Strictly Come Dancing fans have flocked to X (formerly known as Twitter) after head judge Shirley Ballas repeated a past mistake during tonight's semi-final. During tonight's episode (6th December), professional dancer Dianne Buswell took to the dance floor with celebrity partner, comedian Chris McCausland to perform a Charleston to When You’re Smiling by The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn. The dance ultimately received 33 points from judges, with judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke rewarding the duo 7, 8, 9 and 9 points. During head judge Shirley Ballas's comments, however, Shirley accidentally called Dianne "Diana". While praising McCausland for his performance, she said: "You had springs in your shoes when Dianna went six inches off the floor." Following the mistake, several fans took to Twitter to comment, with one writing : "Diana. Not again Shirley." Another fan took to the social media platform to write: "Stop calling her Diana fgs," and a third fan wrote: "not shirley calling dianne diana AGAIN". The accident is not a first for Ballas, who has been called out several times for mispronouncing Buswell's name. Back in 2022, Ballas made the mistake for two weeks in a row , before eventually seeming to address the comments the following week by emphasising Dianne's name, saying: "You really danced Dianne well." There are currently only five couples remaining in this season of Strictly Come Dancing, with the finale set to air next Saturday. Sign up to be the first to know about breaking stories and new series! By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy . You can unsubscribe at any time. Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday 14th December on BBC One and iPlayer. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what else is on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast .NEW YORK — The last of the crystal triangles that make up this year's Times Square New Year's Eve ball were installed Friday morning. It's the first time in 10 years that all 2,688 were replaced at once. Singer Pitbull attends the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Crystal Installation on Friday at One Times Square in New York. and were among those on hand to help the organizers of the celebration put the final pieces in place atop One Times Square, the skyscraper from which the 11,875-pound geodesic sphere drops to mark the new year. Singer Pitbull, left, and Joy Mangano, right, founder of CleanBoss, install a crystal Friday during the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Crystal Installation at One Times Square in New York. A New Year's Eve ball was first dropped in Times Square in 1907. Built by a young immigrant metalworker named Jacob Starr, the 700-pound, 5-foot diameter ball was made of iron and wood and featured 100 25-watt lightbulbs. Six newer versions of the ball were featured in the century-plus since that first celebration. Times Square New Year's Eve Ball is displayed Friday at One Times Square in New York. The only years no ball drop occurred were 1942 and 1943, when the city instituted a nightly "dimout" during World War II to protect itself from attacks. Crowds instead celebrated the new year with a moment of silence followed by chimes rung from the base of One Times Square. As the new year approaches, many people begin thinking about their resolutions—typically focusing on physical health, saving money, or spending more time with family. One area that often gets overlooked is mental health. The pressure to "get fit" or "eat better" is well-known, but taking care of mental well-being is just as important as improving physical health, especially since mental health impacts every aspect of life. At first glance, mental health goals can seem intangible and subjective, but there are scientifically-proven ways to set achievable, measurable, and personalized mental wellness goals that will help anyone thrive in 2025. Vivian Chung Easton, a mental health therapist at , a company focused on building AI-powered tools to help therapists, shares recommendations for setting mental health resolutions. One of the most important mental wellness goals for 2025 is to prioritize self-compassion and resilience. In a culture that often celebrates hustle and perfection, it's easy to push yourself too hard, setting unrealistic expectations that only add to stress and anxiety. But research shows that self-compassion and resilience are critical factors in coping with stress and maintaining long-term mental well-being. A 2021 study by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer highlights that self-compassion—treating yourself with kindness when things don't go as planned—can reduce emotional distress and improve resilience. Instead of criticism for not meeting a goal or making a mistake, practice affirmations or positive self-talk. A simple goal, like being kinder to yourself during setbacks, can help reduce stress and boost mental wellness. A goal can look something like this: Making room for self-compassion this year can be a transformative step toward building resilience and enhancing overall mental health. Social connection is one of the most important factors in mental wellness, yet it's often overlooked in favor of individual self-improvement goals. Physical isolation can lead to loneliness, but social isolation is also strongly linked to mental health challenges like depression and anxiety, according to a study by Juliannee Holt-Lundstad. Meaningful relationships and community support can improve how satisfied you feel in your life on a day-to-day basis. This year, make it a goal to strengthen and nurture social connections, whether that means reconnecting with old friends, regularly scheduling family time, or joining social groups and clubs—like a book club, gym, or church group. For example, a social wellness goal can look like: Building mental wellness isn't just about managing thoughts and feelings; it's also about fostering a strong support network. Social connections are integral to building emotional resilience. Just as physical fitness is associated with physical health, mindfulness is often associated with mental fitness. However, practicing mindfulness is just as important as going for a run or lifting weights when it comes to mental wellness. Mindfulness-based practices—such as meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises—have been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve focus, and boost emotional well-being according to research by Stefan Hofman in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Incorporating mindfulness into a routine doesn't have to be time-consuming or difficult. Start small by committing to . Focus on breath, practice guided meditation, or even engage in mindful walking or eating. A simple goal might be: These exercises are called a practice for a reason: doing them consistently and often can strengthen your ability over time. These practices not only reduce stress in the moment but also help to build resilience over time, making it easier to handle future challenges. Whatever New Year's resolution you might have, a large obstacle is setting goals that are too ambitious or unrealistic. Whether it's aiming to exercise every day or cutting out all sugar, overambitious goals can lead to burnout and disappointment when progress isn't immediate. This is especially true for mental health goals, which often require patience and consistency. Using these suggestions for mental health goals, focus on how to personalize them to make them realistic and achievable for your life. Research from the American Psychological Association shows that people are more likely to succeed in their resolutions when they set realistic and incremental goals. Instead of vague, broad goals like "be happier" or "stress less," focus on that can lead to big changes over time. One effective approach is to use SMART goals—goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example: These specific, measurable actions make it easier to track progress and feel a sense of accomplishment along the way. Plus, they're more realistic and achievable, which increases your chances of success. It happens every year—gyms always seem to empty out before spring starts. One of the challenges of New Year's resolutions is that many people abandon their goals as early as January. However, mental health goals require ongoing attention and flexibility. Unlike weight loss or fitness goals, mental wellness is a journey, not an endpoint. Regularly tracking progress is essential. By setting aside time to evaluate personal progress, it's easier to adjust your goals and make necessary changes to keep things on track. Research shows that regular goal check-ins increase the likelihood of long-term success. Consider setting to assess your mental health goals: If you're not meeting your targets, adjust them to make them more realistic. Mental health progress doesn't always follow a straight line, so it's important to be flexible and forgiving with yourself. The new year is inherently a time of change, and that can be a helpful mindset in seeing new potential for growth and taking action. As you set your resolutions for 2025, don't forget to prioritize mental wellness. By focusing on achievable, realistic goals—you're setting yourself up for a healthier, more fulfilling year. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and nurturing it can help to reach other goals more effectively. Even if, in a month or two, you feel like you're falling behind—mental health goals can and should be flexible and adaptable. You can always adjust your approach if things aren't serving you, and check in with yourself regularly to stay on track. Goals are personal, and you're always in control. Here's to a year of growth, balance, and emotional well-being in 2025. Photo Credit: Alberto Menendez Cervero / Shutterstock As anyone who’s ever started a business knows, getting one off the ground is not for the faint of heart. Entrepreneurs face numerous challenges in the early years, from solidifying business plans to navigating the complexities of hiring employees and acquiring licenses and insurance. These hurdles often determine the fate of a startup, making the journey from an idea to a successful enterprise both difficult and uncertain. Each year, millions of Americans file , but only a fraction of these ventures transition to hiring employees. Among those that do, surviving the critical first few years can still be an uphill battle. However, survival rates differ significantly by location, influenced by a variety of factors such as economic conditions, state policies, and industry-specific demand. The good news is that businesses that weather the initial hurdles see a much greater likelihood of long-term success. This analysis explores the states where new businesses are most likely to survive their earliest years based on the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The findings reveal important insights into how location and time impact the chances of business success. Source: Simply Business analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data | Image Credit: Simply Business One of the most significant challenges for new business owners is simply staying in operation. The risk of failure is highest during the first year, but it diminishes considerably over time. For those businesses that survive the initial hurdles, the likelihood of long-term success grows each year. According to recent BLS data, only about 79% of businesses survive their first year, making it the most difficult period for startups. However, for businesses that survive their first year, roughly 85% make it to the next. By the fifth year, 91% of businesses manage to continue operations, and for those that reach the 10-year mark, an impressive 93% make it through to another year. These figures underscore the importance of persistence and adaptability, especially during the critical early years when the risk of failure is highest. They also highlight that while starting a business is undeniably challenging, those who endure the startup years enjoy far better odds moving forward. Source: Simply Business analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data | Image Credit: Simply Business New business success varies widely across the United States, with some states providing a more favorable environment for startups to thrive. Based on survival rates for the first three years of operation, Washington and California stand out as the nation’s leading states. claims the top spot, with businesses in the state enjoying an 86.4% chance of surviving their first year, 89.3% in their second year, and an impressive 91.8% in their third year. These figures highlight Washington's robust support for young businesses, likely fueled by its thriving tech ecosystem and a generally favorable economic climate. ranks second, with survival rates of 86.0% in the first year, 89.8% in the second, and 91.4% in the third. Despite challenges such as high costs of living and regulatory complexities, California’s strong economy, innovation hubs, and access to venture capital contribute to its high ranking. Outside of the West Coast, —whose economy is deeply rooted in energy production, natural resources, and manufacturing—ranks third, boasting the highest third-year survival rates at 91.9%. —a major banking center and home of the Research Triangle—follows closely with similar numbers. At the opposite end of the spectrum, businesses face the toughest challenges in their early years, with only 72.3% surviving their first year and 80.2% their second. These regional differences highlight the importance of local economic conditions in shaping a startup's odds of success. For entrepreneurs planning their next move, this analysis offers insight into where businesses are thriving and where challenges are more pronounced. Factors like industry presence, regulatory environments, and access to resources can create opportunities—or hurdles—that significantly affect survival rates in the critical early years. Choosing the right location isn’t just about personal preference; it can mean the difference between failure and success. This analysis was conducted by —an online insurance marketplace for small businesses—using 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For complete results, see the original post: . Photo Credit: Alberto Menendez Cervero / Shutterstock The data in this report comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ . To determine the states where new businesses are most likely to succeed, researchers at Simply Business developed a business survival index. This index is based on a weighted average of the most recent survival rates for private-sector establishments during their first, second, and third years of operation, as of March 2024. The survival rates were calculated using sequential benchmarks. The first-year survival rate is the percentage of businesses still active one year after opening. The second-year rate is the percentage of those first-year survivors that remained operational for another year. Similarly, the third-year rate is the percentage of second-year survivors that continued into the following year. The data focuses exclusively on private-sector businesses with at least one employee. For complete results, see on Simply Business. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!�����ZN�kZб{]�Urʧo2��~�@5���(��f�J;ڦ��ᐢf�'�"(v����������\���u(HD&[�X��<3�t�o>DC`՜t ) ���~R�<��������+���。

How Washington outsider Jimmy Carter wooed voters tired of Vietnam and WatergateFinal crystal triangles installed on Times Square ball ahead of New Year's Eve

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The 27-year-old achieved the feat with a 23-yard run during the fourth quarter of the Eagles’ crushing 41-7 success at Lincoln Financial Field. Barkley is 100 yards short of Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105 yards, set in 1984 for the Los Angeles Rams, ahead of next week’s regular season finale against the New York Giants. Single-season rushing record in reach. @saquon @Eagles pic.twitter.com/iSHyXeMLv1 — NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024 However, he could be rested for that game in order to protect him from injury ahead of the play-offs. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers kept alive their dreams of reaching the play-offs by overcoming the Carolina Panthers 48-14. Veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield produced a dominant performance at Raymond James Stadium, registering five passing touchdowns to equal a Buccaneers franchise record. he BAKED today 👨‍🍳 pic.twitter.com/eFX9fd1w5P — NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024 The Buffalo Bills clinched the AFC conference number two seed for the post season with a 40-14 success over the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium. Josh Allen passed for 182 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for another. Buffalo finish the 2024 regular season undefeated at home, with eight wins from as many games. The Indianapolis Colts’ hopes of reaching the play-offs were ended by a 45-33 defeat to the Giants. FINAL: Drew Lock accounts for 5 TDs in the @Giants victory! #INDvsNYG pic.twitter.com/N8HJYth09F — NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024 Malik Nabers exploded for 171 yards and two touchdowns and Ihmir Smith-Marsette broke a 100-yard kick-off return to give the Giants their highest-scoring output under head coach Brian Daboll. Quarterback Drew Lock threw four touchdown passes and accounted for a fifth on the ground to seal the win. Elsewhere, Mac Jones threw two touchdowns to help the Jacksonville Jaguars defeat the Tennessee Titans 20-13, while the Las Vegas Raiders beat the New Orleans Saints 25-10.American rugby sevens star Ilona Maher will join 15-a-side club Bristol in January in a bid to play in next year's women's Rugby World Cup, the English club announced on Monday. Maher, 28, helped the USA to a bronze medal at this summer's Olympic Games in Paris and is the sport's most popular player on social media. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Charter Communications Inc. Cl A stock underperforms Monday when compared to competitors

BAKU, Azerbaijan — In the wee hours Sunday during the United Nations climate talks, countries around the world reached an agreement on how rich countries can cough up the funds to support poor countries in the face of climate change. It’s a far-from-perfect arrangement, with many parties still deeply unsatisfied but some hopeful that the deal will be a step in the right direction. World Resources Institute President and CEO Ani Dasgupta called it “an important down payment toward a safer, more equitable future,” but added that the poorest and most vulnerable nations are “rightfully disappointed that wealthier countries didn’t put more money on the table when billions of people’s lives are at stake.” The summit was supposed to end Friday evening, but negotiations spiraled on through early Sunday. With countries on opposite ends of a massive chasm, tensions ran high as delegations tried to close the gap in expectations. $300B per year agreed to; $1.3T had been sought Rich countries have agreed to pool together at least $300 billion a year by 2035. It’s not near the full amount of $1.3 trillion that developing countries were asking for and that experts said was needed. But delegations more optimistic about the agreement said this deal is headed in the right direction, with hopes that more money flows in the future. The text included a call for all parties to work together using “all public and private sources” to get closer to the goal of $1.3 trillion per year by 2035. That means also pushing for international mega-banks, funded by taxpayer dollars, to help foot the bill. And it means, in theory, that companies and private investors will follow suit on channeling cash toward climate action. The agreement is also a critical step toward helping countries on the receiving end create more ambitious targets to limit or cut emissions of heat-trapping gases that are due early next year. It’s part of the plan to keep cutting pollution with new targets every five years, to which the world agreed during the U.N. talks in Paris in 2015. The Paris agreement set the system of regular ratcheting up climate fighting ambition as a way to keep warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. The world is already at 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 degrees Fahrenheit) above those levels, and carbon emissions keep rising. The deal decided in Baku replaces a previous agreement from 15 years ago that charged rich nations $100 billion a year to help the developing world with climate finance. The new number has similar aims: It will go toward the developing world’s long to-do list to prepare for a warming world and keep it from getting hotter. That includes paying for the transition to clean energy and away from fossil fuels. Countries need funds to build up the infrastructure needed to deploy technologies like wind and solar power on a large scale. Communities hard-hit by extreme weather also want money to adapt and prepare for events like floods, typhoons and fires. Funds could go toward improving farming practices to make them more resilient to weather extremes, building houses differently with storms in mind, helping people move from the hardest-hit areas, and helping leaders improve emergency plans and aid in the wake of disasters.Buy Smarter: The Consumer Guide to Smart TVs

If Denis Villeneuve ‘s Dune Messiah doesn’t pan out, Timothée Chalamet might just have a future as an ESPN commentator. The Oscar nominee appeared Saturday on College Gameday at the Texas-Georgia SEC title game in Atlanta, where he made some surprisingly well-researched predictions, including a “comfortable, easy win” for Jackson State against Southern, which came to fruition with a 41-13 victory in the SWAC championship. He was the only one to correctly predict Ohio defeating Miami before they prevailed 38-3 in the MAC championship. Additionally, he foresaw Arizona State triumphing over Iowa State (45-19) in the Big 12 championship. Currently three-for-three, Chalamet’s other predictions included Louisiana beating Marshall in the Sun Bet championship, SMU winning the ACC championship against Clemson, and Oregon defeating Penn State in the Big Ten championship. “I wanna go 6-0,” said Chalamet as he rounded out his picks with Oregon, providing statistics to back up each of his choices. Although Chalamet’s appearance on College Gameday came as a surprise, as he seemingly has no connection to Texas or Georgia, the visit comes as he promotes his Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, premiering Dec. 25 in theaters.

NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks pulled Wall Street to another record amid a mixed Monday of trading. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% from its all-time high set on Friday to post a record for the 54th time this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 128 points, or 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. Super Micro Computer, a stock that’s been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared 28.7% to lead the market. Following allegations of misconduct and the resignation of its public auditor , the maker of servers used in artificial-intelligence technology said an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or by the company’s board. It also said that it doesn’t expect to restate its past financials and that it will find a new chief financial officer, appoint a general counsel and make other moves to strengthen its governance. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up the market. Gains of 1.8% for Microsoft and 3.2% for Meta Platforms were the two strongest forces pushing upward on the S&P 500. Intel was another propellant during the morning, but it lost an early gain to fall 0.5% after the chip company said CEO Pat Gelsinger has retired and stepped down from the board. Intel is looking for Gelsinger’s replacement, and its chair said it’s “committed to restoring investor confidence.” Intel recently lost its spot in the Dow Jones Industrial Average to Nvidia, which has skyrocketed in Wall Street’s frenzy around AI. Stellantis, meanwhile, skidded following the announcement of its CEO’s departure . Carlos Tavares steps down after nearly four years in the top spot of the automaker, which owns car brands like Jeep, Citroën and Ram, amid an ongoing struggle with slumping sales and an inventory backlog at dealerships. The world’s fourth-largest automaker’s stock fell 6.3% in Milan. The majority of stocks in the S&P 500 likewise fell, including California utility PG&E. It dropped 5% after saying it would sell $2.4 billion of stock and preferred shares to raise cash. Retailers were mixed amid what’s expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record and coming off Black Friday . Target, which recently gave a forecast for the holiday season that left investors discouraged , fell 1.2%. Walmart , which gave a more optimistic forecast, rose 0.2%. Amazon, which looks to benefit from online sales from Cyber Monday, climbed 1.4%. All told, the S&P 500 added 14.77 points to 6,047.15. The Dow fell 128.65 to 44,782.00, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 185.78 to 19,403.95. The stock market largely took Donald Trump’s latest threat on tariffs in stride. The president-elect on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs against a group of developing economies if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. Trump said he wants the group, headlined by Brazil, Russia, India and China, to promise it won’t create a new currency or otherwise try to undercut the U.S. dollar. The dollar has long been the currency of choice for global trade. Speculation has also been around a long time that other currencies could knock it off its mantle, but no contender has come close. The U.S. dollar’s value rose Monday against several other currencies, but one of its strongest moves likely had less to do with the tariff threats. The euro fell amid a political battle in Paris over the French government’s budget . The euro sank 0.7% against the U.S. dollar and broke below $1.05. In the bond market, Treasury yields gave up early gains to hold relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed above 4.23% during the morning before falling back to 4.19%. That was just above its level of 4.18% late Friday. A report in the morning showed the U.S. manufacturing sector contracted again last month, but not by as much as economists expected. This upcoming week will bring several big updates on the job market, including the October job openings report, weekly unemployment benefits data and the all-important November jobs report. They could steer the next moves for Federal Reserve, which recently began pulling interest rates lower to give support to the economy. Economists expect Friday’s headliner report to show U.S. employers accelerated their hiring in November, coming off October’s lackluster growth that was hampered by damaging hurricanes and strikes. “We now find ourselves in the middle of this Goldilocks zone, where economic health supports earnings growth while remaining weak enough to justify potential Fed rate cuts,” according to Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide. In financial markets abroad, Chinese stocks led gains worldwide as monthly surveys showed improving conditions for manufacturing, partly driven by a surge in orders ahead of Trump’s inauguration next month. Both official and private sector surveys of factory managers showed strong new orders and export orders, possibly partly linked to efforts by importers in the U.S. to beat potential tariff hikes by Trump once he takes office. Indexes rose 0.7% in Hong Kong and 1.1% in Shanghai. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.

How major US stock indexes fared Friday, 11/22/2024

No. 25 UConn working on climbing back up poll, faces No. 15 Baylor

Jetliner skids off runway and bursts into flames while landing in South Korea, killing 179 SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A jetliner skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames in South Korea after its landing gear apparently failed to deploy. Officials said all but two of the 181 people on board were killed Sunday in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters. The 737-800 operated by Jeju Air plane arrived from Bangkok and crashed while attempting to land in the town of Muan, about 290 kilometers (180 miles) south of Seoul. Footage of the crash aired by South Korean television channels showed the plane skidding across the airstrip at high speed, evidently with its landing gear still closed. Tornadoes in Texas and Mississippi kill 2 and injure 6 as severe weather system moves east HOUSTON (AP) — A strong storm system is threatening to whip up tornadoes in parts of the U.S. Southeast, a day after severe weather claimed at least two lives as twisters touched down in Texas and Mississippi. Strong storms moving eastward Sunday are expected to continue producing gusty, damaging winds, hail and tornadoes through Sunday. That is according to National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Pereira. So far, the line of severe weather has led to about 40 tornado reports from southeastern Texas to Alabama, Pereira said, but those reports remain unconfirmed until surveys of damage are completed. Israeli hospital says Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgery TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An Israeli hospital says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgery. Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center said his prostate was removed late Sunday and that he was recovering. Netanyahu’s office had said Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close ally, would serve as acting prime minister during the procedure. Doctors ordered the operation after detecting an infection last week. Netanyahu is expected to remain hospitalized for several days. A fourth infant dies of the winter cold in Gaza as families share blankets in seaside tents DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A fourth infant has died of hypothermia in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by nearly 15 months of war are huddled in tents along the rainy, windswept coast as winter arrives. The baby's father says the 20-day-old child was found with his head as “cold as ice” Sunday morning in their tent. The baby’s twin brother was moved to the intensive care unit of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Their father says the twins were born one month premature and spent just a day in hospital, which like other Gaza health centers has been overwhelmed and only partially functions. Musk causes uproar for backing Germany's far-right party ahead of key elections BERLIN (AP) — Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has caused uproar after backing Germany’s far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of key parliamentary elections in the Western European country, leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor in protest. Germany is to vote in an early election on Feb. 23 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party governing coalition collapsed last month in a dispute over how to revitalize the country’s stagnant economy. Musk’s guest opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag, published in German over the weekend, was the second time this month he supported the Alternative for Germany, or AfD. 2024 was a year of triumphs and setbacks for Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Here's how it unfolded The year 2024 saw President Vladimir Putin further cement his power as he sought to counter Russia's isolation over the war in Ukraine. He won a fifth term that will keep him in office until 2030 following an election with only token opposition. He tightened a political crackdown on Russian society, and his top opponent, Alexei Navalny, died in prison under still unknown circumstances. But gunmen massacred scores of people in a Moscow concert hall, and a bomb killed a top general in attacks that underscored security flaws. Ukrainian forces swept into the Russian region of Kursk, Putin boasted about a lethal new hypersonic missile, and a new Trump administration raised concerns about continued U.S. support for Ukraine. Azerbaijan's president says crashed jetliner was shot down by Russia unintentionally Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev says the Azerbaijani airliner that crashed last week was shot down by Russia, albeit unintentionally. Aliyev told Azerbaijani state television on Sunday that the aircraft was hit by fire from the ground over Russia and rendered uncontrollable by electronic warfare. He accused Russia of trying to “hush up” the issue for several days. The crash on Wednesday killed 38 of 67 people on board. Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to Aliyev on Saturday for what he called a “tragic incident” but stopped short of acknowledging Moscow’s responsibility. Russian man arrested for allegedly running LGBTQ+ travel agency found dead in custody A Russian man arrested for allegedly running a travel agency for gay customers has been found dead in custody in Moscow. That's according to independent news outlet Mediazona on Sunday. According to OVD-Info, Andrei Kotov of the Men Travel agency was in pretrial detention facing extremism charges. An investigator told Kotov’s lawyer that her client had died by suicide and was found dead in his cell. Just over a year ago, Russia’s Supreme Court effectively outlawed any LGBTQ+ activism in a ruling that designated “the international LGBT movement” as extremist. The move exposed anyone in the community or connected to it to criminal prosecution and prison. Syria's dwindling Jewish community can visit one of the world's oldest synagogues again JOBAR, Syria (AP) — Syria's civil war left one of the world's oldest synagogues partially destroyed. Now Syria's handful of remaining Jews are making pilgrimages to the synagogue in a Damascus suburb where people from throughout the region once came to pray. Syria used to have one of the world's largest Jewish communities, but in past decades their numbers dropped to nine in the capital. The head of the Jewish community there says Jewish personalities are offering to rebuild the Jobar synagogue that dates back nearly 3,000 years. It was badly damaged by bombardment when the neighborhood was controlled by opposition fighters. LeBron James at 40: A milestone birthday arrives Monday for the NBA's all-time scoring leader When LeBron James broke another NBA record earlier this month, the one for most regular-season minutes played in a career, his Los Angeles Lakers teammates handled the moment in typical locker room fashion. They made fun of him. Dubbed The Kid from Akron, with a limitless future, James is now the 40-year-old from Los Angeles with wisps of gray in his beard, his milestone birthday coming Monday, one that will make him the first player in NBA history to play in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. He has stood and excelled in the spotlight his entire career.

Time and again I hear the same complaints. “Why is the government doing so badly?” “What is the story Keir Starmer is trying to tell?” “Why are they making so many errors?” The people asking these questions are not opponents of the Government. They are despairing Labour supporters. This week Keir Starmer tried to reassure the doubters. Downing Street insisted his big speech on Thursday was not a relaunch or a reboot or a reset but, whatever you wish to call it, it was clearly an acknowledgement that the ship needed to be steadied. There are now six clear goals by which the Government will be judged: improving living standards, cutting NHS waiting lists, building more homes, making streets safer, boosting green energy and supporting young children. As his opponents were quick to notice, immigration was omitted from this list of milestones. Downing Street may have decided that Labour is never going to outflank Reform when it comes to migration and including it among the targets would be to allow Nigel Farage to dictate the political conversation. Starmer will also have noted how the Conservatives came undone on migration by failing to meet their pledges to stop the Channel crossings or cut the number legally entering the country to the tens of thousands. Setting a target would only have given the populists another potential failure on which to feed. The thinking in No 10 is that the best way to address concerns about immigration is to tackle the problems which stoke the sense of grievance. If you improve communities, build more homes and fix the NHS then you reduce the opportunities to sow division and resentment. But Starmer knows better than anyone that if he fails to deliver on his promises then the populists stand ready to pounce. It is a reflection of how the political map is changing that Starmer chose to address the threat posed by Farage rather than take the fight to Kemi Badenoch ’s Conservatives. Labour MPs in traditional heartland seats have been telling No 10 that Reform now poses more of a danger than the Tories - a concern which was born out by a poll this week which had the Conservatives on 26 per cent, Reform on 24 per cent and Labour on 23 per cent. Starmer is betting everything on being able to show voters at the next election that their lives have got better. Not everyone is convinced that hitting a series of targets will be enough to keep the populists at bay. You only have to look at the United States where the Democrats presided over a booming economy and still got a kicking. Politics is not just a transactional process where votes are exchanged for delivery. It is also about telling a national story which people want to follow. Successful left-of-centre parties combine the retail side of government with a crusade to deliver social justice - this is what gives them identity and purpose. Starmer has his missions but he has yet to show he is a missionary.

Manchester United’s new winger Ruben Amorim made his mark with his squad registering a cinematic 4-0 victory against Everton on Saturday. The stellar win came as a big boost in uplifting the down morale of the players and fans as well as gave a ray of hope to the English club’s dismal going campaign this season. While Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee stole the show with two goals each, the new manager was quite impressed with one of their notable right-wingers, who was brilliant as well. Though he failed to score, the youngster made two stellar assists and made himself ticked in the good books of his new Portuguese boss. With four points from two league games and a Europa League victory over Bodo/Glimt, the new manager stands undefeated. Amorim heaps praise on Amad Diallo Amorim heaped praises on his young right winger Amad Diallo following their cinematic win at the Old Trafford. The Portuguese also underscored the crucial role of United’s former assistant coach Ruud Van Nistelrooy in polishing the Ivory Coast international. “He is really big in talent, but small in size. He did a great job but he also has to improve. He is a great moment. Ruud van Nistelrooy helped him a lot in his games in charge and now he’s helping me.” Amorim on Diallo via The Mirror It is worth noting that Nistelrooy bid goodbye to Old Trafford following Amorim’s takeover as the new manager was not interested in keeping the Dutch legend in his assistant team. Diallo’s mixture of youthful finesse and aligning himself with the Portuguese manager’s offensive attitude make his future bright. Amorim, a great source of rising stars and a constant supporter of creative, fast-paced soccer, can be a perfect environment for the 24-year-old to thrive in. Amorim’s tactical scheme involves players utilizing the wide areas and engaging in the high pressing transitions which might open up the doors for Diallo’s playing time, United is going for depth in the offensive play. His impressive loan stint at Sunderland last season, where he perfected his goal-scoring instincts, is another point in his favour to be more often played. Diallo can be, perhaps, one of the leaders of United’s long-term plans, thus having the opportunity to style creatively in the team which can be what his manager would appreciate most. The Red Devils now gear up for a tough assignment ahead as they will face Mikel Artreta’s Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on December 5. This article first appeared on We All Follow United and was syndicated with permission.

Hong Kong is set to grapple with a turbulent market in 2025 amid uncertainties stemming from geopolitical tensions and high interest rates, the city’s finance chief has said, vowing to expand ties with other economies and promote the innovation and technology (I&T) sector. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po also said on Sunday the city had made “steady progress” over the past year despite similar uncertainties, pointing to improving capital market sentiment and signs of growth in the stock and property markets. Over the past year, the Hang Seng Index has returned to the 20,000 level with the stock market going up by 18 per cent. The average daily transaction volume surpassed HK$132 billion (US$17 billion), a 25 per cent uptick from last year. The city also remained in 4th position globally in terms of IPO fundraising this year. Chan noted that the city’s annual economic growth forecast stood at 2.5 per cent and the current unemployment rate had lowered to 3.1 per cent, while inflation remained mild and residents’ incomes had “recorded a real increase”. But the minister said the retail and catering sectors still faced significant hurdles, even with more than 44 million visitor arrivals being recorded so far this year, a 30 per cent year-on-year increase, and the recent resumption of a multiple-entry visa scheme for Shenzhen residents. “Looking ahead to 2025, uncertainties arising from geopolitics and a prolonged period of high interest rates will contribute to a more turbulent market,” Chan wrote on his official blog.Stock market today: Rising tech stocks pull Wall Street to another recordRetail giants Walmart ( WMT -1.22% ) and Costco Wholesale ( COST -1.72% ) have a lot in common. People go to these shopping hubs when budgets are tight. Actually, Walmart and Costco stay busy in any economy -- and despite their low-cost products and services, these companies make money by the truckload. Look up "consumer defensive" stocks in your favorite screener and sort the list by market cap . Walmart tops that list with a $734 billion market value on Dec. 27, followed by Costco at $415 billion. I'm talking about true business titans here. But should you buy Costco or Walmart stock today? You know how similar these companies can be, but let's check out how they differ, too. Retailer rockets in 2024 Both stocks have soared in 2024. Costco shares gained more than 41% this year, and Walmart investors saw a 73% share price increase. These stodgy old value stocks are behaving more like high-growth names from the tech sector. Walmart shares are trading at price-to-sales ( P/S ) ratios not seen in more than 20 years, and Costco's P/S valuation has never been this rich before. WMT PS Ratio data by YCharts. The growth gap narrows Costco used to grow its sales much faster than the retail giant from Arkansas. Costco's revenues rose 46% in the three-year period from fiscal year 2019 to 2022. Walmart's top-line growth stopped at 14.5% over that time span. But things have changed, and the two companies have shown very similar sales growth in the last two years. WMT Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts. Here's an unexpected AI leader Walmart's accelerated growth comes from a surprisingly high-tech setup. In the latest earnings call , Walmart's leaders highlighted growing e-commerce operations in places like Mexico and a growing reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) tools . "[W]e're learning and applying generative AI, AI, and machine learning to solve the practical opportunities right in front of us," said Walmart CEO Doug McMillon. One generative AI tool is helping Walmart's staff access the proprietary business data they need. A customer-facing shopping assistant with machine learning smarts has been in beta testing since the summer, and should soon become widely available. E-commerce is also a large part of Costco's business plan, but the company appears to have fewer AI projects going on. Costco leaders haven't mentioned AI in a financial call since last spring , when (now retired) CFO Richard Galanti said that the company was in "early innings" of putting this technology to use. I'm almost shocked to see Walmart taking advantage of new technology faster than Costco. It can't be easy to drive that massive business in a new direction, given the unyielding law of large numbers . But that's what I see happening today. Great stocks, bad timing So Walmart is keeping up with Costco's business growth, with assistance from a promising set of AI tools. At the same time, the retail giant's stock is less expensive than Costco's across a wide range of valuation metrics. But that doesn't make Walmart's stock a slam-dunk buy today. With a price-to-earnings ratio ( P/E ) of 37.5 and price-to-free cash flow (P/FCF) of more than 43, even Walmart's lower-priced stock looks quite expensive. This malaise extends beyond Costco and Walmart. With a couple of exceptions, the entire category of discount-priced retail stores has enjoyed stellar market performance this year -- leaving their stocks stranded at very lofty valuation ratios. This secular trend makes sense, since people have been dodging inflation since the summer of 2021. Low-priced goods are worth their weight in gold these days. Yes, I'd rather buy Walmart stock than Costco shares at the moment. But even Walmart is more of a "hold" recommendation than a flat-out "buy" idea. This just doesn't look like the right time to start a position in most discount-store stocks.