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2025: The year of the digital workspace?AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:38 p.m. EST

SM approaches 2025 with cautious optimismThree long days of counting in the General Election finished late on Monday night when the final two seats were declared in the constituency of Cavan-Monaghan. Fianna Fail was the clear winner of the election, securing 48 of the Dail parliament’s 174 seats. Sinn Fein took 39 and Fine Gael 38. Labour and the Social Democrats both won 11 seats; People Before Profit-Solidarity took three; Aontu secured two; and the Green Party retained only one of its 12 seats. Independents and others accounted for 21 seats. The return of a Fianna Fail/Fine Gael-led coalition is now highly likely. However, their combined seat total of 86 leaves them just short of the 88 needed for a majority in the Dail. While the two centrist parties that have dominated Irish politics for a century could look to strike a deal with one of the Dail’s smaller centre-left parties, such as the Social Democrats or Labour, a more straightforward route to a majority could be achieved by securing the support of several independent TDs. For Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and current taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, wooing like-minded independents would be likely to involve fewer policy concessions, and financial commitments, than would be required to convince another party to join the government benches. Longford-Westmeath independent TD Kevin “Boxer” Moran, who served in a Fine Gael-led minority government between 2017 and 2020, expressed his willingness to listen to offers to join the new coalition in Dublin. “Look, my door’s open,” he told RTE. “Someone knocks, I’m always there to open it.” Marian Harkin, an independent TD for Sligo-Leitrim, expressed her desire to participate in government as she noted that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were within “shouting distance” of an overall majority. “That means they will be looking for support, and I certainly will be one of those people who will be speaking to them and talking to them and negotiating with them, and I’m looking forward to doing that, because that was the reason that I ran in the first place,” she said. Meanwhile, the Social Democrats and Irish Labour Party both appear cautious about the prospect of an alliance with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. They will no doubt be mindful of the experience of the Green Party, the junior partner in the last mandate. The Greens experienced near wipeout in the election, retaining only one of their 12 seats. Sinn Fein appears to currently have no realistic route to government, given Fianna Fail and Fine Gael’s ongoing refusal to share power with the party. Despite the odds being stacked against her party, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald contacted the leaders of the Social Democrats and Labour on Monday to discuss options. Earlier, Fianna Fail deputy leader and outgoing Finance Minister Jack Chambers predicted that a new coalition government would not be in place before Christmas. Mr Chambers said planned talks about forming an administration required “time and space” to ensure that any new government will be “coherent and stable”. After an inconclusive outcome to the 2020 election, it took five months for Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Greens to strike the last coalition deal. Mr Chambers said he did not believe it would take that long this time, as he noted the Covid-19 pandemic was a factor in 2020, but he also made clear it would not be a swift process. He said he agreed with analysis that there was no prospect of a deal before Christmas. “I don’t expect a government to be formed in mid-December, when the Dail is due to meet on December 18, probably a Ceann Comhairle (speaker) can be elected, and there’ll have to be time and space taken to make sure we can form a coherent, stable government,” he told RTE. “I don’t think it should take five months like it did the last time – Covid obviously complicated that. But I think all political parties need to take the time to see what’s possible and try and form a stable government for the Irish people.” Fine Gael minister of state Peter Burke said members of his parliamentary party would have to meet to consider their options before giving Mr Harris a mandate to negotiate a new programme for government with Fianna Fail. “It’s important that we have a strong, stable, viable government, whatever form that may be, to ensure that we can meet the challenges of our society, meet the challenges in terms of the economic changes that are potentially going to happen,” he told RTE. Despite being set to emerge with the most seats, it has not been all good news for Fianna Fail. The party’s outgoing Health Minister Stephen Donnelly became one of the biggest casualties of the election when he lost his seat in Wicklow in the early hours of Monday morning. Mr Donnelly was always predicted to face a fight in the constituency after boundary changes saw it reduced from five to four seats. If it is to be a reprise of the Fianna Fail/Fine Gael governing partnership of the last mandate, one of the major questions is around the position of taoiseach and whether the parties will once again take turns to hold the Irish premiership during the lifetime of the new government. The outcome in 2020 saw the parties enter a coalition on the basis that the holder of the premier position would be exchanged midway through the term. Fianna Fail leader Mr Martin took the role for the first half of the mandate, with Leo Varadkar taking over in December 2022. Current Fine Gael leader Mr Harris succeeded Mr Varadkar as taoiseach when he resigned from the role earlier this year. However, this time Fianna Fail has significantly increased its seat lead over Fine Gael, compared with the last election when there were only three seats between the parties. The size of the disparity in party numbers is likely to draw focus on the rotating taoiseach arrangement, raising questions as to whether it will be re-run in the next coalition and, if it is, on what terms. On Sunday, Simon Coveney, a former deputy leader of Fine Gael, said a coalition that did not repeat the rotating taoiseach arrangement in some fashion would be a “difficult proposition” for his party. Meanwhile, Fine Gael minister Paschal Donohoe said he would be making the case for Mr Harris to have another opportunity to serve as taoiseach. On Monday, Mr Chambers said while his party would expect to lead the government it would approach the issue of rotating the taoiseach’s role on the basis of “mutual respect” with Fine Gael. “I think the context of discussions and negotiations will be driven by mutual respect, and that’s the glue that will drive a programme for government and that’s the context in which we’ll engage,” he said. On Monday, Labour leader Ivana Bacik reiterated her party’s determination to forge an alliance with fellow centre-left parties with the intention of having a unified approach to the prospect of entering government. Asked if Labour was prepared to go into government with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael on its own, she told RTE: “No, not at this stage. We are absolutely not willing to do that. “We want to ensure there’s the largest number of TDs who share our vision and our values who want to deliver change on the same basis that we do.” The Social Democrats have been non-committal about any potential arrangement with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, and have restated a series of red lines they would need to achieve before considering taking a place in government. Leader Holly Cairns, who gave birth to a daughter on polling day on Friday, said in a statement: “The party is in a very strong position to play an important role in the next Dail. In what position, government or opposition, remains to be seen.” Fianna Fail secured the most first preference votes in Friday’s proportional representation election, taking 21.9% to Fine Gael’s 20.8%. Sinn Fein came in third on 19%. While Sinn Fein’s vote share represented a marked improvement on its disappointing showing in June’s local elections in Ireland, it is still significantly down on the 24.5% poll-topping share it secured in the 2020 general election. The final breakdown of first preferences also flipped the result of Friday night’s exit poll, which suggested Sinn Fein was in front on 21.1%, with Fine Gael on 21% and Fianna Fail on 19.5%.Large fossil fuel companies would have to pay fees to help New York fight the effects of climate change under a bill signed Thursday by Gov. Kathy Hochul. The new law requires companies responsible for substantial greenhouse gas emissions to pay into a state fund for infrastructure projects meant to repair or avoid future damage from climate change. Lawmakers approved the bill earlier this year to force big oil and gas companies to contribute to the cost of repairs after extreme weather events and resiliency projects such as coastal wetland restoration and upgrades to roads, bridges and water drainage systems. “The Climate Change Superfund Act is now law, and New York has fired a shot that will be heard round the world: the companies most responsible for the climate crisis will be held accountable,” said state Sen. Liz Krueger, a Democrat who sponsored the bill. “The planet’s largest climate polluters bear a unique responsibility for creating the climate crisis, and they must pay their fair share to help regular New Yorkers deal with the consequences,” Krueger said. The biggest emitters of greenhouse gases between 2000 and 2018 would be subjected to the fines. The law won’t start penalizing companies immediately. Instead, the state must come up with rules on how to identify responsible parties, notify companies of the fines and create a system to determine which infrastructure projects will be paid for by the fund. Legal challenges are expected. “This type of legislation represents nothing more than a punitive new fee on American energy, and we are evaluating our options moving forward,” the American Petroleum Institute, the oil industry’s top lobbying group, said in a statement. New York’s governor signed the measure months after Vermont put a similar law in place. Large fossil fuel companies would have to pay fees to A Nebraska man is getting title to his home back, Technology stocks led a broad rally on Wall Street Tuesday American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of aNordstrom has dropped a huge Cyber Monday sale with massive discounts up to 60% off top brands like Adidas Samba OG and Adidas Gazelle sneakers. The rare price drops on these top Adidas sneaker styles for men and women are reduced as low as $60. This includes a $40 discount on select colorways of the Samba OG which has become one of Adidas’ most-popular sneaker styles. The Samba, which rose to fame in the 70s, has seen a recent resurgence alongside its sister designs — the Gazelle and Spezial . Both the Gazelle and Spezial are on sale in select colors, with reduced prices starting at just $60. We found this women’s Adidas Gazelle Sneaker in Sand/White/Silver Green for $60 and this unisex Spezial Sneaker for just $66 in Black/Yellow/Grey Six with more color options discounted. Plus, you can snag a $46 off deal on the Campus 00s Sneakers for men, as well as top-performing running shoes, basketball sneakers, training shoes, everyday wear styles and more Adidas styles. Adidas kid’s shoes are also on sale. But these Nordstrom Cyber Monday deals are so good they’re selling out fast with popular Adidas sizes and styles disappearing quickly. However, Nordstrom is continuing to drop new markdowns to the sale, but it is unclear how long these discounts will last so you’ll want to grab your favorites while you can. Plus, Nordstrom offers free shipping on the sneakers so you’ll save even more on your holiday purchase. Here’s a look at some of the best Adidas sneaker deals you can snag from Nordstrom’s Cyber Monday sale . Adidas Samba OG Sneaker (All Gender) for $60, instead of $100 (select colors, including White/Gray and White/Off White/Black) Adidas Gazelle Sneaker (All Gender) for $78, instead of $120 (select colors, including Orange/Clear Mint/Gum4) Adidas Handball Spezial Sneaker (All Gender) for $66, instead of $110 (select colors, including Scarlet/Cloud/Green, Night Red/Blue/Shadow Red and Black/ Yellow/ Grey Six) Adidas Gazelle Sneaker (Women) for $72, instead of $120 (select colors, including White/Green/Black and Green Spark/Almost Yellow) Adidas Gazelle Sneaker (Women) for $60, instead of $120 (select colors, including Almost Yellow/ Oat/ Maroon and Sand/ White/ Silver Green) Adidas Gazelle Sneaker (Men) for $60, instead of $120 (select colors, including Black, Solid Grey and Green/Preloved Red/Gum) Adidas Campus 00s Sneaker (Men) for $66, instead of $110 (select colors, including Wonder Clay/ Grey/ Black) Shop for more sneaker markdowns during Nordstrom’s Cyber Monday sale here. The Best Cyber Monday & Leftover Black Friday Deals Kate Spade’s Cyber Monday sale has the best handbags up to 50% off — and almost everything else is discounted too Kohl’s has a Food Network 10-piece ceramic cookware set for just $37 in a delicious Cyber Monday deal Amazon has AncestryDNA kits on sale for their best price ever ahead of the holidays Amazon has this Masterbilt digital smoker back in stock and on sale for a whopping $80 off in a huge Cyber Monday deal HOKA sneakers are now marked even cheaper in a huge holiday sale — but these low-price deals won’t last Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com . Dawn Magyar can be reached at dmagyar@njadvancemedia.com . Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/ .

Ruud van Nistelrooy admits he was “hurt” at having to leave Manchester United last month. Van Nistelrooy returned to Old Trafford as Erik ten Hag’s assistant in the summer and had a four-game interim spell in charge following his compatriot’s sacking in October. He left the club in the wake of Ruben Amorim’s appointment but was only out of work for two weeks after being appointed Leicester’s new manager on a deal until 2027. The 48-year-old had a glittering playing career with United and was disappointed his return had to end so soon. “The moment I took over the interim job what I said was I’m here to help United and to stay to help United, and I meant it,” he said. “So I was disappointed, yeah, very much so, and it hurt I had to leave. “The only job I would take as an assistant was at United because of the bond that I have with the people in the club and the fans. “But in the end I got my head around it because I also understand the new manager. I’m in football long enough, and I’ve managed myself, that you can think of a situation, me being there, I understand. “I spoke to Ruben about it, fair enough to him, the conversation was grateful, man to man, person to person, manager to manager, and that helped a lot to move on and straightaway get into talks with new possibilities which of course lifted my spirits.” The Dutchman takes on a difficult job at the King Power Stadium as he is tasked with keeping Leicester in the Premier League. He inherits an influential dressing room, which has seen a number of managers come and go over the last few years. Ruud's here for his first press conference as our Manager 😃 pic.twitter.com/A4Juixvorb — Leicester City (@LCFC) December 2, 2024 Van Nistelrooy revealed he has done his due diligence and also let the players know as well. “It’s the only way you can work. It’s mutual respect. I also mentioned to the players yesterday that I looked at the squad and started to make phone calls about players, because in football everyone knows everyone,” he said. “With two or three phone calls you hear stories about 20 players and for me it was important that you hear there are good characters there. That’s important, that there are good people there. “I look at the players how they play. I obviously don’t know them but I got general information and the individuals that they are a good bunch of people. That was important for me to get in.”

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Garcia’s 16 help McNeese beat Illinois State 76-68Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. president who led the nation from 1977 to 1981, has died at the age of 100. The Carter Center announced Sunday that his father died at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by family. His death comes about a year after his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn, passed away. Despite receiving hospice care at the time, he attended the memorials for Rosalynn while sitting in a wheelchair, covered by a blanket. He was also wheeled outside on Oct. 1 to watch a military flyover in celebration of his 100th birthday. The Carter Center said in February 2023 that the former president and his family decided he would no longer seek medical treatment following several short hospital stays for an undisclosed illness. Carter became the longest-living president in 2019, surpassing George H.W. Bush, who died at age 94 in 2018. Carter also had a long post-presidency, living 43 years following his White House departure. RELATED STORY: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter: A love story for the ages Before becoming president Carter began his adult life in the military, getting a degree at the U.S. Naval Academy, and rose to the rank of lieutenant. He then studied reactor technology and nuclear physics at Union College and served as senior officer of the pre-commissioning crew on a nuclear submarine. Following the death of his father, Carter returned to Georgia to tend to his family's farm and related businesses. During this time, he became a community leader by serving on local boards. He used this experience to elevate him to his first elected office in 1962 in the Georgia Senate. After losing his first gubernatorial election in 1966, he won his second bid in 1970, becoming the state’s 76th governor. As a relative unknown nationally, Carter used the nation’s sour sentiment toward politics to win the Democratic nomination. He then bested sitting president Gerald Ford in November 1976 to win the presidency. Carter battles high inflation, energy crisis With the public eager for a change following the Watergate era, Carter took a more hands-on approach to governing. This, however, meant he became the public face of a number of issues facing the U.S. in the late 1970s, most notably America’s energy crisis. He signed the Department of Energy Organization Act, creating the first new cabinet role in government in over a decade. Carter advocated for alternative energy sources and even installed solar panels on the White House roof. During this time, the public rebuked attempts to ration energy. Amid rising energy costs, inflation soared nearly 9% annually during Carter's presidency. This led to a recession before the 1980 election. Carter also encountered the Iran Hostage Crisis in the final year of his presidency when 52 American citizens were captured. An attempt to rescue the Americans failed in April 1980, resulting in the death of eight service members. With compounding crises, Carter lost in a landslide to Ronald Reagan in 1980 as he could only win six states. Carter’s impact after leaving the White House Carter returned to Georgia and opened the Carter Center, which is focused on national and international issues of public policy – namely conflict resolution. Carter and the Center have been involved in a number of international disputes, including in Syria, Israel, Mali and Sudan. The group has also worked to independently monitor elections and prevent elections from becoming violent. Carter and his wife were the most visible advocates for Habitat for Humanity. The organization that helps build and restore homes for low- and middle-income families has benefited from the Carters’ passion for the organization. Habitat for Humanity estimates Carter has worked alongside 104,000 volunteers in 14 countries to build 4,390 houses. “Like other Habitat volunteers, I have learned that our greatest blessings come when we are able to improve the lives of others, and this is especially true when those others are desperately poor or in need,” Carter said in a Q&A on the Habitat for Humanity website. Carter also continued teaching Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in his hometown well into his 90s. Attendees would line up for hours, coming from all parts of the U.S., to attend Carter’s classes. Carter is survived by his four children.🎅SantaCons in NJ, NYC 🚆Drink ban on NJ Transit 🎄Attendees urged to be 'nice' not naughty In addition to family friendly holiday fun, this is also the season of sauced Santas gathering en masse in New Jersey and its neighboring states. NJ Transit has preemptively banned all beverages on its trains, light rail vehicles and buses on Saturday, Dec. 14 — to coincide with this year’s SantaCon event in New York City. “No beverages of any kind, in any type of container, open or closed, will be permitted on board trains, buses or light rail vehicles during this time. This policy will be strictly enforced,” the transit agency said on Tuesday. There will be roving packs of revelers on this side of the Hudson River, too. Seaside Heights and Morristown both have SantaCon events planned on Saturday. For Seaside, there has been an effort to clean up the event’s image. “SantaCon is not a bar crawl. Every time you call it that, a sugarplum fairy dies,” according to the Seaside SantaCon website. Instead, it starts with donations of non-perishable food items and an unwrapped toy for local charity. Last year, SantaCon Seaside Heights raised over $6,800, collected 254 toys and 477 food items for donation, according to event organizers on social media. Morristown has a different approach, using the pub crawl as its anchoring event for this upcoming Saturday. Atlantic City also has a SantaCon event listed for Saturday, with tickets selling on eventbrite. SantaCon season has been staggered, as Hoboken will see its influx of Santas on Dec. 21. NJ Transit will enact the same all-day beverage ban on its trains, light rail and buses all day. There was already one such festive gathering in Mercer County — Princeton SantaCon appeared to be cheerful as it unfolded last weekend. NYC Video Tours caught the sea of Santa suits in Manhattan last December, as shared to Youtube. New and classic favorites: The best dive bars in New Jersey The term "dive bar" used to be something derogatory. Nowadays it's more of a badge of honor to say to own one, go to one, or work at one. We started in South Jersey, stopped A LOT in Central Jersey and ended in North Jersey. We left out the Jersey Shore bar because there are just too many to choose from. If your favorite isn't on the list, don't be offended, just tell us about it. Here we go... Gallery Credit: Dennis Malloy Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom How to prepare for winter in NJ: 11 essential gear tips Because you never know what may happen in the bipolar type of winter we have here, you should always be prepared. Do you want to get through the season without freezing? I’m going to give you the 11 must-have cold-weather items to survive a New Jersey winter. Gallery Credit: Judi Franco/New Jersey 101.5

The Agency brought in record viewership for Showtime and Paramount+ . Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios announced on December 4 that the espionage thriller drew in an audience of 5.1 million cross-platform viewers globally after its November 29 debut, making it their most-streamed new series ever. Given that, it should come as no surprise that this viewership announcement came with a Season 2 renewal. Season 1, meanwhile, won’t air its finale until January. A fresh take on the critically acclaimed hit French drama Le Bureau des Legendes , The Agency follows Martian ( Michael Fassbender ), a covert CIA agent, ordered to abandon his undercover life and return to London Station. When the love he left behind reappears ( Jodie Turner-Smith as Samia), romance reignites. His career, his real identity, and his mission are pitted against his heart, hurling them both into a deadly game of international intrigue and espionage. Le Bureau des Legendes centers on the daily life and missions of agents within France’s principal external security service. It focuses on the “Bureau of Legends,” responsible for training and handling deep-cover agents on long-term missions in areas with French interests. Living under false identities for years, these agents’ missions are to identify and recruit good intelligence sources. The series has been praised as an intriguingly unique look at a side of spy stories not often seen: the emotional cost of living a life of intense secrecy and danger. These emotional insights also serve as critical commentary about organizations like the CIA. The star-studded cast also includes Jeffrey Wright , Richard Gere , Katherine Waterston , John Magaro , Alex Reznik, Andrew Brooke , Harriet Sansom Harris , India Fowler , Saura Lightfoot-Leon , and Reza Brojerdi, with Dominic West and Hugh Bonneville as guest stars. Recurring stars are Adam Nagaitis , Ambreen Razia , Bilal Hasna , David Harewood , Kurt Egyiawan , Ray BLK, Sabrina Wu , and Tom Vaughan-Lawlor. George Clooney serves as an executive producer. With new episodes of The Agency Season 1 still coming out weekly, there’s no plot information to share about Season 2 so far. But we’ll continue to report the latest updates on the series. In the meantime, here’s how you can watch each episode. Michael Fassbender as Martian in ‘The Agency’ Season 1 Episode 6 (Luke Varley / Paramount+ with SHOWTIME) Like Yellowjackets , new episodes of The Agency are available on Paramount+ for Paramount+ With Showtime subscribers two days before the episodes air linearly on Showtime. Here’s the release schedule for Season 1: Episode 1: “The Bends” — Friday, November 29, Paramount+ with Showtime; Sunday, December 1, 9/8c, Showtime 'The Agency': Jeffrey Wright on What Drew Him to the New Political Thriller Episode 2: “Wooden Duck” — Friday, November 29, Paramount+ with Showtime; Sunday, December 1, 9/8c, Showtime Episode 3: “Hawk from a Handsaw” — Friday, December 6, Paramount+ with Showtime; Sunday, December 8, 9/8c, Showtime Episode 4: “Quarterback Blitz” — Friday, December 13, Paramount+ with Showtime; Sunday, December 15, 9/8c, Showtime Episode 5: “Rat Trap” — Friday, December 20, Paramount+ with Showtime; Sunday, December 22, 9/8c, Showtime Episode 6: “Spy for Sale” — Friday, December 27, Paramount+ with Showtime; Sunday, December 30, 9/8c, Showtime Episode 7: “Hard Landing”— Friday, January 3, 2025, Paramount+ with Showtime; Sunday, January 5, 2025, 9/8c, Showtime Episode 8: “Truth Will Set You Free”— Friday, January 10, 2025, Paramount+ with Showtime; Sunday, January 12, 2025, 9/8c, Showtime Episode 9: “The Rubicon”— Friday, January 17, 2025, Paramount+ with Showtime; Sunday, January 19, 2025, 9/8c, Showtime Episode 10: “Overtaken By Events”— Friday, January 24, 2025, Paramount+ with Showtime, Sunday, January 26, 2025, 9/8c, Showtime More Headlines: ‘The Agency’ Renewed: Everything We Know About Spy Thriller’s Season 2 ‘Community’ Star Ken Jeong Teases Movie Script ‘Made Me Emotional’ ‘Ghosts’ Star Rose McIver Teases Directorial Debut for ‘Pete-Centric Episode’ Who Is the Real Remy on ‘B&B’? Christian Weissmann on His ‘Really Complex’ New Character The ‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Post-Credits Scene, ExplainedFrese pleased after No. 8 Maryland stays unbeaten in 'phenomenal game' against No. 19 Michigan State

Baur & Co. Ltd., also known as Baurs, is a name synonymous with diverse industry sectors in Sri Lanka, including a distinctive reputation for being a pioneering and innovative agriculture expert, actively blending both scientific and professional know-how to steer the nation’s future direction. This year, Baurs celebrates 127 years of continued growth and expansion across its business units. In 2021, Baurs took on the organic fertiliser challenge when the country decided to move towards organic agriculture, following the company’s long-standing R&D efforts and a collective masterplan for sustainable organic agriculture, together with a team of experts from Switzerland-based FiBL and HAFL and diverse stakeholders across the country’s agriculture sector. Earlier this year, it announced the commercial sales of super urea following successful trials initiated since 2018. Its pioneer super urea, a nitrogen dual stabiliser, reduces both ammonia volatilisation and nitrification of nitrogen fertilisers in the soil, encouraging sustainable farming practices by helping improve nitrogen fertiliser application efficiency, enhancing crop yield while reducing environmental impact, and healthier food for the communities across the island. Its pharma business is also seeing a surge in growth, backed by its extensive distributor network and world-class service and technology integration. Last year, Baurs inked a deal to be the sole importer and distributor of multinational pharmaceutical giant GSK’s prescription medicines and vaccines in Sri Lanka. Growing its portfolio of global healthcare brands, Baurs also partnered for the distribution of German multinational medical device company’s Sri Lankan operations, Fresenius Medical Care Lanka. Baurs has also come a long way in its digital transformation efforts, taking the lead in sales force automation which goes beyond mere mobility, data and analytics, to comprehensively integrate the various businesses and channels, and also actively embracing cyber security and disaster recovery measures, ML, AI and IoT among others. Its IT director, Anoja Basnayake, spearheading the many initiatives, was recognised among the inaugural National CIO List 2023 of the Computer Society of Sri Lanka. Baurs is also making strides in providing world-class hospitality education through its Swiss Hotel Management Academy (SHMA) and the Skills for Sustainable Growth (SSG) project, a partnership initiated and funded by the Swiss government aimed at preparing students to not only gain technical knowledge in hospitality but also enhance their practical skills, real-world experience, and soft skills development. The SSG project reached a new milestone with the opening of 10 learning centres across the island this year, and a goal of skilling 2,240 youths by the end of 2025. The company’s sustainability agenda also saw a new solar installation at its head office with a capacity of 168.56 kWp which can cover more than 60% of the energy needs, generating an impressive 233,792 kWh annually. This will allow Baurs to offset 170,622 kg of carbon emissions every year and contribute to reducing its environmental footprint. Looking ahead, Baurs plans to further its investment in renewable energy by installing a 7 MW solar system across its warehouses and other facilities. Baurs is known for its remarkable breakthroughs and innovation since its inception, taking reigns as being the first of many. Rooted in its Swiss traditions and values and Foundation Alfred et Eugénie Baur as its shareholder, Baurs has always stood by Sri Lanka, in the best interest of its employees and citizens. Its community outreach and social responsibility initiatives have had a profound impact on society, including its collaboration with the UN Global Compact initiative. When it comes to wellbeing and development of its employees, Baurs has various initiatives such as Business Model Innovation Training for Future Leaders conducted by BMI Labs Switzerland and Baurs Leadership Grooming for Young Leaders designed to nurture and develop young leaders. It also offers flexible working hours and assistance for employee families during difficult times. And its Baurs Toast Master Club has achieved several accolades including the Golden Club Award 2023/2024 – President Distinguished Club, Smedley Award, Dynamic Duo Award, Eight-80 Award, and Early Bird Renewal Award. Baurs CEO/Managing Director Rolf Blaser emphasised that “We don’t aim to be the best in Sri Lanka but to be the best for Sri Lanka.”NEW YORK , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Sexual and Reproductive Justice Hub (SRJ Hub) at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) launched the newest iteration of the civil society-led Global 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-based Violence campaign. For more than 30 years, feminist activists and movements around the world have used the 16 days between the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women ( November 25 ) and Human Rights Day ( December 10 ) to advocate for an end to gender-based violence. With the help of the SRJ Hub, the campaign now will transition into a year-round initiative, reflecting the 365-days-a-year efforts of feminist activists to shift norms, secure accountability, and transform power structures that oppress women, girls, and gender-diverse people. The 2024 campaign responds to requests from grassroots organizers who asked for more flexible and diverse campaign messages, illustrations, and resources. Their perspectives are complemented by insights from the campaign's Advisory Council composed of scholars and organizers with deep experience in gender, economic, racial, reproductive, and environmental justice. Bodily autonomy, the 2024 campaign theme, makes visible the ways different causes and manifestations of gender-based violence are linked. By avoiding a uniform, standardized approach, the campaign will enable local partners to adapt materials according to their unique needs, prioritizing authenticity and safety in local activism. "Women's and feminist gender justice organizations and movements have always been at the forefront of the push for bodily autonomy, and now more than ever we need to support the efforts of grassroots organizers who know what works in their contexts," said CUNY SPH Senior Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs Terry McGovern . "The campaign materials will allow organizers to mix and match sample images and messages or use their own." The SRJ Hub continues to encourage funders to support the requests of grassroots organizers for multi-year, trust-based core funding that advances their efforts to promote bodily autonomy and end gender-based violence. This includes support for local events and strategic resources or organizers in restrictive environments. Addressing Urgent Global Trends A confluence of global trends threaten previously enshrined protections and push equality farther out of reach for far too many women, girls, and gender-diverse people across the globe. These include femicide and restrictions on abortion access; exclusion and marginalization of LGBTQI+ people; growing gender inequality as debt crises, austerity measures, and corruption crowd out social expenditures; conflict and occupation enabled by disregard for international law; increasingly frequent and devastating climate crises; and failure to fully engage with patriarchal practices driving the popularity of anti-gender movements. Bodily Autonomy Theme Connects Movements At a time when equality remains out of reach for far too many women, girls, and gender-diverse people across the globe and many previously enshrined protections are being rolled back, the 2024 campaign theme will amplify the efforts of feminist grassroots groups to resist and counter the impacts of gender-based violence by framing bodily autonomy as a fundamental human right. The campaign defines bodily autonomy as the freedom to express every thought, feeling, need, and desire through our bodies, each uniquely shaping who we are . "Too often campaigns focus on suffering and victimization," said SRJ Hub consultant Oriana López Uribe, who led the campaign strategy design process. "We want people to imagine what life could be like if everyone had the power and right to make choices about our physical selves, and to feel empathy and solidarity with others who want the same thing." This approach is reflected in the campaign's principles, which emphasize positivity, bravery, and collective care for all: Grassroots organizers who reviewed and contributed to the sample messages told us, "I like the different levels of messaging, the intentional counter-messaging for some of the more dominant narratives, and some really simple questions that can lead to rich conversations. Many messages were a refreshing change from NGO comms which I appreciate," and "I appreciate the nuances in the design of the framework and in the messaging. It has been a long time since I encountered those layers in a global campaign. And I love that the messaging is evoking emotions and not dictating policy solutions. I think this is a tactic that progressive movements have abandoned and that anti-rights groups are good at." The campaign is on Instagram, 'X' and TikTok as @365toEndGBV and c ampaign materials are available for download after submitting individual or collective information in this form . The campaign materials include sample templates, illustrations, and messages in Arabic, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian, as well as tips for designing campaigns and activities, and examples from other campaigns. The SRJ Hub plans to update and expand materials throughout the year based on user feedback. Media contact: Clarisa Bencomo Clarisa.Bencomo@sph.cuny.edu 917-702-0998 About the Sexual and Reproductive Justice Hub In 2024, the City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) began hosting the Global 16 Days Against Gender-Based Violence campaign following the closure of its founding host, the Center for Women's Global Leadership at Rutgers University . The campaign is housed at the Sexual & Reproductive Justice Hub (SRJ Hub) at CUNY SPH, which coordinates solutions-oriented scholarship, training, and advocacy, centering the lived experiences of women of color and funding their and other marginalized people's work. Our work is informed by our experience as part of the United States' largest, oldest, and most diverse urban public university system, with faculty, staff, and students connected to communities and populations around the world. Origin of the Global 16 Days Campaign The Global Campaign was launched in 1991 at the first Women's Global Leadership Institute held by the Center for Global Women's Leadership (CGWL), with the goal of raising awareness of GBV as a human rights violation. From the beginning, the Campaign brought together a diverse group of activists and researchers working at all levels from grassroots to international, and united in their belief that ending GBV requires local and global work to change the norms and systems that drive GBV in all its manifestations. Under CGWL's stewardship the Global Campaign gained traction in more than 187 countries, with participation from over 6,000 organizations and a reach of over 300 million. It played a pivotal role in gaining recognition of GBV as a human rights violation in the 1993 Vienna Declaration and Program of Action and the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action . Early campaign themes addressed health impacts of GBV, cultural drivers, racism, sexism, and militarism, among others. More recent campaign themes have included femicide (2021-2022), violence against women working in the informal economy (2020), and violence and harassment in the world of work (2018 – 2019). The latter included advocacy in support of the adoption of the historic International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 190 , concerning the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work (2019). In August 2022 , CGWL sadly closed its doors after 31 years of collaborative and transformative global work. The 16 Days Campaign is now housed at CUNY SPH, ensuring that the important work of CGWL will continue going forward. About CUNY SPH The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) is committed to promoting and sustaining healthier populations in New York City and around the world through excellence in education, research, and service in public health and by advocating for sound policy and practice to advance social justice and improve health outcomes for all. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/16to365-new-resources-for-year-round-activism-to-end-gender-based-violence-and-strengthen-bodily-autonomy-for-all-302314570.html SOURCE CUNY SPHFianna Fail and Fine Gael eye independent TDs as option to secure Dail majority

BBC bosses want to make a Gavin & Stacey spin-off show after the finale scored the highest Christmas Day TV audience for 16 years. A peak of 12.5 million saw Nessa and Smithy get hitched in the sitcom’s highly anticipated conclusion. Advertisement 6 Gavin and Stacey co-writers James Corden and Ruth Jones Credit: https://www.instagram.com/p/DEA-26roAWL/ 6 The Gavin and Stacey cast and crew gather for one last time on set Credit: https://www.instagram.com/p/DECbujHI8lf/?next=avaferferiifeed&locale=en_USen_U 6 The final frame seen by viewers in the Christmas Day finale Credit: Tom Jackson/BBC Millions more are expected to have watched on catch-up. Insiders say execs are keen to coax more material from co-writers James Corden and Ruth Jones . A source said: “It would be madness to close the door on such a hit.” The spin-off could come in the form of a sitcom following warring couple Dawn and Pete, insiders said. Advertisement READ MORE ON GAVIN AND STACEY double take Watch as Gavin & Stacey star Laura Aikman's family found out she was in finale 'I LOVES YOU, I DO' James Corden & Ruth Jones watch the Gavin & Stacey finale TOGETHER A TV source said: “James and Ruth are adamant this is the last of Gavin & Stacey. But, when a programme achieves such results, execs will always hope for more. “At the end of the day, ratings talk and it would be madness to close the door on such a hit forever when fans loved it so much. “Bosses have had casual discussions about whether options like a Pete and Dawn spin-off could work. 'Bosses live in hope' "They were always more separate to the main group and a new universe could be developed which didn’t involve any of the core cast, so James and Ruth’s involvement could be a little different.” Advertisement Most read in News TV CHRISTMAS JOY Lorraine Kelly shares sweet snap of granddaughter Billie's first Christmas NO PLACE LIKE HOME Lorraine Kelly shares plans to quit England with her daughter HOLYROOD HONOUR Strictly Come Dancing champion given special honour in Scottish parliament OH MY WORD Scots Countdown contestant is first woman to be crowned champion in 26 years The 2019 Christmas special, when Nessa, played by Ruth, proposed to Smithy (James) was supposed to be the final episode. But The Sun then sensationally revealed the gang were coming back five years on. Our source went on: “No one thought James and Ruth would ever return following 2019’s special, so it’s definitely considered a ‘never say never’ situation and bosses live in hope. "Even when news of this Christmas special broke , Ruth denied it publicly, so any plans will always be shrouded in secrecy. “At this point they are rightly so proud of what they delivered and why would they risk ruining it all? But no one can be blamed for one day hoping for more.” Advertisement Watch the moment Gavin and Stacey actress Laura Aikman's family found out she was in the finale after keeping it secret The BBC last night said there were no plans for a spin-off. Christmas Day’s classic finale saw Nessa and Smithy get the happy ending fans were hoping for. But other characters have obvious room for more, after Pete and Dawn Sutcliffe divorced then were reunited. There is also Stacey’s mum Gwen West finding love with Nessa’s ex Dave Coaches. Fan favourites such as Smithy’s sister Rudi and his mates Budgie, Chinese Alan and Fingers are also candidates. The BBC has had huge success with spin-offs that are based within the same “universe” as a popular show, such as Beyond Paradise and now Return To Paradise for cop show Death In Paradise. Advertisement The source said: “As with any big shows, options are always discussed in planning meetings and there are obvious options within Gavin & Stacey. "It’s all down to James and Ruth whether anything will be developed, though.” 6 Some characters have obvious room for more, after Pete and Dawn Sutcliffe divorced then were reunited Credit: BBC 6 Smithy (James Corden) proposes to Nessa, played by Ruth Jones Advertisement 6 A peak of 12.5 million saw Nessa and Smithy get hitched The 2024 special surpassed its 2019 predecessor by more than half a million viewers. Yesterday, photos were released of the cast and crew posing for final photos on set. Charlotte Moore, BBC’s Chief Content Officer, said: “Ruth Jones and James Corden created a magical finale fans will treasure forever. “Their exquisitely written comedy creation is a show all about family, love and joy and it proved to be the unmissable TV event of the year.” Advertisement The special was packed with twists and big reveals, kicking off with the dreaded Sonia being Smithy’s bride-to-be at the start of the episode, not Nessa. Christmas Day on the BBC brought people together in their millions. Charlotte Moore Actress Laura Aikman, who plays Sonia, told on the night how she kept it a secret from loved ones. She posted a video of her family gasping when she appeared. Laura wrote: “I take an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) very seriously! The moment my family realise Sonia is ruining Christmas again.” The finale crowned an epic Christmas Day for the BBC, which had all the top ten most-watched programmes. Advertisement The return of Wallace & Gromit with Vengeance Most Fowl drew in the next biggest tally, with a peak of ten million, followed by stalwarts including Call The Midwife, Doctor Who and Strictly. Read more on the Scottish Sun CHRISTMAS MIRACLES Christmas baby joy for Scots parents as little ones begin arriving EDGE OF THE WORLD Inside the remote Scots golf club dubbed 'the world's loneliest course' ITV’s best efforts came from The Chase’s celebrity special with 2.9 million and Freddie Flintoff’s Bullseye special on 2.4 million. Ms Moore said: “Christmas Day on the BBC brought people together in their millions. I’m very proud the line-up was a showcase for the very best in British storytelling.” Ally Ross' verdict on the finale IT’S not Gavin & Stacey’s fault, but I’d started hating the Christmas special long before it came to screen. A resentment you can probably put down to personal failings and the fact that rolling news, the print media and even the BBC’s main bulletins seemed to be hyping the 90-minute episode’s expectations way beyond a point it could possibly deliver. Without anything else worth watching on Christmas Day, since the last Gavin & Stacey special in 2019, the longing was as understandable as it was damning, I suppose. But for the first half, at least, it seemed like all the pre-publicity had been a dreadful miscalculation. The storyline was going nowhere and everyone, bar James Corden and Ruth Jones, who’ve written themselves the two best parts, seemed to be performing instead of acting, to an annoying degree in the cases of Rob “Bryn” Brydon and Alison “Pam” Steadman. They clearly knew something we didn’t, though. Because, as soon as Smithy and Sonia’s abortive wedding scene kicked in, everything made perfect sense. It was an old-fashioned love story that had momentum, heart, soul, staggeringly good stars, Anna Maxwell Martin and Sheridan Smith, and also the good sense to flag up its own plot holes, on the final chase to Southampton Docks. As I’m sure the whole audience was screaming “Give her a ring,” long before Joanna Page’s Stacey said “I’ll try her on her mobile” and Jason replied “Why didn’t we just call her in the first place?” They would have looked daft, of course, if the show hadn’t delivered the ending the audience craved and deserved. But it gave the people what they wanted, a Smithy and Nessa wedding, and spared them from the one thing that infected other significant parts of the BBC’s Christmas Day TV, preachiness. For there were no gear-crunching references to diversity, as we got in the King’s Speech and EastEnders, nor was there any bleating about the arms trade, as in Doctor Who. For 90 minutes on Christmas Day, TV was a glorious, happy, woke-free zone again. And if you think the BBC will learn from Gavin & Stacey’s triumph and cut the political lectures in 2025? Well, I’d settle back and watch the Christmas special again and again, if I were you.A KLM Royal Dutch airline flight performed an emergency landing at the Sandefjord Airport in Norway after reportedly experiencing a hydraulic failure. The flight took off from Oslo airport on Saturday, December 28 for Amsterdam, landed safely touchdown but but lost control during rollout and ended up skidding off the runway before halting on a patch of grass near a taxiway. The plane had 182 people onboard. However, no one was injured. The plane was a Boeing 737-800, the same model as the South Korean flight which crashed on Sunday morning at the Muan International Airport. The crash claimed 177 lives and is reported as one of the most tragic aviation accidents in South Korea. The flight had also veered off the runway and ended up bursting into flames upon crashing into a wall. The flight had experienced a malfunction with the landing gear presumably because of a bird strike and bad weather conditions. South Korea’s Acting President Choi Sang-mok announced a national mourning period until January 4.

DENVER (AP) — Amid renewed interest in the killing of JonBenet Ramsey triggered in part by a new Netflix documentary, police in Boulder, Colorado, refuted assertions this week that there is viable evidence and leads about the 1996 killing of the 6-year-old girl that they are not pursuing. JonBenet Ramsey, who competed in beauty pageants, was found dead in the basement of her family’s home in the college town of Boulder the day after Christmas in 1996. Her body was found several hours after her mother called 911 to say her daughter was missing and a ransom note had been left behind. The details of the crime and video footage of JonBenet competing in pageants propelled the case into one of the highest-profile mysteries in the United States. The police comments came as part of their annual update on the investigation, a month before the 28th anniversary of JonBenet’s killing. Police said they released it a little earlier due to the increased attention on the case, apparently referring to the three-part Netflix series “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey.” In a video statement, Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said the department welcomes news coverage and documentaries about the killing of JonBenet, who would have been 34 this year, as a way to generate possible new leads. He said the department is committed to solving the case but needs to be careful about what it shares about the investigation to protect a possible future prosecution. “What I can tell you though, is we have thoroughly investigated multiple people as suspects throughout the years and we continue to be open-minded about what occurred as we investigate the tips that come into detectives," he said. The Netflix documentary focuses on the mistakes made by police and the “media circus” surrounding the case. JonBenet was bludgeoned and strangled. Her death was ruled a homicide, but nobody was ever prosecuted. Police were widely criticized for mishandling the early investigation into her death amid speculation that her family was responsible. However, a prosecutor cleared her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, and brother Burke in 2008 based on new DNA evidence from JonBenet's clothing that pointed to the involvement of an “unexplained third party” in her slaying. The announcement by former district attorney Mary Lacy came two years after Patsy Ramsey died of cancer. Lacy called the Ramseys “victims of this crime.” John Ramsey has continued to speak out for the case to be solved. In 2022, he supported an online petition asking Colorado’s governor to intervene in the investigation by putting an outside agency in charge of DNA testing in the case. In the Netflix documentary, he said he has been advocating for several items that have not been prepared for DNA testing to be tested and for other items to be retested. He said the results should be put through a genealogy database. In recent years, investigators have identified suspects in unsolved cases by comparing DNA profiles from crime scenes and to DNA testing results shared online by people researching their family trees. In 2021, police said in their annual update that DNA hadn’t been ruled out to help solve the case, and in 2022 noted that some evidence could be “consumed” if DNA testing is done on it. Last year, police said they convened a panel of outside experts to review the investigation to give recommendations and determine if updated technologies or forensic testing might produce new leads. In the latest update, Redfearn said that review had ended but that police continue to work through and evaluate a “lengthy list of recommendations” from the panel. ____ Amy Beth Hanson contributed to this report from Helena, Montana. Colleen Slevin, The Associated PressAston Villa had a goal disallowed in the final seconds of a Champions League match against Juventus, but referee Jesús Gil Manzano irritated the home crowd also with other decisions during the match. Aston Villa and Juventus collected a Football Italia was among the accredited media at Villa Park. The home side had a goal disallowed at minute 93 for a Diego Carlos foul on Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, but Even if the offence seemed quite obvious, the referee and their assistants left the pitch amid boos from the home crowd. The same had happened before the half-time break as a few decisions from the Spanish official irritated the crowd at Villa Park. Gil Manzano’s use of yellow cards particularly frustrated Aston Villa supporters. Youri Tielemans and Leon Bailey received a yellow card each in the opening 12 minutes, so home fans demanded the same punishment for Juventus players every time they committed a foul. Pierre Kalulu was the first Juventus player to be booked at the end of the first half, causing a roar of joy at Villa Park. The game finished with three yellow cards for Aston Villa and two for Juventus. The home side committed 13 fouls against Juventus’ 14.