Take Profits In WM Technology (Rating Downgrade)(BPT) - Tech gifts are consistently some of the most popular presents to give and receive during the holidays. In fact, according to the annual Consumer Technology Holiday Purchase Patterns report , a record 233 million U.S. adults (89%) will buy tech products during the 2024 holiday season. But with so many devices out there, it can be hard to decide on the perfect option for the loved one on your list. A tablet like the new Fire HD 8 from Amazon offers the versatility of an all-in-one device, with access to streaming, gaming, video chatting, reading or writing all at your fingertips. Fire HD 8 also features a vibrant 8-inch HD display and lightweight, portable design, for high-quality entertainment on the go. Plus, Fire HD 8 comes with three new AI features that can help you get the most out of your tablet experience. Check them out below and learn how they can help you with daily tasks this holiday season and beyond. 1. Meet your personal writing assistant Do you struggle with writing a heartfelt message or finessing a tricky email? Fear not! Writing Assist is here to help. Writing Assist works as part of your Fire tablet's device keyboard and compatible apps, including email, Word documents and social media. In just a few taps, you can transform your writing from good to great. Try Writing Assist's pre-set styles to turn a simple email into a professionally written note. Or, you can ask Writing Assist for grammar suggestions to make your writing more concise, or elaborate on your ideas. You can even "emojify" your writing to add more fun and personality. 2. Learn more in less time Say goodbye to scrolling through pages of information. The new Webpage Summaries feature allows you to learn pertinent information as quickly as possible. Available on the Silk browser on Fire tablets, Webpage Summaries provides quick insights on web articles. In a matter of seconds, this feature will distill the key points in an article or on a webpage into a clear, concise summary of what you need to know. 3. Get creative with your device wallpaper With Wallpaper Creator, you can easily add a touch of creative flair and customization to your tablet's home screen. You can choose from one of the curated prompts to get started on creating a unique background. Or, if you're ready to let your imagination run wild, type a description of what you'd like to see. For example, you can ask for an image of a tiger swimming underwater or a watercolor-style image of a desert landscape in space. Wallpaper Creator will then turn your vision into a reality, delivering a high-resolution image that you can use as your tablet's wallpaper. Celebrate an AI-powered holiday season Writing Assist, Webpage Summaries, and Wallpaper Creator are now available on Amazon's new Fire HD 8 and other compatible Fire tablet devices, including the latest Fire HD 10 and Fire Max 11 tablets. To learn more, or to order a new Fire tablet this gift-giving season, visit Amazon.com .

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Discount Tire Expands Into Youth Sports Nationwide With New ECNL Soccer Partnership SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading retailer of tires and wheels, Discount Tire , began a multiyear partnership for 2024-2026 with the Elite Clubs National League, or ECNL, the nation's top youth soccer program offering multiple developmental platforms for elite athletes. Discount Tire is now the Official Tire Retailer for the ECNL through the 2026 season, expanding its partnership roster to allow for a greater focus on the next generations of tire consumers. The partnership between Discount Tire and the ECNL officially kicked off in November at the ECNL Girls Phoenix Showcase in Arizona . During this three-day event, 178 teams from across the country in the U16-U18/19 age groups competed in front of hundreds of college and professional scouts for their chance to show their skills and talent. "Discount Tire strives to make the tire buying process easy, inviting, and safe for all drivers — no matter their age," shared Tom Williams , chief experience officer at Discount Tire. "By investing in our youth, Discount Tire can expand the knowledge of tire safety starting at an earlier age than we have before." Support for the ECNL expands Discount Tire's commitment to significant sponsor investments in soccer, including the multiyear deal as the Official Tire Retailer of Major League Soccer and teamwide partnerships with Chicago Fire, FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami, Nashville SC, Portland Timbers, and Seattle Sounders. "Since the founding of the girls league in 2009, the ECNL has grown into an incredible youth soccer platform for male and female youth players at the domestic and international levels," said Christian Lavers , ECNL President. "Today, the ECNL includes more than 400 clubs and 120,000 players nationwide, providing incredible competition, development and opportunities for all its athletes." Discount Tire's branding will be featured at more than 40 prominent ECNL Showcase and National Championship events annually. Discount Tire will be highlighted with field signage at each event, including at the Continental Tire ECNL National Selection Game series, receive exposure on the ECNL podcast " Breaking the Line , " and appear in ECNL newsletters and joint social media campaigns. The deal also includes title sponsorship of the ECNL Conference Cup and League Cups competitions, and branding on game jerseys. For more information on Discount Tire's investment in soccer, visit DiscountTire.com/MLS . About Discount Tire Discount Tire is a leading independent retailer of tires, wheels, and windshield wipers. Founded in 1960 by Bruce T. Halle , the company serves customers at more than 1,200 stores in 39 states. The company does business as Discount Tire in most of the U.S. and as America's Tire in parts of California and Pennsylvania . Treadwell, Discount Tire's proprietary online tire-buying guide, uses decades of data and individual driving habits to recommend the right tires for each driver's unique needs. For more information, visit www.discounttire.com . About the ECNL The ECNL is the nation's leading youth soccer development platform. The ECNL respects and celebrates the unique individuality of every youth soccer player and club, supporting and enabling them to unleash their unfettered passion and fierce tenacity in striving to achieve their potential. The ECNL mission to Raise the Game is a total commitment to create the best possible environment for players, coaches, referees and administrators, with a determination to constantly question convention and challenge the status quo in youth sports. The ECNL Commitment: We will lead, set our eyes on new horizons, and pursue them relentlessly. Born out of the belief in a better way. Continued in the ever-evolving pursuit of excellence. MEDIA CONTACT: Rachel Baker pressemails@discounttire.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/a-new-multiyear-partnership-between-discount-tire-and-elite-clubs-national-league-302331670.html SOURCE Discount Tire

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Blake Snell and the Los Angeles Dodgers have finalized a $182 million, five-year contract. The reigning World Series champions announced the deal with the two-time Cy Young Award winner on Saturday. Snell, who turns 32 on Wednesday, went 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 20 starts for San Francisco this year, throwing a no-hitter at Cincinnati on Aug. 2 for one of only 16 individual shutouts in the major leagues this season. The left-hander struck out 145 and walked 44 in 104 innings. He was sidelined between April 19 and May 22 by a strained left adductor and between June 2 and July 9 by a strained left groin. Snell gets a $52 million signing bonus , payable on Jan. 20, and annual salaries of $26 million, of which $13 million each year will be deferred. Because Snell is a Washington state resident, the signing bonus will not be subject to California income tax. Snell joins Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto atop Los Angeles’ rotation. Ohtani didn’t pitch this year while recovering from right elbow surgery but the two-way star is expected back on the mound in 2025. Snell won Cy Young Awards in 2018 with Tampa Bay and 2023 with San Diego. He is 76-58 with a 3.19 ERA in nine seasons with the Rays (2016-20), Padres (2021-23) and Giants. Because he turned down a qualifying offer from San Diego last November, the Giants were not eligible to give Snell another one and won’t receive draft-pick compensation. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLBCentral government capex to surge by 25 pc YoY in second half of FY25: Jefferies

VANCOUVER - A confidence agreement between British Columbia’s New Democrats and the provincial Green Party stabilizes David Eby’s bare-majority government, while putting Green election promises on the legislative agenda. The agreement announced Friday outlines the basis on which the Greens’ two-member caucus will provide confidence to Eby’s party, which won election with 47 seats in B.C.‘s 93-seat legislature in October’s provincial election. The deal features key elements of the Greens’ election platform, including a commitment to growing a community health centre model for primary care and expanding public coverage of psychology services at a cost of $50 million. Deputy premier Niki Sharma said the framework focuses on areas of agreement between the two parties, while recognizing their positions won’t always align. The balance struck is “a way to keep government stable for four years ... without erasing the distinct identity that we both have as political parties,” she said Friday. The seven-page agreement says the house leaders of the NDP and the Greens “agree to establish a relationship of trust based on good faith and no surprises.” While set to last four years, it is subject to annual agreement at each parties discretion. It was important to the Greens throughout the negotiations to be able to disagree with government positions, Sharma told a news conference. “I know that we’ll have differences of opinions moving forward, but the fact that we can show a pathway where two political parties in a time of great polarization can come together for British Columbians, I think is a profound thing.” The October election saw two new Green members win seats, lawyer Rob Botterell, representing Saanich North and the Islands, and geological engineer Jeremy Valeriote in West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, while the B.C. Conservatives won 44 seats. B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad said after the election that he would work to bring the NDP government down if it continues with its “destructive policies.” When he was asked about the agreement on Friday, Rustad said he has always assumed the Greens would back the NDP. Eby is “fooling himself” if he thinks having the support of the Green Party is going to make it easier to pass legislation, Rustad said in an interview. “We are going to make it very difficult for him to move anything through the legislature that is continuing the destruction of British Columbia,” he said. “A week can be a long time in politics, so we’ll see what January brings. I don’t want to say anything further at this point.” The stability of Eby’s government had appeared shakier earlier this month when New Democrat Grace Lore announced she was temporarily stepping away due to a cancer diagnosis, though she said she intended to participate in important votes. Eby said in a statement Friday that the agreement with the Greens will “strengthen the stability of government and help deliver on the priorities of British Columbians.” While his party and the Greens are distinct and won’t always agree, the premier said they have “many shared values.” He said the deal sets out specific areas of action they will work together on, including health care, affordable housing, creating livable communities and growing a strong, sustainable economy. “We will continue to work with all MLAs who want to make the legislature work for people,” Eby said. Additional policy commitments outlined in the deal that reflect the Green platform include expanding access to housing aid for elderly renters and building 30,000 more units of non-market housing than the government had pledged. The agreement also commits to a review of B.C.‘s forests to “address concerns around sustainability, jobs, environmental protection an the future of the industry.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024.Nighdive Studios seems to have quietly announced a The Thing: Remastered release date of December 5, 2024. Nightdive announced its latest remaster at IGN Live in June of this year, promising to deliver a bone-chilling upgrade for the classic 2002 adaptation before 2024 came to a close. A post from the studio’s X/Twitter account promised that the release date is in December earlier today but did not clarify whether the December 5 date shown in the Xbox Wire post is accurate. If it is, then we shouldn’t have to wait much longer before the full experience is available for everyone to play for themselves. In addition to Xbox One and Xbox Series X | S, The Thing: Remastered is currently set to come to PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. Nightdive has made a name for itself as an experienced remaster studio throughout the last few years. Other titles in its catalog include remasters for the Turok trilogy, Star Wars: Dark Forces, System Shock, Shadow Man, and more. The Thing: Remastered promises a suite of additions to help bring the original experience to modern platforms. These include dynamic lighting, up to 144fps, 4K resolution, antialiasing, and other general gameplay improvements. While we wait for Nightdive to share more about its plans for The Thing: Remastered, you can read about PO’ed: Definitive Edition , another one of its projects that launched earlier this year. You can also read up on why we think remakes and remasters are great for gamers , and the top 10 Konami games we think deserve a fresh coat of paint . Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx. Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

This Gigantic 85-Inch Sony 4K TV Drops Below $1,000, Black Friday Madness Is HereGiants release quarterback Daniel Jones just days after benching him EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Daniel Jones era in New York is over. The Giants quarterback was granted his release by the team just days after the franchise said it was benching him in favor of third-stringer Tommy DeVito. New York president John Mara said Jones approached the team about releasing him and the club obliged. Mara added he was “disappointed” at the quick dissolution of a once-promising relationship between Jones and the team. Giants coach Brian Daboll benched Jones in favor of DeVito following a loss to the Panthers in Germany that dropped New York's record to 2-8. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. Week 16 game between Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers flexed to Thursday night spot The Los Angeles Chargers have played their way into another prime time appearance. Justin Herbert and company have had their Dec. 22 game against the Denver Broncos flexed to Thursday night, Dec. 19. Friday’s announcement makes this the first time a game has been flexed to the Thursday night spot. The league amended its policy last season where Thursday night games in Weeks 13 through 17 could be flexed with at least 28 days notice prior to the game. The matchup of AFC West division rivals bumps the game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals to Sunday afternoon. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Red Bull brings wrong rear wing to Las Vegas in mistake that could stall Verstappen's title chances LAS VEGAS (AP) — Max Verstappen is suddenly in jeopardy of being denied a fourth consecutive Formula 1 title Saturday night. Red Bull apparently brought the wrong rear wing to Las Vegas and GPS data showed its two cars to be significantly slower on the straights than both McLaren and Mercedes, which led both practice sessions. Red Bull says it doesn’t have a replacement rear wing in Las Vegas to fix the issue and little chance of getting two flown in from England ahead of the race. Caitlin Clark to join Cincinnati bid for 16th National Women's Soccer League team WNBA star Caitlin Clark has joined Cincinnati’s bid for an expansion National Women’s Soccer League team. Major League Soccer franchise FC Cincinnati is heading the group vying to bring a women’s pro team to the city. The club issued a statement confirming Clark had joined the bid group. NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman has said the league plans to announce the league’s 16th team by the end of the year. The league's 15th team will begin play in 2026 in Boston. Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians CLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in an MLB game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in 2020, becoming the majors’ first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. Nakken, 34, will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Aaron Judge won't be bothered if Juan Soto gets bigger contract from Yankees than his $360M deal NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge won’t be bothered if Juan Soto gets a bigger deal from the New York Yankees than the captain’s $360 million, nine-year contract. Speaking a day after he was a unanimous winner of his second MVP, Judge says “It ain’t my money” and adds "that’s never been something on my mind about who gets paid the most.” Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks in his first season with the Yankees, then became a free agent at age 26. In a 'Final Four-type weekend,' two top-6 clashes put women's college basketball focus on West Coast LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two games featuring four powerhouse teams has put the focus in women's college basketball on the West Coast this weekend. JuJu Watkins and No. 3 Southern California host Hannah Hidalgo and No. 6 Notre Dame on Saturday. Top-ranked South Carolina visits Lauren Betts and fifth-ranked UCLA on Sunday. Both games are nationally televised and the arenas are expected to be packed. WNBA scouts will be on hand to check out some of the nation's top talent. Two teams will come away with their first losses of the season. USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb calls it “a Final Four-type weekend.” A documentary featuring Watkins will air on NBC ahead of USC's game, which leads into the Army-Notre Dame football game. Noodles and wine are the secret ingredients for a strange new twist in China's doping saga Blame it on the noodles. That's what one Chinese official suggested when anti-doping leaders were looking for answers for the doping scandal that cast a shadow over this year's Olympic swim meet. Earlier this year, reports that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for a banned heart medication emerged. None were sanctioned because Chinese authorities determined the swimmers were contaminated by traces of the drug spread about a hotel kitchen. In a strange twist, the leader of China's anti-doping agency suggested this case could have been similar to one in which criminals were responsible for tainting noodles that were later eaten by another Chinese athlete who also tested positive for the drug.

Gary Lineker jokes about his Match Of The Day exit as he returns to showGE Aerospace declares $0.28 dividend goes ex dividend tomarrow

AP News Summary at 6:20 p.m. ESTTrump's request for hush money dismissal — citing Biden pardon — wasn't for judge: ExpertThe year in money: inflation eased, optimism ticked upwardUAE ambassador celebrates National Day, highlights progress with Korea

South Korea lifts president's martial law decree after lawmakers reject military rule SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The president of South Korea early Wednesday lifted the martial law he imposed on the country hours earlier, bending to political pressure after a tense night in which troops surrounded parliament and lawmakers voted to reje Kim Tong-hyung, The Associated Press Dec 3, 2024 3:16 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message A man shouts to demand South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to step down in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The president of South Korea early Wednesday lifted the martial law he imposed on the country hours earlier, bending to political pressure after a tense night in which troops surrounded parliament and lawmakers voted to reject military rule. President Yoon Suk Yeol, who appeared likely to be impeached over his actions, imposed martial law late Tuesday out of frustration with the opposition, vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces as he struggles against opponents who control parliament and that he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea. Police and military personnel were seen leaving the grounds of parliament following the bipartisan vote to overrule the president, and the declaration was formally lifted around 4:30 a.m. during a Cabinet meeting. Parliament acted swiftly after martial law was imposed, with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik declaring that the law was “invalid” and that lawmakers would “protect democracy with the people.” In all, martial law was in effect for about six hours. The president’s surprising move harkened back to an era of authoritarian leaders that the country has not seen since the 1980s, and it was immediately denounced by the opposition and the leader of Yoon’s own conservative party. Lee Jae-myung , leader of the liberal Democratic Party, which holds the majority in the 300-seat parliament, said the party’s lawmakers would remain in the Assembly’s main hall until Yoon formally lifted his order. Woo applauded how troops quickly left the Assembly after the vote. “Even with our unfortunate memories of military coups, our citizens have surely observed the events of today and saw the maturity of our military,” Woo said. While announcing his plan to lift martial law, Yoon continued to criticize parliament’s attempts to impeach key government officials and senior prosecutors. He said lawmakers had engaged in “unscrupulous acts of legislative and budgetary manipulation that are paralyzing the functions of the state.” Jo Seung-lae, a Democratic lawmaker, claimed that security camera footage following Yoon’s declaration showed that troops moved in a way that suggested they were trying to arrest Lee, Woo and even Han Dong-hoon, the leader of Yoon’s People Power Party. Officials from Yoon’s office and the Defense Ministry did not respond to requests for comment early Wednesday. Seemingly hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the Assembly, waving banners and calling for Yoon’s impeachment. Some protesters scuffled with troops ahead of the lawmakers’ vote, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or major property damage. At least one window was broken as troops attempted to enter the Assembly building. One woman tried unsuccessfully to pull a rifle away from one of the soldiers, while shouting “Aren’t you embarrassed?” Under South Korea’s constitution, the president can declare martial law during “wartime, war-like situations or other comparable national emergency states” that require the use of military force to maintain peace and order. It was questionable whether South Korea is currently in such a state. When martial law is declared, “special measures” can be employed to restrict freedom of press, freedom of assembly and other rights, as well as the power of courts. The constitution also states that the president must oblige when the National Assembly demands the lifting of martial law with a majority vote. Following Yoon’s announcement of martial law, South Korea’s military proclaimed that parliament and other political gatherings that could cause “social confusion” would be suspended, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said. The military said anyone who violated the decree could be arrested without a warrant. In Washington, the White House said the U.S. was “seriously concerned” by the events in Seoul. A spokesperson for the National Security Council said President Joe Biden’s administration was not notified in advance of the martial law announcement and was in contact with the South Korean government. Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said there was no effect on the more than 27,000 U.S. service members based in South Korea. The South Korean military also said that the country’s striking doctors should return to work within 48 hours, Yonhap said. Thousands of doctors have been striking for months over government plans to expand the number of students at medical schools. Soon after martial law was declared, the parliament speaker called on his YouTube channel for all lawmakers to gather at the National Assembly. He urged military and law enforcement personnel to “remain calm and hold their positions. All 190 lawmakers who participated in the vote supported the lifting of martial law. At one point, television footage showed police officers blocking the entrance of the National Assembly and helmeted soldiers carrying rifles in front of the building. An Associated Press photographer saw at least three helicopters, likely from the military, that landed inside the Assembly grounds, while two or three helicopters circled above the site. The leader of Yoon’s conservative party called the decision to impose martial law “wrong.” Lee, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, said Yoon’s announcement was “illegal and unconstitutional.” Yoon said during a televised speech that martial law would help “rebuild and protect” the country from “falling into the depths of national ruin.” He said he would “eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional democratic order.” “I will eliminate anti-state forces as quickly as possible and normalize the country,” he said, while asking the people to believe in him and tolerate “some inconveniences.” Yoon — whose approval rating dipped in recent months — has struggled to push his agenda against an opposition-controlled parliament since taking office in 2022. His party has been locked in an impasse with the liberal opposition over next year’s budget bill. The opposition has also attempted to impeach three top prosecutors, including the chief of the central Seoul prosecutors’ office, in what the conservatives have called a vendetta against their criminal investigations of Lee, who has been seen as the favorite for the next presidential election in 2027 in opinion polls. During his televised announcement, Yoon also described the opposition as “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces who are plundering the freedom and happiness of our citizens.” He did not elaborate. Yoon has taken a hard line on North Korea over its nuclear ambitions, departing from the policies of his liberal predecessor, Moon Jae-in, who pursued inter-Korean engagement. Yoon has also dismissed calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials, drawing quick, strong rebukes from his political rivals. Yoon’s move was the first declaration of martial law since the country’s democratization in 1987. The country’s last previous martial law was in October 1979, following the assassination of former military dictator Park Chung-hee. Sydney Seiler, Korean chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, argued that the move was symbolic for Yoon to express his frustration with the opposition-controlled parliament. “He has nothing to lose,” said Seiler, comparing Yoon’s move to the Hail Mary pass in American football, with a slim chance of success. Now Yoon faces likely impeachment, a scenario that was also possible before he made the bold move, Seiler said. Natalia Slavney, research analyst at the Stimson Center’s 38 North website that focuses on Korean affairs, said Yoon’s imposition of martial law was “a serious backslide of democracy" that followed a “worrying trend of abuse” since he took office in 2022. South Korea “has a robust history of political pluralism and is no stranger to mass protests and swift impeachments,” Slavney said, citing the example of former President Park Geun-hye, the country’s first female president, who was ousted from office and imprisoned for bribery and other crimes in 2017 . ___ Associated Press writers Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul, South Korea, and Matt Lee, Didi Tang and Tara Copp in Washington contributed to this report. Kim Tong-hyung, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More World News Missouri executes a man for sexually assaulting and strangling a 9-year-old girl in 2007 Dec 3, 2024 4:34 PM President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money conviction Dec 3, 2024 4:23 PM Namibia will have its first female leader after VP wins presidential election for the ruling party Dec 3, 2024 2:40 PM Featured Flyer

Cracker Barrel, or as it's known in full, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, may be a chain restaurant with more than 650 locations across the United States, but it can stake a claim to the culinary and historical authenticity it radiates. With its restaurants (and sprawling gift shops) designed to resemble a Southern homestead, complete with a big porch, rocking chairs, and old and homespun cultural relics filling the walls of the customer seating areas, Cracker Barrel evokes big family homes that serve tremendously generous and gut-busting family meals. Founded in Tennessee, Cracker Barrel made its name with a menu full of foods developed or beloved nearby, including straight from the farm breakfasts, decadent desserts, and slow-cooked Sunday dinners. But Cracker Barrel is a modern restaurant, and it has to compete with other family-friendly sit-down chain eateries. It routinely brings in new menu items at the expense of other products. Popular choices have frequently disappeared from the menu as Cracker Barrel attempts to keep up with changing tastes while keeping its Southern flavor and homespun appeal intact. Here are some of the most popular items in Cracker Barrel history that have since been discontinued by Cracker Barrel that likely won't be making a comeback. Uncle Herschel's Favorite A menu item so reliable and long-standing on the Cracker Barrel menu, the chain received a registered trademark for the name of its popular, customizable, and always available breakfast foods combo meal. Uncle Herschel's Favorite provided a lot of morning food, served standard with two eggs, grits, and biscuits and gravy, along with the customer's choice of fried apples or hash brown casserole, and cured ham or a hamburger steak. The breakfast meal is named after a real person who figured into the formation of Cracker Barrel. The maternal uncle of restaurant creator Dan Evins, the actual Uncle Herschel was a former flour salesman who serviced Southern general stores and served as the company's first goodwill ambassador. The breakfast meal memorialized him, as does a statue at Cracker Barrel's headquarters in Lebanon, Tennessee. At least the statue remains. Customers started reporting on social media in October 2022 that Uncle Herschel's Favorite was no longer being offered at various Cracker Barrel locations. Sunrise Sampler The Sunrise Sampler included a little bit of many Cracker Barrel breakfast items, both signature products of the restaurant and morning stalwarts, and that was a lot of stuff altogether. Customers started out with two eggs prepared in the fashion they prefer, as well as generously portioned side orders of grits, fried apples, hash brown casserole, and biscuits and gravy. There was no need to choose a breakfast meat, because the Sunrise Sampler came with a little bit of three — thick bacon, smoked sausage, and country-style ham. A staple on the menu for many years, diners noticed that the Sunrise Sampler was no longer up for purchase at different locations throughout 2022 and 2023. Cracker Barrel made no announcement regarding the hows and whys of the combo platter's discontinuation. The most likely explanation is that it was a casualty of an ongoing menu reboot operation undertaken by Cracker Barrel in the early 2020s. Haddock dinner A new seafood entree made its way to the Cracker Barrel menu in 2015: the Haddock Dinner. The heaping platter of food was centered around a large filet of haddock, a delicate and mild white fish, breaded in cornmeal and flour that was then grilled rather than fried. Served with the usual Cracker Barrel accompaniments of three vegetable side dishes and a plate of biscuits and muffins, the Haddock Dinner was a relative bargain at just $9.99. Sometime in 2019, Cracker Barrel abruptly pulled the Haddock Dinner off its menu, as indicated by reports from customers on TripAdvisor. Various permutations of more homestyle-skewing seafood like trout, fried shrimp, and catfish remain available, but Cracker Barrel never did restore the Haddock Dinner. The elimination of the dish in late 2019 looked like a warm-up for a more rigorous menu overhaul in 2020. "We delete menu items from time to time to make room for new signature, craveable menu items that our guests love," Cracker Barrel's vice president of Culinary and Menu Strategy Cammie Spillyards-Schaefer explained to Chicken salad sandwich and Cracker Barrel certainly gave that a try. In between the day parts when it sells multi-tiered breakfasts and big Southern dinners, Cracker Barrel rolls out a lunch menu. Historically, it has included several options for a light meal in the Southern tradition, including the luncheon favorite of chicken salad. A choice on the Country Sandwich Platter section, the concoction (heavy on the mayonnaise, grapes, and apples), was heaped onto the customer's bread choice of seared white or wheat sourdough and came with some creamy coleslaw as well as a small serving of soup or french fries. In 2014, Cracker Barrel allowed diners to sub out the bread for lettuce wraps to make a sandwich-like meal that was much lower in carbohydrates. Cracker Barrel's chicken salad, in all of its forms, apparently exited the restaurant's lunchtime menu sometime around 2018. "Cracker Barrel doesn't have chicken salad sandwiches anymore," one customer reported on "It's 2019 and I'm still upset about this," another fan Red-Eye Gravy If Cracker Barrel was going to proclaim itself the top spot for old-fashioned Southern food available across almost the entire country, except for red-eye gravy was going to be a must-have menu item and always-ready condiment. According to legend, Southern-born President Andrew Jackson asked his hungover cook to make some country ham with gravy that was red like the kitchen worker's eyes. It more likely it gets its name from the eye-like imagery that forms when its chief ingredients come into contact. When a pan used to fry ham is deglazed with black coffee, the liquids coalesce into the shape of an eye while also turning into a salty, velvety gravy (that gets thickened and bolstered with the addition of flour). Cracker Barrel serves a lot of ham and other breakfast meats, and until 2017, customers could order those items and more with a side of red-eye gravy. The chain serves Sawmill Gravy, a peppery pork fat-based sauce that's also authentically Southern and used on biscuits and gravy, but the red-eye version hasn't found its way back to Cracker Barrel. Strawberries n' Cream French Toast In 2015, Cracker Barrel launched a special summer-centric menu, with the star of the bill of fare its Strawberries n' Cream French Toast. French toast is a breakfast classic, but it's also well suited for variation, adaptation, and addition. This dish was made with sourdough bread pockets packed with sweetened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and strawberry-flavored syrup, and then abundantly covered in sliced, seasonal strawberries. The Strawberries n' Cream French Toast was available a la carte or as part of a breakfast platter with the customer's choice of bacon, sausage, turkey sausage, or turkey bacon. But like the summer season the Strawberries n' Cream French Toast aimed to embrace and celebrate, this breakfast item couldn't last forever. From the outset, it was designed and marketed as a strictly seasonal item. As of mid-August 2015, Cracker Barrel no longer served Strawberries n' Cream French Toast — nor anything else from its limited-time-only summer menu — at any of its restaurants. Strawberries n' Cream French Toast also never returned for any subsequent summer. Frozen Mug Apple Cider Drinks meant to be served cold can be kept chilly for a reasonable period of time by pouring them into a glass full of ice. But the longer that iced beverage sits out, it increases the likelihood or inevitability of dilution: Ice quickly and gradually melts into water, and that water mixes with the drink and robs it of its flavor. In the 2010s, Cracker Barrel presented one solution to this problem: . The Frozen Mugs worked like hollowed out ice cubes — the drinks went in cold and stayed that way until they were consumed or came up to room temperature. With no ice to melt, the drinks never got watered down. That simple technology was a chief selling point in a late summer 2016 menu addition: Frozen Mug Apple Cider. Often served hot, this cider was served ice cold, and made for a nice way for Cracker Barrel customers to enjoy the transition from summer to fall. Not only did the Frozen Mug Apple Cider leave Cracker Barrel, but so did all of the chilled mugs. Cracker Barrel eliminated that program in 2018. It now uses ice for serving cold drinks. Baked Apple Dumplin' Apple dumplings didn't originate in the South. First made centuries ago in England, the modern version of the dish is based on a dessert prepared by Dutch settlers in Pennsylvania. Historically, an apple dumpling is made from a cored and peeled whole green apple that's been enrobed in pie dough, slathered in spiced butter, and then baked. Despite its northern United States background, the Southern-centric Cracker Barrel once sold a variety of the treat on its menu, the Baked Apple Dumplin'. Introduced to the restaurant chain in 2014, the dessert was built on a foundation of sliced apples and pecan streusel baked in a pie crust and then topped with a thick and sweet apple sauce and some scoops of vanilla ice cream. It was a cheap extravagance, too, costing just $3.99. During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, Cracker Barrel temporarily stopped making and selling many products for economic reasons. While some items eventually returned, some cuts became permanent. Among the forever cut favorites from that time: the Baked Apple Dumplin'. Campfire Meals ; that wasn't the case at Cracker Barrel. Over the course of a few summers in the 2010s, Cracker Barrel moved away from traditional homestyle favorites cooked in traditional ways to offer up a line of meals wildly different from its usual fare. Its "Campfire" entrées were cooked and presented as if they'd been made outside on a camp stove or over an open flame. Big hunks of meat, along with vegetables like red potatoes, carrots, corn on the cob, tomato wedges, and onions, were seasoned in a proprietary blend and then roasted slowly in aluminum foil until everything was tender. After Campfire Beef, made with chuck roast, proved to be a hit, Cracker Barrel introduced glazed chicken and barbecue pork options. That expansion for the summer of 2018 would be the last time that Cracker Barrel made campout food. When fall arrived, Campfire Meals disappeared, never to return for subsequent summers. Sweet potato pancakes There are always and Cracker Barrel attempted one in the 2010s. There are numerous holidays invented and established by companies and industry boards to promote their particular products, including National Sweet Potato Month. February is set aside for this observation of the sweet-and-savory root vegetable, and in 2012 Cracker Barrel utilized the occasion of the fabricated observance period to launch a brand-new entrée to its breakfast menu: Sweet Potato Pancakes. Made with sweet potatoes instead of usual pancake batter fodder like wheat flour, Cracker Barrel's version was served three large flapjacks per order and topped with cinnamon butter, alongside eggs and a breakfast meat of the customer's choice. Cracker Barrel was so confident that customers would enjoy the product that upon launch it also started selling boxes of Sweet Potato Pancake Mix in its restaurant adjacent gift shops. And almost as quickly as Cracker Barrel rolled out pancakes made from sweet potatoes, it took them away. While it never really said the item was temporary, it was. The Sweet Potato Pancakes were gone for good after about just a few months of sales. Fried chicken livers the chicken liver, extremely rich in flavor and physically dense. Breaded and fried organ meat isn't the most crowd-pleasing of foods, but it's an authentically Southern delicacy, which earned it a spot on the Cracker Barrel menu, served as the main part of a dinner along with all of the usual sides and bread. Cracker Barrel customers began mentioning on TripAdviser in early 2021 that the livers weren't being cooked up anymore. In June 2021, a Cracker Barrel representative fielded a comment on Facebook from a customer inquiring about the sudden non-availability of the chicken livers dinner specifically. "Although Chicken Livers are no longer on our menu, we will gladly share your request with our CulinaryTeam," No reason was given why chicken livers can't be found at Cracker Barrel anymore, but the deletion closely followed a chain-wide menu reboot as well as a food-borne illness outbreak centered around chicken livers. Lima beans Lima beans have a common and casual reputation as one of the most-hated vegetables of all time, particularly by children. Despite the detractors, those big, sort-of-crunchy, sort-of-creamy, and very starchy legumes are such an indelible part of family meals that Southern restaurant chain Cracker Barrel once offered lima beans as a side dish, one of the options diners could use to fill out their required two or three vegetables on dinner entrées. Cracker Barrel at least made its lima beans taste as good as they could, seasoned and cooked along with big pieces of bacon. Customers who actually like lima beans raved about the restaurant's preparation online as recently as 2020, just before a system-wide menu truncation took effect. In response to a customer's complaint on a Facebook post about the sudden absence of lima beans from the sides menu, a Cracker Barrel customer representative revealed that the restaurants had gotten rid of the vegetable. Beef stew One of Cracker Barrel's main lines of business is serving big plates of familiar, hearty, Southern and generally American entrées. Along with fried chicken, meatloaf, roast turkey, fried pork chops, and other homemade-approximating standards, Cracker Barrel used to sell beef stew, which fit in nicely with the rest of the lunch and dinner menu. A standard, crowd-pleasing preparation, Cracker Barrel's beef stew was a hefty blend of beef chunks, big pieces of carrots and potatoes, and peas, all in a savory gravy-like sauce. It would seem that the restaurant stopped cooking up beef stew around the fall of 2013. "Okay, so I just found out that Cracker Barrel got rid of their beef stew and I am so upset," one fan wrote on in September 2013. "Stopped by some only to find they took it off the menu last month," another . A grassroots effort to bring back beef stew to Cracker Barrel wasn't successful — a petition on Change.org didn't persuade the restaurant to change the menu. Sugar Plum Mimosa In addition to gigantic farm-style breakfasts and Southern and homestyle comfort foods, some Cracker Barrel locations, where the law allows, serve alcoholic beverages. In addition to a variety of wines, beer, and bottled cocktails, the chain offers classic and specially crafted mimosas, and the exact lineup is subject to seasonal change. For the early winter and holiday season of 2021, Cracker Barrel introduced the Sugar Plum Mimosa. A sweet but boozy drink, it was a combination of sparkling wine with a proprietary "Sugar Plum" syrup made up of winter fruit flavors, particularly cherry, and cost $5.99 in most locations. It didn't involve in any way real candy-coated spice pieces. After the holidays came and went, so too did Cracker Barrel's Sugar Plum Mimosa. The restaurant chain kept around the sugar plum flavoring for a non-alcoholic Sugar Plum Tea, but it moved on with other styles of mimosa. When Cracker Barrel announced its 2024 special winter menu, the Sugar Plum Mimosa wasn't on it, but the Sparkling Plum Mimosa — made with wine and plum syrup and edible glitter — was. RecommendedLeonardo DRS CEO Lynn William III sells $1.53 million in stock

LISHUI, China , Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CN Energy Group. Inc. (NASDAQ: CNEY ) ("CNEY" or the "Company") today announced that o n November 26, 2024 , the Company received a written notice from the Listing Qualifications Staff of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ("Nasdaq") notifying the Company that, while the Company has not regained compliance with the minimum $1.00 bid price per share requirement (the "Minimum Bid Price Requirement"), Nasdaq has determined that the Company is eligible for an additional 180 calendar day period, or until May 27, 2025 (the "Second Compliance Period"), to regain compliance. Nasdaq's determination was based on (i) the Company meeting the continued listing requirement for market value of publicly held shares and all other applicable requirements for initial listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market, with the exception of the Minimum Bid Price Requirement, and (ii) the Company's written notice to Nasdaq of its intention to cure the deficiency during the Second Compliance Period by effecting a reverse stock split, if necessary. If at any time during the Second Compliance Period, the closing bid price of the Company's Class A ordinary shares meets or exceeds US$1.00 per share for at least ten consecutive business days, Nasdaq will provide written confirmation of compliance, and this matter will be closed. The Company intends to continue to actively monitor its compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement and, as appropriate, will consider available options to resolve any deficiencies and regain compliance, including the implementation of a reverse share split, if necessary. About CN Energy Group. Inc. CN Energy Group. Inc. is currently listed on NASDAQ under the symbol "CNEY." With patented proprietary bioengineering and physiochemical technologies, CNEY has pioneered and specialized in producing high-quality recyclable activated carbon and renewable energy from abandoned forest and agricultural residues, converting harmful wastes into invaluable wealth and delivering significant financial, economic, environmental and ecologic benefits. CNEY's products and services have been widely used by food and beverage producers, industrial and pharmaceutical manufacturers, as well as environmental protection enterprises. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.cneny.com . Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements, other than statements of historical facts, made in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including the further spread of the COVID-19 virus or new variants thereof, or the occurrence of another wave of cases and the impact it may have on the Company's operations and the demand for the Company's products, and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial conditions, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "may," "will, " "expect, " "anticipate, " "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to refer to its filings with SEC, including without limitation, Company's registration statements and other filings with the SEC that set forth certain risks and uncertainties that may have an impact on future results and directions of the Company. SOURCE CN Energy Group. Inc.