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vipph review philippines WHEELING, W.Va. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- WesBanco, Inc. ("WesBanco") (Nasdaq: WSBC) and Premier Financial Corp. ("Premier") (Nasdaq: PFC) today announced that WesBanco's shareholders and Premier's shareholders have each voted overwhelmingly to adopt and approve, as applicable, all proposals relating to the previously announced merger agreement for WesBanco to acquire Premier. The votes were held at the respective special meetings of WesBanco's shareholders and Premier's shareholders today. Approximately 85% of the votes cast at WesBanco's special meeting voted to approve the merger and to approve the proposal to issue shares of WesBanco common stock as described in the joint proxy statement/prospectus for the special meeting, and approximately 68% of the outstanding shares of Premier common stock voted to approve the proposal to adopt the merger agreement. "Shareholder approval is a key milestone that reflects strong confidence in the opportunities this merger creates for our communities, customers, employees and shareholders," said Jeff Jackson , President and Chief Executive Officer of WesBanco. "With this step complete, we look forward to receiving the required regulatory approvals and then scheduling the closing of the merger, so we can bring our community commitment and the resources of a stronger organization to all of our communities." With the completion of this critical milestone, the companies believe the merger is on track to close during the first quarter of 2025. The transaction remains subject to the completion of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of required regulatory approvals. The merger will create a regional financial services institution with approximately $27 billion in assets, significant economies of scale, and strong pro forma profitability metrics. With complementary and contiguous geographic footprints, the combined company would be the 8th largest bank in Ohio , based on deposit market share, have increased presence in Indiana , and serve customers in nine states. About WesBanco, Inc. With over 150 years as a community-focused, regional financial services partner, WesBanco Inc. (NASDAQ: WSBC) and its subsidiaries build lasting prosperity through relationships and solutions that empower our customers for success in their financial journeys. Customers across our eight-state footprint choose WesBanco for the comprehensive range and personalized delivery of our retail and commercial banking solutions, as well as trust, brokerage, wealth management and insurance services, all designed to advance their financial goals. Through the strength of our teams, we leverage large bank capabilities and local focus to help make every community we serve a better place for people and businesses to thrive. Headquartered in Wheeling, West Virginia , WesBanco has $18.5 billion in total assets, with our Trust and Investment Services holding $6.1 billion of assets under management and securities account values (including annuities) of $1.9 billion through our broker/dealer, as of September 30, 2024 . Learn more at www.wesbanco.com and follow @WesBanco on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. About Premier Financial Corp. Premier Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: PFC), headquartered in Defiance, Ohio , is the holding company for Premier Bank. Premier Bank, headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio , operates 73 branches and nine loan offices in Ohio , Michigan , Indiana and Pennsylvania and also serves clients through a team of wealth professionals dedicated to each community banking branch. For more information, visit Premier's website at www.PremierFinCorp.com . Matters set forth in this press release contain certain forward-looking statements, including certain plans, expectations, goals, and projections, and including statements about the benefits of the proposed Merger between WesBanco and Premier, that are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this press release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from those contained or implied by such statements for a variety of factors including: the effects of changing regional and national economic conditions, changes in interest rates, spreads on earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, and associated interest rate sensitivity; sources of liquidity available to WesBanco and its related subsidiary operations; potential future credit losses and the credit risk of commercial, real estate, and consumer loan customers and their borrowing activities; actions of the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Institution Regulatory Authority, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, the Securities Investors Protection Corporation, and other regulatory bodies; potential legislative and federal and state regulatory actions and reform, including, without limitation, the impact of the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act; adverse decisions of federal and state courts; fraud , scams and schemes of third parties; cyber-security breaches; competitive conditions in the financial services industry; rapidly changing technology affecting financial services; marketability of debt instruments and corresponding impact on fair value adjustments; and/or other external developments materially impacting WesBanco's operational and financial performance, the businesses of the WesBanco and Premier may not be integrated successfully or such integration may take longer to accomplish than expected; the expected cost savings and any revenue synergies from the proposed Merger may not be fully realized within the expected timeframes; disruption from the proposed Merger may make it more difficult to maintain relationships with clients, associates, or suppliers; the required governmental approvals of the proposed Merger may not be obtained on the expected terms and schedule; changes in economic conditions; movements in interest rates; competitive pressures on product pricing and services; success and timing of other business strategies; the nature, extent, and timing of governmental actions and reforms; and extended disruption of vital infrastructure; and other factors described in WesBanco's 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Premier's 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and documents subsequently filed by WesBanco and Premier with the SEC. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available at the time of the release. Neither WesBanco nor Premier assumes any obligation to update any forward-looking statement. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wesbanco-inc-and-premier-financial-corp-announce-shareholder-approvals-of-merger-agreement-302329433.html SOURCE WesBanco, Inc.Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flightsToday’s NYT ‘Connections’ Hints And Answers For November 28

The 2024 calendar year has been one to remember in world soccer. There was heavy Spanish flair all year long with Spain's Euro 2024 triumph, Real Madrid winning the Champions League, Rodri taking home the Ballon d'Or and Los Blancos not showing up for the ceremony. Stateside, a new era began for the U.S. women's national team that saw early success in Paris by securing Olympic goal while the men hired Mauricio Pochettino to lead the program after Gregg Berhalter saw his final days as the coach end shortly after the Copa America debacle. As we look back on what was '24, here are the top 24 most unforgettable moments. January Jurgen Klopp announces he's leaving Liverpool The impact of Jurgen Klopp's announcement in January was all the more stunning given the shroud it had been kept under. Even those who thought an ending might be coming sooner than later had not an inkling when Klopp told the Liverpool fanbase that he was "running out of energy" and would be checking out at the end of the season. His final months did not quite end with the fanfare he might have hoped, just an EFL Cup when a remarkable quadruple had seemed at least possible, but to the last, Liverpool were an image of their manager: fearless, free-wheeling and fun. - James Benge Manchester City unbeaten streak No team could scale the heights Manchester City reached in the early months of 2024, an undefeated run through the start of the year enough to negate Arsenal's own Pep Guardiola-esque streak. It actually started in December of 2023, but over the last 17 games of the season City didn't lose, and only dropped eight total points. Then again, no team would want to match City's woes since November. Even Southampton have more points to their name than the joint-worst performing side in England's top four leagues, at the time of writing. All this coupled with the civil war between the Premier League and its champions, the potential denouement of which is sure to be one of the moments of 2025. – James Benge Jim Ratcliffe buys 25% of Manchester United INEOS finally got their feet under the table at Old Trafford but it has hardly been an impressive start for Jim Ratcliffe who has overseen a number of costly missteps so far since getting hold of Manchester United finally. Not only was Erik ten Hag kept on at significant cost and backed in the summer transfer window, the Dutch tactician was sacked months later and replaced by Ruben Amorim who has made a mixed start to life with the Red Devils like many of their new signings. Arguably the most chaotic moment of 2024 on the red half of Manchester, though, came with the parting of ways with sporting director Dan Ashworth less than six months into the job. The English transfer guru was on gardening leave ahead of starting work for United for longer than he was actually in position! – Jonathan Johnson March USMNT win Nations League While it may not seem like it, 2024 wasn't all bad for the USMNT as they defeated Mexico 2-0 to capture their third consecutive Concacaf Nations League title, dos a Cero-ing Mexico with goals from Gio Reyna and Tyler Adams, it seemed like all was well with the national team, but that ended up being the last significant contribution from either player for the team during the year. It shows how quickly things can change on the international level, but the USMNT were still able to set themselves up to chase a fourth consecutive title. - Chuck Booth May Leverkusen loses first game of the season in Europa League final It was one of the most memorable campaigns in the history of the game for Bayer Leverkusen and Spanish manager Xabi Alonso, who won the German Bundesliga for the first time and also the German DFB Pokal. Leverkusen remained undefeated for the whole season and set the record of a 51-game unbeaten run, but then lost to Atalanta the UEFA Europa League final in Dublin on May 22. Ademola Lookman's hat-trick was the reason why Leverkusen lost their first game after almost a complete year, while Atalanta managed to win their first major European trophy in the club's history. - Francesco Porzio June Real Madrid win the Champions League A routine win turned into a night of high drama. The beneficiaries of a Manchester City implosion. A fringe player turning the tide at the most high-pressure moments. The emergence of a star who now has a compelling case to be the best player in the world. The 2023-24 Champions League knockout stages: pure Real Madrid. - James Benge Mbappe signs with Real Madrid Although it was years in the making, Kylian Mbappe's switch from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid finally happened in 2024. It is also safe to say that although the France international arrived to major fanfare at Santiago Bernabeu, things have not exactly gone according to plan for Mbappe and Los Blancos so far. Les Bleus' captain has struggled for form with club and country to the point that he has not been involved much with the French since moving to Madrid and his Real numbers have largely been padded through penalties until recently. Few will be hoping for better in 2025 than Mbappe who appeared to be on the verge of greatness coming into this year. – Jonathan Johnson July USMNT puts in embarrassing Copa America display Coming into Copa America, it was expected to be a time that would test the USMNT and my, what a test it was. After starting off well, the USMNT crumbled following a red card to Tim Weah in their second match and ended up crashing out during the group stage. When facing Uruguay in the final match, Berhalter even let his players know the score of the other match, Panama versus Bolivia, while the focus should've been on winning. This accelerated a discussion of if Berhalter should remain as coach of the team and eventually leading to his dismissal and the beginning of a new era for the USMNT. - Chuck Booth Copa America mayhem The Copa America was supposed to be an opportune occasion to showcase the USMNT's evolution on the field, the USA's preparedness to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and Messi mania's American reinvention, but the tournament instead descended into chaos as soon as it began. Complaints about pitches, delayed kickoffs and ticket prices soon gave way for a shocking conclusion, first with Uruguay's players fighting fans and earning multigame bans and then crowd trouble that saw ticketless fans break into Miami Gardens' Hard Rock Stadium and delay the kickoff of the final. Though the good news is that there's little chance of an encore in 2026 because FIFA organizes tournaments differently than CONMEBOL. South America's championship did not cover itself in glory and had the eyes of the world paying attention for all the wrong reasons. - Pardeep Cattry Spain win Euros and Lamine Yamal's star is born Few if any had Spain as favorites to win it all when Euro 2024 kicked off. It wasn't just that they had underwhelmed at almost every major tournament since their golden era had ended; they had been handed a tricky group and their reward for topping it would be a path to the final that took them past Germany and France to a meeting with England. And yet in every game they were the better side, their explosive young wingers, led by Lamine Yamal who didn't turn 17 until shortly before the tournament ended, offering cut and thrust ahead of a midfield that could dominate just like those of the Xavi and Andres Iniesta days. This might just be the start of something. - James Benge Canada drone scandal The Olympics' biggest scandal came courtesy of Canada Soccer, who were found to be engaging in a years-long drone spying operation that threw the women's national team's quest to defend their gold medal into turmoil. Then-head coach Bev Priestman was suspended for a year by FIFA, as were two ex-assistants, and the team was docked six points in the group stage for spying. While it seems like anyone who was responsible for spying is no longer working at the federation, the issue will linger for some time – reports suggest ex-men's and women's team head coach John Herdman was the mastermind behind the whole operation, with others reportedly continuing the practice during the women's team's run to Olympic gold in Tokyo and during the men's team fourth-place finish at the 2024 Copa America. - Pardeep Cattry August USWNT win Olympic Gold under Emma Hayes The USWNT entered 2024 in an unfamiliar position – the underdogs. Their round of 16 exit at the 2023 Women's World Cup raised questions that other national teams had not only caught up to them, but surpassed them, forcing a quick rebuild in order for the USWNT to prove their worth at the 2024 Olympics. Interim head coach Twila Kilgore introduced fresh faces at a rapid pace, while new leader Emma Hayes opted for youth over experience after just four games to prepare for Paris. Winning gold was improbable under such circumstances, but a new-look USWNT did just that and reasserted themselves as the gold standard in women's soccer, even in an increasingly competitive landscape. - Pardeep Cattry NWSL ratify new CBA, abolish draft In a promising turn of events, the NWSL Players Association and the league ratified a new collective bargaining agreement ahead of schedule. Originally set to expire in 2026, the latest CBA will now run through 2030 and offer historic sweeping changes for the league. Along with a revenue sharing component and continued benefits for parents and mental health, the 2.0 version of the CBA also eliminated all future drafts and made free agency the standard for all players moving forward to fall in line with global soccer protocols. The NWSLPA and NWSL are the first in American professional sports to eliminate a draft that was common practice since its inception. - Sandra Herrera September Alex Morgan and other USWNT legends retire This year marked a changing of the guard for the USWNT, who wished a happy retirement to several accomplished players. World Cup winners Alex Morgan, Becky Sauerbrunn, Sam Mewis and Kelley O'Hara all hung up their boots in 2024, leaving behind an impressive legacy that includes not only lifting trophies but also winning equal pay and ensuring better working conditions in the NWSL. To say they are a game-changing group of athletes would be an understatement, but they follow in the footsteps of other women's soccer players who left the game much, much better than they found it. - Pardeep Cattry USMNT (finally) announce Mauricio Pochettino After crashing out of the Copa America during the group stage, the time had come to move on from Gregg Berhalter as the manager of the United States men's national team. But no one could've expected that what came next was the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino, one of the most successful managers in the world. With an eye toward development, Pochettino has come in and immediately raised the standard of the USMNT which could see them spring some surprises during the 2026 World Cup on home soil. There's a long way to go, but Pochettino restored a much-needed feeling of hope in the national team. Looking to 2025, it's about how he and the players can build on that to create a winning team. - Chuck Booth Cole Palmer scores four in a half Chelsea have had their fair share of lowlights in recent years but things have started to finally look bright under Enzo Maresca of late with the Blues back at the right end of the Premier League table. Cole Palmer has been one of the few successes since his arrival at Stamford Bridge -- even when everything around him was not quite working out -- and he spectacularly made history earlier this season by becoming the first-ever player in the EPL to score four times before half time in a game when the Londoners beat Brighton and Hove Albion 4-2 back in September. The England international needed 20 minutes to tally that quadruple with one goal roughly every five minutes on average. – Jonathan Johnson Cavan Sullivan makes history Freddy Adu's record for being the youngest player to ever appear in an MLS game felt like something that wouldn't be broken. While some of the reason behind that is due to labor laws stopping young players from playing in certain states, there has also been a large influx of talent into MLS so that players under 16 find it harder to break through at the senior level. But Manchester City-bound Cavan Sullivan has been able to showcase being a generational talent to debut for the Philadelphia Union at 14 years and 293 days old against Toronto FC. While that was just the start for Sullivan, he'll be someone to watch on the Union roster as in 2025 he'll likely be part of the senior roster regularly. – Chuck Booth Champions League debuts new format We have witnessed the launch of the new-look UEFA Champions League in 2024 and although there are still two games to come in early 2025, it is safe to say that the league phase has already shown promise. It will take time for people to fully adjust to the shift from the group stage, but with nobody assured of a top-eight finish yet and only three teams officially eliminated with two rounds to go, it has succeeded in making the preliminary part of the UCL more absorbing than ever. With the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City flirting with the unthinkable and defending champions Real Madrid even finding it tough going, the league phase has upped the stakes in a way that many have been craving for years. – Jonathan Johnson October Ballon d'Or drama The crowning of the best men's footballer of the past season has tended to be a relatively anodyne affair over recent years, particularly those where the winner was, rightly and inevitably, Lionel Messi. Not this year. The drama! When news leaked on the morning of the ceremony that Rodri was going to pip front-runner Vinicius Junior to the post, Real Madrid threw the sort of wobbly that even your two-year-old might think was a bit much. Not one representative from the Spanish and European champions was in the crowd to see the best player on the planet be honored as such. A bit naff but gloriously petty, and isn't that what we want from awards ceremonies? - James Benge November Christian Pulisic notches assist in Milan win at the Bernabeu It was a dream year for USMNT star Christian Pulisic, who was by far the best AC Milan player. The 2023-24 season ended up with him scoring 15 goals, becoming the second U.S. international with 10 league goals in a season in the top four European leagues after Clint Dempsey did it twice, first in the 2011-12 season (17 goals) and second in the 2010-11 season (12 goals). The 2024-25 season start has been even better so far as the American international scored eight goals in all competitions including the assist provided at the Santiago Bernabeu during the 3-1 AC Milan win against Real Madrid, marking one of the best moments of Pulisic's career. – Francesco Porzio Inter Miami and Messi set a record, then crash and burn With Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, Inter Miami were expected to win everything in their path. That didn't happen despite the starpower. They did win the Supporters' Shield and set a new MLS single-season points record with their tally of 74. Triumphing in the Leagues Cup, it felt like no one could stop Miami and that they were the favorites to win the entire league but that wouldn't be the case. In the playoffs, it all came crashing down as the Herons were bounced in the first round by an Atlanta United side that had to get past the wild-card round to even get there. At that moment, drastic change happened and now Tata Martino is out as manager, replaced by Javier Mascherano, and there will be more shifts to the roster on the way. With the Herons being awarded the host nation spot for the Club World Cup, all eyes again will be on them in 2025 and they'll have to live up to high expectations. -- Chuck Booth Chawinga breaks NWSL scoring record Temwa Chawinga changed the league forever when she matched and broke the all-time single-season scoring record in NWSL. The Kansas City Current striker scored 20 goals and was nearly unstoppable all year long. She constantly forced defenders into unlucky scenarios with her world-class timing on runs, and her finishing made tricky shots look easy. The 2024 Golden Boot winner will force every team in 2025 to factor in her presence after a long year of dominance. – Sandra Herrera Marta wins a title with Orlando Already an icon throughout the game, Marta's magic delivered in multiple ways with Orlando Pride in 2024. She scored 11 goals,second highest of her NWSL career, and led the team in chances created (52). Despite having a dominant winning record in the previous American women's league (WPS), Marta's time in NWSL was filled with mostly losing seasons, an ACL injury, and no team trophies. After nearly a decade in the NWSL, Orlando Pride's historic run during the 2024 regular season changed that. The Brazilian legend can look ahead with a league-record 23-game unbeaten streak, NWSL Shield winner, and NWSL Champion. - Sandra Herrera December Vermont and UNC win dramatic college titles With the elimination of the NWSL Draft and devaluation of the MLS SuperDraft, college soccer has changed but the College Cups reminded us of how exciting the college game can be. UNC returned to the top of the women's game by winning their 22nd NCAA women's title behind an Olivia Thomas free kick. UNC's first title since 2012, they had to wait a while to add to their NCAA leading title count but did so in a big way. On the Men's side, the Vermont Catamounts delivered the drama to win their first national title over Marshall. With the game in golden goal overtime, Maximilian Kissel was able to beat the Marshall goalkeeper finding himself alone in the box for the winner. They're moments that show no matter where you look, it's an exiting time for soccer in America. – Chuck Booth

What they’re saying about Bill Belichick becoming UNC’s new coachIt's been just over a month since Apple released the iPad mini 7 , refreshing its smallest tablet with a new Apple Intelligence-capable A17 Pro chip. MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has been using the ‌iPad mini 7‌ as a replacement for the iPad Pro for the last several weeks, and he has some thoughts to share on Apple's latest iPad . Apple doesn't make a small keyboard for the ‌iPad mini‌, so unless you have a third-party accessory like a Bluetooth keyboard, typing needs to be done with the on-display keyboard. Adding a keyboard does help the situation, but you're still working with a smaller-sized display. For playing games, using social media apps, checking email, and browsing the web, the ‌iPad mini‌ is perfect. The A17 Pro chip means that it's ideal for any mobile game you want to play, and even though the small screen might be a downside, it's powerful enough for Final Cut Pro. The A17 Pro supports Apple Intelligence , plus there's 8GB RAM, so you get all of the latest AI features. With support for the Apple Pencil Pro, note taking, drawing, and sketching are great on the ‌iPad mini 7‌. The ‌iPad mini‌ is essentially almost as powerful as Apple's other, larger iPads, and it is just as capable, so there's little compromise other than screen size when choosing it. It's a great travel companion and daily use tablet, but it might be frustrating if you need something to use to get work done.

BlackBerry Ltd. stock remains steady Tuesday, underperforms market3 Americans held for years in China have been released, the White House saysNo secrets as Bucs visit Dave Canales, Panthers for NFC South showdown

By Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times (TNS) Every day millions of people share more intimate information with their accessories than they do with their spouse. Wearable technology — smartwatches, smart rings, fitness trackers and the like — monitors body-centric data such as your heart rate, steps taken and calories burned, and may record where you go along the way. Like Santa Claus, it knows when you are sleeping (and how well), it knows when you’re awake, it knows when you’ve been idle or exercising, and it keeps track of all of it. People are also sharing sensitive health information on health and wellness apps , including online mental health and counseling programs. Some women use period tracker apps to map out their monthly cycle. These devices and services have excited consumers hoping for better insight into their health and lifestyle choices. But the lack of oversight into how body-centric data are used and shared with third parties has prompted concerns from privacy experts, who warn that the data could be sold or lost through data breaches, then used to raise insurance premiums, discriminate surreptitiously against applicants for jobs or housing, and even perform surveillance. The use of wearable technology and medical apps surged in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, but research released by Mozilla on Wednesday indicates that current laws offer little protection for consumers who are often unaware just how much of their health data are being collected and shared by companies. “I’ve been studying the intersections of emerging technologies, data-driven technologies, AI and human rights and social justice for the past 15 years, and since the pandemic I’ve noticed the industry has become hyper-focused on our bodies,” said Mozilla Foundation technology fellow Júlia Keserű, who conducted the research. “That permeates into all kinds of areas of our lives and all kinds of domains within the tech industry.” The report “From Skin to Screen: Bodily Integrity in the Digital Age” recommends that existing data protection laws be clarified to encompass all forms of bodily data. It also calls for expanding national health privacy laws to cover health-related information collected from health apps and fitness trackers and making it easier for users to opt out of body-centric data collections. Researchers have been raising alarms about health data privacy for years. Data collected by companies are often sold to data brokers or groups that buy, sell and trade data from the internet to create detailed consumer profiles. Body-centric data can include information such as the fingerprints used to unlock phones, face scans from facial recognition technology, and data from fitness and fertility trackers, mental health apps and digital medical records. One of the key reasons health information has value to companies — even when the person’s name is not associated with it — is that advertisers can use the data to send targeted ads to groups of people based on certain details they share. The information contained in these consumer profiles is becoming so detailed, however, that when paired with other data sets that include location information, it could be possible to target specific individuals, Keserű said. Location data can “expose sophisticated insights about people’s health status, through their visits to places like hospitals or abortions clinics,” Mozilla’s report said, adding that “companies like Google have been reported to keep such data even after promising to delete it.” A 2023 report by Duke University revealed that data brokers were selling sensitive data on individuals’ mental health conditions on the open market. While many brokers deleted personal identifiers, some provided names and addresses of individuals seeking mental health assistance, according to the report. In two public surveys conducted as part of the research, Keserű said, participants were outraged and felt exploited in scenarios where their health data were sold for a profit without their knowledge. “We need a new approach to our digital interactions that recognizes the fundamental rights of individuals to safeguard their bodily data, an issue that speaks directly to human autonomy and dignity,” Keserű said. “As technology continues to advance, it is critical that our laws and practices evolve to meet the unique challenges of this era.” Consumers often take part in these technologies without fully understanding the implications. Last month, Elon Musk suggested on X that users submit X-rays, PET scans, MRIs and other medical images to Grok, the platform’s artificial intelligence chatbot, to seek diagnoses. The issue alarmed privacy experts, but many X users heeded Musk’s call and submitted health information to the chatbot. While X’s privacy policy says that the company will not sell user data to third parties, it does share some information with certain business partners. Gaps in existing laws have allowed the widespread sharing of biometric and other body-related data. Health information provided to hospitals, doctor’s offices and medical insurance companies is protected from disclosure under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act , known as HIPAA, which established federal standards protecting such information from release without the patient’s consent. But health data collected by many wearable devices and health and wellness apps don’t fall under HIPAA’s umbrella, said Suzanne Bernstein, counsel at Electronic Privacy Information Center. “In the U.S. because we don’t have a comprehensive federal privacy law ... it falls to the state level,” she said. But not every state has weighed in on the issue. Washington, Nevada and Connecticut all recently passed laws to provide safeguards for consumer health data. Washington, D.C., in July introduced legislation that aimed to require tech companies to adhere to strengthened privacy provisions regarding the collection, sharing, use or sale of consumer health data. In California, the California Privacy Rights Act regulates how businesses can use certain types of sensitive information, including biometric information, and requires them to offer consumers the ability to opt out of disclosure of sensitive personal information. “This information being sold or shared with data brokers and other entities hypercharge the online profiling that we’re so used to at this point, and the more sensitive the data, the more sophisticated the profiling can be,” Bernstein said. “A lot of the sharing or selling with third parties is outside the scope of what a consumer would reasonably expect.” Health information has become a prime target for hackers seeking to extort healthcare agencies and individuals after accessing sensitive patient data. Health-related cybersecurity breaches and ransom attacks increased more than 4,000% between 2009 and 2023, targeting the booming market of body-centric data, which is expected to exceed $500 billion by 2030, according to the report. “Nonconsensual data sharing is a big issue,” Keserű said. “Even if it’s biometric data or health data, a lot of the companies are just sharing that data without you knowing, and that is causing a lot of anxiety and questions.” ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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As Jalen Suggs walked off the court inside Fiserv Forum after the Magic fell to the Bucks in the NBA Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday night, the Magic guard felt disappointed in himself. Despite piecing together a career-high 32-point performance, which included 18 points in the fourth quarter, Suggs wanted only one thing as Orlando battled Milwaukee in front of a national TV audience on TNT. “Good night, bad night, whatever it was, I like winning,” he said. Suggs, who added 9 rebounds, 4 steals and a block in 38 minutes, missed a pair of key 3-pointers in the final 12 seconds against the Bucks — one would have put the Magic in front, the other to tie the game. But neither fell for the fourth-year pro, who shot 3 of 11 from distance against the Bucks. “I don’t like letting my brothers down,” he said. “It’s just hard. I felt like I let them down. People fought. I saw people fighting through fatigue, playing hard, playing defense — really doing everything that we needed to win. “This one will probably sting,” he added. Although Suggs didn’t get the result he wanted, the Magic (17-10) got the type of performance they’ll need moving forward from him. Orlando, without Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero (who both tore their right abdominal muscle), is leaning on Suggs to lead the way in the interim, and so far he’s stepped up to the challenge. While a small sample size of two games without the star duo, Suggs has averaged 29.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.5 steals. He’s remained aggressive on defense and hasn’t flinched despite shots not immediately falling. In the last two first quarters, Suggs has averaged 4 points on 42.9% shooting with 1.5 turnovers in 6 minutes. Compare that to the fourth quarter, and it’s clear he’s improved as games have progressed. Suggs is averaging a league-high 16.0 points in the fourth quarter on 58.8% shooting with 0.5 turnovers in 10.5 minutes. Again, it’s a small sample size but noteworthy nonetheless. And it’s what Magic coach Jamahl Mosley is asking of Suggs. “It’s what we need from him,” Mosley said of Suggs’ recent play. “We’re going to continue to demand a lot from him as well as the rest of the group to just continue to defend and play hard to give ourselves the chance and opportunity to go take some of these games. “He’s doing a great job of continuing to fight, continuing to lead and continuing to put the team in a position to come away with a win,” the Magic coach added. That fight and effort from Suggs — and Orlando as a whole — is capturing attention on the national stage. Following the 5-point loss at Milwaukee (13-11), TNT’s Inside the NBA crew, including Hall of Famers Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal, lauded the Magic. “The Orlando Magic, when they’re healthy, they’re the new OKC,” Barkley said. “To me, in my opinion, I still believe in the Knicks, and the Cavs are playing great, but the [Magic], if they could ever get healthy, they would be scary to play. Because what’s going happen — they got a bad break with Wagner going out, because now, when you watched them play in the playoffs last year, they just gave everything to Paolo and he was making some mental mistakes down the stretch — those other guys are gaining confidence now. Suggs is gaining confidence. This team is going to be very dangerous.” Added O’Neal, who had his jersey number retired by the Magic last February: “I like the fact that Orlando, with players in, with players out, you have to really put them away to beat them. We all expect[ed] Milwaukee to blow them out but coach Mose said it — the effort that they play with, how they play, how they play together — you really have to put this team away. So, to answer your question, yes they are the OKC of [the East]. If guys keep getting confident like that, they’ll definitely be a good team.” Beede’s Breakdown: How Magic fell short at Bucks in NBA Cup quarterfinals While the Magic didn’t advance further in the NBA Cup, which is what they wanted, the group gets rewarded in another way. Orlando receives much-needed rest. Entering Wednesday’s slate, the Magic had played the most games league-wide regardless of the location (27) and on the road (17). Whether Orlando travels Sunday to Atlanta or hosts New York at Kia Center — pending the results of Wednesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal between the Hawks and the Knicks — it will be four days between contests for Mosley’s squad. And after Sunday’s game, regardless of the opponent, the Magic will get an additional three days off until they host the Thunder at Kia Center Dec. 19 on TNT. It’s crucial time for recovery and provides an opportunity for the group to practice multiple days at home, which is key for Orlando as it continues to adjust without Banchero and Wagner. “Regardless of who’s on the floor, we’re going to play hard,” Mosley said. “We’re going to try and do all of the right things that put ourselves in a position to be successful within a game. That’s what they’re learning and understanding throughout this process and why those small possessions matter. They matter.” Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com

The latest development came hours after thousands of his supporters, defying government warnings, broke through a barrier of shipping containers blocking off Islamabad and entered a high-security zone, where they clashed with security forces, facing tear gas shelling, mass detentions and gunfire. Tension has been high in Islamabad since Sunday when supporters of the former PM began a “long march” from the restive north-west to demand his release. Khan has been in a prison for more than a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases that his party says are politically motivated. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, led the protest, but she fled as police pushed back against demonstrators. Hundreds of Khan’s supporters are being arrested in the ongoing night-time operation. Interior minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters that the Red Zone, which houses government buildings and embassies, and the surrounding areas have been cleared. Leaders from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, have also fled the protest site. Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan’s army took control of D-Chowk, a large square in the Red Zone, where visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is staying. Since Monday, Mr Naqvi had threatened that security forces would use live fire if protesters fired weapons at them. “We have now authorised the police to respond as necessary,” Mr Naqvi said Tuesday while visiting the square. Before the operation began, protester Shahzor Ali said people had taken to the streets because Khan had called for them. “We will stay here until Khan joins us. He will decide what to do next,” Mr Ali said. Protester Fareeda Bibi, who is not related to Khan’s wife, said people have suffered greatly for the last two years. “We have really suffered for the last two years, whether it is economically, politically or socially. We have been ruined. I have not seen such a Pakistan in my life,” she said. Authorities have struggled to contain the protest-related violence. Six people, including four members of the security services, were killed when a vehicle rammed them on a street overnight into Tuesday. A police officer died in a separate incident. Dozens of Khan supporters beat a videographer covering the protest for the Associated Press and took his camera. He sustained head injuries and was treated in hospital. By Tuesday afternoon, fresh waves of protesters made their way unopposed to their final destination in the Red Zone. Mr Naqvi said Khan’s party had rejected a government offer to rally on the outskirts of the city. Information minister Atta Tarar warned there would be a severe government reaction to the violence. The government says only the courts can order Khan’s release. He was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. In a bid to foil the unrest, police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday and suspended mobile and internet services in some parts of the country. Messaging platforms were also experiencing severe disruption in the capital. Khan’s party relies heavily on social media and uses messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. The X platform, which is banned in Pakistan, is no longer accessible, even with a VPN. Last Thursday, a court prohibited rallies in the capital and Mr Naqvi said anyone violating the ban would be arrested. Travel between Islamabad and other cities has become nearly impossible because of shipping containers blocking the roads. All education institutions remain closed.National curriculum: Ex-education secretaries urge radical changeCharlotte Crosby trebles security measures to ‘feel safe’ amid attempted robbery

Automakers are constantly adding new built-in features to their new models to keep up with modern-day tech. So if your car is an older model, you may miss out on many of the new smart and assistive features that can make the driving experience a lot more seamless. However, buying a new car is not always an option for everyone. Luckily, there are a bunch of budget-friendly smart gadgets and accessories you can add to your car yourself. But these tools aren't just for older cars. Even if you drive a newer model, there's always room for some additional accessories. Some help with your car's functional needs, while others simply add a layer of convenience or comfort to your driving experience. That said, here are 10 underrated smart gadgets and accessories that are worth adding to your car. Dash cams are always a great accessory to have in your vehicle. Whether for security, emergencies, or insurance purposes, they can come in handy even when you least expect it. If you're considering one to add to your gadget collection, the 70mai Dash Cam Omni is likely to be a solid purchase. The 70mai Dash Cam is made by a standout brand that claims to be a pioneer of 360-degree camera coverage, and it gives you an all-around view of your vehicle with no blind spots. It uses a 140-degree FOV camera, which reduces distortion and displays full HD videos on its 1.2-inch display screen. This device may be one of the best-looking dash cams right now, but its real perks are its range of smart features, thanks to its Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). One of these features is the AI collision detection mode, which activates when the camera detects a collision. When this happens, the camera automatically turns to the direction of the impact to record footage of up to 30 seconds. This dash cam also features 24-hour AI parking monitoring and AI motion detection to enable real-time monitoring of your vehicle, as well as detection of suspicious activity. It retails for $199.99 on Amazon. If you often find yourself turning your car into a mobile office – something that's become increasingly common with the rise of remote work — a steering wheel desk can be a real game changer. These portable accessories can hold your laptop, food, and other items you might need to place on a flat, sturdy surface. The EcoNour desk is one of these accessories and it's truly underrated but extremely handy. It's a 2-in-1 tray, designed with a flat surface on one side to hold your laptop and pen and on the other side with a deep cup holder and surface for food and drinks. Built with ABS plastic, the desk is made to be lightweight yet sturdy. It comes in up to seven different colors, including a unique wooden design to match various vehicle aesthetics. Also, it's very easy to use with a portable and adjustable design. All you need to do is rotate the wheel to a 180-degree position and hook it to the steering wheel when the car is safely parked. The EcoNour 2-in-1 steering wheel desk is also pretty affordable, ranging from as low as $12 to $26, depending on the design. At SlashGear, we already recognized the Easy One Touch 6 as one of the best car phone mounts on the market. It's hardly surprising that it's also one of Amazon's best-selling car phone mounts. This mount is built with a strong suction cup that attaches to your dashboard and windshield surfaces. Once secured, you can easily place your phone into the clamp mechanism, which keeps it safe and steady while driving. One of the major perks of The Easy One Touch 6 is its wide compatibility. The cradle can fit smartphones and cases of any size. Accessibility is another plus — the telescoping boom arm allows you to adjust the distance between you and your phone, extending up to 8 inches. It also offers both vertical and horizontal viewing modes. The arm includes a spring pin and locking mechanism for added security. The highlight of this phone mount, however, is the "one-touch" feature, a unique mechanism that locks your smartphone in place as soon as it comes in contact with the trigger button. This design is to make the mount very easy to use. The Easy One Touch 6 is currently priced at $26.95 on Amazon. The Bluedriver OBD2 scanner is a portable vehicle diagnostic tool and one of the most practical yet underrated gadgets you can have as a car owner. This device has a bunch of smart and assistive features that give you insight into your vehicle status and even tips for repair. The Bluedriver connects to the car's OBD II port using Bluetooth, and it works with its own app, available on both Android and iOS. It's designed as a pretty holistic tool, with a number of smart features. When you open the app, you get a bunch of display options like the Freeze Frame, Read & Clear Codes, Mode 6, Live Data, and Smog Check, each displaying various kinds of automotive data. Read & Clear Codes, for instance, allow you to read and clear ABS, airbag transmission, SRS, TPMS, and other engine codes, while Freeze Frame gives you a snapshot of the condition of your vehicle the moment your check engine light comes on. With Live Data, you get real-time health monitoring of your vehicle. The app further provides several repair videos with step-by-step guidelines on how to deal with a vehicle fault. Bluedriver sources its repair reports from professional automotive technicians based on the specific make and model of your car, so you get reliable information at the tip of your fingers. The Bluedriver OBD2 scanner is compatible with all gas-powered vehicles made after 1996 and is available on Amazon for $99.95. A heads-up display is one of those gadgets that can easily make your old car feel modern and high-end. If you're looking for one of the sophisticated options, Hudway Drive is a good place to start. This smart device has a versatile design that's compatible with most vehicles. It rests on your car's dashboard and works with the Hudway Drive app to display various stats like the temperature, time, car speed, and GPS directions to help you navigate easily without taking your eyes off the road. When setting up this HUD, you can also easily pair it with your smartphone or the included OBD II scanner. Connecting with your smartphone allows you to access calls, music, notifications, and other relevant information with minimal distraction. You can also pair it with your preferred navigation tool, like Google Maps, through screen monitoring. This gadget also allows you to attach a camera to its video input port. The Hudway Drive Camera set comes with rear-view and side-view cameras that activate automatically and cover your blind spots. These cameras work with their parking distance sensors so you can navigate through tight spots with less risk of hitting cars or other objects. Although the Hudway Drive is not available on Amazon at the time of writing, it is priced at $329 on the company's website . Scraping ice off your windshield is often unavoidable when it snows. Nowadays, many cars come with built-in defrosters to help dissolve ice, but having an ice scraper makes the job much easier. Ice scrapers are handy for dealing with thick layers of ice as well as frost on your side mirrors and windows. The Karcher Scraper is unlike your typical hand-operated ice scraper. It is much easier to use, powered electronically, and equipped with six rotating plastic blades. Its intelligent, automotive function is its major highlight; When on standby mode, you only need to place it on your car window and apply a little pressure, and it starts to rotate. Similarly, taking it off the window will stop the blades automatically. The scraper comes with a 2,500 mAh battery, which can last up to 15 minutes and can go a couple of rounds of ice-clearing before it needs a recharge. Overall, this is a practical and portable device, built for easy, compact handling, along with a protective cover for proper storage. Driving often exposes you to fumes, smoke, chemicals, and other air pollutants, which can make the experience less than pleasant. If you're concerned about air quality while on the road, a car air purifier should definitely be on your radar. The LUFTRUM car air purifier is one of the best options available , boasting certifications from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and Electrical Testing Laboratories (ETL) for its safety and performance standards. Despite its compact size, it offers heavy-duty functionality, making it stand out from typical portable air purifiers. This air purifier features a four-stage filtration system, capable of removing up to 99% of harmful chemicals from the air. It is equipped with a high-performance fan and provides up to 60,000 hours of service life. In addition, it has a smart design, such that it can come on automatically when you start your car and shut off when the ignition is turned off. Despite its high efficiency, the gadget is designed to operate with little to no noise. While it's not the most affordable option, currently priced at $109.99 on Amazon, the LUFTRUM car air purifier is worth the investment if air quality is important to you. Digital assistive technology has become increasingly popular in recent years, and car manufacturers are now integrating it into their latest models. This isn't surprising, given the growing use of generative AI across various industries. If your car doesn't come with a built-in assistant, the Chris digital assistant is a great Alexa alternative — it's like having the latter if it was specifically designed for your car. The Chris digital assistant is designed to minimize hands-on interaction with your phone while driving through various smart features. Mounted on your dashboard, it lets you access notifications, manage calls, control music, and more — all of which are synced with your smartphone. It also assists with navigation, using your phone's GPS along with the pre-installed Here Maps for directions. Unlike many similar gadgets, Chris relies solely on voice commands and gestures for operation. It's equipped with five microphones and a speaker to communicate, while its 2.1-inch LCD screen displays information without requiring touch input. Overall, this assistant definitely has its perks. It's small, barely causing any obstruction, and can integrate easily into your riding experience. However, it might not be a significant addition if you drive a more modern car. Rather, it's best for older vehicles that lack more modern smart features. This device is currently not available on Amazon U.S. but can be purchased in the U.K. and Germany. Car seat gap fillers are handy accessories that solve one annoying problem many car owners face — losing objects between seat gaps. It's always a pain trying to reach for keys and credit cards or struggling to clean crumbs and remains of food through those tight spaces. Apart from the obvious inconvenience, it often contributes to distractions when you're driving, and as the NHTSA has reported, this accounts for thousands of accidents and deaths. The Drop Stop filler is an original, patented design that solves this problem pretty easily. Made with high-grade neoprene, this car seat filler has a narrow but flexible build to fit almost any vehicle. It is also purposely made in black so that it blends seamlessly into your car's interior. Drop Stop promises 100% gap coverage, and user reviews attest to its effectiveness. A purchase comes with two drop stops, a bonus LED credit card light, and a slide-free pad. You can currently get a Drop Stop filler for $25 on Amazon. Having an air compressor is a lifesaver when you have a flat tire, but using traditional tire inflators often means lugging around bulky equipment in your trunk. Modern options, like the Syncwire Tire Inflator , make a huge difference — compact enough to fit in your glove box and much easier to carry around. At about 5.3 inches in height and weighing only 1.2 pounds, the Syncwire is even smaller than many modern inflators. Yet this compressor inflates your tire in minutes and works for different kinds of vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, and bikes. You may even use it for your footballs and basketballs. With this device, you can decide to pump air as long as you need or enable it to stop automatically as soon as it gets to the required target. However, to some degree, the device trades portability for performance when compared to larger options. Still, it has some additional handy features that give it an edge — it can serve as a power bank and also has a built-in flashlight. The Syncwire Tire Inflator currently retails for $48.99 on Amazon with a 36-month warranty.By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump promised on Tuesday to “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Related Articles National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole, arguing that it was senseless and insulted the families of their victims. Biden said converting their punishments to life imprisonment was consistent with the moratorium imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. “Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country,” he wrote on his social media site. “When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!” Presidents historically have no involvement in dictating or recommending the punishments that federal prosecutors seek for defendants in criminal cases, though Trump has long sought more direct control over the Justice Department’s operations. The president-elect wrote that he would direct the department to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated,” but was vague on what specific actions he may take and said they would be in cases of “violent rapists, murderers, and monsters.” He highlighted the cases of two men who were on federal death row for slaying a woman and a girl, had admitted to killing more and had their sentences commuted by Biden. On the campaign trail, Trump often called for expanding the federal death penalty — including for those who kill police officers, those convicted of drug and human trafficking, and migrants who kill U.S. citizens. “Trump has been fairly consistent in wanting to sort of say that he thinks the death penalty is an important tool and he wants to use it,” said Douglas Berman, an expert on sentencing at Ohio State University’s law school. “But whether practically any of that can happen, either under existing law or other laws, is a heavy lift.” Berman said Trump’s statement at this point seems to be just a response to Biden’s commutation. “I’m inclined to think it’s still in sort of more the rhetoric phase. Just, ‘don’t worry. The new sheriff is coming. I like the death penalty,’” he said. Most Americans have historically supported the death penalty for people convicted of murder, according to decades of annual polling by Gallup, but support has declined over the past few decades. About half of Americans were in favor in an October poll, while roughly 7 in 10 Americans backed capital punishment for murderers in 2007. Before Biden’s commutation, there were 40 federal death row inmates compared with more than 2,000 who have been sentenced to death by states. “The reality is all of these crimes are typically handled by the states,” Berman said. A question is whether the Trump administration would try to take over some state murder cases, such as those related to drug trafficking or smuggling. He could also attempt to take cases from states that have abolished the death penalty. Berman said Trump’s statement, along with some recent actions by states, may present an effort to get the Supreme Court to reconsider a precedent that considers the death penalty disproportionate punishment for rape. “That would literally take decades to unfold. It’s not something that is going to happen overnight,” Berman said. Before one of Trump’s rallies on Aug. 20, his prepared remarks released to the media said he would announce he would ask for the death penalty for child rapists and child traffickers. But Trump never delivered the line. One of the men Trump highlighted on Tuesday was ex-Marine Jorge Avila Torrez, who was sentenced to death for killing a sailor in Virginia and later pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of an 8-year-old and a 9-year-old girl in a suburban Chicago park several years before. The other man, Thomas Steven Sanders, was sentenced to death for the kidnapping and slaying of a 12-year-old girl in Louisiana, days after shooting the girl’s mother in a wildlife park in Arizona. Court records show he admitted to both killings. Some families of victims expressed anger with Biden’s decision, but the president had faced pressure from advocacy groups urging him to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The ACLU and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were some of the groups that applauded the decision. Biden left three federal inmates to face execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Michelle L. Price and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.

Sophomore wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr., one of the top skill-position targets in the transfer portal, is headed to Auburn to catch passes from Jackson Arnold. Singleton had a team-high 56 catches for 754 yards and three touchdowns with Georgia Tech in 2024 after posting 48 receptions for 714 yards and six touchdowns as a true freshman in 2023. Auburn announced Singleton's signing Monday on social media. Arnold opted to transfer out of Oklahoma and picked Auburn, which has been extremely active since finishing the season 5-7. Along with Singleton and Arnold, the Tigers landed Wake Forest wide receiver Horatio Fields and Maryland tight end Preston Howard. Texas, LSU, Miami and Ole Miss all pushed to land Singleton. A product of Alexander High School in Douglasville (Ga.), Singleton was rated a three-star recruit in 2023 and had offers from Georgia Southern, Georgia State and Troy but not Georgia. Players who enter the transfer portal are permitted to return to their original school. Georgia Tech (7-5) was selected for the Birmingham Bowl and plays Vanderbilt (6-6) on Friday. --Field Level Media

How Trump's bet on voters electing him managed to silence some of his legal woes (copy)

LONDON (AP) — Barely a month after quitting international rugby , former England prop Joe Marler has brought forward his retirement plans and will end his time in the sport completely this week. Marler's last match will be for Harlequins, his team since 2009, at home to Bristol in the English league on Friday. The 34-year-old Marler had indicated he would continue playing club rugby until the end of the season. He has made 285 appearances for Harlequins since arriving in 2009 and retires with two English league winners medals. “The time has come to finally jump off the rollercoaster and walk away from this beautifully brutal game,” he said Wednesday. The charismatic Marler announced on Nov. 3 that his 95-cap test career was over, days after he left England’s camp ahead of the November internationals because of personal reasons. He had baited New Zealand in the build-up to England's first autumn test match by criticizing the Haka, stating on social media that it is “ridiculous” and “needs binning." He later apologized for the comments. AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugbyKU launches first of its kind AI, data science programSecurities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, who was aggressive in his oversight of cryptocurrencies and other financial markets, will step down from his post on Jan. 20. Gensler pushed changes that he said protected investors, but the industry and many Republicans bristled at what they saw as overreach. President-elect Donald Trump had promised during his campaign that he would remove Gensler. But Gensler on Thursday announced that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated. Bitcoin has jumped 40% since Trump’s victory. It hit new highs Thursday and was nearing $100,000. Bitcoin moved notably higher still after Gensler's resignation was announced. Gensler's stance on the rise of cryptocurrencies was captured during a speech he gave during the first year of his chairmanship in 2021 where he described the market as “the Wild West.” “This asset class is rife with fraud, scams, and abuse in certain applications,” he said in a speech at the Aspen Security Forum. “There’s a great deal of hype and spin about how crypto assets work. In many cases, investors aren’t able to get rigorous, balanced, and complete information.” Under Gensler, the SEC brought actions against players in the crypto industry for fraud , wash trading and other violations, including as recently as last month when the commission brought fraud charges against three companies purporting to be market makers, along with nine individuals for trying to manipulate various crypto markets. Yet access to cryptocurrencies became more widespread under Gensler. In January, the SEC approved exchange-traded funds that track the spot price of bitcoin. With such ETFs, investors could get easier access to bitcoin without the huge overlays required to buy it directly. Gensler, however, acknowledged the SEC had denied earlier, similar applications for such ETFs, including Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, among the first to eventually be approved by the SEC. “Circumstances, however, have changed,” Gensler said, pointing to a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that said the SEC failed to adequately explain its reasoning in rejecting Grayscale’s proposal. Even there, Gensler made sure not to endorse the merits of bitcoin. He pointed to how ETFs that hold precious metals are tracking prices of things that have “consumer and industrial users, while in contrast bitcoin is primarily a speculative, volatile asset that’s also used for illicit activity including ransomware, money laundering, sanction evasion, and terrorist financing.” Gensler was tested early in his tenure with the rise of the meme stock phenomenon that shocked the financial system in early 2021. Earlier this year, the SEC under Gensler pushed Wall Street to speed up how long it takes for trades of stocks to settle, one of the areas where the commission’s staff recommended changes following the reckoning created by GameStop , one of the first meme stocks. In the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, hordes of smaller-pocketed and novice investors suddenly piled into the stock of the struggling video-game retailer. During the height of the frenzy, several brokerages barred customers from buying GameStop after the clearinghouse that settles their trades demanded more cash to cover the increased risk created by its highly volatile price. In May 2024, new rules meant broker-dealers have to fully settle their trades within one business day of the trade date, down from the previous two. Critics of the SEC under Gensler have called many of the agency's proposals overly burdensome. The investment industry, for example, is pushing against a proposal to force some advisers and companies disclose more about their environmental, social and governance practices, otherwise known as ESG. Critics say the proposal is overly complex and increases the risk of investor confusion, while imposing unnecessary burdens and costs on funds. On Thursday, Gensler stood by the SEC's track record under his direction. “The staff and the Commission are deeply mission-driven, focused on protecting investors, facilitating capital formation, and ensuring that the markets work for investors and issuers alike," Gensler said in prepared remarks. “The staff comprises true public servants." Gensler previously served as Chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, leading the Obama Administration’s reform of the $400 trillion swaps market. He also was senior advisor to U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes in writing the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002) and was undersecretary of the Treasury for Domestic Finance and assistant secretary of the Treasury from 1997-2001.

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