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ISU men come back a better team following an 84-70 loss to storied UCLANoneNone

Famous people making comic book cameos isn’t a new phenomenon and has become somewhat of a tradition these days. Whether as a publicity stunt, homage, or just plain fun, these appearances have always been something fans look forward to. From the presidents to the rappers no one is off limits when it comes to appearing in comics . So, let’s take a closer look at some of the most iconic (and sometimes hilarious) moments where celebrities have teamed up with superheroes. 1. Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln’s larger-than-life legacy extends far beyond history books. Surprisingly, he’s a frequent visitor in the comic book world. He has teamed up with Captain America to fight the good fight, appeared alongside Spider-Man , and even made his way into DC’s The Flash. However, perhaps his most unforgettable moment came when he was resurrected as a zombie to take on Deadpool , in a gory, hilarious showdown. Moreover, there’s something undeniably fascinating about seeing one of history’s most revered figures navigating the superhero world. 2. Eminem When you think of Eminem , you think of raw lyrics, breathless rapping, and a love for chaos. That’s why his team-up with Marvel’s Punisher feels like a match made in comic book heaven. In ‘ Eminem/Punisher: Kill You ‘, the rapper crosses paths with Frank Castle, resulting in an explosive adventure. Additionally, the rap icon also had a memorable crossover with Spider-Man. The story features Eminem crossing paths with Peter Parker during a concert gone wrong, with the two teaming up to tackle a villain threatening the crowd. These collaborations were as bold and unpredictable as Slim Shady himself. 3. Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali stepping into a boxing ring with Superman ? It sounds absurd, yet somehow, it worked and became one of the most legendary comic book moments ever. In the 1978 comic Superman vs. Muhammad Ali, the two icons square off in an intergalactic boxing match to save Earth. Moreover, with no powers allowed, the Man of Steel learns what it means to face a true champion. Spoiler: Ali wins, proving that even superheroes can’t match the “ Greatest of All Time .” 4. Barack Obama Barack Obama ’s love for comic books is no secret. So, his appearance in ‘ The Amazing Spider-Man #583 ‘ was a fan-favorite moment. Released during his inauguration, the issue sees Spidey thwarting an imposter Chameleon who tries to impersonate the President. Naturally, Spider-Man saves the day, and the real Obama gives him a heartfelt fist bump. Moreover, by appearing in one of Marvel’s flagship titles, Obama cemented himself as a pop culture icon as well as a real-world superhero for many. 5. John F. Kennedy Long before Barack Obama’s cameo, John F. Kennedy graced the pages of a Superman comic in a Cold War-era story. Needing a symbol of health and fitness to inspire the nation, JFK calls upon Superman to spread the message. In return, Kennedy helps the Man of Steel by impersonating Clark Kent to protect his secret identity in a heartwarming, albeit cheesy, moment. This crossover was as wholesome as it gets, and perfectly captured the spirit of those days. 6. Stephen Colbert Stephen Colbert is no stranger to the absurd his comic book debut was equally wild. In Marvel’s universe, Colbert runs for president during the 2008 election and even wins the popular vote. Although he doesn’t ultimately take office (a technicality, of course), the campaign featured cameos from several Marvel heroes. Colbert’s geeky persona and sharp wit made his inclusion feel natural. Additionally, his campaign storyline poked fun at politics while celebrating comic books as a space where anything, literally anything, is possible. 7. David Letterman David Letterman hosting The Avengers on his late-night show sounds ridiculous. However, Marvel Studios made it happen in ‘ Avengers #239 ‘. When the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes appear on Late Night with David Letterman, the show’s set is booby-trapped by a villain. Like usual, the Avengers save the day, and Letterman is as unflappable as ever, cracking jokes amid the chaos. Additionally, it confirms the existence of TV hosts in the Marvel universe. 8. Bill And Hillary Clinton The 1990s were a wild time for comics, and nothing proves that more than Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton attending Superman’s funeral in The ‘ Death of Superman ’. Alongside Lois Lane, Batman, and other fictional characters, the real-life first couple pays their respects to the fallen hero. They even get speaking lines, adding a surreal touch to the otherwise somber story. Their cameo highlights how deeply Superman’s legacy is interwoven with American culture. Moreover, having the Clintons at his funeral was both bizarre and fitting. This article first appeared on FirstCuriosity and was syndicated with permission.Haynes' 18 help George Mason defeat Mount St. Mary's 64-56

CleanSpark, Inc. Announces Proposed Private Offering of $550 Million of Convertible NotesPune: Police have filed six cases, including five cyber crimes, with citizens losing ₹ 59 lakh to fraudsters. Ram Dashrath Rupnath, 24, of Aundh on December 26 lodged a police complaint that the suspect, identified as Mayur Ratnakar Jadhav of Wagholi, has not returned his Ertiga car that he given to him for rental on October 25. He has stated of being cheated of ₹ 1.31 lakh. A 43-year-old resident of Khadki was defrauded of ₹ 10.94 lakh by an unidentified mobile caller who promised to sanction an immediate app-based online loan. A 56-year-old resident of Tingarenagar on December 27 lodged a complaint with the Vishrantwadi police against a cyber cheat who defrauded her of ₹ 11.23 lakh coaxing her to invest in an online share trading market scheme. In the fourth case, a 69-year-old resident has lodged a complaint with Market Yard police stating that he was cheated of ₹ 21.48 lakh by a cyber criminal who duped her into investing in online stock trading. A senior citizen has lodged a complaint with Hadapsar police stating that he was duped of ₹ 7.11 lakh by a fraudster who posed as an executive of a prominent life insurance company and asked her to deposit money online in various plans. In the sixth case, a 37-year-old resident of Mundhwa has lodged a police complaint on December 27 stating that she was cheated by a cyber fraud who asked her to invest ₹ 6.69 lakh in online share trading.

NoneLara Williams: Why are my vegan friends going back to meat?Minster FFA places second at State ATMS in Wooster

Indiana got what it wanted Tuesday night in a 97-71 rout of Sam Houston State -- a lopsided victory where its bench played well and it didn't have to go down to the wire. The Hoosiers will look for more of the same Friday night in Bloomington when they continue their homestand against nonconference foe Miami (Ohio). Four players scored in double figures for Indiana (6-2) against the Bearkats, including 18 from reserve Luke Goode. The Illinois transfer hit four 3-pointers in less than four minutes of the first half, enabling the Hoosiers to take a 34-12 lead. Led by Goode, Indiana's bench contributed a whopping 36 points. "I thought it was a total team effort on everybody's part," Hoosiers coach Mike Woodson said. "Helps when your bench come off and play the way they did. Goode was fantastic but everybody off the bench played well." Indiana also got an encouraging 19-point performance from point guard Myles Rice, who struggled a bit in the first seven games in terms of making shots and running the offense. Rice (11.1 ppg) is one of four double-figure scorers in an attack led by Mackenzie Mgbako (16.8). Meanwhile, the RedHawks (5-2) are coming off a 73-60 home win Monday against Air Force. Bellarmine transfer Peter Suder poured in a career-high 42 points on 17-of-21 shooting, the highest-scoring game in program history since Wally Szczerbiak scored 43 in 1999. Suder, who averaged 10.5 ppg as a sophomore last season, is up to 17.4 ppg this season. He's hitting 58.8 percent of his field goals while also chipping in 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals. "I always say players win games, man. Coaches lose games," Miami coach Travis Steele told the Journal-News. "Peter was phenomenal. It was just get out of the way and just let him go." Forward Kam Craft, who Steele landed out of high school when he was still coaching at Xavier, is the RedHawks' second-leading scorer at 14.1 ppg. The Hoosiers have won 22 of the previous 25 meetings, including an 86-56 rout two years ago in Indianapolis. --Field Level Media

NoneForgotten former Chelsea star guilty of SHOCKING miss - as fans are left baffled by his blunder Galatasaray beat Bodrum 1-0 to maintain their five-point lead at the top of table An ex-Chelsea star produced a big miss after being teed up by Victor Osimhen Will Ruben Amorim be Man United's saviour? LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! Available wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes every Monday and Thursday By ABDI RASHID Published: 23:40, 23 November 2024 | Updated: 23:42, 23 November 2024 e-mail View comments A forgotten former Chelsea winger produced a shocking miss during Galatasaray's win against Bodrum The Turkish champions maintained their five-point lead over rivals Fenerbahce at the top of the table with a 1-0 win on saturday. Former Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi 54th minute header proved to be the difference against the relegation-threatened hosts. However, it's another ex-Blues star who will grab attention for the wrong reason after his incredible miss from close-range. Galatasaray had the opportunity to double their lead when Victor Osimhen ran through on goal before laying it to Hakim Ziyech . From just a few yards out and with the goalkeeper out of position, the Moroccan winger failed to score, instead skying the ball. A former Chelsea winger produced a shocking miss during Galatasaray's win against Bodrum Hakim Ziyech immediately looked to the ground in disappoitnemt after his miss The Moroccan star has endured a frustrating season so far due to a muscle tear 👀 Hakim Ziyech, müsait pozisyondan faydalanamadı. #BDRvGS pic.twitter.com/CMr9u0Hpkp — beIN SPORTS Türkiye (@beINSPORTS_TR) November 23, 2024 Ziyech immediately looked to the ground in disappointment before nodding at Osimhen, who had set ip the chance. Fans were left baffledon social media, with one posting: 'My late grandma will score this goal with ease'. Another said: 'Always finish with the foot opposite of where the ball came from if you can.... finishing 101...basics'. 'This is a crazy miss. You could just tap-in', a third wrote. The former Ajax winger has endured a frustrating campaign so far having started just one league match due to a muscle tear. He has played eight times across all competitions this season, registering one goal and one assist in that time. Ziyech joined Galatasaray on a permanent deal last summer following a loan spell last season. He scored 14 goals in 107 Chelsea appearances, but fell out of favour under Graham Potter, and saw a loan move to PSG collapse on deadline day in January 2023 despite his trip to the French capital. Turkey Football Hakim Ziyech Chelsea Share or comment on this article: Forgotten former Chelsea star guilty of SHOCKING miss - as fans are left baffled by his blunder e-mail Add commentQ3 Sales and operating results better than guidance Q3 Sales increase of 7% represents sequential improvement for the fifth consecutive quarter Raises full year 2024 outlook and provides fourth quarter guidance REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio, Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Victoria’s Secret & Co. (“Victoria’s Secret” or the “Company”) (NYSE: VSCO) today reported financial results for the third quarter ended November 2, 2024. Chief Executive Officer Hillary Super commented, “I am very encouraged by the strength of our third quarter business and the positive, early customer response to our holiday merchandise assortments. Sales increased 7% for the quarter, with mid-single digit growth in North America and 20+% growth from our International business. Our sales performance was well ahead of our expectations, and our best quarterly sales growth since 2021. Our strength for the quarter was broad based across all regions, all channels, all major merchandise categories and importantly all brands - Victoria’s Secret, PINK and Adore Me - were up to last year. We won the major moments during the quarter, starting with PINK back to campus in August, followed by our VSX sport launch in September and finishing the quarter with the return of the VS Fashion Show in October. I am particularly optimistic because these results were powered by emotional products she loves and clear, elevated brand marketing and storytelling. Our strength in sales and disciplined inventory management translated to strong margins which were up to last year, and our teams continue to be relentless on controlling costs in our business. I want to thank our VS&Co team whose passion for our brands and commitment to our customers and our transformation fueled these results. It was a great quarter for me to have joined the company and a great quarter to be on the VS&Co team.” Hillary continued, “We are excited to see our momentum from the third quarter continue through Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Our merchandise offering and giftable product assortments are resonating with the customer and driving traffic both in stores and online. The strong product acceptance supported by our best-in-mall store experience and dozens of digital enhancements are driving solid conversion and basket size. As I travel with the teams, I have observed that our stores are often the busiest in the mall and am particularly impressed with how we continue to serve and engage our customers.” Third Quarter 2024 Results The Company reported net sales of $1.347 billion for the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 7% compared to net sales of $1.265 billion for the third quarter of 2023 and above our previously communicated guidance range of a net sales increase of low-single digits. Total comparable sales for the third quarter of 2024 increased 3%. The Company reported a net loss of $56 million, or $0.71 per share for the third quarter of 2024. This result compares to a net loss of $71 million, or $0.92 per share for the third quarter of 2023. Third quarter 2024 operating loss was $47 million compared to $67 million in the third quarter of 2023. Excluding the impact of the items described at the conclusion of this press release, third quarter 2024 adjusted net loss was $39 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, which was better than our previously communicated range of an adjusted net loss of $0.60 to $0.80 per share and better than last year’s third quarter adjusted net loss of $66 million, or $0.86 per share. Third quarter 2024 adjusted operating loss of $28 million was favorable to our previously communicated guidance of an adjusted operating loss in the range of $40 to $60 million, and last year’s third quarter adjusted operating loss of $60 million. Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2024 Outlook The Company is raising its full year outlook and is now forecasting net sales for the 52-week fiscal year 2024 to be up approximately 1% to 2%, compared to prior guidance of down approximately 1%, to a comparative 52-weeks from fiscal year 2023. The Company estimated the extra week in the fourth quarter of 2023 represented approximately $80 million in net sales. At this forecasted level of sales, adjusted operating income for fiscal year 2024 is now expected to be in the range of $315 million to $345 million, or favorable to prior guidance of $275 million to $300 million. The Company is forecasting net sales for the 13-week fourth quarter 2024 to increase approximately 2% to 4% to a comparative 13-weeks from the fourth quarter of 2023. At this forecasted level of sales, adjusted operating income for the fourth quarter of 2024 is expected to be in the range of $240 million to $270 million. Adjusted net income per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2024 is estimated to be in the range of $2.00 to $2.30. Forecasted adjusted operating income and adjusted net income per diluted share for the fourth quarter and full year 2024 exclude the financial impact of purchase accounting items related to the Adore Me acquisition, including expense (income) related to changes in the estimated fair value of contingent consideration and performance-based payments, as well as the amortization of intangible assets. The Company is not able to provide a reconciliation of forward-looking adjusted operating income or adjusted net income per diluted share to the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measures because the Company is unable to provide a meaningful or accurate reconciliation or estimation of certain reconciling items without unreasonable effort, due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting the timing of, and quantifying, the various purchase accounting items that are necessary for such reconciliation. Quarterly Earnings Conference Call Victoria’s Secret & Co. will conduct its third quarter earnings call at 8:00 a.m. Eastern on Friday, December 6, 2024. To listen, call 1-800-619-9066 (international dial-in number: 1-212-519-0836); conference ID 5358727. For an audio replay, call 1-800-839-1334 (international replay number: 1-203-369-3831); conference ID 2485654 or log onto www.victoriassecretandco.com . The materials accompanying the earnings call have been posted on the Investors section of the Company’s website. The audio replay will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call. About Victoria’s Secret & Co. Victoria’s Secret & Co. (NYSE: VSCO) is a specialty retailer of modern, fashion-inspired collections including signature bras, panties, lingerie, casual sleepwear, athleisure and swim, as well as award-winning prestige fragrances and body care. VS&Co is comprised of market leading brands, Victoria’s Secret and PINK, that share a common purpose of supporting women in all they do, and Adore Me, a technology-led, digital first innovative intimates brand serving women of all sizes and budgets at all phases of life. We are committed to empowering our more than 30,000 associates across a global footprint of 1,380 retail stores in nearly 70 countries. We strive to provide the best products to help women express their confidence, sexiness and power and use our platform to celebrate the extraordinary diversity of women’s experiences. Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 We caution that any forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) contained in this press release or made by us, our management, or our spokespeople involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, our future performance and financial results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements, and any future performance or financial results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding our future operating results, the implementation and impact of our strategic plans, and our ability to meet environmental, social, and governance goals. Words such as “estimate,” “commit,” “will,” “target,” “goal,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “strive,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “continue,” “potential” and any similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Risks associated with the following factors, among others, could affect our results of operations and financial performance and cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements: we may not realize all of the expected benefits of the spin-off from Bath & Body Works, Inc. (f/k/a L Brands, Inc.); general economic conditions, inflation, and changes in consumer confidence and consumer spending patterns; market disruptions including pandemics or significant health hazards, severe weather conditions, natural disasters, terrorist activities, financial crises, political crises or other major events, or the prospect of these events; our ability to successfully implement our strategic plan; difficulties arising from turnover in company leadership or other key positions; our ability to attract, develop and retain qualified associates and manage labor-related costs; our dependence on traffic to our stores and the availability of suitable store locations on satisfactory terms; our ability to successfully operate and expand internationally and related risks; the operations and performance of our franchisees, licensees, wholesalers and joint venture partners; our ability to successfully operate and grow our direct channel business; our ability to protect our reputation and the image and value of our brands; our ability to attract customers with marketing, advertising and promotional programs; the highly competitive nature of the retail industry and the segments in which we operate; consumer acceptance of our products and our ability to manage the life cycle of our brands, remain current with fashion trends, and develop and launch new merchandise, product lines and brands successfully; our ability to realize the potential benefits and synergies sought with the acquisition of AdoreMe, Inc.; our ability to incorporate artificial intelligence into our business operations successfully and ethically while effectively managing the associated risks; our ability to source materials and produce, distribute and sell merchandise on a global basis, including risks related to: political instability and geopolitical conflicts; environmental hazards and natural disasters; significant health hazards and pandemics; delays or disruptions in shipping and transportation and related pricing impacts; and disruption due to labor disputes; our geographic concentration of production and distribution facilities in central Ohio and Southeast Asia; the ability of our vendors to manufacture and deliver products in a timely manner, meet quality standards and comply with applicable laws and regulations; fluctuations in freight, product input and energy costs; our and our third-party service providers’ ability to implement and maintain information technology systems and to protect associated data and system availability; our ability to maintain the security of customer, associate, third-party and company information; stock price volatility; shareholder activism matters; our ability to maintain our credit rating; our ability to comply with regulatory requirements; and legal, tax, trade and other regulatory matters. Except as may be required by law, we assume no obligation and do not intend to make publicly available any update or other revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect circumstances existing after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of future events, even if experience or future events make it clear that any expected results expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements will not be realized. Additional information regarding these and other factors can be found in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 22, 2024. Total Net Sales (Millions): 1 – Results include consolidated joint venture sales in China, royalties associated with franchised stores and wholesale sales. Comparable Sales Increase (Decrease): NOTE: Please refer to our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for further discussion regarding our comparable sales calculation. 1 – Results include company-operated stores in the U.S. and Canada, consolidated joint venture stores in China and direct sales. 2 – Results include company-operated stores in the U.S. and Canada and consolidated joint venture stores in China. Total Stores: 1 – Includes twelve partner-operated stores at 11/2/24.

Ardent Health to Participate in the 43rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

SMART HOMES – Festive CheerEXCLUSIVE Keir Starmer declares war on benefits Britain: Prime Minister vows to crack down on £137billion welfare 'blight' By GLEN OWEN POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 18:25 EST, 23 November 2024 | Updated: 18:36 EST, 23 November 2024 e-mail 42 View comments Sir Keir Starmer today pledges to crack down hard on the 'bulging benefits bill blighting our society' as he tries to steal the Tories ' political clothes over abuses of the welfare system. The Prime Minister uses an article in today's Mail on Sunday to promise 'sweeping changes' to try to tame the £137 billion bill for welfare benefits – including a blitz on cheats and those who 'game the system' – vowing: 'No more business as usual.' His most hardline comments yet on the issue come as Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall prepares to announce a package of legislation on Tuesday to 'get Britain working', after officials forecast that more than four million people will be claiming long-term sickness benefits by 2030 – 60 per cent higher than before the pandemic. Much of the rise is due to an increase in benefits for mental health conditions, which account for more than a third of all disability claims. The amount spent by taxpayers on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( ADHD ) claims alone has shot up from just £700,000 a year in 2013 to an astonishing £292 million today, a rise of more than 41,000 per cent. The announcement marks a new push by the Prime Minister to focus on domestic politics, after his globetrotting to international summits earned him the Westminster nickname 'Never Here Keir' and Labour 's poll ratings plummeted following a backlash against the Budget . Sir Keir says that the reforms announced this week will pave the way for 'the biggest overhaul of employment support in memory'. He writes: 'In the coming months, Mail on Sunday readers will see even more sweeping changes. Because make no mistake, we will get to grips with the bulging benefits bill blighting our society.' Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to crack down on the benefit system, taming the bill on welfare benefits and tackling those who 'game the system' Sir Keir and Rachel Reeves on a visit to Panorama St Paul's in the City of London A Jobcentre plus office in Weston-super-Mare. Officials forecast that more than four million people will be claiming long-term sickness benefits by 2030 'Don't get me wrong – we will crack down hard on anyone who tries to game the system, to tackle fraud so we can take cash straight from the banks of fraudsters. 'There will be a zero-tolerance approach to these criminals. My pledge to Mail on Sunday readers is this: I will grip this problem once and for all.' But a Tory Party spokesman said: 'Labour's hollow promises on welfare reform will fool no one. When the last Conservative government introduced messages to tackle the growing benefits bill, Labour opposed them every step of the way. 'At the Budget, instead of following in our footsteps and taking difficult decisions on welfare to fund public services, Rachel Reeves instead reached straight for the tax lever. 'This new government has no clue what is needed to get people off benefits and back into work.' Read More SIR KEIR STARMER: Jobs are about dignity and pride... not just paying the bills Labour's plans include giving the NHS a role in getting people back to work, such as employing tens of thousands of people who are economically inactive for health reasons in non-clinical roles. Ms Kendall's White Paper is also expected to include the placement of work coaches in mental health clinics. The number of people claiming incapacity benefits is forecast to rise from 3.2 million last year to 4.2 million in 2029 – costing Britain £35.5 billion by the end of the decade . In 2019, there were 2.5 million people claiming these benefits, at a cost of £17 billion. In his MoS article, Sir Keir tries to reassure the Labour Left that he is not aping Tory policies by saying that the reforms will not 'sow division' by describing people on benefits as 'shirkers', but would instead 'treat people with dignity and respect'. He singles out Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride, who was Work and Pensions Secretary in Rishi Sunak's Government, for supposedly having 'picked fights instead of governing' and using 'meaningless rhetoric to grab headlines'. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has said that it is not clear why the costs of benefits have increased so much in the UK since Covid because the trend has not been seen in other countries. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall will announce a package of legislation on Tuesday to 'get Britain working' The number of people claiming incapacity benefits is forecast to rise from 3.2 million last year to 4.2 million in 2029 (file photo) In his MoS article, Sir Keir tries to reassure the Labour Left that he is not aping Tory policies by saying that the reforms will not 'sow division' and insisting that he will 'treat people with dignity and respect' Associate director Tom Waters said: 'It can't just be long Covid or the cost of living crisis by themselves, because these apply elsewhere as well. If these trends continue it will mean very difficult choices, cutting spending elsewhere or increasing taxes.' The £137 billion bill for benefits for working-age people includes £90 billion for disability and £35 billion for housing benefit. A further £166 billion is paid to pensioners, taking the Government's total social security expenditure to £303 billion, which is nearly 11 per cent of the country's GDP. Under the new reforms, the NHS is also likely to be tasked with working more closely with Jobcentres, linking local health and work and skills support as part of a drive to devolve more decision-making to local areas. More detailed plans to reform welfare payments linked to health conditions will be announced in the new year. NHS Keir Starmer Labour Share or comment on this article: Keir Starmer declares war on benefits Britain: Prime Minister vows to crack down on £137billion welfare 'blight' e-mail Add comment

The serene coastal town of Okpoama Kingdom in Brass local government area of Bayelsa State came alive on Saturday as music heavyweights Patoranking, Iyanya, Spyro, and other top entertainers stormed the community for the much-anticipated Okpoama International Beach Carnival. The event, which drew thousands of fans, featured electrifying performances, comic displays, and a beach party that kept attendees on their feet. The Beach Carnival has always paraded top musical and comic artistes yearly and attracted multitude of tourists from within and outside the state. In the time past, Timaya, Davido, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage were among the top artistes that identified with and thrilled visitors at previous events. The event presented indispensable opportunity for people outside the state to enjoy Bayelsa hospitality and savour local state delicacies. Former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, applauded the emerging global status of the annual Carnival at the Brass Island, saying it has added to the steady growth of the country’s entertainment industry. Sylva particularly applauded the performances of the top and other emerging musical and comic artistes that stormed Bayelsa and thrilled guests, tourists and residents that attended the carnival. The former Minister of State for Petroleum described the event as beautiful sights and sounds from this year’s Beach Carnival. He said, “The best of our country’s musical talents performed and enjoyed the ambience of Brass Island. “Indigenous musical prospects were given the chance to perform alongside internationally recognised stars in a deliberate act of raising their stock. “Ultimately, the dream of making Okpoama a proper globally recognised tourism destination is in sigh”, he said.Firefighters and passengers hurt after train hits fire truck on crossingStocks lost steam near all-time highs, with Wall Street traders gearing up for key jobs data that will help determine whether the Federal Reserve will cut or hold interest rates in December. Equities dropped a day after the S&P 500 hit its 56th record this year. Short-term Treasuries underperformed, with the market standing at critical technical levels. Bitcoin pared a rally that earlier drove digital asset past $100,000 buoyed by President-elect Donald Trump’s pick of a crypto proponent to be the next head of the US securities regulator. In the run-up to the US payrolls report, data showed jobless claims rose to a one-month high during a week that included the Thanksgiving holiday. Economists estimate that nonfarm payrolls rose by 220,000 in November, rebounding after two hurricanes and a now-ended strike lowered October numbers. The unemployment rate is seen unchanged at 4.1%. “We’ll get a fuller picture from tomorrow’s monthly jobs report, but for now, the story continues to be a labor market that occasionally appears to bend, but avoids breaking,” said Chris Larkin at E*Trade from Morgan Stanley. The S&P 500 slipped 0.2%. The Nasdaq 100 slid 0.3%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.6%. The Russell 2000 Index fell 1.3%. Applied Materials Inc. sank after an analyst downgrade. Tesla Inc. rallied as Bank of America Corp. raised its price target. Meme stocks like GameStop Corp. and AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. climbed after a cryptic X post from Keith Gill, the online persona known as Roaring Kitty. Treasury 10-year yields were little changed at 4.18%. Swap trading shows the implied odds of a quarter-point Fed cut this month around 65%. A measure of France’s bond risk fell amid hopes lawmakers will strike a deal on next year’s budget sooner than many investors had expected. Oil inched lower in a choppy session after OPEC deferred supply increases for three months, but still plans to add barrels next year to a market that’s expected to be oversupplied. A survey conducted by 22V Research shows that 45% of investors believe Friday’s US payrolls data will be “mixed/negligible,” 32% said it will be “risk-off,” and 23% “risk-on.” “Investors are paying the most attention to payrolls again, but attention to wages has been increasing,” said Dennis DeBusschere at 22V. “Our take is service inflation looks to be settling at a pace above what is consistent with the Fed hitting its 2% inflation target over time. That may indicate labor market inflation pressures, which makes wage inflation data more important to monitor.” Leading indicators point to a roughly as-expected reading in the payrolls report, with headline job growth potentially coming in somewhere in the 180,000-240,000 range, albeit with a big band of uncertainty given the current global backdrop, according to Matthew Weller at Forex.com and City Index. “With an interest-rate cut largely priced in at this point, the risks may be skewed slightly toward a bounce in the greenback if the jobs report revives the odds of a December pause,” Weller noted. “Though any market moves might be limited as the Fed’s policy decision is more around when rather than if it will pause rate cuts in the near future.” A stronger headline would be warmly welcomed by markets, supporting a theme of normalization rather than a deterioration on the jobs front, according to Oscar Munoz and Gennadiy Goldberg at TD Securities. “We expect a stronger reading to initially lead to a significant bear-flattening reaction, but see a likelihood that the initial knee-jerk is pared back after markets assess the details,” they noted. “We remain buyers of duration on dips and will look to higher yields as a possible entry point to reestablishing longs.” One of the more popular trades within the fixed income markets this year has been the expectation of a steeper Treasury yield curve, with investors either expecting the short-end of the curve to fall and/or the back end to either stay put or even rise, according to Lawrence Gillum at LPL Financial. However, stronger economic data has priced out the need for the Fed to aggressively cut short-term interest rates and now with recent commentary suggesting the Fed is in no hurry to cut rates, the front end of the curve has stalled at current levels and has kept the long end range-bound. “If the Fed pauses too long or if they suggest the ‘neutral’ rate is higher than market expectations, markets may become concerned about the deleterious impact of high interest rates, which may actually cause long-term interest rates to fall, further tightening the spread between short and long-term interest rates,” he noted. On average, the 10-year yield is higher than the fed funds rate by about 1%, so the yield curve will eventually go back to its upward sloping shape but that may not happen until the middle of next year, Gillum concluded. Since the US central bank began easing rates in mid-September, two-, five- and 10-year Treasury yields have risen from around 3.5% to above 4%. The selloff has been accompanied by traders reducing the chances of sweeping cuts amid resilient economic data, with a little more than three quarter-percentage point cuts over the coming 12 months to around 3.7%. A string of stronger-than-estimated data points sent the US version of Citigroup’s Economic Surprise Index soaring this year. The gauge measures the difference between actual releases and analyst expectations. “While the 10-year US Treasury yield may see upward pressure from economic strength and potential policy impacts, yields on shorter-dated notes could still fall, although perhaps not as far as in Europe, as policymakers there have more work to do,” according to Janus Henderson Investors’ 2025 market outlook. Janus also noted that the global economy is somewhat late in the cycle — warranting caution — yet the data continue to defy expectations, and growth is steady. What does this mean for investors? “At the highest level, the combination of rate cuts and other potential accommodative policy in the U.S. and stimulus in China should lend support to the global economy. Still, there are forces at play that make it imperative to apply caution when adding risk,” Janus said. “Broadly speaking, markets have been quick to price in the cycle’s extension, leaving valuations vulnerable to downgrades if risks increase.” Corporate Highlights: Key events this week: Some of the main moves in markets: Stocks Currencies Cryptocurrencies Bonds Commodities This story was produced with the assistance of Bloomberg Automation. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

Is there anyone among us who hasn't been hypnotized by a late-night infomercial selling a random gadget or doodad that promises a life of bliss? Didn't think so — and for those who prefer practical presents they can actually use, As Seen On TV products make great holiday gifts. A that's lightweight and flexible? Yes! A that weighs less than 2 pounds? Sounds good. Those are just a few of the gifty gadgets you'll find at Walmart right now. Handy Heater Freedom Wearable Ceramic Heater Horsepower Duck Vacuum Evertone Women's Comfort Toe Straightener Spa and Relax Slippers GraniteStone Robo Twist Electric Automatic Jar Opener Huggle Wearable Blanket Hoodie TubShroom Drain Hair Catcher NutriChopper Vegetable Slicer Miracle Smile Water Flosser GraniteStone Nutriblade Steak Knives, 6-Pack Gopher II Deluxe Grabber Pillow Pad Multi-Angle Tablet Stand Better Brella Inverted Umbrella Fur Daddy Sonic Pet Hair Remover True Touch 5-Finger Deshedding Glove BulbHead Ruby Sliders Chair Pads, 8-Pack In the harsh light of day, it can be hard to justify buying these items for yourself, but as a gift for someone you love? They make total sense. Your friend with enviably long hair will undoubtedly appreciate this drain-saving , while this will be a welcome sight for your husband/sous chef. Not 100% sold? Reviewers often love these products and rave about their effectiveness. Said one fan of a clever that closes upward, "I no longer get soaked getting in or out of the car. I've bought four more to use as gifts." If someone on your holiday shopping list still has you stumped, these As Seen On TV picks from Walmart might be exactly what you're looking for. They're all $40 or less, and they'll get plenty of use all year long. Not only is this a great gift for , but it's a nice pick for people who have to spend time outdoors in frigid conditions. Dads who have to shovel the driveway? Teachers on recess duty? This lightweight heater can be worn around the neck to deliver warmth on demand. Genius, right? It's cordless and rechargeable, and each charge gives it six hours of power. "This is really good!" one happy customer raved. "I can't believe how warm it gets. It is perfect for outdoor activities like football games. I also like how comfortable it is, plus I can plug in my phone to the USB port for charging." Anyone with kids will appreciate this rechargeable handheld vacuum. It's just right for grabbing cookie crumbs and errant fries from the car's floor and in between the seats. Despite the fact that it weighs just over a pound, this easy-to-use gadget packs a lot of power. Shoppers give it 4.8 out of 5 stars. "The vacuum is very lightweight, but does the job," one said. "It is easy to handle and store." At first glance, these may look like just another pair of soft, cozy faux fur slippers, but they're so much more. The soles are made from thick memory foam that hugs the foot with each step, plus the slippers feature clever toe dividers to help relieve pressure and encourage proper alignment. We all know someone who's constantly complaining of foot pain, right? For anyone with weakness or pain in their hands, twisting stubborn lids can be quite the challenge. So why not let a robot do the hard work? This electric jar opener is a nifty little gizmo that clips onto practically any lid and pries it off with the push of a button. How's that for efficiency? Let's do the twist! This reviewer agreed: "Easy to use to open difficult jars." The name says it all. The Huggle is a hoodie and a blanket in one, which makes for optimal coziness on cold days and nights. Chilly tootsies? No longer, thanks to the extra-cozy fleece with a sherpa lining. "Feels like you are wrapped in kittens!" exclaimed a comfy customer. "They are so soft and cozy. My daughter doesn't want to take hers off even when she gets too warm because she says it feels so good. My 17-year-old son practically lives in his. Warning ... if you plan on using this as loungewear, don't plan on getting anything done. You will be in 'lazy mode' until you force yourself to take it off." The tagline here is "No more clogs," but it could be "No more tears" as friends and family with shedding strands never again deal with blocked pipes. They can also say goodbye to caustic chemicals that never actually fix the problem. With TubShroom, each strand wraps around the ingenious cylinder instead of going down the drain. "It really works!" raved a fan. "When I ordered the TubShroom, I was skeptical. ... but surprise, surprise. I absolutely love it. I don't worry about clogging my tub anymore. It fits the drain perfectly and traps all the hair I lose whenever I wash my hair. I'm going to buy a few more to give as gifts to family members." With this gizmo, there's no more tears chopping onions — or tending to cuts after a knife goes awry. Three stainless-steel blades make four chopping styles possible: thick, thin, cube and stick. It's also easy to store and dishwasher-safe. Ideal for holiday meals! One chopper wrote, "I have arthritis and this works wonderfully for me." Another reported, "I needed a better and safer way to cut vegetables, and this is great. I would buy this again." When regular flossing won't do, it's time to bring in the muscle. This gizmo gets rid of residue between the teeth and gum line — a breeding ground for plaque and tartar (and the reason you keep rescheduling your cleaning). A happy reviewer wrote, "My youngest granddaughter just had braces put on and was struggling with food stuck and flossing with dental floss ... this device has taken care of these problems and has made her very happy, which makes me happy!" If you've had an episode of interrupted by a commercial with someone squealing, "I thought you had to be a professional chef to cut like this," this knife set might look familiar. Perfect for anyone in your life who loves slicing and dicing in the kitchen, Nutriblades slice beautifully, plus they're easy to hold and clean. "Great knife set," shared a fan. "These knives are very sharp. They make a perfect cut on meat, and vegetables like tomatoes, zucchini, squash, etc. I'm very happy with my purchase. The knives are beautiful and well-made." Some of us are not blessed with height. Some of us have aches and pains that prevent us from stretching. The Gopher is a hero to all. It can extend your reach by nearly 3 feet, allowing you to conquer those high shelves and low cabinets. Its rotating head lets you get into hard-to-reach spots, and the included suction cup means you get a better grip. This shopper just can't get enough of their Gopher: "My buddy, my bestie, my savior! My recovery would've meant even more agony if I didn't have my grabber because I drop everything. I traveled out-of-state for surgery, so it folded in my suitcase with little to no space taken up." This clever cushion lets the tablet addict in your life use their device while sitting or lying down. Three adjustable angles mean there's no more wrestling with the tablet, and it even comes with a built-in side pocket for storing a phone or accessories like AirPods, glasses or chargers. Its built-in ledge means it can be used to prop up a device or a book too. The ultra-soft cover is removable and machine-washable. Comes in four colors. "I was a little skeptical at first," admitted one shopper. "But I love this cushioned tablet holder because I can use it while sitting on the couch or lying in bed (the actual reason I bought it). It is lightweight but very stable, and flipping it for different positions is so easy. I use it for my tablet and phone. I will buy one for my daughter." Sure, the average umbrella keeps you dry, but we all know how it drips all over the house as soon as you walk in the door. The Better Brella closes upward, trapping all the wet folds of cloth and preventing them from leaking all over the floor. This inverted umbrella is also windproof up to 50 mph. One reviewer purchased one after seeing this product advertised on TV: I ordered this after seeing the infomercial because it just made sense. The Better Brella is exactly that — better! I don't get wet getting out of my car, my papers don't get wet when I get in my car, and there are no drips on the floor or carpet when I enter a building. Brilliant product — several friends have purchased one since I received mine." Shopping for a pet parent? This little gadget employs sonic technology to lift dog and cat hair off of furniture, carpets, drapes, bedding, clothing and more. Drag it along the surface of your couch and the sonic vibrations loosen trapped hair as the microfiber bristles cling to it and lift it up and away. The device is reusable, much like a handheld vacuum, and has a built-in LED light to illuminate where hair is hiding. This reviewer said it works great for homes with cats: "We have a cat with long hair who constantly sheds and the sonic pet hair remover really works. Best pet hair remover I've found! A great purchase!" Another must-have for the pet owners in your life? This clever glove that makes it easy to groom a dog or cat while giving them some attention at the same time. This right-handed glove with five fingers and a silicone palm has textured grips that cling to stray hair and fur and remove it with each stroke. Pets will love the free massage, and owners love that it prevents fur from building up around the home. It's suitable for all breeds of dogs and cats. Take it from this reviewer: "Our cat hated to be brushed. Got this for her for Christmas and she loves it! It was almost scary how much fur it took off, but no more hairballs. Easy enough to clean, and she can't get enough 'petting' from it! Would recommend." New homeowners are sure to love — and use! — these protective felt feet for furniture that keep hardwood and tile flooring looking sharp. The flexible Ruby Sliders slip onto most legs and stay firmly in place. At the bottom of each is a felt disk that won't scratch your flooring even as heavy furniture shifts. The secret to this design is the silicone material, which keeps a tight seal around the furniture legs. Unlike other felt feet, these cups also protect the lower part of each leg from wayward vacuums, feet and the like. This reviewer plans to purchase more: "Love these sliders! My chairs screech horribly when chairs are moved. I heard about these and decided to try them out. I got just one package to try. I'll be getting two more packages for the other four chairs. I have large round bottoms on my chairs. I found that turning them inside out and stretching and 'unrolling' the sides was easiest." Want to save even more? Make sure you're signed up for . It's easy to . You'll get free shipping and grocery delivery, savings on gas and prescriptions, exclusive access to major deals, and more. (And by the way, those without still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — In one of the more anticipated news conferences in recent memory at North Carolina, the Tar Heels formally introduced six-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Belichick as UNC’s next head football coach Thursday. The news conference came nearly a week to the moment after word began to spread that Belichick was in the conversation to replace Mack Brown, a former NCAA national champion and two-term UNC head coach who’d been fired less than two weeks prior. Belichick, whose 24-year run as head coach of the New England Patriots of the National Football League ended in January, won six Super Bowl titles and appeared in nine during that run. Belichick also appeared in three Super Bowls as an assistant coach prior to his head-coaching tenure, earning two rings with the New York Giants under Bill Parcells. This will be Belichick’s first foray into college football, though. His father, Steve, was briefly an assistant at North Carolina from 1953-55 before a 30-year run as an assistant at Navy. What Bill Belichick said — On coaching in college football: “Always wanted to coach college football. It just never really worked out. I’ve had some good years in the NFL. So that was OK, but this is really kind of a dream come true.” — On his family ties to UNC through his father: “Obviously, I was too young to remember a lot of things from Carolina. But as I grew up, you know, you hear the same story over and over and over and over again, and so one story I always heard was, Billy’s first words were, ‘Beat Duke.’ So, full circle.” — On reports he presented a 400-page document to UNC during the process: “I mean, don’t believe everything you read in the papers. All right. I have no idea where that came from. I don’t have a 400-page document. I mean, and to think I was going to hand it (over)?” — On hiring Michael Lombardi as UNC’s general manager: “So grateful to have Michael with me in this process. Michael and I have worked together going all the way back over 30 years, and he has a great knowledge of the general manager role. In this type of position, in terms of scouting two sets of players, high school players and college portal players, as well as dealing with some version of what’s called salary cap, which is now part of college football.” — Why take this job at age 72?: “Well, it beats working. When you love what you do, and my dad told me this, when you love what you do, it’s not work. I love what I do. I love coaching. I love the interaction with the players. Love building a team, working with assistants, game planning, the game itself, which, there’s some good ones, there’s some bad, but they’re all learning experiences.” — On adjusting to the college game from NFL: “I do think there are a lot of parallels. There’s certainly some differences, but there are some parallels and I think that’s the reason for the general structure of Michael, as a general manager, myself as a coach, and working together collaboratively like we have done being in a professional organization. So yeah, I do think there’s some parallels and there’s differences.” — On if he wants to return to the NFL: “I didn’t come here to leave.” — On filling out his UNC staff: “We’ll hire the best coaches we can hire. I want to do everything I can to help this program and make it as strong as possible. So the best moves we can get. There are several college coaches that are involved in bowl games and so forth. So I wouldn’t interfere with the process at those schools with their commitments to their team. So we’ll see how it goes. Look, in the end, I’ve already had a lot of people contact me. There’ll certainly be a strong presence of NFL people on the staff. I think that’s a certainty, and not only in the staff, but in the training area. But at the same time, looking for the best people we can get for Carolina that fit. I think it’s a little different than what an NFL team would have, but we’ll see.” — On how he turned his attention to a college job: “That’s a great question. Here’s what I would say: College kind of came to me this year. I didn’t necessarily go and seek it out, but I had many coaches. I mean, there were probably a couple of dozen coaches talk to me and say, `Hey, can we can sit down and talk to you about these things.’ The let’s call it salary cap of pro football relative to college football. The headsets. The green dot. The two-minute warning. The tablets on the sideline. Those were all rules changes this year in college football that were either the same or similar to what we had in the NFL. And and these coaches said, `Hey, coach, can we just talk to you about how you did this? How you did that? How did you use this? How did you handle the two-minute warning? How did that affect your strategy at the end of the half, the end of the game? How did you look at it, you know? How did you break it down?’ “And so, as those conversations started, and then the personnel conversation started, relative to salary cap and how you spend whatever the allotment of money you have is whether that’s by player, by position, by freshman recruits transfer. How did you look at that? And so I had multiple conversations with several coaches in this conference, within the Big 10 and Southeast Conference, and others ... sometimes there were coaches who were on the staff that were responsible for what’s called situational football. For kind of organizing that, or in some cases, a person in the organization that was maybe in football, but is now being moved over to the, let’s call it semi general manager type role that wasn’t familiar with that aspect of what was now invading college football, right? With the, revenue share and the NIL. So that started to make me a lot more aware of it, because the first thing I did was learn about it and say, `OK, well, what are you dealing with here?’ And then they would kind of explain. Here’s our situation. Then you hear another coach at another school explain it sort of the same way, but it was different at his school for whatever reason it was, and so forth, on and on and on. “So in the end, long answer to a short question here. Sorry, you know, I like to ramble on at press conferences, right? But as you learn different things about different programs, you start to put it all together.” What Bubba Cunningham said — On the future of college football: “In the words of Yogi Berra, ‘The future ain’t what it used to be.’ ” — On the job search turning to Belichick: “We looked at a wide variety of people, and obviously when it became realistic that he was available, that certainly was a path that we really wanted to go down and explore. We’re just really fortunate to be here today and just that he was willing to say yes and to lend his expertise and knowledge to Carolina. Very excited about it.” — On UNC’s funding its top programs in football and basketball: “I think it’s why we’re trying to do what we’re doing. I think if you go all in on those two sports, those two sports provide all of the finances for the rest of the department. The more successful we are in football, more successful we are in basketball, the more opportunities we’re going to be able to provide for everyone else here. So I’m delighted with it, and I think our future is incredibly bright given (Belichick’s) leadership and that of Hubert Davis. Our women’s basketball program starting revenue share this year with the NCAA tournament. Courtney (Banghart) has done a fantastic job. So I think the continued investment is an investment in the future of Carolina athletics.” What Lee Roberts said — On UNC football history, which began in 1888: “I suspect there have been few days in those 136 years that have been as auspicious as this one.” ©2024 The News & Observer. Visit at newsobserver.com . Distributed at Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Dec 18, 2024 Weak fluorination strategy unlocks graphene's potential for optoelectronic and energy applications ( Nanowerk News ) Researchers from Tohoku University and collaborators have developed a weak fluorination strategy to address the zero-bandgap limitation of graphene . The findings are published in Applied Physics Letters ( "Photoluminescence and transport properties of fluorinated graphene via a weak fluorination strategy" ). In most electronic materials, a "gate," i.e., a bandgap, exists that can either stop or allow electricity to pass. This is how we control electricity in things like computers or phones. But graphene has no such gate, meaning it conducts electricity continuously and cannot be turned off. To counteract this, scientists have often added a small amount of fluorine atoms to graphene, slightly changing its structure and introducing a bandgap, without damaging its core advantages. Fluorination, however, relies on the use of hazardous chemicals rendering it dangerous and impractical to apply at a large scale. "We developed an environmentally-friendly approach, one where we utilized fluoropolymers under controlled conditions to achieve selective fluorination," said Dr. Yaping Qi, assistant professor at Tohoku University. "This advancement also enables enhanced photoluminescence and tunable transport properties while maintaining high carrier mobility, making graphene more applicable for use in optoelectronic and energy devices." Characterization of the Gr and FGr. (Image: Yue Xue, Yaping Qi, Tong Tong, et al.) Qi and her colleagues used advanced techniques, including photoluminescence (PL) mapping and Raman spectroscopy, to analyze how fluorination changes graphene's structure and optical properties. Their tests showed that fluorinated graphene has improved light-emitting abilities, making it promising for use in LEDs, sensors, and other energy technologies. This work also connects to recent developments in van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures, which are created by layering different 2D materials to achieve multiple functions. Such structures have potential uses in memory storage, artificial intelligence, and photoelectric devices. "The integration of fluorinated graphene into vdW heterostructures opens up exciting possibilities, especially for flexible electronics and systems that can perform multiple tasks at once," said stated Dr. Xichan Gao, a co-author and assistant professor at the Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR) at Tohoku University. "This research demonstrates how environmentally friendly processing can significantly improve the functional properties of graphene," adds Qi. "Combining fluorination with strain engineering opens new possibilities for the development of scalable, high-performance 2D materials, providing a pathway to enhance graphene's practical utility while maintaining a focus on safe and scalable material processing techniques." Source: Tohoku University (Note: Content may be edited for style and length)