NoneFunding fuels production ramp-up at U.S.-based facility, bringing advanced lead detection and smart home technology to market SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Notation Labs Inc. announced today the successful completion of a $2 million credit facility to scale up production of its innovative QwelTM smart home device. This funding provides the company with the financial flexibility and liquidity needed to expand manufacturing capacity and meet increasing customer demand as it prepares for market launch. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.jili games gcash real money 。

The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands (AP) — Johnny Kinziger scored 21 points including two free throws with five seconds left to lead Illinois State to an 84-83 win over UAB on Saturday. Kinziger shot 8 of 12 from the field, including 2 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 3 for 3 from the line for the Redbirds (4-2). Chase Walker scored 16 points and added eight rebounds. Ty Pence shot 3 for 7 (1 for 4 from 3-point range) and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line to finish with 10 points. Alejandro finished with 19 points for the Blazers (3-4). UAB also got 18 points from Efrem Johnson. Yaxel Lendeborg also had 14 points and seven assists. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Helping machine learning models identify objects in any pose

Defence minister dispels speculations of governor rule in KP Referring to Islamabad protest, Asif says “PTI launched a “third onslaught” on Centre which was thwarted” Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif. — File Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has dispelled the speculations that the Centre is planning to impose a governor rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed action against opposition PTI for “launching an assault” on Islamabad. His remarks came days after the recent federal cabinet meeting discussed the option of governor’s rule in KP. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); The huddle blamed KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur's administration for using "state machinery to attack the Centre" during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) “do-or-die” protest in Islamabad, well-placed sources had told Geo News. Speaking on the Geo News programme ‘Capital Talk’, Adviser to PM on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Thursday said: “The federal cabinet in its meeting discussed the option of imposing governor’s rule in KP but a consensus could not emerge and the matter has been deferred for further deliberations.” Addressing a press conference today, the defence minister, while referring to Islamabad unrest, said that PTI tried to sink the country’s economy. “PTI launched a third onslaught on the Centre which was thwarted.” Rubbishing the PTI’s claim about causalities at the hands of law enforcers, the minister said: “Security personnel were martyred during the PTI’s protest but found no evidence of any citizen’s death.” A day earlier, PTI claimed: "At least 12 people were killed on the spot and the bodies were not handed over to the relatives." Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram slammed the government for "denying the facts". The government authorities said that five security personnel, three Rangers and two Punjab police personnel were martyred during the protests of the former ruling party. The defence minister said: “The KP government attacked Centre with [official] weapons and equipment.” He advised the provincial government to focus on the law and order situation in the province in general and in Parachinar in particular. The death toll from ongoing tribal clashes in District Kurram has risen to 124, as two more individuals lost their lives and 10 others were injured in fresh incidents of firing, sources told Geo News. The police confirmed that the latest spell of violence, now entering its tenth day, has claimed 124 lives in total and injured 178 others. Meanwhile, Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, during his interaction with journalists, said that the PPP was not in favour of the governor’s rule in KP. He further said that if a “militant wing” of the political party is formed then the ban could be considered. The governor said that the embattled PTI should review its behaviour.

California School for the Deaf-Riverside tops Fintridge Prep to win 3rd straight CIF championshipLea en español For many people, this time of year is all about the shopping. And there's a fair chance many feel less than joyful about the prospect. If fulfilling your lengthy list feels overwhelming, learning what brain science and evolutionary psychology say about shopping and gift-giving might help you understand exactly why you're stressed – and even point you toward a healthier, happier holiday season. Our reactions are encoded into our nervous system, said Dr. Beth Frates, a part-time associate professor in the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School in Boston. "By understanding these brain responses, people can develop strategies to manage stress better, such as setting realistic expectations, focusing on mindfulness and simplifying holiday preparations," said Frates, who also is the immediate past president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. The idea of exchanging gifts at this time of year can be traced back to pagan solstice celebrations. But the drive to share with another is as old as humanity itself, said Dr. Diego Guevara Beltran, a postdoctoral fellow in psychology at the University of Arizona in Tucson who studies cooperation and generosity. The science of generosity is more about survival than stocking stuffers, Guevara Beltran said. Sharing food gave early humans an evolutionary advantage. "Generosity is just one of the ways by which we can accumulate resources, be it wealth itself or friendships or work partners or more attractive, more intelligent mates," he said. Sharing with other people, Guevara Beltran said, is "a signal that communicates how much you value them, their welfare, your relationship with them." Research has shown that helping people makes us feel good. Part of that, he said, is because when someone is part of a community, they feel protected. One way this manifests is through the act of giving gifts. But to derive happiness from gift-giving, the giver needs to feel both that it was not an obligation and that it was effective, according to the 2019 World Happiness Report . That means it could be stressful to be in a culture where gift-giving feels mandatory, or if we can't see that a gift helped someone, Guevara Beltran speculated. It also might be stressful if gift-giving becomes a competition to show that you care about somebody more than the others around them. Our brains on shopping Stressful shopping can cause several physiological responses to kick in, Frates said. First is the "fight or flight" reaction that comes with stress. The release of chemicals that increase our heart rate, raise our blood pressure and intensify our breathing evolved to give us bursts of energy to escape danger. Frates said that while holiday stressors are not life-threatening, they can still trigger the stress response. The pressure to stay within budget could create a sense of scarcity, she said. "This taps into an evolutionary response, where the fear of losing resources like money can feel urgent and distressing." The holiday season also involves a lot of choices. "The brain has limited capacity for decision-making, and making multiple decisions can lead to decision fatigue," Frates said. "This fatigue reduces the ability to self-regulate and cope, which can lead to heightened stress responses when confronted with even minor setbacks, like a long line or out-of-stock item." The stress of needing to complete tasks within a limited time can intensify the fight-or-flight response, she said, as the brain interprets the ticking clock as a sense of urgency or threat. Meanwhile, Frates said, holiday shopping can also trigger brain chemicals that affect our feelings. "Dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward, is released when we anticipate something exciting or enjoyable, like finding a great gift or finding a good deal," she said. "This anticipation can feel rewarding even before any actual purchase is made." For some people, this dopamine boost can make shopping a relaxing experience. "It provides a temporary distraction from other stressors and allows them to focus on something positive, creating a 'holiday high,'" Frates said. For some people, that can be problematic. "When shopping becomes a way to chase that next dopamine hit, it can lead to excessive spending or impulsive purchases," she said. "This can become a trap, particularly during the holidays, when deals, sales and gift-giving pressures are everywhere." Understanding how all these processes work can help people recognize why they feel the way they do and adopt strategies to cope, Frates said. Here are some of her suggestions. 1. Start with self-care before shopping Prioritizing self-care means people can be their best selves and make good decisions, Frates said. So, "eat food that is delicious and nutritious. Get seven to nine hours of sleep. Make sure to enjoy physical activity. Take walks when you can and invite friends along. Practice stress reduction like meditation or yoga to help you calm your body and mind." Before going shopping, try taking deep breaths using stress-relieving techniques such as 4-7-8 breathing (inhale through your nose for four counts, hold for seven counts, and exhale through your mouth for eight) or box breathing (inhale through the nose for four counts, hold your breath for four, exhale for four, then hold for four). 2. Be strategic Don't shop when you're hungry, tired, lonely or stressed, Frates said. And don't start shopping 15 minutes before a store closes or a website's online deals end, she said. That's setting yourself up for triggering the fight-or-flight response. 3. Be mindful Before making a purchase, take a moment to consider whether it's truly needed or whether it's an impulsive choice. To avoid overindulging, set a specific budget or limit yourself to a couple of hours or specific shopping days. "This keeps dopamine-driven spending in check while still allowing for the enjoyable aspects of holiday shopping," Frates said. Look for post-shopping activities that provide rewards without the financial cost. That can satisfy your brain's desire for more dopamine in a healthier way. "Plan enjoyable, stress-relieving activities after shopping, like going for a walk, spending time with friends or indulging in a hobby," she said. 4. Bring a friend Not only does this support healthy social connections, Frates said, but if things start feeling stressful, "you have a buddy, and you have a support system right there for you." 5. Rethink the focus of the season "With gift-giving, we need to change mindsets in order to be able to manage the stress," Frates said. The holidays could be used to emphasize social connections, she said. "Thinking about the connection with the person and making gift-giving more about deepening the connection than anything else, I think, will really help to reduce the stress around the process," she said. So instead of scouring shops and websites for the "perfect" gift, think about making a meaningful and personal one, she suggested. It could be a poem, a painting, a song or a framed photograph that captured a special time. 6. Lessons for children It's easy to get caught up in the hunt for a hard-to-get item, Frates said. But ask yourself what the holiday means in your family's traditions. "Is it about getting that perfect gift for the child? Or is it about celebrating the meaning of that holiday?" So instead of having children ask for one specific toy, or a specific brand of clothing, teach them to leave a little leeway on their lists. "It is a good reminder to express to children that this season is about giving and sharing what we can in the best way that we can," she said, "and sometimes the exact gift is not available." Encouraging such an attitude can be a tall order, Frates said, but it's a place to start. "A simple mindset shift could be the difference between a stressful holiday shopping season or a joyful journey to find meaningful gifts for people you care about." American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Build your health & fitness knowledge Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!

NBK Launches November Health Campaign to Support Employee Wellness and Raise AwarenessU.S. Navy Admiral Samuel Paparo recently issued a number of warnings about China and North Korea during an appearance at a security forum, including a major concern about how Russia might help Beijing cut U.S. naval dominance. "I expect Russia to provide submarine technology to the PRC that has the potential of closing American undersea dominance over the PRC," Paparo, who leads the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), said during a Saturday appearance at the Halifax International Security Forum. He also suggested that Russia could extend that assistance to North Korea, providing submarine technology as well as missiles to Pyongyang. China remains the top "pacing challenge" for the Pentagon , meaning that of all rivals the U.S. monitors, China has managed to close the gap in power far more easily than any other has. Earlier this week, Paparo described the Indo-Pacific theater as the "most stressing theater" due to the quantity and quality of munitions required to counter China. "The closer we get to it, the less relevant that date is," he said, referring to the much discussed and speculated invasion of Taiwan, which China has spent years preparing to execute. "We must be ready today, tomorrow, next month, next year, and onwards." "The way one controls for unintended escalation is by enhancing one's understanding of the strategic environment or of the tactical environment," Paparo added, noting that "playing chicken on the high seas...does not keep me up at night," according to Air & Space Forces Magazine . Newsweek has reached out to the Pentagon, INDOPACOM, and the Chinese and Russian foreign ministries by email on Saturday afternoon for comment. Mark Montgomery, a retired rear-admiral and Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation (CCTI) senior director and senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracy (FDD), told Newsweek via phone on Saturday that Russia's submarines have several advantageous technological capabilities —primarily, the quieting technology, which makes detection difficult. "There's submarine quieting technology, some of their submarine Combat Systems Technology, our second best in the world, or third best, if you include the UK. But behind the United States, there is a significant delta between Russian and Chinese submarine technology," Montgomery said. He noted that while it seems a gamble for Russia to empower China's submarines, understanding that it could remove some future leverage between the two nations when it comes to military power, "this bothers the United States most." "Ask it this way: Would Putin be comfortable doing something that he knows will really piss off the United States? My answer is yes. He's very mad at us now. He thinks we should follow the big country/little country model and back off and not help Ukraine," Montgomery said. He added: "I say it's a calculated risk: I'm going to sacrifice a little of my leverage over China in the future...in terms of military leverage, or leverage in terms of something I can trade them in the future that I now have to deal with now. I'm going to sacrifice some leverage to get the support I need to maintain the upper hand against Ukraine in the West in that contest." Paparo's comments on Saturday address this additional problem the U.S. has highlighted over the past few years—namely, the increasing cooperation between China and Russia as a means of counteracting U.S. influence and military power in the international security landscape. Prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, China agreed to purchase around 100 million tons of coal for the "coming years," ensuring an economic lifeline for Russia as it got slammed by sanctions on everything from its economy to its energy trade. That landmark deal precipitated further economic cooperation, with the two world powers doubling down on their commitment to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which Beijing organized and led, and the BRICS economic bloc. BRICS—formed between Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—looked to expand its membership by inviting nations such as Iran, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Analysts view the BRICS summit as a strategic move by Moscow to strengthen ties with the Global South amid escalating tensions with the West.

UCF, LSU face off with improved focus in mindThe standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.J.K. Dobbins' knee injury could be tough news for the Chargers offenseA deeply concerning and alarming trend has emerged, with a sharp rise in young people testing positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Last month alone, 57 young individuals admitted to the Saint Giles Psychiatric Hospital in Suva were found to be HIV-positive, highlighting the urgency of addressing this crisis. Among those affected was a 14-year-old child. The new Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Justice, Selina Kuruleca, revealed these troubling statistics during a presentation on the alarming extent of drug abuse in schools and the need for stronger education and justice interventions. The data, initially shared by Saint Giles Hospital consultant psychiatrist Myrielle Allen in a Speaker’s Debate last month, paints a grim picture of a growing public health issue. “As of September, 1.7 per cent of 3519 young Fijians have been directly involved in drug-related incidents,” Ms Kuruleca said. “That’s still 1.7 per cent too many. And what about the countless others who are unreported?” According to 2023 findings by the Substance Abuse Advisory Council under the Ministry of Education, 3627 drug-related incidents were recorded in Fijian schools-1578 in primary schools and 2049 in secondary schools. This marks a staggering 40 per cent increase in drug cases since 2018. One of the most disturbing practices reported among students is “blue-toothing,” where young people share needles, unknowingly transmitting HIV when contaminated blood is passed between users. This dangerous behaviour is directly contributing to the spread of HIV among Fiji’s youth, further exacerbating the public health crisis. Ms Kuruleca also highlighted the profound impact of the drug epidemic on families and communities. In some cases, parents have been found using their own children to peddle drugs, while others, as reported by Ilisapeci Veibuli of the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, are coercing women into prostitution to fund drug purchases. “We must be vigilant, proactive, and compassionate,” Ms Kuruleca urged. “We must ensure that every young Fijian knows they have the support to make positive choices and avoid the dangers of drug use.” With a rapid increase in HIV cases linked to drug abuse, the need for urgent action and intervention is clearer than ever. The crisis is not just a public health issue but a social and familial one that demands immediate attention to protect Fiji’s future generations. Permanent secretary for Justice, Selina Kuruleca. Photo: Beranadeta Nagatalevu Culture of Bystanders Needs to Go Adding to the urgency of the situation, Kalesi Volatabu, the founder of Drug Free World Fiji, addressed the crowd, calling for an end to the “culture of bystanders” that has allowed the drug crisis to worsen. “We cannot afford to remain passive any longer,” Ms Volatabu said passionately. “The presenters today have spoken about the stats, but why is it so important to address the issue of drugs in our country? If no one speaks up, if no one corrects the wrongs, we are heading down a very dangerous road.” Ms Volatabu stressed that citizens and communities cannot stand idly by when they see children using drugs or engaging in dangerous behaviour. “If no one is going to intervene when they see children using drugs, who will? Why won’t you call the police or the authorities? If you don’t, who will?” The call for action was clear: “We can’t be bystanders any longer, Fiji.” “Do something, say something—don’t just stand back. We have a very sad culture of bystanding, but I tell you now, NO! These drugs are in our schools, they are in our homes, they are in our villages, they are in our communities. We are not safe,” she said. Ms Volatabu also warned that the statistics presented were just the tip of the iceberg, pointing out that many drug-related incidents go unreported. “The stats we’re hearing today are reported, but Fiji is a country where a lot of things are unreported. Do not be shocked if you hear of even more unreported cases.” Feedback: Beranadeta@fijisun.com.fj