50 jili.com
2025-01-13   

50 jili.com As the year draws to a close, I thought it would be an interesting exercise to provide a sort of state of the union on the year’s movie monsters —a quick analysis of what’s still regarded to be scary . However, upon reflection, what was envisioned as 21st century bestiary began to look less like a Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual and more like the aisles of my local Walmart. As the old world dies and the new world struggles to be born, it seems the monsters of 2024 may represent the same fears, but have taken on a more mundane hue. As I’m not sure what to do with this information, submitted for your approval is io9’s 2024 monster revue. The Familiar In a year that saw the re-election of a former president to office, an ongoing war in the Middle East, escalating nuclear brinksmanship, and the return of bird flu, 2024 carried with it a grimy sense of repetition. The feeling we’re going to double down on exactly what we tried earlier, only more so, with a full trilogy of material in a mind so it’s bound to pay off like never before, right? It’s no coincidence, then, that the year that was saw new variations of A Quiet Place , Alien, The Omen, Rosemary’s Baby, Beetlejuice, Ghostbusters, Godzilla, Hellboy, Salem’s Lot, The Crow, The Strangers —even Witchboard , the likes of which we haven’t heard from since a direct-to-video sequel in 1995. Currently, it seems like there’s no end in sight for the return of recognizable IP of yesteryear, with new Saw, Conjuring, Insidious, Fear Street, I Know What You Did Last Summer , and Final Destination movies scheduled for release next year. Not to mention 28 Years Later , another nostalgia piece boasting a trailer on track to become the most-watched horror trailer of all time. As we enter 2025, this “devil you know” attitude will extend to Universal once again doubling down on its stable of classic monsters, trading the company’s previous attempt at a shared cinematic universe for bespoke takes on Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, and The Mummy from no less than the likes of Guillermo del Toro, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Leigh Whannell, and Lee Cronin, respectively. Today even sees the release of a new Nosferatu , replete with a marketing campaign hopeful to make its cozy gothic trappings into a new Christmas tradition. It’s interesting then that movie audiences have largely rejected vampires—with an emphasis on this vampire, in particular—the last few years with films like Abigail, Renfield, and The Last Voyage of the Demeter failing to make much of an impact on either the culture or box office. The hallmarks of Dracula and/or Nosferatu —feeding on the blood of others, self-isolating, yet maintaining tremendous wealth and influence over others—these are good things wholly endorsed by the culture. The kids call it being “sigma.” What feels particularly new about this ongoing trend of sticking with what we know, though, is the sudden reverence we’ve developed toward the humble slasher genre—formally regarded to be horror’s bottom-of the-barrel. Though yesterday’s cultural detritus becoming tomorrow’s critical darlings is nothing new (recent Best Picture winners have included stories about a fish-man falling in love with a human woman; a universe where people evolved pork products in place of phalanges; and a socially minded take on the ABC Movie of the Week, Bad Ronald ), nothing that’s achieved this level of cultural significance has been so laser-focused on gore effects. The two-and-half-hour Terrifier movies have more in common with the films of Herschell Gordon Lewis than Dario Argento. In a Violent Nature, which reimagined a film like Friday the 13th or Madman from the perspective of its undead killer, added an experimental flourish to the genre’s classically simple narrative, emphasizing the thin wall differentiating films like these from the French New Wave really are the occasional splats of blood. Though the envelope-pushing Terrifier franchise may seem like a litmus test for human empathy, it should be noted people legitimately like Art the Clown and his unrated Harpo Marx-meets-Freddy Krueger routine. Anything too subversive wouldn’t be able to find this audience. It’s for this reason I’m legitimately intrigued by a movie that did not come out this year: Macon Blair’s remake of The Toxic Avenger . Something about a politically motivated judge, jury, and executioner of big business assets was deemed too radioactive to release. I wonder why... Media Convergent with the continued popularity of the slasher film has been the taboo-shredding approach of having them star children’s characters who have recently slipped into the public domain. In the last year, new slashers have been announced starring Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, Bambi, Popeye, Steamboat Willie, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, the Little Mermaid, and the Mad Hatter. Something about transposing characters meant to draw as much revenue as possible into the realm of bloodthirsty killers feels “correct” in a way that’s both timely and inevitable—not to mention punk rock. Once a IP falls into the hands of the people, is not the only moral thing to do to turn into a monster? Especially if all roads have lead to 2024, the consensus must be Mickey and company sold us a bill of goods the first time around. One need only lightly dust YouTube these days for an endless array of video essays on dark Pokémon theories or an unusually frightening PlayStation 2 game starring Piglet. In these circles, a lost Cartoon Network bumper or unproduced episode of SpongeBob Squarepants is spoken of in the same hushed reverence as unexploded nuclear ordinance. When everything is available online, something that isn’t—no matter how innocuous—suddenly becomes suspicious and arcane. If we used to tell children scary stories so they wouldn’t venture into the woods alone, lost media hunters must at least be deterring each other from sharing their credit card info with seedy collectors on the dark net. Recent films like I Saw the TV Glow understand the sort of fanatical devotion investing too much of yourself in children’s media can bring—the kind people used to describe as “Lovecraftian,” but is now referred to by terms like “Disney Adult.” To a generation where Cthulhu has been available as a plush doll their entire life, the Great Old Ones may just as well have been Garfield and friends, all along. Smile 2 is another film from the last year to understand this, following on the heels of films like The Ring and It Follows , where curses are spread as transmissible memes that move like viruses—and even our celebrities aren’t immune. As of 2024, “cosmic” horror is strictly earthbound and though the beliefs of its media savvy cultists may seem silly to you, you don’t need to believe in the destructive powers of their particular fandom as long as they do. Technology The last year has also seen a number of movies monster-ifying AI and bleeding-edge technology—movies like Subservience and Afraid , in which machines meant to improve our quality of life are personally invited into the home, vampire-like, only to reveal some unsavory appetites of their own. However, as terrified as we are of robots taking our jobs, we’ve paradoxically also collectively lost faith in the concept of technological progress. We’ve had movies about homicidal robot nannies, toys, smart homes, and personal assistants, but we’ve yet to reach that “singularity” in which this burgeoning technology does anything scarier than being better at the thing you’ve outrageously defined yourself to be. As our government continues to admit our airspace is and has always been occupied by physics-defying aircraft beyond human comprehension, I’m reminded of Jordan Peele’s 2022 feature Nope , which suggested UFOs are secretly some sort of insatiably hungry, atmospheric beast our zoologists have yet to recognize or catalog. Somehow, it’s easier to believe. Which brings us to... Life Itself/Old People Much like AI replacing us in the workforce, one of the more curious trends of the last year have been a string of monster movies focusing on—in one form or another—doppelgängers. Whether a heretofore unknown biological entity as in Cuckoo , a demonic presence as in Never Let Go and Daddy’s Head , or a voluntarily engineered proxy of oneself as in The Substance , the anxiety at the heart of these stories resides not in becoming a monster, personally, but in being superseded by one—and potentially missing out on the cool things a monster gets to do. Nightbitch , a recent film in which Amy Adams transforms into a dog as an expression of her repressed rage, is posed as a net positive. The idea of losing control has tremendous appeal lately. Just like Demi Moore’s fear of irrelevancy in The Substance , the real fear is being left behind. Speaking of, if 2024 could be defined by a single persistent boogeyman, the title would unanimously have to be given to old people. Films like Heretic, Apartment 7A, and Alien: Romulus , have featured the elderly (if not the outrightly late, as in the specter of poor Ian Holm in Romulus ) tormenting the young for a plethora of reasons, varying from financial gain to merely proving they’re still relevant from the comfort of their own booby-trapped homes. People often fail to see a distinction between mummies and zombies, but the difference between them is noteworthy. Mummies are distinct from zombies in that a zombie is something clinically dead, but somehow still behaves as if it’s alive. A mummy is something that by all means should be dead, yet somehow biologically is still alive—just as how the Kharis’s heart continues to beat by virtue of the tana leaves in Universal’s The Mummy’s Hand , The Mummy’s Tomb , The Mummy’s Ghost, and The Mummy’s Curse . With the release of Nosferatu today, in Count Orlok we have a familiar, elderly, copyright-infringing ghoul from the dawn of film who simply refuses to go away. The right man for the time, indeed.

Hezbollah leaders also signalled tentative backing for the US-brokered deal, which offers both sides an off-ramp from hostilities that have driven more than 1.2 million Lebanese and 50,000 Israelis from their homes. An intense bombing campaign by Israel has killed more than 3,700 people, many of them civilians, Lebanese officials say. But while the deal, set to take effect early Wednesday, could significantly calm the tensions that have inflamed the region, it does little directly to resolve the much deadlier war that has raged in Gaza since the Hamas attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that killed 1,200 people. Hezbollah, which began firing scores of rockets into Israel the following day in support of Hamas, has previously said it would keep fighting until there was a stop to the fighting in Gaza. Here’s what to know about the tentative ceasefire agreement and its potential implications: – The terms of the deal The agreement reportedly calls for a 60-day halt in fighting that would see Israeli troops retreat to their side of the border while requiring Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swathe of southern Lebanon. Us President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that the deal is set to take effect at 4am local time on Wednesday. Under the deal, thousands of Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers are to deploy to the region south of the Litani River. An international panel lead by the US would monitor compliance by all sides. Mr Biden said the deal “was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” Israel has demanded the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations. Lebanese officials have rejected writing that into the proposal. Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, insisted on Tuesday that the military would strike Hezbollah if the UN peacekeeping force, known as Unifil, does not provide “effective enforcement” of the deal. – Lingering uncertainty A Hezbollah leader said the group’s support for the deal hinged on clarity that Israel would not renew its attacks. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Qatari satellite news network Al Jazeera. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state” of Lebanon, he said. The European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said on Tuesday that Israel’s security concerns had been addressed in the deal also brokered by France. – Where the fighting has left both sides After months of cross-border bombings, Israel can claim major victories, including the killing of Hezbollah’s top leader, Hassan Nasrallah, most of his senior commanders and the destruction of extensive militant infrastructure. A complex attack in September involving the explosion of hundreds of walkie-talkies and pagers used by Hezbollah was widely attributed to Israel, signalling a remarkable penetration of the militant group. The damage inflicted on Hezbollah has come not only in its ranks, but to the reputation it built by fighting Israel to a stalemate in the 2006 war. Still, its fighters managed to put up heavy resistance on the ground, slowing Israel’s advance while continuing to fire scores of rockets, missiles and drones across the border each day. The ceasefire offers relief to both sides, giving Israel’s overstretched army a break and allowing Hezbollah leaders to tout the group’s effectiveness in holding their ground despite Israel’s massive advantage in weaponry. But the group is likely to face a reckoning, with many Lebanese accusing it of tying their country’s fate to Gaza’s at the service of key ally Iran, inflicting great damage on a Lebanese economy that was already in a grave condition. – No answers for Gaza Until now, Hezbollah has insisted that it would only halt its attacks on Israel when it agreed to stop fighting in Gaza. Some in the region are likely to view a deal between the Lebanon-based group and Israel as a capitulation. In Gaza, where officials say the war has killed more than 44,000 Palestinians, Israel’s attacks have inflicted a heavy toll on Hamas, including the killing of the group’s top leaders. But Hamas fighters continue to hold scores of Israeli hostages, giving the militant group a bargaining chip if indirect ceasefire negotiations resume. Hamas is likely to continue to demand a lasting truce and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in any such deal. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas offered a pointed reminder on Tuesday of the intractability of the war, demanding urgent international intervention. “The only way to halt the dangerous escalation we are witnessing in the region, and maintain regional and international stability, security and peace, is to resolve the question of Palestine,” he said in a speech to the UN read by his ambassador.

Syria: the latest domino to fall in the Middle East

Whole Of Govt Approach Should Be Adopted To Achieve Socio-Economic Goals: LG Pays tribute to Vajpayee, Malaviya JAMMU: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today paid tribute to former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya on the occasion of their birth anniversary. Addressing a commemorative event at Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya Inter College in Ghazipur, the Lieutenant Governor said, Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee represent the conscience of Bharat. He said the vision of the two giant leaders paved the way for socio-economic transformation of the nation. “Mahamana’s relentless pursuit to public welfare and nation building had shaped the idea of self-reliant, modern and united India. The vision of Mahamana had opened up new frontiers in education, technology and industrial development of the country,” the Lieutenant Governor said. Paying homage to Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Lieutenant Governor spoke on the lifelong campaigns of the former Prime Minister dedicated to nation building and public welfare. “Nation should be supreme for an individual. To ensure this Atal Ji gave us the principles of ‘Indianization’ and ‘Nation-First’. Every section of society should work together to make the country self-reliant with undivided loyalty,” he said. The Lieutenant Governor called upon the people, especially the youth to rededicate themselves to the ideals of Mahamana and Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and strive to build a progressive society and work unitedly to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat. “We do not have to live in the past but we must take inspiration from history to build a brighter future,” he said. He highlighted that the Youth have a very important role to play in taking public services to the grassroots levels. To achieve this, we need to start shaping a new framework for Jan-Bhagidari and use new technologies for transparency and accountability at all levels, he added. “Unity is our greatest strength. Young generation must unite the society with determination. I want to see every hand working like a skilled sculptor to create a beautiful, victorious and prosperous India. I want to see a sense of responsibility, steadfastness towards duties and steely determination in every youth towards nation-building,” the Lieutenant Governor said. The Lieutenant Governor emphasised that our cultural ideals and values should be paramount for the new political and economic system. “Today is the opportunity for us to build a brighter tomorrow for the country and to ensure that societal attitude is changed towards responsibilities. Whole of Government Approach should be adopted to achieve socio-economic goals,” the Lieutenant Governor observed.NEW YORK — Juan Soto put on a New York Mets jersey and cap for the first time Thursday after his record $765 million, 15-year contract was finalized and talked about what made the difference in his decision. “They showed me a lot of love. ... How they're going to make it comfortable for me,” he said. "That's one of the things I was looking for." Soto was introduced at Citi Field a day after his deal was finalized. Speaking in the Piazza 31 Club, he was flanked by Mets owner Steve Cohen, president of baseball operations David Stearns and his agent, Scott Boras. “They always talk about family. They always talk about stick(ing) together,” Soto said. “That's one of the things that opened my eyes.” Security men in gray suits wearing earpieces were off to the side. People are also reading... Soto walked in led by Boras, wearing a dark suit, black turtle neck shirt and gold chain with his No. 22. “I’m excited by the Mets future,” Cohen said. “I think this accelerates our goal of winning championships.” Soto chose the Mets' offer on Sunday, deciding to leave the Yankees after helping them reach the World Series in his only season in the Bronx. Adames plans to play every day for Giants SAN FRANCISCO — Willy Adames wasted little time making one thing clear: He wants to play all 162 games for the San Francisco Giants. So when introduced as their new shortstop Thursday, Adames looked to his left and gently put a hand on manager Bob Melvin's right shoulder, smiled and said, “if he lets me.” Melvin might not need much convincing, thrilled to suddenly have stability at a position that lacked continuity this year in his first season as skipper. Adames didn't hesitate to also offer a thought to new boss Buster Posey: He plans to win a few championships with the Giants just like the catcher-turned-executive did here. Surrounded by his parents and other family and friends, Adames was formally introduced and welcomed at Oracle Park after signing a $182 million, seven-year contract — the first big, splashy move made by Posey since he became President of Baseball Operations in late September. “There’s no words to describe my feeling right now to be here in this beautiful city, I’m just so happy to be here,” Adames said. "... This is a dream come true for me. I’m thrilled to be here, I’m so excited. Hopefully we can win a few championships like you did, and that’s one of the main reasons I’m here.” Franco trial delayed five months PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, was postponed on Thursday and scheduled to resume June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Only three out of 31 witnesses arrived to the hearing on Thursday. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. “There is no case against Wander, for as many witnesses as they present, there is no case now,” Franco's lead lawyer Teodosio Jáquez told The Associated Press after the hearing. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Kyiv’s former military commander in chief said the direct involvement of Russian allies in Ukraine means that World War III has officially begun. “I believe that in 2024 we can absolutely believe that the Third World War has begun,” former military chief Valery Zaluzhny warned Thursday, according to Politico . Zaluzhny, who now serves as Ukraine’s envoy to the UK, said Kyiv’s conflict is now on a global scale following the deployment of North Korean troops in Russia earlier this month. Along with the presence of North Korean and Iranian weapons on the frontlines, Zaluzhny said his nation was besieged by international forces, urging Kyiv’s allies to respond in kind. “It is obvious that Ukraine already has too many enemies. Ukraine will survive with technology, but it is not clear whether it can win this battle alone,” he said. Zaluzhny’s grim warning came during the second Ukrainska Pravda’s UP100 award ceremony, which celebrates 100 leaders of Ukrainian civil society, politics, military, business, sports and culture. The former military chief’s warning carries weight in Kyiv given his success in fighting off the initial Russian invasion in 2022, despite his ouster earlier this year amid growing tensions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The speech comes as the war saw a significant escalation this week, with Russia firing a new kind of ballistic missile at Ukraine on Thursday. Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed his forces fired a medium-range, hypersonic missile at a facility in Dnipro, correcting initial reports that a full intercontinental ballistic missile was used. “This is a clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war,” Zelensky said of the attack on one of Ukraine’s largest cities. Putin said the missiles would be used against any nation arming Ukraine, a clear warning to the US and UK, which have greenlit Kyiv’s use of their long-range weapons in Russia. As the heavy fire increases, Moscow has also amassed 50,000 Russian and North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region to try and take back the territory from Ukraine. Kyiv had launched a surprise counter-invasion in Kursk over the summer, capturing dozens of towns and transport hubs that humiliated the Kremlin’s forces. The presence of more than 10,000 North Korean troops in Moscow was cited by US and UK officials as the key catalyst for their decision to approve long-range weapon attacks into Russia. With Post wiresDr. Dina Al Rameni and her transplant team at Hartford HealthCare delivered a ground-breaking, life-saving gift right before the holidays, performing what they said is the first beating heart transplant in Connecticut. This past summer, 62-year-old Sharon Mack of East Hartford, was diagnosed with heart failure and was placed on the heart transplant list. “Before my heart transplant, I couldn’t even walk 10 feet without stopping to catch my breath,” Mack said. “If I was at the grocery store I had to lean on the cart to hold myself up. I was short of breath a lot. I just couldn’t do much. Everything I did took time and it felt like my body was shutting down.” Mack was waiting for her heart for four months and was at high risk for rejection, according to Al Rameni. “She had end-stage heart failure and was dependent on medication that needed to be infused through a line into her heart for her to function on a daily basis,” Al Rameni said. “She was struggling with that for years, and when I saw her in July, I told her she would be a good candidate for a heart transplant. We just had to find the one organ she wasn’t going to reject.” Al Rameni said if Mack didn’t get a new heart, she would have gone into multi-organ failure because the heart wouldn’t be able to pump enough blood throughout the body. “It was a late-night transplant, and everyone was asleep when we learned the heart was coming and in the transplant world those are the hours we work,” Al Rameni said. “We have to be ready to go. These patients have been on the transplant list for weeks and months and Sharon’s surgery was overnight. It was a very peaceful night with great energy.” Al Rameni and her team performed the groundbreaking transplant on Nov. 13. She was one of a five-person team in the operating room during the four-hour procedure. “I got the call that day saying that there was a heart for me,” Mack said. “I was thinking how I was going to start my day first, shower or eat. I showered and I’m glad that I did because they said it was a good thing that I hadn’t eaten yet. “My psychiatrist got me in the right mindset and put me in the right head space,” she added. “She told me to let it go and let people take care of me. The team at Hartford Hospital really cares about their patients. I consider them family. They were so great to me.” Hours after the surgery, Al Rameni stopped in to see her and the two shared a fist bump. “Sharon had a breathing tube out the first day out of surgery and was already sitting in a chair on the first day,” Al Rameni said. “She was eating her breakfast. I was so proud of her. What I liked about Sharon is that she connected on a personal level with the staff. Everyone loved her. ... She was willing to fight the fight. Sharon’s a star. “I’m very invested in my job and my patients,” Al Rameni added. “This is the best gift I can give. We had the perfect donor. It was a perfect size match. This is very rewarding seeing my patient living her life with no issues. I think it’s very gratifying. My friends know that my happiness is 100 percent with how my patients are doing.” Al Rameni said less than 100 of these transplants have been performed throughout the United States. According to Al Rameni, the procedure can improve transplant outcomes and could revolutionize how transplants are performed. “The heart is transplanted on a machine in the Organ Care System that keeps the heart in a beating state, and it’s preserved in a good environment. This is fascinating technology,” Al Rameni said. According to the FDA , “The OCS Heart System supplies donor hearts with oxygen and nutrients by passing fluids through the heart (perfusion). The device also measures and displays preservation metrics, such as temperature and pressure.” Typically donated hearts are flown into the hospital on ice from no more than four hours away. Beating heart transplants travel with mechanics that allow the heart to continue to beat and that allows more time and can come from further away. “This new advancement and new technology allows us to implant hearts that are further away,” Al Rameni said. The first-ever beating heart transplant took place in October 2022 by Dr. Joseph Woo at Stanford University School of Medicine. Al Rameni said the surgery can be very difficult to perform. “It’s different and technically challenging because the heart is moving,” Al Rameni said. “It’s like shooting a moving target compared to shooting a still target, which is quicker and less challenging. But I had a great team with me that helped me hold it in a certain position. In the end, it’s still a heart transplant. I’m making the five connections and sowing them in, except this time we did it with a beating heart.” Al Rameni, who joined the Hartford Hospital staff just five months ago, has been a part of 11 heart transplants and has headed five transplants including the beating heart transplant. Hartford HealthCare performs an average of 35 heart transplants a year, which is on par with Yale-New Haven for the most in the state. Al Rameni said Mack was a good candidate for the new procedure. “Obviously when you are trying something new, they are skeptical, but I believed in the science,” Al Rameni said. “I discussed it with my colleagues and we decided to do it.” Al Rameni said Mack was able to leave the hospital in six days “and her heart was beating naturally right away. Her body accepted it very well and this was very encouraging.” Mack said she’s happy to make history in Connecticut with her new heart. “I didn’t know I was the first-ever in the state to have the beating heart transplant until my doctor told me. I thought I was the first in Hartford Hospital,” she said. “It was a blessing and I was so happy and the fact that it was a beating heart could have made a difference with my recovery and sped up my progress. It was already beating and ready to go. My doctors were in awe. They said I was truly a miracle.” Mack said she was ready to start moving around the day after the surgery. “I didn’t feel any pain. I wasn’t sore or hurting or anything,” Mack said. “I asked the nurses in the ICU to walk with me and I did two laps around the floor and then I did five the next day. The next day I did 10. Then I told them to let me do it on my own and just be there to catch me if I fell.” Mack said she was climbing stairs on her third day with her new heart. The health professionals had her start doing tasks like folding clothes so she could be prepared to be ready to go back home.” A month later, Mack said she is feeling great and is in no pain. Mack, who grew up in Hartford, has five children who all live in the area. She also has 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She is currently staying with one of her daughters and will be moving to a new house in East Hartford. She invited Al Rameni and many of the caretakers who took care of her. “She asked me to bring a fancy wine,” Al Rameni said with a laugh. “This was a perfect fit for Sharon and the heart was the one missing piece.” “They are my miracle medical family,” Mack said. “Every one of them was such a blessing for me. They wanted me to do well, and they gave me the motivation and helped me do this.” She said she currently has no trouble climbing up and down the stairs but occasionally uses a cane. “I’m very mobile and this is not what I expected,” Mack said. “They thought I would be under 24-hour care but I’m basically doing everything on my own. I cook on my own. I thought I was going to be in the hospital for a month ... I listen to my body. When my body is telling me to rest, then I rest. I’m still healing.” Mack said one change is she gets very emotional. “I am so blessed. This is such a blessing to get this heart. The entire Hartford Hospital team brought me where I’m at. I didn’t get here by myself.” Mack said. “I wasn’t afraid. I felt I was in good hands and I had nothing to worry about.” Mack said doesn’t have any big plans with her new heart. She said she wants to go to the beach or the mall without having to keep sitting down. “I am looking forward to having that freedom to keep moving. It’s those simple things you take for granted,” Mack said.Harrisburg, Pa. — The Pa. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reviews over 45,000 permit applications every year. The department announced on Nov. 19 that it has cleared 75% of its total backlog since Nov. 1 of last year, and has completely cleared its backlog of oil and gas permits. “At DEP we are moving at the speed of business — taking care of backlogged permits and not adding to the list — while protecting clean air and water and public health,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “We’ve invested in people and technology to meet the needs of the people and businesses of Pennsylvania and those investments are paying off.” Some applications submitted to DEP include requests for land clearing to start construction projects; air quality permits for factories and power plants; permits to upgrade drinking water systems to remove chemicals like PFAS; and permits to install oil and gas wells. The department is working on modernizing the permitting process through hiring 225 new employees, investigating and addressing bottlenecks, and implementing technological advancements. Its backlog reduction initiative began Nov. 1, 2023, when DEP had over 2,400 applications to process. Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 application pilot programs are underway in limited counties to expedite processing, which so far have cut down processing times by 63-73 days. Through these programs, applicants meet with DEP representatives to check for errors prior to submitting an application. DEP sped up its permitting process in part through the PAyback program, which went into effect in November 2023. The program gives a moneyback guarantee for permit applicants if their application is overdue. Since going into effect, DEP has evaluated more than 40,000 permits without having to refund an application fee. On Nov. 15, 2024, DEP reported that it had eliminated 1,750 applications from its backlog, or 73%, while also keeping up with new application reviews. In the Office of Oil and Gas Management, staff have reviewed and made decisions on all 115 permit applications received before Nov. 1, 2023. DEP is planning on implementing the SPEED program, which is part of the 2024-25 Pa. budget. This program lets permit applicants have a DEP-verified professional conduct an initial review of the application. DEP will then review the professional's recommendations and either make a final decision or provide feedback about technical deficiencies to the applicant. The SPEED program will be available for certain air quality plans; earth disturbance; dam safety; and individual water obstruction and encroachment permits.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), producer of the Chicago Auto Show, released the dates and plans for the 2025 event, which will be held Feb. 8-17 at McCormick Place. Showgoers can once again expect an engaging show with the latest new vehicles, outdoor ride-and-drives and indoor test tracks, including the return of Chicago Drives Electric, a one-stop-shop for electric vehicle ride-alongs and education, organizers said. "The Chicago Auto Show is a cherished winter tradition, and we can't wait to once again welcome attendees to experience the thrill of the latest technology and safety features of today's cars, trucks, and SUVs," Chicago Auto Show Chairwoman Kelly Webb Roberts said. "The vehicle offerings on the show floor are more diverse now than ever before. So, whether you're looking for a sporty sedan, full-sized family car, electrified vehicle, off-roading wheels, luxury ride or something in between, you will certainly find it at the show." The Chicago Drives Electric indoor EV test track will return, expanding from one track to two, providing attendees the opportunity to get inside the latest EVs to experience the power of electrified vehicles. In addition to the ride-alongs, consumers may visit the EV education hub to learn more about pressing EV topics including at-home charging, range anxiety, maintenance, and associated EV ownership costs. During the 2024 Chicago Auto Show , 71% of attendees who test drove or rode along in an EV at the show cited that their experience improved their opinion of owning an EV, and 53% of attendees who experienced an EV at the show said they were now more likely to purchase an electric vehicle, organizers said. "Based on the research, we learned that once people experience an EV, they feel more comfortable with the idea of owning one," Chicago Auto Show General Manager Jennifer Morand said. "We look forward to bringing this popular, educational and hands-on experience back indoors to the Chicago Auto Show. In 2025, attendees will encounter more brands and models added to two EV test tracks, allowing consumers to cross-shop and experience a wide range of EVs all in one location." The 2025 show is bringing back special themed days and events including: -Toyota Miles Per Hour Run on Sunday, Feb. 9: Runners can experience the auto show via a 2.4-mile loop inside McCormick Place before the event doors open to the public. - First Responders & Military Appreciation Day on Tuesday, Feb. 11: Present your badge or military ID for free entry. Guests that accompany first responders or military personnel on this day receive a voucher for $5 off adult admission. - Automotive Career Day on Wednesday, Feb. 12: Students of all ages are encouraged to come learn more about various careers within the automotive industry through a series of presentations and activations; special ticket price offered for advanced sales at $10 per ticket. - Chicago Auto Show Food Drive held Wednesday-Friday, Feb. 12-14: Bring three cans of food for A Safe Haven's Food Bank and get a $5 voucher off regular admission. - Chicago Friday Night Flights on Friday, Feb. 14: A one-of-a-kind indoor craft beer sampling event, along with full access to the show. New and exciting experiences at the 2025 show will include: - Overlanding Chicago is a space dedicated to overlanding and outdoor lifestyle. This new area on the show floor is expected to draw a unique crowd of show goers looking to explore a life outside the urban jungle with their vehicles. With a focus on the overlanding lifestyle, the space will feature manufacturer displays of specialty vehicles, upfitting vendors, off-road accessories, and much more. Plus, a dedicated space focusing on demonstrations, education, and specific product features. - Family Fun Zone is an exciting, dedicated area on the show floor designed for families and aimed at entertaining children aged 2-16. This safe and fun environment allows kids to enjoy themselves while being immersed in the auto show experience. - Exclusive VIP Tours of the show floor led in-person by the best and brightest in the automotive industry. Four specialty tours will be offered, allowing guests to find a tour that matches their preferred interests. The 60-minute tours will be focused on family vehicles, SUV and outdoor vehicles, electrified vehicles and auto enthusiasts. VIP tours will only be offered on Friday, Feb. 7, and will include an extended opportunity for an exclusive look at the show floor before it opens to the public. A limited number of tickets for the tours, each offered twice, will be available for pre-purchase at ChicagoAutoShow.com in the coming weeks. "The Chicago Auto Show is always designed with consumers at the heart of everything we do," Morand said. "From hands-on experiences to showcasing the most innovative advancements in the industry, the show is all about connecting people with the technology and vehicles that are shaping the future. This year's show is a testament to our commitment to delivering a dynamic and engaging experience for every attendee." The show's 2025 Media Preview will be held Feb. 6-7 and its black-tie charity gala, First Look for Charity, will be held the evening of Friday, Feb. 7 at McCormick Place. Since its inception, First Look for Charity has raised more than $63 million for local charities, positively impacting individuals in the Chicagoland community. Attendees can once again expect an evening of gourmet food, beverages, musical entertainment and even the chance to win a brand-new 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV or a 2025 Hyundai Palisade, all while supporting those in need. Tickets and more information for First Look for Charity can be found at FirstLookforCharity.org . Tickets to the 2025 Chicago Auto Show are currently on sale at ChicagoAutoShow.com . The 2025 show runs Feb. 8-17 at McCormick Place and opens to the public daily at 10 a.m. Adult ticket prices are $17; seniors ages 62 and older are $12; children ages 4-12 are $12; kids 3 and younger are free. Show hours vary by day so please check the site for details. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit ChicagoAutoShow.com . First staged in 1901, the Chicago Auto Show is the nation's longest running auto exposition in North America. The show is produced by the Chicagoland's new-car dealer association, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association, which has staged the show since 1935. The 2025 public show is Feb. 8-17 at McCormick Place. For more information and the latest updates, visit ChicagoAutoShow.com . Founded in 1904 and located in Oakbrook Terrace, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association is comprised of more than 400 franchised new-car dealers and an additional 150 allied members. The group's dealer members employ about 19,000 people in the metropolitan area. The association has produced the world famous Chicago Auto Show since 1935. For more information, please visit www.CATA.info . The video in the player above features the 2024 auto show.BY JONATHAN D. EPSTEIN Dec. 10, 2024 Feeling the Bliss With town approval already in hand, developer Paul Bliss is hoping to start construction this spring on his newest apartment venture in the Amherst – right between two of his other projects. But first, he is seeking more than $1.4 million in tax breaks from the Amherst Industrial Development Agency to help finance the project at the northwest corner of Main Street and Transit Road. A rendering of developer Paul Bliss' proposed new project at 6810 Main St., near Transit Road. After seeing success with multifamily buildings at the same intersection, Bliss is planning to erect a five-story building at 6810 Main, featuring 13,500 square feet of ground-floor commercial or retail space along the southern portion of the building, with 34 market-rate apartments on the second through fifth floors. That is between his four-year-old project at 6670-6790 Main St., dubbed The Tennyson, and his newly completed $18.7 million building at 6842-6846 Main, called The Pointe at Main and Transit. The latter, which just opened two weeks ago, has 67 units and is now leasing, while the older $5.6 million complex has two buildings with 32 apartments that are fully leased, plus his firm's headquarters. Both received Amherst IDA tax breaks. The newest proposal, called Tennyson III, represents a further investment in the neighborhood. The $14.4 million project calls for the 61,600-square-foot building to be constructed on a 2.2-acre site that includes five properties at 6812, 6814 and 6832 Main and 29 and 37 Tennyson Terrace. The Main Street pieces are zoned general business, while the Tennyson parcels are single-family residential. This aging retail plaza on Main Street in Amherst just west of Transit Road would be demolished and replaced by a new five-story mixed-use building at 6810 Main, under a proposal by developer Paul Bliss. Those parcels currently contain an aging 18,500-square-foot one-story retail strip plaza from 1970 that is half-empty and two single-family homes, all of which will be demolished, as well as additional vacant land. The new building will be located along Main, with 105 surface parking spaces behind it and 12 detached garages, in a pair of six-car buildings on the back side of the parking lot. The building will feature six one-bedroom and 28 two-bedroom apartments. About 20% of the apartments, or seven units, will be considered workforce housing, priced to be affordable to households earning no more than 80% of the area median income. The site is located in a town Enhancement Area designed for "redevelopment of obsolete and underutilized parcels," according to IDA documents, and the project received town Planning Board approval in May, as well as zoning variances a year ago. It's also consistent with the town's Comprehensive Plan, the developer argued. Bliss hopes to start construction in May, with completion by March 2026. Bliss is asking the Amherst IDA for $923,592 in property tax breaks over 10 years, $436,406 in sales tax relief and $80,775 in mortgage-recording tax abatement. He asked the agency to delay consideration until January while he incorporates a playground or park along Tennyson. In his application, he cites the need to overcome extra costs for site development and demolition, adhering to the town's design standards, cost increase for material and labor, higher interest rates and stricter lending requirements, such as higher equity contribution. In a twist, he also cites the need for including workforce housing – even though inclusion of workforce housing is necessary to be considered for the tax breaks. An independent evaluation of the project's feasibility by Camoin Associates, commissioned by the IDA, found Bliss' proposed rents to be higher than local benchmarks, and higher than income limits for the workforce housing units. Even so, it concluded that the project would lose money after five years without help, would have just $57,799 in cash flow and a low rate of return with AIDA assistance, and Bliss would not recoup the investment after 10 years. – Jonathan D. Epstein Welcome to Buffalo Next. This newsletter from The Buffalo News will bring you the latest coverage on the changing Buffalo Niagara economy – from real estate to health care to startups. Read more at BuffaloNext.com . Shining a light Solar projects are still all the rage. The Amherst Industrial Development Agency approved nearly $300,000 in tax breaks for a 4.4-megawatt solar farm in the northern part of town, on New Road. The $10.3 million project by Depew-based National Energy Development calls for construction of the array on most of a 43-acre vacant property at 1050 New Road that NED would acquire from the current owner, WCF Properties. The site is zoned as suburban agricultural. The renewable energy company would then subdivide the property, taking 39.6 acres for its project, while cutting the remaining land into three single-family residential lots of just over an acre each. The solar project would be constructed on the rear 21.9 acres, with 9.7 acres to remain vacant in the middle of the property. It would include 8,100 solar panels and four equipment pods. The Amherst IDA last month approved $217,392 in sales tax breaks on a maximum of $2.48 million in equipment purchases and $76,025 in mortgage-recording tax abatement, as well as a 25-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes on the property, under which NED would pay $4,700 per megawatt, increasing by 2% a year. Construction is expected to start by April 15, 2025, and finish by Oct. 15. The project would create two part-time jobs, paying $8,000 each, and includes a $40,000 host community benefit agreement. THE LATEST Micron has finalized the financing of its massive $6 billion chip plant in Syracuse - and that's good news for the Buffalo Niagara region's hope to build its tech sector . An Orchard Park medical device maker is cutting 80 jobs - a quarter of its local staff. As the state ramps up its glacially slow pace of granting legal cannabis licenses, one industry group now worries the process will go too fast - and create too much competition. A Buffalo law firm is forming a strategic partnership with a local political lobbying firm. A panel monitoring the Buffalo Bills Community Benefits Agreement wants more details on who's getting construction contracts - and the Bills are balking at providing it. With demise of Braymiller , will downtown Buffalo ever get another grocery store? The snowstorms of the past week have been exactly what local ski areas have been hoping for . Buffalo officials are seeking a $2 million Restore NY grant to repair the downtown hostel buildings . A Buffalo housing court judge is losing patience with the owner of the Buffalo Grand Hotel and Wonder Bread building. Sumitomo Rubber USA reached an agreement with its unionized former workers on a severance package. A Clarence plaza is getting a major makeover that will add apartments and townhouses, along with more commercial space. Ingram Micro is cutting 850 jobs across its operations , but isn't specifying the impact on its Western New York workforce. Federal regulators have lifted the consent order that Lake Shore Savings Bank operated under for nearly two years. Work is beginning this week on People Inc.'s latest housing project in Western New York. Hundreds of former Sumitomo Rubber workers flocked to the Lincoln Park Athletic Center in the Town of Tonawanda on Tuesday for a job fair. ICYMI Five reads from Buffalo Next: 1. Buffalo Niagara Partnership sees new home as a 'hub' . Business group preparing to move to Cobblestone District. 2. Report notes pay gap between men and women has significant economic effects in NY. Women's Foundation of WNY says gap impacts women into retirement. 3. Sumitomo, union reach separation agreement. The deal covers about 1,200 Steelworkers who lost their jobs when the plant closed. 4. Lake Shore Bank freed from order that found 'unsafe and unsound business practices'. Federal regulators announced the consent order nearly two years ago. 5. Ingram Micro not specifying Western New York cuts. The technology company has 1,250 employees in Amherst. The Buffalo Next team gives you the big picture on the region’s economic revitalization. Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com or reach Buffalo Next Editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435. Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com . Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! News Business Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items."We had another outstanding quarter with record revenue and positive Adjusted EBITDA...We are very excited with our VSDHOne release and onboarding clients to increase our growth pace” - Shane Madden, CEO of Hydreight VANCOUVER, British Columbia and LAS VEGAS, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hydreight Technologies Inc. (" Hydreight ” or the "Company ”) ( TSXV: NURS )( OTCQB: HYDTF )( FSE: SO6 ), a fast-growing mobile clinical network and medical platform which enables flexible at-home medical services across 50 states in the United States, is pleased to announce its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024. All financial information is presented in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated. Summary of Q3, 2024 Financial Highlights: The Company believes the following Non-GAAP 1 financial measures provide meaningful insight to aid in the understanding of the Company's performance and may assist in the evaluation of the Company's business relative to that of its peers: The table below sets out a summary of certain financial results of the Company over the past eight quarters and is derived from the audited annual consolidated financial statements and unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements of the Company. After Taxes Income (Loss) Income (Loss) Per Share The Company has experienced dramatic user growth over the past two years as can be seen by the consistent revenue growth over the past eight quarters. The Company continues to deliver on its mission of building one of the largest mobile clinical networks in the United States. Through its medical network, pharmacy network and proprietary technology platform that adheres to the complex healthcare legislation across 50 states, Hydreight has provided a fully integrated solution for healthcare providers to become independent contractors. Hydreight remains focused on its strategic priorities of (1) Profitability (2) adding more product and service offerings for its customers, (3) introducing Hydreight story with more potential shareholders (4) driving white label partnerships and Nurses to the platform and (5) looking for strategic tuck in M&A opportunities to scale and grow the business quickly and efficiently . Hydreight will continue to invest into its technology to ensure continuous improvements, advancements and updates adhering to changes within the healthcare industry. Please see SEDAR + for the Company's condensed interim consolidated unaudited financial statements and MD&A for the three and six months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 and for the Company's audited annual consolidated financial statements and MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. About VSDHOne - Direct to Consumer Platform In a partnership with two other parties, Hydreight Technologies launched the VSDHOne (Read as VSDH-One)platform. VSDHOne simplifies the entry challenges for companies and medi-spa businesses to enter the online healthcare space compliantly. This platform will help all businesses to launch a direct-to-consumer healthcare brand in a matter of days in all 50 states. Compliant offerings include: GLP-1s (semaglutide, tirzepatide), peptides, personalized healthcare treatments, sermorelin, testosterone replacement therapy ("TRT”), hair loss, skincare, sexual health and more. Hydreight invested in technology, legal and infrastructure to launch this platform. The VSDHOne platform offers a complete, end-to-end solution for businesses looking to launch direct-to-consumer healthcare brands. From compliance and telemedicine technology to nationwide doctor and pharmacy networks, VSDHOne provides all the tools needed for a seamless entry into the online healthcare space. The platform is designed to significantly reduce the time and costs associated with launching such services, making it possible for businesses to go live in days instead of months. About Hydreight Technologies Inc. Hydreight Technologies Inc. is building one of the largest mobile clinic networks in the United States. Its proprietary, fully integrated platform hosts a network of over 2500 nurses, over 100 doctors and a pharmacy network across 50 states. The platform includes a built-in, easy-to-use suite of fully integrated tools for accounting, documentation, sales, inventory, booking, and managing patient data, which enables licensed healthcare professionals to provide services directly to patients at home, office or hotel. Hydreight is bridging the gap between provider compliance and patient convenience, empowering nurses, med spa technicians, and other licensed healthcare professionals. The Hydreight platform allows healthcare professionals to deliver services independently, on their own terms, or to add mobile services to existing location-based operations. Hydreight has a 503B pharmacy network servicing all 50 states and is closely affiliated with a U.S. certified e-script and telemedicine provider network. On behalf of the Board of Directors Shane Madden Director and Chief Executive Officer Hydreight Technologies Inc. Contact Email: [email protected] ; Telephone: (702) 970 8112 This press release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures: This release contains references to non-GAAP financial measures Adjusted Revenue (also referred to as Topline Revenue), Adjusted Gross Margin, and Adjusted EBITDA. The Company defines Adjusted Revenue as gross cash income before adjustment for the deferred portion of business partner contract revenue and gross receipts from Hydreight App service sales. The Company defines Adjusted Gross Margin as GAAP gross margin plus inventory impairment plus the deferred portion of business partner contract revenue. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and before (i) transaction, restructuring, and integration costs and share-based payments expense, and (iii) gains/losses that are not reflective of ongoing operating performance. The Company believes that the measures provide information useful to its shareholders and investors in understanding the Company's operating cash flow growth, user growth, and cash generating potential for funding working capital requirements, service future interest and principal debt repayments and fund future growth initiatives. These non-GAAP measures may assist in the evaluation of the Company's business relative to that of its peers more accurately than GAAP financial measures alone. This data is furnished to provide additional information and does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP. Accordingly, it should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP and is not necessarily indicative of other metrics presented in accordance with GAAP. Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, path to profitability, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may”, "would”, "could”, "should”, "will”, "intend”, "plan”, "anticipate”, "believe”, "estimate”, "expect” or similar expressions and includes information regarding expectations for the Company's growth and profitability in 2024. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflects the Company's management's expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements of the Company. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information are the following: the ability to obtain requisite regulatory and other approvals with respect to the business operated by the Company and/or the potential impact of the listing of the Company's shares on the TSXV on relationships, including with regulatory bodies, employees, suppliers, customers and competitors; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; changes in applicable laws; compliance with extensive government regulation; and the diversion of management time as a result of being a publicly listed entity. This forward-looking information may be affected by risks and uncertainties in the business of the Company and market conditions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law. 1 See Use of Non-GAAP Financial MeasuresHezbollah leaders also signalled tentative backing for the US-brokered deal, which offers both sides an off-ramp from hostilities that have driven more than 1.2 million Lebanese and 50,000 Israelis from their homes. An intense bombing campaign by Israel has killed more than 3,700 people, many of them civilians, Lebanese officials say. But while the deal, set to take effect early Wednesday, could significantly calm the tensions that have inflamed the region, it does little directly to resolve the much deadlier war that has raged in Gaza since the Hamas attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that killed 1,200 people. Hezbollah, which began firing scores of rockets into Israel the following day in support of Hamas, has previously said it would keep fighting until there was a stop to the fighting in Gaza. Here’s what to know about the tentative ceasefire agreement and its potential implications: – The terms of the deal The agreement reportedly calls for a 60-day halt in fighting that would see Israeli troops retreat to their side of the border while requiring Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swathe of southern Lebanon. Us President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that the deal is set to take effect at 4am local time on Wednesday. Under the deal, thousands of Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers are to deploy to the region south of the Litani River. An international panel lead by the US would monitor compliance by all sides. Mr Biden said the deal “was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” Israel has demanded the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations. Lebanese officials have rejected writing that into the proposal. Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, insisted on Tuesday that the military would strike Hezbollah if the UN peacekeeping force, known as Unifil, does not provide “effective enforcement” of the deal. – Lingering uncertainty A Hezbollah leader said the group’s support for the deal hinged on clarity that Israel would not renew its attacks. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Qatari satellite news network Al Jazeera. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state” of Lebanon, he said. The European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said on Tuesday that Israel’s security concerns had been addressed in the deal also brokered by France. – Where the fighting has left both sides After months of cross-border bombings, Israel can claim major victories, including the killing of Hezbollah’s top leader, Hassan Nasrallah, most of his senior commanders and the destruction of extensive militant infrastructure. A complex attack in September involving the explosion of hundreds of walkie-talkies and pagers used by Hezbollah was widely attributed to Israel, signalling a remarkable penetration of the militant group. The damage inflicted on Hezbollah has come not only in its ranks, but to the reputation it built by fighting Israel to a stalemate in the 2006 war. Still, its fighters managed to put up heavy resistance on the ground, slowing Israel’s advance while continuing to fire scores of rockets, missiles and drones across the border each day. The ceasefire offers relief to both sides, giving Israel’s overstretched army a break and allowing Hezbollah leaders to tout the group’s effectiveness in holding their ground despite Israel’s massive advantage in weaponry. But the group is likely to face a reckoning, with many Lebanese accusing it of tying their country’s fate to Gaza’s at the service of key ally Iran, inflicting great damage on a Lebanese economy that was already in a grave condition. – No answers for Gaza Until now, Hezbollah has insisted that it would only halt its attacks on Israel when it agreed to stop fighting in Gaza. Some in the region are likely to view a deal between the Lebanon-based group and Israel as a capitulation. In Gaza, where officials say the war has killed more than 44,000 Palestinians, Israel’s attacks have inflicted a heavy toll on Hamas, including the killing of the group’s top leaders. But Hamas fighters continue to hold scores of Israeli hostages, giving the militant group a bargaining chip if indirect ceasefire negotiations resume. Hamas is likely to continue to demand a lasting truce and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in any such deal. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas offered a pointed reminder on Tuesday of the intractability of the war, demanding urgent international intervention. “The only way to halt the dangerous escalation we are witnessing in the region, and maintain regional and international stability, security and peace, is to resolve the question of Palestine,” he said in a speech to the UN read by his ambassador.

Nov 21 (Reuters) - Bank of America's (BAC.N) , opens new tab co-head of investment banking in India and two other bankers have left the company amid an investigation into wrongdoing allegations, the Financial Times reported , opens new tab on Thursday, citing three people familiar with the matter. The internal investigation was launched earlier this year and is scrutinizing wether BofA and bankers at its Asian investment banking arm shared nonpublic information with certain investors ahead of upcoming secondary stock offerings, the report said. BofA did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Sign up here. Reporting by Niket Nishant in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A scruffy little fugitive is on the lam again in New Orleans, gaining fame as he outwits a tenacious band of citizens armed with night-vision binoculars, nets and a tranquilizer rifle. Scrim, a 17-pound mutt that's mostly terrier, has become a folk hero, inspiring tattoos, t-shirts and even a ballad as he eludes capture from the posse of volunteers. And like any antihero, Scrim has a backstory: Rescued from semi-feral life at a trailer park and adopted from a shelter, the dog broke loose in April and scurried around the city until he was cornered in October and brought to a new home. Weeks later, he'd had enough. Scrim leaped out of a second-story window, a desperate act recorded in a now-viral video. Since then, despite a stream of daily sightings, he's roamed free. The dog’s fans include Myra and Steve Foster, who wrote “Ode to Scrim” to the tune of Ricky Nelson’s 1961 hit, “I’m a Travelin’ Man.” Leading the recapture effort is Michelle Cheramie, a 55-year-old former information technology professional. She lost everything — home, car, possessions — in Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and in the aftermath, found her calling rescuing pets. “I was like, ‘This is what I should be doing,’” Cheramie said. “I was born to rescue.” She launched Zeus’ Rescues, a nonprofit shelter that now averages 600 cat and dog adoptions a year and offers free pet food to anyone who needs it. She helped Scrim find the home he first escaped from. It was Cheramie's window Scrim leaped from in November. She's resumed her relentless mission since then, posting flyers on telephone poles and logging social media updates on his reported whereabouts. She's invested thousands of dollars on wildlife cameras, thermal sensors and other gear. She took a course offered by the San Diego Zoo on the finer points of tranquilizing animals. And she's developed a network of volunteers — the kind of neighbors who are willing to grid-search a city at 3 a.m. People like writer David W. Brown, who manages a crowd-sourced Google Map of all known Scrim sightings. He says the search has galvanized residents from all walks of life to come together. As they search for Scrim, they hand out supplies to people in need. "Being a member of the community is seeing problems and doing what you can to make life a little better for the people around here and the animals around you," Brown said. And neighbors like Tammy Murray, who had to close her furniture store and lost her father to Parkinson's Disease. This search, she says, got her mojo back. “Literally, for months, I’ve done nothing but hunt this dog,” said Murray, 53. “I feel like Wile E. Coyote on a daily basis with him.” Murray drives the Zeus' Rescues' van towards reported Scrim sightings. She also handles a tactical net launcher, which looks like an oversized flashlight and once misfired, shattering the van's window as Scrim sped away. After realizing Scrim had come to recognize the sound of the van's diesel engine, Murray switched to a Vespa scooter, for stealth. Near-misses have been tantalizing. The search party spotted Scrim napping beneath an elevated house, and wrapped construction netting around the perimeter, but an over-eager volunteer broke ranks and dashed forward, leaving an opening Scrim slipped through. Scrim's repeated escapades have prompted near-daily local media coverage and a devoted online following. Cheramie can relate. “We’re all running from something or to something. He's doing that too,” she said. Cheramie's team dreams of placing the pooch in a safe and loving environment. But a social media chorus growing under the hashtag #FreeScrim has other ideas — they say the runaway should be allowed a life of self-determination. The animal rescue volunteers consider that misguided. “The streets of New Orleans are not the place for a dog to be free,” Cheramie said. “It’s too dangerous.” Scrim was a mess when Cheramie briefly recaptured him in October, with matted fur, missing teeth and a tattered ear. His trembling body was scraped and bruised, and punctured by multiple projectiles. A vet removed one, but decided against operating to take out a possible bullet. The dog initially appeared content indoors, sitting in Cheramie's lap or napping beside her bed. Then while she was out one day, Scrim chewed through a mesh screen, dropped 13 feet to the ground and squeezed through a gap in the fence, trotting away. Murray said Cheramie's four cats probably spooked him. “I wholeheartedly believe the gangster-ass cats were messing with him,” Murray said. Cheramie thinks they may have gotten territorial. Devastated but undeterred, the pair is reassessing where Scrim might fit best — maybe a secure animal sanctuary with big outdoor spaces where other dogs can keep him company. Somewhere, Murray says, “where he can just breathe and be." Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96CHEYENNE – Climb Wyoming received a $50,000 donation from Spectrum on Saturday as part of the company’s $30 million initiative to invest in underserved rural and urban neighborhoods across the country. Spectrum spokesperson Danielle Dunn said the company aims to help 100 communities across the country, and Cheyenne was the 50th community to partake in Spectrum Community Center Assist (SCCA), a program launched in 2021 that revitalizes local community centers and invests in job training programs. “We seek out the organizations that are doing the meaningful work, and if they meet our criteria, then we proceed with the partnership,” Dunn told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. “And, of course, they have to be interested, but usually they are.” Spectrum’s partner organization, Jobs for the Future, helped vet nonprofits that use Spectrum services and recommend organizations that follow SCCA’s mission statement, Dunn said. Climb Wyoming, a local nonprofit that helps low-income single mothers with career training and job placement, was recommended by the partner organization, Dunn said. “The community center has to provide job skills training. So Climb Wyoming is perfect for that, because that's what they do,” Dunn said. “They want their clients to achieve self-sufficiency through career training and job placement. So any place where clients can go and gain new skills, that is pretty much our target.” Since its establishment in 1986, Climb Wyoming has been a national leader in poverty alleviation, leading single mothers to financial independence and "changing the cycle of poverty one family at a time," according to a news release sent Sunday announcing the donation. Along with the $50,000 cash grant, Climb Wyoming also received 25 Chromebooks, a Smartboard and high-speed one-gigabit internet service for its new Spectrum Training and Technology Center. “Investment in the community makes a big difference for families. Funding from partners like Spectrum strengthens the fabric of the Cheyenne community,” said Molly Kruger, chief operating officer of Climb Wyoming, in the release. “We are grateful for this partnership, which not only bolsters families and the workforce, but also underscores the vital role of collaboration between businesses and communities.” Kruger told the WTE that private and public funding helped "to really make the program sustainable." "We really need the funding support of the community, and so we're really grateful that Spectrum understood that," Kruger said. "It really allows us to continue to help more families." Climb Wyoming is holding two public information meetings Dec. 4 at Climb Cheyenne's Office, 123 E. 17th St., from noon-1 p.m. and 5:30-6:30 p.m. The meetings are the perfect opportunity for interested mothers to learn about the program and upcoming training courses. Child care is not provided for these meetings, and mothers are encouraged to plan accordingly. For more information, call or text 307-316-1446 or visit ClimbWyoming.org . Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, sports, arts & entertainment, state legislature, CFD news, and more.

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