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Israel cracks down on Palestinian citizens who speak out against the war in Gaza UMM AL-FAHM, Israel (AP) — In the year since the war in Gaza broke out, Israel's government has been cracking down on dissent among its Palestinian citizens. Authorities have charged Palestinians with “supporting terrorism” because of posts online or for demonstrating against the war. Activists and rights watchdogs say Palestinians have also lost jobs, been suspended from schools and faced police interrogations. Palestinians make up about 20% of Israel's population. Many feel forced to self-censor out of fear of being jailed and further marginalized in society. Others still find ways to dissent, but carefully. Israel's National Security Ministry counters that, “Freedom of speech is not the freedom to incite.” Israel says rabbi who went missing in the UAE was killed TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel says the body of of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates has been found, citing Emirati authorities. The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Sunday said Zvi Kogan was murdered, calling it a “heinous antisemitic terror incident.” It said: “The state of Israel will act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death." Kogan went missing on Thursday, and there were suspicions he had been kidnapped. His disappearance comes as Iran has been threatening to retaliate against Israel after the two countries traded fire in October. Israeli strikes in central Beirut kill at least 20 as diplomats push for a cease-fire BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) — Lebanese officials say Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 20 people and injured dozens in central Beirut, as the once-rare attacks on the heart of Lebanon’s capital continue without warning. Diplomats are scrambling to broker a cease-fire but say obstacles still remain. The current proposal calls for a two-month cease-fire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. Lebanon’s Health Ministry says Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,500 people in Lebanon in the months of fighting that have turned into all-out war. After Trump's Project 2025 denials, he is tapping its authors and influencers for key roles WASHINGTON (AP) — During the campaign, President-elect Donald Trump had hailed what would become Project 2025 as a conservative roadmap for “exactly what our movement will do." Trump pulled an about-face when Project 2025 became a political liability. He denied knowing anything about the “ridiculous and abysmal” plans, even though some were written by his former aides and many allies. Now, after winning the 2024 election, Trump is stocking his second administration with key players in the effort he temporarily shunned. Trump has tapped Russell Vought for an encore as director of the Office of Management and Budget; Tom Homan, his former immigration chief, as “border czar;” and immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of policy. Trump's Republican Party is increasingly winning union voters. It's a shift seen in his labor pick WASHINGTON (AP) — Working-class voters helped Republicans make steady election gains this year and expanded a coalition that increasingly includes rank-and-file union members. It's a political shift spotlighting one of President-elect Donald Trump’s latest Cabinet picks: a GOP congresswoman, who has drawn labor support, to be his labor secretary. Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her bid for a second term this month, despite strong backing from union members. They're a key part of the Democratic base but are gravitating in the Trump era toward a Republican Party traditionally allied with business interests. Will a winter storm hit the US over Thanksgiving week? Here's what forecasts show so far WINDSOR, Calif. (AP) — The U.S. is reeling from snow and rain while preparing for another bout of bad weather ahead of Thanksgiving that could disrupt holiday travel. California is bracing for more snow and rain this weekend while still grappling with some flooding and small landslides from a previous storm. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for California's Sierra Nevada through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at high elevations. Parts of the Northeast and Appalachia also started the weekend with heavy precipitation. Meanwhile, thousands remained without power in the Seattle area on Saturday afternoon after a “bomb cyclone” storm system roared ashore the West Coast earlier in the week, killing two people. Pakistan partially stops mobile and internet services ahead of pro-Imran Khan protest ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan says it is suspending mobile and internet services “in areas with security concerns” as supporters of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan gear up for a protest in the capital. The government and Interior Ministry made the announcement on X, which is banned in Pakistan. Sunday's protest is to demand Khan's release. He has been in prison for more than a year but remains popular. His supporters rely heavily on social media and messaging apps to coordinate with each other. Pakistan has already sealed off Islamabad and shut down major roads and highways connecting the city with Khan's power bases. Here's what to know about the new funding deal that countries agreed to at UN climate talks BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — In the wee hours Sunday at the United Nations climate talks, countries from around the world reached an agreement on how rich countries can cough up the funds to support poor countries in the face of climate change. But it’s a far-from-perfect arrangement, with many parties still unsatisfied but hopeful that the deal will be a step in the right direction. Japan holds Sado mines memorial despite South Korean boycott amid lingering historical tensions SADO, Japan (AP) — Japan held a memorial ceremony on Sunday near the Sado Island Gold Mines despite a last-minute boycott of the event by South Korea that highlighted tensions between the neighbors over the issue of Korean forced laborers at the site before and during World War II. South Korea’s absence at Sunday’s memorial, to which Seoul government officials and Korean victims’ families were invited, is a major setback in the rapidly improving ties between the two countries, which since last year have set aside their historical disputes to prioritize U.S.-led security cooperation. Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83 NEW YORK (AP) — Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, has died. He was 83. Mark Young, Woolery’s podcast co-host and friend, said in an email early Sunday that Woolery died at his home in Texas with his wife, Kristen, present. Woolery, with his matinee idol looks, coiffed hair and ease with witty banter, was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978. He teamed up with Young for the podcast “Blunt Force Truth” and became a full supporter Donald Trump.As Americans are beyond burned out, Tricia Hersey’s Nap Ministry preaches the right to restPathstone Holdings LLC Has $4.39 Million Position in Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ:LULU)
NEW DELHI: While maintaining that only registered businesses involved in sale and purchase of vehicles, govt sources have said goods and servcies tax (GST) of 18% will be applicable on the margin of sale - the difference between the price at which the vehicle was bought by the business and the price realised on sale. So, if a vehicle is bought by a business for say Rs 8 lakh and sold for Rs 10 lakh, the GST liability will be Rs 36,000. GST was applicable on used cars earlier as well but only in case of electric vehicles the rate has been increased from 12% to 18%, bringing them at par with petrol and diesel vehicles. "Where the registered person has claimed depreciation under Section 32 of the Income Tax Act 1961, GST is payable only on the value representing the margin of the supplier - the difference between consideration received for the supply of such goods and the depreciated value of such goods on the date of supply. Where such margin is negative, no GST is payable," a source said. For instance, if a car was purchased for Rs 20 lakh and depreciation of Rs 8 lakh was claimed, resulting in a depreciated value of Rs 12 lakh. If the used vehicle is sold for Rs 10 lakh then the margin is negative and no GST is to be paid. But if the same car was sold for Rs 14 lakh, then 18% tax will be levied on the Rs 2 lakh margin, resulting in Rs 36,000 GST. Ready to Master Stock Valuation? ET’s Workshop is just around the corner!
Iowa attorney general warns of sweepstakes scams after helping couple save $16,000Bruins see improvements under new coach, tackle Canucks nextNissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automaker TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda have announced plans to work toward a merger that would catapult them to a top position in an industry in the midst of tectonic shifts as it transitions away from its reliance on fossil fuels. The two companies said they signed an agreement on integrating their businesses on Monday. Smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors agreed to join the talks. News of a possible merger surfaced earlier this month. Japanese automakers face a strong challenge from their Chinese rivals and Tesla as they make inroads into markets at home and abroad. What a merger between Nissan and Honda means for the automakers and the industry BANGKOK (AP) — Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan will attempt to merge and create the world’s third-largest automaker by sales as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels. The two companies said they had signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday and that smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors also had agreed to join the talks on integrating their businesses. Honda will initially lead the new management, retaining the principles and brands of each company. Following is a quick look at what a combined Honda and Nissan would mean for the companies, and for the auto industry. Nordstrom to be acquired by Nordstrom family and a Mexican retail group in $6.25 billion deal Century-old department store Nordstrom has agreed to be acquired and taken private by Nordstrom family members and a Mexican retail group in a $6.25 billion deal. Nordstrom shareholders will receive $24.25 in cash for each share of Nordstrom common stock, representing a 42% premium on the company’s stock as of March 18. Nordstrom’s board of directors unanimously approved the the proposed transaction, while Erik and Pete Nordstrom — part of the Nordstrom family taking over the company — recused themselves from voting. Following the close of the transaction, the Nordstrom Family will have a majority ownership stake in the company. An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump won a return to the White House in part by promising big changes in economic policy — more tax cuts, huge tariffs on imports, mass deportations of immigrants working in the United States illegally. In some ways, his victory marked a repudiation of President Joe Biden’s economic stewardship and a protest against inflation. It came despite low unemployment and steady growth under the Biden administration. What lies ahead for the economy under Trump? Paul Ashworth of Capital Economics spoke recently to The Associated Press. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. American consumers feeling less confident in December, Conference Board says American consumers are feeling less confident in December, a business research group says. The Conference Board said Monday that its consumer confidence index fell back in December to 104.7 from 112.8 in November. Consumers had been feeling increasingly confident in recent months. The consumer confidence index measures both Americans’ assessment of current economic conditions and their outlook for the next six months. The measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for income, business and the job market tumbled more than a dozen points to 81.1. The Conference Board says a reading under 80 can signal a potential recession in the near future. Stock market today: Wall Street rises at the start of a holiday-shortened week Stocks closed higher on Wall Street at the start of a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 rose 0.7% Monday. Several big technology companies helped support the gains, including chip companies Nvidia and Broadcom. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 1%. Honda's U.S.-listed shares rose sharply after the company said it was in talks about a combination with Nissan in a deal that could also include Mitsubishi Motors. Eli Lilly rose after announcing that regulators approved Zepbound as the first prescription medicine for adults with sleep apnea. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The internet is rife with fake reviews. Will AI make it worse? Researchers and watchdog groups say the emergence of generative artificial intelligence tools that allow people to efficiently produce detailed and novel online reviews has put merchants, service providers and consumers in uncharted territory. Phony reviews have long plagued many popular consumer websites, such as Amazon and Yelp. But AI-infused text generation tools enable fraudsters to produce reviews faster and in greater volume, according to tech industry experts. The deceptive practice is illegal in the U.S. and becomes a bigger problem for consumers during the holiday shopping season, when many people rely on reviews to buy gifts. A tech company and watchdog group that uses software to detect fake reviews says AI-generated reviews have multiplied. Romanian lawmakers narrowly approve new pro-European coalition during period of political turmoil BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romanian lawmakers have voted narrowly in favor of a new pro-European coalition government led by incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. The move on Monday could usher in an end to a protracted political crisis in the European Union country following the annulment of a presidential election. Parliament approved the new administration in a 240-143 vote in the 466-seat legislature. The new coalition is made up of the leftist Social Democratic Party, the center-right National Liberal Party, the small ethnic Hungarian UDMR party and national minorities. President Klaus Iohannis swore in the new government on Monday night. Government regulators close investigation into Ford Focus recalls Government safety regulators are closing an investigation into two previous recalls of the Ford Focus after determining that Ford Motor Co. has satisfied its concerns. Ford recalled around 1.5 million Ford Focus sedans from the 2012-2018 model years in 2018 because they could lose power. The issue was a malfunctioning canister purge valve and software that didn’t adequately detect when it was stuck open. Ford fixed the software in two separate recalls, but after cars continued to stall, the government opened an inquiry last year. Earlier this fall, Ford offered to replace the canister purge valve on all of the vehicles, satisfying regulators' concerns. AI will eavesdrop on world's wildest places to track and help protect endangered wildlife PUERTO JIMÉNEZ, Costa Rica (AP) — A biologist hid 350 audio monitors across Costa Rica’s tropical rainforests to spy on endangered spider monkeys in order to help protect them. But she had to go back to collect the data and feed those sounds into artificial intelligence systems that can recognize monkey calls. Now tech giant Microsoft's philanthropic arm is hoping to supercharge AI-assisted wildlife research with new solar-powered devices that can capture sounds, images and other wilderness data for a year or more without human intervention. Researchers say more AI wildlife surveillance is urgently needed to monitor the health of species at risk of extinction.
19 Kids and Counting alum Joy-Anna Duggar is making headlines for her clothing choice in a new social media vlog. In a video shared via Instagram on Saturday, November 25, Duggar, 27, chronicled her morning routine with her three kids . (Duggar and her husband, Austin Forsyth , welcomed son Gideon in 2018, daughter Evelyn in 2020 and son Gunner in 2023.) As she got her children ready for the day, Duggar switched from her lounge-wear to a pair of black shorts. She later filmed herself working out in the gym while rocking the shorts and a loose T-shirt. Traditionally, the females in the Duggar family have worn clothing that covered their legs. Their TLC show, 19 Kids and Counting , offered viewers a glimpse into the family’s conservative values — including the dress code. Joy-Anna’s sister Jinger Duggar got candid about the clothing rules in her 2021 memoir, The Hope We Hold . A post shared by Joy Forsyth (@joy4site) “My mom had always dressed us girls in skirts and dresses, a standard that was taken from Deuteronomy 22:5, which says, ‘A woman shall not wear a man’s garment,’” she wrote at the time. “Modesty was a huge topic in our house, and we believed that wearing skirts instead of pants was a central part of being modest. But I wanted to discover for myself what the Bible had to say.” This hasn’t been the first time that Joy-Anna has strayed from her family’s conservative rules. In October, she attempted to dye her hair while hanging at home with friend Gabrielle Patton . “I’m probably going to go through regret then I’m going to love it or I’m going to hate it and then I’m going to go get it fixed,” Joy-Anna explained in the Instagram video at the time. “You only live once, right? Might as well just do it. I’ve been wanting to do it for a while.” After setting a timer for 20 minutes, the pair washed off the dye — and uncovered a hair color that was darker than Joy-Anna had wanted. “It’s dark,” Joy-Anna cried. Prior to the video, the four eldest Duggar sisters revealed in the 2014 book Growing Up Duggar that the girls were prohibited from cutting or dyeing their hair. You have successfully subscribed. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Check our latest news in Google News Check our latest news in Apple News “Our hairstyle is our choice, and we choose longer hair based on our understanding of 1 Corinthians 11:4-15,” an excerpt from the book read. “While it is a shame for a man to have long hair, a woman’s hair is her glory.” Joy-Anna has been candid about her decision to distance herself from the Institute in Basic Life Principles church following her marriage to Forsyth in 2017. “We’d always talk about when we were dating that we weren’t gonna use their literature and stuff like that ... Just kinda distanced ourselves,” she shared in a September 2023 YouTube video, adding that they choose to follow Jesus “alone” now.
Animation Guild Reaches Tentative Deal With Studios After Bargaining Over AI Guardrails and MoreBizarre video of Rudy Guiliani dressed as Santa Claus with a woman on his lap in desperate bid to sell coffee
The A-B-C of integrating solar solutions with your existing power infrastructureAfter three months of bargaining over issues like artificial intelligence, wages, shrinking crews, and more, The Animation Guild has reached a tentative agreement for a new three-year contract with the group that represents Hollywood's studios, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Negotiations initially began on August 12 between TAG and the AMPTP, although the two organizations did not come to an agreement in the five days allotted for bargaining. Negotiations resumed on September 16, with the tentative agreement being reached on Saturday morning and announced on Monday, per a email from TAG sent to guild members. Among the issues that TAG touts gains in are stronger AI guardrails, including consultation and notification provisions; health and pension fund improvements; wage increases; protections for remote work; additional sick days; and the recognition of Juneteenth as a holiday. They also note "craft-specific gains," including staffing minimums for writers rooms. A tentative agreement between TAG and the AMPTP is a massive step forward, but it doesn't mean the new contract is set in stone quite yet. The next step will be a ratification vote by the members, which is currently being scheduled. While there were many issues at play, getting stricter protections for generative AI was a major one for this round of negotiations, something that also played a large role in last year's writers' and actors' strikes and the ongoing video game actor strike . IGN ran a comprehensive report last year about how it's become a hot-button topic in the animation industry specifically, with some believing the technology could make their work more efficient and others arguing it's not worth risking jobs or artistic integrity. “After weeks of negotiations that covered months in the calendar, I am very proud of the agreement that we reached with the studios for our new contract,” said Steve Kaplan, TAG Business Representative, said in a statement. “Not only have we seen the inclusion of the advancements in the industry realized by the other Unions and Guilds, but we were able to address industry-specific issues in a meaningful way. The animation industry at large has been facing issues like crunch, layoffs, and low pay for years now, spawning an entire #StandWithAnimation movement. For more, check out our report about the tumultuous making of Inside Out 2 . Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.Tokyo, Japan — Japanese auto giant Honda and its struggling rival Nissan agreed Monday to launch talks on a merger seen as a bid to catch up with Chinese rivals and Tesla on electric vehicles. Their collaboration would create the world's third largest automaker, expanding development of EVs and self-driving tech. But Honda's CEO insisted that it was not a bailout for Nissan, who last month announced thousands of job cuts and reported a 93 percent plunge in first-half net profit. "This is not a rescue," Toshihiro Mibe told reporters, stressing that one condition for the merger would be for Nissan to complete its so-called "turnaround" plan. Lacklustre consumer spending and stiff competition in several markets is making life hard for many automakers. Business has been especially tough for foreign brands in China, where electric vehicle manufacturers such as BYD are leading the way as demand grows for less polluting vehicles. The two firms along with Mitsubishi Motors said they had signed a memorandum of understanding to start discussions on integrating their business under a new holding company. Citing "dramatic changes in the environment surrounding both companies and the automotive industry", a joint statement said the companies planned to list the holding company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in August 2026. It comes after reports said Taiwanese electronics behemoth Foxconn had unsuccessfully approached Nissan to acquire a majority share. It then asked Renault to sell its 35 percent stake in Nissan -- a pursuit now said to have been put on hold. Unequal marriage China overtook Japan as the biggest vehicle exporter last year, helped by government support for EVs. Honda and Nissan -- Japan's number two and three automakers after Toyota -- already agreed in March to explore a strategic partnership on software and components for EVs among other technologies. This partnership was joined by Mitsubishi Motors in August. The companies want to seal their merger deal in June next year, but it is unlikely to be a marriage of equals. Honda will nominate the president of the new holding company, whose board will be mostly made up of Honda executives, their statement said. Nissan is a majority shareholder of Mitsubishi Motors, which "aims to reach its conclusion by the end of January 2025 on the participation or involvement in the business integration between Nissan and Honda," it added. Honda and Nissan's partnership could include a manufacturing tie-up where they build vehicles at each other's plants, local media said. 'Panic mode' Nissan chief Makoto Uchida praised Honda's agility and ability to adapt as the industry shifts, praising the company as "a partner who can share the sense of crisis about the future". "As the business environment for automakers changes in the future, I believe we will not be able to get there unless we have the courage to change ourselves," Uchida said. Nissan has weathered a turbulent decade, including the 2018 arrest of former boss Carlos Ghosn, who later jumped bail and fled Japan concealed in a music equipment box. Ghosn told reporters in Tokyo on Monday via video link from Lebanon, where he is at large, that turning to its arch-rival Honda showed that Nissan was in "panic mode". Although the two companies might be able to "find synergies for the future... I don't see anything obvious into this partnership or this alliance", Ghosn said. (Source: Hiroshi HIYAMA / Katie Forster, AFP)
Across Nigeria today, solar power systems are gradually becoming a major consideration for reliable and cost-effective energy solutions for residential and commercial energy users. Recently, the question for many customers has not been whether to invest in solar energy but how to integrate it smoothly with existing power supply systems to maximize performance. With a solid understanding of the technical and practical considerations, integrating your solar system with an existing power infrastructure can be straightforward. This piece will explain how Nigerian households and businesses can seamlessly adopt solar power systems without disrupting their current energy systems. We will outline the ABC of integrating distributed solar solutions with existing power configurations. A – Assess your energy sources and demands The starting point of a successful solar integration project is a comprehensive assessment of your current power sources, energy consumption, and possible expansion. During this assessment, you must evaluate your typical daily peak energy demand periods (when you use the most energy) and note sensitive appliances with particular energy demands. This process requires you to conduct an energy audit or engage an expert to assess your energy usage patterns and calculate your baseline requirements. Energy need assessment is very useful for businesses whose energy usage fluctuates due to operational hours, special equipment, and seasonal activities. For homes, the key to assessing energy consumption is to study whether your energy demand peaks in the morning, afternoon, or evening. Once you understand your energy needs and pattern, you need to examine your existing power setup and the intended energy mix. Determine if you want a power configuration that only includes a solar system and national grid or if you want to add a generator to the mix. The goal is to configure the operations and output of the energy sources to align with your needs and cost-saving objectives. For instance, a business with intensive daytime energy demand relying on solar and generators could schedule solar systems to handle the heavy daytime loads to reduce energy expenses. In another instance, households combining solar and unstable grid electricity could schedule the grid as the primary power source when it’s available while the solar system kicks in as a backup when the grid goes off, ensuring uninterrupted supply and longer backup time. B – Balance the solar components with existing sources When integrating solar systems, finding the right hybrid inverter technology to properly synchronize the solar system output with the grid supply without disrupting your operations is crucial. Unlike common off-grid inverters used in standalone solar setups, hybrid inverters like Arnergy’s are universally compatible and specially built to manage grid-tied systems. In an integrated power system, hybrid inverters seamlessly coordinate solar energy with existing power sources by automatically switching between solar, grid, and other sources according to availability and load demands. For example, when grid power is present, hybrid inverters can enhance it with solar energy, while in the absence of grid power, they can instantly transition to solar and battery backup to maintain continuous power supply. In addition to the hybrid inverters, suitable battery storage options are also essential, especially in Nigeria, where power outages are frequent and unpredictable. The battery energy storage system (BESS) in a solar system acts as a reservoir storing excess solar energy for use during power outages and low sunlight periods. Lead-acid and lithium-based batteries are the most common battery technologies in Nigeria. While conventional lead-acid batteries are relatively cheaper and widespread, lithium batteries (Lithium-Ion or LiFePO4) offer better usage performance, extended lifespan, and higher efficiency, making them the smarter investment for users seeking long-term reliability and maintenance-free performance. C – Control energy distribution to maximise efficiency A core requirement for an integrated power infrastructure is setting up an intelligent energy management system (EMS) that knows when to assign and shift loads from either solar system, grid power, generator, or backup battery based on real-time energy demands and availability. Controlling your energy distribution intelligently maximizes system performance, reduces dependency on traditional sources, and increases cost savings. An intelligent energy management system (EMS) with real-time monitoring features is essential to your solar system integration. The modern EMS lets you define energy usage preferences and manage loads from a centralised digital interface. For example, when the day is sunny, an EMS can prioritise solar powering high-demand appliances while storing the surplus energy in the battery, and at night, the EMS can automatically switch the appliances to the battery or draw power from other sources. Users can also significantly reduce energy costs by adopting time-based load management strategies. For businesses, this involves aligning solar power usage with peak operating hours to power high-demand activities with solar rather than the grid or generator. A similar practice can be adopted in homes, scheduling solar for powering high-demand appliances like ACs, water heaters, and washing machines when the day is sunny and relying on the battery storage and grid at night. Overcoming the Challenges of Solar Integration Integrating solar with existing power infrastructure comes with its challenges, from upfront costs, complex installations, and load balancing to managing multiple energy priorities. However, reduced energy bills, improved power reliability, lower carbon footprint, and other long-term benefits far outweigh these challenges. Embracing solar is an effective way to secure energy stability and save significant energy expenses. This ABC solar integration guide prepares consumers for technical success and the seamless adoption of sustainable energy solutions to achieve energy sufficiency, maximize financial gains, and preserve the environment. Adopting a step-by-step, data-driven approach to solar integration can ease the process and deliver more benefits for households and businesses. As Nigeria’s energy market evolves, budget-friendly solar acquisition models like Arnergy’s Zero-Down Payment Solar Ownership Plan will become even more accessible, helping users overcome the high upfront costs of solar systems. .Idris writes from Abuja
Jim Abrahams, one of the brilliant minds behind such smash hit comedies as Airplane! and Naked Gun has died. He was 80. The writer and director, who along with brothers Jerry and David Zucker invented a whole new style of comedy with a constant stream of quips, sight gags, and jokes that barraged viewers with hilarity, Variety reported. Abrahams and his cohorts first tried out their comedic style in the 1977 film Kentucky Fried Movie , but it wasn’t until the 1980 sneak hit Airplane! that their style really made a major impact on filmmaking as Abrahams and the Zuckers packed hundreds of jokes and parodies into their films wowing audiences everywhere. The writing and directing team had stumbled across a 1957 film entitled Zero Hour , in which former pilot Ted Striker (Dana Andrews) had to overcome his fear of flying and land a plane that had an incapacitated crew. The Zuckers and Abrahams saw it as a perfect vehicle for parody and that film, Airplane!, was born. The aviation-centered spoof of fan-favorite disaster films, including Airport, The Poseidon Adventure, Earthquake , and The Towering Inferno , was a smash hit in 1980 and spawned a still growing series of spoof films such as Top Secret, Hot Shots , the Scream series of spoof horror films, and even films like the Austin Powers series. “The humor is an ingenious concoction of satire, spoof, burlesque, slapstick, raunchy dialogue and low-comedy sight gags. The jokes are directed at sex, politics, religion and almost everything else. The level of humor is not always consistent, but the filmmakers have thrown almost everything in with a shotgun approach, and the routines work more often than not,” film reviewer Ron Pennington wrote . “The direction is as wild and wooly as the script, but the team of Abrahams, Zucker and Zucker has a good eye for visual jocularity, and they set the sight gags up for maximum effect,” he added. Another brilliant move Abrahams and the Zuckers made was to cast otherwise serious, dramatic actors in many of the roles, instead of known comic actors. The juxtaposition of serious actors amid all the parody and humor only added to the effect for audiences. “The biggest struggle was to cast straight actors as opposed to comedians,” Abrahams said of the process of bringing on serious actors. “At first, Paramount was resistant to that idea. They didn’t quite understand why we wanted to do something like that. There was something very endearing about those four actors spoofing themselves in the movie. In essence, they had had full careers, and they were kind of having a laugh at their own expense.” Abrahams next took his comedic sensibilities to TV and created the short-lived but cult favorite TV series, Police Squad starring one-time TV heavy actor Leslie Nielsen as the inept Det. Frank Drebin. While the TV series lasted only six episodes, it spawned a feature film in 1988 entitled, The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! That film spawned two more feature films, released in 1991, 1994, and is set to birth an upcoming reboot scheduled for 2025. The reboot will star Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin, Jr. Abrahams was born on May 10, 1944, in Shorewood, Wisconsin, to a lawyer father and a mother who was an educational researcher. He met the Zuckers in his home town where all three grew up together and where they all attended Shorewood High School and the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Their first foray into entertainment came in 1971 when they founded the Kentucky Fried Theater in Madison, Wisconsin, where they tried their hand at improvisational comedy. They eventually developed the prototype for their comedic style that they called “comedy judo” for its lightning-fast delivery. Abrahams noted that they specifically avoided the sort of political comedy that was popular at the time, saying, “There were a bunch of groups in that era who were making political jokes, and there were lots of easy, obvious targets. But that was just never our instinct. Our instinct was always to watch a movie and say, ‘Isn’t’ that silly?” Moving their Kentucky Fried Theater concept to Los Angeles in 1972, the trio met director John Landis who urged them to try their comedy chops on film, an exhortation that spurred them to make Kentucky Fried Movie in 1977, which Landis directed. Still, after their first few notable films, Abraham had to admit that they didn’t really have a handle on making films. “We were funny guys who really didn’t understand, had no clue, about movie structure,” he once said of many of their failures. Despite several failures, the team had another hit with Hot Shots! a spoof of Tom Cruise’s fighter pilot film and later Hot Shots! Part Deux , a spoof of tough-guy, Rambo-styled films. Off screen, Abrahams was also active in efforts to help people with epilepsy after his year-old son, Charlie, came down with the condition in 1993. After finding a way to help cure his son through a ketogenic diet, Abrahams created the nonprofit Charlie Foundation for Ketogenic Therapies to help others with the condition. Abrahams leaves behind Nancy Cocuzzo, his wife of 48 years, his daughter, Jamie, sons, Charlie and Joseph, and his grandchildren, Caleb, James, and Isaac. Follow Warner Todd Huston on Facebook at: facebook.com/Warner.Todd.Huston , or Truth Social @WarnerToddHuston
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The Best of the West offers fans a candid assessment of the top teams in the western third of the country — a collection that includes the Mountain West and the former Pac-12 schools now scattered across the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten and West Coast Conference. The rankings will be published on the Hotline each Monday through the remainder of the regular season. 1. UCLA (10-2/2-0 Big Ten) Last week: 1 Results: lost to North Carolina 76-74 NET ranking: 20 North Carolina's Seth Trimble (7) drives past UCLA's Eric Dailey Jr. (3) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the CBS Sports Classic, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in New York. Next up: vs. Gonzaga (Saturday) Comment: The Bruins flopped against North Carolina in much the same fashion that Arizona flopped against UCLA a week earlier. Up 16 points with 13 minutes left, they crashed and burned and left Madison Square Garden with a two-point loss that won't be forgotten — at least for a week. 2. Gonzaga (9-3) Last week: 2 Results: beat Nicholls State 102-72 and Bucknell 86-65 NET ranking: 5 Next up: vs. UCLA Comment: The upcoming showdown with the Bruins (at the Intuit Dome) offers a final chance for the Zags to polish their résumé — and grab a third Quadrant I win — before West Coast Conference play begins. 3. San Diego State (8-2/1-0 Mountain West) Last week: 3 Results: beat Cal 71-50 NET ranking: 43 Next up: vs. Utah State (Saturday) Comment: The Aztecs spent 24 hours getting to San Jose for the neutral-site matchup after multiple flight cancellations forced part of the team to drive to the Bay Area. But the defense traveled, as SDSU held the Bears to 25.5% shooting. 4. Arizona State (9-2) Last week: 4 Results: beat UMass 78-62 NET ranking: 50 Next up: at BYU (Dec. 31) Comment: The nonconference season was a success by almost any measure, but here's the only glitch: ASU remains without a Quad I victory. That could change based on how opponents perform over the next two months but helps explain the middlin' NET. 5. Oregon (11-1/1-1 Big Ten) Last week: 5 Results: beat Stanford 76-61 NET ranking: 15 Next up: vs. Weber State (Sunday) Comment: With a 4-1 record in Quad I games and only three Quad IV wins (among their 11 total victories), the Ducks are well positioned for the NCAAs as long as they avoid a collapse in conference play. 6. Utah State (11-1/1-0 Mountain West) Last week: 8 Results: beat Saint Mary's 75-68 NET ranking: 29 Next up: vs. San Diego State (Saturday) Comment: Great who? 7. Saint Mary's (10-3) Last week: 6 Results: lost to Utah State 75-68 NET ranking: 55 Next up: vs. Pacific (Saturday) Comment: The losses aren't the problem for the Gaels as we ponder their status for Selection Sunday: All three have come against quality opponents. The issue is the victory column, where a distinct dearth of quality exists. 8. Colorado (9-2) Last week: 7 Results: beat Bellarmine 79-55 NET ranking: 77 Next up: vs. Iowa State (Dec. 30) Comment: The second matchup of the season against ISU should be much closer than the first — the Cyclones won by 28 points on a neutral court — but will the Buffaloes muster the offense needed in the second half to produce an upset? 9. Arizona (6-5) Last week: 10 Results: beat Samford 96-64 and Central Michigan 94-41 Central Michigan forward Quentin Heady (5) gets all arm as Arizona forward Tobe Awaka (30) twists by him to the basket in the second half of their nonconference game at McKale Center on Dec. 21, 2024. NET ranking: 25 Next up: vs. TCU (Dec. 30) Comment: Typically one of the fastest-starting teams in the country, the Wildcats finished their nonconference lineup with an 0-5 record against Quad I opponents. Arizona, meet the NCAA bubble. Bubble, meet Arizona. 10. New Mexico (9-3/1-0 Mountain West) Last week: 11 Results: beat VCU 78-71 NET ranking: 85 Next up: at Colorado State (Saturday) Comment: ESPN's latest Bracketology lists the Mountain West as a two-bid league. From here, that's a spot-on projection: San Diego State and Utah State are the only teams worthy of at-large berths at the moment. 11. Washington State (10-3) Last week: 9 Results: lost to Washington 89-73, beat Northern Iowa 76-68 NET ranking: 67 Next up: at Portland (Saturday) Comment: It wasn't the loss in Seattle that surprised us; it was the size of the loss. The Cougars were not competitive in the final seven minutes against an opponent that, frankly, had not been impressive through 10 games. 12. Boise State (9-3/1-0 Mountain West) Last week: 13 Results: beat Air Force 77-59 NET ranking: 51 Next up: at San Jose State (Saturday) Comment: Random thought: Ashton Jeanty would probably be a damn good point guard. Imagine trying to keep him out of the lane with all that lateral quickness and lower-body strength. Yikes. 13. BYU (9-2) Last week: 14 Results: beat Florida A&M 103-57 NET ranking: 44 Next up: vs. Arizona State (Dec. 31) Comment: Drill down one level, and the reality is worse than the record: Two-thirds of BYU's wins are against Quad III and IV opponents. That could be problematic on Selection Sunday. 14. Oregon State (9-2) Last week: 15 Results: beat Charleston 74-65 NET ranking: 40 Next up: vs. Oakland (Monday) Comment: Coach Wayne Tinkle has received substantial credit for OSU's success thus far, although context is required: Yes, the Beavers have performed better than expected, but the competition has been largely third-rate. Their nonconference schedule ranks 308th in the Pomeroy advanced metrics. 15. Nevada (8-4/0-1 Mountain West) Last week: 12 Results: lost to Colorado State 66-64 NET ranking: 56 Next up: at Wyoming (Saturday) Comment: We gave serious consideration to UC San Diego for this spot — the Tritons are one of the region's biggest surprises — along with San Francisco and Washington. Also considered: Cal, San Francisco, Stanford, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, USC, Utah and Washington Contact Jon Wilner at wilnerhotline@bayareanewsgroup.com . On X (Twitter): @wilnerhotline Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
CLEVELAND (AP) — Two days before recording another milestone, resume-building sack on Sunday at Cincinnati, Myles Garrett delivered a jarring hit — on the Browns. In this case, any roughness could be deemed necessary. Garrett piled on to what has been a painful and puzzling season in Cleveland by saying he doesn't have any interest in going through another rebuild and wants to know exactly what the organization's offseason plans are to fix things. If that wasn't enough, Garrett indicated for the first time that he would consider leaving the Browns if his vision doesn't mesh with the team's ambitions. “It’s a possibility,” he said of playing elsewhere. "But I want to be a Cleveland Brown. I want to play my career here.” It's unclear how Garrett's comments were received by owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam, who have plenty to consider as the Browns (3-12) head into the final two weeks of a season that began with playoff expectations and could be followed by upheaval. The Browns haven't been this bad since going 0-16 in 2017. Garrett, who reached 100 career sacks by taking down Cincinnati's Joe Burrow late in the first half of Sunday's 24-6 loss , may have either added to the Haslams' long list of concerns — the Deshaun Watson contract situation is a priority — or brought them clarity. There's no denying that Garrett's remarks carry substantial weight, which is partly why he spoke up. He's the Browns' best player, a franchise cornerstone, a future Hall of Famer and arguably the most disruptive defensive force in the game today. He's also leading with actions. Garrett showed extraordinary effort in chasing down and tackling Burrow before tumbling out of bounds and crashing into Cleveland's bench and some portable heaters. He might be frustrated, but he's not giving up. “A testament of who he is as a player and who he is as a person,” linebacker Jordan Hicks said. What the reigning Defensive Player of the Year says matters. It will be interesting to see if the Haslams listen. At this point, there are indications the Browns intend to stick with coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry, whose major misses in recent drafts have become more magnified with each loss. There will be changes; it's just a matter of how drastic and if they'll be enough to satisfy Garrett's wishes. He turns 29 on Dec. 29 and has two years left on a $125 million contract extension. The All-Pro is in his prime and doesn't want to waste another season in a pointless pursuit of a Super Bowl title. His goal is to win a championship with Cleveland — or someone. Garrett's serious. He's asking the Browns to show him they are, too. What's working Cleveland's defense is doing its part. For the second week in a row, the Browns contained one of the NFL's most talented offenses, holding the Bengals and their top-ranked passing game below most of their season averages. Burrow did throw three TD passes — for the seventh game in a row — but Cincinnati scored fewer than 27 points for the first time in seven games. What needs help The Browns continue to beat themselves with costly turnovers, some more costly than others. They drove to the Cincinnati 1-yard line in the opening minutes only to have D'Onta Foreman fumble as he neared the goal line. The Bengals capitalized by driving 99 yards to take a 7-0 lead that could have been Cleveland's. Stock up Running back Jerome Ford is making the most of a heavier workload and finishing strong. He ripped off a 66-yard run on the game's first play and finished with 131 all-purpose yards, including 92 on 11 carries and scored Cleveland's only TD. Ford's emergence as a potential No. 1 back — Nick Chubb's injuries have clouded his future — gives the team one less thing to worry about as it retools the roster. Stock down Kicker Dustin Hopkins hasn't shaken a startling slump. After being benched for a week to work through his struggles, Hopkins missed his only kick, pushing an extra point to the right. Hopkins felt confident going in, but he's back to trying to identify issues that could be equally mechanical and mental. He's just 16 of 25 on field goals, 16 of 19 on PATs and the Browns' decision to sign him to a three-year, $15.9 million extension this summer looks worse every week. Injuries QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson injured his calf early in Sunday's game, leaving his status in doubt for a second straight start this week. If Thompson-Robinson can't go, the Browns could go back to Jameis Winston, but he's dealing with a sore right shoulder. ... Tight end David Njoku is dealing with yet another injury after hurting his knee. The team is awaiting results on an MRI, perhaps a sign of the severity. Njoku has missed time with injuries all season. He finished with eight catches for 66 yards. Key number 20 — Interceptions for the Browns this season. Thompson-Robinson's two picks on Sunday gave the team 10 in the last four games. What's next Probably a half-empty stadium for a final home game on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, who are still in the hunt for a wild-card spot. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Tom Withers, The Associated Press
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