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Maryland finds shooting touch, downs Maryland Eastern ShoreDonald Hand Jr. racked up a career-high 29 points and 10 rebounds to help Boston College stave off visiting Fairleigh Dickinson 78-70 on Saturday in Chestnut Hill, Mass. Chad Venning added 18 points on 8-for-10 shooting and Dion Brown contributed eight points, eight rebounds and four assists as the Eagles (8-5) wrapped up their nonconference slate with just their second win in six games. Ahmed Barba-Bey, a grad transfer from Division II, exploded for a season-high 31 points to power FDU (4-11). Barba-Bey buried 8 of 9 attempts from the 3-point arc. Terrence Brown added 15 of his 20 points in the second half, as the Knights made it close before falling to 0-10 on the road this season. Bismark Nsiah scored 10 points. Boston College led 70-59 with 3:39 to play when Barba-Bey was fouled attempting a corner 3. He made all three of his foul shots, and after a stop Brown got to the bucket to cut FDU's deficit to six. It was 72-67 when Venning made a clutch turnaround jumper from the high post with 51 seconds left. Boston College let Barba-Bey get loose for his eighth 3-pointer, pulling FDU within four, its closest margin of the half. But Hand drove to the basket and scored with 29 seconds on the clock, and FDU was out of time. The Knights trailed by as many as 12 in the first half, but Barba-Bey kept them in the game. He made a fastbreak layup off Brown's steal and added a 3-pointer on the next possession, turning what was a 10-point deficit to a manageable 29-24 game. Boston College led 38-28 at halftime, with Hand scoring 15 for the hosts and Barba-Bey pouring in 16 for the Knights, including 4-of-5 shooting from deep. FDU pulled within nine points three times in the early stages of the second half, the third coming when Nsiah knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 56-47 with about 10 minutes to go. --Field Level Media

Limited again, 49ers QB Brock Purdy still fighting sore shoulder

Dollar Tree Inc. stock underperforms Wednesday when compared to competitors despite daily gainsRIMOUSKI, Québec, Dec. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Puma Exploration Inc. (TSXV: PUMA, OTCQB: PUMXF) (the “Company” or “Puma”) announces that it has closed a non-brokered placement (the “FT Private Placement”) consisting of 6,685,000 flow-through units (the “FT Units”) at $0.10 per FT Unit for gross proceeds of C$668,500. Each FT Unit comprises one flow-through share and one common share purchase warrant (“Warrant”). Each Warrant is exercisable to purchase one common share of the Company at $0.15 per share valid for 24 months. The Warrants are subject to an acceleration clause that entitles the Company to provide notice (the "Acceleration Notice") to holders that they will expire 30 days from the date the Company delivers the Acceleration Notice. The Company can only provide the Acceleration Notice if the closing price of the Company's Common Shares on the TSXV is equal to or greater than $0.25 for 30 consecutive trading days. The Acceleration Notice can be provided at any time after the statutory hold period and before the expiry date of the warrants. All securities issued in connection with the Private Placement are subject to a hold period of four months and one day pursuant to applicable securities laws. The net proceeds of the FT units will be used to incur eligible Canadian exploration expenses and flow-through mining expenditures, as defined under the Income Tax Act (Canada), that will be renounced in favour of the purchasers, with an effective date of no later than Dec. 31, 2025. The funds will advance the exploration of the newly acquired McKenzie Gold Project and other company assets in northern New Brunswick. In connection with the closing of the private placement offerings, the company paid aggregate cash finder's fees of $39,445 and issued 394,450 non-transferable finder warrants. The finder warrants have the same terms than the warrants included in the units and exercisable at $0.15 per common share. Certain directors and other insiders of the Company participated in the Private Placement. They subscribed for 350,000 FT Units for an aggregate price of $35,000, an amount no more than the maximum amount permissible under applicable securities laws and regulatory rules. Participation by the directors and other insiders in the Private Placement is considered a "related party transaction" under Multilateral Instrument 61- 101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is exempt from the requirements to obtain a formal valuation and minority shareholder approval in connection with the insiders' participation in the Private Placement in reliance on sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 in that the fair market value (as determined under MI 61-101) of any securities issued under the Private Placement (and the consideration paid to the Company therefor) to interested parties (as defined under MI 61-101) did not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization (as determined under MI 61-101). Qualified Person The content of this press release was prepared by Marcel Robillard, President, who supervised the preparation of the information that forms part of this news release. About Puma’s Assets in New Brunswick Puma has accumulated an impressive portfolio of prospective gold landholdings strategically located close to roads and infrastructure in Northern New Brunswick - the Williams Brook Project and the new McKenzie Gold Project. Both are located near the Rocky Brook Millstream Fault (“RBMF”), a major regional structure formed during the Appalachian Orogeny and a significant control for gold deposition in the region. Puma’s work to date has focused on the Williams Brook property, but prospecting and surface exploration work on its other properties have confirmed their potential for significant gold mineralization. About Puma Exploration Puma Exploration is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on finding and growing a pipeline of precious metals projects in New Brunswick, near Canada's Famous Bathurst Mining Camp. Puma has a long history in Northern New Brunswick, having worked on regional projects for over 15 years. Puma’s successful exploration methodology, which combines old prospecting methods with detailed trenching and up-to-date technology such as Artificial Intelligence, has been instrumental in facilitating an understanding of the region's geology and associated mineralized systems. Armed with geophysical surveys, geochemical data and consultants’ expertise, Puma has developed a perfect low-cost exploration tool to discover gold at shallow depths and maximize drilling results. The Company is committed to its DEAR business model of D iscovery, E xploration, A cquisition and R oyalties to generate maximum value for shareholders with low share dilution. Connect with us on Facebook / X / LinkedIn . Visit www.explorationpuma.com for more information or contact: Marcel Robillard , President and CEO. (418) 750-8510; president@explorationpuma.com Mia Boiridy , Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Development. (250) 575-3305; mboiridy@explorationpuma.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve several known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Puma to be materially different from actual future results and achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made, except as required by law. Puma undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. The quarterly and annual reports and the documents submitted to the securities administration describe these risks and uncertainties.

Tondo Fire Victims Receive ₱21 Million in Aid

National Lacrosse League launches investigation after player engages in postgame fight with fansNEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of burning a woman to death inside a New York City subway train used a shirt to fan the flames, a prosecutor said Tuesday at his arraignment on murder charges. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, who federal immigration officials said is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally, was not required to enter a plea and did not speak at the hearing in Brooklyn criminal court. Zapeta, wearing a white jumpsuit over a weathered black hooded sweatshirt, will remain jailed at the city's Rikers Island complex and is due back in court on Friday. His lawyer did not ask for bail. Zapeta is charged with two counts of murder, accusing him of intentionally killing the woman and killing her while committing arson. He is also charged with one count of arson. The top charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez called the attack a “gruesome and senseless act of violence” and said it would be “met with the most serious consequences.” The apparently random attack occurred Sunday morning on an F train that was stopped at the Coney Island station. The victim's identification is still pending. Authorities say Zapeta approached the woman, who may have been sleeping in the train, and set her clothing on fire with a lighter. Zapeta then fanned the flames with a shirt, engulfing her in fire, Assistant District Attorney Ari Rottenberg said in court Tuesday. Zapeta then sat on a bench on the subway platform and watched, Rottenberg said. According to Rottenberg, Zapeta told detectives that he didn’t know what happened but identified himself in images of the attack. Zapeta's lawyer, public defender Andrew Friedman, did not speak to reporters after the arraignment. A message seeking comment was left for him. Video on social media appears to show some people looking on from the platform and at least one police officer walking by while the woman is on fire inside the train. NYPD Transit Chief Joseph Gulotta said Sunday that several officers responded to the fire and one stayed to keep the crime scene “the way it’s supposed to be" while the others went to get fire extinguishers and transit workers. “Officers who were on patrol on an upper level of that station smelled and saw smoke and went to investigate. What they saw was a person standing inside the train car fully engulfed in flames,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. They eventually put the fire out, but “unfortunately, it was too late,” Tisch said, and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Zapeta was taken into custody Sunday afternoon while riding a train on the same subway line after teenagers recognized him from images circulated by the police. A Brooklyn address for Zapeta released by police matches a shelter that provides housing and substance abuse support. The shelter did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Federal immigration officials said Zapeta was deported in 2018 but later reentered the U.S. illegally. The crime deepened a growing sense of unease among some New Yorkers about the safety of the subway system, amplified by graphic video of the attack that ricocheted across social media. “It creeped me out real bad,” said Deandre Nelson, 22. Others said the attack hasn’t changed their daily routine or how they feel about the subway. “I don’t think it gave me pause," said Collin Burroughs, 24. “I think it mostly just made me sad.” Overall, crime is down in the transit system compared to last year. Major felonies declined 6% between January and November compared to the same time period last year, according to data from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. But murders are up, with nine killings this year through November compared to five during the same period last year. There have also been several high-profile incidents, including one in September where police inadvertently shot two bystanders and a fellow officer when they opened fire on a man holding a knife in front of a train. Earlier this month, a Manhattan jury acquitted former Marine Daniel Penny in the chokehold death last year of an agitated subway rider. The case became a flashpoint in debates over safety, homelessness and mental illness on the system. Policing the subway is difficult, given the vast network of trains moving between 472 stations. Each stop contains multiple entry points and, in many stations, multiple floors and platforms. This story has been corrected to show that the name of Zapeta's lawyer is Andrew Friedman, not Ed Friedman. Associated Press reporter Melissa Goldin contributed to this report.Dennis Smith Jr. Eyes Lakers, Heat, Spurs Contract; Former 1st-Round NBA Draft PickHow to watch Survivor Season 47 Episode 12 streaming for free on demand

Blame it on the food and drink?On December 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Madhya Pradesh’s Khajuraho to lay the foundation stone for various development projects. Among them was the ambitious Ken-Betwa river linking project that plans to transfer excess water from the Ken river basin to the Betwa river basin in the Bundelkhand region that covers parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. As the Prime Minister flagged off work on the project, the Congress and a section of environmentalists raised concerns regarding its potential impact on environment, local ecology and wildlife as a large part of the project falls inside the Panna National Park and Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh. According to the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Ken-Betwa link project (KBLP) is the first of 30 such link projects under a National Perspective Plan (NPP) for water resources development and interlinking of rivers with ‘surplus water’ to those with ‘deficit water’, formulated in 1980 by the Ministry (then Union Ministry of Irrigation) and the Central Water Commission. The NPP is divided into two components — Himalayan Rivers Development that proposes 14 links and Peninsular Rivers Development that plans 16 links, as identified by the National Water Development Agency (NWDA). An idea first envisaged in 1995 after a feasibility study by the NWDA, the KBLP, part of the Peninsular Rivers Development, has moved at a slow pace. The first major breakthrough was, however, achieved on August 25, 2005 as the Central Government and the governments of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR). Entrusted to the NWDA, the report was completed in December 2008 and in February 2009, it was decided that the DPR will be prepared in two phases. In phase I, Daudhan Dam and its appurtenant works, two tunnels, two power houses and link canal will be included. The second phase, on the other hand, will see the construction of Lower Orr Dam and various barrages. After a tripartite MoU was signed between the Centre and the two States in March 2021 for the implementation of the project, it was finally approved by the Union Cabinet in December that year, with a budget of ₹44,605 crore. The project plans on transferring the declared surplus water of the Ken river by constructing the Daudhan Dam on it and using a 221-km canal, including a 2-km tunnel, to the Betwa river. Apart from this, the project is also expected to generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power. It is also aimed at solving the water woes of the drought-prone Bundelkhand region by providing drinking water to 4.4 million people in about 12 districts of Madhya Pradesh and more than 2 million people in 10 districts of Uttar Pradesh. As per an NWDA report, the project is also expected to provide annual irrigation to 8.11 lakh hectares and 2.51 lakh hectares of land Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, respectively. While launching the works on the Daudhan Dam on December 25, Mr. Modi said the KBLP will bring prosperity to the Bundelkhand region. “The people of Bundelkhand struggled for every drop of water, but the previous governments did not find any permanent solution to the water crisis. Even after seven decades of Independence, disputes over river water between States continued, but no concrete efforts were made to resolve them,” he had said. Spread between the northern parts of Madhya Pradesh and southern Uttar Pradesh, the partly-hilly region covers 13 districts in the two States and has for long suffered droughts and water shortages, prompting locals to move to other cities for employment. The region is also among one of the country’s most socio-economically backward regions. Environmental issues Even as the BJP governments at the Centre and in the two States continue to claim various benefits of the project, several environmental concerns have been flagged. Among the most prominent is the project’s potential impact on the wildlife inside the Panna Tiger Reserve as the project is expected to cause massive deforestation, felling of over 2.3 million trees with a girth of 20 cm or more as per an estimate, and harm the local ecology due to the Daudhan Dam’s construction inside the forest. Former Union Environment Minister and Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh has claimed that the project is likely to “submerge over 10% of the core area of the tiger reserve”. Concerns have also been raised that the project may hurt the tiger reintroduction programme in the Reserve which revived the feline population after it had locally gone extinct in 2009. Apart from tigers, species like endangered vultures, mahseer fish, and gharials in the Ken Gharial Sanctuary are also feared to be impacted. The Central Government is also yet to release hydrological data of the two basins claiming they are sensitive by virtue of being subsets of the international Ganga basin. A Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court had in a 2019 report also flagged various wildlife clearances to the project, claiming that the authorities had not considered its impact on the Gharial Sanctuary and the vulture nesting sites. It had also warned of serious impacts on the riverine flora and fauna of the Ken river as well as the unique ecosystem of the region. Experts also believe the data the government has banked on to conclude that the Ken river has surplus water is outdated and have demanded release of the latest figures. Between 2005 and 2008, the then Panna Collector, Deepali Rastogi, had written to various Central and State Government departments, claiming that there was no surplus water in the Ken river. In May, 2017, a group of 30 activists and experts had written to the Union Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, flagging several concerns regarding the project, including the possible displacement of at least 10 villages in Chhatarpur and Panna districts. Published - December 29, 2024 02:03 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Madhya Pradesh / environmental politics / The Hindu Explains / The Hindu ProfilesVeteran Israeli journalist Elad Simchayoff says the Jewish world faces a watershed moment in dealing with rising hostility. Simchayoff, who has been reporting from Europe on the recent violent antisemitic riots in Amsterdam, believes 7 October has transformed the relationship between diaspora and Israeli Jews. “Up until October 7, we’ve seen acts of antisemitism, anti-Zionism, anti-Israelism as something that always had an excuse,” he said at the Zionist Federation of Australia biennial in Melbourne earlier this year, where he was a featured speaker. “It was easier for us to see it as something that was affected by an outside reason. It might be the government, it might be political landscape” Simchayoff said. However, he argues that the response to Hamas’s attacks has stripped away these rationalisations. “After our people were massacred, raped, injured, abducted, and still people were marching out in the streets calling for the destruction of Israel, calling for the genocide of Jews... it’s something that we cannot move forward from. This will leave a dent for many years to come,” Simchayoff said. He is more concerned about the long-term impact of smaller, everyday incidents of discrimination than the large events that make the news. “What troubles me is the more minor incidents,” he said, citing examples of Israelis being refused service at bars upon showing their ID, or taxi drivers ejecting Jewish passengers. “Having to change our daily lives, having to change our routine, having to think twice whether we will speak in Hebrew... That is the thing that I think can really change the way that Jewish communities conduct their lives,” Simchayoff believes. Reflecting on his experience of 7 October from London, the journalist described the surreal disconnect of watching the horror unfold while the city continued as normal. “The dichotomy here was just mind blowing. It tore me up inside,” he said. Yet despite the challenges, Simchayoff sees the potential for stronger Jewish unity emerging from the crisis. “October 7 has given an opportunity to reshape, to reinvent the connection between Jewry in the diaspora and Israel,” he said, noting increased mutual understanding between Israeli and diaspora Jews. “We’ve seen amazing initiatives from Jewish diaspora and Jewish communities sent to Israel... There’s some sort of blood connection that wasn’t there before, or at least was a little bit forgotten before October 7,” he said.