lq bingo 777 club The Golden State Warriors announced that the MRI on Draymond Green's left calf came back clean, meaning he's avoided serious injury, though he will not be available for Thursday's matchup against the Houston Rockets. Green previously missed Tuesday's 119-115 loss to the Denver Nuggets in NBA Cup play due to left calf soreness. The Warriors nonetheless advanced to the Cup quarterfinals. Green had previously expressed concern regarding the tightening of his calf, given that he had similar tightening symptoms in his left glute back in 2022 before he was forced to miss three months with herniated discs : Superstar guard Stephen Curry will also miss Thursday night's game due to bilateral knee injury management, the second time in four games he'll be sitting with that injury designation. Curry told reporters on Wednesday he isn't concerned but that it has the potential to become a "nagging" injury if not handled correctly. He added that he doesn't know if he'll miss future games for precautionary reasons due to the issue. "This is what it's going to be for our team at this point, and Draymond and Steph's respective careers," head coach Steve Kerr told reporters on Monday. "So we've got to try to keep their minutes down as best we can. We've got to try to keep them healthy by being proactive. If they're dealing with nagging injuries like Steph's knees last week, like Draymond's calf now—we got to manage it all for sure." Green, 34, has averaged 8.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.9 assists across 19 games, shooting 43.3 percent from the field and 40.3 percent from three. The Warriors are outscoring opponents by 9.5 points per 100 possessions with Green on the court this season, per NBA.com , but are being outscored by 0.2 points per 100 possessions without him. The Warriors will be more than a little happy his injury isn't serious. The team is currently mired in a five-game losing streak after a promising—and surprising—12-3 start to the 2024-25 season.Intech Investment Management LLC Cuts Stock Holdings in Sun Communities, Inc. (NYSE:SUI)AP Trending SummaryBrief at 6:06 p.m. ESTThe Japanese car giants Nissan and Honda have signed a document to begin discussions that could potentially see the two companies merge. The heads of both brands signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), a non-binding agreement that could lead to the two companies partnering in order to exchange financial and technical support . Makoto Uchida, President of Nissan , noted that Mitsubishi Motors , who have been in a previous partnership with the company since 1999, will also be involved in talks. He explained: " Honda and Nissan have begun considering a business integration, and will study the creation of significant synergies between the two companies in a wide range of fields. "It is significant that Nissan's partner, Mitsubishi Motors, is also involved in these discussions. We anticipate that if this integration comes to fruition, we will be able to deliver even greater value to a wider customer base." Nissan and Mitsubishi have both been in an alliance with Renault Group for the past 25 years, with all three companies supporting one another to share a range of vehicle platforms, mechanicals, and technology. However, with Renault Group rumoured to have plans that can see their stake in Nissan reduced, the Japanese car companies have been actively seeking new partners in the next 12 months. Renault Group aknowledged the news, with a spokesperson stating that the French company will "consider all options based on the best interest of the Group and its stakeholders". Toshihiro Mibe, Director of Honda, stated that the new partnership could mark a huge change for the automotive industry and will therefore be discussed seriously. He added: "At this time of change in the automobile industry, which is said to occur once every 100 years, we hope that Mitsubishi Motors' participation in the business integration discussions of Nissan and Honda will lead to further social change, and that we will be able to become a leading company in creating new value in mobility through business integration. "Nissan and Honda will start the discussion from today onwards, with an aim to clarify the possibility of business integration by around the end of January in line with the consideration of Mitsubishi Motors." Whilst there is no guarantee that Honda and Nissan will merge under the new agreement, a number of motoring experts have stated that the partnership could create fierce competition from the rising Chinese car industry. In spite of both companies producing some models in the country, many brands unique to China are beginning to be exported to European nations, often at substantially lower prices than Western rivals. By sharing their technology, some have argued that the partnership could help to cut the cost of developing new vehicles, helping to reduce the overall price consumers will need to pay.

Janet Yellen tells Congress US could hit debt limit in mid-JanuaryFlames bring 3-game losing streak into matchup with the Penguins

Welcome to Streaming Rewind, a weekly breakdown of the new and noteworthy as we work to help readers wade through the absolute deluge of television series and movies in the streaming space. Welcome to Christmas and New Years limbo, where the time is made up and the date doesn’t matter. There’s a limited number of releases this week, because Hollywood typically just shuts down for the last month of the year, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few surprises. The Beyoncé Bowl (Netflix) If you’re not a football fan, you may not have known that Beyoncé did a halftime special for the Ravens vs. Texans game on Christmas (that’s right, Netflix does football now too). In said special, she performed some of the songs from her Cowboy Carter album live for the very first time. If you’re a member of the Beyhive who wasn’t willing to sit through a football game to watch Queen Bey perform, Netflix released a stand-alone special of the performance today. And, for those wondering, Netflix did, indeed, manage to host two whole live events on Christmas day without its typical buffering issues. Squid Game is Back for Round 2 (Netflix) It’s been a Netflix week! The highly anticipated second season of Squid Game finally dropped, ironically resulting in many across the industry working during Christmas and continuing the trend of Netflix completely missing the point of the series . Reviews have been mixed due to it being painfully obvious that Seasons 2 and 3 were meant to be one complete story rather than split in half, but our critic Shannon Miller liked the season . If you’ve already finished your binge, check out how Squid Game’s Season 2 ending sets up Season 3 . The Order (On Demand) Nicholas Hoult has yet another film out on demand, this time alongside Jude Law and Jurnee Smollett. The film’s been met with early acclaim, and is based on a true story (and adapted from Kevin Flynn’s novel The Silent Brotherhood) centered on a string of bank robberies in the Pacific Northwest. You may have seen it during its brief theatrical run when it released on December 6 but, if you missed it, it’s available for purchase now. New and Notable: Gladiator II — December 24 (On Demand) Y2K — December 24 (On Demand) Doctor Who Christmas Special — December 25 (Disney+)

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.Browns Restructure QB Deshaun Watson's Contract to Create Cap Space, Flexibility, AP Source Says

It may feel like 2024 has been a terrible year — just like 2023, if not worse. The devastating wars in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan have dragged on, while the United States has seen an exceptional tornado season, deadly hurricanes and a fraught, polarized election cycle that has left many feeling exhausted, anxious or despairing. Not to mention that scientists say it is “virtually certain” that 2024 will become Earth’s warmest year on record. And yet — these difficult developments aren’t the full story of the year, either. Scientists continued work to fight disease, there were some wins for animal conservation, and many individuals — in ways big and small — continued to achieve remarkable things. If you’re looking for some hope this holiday season, read on. This year, Chad became the 51st country recognized by the World Health Organization for eliminating a neglected tropical disease. Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) — a fly-borne disease also known as sleeping sickness — is caused by parasites and spread through the bite of the tsetse fly. There is no vaccine to prevent the disease and, if left untreated, it is almost always fatal. Chad eliminated the disease following “years of dedicated efforts,” the country’s health minister said, including improved surveillance, testing and pest control. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved more drugs with the potential to transform lives, including a therapy that uses patients’ own cells to attack skin cancer, which was approved for use in adults with melanoma that has spread or cannot be removed with surgery. Experts said the decision could open the door to similar treatments for far more common cancers. A new drug for schizophrenia that appears to avoid the side effects that cause many patients to stop taking their medication also received FDA approval. And some previously approved treatments have started making an impact on patients’ lives — such as a technique to fix cartilage instead of full knee replacements, which one patient said meant she now experienced “zero pain.” We all know that exercise and eating healthily is good for us — but it can be easier said than done. Research this year has reminded us that even small steps can make a difference. For example, just an additional five minutes of exercise per day could help to slightly lower your blood pressure, while even low-intensity activities, like walking around while cooking, can increase your odds of healthy aging. Separate research found it’s never too late to take up weightlifting — which is great news for anyone hoping to stave off frailty in later life. And if it’s mental rather than physical health that’s on your mind — here’s a reminder that even small acts of kindness can be surprisingly beneficial. With the Olympics and Paralympics taking place in Paris over the summer, the world’s attention was on the physical feats of the world’s greatest sportsmen and women. Americans Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky became some of the most decorated Olympians in history, while Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone set a new world record — for the sixth time. More than 40 athletics records were broken during the Paralympics alone. Other individuals accomplished new goals, and inspired their communities, outside the spotlight of the Paris Games — including Betty Brussel, of British Columbia, who at 99 years old broke three competitive swimming world records in her age group, and Virginia Hislop, of Yakima, Washington, who received her master’s degree from Stanford University at the age of 105. There’s no denying the very real threat of a changing climate. But climate despair also worries some scientists, who fear this can lead to defeatism or inaction — so here are some positive advances to remember this year. Researchers were able to detect a significant dip in atmospheric levels of hydrochlorofluorocarbons — harmful gases that deplete the ozone layer — for the first time, almost 30 years after countries first agreed to phase out the chemicals. A new satellite launched in March to track and publicly reveal the biggest methane polluters in the oil and gas industry — an important step in tackling the greenhouse gas that accounts for almost a third of global warming. The NASA/Carbon Mapper satellite, which measures CO2 and methane emissions, also launched, providing detailed images from individual oil and gas facilities across the world. Back on Earth, the world’s largest plant for pulling carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere opened in Iceland. Norway became the first country to have more electric than gas-powered vehicles, while one Japanese island began using a new generation of batteries to help stockpile massive amounts of clean electricity. There were also small but important victories for animal conservation. The Iberian lynx, a European wildcat once on the brink of extinction, is no longer classed as an “endangered” species — in what experts have hailed as the “greatest recovery of a cat species ever achieved through conservation.” And five Hawaiian crows — rare, intelligent birds also known as ʻalala — began flying free after years in captivity, as part of a radical conservation strategy. Despite a large number of powerful tornadoes to hit the United States in early 2024, the death tolls were fortunately not as high as meteorologists feared, in part due to improved forecasting technology. And even amid the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, there were heartwarming moments. One father trekked 27 miles through roads flooded by Helene — a dramatic journey involving being trapped in mud, navigating debris, and the kindness of strangers — in time to walk his daughter down the aisle. And when an emergency room nurse and single mom lost her home and all of her possessions during flooding in Connecticut, a thoughtful stranger meant she was reunited with the sonogram photos of her 3-year-old son. Her local community also rallied to help her find free temporary accommodation, and raised more than $206,000 toward buying a new house. 2024 was a year for rare celestial sights. People in 13 U.S. states, as well as parts of Mexico and Canada, were treated to the sight of darkness falling in the middle of the day, as a total eclipse swept across the three countries in April. Then in May, countries from the United States to South Africa were treated to one of the most vibrant displays of auroras in 500 years, according to NASA, thanks to an “extreme” geomagnetic storm. If you’re a fan of auroras, there are also reasons for optimism in 2025 — NASA says the sun’s storm activity is peaking, which means there should be more opportunities to spot beautiful auroras in the year ahead.

Politics and Compatibility: CharmDate.com Says Honesty is the Best Policy 12-05-2024 11:28 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: ABNewswire If you act in a correct way, you can still create a loving and lasting relationship even though you and your partner are in political divide! In this post-election climate, how can single individuals navigate dating and relationships in lieu of political differences? Can love and connection really transcend opposing viewpoints? Should political alignment be a prerequisite for compatibility? Or are there ways to still forge open-mindedness and meaningful connections amid the growing political divide? Politics is increasingly becoming central to people's identities. In fact, surveys demonstrate that up to 60.5% of respondents consider a partner's opposing political views a dealbreaker. There are stories of divorces, breakups, families becoming estranged, and even long-time friendships ending over opposing political views. CharmDate.com demonstrates the best tips on how to explore the online dating world with an open mind without feeling like it's a minefield in a politically divided landscape. Being an international dating site, the political views among CharmDate users are rather more delicate. Most male users are Americans, and the majority of female users are Europeans. This unique mix allows singles on CharmDate to look beyond political affiliations and focus on what truly matters - connection, shared values, and mutual respect. Nevertheless, the core principles of navigating politically diverse relationships remain the same no matter the user base. Let's explore these tried-and-true strategies for fostering relationships regardless of political and even cultural differences. Keep initial conversations neutral Instead of immediately venturing into divisive conversations, focus on lighthearted topics on the first few dates or conversations. Talk about other interests like travel, favorite foods, hobbies, and other topics that are likely to build rapport. A study of over 1,800 participants found that shallow conversations were less awkward and more enjoyable than expected. People can eventually dive into deeper conversations, but starting with neutral, positive topics helps establish trust and eases any initial tension. Be open but honest CharmDate does encourage honesty while promoting thoughtful exchanges. Users can share how they feel about their political views and beliefs. They are free to express their perspectives and be curious about others' viewpoints. However, if someone can sense that their partner wants to set boundaries, respect that. And if the topic starts to feel too sensitive, steer the conversation elsewhere. While political beliefs can end up polarizing, as long as there are shared goals and values that both parties uphold and respect, that can be foundational to lasting relationships. Broaden your worldview As long as conversations are made in a respectful and tactful manner, both parties can grow and learn from each other. It shows maturity when parties with different beliefs successfully navigate divisive conversations without confrontations. That can even be a sign that the relationship has an actual shot to sustain and grow. Know when to walk away Certain differences can be too big to overcome. If the other party does not respect the core values or even impose their own viewpoints without consideration, that is no longer healthy, and it's best to step away before further emotional damage occurs. It's not about giving up too early; it's about recognizing that mutual respect and understanding should be a priority in a healthy relationship. The good thing is people still have all the opportunities to find the right match. At CharmDate.com, the focus is on top-level safety and professional support, giving its users the insights and tools they need to find their ideal partner and create a loving and lasting relationship that transcends any political divide. About CharmDate Image: https://www.abnewswire.com/uploads/80dfdfa64237a73e17e3e8764710ca85.png CharmDate.com [ https://www.charmdate.com ] is an international dating site which connects singles from every corner of the world. Its mission is to provide members with a safe, easy-to-use and professional platform, and effective services including EMF Mail, Live Chat, Call, Camshare, Gifts & Flowers, etc. CharmDate works on multiple end devices. Apart from its desktop and mobile sites, members can also download the app from Google Play Store [ https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.qpidnetwork.dating ]. Dating on the go brings users a fantastic and very different experience! Media Contact Company Name: CharmDate Contact Person: Media Relations Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=politics-and-compatibility-charmdatecom-says-honesty-is-the-best-policy ] Country: HongKong Website: http://www.charmdate.com This release was published on openPR.

NASSAU, Bahamas — Scottie Scheffler brought a new putting grip to the Hero World Challenge and felt enough improvement to be satisfied with the result, a 5-under 67 that left him three shots behind Cameron Young on Thursday. Young was playing for the first time since the BMW Championship more than three months ago and found great success on and around the greens of Albany Golf Club, chipping beautifully and holing four birdie putts from 15 feet or longer for his 64. He led by two shots over Justin Thomas in his first competition since his daughter was born a few weeks ago. Thomas ran off four straight birdies late in his round and was a fraction of an inch away with a fifth. The big surprise was Scheffler, the No. 1 player in golf who looked as good as he has all year in compiling eight victories, including an Olympic gold medal. His iron play has no equal. His putting at times has kept him from winning more or winning bigger. He decided to try to a "saw" putting grip from about 20 feet or closer — the putter rests between his right thumb and his fingers, with his left index finger pointed down the shaft. "I'm always looking for ways to improve," Scheffler said. Scheffler last year began working with renowned putting instructor Phil Kenyon, and he says Kenyon mentioned the alternative putting grip back then. "But it was really our first time working together and it's something that's different than what I've done in the past," Scheffler said. "This year I had thought about it from time to time, and it was something that we had just said let's table that for the end of the season, take a look at it. "Figured this is a good week to try stuff." He opened with a wedge to 2 feet and he missed a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-5 third. But he holed a birdie from about the same distance at the next par 5, No. 6, and holed a sliding 6-footer on the ninth to save par. His longest putt was his last hole, from 12 feet for a closing birdie. "I really enjoyed the way it felt," he said. "I felt like I'm seeing some improvements in my stroke." Young, regarded as the best active player without a PGA Tour victory, is treating this holiday tournament as the start of a new season. He worked on getting stronger and got back to the basics in his powerful golf swing. And on this day, he was dialed in with his short game. He only struggled to save par twice and kept piling up birdies in his bogey-free round on an ideal day in the Bahamas. "The wind wasn't blowing much so it was relatively stress-free," Young said. Patrick Cantlay, along with Scheffler playing for the first time since the Presidents Cup, also was at 67 with Ludvig Aberg, Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala. Thomas also took this occasion to do a little experimenting against a 20-man field. He has using a 46-inch driver at home — a little more than an inch longer than his regular driver — in a bid to gain more speed. On a day with little wind, on a golf course with some room off the tee, he decided to put it in play. "Just with it being a little bit longer, I just kind of have to get the club out in front of me and get on top of it a little bit more," Thomas said. "I drove the hell out of it on the back, so that was nice to try something different and have it go a little bit better on the back." Thomas said the longer driver gives him 2 or 3 mph in ball speed and 10 extra yards in the air. "It's very specific for courses, but gave it a try," he said. Conditions were easy enough that only four players in field failed to break par, with Jason Day bringing up the rear with a 75.Sunday brings arguably the most significant Minnesota Vikings regular season game in years. The Green Bay Packers come in with 11 wins and looking to avenge an early-season loss . Kevin O’Connell’s squad is pretty healthy, and a full complement of their defensive roster would be great to see. Minnesota Vikings get a big boost Harrison Smith returning to the starting lineup is a significant boost. His lack of presence was felt last weekend in how organized the Minnesota Vikings defense appeared. The veteran captain has no injury designation and is ready to rock. It would be great if linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. joined him. Final #GBvsMIN injury report OUT: Fabian Moreau QUESTIONABLE: Ivan Pace Jr.* *Currently within 21-day practice window pic.twitter.com/PgGASDzos1 Minnesota has been without Pace Jr. since Week 12 against the Chicago Bears. He missed the last four games while stashed on injured reserve, but there is optimism that he can play. Ivan Pace played just 26 snaps in his return from injury, but made his presence felt in a big way with 6 total tackles, including a sack and a TFL. Here are a number of those plays. He is just electric. Special mover. pic.twitter.com/y3m7szg39M Pace Jr. was not available for Minnesota’s first game against Green Bay this year. If he can go Sunday, the Vikings would have their top linebacker pairing to deal with talented Packers running back Josh Jacobs. Pace Jr. has 59 tackles and three sacks in nine games this season. Smith making his absence a brief one and being back for the biggest game of the season is a big development. Pace Jr. has seen a more extended absence, but will quickly be a difference maker once again. Packers missing talent against Vikings While Minnesota is healthy, the Packers do not have the same good fortune. Cornerback Jaire Alexander continues to duck the Vikings wide receivers and won’t be on the field Sunday. He isn’t the only player Matt LaFleur will be without. Christian Watson and Javon Bullard are questionable for Sunday's game in Minnesota. Jaire Alexander, Evan Williams, Quay Walker and Andre Dillard are out. Ty'Ron Hopper is also questionable. Starting linebacker Quay Walker can’t go against Minnesota. He has 72 tackles and 2.5 sacks this season. The former first round pick is on pace to set career-high tallies across the board. The Vikings can hope to exploit the middle of Green Bay’s defense without one of their key contributors. It remains to be seen if Christian Watson can play. He suffered a knee injury last week and would leave quarterback Jordan Love with one less weapon to utilize. With a questionable designation, his status is one to monitor on Sunday. This article first appeared on Minnesota Sports Fan and was syndicated with permission.

Jewish professor sues Hunter College over pervasive antisemitism

Ottawa Senators (10-11-1, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Los Angeles Kings (13-8-3, in the Pacific Division) Los Angeles; Saturday, 7 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Kings -123, Senators +102; over/under is 6 BOTTOM LINE: The Ottawa Senators visit the Los Angeles Kings after Adam Gaudette's two-goal game against the San Jose Sharks in the Senators' 4-3 win. Los Angeles has a 13-8-3 record overall and a 7-2-1 record in home games. The Kings have conceded 65 goals while scoring 71 for a +6 scoring differential. Ottawa is 10-11-1 overall and 4-6-0 on the road. The Senators have allowed 71 goals while scoring 70 for a -1 scoring differential. Saturday's game is the second time these teams meet this season. The Senators won the last meeting 8-7 in overtime. Gaudette scored two goals in the win. TOP PERFORMERS: Anze Kopitar has seven goals and 20 assists for the Kings. Adrian Kempe has six goals and five assists over the past 10 games. Brady Tkachuk has 11 goals and 12 assists for the Senators. Gaudette has scored five goals over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 5-5-0, averaging 2.4 goals, 4.6 assists, 3.5 penalties and 8.1 penalty minutes while giving up 2.2 goals per game. Senators: 4-5-1, averaging 2.7 goals, 4.9 assists, 4.1 penalties and 9.6 penalty minutes while giving up 3.1 goals per game. INJURIES: Kings: None listed. Senators: None listed. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said her agency will need to start taking “extraordinary measures,” or special accounting maneuvers intended to prevent the nation from hitting the debt ceiling , as early as January 14, in a letter sent to congressional leaders Friday afternoon. "Treasury expects to hit the statutory debt ceiling between January 14 and January 23," she wrote in a letter addressed to House and Senate leadership, at which point extraordinary measures would be used to prevent the government from breaching the nation's debt ceiling — which was suspended until Jan. 1, 2025. The department in the past deployed what are known as “extraordinary measures” or accounting maneuvers to keep the government operating. Once those measures run out, the government risks defaulting on its debt unless lawmakers and the president agree to lift the limit on the U.S. government’s ability to borrow. "I respectfully urge Congress to act to protect the full faith and credit of the United States," Yellen said. FILE - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks during a visit to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) in Vienna, Va., on Jan. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) The news came after Democratic President Joe Biden signed a bill into law last week that averted a government shutdown but did not include Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s core debt demand to raise or suspend the nation’s debt limit. Congress approved the bill only after a fierce internal debate among Republicans over how to handle Trump's demand. “Anything else is a betrayal of our country,” Trump said in a statement. After a protracted debate in the summer of 2023 over how to fund the government, policymakers crafted the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which included suspending the nation's $31.4 trillion borrowing authority until Jan. 1, 2025. Notably however, Yellen said, on Jan. 2 the debt is projected to temporarily decrease due to a scheduled redemption of nonmarketable securities held by a federal trust fund associated with Medicare payments. As a result, “Treasury does not expect that it will be necessary to start taking extraordinary measures on January 2 to prevent the United States from defaulting on its obligations," she said. The federal debt stands at about $36 trillion — after ballooning across both Republican and Democratic administrations. The spike in inflation after the COVID-19 pandemic pushed up government borrowing costs such that debt service next year will exceed spending on national security. Republicans, who will have full control of the White House, House and Senate in the new year, have big plans to extend Trump's 2017 tax cuts and other priorities but are debating over how to pay for them. Many consumers may remember receiving their first credit card, either years ago in a plain envelope, or months ago from a smartphone app. Still other consumers may remember their newest card, maybe because it's the credit card they're now using exclusively to maximize cash back rewards or airline miles. But for most consumers, there's also a murky in-between where they add, drop and generally accumulate credit cards over time. Over the years, consumers may close some credit card accounts or leave some of their credit cards dormant as a backup form of payment, or perhaps left forgotten in a desk drawer. In the data below, Experian reveals the changes in consumers wallets in recent years. U.S. consumers, on average, carry fewer cards today than they did in 2017, when the typical wallet held 4.2 active credit cards. As of the third quarter (Q3) of 2023, consumers carried 3.9 cards on average. This average is up slightly since the early days of the pandemic, when consumers reduced their average credit card debt and number of accounts as the economy slowed. As Experian revealed earlier this year, credit card balances are still climbing, despite (and partially because of) higher interest rates. And while average balances are increasing, they are spread across fewer accounts than in recent years. Alternative financing—including buy now, pay later plans for purchases—may account for at least some of this discrepancy, as consumers gravitate toward these newer financing methods. In general, residents of higher-population states tend to carry more credit cards than those who live in states with fewer and smaller population centers. Nonetheless, the difference between the states is relatively small. Considering that the national average is around four credit cards per consumer, the four states with the fewest cards per consumer (Alaska, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming) aren't appreciably different, with "only" about 3.3 credit cards per consumer. Similarly, the four states on the higher end of the scale where consumers have 4.2 or more credit cards are Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey and Rhode Island. The disparity in average credit card counts is more apparent when the population is segmented by age, thanks in part to Generation Z, many of whom have yet to receive their first credit card. The average number of credit cards for these consumers was two, less than half of what older generations keep on hand. The average number of credit cards held by each generation follows the familiar pattern seen in credit card balances, which tend to increase in a consumer's middle age. It's not surprising that the number of credit card accounts follows a similar climb throughout young adulthood and middle age, then drops off in the retirement years. No matter how many credit cards you may have at the moment, keep in mind that the number of accounts has little if any bearing on one's FICO Score. Far more important is how consumers manage those accounts. This is easily demonstrable by quickly stepping through some of the factors that affect your credit scores . Longer credit histories do tend to have a positive effect on a consumer's credit score, but it's not something you can rush. Adhering to on-time payments and managing amounts owed will go far in improving credit scores, even absent a lengthy credit history. While accounts closed in good standing remain on your credit report for 10 years, canceling your oldest credit card account still has the potential to shorten your credit history when it is eventually removed. The impact of its removal depends on any other active credit cards in your credit file. Ultimately, the number of cards a particular individual carries is a personal decision. Justifications can be found for carrying a travel rewards card, a cash back card, a balance transfer card, a card for business transactions and other types of credit cards that other consumers may not have either the need or qualifications for. However, keeping track of numerous credit cards, whether or not a consumer is actively using all of them, can be a mentally taxing exercise. Not only that, credit card fees can add up and dull the benefit of carrying several credit cards. Organized consumers can benefit greatly from a wallet full of specialized cards, but for those seeking a more zen-like financial future, some judicial pruning may be in order. Methodology: The analysis results provided are based on an Experian-created statistically relevant aggregate sampling of our consumer credit database that may include use of the FICO Score 8 version. Different sampling parameters may generate different findings compared with other similar analysis. Analyzed credit data did not contain personal identification information. Metro areas group counties and cities into specific geographic areas for population censuses and compilations of related statistical data. This story was produced by Experian and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada’s new border plan with Donald Trump’s transition team, a day after Trudeau himself appeared to finally push back at the president-elect over his social media posts about turning Canada into the 51st state. Both Trudeau and former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, who Trudeau has been courting to become Canada’s next finance minister, shared posts on X Thursday, a day after Trump’s latest jab at Canada in his Christmas Day message. It isn’t clear if Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who has repeatedly insisted Trump’s 51st state references are a joke, will raise the issue with Trump’s team when he and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly meet with them in Palm Beach. The two are there to discuss Canada’s new $1.3 billion border plan with just under four weeks left before Trump is sworn in again as president. He has threatened to impose a new 25 per cent import tariff on Canada and Mexico the same day over concerns about a trade imbalance, as well as illegal drugs and migration issues at the borders. The broad strokes of Canada’s plan were made public Dec. 17, including a new aerial intelligence task force to provide round-the-clock surveillance of the border, and improved efforts using technology and canine teams to seek out drugs in shipments leaving Canada LeBlanc’s spokesman, Jean-Sébastien Comeau, said the ministers will also emphasize the negative impacts of Trump’s threatened tariffs on both Canada and the U.S. Comeau said the ministers will build on the discussions that took place last month when Trudeau and LeBlanc met Trump at Mar-a-Lago just days after Trump first made his tariff threat. It was at that dinner on Nov. 29 when Trump first raised the notion of Canada becoming the 51st state, a comment LeBlanc has repeatedly since insisted was just a joke. But Trump has continued the quip repeatedly in various social media posts, including in his Christmas Day message when he said Canadians would pay lower taxes and have better military protection if they became Americans. He has taken to calling Trudeau “governor” instead of prime minister. Trudeau had not directly responded to any of the jabs, but on Thursday posted a link to a six-minute long video on YouTube from 2010 in which American journalist Tom Brokaw “explains Canada to Americans.” The video, which originally aired during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, explains similarities between the two countries, including their founding based on immigration, their trading relationship and the actions of the Canadian Army in World War 2 and other modern conflicts. “In the long history of sovereign neighbours there has never been a relationship as close, productive and peaceful as the U.S. and Canada,” Brokaw says in the video. Trudeau did not expand about why he posted a link to the video, posting it only with the words “some information about Canada for Americans.” Carney, who is at the centre of some of Trudeau’s recent domestic political troubles, also called out Trump’s antics on X Thursday, calling it “casual disrespect” and “carrying the ‘joke’ too far.” “Time to call it out, stand up for Canada, and build a true North American partnership,” said Carney, who Trudeau was courting to join his cabinet before Chrystia Freeland resigned as finance minister last week. Freeland’s sudden departure, three days after Trudeau informed her he would be firing her as finance minister in favour of Carney, left Trudeau’s leadership even more bruised than it already was. Despite the expectation Carney would assume the role, he did not and has not made any statements about it. LeBlanc was sworn in as finance minister instead the same day Freeland quit. More than two dozen Liberal MPs have publicly called on Trudeau to resign as leader, and Trudeau is said to be taking the holidays to think about his next steps. He is currently vacationing in British Columbia.

All of previous coach Ron Rivera's first-rounders — including edge rusher Chase Young in 2020, linebacker Jamin Davis in ‘21 and wide receiver Jahan Dotson in '22 — are now gone. Forbes never showed progress to the new staff led by coach Dan Quinn and was a healthy scratch twice this season and did not play in two other games during which the 23-year-old was in uniform. It's unclear if Forbes' release means anything about the status of cornerback Marshon Lattimore , the Commanders' trade deadline pickup in early November who still has not played for them because of a hamstring injury. Lattimore was listed as doubtful for Washington's home game Sunday against Tennessee. The Commanders (7-5) also put running back Austin Ekeler on injured reserve because of a concussion . They elevated kicker Zane Gonzalez and defensive tackle Carl Davis from the practice squad in preparation for facing the Titans (3-8). Washington has lost three in a row to fall from first place in the NFC East to the conference’s final wild-card spot. The most recent loss, last weekend against division rival Dallas, came when Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game, which would have tied it with 21 seconds left. Seibert went on IR earlier in the week with a groin injury that Quinn said the kicker reported Monday. While injuries have piled up as the Commanders await their late bye week, the choice of Forbes has been second-guessed since the moment Rivera's front office chose the 166-pound Mississippi State defensive back with the 16th pick over Christian Gonzalez and others. Gonzalez was selected next, by New England, and has started 16 games for the Patriots. Forbes was benched last season by Rivera, who was in charge when Washington selected Davis ahead of offensive lineman Christian Darrisaw in '21 and traded down to take Dotson the following year instead of safety Kyle Hamilton or receiver Chris Olave. Forbes has two interceptions and 12 passes defensed in 20 games. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl"The Council of Autism Service Providers" And "ABA Centers" Partner to Ring Closing Bell at the New York Stock ExchangeNASSAU, Bahamas — Scottie Scheffler brought a new putting grip to the Hero World Challenge and felt enough improvement to be satisfied with the result, a 5-under 67 that left him three shots behind Cameron Young on Thursday. Young was playing for the first time since the BMW Championship more than three months ago and found great success on and around the greens of Albany Golf Club, chipping beautifully and holing four birdie putts from 15 feet or longer for his 64. He led by two shots over Justin Thomas in his first competition since his daughter was born a few weeks ago. Thomas ran off four straight birdies late in his round and was a fraction of an inch away with a fifth. The big surprise was Scheffler, the No. 1 player in golf who looked as good as he has all year in compiling eight victories, including an Olympic gold medal. His iron play has no equal. His putting at times has kept him from winning more or winning bigger. He decided to try to a "saw" putting grip from about 20 feet or closer — the putter rests between his right thumb and his fingers, with his left index finger pointed down the shaft. "I'm always looking for ways to improve," Scheffler said. Scheffler last year began working with renowned putting instructor Phil Kenyon, and he says Kenyon mentioned the alternative putting grip back then. "But it was really our first time working together and it's something that's different than what I've done in the past," Scheffler said. "This year I had thought about it from time to time, and it was something that we had just said let's table that for the end of the season, take a look at it. "Figured this is a good week to try stuff." He opened with a wedge to 2 feet and he missed a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-5 third. But he holed a birdie from about the same distance at the next par 5, No. 6, and holed a sliding 6-footer on the ninth to save par. His longest putt was his last hole, from 12 feet for a closing birdie. "I really enjoyed the way it felt," he said. "I felt like I'm seeing some improvements in my stroke." Young, regarded as the best active player without a PGA Tour victory, is treating this holiday tournament as the start of a new season. He worked on getting stronger and got back to the basics in his powerful golf swing. And on this day, he was dialed in with his short game. He only struggled to save par twice and kept piling up birdies in his bogey-free round on an ideal day in the Bahamas. "The wind wasn't blowing much so it was relatively stress-free," Young said. Patrick Cantlay, along with Scheffler playing for the first time since the Presidents Cup, also was at 67 with Ludvig Aberg, Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala. Thomas also took this occasion to do a little experimenting against a 20-man field. He has using a 46-inch driver at home — a little more than an inch longer than his regular driver — in a bid to gain more speed. On a day with little wind, on a golf course with some room off the tee, he decided to put it in play. "Just with it being a little bit longer, I just kind of have to get the club out in front of me and get on top of it a little bit more," Thomas said. "I drove the hell out of it on the back, so that was nice to try something different and have it go a little bit better on the back." Thomas said the longer driver gives him 2 or 3 mph in ball speed and 10 extra yards in the air. "It's very specific for courses, but gave it a try," he said. Conditions were easy enough that only four players in field failed to break par, with Jason Day bringing up the rear with a 75. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes office. Currently, the ban on the popular social media app is scheduled to take effect on January 19, 2025 — one day before Trump is set to take office. In a 25-page brief filed with the court , Trump asked the nine justices for a stay on the deadline so his administration could “pursue a negotiated resolution” that would “obviate the need” for the justices to issue a ruling on the case. "President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case,” the brief stated. “President Trump alone possesses the consummate dealmaking expertise, the electoral mandate, and the political will to negotiate a resolution to save the platform while addressing the national security concerns expressed by the Government — concerns which President Trump himself has acknowledged." The filing of the brief comes two weeks before oral arguments scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. It was previously reported earlier this month that a panel of three federal judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the statute, leading TikTok to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. At the center of the case is a law called the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. This comes as both Democrats and Republicans have expressed concern that the Chinese government could access data about American users. Tiktok, which operates under the parent company of ByteDance, claimed the law violated their First Amendment right. "The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States,” Senior Judge Douglas Ginsburg wrote in the court’s opinion. “Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary’s ability to gather data on people in the United States.” "Consequently, TikTok's millions of users will need to find alternative media of communication," Ginsburg said. "That burden is attributable to the [People's Republic of China's] hybrid commercial threat to U.S. national security, not to the U.S. Government, which engaged with TikTok through a multi-year process in an effort to find an alternative solution." Trump's vow to "save the app" is a stark reversal from the man's previous stance when he tried to ban the app during his first term only to promise during the 2024 election cycle that he would defend the app. In April, President Joe Biden signed a law that required Bytedance to sell the app to a U.S. owner within a year or face being shut down. One month later, the app sued the government claiming that it could not be used by Beijing to spy on or manipulate Americans. Its attorneys have accurately pointed out that the U.S. hasn’t provided evidence to show that the company handed over user data to the Chinese government, or manipulated content for Beijing’s benefit.Vancouver-based bookkeeping service Bench Accounting has announced its sudden closure, potentially putting hundreds of staff out of work. The company that has described itself as North America’s largest bookkeeping service for small businesses says on its website in a “notice of closure” dated Friday that the platform is “no longer accessible.” The statement acknowledges that the closure is “abrupt and may cause disruption,” and says the firm is committed to helping customers “navigate through the transition.” Bench has previously said it had more than 600 employees and had received investor funding of US$113 million. It said it moved to Vancouver and changed its name to Bench in 2013, having started out in 2012 as 10sheet Inc in the U.S. Calls to Bench’s Vancouver office went to voice mail and did not immediately receive a response. But the company’s former CEO and co-founder Ian Crosby released a statement on social media on Friday, saying he was “very sad” about the closure. Crosby, who said he was ousted by the company’s board about three years ago, said there was a lesson in the fate of the company. “I hope the story of Bench goes on to become a warning for VCs (venture capitalists) that think they can ‘upgrade’ a company by replacing the founder. It never works,” he said. The University of British Columbia Sauder Business School alumni said he had been avoiding speaking publicly about Bench since his exit, but wanted to make a statement in light of the company’s demise. He said that in 2021 he had been battling with some board members over their strategy for a “new direction” that he thought was a “very bad idea.” “Rather than continuing to fight with me, they opted to just replace me, thinking that they could run the company better themselves,” he said. “I was totally convinced that their approach would destroy the company. I opted to resign rather than fight.” Other bookkeeping companies were quick to reach out to Bench’s former clients, with rivals such as Acuity and Better Bookkeeping making reference to Bench’s closure in social media pitches. A spokeswoman for B.C.‘s jobs ministry said they were looking into a request for comment. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 27, 2024.

There's Growing Speculation That A Favorite Has Emerged For Shedeur Sanders