Walking through a forest shows how tall plants can grow. Trees rise high above the ground, with leaves reaching up toward sunlight.
Height helps plants survive, but it depends on internal systems that carry water and nutrients through the plant….

Walking through a forest shows how tall plants can grow. Trees rise high above the ground, with leaves reaching up toward sunlight.
Height helps plants survive, but it depends on internal systems that carry water and nutrients through the plant….

“I have no doubt that the prosecution is abusive,” Judge Snow added at the hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
“My view of the conduct of the CAA is consistent with them as an organisation which is not ‘playing it straight’ but is seeking…
The proposal was previously exposed by the Macroprudential Working Group in November 2025 and is intended to provide regulators with information to monitor the activity in the FABN market, as the statutory Annual Statement reporting framework currently does not require reporting with respect to FABNs. The proposal is the result of discussions by the Macroprudential Working Group in July 2025 during which the working group heard a presentation from NAIC staff on FABN and FABS programs. While NAIC staff noted that they do not believe FABN/FABS activity poses any outsized risk for individual insurers or the industry in general, state regulators stated that they would like to receive reporting from insurers to identify aggregate issuance and outstanding FABNs/FABSs and the types of FABNs/FABSs issued rather than relying on information currently received from the Financial Stability Oversight Council and the Federal Reserve Board. The Financial Stability Oversight Council and the Federal Reserve Board have quantified and highlighted this activity in their most recent reports on financial stability.
The additional time to provide comments was requested by the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) to allow the ACLI an opportunity to offer further context in its comment letter. In discussing its request for re-exposure, the ACLI noted that it would like additional time to develop a comprehensive response that reflects the full range of funding agreement uses beyond FABNs, including funding agreement-backed repurchase agreements (FABRs), funding agreement-backed commercial paper (FABCP), funding agreement-backed loans (FABLs), and direct funding agreements. The Macroprudential Working Group noted that the intent of the proposal has always been to capture all funding agreements backing FABNs but that the exposure does not request separate reporting for each type of FABN. The Macroprudential Working Group noted that funding agreements backing FABLs are not currently included in the exposure and the Macroprudential Working Group will conduct additional research to determine whether FABLs should be classified as a type of FABN.
If the Financial Stability Task Force adopts the proposal, a referral will be sent to the Statutory Accounting Principles (E) Working Group (SAP Working Group) to incorporate a new disclosure in SSAP No. 52, Deposit-Type Contracts, and the Financial Stability Task Force chair will sponsor a proposal to incorporate new footnote disclosures to Exhibit 7, Deposit-Type Contracts. The Macroprudential Working Group expects that the proposal will be adopted for disclosure in the year-end 2026 financial statements.

A judge has quashed a private prosecution brought by the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) against comedian Reginald D Hunter, saying it was intended to get him “cancelled”.
The CAA’s prosecution accused the US stand-up comic, 56, of sending…

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Former Illini All-American Devon Witherspoon was selected to his third straight Pro Bowl, the…
(Washington, DC) – On Wednesday, December 24, District Government offices will be open with modified hours, closing early in observance of Christmas Eve. On Thursday, December 25, District Government will observe the Christmas Day holiday. While some services will be affected, many District employees will continue serving to maintain essential District operations.
What’s Open on Wednesday, December 24 and Thursday, December 25
Access to Emergency Shelter
All low-barrier shelters for individuals experiencing homelessness operate year-round. The following low-barrier shelters are open 24 hours and will remain open all day on Wednesday, December 24 and Thursday, December 25 (except where noted).
Women
Men
LGBTQ+
From November through March, the District increases its shelter capacity by mobilizing hypothermia shelters. The following hypothermia shelters will be open around the clock from Wednesday, December 24 at 7 am until Friday, December 26 at 7 am.
Women
Men
Please note: Adjustments to hours and facilities may occur if circumstances dictate (e.g., utility issues, weather-related access, etc.)
Individuals and families seeking accessible transportation to homeless services should call the DC Shelter Hotline at 202-399-7093 or the Mayor’s Citywide Call Center at 311 at any time of the day or night.
The Downtown Day Services Center (The Center), located at 1313 New York Avenue NW, provides walk-in services to individuals experiencing homelessness with no appointment required. The Center will be open on Wednesday, December 24 from 9 am to 5 pm and on Thursday, December 25 from 9 am to 3 pm. Entry will be permitted on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests will be provided with a wristband that must be worn while in the Center.
Zoe’s Doors Youth Drop-In Center for residents experiencing homelessness, located at 900 Rhode Island Avenue NE, offers a safe place for youth 24 hours a day and will be open on Wednesday, December 24 and Thursday, December 25.
DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH): Anyone feeling anxious or depressed or facing mental health or substance use disorders can call/text 988 anytime to talk with a trained, caring crisis counselor for free, confidential support. If you are concerned about a family member or friend, you can call and talk about ways to support them.
The following services also are open on Thursday, December 25:
Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) outdoor parks, playgrounds, athletic courts, and fields will be open. All previously permitted events will take place as scheduled.
Modified Service Adjustments
The DC Department of Public Works (DPW) will not collect household trash, recycling, and food waste on Thursday, December 25. Trash, recycling, and food waste collections will “slide” for the remainder of the week into Saturday. For example, households that normally receive trash, recycling, and food waste collections on Thursday, December 25 will be serviced on Friday, December 26. Leaf collection will operate on schedule.
Construction:
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will suspend construction and work zones for non-emergency work in roadways, alleys, and sidewalks within the District’s right of way. This includes manhole access and construction-related deliveries. Approved construction activities may resume Friday, December 26 during permitted work hours.
Lane Restrictions:
DDOT will suspend reversible lane operations citywide on Thursday, December 25 on the following roads:
Reversible lane operations on Rock Creek Parkway (controlled by the National Park Service) will be suspended from Wednesday, December 24 through Friday, December 26.
The DC Department of Buildings (DOB) will not allow construction on Thursday, December 25 without an issued after-hours permit. Regular construction activity may resume on Friday, December 26. Construction activity that proceeds on the holiday without this required permit will result in a Stop Work Order. Illegal construction reports can be made using the Illegal Construction Inspection Request Form or after-hours by calling 311. To learn more about the authorized construction hours and how to apply for an after hours permit, please view the After Hours Permit webpage. DOB offers many online services, tools, and resources, enabling customers to conduct business 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
Parking Enforcement:
All parking enforcement will be suspended on Thursday, December 25, except for Streetcar ticketing and towing. Parking enforcement will resume on Friday, December 26.
DC Streetcar will not operate on Thursday, December 25. Riders can visit dcstreetcar.com for the latest updates on routes and schedules.
What’s Closed on Wednesday, December 24 and Thursday, December 25
DC Public Schools (DCPS) will be closed for Winter Break starting Monday, December 22 and will reopen on Monday, January 5.
DC Public Library (DCPL) locations will be closed on Thursday, December 25, 2025. Additionally, Library hours will be reduced on Wednesday, December 24, 2025. On that day, Neighborhood Libraries will be open from 9 am to 1 pm, Co-Located Libraries from 10 am to 1 pm, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library will operate from 9:30 am to 1 pm. The Library will be available online at dclibrary.org. For more information on available Library programs, visit dclibrary.org or download the Library’s app.
Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) recreation centers, community centers, indoor aquatic centers, and offices will close at 2 pm on Wednesday, December 24 and remain closed on Thursday, December 25. DPR facilities will resume normal hours on Friday, December 26.
The Department of Human Services Economic Security Administration Service Centers will close at 2 pm on Wednesday, December 24 and remain closed on Thursday, December 25.
The Virginia Williams Family Resource Center, the central intake office for all families in the District of Columbia seeking assistance with their housing needs, will close at 2 pm on Wednesday, December 24 and remain closed on Thursday, December 25.
The DC Health & Wellness Center (77 P Street NE) will close at 2 pm on Wednesday, December 24 and remain closed on Thursday, December 25.
DC Health’s Vital Records Division will close at 2 pm on Wednesday, December 24 and remain closed on Thursday, December 25.
DC Health’s Licensing and Renewal Division will close at 2 pm on Wednesday, December 24 and remain closed on Thursday, December 25, with the exception of the online license applications system which will be available at doh.force.com/dchealthrenewals/s/portal-page.
All Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) locations will close at 2 pm on Wednesday, December 24 and remain closed on Thursday, December 25 in observance of Christmas Day. Customers are encouraged to visit the DMV website at dmv.dc.gov for available services online or download the agency’s free mobile app.
The Department of Employment Services Navigation Call Center and all-American Job Centers will close at 2 pm on Wednesday, December 24 and remain closed on Thursday, December 25. Residents are encouraged to file unemployment insurance claims online at does.dc.gov.
The Sasha Bruce Youth Drop-In Centers for District residents experiencing homelessness will be open on Wednesday, December 24 and closed on Thursday, December 25.
The Latin American Youth Center Youth Drop-In Center for District residents experiencing homelessness, located at 3045 15th Street NW, will be open on Wednesday, December 24 and closed on Thursday, December 25.
The Adams Place Day Center for District residents experiencing homelessness, located at 2210 Adams Place NE, will close at 2 pm on Wednesday, December 24 and remain closed on Thursday, December 25.
The 801 East Day Center for District residents experiencing homelessness, located at 2722 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, will close at 2 pm on Wednesday, December 24 and remain closed on Thursday, December 25.
Mayor Bowser X: @MayorBowser
Mayor Bowser Instagram: @Mayor_Bowser
Mayor Bowser Bluesky: @MayorBowser
Mayor Bowser Facebook: facebook.com/MayorMurielBowser
Mayor Bowser YouTube: https://www.bit.ly/eomvideos
Mayor Bowser LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mayorbowser

Mondiri is the first Bluejay in program history to be recognized on the United Soccer…

Humberside Police began investigating Briggs following a report of voyeurism in Hull in June 2025.
During the investigation, officers received further reports of historical child sex offences, as well as another separate incident of voyeurism,…

Updated on: Dec 23, 2025 10:06 pm IST

For Jamie Dalby, who also recently won our Disability Coach of the Year Award at our annual awards evening, the occasion was a fitting reward after a landmark year at Wick Dynamos Inclusive.
“It has been a fantastic year seeing our SEND…