fc188 site Baby Driver Actor Hudson Meek Dies Aged 16Carter was dubbed the "Rock & Roll President" and was championed by Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and the Allman Brothers for his support of music in the White House Former United States President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. Carter’s death was announced by the Carter Center , the late President’s non-profit organisation and a statement from his son Chip. Per the statement, Carter died peacefully and was surrounded by his family. His death at 100 also made him the longest living President in US history. Chip said of his father: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love. My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” President Carter – full name James Earl Carter Jr. – served as the 39th President of the United States between 1977 and 1981. Besides his presidency, Carter was celebrated for his humanitarian work, and for championing music in politics. Carter’s affinity for music would see him champion and emphasise the importance of music’s cultural presence and a connecting point for people. This was further cemented by his friendships with Bob Dylan , Willie Nelson and the Allman Brothers, earning him the titled of Rock & Roll President. President Jimmy Carter and Willie Nelson. Credit: Thomas S. England/Getty Images President Carter’s love for music was later chronicled in the 2020 documentary Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President. In the documentary, Bob Dylan said of Carter: “[Carter] put my mind at ease by not talking down to me, and showing me that he had a sincere appreciation of the songs I had written. He’s a kindred spirit to me of a rare kind.” Carter’s ability to connect with people across political lines saw the likes of John Lennon and John Wayne attend his inauguration celebration in 1977, with Aretha Franklin singing ‘God Bless America’. Paul Simon also dedicated ‘American Tune’ to the President. During his time in Office, Carter and his administration often hosted concerts and musical guests in the White House, including Dolly Parton , Charles Mingus, Willie Nelson and Crosby, Stills and Nash . In a newly published Rolling Stone interview with Allman Brothers’ Dickey Betts dating back to February 2023, Betts spoke of Carter, recalling how they met and became friends: “We became close to him, and he asked us if we’d help with his campaign [with benefit concerts]. We’d met governors and things like that, but they never really included us. Jimmy was a friend to rock music, so a lot of the guys helped him out a great deal.” Jimmy Carter. Credit: Bettmann/Getty Images Outside of his championing of music, Carter was also a prolific philanthropist and humanitarian, being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for “his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development”. Carter’s 100th birthday was celebrated in September with performances from Killer Mike, Drive-by Truckers, Eric Church and more . Tributes to Carter have begun rolling in since the news of his death on Sunday (December 29). See a handful of them below, including posts from current President Joe Biden, King Charles and more. When I look at Jimmy Carter, I see a man not only for our times, but for all times. A man who embodied the most fundamental human values we can never let slip away. And while we may never see his likes again, we would all do well to try to be a little more like Jimmy Carter. pic.twitter.com/I0xDM05xmH — President Biden (@POTUS) December 30, 2024 A condolence message from The King to President Biden and the American people following the death of former US President Jimmy Carter. pic.twitter.com/EIZqj7MZeb — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) December 29, 2024 Hillary's and my statement on the passing of President Jimmy Carter: pic.twitter.com/SOgqTZUdi6 — Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) December 29, 2024 President Carter taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice, and service. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and everyone who loved and learned from this remarkable man. https://t.co/dZHL0Nu0Tj — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 29, 2024 Related Topics Politics RockSouth Korean president banned from leaving country

PHILADELPHIA and NEW YORK , Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FS KKR Capital Corp. (NYSE: FSK ) today announced that it has completed its previously announced offering of an additional $100 million in aggregate principal amount of its 6.125% notes due 2030 (the "Notes"). The Notes will be a further issuance of, and form a single series with, the $600 million aggregate principal amount of 6.125% Notes due 2030 that FSK issued on November 20, 2024 , increasing the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the series to $700 million . BofA Securities, Inc., BMO Capital Markets Corp., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, KKR Capital Markets LLC, SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., and Truist Securities, Inc. are acting as joint book-running managers for this offering. FSK intends to use the net proceeds of this offering for general corporate purposes, including potentially repaying outstanding indebtedness under credit facilities and certain notes. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Notes, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About FS KKR Capital Corp. FSK is a leading publicly traded business development company (BDC) focused on providing customized credit solutions to private middle market U.S. companies. FSK seeks to invest primarily in the senior secured debt and, to a lesser extent, the subordinated debt of private middle market companies. FSK is advised by FS/KKR Advisor, LLC. About FS/KKR Advisor, LLC FS/KKR Advisor, LLC (FS/KKR) is a partnership between FS Investments and KKR Credit that serves as the investment adviser to FSK and other business development companies. FS Investments is a global alternative asset manager dedicated to delivering superior performance and innovative investment and capital solutions. The firm manages over $83 billion in assets for a wide range of clients, including institutional investors, financial professionals and individual investors. FS Investments provides access to a broad suite of alternative asset classes and strategies through its best-in-class investment teams and partners. With its diversified platform and flexible capital solutions, the firm is a valued partner to general partners, asset owners and portfolio companies. FS Investments is grounded in its high-performance culture and guided by its commitment to building value for its clients, investing in its colleagues and giving back to its communities. The firm has more than 500 employees across offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia and is headquartered in Philadelphia . KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR's insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR's investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. Forward-Looking Statements and Important Disclosure Notice This announcement may contain certain forward-looking statements, including statements with regard to future events or future performance or operations of FSK. Words such as "believes," "expects," "projects," and "future" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions. Certain factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include changes in the economy, risks associated with possible disruption in FSK's operations or the economy generally due to terrorism, geo-political risks, natural disasters or pandemics such as COVID-19, future changes in laws or regulations and conditions in FSK's operating area and the price at which shares of FSK's common stock trade on the New York Stock Exchange. Some of these factors are enumerated in the filings FSK makes with the SEC. FSK undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Contact Information: Investor Relations Contact Anna Kleinhenn [email protected] FS Investments Media Team Melanie Hemmert [email protected] SOURCE FS InvestmentsThe results of the 2024 U.S. presidential election rattled the country and sent shockwaves across the world — or were cause for celebration, depending on who you ask. Is it any surprise then that the Merriam-Webster word of the year is “polarization”? “Polarization means division, but it’s a very specific kind of division,” said Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster’s editor at large, in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press ahead of Monday’s announcement. “Polarization means that we are tending toward the extremes rather than toward the center.” The election was so divisive, many American voters went to the polls with a feeling that the opposing candidate was an existential threat to the nation. According to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters, about 8 in 10 Kamala Harris voters were very or somewhat concerned that Donald Trump’s views — but not Harris’ — were too extreme, while about 7 in 10 Trump voters felt the same way about Harris — but not Trump. The Merriam-Webster entry for “polarization” reflects scientific and metaphorical definitions. It’s most commonly used to mean “causing strong disagreement between opposing factions or groupings.” Merriam-Webster, which logs 100 million pageviews a month on its site, chooses its word of the year based on data, tracking a rise in search and usage. Last year’s pick was “authentic.” This year’s comes as large swaths of the U.S. struggle to reach consensus on what is real. “It’s always been important to me that the dictionary serve as a kind of neutral and objective arbiter of meaning for everybody,” Sokolowski said. “It’s a kind of backstop for meaning in an era of fake news, alternative facts, whatever you want to say about the value of a word’s meaning in the culture.” It’s notable that “polarization” originated in the early 1800s — and not during the Renaissance, as did most words with Latin roots about science, Sokolowski said. He called it a “pretty young word,” in the scheme of the English language. “Polarized is a term that brings intensity to another word,” he continued, most frequently used in the U.S. to describe race relations, politics and ideology. “The basic job of the dictionary is to tell the truth about words,” the Merriam-Webster editor continued. “We’ve had dictionaries of English for 420 years and it’s only been in the last 20 years or so that we’ve actually known which words people look up.” “Polarization” extends beyond political connotations. It’s used to highlight fresh cracks and deep rifts alike in pop culture, tech trends and other industries. All the scrutiny over Taylor Swift’s private jet usage? Polarizing. Beef between rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake? Polarizing. The International Olympic Committee’s decision to strip American gymnast Jordan Chiles of her bronze medal after the Paris Games? You guessed it: polarizing. Even lighthearted memes — like those making fun of Australian breakdancer Rachael “Raygun” Gunn’s performance — or the proliferation of look-alike contests, or who counts as a nepo baby proved polarizing. Paradoxically though, people tend to see eye to eye on the word itself. Sokolowski cited its frequent use among people across the political spectrum, including commentators on Fox News, MSNBC and CNN. “It’s used by both sides,” he said, “and in a little bit ironic twist to the word, it’s something that actually everyone agrees on.” Rounding out Merriam-Webster’s top 10 words of 2024: Demure TikToker Jools Lebron’s 38-second video describing her workday makeup routine as “very demure, very mindful” lit up the summer with memes. The video has been viewed more than 50 million times, yielding “huge spikes” in lookups, Sokolowski said, and prompting many to learn it means reserved or modest. Fortnight Taylor Swift’s song “Fortnight,” featuring rapper Post Malone, undoubtedly spurred many searches for this word, which means two weeks. “Music can still send people to the dictionary,” Sokolowski said. Totality The solar eclipse in April inspired awe and much travel. There are tens of millions of people who live along a narrow stretch from Mexico’s Pacific coast to eastern Canada, otherwise known as the path of totality, where locals and travelers gazed skyward to see the moon fully blot out the sun. Generally, the word refers to a sum or aggregate amount — or wholeness. Resonate “Texts developed by AI have a disproportionate percentage of use of the word ‘resonate,’” Sokolowski said. This may be because the word, which means to affect or appeal to someone in a personal or emotional way, can add gravitas to writing. But, paradoxically, artificial intelligence “also betrays itself to be a robot because it’s using that word too much.” Allision The word was looked up 60 times more often than usual when, in March, a ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. “When you have one moving object into a fixed object, that’s an allision, not a collision. You’re showing that one of the two objects struck was not, in fact, in motion,” Sokolowski said. Weird This summer on the TV news show “Morning Joe,” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called Republican leaders “weird.” It may have been what launched his national career, landing him as the Democratic vice presidential nominee. Though it’s a word that people typically misspell — is it “ei” or “ie”? — and search for that reason, its rise in use was notable, Sokolowski said. Cognitive Whether the word was used to raise questions about President Joe Biden’s debate performance or Trump’s own age, it cropped up often. It refers to conscious intellectual activity — such as thinking, reasoning, or remembering. Pander Pander was used widely in political commentary, Sokolowski said. “Conservative news outlets accused Kamala Harris of pandering to different groups, especially young voters, Black voters, gun rights supporters.” Whereas Walz said Trump’s visit to a McDonald’s kitchen pandered to hourly wage workers. It means to say, do, or provide what someone — such as an audience — wants or demands even though it is not “good, proper, reasonable, etc.” Democracy In 2003, Merriam-Webster decided to make “democracy” its first word of the year. Since then, the word — which, of course, means a form of government in which the people elect representatives to make decisions, policies and laws — is consistently one of the dictionary’s most looked up. “There’s a poignancy to that, that people are checking up on it,” Sokolowski said. “Maybe the most hopeful thing that the curiosity of the public shows, is that they’re paying attention.” Associated Press polling editor Amelia Thomson-Deveaux contributed reporting. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Martha Karua, the lead counsel in Ugandan opposition politician Kizza Besigye’s case following his abduction in Kenya, said on Monday her application for a temporary law practice certificate in the neighbouring country was turned down. Karua said the Ugandan Law Council declined her application in a letter dated December 6 because copies of her practising certificate and letter of good standing from the Law Society of Kenya were not notarized. Responding to the Ugandan Law Council in a letter she also shared on her social media accounts, Karua said the council told her that her nationality documents and academic qualifications were not attached to her application, as well as that of Erias Lukwago, another lawyer for Besigye who is also the mayor of Uganda’s capital city Kampala. “Rather than use these as reasons to decline my application, one would expect that the law council would have asked for whatever additional documents that it desired,” Karua, who holds the senior counsel title, wrote. “Mr Lukwago is not only a well-known personality as the Lord Mayor of the City of Kampala but also as a practising advocate running a law firm.” Karua said the Ugandan Law Council also questioned whether she brings “any special skill,” to which the former Kenyan justice minister responded: “With the greatest respect to your good selves, it is Dr Besigye’s constitutional right to appoint a lawyer/s of choice including a lead counsel of choice.” The council, Karua added, further accused her of presenting as a person holding a valid practising certificate in Uganda when she attended the December 2 court martial hearing of Besigye’s case. But she dismissed as untrue the account, saying Lukwago introduced her to the Ugandan court and said she awaited approval of her special license to practice law in Uganda. “It was on this basis that an adjournment was granted to the 10th of December. In the light of these facts, I take great exception to this unmerited accusation by yourselves which constitutes an attack on my character and integrity, and undermines the appearance of impartiality of the law council,” Karua said. “Your disparaging and personalized aspersions on my person and character, as well as the importation of extraneous matters, is regrettable and undermines the spirit of Jumuiya,” added Karua, a reference to the East African Community. Karua is leading a 50-member bench comprising representatives from well-known legal associations like the Pan-African Lawyers Union and the International Commission of Jurists in defending Besigye and his co-accused, Hajj Obeid Lutale. Besigye and Lutale were picked up in Nairobi by Ugandan agents on November 16, where Besigye had been invited to speak at the launch of Karua’s memoir, ‘Against the Tide’. They were driven to Uganda and locked up in a military jail. The duo, which has been in custody since November 20, is accused of illegal firearm possession and security-related offences, which critics of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s government deem politically motivated. In the December 2 court martial hearing, Besigye and Lutale were charged with alleged illegal possession of two pistols and eight rounds of ammunition editorNoneDylan Hayman, Davion Bailey score 18 apiece to lead Incarnate Word over Texas Lutheran 99-48

John Elway: remorse over bypassing Josh Allen in draft mitigated by watching Broncos rookie Bo Nix

Deutsche Bank Appointed as Depositary Bank for the Sponsored American Depositary Receipt Program of Jinxin Technology Holding CompanyThe team that President-elect Donald Trump has selected to lead federal health agencies in his second administration includes a retired congressman, a surgeon and a former talk-show host. All could play pivotal roles in fulfilling a political agenda that could change how the government goes about safeguarding Americans' health — from health care and medicines to food safety and science research. In line to lead the Department of Health and Human Services secretary is environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine organizer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Trump's choices don't have experience running large bureaucratic agencies, but they know how to talk about health on TV . Centers for Medicare and Medicaid pick Dr. Mehmet Oz hosted a talk show for 13 years and is a well-known wellness and lifestyle influencer. The pick for the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Marty Makary, and for surgeon general, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, are frequent Fox News contributors. Many on the list were critical of COVID-19 measures like masking and booster vaccinations for young people. Some of them have ties to Florida like many of Trump's other Cabinet nominees: Dave Weldon , the pick for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, represented the state in Congress for 14 years and is affiliated with a medical group on the state's Atlantic coast. Nesheiwat's brother-in-law is Rep. Mike Waltz , R-Fla., tapped by Trump as national security adviser. Here's a look at the nominees' potential role in carrying out what Kennedy says is the task to “reorganize” agencies, which have an overall $1.7 trillion budget, employ 80,000 scientists, researchers, doctors and other officials, and effect Americans' daily lives: The Atlanta-based CDC, with a $9.2 billion core budget, is charged with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats. Kennedy has long attacked vaccines and criticized the CDC, repeatedly alleging corruption at the agency. He said on a 2023 podcast that there is "no vaccine that is safe and effective,” and urged people to resist the CDC's guidelines about if and when kids should get vaccinated . The World Health Organization estimates that vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives over the past 50 years, and that 100 million of them were infants. Decades ago, Kennedy found common ground with Weldon , 71, who served in the Army and worked as an internal medicine doctor before he represented a central Florida congressional district from 1995 to 2009. Starting in the early 2000s, Weldon had a prominent part in a debate about whether there was a relationship between a vaccine preservative called thimerosal and autism. He was a founding member of the Congressional Autism Caucus and tried to ban thimerosal from all vaccines. Kennedy, then a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, believed there was a tie between thimerosal and autism and also charged that the government hid documents showing the danger. Since 2001, all vaccines manufactured for the U.S. market and routinely recommended for children 6 years or younger have contained no thimerosal or only trace amounts, with the exception of inactivated influenza vaccine. Meanwhile, study after study after study found no evidence that thimerosal caused autism. Weldon's congressional voting record suggests he may go along with Republican efforts to downsize the CDC, including to eliminate the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, which works on topics like drownings, drug overdoses and shooting deaths. Weldon also voted to ban federal funding for needle-exchange programs as an approach to reduce overdoses, and the National Rifle Association gave him an “A” rating for his pro-gun rights voting record. Kennedy is extremely critical of the FDA, which has 18,000 employees and is responsible for the safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs, vaccines and other medical products, as well as overseeing cosmetics, electronic cigarettes and most foods. Makary, Trump’s pick to run the FDA, is closely aligned with Kennedy on several topics . The professor at Johns Hopkins University who is a trained surgeon and cancer specialist has decried the overprescribing of drugs, the use of pesticides on foods and the undue influence of pharmaceutical and insurance companies over doctors and government regulators. Kennedy has suggested he'll clear out “entire” FDA departments and also recently threatened to fire FDA employees for “aggressive suppression” of a host of unsubstantiated products and therapies, including stem cells, raw milk , psychedelics and discredited COVID-era treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. Makary's contrarian views during the COVID-19 pandemic included questioning the need for masking and giving young kids COVID-19 vaccine boosters. But anything Makary and Kennedy might want to do when it comes to unwinding FDA regulations or revoking long-standing vaccine and drug approvals would be challenging. The agency has lengthy requirements for removing medicines from the market, which are based on federal laws passed by Congress. The agency provides health care coverage for more than 160 million people through Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, and also sets Medicare payment rates for hospitals, doctors and other providers. With a $1.1 trillion budget and more than 6,000 employees, Oz has a massive agency to run if confirmed — and an agency that Kennedy hasn't talked about much when it comes to his plans. While Trump tried to scrap the Affordable Care Act in his first term, Kennedy has not taken aim at it yet. But he has been critical of Medicaid and Medicare for covering expensive weight-loss drugs — though they're not widely covered by either . Trump said during his campaign that he would protect Medicare, which provides insurance for older Americans. Oz has endorsed expanding Medicare Advantage — a privately run version of Medicare that is popular but also a source of widespread fraud — in an AARP questionnaire during his failed 2022 bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania and in a 2020 Forbes op-ed with a former Kaiser Permanente CEO. Oz also said in a Washington Examiner op-ed with three co-writers that aging healthier and living longer could help fix the U.S. budget deficit because people would work longer and add more to the gross domestic product. Neither Trump nor Kennedy have said much about Medicaid, the insurance program for low-income Americans. Trump's first administration reshaped the program by allowing states to introduce work requirements for recipients. Kennedy doesn't appear to have said much publicly about what he'd like to see from surgeon general position, which is the nation's top doctor and oversees 6,000 U.S. Public Health Service Corps members. The surgeon general has little administrative power, but can be an influential government spokesperson on what counts as a public health danger and what to do about it — suggesting things like warning labels for products and issuing advisories. The current surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, declared gun violence as a public health crisis in June. Trump's pick, Nesheiwat, is employed as a New York City medical director with CityMD, a group of urgent care facilities in the New York and New Jersey area, and has been at City MD for 12 years. She also has appeared on Fox News and other TV shows, authored a book on the “transformative power of prayer” in her medical career and endorses a brand of vitamin supplements. She encouraged COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, calling them “a gift from God” in a February 2021 Fox News op-ed, as well as anti-viral pills like Paxlovid. In a 2019 Q&A with the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation , Nesheiwat said she is a “firm believer in preventive medicine” and “can give a dissertation on hand-washing alone.” As of Saturday, Trump had not yet named his choice to lead the National Institutes of Health, which funds medical research through grants to researchers across the nation and conducts its own research. It has a $48 billion budget. Kennedy has said he'd pause drug development and infectious disease research to shift the focus to chronic diseases. He'd like to keep NIH funding from researchers with conflicts of interest, and criticized the agency in 2017 for what he said was not doing enough research into the role of vaccines in autism — an idea that has long been debunked . Associated Press writers Amanda Seitz and Matt Perrone and AP editor Erica Hunzinger contributed to this report. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. This story has been corrected to reflect that the health agencies have an overall budget of about $1.7 trillion, not $1.7 billion.The Prime Minister insisted the UK will back Ukraine “for as long as it takes” as he made a speech at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet in London, but for the first time acknowledged the conflict could move towards a negotiated end. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has in recent weeks suggested he is open to a possible ceasefire with Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Kyiv and its European allies meanwhile fear the advent of Donald Trump’s return to the White House could result in American aid being halted. President-elect Trump has said he would prefer to move towards a peace deal, and has claimed he could end the conflict on “day one” of his time in power. As he attempts to strike up a good relationship with the incoming president, Sir Keir revealed he had told Mr Trump the UK “will invest more deeply than ever in this transatlantic bond with our American friends in the years to come”. In his speech at London’s Guildhall, the Prime Minister said there is “no question it is right we support Ukraine”, as the UK’s aid to Kyiv is “deeply in our self-interest”. Allowing Russia to win the war would mean “other autocrats would believe they can follow Putin’s example,” he warned. Sir Keir added: “So we must continue to back Ukraine and do what it takes to support their self-defence for as long as it takes. “To put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for negotiations so they can secure a just and lasting peace on their terms that guarantees their security, independence, and right to choose their own future.” Mr Zelensky told Sky News over the weekend he would be open to speaking with Mr Putin, but branded the Russian president a “terrorist”. He also suggested Ukrainian territory under his control should be taken under the “Nato umbrella” to try to stop the “hot stage” of the war with Russia. In a banquet speech focused on foreign affairs, the Prime Minister said it was “plain wrong” to suggest the UK must choose between its allies, adding: “I reject it utterly. “(Clement) Attlee did not choose between allies. (Winston) Churchill did not choose. “The national interest demands that we work with both.” Sir Keir said the UK and the US were “intertwined” when it came to commerce, technology and security. The Prime Minister added: “That’s why, when President Trump graciously hosted me for dinner in Trump Tower, I told him that we will invest more deeply than ever in this transatlantic bond with our American friends in the years to come.” He also repeated his commitment to “rebuild our ties with Europe” and insisted he was right to try to build closer links with China. “It is remarkable that until I met President Xi last month there had been no face-to-face meeting between British and Chinese leaders for six years,” the Prime Minister said. “We can’t simply look the other way. We need to engage. To co-operate, to compete and to challenge on growth, on security concerns, on climate as well as addressing our differences in a full and frank way on issues like Hong Kong, human rights, and sanctions on our parliamentarians,” he added. The Prime Minister said he wants Britain’s role in the world to be that of “a constant and responsible actor in turbulent times”. He added: “To be the soundest ally and to be determined, always, in everything we do. “Every exchange we have with other nations, every agreement we enter into to deliver for the British people and show, beyond doubt, that Britain is back.” Ahead of Sir Keir’s speech, Lord Mayor Alastair King urged the Prime Minister and his Government to loosen regulations on the City of London to help it maintain its competitive edge. In an echo of Sir Keir’s commitment to drive the UK’s economic growth, the Lord Mayor said: “The idealist will dream of growth, but the pragmatist understands that our most effective machinery to drive growth is here in the City, in the hands of some of the brightest and most committed people that you will find anywhere in the world.”

Police are appealing for the public's help to find missing teenager Alumita Koribanuve, who could be in Wollongong. Subscribe now for unlimited access . Login or signup to continue reading The 15-year-old was last seen in Marrickville about 8.10am on Monday, December 9. "Police and family hold concerns for her welfare due to her age," a NSW Police said in the missing person alert. Alumita is described as being of Pacific Islander/Maori appearance, about 165 centimetres tall, with a medium build, black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a blue jumper, black pants and black shoes. Alumita is known to frequent Wollongong, Parramatta, Blacktown and Sydney's Inner West. Anyone with information on Alumita's whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Meanwhile, police are still searching for at least 14 long-term missing people who were last seen in the Illawarra; the youngest, Cheryl Grimmer , was just three years old when she went missing . On Monday, December 9, police revealed they found clothes in rugged bushland at Figtree in their search for missing Wollongong woman Pauline Sowry , who was last seen in December 1993. Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au More from Latest News Newsletters & Alerts DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Find out what's happening in local business. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!

A couple cradles their newborn on a couch, bathed in warm light, as health officials discuss safety protocols in the background. The birth of a baby is a moment of immense joy, but it also brings with it many health considerations, especially for preterm babies. In the first few days of life, newborn screening plays a critical role in identifying health problems that might not be obvious at birth. These early tests can be a lifeline, particularly for preterm babies who are at a higher risk of health complications due to underdeveloped organs. As medical technology advances, newborn screening continues to be one of the most important tools in shaping a baby's long-term health. What is Newborn Screening? Newborn screening is a set of simple blood tests done within the first 24 to 48 hours after birth. The tests detect a variety of genetic, metabolic, and endocrine disorders that may not be visible at birth but could have serious health consequences if left untreated. A few drops of blood are taken from the baby’s heel and analyzed to screen for conditions that could affect the baby's metabolism, hormones, or ability to break down certain substances in the body. Some of the most critical conditions detected through newborn screening include: • Congenital Hypothyroidism: If untreated, this condition can lead to developmental delays. Early diagnosis and hormone replacement therapy allow babies to develop normally. • Phenylketonuria (PKU): A metabolic disorder that prevents the body from breaking down certain proteins. If not managed with a special diet, it can cause severe intellectual disabilities. Early detection allows for a dietary change that helps the child grow and learn like others. • Sickle Cell Disease: A genetic blood disorder that can cause severe pain and organ damage. Early treatment can manage symptoms and prevent complications. • Cystic Fibrosis: A genetic disorder that affects the lungs and digestive system. With early intervention including respiratory treatments and nutritional support, children with cystic fibrosis can live longer, healthier lives. • Galactosemia: A condition where the body cannot break down a sugar found in milk, leading to serious health problems. Early detection allows for a special diet that prevents complications. • Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: A hormonal disorder that can affect growth and development. Early treatment helps manage symptoms and prevent long-term health problems. These conditions are just a few examples of what newborn screening can detect. Early detection enables neonatologists to start treatment promptly, allowing children to grow and develop normally leading to healthier lives. Genetic and Metabolic Testing: Expanding the scope Thanks to advances in laboratory technology, newborn screening is becoming more comprehensive. Mass spectrometry allows doctors to screen for multiple metabolic disorders from a single blood sample. Today, specialized diagnostic labs offer expanded testing panels that check for a broader range of rare but serious genetic and metabolic disorders. For example, Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD) is a metabolic disorder that affects how the body breaks down fats. If not detected early, it can lead to seizures or even death, especially during illness or fasting. However, with early screening, dietary changes can be made to prevent life-threatening episodes. World Health Day 2024: Your newborn's health checklist - Essential screening tests every new parent needs to know Additionally, genetic testing is being used more frequently to identify rare conditions that newborn screening may miss. By analysing genetic markers associated with specific disorders, doctors can gain a clearer understanding of a baby’s health, enabling more personalized and effective care. The role of pediatricians and parent education Newborn screening not only benefits individual children but also has a broader impact on families and healthcare systems. Pediatricians play a crucial role in interpreting the results of newborn screening and guiding parents through the process. When a screening test indicates a potential health issue, pediatricians will often recommend further testing to confirm the diagnosis. Based on these results, doctors can begin treatment plans that help manage the condition and prevent further complications. Equally important is educating parents about newborn screening. Many parents may feel anxious about their baby undergoing tests so soon after birth. By explaining why the tests are being done, what conditions are being checked for, and what the results mean, doctors, as well as counsellors, can help ease parent's concerns. Clear communication helps parents understand the importance of newborn screening, allowing them to make informed decisions about their baby's health. This not only boosts their confidence but also reduces the emotional and financial stress of facing a serious health issue down the road. Newborn screening remains one of the most important steps in giving every baby the healthiest start possible. Whether for full-term infants or preterm babies, the power of early detection and intervention cannot be overstated. By catching potential health issues early and providing timely treatment, newborn screening offers hope for a healthier, brighter future for all babies. (Dr. Jasmin Surana, MD Biochemistry and Consultant Biochemist, Metropolis Healthcare Ltd)

Wilmington, Del., Dec. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Participating in a tradition that has evolved since 1792, today, employees from Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) gathered on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange as Guillermo Novo, chair and chief executive officer, Ashland, joined by company executives, rang the trading day’s opening bell . The event signifies a decade of evolution, resilience and sustainable solutions for the additives and specialty ingredients company and recognizes its 100-year anniversary. “I want to thank our employees for their dedication, our customers for their trust and our shareholders for their support over the years which continues to be the foundation of our success,” said Guillermo Novo, chair and chief executive officer, Ashland. From its origin of gavel banging to the modern workday bell ringing , the ritual marks the start and end of trading through the years and has come to celebrate economic growth and progress. One year ago, Ashland introduced seven new technology platforms aligned to the company’s pharmaceutical, personal care and specialty additives core, that extend to secondary markets with new and differentiated capabilities to unlock organic growth for Ashland and its customers worldwide. The platform solutions bring “new to the world” sustainable innovations, offering tunable choices to customers to enable the reshaping of their product portfolios, answering global megatrends, and responding to various regulatory landscapes. “As the stock market has demonstrated resilience through devastating lows and exuberant highs over time, Ashland has consistently transformed itself ahead of market trends from an oil and refining company to a matrixed chemical company, and from a broad chemicals and materials provider to the focused additives and specialty ingredients company we are today; integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) in our operating plans to responsibly solve for a better world,” said Novo. strategy update event Ashland is hosting a strategy update event for analysts and investors on December 10, 2024, in New York City. The company will provide an in-depth review of Ashland’s strategic priorities, key initiatives and financial objectives while emphasizing a proactive approach to market uncertainty in fiscal year 2025. The event includes presentations and prepared remarks from members of Ashland’s executive team, as well as breakout sessions for in-person attendees and an opportunity for both live and webcast attendees to ask questions during moderated Q&A sessions. “This was a year marked by recovery from prolonged inventory destocking in the materials sector, yet Ashland was able to deliver strategic progress, margin expansion, high-quality free cash flow, and disciplined execution across our global portfolio,” continued Novo. “Despite a complex operating environment, we demonstrated our ability to drive value through portfolio optimization, commercial excellence, and focused growth in our core markets. As we execute our strategy, we remain focused on delivering sustainable, profitable growth and long-term shareholder value. I look forward to providing more context during our upcoming event,” concluded Novo. To participate in Ashland’s strategy update event, interested participants must register for the event and have the option to attend via live webcast or in person. Presentations are expected to begin at 9:00 a.m. ET and conclude following Q&A sessions at 11:00 a.m. ET. After Q&A, in-person attendees will have the opportunity to discuss key initiatives with business line leaders and scientists in breakout sessions until 12:00 p.m ET. To register, participants should use the following link: registration page . Registration information and further event details will be posted on Ashland’s investor website at http://investor.ashland.com . A webcast of the event will be available live and can be accessed, along with supporting materials, through the Ashland website. A replay will be available within 24 hours of the live event and will be archived, along with supporting materials, on Ashland’s website for 12 months. Copies of the presentation may also be requested by sending an email to investor_relations@ashland.com About Ashland Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a global additives and specialty ingredients company with a conscious and proactive mindset for environmental, social and governance (ESG). The company serves customers in a wide range of consumer and industrial markets, including architectural coatings, construction, energy, food and beverage, personal care and pharmaceutical. Approximately 3,200 passionate, tenacious solvers thrive on developing practical, innovative and elegant solutions to complex problems for customers in more than 100 countries. Visit ashland.com and ashland.com/ESG to learn more. TM Trademark, Ashland or its subsidiaries, registered in various countries. 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The San Francisco 49ers’ running back problems aren’t getting any better. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Monday that Isaac Guerendo sustained a foot sprain in Sunday’s 38-13 win over the Chicago Bears. With a short week ahead of them — the 49ers will take on the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night — it’s unclear if Guerendo will be able to play. “We’ll evaluate him over the next few days and see if he’s got a shot,” via the . While it seems like Guerendo’s injury is relatively minor, the 49ers are in a precarious position at running back with this latest setback. The 49ers placed starting running back after he went down with another leg injury. The team is hopeful that he can return at some point, but McCaffrey shared a message on social media that hinted that he was done for the season. McCaffrey didn’t make his season debut until Week 10 while dealing with a calf and Achilles injury. If he is truly out for the rest of the season, he will have appeared in just four games. Backup running back Jordan Mason did a solid job of filling in for McCaffrey, but Mason was also placed on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain. So that left Guerendo, who did a very solid job in Sunday’s win. He ran for 78 yards and had two touchdowns on 15 carriers, and he had another 50 receiving yards on two catches. Guerendo didn’t seem too bothered by his foot injury on Sunday, either, which is a good sign. “Everything is fine,” Guerendo said after the game, . “They were just being cautious. We got a quick turnaround this week, so just making sure we are good to go.” If Guerendo can't play on Sunday, Patrick Taylor Jr. is next up on the depth chart. He had a season-high 25 yards and a touchdown on seven carries on Sunday. Ke'Shawn Vaughn and Israel Abanikanda are also available. The 49ers' win on Sunday snapped a three-game losing skid. The win kept them in the race for a playoff spot despite their 6-7 record. A win on Thursday night against the Rams would go a long way toward that postseason push. If Guerendo isn't out on the field, though, it'll be that much harder for the 49ers to pull that off.

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