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Set your skincare goals for 2025 with dermatologist-approved beauty resolutionsCHICAGO (AP) — N.J. Benson had 22 points and 17 rebounds in DePaul's 84-65 victory over Loyola Maryland on Saturday. Benson added 17 rebounds for the Blue Demons (9-4). Jacob Meyer added 12 points while shooting 4 for 11 (0 for 3 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line while they also had five rebounds. CJ Gunn went 4 of 11 from the field (1 for 5 from 3-point range) to finish with 11 points. The Greyhounds (5-6) were led in scoring by Jacob Theodosiou, who finished with 22 points. Milos Ilic added 13 points, six rebounds and two steals for Loyola (MD). Jordan Stiemke had 10 points. DePaul took the lead with 18:45 left in the first half and did not relinquish it. Benson led their team in scoring with 14 points in the first half to help put them up 44-26 at the break. DePaul extended its lead to 64-36 during the second half, fueled by an 8-0 scoring run. Isaiah Rivera scored a team-high 10 points in the second half as his team closed out the win. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Former Federal Communications Commission Chairman is siding with Congress — and against his former boss, president-elect Donald Trump — in support of a federal law that could ban TikTok. In a brief filed with the Supreme Court on Friday, Pai joined Thomas Feddo, an official in the Department of Treasury during Trump's first term, to call on the court to uphold the law, telling the justices that it has precedent. Trump also filed a on Friday, asking the court to put the law on hold. It's set to go into effect on January 19, one day before Trump assumes office for the second time. Congress passed the in April, citing national security concerns over the Chinese ownership of the popular social media company. It established a nine-month deadline for TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app to a non-Chinese company or face a ban in the United States. TikTok filed a suit in May, arguing that the law . The DC Circuit Court upheld the law on December 6. TikTok then on December 18. The court is expected to hear arguments on January 10. Pai was one of numerous people and organizations, from members of Congress to free speech groups, who filed briefs to the Supreme Court in support or opposition to the law. Pai headed the FCC from 2012 to 2016 under President Barack Obama and then from 2017 to 2021 under President Donald Trump. In his filing, Pai's attorneys argued that the law has precedent. They said he "spearheaded rulemaking" that prevented communications companies receiving federal funding from purchasing or using equipment from Chinese-owned tech companies like Huawei and ZTE over data privacy and security concerns. The briefing says Pai also "put in place" the process for designating companies that could be a risk to national security. The document says these measures are "extremely similar" to the TikTok law passed by Congress. "Congress and the Executive Branch have routinely identified in legislation or regulation specific companies under China's control that pose particular national security risk," the document says. "In these other instances, just as with the Divestiture Act, Congress put in place a process for future designations in addition to naming particular threats." Pai was a controversial figure during his leadership of the FCC. Under his tenure, the FCC ended rules, which had governed the internet and been encoded in 2015. Net neutrality is the idea that internet service providers should treat all data the same, and not give preference to certain websites or slow down others. In April 2024, the FCC announced an order that restored net neutrality as an industry standard. Searchlight Capital — the private equity firm where Pai has been a partner since 2021, when he left his post at the FCC — did not immediately return a request for comment from Business Insider. An attorney for Pai declined to comment. Read the original article onISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON), Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan Affairs, Engr Amir Muqam here on Saturday said that the bond between Pakistan and Kashmir was unbreakable and Kashmiri people were the guardians of Pakistan’s borders. He expressed these views while addressing at the inaugural ceremony of a two-day Kashmir Jannat Nazeer event titled “Kashmir: Paradise on Earth” organized by the Federal Ministry of Education and Professional Training at Islamabad Model College for Girls, F-8/1 where he was invited as a chief guest. He proposed that essentials like electricity and flour should be provided free of cost for Kashmiri people. He shed a light on the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people which played a pivotal role in safeguarding Pakistan’s borders. He lauded the ministry’s efforts in showcasing the culture and beauty of Kashmir through this vibrant event and festival. He praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s courageous stance on the Kashmir issue, describing it as a reflection of Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the cause and desire for a just and peaceful resolution to the longstanding dispute. The minister extended congratulations on behalf of himself and the Prime Minister for organizing a successful event, and appreciated the efforts of the Federal Secretary of Education and his team. Engineer Amir Muqam expressed his pride in being part of an event held in the heart of Islamabad that celebrates Kashmiri culture and heritage, showcasing solidarity with Kashmiri brothers and sisters. “The event provides an opportunity to experience the richness of Kashmiri culture, art, and history, which embodies a unique blend of Buddhist, Hindu, and Islamic traditions,” he pointed out. He acknowledged the immense challenges faced by the Kashmiri people. “Despite these adversities, the resilience and determination of the Kashmiri people are evident in their continuous efforts to preserve and promote their cultural heritage,” he noted. The minister lamented the decades-long Indian occupation of Kashmir, which has caused significant damage to the region’s social, cultural, and economic fabric. He underscored that repeated strikes and shutdowns have severely impacted the region’s economy, while the ongoing Indian terrorism and extremism have turned the lives of Kashmiris into a nightmare. Despite these challenges, he commended the Kashmiri people for keeping their traditions alive and preserving their cultural identity. He recalled that the Kashmiri Muslims had ideologically aligned their future with Pakistan even before its creation, and Pakistan has never abandoned the Kashmiri people during difficult times. “Pakistan and Kashmir are inseparable,” he remarked. The minister strongly condemned the grave human rights violations committed by Indian forces in occupied Kashmir, urging the international community to hold India accountable and ensure the implementation of UN resolutions on the issue. He stressed that despite numerous challenges, Pakistan has consistently advocated for the just cause of the Kashmiri people on the global stage. Events like this, he said, serve as a beacon of hope and emphasize the need for continued efforts to address the challenges faced by the Kashmiri community while underscoring the importance of cultural preservation. The event also featured an address by Federal Secretary for Education Mohiuddin Ahmed Wani, who highlighted various aspects of the two-day event and warmly welcomed the minister. The book “Baramulla Se Barham Tak” by the late Kashmiri leader and author Professor Nazir Ahmad Shawl was also launched during the event. Senior PML-N leader Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, APHC Convener Ghulam Muhammad Safi, President of PML-N Azad Jammu and Kashmir Shah Ghulam Qadir, Federal Secretary for Education Mohiuddin Wani, and other prominent political figures and All Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders were also present along with Engr Amir Muqam during the book launching ceremony.Shares of Rotork plc ( OTCMKTS:RTOXF – Get Free Report ) were down 4.8% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $3.77 and last traded at $3.77. Approximately 207 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 90% from the average daily volume of 2,174 shares. The stock had previously closed at $3.96. Rotork Stock Performance The stock has a 50-day moving average of $3.89 and a 200-day moving average of $4.11. Rotork Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Rotork plc designs, manufactures, and markets industrial flow control and instrumentation solutions for the oil and gas, water and wastewater, power, chemical, process, and industrial markets worldwide. It operates through three segments: Oils & Gas; Water & Power; and Chemical, Process & Industrial segments. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Rotork Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rotork and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Kyrie Irving's big second half leads Mavericks past Hawks 129-119The Idaho State women’s volleyball team broke its three-game losing steak and picked up a big road win Thursday night, downing second-place Sacramento State in four sets. The win puts the Bengals in a three-way tie for second in the conference standings, and positions them for their first 20-win season since 2015. ISU, 19-8 overall, finishes regular season play Saturday at Portland State. “It was a great win and nice to get the monkey off our back with winning at Sac,” said Bengal head coach Sean Carter after his team’s 26-24, 18-25, 25-19, 25-18 win over the Hornets. “I thought our serving and defending was the star of the show. Errors were the difference. We are able to win set one with seven less kills than Sac because we only had one attacking error and that set proved to be pivotal.” The Bengals had only 11 kills versus 17 by the Hornets in that first set. But Sac committed nine errors to ISU’s lone miscue. The Hornets then dominated the second set with 18 kills to ISU’s nine. But again, the Bengals played efficiently, committing only one error despite losing the set. “After set two, our serving and passing took off,” said Carter. “We only gave up two aces after set two and got eight aces in the remaining two sets. As normal, Sac scored at a really high rate with their outside hitters, but we were able to force them into more errors than they are used to.” Indeed, Sac committed nine errors in each of the last two sets, while ISU committed just five in each set. Senior Sadie Bluth led ISU with 11 kills, added two service aces, a block and six digs. Jamie Streit had 10 kills, an ace and seven digs. Aliyah Sopo’aga led all players with 33 assists and had eight digs, while sister Asiah Sopo’aga contributed 10 digs and three service aces. The win ties ISU with the Hornets and Weber State for second place in the Big Sky Conference standings at 10-5, behind Northern Colorado, which has clinched the regular season title at 13-2. The Bengals play their last regular season match Saturday beginning at 8 p.m. MST at PSU. A win would give them their first 20-win season since the 2015 Bengals under Rick Reynolds finished 23-15. The conference tournament then tips off on Wednesday in Sacramento.

New Delhi: Delhi Police has identified and deported seven Bangladeshi nationals, including five women, who were found staying illegally in the capital. The deportations were part of an ongoing verification drive to identify unauthorised foreign nationals in the South District area. The individuals were apprehended near Arjan Garh metro station on Dec 28. Two of the men were identified as Mohammad Umor Faruk, 33, and Riyaj Miyan alias Remon Khan, 20, both residing in Rajeev Nagar, Gurugram. DCP (South) Ankit Chauhan said, "Our teams have been regularly visiting slums and suspected areas to verify documents, including voter IDs and Aadhaar cards." Police said the operation involved teams from the Anti-Auto Theft Squad and District Line, who worked with local informants and utilised surveillance technology. The teams also focused on areas such as labour camps and unauthorised colonies during their drives. tnnAfter spending decades as a Texas prison inmate, Arnulfo Ayala flinched last month when a captain at the newly reopened Bartlett Unit extended an arm to shake the confessed killer’s hand. The professional gesture felt unfamiliar to Ayala, who’s grown accustomed to waking up to the sound of corrections officers yelling at him and calling him inmate number 936516. But at Bartlett — the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s newest prison — everything has seemed different. The food is tastier. The dorms are brighter and roomier. The walls are painted with colorful murals. And Ayala’s ideas for innovative programs to help fellow inmates prepare for life outside of prison are taken seriously. Ayala confessed to killing Raul Marin and in 2000 was sentenced to 35 years in prison in exchange for pleading guilty to murder, according to the San Antonio Express-News. Ayala is scheduled to be released in 2034, unless he is paroled earlier. He was turned down for parole in 2021. “Back in the day, when you’d go to prison, you were more likely to get worse there,” said Ayala. “You delved into the negative environment, and when you went back into the world, you corrupted your community. With units like this, we have the opportunity to reverse that.” The Bartlett facility reflects one piece of TDCJ’s so-called “ 2030 Vision,” an ambitious effort to refocus the state’s massive prison system on rehabilitation rather than punishment. The agency hopes that by 2030, 95% of inmates have jobs lined up prior to their release and the life skills they need to avoid another prison sentence. This year, 24% of inmates had jobs before their release. The plan also aims to improve abysmal prison staffing levels by creating career counseling programs and establishing a more positive work-life balance for employees. Re-opened in October, Bartlett will eventually house 1,049 male inmates, most of whom will be in the last year of their sentence, preparing to reenter the free world. The prison sits about an hour north of Austin on 60 acres of land in Williamson County. Bartlett’s dorm-style housing is designed to be more comfortable than the typical prison cell, with comfortable couches and 55-inch televisions in the common areas. A portion of housing is reserved for military veterans at all stages of their sentence who will participate in special programming, such one where they prepare shelter dogs for adoption. Inmates will enroll in courses according to their interest. Options include culinary arts, computer programming and electrical lineman training, and each offer certifications that will help inmates land jobs. They’ll also receive interview preparation, resume reviews and financial literacy training with the hope that they’ll secure a job before they leave prison. Bartlett was previously a privately operated men’s prison, but it shuttered in 2017 due to declining inmate populations. Since the COVID-19 pandemic ended, Texas’ inmate population has steadily increased, and it is slated to continue rising over the next decade. Bartlett’s reopening also comes as the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission is reviewing the operations of the state’s criminal justice system. In a September report, the Sunset Commission, which routinely reviews the performance of state agencies and identifies problems within them, found the prison system has a dangerous staffing crisis, outdated record-keeping practices and a lack of oversight on rehabilitation programs as key issues affecting the agency. Department leaders have presented the 2030 plan as one way to address some of those shortcomings. “We recognize that we need a culture shift,” said agency spokesperson Amanda Hernandez. “We are here to do that and make it happen.” For decades, the Texas prison system’s guiding philosophy has shifted back and forth between punishment and rehabilitation depending on the political climate and how high crime rates are. During the tough-on-crime era of the 1980s, Texas built more prisons and took a punitive approach to crime. But a class-action lawsuit resulted in a judge finding that the conditions of confinement violated the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The ruling required the state to reduce overcrowding and improve prisoner rehabilitation and recreational programs. In 1989, the Legislature passed a comprehensive criminal justice bill that expanded the state agency’s responsibility to include administering rehabilitation programs and reintegrating former felons back into society. The 1989 legislation created the modern-day Texas Department of Criminal Justice by merging the Department of Corrections, the Board of Pardons and Paroles and the Texas Adult Probation Commission. In the 2006 sunset commission’s review of TDCJ, the agency found that TDCJ needed more significant investment from the state to improve recidivism rates and effectively rehabilitate former felons. The following year, the state invested $241 million on rehabilitation and diversion programs instead of spending money on additional prison beds. As a result, recidivism rates fell by more than 6%. “You go through different cycles,” said Marc Levin, chief policy counsel on the Council on Criminal Justice. “(Gov.) Ann Richards put in all these substance abuse facilities because drug treatment was a big priority. Then there was a change in attitudes and in 2003 there was a recession, so money was cut for treatment.” Levin said that in recent years, there has been bipartisan support for rehabilitation. And the nationwide labor shortage following the COVID-19 pandemic makes former inmates an attractive talent pool as well. At Bartlett, employers will come in for job fairs, and inmates will also participate in job interviews through Zoom. The state partners with about 1,110 employers who are open to hiring former felons. “The idea is to pilot these programs, see what is working, how do we fix it and expand it to other units,” Hernandez said. On the day of their release from Bartlett, inmates will don a new suit to mark the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. They’ll ring a liberty bell in front of their fellow inmates before they step out of the prison. To make the transition easier, inmates will serve as peer educators, offer additional support, helping their fellow inmates learn communication skills that they will need in any workplace. Field ministers will offer emotional and spiritual support to inmates and help them reconnect with their values. “One of the greatest things I heard when I got here was hope,” said Michael Thorne, an inmate who also serves as a field minister. “The church here is named Chapel of Hope to help others prepare for their exit.” Michele Deitch, a senior lecturer at University of Texas at Austin’s School of Law and LBJ School, said that creating more comfortable living conditions has been found to decrease violence and improve employee retention. “I really hope the change in mindset will reverberate throughout the agency,” Deitch said. “It’s something that will achieve better public safety outcomes and personal outcomes for people who are incarcerated.” TDCJ officials said they will also look to hire former inmates to work for the agency. Several inmates in Bartlett said they would like to return upon their release. Ayala said he hopes to return to prison as a case manager. “I’ve been in here almost half my life,” Ayala said. “I know the potential that’s behind these walls. A lot of people don’t know how to reach that potential.” This story was originally published by The Texas Tribune and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.PORT HARCOURT – The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has pledged to galvanise the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture, NDCCITMA, by releasing N30 billion counterpart fund for the development of young entrepreneurs. Speaking during an interview with newsmen at the NDDC’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, restated the Commission’s commitment to empowering the region’s people through economic programmes. He highlighted the NDCCITMA’s role in training youths, supporting SMEs, and designing industry-friendly skill development programmes. Ogbuku said the NDDC was supporting the NDCCITMA to drive economic growth and development in the Niger Delta region by providing financial support, training, and networking opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs. He assured: “We are providing N30 billion to fund projects and support businesses to ensure the sustainability of our youth development initiatives. “We will release the matching funds so the entrepreneurs can access them to boost their businesses. In our 2024 budget, we have provision for 30 billion naira which we are to use as matching funds for the chamber of commerce. We are working towards releasing this fund so that the chamber of commerce can start work in earnest. “The Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce will strengthen young entrepreneurs in the region. It is no longer acceptable for our youths to be contented with receiving stipends while at home doing nothing. Ogbuku, according to a statement signed by Seledi Thompson-Wakama, NDDC Director Corporate Affairs, remarked that the Commission was collaborating with the Bank of Industry, BOI, to ensure the success of NDDC’s youth development programmes. According to him, “The current NDDC Board and Management choose to look at sustainable options in designing youth programmes. In the past, we did a lot in supporting entrepreneurs in the Niger Delta but these activities were not properly documented and backed with verifiable data. “Our new strategy is to support genuine entrepreneurs rather than people who are just portfolio entrepreneurs because we know that the government alone cannot employ everybody. “Many university graduates are coming out, and the government cannot employ all of them. However, we can empower them by creating an environment where they can engage other persons to expand their businesses.” The NDDC boss maintained that engaging the youths in meaningful ventures was a sure way of keeping peace in the Niger Delta region, noting that the young ones should not just be allowed to be roaming the streets. “We need to support budding entrepreneurs to grow and engage more hands and we have to do it in a structured way, using the platform of the Niger Delta chambers of commerce,” Ogbuku said. He stressed that for the entrepreneurs to benefit from the support being provided by the NDDC, they must be registered members of the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, which covers all the nine states of the Niger Delta region. Speaking on the NDDC Youth Internship Scheme, Ogbuku observed that some loose ends were being tied to ensure that the list of beneficiaries were released as soon as possible and the successful ones notified. He noted: “This initiative will train youths and aspiring entrepreneurs while supporting small and medium-scale enterprises. The youths will be attached to organisations for one year to learn different skills.” Ogbuku said that the consultant processing the applications of millions of youths was harmonising the entries for the different skill sects to ensure that they could all take off simultaneously. He observed that the consultant was also firming up the terms of the internship scheme because the applications were in different areas. The NDDC boss said: “Some of the organisations we are in contact with are ready to engage some of these people, but we want a seamless take off. We want all the different skill areas to kick off concurrently. Following the information given to us by the consultant, we will start paying the beneficiaries from January 2025. We are expecting the final list of beneficiaries who would be promptly notified in the next few weeks for the effective implementation of the youth programme.

NoneNEW YORK (AP) — Stocks fell in morning trading Friday as Wall Street closes out a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 fell 1.4%, with more than 80% of stocks in the benchmark index losing ground. Still, the index is managing to hold onto a modest gain for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 402 points, or 0.9%, to 42,945 as of 10:41 a.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite fell 2%. Both the Dow and the Nasdaq are also holding on to weekly gains. Technology stocks were the biggest drag on the market Friday. Semiconductor giant Nvidia slumped 3.2%. Its enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes. Other Big Tech stocks losing ground included Microsoft, with a 2.2% decline. A wide range of retailers also fell. Amazon fell 2.2% and Best Buy slipped 1.9%. The sector is being closely watched for clues on how it performed during the holiday shopping season. Energy was the only sector within the S&P 500 rising. It gained 0.5% as crude oil prices rose 0.8%. Investors don't have much in the way of corporate or economic updates to review as the market moves closer to another standout annual finish. The S&P 500 is on track for a gain of around 25% in 2024. That would mark a second consecutive yearly gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The gains have been driven partly by upbeat economic data showing that consumers continued spending and the labor market remained strong. Inflation, while still high, has also been steadily easing. A report on Friday showed that sales and inventory estimates for the wholesales trade industry fell 0.2% in November, following a slight gain in October. That weaker-than-expected report follows an update on the labor market Thursday that showed unemployment benefits held steady last week. In Asia, Japan’s benchmark index surged as the yen remained weak against the dollar. Stocks in South Korea fell after the main opposition party voted to impeach the country’s acting leader. Markets in Europe gained ground. Bond yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury remained at 4.59% from late Thursday. The yield on the two-year Treasury slipped to 4.32% from 4.33% late Thursday. Wall Street will have more economic updates to look forward to next week, including reports on pending home sales and home prices. There will also be reports on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity.War out in the open over H1-B visa stance: Elon Musk says, hateful unrepentant racists must be removed from Republican Party