is wolfy casino legit Japan’s megabanks are awash in cash and eager to invest. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. and Mizuho Financial Group Inc. are enjoying record earnings. Selling off cross-shareholdings is bringing in even more money. Even as they reward shareholders with buybacks and higher dividends, they are determined to fund overseas expansion. Their primary focuses are on the US and India, respectively the world’s largest economy and the fastest-growing. While the banks have had a presence in the two countries for decades, this year has seen a fresh push in investment and hiring. Buying stakes in local companies also puts their excess funds to work as the banks are under pressure from the Tokyo Stock Exchange to boost their valuations. “Their investment strategy including M&A is key to whether the banks can reach the next level of growth,” said Nana Otsuki, a senior fellow at Pictet Asset Management Japan Ltd. “Given their price-to-book ratios still aren’t comfortably above one, it’s a priority to better utilize their capital.” All of the companies have more cash on their balance sheets than their target common equity tier 1 ratios and have plans to reduce their strategic holdings over the next several years. MUFG aims to cut its stakes in clients by at least 700 billion yen by March 2027. SMFG has a similar plan to dispose of 600 billion yen in such holdings by March 2029 and Mizuho’s aim is to reduce its cross shareholding by 300 billion yen by March 2026. “We are now moving from the stage of capital buildup to the stage of striking a balance between growth investment and enhanced shareholder returns,” said Mizuho CEO Masahiro Kihara at an investor presentation on Nov 15. In the race to deploy their excess capital, the hottest area for all three banks has been India. The country’s strong economic growth is fueling demand for loans to fund capital expenditure across industries. Consumer demand is creating additional opportunities for lending and a record amount of money is set to be raised in initial public offerings this year. MUFG has singled the country out as a specific pillar of its Asia growth strategy. It has aggressively courted India’s top conglomerates including Reliance Industries and the Adani Group. The bank has a goal of doubling its loan exposure in India to about $30 billion over the next several years. MUFG and its Japanese rivals plan to keep business ties with Adani Group despite founder Gautam Adani facing bribery charges in the US. Japan’s largest bank took a strategic investment with a $333 million stake in DMI Finance Pvt Ltd. That deal valued the Indian shadow bank at $3 billion. MUFG has made clear though that it’s appetite is much larger. “If there are good opportunities, we can spend big money,” said Yasushi Itagaki, head of MUFG’s global commercial banking business, adding multi-billion deals are possible. He was commenting on both India and the bank’s expansion into the Asian digital industry and declined to talk about specific deals. India’s white-hot market for IPOs is also drawing in the Japanese. Mizuho and Nomura Holdings Inc. are the leading bidders to buy control of Avendus Capital Pvt., one of the country’s biggest investment banks. The two companies are jockeying to purchase a 63% stake from KKR & Co., which is seeking at least $400 million, according to people familiar with the situation. Retail loans for India’s growing middle class are another area where Japanese lenders anticipate high demand over the next decade. The country experienced strong credit growth in the last few quarters as retail customers borrowed for everything from buying homes and vehicles to funding holidays and impulse purchases. SMFG, Japan’s second-largest lender, spent $700 million in March to take full control of the local company formerly known as Fullerton India Credit Co. after first buying a $2 billion stake in 2021. The unit specializes in housing and car loans. Like MUFG, SMFG has singled India out as a key focus because of its high growth potential. “We will keep allocating necessary resources to capture its high economic growth,” said Yoshihiro Hyakutome, Sumitomo Mitsui’s co-head of global banking unit. Mizuho is also chasing Indian retail consumers. In February, it announced a deal to buy 15% in Kisetsu Saison Finance(India)Pvt. Ltd., an Indian unit of a Japanese financial company Credit Saison for about $145 million. In corporate and investment banking, Mizuho has also held internal discussions about focusing on winning firms that invest in private businesses, according to people familiar with the talks. Apart from India, MUFG has made it a priority to invest in fintech companies in other Asian countries. The move represents a major shift in MUFG’s growth strategy in the region, where the bank has spent billions to buy big commercial banks in Thailand and Indonesia. This year, the bank announced investments of $195 million in Thailand’s Ascend Money Co. and $393 million in the Philippines’ Globe Fintech Innovations Inc., both digital payment companies. “In the power dynamics of Asia’s unicorn industry, they can raise funds from anywhere,” said MUFG’s Itagaki. “So they are examining who is the best to team up with to boost their value.” The US The banks are following a different strategy in North America. There they are focusing on growth in corporate and investment banking, providing financing and advising companies and institutional clients. The playbook is the one pioneered by MUFG with its investment in Morgan Stanley in 2008, leaning hard on the experience and connections of a US partner. Mizuho was the latest major bank to adopt this tactic with the completion of its purchase of the investment bank Greenhill & Co. for $550 million last December. It has been on a hiring spree since then, adding bankers for various sectors including financial institutions, health care and infrastructure. “The Americas is the largest fee pool and Mizuho was historically underrepresented” in M&A advisory, said Jerry Rizzieri, CEO of Mizuho Securities USA. “Our objective is to be firmly entrenched as one of the top 10 corporate and investment banks in the Americas.” In addition to fees, M&A advisory brings in other banking businesses, such as bridging loans, and underwriting bond issues as deal-making clients seek to finance acquisitions, according to Mizuho officials. Mizuho has improved its position in some key areas this year, cracking the top ten rankings in several markets. In US corporate bonds, it jumped three spots to #7. In US loans, it rose four spots to #9 and it also ranked #8 in US investment grade corporate bonds, up a notch from the same period last year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. “Our product lineup allows us to access about 80% of CIB fee pool in the US,” said Hidekatsu Take, Mizuho’s deputy president and head of global corporate and investment banking. At an earnings briefing in November, Mizuho CEO Kihara said the bank may consider further acquisitions after completing the post-merger integration of Greenhill. He also said investments in asset managers are possible, like what the bank did with private credit manager Golub Capital. SMFG and Jefferies Financial Group Inc. are expanding their partnership and working together on corporate and investment banking deals. In the alliance, the Japanese bank brings its balance sheet and debt capital markets expertise while Jefferies adds M&A advisory and equity financing services. They have jointly worked on about 130 deals including M&A and debt and equity underwriting over the 12 months ending in September, compared with 30 deals as of September, 2023. The two banks served as financial advisers to US property developer Alliance Residential Co. when it sold a minority stake to Japanese homebuilder Daiwa House Industry Co. Sumitomo Mitsui said the bank’s relationship with Daiwa and Jefferies’ ties with Alliance were utilized for the origination of the deal. MUFG is expanding the areas of collaboration with Morgan Stanley in the US to the middle market, where the two companies aim to win more businesses in loans, M&A advisory and IPOs targeting smaller companies than they have been banking with so far. The company also recently hired a pair of senior bankers to expand the bank’s presence with mid-sized healthcare companies. The Japanese banks’ overseas buildup has not been without setbacks. In 2021, MUFG agreed to sell its US regional lender Union Bank to U.S. Bancorp for $8 billion after it determined the unit lacked the scale to keep up with local competition amid growing IT and other necessary spending. The move sent shockwaves through the industry at the time, since Union Bank had long been considered a crown jewel of MUFG’s US operations. The megabanks “have been doing overseas businesses for years but they haven’t quite done truly globalized management,” said Hideyasu Ban, a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst. “It’s still a challenge for them to secure good local talent and manage them effectively from Tokyo.” With assistance from Hideki Suzuki, Guillermo Molero, Alex Gabriel Simon and Reinie Booysen. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.Technological advancements have meant that devices are lasting longer than ever. But one of the first parts to go is often the battery. Laptop batteries can especially be a problem, since many of us keep our laptops plugged in much of the time. But there’s a new solution designed to improve your battery health: Chargie . Despite Apple and other device makers having solutions for battery aging that sets charge limits at 80% automatically, the reality is it isn’t always reliable or available or on older devices that don’t support the feature. Chargie makes it easy by giving you the ability to manually adjust the charging limit along with a fully controllable daily scheduler to keep the battery at a much safer 50% or 60% while you can, and also have it at 90 or 100% at times when you need longer battery life. The problem plaguing modern laptop batteries The days of frequently upgrading a laptop to new hardware are largely behind us. Modern computers have powerful tech, such as the M-class Apple silicon chips in MacBooks, and don’t need upgrades nearly as often. Unfortunately, the advancements found in many aspects of modern computers haven’t brought the same benefit to battery lifespan. Batteries still degrade and need replacing, which can be costly—and with some computers isn’t even possible, forcing a pricey upgrade sooner than necessary. This issue is exacerbated by the common habit of keeping a laptop plugged in to charge all day and night. Lots of us spend our days sitting at a desk, yet keep our laptop charging just in case we have to unplug at some point. But realistically, it doesn’t need to be plugged in that whole time. The same goes for overnight charges. These habits accelerate the need for a new battery or even a whole new laptop, leading to electronic waste and unnecessary cost. But Chargie was built as a solution to this common problem. How Chargie makes your laptop last longer Chargie is a small device from Lighty Gadgets that sits between your laptop and its charging cable. Connecting Chargie helps you take control of your laptop’s battery health by: monitoring the battery with greater precision setting charge limits and schedules to suit your lifestyle and ensuring you’re not degrading your battery faster than you have to Chargie is easy to connect to your laptop, and comes with adapters to suit a range of different laptop models. Once connected, you’ll interact with Chargie via a companion app that’s available for macOS, Windows, and ChromeOS. Inside the app, you’ll find fine-grained controls for setting charging limits and a charging schedule that matches your daily patterns. For example, you can schedule your laptop to fully charge by 5pm on in-office days, before you head home, while on WFH days the battery follows different orders. Chargie supports up to 100W power delivery, so you can still charge just as fast as ever, and the app provides detailed charging updates. Even if you don’t keep your laptop plugged in often, Chargie can still assist by preventing it from being kept at 100% charge for extended periods. This practice still contributes to improved battery health over time. Chargie availability and wrap-up Chargie ensures your laptop intelligently stops and starts charging to protect its battery without causing you any inconvenience. This ultimately prevents battery wear and tear and extends the device lifespan. You can buy Chargie for a $40 early bird price as part of its Kickstarter campaign . It’s expected to deliver in February 2025 for early bird orders, and March for all others. There is also the existing Chargie C Basic for phones that allows for slower charging and better battery life for phones. You can visit the Chargie website to shop the current lineup of Chargie products with some great holiday discounts available for a limited time. Learn more by checking out the Kickstarter page , or by following Chargie on X and Facebook .

Phillies gamble on 1-year contract for 2-time All-Star closer Jordan Romano

A-1 Pressure Washing & Roof Cleaning Reaches 150 Five-Star Reviews and Earns Client Praise 12-10-2024 12:36 AM CET | Politics, Law & Society Press release from: ABNewswire Family-Owned Exterior Cleaning Company Celebrates Continued Growth and Community Support. A-1 Pressure Washing & Roof Cleaning [ https://a1pressurewashingfl.com/ ], a locally owned and operated exterior cleaning company based in North Port, Florida, today announced that it has surpassed 150 five-star reviews on Google. This milestone reflects the company's dedication to providing high-quality, reliable services tailored to the needs of homeowners and businesses throughout Sarasota and Charlotte Counties. Founded in 1996 and led by second-generation owner Dan and his wife Danielle, A-1 Pressure Washing & Roof Cleaning offers a comprehensive range of exterior cleaning services. The team takes pride in delivering results that extend beyond simple aesthetic improvements. Every project, whether a residential driveway pressure washing, a no-pressure roof cleaning, or a soft wash for a delicate pool enclosure, is approached with care and meticulous attention to detail. With the guiding principle, "We don't cut corners, we clean them," the family-run business upholds a standard that has earned the trust and gratitude of its customers. The company's service area includes Venice, North Port, Port Charlotte, Englewood, Punta Gorda, Rotonda West, Osprey, Nokomis, Sarasota, and Wellen Park. Over the years, this wide coverage has allowed A-1 Pressure Washing & Roof Cleaning to develop enduring relationships with clients who value professionalism, honesty, and consistent quality. The team's expertise extends to roof cleaning for shingle, tile, and metal surfaces, as well as brick paver cleaning and sealing, concrete sealing, gutter cleaning, and window cleaning for both residential and commercial properties. Tailoring each service to local weather conditions and surface materials, the company focuses on preserving property value and ensuring lasting results. "We are extremely pleased with how great everything looked. A-1 Pressure Washing did a thorough job. We will definitely be calling again. Highly recommended," commented Jim O, a local client who recently joined the growing number of homeowners awarding the company a five-star rating. Such feedback, along with hundreds of similar comments, underscores the firm's client-focused philosophy. Dan, the second-generation owner, has built upon the family legacy by emphasizing personalized service and ongoing skill development. The company strives to maintain the trust they have earned, knowing that their reputation is shaped by each client interaction. Looking ahead, A-1 Pressure Washing & Roof Cleaning is committed to remaining at the forefront of industry best practices. The company continuously invests in professional training and modern equipment to ensure that its techniques remain both effective and environmentally responsible. As the business celebrates this recent milestone, it intends to strengthen its community presence and uphold the values that have guided it for decades. From roof to curb, A-1 Pressure Washing & Roof Cleaning is prepared to serve its clients with the highest level of care. For more information visit https://a1pressurewashingfl.com [ https://a1pressurewashingfl.com/ ]. About A-1 Pressure Washing & Roof Cleaning A-1 Pressure Washing & Roof Cleaning is a family-owned and operated exterior cleaning contractor based in North Port, Florida. Established in 1996, the company has earned a reputation for providing top-quality, fully licensed and insured services across Sarasota and Charlotte Counties. Specializing in power washing, soft washing, no-pressure roof cleaning, brick paver sealing, window cleaning, and more, A-1 Pressure Washing & Roof Cleaning strives to ensure that every client's property remains clean, safe, and protected. Image: https://www.abnewswire.com/uploads/e9d7214c5e2d291214ec01fa56bacca5.jpg Media Contact Company Name: A-1 Pressure Washing & Roof Cleaning Contact Person: Dan Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=a1-pressure-washing-roof-cleaning-reaches-150-fivestar-reviews-and-earns-client-praise ] Phone: 941-815-8454 Address:8122 San Jacinto Ave City: North Port State: FL 34287 Country: United States Website: https://a1pressurewashingfl.com This release was published on openPR.

BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus, the capital, and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM news outlet reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The insurgency announced later Saturday that it had taken over Homs. The city's capture is a major victory for the rebels, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said rebel control of Homs would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. For the first time in the country’s long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The rapid rebel gains, coupled with the lack of support from Assad's erstwhile allies, posed the most serious threat to his rule since the start of the war. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement issued late Saturday, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis “that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians.” They also agreed on the importance of strengthening international efforts to increase aid to the Syrian people. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad; Josef Federman and Victoria Eastwood in Doha, Qatar; and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed to this report.ITV I’m A Celebrity fans fume 'we need a recount' as they threaten to 'boycott' show

In a filing made public Tuesday, Trump’s lawyers told Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan that anything short of immediate dismissal would undermine the transition of power, as well as the “overwhelming national mandate" granted to Trump by voters last month. They also cited President Joe Biden’s recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “President Biden asserted that his son was ‘selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,’ and ‘treated differently,’" Trump’s legal team wrote. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, they claimed, had engaged in the type of political theater "that President Biden condemned.” Prosecutors will have until Dec. 9 to respond. They have said they will fight any efforts to dismiss the case but have indicated a willingness to delay the sentencing until after Trump’s second term ends in 2029. In their filing Monday, Trump's attorneys dismissed the idea of holding off sentencing until Trump is out of office as a “ridiculous suggestion.” Following Trump’s election victory last month, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed his sentencing, previously scheduled for late November, to allow the defense and prosecution to weigh in on the future of the case. He also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier. He says they did not and denies any wrongdoing. The defense filing was signed by Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, who represented Trump during the trial and have since been selected by the president-elect to fill senior roles at the Justice Department. Taking a swipe at Bragg and New York City, as Trump often did throughout the trial, the filing argues that dismissal would also benefit the public by giving him and “the numerous prosecutors assigned to this case a renewed opportunity to put an end to deteriorating conditions in the City and to protect its residents from violent crime.” Clearing Trump, the lawyers added, would also allow him to “to devote all of his energy to protecting the Nation.” Merchan hasn’t yet set a timetable for a decision. He could decide to uphold the verdict and proceed to sentencing, delay the case until Trump leaves office, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court or choose some other option. An outright dismissal of the New York case would further lift a legal cloud that at one point carried the prospect of derailing Trump’s political future. Last week, special counsel Jack Smith told courts that he was withdrawing both federal cases against Trump — one charging him with hoarding classified documents at his Florida estate, the other with scheming to overturn the 2020 presidential election he lost — citing longstanding Justice Department policy that shields a president from indictment while in office. The hush money case was the only one of Trump’s four criminal indictments to go to trial, resulting in a historic verdict that made him the first former president to be convicted of a crime. Prosecutors had cast the payout as part of a Trump-driven effort to keep voters from hearing salacious stories about him. Trump’s then-lawyer Michael Cohen paid Daniels. Trump later reimbursed him, and Trump’s company logged the reimbursements as legal expenses — concealing what they really were, prosecutors alleged. Trump has said the payments to Cohen were properly categorized as legal expenses for legal work. A month after the verdict, the Supreme Court ruled that ex-presidents can’t be prosecuted for official acts — things they did in the course of running the country — and that prosecutors can’t cite those actions to bolster a case centered on purely personal, unofficial conduct. Trump’s lawyers cited the ruling to argue that the hush money jury got some improper evidence, such as Trump’s presidential financial disclosure form, testimony from some White House aides and social media posts made during his first term. Prosecutors disagreed and said the evidence in question was only “a sliver” of their case. If the verdict stands and the case proceeds to sentencing, Trump’s punishments would range from a fine to probation to up to four years in prison — but it’s unlikely he’d spend any time behind bars for a first-time conviction involving charges in the lowest tier of felonies. Because it is a state case, Trump would not be able to pardon himself once he returns to office.PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens was a full participant in practice on Monday, opening the door for him to return from a three-game absence on Wednesday when Pittsburgh hosts the Kansas City Chiefs. Pickens hasn't played since tweaking his hamstring earlier this month. The Steelers (10-5) have struggled to generate much in their passing game with their leading receiver watching from the sideline in sweatpants. Though Monday's practice was a walkthrough, Pickens said he felt good and hopes he'll be able to face the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. The 23-year-old was going through post-practice drills on Dec. 6 when he felt his hamstring tighten up, forcing him to miss the first games of his three-year career. Pittsburgh has gone 1-2 in his absence, including back-to-back losses to Philadelphia and Baltimore in which Russell Wilson passed for just 345 yards while missing one of the NFL's top downfield threats. Wilson is encouraged by the way the sometimes mercurial Pickens — who has been flagged and fined multiple times this season for infractions ranging from facemasks to unsportsmanlike conduct — has remained engaged. “He’s been great in the midst of his little trial here over the past few weeks,” Wilson said. “And so we’re excited to have him back if that’s the case fully and let him do his thing.” Safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring) and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (groin) were also listed as full participants on Tuesday. Neither veteran has played since getting hurt against Cleveland on Dec. 8. While Pickens, Elliott and Ogunjobi could be available as Pittsburgh tries to hold off Baltimore for the AFC North lead, cornerback Joey Porter (knee) and WR Ben Skowronek (hip) are likely out after missing practice for a second straight day. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl The Associated Press

Housing Design Awards: An air of celebration and gratitudeVance takes on a more visible transition role, working to boost Trump’s most contentious picksTech stocks began Christmas week with positive momentum, as the Nasdaq 100 rose 0.4% on Monday, building on a 0.7% gain from Friday. The index has now recovered nearly half of the losses sustained following the Federal Reserve's recent policy meeting. Semiconductors stood out as the top-performing sector: iShares Semiconductor ETF SOXX jumping 2.3%. Broadcom Inc. AVGO , up 4.7% Advanced Micro Devices Inc. AMD , which surged 4.9%. Meanwhile, other major indices showed minimal movement in what appeared to be a session marked by low trading volumes. Consumer staples emerged as the weakest sector, with notable declines in major retailers. Dollar General Corp. DG dropped 3.3%, while Walmart Inc. WMT shed 2.8%. In economic news, U.S. consumer confidence fell sharply in December, with the index dropping 8.1 points to 104.7 amid worsening expectations in future economic conditions. The U.S. dollar index edged higher, mirroring a further surge in Treasury yields. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose 4 basis points to 4.57%, approaching its highest closing level since late May. In commodities, gold slipped 0.4%, set to break a two-session winning streak, while oil prices declined 1%. In the cryptocurrency market, Bitcoin BTC/USD fell 1.7% to around $93,000, eyeing its fifth loss in the past six sessions. Shares of MicroStrategy Inc. MSTR tumbled over 4% in their first trading session after the company's inclusion in the Nasdaq 100 index. Monday’s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs Major Indices Price 1-day %chg Nasdaq 100 21,373.71 0.4% S&P 500 5,932.42 0.0% Russell 2000 2,232.71 -0.4% Dow Jones 42,620.75 -0.5% According to Benzinga Pro data: The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust SPY edged 0.1% higher to $592.12. The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average DIA eased 0.4% to $427.22. The tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust Series QQQ rose 0.4% to $520.67. The iShares Russell 2000 ETF IWM eased 0.4% to $221.06. The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund XLK outperformed, up by 0.5%; the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund XLP lagged, down 2%. Monday’s Stock Movers Novo Nordisk A/S NVO rose 3% following a 17.8% drop on Friday. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on Monday that it has approved Hikma Pharmaceuticals’ generic version of Novo Nordisk’s Victoza for treating type 2 diabetes. New Fortress Energy Inc. NFE rallied 18%, after Stifel raised the stock price target from $16 to $18. Carnival Corp. CCL fell over 4% following a 6.4% post-earning rally Friday. Read now: History Suggests S&P 500 Could Struggle In 2025, But There’s Reason For Optimism Image: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

I'm late to the RPG Baldur's Gate 3. I held out for over a year before purchasing it despite the fact that the game surpasses any released in the franchise so far with its excellent graphics, unprecedented freedom to explore, and ability to interact with the environment. What finally got me in then? Admittedly, it's the one thing I absolutely can't resist in a top-rated RPG — the fact that it now has mods! That change in a game as detailed and intuitive as BG3 is sheer gold for me, making every cent paid for it an irresistible value proposition. It has also got me thinking: Why can't all RPGs have mods? Mods undeniably spice up games It's not like BG3 needed anything extra to make it a great game. No, it's obviously one of the best turn-based RPG's available today with its enchanting high-fantasy open world that reacts to you as a player and allows you to have your own unique experience. It's more that the mods — everything from character changes to new weapons and objects and new game mechanics — allow me to squeeze even more value from this classic game thereby multiplying the fun 100x. Whereas before the game was well worth $60, the value I will reap from this game over time will pay for itself many, many times over. To be sure, now that BG3 has mods, the game will not only be different each time I play it, it won't even be close to the experience I've had before — which leads me to an important point: I now have the agency to personalize it as I wish, just as I can personalize myriad other aspects of my life, from the topping on my vanilla ice-cream to the color of my cellphone case. I can now play solo as a lone wolf by increasing the rate at which I earn XP, or as any exciting creature from the Dungeons and Dragons world by accessing dozens of other races. I can... Dominic Bayley

The Hershey Company is once again being courted for potential sale by a familiar suitor. Mondelez International Inc., maker of Ritz and Oreo, is mulling a takeover of the Derry Township-based confectioner and snack company, according to Bloomberg . The news site cited several sources familiar with the matter who didn’t want to be identified because they said discussions are private. The sources, according to Bloomberg, said discussions are in the early stages and “there’s uncertainty that discussions will lead to a deal.” Bloomberg said a deal could create a food industry giant with combined sales of $50 billion. In 2016, Chicago-based Mondelez unsuccessfully attempted a $23-billion cash and stock bid to take over Hershey. On Monday, Hershey shares rose as much as 19%, the biggest intraday gain in more than eight years, according to Bloomberg. Any sale would require a blessing by The Hershey Trust. Founded in 1905, it owns Hershey Entertainment & Resorts and controlling interest in the famed candy maker. Profits from the two businesses support the Derry Township boarding school for children from low-income families. Hershey Co. spokesman Todd Scott told PennLive the company doesn’t comment on speculation or rumor. Bloomberg said Mondelez and The Hershey Trust didn’t respond when reached for comment . A takeover would top this year’s biggest deal when snack maker Mars Inc. agreed in August to buy Kellanova for about $36 billion including debt, according to Bloomberg. Data by Bloomberg indicates Hershey has a value of about $46 billion including debt. Last week, speculation of a takeover was heightened following an “uncooked” alert by Betaville, a financial blog and division of the Financial Times. The “uncooked” alert are identified as: “This scuttlebutt has just come in and hasn’t been checked with all of Betaville’s well-informed RARE sources, let along formal journalistic channels (i.e. public relations execs, bankers, etc.). The rumor might be total codswallop, rubbish or nonsense ‚ but then again there may be something in it, so it’s worth airing on Betaville,” according to the site. At least one analyst last week said historically it would be difficult for the confectioner to sell. JPMorgan analyst Ken Goldman told Markets Insider stressed reasons, including several past failed takeover attempts, as to why a sale is unlikely. Aside from the previous Mondelez bid, Hershey considered a $12.5 billion cash and stock offer in 2002 from Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. But under the controlling Hershey Trust, under pressure from Milton Hershey School alumni, the community and even the Pennsylvania Attorney General, the company backed away from the deal. The same year reports surfaced Nestle SA and Cadbury Schweppes PLC were discussing a joint bid to buy Hershey. Goldman noted other reasons including Hershey’s dual-class stock structure, the Hershey Trust, and a law that gives the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office power over a sale. As of 2023, the Milton Hershey School Trust owned about 99.9% of all Class B shares of the company, giving the trust about 80% of voting control. A slate of reforms released by the Pennsylvania AG’s Office in 2016 changed how the trust is governed. The reforms established base pay for board members and rules related to how the trust and school buy or sell land and how trustees deal with conflicts of interest. The reforms also give the AG’s oversight to block a Hershey Co. sale if the it doesn’t make financial sense. In November, Hershey posted lower-than-estimated third-quarter results due to higher cocoa prices and weak consumer spending. It reported quarterly adjusted earnings per share of $2.34, with revenue falling by 1.4% to $2.9 billion. Bloomberg said Mondelez is “receptive to acquisitions” and wants to expand its snacks division. Stories by Sue GleiterPETAN Proposes Special $15m Funding for Members’ Projects Outside Nigeria

U.S. stocks tiptoed to more records after a quiet day of trading. The S&P 500 edged up by 2 points, or less than 0.1%, on Tuesday to set an all-time high for the 55th time this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.4% to its own record set a day earlier. Treasury yields held relatively steady after a report showed U.S. employers were advertising slightly more job openings at the end of October than a month earlier. The South Korean won sank against the dollar after its president declared martial law and then later said he’ll lift it. On Tuesday: The S&P 500 rose 2.73 points, or less than 0.1%, to 6,049.88. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 76.47 points, or 0.2%, to 44,705.53. The Nasdaq composite rose 76.96 points, or 0.4%, to 19,480.91. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 17.79 points, or 0.7%, to 2,416.35. For the week: The S&P 500 is up 17.50 points, or 0.3%. The Dow is down 205.12 points, or 0.5%. The Nasdaq is up 262.74 points, or 1.4%. The Russell 2000 is down 18.38 points, or 0.8%. For the year: The S&P 500 is up 1,280.05 points, or 26.8%. The Dow is up 7,015.99 points, or 18.6%. The Nasdaq is up 4,469.56 points, or 29.8%. The Russell 2000 is up 389.27 points, or 19.2%.

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