NASSAU, Bahamas — Scottie Scheffler birdied every hole but the par 3s on the front nine at Albany Golf Club on Friday and finished his bogey-free round with an 8-under 64 that gave him a two-shot lead in the Hero World Challenge. Two months off did nothing to slow the world's No. 1 player. Scheffler already has eight victories this year and is in position to get another before the end of the year. Scheffler was at 13-under 131, two ahead of Akshay Bhatia (66) and Justin Thomas (67), both of whom had to save par on the 18th hole to stay in range going into the weekend. Scheffler started with a lob wedge to 2 feet for birdie and never slowed until after he went out in 29 to seize control of the holiday tournament against a 20-man field. Scheffler cooled slightly on the back nine, except it didn't feel that way to him. "Front nine, just things were going my way. Back nine, maybe not as much," Scheffler said. "A couple shots could end up closer to the hole, a couple putts go in, just little things." Asked if he felt any frustration he didn't take it lower — he once shot 59 at the TPC Boston during the FedEx Cup playoffs — Scheffler sounded bemused. "I think in this game I think a lot of all y'all are looking for perfection out of us," he said. "Today I shot 8 under on the golf course, not something I hang my head about. A lot of good things out there — clean card, bogey-free, eight birdies. Overall, I think I'm pretty pleased." Thomas felt his 67 was stress-free, particularly the way he was driving the ball. The wind laid down again, rare for the Bahamas, though it is expected to pick up on the weekend. Thomas wasn't concerned to see Scheffler get off to a hot start, especially with three par 5s on the front nine and a short par 4 that at worst leaves a flip wedge to the green. "You literally can birdie every hole as soft as the greens are," Thomas said. "He's a great player, a great wedge player, and you have a lot of birdie holes to start. I'm honestly surprised he only shot 8 under. It's a sneaky course because if you fall asleep on some shots, you can get out of position. But if you're on and focused and really in control of everything — like these last two days with no wind — you can just make so many birdies." Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley had a 67 and was four shots behind. No matter how benign the conditions, it wasn't always easy. Cameron Young, who opened with a 64 for a two-shot lead, followed with a 75 despite making five birdies. That included a double bogey on the final hole when his approach tumbled down the bank into the rocks framing the lake that goes all the way down the 18th hole. Patrick Cantlay was trying to keep pace playing alongside Scheffler, but he had three bogeys over the final seven holes and fell seven shots behind with a 71. The tournament, hosted by Tiger Woods, is unofficial but offers world ranking points to all but the bottom three players because of the small field. It's the weakest field in 25 years, but Scheffler at No. 1 gives it enough cachet. He is the first player since Woods in 2009 to start and finish a year at No. 1 in the world. And even after a layoff — giving him time to tinker with a new putting stroke — it looks like it might be a while before anyone changes that. Get local news delivered to your inbox!NoneSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The president of South Korea early Wednesday lifted the martial law he imposed on the country hours earlier, bending to political pressure after a tense night in which troops surrounded parliament and lawmakers voted to reject military rule. President Yoon Suk Yeol, who appeared likely to be impeached over his actions, imposed martial law late Tuesday out of frustration with the opposition, vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces as he struggles against opponents who control parliament and that he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea. Police and military personnel were seen leaving the grounds of parliament following the bipartisan vote to overrule the president, and the declaration was formally lifted around 4:30 a.m. during a Cabinet meeting. Parliament acted swiftly after martial law was imposed, with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik declaring that the law was “invalid” and that lawmakers would “protect democracy with the people.” In all, martial law was in effect for about six hours. The president’s surprising move harkened back to an era of authoritarian leaders that the country has not seen since the 1980s, and it was immediately denounced by the opposition and the leader of Yoon’s own conservative party. Lee Jae-myung , leader of the liberal Democratic Party, which holds the majority in the 300-seat parliament, said the party’s lawmakers would remain in the Assembly’s main hall until Yoon formally lifted his order. Woo applauded how troops quickly left the Assembly after the vote. “Even with our unfortunate memories of military coups, our citizens have surely observed the events of today and saw the maturity of our military,” Woo said. While announcing his plan to lift martial law, Yoon continued to criticize parliament’s attempts to impeach key government officials and senior prosecutors. He said lawmakers had engaged in “unscrupulous acts of legislative and budgetary manipulation that are paralyzing the functions of the state.” Jo Seung-lae, a Democratic lawmaker, claimed that security camera footage following Yoon’s declaration showed that troops moved in a way that suggested they were trying to arrest Lee, Woo and even Han Dong-hoon, the leader of Yoon’s People Power Party. Officials from Yoon’s office and the Defense Ministry did not respond to requests for comment early Wednesday. Seemingly hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the Assembly, waving banners and calling for Yoon’s impeachment. Some protesters scuffled with troops ahead of the lawmakers’ vote, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or major property damage. At least one window was broken as troops attempted to enter the Assembly building. One woman tried unsuccessfully to pull a rifle away from one of the soldiers, while shouting “Aren’t you embarrassed?” Under South Korea’s constitution, the president can declare martial law during “wartime, war-like situations or other comparable national emergency states” that require the use of military force to maintain peace and order. It was questionable whether South Korea is currently in such a state. When martial law is declared, “special measures” can be employed to restrict freedom of press, freedom of assembly and other rights, as well as the power of courts. The constitution also states that the president must oblige when the National Assembly demands the lifting of martial law with a majority vote. Following Yoon’s announcement of martial law, South Korea’s military proclaimed that parliament and other political gatherings that could cause “social confusion” would be suspended, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said. The military said anyone who violated the decree could be arrested without a warrant. In Washington, the White House said the U.S. was “seriously concerned” by the events in Seoul. A spokesperson for the National Security Council said President Joe Biden’s administration was not notified in advance of the martial law announcement and was in contact with the South Korean government. Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said there was no effect on the more than 27,000 U.S. service members based in South Korea. The South Korean military also said that the country’s striking doctors should return to work within 48 hours, Yonhap said. Thousands of doctors have been striking for months over government plans to expand the number of students at medical schools. Soon after martial law was declared, the parliament speaker called on his YouTube channel for all lawmakers to gather at the National Assembly. He urged military and law enforcement personnel to “remain calm and hold their positions. All 190 lawmakers who participated in the vote supported the lifting of martial law. At one point, television footage showed police officers blocking the entrance of the National Assembly and helmeted soldiers carrying rifles in front of the building. An Associated Press photographer saw at least three helicopters, likely from the military, that landed inside the Assembly grounds, while two or three helicopters circled above the site. The leader of Yoon’s conservative party called the decision to impose martial law “wrong.” Lee, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, said Yoon’s announcement was “illegal and unconstitutional.” Yoon said during a televised speech that martial law would help “rebuild and protect” the country from “falling into the depths of national ruin.” He said he would “eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional democratic order.” “I will eliminate anti-state forces as quickly as possible and normalize the country,” he said, while asking the people to believe in him and tolerate “some inconveniences.” Yoon — whose approval rating dipped in recent months — has struggled to push his agenda against an opposition-controlled parliament since taking office in 2022. His party has been locked in an impasse with the liberal opposition over next year’s budget bill. The opposition has also attempted to impeach three top prosecutors, including the chief of the central Seoul prosecutors’ office, in what the conservatives have called a vendetta against their criminal investigations of Lee, who has been seen as the favorite for the next presidential election in 2027 in opinion polls. During his televised announcement, Yoon also described the opposition as “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces who are plundering the freedom and happiness of our citizens.” He did not elaborate. Yoon has taken a hard line on North Korea over its nuclear ambitions, departing from the policies of his liberal predecessor, Moon Jae-in, who pursued inter-Korean engagement. Yoon has also dismissed calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials, drawing quick, strong rebukes from his political rivals. Yoon’s move was the first declaration of martial law since the country’s democratization in 1987. The country’s last previous martial law was in October 1979, following the assassination of former military dictator Park Chung-hee. Sydney Seiler, Korean chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, argued that the move was symbolic for Yoon to express his frustration with the opposition-controlled parliament. “He has nothing to lose,” said Seiler, comparing Yoon’s move to the Hail Mary pass in American football, with a slim chance of success. Now Yoon faces likely impeachment, a scenario that was also possible before he made the bold move, Seiler said. Natalia Slavney, research analyst at the Stimson Center’s 38 North website that focuses on Korean affairs, said Yoon’s imposition of martial law was “a serious backslide of democracy" that followed a “worrying trend of abuse” since he took office in 2022. South Korea “has a robust history of political pluralism and is no stranger to mass protests and swift impeachments,” Slavney said, citing the example of former President Park Geun-hye, the country’s first female president, who was ousted from office and imprisoned for bribery and other crimes in 2017 . Associated Press writers Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul, South Korea, and Matt Lee, Didi Tang and Tara Copp in Washington contributed to this report.JD Martin is awarded new territory beginning December 1st, 2024. CHARLOTTE, N.C. , Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- JD Martin is proud to announce the expansion of its partnership with Dialight , the global leader in industrial LED lighting technology, into North and South Carolina . This growth strengthens JD Martin's commitment to delivering industry-leading lighting solutions across the Southeast. 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As 2024 draws to a close, CDT editors are compiling a series of the most notable content ( Chinese ) from across the Chinese internet over the past year. Topics include this year’s most outstanding quotes, reports, podcasts and videos, sensitive words, censored articles and essays, “People of the Year,” and CDT’s “2024 Editors’ Picks.” CDT Chinese publishes a column called CDT Reports , which collects external reports from think tanks, academic journals, NGOs, the media, and other sources on topics related to various human rights issues in China. This year, CDT Chinese published 150 of these report columns, covering freedom of speech, freedom of the press, public opinion polls, transnational repression, Uyghur human rights, Tibetan human rights, religious freedom, digital authoritarianism, labor rights, China’s economy, the rights of women and LGBTQ+ groups, and U.S.-China relations. The list below is a sample of the most notable reports of 2024, as chosen by CDT Chinese editors. 1. V-Dem, “ Democracy Report 2024: Democracy Winning and Losing at the Ballot ” This flagship report by the V-Dem Institute at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden measured the receding ground of democracies around the world. It noted that autocratization is ongoing in 42 countries, home to 35 percent of the world’s population, and that “[a]lmost all components of democracy are getting worse in more countries than they are getting better, compared to ten years ago.” China is ranked 171 out of 179 countries on the report’s Liberal Democracy Index, and it falls similarly close to the bottom in the four related categories. The report also labels the BRICS+, which is largely led by China, a “Club of Autocracies.” ( CDT Reports column ) 2. Human Rights Watch, “ ‘Educate the Masses to Change Their Minds’: China’s Forced Relocation of Rural Tibetans ” This report shows that Chinese media coverage in many cases contradicts official claims that rural Tibetans gave their consent to relocate to urban areas. Drawing on over one thousand official Chinese media articles as well as government publications and academic field studies, the report indicates that participation in “whole-village relocation” programs in Tibet is compulsory and enforced by coercion. Between 2000 and 2025, the Chinese authorities will have relocated over 930,000 rural Tibetans, according to official statistics. ( CDT Reports column ; CDT English coverage .) 3. Amnesty International, “ ‘On my campus, I am afraid’: China’s targeting of overseas students stifles rights ” Using in-depth interviews with 32 Chinese students, including 12 from Hong Kong, studying at universities in Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the U.K., and the U.S., the report highlights the climate of fear on university campuses, along with responses from university administrations. Among the various findings, the report details how the Chinese government’s transnational repression has frightened some Chinese students to such an extent that it causes isolation and severe health problems. ( CDT Reports column ; CDT English coverage ) 4. Exovera’s Center for Intelligence Research and Analysis for the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, “ Censorship Practices of the People’s Republic of China ” This report outlines the nature and reach of China’s censorship apparatus, the methods and technologies that underpin it, the international activities it conducts, and the implications for the U.S. It states that under Xi Jinping, the Chinese Party-state has streamlined control over online content, improved censors’ technical skills, and made legal reforms to broaden state supervision over media. The outcome is what the Commission calls “the world’s most elaborate and pervasive censorship apparatus.” ( CDT Reports column ; CDT English coverage ) 5. Amnesty International and Chinese Human Rights Defenders, “ ‘I yearn to see you’ – Valentine’s letters to activists detained in mainland China and Hong Kong ” Ahead of Valentine’s Day, the partners of three detained Chinese human rights activists wrote letters to express their love and highlight the severe treatment of their partners. The group included Geng He and her husband Gao Zhisheng, a human rights lawyer who was forcibly disappeared; activist Ye Du under police surveillance in Guangzhou and her partner Chow Hang-tung, a lawyer detained for organizing a vigil for the Tiananmen crackdown; and Luo Shengchun, the wife of human rights lawyer Ding Jiaxi, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for subversion of state power. ( CDT Reports column ) 6. Google Threat Intelligence Group, “ Seeing Through a GLASSBRIDGE: Understanding the Digital Marketing Ecosystem Spreading Pro-PRC Influence Operations ” Google researchers documented an umbrella group of four different private companies operating hundreds of fake websites that posed as news sites and newswire services from dozens of countries. These sites demonstrated an ability to tailor their content to specific regional audiences and to appear as legitimate news. The examples in this report suggest that the companies took instructions from a shared customer that was organizing a coordinated influence campaign aligned with PRC political agendas. ( CDT Reports column ) 7. The China Quarterly, “ Do Chinese Citizens Conceal Opposition to the CCP in Surveys? Evidence from Two Experiments ” Erin Baggott Carter, Brett L. Carter, and Stephen Schick at the University of Southern California published findings from two public opinion surveys that challenged common understandings of how Chinese people feel about the CCP. In addition to asking directly for Chinese citizens’ views of the CCP, which elicits extremely high degrees of support, the researchers also asked in the form of list experiments that provide a greater sense of anonymity. The result of this second method was the CCP receiving support among only 50 to 70 percent of respondents. The Chinese leadership may therefore not be as popular as previously thought. ( CDT Reports column ) Categories : CDT Highlights , China & the World , Hong Kong , Human Rights , Law , Level 2 Article , Politics , Sci-Tech , Society Tags : Amnesty International , BRICS , CCP , censorship , democracy , Ding Jiaxi , external propaganda , Gao Zhisheng , Internet censorship , online censorship , overseas Chinese students , overseas students , public opinion , relocation , Tibet Related Posts CDT 2024 Year-End Roundup: Sensitive Words CDT 2024 Year-End Roundup: Quotes of the Year (Part 2) Quote of the Day, as Blogger’s Prison Sentence is Confirmed: “Before You Can Plant Crops, You Must Improve the Soil” Dam Construction in Tibet Threatens Local Communities and Environment Interview: Gerald Roche on the Erasure of Tibet’s Minority Languages Words of the Week: “Aim the Rifle an Inch Higher” (枪口抬高一厘米, qiāngkǒu táigāo yī límǐ) Two Years After Zero-COVID, A Rare White Paper Remembrance Censors Remove Reflections on Democracy Inspired by Korean Crisis Frank Speeches by Economists Gao Shanwen, Fu Peng Result in Mass Online Censorship, WeChat Bans Chinese Government Leverages Inbound Tourism to Boost External Propaganda Global Public Opinion Polls Show Polarized Views of China Reflections on Family Relationships and Generational Change Under the CCP Can “Journey to the West” Help Explain A Spate of Killings in China?Kansas State, Rutgers balance bowl prep with December distractionsCalzada TD to Alexander sends Incarnate Word to FCS quarterfinal with win over Villanova

At a Wednesday, Nov. 13 session, the Macomb Township Board of Trustees considered two roofing projects as presented by DPW Director Kevin Johnson. The first, a roof replacement for the Macomb Township Hall, is estimated to cost $274,800, with work to be performed by Wm. Molnar Roofing Co. beginning in April. Johnson said seven bids were considered for the project, and after deliberation by an ad hoc proposal committee, Molnar Roofing was awarded the job. Johnson estimated a 30-40-year lifespan for the new roof, while “minor parking inconveniences” might be incurred during the work slated for the spring. Also eyeing a spring start is a shingle roof replacement for the township’s DPW building, at a cost of $154,300. That project was awarded to KJP Roofing. Both projects were approved unanimously. Macomb Township Human Resources Director Jeff Tabaka sought approval for the hire of a full-time building inspector Wednesday, Nov. 13. Tabaka told the board there’s been a 30% increase in building permits this year, which has taxed the already understaffed department. He added three department employees are also currently eligible to retire. The board unanimously approved the request. The hire comes in the form of Ray Tuttle, currently a part-time building inspector with the department. He’ll shift to full-time starting Nov. 27. Macomb Township Planning Director Josh Bocks regarding a request to rezone a two-family low-density housing plot at 51407 Romeo Plank Road into a flex use plot. Bocks said the owner is seeking to open a salon on the property, and will either use the existing house or do a full demolition and rebuild. The request was approved unanimously by the Planning and Zoning Department, and the Township Board followed suit. In seeking to continue with upgrading and phasing out old technology throughout the township, IT Manager Jason Lipari spoke before the Board to seek approval for the purchase of 15 computers and docking stations at a cost not to exceed $33,700. Lipari said the order will be “broken up into multiple purchases” in order to more efficiently conduct the upgrades. Lipari also recommended the extension of the contract between the township and South Carolina-based information tech company VC3. VC3 currently performs IT support services for Macomb Township, which includes handling user help requests, performing server maintenance and monitoring security. An extension, he said, “offers the best value for the township.” Board Trustee Frank Cusumano asked Lipari why this expense, quoted at $164,160, wasn’t put out for bid, with Viviano answering that the topic is an “ongoing discussion,” as the township’s IT department is “still evaluating what level of service we require.” Viviano added that following an “informal review” by Lipari, it was evident that neighboring communities are paying higher rates for similar services. The vote to renew the contract with VC3 was approved 6-1, with Cusumano dissenting. At the same meeting a lease agreement with communications company Crown Castle was extended. Crown Castle currently leases the ground under one of their communication towers from Macomb Township. Viviano said Crown Castle’s existing lease had four years remaining, but approached the township to pursue an early extension. Viviano said the renewal contains a 4% increase per year and would extend the lease for 30 years. The request was approved unanimously.Obaseki emerges ‘digital governor’, calls for investment in emerging technologyRed Bulls go into MLS Cup final with distinctly Canadian flavour in front office

FILE PHOTO: Nov 3, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans defensive back Julius Wood (24) and linebacker Jack Gibbens (50) tackle New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas (3) during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images/File Photo The NFL suspended Tennessee Titans safety Julius Wood six games on Tuesday for violating the policy on performing-enhancing substances. There are five games remaining this season for the Titans (3-9), so Wood's suspension will bleed into Week 1 of 2025. Wood, 23, went undrafted this spring and signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent. They waived him in August, and he caught on with the Titans, who claimed him off waivers. Wood appeared in nine games, almost exclusively on special teams, and has recorded two tackles. --Field Level Media REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel nowImagine not being able to hear the siren blaring to warn of rising floodwaters. Or being trapped in a house in the middle of a typhoon unaware of the dangers posed by the whistling wind and the downpour pounding the roof. These are just some of the challenges confronting the Deaf—persons who because of their lack of hearing become vulnerable when exposed to the hazards of adverse weather events and climate change. Rialyn Espijon, a teacher at the Philippine School for the Deaf, described their situation, thus. “Nagpapanic na ang lahat, pero sila na mga Deaf parang relaxed pa lang din," Espijon said. “Problema natin dito sa mga Deaf community kasi hindi nga sila nakakarinig. So, mahirap sa kanila na kapag merong announcement, announcement through talk, hindi naman nila naririnig. So, nadi-delay yung pagbibigay ng information,” she added. (Everyone is already alarmed but the Deaf still appear relaxed. It is a problem in the Deaf community because they can't hear. It is difficult for them whenever there is a spoken announcement. They don't hear it. The information is delayed.) Jerome Alad, a 37-year-old deaf person, shared his struggle when Tropical Storm Ondoy hit the country in September 2009. "I went to Quezon City and because I was going to repair my friend's laptop. His parents said, 'Don't go home anymore because the storm is quite strong. We don't know what will happen because of Ondoy.' It was the next morning when I returned to Marikina," Jerome said using sign language. It turned out Marikina was among the hardest hit and most flooded areas when Ondoy brought heavy rains on Metro Manila. "I walked to the bridge, and I saw a lot of damage, cars overturned, many dead, I was very scared. I worried about my family. In the morning, I texted my family, but no one replied. I was really worried about my family if they were safe or not because there was no reply, I sent so many texts, I went to them quickly," he added. The rains brought by Tropical Storm Ondoy in Metro Manila were the highest recorded in 42 years , according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Fifteen years after, Jerome, can still remember the sight and smell of the tragedy that Ondoy has left. "There were piles of dead bodies, but I didn't really look at them. I was in such a hurry even though the smell was strong. I could smell them, my head hurt because of the smell. Why were there so many dead? I was thinking about my family if they were safe, my parents and my brother," he said. The local disaster risk reduction and management office uses a siren to alert surrounding communities when the river’s water level rises. But Jerome said the siren is only for those who can hear. "They only use the siren to warn those who can hear and I can't hear it. My friend would text me, so we would exchange messages about what the announcements were," Jerome said. At the time of Ondoy, there was not much on the internet and social media was not yet heavily used unlike now when people rely on them for official announcements. Jerome said social media has provided a platform for him to know when to prepare during a disaster. No one left behind What are the efforts to make the country safe for the Deaf and ensure that in times of calamities, no one is left behind? In support of the recommendations of the United Nations for Disability-inclusive Climate Action (2020), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through the Gerry Roxas Foundation (GRF), awarded the Oscar M. Lopez (OML) Center a grant for the implementation of the project “Climate Resilience of the Deaf: Signs for Inclusive Governance and Development” or Project SIGND. This recognized that persons with disabilities were affected by climate impacts “differently and more severely than others.” The National Council on Disability said that most disaster interventions were “usually designed for people without disabilities who can rely on walking, running, seeing, hearing or quickly responding to instructions.” Perpilili Vivienne Tiongson, Project SIGND co-lead, said the main challenge for the Deaf community was the lack of access and opportunity. “They are not given much opportunity and access. In every situation, you will see how much access is not really given to them, especially regarding climate change. And they don’t understand what climate change is,” Tiongson said. When Typhoon Ulysses hit the country in 2020, Jerome said he exerted efforts to be more informed about its effects. “Before I was in college, I didn't know about climate change, what it meant... Climate change is something that I am just learning about. It's already late because there was no awareness then,” he added. Sign language interpreters on television, especially on the news, are a huge help as well, he said. "I watch GMA News and they have an interpreter. Whenever there's a typhoon we watch it. There also YouTube. When the typhoon is already near or still far off, if Signal No. 1 has been raised or Signal No. 2, if the storm is already strong. What's on the weather forecast," Jerome said. Project SIGND Recognizing the communication barriers that the Deaf are facing, Project SIGND aims to empower the Deaf community to be more involved about climate change, especially vocabulary, and give them accessibility. Carolyn Dagani, the project lead of the group who is also deaf, said they created a specific sign for climate change. "Before, the old sign was one for climate, and then another for change. So that's climate change. Now, we thought, why not come up with a new sign? Climate change. Just one... It's no longer climate then change," Dagani said through sign language. "It's just one sign for climate change," she added. (Describe the sign for climate change here.) The group conducted work programs, such as developing signs, wherein their staff traveled to various areas to collect signs about the climate change concept to complete the new Filipino Sign Language or FSL vocabulary. They also collected studies and interviews on climate change and policies. “We called climate scientists. We asked if the concepts are correct, if we understood them right. We didn't know the meaning of those terms," said Jennifer Balan through sign language. She is the group's assistant manager for vocabulary development. "We were coordinating since then with them to know if the concepts match the signs," she added. Signs for rain, lightning, weather, flood, water, landslide, sea wave, sun, temperature, water cycle, wind, adaptation, mitigation, greenhouse gasses/effects, climate change, and carbon footprint are just some of the new FSL vocabulary they created. Upon creating this new FSL vocabulary, Project SIGND is hoping that the Deaf will be more included. “They don’t have much access to education, justice to health, everything is for the hearing. It takes a while to explain because we, the hearing, explain with words, which is not accessible to them. That is always the challenge,” Tiongson said. It’s a hearing world Tiongson emphasized that people live in a hearing world. “It’s a hearing world. Language is knowledge because even if you are writing those words, you hear a voice in your head. Because your language is based on sound, our language, spoken language is based on sound. Theirs is not. So, can you imagine if they’re writing words but they cannot hear a voice in their head?” “Every idea is attached to a sound,” she said. Tiongson stressed that empowerment is not enough if we don’t understand how to be in their shoes. Inclusivity remains a key factor in helping the community. “So if we want things to be inclusive, we have to include them every step of the way and have patience on your end to explain what this is before they can truly be part of the process,” she said. “If they can make decisions on their own and think what they can do, they can be agents of change kaso lagi lang sila beneficiary. But that can help, showing how the language, knowing that they have the ability to talk about important issues like climate change— they can be change agents,” Tingson added. Connection Espijon said when she began work at the PSD only did she realize that many Deaf students need help. “Ang dami pala mga Deaf na kailangan ng tulong. Nag-decide na rin ako na maging teacher, nag-aral ako na mag-sign language para din makatulong sa kanila. In the first place, para maintindihan ko rin sila –kung saan ba sila nanggagaling, ano ba yung culture nila,” Espijon said. (Many deaf need help. I decided to become a teacher, I studied sign language to help them. In the first place, so I can understand them, where they're coming from, what their culture is.) “Na-curious sila magtanong about dun sa climate change. One example is, meron akong student nagtanong siya, Ma'am, bakit po sa ibang lugar, merong mga yelo umuulan tapos, sa iba naman po, sobrang init. Sabi ko, that's the effect of climate change,” she said. (They became curious about climate change. I have a student who asked why it snows in some areas and why it is quite hot in others. I said that is the effect of climate change.) Espijon said learning the language of people with sensory disability will also help her in rearing her child who studies in a Special Education (SPED). ”May anak din kasi ako, SPED din siya. Parang naranasan ko kung siya man mag-isa siya sa mundo, tapos wala tayo. Paano natin sila maga-guide in the future. Parang ba't madidiscriminate din sila? Kaya ako, gusto ko tumulong kahit papaano, sa kahit na anong paraan. Para masabayan mo sila pareho,” she said. (I have a child who is in special education. I imagine him in a world where we are no longer present. How can they be guided? How can they be protected from discrimination? This is why I wanted to help in any way. So I can be with them.) However, she admitted it is not an easy job. “Honestly, mahirap siya ituro, lalo na kapag hindi mo alam yung mga signs,” she said. (It's difficult to teach especially if you don't know the signs.) “Maganda lang siguro yung buhay kung lahat tayo marunong mag-sign. Kahit na yung konting komunikasyon, mabigay mo yun sa kanila. Parang ang hirap kung hindi tayo magtutulungan pare-pareho. Male-left behind talaga sila. So, yun, importante, magtulungan tayo. Connect tayo sa isa't isa,” Espijon said. (It would be nice if all of us knew how to sign, to communicate with them even for just a bit. It's difficult if we do not help each other. They will be left behind. So it's important to help each other and connect.) —LDF/NB/GMA Integrated News

Founder of failed crypto lending platform Celsius Network pleads guilty to fraud charges

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 20, 2024-- Aptorum Group Limited (NASDAQ: APM) (“Aptorum Group” or the “Company”), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to meeting unmet medical needs in oncology, autoimmune and infectious diseases, today provided a business update and announced financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2024. “Our team and Yoov have spent considerable time and effort on the due diligence process, the negotiation of definitive terms, and the preparation of necessary transactional and listing documentation. However, current market conditions have introduced significant uncertainty regarding the availability of the required funding for the transaction. After careful consideration, our Board has determined that it is no longer in the best interests of our shareholders to proceed with this transaction. Despite this, we will continue to explore other business combination opportunities that we believe will enhance shareholder value,” stated Mr. Ian Huen, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Aptorum Group Limited. Corporate Highlights On October 24, 2024, the Company and Yoov Group Holding Limited (“Yoov”) entered into a termination agreement and the anticipated reverse takeover transaction with Yoov was terminated. Financial Results for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 Aptorum Group reported a net loss of $2.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $6.6 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease in net loss in the current period was driven by the decrease in operating expenses by $4.1 million due to the implementation of stringent budgetary control measures, as a result of the Company’s exclusive emphasis on the previous anticipated RTO. Research and development expenses were $2.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $3.2 million for the same period in 2023. Before the Merger Agreement was terminated, we determined it was best to focus all of our attention and resources on completing the Merger and therefore paused the majority of our R&D activities during that time; following the termination of the Merger Agreement in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, we determined that searching for other business combination opportunities could maximize shareholder value, and our R&D activities remain suspended. General and administrative fees were $0.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $1.3 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease in general and administrative fees was primary due to the streamlining of our operations to focus on preparation for the Merger, which has since been abandoned. Legal and professional fees were $0.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $1.7 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease in legal and professional fees was attributed to the lack of non-routine activities that were present in the same period last year, such as the implementation of reverse stock split, and amendments to the memorandum and articles of association. The absence of such non-routine exercises in the current period has resulted in a decrease in legal and professional fees. As of June 30, 2024, cash and restricted cash totaled approximately $0.8 million and total equity was approximately $13.2 million. APTORUM GROUP LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 (Stated in U.S. Dollars) June 30, 2024 December 31, 2023 ASSETS Current assets: Cash $ 783,085 $ 2,005,351 Accounts receivable 21,800 47,709 Amounts due from related parties 3,595 961 Other receivables and prepayments 725,616 422,071 Total current assets 1,534,096 2,476,092 Property and equipment, net - 1,663,926 Operating lease right-of-use assets - 182,057 Long-term investments 16,098,846 16,098,846 Intangible assets, net - 147,347 Long-term deposits 71,823 71,823 Total Assets $ 17,704,765 $ 20,640,091 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY LIABILITIES Current liabilities: Amounts due to related parties $ 79,180 $ 79,180 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 1,148,235 1,894,341 Operating lease liabilities, current 89,145 125,232 Total current liabilities 1,316,560 2,098,753 Operating lease liabilities, non-current 62,718 99,485 Convertible notes to a related party 3,148,500 3,058,500 Total Liabilities $ 4,527,778 $ 5,256,738 Commitments and contingencies - - EQUITY Class A Ordinary Shares ($0.00001 par value, 9,999,996,000,000 shares authorized, 3,674,164 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2024; 2,937,921 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023) $ 37 $ 31 Class B Ordinary Shares ($0.00001 par value; 4,000,000 shares authorized, 1,796,934 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2024; 2,243,776 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023) 18 22 Additional paid-in capital 93,470,186 93,018,528 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (9,762 ) (10,623 ) Accumulated deficit (70,805,518 ) (68,161,722 ) Total equity attributable to the shareholders of Aptorum Group Limited 22,654,961 24,846,236 Non-controlling interests (9,477,974 ) (9,462,883 ) Total equity 13,176,987 15,383,353 Total Liabilities and Equity $ 17,704,765 $ 20,640,091 APTORUM GROUP LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS For the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 (Stated in U.S. Dollars) For the six months ended June 30, 2024 2023 Revenue Healthcare services income $ - $ 431,378 Operating expenses Costs of healthcare services - (426,063 ) Research and development expenses (2,038,923 ) (3,212,366 ) General and administrative fees (326,187 ) (1,263,019 ) Legal and professional fees (366,164 ) (1,738,566 ) Other operating expenses (137,233 ) (330,212 ) Total operating expenses (2,868,507 ) (6,970,226 ) Other income (expenses) Loss on investments in marketable securities, net - (9,266 ) Interest expense, net (68,462 ) (93,478 ) Loss on disposal of subsidiaries (4,271 ) - Sundry income 282,353 36,803 Total other income (expenses), net 209,620 (65,941 ) Net loss $ (2,658,887 ) $ (6,604,789 ) Less: net loss attributable to non-controlling interests (15,091 ) (1,117,685 ) Net loss attributable to Aptorum Group Limited $ (2,643,796 ) $ (5,487,104 ) Net loss per share – basic and diluted $ (0.50 ) $ (1.43 ) Weighted-average shares outstanding – basic and diluted 5,339,608 3,849,621 Net loss $ (2,658,887 ) $ (6,604,789 ) Other comprehensive income (loss) Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations 861 (7,485 ) Other comprehensive income (loss) 861 (7,485 ) Comprehensive loss (2,658,026 ) (6,612,274 ) Less: comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interests (15,091 ) (1,117,685 ) Comprehensive loss attributable to the shareholders of Aptorum Group Limited (2,642,935 ) (5,494,589 ) About Aptorum Group Aptorum Group Limited (Nasdaq: APM) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutic assets to treat diseases with unmet medical needs, particularly in oncology (including orphan oncology indications) and infectious diseases. The pipeline of Aptorum is also enriched through the co-development of Paths Dx Test, a novel molecular-based rapid pathogen identification and detection diagnostics technology, with Accelerate Technologies Pte Ltd, commercialization arm of the Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research. For more information about the Company, please visit www.aptorumgroup.com . Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Statements This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to buy any securities of Aptorum Group. This press release includes statements concerning Aptorum Group Limited and its future expectations, plans and prospects that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Aptorum Group has based these forward-looking statements, which include statements regarding projected timelines for application submissions and trials, largely on its current expectations and projections about future events and trends that it believes may affect its business, financial condition and results of operations. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, without limitation, risks related to its announced management and organizational changes, the continued service and availability of key personnel, its ability to expand its product assortments by offering additional products for additional consumer segments, development results, the company’s anticipated growth strategies, anticipated trends and challenges in its business, and its expectations regarding, and the stability of, its supply chain, and the risks more fully described in Aptorum Group’s Form 20-F and other filings that Aptorum Group may make with the SEC in the future. As a result, the projections included in such forward-looking statements are subject to change and actual results may differ materially from those described herein. Aptorum Group assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release is provided “as is” without any representation or warranty of any kind. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241220907803/en/ CONTACT: Aptorum Group Limited Investor Relations Department investor.relations@aptorumgroup.com +44 20 80929299 KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ONCOLOGY HEALTH INFECTIOUS DISEASES GENERAL HEALTH CLINICAL TRIALS PHARMACEUTICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY SOURCE: Aptorum Group Limited Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/20/2024 04:00 PM/DISC: 12/20/2024 04:00 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241220907803/enShohei Ohtani likely to win his third MVP award and Aaron Judge his second NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is expected to win his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge is likely to earn his second AL honor when the Baseball Writers’ Association announces its balloting. Ohtani was unanimously voted the AL MVP in 2021 and 2023 as a two-way star for the Los Angeles Angels. He signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. Ohtani hit .310, stole 59 bases and led the NL with 54 homers and 130 RBIs, becoming the first player with 50 or more homers and 50 or more stolen bases in a season. He helped the Dodgers to the World Series title. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a weekRecently Simple Flying interviewed James McDanolds the Program Chair of Sonoran Desert Institute’s School of Uncrewed Technology about some future expectations of drone technology. Among other things discussed was Beyond Visual Line Of Sight or BVLOS technologies for drones , implications for air taxis , and US domestic manufacturing of drone components. Discussing Beyond Visual Line Of Sight or BVLOS Beyond Visual Line of Sight or BVLOS is critical to using drones in serious capacities. BVLOS is defined as where a drone can be safely operated beyond the line of sight of the operator by using sattelites or another means to relay visual and position signals back to the operator. Otherwise it's just a remote control airplane without much merit to the world's armed forces. Currently the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that drones operated under Part 107 are operated under line-of-sight only where the operator can always see the drone, which means only one drone per operator. However, remote operation, according to McDanolds, allows for one drone operator to operate multiple drones remotely. This can be useful when checking out wind farms on the civilian side or multiple targets on the military side. To McDanolds, “[BVLOS] makes it so now you don't necessarily have to worry about having that operator on site flying one drone at a time. You could have one operator flying one drone at different locations throughout the day, and have it be a more effective and efficient operation.” McDanolds added that this capability's lower costs allow for more coverage at lower costs, which could help Ukraine after 1,001 days of air war. But remote BVLOS can have other uses. For instance, after Simple Flying mentioned what happened to US Senator Tammy Duckworth during her service in Operation Iraqi Freedom, flying a logistics run in her UH-60 and getting severely hit, McDanolds felt resupply drones could benefit much from BVLOS. This can translate into package delivery and organ delivery services for peacetime, especially with reformed FAA drone regulations. In wartime, the US Army has already shown interest in having drones do casaulty evacuations : Drones could be the answer for effective casualty evacuation, offering a swift and safe alternative. Can drones handle the Battlefield conditions? These drones, as covered above, will require reliable autonomy and not be dependent on GPS to navigate. Autonomy can become safety for drones McDanolds shared with Simple Flying that some of this defense technology can transfer over to civilian technology and air taxis like Archer’s and Joby’s that are in final test and development and may fly autonomously at a latter date. To McDanolds, air taxis and drones should be able to trigger a parachute based on flight characteristics. There are some general aviation aircraft that pack parachutes, like the Icon A5 and Cirrus Vision Jet already, so this is not new technology. However, some of those aircraft require a human to unfurl the parachute. Additionally, already entering general aviation and mentioned by McDanolds are additional safety features the drones should have, like an automatic return. One can review those safety features below : These technologies and systems enhance the safety of General Aviation aircraft. As to drones, McDonalds shared, “We need to make sure that there's enough data to support that it reaches a certain safety percentage, right? Because I don't believe anyone would make a decision readily or willingly to allow these air taxis scale to fly over people, over urban areas ...over really anything, without thoroughly testing.” McDonalds also added in the event of GPS jamming either for civilian or defense drones, there should be other sensors on board. Range finders and AESA radar were suggested, as appropriate for drone carriage capacity. Inertial navigation systems – which Simple Flying produced a guide about how airliners navigate – that measure where an aircraft has been and how fast it’s been traveling on a heading was suggested also. Manufacturing drones for US needs to be in US Finally, McDonalds timely added that there needs to be a conversation about bringing drone manufacturing facilities to the United States . Companies such as Anduril were discussed, and this was before the big news broke that Red Cat won a contract to build short-range reconnaissance Black Widow drones . Rucksack portable drones with advanced reconnaissance capabilities. Additionally, a Red Cat spokesperson confirmed with Simple Flying that the Black Widows have a BVLOS range of 8 KM (5 miles), and all drones will be built in a new Salt Lake City, Utah facility. Additionally, the Black Widow drones and WEB ground control station (GCS) will be built by Red Cat, increasing dramatically domestic parts content. Keep up with the latest Simple Flying coverage of military aviation here . As McDonalds shared with Simple Flying, “Drones are built of a multitude of components, you know, motors, electronic speed controllers, power distribution boards, the flight management system, or the flight management unit, and auto pilot.” McDonalds stressed that 3D printing can only be part of the solution, but that as the US Military adopts and adapts to additive manufacturing technology – this can help increase domestic production also.

A video of a rescue dog fully embracing her new life of love and affection has melted viewers' hearts. Dog owner Renee told Newsweek via TikTok that her now-rescued pit bull Gloria was involved in a "bad" backyard breeding situation in California. At one point in her time there, she had a prolapsed uterus. This occurs when a portion of the uterus protrudes through the cervix, which is most common during or after delivery. The backyard breeder no longer had use for Gloria and sent her to a high-kill shelter . Thankfully, her foster parent saw her story on social media. They reached out to rescues who could step in and save her. Underdog Heroes came to the rescue and Gloria soon went to her foster family for about seven months. Three potential adopters fell through before Gloria's now-owner, Renee, finally welcomed her home. "I saw Gloria on Instagram through her foster and we began chatting and one thing led to another," Renee said. "We drove 8 hours on May 18th to meet them and Gloria and brought her home!" It hasn't been an easy transition, however. Gloria needed time to decompress and learn to trust again, but she has made giant strides since then thanks to the family's patience and the help they received from a trainer. "She is a very sensitive girl and is still learning to trust us and feel at home," she said. "She is THE BIGGEST baby and loves to cuddle more than anything!" The December 15 TikTok video posted to the account @mamarenee0318 shows Gloria accepting gentle face rubs as she sits in a VIP seat. In a state of bliss, Gloria embraced the pets and affection. Gloria didn't want to open her eyes just in case the happy dream would end. It's as if she still can't believe she went from a trauma-filled backyard breeder to a life of love. Viewer Reactions As of Tuesday, the clip amassed over 200,700 views, 21,100 likes and 445 comments. TikTok viewers instantly fell in love with Gloria and filled the comment section with their happiness, as all dogs should get to experience this type of love. "They are the absolute best companions you'll ever find. Gentle house hippos," said one viewer. Another added: "It's like she thinks it's a dream and doesn't want to open her eyes." A third person asked: "Can we rent this dog out.... I could pet this dog for 8 hours straight."

By CHRIS MEGERIAN and COLLEEN LONG WASHINGTON (AP) — In the two weeks since Donald Trump won the presidency, he’s tried to demonstrate his dominance by naming loyalists for top administration positions, even though many lack expertise and some face sexual misconduct accusations. It often seems like he’s daring Congress to oppose his decisions. But on Thursday, Trump’s attempt to act with impunity showed a crack as Matt Gaetz , his choice for attorney general, withdrew from consideration. Trump had named Gaetz, a Florida congressman, to be the country’s top law enforcement official even though he was widely disliked by his colleagues, has little legal experience and was accused of having sex with an underage girl, an allegation he denied. After being plagued by investigations during his first presidency, Trump wanted a devoted ally in charge of the Justice Department during his second. However, it was never obvious that Gaetz could win enough support from lawmakers to get confirmed as attorney general. Trump chose for a replacement Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general who defended him during his first impeachment trial and supported his false claims of voter fraud. Now the question is whether Gaetz was uniquely unpalatable, or if Trump’s other picks might exceed his party’s willingness to overlook concerns that would have sunk nominees in a prior political era. The next test will likely be Pete Hegseth, who Trump wants to lead the Pentagon despite an allegation of sexual assault that he’s denied. So far, Republicans are rallying around Hegseth , an Army veteran and former Fox News host. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the controversy over Gaetz would have little bearing on Trump’s other choices. He said they would be considered “one at a time.” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, suggested otherwise, claiming “the dominoes are falling.” “The drip drip of evidence and truth is going to eventually doom some others,” he said. Trump’s election victory was a sign that there may not be many red lines left in American politics. He won the presidential race despite authoritarian, racist and misogynist rhetoric, not to mention years of lies about election fraud and his role in sparking the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He was also criminally convicted of falsifying business records to pay hush money, and he was found liable for sexual abuse in a civil case. Empowered by voters who looked past his misconduct and saw him as a powerful agent of change, Trump has shown no deference to Washington norms while working to fill his second administration . The transition team hasn’t pursued federal background checks for Trump’s personnel choices. While some of his selections have extensive experience in the areas they’ve been chosen to lead, others are personal friends and Fox News personalities who have impressed and flattered Trump over the years. Several have faced allegations involving sexual misconduct . Hegseth is facing the most scrutiny after Gaetz. Once Trump announced Hegseth as his nominee for Pentagon chief, allegations emerged that he sexually assaulted a woman in California in 2017. The woman said he took her phone, blocked the door to the hotel room and refused to let her leave, according to a police report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing, the report said. However, he paid the woman a confidential settlement in 2023. Hegseth’s lawyer said the payment was made to head off the threat of a baseless lawsuit. Trump’s choice for secretary of health and human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has faced allegations of misconduct too. A woman who babysat for him and his second wife told Vanity Fair magazine that Kennedy groped her in the late 1990s, when she was 23. Kennedy did not deny the allegation and texted an apology to the woman after the article was published. That isn’t the only hurdle for Kennedy; he’s spent years spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories about vaccines, raising fears about making him a top health official in the new administration. Linda McMahon, chosen by Trump to be education secretary, is fighting a lawsuit connected to her former company, World Wrestling Entertainment. She’s accused of knowingly enabling sexual exploitation of children by an employee as early as the 1980s, and she denies the allegations. Tulsi Gabbard is another person who could face a difficult confirmation battle, but for very different reasons. The former Democratic representative from Hawaii has been a vocal Trump ally, and he chose her to be national intelligence director. But there’s grave concern by lawmakers and national security officials over Gabbard’s history of echoing Russian propaganda. Critics said she would endanger relationships with U.S. allies. Gaetz was investigated by federal law enforcement for sex trafficking, but the case was closed without charges and Republicans have blocked the release of a related report from the House Ethics Committee. However, some allegations leaked out, including that Gaetz paid women for sex. One of the women testified to the committee that she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old girl, according to a lawyer for the woman. As Gaetz met with senators this week, it became clear that he would face stubborn resistance from lawmakers who were concerned about his behavior and believed he was unqualified to run the Justice Department. “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction,” Gaetz wrote on social media when announcing his withdrawal. Sen. Mike Braun, an Indiana Republican, said he believed there were four to six members of the caucus who would have voted against Gaetz, likely dooming his nomination, and “the math got too hard.” He said some of the issues and allegations around Gaetz were “maybe beyond the pale.” “I think there were just too many things, it was like a leaky dike, and you know, it broke,” Braun said. Trump thanked Gaetz in a post on Truth Social, his social media website, without addressing the substance of the allegations against him. “He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect,” Trump wrote. Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Stephen Groves and Lisa Macaro contributed from Washington. Jill Colvin in New York and Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, also contributed.Broadcom Inc. AVGO surged over 5% on Friday, marking its strongest one-day rally in three months and significantly outperforming the broader semiconductor sector as the iShares Semiconductor ETF SOXX posted a modest gain of 0.6%. The semiconductor giant announced on Thursday its cutting-edge 3.5D eXtreme Dimension System in Package (XDSiP) platform technology. This breakthrough positions Broadcom as a leader in enabling next-generation custom accelerators (XPUs) for artificial intelligence applications. By integrating over 6,000 mm2 of silicon and up to 12 high-bandwidth memory (HBM) stacks into a single device, the 3.5D XDSiP achieves high-efficiency, low-power computing designed to meet the demands of large-scale AI systems. The technology also marks the industry debut of Face-to-Face (F2F) 3.5D XPU, a significant milestone in semiconductor packaging. “3.5D integration, which combines 3D silicon stacking with 2.5D packaging, is poised to become the technology of choice for next-generation XPUs in the coming decade,” the company stated. Yet, other than investor enthusiasm driven by both technological innovation, Broadcom's sharp rally also stands out as a sign of favorable seasonal trends. Beyond the innovation buzz, historical data suggests Broadcom could be gearing up for a strong finish to the year. Over the past 15 years, the period between Dec. 6 and Dec. 31 has proven highly favorable for the stock. Broadcom delivered positive returns in 12 of those 15 years, with an average gain of 8.4% during this stretch, as data from Seasonax platform shows. The most remarkable performance occurred in 2020 when the stock skyrocketed 20.7% in the same timeframe. Only three times — 2011, 2012, and 2015 — did Broadcom post losses in this period. Investors appear to be eyeing a repeat of Broadcom's historical outperformance, particularly as AI-driven innovation and seasonal tailwinds build a compelling narrative for further gains. With December already off to a strong start, momentum could carry Broadcom higher as the year-end rally takes shape. Read Next: TikTok Loses Court Appeal Against Ban, Meta, Reddit Stocks Hit All-Time High Photo: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Acentra Health Campaign Raises $31,000 to Help Southeastern U.S. Communities Recover from Hurricane DevastationNoneBefore Texas and Georgia face off in the Southeastern Conference championship game, the Longhorns earned a surprising victory over the Bulldogs on the recruiting trail. Justus Terry, a defensive lineman from Manchester, Georgia, announced he would be leaving his home state to play for Texas next year. Terry, who also was considering Georgia and Auburn, had been the nation’s top remaining uncommitted 2025 prospect. The addition of Terry gives Texas the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class, according to composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports. “We’re super pumped about this recruiting class,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said, before Terry had announced his decision. “This is a very talented group of players that I think not only fit the physical characteristics of what we’re looking for by position in our program, but I think meet the character and are going to fit nicely into our culture.” Although there will be an additional signing period in February, 247Sports officials said Texas should maintain its No. 1 standing. The overwhelming majority of Power Four recruits already finalized their college plans this week. The top 11 classes include eight Southeastern Conference schools and three Big Ten programs. Alabama is second, with Georgia third, Oregon fourth and Ohio State fifth. Auburn, LSU, Texas A&M, Michigan and Tennessee round out the top 10. Florida is 11th. The highest-rated recruiting classes outside the SEC and Big Ten are Notre Dame at No. 12 and Miami at No. 14. Terry is the nation’s No. 2 defensive lineman and No. 10 overall prospect, according to the 247Sports Composite. His decision gives Texas nine of the 247Sports Composite’s top 66 prospects. Texas’ other recruits rated 66th or better include safety Jonah Williams (No. 8), wide receivers Kaliq Lockett (No. 22) and Jamie Ffrench (No. 32), defensive lineman Lance Jackson (No. 25), all-purpose athlete Michael Terry III (No. 43), cornerbacks Kade Phillips (No. 54) and Graceson Littleton (No. 65), and linebacker Elijah Barnes (No. 66). “I think it’s a really versatile class with a variety of positions, highlighted by high-level players,” Sarkisian said. “As always, we really pride ourselves on recruiting the high school ranks. We think when we can get players in here young, then immerse them into our culture, into our off-season conditioning program, develop them as we go throughout their career, that’s when we really reap the benefits of having these guys in our program. This class is no different.” With the early signing period concluding, the focus on college roster construction now turns to transfers. The transfer portal window officially opens, though numerous college players already went to social media this week to announce their intentions to transfer. The early signing period was moved up a few weeks this year so that high school seniors could get their decisions out of the way before the opening of the transfer portal window. This marked the first signing period since the demise of the national letters of intent that prospects had sent in the past after signing with their respective schools. Athletes now are signing their names to a financial aid agreement that can include name, image and likeness agreements along with the standard tuition and room and board details.

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The apple never falls far from the tree, and the Woods family proves that adage yet again. Fifteen-year-old Charlie Woods is a blossoming talent, a high-school golfer full of power and finesse. His mannerisms also model his father’s, which is no surprise. Tiger Woods had all the power in the world at Charlie’s age. When he was 15, the elder Woods was in the midst of winning six straight USGA titles. If only we could see what his advanced stats were then. With technological advancements, computers and models can now capture club head speed, ball speed, and spin rate at the drop of a dime. These numbers are all essential parts of a golfer’s arsenal, as they ultimately help a player gain distance and improve accuracy. So, during Friday’s Pro-Am at the PNC Championship, Charlie uncorked a drive with a ball speed of 176 miles per hour. 176 MPH ball speed 15-year-old Charlie Woods can move it. pic.twitter.com/TAuetCEGGa One-hundred-seventy-six! At 15 years old! That’s a higher number than the PGA Tour average, a spot Irishman Shane Lowry occupied for the 2024 season. Lowry ranked 95th on the PGA Tour in ball speed, averaging 173.65 miles per hour. Scottie Scheffler , the best player in the world, had an average ball speed of 176.29, good for 64th on tour. Yes, Charlie produced a ball speed similar to that of the reigning Masters champion with this drive on Friday. To calculate these figures, the tour uses the peak speed of the golf ball at launch on tee shots on only par-4s and par-5s. Of course, it only uses drives where a valid radar measurement is taken. For further perspective, Cameron Champ led the tour with an average ball speed of 190.12 miles per hour, which is preposterous. Min Woo Lee ranked second, and Rory McIlroy was third at 185.58. All three of these players are big hitters, which explains why they comprise the top three in ball speed. Charlie can bomb it, too, as he even drove the green at last year’s PNC Championship . Considering his ball speed on Friday, it would be no surprise that he did something similar this time. Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Follow him on X @jack_milko .

Acentra Health Campaign Raises $31,000 to Help Southeastern U.S. Communities Recover from Hurricane Devastation