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In today's fast-paced world, logistics and delivery services are under constant pressure to meet rising consumer demands. From reducing delivery times to cutting operational costs, the challenges are substantial. Route optimization APIs are emerging as a transformative solution, enabling businesses to streamline operations, improve delivery efficiency, and enhance customer satisfaction. This guide explores how these APIs work, their benefits, and their impact on logistics and delivery industries. What Are Route Optimization APIs? Route optimization APIs are software tools that use algorithms to calculate the most efficient routes for deliveries. They factor in various parameters like distance, traffic, delivery time windows, and vehicle capacity to generate optimal routes in real-time. Key Features: By leveraging advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), these APIs offer smarter, faster solutions for delivery route planning. The Role of Route Optimization in Logistics and Delivery Route optimization is a critical component of modern logistics and delivery operations. Inefficient routing leads to increased fuel costs, wasted time, and lower customer satisfaction. Route optimization APIs address these issues by enabling companies to maximize operational efficiency. Benefits of Route Optimization APIs 1. Reduced Fuel Costs Fuel is one of the largest expenses in logistics. Route optimization APIs minimize unnecessary mileage, leading to significant cost savings. This reduction in fuel consumption not only saves money but also contributes to environmental sustainability. 2. Enhanced Delivery Speed and Accuracy With optimized routes, drivers can deliver packages faster and more accurately, meeting customer expectations for timely deliveries. By ensuring packages reach their destinations on time, companies can boost customer satisfaction and loyalty. 3. Real-Time Traffic and Weather Adaptability Unforeseen factors like traffic jams or bad weather can disrupt delivery schedules. Route optimization APIs provide real-time updates to mitigate these challenges. This adaptability ensures that operations remain on track, even under unpredictable circumstances. 4. Improved Fleet Management Route optimization APIs enable logistics managers to monitor and manage their fleets more effectively. With centralized data, managers can track vehicles, optimize routes, and make informed decisions. Efficient fleet management lowers operational costs and extends the lifespan of delivery vehicles. 5. Environmental Sustainability Optimized routes reduce fuel consumption and emissions, making delivery operations more eco-friendly. Companies can integrate sustainability into their business practices while meeting regulatory requirements. Industries Leveraging Route Optimization APIs 1. E-Commerce E-commerce giants rely heavily on optimized delivery routes to meet customer demands for fast and free shipping. 2. Food Delivery Restaurants and delivery services use APIs to ensure hot, fresh meals arrive on time, even during peak hours. 3. Logistics and Freight Large-scale logistics companies optimize their fleet routes to handle multi-stop deliveries efficiently. 4. Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals Ensuring timely delivery of medical supplies and prescriptions is critical, making route optimization essential for healthcare logistics. Key Technologies Powering Route Optimization APIs 1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) AI algorithms analyze vast amounts of data to create optimal routes in real-time. 2. Machine Learning (ML) ML models improve route planning by learning from historical data and predicting traffic patterns. 3. GPS and Mapping Technologies Integration with GPS systems allows APIs to provide accurate and up-to-date routing information. Case Study: Transforming Delivery Efficiency with Route Optimization Problem: A mid-sized logistics company struggled with high fuel costs and delayed deliveries, leading to dissatisfied customers. Solution: By integrating a route optimization API, the company: This transformation showcases the tangible benefits of adopting route optimization technology. How to Implement Route Optimization APIs The Future of Route Optimization in Logistics As technology advances, route optimization APIs are becoming more sophisticated, offering features like predictive analytics and autonomous vehicle compatibility. The future of logistics will likely see greater automation and integration, enabling companies to operate with unparalleled efficiency. Conclusion: Embrace the Power of Route Optimization Route optimization APIs are revolutionizing logistics and delivery operations by enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and improving customer satisfaction. For businesses navigating the competitive delivery landscape, adopting these tools is not just an option—it's a necessity. Whether you're in e-commerce, food delivery, or large-scale logistics, integrating route optimization APIs can position your business for long-term success. Invest in route optimization technology today and transform the way you deliver.Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Dow DOW . And retail traders should know. We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga. Whether this is an institution or just a wealthy individual, we don't know. But when something this big happens with DOW, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen. Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 9 options trades for Dow. This isn't normal. The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 11% bullish and 88%, bearish. Out of all of the options we uncovered, 8 are puts, for a total amount of $743,378, and there was 1 call, for a total amount of $283,023. What's The Price Target? Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $45.0 to $50.0 for Dow over the last 3 months. Volume & Open Interest Development In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Dow options trades today is 3337.2 with a total volume of 8,234.00. In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Dow's big money trades within a strike price range of $45.0 to $50.0 over the last 30 days. Dow Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days Noteworthy Options Activity: Symbol PUT/CALL Trade Type Sentiment Exp. Date Ask Bid Price Strike Price Total Trade Price Open Interest Volume DOW CALL TRADE BEARISH 02/21/25 $0.45 $0.39 $0.41 $45.00 $283.0K 953 6.9K DOW PUT SWEEP BEARISH 06/20/25 $10.95 $10.9 $10.95 $50.00 $257.3K 2.9K 470 DOW PUT SWEEP BEARISH 06/20/25 $11.0 $10.9 $11.0 $50.00 $183.7K 2.9K 3 DOW PUT SWEEP BEARISH 06/20/25 $10.95 $10.85 $10.95 $50.00 $67.8K 2.9K 233 DOW PUT SWEEP BEARISH 01/16/26 $8.1 $8.0 $8.1 $45.00 $59.1K 1.9K 147 About Dow Dow Chemical is a diversified global chemicals producer, formed in 2019 as a result of the DowDuPont merger and subsequent separations. The firm is a leading producer of several chemicals, including polyethylene, ethylene oxide, and silicone rubber. Its products have numerous applications in both consumer and industrial end markets. After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Dow, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance. Present Market Standing of Dow With a volume of 4,189,600, the price of DOW is down -0.29% at $39.83. RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be oversold. Next earnings are expected to be released in 38 days. What The Experts Say On Dow In the last month, 5 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $48.6. Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days? 20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. Click here for access .* An analyst from RBC Capital persists with their Sector Perform rating on Dow, maintaining a target price of $44. * Maintaining their stance, an analyst from JP Morgan continues to hold a Overweight rating for Dow, targeting a price of $47. * An analyst from Citigroup persists with their Neutral rating on Dow, maintaining a target price of $41. * An analyst from Wells Fargo has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Dow, which currently sits at a price target of $55. * In a positive move, an analyst from Evercore ISI Group has upgraded their rating to Outperform and adjusted the price target to $56. Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely. If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Dow, Benzinga Pro gives you real-time options trades alerts. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.AIADMK seeks to expand alliance in TN, eyes VCK and PMK

Sean Dyche is hopeful Armando Broja is close to his Everton debut, with the club hoping to fast-track the on-loan Chelsea forward’s return from injury. Broja joined Everton late on deadline day but has not played since an achilles injury in pre-season that scuppered a proposed move to Ipswich . The 23-year-old remains unavailable for Saturday’s home game against Brentford but could feature in matches for the under-21s as he rebuilds fitness. The Everton manager said: “He has done enough with us here and we cannot really replicate the feeling of games, so I would prefer him for the 21s because it at least feels like a game. We are just discussing the next steps now. He has had a really strong week and a really strong rehab, so hopefully that allows us to fast‐track it a bit more than we normally would.” Everton have an option to sign Broja on a permanent deal next summer and are in urgent need of more firepower. Dyche hopes the Albania international and Youssef Chermiti, another striker who has not featured this season owing to injury, will be available to address that problem before Christmas. “We might get in front of that,” he said. “We will have to wait and see. It hasn’t been tough to be patient with him because you have no choice. Some type of injuries you think: ‘Come on, really?’ But with this we had to be careful because it was a tendon injury.” Everton’s prospective new owner, the Friedkin Group, is awaiting ­Premier League approval on its bid to buy out Farhad Moshiri. Dyche says funds for reinforcements in the January window will probably remain tight unless that deal goes through before it opens. “There is no news,” he said on the takeover. “So we are working to the current situation of the club which is being very, very sensible financially. If the Friedkin Group do get their hands on the club and get it done then things might change. But at the minute we are working to the guidelines that were there before.”Sitcoms are meant to bring joy into the homes of those who watch them. However, not every episode manages to please every viewer and, in some instances, might stir up enough outrage to get banned. Such a fate actually befell some of the following episodes from the best sitcoms of all time which caused controversy. "The Puppy Episode" - Ellen At the same time Ellen Degeneres came out of the closet in real life, so did her sitcom alter ego – the first lead character on a TV series to do so – in "The Puppy Episode." While the two-part Season 4 episode of Ellen proved to be an Emmy-winning success and a big ratings win, many affiliates of ABC refused to air the episode and several sponsors chose not to advertise during its broadcast "Edith's 50 Birthday" - All In The Family In a two-part episode from the eighth season of All in the Family called "Edith's 50th Birthday," Jean Stapleton's character is nearly assaulted by a stranger posing as a detective whom she manages to escape but not without traumatizing circumstances. While remembered as one of the most powerful dramatic moments in a sitcom , seeing a character like Edith involved in such a harrowing situation was overwhelmingly "heartbreaking" for some to watch. "Partial Terms Of Endearment" - Family Guy Originally intended to be the Season 8 finale for Family Guy , "Partial Terms Of Endearment" sees Lois (Alex Borstein) agree to carry a child for a couple but, when they suddenly die in an accident, she considers having an abortion. The episode's satirical approach to a hotly debated serious topic led it to be banned from airing on American television but has been made available in the United States on DVD. "Running Zack" - Saved By The Bell Zack Morris is known today as one of the most ill-behaved sitcom kids for many reasons but one time Saved by the Bell tried to pain him in an admirable light has since backfired heavily. Star Mark-Paul Gosselaar later voiced regret over this Saved by the Bell episode in which his character discovers he has Native American ancestry and actually dons a headdress for a class presentation. "You Say Potatoe, I Say Potato" - Murphy Brown In the Season 4 finale of Murphy Brown , Candace Bergen's title character chooses to raise her new baby on her own – a decision that was criticized by then-Vice President Dan Quayle. The following season's premiere was written in response to this and even directly acknowledged the vice president's comments. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" - Roseanne Roseanne was a revolutionary moment in sitcom history as a TV show featuring blue-collar characters but it also pushed boundaries in many other ways, such as an episode when Roseanne Barr 's title character kisses a woman in a lesbian Barr. The comedian had to fight ABC on their hesitation to air the episode fearing there it would spark a backlash from religious conservatives and they turned out to be right. CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News "The Bicycle Man" - Diff'rent Strokes In a famous "very special episode" of Diff'rent Strokes , Arnold (Gary Coleman) and his friend, Dudley (Shavar Ross) discover that a bicycle shop owner named Mr. Horton (Gordon Jump) is the kind of grown-up parents would not want their children to be alone with. While acclaimed for its bold depiction of the dangers of inappropriate attention from adults directed at minors, it was criticized for not downplaying its humor as much as it could have. "Episode #1.1" - Soap Right out of the gate, the revolutionary daytime drama spoof Soap garnered intense backlash by a wide margin for its approach to topics that were still very sensitive in the late 1970s. Billy Crystal 's character, Jodie Dallas, was criticized both by anti-gay groups as well as the gay community, which felt that the otherwise groundbreaking characters portrayed their culture in a stereotypical and mocking fashion. "Maude's Dilemma" - Maude In the premiere season of Maude , the also beloved spin-off from All in the Family aired a two-part episode in which Bea Arthur's title character becomes pregnant and decides that, at her age, she would rather not have the baby. "Maude's Dilemma" was the first episode of a television show to acknowledge the abortion debate, which led to CBS receiving thousands of letters in protest. "The Puerto Rican Day" - Seinfeld The penultimate episode of Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David 's mega-hit comedy is not considered one of the best episodes of Seinfeld for the same reasons it was taken out of circulation for years. "The Puerto Rican Day" – in which the gang gets stuck in traffic due to the eponymous parade – was viewed as culturally insensitive, particularly for one scene when Kramer accidentally lights a Puerto Rican flag on fire and tries to stomp it out, but has since been made available in syndication and on streaming. "Lucy Is Enceinte" - I Love Lucy In the 1950s, saying the word "pregnant" was not permitted on television, which is why you never actually hear Lucy (Lucille Ball) say the word in her many attempts to tell Ricky (Desi Arnaz) her big news in this classic I Love Lucy episode. Despite its clever censorship, "Lucy is Enceinte" almost did not air due to advertisers' reluctance because the mere topic of making Lucy pregnant would mean acknowledging that she and Ricky had been intimate. "The Speech" - The IT Crowd In the third season of the hilarious British sitcom , The IT Crowd , Matt Berry's Douglas Reynholm discovers his girlfriend, April, is a transwoman (as demonstrated in a tasteless montage of her performing traditionally masculine tasks), which leads to a violent end to their relationship. Considered abhorrent upon broadcast, the U.K.'s Channel 4 decided to pull the episode from its streaming service in 2020, prompting creator Graham Lineman to cut ties with the network. "The One With The Lesbian Wedding" - Friends The first TV series to depict the marriage between two women was Friends in Season 2's "The One with the Lesbian Wedding." However, many NBC network affiliates, including in Texas, refused to air the episode in which Ross' ex-wife, Carol (Jane Sibbett), and her girlfriend, Susan (Jessica Hecht), tie the knot. "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" - Community For years, the Season 2 Community episode, "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" was not available to stream, due to a moment when Ken Jeong 's Chang dons what appears to be blackface to cosplay as a "dark elf." However, Community cast member Yvette Nicole Brown, when speaking to Gizmodo , defended the episode, especially since her character, Shirley Bennett, calls out Chang's insensitive act. "Stark Raving Dad" - The Simpsons Michael Jackson makes an uncredited appearance in an episode of The Simpsons as the voice of an institutionalized man who believes he is the "Thriller" singer. In 2019, following the release of the documentary, Leaving Neverland , the episode was pulled from circulation and has since been made unavailable to stream. "Eric's Buddy" - That 70s Show Joseph Gordon-Levitt guest starred on That '70s Show as Buddy, whom Eric (Topher Grace) discovers is interested in more than lab partners when he plants a kiss on him. The otherwise refreshingly open-minded episode has been criticized for reducing the openly gay character to not much more than a punchline and a means for Eric to reinforce his identity as a straight man. "200" - South Park South Park is known for its many boundary-pushing moments, which creator Matt Stone and Trey Parker decided to pay tribute to in the animated series' two-part 200th episode. Unsurprisingly, the episode would face heavy backlash and, since its initial broadcast, has been censored for its depiction of Muslim faith. "Koi Pond" - The Office One example of an ill-fated prank from The Office that some fans have probably never seen comes from the since-removed cold open for an episode called "Koi Pond." In it, Michael (Steve Carell) stages a suicide for Dunder-Miffling's Halloween haunted house attraction, traumatizing the young trick-or-treaters and angering viewers for its insensitive approach to the subject. "Comedians" - Beavis And Butt-Head When Beavis and Butt-Head pursue stand-up comedy careers and fail, they retaliate by setting fire to the club where they performed and happily giggle as it burns to the ground. In 1993, a The New York Times report claimed that five-year-old Austin Messner watched the episode and accidentally killed his sister by setting his own home on fire, prompting MTV to pull it from rotation. However, in 2008, the 20-year-old Messner revealed (via PopCulture ) that he never watched Beavis and Butt-Head because his addict mother could not afford cable. "I'll See You In Court" - Married... With Children While Married... with Children never had the squeakiest reputation, Fox refused to air an episode in which Al (Ed O'Neill) and Peg Bundy (Katey Sagal) discover their night at a motel was recorded and file a lawsuit. While initially deemed in poor taste, an edited version of the episode finally made it to air on FX years later. "Live Show" - 30 Rock Both times 30 Rock put on a live episode, the shows were met with backlash for the use of Blackface. For instance, the East Coast broadcast of Season 5's "Live Show" would be pulled from syndication for a scene in which guest star Jon Hamm's character shows off his hand transplant from a Black donor. "Prom-ises, Prom-ises" - Boy Meets World Some episodes of the beloved TGIF comedy Boy Meets World were removed from Disney Channel's rotation of reruns, including Season 5's "Prom-ises, Prom-ises." The plot sees teen lovers Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) considering the decision to consummate their relationship on prom night, only to discover his parents are having their own fun in a nearby hotel room. "The Hunger Strike" - The Boondocks It took 12 years for "The Hunger Strike," an episode of The Boondocks that was originally called "BET Sucks" and set to air on Adult Swim in 2008, to finally be shown on American television. The actual reason for the banning has not been confirmed but reports claim that BET threatened litigation, due to its overtly scathing spoofing of the cable network's programming. "Mid-Life Crustacean" - SpongeBob Squarepants Even a Nicktoon as beloved as SpongeBob Squarepants has a couple of episodes that modern audiences will never see on Nickelodeon or with a Paramount+ subscription and, in retrospect, it is surprising that one of them ever made it to air. Season 3's "Mid-Life Crustacean" involves a scene when Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown), in a bid to reclaim his youth, joins SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) and Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke) to raid a woman's undergarment drawer, only to discover too late that they have broken into his mother's house. "Boston" - Aqua Teen Hunger Force In 2007, battery-powered LED placards designed to resemble Aqua Teen Hunger Force characters called The Mooninites were placed around Boston as a marketing strategy for the adult animated movie , Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters , but were mistaken for explosive devices. The original show's writers decided to create an episode based on the incident, in which Frylock (Carey Means), Master Shake (Dana Snyder), and Meatwad (Dave Wilis) are mistaken for explosives in Boston. The episode would become the first in the series to get banned but was later leaked online in 2015. "Something's Up There" - Back To You The short-lived Fox sitcom Back to You – starring Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton as bickering news anchors – has been largely forgotten since it ended in 2008. However, one episode was deemed controversial upon airing for the following line said to a Polish character when trying to convince them to go bowling: "Come on, it's in your blood, like Kielbasa and collaborating with the Nazis." "Leap Frogs" - Rocko's Modern Life Not only was Rocko's Modern Life one of the weirdest Nicktoons ever but it was especially one of the lewdest. Nickelodeon let plenty of mature humor slide but did ban an episode in which Mrs. Bighead tries to seduce the titular wallaby. "Elephant Issues" - Tiny Toon Adventures The Steven Spielberg-produced Tiny Toon Adventures served as a new era for the Looney Tunes legacy but did make a few dark turns during its run. For instance, one banned episode, which was meant to serve as a PSA of sorts, saw Buster Bunny, Plucky Duck, and Hamton J. Pig getting intoxicated and suffering a car accident "Dentist" - Adventure Time The plot of the Adventure Time Season 6 episode, "Dentist," – in which Finn (Jeremy Shada) receives oral treatment from a colony of ants – offers nothing controversial in concept. However, it caused a bit of an internet uproar when a character named Lt. Gamergate (which is the name of a type of ant) was interpreted as a reference to the recently developing "GamerGate" movement. 30. "Fat Like Me" - Daria Spun-off from Beavis and Butt-Head , Daria followed the misadventures of the cynical, monotone titular teen (voiced by Tracy Grandstaff). One episode of the animated never aired in reruns on the Nickelodeon subsidiary Teen Nick (formerly known as The N) because of the way it depicts obesity's connection to high school social status. "Terms Of Endearment" - Drawn Together Drawn Together is a mockumentary-style animated Comedy Central series following a group of cartoon characters living together. One episode was met with controversy for its satirical portrayal of the horse riding accident that paralyzed Superman actor Christopher Reeve, who passed away shortly before the series premiered. "Man's Best Friend" - Ren & Stimpy One of the most unhinged episodes of Ren & Stimpy was banned on Nickelodeon for a violent scene in which Ren beats up a character with an oar, as well as the depiction of dog treats that, for some reason, look like cigars and feces. The episode was later broadcast on MTV, which is certainly a more appropriate home for its subject matter.Morgan Stanley Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for NetApp (NASDAQ:NTAP) Stock

Spurs at 76ers Odds, predictions, recent stats, trends and Best bets for December 23

SOLiD Awarded NTIA Grant for Open RAN Development ProjectUS homelessness up 18% as affordable housing remains out of reach for many peopleCHRISTINE McGuinness has left fans of The Weakest Link in disbelief after she made a sweeping statement on the show. Christine, 36, took part in a celebrity 'Party Special' of the BBC quiz and managed to scrape through to the third round. Advertisement 6 Christine McGuinness has appeared on a celeb edition of The Weakest Link Credit: BBC 6 The model and TV star made a bold statement after being kicked off Credit: BBC 6 Eight celebrities had been hoping to win money for their chosen charities Credit: BBC But after getting two questions wrong, she was voted out by her fellow celebrities. Host Romesh Ranganathan then broke it to Christine that she had in fact been the weakest link of the round. After walking backstage, however, fans were stunned by a claim the mum-of-three then made. Christine said: "It's really intense when you're actually there in the studio. Advertisement READ MORE ON THE WEAKEST LINK WEAK SPOT Seann Walsh fumes ‘I’m unfollowing all of you’ as he’s voted off The Weakest Link GIANT PROBLEM Fans 'spit tea out' at wrong answer to sport question on Weakest Link "I watch this from home and get all the answers right all of the time." Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, fans were quick to share their amusement. One wrote: "Sorry Christine, forgive me but I'm not buying that you get 'all of the questions right, all of the time at home'.." Another agreed: "Me neither!" Advertisement Most read in Reality baby fever Strictly’s Dianne sends fans wild with post about ‘babies’ with Joe Sugg WEAK SPOT Seann Walsh fumes ‘I’m unfollowing all of you’ as he’s voted off The Weakest Link OH CHLO! Chloe Ferry dares to go braless in plunging leather shirt for festive night out quiz upset ITV spark fury by airing controversial Beat The Chasers win after woman’s death And a third simply wrote: "Good grief." During the third round, Christine had been asked: "In milestones, in 2024 Willie Mullins became the first trainer to have 100 Cheltenham Festival winners in which sport?" Christine McGuinness almost falls out of her swimsuit as she shares sizzling unseen holiday video She replied: "Running." The correct answer was horse racing. Host Romesh had also asked her: "In TV, the comedians who in 2018 began appearing on a series subtitled Gone Fishing are Bob Mortimer and Paul who? Advertisement Christine thought about it but then answered: "Bob Mortimer and Paul... Pass" Romesh told Christine the correct answer was 'Whitehouse'. There was some, success, however. "In hiking, the national Three Peaks Challenge involves climbing Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and which other mountain?" Christine was asked. Advertisement Without hesitation, she quickly - and correctly - replied: "Snowdon." But unfortunately for Christine, it was not enough. Do you have to pay tax on game show winnings in the UK? Unlike in many other countries, such as the US, HMRC allows cash prizes from competitions and the National Lottery to be tax-free. However, in order for the money to be seen as from a 'competition', there has to be a skill-based element, such as a quiz question, or the option of free entry. This is why some competitions ask incredibly simple questions that even a five-year-old could answer, as they are trying to get around the requirement to offer a free entry option. She received the majority of votes to leave and was booted out thanks to her fellow celebs Babatunde Aléshé, Louisa Lytton and Richie Anderson . Admitting defeat, Christine - who was previously married to comedian and TV host Paddy McGuinness - told Romesh: "I'm really happy I got this far and I was possibly The Weakest Link in that round?" Advertisement Romesh cut in: "You were the weakest link, yeah." Christine continued: "It' my time to go but I've loved it and would have kept playing." The author, TV personality and former Miss Liverpool was also joined on The Weakest Link by Scarlett Moffatt, Seann Walsh and Paul Potts. Read more on the Scottish Sun 'DISGUSTING' Festive fly-tippers slammed for dumping mountains of rubbish at Scots Asda GHOST TOWN Former Scots shopping hotspot 'decaying' as multimillion pound revamp ‘failing’ Gogglebox alumni Scarlett ended up winning £1,760 for The Samaritans. Advertisement Earlier in the Party Special of the BBC game show, comedian Seann had slammed his co-stars after he was prematurely voted out by them. 6 Comedian Babatunde Aléshé voted Christine as the weakest link Credit: BBC 6 EastEnders star Louisa Lytton also voted her out 6 TV and radio star Richie Anderson also stuck the boot into Christine Credit: BBC Advertisement

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Notre Dame forward Danny Nelson scored twice, Western Michigan’s Hampton Slukynsky made 25 saves and the defending champion United States beat Latvia 5-1 on Saturday in the world junior hockey championship. The United States improved to 2-0 in Group A play, while Latvia dropped to 1-1 a day after stunning Canada with a 3-2 victory in a shootout. Boston College’s Ryan Leonard, Denver’s Zeev Buium and Minnesota Duluth’s Max Plante also scored for the Americans. They will be back in action Sunday at Canadian Tire Centre against Finland, then close group play Tuesday night against Canada. Davids Livsics scored for Latvia. Linards Feldbergs stopped 36 shots after making 55 saves against Canada and stopping all eight attempts in the shootout. In the only other game of the day, Czechia beat Kazakhstan 14-2 at TD Place. Czechia and Sweden are both 2-0 in Group B. Matej Mastalirsky, Vojtech Hradec and Jakub Stancl had hat tricks, with Hradec and Stancl also each assisting on two goals. AP sports: https://apnews.com/sportsPresident-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by Jan. 19 while the government emphasized its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk. “President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case,” said Trump’s amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case and was written by D. John Sauer, Trump’s choice for solicitor general. The argument submitted to the court is the latest example of Trump inserting himself in national issues before he takes office. The Republican president-elect has already begun negotiating with other countries over his plans to impose tariffs, and he intervened earlier this month in a plan to fund the federal government, calling for a bipartisan plan to be rejected and sending Republicans back to the negotiating table. Trump has also reversed his position on the popular app, having tried to ban it during his first term in office over national security concerns. He joined the app during his 2024 presidential campaign and his team used it to connect with younger voters, especially male voters, by pushing content that was often macho and aimed at going viral. He said earlier this year that he still believed there were national security risks with TikTok, but that he opposed banning it. This month, Trump met with TikTok CEO Shou Chew at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. The filings Friday come ahead of oral arguments scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. Earlier this month, a panel of three federal judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the statute , leading TikTok to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. The brief from Trump said he opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.” In their brief to the Supreme Court on Friday, attorneys for TikTok and its parent company ByteDance argued the federal appeals court erred in its ruling and based its decision on “alleged ‘risks’ that China could exercise control” over TikTok’s U.S. platform by pressuring its foreign affiliates. The Biden administration has argued in court that TikTok poses a national security risk due to its connections to China. Officials say Chinese authorities can compel ByteDance to hand over information on TikTok’s U.S. patrons or use the platform to spread or suppress information. But the government “concedes that it has no evidence China has ever attempted to do so,” TikTok’s legal filing said, adding that the U.S. fears are predicated on future risks. In its filing Friday, the Biden administration said because TikTok “is integrated with ByteDance and relies on its propriety engine developed and maintained in China,” its corporate structure carries with it risk.

Trump Jr helps pick most controversial cabinetNEW YORK — Greg Gumbel, a longtime CBS sportscaster, died from cancer, according to a statement from family released by CBS on Friday. He was 78. "He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten," his wife, Marcy Gumbel, and daughter Michelle Gumbel said in a statement. In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA Tournament since 1997 because of what he said at the time were family health issues. Greg Gumbel, left, watches April 3, 2011, as then-Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun talks to Butler head coach Brad Stevens, right, prior to taping a television interview for the men's NCAA Final Four college basketball championship game in Houston. Gumbel was the studio host for CBS since returning to the network from NBC in 1998. He signed an extension with CBS last year that allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties. In 2001, he announced Super Bowl XXXV for CBS, becoming the first Black announcer in the U.S. to call play-by-play of a major sports championship. David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, described Greg Gumbel as breaking barriers and setting standards for others during his years as a voice for fans in sports, including in the NFL and March Madness. "A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time," said Berson. Dallas Cowboys cornerback Deion Sanders, left, and running back Michael Irvin (88) share the Vince Lombardi trophy Jan. 28, 1996, as NBC commentator Greg Gumbel interviews the two after Super Bowl XXX in Tempe, Ariz. Gumbel had two stints at CBS, leaving the network for NBC when it lost football in 1994 and returning when it regained the contract in 1998. He hosted CBS' coverage of the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics and called Major League Baseball games during its four-year run broadcasting the national pastime. But it was football and basketball where he was best known and made his biggest impact. Gumbel hosted CBS' NFL studio show, "The NFL Today" from 1990 to 1993 and again in 2004. He also called NFL games as the network's lead play-by-play announcer from 1998 to 2003, including Super Bowl XXXV and XXXVIII. He returned to the NFL booth in 2005, leaving that role after the 2022 season. Photos: Notable deaths in 2024 Andreas Brehme Germany players celebrate after Andreas Brehme, left on ground, scores the winning goal in the World Cup soccer final match against Argentina, in the Olympic Stadium, in Rome, July 8, 1990. Andreas Brehme, who scored the only goal as West Germany beat Argentina to win the 1990 World Cup final, died Feb. 20, 2024. He was 63. Brian Mulroney Brian Mulroney, the former prime minister of Canada, listens during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the Canada-U.S.-Mexico relationship, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Mulroney died at the age of 84 on Feb. 29, 2024. The Rev. James Lawson Jr. The Rev. James Lawson Jr. speaks Sept. 17, 2015, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Lawson Jr., an apostle of nonviolent protest who schooled activists to withstand brutal reactions from white authorities as the Civil Rights Movement gained traction, has died, his family said Monday. He was 95. His family said Lawson died on Sunday after a short illness in Los Angeles, where he spent decades working as a pastor, labor movement organizer and university professor. Lawson was a close adviser to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who called him “the leading theorist and strategist of nonviolence in the world.” Lawson met King in 1957, after spending three years in India soaking up knowledge about Mohandas K. Gandhi’s independence movement. King would travel to India himself two years later, but at the time, he had only read about Gandhi in books. Jerry West Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Jerry West, representing the 1960 USA Olympic Team, is seen Aug. 13, 2010, during the enshrinement news conference at the Hall of Fame Museum in Springfield, Mass. Jerry West, who was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a storied career as a player and executive, and whose silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo, died June 12, the Los Angeles Clippers announced. He was 86. West, nicknamed “Mr. Clutch” for his late-game exploits as a player, was an NBA champion who went into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1980 and again as a member of the gold medal-winning 1960 U.S. Olympic Team in 2010. He will be enshrined for a third time later this year as a contributor, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called West “one of the greatest executives in sports history.” Ron Simons Actor and director Ron Simons, seen Jan. 23, 2011, during the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, died June 12. Simons turned into a formidable screen and stage producer, winning four Tony Awards and having several films selected at the Sundance Film Festival. He won Tonys for producing “Porgy and Bess,” “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” and “Jitney.” He also co-produced “Hughie,” with Forest Whitaker, “The Gin Game,” starring Cicely Tyson and James Earl Jones, “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations,” an all-Black production of “A Streetcar Named Desire,” the revival of "for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf" and the original work “Thoughts of a Colored Man.” He was in the films “27 Dresses” and “Mystery Team,” as well as on the small screen in “The Resident,” “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and “Law & Order: SVU.” Bob Schul Bob Schul of West Milton, Ohio, hits the tape Oct. 18, 1964, to win the 5,000 meter run at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Schul, the only American distance runner to win the 5,000 meters at the Olympics, died June 16. He was 86. His death was announced by Miami University in Ohio , where Schul shined on the track and was inducted into the school’s hall of fame in 1973. Schul predicted gold leading into the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and followed through with his promise. On a rainy day in Japan, he finished the final lap in a blistering 54.8 seconds to sprint to the win. His white shorts were covered in mud at the finish. He was inducted into the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1991. He also helped write a book called “In the Long Run.” Willie Mays San Francisco Giants superstar Willie Mays poses for a photo during baseball spring training in 1972. Mays, the electrifying “Say Hey Kid” whose singular combination of talent, drive and exuberance made him one of baseball’s greatest and most beloved players, died June 18. He was 93. The center fielder, who began his professional career in the Negro Leagues in 1948, had been baseball’s oldest living Hall of Famer. He was voted into the Hall in 1979, his first year of eligibility, and in 1999 followed only Babe Ruth on The Sporting News’ list of the game’s top stars. The Giants retired his uniform number, 24, and set their AT&T Park in San Francisco on Willie Mays Plaza. Mays died two days before a game between the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals to honor the Negro Leagues at Rickwood Field in Birmingham , Alabama. Over 23 major league seasons, virtually all with the New York/San Francisco Giants but also including one in the Negro Leagues, Mays batted .301, hit 660 home runs, totaled 3,293 hits, scored more than 2,000 runs and won 12 Gold Gloves. He was Rookie of the Year in 1951, twice was named the Most Valuable Player and finished in the top 10 for the MVP 10 other times. His lightning sprint and over-the-shoulder grab of an apparent extra base hit in the 1954 World Series remains the most celebrated defensive play in baseball history. For millions in the 1950s and ’60s and after, the smiling ballplayer with the friendly, high-pitched voice was a signature athlete and showman during an era when baseball was still the signature pastime. Awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2015, Mays left his fans with countless memories. But a single feat served to capture his magic — one so untoppable it was simply called “The Catch.” Donald Sutherland Actor Donald Sutherland appears Oct. 13, 2017, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif. Sutherland, the Canadian actor whose wry, arrestingly off-kilter screen presence spanned more than half a century of films from “M.A.S.H.” to “The Hunger Games,” died June 20. He was 88. Kiefer Sutherland said on X he believed his father was one of the most important actors in the history of film: “Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that.” The tall and gaunt Sutherland, who flashed a grin that could be sweet or diabolical, was known for offbeat characters like Hawkeye Pierce in Robert Altman's "M.A.S.H.," the hippie tank commander in "Kelly's Heroes" and the stoned professor in "Animal House." Before transitioning into a long career as a respected character actor, Sutherland epitomized the unpredictable, antiestablishment cinema of the 1970s. He never stopped working, appearing in nearly 200 films and series. Over the decades, Sutherland showed his range in more buttoned-down — but still eccentric — roles in Robert Redford's "Ordinary People" and Oliver Stone's "JFK." More, recently, he starred in the “Hunger Games” films. A memoir, “Made Up, But Still True,” is due out in November. Bill Cobbs Actor Bill Cobbs, a cast member in "Get Low," arrives July 27, 2010, at the premiere of the film in Beverly Hills, Calif. Cobbs, the veteran character actor who became a ubiquitous and sage screen presence as an older man, died June 25. He was 90. A Cleveland native, Cobbs acted in such films as “The Hudsucker Proxy,” “The Bodyguard” and “Night at the Museum.” He made his first big-screen appearance in a fleeting role in 1974's “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three." He became a lifelong actor with some 200 film and TV credits. The lion share of those came in his 50s, 60s, and 70s, as filmmakers and TV producers turned to him again and again to imbue small but pivotal parts with a wizened and worn soulfulness. Cobbs appeared on television shows including “The Sopranos," “The West Wing,” “Sesame Street” and “Good Times.” He was Whitney Houston's manager in “The Bodyguard” (1992), the mystical clock man of the Coen brothers' “The Hudsucker Proxy” (1994) and the doctor of John Sayles' “Sunshine State” (2002). He played the coach in “Air Bud” (1997), the security guard in “Night at the Museum” (2006) and the father on “The Gregory Hines Show." Cobbs rarely got the kinds of major parts that stand out and win awards. Instead, Cobbs was a familiar and memorable everyman who left an impression on audiences, regardless of screen time. He won a Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding limited performance in a daytime program for the series “Dino Dana” in 2020. Kinky Friedman Independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman speaks with the media Nov. 7, 2009, at his campaign headquarters in Austin, Texas. The singer, songwriter, satirist and novelist, who led the alt-country band Texas Jewboys, toured with Bob Dylan, sang with Willie Nelson, and dabbled in politics with campaigns for Texas governor and other statewide offices, died June 27. He was 79 and had suffered from Parkinson's disease. Often called “The Kinkster" and sporting sideburns, a thick mustache and cowboy hat, Friedman earned a cult following and reputation as a provocateur throughout his career across musical and literary genres. In the 1970s, his satirical country band Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys wrote songs with titles such as “They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore” and “Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in Bed.” Friedman joined part of Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue tour in 1976. By the 1980s, Friedman was writing crime novels that often included a version of himself, and he wrote a column for Texas Monthly magazine in the 2000s. Friedman's run at politics brought his brand of irreverence to the serious world of public policy. In 2006, Friedman ran for governor as an independent in a five-way race that included incumbent Republican Rick Perry. Friedman launched his campaign against the backdrop of the Alamo. Martin Mull Martin Mull participates in "The Cool Kids" panel during the Fox Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour on Aug. 2, 2018, at The Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Mull, whose droll, esoteric comedy and acting made him a hip sensation in the 1970s and later a beloved guest star on sitcoms including “Roseanne” and “Arrested Development,” died June 28. He was 80. Mull, who was also a guitarist and painter, came to national fame with a recurring role on the Norman Lear-created satirical soap opera “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” and the starring role in its spinoff, “Fernwood Tonight." His first foray into show business was as a songwriter, penning the 1970 semi-hit “A Girl Named Johnny Cash” for singer Jane Morgan. He would combine music and comedy in an act that he brought to hip Hollywood clubs in the 1970s. Mull often played slightly sleazy, somewhat slimy and often smarmy characters as he did as Teri Garr's boss and Michael Keaton's foe in 1983's “Mr. Mom.” He played Colonel Mustard in the 1985 movie adaptation of the board game “Clue,” which, like many things Mull appeared in, has become a cult classic. The 1980s also brought what many thought was his best work, “A History of White People in America,” a mockumentary that first aired on Cinemax. Mull co-created the show and starred as a “60 Minutes” style investigative reporter investigating all things milquetoast and mundane. Willard was again a co-star. In the 1990s he was best known for his recurring role on several seasons on “Roseanne,” in which he played a warmer, less sleazy boss to the title character, an openly gay man whose partner was played by Willard, who died in 2020 . Mull would later play private eye Gene Parmesan on “Arrested Development,” a cult-classic character on a cult-classic show, and would be nominated for an Emmy, his first, in 2016 for a guest run on “Veep.” Robert Towne Screenwriter Robert Towne poses at The Regency Hotel, March 7, 2006, in New York. Towne, the Oscar-winning screenplay writer of "Shampoo," "The Last Detail" and other acclaimed films whose work on "Chinatown" became a model of the art form and helped define the jaded allure of his native Los Angeles, died Monday, July 1, 2024, surrounded by family at his home in Los Angeles, said publicist Carri McClure. She declined to comment on any cause of death. Vic Seixas Vic Seixas of the United States backhands a volley from Denmark's Jurgen Ulrich in the first round of men's singles match at Wimbledon, England, June 27, 1967. Vic Seixas, a Wimbledon winner and tennis Hall of Famer who was the oldest living Grand Slam champion, has died July 5 at the age of 100. The International Tennis Hall of Fame announced Seixas’ death on Saturday July 6, 2024, based on confirmation from his daughter Tori. James Inhofe In this June 30, 2020, file photo, Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., speaks to reporters following a GOP policy meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington. Former Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma died July 9. He was 89. The family says in a statement that the Republican had a stroke during the July Fourth holiday and died Tuesday morning. Inhofe was a powerful fixture in state politics for decades. He doubted that climate change was caused by human activity, calling the theory “the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.” As Oklahoma’s senior U.S. senator, he was a staunch supporter of the state’s military installations. He was elected to a fifth Senate term in 2020 and stepped down in early 2023. Joe Bonsall The Oak Ridge Boys, from left, Joe Bonsall, Richard Sterban, Duane Allen and William Lee Golden hold their awards for Top Vocal Group and Best Album of the Year for "Ya'll Come Back Saloon", during the 14th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Los Angeles, Calif., May 3, 1979. Bonsall died on July 9, 2024, from complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Hendersonville, Tenn. He was 76. A Philadelphia native and resident of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Bonsall joined the Oak Ridge Boys in 1973, which originally formed in the 1940s. He saw the band through its golden period in the '80s and beyond, which included their signature 1981 song “Elvira.” The hit marked a massive crossover moment for the group, reaching No. 1 on the country chart and No. 5 on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100. The group is also known for such hits as 1982’s “Bobbie Sue." Shelley Duvall Shelley Duvall poses for photographers at the 30th Cannes Film Festival in France, May 27, 1977. Duvall, whose wide-eyed, winsome presence was a mainstay in the films of Robert Altman and who co-starred in Stanley Kubrick's “The Shining,” died July 11. She was 75. Dr. Ruth Westheimer Dr. Ruth Westheimer holds a copy of her book "Sex for Dummies" at the International Frankfurt Book Fair 'Frankfurter Buchmesse' in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007. Westheimer, the sex therapist who became a pop icon, media star and best-selling author through her frank talk about once-taboo bedroom topics, died on July 12, 2024. She was 96. Richard Simmons Richard Simmons sits for a portrait in Los Angeles, June 23, 1982. Simmons, a fitness guru who urged the overweight to exercise and eat better, died July 13 at the age of 76. Simmons was a court jester of physical fitness who built a mini-empire in his trademark tank tops and short shorts by urging the overweight to exercise and eat better. Simmons was a former 268-pound teen who shared his hard-won weight loss tips as the host of the Emmy-winning daytime “Richard Simmons Show" and the “Sweatin' to the Oldies” line of exercise videos, which became a cultural phenomenon. Jacoby Jones Former NFL receiver Jacoby Jones died July 14 at age 40. Jones' 108-yard kickoff return in 2013 remains the longest touchdown in Super Bowl history. The Houston Texans were Jones’ team for the first five seasons of his career. They announced his death on Sunday. In a statement released by the NFL Players Association, his family said he died at his home in New Orleans. A cause of death was not given. Jones played from 2007-15 for the Texans, Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers. He made several huge plays for the Ravens during their most recent Super Bowl title season, including that kick return. Shannen Doherty The "Beverly Hills, 90210" star whose life and career were roiled by tabloid stories, Shannen Doherty died July 13 at 53. Doherty's publicist said the actor died Saturday following years with breast cancer. Catapulted to fame as Brenda in “Beverly Hills, 90210,” she worked in big-screen films including "Mallrats" and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" and in TV movies including "A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story," in which she played the "Gone with the Wind" author. Doherty co-starred with Holly Marie Combs and Alyssa Milano in the series “Charmed” from 1998-2001; appeared in the “90210” sequel series seven years later and competed on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2010. James Sikking Actor James Sikking poses for a photograph at the Los Angeles gala celebrating the 20th anniversary of the National Organization for Women, Dec. 1, 1986. Sikking, who starred as a hardened police lieutenant on “Hill Street Blues” and as the titular character's kindhearted dad on “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” died July 13 of complications from dementia, his publicist Cynthia Snyder said in a statement. He was 90. Pat Williams Pat Williams chats with media before the 2004 NBA draft in Orlando, Fla. Williams, a co-founder of the Orlando Magic and someone who spent more than a half-century working within the NBA, died July 17 from complications related to viral pneumonia. The team announced the death Wednesday. Williams was 84. He started his NBA career as business manager of the Philadelphia 76ers in 1968, then had stints as general manager of the Chicago Bulls, the Atlanta Hawks and the 76ers — helping that franchise win a title in 1983. Williams was later involved in starting the process of bringing an NBA team to Orlando. The league’s board of governors granted an expansion franchise in 1987, and the team began play in 1989. Lou Dobbs Lou Dobbs speaks Feb. 24, 2017, at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Oxon Hill, Md. Dobbs, the conservative political pundit and veteran cable TV host who was a founding anchor for CNN and later was a nightly presence on Fox Business Network for more than a decade, died July 18. He was 78. His death was announced in a post on his official X account, which called him a “fighter till the very end – fighting for what mattered to him the most, God, his family and the country.” He hosted “Lou Dobbs Tonight” on Fox from 2011 to 2021, following two separate stints at CNN. No cause of death was given. Bob Newhart Bob Newhart, center, poses with members of the cast and crew of the "Bob Newhart Show," from top left, Marcia Wallace, Bill Daily, Jack Riley, and, Suzanne Pleshette, foreground left, and Dick Martin at TV Land's 35th anniversary tribute to "The Bob Newhart Show" on Sept. 5, 2007, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Newhart has died at age 94. Jerry Digney, Newhart’s publicist, says the actor died July 18 in Los Angeles after a series of short illnesses. The accountant-turned-comedian gained fame with a smash album and became one of the most popular TV stars of his time. Newhart was a Chicago psychologist in “The Bob Newhart Show” in the 1970s and a Vermont innkeeper on “Newhart” in the 1980s. Both shows featured a low-key Newhart surrounded by eccentric characters. The second had a twist ending in its final show — the whole series was revealed to have been a dream by the psychologist he played in the other show. Cheng Pei-Pei Cheng Pei-pei, a Chinese-born martial arts film actor who starred in Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” died July 17 at age 78. Her family says Cheng, who had been diagnosed with a rare illness with symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease, passed away Wednesday at home surrounded by her loved ones. The Shanghai-born film star became a household name in Hong Kong, once dubbed the Hollywood of the Far East, for her performances in martial arts movies in the 1960s. She played Jade Fox, who uses poisoned needles, in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” which was released in 2000, grossed $128 million in North America and won four Oscars. Abdul 'Duke' Fakir Abdul “Duke” Fakir holds his life time achievement award backstage at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 8, 2009, in Los Angeles. The last surviving original member of the Four Tops died July 22. Abdul “Duke” Fakir was 88. He was a charter member of the Motown group along with lead singer Levi Stubbs, Renaldo “Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton. Between 1964 and 1967, the Tops had 11 top 20 hits and two No. 1′s: “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” and the operatic classic “Reach Out I’ll Be There.” Other songs, often stories of romantic pain and longing, included “Baby I Need Your Loving,” “Standing in the Shadows of Love,” “Bernadette” and “Just Ask the Lonely.” Bernice Johnson Reagon Sculptress Elizabeth Catlett, left, then-Washington D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt Dixon, center, and then-curator, division of community life, Smithsonian institution Bernice Johnson Reagon chat during the reception at the Candace awards on June 25, 1991 in New York. Reagon, a musician and scholar who used her rich, powerful contralto voice in the service of the American Civil Rights Movement and human rights struggles around the world, died on July 16, 2024, according to her daughter's social media post. She was 81. John Mayall John Mayall, the British blues musician whose influential band the Bluesbreakers was a training ground for Eric Clapton, Mick Fleetwood and many other superstars, died July 22. He was 90. He is credited with helping develop the English take on urban, Chicago-style rhythm and blues that played an important role in the blues revival of the late 1960s. A statement on Mayall's official Instagram page says he died Monday at his home in California. Though Mayall never approached the fame of some of his illustrious alumni, he was still performing in his late 80s, pounding out his version of Chicago blues. Erica Ash Erica Ash, an actor and comedian skilled in sketch comedy who starred in the parody series “Mad TV” and “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” has died. She was 46. Her publicist and a statement by her mother, Diann, says Ash died July 28 in Los Angeles of cancer. Ash impersonated Michelle Obama and Condoleeza Rice on “Mad TV,” a Fox sketch series, and was a key performer on the Rosie O’Donnell-created series “The Big Gay Sketch Show.” Her other credits included “Scary Movie V,” “Uncle Drew” and the LeBron James-produced basketball dramedy “Survivor’s Remorse.” On the BET series “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” Ash played the ex-wife of Kevin Hart’s character. Jack Russell Jack Russell, the lead singer of the bluesy '80s metal band Great White whose hits included “Once Bitten Twice Shy” and “Rock Me” and was fronting his band the night 100 people died in a 2003 nightclub fire in Rhode Island, died Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. He was 63. Chi Chi Rodriguez Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez, a Hall of Fame golfer whose antics on the greens and inspiring life story made him among the sport’s most popular players during a long professional career, died Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. Susan Wojcicki Susan Wojcicki, the former YouTube chief executive officer and longtime Google executive, died Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, after suffering with non small cell lung cancer for the past two years. She was 56. Frank Selvy Frank Selvy, an All-America guard at Furman who scored an NCAA Division I-record 100 points in a game and later played nine NBA seasons, died Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. He was 91. Wally Amos Wallace “Wally” Amos, the creator of the cookie empire that took his name and made it famous and who went on to become a children’s literacy advocate, died Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, from complications with dementia. He was 88. Gena Rowlands Gena Rowlands, hailed as one of the greatest actors to ever practice the craft and a guiding light in independent cinema as a star in groundbreaking movies by her director husband, John Cassavetes, and who later charmed audiences in her son's tear-jerker “The Notebook,” died Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. She was 94. Peter Marshall Peter Marshall, the actor and singer turned game show host who played straight man to the stars for 16 years on “The Hollywood Squares,” died. Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 He was 98. Alain Delon Alain Delon, the internationally acclaimed French actor who embodied both the bad guy and the policeman and made hearts throb around the world, died Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. He was 88. Phil Donahue Phil Donahue, whose pioneering daytime talk show launched an indelible television genre that brought success to Oprah Winfrey, Montel Williams, Ellen DeGeneres and many others, died Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, after a long illness. He was 88. Al Attles Al Attles, a Hall of Famer who coached the 1975 NBA champion Warriors and spent more than six decades with the organization as a player, general manager and most recently team ambassador, died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. He was 87. John Amos John Amos, who starred as the family patriarch on the hit 1970s sitcom “Good Times” and earned an Emmy nomination for his role in the seminal 1977 miniseries “Roots,” died Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. He was 84. James Darren James Darren, a teen idol who helped ignite the 1960s surfing craze as a charismatic beach boy paired off with Sandra Dee in the hit film “Gidget,” died Monday, Sept. 2, 2024. He was 88. James Earl Jones James Earl Jones, who overcame racial prejudice and a severe stutter to become a celebrated icon of stage and screen has died. He was 93. His agent, Barry McPherson, confirmed Jones died Sept. 9 at home. Jones was a pioneering actor who eventually lent his deep, commanding voice to CNN, “The Lion King” and Darth Vader. Working deep into his 80s, he won two Emmys, a Golden Globe, two Tony Awards, a Grammy, the National Medal of Arts, the Kennedy Center Honors and was given an honorary Oscar and a special Tony for lifetime achievement. In 2022, a Broadway theater was renamed in his honor. Frankie Beverly Frankie Beverly, who with his band Maze inspired generations of fans with his smooth, soulful voice and lasting anthems including “Before I Let Go,” has died. He was 77. His family said in a post on the band’s website and social media accounts that Beverly died Sept. 10. In the post, which asked for privacy, the family said “he lived his life with a pure soul, as one would say, and for us, no one did it better.” The post did not say his cause of death or where he died. Beverly, whose songs include “Joy and Pain,” “Love is the Key,” and “Southern Girl,” finished his farewell “I Wanna Thank You Tour” in his hometown of Philadelphia in July. Joe Schmidt Joe Schmidt, the Hall of Fame linebacker who helped the Detroit Lions win NFL championships in 1953 and 1957 and later coached the team, has died. He was 92. The Lions said family informed the team Schmidt died Sept. 11. A cause of death was not provided. One of pro football’s first great middle linebackers, Schmidt played his entire NFL career with the Lions from 1953-65. An eight-time All-Pro, he was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973 and the college football version in 2000. Born in Pittsburgh, Schmidt played college football in his hometown at Pitt. Chad McQueen Chad McQueen, an actor known for his performances in the “Karate Kid” movies and the son of the late actor and racer Steve McQueen, died Sep. 11. His lawyer confirmed his death at age 63. McQueen's family shared a statement on social media saying he lived a life “filled with love and dedication.” McQueen was a professional race car driver, like his father, and competed in the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona races. He is survived by his wife Jeanie and three children, Chase, Madison and Steven, who is an actor best known for “The Vampire Diaries.” Tito Jackson Tito Jackson, one of the brothers who made up the beloved pop group the Jackson 5, died at age 70 on Sept. 15. Jackson was the third of nine children, including global superstars Michael and Janet. The Jackson 5 included brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael. They signed with Berry Gordy’s Motown empire in the 1960s. The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and produced several No. 1 hits in the 1970s, including “ABC,” “I Want You Back” and “I’ll Be There.” JD Souther John David “JD” Souther has died. He was a prolific songwriter and musician whose collaborations with the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt helped shape the country-rock sound that took root in Southern California in the 1970s. Souther joined in on some of the Eagles’ biggest hits, such as “Best of My Love,” “New Kid in Town,” and “Heartache Tonight." The Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee also collaborated with James Taylor, Bob Seger, Bonnie Raitt and many more. His biggest hit as a solo artist was “You’re Only Lonely.” He was about to tour with Karla Bonoff. Souther died Sept. 17 at his home in New Mexico, at 78. In this photo, JD Souther and Alison Krauss attend the Songwriters Hall of Fame 44th annual induction and awards gala on Thursday, June 13, 2013 in New York. Dan Evans Sen. Dan Evans stands with his three sons, from left, Mark, Bruce and Dan Jr., after he won the election for Washington's senate seat in Seattle, Nov. 8, 1983. Evans, a former Washington state governor and a U.S. Senator, died Sept. 20. The popular Republican was 98. He served as governor from 1965 to 1977, and he was the keynote speaker at the 1968 National Republican Convention. In 1983, Evans was appointed to served out the term of Democratic Sen. Henry “Scoop” Jackson after he died in office. Evans opted not to stand for election in 1988, citing the “tediousness" of the Senate. He later served as a regent at the University of Washington, where the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance bears his name. Mercury Morris Eugene “Mercury” Morris, who starred for the unbeaten 1972 Miami Dolphins as part of a star-studded backfield and helped the team win two Super Bowl titles, died Sept. 21. He was 77. The team on Sunday confirmed the death of Morris, a three-time Pro Bowl selection. In a statement, his family said his “talent and passion left an indelible mark on the sport.” Morris was the starting halfback and one of three go-to runners that Dolphins coach Don Shula utilized in Miami’s back-to-back title seasons of 1972 and 1973, alongside Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick. Morris led the Dolphins in rushing touchdowns in both of those seasons. John Ashton John Ashton, the veteran character actor who memorably played the gruff but lovable police detective John Taggart in the “Beverly Hills Cop” films, died Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. He was 76. Maggie Smith Maggie Smith, who won an Oscar for 1969 film “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” and won new fans in the 21st century as the dowager Countess of Grantham in “Downton Abbey” and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films, died Sept. 27 at 89. Smith's publicist announced the news Friday. She was frequently rated the preeminent British female performer of a generation that included Vanessa Redgrave and Judi Dench. “Jean Brodie” brought her the Academy Award for best actress in 1969. Smith added a supporting actress Oscar for “California Suite” in 1978. Kris Kristofferson Kris Kristofferson, a Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma who became a country music superstar and an A-list Hollywood actor, died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. He was 88. Drake Hogestyn Drake Hogestyn, the “Days of Our Lives” star who appeared on the show for 38 years, died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. He was 70. Ron Ely Ron Ely, the tall, musclebound actor who played the title character in the 1960s NBC series “Tarzan,” died Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, at age 86. Dikembe Mutombo Dikembe Mutombo, a Basketball Hall of Famer who was one of the best defensive players in NBA history and a longtime global ambassador for the game, died Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, from brain cancer, the league announced. He was 58. Frank Fritz Frank Fritz, left, part of a two-man team who drove around the U.S. looking for antiques and collectibles to buy and resell on the reality show “American Pickers,” died Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. He was 60. He's shown here with co-host Mike Wolfe at the A+E Networks 2015 Upfront in New York on April 30, 2015. Pete Rose Pete Rose, baseball’s career hits leader and fallen idol who undermined his historic achievements and Hall of Fame dreams by gambling on the game he loved and once embodied, died Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. He was 83. Cissy Houston Cissy Houston, the mother of Whitney Houston and a two-time Grammy winner who performed alongside superstar musicians like Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin, died Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in her New Jersey home. She was 91. Ethel Kennedy Ethel Kennedy, the wife of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, who raised their 11 children after he was assassinated and remained dedicated to social causes and the family’s legacy for decades thereafter, died on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, her family said. She was 96. Liam Payne Former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 31, whose chart-topping British boy band generated a global following of swooning fans, was found dead Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, local officials said. He was 31. Mitzi Gaynor Mitzi Gaynor, among the last survivors of the so-called golden age of the Hollywood musical, died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. She was 93. Fernando Valenzuela Fernando Valenzuela, the Mexican-born phenom for the Los Angeles Dodgers who inspired “Fernandomania” while winning the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in 1981, died Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. He was 63. Jack Jones Jack Jones, a Grammy-winning crooner known for “The Love Boat” television show theme song, died, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. He was 86. Phil Lesh Phil Lesh, a founding member of the Grateful Dead, died Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, at age 84. Teri Garr Teri Garr, the quirky comedy actor who rose from background dancer in Elvis Presley movies to co-star of such favorites as "Young Frankenstein" and "Tootsie," died Tuesday, Oct 29, 2024. She was 79. Quincy Jones Quincy Jones, the multitalented music titan whose vast legacy ranged from producing Michael Jackson’s historic “Thriller” album to writing prize-winning film and television scores and collaborating with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and hundreds of other recording artists, died Sunday, Nov 3, 2024. He was 91 Bobby Allison Bobby Allison, founder of racing’s “Alabama Gang” and a NASCAR Hall of Famer, died Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. He was 86. Song Jae-lim Song Jae-lim, a South Korean actor known for his roles in K-dramas “Moon Embracing the Sun” and “Queen Woo,” was found dead at his home in capital Seoul, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. He was 39. Timothy West British actor Timothy West, who played the classic Shakespeare roles of King Lear and Macbeth and who in recent years along with his wife, Prunella Scales, enchanted millions of people with their boating exploits on Britain's waterways, died Tuesday, Nov 12, 2024. He was 90. Bela Karolyi Bela Karolyi, the charismatic if polarizing gymnastics coach who turned young women into champions and the United States into an international power in the sport, died Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. He was 82. Arthur Frommer Arthur Frommer, whose "Europe on 5 Dollars a Day" guidebooks revolutionized leisure travel by convincing average Americans to take budget vacations abroad, died Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. He was 95. Bob Love Former Chicago Bulls forward Bob Love, a three-time All-Star who spent 11 years in the NBA, died Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. He was 81. Chuck Woolery Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, died Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. He was 83. Barbara Taylor Bradford Barbara Taylor Bradford, a British journalist who became a publishing sensation in her 40s with the saga "A Woman of Substance" and wrote more than a dozen other novels that sold tens of millions of copies, died Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. She was 91. Rickey Henderson Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, the brash speedster who shattered stolen base records and redefined baseball's leadoff position, died Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. He was 65. Will these predictions come true in 2025? | The Ethical Life podcast Sign up to get the most recent local obituaries delivered to your inbox.

Adele wrapped up the final show of her successful Las Vegas residency with some heartfelt words for her son and fiancé. The English singer wiped away tears as she addressed her 12-year-old son Angelo , who was in attendance for her final residency show at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Saturday, Nov. 23. Video footage later shared on X , formerly Twitter, by one fan in the audience captured Adele’s sweet onstage message. 🤩🤩 SIGN UP for Parade's Trending News newsletter & we'll keep you in the know on the viral pop culture moments & celebrity news everyone is talking about 🗞️🗞️ “To my son,” she began before briefly breaking down in tears. She quickly recovered and explained to her audience, "I chose to do a residency mainly because I f---ing hate touring. But I chose to do a residency so I could keep his life normal, and I did do that.” The “Hello” singer went on to thank her son, whom she shares with ex-husband Simon Konecki , “for being patient for me” and gushed, “I love you to bits.” Adele thanks son for being so patient with her and Rich Paul for always motivating her 🫶🏻✨ pic.twitter.com/zwhVGxpqgb Adele, 36, then addressed her fiancé, Rich Paul , who was also at Saturday’s show. She thanked the sports agency founder for “always” making her feel “like I could do whatever I wanted to do.” Another fan-captured video shared on X showed Adele greeting Angelo and Paul as the two sat together in the venue. The “Rolling in the Deep” songstress gave her son a quick kiss and a hug as fans cheered around her before doing the same with Paul. 🥰 Angelo and Rich Paul give a kiss and hug to Adele during When We Were Young ❤ 🎥 @adelllylove pic.twitter.com/DFUyK7ZGHq Adele first kicked off her popular residency in late 2022. Now that it’s over, fans are uncertain when they will next hear from the 16-time Grammy Award winner, who previously announced that she was planning an indefinite hiatus once her scheduled shows in Las Vegas were over. Adele reflected on the residency and reiterated her uncertainty about the future while speaking with concertgoers onstage Saturday night. “It’s been wonderful, and I will miss it terribly, and I will miss you terribly,” she told her fans. “I don’t know when I’m next going to perform again.” After making a couple of jokes about having no plans for her immediate future, Adele reassured her fans, telling them, “Of course I’ll be back. The only thing I’m good at is singing and things like that. I just don’t know when I’ll want to next come onstage.” Next: Adele and Céline Dion Share Emotional Concert Moment and Fans Can't Hold Back Their TearsKUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 — Malaysia’s private medical healthcare, which has become a significant tourism draw and revenue generator for the country, appears to be increasingly out of reach of many citizens. It came to a point where Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had to weigh in and said that private healthcare costs needed to be regulated as they were “too high and unreasonable”. Bank Negara Malaysia data showed a 12.6 per cent medical cost inflation rate in 2023 — more than double the global average of 5.6 per cent and an increase from 12 per cent in 2022. And so earlier this month, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad touted the plans to roll out the Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) pricing system by the second quarter of 2025. But what is DRG? Simply put, the DRG is a pricing system that charges a fixed rate for certain medical procedures. Say you are a patient, the DRG is a way for hospitals to get paid a fixed amount for treating you based on your specific illness or condition. It doesn’t matter how long you stay or how many tests you have — once your condition is identified, the hospital gets a set amount from your insurance or government programme, based on the typical cost for treating that condition. This helps hospitals manage costs and keeps payments predictable for everyone. How is it different from the medical billing system now? Currently, private hospitals here use a fee-for-service system (FFS), whereby each service is itemised. This means that as a patient, you are charged separately for each individual service or procedure you receive, like a hospital stay, doctor visits, lab tests, or surgeries. So, if you need more tests or treatments, your bill can keep growing, and the cost depends on what and how much you get. In contrast, under the DRG system, the hospital gets a fixed amount based on your diagnosis, no matter how many services you use or how long you stay. This makes your costs more predictable in the DRG system, whereas in FFS, you're billed for each thing separately. The DRG model is implemented in developed nations like Germany, the United States, South Korea, and Japan. What is the purpose? The DRG is said to enhance the transparency of medical fees and to address the hike in private healthcare costs which contributed to the recent rise of medical insurance premiums, which has been generating a lot of buzz recently. This is also good news for patients because private hospitals might be required to bear the costs of additional treatment if complications arise, according to Dr Yap Wei Aun, chief executive of the Health Ministry’s Health Transformation Office, in a news report published by healthcare portal CodeBlue after an August 27 meeting with the Health Parliamentary Special Select Committee. Under DRG, unnecessary hospital stays and curb the sharp incline of healthcare costs, benefiting not just patients but hospitals, Affin Hwang Investment Bank Bhd analyst Tan Ei Leen told Business Times on December 14. But not everyone is convinced. Potential downsides to DRG Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) Research cautioned that the DRG system could reduce profit margins for private hospitals. With a standardised payment model, HLIB Research said some private hospitals might be tempted to cut corners, discharge patients prematurely, or be selective in admitting low-cost cases. This is because the cost structures among Malaysia’s private hospitals vary widely due to different room configurations, staff-to-patient ratios, and adoption of advanced medical technologies. HLIB Research expects Putrajaya to repurpose the DRG payment system as part of a future national health insurance (NHI) scheme, consistent with global practices outlined in the Health White Paper. A NHI scheme usually requires citizens or residents to contribute a portion of their salaries and receive standardised healthcare services. RHB Investment Bank Bhd analyst Oong Chun Sung warned that Malaysia needs a robust data and technical management system to effectively implement the DRG mechanism. Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy founder and chief executive officer Azrul Mohd Khalib highlighted that the current framework in Malaysia cannot effectively support the implementation of the DRG. He emphasised that the system would require vast data about the patients and would rely on detailed clinical coding and reliable cost data, Business Times reported. Azrul said that the information technology infrastructure in the Malaysian healthcare system is irregular and decades behind, adding that Malaysia also struggles with noting granular cost data. He said that hospitals must be able to break down their expenditures-staff time, pharmaceuticals, consumables, and equipment usage-per episode of care. Further training would be required to interpret DRG-based performance indicators and to adjust internal processes accordingly, he said. What needs to be done for a smooth rollout? Azrul also underlined that consultations, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory and legislative amendments would be crucial to implementing the DRG system. He said that engagement and trust from consumers, hospital administrators, clinicians, and professional bodies were pertinent to ensure a smooth sailing system. The Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said its members are not against cost containment, but called for a transparent and collective discussion with all stakeholders to address the issue of rising healthcare costs without delay.Franklin Resources Inc. Has $1.55 Million Stock Position in TransAlta Co. (NYSE:TAC)

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Acquires 15,130 Shares of iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IJS)Notre Dame's Danny Nelson scores twice, defending champ US beats Latvia 5-1 in world junior hockey

Eventful year for Parly

Top Arab diplomats visited the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Monday, the latest in a string of diplomatic overtures by the international community as Syria emerges from years of isolation under President Bashar Assad. The visits by ministers from Jordan and Qatar, just two weeks after Assad’s fall, suggest that Arab nations are eager for better relations with a country that had been a pariah and a source of instability in the region. Syria’s New Leader Holds Talks With Jordan’s Leadership Syria’s new leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, held “extensive talks” with Jordan’s foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, in Damascus on Monday, according to a statement from the Jordanian Foreign Ministry. Hours later, Qatar’s minister of state for foreign affairs, Mohammed al-Khulaifi, arrived in Syria and met with its new leadership, according to the Qatari Foreign Ministry. They were among the first high-ranking Arab diplomats to visit Syria since Assad was toppled two weeks ago by the rebel coalition led by al-Sharaa. Top Arab diplomats vowed at a meeting in Jordan this month to “support a peaceful transition process” in Syria. Most Arab nations cut ties with Assad’s government because of his ruthless crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in 2011 during the Arab Spring, which ignited a civil war. But after years of financing anti-Assad militias, several of Assad’s detractors had reversed their stance in recent years, hoping that increased engagement might bring more stability to the region. Last year, the Saudi government in Riyadh invited Assad to the Arab League summit, more than a decade after the league suspended Syria’s membership. But the strategy didn’t pay off, said Julien Barnes-Dacey, Middle East and North Africa program director at the European Council on Foreign Relations. And Assad continued with his heavy-handed tactics. Now, Arab nations are jumping at the chance to start again with new leadership in Syria. “The Arab states see more opportunity now than they did after a year of engagement with Assad that delivered absolutely nothing,” Barnes-Dacey said. Initially there was trepidation given al-Sharaa’s former links to al-Qaida, which is as much a destabilizing factor in the Arab world as it is in the West, Barnes-Dacey said. But al-Sharaa’s repeated pronouncements that his government would be pragmatic, inclusive and respectful of the country’s many religious and ethnic groups have been well received. “Regional states are going to be happy to jump on that,” he said. Shifts in Regional Alliances The influx of Arab delegations reflects the potential for a profound shift in regional alliances, said Paul Salem, vice president for international engagement at the Middle East Institute in Washington. Even though like most Arab nations, Syria is a majority Sunni Muslim country, the Assad regime long played a key role in supporting the regional influence of Iran, which is largely Shiite. Arab states see an opportunity to change that dynamic. “Arab countries have been trying to get Syria back into the Arab fold for the last 45 years, since the Iran-Iraq war,” Salem said. It is not surprising, he added, that Qatar is taking the lead. Qatar was one of the few Arab countries that refused to reconcile with Assad, so the visit by al-Khulaifi, one of the country’s top-ranking diplomats, was a strong signal of support for the new government. In a news conference after their meeting, al-Khulaifi said that “Syria and its people need support during this crucial phase.” Al-Sharaa highlighted Qatar’s continued assistance for the Syrian people throughout the war, and thanked Qatar for what he described as its readiness to invest in Syria’s energy sector, ports and airports. The Qatari delegation was accompanied by a technical team from Qatar Airways that planned to assess whether the international airport in Damascus was ready to restart operations after it was shut down amid the rebel offensive, according to the Foreign Ministry. Safadi said in remarks after his meeting with al-Sharaa that Jordan’s goal was to “support and assist the Syrian people.” But he also brought up issues of direct concern to Jordan, including the presence of nearly 620,000 registered Syrian refugees in his country, emphasizing that their return must be “voluntary and safe.” Safadi also brought up issues of terrorism, arms smuggling and drug trafficking, “which we in Jordan have suffered from.” United Arab Emirates Speaks With New Syrian Leadership The foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, spoke with Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, Syria’s newly appointed foreign minister. In the call, bin Zayed stressed his country’s “supportive stance” for a “comprehensive and inclusive transitional phase.” The UAE has long been suspicious of the rebel movement’s Islamist bent, said Barnes-Dacey, and was the first among Arab nations to reestablish ties with the Assad government, in 2018. On Sunday al-Sharaa met with the Turkish foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, and also met a prominent Lebanese Druze leader, Walid Jumblatt. Like his visitors Monday, the Turkish and Lebanese representatives had their list of needs, couched in offers of support. Turkey, host to 3.6 million Syrian refugees, also wants to see a return to stability so that they can eventually go home. But it is also seeking to build a Syria more closely aligned with its regional interests. Many of the rebel groups that helped push Assad out of power were financed by Turkey, and while al-Sharaa’s group was not, Turkey will still seek to use their presence to push for greater influence, Barnes-Dacey said. As a Lebanese politician as well as the leader of the Druze religious minority, which has about a million members scattered across Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan, Jumblatt wasn’t seeking influence as much as reassurances. The Assad regime, which was founded by Assad’s father, Hafez Assad in 1971, had a long history of interfering in Lebanese politics, and it was implicated in the assassination of Jumblatt’s father, as well as the killings of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri and several other prominent Lebanese politicians over the past 50 years. In his meeting with the Lebanese delegation, al-Sharaa acknowledged that Syria under the Assads had long been a “source of fear and anxiety” for Lebanon, and he vowed to end his country’s “negative interference.” — This article originally appeared in . By Aryn Baker and Euan Ward/Daniel Berehulak c. 2024 The New York Times Company

In a move that reeks of double the government has formed an eight-member committee tasked with revising or introducing new allowances for government employees. This committee, which is expected to recommend salary hikes of up to 25 percent starting July 2024, is not only a questionable allocation of resources but also an obvious conflict of interest. At a time when the government is grappling with a revenue shortfall, the idea of boosting allowances for civil servants feels almost absurd. Yet, despite mounting financial pressures, the government appears keen on securing its own political base—prioritizing bureaucratic perks over fiscal responsibility. This initiative comes after numerous lobbying efforts by various employee groups, spurred by the recent hefty pay raises for judges. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appointed an eight-member committee, led by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, to review and revise existing allowances for government servants. The membership of this committee, however, raises serious concerns. It includes not only the Finance Minister but also senior officials directly connected to the beneficiaries of the proposed pay rises: the secretaries of Finance, Cabinet, Defence, Interior, and Economic Affairs, and even the Minister of State for Finance, a batchmate to many high-ranking officers. There is a glaring conflict of interest here. The committee’s makeup violates the fundamental principle of fairness—it’s like letting the fox guard the henhouse. With those who stand to gain from the new allowances sitting on the committee, the very notion of impartiality is undermined. What’s more troubling is the hypocrisy at play. Just a week ago, the Finance Minister suggested revisiting the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award—a move that would roll back fiscal devolution and reduce provincial shares in favor of sustaining a bloated federal bureaucracy. Rabbani sharply rebuked this, accusing the government of trying to maintain its lavish lifestyle at the expense of provincial autonomy and constitutional integrity. The NFC, a critical pillar of fiscal decentralization, increased provincial shares significantly over the years. Yet, in the pursuit of more perks for its own, the federal government now seems intent on undermining this progress. The provinces will not stand idly by while the center attempts to violate the 1973 Constitution and reallocate their rightful share of resources. In a nutshell, the government’s priorities are clear: lavish perks for a select few at the top while undermining the constitutional framework that ensures fair resource distribution across the country. This is a classic case of misplaced priorities—one that not only exposes the government’s double standards but also risks deepening the fiscal crisis it purports to be solving. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );

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Franklin Resources Inc. Has $1.46 Million Position in Hafnia Limited (NYSE:HAFN)

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