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A butterfly collector in Africa with more than 4.2 million seeks to share them for the future NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — What began as a childhood hobby more than six decades ago has led to what might be Africa’s largest butterfly collection in a suburb of Kenya’s capital. Steve Collins has a collection of 4.2 million butterflies representing hundreds of species. Now, running out of space and time, he hopes to hand it over to the next generation. One expert familiar with Collins and his work suggests that the collection should be digitized for global access. Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen returns to a tournament after a dispute over jeans is resolved NEW YORK (AP) — Top ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday. That's after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans. The International Chess Federation president said in a statement Sunday that he’d let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, as well as other "minor deviations” from the dress code. Carlsen quit the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships on Friday. He said Sunday he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship. 'Sonic 3' and 'Mufasa' battle for No. 1 at the holiday box office Two family films are dominating the holiday box office, with “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” winning the three-day weekend over “Mufasa” by a blue hair. According to studio estimates Sunday, the Sonic movie earned $38 million, while “Mufasa” brought in $37.1 million from theaters in the U.S. and Canada. The R-rated horror “Nosferatu” placed third with an unexpectedly strong $21.2 million. Thanksgiving release holdovers “Wicked” and “Moana 2” rounded out the top five. Christmas Day had several big film openings, including the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” the Nicole Kidman erotic drama “Babygirl” and the boxing drama “The Fire Inside.” Charles Shyer, ‘Father of the Bride’ and ‘Baby Boom’ filmmaker, dies at 83 An Oscar-nominated writer and filmmaker known for classic comedies like “Private Benjamin,” “Baby Boom” and “Father of the Bride," Charles Shyer has died. He was 83. On Sunday his daughter Hallie Meyers-Shyer told The Associated Press that he died Friday in Los Angeles. No cause was disclosed. Born in Los Angeles in 1941 to a filmmaker father, Shyer's big breakthrough came with co-writing “Private Benjamin” for which he and Nancy Meyers received an Oscar nomination. He and Nancy Meyers were frequent collaborators through their nearly 20-year marriage, including on the remake of “The Parent Trap," starring Lindsay Lohan. LeBron James at 40: A milestone birthday arrives Monday for the NBA's all-time scoring leader When LeBron James broke another NBA record earlier this month, the one for most regular-season minutes played in a career, his Los Angeles Lakers teammates handled the moment in typical locker room fashion. They made fun of him. Dubbed The Kid from Akron, with a limitless future, James is now the 40-year-old from Los Angeles with wisps of gray in his beard, his milestone birthday coming Monday, one that will make him the first player in NBA history to play in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. He has stood and excelled in the spotlight his entire career. Belgium will ban sales of disposable e-cigarettes in a first for the EU BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium will ban the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes as of Jan. 1 on health and environmental grounds in a groundbreaking move for European Union nations. Health minister Frank Vandenbroucke tells The Associated Press that the inexpensive e-cigarettes have turned into a health threat since they are an easy way for teenagers to be drawn into smoking and get hooked on nicotine. Australia outlawed the sale of “vapes” outside pharmacies earlier this year in some of the world’s toughest restrictions on electronic cigarettes. Now Belgium is leading the EU drive. Belgium's minister wants tougher tobacco measures in the 27-nation bloc. Charles Dolan, HBO and Cablevision founder, dies at 98 Charles F. Dolan, who founded some of the most prominent U.S. media companies including Home Box Office Inc. and Cablevision Systems Corp., has died at age 98. Newsday reports that a statement issued Saturday by his family says Dolan died of natural causes. Dolan’s legacy in cable broadcasting includes founding HBO in 1972, Cablevision in 1973 and the American Movie Classics television station in 1984. He also launched News 12 in New York City, the first U.S. 24-hour cable channel for local news. Dolan also held controlling stakes in companies that owned Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and the New York Knicks and New York Rangers sports franchises. Snoop's game: Snoop Dogg thrills the crowd in the bowl that bears his name TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Miami of Ohio beat Colorado State in the Arizona Bowl, but Snoop Dogg was the main attraction. The Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop was much a spectacle as a football game. Snoop Dogg seemed to be everywhere all at once, from a pregame tailgate to the postgame trophy presentation. Snoop Dog donned a headset on Colorado State's sideline, spent some time in the broadcast and even led both marching bands as conductor during their halftime performance. Snoop Dogg saved the best for last, rolling out in a light green, lowrider Chevy Impala with gold rims and accents, the shiny Arizona Bowl trophy in his hand as fans screamed his name. Mavs star Luka Doncic is latest pro athlete whose home was burglarized, business manager says DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is the latest professional athlete whose home has been burglarized. The star guard’s business manager tells multiple media outlets there was a break-in at Doncic’s home Friday night. Lara Beth Seager says nobody was home, and Doncic filed a police report. The Dallas Morning News reports that jewelry valued at about $30,000 was stolen. Doncic is the sixth known pro athlete in the U.S. whose home was burglarized since October. Star NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City and Joe Burrow of Cincinnati are among them. The NFL and NBA have issued security alerts to players over the break-ins. Victor Wembanyama plays 1-on-1 chess with fans in New York Victor Wembanyama went to a park in New York City and played 1-on-1 with fans on Saturday. He even lost a couple of games. Not in basketball, though. Wemby was playing chess. Before the San Antonio Spurs left New York for a flight to Minnesota, Wembanyama put out the call on social media: “Who wants to meet me at the SW corner of Washington Square park to play chess? Im there,” Wembanyama wrote. It was 9:36 a.m. And people began showing up almost immediately.

Trump has promised again to release the last JFK files. But experts say don’t expect big revelations DALLAS (AP) — The nation is set to mark 61 years since President John F. Kennedy was assassinated as his motorcade passed through downtown Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. Even after over six decades, conspiracy theories about what happened that day still swirl and the desire to follow every thread of information hasn’t waned. President-elect Donald Trump made promises over the summer that if reelected he would declassify the remaining records. At this point, only a few thousand of millions of pages of governmental records related to the assassination have yet to be fully released. And those who have studied what's been released so far say that the public shouldn’t anticipate any earth-shattering revelations even if the remaining files are declassified. Bitcoin is at the doorstep of $100,000 as post-election rally rolls on NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin is jumping again, rising above $98,000 for the first time Thursday. The cryptocurrency has been shattering records almost daily since the U.S. presidential election, and has rocketed more than 40% higher in just two weeks. It's now at the doorstep of $100,000. Cryptocurrencies and related investments like crypto exchange-traded funds have rallied because the incoming Trump administration is expected to be more “crypto-friendly.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is hard to predict. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. NFL issues security alert to teams and the players' union following recent burglaries The NFL has issued a security alert to teams and the players’ union following recent burglaries involving the homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the league says homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.” Law enforcement officials noted these groups target the homes on days the athletes have games. Players were told to take precautions and implement home security measures to reduce the risk of being targeted. Some of the burglary groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets. Penn State wins trademark case over retailer's use of vintage logos, images PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Penn State has won a closely watched trademark fight over an online retailer’s use of its vintage logos and images. A Pennsylvania jury awarded Penn State $28,000 in damages earlier this week over products made and sold by the firms Vintage Brand and Sportswear Inc. Penn State accused them of selling “counterfeit” clothing and accessories. The defendants said their website makes clear they are not affiliated with Penn State. At least a dozen other schools have sued the defendants on similar grounds, but the Pennsylvania case was the first to go to trial. Has a waltz written by composer Frederic Chopin been discovered in an NYC museum? NEW YORK (AP) — A previously unknown musical work written by composer Frederic Chopin appears to have been found in a library in New York City. The Morgan Library & Museum says the untitled and unsigned piece is the first new manuscript of the Romantic era virtuoso to be discovered in nearly a century. Robinson McClellan, the museum’s curator, says he stumbled across the work in May while going through a collection brought to the Manhattan museum years earlier. He worked with outside experts to verify the document's authenticity. But there’s debate whether the waltz is an original Chopin work or merely one written in his hand. Volcano on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula erupts for the 7th time in a year GRINDAVIK, Iceland (AP) — A volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland is spewing lava from a fissure in its seventh eruption since December. Iceland's seismic monitors said the eruption started with little warning late Wednesday and created a long fissure but looked to be smaller than eruptions in August and May. Around 50 houses were evacuated after the Civil Protection agency issued the alert, along with guests at the famous Blue Lagoon resort, according to the national broadcaster. The repeated eruptions over the past year have caused damage to the town of Grindavík and forced people to relocate. Australian teen and British woman who drank tainted alcohol in Laos have died, bringing toll to 5 VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) — An Australian teenager and a British woman have died after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos in what Australia’s prime minister said was every parent’s nightmare. Officials earlier said an American and two Danish tourists also had died following reports that multiple people had been sickened in town popular with backpackers. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Parliament that 19-year-old Bianca Jones had died after being evacuated from Vang Vieng, Laos, for treatment in a Thai hospital. Her friend, also 19, remains hospitalized in Thailand. Later Thursday, Britain said a British woman also died and the media in the U.K. identified her as 28-year-old Simone White. US ahead in AI innovation, easily surpassing China in Stanford's new ranking The U.S. leads the world in developing artificial intelligence technology, surpassing China in research and other important measures of AI innovation, according to a newly released Stanford University index. There’s no surefire way to rank global AI leadership but Stanford researchers have made an attempt by measuring the “vibrancy” of the AI industry across a variety of dimensions, from how much research and investment is happening to how responsibly the technology is being pursued to prevent harm. Following the U.S. and China were the United Kingdom, India and the United Arab Emirates. Pop star Ed Sheeran helps favorite soccer team sign player before getting on stage with Taylor Swift It turns out British pop star Ed Sheeran is also good at recruiting soccer players. Sheeran is a minority shareholder at English soccer team Ipswich Town and it needed his help over the summer to get a player to join the club. Ipswich CEO Mark Ashton tells a Soccerex industry event in Miami: “Ed jumped on a Zoom call with him at the training ground, just before he stepped on stage with Taylor Swift. Hopefully that was a key part in getting the player across the line.” Ashton didn’t disclose the player in question, saying only: “He’s certainly scoring a few goals.” Chris Stapleton wins 4 CMA Awards, but Morgan Wallen gets entertainer of the year It was mostly Chris Stapleton’s night at the Country Music Association Awards. Stapleton won four times and took the stage to perform three times Wednesday night at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. But an absent Morgan Wallen won the biggest award, entertainer of the year. Stapleton's wins included single of the year and song of the year for “White Horse,” and his eighth trophy as male vocalist of the year. Best female vocalist of the year went to Laney Johnson. An all-star ensemble including both Stapleton and Johnson performed in tribute to George Strait, who won the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.

Whether it’s with fear or fascination, everyone in the tri-state area is wondering where all these drones are coming from. Though she sees no reason to worry, Loretta Alkalay, a former attorney for the Federal Aviation Administration and an adjunct professor at the aeronautics-centered Vaughn College in East Elmhurst, has a theory. “Everything that I’ve seen and read indicates that the government is not concerned about it, which is part of what leads me to conclude that the government or the military knows what’s going on and is either operating them or they’re under contract,” Alkalay told the Chronicle via phone Monday. It was reported to police last Thursday evening that between five and 10 drones were hovering over LaGuardia Airport and Citi Field, according to the Citizen app. Three to four drones also were seen heading eastbound above the Belt Parkway just before 7 p.m. Thursday. Around 8:20 p.m., police were informed of three drones flying over the Cross Island Parkway and Northern Boulevard, according to Citizen. Drones were spotted in the Bronx in the morning that same day — the Daily News reported that they flew away when police arrived on the scene. In Staten Island, 20 drones were spotted flying around a house at around 8 p.m. A summary of the incident on Citizen states that drones seen in recent weeks appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as radio and helicopter, a New Jersey official briefed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said. Gov. Hochul said on X on Sunday that the feds are sending a drone detection system to New York, but more action is needed. Hochul urged Congress to allow the state to deal directly with the drones. That afternoon, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called on the DHS to deploy drone detection technology across New York and New Jersey. Schumer said he is working to pass a bill that would give local law enforcement “more tools for drone detection.” The Daily News reported that he is looking into the company Robin, which makes advanced drone detection technology, to figure out who is deploying them. Aries Dela Cruz of the New York City Emergency Management Department said on X last Thursday that the agency is “monitoring the situation and working with relevant agencies to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers,” adding that it is illegal to operate unauthorized drones in restricted air space, including near airports. Dela Cruz later said there was a drone show scheduled for 10 p.m. Thursday expected to launch from New Jersey involving approximately 1,000 drones not under the city’s jurisdiction. Asked for comment about the drone sightings, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey referred the Chronicle to the FBI and FAA. An FBI official said on a background press call last Saturday that the agency had opened an investigation last month after multiple suspicious activity reports of unmanned aircraft were made in New Jersey. Out of the 5,000 leads it received, fewer than 100 have been actionable, the representative said. “I basically think people should stop looking at the sky and freaking out, especially because a lot of people seem to be confusing legitimate aircraft, manned aircraft, with drones and panicking,” Alkalay said. The FBI and DHS said in a joint statement last Friday that no malicious intent or activity has been detected, but law enforcement and other agencies continue to investigate the reports. “We’re confident that many of the reported drone sightings are, in fact, manned aircraft being misidentified as drones,” a DHS official said. Councilwoman Vickie Paladino (R-Whitestone) agreed. She said most videos on social media are “pretty obviously either legally operating aircraft, mistaken identity or outright hoaxes.” Drones can be used nefariously, Alkalay said, but they have positive uses and can be flown legally at night, with certain rules. She said also that there are systems in place to mitigate potential threats. President-elect Trump mentioned the drones on social media Friday, saying authorities should “Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!” Alkalay said shooting at drones is dangerous, since they could fall and hurt someone or start a fire. Some residents remain uneasy, though government agencies have not yet detected any threats. “It is totally surprising that with our technology, no one can determine what’s flying above us, but we’re told to be calm!” Oakland Gardens resident Dorothy Gist told the Chronicle via email.

LAS VEGAS — Kansas center Hunter Dickinson was ejected midway through the second half of the top-ranked Jayhawks' game against No. 11 Duke on Tuesday night for kicking the Blue Devils' Maliq Brown in the head. Brown was assessed a personal foul for backing into Dickinson while both were going for a rebound. Dickinson was given a flagrant-2 for the kick, leading to the ejection. He initially remained in the bench area with his teammates before being escorted off the floor. Dickinson entered the game averaging 17.8 points and 10.4 rebounds. Kansas led 57-55 at the time of his ejection.

What to know about ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon's HezbollahNuclear Power Market Share Expected to Reach $44.71 billion by 2029Quebec Premier François Legault says he met U.S. president-elect Donald Trump in Paris and they discussed border control and a proposed tariff on Canadian goods. Legault posted a photo on social media of himself shaking hands with Trump during his visit to the French capital for the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral. Trump has promised to impose a punishing 25 percent tariff on Canada if it doesn’t improve security at the border and stop the flow of migrants and illegal drugs. The meeting came as a number of world leaders were in Paris to celebrate the restoration of the historic cathedral widely considered to be a pinnacle of French architectural heritage. Legault also crossed paths with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as well as billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has been named to lead a government efficiency department in the next Trump administration. The premier says he expressed Quebec’s support for Ukraine to Zelenskyy, and discussed electric vehicles and international trade with Musk.( MENAFN - PR Newswire) NEWARK, N.J., Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic is pleased to introduce two new cameras to its LUMIX lineup: the Micro Four Thirds G97 and travel Zoom ZS99. The new LUMIX G97 and ZS99 offer a wide range of updated photo and video features to bring excellent image quality and usability to enthusiasts, photographers, and videographers alike. LUMIX continues to develop its lineup to satisfy the needs of a wide range of creators and continually deliver value, innovation, and reliability to its customers. LUMIX ZS99: New Pocket-sized Travel 30x Zoom Camera Compact and feature-packed, the LUMIX ZS99 travel zoom camera is perfect for capturing life's adventures. Powerful 30x zoom in a pocket-sized body Equipped with a 24-720mm LEICA DC lens*1, the LUMIX ZS99 offers 30x optical zoom and up to 60x with iZoom so that you can capture everything from sweeping landscapes to intricate details with stunning clarity. With in-built 5-Axis HYBRID O.I.S.+, you can enjoy high-quality videos even at full zoom. Unmissable Moments in 4K Record high-quality 4K video at 30p or capture quick bursts of 4K PHOTO at 30fps to ensure you never miss a moment. Additionally, its ability to capture HD high-speed video at 120fps adds creative flexibility for slow-motion shots. Packed with travel-ready features A tiltable 1,840k-dot touchscreen makes creative angles easy, while USB Type-C charging ensures you're always powered up on the go. Easy image sharing Connect instantly with built-in Bluetooth® v5.0*2 and Wi-Fi, plus a dedicated Send Image button for seamless transfers to your smartphone. Price and availability The new LUMIX ZS99 will be available in black (DC-ZS99E-K) and silver (DC-ZS99E-S) in mid-February 2024 for $499.99 at valued channel partners. *1 35mm camera equivalent. *2 The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by Panasonic Corporation is under license. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners. LUMIX G97: New Compact Hybrid Micro Four Thirds Camera The new LUMIX G97 camera balances high performance and simplicity, giving creators the tools to elevate their photography and video skills. Superb picture quality The 20.3MP CMOS sensor, combined with the high-performance Image processor, delivers superb image quality with vibrant colors and sharp details. Equipped with LUMIX Photo Style feature, users can fine-tune their images with a variety of color effect options, ensuring every shot matches your creative vision. The Live View Composite feature is also included, providing the ability to combines multiple exposures in real time to create stunning light trails, star trails, or illuminated scenes without overexposing the background. Smooth performance The LUMIX G97's 5-stop 5-axis Dual I.S.2*1 system ensures unrivalled stability, so your photos and videos remain sharp even in challenging conditions. With 4K PHOTO capabilities, you can capture bursts of high-resolution photos at 30fps, ensuring you never miss a fleeting moment. The perfect shot from burst footage makes this feature ideal for fast-moving subjects or spontaneous scenes. Versatile video features Record in crisp 4K at 30p with no time limitations*2, experiment with slow-motion (max.4x) or quick-motion (max.8x) in FHD, and create cinematic content with 12-stops of V-Log L. Dedicated headphone and microphone jacks ensure total audio control while recording. Intuitive operation and reliable design With a 1,840k-dot free-angle LCD and 2,360k-dot OLED Live View Finder*3, the LUMIX G97 makes it easy to frame and focus your shots accurately, even in bright conditions. The durable dust/splash-resistant*4 construction is ideal for everyday creators looking for a camera that can reliably handle a variety of situations. Built-in Bluetooth® v5.0 and Wi-Fi make sharing and remote control effortless, while USB Type-C charging adds convenience. Price and availability The new LUMIX G97 will be available in late February 2024 for $849.99 for a 12-60mm lens kit (DC-G97MK) at valued channel partners. *1 Based on the CIPA standard [Yaw/Pitch direction: focusing distance f=140mm (35mm camera equivalent f=280mm), when H-FSA14140 is used.] *2 When the ambient temperature is high, the camera may stop the recording. Wait until the camera cools down. *3 35mm camera equivalent *4 Dust and Splash Resistant does not guarantee that damage will not occur if this camera is subjected to direct contact with dust and water About Panasonic Corporation of North America Newark, N.J.-based Panasonic Corporation of North America is a leading provider of Consumer Lifestyle technologies, as well as innovative Smart Mobility, Sustainable Energy, Immersive Experiences, and Integrated Supply Chain solutions. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Holdings Corporation. One of Interbrand's Top 100 Best Global Brands of 2023, Panasonic is a leading technology partner and integrator to businesses, government agencies and consumers across the region. Learn more about Panasonic's ideas and innovations at . Follow Press Updates for Panasonic LUMIX: Internet Facebook Instagram TikTok SOURCE Panasonic Corporation of North America MENAFN16122024003732001241ID1108999963 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

The team that President-elect Donald Trump has selected to lead federal health agencies in his second administration includes a retired congressman, a surgeon and a former talk-show host. All could play pivotal roles in fulfilling a political agenda that could change how the government goes about safeguarding Americans' health — from health care and medicines to food safety and science research. In line to lead the Department of Health and Human Services secretary is environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine organizer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Trump's choices don't have experience running large bureaucratic agencies, but they know how to talk about health on TV . People are also reading... Centers for Medicare and Medicaid pick Dr. Mehmet Oz hosted a talk show for 13 years and is a well-known wellness and lifestyle influencer. The pick for the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Marty Makary, and for surgeon general, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, are frequent Fox News contributors. Many on the list were critical of COVID-19 measures like masking and booster vaccinations for young people. Some of them have ties to Florida like many of Trump's other Cabinet nominees: Dave Weldon , the pick for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, represented the state in Congress for 14 years and is affiliated with a medical group on the state's Atlantic coast. Nesheiwat's brother-in-law is Rep. Mike Waltz , R-Fla., tapped by Trump as national security adviser. Here's a look at the nominees' potential role in carrying out what Kennedy says is the task to “reorganize” agencies, which have an overall $1.7 trillion budget, employ 80,000 scientists, researchers, doctors and other officials, and effect Americans' daily lives: The Atlanta-based CDC, with a $9.2 billion core budget, is charged with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats. Kennedy has long attacked vaccines and criticized the CDC, repeatedly alleging corruption at the agency. He said on a 2023 podcast that there is "no vaccine that is safe and effective,” and urged people to resist the CDC's guidelines about if and when kids should get vaccinated . The World Health Organization estimates that vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives over the past 50 years, and that 100 million of them were infants. Decades ago, Kennedy found common ground with Weldon , 71, who served in the Army and worked as an internal medicine doctor before he represented a central Florida congressional district from 1995 to 2009. Starting in the early 2000s, Weldon had a prominent part in a debate about whether there was a relationship between a vaccine preservative called thimerosal and autism. He was a founding member of the Congressional Autism Caucus and tried to ban thimerosal from all vaccines. Kennedy, then a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, believed there was a tie between thimerosal and autism and also charged that the government hid documents showing the danger. Since 2001, all vaccines manufactured for the U.S. market and routinely recommended for children 6 years or younger have contained no thimerosal or only trace amounts, with the exception of inactivated influenza vaccine. Meanwhile, study after study after study found no evidence that thimerosal caused autism. Weldon's congressional voting record suggests he may go along with Republican efforts to downsize the CDC, including to eliminate the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, which works on topics like drownings, drug overdoses and shooting deaths. Weldon also voted to ban federal funding for needle-exchange programs as an approach to reduce overdoses, and the National Rifle Association gave him an “A” rating for his pro-gun rights voting record. Kennedy is extremely critical of the FDA, which has 18,000 employees and is responsible for the safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs, vaccines and other medical products, as well as overseeing cosmetics, electronic cigarettes and most foods. Makary, Trump’s pick to run the FDA, is closely aligned with Kennedy on several topics . The professor at Johns Hopkins University who is a trained surgeon and cancer specialist has decried the overprescribing of drugs, the use of pesticides on foods and the undue influence of pharmaceutical and insurance companies over doctors and government regulators. Kennedy has suggested he'll clear out “entire” FDA departments and also recently threatened to fire FDA employees for “aggressive suppression” of a host of unsubstantiated products and therapies, including stem cells, raw milk , psychedelics and discredited COVID-era treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. Makary's contrarian views during the COVID-19 pandemic included questioning the need for masking and giving young kids COVID-19 vaccine boosters. But anything Makary and Kennedy might want to do when it comes to unwinding FDA regulations or revoking long-standing vaccine and drug approvals would be challenging. The agency has lengthy requirements for removing medicines from the market, which are based on federal laws passed by Congress. The agency provides health care coverage for more than 160 million people through Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, and also sets Medicare payment rates for hospitals, doctors and other providers. With a $1.1 trillion budget and more than 6,000 employees, Oz has a massive agency to run if confirmed — and an agency that Kennedy hasn't talked about much when it comes to his plans. While Trump tried to scrap the Affordable Care Act in his first term, Kennedy has not taken aim at it yet. But he has been critical of Medicaid and Medicare for covering expensive weight-loss drugs — though they're not widely covered by either . Trump said during his campaign that he would protect Medicare, which provides insurance for older Americans. Oz has endorsed expanding Medicare Advantage — a privately run version of Medicare that is popular but also a source of widespread fraud — in an AARP questionnaire during his failed 2022 bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania and in a 2020 Forbes op-ed with a former Kaiser Permanente CEO. Oz also said in a Washington Examiner op-ed with three co-writers that aging healthier and living longer could help fix the U.S. budget deficit because people would work longer and add more to the gross domestic product. Neither Trump nor Kennedy have said much about Medicaid, the insurance program for low-income Americans. Trump's first administration reshaped the program by allowing states to introduce work requirements for recipients. Kennedy doesn't appear to have said much publicly about what he'd like to see from surgeon general position, which is the nation's top doctor and oversees 6,000 U.S. Public Health Service Corps members. The surgeon general has little administrative power, but can be an influential government spokesperson on what counts as a public health danger and what to do about it — suggesting things like warning labels for products and issuing advisories. The current surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, declared gun violence as a public health crisis in June. Trump's pick, Nesheiwat, is employed as a New York City medical director with CityMD, a group of urgent care facilities in the New York and New Jersey area, and has been at City MD for 12 years. She also has appeared on Fox News and other TV shows, authored a book on the “transformative power of prayer” in her medical career and endorses a brand of vitamin supplements. She encouraged COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, calling them “a gift from God” in a February 2021 Fox News op-ed, as well as anti-viral pills like Paxlovid. In a 2019 Q&A with the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation , Nesheiwat said she is a “firm believer in preventive medicine” and “can give a dissertation on hand-washing alone.” As of Saturday, Trump had not yet named his choice to lead the National Institutes of Health, which funds medical research through grants to researchers across the nation and conducts its own research. It has a $48 billion budget. Kennedy has said he'd pause drug development and infectious disease research to shift the focus to chronic diseases. He'd like to keep NIH funding from researchers with conflicts of interest, and criticized the agency in 2017 for what he said was not doing enough research into the role of vaccines in autism — an idea that has long been debunked . Associated Press writers Amanda Seitz and Matt Perrone and AP editor Erica Hunzinger contributed to this report. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. This story has been corrected to reflect that the health agencies have an overall budget of about $1.7 trillion, not $1.7 billion. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!KANSAS CITY — NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said that the league would prioritize its organizational values, in response to a question from The Athletic regarding the potential impacts of the incoming Trump administration on women’s health and LGBTQ+ rights and possible immigration policy changes. Advertisement “Whether [Donald] Trump is the president or Kamala [Harris] was president, we’re committed to the values of the league, and we stand for inclusivity, excellence and unity,” she said Friday during a press conference at CPKC Stadium ahead of Saturday’s NWSL Championship between the Orlando Pride and Washington Spirit . “We’re going to continually live by our values and support everyone in our ecosystem, inclusive of our fans, our players, our employees, in every community where we operate.” President-elect Trump has pledged multiple times through this campaign to “keep men out of women’s sports,” which has been a recurring platform at all levels of the Republican party during this election cycle. However, Trump has not provided specifics on what steps he would take. “You just ban it,” he said during a Fox News town hall in October . “The president bans it. You just don’t let it happen.” There has been an increase in bills from Republicans that would limit the participation of transgender athletes in sports across the United States, but so far, they have largely targeted youth sports. The NWSL issued a policy on transgender and nonbinary athlete participation in 2021 , which begins with the guiding principle of “creating a safe, non-discriminatory and inclusive environment for all of its athletes while maintaining competitive equity throughout the league.” The policy does allow challenges to an athlete’s eligibility under the policy, though the league states it “will only consider requests that are reasonable and made in good faith.” According to the league’s eligibility guidelines, any athlete assigned female at birth is eligible to play in the league, while those who are designated female at birth who are transitioning to male and are undergoing testosterone hormone therapy are ineligible to compete in the NWSL, unless their hormone levels fall under certain levels. Advertisement Athletes who transition from male to female are eligible to compete if their total testosterone level is within the typical limits of women athletes over a set period. The NWSL currently only has one out transgender player, who was assigned female at birth and who identifies as nonbinary. Berman did not offer specifics when asked about whether the league has plans to handle possible issues around immigration policy changes and how, or if, international players could be affected. Over the last two World Cup cycles, women’s soccer has been subject to Trump’s attention. While he has largely focused on the now-retired U.S. women’s national team and Reign player Megan Rapinoe in 2019 and 2023, he has also been highly critical of the U.S. women’s team. Following the USWNT’s exit from the 2023 World Cup in a penalty shoot-out with Sweden, Trump posted on Truth Social that the loss was “fully emblematic of what is happening to our once great Nation under Crooked Joe Biden.” “Many of our players were openly hostile to America — No other country behaved in such a manner, or even close,” he added. On Friday, Berman did not provide much in the way of specifics of any potential additional protections the league would put in place for players or staff, especially in the context of a player having been criticized previously. “We’re committed to ensuring that our players and our staff get all of their needs met, whether that’s healthcare, other protections around mental health — any support that anyone needs in our ecosystem,” Berman said. (Photo: Tim Heitman / Getty Images)Kopitar scores twice in third, Kings fight back for 5-4 win over Flyers

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.Jayden Daniels dazzles again as Commanders clinch a playoff spot by beating Falcons 30-24 in OTAuthored by Austin ALonzo via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), Spirit Airlines’ financial failure could mean fewer options and higher ticket prices for Americans flying on a tight budget. On Nov. 18, the Dania Beach, Florida-based ultra-low-cost carrier famous for its cheap base fares, announced it was seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Spirit is currently attempting a reorganization in bankruptcy court so it can pay back its creditors and return to business. Ahead of its Chapter 11 filing, the company had already announced a new vision designed to make the airline more like America’s other low-cost carriers. Spirit Airlines spokeswoman Nicole Aguiar told The Epoch Times via email that the airline will continue to operate as usual during its restructuring process. Still, others in the industry—notably United Airlines Holdings Inc. CEO J. Scott Kirby—say the reorganization process is merely a milestone on the road to Chapter 7 liquidation. “ I think the current business plan is not going to work ,” Kirby told reporters in early December. “ Chapter 11 will be a brief pit stop on the way to Chapter 7. ” Whether the company can keep flying is yet to be determined, but it seems inevitable that Spirit’s ultra-low-cost version will fade into memory. If Spirit disappears completely or abandons its ultra-low-cost business model, its pricing pressure, which forces competing carriers to lower their prices, may disappear forever. Ryan Ewing, a longtime industry observer and the editor of airline trade publication AirlineGeeks, told The Epoch Times that Spirit found itself in a tempest created by competition from other airlines, a rapidly increasing cost of doing business, a massive shift in airline demand that began during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, and finally, a failed acquisition by JetBlue Airways Corp. Ewing said that Spirit, founded in 1992, was profitable for much of its existence, despite consumer criticism of its business practices. In May, consumer insights firm J.D. Power ranked Spirit as the second-worst economy or basic economy airline in terms of consumer satisfaction. Only its ultra-low-cost rival Frontier Airlines fared worse. Joseph Smith, director of aviation services at Miami-based investment banking firm Cassel Salpeter & Co., told The Epoch Times the company was able to make money because it attracted a younger clientele, vacationers looking to travel on a budget, and served routes other airlines may avoid due to a lack of profitability. It was successful in its niche. Everything changed in 2020 when pandemic panic ground both international and domestic flights to a halt or kept planes nearly empty for months. While demand recovered by 2024, financially, Spirit never has. Shortly after Spirit announced it was beginning the process of reorganizing its business to pay back its creditors, the company released a third-quarter earnings report with the Securities and Exchange Commission. That report, published on Nov. 25, said the company’s collective liabilities were almost twice as great as its assets. It said Spirit’s assets on Sept. 30 totaled about $1.21 billion . Meanwhile, its liabilities were $2.54 billion. Those liabilities included more than $1.25 billion in “long-term debt, net, and finance leases.” The report was released without an earnings call as the company has been delisted from the New York Stock Exchange as part of the bankruptcy process. Spirit’s third-quarter report also disclosed that the company recorded a quarterly net loss of $308.2 million and had lost $643.8 million through the first nine months of 2024. In the same nine-month period the year before, the company had lost $263.8 million. The report revealed the company had seen its total operating revenue fall to about $3.67 billion in the first nine months of 2024 from about $3.97 billion in the same period of the prior year. These were not new problems for Spirit, however. It has not turned an annual profit since 2019. Its annual report from 2023 said the company recorded a net loss of $447.4 million in 2023, $554.1 million in 2022, and $472.5 million in 2021. The 2021 annual report said the company recorded a net loss of $428.7 million in 2020. The 2020 yearly statement indicated it was profitable from 2016 to 2019. From an operational standpoint, Ewing said Spirit was saddled with elevated labor, fuel, and airplane maintenance costs driven by inflation, new labor agreements with union employees, and unreliable jet engines . The pain was exacerbated by growing, costly service interruptions caused by cancellations and delays related to air traffic controller shortages near its base of operations in Southern Florida. “That business model that Spirit pioneered requires that the structural costs remain lower,” Ewing said. James Gellert, the founder and executive chairman of financial analytics firm RapidRatings International Inc., told The Epoch Times that Spirit also became a victim of its own success. The company was so good at undercutting so-called legacy carriers that it inspired companies such as Chicago-based United Airlines Inc. to expand their basic economy offerings. Additionally, as a publicly traded company always seeking quarter-to-quarter profits and growth, Spirit started entering into markets where it could not profitably operate, Gellert said. Both Gellert and Smith said Spirit was dealt a significant blow when an attempted $3.8 billion acquisition by JetBlue fell through in January. The deal called for the Long Island City, New York-based airline to acquire Spirit but was blocked by a federal judge’s decision that was made on antitrust grounds. Originally, Spirit was looking to merge with Frontier, but JetBlue made an unsolicited offer to purchase Spirit during the courtship. In his decision, U.S. District Judge William Young said JetBlue’s acquisition would have taken away a critical, ultra-low-cost option for American consumers. In effect, Young’s decision likely sealed Spirit’s fate. In its second-quarter earnings release published on Aug. 1, Spirit president and CEO Ted Christie acknowledged the company’s struggle to generate income. The company said Spirit was launching a turnaround plan focused on “low-fare travel with new, high-value travel options that will allow guests to choose an elevated experience at an affordable price.” Read the rest here...

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