WATERBURY – Jenna Riccio introduced her husband Tim to the Danish concept of hygge – creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people. Tim Riccio said his family – son Nate, now 12, and daughter Julien, 2 – experienced hygge in their home recently when they were all playing with leftover birthday party balloons, laughing as they did their best to keep the helium-filled orbs from touching the ground. It’s been nearly two years to the day since Jenna and Tim, teachers at Walsh Elementary School, drew national attention from The Washington Post, ABC News, People, not to mention nearly every media outlet in Connecticut, when they adopted Nate, then a fifth-grader at the school. At the time, the Riccios, who fell in love with Nate’s infectious personality, were concerned that Nate wasn’t receiving the care he needed for his sickle cell anemia. When he was younger, Nate had both legs amputated below the knee, as well as his left arm and some of the fingers on his right hand, due to complications from his condition. He also has liver and kidney problems, and requires appointments with specialists in hematology, oncology, hematology, nephrology, gastroenterology, orthopedics and prosthetics. But there was such optimism and joy when Nate was adopted that none of that mattered; hence the widespread media attention. Fast forward to the Saturday before Thanksgiving 2024, and the only thing that’s changed is Nate and his little sister, Julien, have gotten taller and, if anything, the family has gotten even stronger. “I thought it would be a really fun, happy, special moment, either way, but I didn’t think it would go everywhere,” Nate said. “It’s going really great. We’re all happy. We’ve been having a really fun time, all of us, and I’m glad that we could be together as a family, and I’m happy that I found a family.” Jenna Riccio agreed. “It’s been amazing,” she said. “I definitely never thought all those people would care so much about our story.” Nate is no longer at Walsh. He’s a seventh-grader at Waterbury Arts Magnet School, where he’s a thriving student with an A average in every class but one. (He’s carrying a B+ average in language arts.) His teachers all commented on the effort he puts in. “That’s my favorite part,” Jenna said. “When I met him as a student in first grade, I always tell my students, work hard and be nice. And if you could do those things, everything else will fall into place.” Nate’s still pursuing his passion for acting. He’s auditioning for two shows, including “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” “I love theater,” he said. “Theater has been my main thing in school.” Save for his growth spurt, he’s still the same warm, kind kid with the infectious personality that you can’t help but to want to be around. He loves his teachers. He loves going to gym class. He adores his parents and his little sister. The feeling is mutual – Julien often has to be pried from Nate’s room in their Waterbury home. “It’s great, I love it,” he said of having a younger sibling. “I love having a little sister. When we had the gender reveal, I actually wore pink because I really wanted a little sister since I already had an older brother.” Nate stays in touch with his brother, Giovhany Mondestin, 24, who will be joining the them for Thanksgiving dinner today. The family makes frequent sojourns to the Silas Bronson Library. They went on vacation to Jamaica. They celebrate holidays – Nate wants Percy Jackson books, a basketball video game, a yo-yo and a Rubik’s Cube for Christmas. He goes to the Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, where, much to his parents’ chagrin, he rock climbs and zip lines. He recently emceed the organization’s 33rd annual Big Apple Bash at Tavern on the Green. “The Hole in the Wall is so important to me because of everything that they have done for kids like me,” he said. “When you’re there, you’re not only having fun, but you’re with kids like yourself. Camp also lets you feel free and alive from the second you wake up until you go to bed. I love camping, everything that they do for kids and families.” Two years after his adoption, Nate is a stellar student, actor, athlete, friend, brother and son. Most of all Nate, apropos of the holiday, is thankful. Thankful for his family, as they are for him. Two years since his adoption, Nate has been a Riccio. He will be forever.
NEW YORK — The brooding waltz was carefully composed on a sheet of music roughly the size of an index card. The brief, moody number also bore an intriguing name, written at the top in cursive: “Chopin.” A previously unknown work of music penned by the European master Frederic Chopin appears to have been found at the Morgan Library & Museum in Manhattan. The untitled and unsigned piece is on display this month at the opulently appointed institution, which had once been the private library of financier J.P. Morgan. A previously unknown musical manuscript, possibly by Frederic Chopin, is held in a display case after it was discovered at The Morgan Library & Museum on Nov. 13 in New York. Robinson McClellan, the museum curator who uncovered the manuscript, said it's the first new work associated with the Romantic era composer to be discovered in nearly a century. But McClellan concedes that it may never be known whether it is an original Chopin work or merely one written in his hand. The piece, set in the key of A minor, stands out for its “very stormy, brooding opening section” before transitioning to a melancholy melody more characteristic of Chopin, McClellan explained. “This is his style. This is his essence,” he said during a recent visit to the museum. “It really feels like him.” McClellan said he came across the work in May as he was going through a collection from the late Arthur Satz, a former president of the New York School of Interior Design. Satz acquired it from A. Sherrill Whiton Jr., an avid autograph collector who had been director of the school. McClellan then worked with experts to verify its authenticity. The paper was found to be consistent with what Chopin favored for manuscripts, and the ink matched a kind typical in the early 19th century when Chopin lived, according to the museum. But a handwriting analysis determined the name “Chopin” written at the top of the sheet was penned by someone else. Born in Poland, Chopin was considered a musical genius from an early age. He lived in Warsaw and Vienna before settling in Paris, where he died in 1849 at the age of 39, likely of tuberculosis. A previously unknown musical manuscript, possibly by Frederic Chopin, is seen in a display case after it was discovered at The Morgan Library & Museum, Nov. 13 in New York. He’s buried among a pantheon of artists at the city’s famed Père Lachaise Cemetery, but his heart, pickled in a jar of alcohol, is housed in a church in Warsaw, in keeping with his deathbed wish for the organ to return to his homeland. Artur Szklener, director of the Fryderyk Chopin Institute in Warsaw, the Polish capital city where the composer grew up, agreed that the document is consistent with the kinds of ink and paper Chopin used during his early years in Paris. Musically, the piece evokes the “brilliant style” that made Chopin a luminary in his time, but it also has features unusual for his compositions, Szklener said. “First of all, it is not a complete work, but rather a certain musical gesture, a theme laced with rather simple piano tricks alluding to a virtuoso style," Szklener explained in a lengthy statement released after the document was revealed last month. He and other experts conjecture the piece could have been a work in progress. It may have also been a copy of another's work, or even co-written with someone else, perhaps a student for a musical exercise. Jeffrey Kallberg, a University of Pennsylvania music professor and Chopin expert who helped authenticate the document, called the piece a “little gem” that Chopin likely intended as a gift for a friend or wealthy acquaintance. “Many of the pieces that he gave as gifts were short – kind of like ‘appetizers’ to a full-blown work,” Kallberg said in an email. “And we don’t know for sure whether he intended the piece to see the light of day because he often wrote out the same waltz more than once as a gift.” David Ludwig, dean of music at The Juilliard School, a performing arts conservatory in Manhattan, agreed the piece has many of the hallmarks of the composer’s style. “It has the Chopin character of something very lyrical and it has a little bit of darkness as well,” said Ludwig, who was not involved in authenticating the document. But Ludwig noted that, if it's authentic, the tightly composed score would be one of Chopin’s shortest known pieces. The waltz clocks in at under a minute long when played on piano, as many of Chopin’s works were intended. “In terms of the authenticity of it, in a way it doesn’t matter because it sparks our imaginations,” Ludwig said. “A discovery like this highlights the fact that classical music is very much a living art form.” The Chopin reveal comes after the Leipzig Municipal Libraries in Germany announced in September that it uncovered a previously unknown piece likely composed by a young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in its collections. Christmas music has a long and storied history beginning centuries ago with pagan rituals. Those traditions evolved with St. Francis of Assisi’s Nativity plays in the 13th century, and survived Puritan rule when many Christmas traditions and celebrations were banned during part of the 17th century. Traveling minstrels spread original songs before the invention of the printing press in 1440 ushered in an era of texts that served as the foundation for some of the most beloved Christmas songs. These tunes would be shared in the form of poetry and hymns printed on broadsides . Today, Christmas music runs the gamut from silly to revolutionary. Songs range from grandmothers getting trampled by reindeer to those based on the work of a Romantic-period poet. Who knew that the catchy tune of Wenceslas, the king with the funny name, is a reverent song about the patron saint of the Czech Republic? Or perhaps it would surprise readers to discover that “Silent Night” was designated as an item of Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. These songs we know by heart and hear so often have rich histories rooted in things like war, religion, social reform, and slavery. Stacker compiled a list of Christmas songs released before 1920 and explored the origins of these pieces. This list includes Christmas carols, famous instrumentals, popular hymns, and spirituals from countries around the world. Many of these songs were created out of a chance collaboration between artists spanning time and space; a clergyman pens a hymn, and years later, a composer resurrects those words and sets them to a melody. It may come as no surprise, then, that what people consider to be Christmas classics are among the most-covered Christmas songs of all time . “Silent Night,” for example, had 137,315 recordings according to a 2017 Billboard report. Read on to learn about the rich histories of some of the most beloved Christmas songs that are more than a century old. You may also like: 71 years of Emmy history Written by James Lord Pierpont in 1857 and originally titled “One Horse Open Sleigh,” “Jingle Bells” is one of the most beloved and ubiquitous Christmas carols in existence. In 1965, astronauts Wally Schirra and Thomas Stafford made “Jingle Bells,” the first song heard from space as they orbited Earth aboard the Gemini 6. It may be surprising that this Christmas classic was written as a Thanksgiving song. This traditional English Christmas carol refers to the practice of wassailing, the definition of which has evolved over the years . In the song, wassailing is the practice of traveling door-to-door, wishing good health, and asking for a bit of hospitality and Christmas tidings in return, including a drink from a communal bowl filled with mulled cider or ale called wassail. Other familiar variants of the song include “Here We Come A-Caroling,” and “Here We Come A Christmasing.” Published by hymn writer John Mason Neale in 1853, this carol was based on the life of the virtuous ruler Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia . Wenceslaus I was revered for his piety, morality, and virtue. After his assassination, he was posthumously conferred as a king by Holy Roman Emperor Otto I, which is why people don’t sing of good Duke Wenceslaus. Wenceslaus was elevated to sainthood immediately after his death, and he's considered the patron saint of the Czech Republic. The version of “O Tannenbaum” most of us are familiar with today was written in 1824 by Ernst Anschütz, a well-known organist and composer from Leipzig, Germany. Anschütz’s version was one of many based on a 16th-century German folk song that pays homage to the steadfast nature of the "Tannenbaum," the German word for a fir tree. The song’s association with Christmas began with Anschütz even though no explicit mention of Christmas was made in his original lyrics. Furthermore, most Christmas trees are spruce, not fir. Readers may be more familiar with the song’s English title, “O Christmas Tree.” If you’ve ever wondered what “God rest you merry” means, you’re not alone. This carol’s title is often misinterpreted, mispunctuated, and widely debated. The phrase “rest you merry” is used in the same way we use “rest assured.” It is not an address to merry gentlemen but rather an imperative statement to all gentlemen to be happy, citing the birth of Christ. It’s even referenced in Charles Dickens' classic “A Christmas Carol.” The earliest known print edition of the carol dates back to 1760, but its author is unknown. You may also like: 30 celebrities you might not know are LGBTQ Originally titled “Three Kings of Orient,” this carol was written by journalist-turned-clergyman John Henry Hopkins in 1857 for a Christmas pageant and published six years later. The carol chronicles the Christian gospel of Matthew in which three biblical magi, commonly known as the three wise men, bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to honor the birth of Jesus. Edmund Sears—a Unitarian pastor in Wayland, Mass.—wrote a five-stanza poem titled “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” in 1849. It was adapted by American composer Richard Storrs Willis in 1850 and set to a melody called “Carol.” The words of this poem-turned-carol are regarded as an account of the issues at the time. Topics referred to in the song include the end of the Mexican-American war and a call for peace among men. Proudly rejoicing the nativity of Jesus, “Go Tell It on the Mountain” was an African-American spiritual dating back to 1865. John Wesley Work Jr. was a composer and ethnomusicologist who compiled hundreds of spirituals and even composed a few, including “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” in his work: “American Negro Songs and Spirituals; A Comprehensive Collection of 230 Folk Songs, Religious and Secular.” Written by William Chatterton Dix in 1865 and published in 1871, this carol explores what the shepherds present at the birth of Jesus must have been thinking when they encountered him. In gospel, hymns, and art, shepherds are central characters in the Nativity of Jesus. The song is set to the familiar melody of “Greensleeves,” a 16th-century English folk song. The exact origins of this popular carol are unknown, but it is most often credited to John Francis Wade. Originally written and printed in Latin as “Adeste Fideles,” it first appeared in Wade’s 1751 collection “Cantus Diversi.” You may also like: Exploring minority representation in the biggest box office winners ever What began in 1818 as a modest performance outside of St. Nicholas parish in Oberndorf, Austria, has become one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time. Translated into over 300 languages, “Stille Nacht” was written by a priest named Joseph Mohr and composed by Franz Xaver Gruber in 1818. The song became popular among traveling folk singers, and before long, it could be heard around the world. The English version we know today called “Silent Night” was not written until 1863. “Stille Nacht” was named an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2011 . “Carol of the Bells” is no doubt familiar to you, if not by name, then by melody. The carol was based on an Ukranian folk chant called "Shchedryk,” which was traditionally sung on New Year’s Eve as it spoke of good fortune for the upcoming year. American composer Peter J. Wilhousky adapted the lyrics "Shchedryk” into a Christmas song in 1919 using the original musical arrangement by Ukranian composer Mykola Leontovych. Many artists have covered the carol over the last century, and one of its more popular variants is “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo” by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. “In the Bleak Midwinter” was based on a poem of the same name written by English poet Christina Georgina Rossetti in 1872. English composer Gustav Holst first set the poem to music in 1906. This particular carol was published by Cecil Sharp, a famous conservator of English folk tradition, in 1911. The song is packed with symbolism that dates back to pagan rituals. Holly, representing males, and ivy, representing females, used to be burned together during the pagan festival of Beltane to encourage a fruitful spring. In Christianity, holly is symbolic of the crown of thorns Jesus wore during his crucifixion. With this rich history, evergreens like holly and ivy are viewed as symbols of rebirth and renewal, which are common themes celebrated at Christmas time. This carol was based on the poem "Christmas Bells," written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow on Christmas Day in 1863. With an injured wife and a son who joined the union army against his father’s wishes, Longfellow lamented hearing bells on Christmas Day during the American Civil War. The lyrics convey a sense of hopelessness when goodwill and peace on Earth seemed impossible. The poem was set to music in 1872 by English composer John Baptiste Calkin. You may also like: Mistakes from the 50 best movies of all time “O Holy Night” is based on a French poem titled "Minuit, Chrétiens," written by Placide Cappeau at the behest of a parish priest. Composer Adolphe Adam set the poem to music that same year, and it quickly gained popularity throughout France. When Cappeau denounced the Catholic Church to join the socialist movement, the church responded by denouncing his beloved carol. The song made a resurgence after it was translated into English and introduced in America by John Sullivan Dwight. After visiting Bethlehem in the Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem , Phillips Brooks was inspired to write about his experiences. Brooks, an Episcopal priest, shared the poem he had written with Lewis Redner, his church’s organist, and asked him to create a melody for it so they could perform it at an upcoming Sunday school service. In a single evening, Redner composed the tune that we know today. Reflecting on the success of the carol, Redner stated : “Neither Mr. Brooks nor I ever thought the carol or the music to it would live beyond that Christmas of 1868.” Mistakenly attributed, for many years, to Martin Luther—the seminal figure of Europe’s Protestant Reformation in the 16th century—and even titling early versions of this piece “Luther’s Cradle Song,” “Away in a Manger” is a relatively simple carol with unknown origins. The first record of the text being set to music with the title “Away in a Manger” is found in the 1885 publication “Little Children's Book for Schools and Families.” The carol we know as “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” was originally titled "Hymn for Christmas-Day,” published in 1739 by Charles Wesley, leader of the Methodist movement and brother to John Wesley, the movement’s founder. But it was George Whitefield who adapted the text in 1753 to give us that familiar opener “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” The melody was composed by Felix Mendelssohn and later adapted by William H. Cummings in 1855 to create the song that's popular today. This numeric carol was originally published in England in 1780 in a children’s book called “Mirth Without Mischief.” It is believed to be a type of children's memory-and-forfeit game in which the singer must remember every verse or forfeit something if they make a mistake. You may also like: Best and worst Al Pacino movies Citing the gospel of Luke, this English carol is based on a French song called “Les Anges dans nos campagnes.” The lyrics were written by James Chadwick, a bishop in 1862. His words were set to the tune "Gloria," which was arranged by Edward Shippen Barnes. This Christmas ballad is believed to date back to the 15th century. Unlike many other carols that reference the gospels of Luke or Matthew, this story takes place sometime in between as Mary and Joseph journey to Bethlehem. It is one of the few depictions of Joseph struggling to accept Mary’s pregnancy, evidenced through lyrics such as “O then bespoke Joseph/ With words so unkind,/ Let him pluck thee a cherry/That brought thee with child.” The song was made popular again by Joan Baez’s rendition in 1961. The exact origins of this carol are unknown, but it is believed to be one of the oldest carols still sung today. Dating back to the 12th century, “The Friendly Beasts” is a traditional French carol about the animals present at the birth of Jesus and the gifts they bestowed on him. “Joy to the World” was originally written as a hymn by Isaac Watts. Watt’s adaptation of Psalm 98 interprets Christ as the king of the church and as the king of the world. “Joy to the World” is one of the most recorded Christmas songs of all time . Perhaps the darkest song on this list, “Coventry Carol,” depicts the biblical event “The Massacre of the Innocents” in which King Herod ordered the killing of all male babies under the age of two in Bethlehem. The song takes the form of a lullaby recited to the persecuted children. In Christianity, “The Massacre of the Innocents” is an important part of the broader Nativity story and thus a relevant story in the Christmas narrative. “Coventry Carol” was originally part of a medieval mystery play performed in England called “The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors.” You may also like: Best Grateful Dead albums of all time Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau returned home Saturday after his meeting with Donald Trump without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on all products from the major American trading partner. Trump called the talks “productive” but signaled no retreat from a pledge that Canada says unfairly lumps it in with Mexico over the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States. After the leaders’ hastily arranged dinner Friday night at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trudeau spoke of “an excellent conversation” but offered no details. Trump said in a Truth Social post later Saturday that they discussed “many important topics that will require both Countries to work together to address.” For issues in need of such cooperation, Trump cited fentanyl and the “Drug Crisis that has decimated so many lives as a result of Illegal Immigration," fair trade deals "that do not jeopardize American Workers” and the U.S. trade deficit with its ally to the north. Trump asserted that the prime minister had made “a commitment to work with us to end this terrible devastation” of American families from fentanyl from China reaching the United States through its neighbors. The U.S., he said, “will no longer sit idly by as our Citizens become victims to the scourge of this Drug Epidemic.” The Republican president-elect has threatened to impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders when he takes office in January. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. On immigration, the U.S. Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone and 23,721 arrests at the Canadian border between October 2023 and September 2024 — and Canadian officials say they are ready to make new investments in border security. Trudeau called Trump after the Republican's social media posts about the tariffs last Monday and they agreed to meet, according to a official familiar with the matter who was not authorized to publicly discuss detail of the private talks. The official said other countries are calling Canadian officials to hear how about how the meeting was arranged and to ask for advice. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, after speaking with Trump on the telephone, said Thursday she was confident a tariff war with Washington would be averted. At the dinner that was said to last three hours, Trump said he and Trudeau also discussed energy, trade and the Arctic. A second official cited defense, Ukraine, NATO, China, the Mideast, pipelines and the Group of Seven meeting in Canada next year as other issues that arose. Trump, during his first term as president, once called Trudeau “weak” and “dishonest,” but it was the prime minister who was the first G7 leader to visit Trump since the Nov. 5 election. "Tariffs are a crucial issue for Canada and a bold move was in order. Perhaps it was a risk, but a risk worth taking,” Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal. Trudeau had said before leaving from Friday that Trump was elected because he promised to bring down the cost of groceries but now was talking about adding 25% to the cost of all kinds of products, including potatoes from Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada. “It is important to understand that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out. There’s no question about it,” Trudeau said. “Our responsibility is to point out that he would not just be harming Canadians, who work so well with the United States, but he would actually be raising prices for Americans citizens as well and hurting American industry and business,” he added. The threatened tariffs could essentially blow up the North American trade pact that Trump’s team negotiated during his first term. Trudeau noted they were able to successfully renegotiate the deal, which he calls a “win win” for both countries. When Trump imposed higher tariffs as president, other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada, for instance, announced billions of new duties in 2018 against the U.S. in a response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US $2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security. Canada is one of the most trade-dependent countries in the world, and 77% of Canada’s exports go to the U.S. ___ Gillies reported from Toronto.
Gemini – (21st May to 20th June) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, Do not let minor issues impact your life Troubleshoot romance-related issues by talking openly. Utilize professional opportunities to display your skills at the workplace. Financial prosperity also exists. Have a strong professional life where you may make crucial and safe decisions. Consider open communication to settle the relationship issues. Financial prosperity also comes with good health. Gemini Love Horoscope Today The romantic relationship will see many brighter sides and you will enjoy the best day. Accept the demands of your lover and consider the emotions to strengthen the bonding. Some lover affairs will see tremors from ex-lovers. Do not let a previous relationship impact the current one. Approach the parents for support in the love affair and some fortunate females will also make a call on marriage. Those who are traveling should connect with their lover to express their feelings. Gemini Career Horoscope Today Consider safe options while you have confusion related to professional decisions. You may expect minor troubles in the form of troublesome clients, office politics, and unhappy seniors but you will overcome these issues with your performance. Job seekers may find a new job. Those who are keen to switch jobs can put down the paper today. IT, healthcare, sales, banking, engineering, and designing professionals may see opportunities abroad. You will also see opportunities to launch business in new territories. Gemini Money Horoscope Today You are good in terms of money. This will help you make smart investment decisions today. There will be disagreements over property within the family and it is crucial to avoid arguments with siblings. You will buy electronic appliances or jewelry but do not go for stock and trade as the returns may not be good. Businessmen will be successful in raising funds for business expansions. Gemini Health Horoscope Today Do not take health issues lightly. There can be issues associated with breathing. Some females may complain about migraine or back pain. There can be minor oral health issues that will need you to visit a dentist. Stay away from people with bad vibes and instead spend time on creative stuff. The second part of the day is good to join a gym or a yoga session. Do not lift heavy objects in the second part of the day. Gemini Sign Attributes Strength: Insightful, Wise, Smart, Pleasant, Quick-witted, Charming Weakness: Inconsistent, Gossipy, Lazy Symbol: Twins Element: Air Body Part: Arms & Lungs Sign Ruler: Mercury Lucky Day: Wednesday Lucky Color: Silver Lucky Number: 7 Lucky Stone: Emerald Gemini Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Aries, Leo, Libra, Aquarius Good compatibility: Gemini, Sagittarius Fair compatibility: Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, Capricorn Less compatibility: Virgo, Pisces By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: www.astrologerjnpandey.com E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 91-9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)
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Wilmington, Del., Dec. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Participating in a tradition that has evolved since 1792, today, employees from Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) gathered on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange as Guillermo Novo, chair and chief executive officer, Ashland, joined by company executives, rang the trading day’s opening bell . The event signifies a decade of evolution, resilience and sustainable solutions for the additives and specialty ingredients company and recognizes its 100-year anniversary. “I want to thank our employees for their dedication, our customers for their trust and our shareholders for their support over the years which continues to be the foundation of our success,” said Guillermo Novo, chair and chief executive officer, Ashland. From its origin of gavel banging to the modern workday bell ringing , the ritual marks the start and end of trading through the years and has come to celebrate economic growth and progress. One year ago, Ashland introduced seven new technology platforms aligned to the company’s pharmaceutical, personal care and specialty additives core, that extend to secondary markets with new and differentiated capabilities to unlock organic growth for Ashland and its customers worldwide. The platform solutions bring “new to the world” sustainable innovations, offering tunable choices to customers to enable the reshaping of their product portfolios, answering global megatrends, and responding to various regulatory landscapes. “As the stock market has demonstrated resilience through devastating lows and exuberant highs over time, Ashland has consistently transformed itself ahead of market trends from an oil and refining company to a matrixed chemical company, and from a broad chemicals and materials provider to the focused additives and specialty ingredients company we are today; integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) in our operating plans to responsibly solve for a better world,” said Novo. strategy update event Ashland is hosting a strategy update event for analysts and investors on December 10, 2024, in New York City. The company will provide an in-depth review of Ashland’s strategic priorities, key initiatives and financial objectives while emphasizing a proactive approach to market uncertainty in fiscal year 2025. The event includes presentations and prepared remarks from members of Ashland’s executive team, as well as breakout sessions for in-person attendees and an opportunity for both live and webcast attendees to ask questions during moderated Q&A sessions. “This was a year marked by recovery from prolonged inventory destocking in the materials sector, yet Ashland was able to deliver strategic progress, margin expansion, high-quality free cash flow, and disciplined execution across our global portfolio,” continued Novo. “Despite a complex operating environment, we demonstrated our ability to drive value through portfolio optimization, commercial excellence, and focused growth in our core markets. As we execute our strategy, we remain focused on delivering sustainable, profitable growth and long-term shareholder value. I look forward to providing more context during our upcoming event,” concluded Novo. To participate in Ashland’s strategy update event, interested participants must register for the event and have the option to attend via live webcast or in person. Presentations are expected to begin at 9:00 a.m. ET and conclude following Q&A sessions at 11:00 a.m. ET. After Q&A, in-person attendees will have the opportunity to discuss key initiatives with business line leaders and scientists in breakout sessions until 12:00 p.m ET. To register, participants should use the following link: registration page . Registration information and further event details will be posted on Ashland’s investor website at http://investor.ashland.com . A webcast of the event will be available live and can be accessed, along with supporting materials, through the Ashland website. A replay will be available within 24 hours of the live event and will be archived, along with supporting materials, on Ashland’s website for 12 months. Copies of the presentation may also be requested by sending an email to investor_relations@ashland.com About Ashland Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a global additives and specialty ingredients company with a conscious and proactive mindset for environmental, social and governance (ESG). The company serves customers in a wide range of consumer and industrial markets, including architectural coatings, construction, energy, food and beverage, personal care and pharmaceutical. Approximately 3,200 passionate, tenacious solvers thrive on developing practical, innovative and elegant solutions to complex problems for customers in more than 100 countries. Visit ashland.com and ashland.com/ESG to learn more. TM Trademark, Ashland or its subsidiaries, registered in various countries. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Attachments Press_Release_ASH_100_Yr_Bell_Ringing_20241209 100 yr anniversary lockup for PR Dec 2024
Israel says rabbi who went missing in the UAE was killed. The government arrests 3RICE_Dickmann 31 pass from Warner (Horn kick), 12:33. USF_Wright 1 run (Cannon kick), 9:14. RICE_Jackson 12 run (Horn kick), 7:44. RICE_FG Horn 25, :22. RICE_Connors 23 pass from Warner (Horn kick), 6:32. RICE_FG Horn 25, :12. USF_S.Atkins 16 pass from Archie (Cannon kick), 12:22. RICE_Chiaokhiao-Bowman 33 pass from Warner (Sykes pass from Warner), 6:26. USF_K.Singleton 28 pass from I.Carter (Cannon kick), 3:09. USF_Brown-Stephens 32 pass from I.Carter (Cannon kick), 2:25. RUSHING_South Florida, Wright 6-35, Keith 3-31, Archie 10-21, Joiner 9-19, I.Carter 2-5. Rice, Francisco 12-42, Jackson 5-40, Connors 17-40, Chiaokhiao-Bowman 1-2, Warner 5-(minus 11). PASSING_South Florida, Archie 19-35-1-227, I.Carter 5-6-0-93, (Team) 0-1-0-0. Rice, Warner 27-42-0-437. RECEIVING_South Florida, Atkins 7-110, K.Singleton 7-107, Brown-Stephens 6-80, Singletary 2-5, Hardeman 1-12, Yaseen 1-6. Rice, Sykes 7-118, Connors 4-91, Chiaokhiao-Bowman 3-58, K.Campbell 3-52, G.Walker 3-45, Mojarro 3-16, Dickmann 2-36, B.Walker 1-12, Francisco 1-9. MISSED FIELD GOALS_Rice, Horn 41, Horn 39.Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): A new political equation is developing in Sagar district. Two former ministers from Sagar Bhupendra Singh and Gopal Bhargava, who were once against each other, were seen together at a function. To display his strength, Singh organised a Bhajan Sandhya on the birthday of his son Abhiraj. A large number of Singh’s supporters were present at the function. A few politicians were invited to the event where a new equation against Govind Singh Rajput was seen. Rajput was not invited to the function. Legislator Braj Bihari Pateria was also present on the occasion. The BJP leaders in Sagar seem to have been divided into two groups. Bhupendra has recently said those who had come from other political outfits and were causing trouble to the party leaders would not be accepted. The plot of the formation of a new faction was scripted at the function. But a year ago, the leaders from Sagar district came to Bhopal with complaints against Bhupendra. Now, with the changing political scenario, the rivals are coming together. Political rivalry between Bhupendra and Bhargava is old. Although Bhargava was a senior minister in the cabinet, Bhupendra was influential in Sagar. After the change of power, both of them could not become ministers. But Rajput who switched over to the BJP from the Congress became a minister. Now, both are coming together against Rajput.
Harris campaign chiefs give pathetic excuses for blowing $1 billion to lose electionHow referee Gil Manzano irritated Aston Villa fans against JuventusDonald Trump’s nomination of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence has raised questions over the politicisation of Washington’s spy agencies and their subservience to the White House. A strident opponent of US military interventionism, the former Hawaii congresswoman has roiled the intelligence community with past comments supportive of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his ally Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. “Her appointment would be a threat to the security of the United States,” said Tom Nichols, a professor at the US Naval War College. “A person with Gabbard’s views should not be allowed anywhere near the crown jewels of American intelligence.” Gabbard, 43, who switched sides from the Democrats to back Trump’s re-election, has yet to be confirmed by the Senate. But lawmakers’ approval would see a woman with no experience in the field take on the eminently political role of US intelligence chief and overall responsibility for the 18 US intelligence agencies, come January. The DNI sits atop of all of America’s intelligence agencies, including the CIA. The post was created in 2005 to remedy a lack of co-ordination between US agencies that lawmakers believed had prevented Washington from foiling the September 11 attacks. “It’s a bureaucratic role to ensure that all the intelligence agencies are speaking to one another, that they are co-ordinating.....that CIA isn’t running the whole show,” explained Mathew Burrows, a former CIA officer now with Washington think-tank Stimson. A key part of Gabbard’s job would be to oversee Trump’s daily intelligence briefing. “Now, Gabbard has the power — because she oversees the president’s daily brief — of removing intel analysis that doesn’t suit whatever Trump decides as US foreign policy.” “I would be worried that her particular views would colour and politicise any of the intel she got.” Gabbard’s views have sparked controversy over the past several years, including when she talked up “Russia’s legitimate concerns” over Ukraine’s possible entry into Nato. Or when she met with Assad in Syria, accusing American political elites of warmongering and asserting her desire to avoid conflict. “Her opposition to a no-fly zone over Syria came not from a desire to avoid war, but from a desire to protect the regime of Bashar Assad,” according to Phillips O’Brien, professor of strategic studies at the University of Saint Andrews in Scotland. “What if the US is about to become an ally of Putin? That is a question we can ask ourselves.” With Gabbard’s nomination, Trump no doubt hopes to spare himself the friction with intelligence chiefs that marked his first term, when he called them “naive” and advised them to “go back to school.” At the end of 2018, his defence secretary James Mattis resigned, citing disagreement with the president over the withdrawal of US troops from Syria. Trump then openly scorned “the world’s most overrated general,” roiling the intelligence and defence communities. In May 2019, Trump released classified files on Russia to defend himself against accusations of collusion with Moscow during the 2016 election campaign. Soon afterwards, he sacked the then-DNI Dan Coats. After being denied the job, his deputy Susan Gordon mocked the president who she said had “no foundation for understanding the limits of intelligence”. The second term will certainly start off on a different footing. Trump “wants to neutralise any such criticism that comes from the intel community,” said Burrows. Gabbard’s role is key. “She’s got to understand that her position is telling truth to power. And I’m sure that Trump didn’t have that in mind, because I believe he thinks he has all the truth he needs.” The real consequences of Gabbard’s appointment will be known with time. Intelligence agents, trained to serve the state regardless of who is in charge, will continue their mission as always. But already, “the community inevitably fears a witch-hunt. People have taken a stand on the election, and some have come out into the open,” said Alexandre Papaemmanuel, a professor at Sciences-Po in Paris. Within the intelligence community of Western allies, “there are channels that have existed for a long time, and there is trust between men and women who have been in contact for a long time,” he told AFP. But he predicts that Trump, with Gabbard as his lieutenant, will disrupt that. “We can also imagine that these relationships will be more transactional than the fluid ones we know today, based on a shared understanding of the threats and fragility facing the Western world. “Now that this alignment no longer exists, will information sharing be as fluid?”
Aston Villa’s disallowed goal would have counted in England – Unai Emery
First Financial Co. (NASDAQ:THFF) Stake Increased by Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC
