline in Europe nine times by Skytrax. Over the years Turkish Airlines also received accolades from Skytrax and other prestigious organizations numerous times for its Business and Economy Class offerings and Lounges. Turkish Airlines offers service to 351 destinations, including 25 in the Americas. Turkish is a member of the Star Alliance and will join other alliance members at the New Terminal One: LOT Polish Airlines, EVA Air and Air China. "We are thrilled to welcome Turkish Airlines to the New Terminal One at JFK, where their commitment to world-class customer service aligns perfectly with our mission to provide an unparalleled customer experience," said The New Terminal One Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Aument . "We look forward to working closely with our colleagues at Turkish Airlines to elevate the travel experience for customers from 2026 and beyond." Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee Prof. Ahmet Bolat stated: "We are excited to bring Turkish Airlines' world-class service to the New Terminal One at JFK, further enhancing our passengers' travel experience with a state-of-the-art-lounge. This move underlines our commitment to continue our growth in the U.S market." In addition to Turkish Airlines, the New Terminal One has partnered with several other global carriers, including Air France, KLM, Etihad, LOT Polish Airlines, Korean Air, EVA Air, Air Serbia, SAS, Neos and Philippine Airlines. Air China is also partnering with the terminal on elevating the travel experience for Chinese customers visiting New York . The New Terminal One is focused on improving the customer experience by collaborating with potential airline partners. This includes working with airline teams across all customer journey touchpoints. Set to be JFK Airport's largest terminal when complete, the New Terminal One will offer a world-class customer experience and additional widebody aircraft gate capacity – providing international airlines a unique opportunity to grow their service at JFK, the top global gateway to the U.S. About The New Terminal One The New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport is a bold and exciting project to develop a world-class international terminal that will serve as an anchor terminal in the Port Authority's $19 billion transformation of JFK into a global gateway to the New York metropolitan area and the United States . The New Terminal One will set a new standard for design and service, aspiring to obtain a Top 5 Skytrax ranking and be considered one of the finest airport terminals in the world. The New Terminal One is being built on sites now occupied by Terminal 1 and the former Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, where it will anchor JFK's south side. Construction is taking place in phases. The first phase, including the new arrivals and departures halls and first set of 14 new gates, is expected to open in 2026. At completion, anticipated in 2030, the New Terminal One will be 2.6 million square feet, making it the largest terminal at JFK and nearly the same size as LaGuardia Airport's two new terminals combined. The New Terminal One will be a 23-gate, state-of-the-art, international-only terminal. Sustainably designed and future-focused, the terminal will feature expansive, naturally lit public spaces, cutting-edge technology, and an array of amenities, all designed to enhance the customer experience and compete with some of the highest-rated airport terminals in the world. The New Terminal One consortium of labor, operating, and financial partners is led by Ferrovial, JLC Infrastructure, Ullico, and Carlyle. The New Terminal One is being built by union labor and is committed to local inclusion and labor participation, focusing on diversity and capacity-building opportunities, including ambitious participation goals of 30% for minority and women-owned enterprises, 10% for local business enterprises and 3% for service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. To learn more about the New Terminal One at JFK International Airport, visit https://www.anewjfk.com/projects/the-new-terminal-one/ About Turkish Airlines Established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines has a fleet of 491 (passenger and cargo) aircraft flying to 351 worldwide destinations in 130 countries (298 international destinations and 53 domestic destinations within Turkiye). More information about Turkish Airlines can be found on its official website www.turkishairlines.com or its social media accounts on Facebook, X, YouTube, LinkedIn and Instagram. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/turkish-airlines-to-begin-operations-at-the-new-terminal-one-at-jfk-and-unveil-world-class-lounge-302331710.html SOURCE The New Terminal One at JFKBond Market Has Worst Week in Months With Less Fed Action Seen

The Galapagos debt-for-nature swap highlights the importance of environmental conservation and sustainable economic growth Sri Lanka unilaterally defaulted on its external debt in April 2022, exposing its long-standing economic and financial vulnerabilities and igniting a series of inter-related multiple economic crises—fiscal, debt, currency, inflation, and balance of payments—as well as a vast socio-political upheaval. The root cause of Sri Lanka’s economic crisis was a result of misuse of public funds by politicians on an unprecedented scale and large fiscal deficits, which were increasingly financed by unsustainable public debt, particularly foreign commercial borrowings. This carefully over time navigated Sri Lanka into a public debt crisis, international sovereign bond unsustainability, liquidity crisis, and a collapse in the exchange rate. These were the catalysts for Sri Lanka’s decision to a unilateral default on its external debt. A substantial reduction and reprofiling of debt through restructuring of both domestic and foreign debt to ensure debt sustainability is essential coupled with a meaningful fiscal policy reform anchored by revenue increases and expenditure rationalisation to reduce fiscal deficits. Deep growth-enhancing structural reforms are necessary for medium-term rescue and recovery and long-term growth and stability of Sri Lanka. Like Sri Lanka, Ecuador in South America was searching for an exit ramp for its Sovereign Bond situation. Instead of using conventional brick-and-mortar restructuring methods, they came up with an innovative Debt for Nature swap, repurchasing $ 1.6 billion worth of Ecuador’s outstanding bonds at approximately 40 cents on the dollar. Debt for Nature Swap will save Ecuador $ 1.1 billion in debt service repayments over the next several years, with $ 450 million invested in conservation and sustainable activities. This goes on to show that there could be multiple ways to restructure a country’s sovereign bonds and this is a valuable lesson for Sri Lanka. The Government of Ecuador (through the National Planning Secretariat, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the Ministry of the Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition), with the support of the Green Climate Fund, has announced the launch of the “Sovereign Green Bonds Framework of Ecuador”. The document establishes guidelines, technical mechanisms, and instructions necessary to implement the core components of the Green Bond Framework. Projects funded by the issuance of these green bonds must meet eligibility criteria. Eligible projects include those focused on the development of renewable energy; sustainable agriculture, land use, and protected areas; sustainable and low-carbon transportation; and sustainable management of natural resources, among others. These programs and projects are expected to contribute to Ecuador’s transition towards sustainable development, based on low emissions and resilience to climate change. On 9 May 2023, Ecuador’s government successfully completed the Galapagos Debt for Nature swap, repurchasing $ 1.6 billion worth of Ecuador’s outstanding bonds at approximately 40 cents on the dollar. The operation will save Ecuador $ 1.1 billion in debt service repayments over the next 17 years, with $ 450 million invested in conservation and sustainable activities. Conservation investment will benefit the Galapagos National Park, the Galapagos Marine Reserve, and the new Hermandad Marine Reserve, which together total 198,000 square marine kilometres. The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), with funding from the Latin American Development Bank (CAF), acted as a trusted advisory to the Ministry of Economy and Finance throughout the transaction by providing technical and financial advice. This was a significant milestone for Ecuador’s efforts to promote sustainable development and environmental conservation. GGGI’s financial and technical advice included advice on the structure the debt swap transaction in compliance with Ecuador’s regulations and policies; design Ecuador’s Sovereign Green Bond Framework and secure its positive Second Party Opinion; coordination on the negotiation and formalisation of conservation commitments and the establishment of the Galapagos Life Fund; securing third-party credit enhancement by developing policies, regulations and frameworks required by third-party guarantors; and build the technical capacity of government officials from the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Finance and Economy on debt for nature swaps and other sustainable financial instruments key to the transaction under the framework of Ecuador. The Galapagos debt-for-nature swap highlights the importance of environmental conservation and sustainable economic growth. The swap not only contributed to environmental conservation but also helped Ecuador save over a billion dollars in interest payments. The Republic of Ecuador is now in the process of issuing its first Social Bond with the objective of diversifying its sources of funding for financing access to affordable and decent housing, thus reducing the housing deficit in the country. The proceeds from the bonds will be used to finance the public policy of affordable and decent housing through the provision of capital on appropriate terms for Social Interest Housing (or Vivienda de Interés Social, VIS) and Public Interest Housing (Vivienda de Interés Público, VIP). (The writer is former currency strategist, commodity futures trader, and technical analyst.)Canada may have to spend millions more before new payment system can be used

Peter Navarro served prison time related to Jan. 6. Now Trump is bringing him back as an adviserFarmer detained as he garlands minister Nitesh Rane with onionsNone

AP Business SummaryBrief at 4:39 p.m. EST

Major stock indexes on Wall Street drifted to a mixed finish Friday, capping a rare bumpy week for the market. The S&P 500 ended essentially flat, down less than 0.1%, after wavering between tiny gains and losses most of the day. The benchmark index posted a loss for the week, its first after three straight weekly gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.1%, ending just below the record high it set on Wednesday. There were more than twice as many decliners than gainers on the New York Stock Exchange. Gains in technology stocks helped temper losses in communication services, financials and other sectors of the market. Broadcom surged 24.4% for the biggest gain in the S&P 500 after the semiconductor company beat Wall Street’s profit targets and gave a glowing forecast, highlighting its artificial intelligence products. The company also raised its dividend. The company's big gain helped cushion the market's broader fall. Pricey stock values for technology companies like Broadcom give the sector more weight in pushing the market higher or lower. Artificial intelligence technology has been a focal point for the technology sector and the overall stock market over the last year. Tech companies, and Wall Street, expect demand for AI to continue driving growth for semiconductor and other technology companies. Some tech stocks were a drag on the market. Nvidia fell 2.2%, Meta Platforms dropped 1.7% and Google parent Alphabet slid 1.1%. Among the market's other decliners were Airbnb, which fell 4.7% for the biggest loss in the S&P 500, and Charles Schwab, which closed 4% lower. Furniture and housewares company RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, surged 17% after raising its forecast for revenue growth for the year. All told, the S&P 500 lost 0.16 points to close at 6,051.09. The Dow dropped 86.06 points to 43,828.06. The Nasdaq rose 23.88 points to 19,926.72. Wall Street's rally stalled this week amid mixed economic reports and ahead of the Federal Reserve's last meeting of the year. The central bank will meet next week and is widely expected to cut interest rates for a third time since September. Expectations of a series of rate cuts has driven the S&P 500 to 57 all-time highs so far this year . The Fed has been lowering its benchmark interest rate following an aggressive rate hiking policy that was meant to tame inflation. It raised rates from near-zero in early 2022 to a two-decade high by the middle of 2023. Inflation eased under pressure from higher interest rates, nearly to the central bank's 2% target. The economy, including consumer spending and employment, held strong despite the squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. A slowing job market, though, has helped push a long-awaited reversal of the Fed's policy. Inflation rates have been warming up slightly over the last few months. A report on consumer prices this week showed an increase to 2.7% in November from 2.6% in October. The Fed's preferred measure of inflation, the personal consumption expenditures index, will be released next week. Wall Street expects it to show a 2.5% rise in November, up from 2.3% in October. The economy, though, remains solid heading into 2025 as consumers continue spending and employment remains healthy, said Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY. “Still, the outlook is clouded by unusually high uncertainty surrounding regulatory, immigration, trade and tax policy,” he said. Treasury yields edged higher. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.40% from 4.34% late Thursday. European markets slipped. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.1%. Britain’s economy unexpectedly shrank by 0.1% month-on-month in October, following a 0.1% decline in September, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. Asian markets closed mostly lower.

TORONTO, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Edesa Biotech, Inc. (Nasdaq:EDSA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing host-directed therapeutics for immuno-inflammatory diseases, today reported financial results for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024 and provided an update on its business. During the fiscal year, the company pivoted the in-house development of its anti-TLR4 drug candidate, EB05 (paridiprubart), to a U.S. government-funded study investigating novel threat-agnostic host-directed therapeutics in patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Given this opportunity, Edesa is also amending a development and drug manufacturing project for the same asset that is supported by the Government of Canada. The company said that the goal is to maximize synergies between the two government-funded projects. For its anti-CXCL10 program, Edesa intends to manufacture EB06 and submit related data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as part of an investigational new drug (IND) application. The manufacturing of clinical-grade drug batches and initiation of the patient enrollment is subject to funding. Edesa anticipates topline results for this Phase 2 study could be available within as few as 12 to 18 months following regulatory clearance in the U.S. The study is currently approved in Canada. "This year, Edesa maintained its momentum despite the headwinds in the drug development sector, and we once again validated our TLR4 technology with a third competitive government award,” said Par Nijhawan, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Edesa Biotech. "I have maintained my strategic support financially and I believe that our team can continue to advance and expand our development pipeline and partnerships.” Edesa's Chief Financial Officer Stephen Lemieux reported that financial results for the fiscal year benefited from prudent use of working capital and effective financial management, including a more than 20% decrease in operating expenses. "Following the end of the fiscal year, we strengthened our balance sheet, and with two governments now funding the advancement of our anti-TLR4 technology, we have improved our position for future financing, potential strategic arrangements as well as other opportunities to advance our pipeline.” Financial Results for the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2024 Total operating expenses decreased by $2.2 million to $7.0 million for the year ended September 30, 2024 compared to $9.2 million for the prior year: For the year ended September 30, 2024, Edesa reported a net loss of $6.2 million, or $1.93 per common share, compared to a net loss of $8.4 million, or $2.93 per common share, for the year ended September 30, 2023. Working Capital At September 30, 2024, Edesa had cash and cash equivalents of $1.0 million and negative working capital of $0.2 million. Subsequent to the fiscal year end, the company received $1.5 million in gross proceeds under a securities purchase agreement with an entity affiliated with Edesa's Chief Executive Officer and Founder, and $0.6 million in net proceeds, after deducting sales agent commissions, from common shares sold under an at-the-market offering program. Calendar Edesa management plans to participate in one-on-one meetings during JP Morgan week, which begins on January 13, 2025, in San Francisco, California. Attendees interested in meeting with management can request meetings through the conference organizers or by contacting Edesa directly at [email protected] . About Edesa Biotech, Inc. Edesa Biotech, Inc. (Nasdaq: EDSA) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative ways to treat inflammatory and immune-related diseases. Its clinical pipeline is focused on two therapeutic areas: Medical Dermatology and Respiratory. In Medical Dermatology, Edesa is developing EB06, an anti-CXCL10 monoclonal antibody candidate, as therapy for vitiligo, a common autoimmune disorder that causes skin to lose its color in patches. Its medical dermatology assets also include EB01 (1.0% daniluromer cream), a Phase 3-ready asset developed for use as a potential therapy for moderate-to-severe chronic Allergic Contact Dermatitis (ACD), a common occupational skin condition. The company's most advanced Respiratory drug candidate is EB05 (paridiprubart), which is being evaluated in a U.S. government-funded platform study as a treatment for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), a life-threatening form of respiratory failure. The EB05 program has been the recipient of two funding awards from the Government of Canada to support the further development of this asset. In addition to EB05, Edesa is preparing an investigational new drug application (IND) in the United States for EB07 (paridiprubart) to conduct a future Phase 2 study in patients with pulmonary fibrosis. Sign up for news alerts . Connect with us on X and LinkedIn . Edesa Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "might," "potential," or "continue" and variations or similar expressions, including statements related to: Edesa's ability to pivot the in-house development of its anti-TLR4 drug candidate; the company's plans to amend its contribution agreement with the Government of Canada; the company's goal to maximize synergies between two government-funded projects; Edesa plans to manufacture EB06 and submit related data to the FDA as part of an IND application; the company's plans to manufacture clinical-grade drug and initiate patient enrollment; the company's plans to finance clinical and manufacturing activities; the company's estimate that topline results for its Phase 2 vitiligo study could be available within as few as 12 to 18 months following regulatory clearance; the company's belief that in 2024 it maintained its momentum despite the headwinds in the drug development sector and once again validated its TLR4 technology with a third competitive government award; the company's belief that its team can continue to advance and expand its development pipeline and partnerships; the company's belief that its fiscal year financial results benefited from prudent use of working capital and effective financial management; the company's belief that with two governments funding the advancement of its anti-TLR4 technology, it has improved its position for future financing, potential strategic arrangements and alternatives as well as other opportunities to advance its pipeline; and the company's timing and plans regarding its clinical studies in general. Readers should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as all such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results or future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Such risks include: the ability of Edesa to obtain regulatory approval for or successfully commercialize any of its product candidates, the risk that access to sufficient capital to fund Edesa's operations may not be available or may be available on terms that are not commercially favorable to Edesa, the risk that Edesa's product candidates may not be effective against the diseases tested in its clinical trials, the risk that Edesa fails to comply with the terms of license agreements with third parties and as a result loses the right to use key intellectual property in its business, Edesa's ability to protect its intellectual property, the timing and success of submission, acceptance and approval of regulatory filings, and the impacts of public health crises. Many of these factors that will determine actual results are beyond the company's ability to control or predict. For a discussion of further risks and uncertainties related to Edesa's business, please refer to Edesa's public company reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the British Columbia Securities Commission. All forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and are subject to change. Except as required by law, Edesa assumes no obligation to update such statements. 2024 2023 2024 2023 2024 2023 Gary Koppenjan Edesa Biotech, Inc. (289) 800-9600 [email protected]Stock up on these popular board games for your next get-togetherOne of Sindh's largest universities, the University of Karachi, is struggling financially owing to a deficit of Rs2.101 billion caused by thousands of students across its various programmes who have failed to pay their tuition fees and dues. Hence, the varsity has now decided to penalise the defaulting students by preventing them from sitting exams unless they pay up. The University of Karachi (KU) has disclosed that some 16,506 students, across its morning, evening, and executive masters of business administration programmes, have not paid their long outstanding dues of more than Rs2,101.5 million from 2020 to 2024. This figure for defaulter students does not include research scholars enrolled in the MPhil/PhD and other postgraduate programmes. The data was shared during a meeting chaired by KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi on Wednesday at the KU VC Secretariat to review the quantum of defaulting students primarily enrolled in the varsity's evening programme. The meeting was attended by Evening Programmes Director Professor Dr Imran Ahmad Siddiqui, deans of the faculties of Arts and Social Science Professor Dr Shaista Tabassum, Science Professor Dr Musarrat Jahan Yousuf, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Professor Dr Muhammad Haris Shoib, Islamic Studies Professor Dr Zahid Ali Zahidi, Students' Advisor Dr Nosheen Raza, and Finance Director Syed Jehanzeb. Meeting participants expressed concerns over the sum of unpaid dues and the large pool of defaulting students. Recommending measures to recover the unpaid dues from defaulters, participants suggested that defaulting students should not be allowed to appear for exams and that their admit cards must not be issued. A proposal to cancel the enrollment/degrees of defaulter graduate students was also discussed during the meeting. Ultimately, it was decided that since the defaulting students had overlooked all opportunities provided by KU to clear their dues, defaulting students from the evening programme who have cleared their dues will be provided with their admit cards and will be allowed to sit the exams. But those who had not, shall not be issued their admit cards or sit their exams. Should any such student manage to sit the exams, their results would be withheld. Thousands Protest in Karachi Against Federal Projects Threatening Sindh’s Resources, Autonomy Defaulting students The meeting participants reviewed student payment data from 2020 to 2024. They learnt that the varsity had issued some 36,767 fee vouchers worth Rs3.094 billion. Of this, some 20,261 students paid fees worth Rs992.71 million. However, some 16,506 students owed the varsity some 2.1 billion. The participants were informed that fee vouchers worth more than Rs1,558.87 million had been issued to 22,575 students in the morning programme. However, only 13,205 students had paid their dues worth over Rs567.32 million, while the remaining 9,370 students had failed to pay their fees worth more than Rs991.54 million, which is yet to be deposited by the students as tuition fees. They were told that only 36.39% of the total tuition fee due was received from students. Similarly, they were briefed that some 13,425 fee vouchers worth over Rs1,435.04 million were generated for students enrolled in the evening programme. Of these, some 6,543 students had cleared their dues worth Rs385.19 million. However, 6,882 students had not paid their dues worth over Rs1,049.84 million. The varsity's collection was a dismal 26.84% of the total fees due. Among the executive MBA (weekend programmes), some 767 fee vouchers were issued to students worth over Rs100.30 million. Of this, some 513 students had paid their fees worth Rs40.20 million, whereas 254 students were defaulting on fees worth over Rs60.10 million. Data provided to the participants of the meeting showed that of the total fees the varsity was owed, it had collected only 40.08%. Further, it showed that in 2024, fee collection in the evening programme was just 60.1%, whereas out of a total of 2,522 fee vouchers generated, some 1,541 students had cleared their dues, while 981 students were defaulters. Bilal Sheikh Praised As Role Model For Helping Thousands In UK Through Education Meanwhile, in 2023, fee collection was around 52.95% when around 3,912 fee vouchers were issued, of which 2,071 students paid their fees and 1,840 were defaulters. In 2022, fee collection was around 41.53% with around 3,272 fee vouchers issued, of which 1,359 students paid their tuition fees. The meeting was told that in 2021, about 3,231 fee vouchers were issued, of which students had paid 1,260, but 1,971 students were defaulters, which means only 39% of students paid their fees. In 2020, KU issued 338 fee vouchers, and 242 students paid their fees. Still, 96 students defaulted, reflecting that 71.60% had cleared their dues. The members were also informed that 151 students, who have graduated, still get fee vouchers. Of these, 70 students had paid their dues, while 81 former students were still defaulting on their payments, showing that 46.36% of ex-students have paid their dues.