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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Aziaha James had 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists, Devyn Quigley scored a career-high 20 points and made four 3-pointers and NC State beat Coastal Carolina 89-68 on Thursday. NC State had its lead trimmed to 54-46 midway through the third quarter before James scored five straight points to begin a 13-2 run that ended in a 19-point lead. Quigley took over in the fourth, making three 3-pointers and scoring 15 points. Coastal Carolina missed 11 of 13 shots spanning the third-quarter break as NC State pulled away. Madison Hayes added 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting for NC State (3-2). James has scored 20-plus in three straight games. The Wolfpack shot 50% from the field, including 11 of 29 from 3-point range. Hayes made her third 3-pointer with 1:12 left in the first half to give NC State a 47-32 lead. Coastal Carolina's Savannah Brooks just beat the halftime buzzer with a basket to give her 17 points and pull within 47-36. Brooks scored 14 of Coastal Carolina’s opening 26 points and she finished the game with 25. Alancia Ramsey added 13 points for Coastal Carolina (4-1), which was picked to finish ninth in the Sun Belt Conference. The Wolfpack travel to the Bahamas to play in the Pink Flamingo Championship against Southern on Monday. Coastal Carolina battles Division II Coker on Wednesday. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketballMore than 10 million people empowered so far through the 34 by 34 initiative ATLANTA , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Enterprises today announced that it has empowered 10.6 million people to live more prosperous lives since 2020, a significant milestone in its 34 by 34 social impact initiative . This achievement represents a wide range of efforts across Cox and its businesses, Cox Communications and Cox Automotive. Cox is committed to solving business problems that also remove obstacles present in communities and society at large, from bridging the digital divide to addressing social equity and environmental sustainability challenges. "Cox is a company of innovators, changemakers and believers of being part of something bigger than ourselves," said Maury Wolfe , vice president of Corporate Responsibility and Social Impact at Cox Enterprises. "To drive our 34 by 34 social impact initiative forward, employees across our businesses have led countless acts of volunteering and community engagement, from cleaning up waterways and building outdoor learning labs to mentoring students. We're humbled to see the ripple effect throughout our communities." 34 by 34 focuses on six key pathways to create positive change: technology access, access to lifelong education, employment skills, social equity, environmental sustainability, and good health. These pathways provide a holistic approach to empowering individuals and communities. Key examples of Cox's business and employee volunteering impact include: Visit Cox34by34.com to see stories of our impact and watch this video to learn more about the 34 by 34 initiative. About Cox Enterprises Cox Enterprises is dedicated to empowering people to build a better future for the next generation. Cox is a leader in the broadband, automotive, and media industries, as well as a leading investment platform with strategic positions in emerging technologies driving the future of agriculture, renewable energy, healthtech, and public sector software. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia , Cox is a global company with $23 billion in annual revenues and a proud history spanning more than 125 years. To learn more about Cox and its commitment to its people, planet and communities, visit coxenterprises.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cox-enterprises-nearing-one-third-of-its-ambitious-goal-to-empower-34-million-people-to-live-more-prosperous-lives-by-2034-302324319.html SOURCE Cox Enterprises

Opinion: Will Autonomous Cars Ever Gain Regulatory Approval To Operate Freely On Public Roads? Robotics & Automation NewsI flew business class from Australia with Vietnam Airlines. Here's what you can expect What is it really like to fly business class with Vietnam Airlines? READ MORE: I upgraded to business class for $25 and have done it on the cheap three times. Here's how to do it By TITA SMITH FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 23:50, 11 December 2024 | Updated: 23:59, 11 December 2024 e-mail View comments The trade-offs for overseas travel are all too familiar: sleep deprivation, long waits in lines, and (if you're unlucky) being stuck in close quarters among fellow passengers with questionable hygiene practices. But those acquainted with the cabin at the front of the plane know how all of these lowlights can be bypassed with a top-tier ticket. While travelling in business class is a luxury many people cannot afford, I was lucky to have the opportunity to recently do just that on a Vietnam Airlines Airbus 350 from Sydney to Hanoi. Here is the lowdown on the perks - and why it will be difficult to travel in economy ever again. Check-in The business class experience starts from the moment you arrive at the check-in desk. While check-in queues can be notoriously long, a business class booking allows you to join the express line, where you are given an entry ticket to the exclusive SkyTeam Lounge to kick back and dine while you wait for your flight. Business class passengers are also permitted more luggage than those travelling in economy. Vietnam Airlines A350's Business Class cabin feels intimate with just 29 seats The A350 business class cabin features 29 seats with a 106cm pitch, that can be converted into lie-flat beds While the allowance may vary (depending on destination), for this trip I was allowed two carry-on bags (no more than 10kg each and with a combined weight up to 18kg) plus an accessory (like a hand bag), and one checked-in bag up to 32kg. Meanwhile, passengers travelling in economy were limited to one cabin bag (no more than 10kg), one accessory, and one checked-in bag up to 23kg. While my checked-in suitcase was well below the lower limit (weighing in at a modest 15kg for a seven-day trip), it was assuring to know I was unlikely to breach capacity on my return home after stocking up on souvenirs. The Sky Team lounge in Sydney International Airport is one of the many perks of a business class ticket The lounge The SkyTeam Lounge, located near gate 24, is a large open space with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the tarmac. The lounge boasts three separate food stations, a bar, bathrooms (with showers, for those seeking to refresh) and a sprawling seating area - comprised of dining tables, booths and reclining chairs. There are charging ports at almost every table in the dining area (an essential for many travellers), and glass booths where guests can make or take private phone calls. Food and drink options included spring rolls, samosas, salads, fruit, toast, hot dishes and rice, wines, spirits, coffees, soft drinks and juices - but be advised not to over fill because you will be treated to a five-course menu on board. Vietnam Airlines shares the space with other members of the SkyTeam alliance - such as China Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Garuda Indonesia, Korean Air, and Xiamen Air. Despite the airport teeming with passengers at the check-in counters when I arrived, the lounge was not overly busy - making it easy to find a seat and use the facilities. There is also a tea and coffee station for passengers seeking a caffeine hit before their flight Guests are welcome to enjoy a range of beverages, including wine, beer, spirits, soft drinks, and juice. There is also a self-serve fridge filled with delicious salads, fruit, pastries and sandwiches Pictured: The bar inside the Sky Team Lounge Service, entertainment and extras After tucking away your bag and taking your seat, the service begins with a flight attendant delivering you a wet hand towel and offering you a welcome drink of choice (on this particular flight, orange juice, apple juice, or champagne). Awaiting you in your pod is a pair of slippers, a pillow and blanket, and a little take-home Samsonite case filled with goodies for use during the flight, such as an eye mask, dental kit, ear plugs, a comb, socks, body lotion and lip butter. The complimentary case also includes a selection of stickers you could put on your seat before going to sleep to alert staff if you wanted to be left alone or woken up for meals. Business class passengers are treated to the same selection of movies, tv shows, games, music, and podcasts available to those travelling in economy class - but, due to the bigger pitch of the seat (at 106cm), guests have a detachable remote for navigating the screen. The headphones (which are noise-cancelling) are much sturdier than those passed out to economy passengers and there are magazines for your perusal nestled into a holder by your seat. My flight was in the afternoon/evening, allowing for a perfect ten-hour mix of meals, new movies, and shut-eye. However, for those hoping to get some work done, there is a desk space and lamp next to the seat. There is also a convenient pop-out hook for hanging up your business attire so you can hit the ground running in fresh, ironed clothes if needed. While much of the onboard entertainment is the same as in economy, there are magazines and a desk space for business class passengers hoping to do some work A little Samsonite goodies case and a pair of slippers were a nice touch for feeling comfortable and freshening up on the flight I had a glass of apple juice as my welcome drink of choice as we prepared to take off Little details - like the quality of the headphones - made a big difference to the customer experience in business class Among the items included in the case were an eye mask and beauty products Those needing to step straight off the tarmac and into an event can hang up their clothes to keep their outfits crease free The seat While Vietnam Airlines A350 has 231 seats in its economy cabin, there are just 29 in Business Class - giving it an intimate yet spacious feel. There are four seats in a row - two in the aisle and one by each window. The aisle seats are only semi partitioned from each other (which might be preferable if you are travelling in a pair), while the window seats are incredibly private. One of the best features of business class by far is the ability to convert the seat into a bed to catch up on sleep during long-haul flights. There is a remote embedded into the right-hand panel of the seat, allowing you to adjust it to your desired position. When the seat is fully reclined, the base meets with a foot-rest, turning it into a makeshift bed. Overall, the bed is pretty comfortable (let's face it - most spaces are compared to sleeping in economy), however, if you are gifted in the height department, room could be an issue (it reaches just under two metres when flat). For me, standing at a very average 1.6metres, it was no issue and the bed felt rather snug (especially when partnered with the pillow and blanket). Another handy feature was a clip located on the upper right side of the seat for pinning the seatbelt out of your way. There is also a nook underneath the foot rest for stowing away any personal items you want to keep close during the flight. The business class seats can be reclined via a button pad near the right arm rest. There is also a pop-out remote for using the screen The seat reclines to meet a foot rest (pictured), converting it into a bed There is a clip to help pin back your seatbelt for your comfort The menu The afternoon meal service begins with an attendant bringing you a drinks menu to select your choice of beverages to accompany your food (in my case, a glass of Riesling and a fruity cocktail). Diners are then spoiled with a five course menu, commencing with an appetizer plate and a soup, followed by a main course, then finished with a selection of deserts. I opted for the vegan menu, which started with a spiced-pumpkin and quinoa salad with a side of asparagus, served with a bread roll, salad, and a whipped coconut cream fruit cake. Next, the second entrée was rolled out (a tomato soup and bowl of wasabi peas), followed by a spiced chickpea stew with broccolini, roasted chat potato with parsley and roasted vegetables batons. For the meat eaters, the options for the first appetizer included duck rillette and celeriac salad with a toasted sliced brioche or a smoked salmon roulade and salami with daikon capsicum slaw. The first appetizer on the vegan menu featured a spiced pumpkin quinoa salad with asparagus, bread roll, salad, and a coconut-cream cake Pictured: The second appetizer in the vegan menu alongside a fruit cocktail The vegan main course was a spiced chickpea stew with broccolini, roasted chat potato with parsley and roasted vegetable batons Both dishes came with the same accompaniments (a bread roll and salad) and were followed by broccoli cream soup topped with croutons and garlic herbs. For the main course, meat eaters could choose from the following dishes: BBQ lamb rack topped with rosemary onion jus, sauteed potato with onion, brocolli and baked capsicum, Vietnamese stir-fried beef fillet with steamed rice, stir-fied bean, corn and celery, sear-breaised duck breast with pureed carrot and charred onions, or pan-seared salmon fillet with lemon caper cream sauce, steamed kipfler potatoes, broccolini and carrot. Afterwards, for the dessert rounds (offered to all guests), the attendants carried baskets filled with pastries and platters packed with crackers, cheese, dried fruit, and fresh fruit. Guests still seeking satiation were then offered black forest ice-cream with raspberry coulis. For guests (like me) who did not realise we were about to undertake a generously-portioned degustation, the unrelenting carousel of dishes came as a very pleasant surprise. There was also another meal service shortly before landing, during which I was served corn fritters with kale, roasted roma tomatoes, brown rice mix and horseradish lime and dill cream. Overall, the service felt very decadent - not only in the abundance of food, but also with the attention to detail: white cloths over the tray tables, silver cutlery, porcelain plates, and hand-delivered meals (rather than carted out on a trolley). And the staff were lovely and went above and beyond to answer questions and cater to guests needs - striking the perfect balance between checking in, but not hovering. The menu offered to meat eaters on the afternoon service on Vietnam Airlines A350 Pictured: The BBQ lamb rack served with sautéed potato, broccoli and capsicum Another generous meal was served shortly before landing, which included corn fritters, rice, tomatoes, and kale Other perks and information One of the most noticeable differences in business class was how much quieter the cabin was throughout the duration of the flight. Due to the smaller numbers in business class, the customer service experience also feels more personal compared to economy, where fewer attendants are catering to more passengers. Overall, the ambience, menu, white table cloth service, spacious seats/beds, and being waited on hand and foot, leaves you feeling very pampered - a word up until that point I, as a practiced economy flyer, would never have associated with a long-haul flight. Once you arrive in Vietnam, your business class ticket also enables you to line up in the priority queue at the border control entry gates, allowing for faster processing. Business class guests also have priority baggage handling, meaning your suitcase will be among the first off the carousel (which is a fantastic bonus after spending almost ten hours on a plane!). The business lounges in Vietnam (if travelling business domestically and for your return flight) are different too. In Vietnam, the airline operates its own business class areas - called Lotus Lounges - which are designated for its passengers only (not shared with other airlines). Vietnam Airlines has its own business class lounges, Lotus Lounges, domestically During my domestic flights (from Hanoi to Hoi An and from there to Ho Chi Minh), the Lotus Lounges were much busier than the Sky Lounge. However, that could be expected as Vietnam Airlines is a national carrier that operates many flights, and there was still ample space and seating available. The Lotus Lounge food bar contained more Vietnamese dishes (delicious noodles, pho, sticky rice, rice paper rolls etc.), although there were still intercontinental items available such as salads, fruit and bread. The amenities (dining areas, bathrooms, restaurant and bar) were all well-maintained and it was nice to have a comfortable place to sit back and relax while waiting for flights. The option to have a shower is also a great touch - especially before a return night-flight home after a humid day in the tropics. The staff at the desk can provide you with towels and toiletries - just make sure you pack an extra set of clothes in your carry on! The price The cost of return business class flights from Sydney to Hanoi or Sydney to Ho Chi Minh range from around $4380 - $7220 depending on which time of the year you travel. There are two peak tourism seasons in Vietnam (mid December to the end of March and from early July to September), with the Christmas and New Year period for 2024 selling at the highest price. However, booking months in advance can help you save thousands of dollars, with flights from March through to September 2025 currently selling between $4380 - $5390. At the moment, Vietnam Airlines is the only carrier operating non-stop and daily flights between Australia and Vietnam, making it difficult to directly compare prices. However, a Qantas business class flight from Sydney to Hanoi (via Bangkok, travelling on Finnair) will set you back between $3867-$9078, while flying with Cathay Pacific (through Hong Kong) costs roughly $3765 -$6725. Compared to other national carriers operating similar flights from Australia to Asia, Vietnam Airlines business class prices are competitive. Pictured: Sapa, a town in the Hoàng Liên Son Mountains of northwestern Vietnam, which is known its picturesque terraced rice fields and stunning trekking tracks Business class flights from Sydney to Hong Kong direct with Cathay Pacific (which is just over nine hours) cost between $5907 - $8446 (for travel dates over the next five months). Meanwhile, flights from Sydney to Tokyo direct with Japanese Airlines (nine hours and 50 minutes) currently range from around $4792 - $9298 (over the same period). Vietnam Airlines passengers, who are members of the airline's reward program, Lotusmiles, can also score business class seats by using points to upgrade. The number of points needed depend on your flight details (such as booking class, departure point, and destination). However, around 2000 - 16000 points are needed for domestic flight upgrades and 40,000 - 60,000 for flights between Australia to Vietnam. Members can earn points by flying with Vietnam Airlines or its airline partners on mile-earning eligible flights, or through using affiliated services to shop, spend, or make bookings. Airline-partnered eligible flights include VN-numbered flights operated by Pacific Airlines, VASCO, Cambodia Angkor, All Nippon Airways, China Southern, Cathay Pacific, Philippines Airlines, Bangkok Airways, Finnair, and El Al Israel Airlines. Click here for more information about how to earn Lotusmiles points or here for how to upgrade your ticket. Hoi An, an ancient South-East Asian trading port in Central Vietnam, is among one of the destinations I visited on my trip. It is known for its beautiful canals and traditional Vietnamese handicrafts, including lantern making Is it worth it? A business class ticket, in my opinion, is 100% worth it if you are flying internationally and want to side-step the not-so-pleasant side effects of long-distance air travel. The exhaustion from sleep deprivation and waiting in airport lines often leads to travellers needing recovery time at the start of their holiday. But while previous international trips in economy have left me feeling tired, greasy, and nursing a sore neck (courtesy of my useful but imperfect travel pillow), flying business class allowed me to feel fresh and ready to go from the moment I stepped off the plane. From now on, having seen the other side of air travel, I will strive to fly business class every chance I get. Tita Smith flew as a guest of Vietnam Airlines for the purpose of reviewing the flight. Sydney Share or comment on this article: I flew business class from Australia with Vietnam Airlines. Here's what you can expect e-mail Add commentRecession-Proofing Your Portfolio With GoldTrump's lawyers rebuff DA's idea for upholding his hush money conviction

VICTORIA — British Columbia Premier David Eby says Canada's premiers and the federal government have hatched a game plan over possible U.S. tariffs, where Conservative premiers lobby their Republican counterparts and left-leaning leaders court the Democrats, while the federal government focuses on president-elect Donald Trump. Eby says the premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talked about using their political diversity and connections to approach politicians and business leaders in the United States, as talks over Trump's proposed 25 per cent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico ramp up. He says it has been discussed that Conservative premiers Danielle Smith in Alberta, Doug Ford in Ontario and Nova Scotia's Tim Houston are well-placed to lobby their contacts with Republican governors and business leaders. In a year-end interview, Eby says as a New Democrat leader he will likely have more in common speaking with Democrat governors and business leaders from the West Coast states. He says Canada's diversity of representation, ranging from the right and left sides of the political spectrum, can bring leverage and advantages in tariff talks. Eby also says — if it is deemed helpful — he is prepared to appear on American's right-leaning Fox News TV network as did premiers Ford and Smith. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press