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OTTAWA—Prime Minister and a handful of his top advisers flew to Florida to dine with president-elect and members of his team Friday night. On the menu: meat loaf and a range of meaty matters, including some of the most contentious Canada-U.S. issues that have gone unresolved for years. At the end of the surprise summit, there was no indication that Trump would drop his threat to impose a massive 25-per cent surcharge on Canadian products, announced by Trump on social media Monday — a threat that, if executed, would have a devastating impact on Canadian energy, auto and manufacturing exports. Still, the meeting between Trump, Trudeau and several of the future president’s advisers and their wives lasted more than three hours, and was described by a senior Canadian official as a positive, wide-ranging discussion. Trudeau, accompanied by Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, and chief of staff Katie Telford, travelled to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in West Palm Beach on a weekend in which many Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. At the dinner table were key Trump officials and others, including North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, nominated for Interior Secretary who will lead Trump’s effort to open federal lands to more oil and gas drilling, and Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick, a staunch enthusiast of tariffs, and Trump’s nominee for national security adviser Mike Waltz. Other guests included Pennsylvania senator-elect Dave McCormick and his wife, Dina Powell, a former Trump deputy national security adviser. The face-to-face meeting came at Trudeau’s suggestion, said the Canadian source with knowledge of their communications. They discussed trade, border security, fentanyl, defence matters including NATO, Ukraine, and icebreakers (Canada, the U.S. and Finland recently agreed to a trilateral pact to rebuild their icebreaking fleets). The leaders and their teams also discussed China, energy issues and pipelines, including those that feed Canadian oil and gas into the U.S. like Keystone XL, Line 5, as well as the Trans-Mountain project and Canada’s liquid natural gas export capacity, the official said, speaking on a background-only basis to disclose some details of the private meeting. The two leaders also discussed next year’s G7 meeting that Trudeau will host in Kananaskis, Alta. It will be held seven years after Trump left the 2018 G7 at Charlevoix, Que., only to erupt in anger later after Trudeau said Canada would stand up and fight American steel and aluminum tariffs. That outburst led many to believe Trump retained a dislike of Trudeau, however the two leaders managed a working relationship after that and have had friendly conversations since Trump’s re-election, according to two Canadian sources. Friday night’s summit, undisclosed to media in advance, was seen as a chance to kick-start the relationship anew, and to connect with some of Trump’s advisers who will be players in his second term. The menu included a dish called “Mary Trump’s Meat Loaf,” as well as a fava bean falafel appetizer, pan seared trout with braised baby artichokes or a kimchi fried rice Asian bowl as a vegan option, said officials. The presence of LeBlanc, the minister responsible for border security, was aimed at countering Trump’s claim in his online statement that “thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before.” He said if Canada and Mexico didn’t act, he would exact a “very big price” on their economies. LeBlanc has said that the Trudeau government is prepared to beef up border security, with more money for technology, drones and more Mounties and border guards on the 49th parallel. LeBlanc, who ordered the Mary Trump meat loaf dish Friday, is also a hail-fellow-well-met political actor who is trusted by Trudeau, and gets along well with his ideological opposites, like Ontario Premier Doug Ford. It is the first meeting between the president-elect and a foreign leader, and comes just under two months before Trump is to be inaugurated as U.S. president. It also came just days after Trump threatened to impose the massive 25-per-cent tariffs on America’s three biggest trading partners, Canada, Mexico and China, with an additional 10 per cent slapped on China (possibly on top of an earlier vow to impose 60 per cent tariffs on China). Canada’s ambassador to Washington Kirsten Hillman and Trudeau’s deputy chief of staff Brian Clow were also at the Mar-a-Lago dinner, having travelled ahead to Florida to accompany the Canadian delegation. Earlier Friday, without tipping his hand, Trudeau said in Prince Edward Island that what is “important to understand is that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out. There’s no question about it. “Our responsibility is to point out that in this way, he would actually not just be harming Canadians, who work so well with the United States, he would actually be raising prices for American citizens as well, and hurting American industry and businesses.” Trudeau added, “ultimately, it is through lots of constructive, real conversations with President Trump that I’m going to have that will keep us moving forward on the right track for all Canadians.” The Friday evening Mar-a-Lago high-stakes meeting occurred out of the public eye. Canadian media were not aware of Trudeau’s surprise trip until flight trackers alerted the departure of the prime minister’s plane headed south to Florida. That is in stark contrast to Trump and Trudeau’s first meeting at the White House in February 2017, which was a major bilateral shortly after Trump took power for his first term, at which border security was also front and centre. The relationship between the two leaders has been the subject of speculation since Trump’s re-election, and since his on Truth Social . “I’m surprised and impressed,” said Flavio Volpe, head of Canada’s Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, that the Canadian leader was meeting with the president-elect, adding that kind of personal facetime with the former and future president is invaluable for Trudeau, and for Canada in the months ahead. “The PM is demonstrating the humility that’s required (by) going to the source. Also the prime minister is demonstrating to the contrary of all the predictions (the idea) that Donald Trump wouldn’t want to work with him is untrue.” Volpe said “nothing final” may come of the meeting, however he said the federal government may get a sense of what the next steps could be.Zoe Ball's son shares heartbreaking news as family suffer another loss

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ACB's 2024 Performance Under Scrutiny: Fewer Graft Cases Or Less Corruption?Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of KeyCorp ( NYSE:KEY – Free Report ) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund purchased 34,742 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $582,000. A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC raised its position in KeyCorp by 285.5% in the third quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC now owns 1,542 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 1,142 shares during the period. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in KeyCorp in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. American Capital Advisory LLC acquired a new position in KeyCorp in the third quarter valued at about $28,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in KeyCorp during the third quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in shares of KeyCorp during the third quarter valued at about $38,000. 79.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. KeyCorp Stock Performance Shares of KEY stock opened at $19.48 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $19.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,948.00, a PEG ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 1.24. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $17.83 and a 200 day moving average price of $16.11. The company has a current ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. KeyCorp has a 12 month low of $12.22 and a 12 month high of $20.04. KeyCorp Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 13th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be given a dividend of $0.205 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 3rd. This represents a $0.82 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.21%. KeyCorp’s dividend payout ratio is presently 8,200.00%. Insider Activity In other KeyCorp news, Director Carlton L. Highsmith sold 9,000 shares of KeyCorp stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $17.14, for a total transaction of $154,260.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 37,864 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $648,988.96. The trade was a 19.20 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink . Also, insider Angela G. Mago sold 15,011 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.59, for a total transaction of $294,065.49. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 234,582 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,595,461.38. This trade represents a 6.01 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Company insiders own 0.61% of the company’s stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of KeyCorp from $20.00 to $22.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods restated an “outperform” rating and set a $18.00 price target on shares of KeyCorp in a research report on Tuesday, September 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on KeyCorp from $20.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday. DA Davidson raised their target price on KeyCorp from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 21st. Finally, Wedbush boosted their price target on shares of KeyCorp from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 24th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, KeyCorp currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $18.26. Check Out Our Latest Report on KEY About KeyCorp ( Free Report ) KeyCorp operates as the holding company for KeyBank National Association that provides various retail and commercial banking products and services in the United States. It operates in two segments, Consumer Bank and Commercial Bank. The company offers various deposits, investment products and services; commercial leasing, investment management, consumer finance; and personal finance and financial wellness, student loan refinancing, mortgage and home equity, lending, credit card, treasury, business advisory, wealth management, asset management, cash management, portfolio management, and trust and related services to individuals and small and medium-sized businesses. Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than KeyCorp Find and Profitably Trade Stocks at 52-Week Lows The Latest 13F Filings Are In: See Where Big Money Is Flowing What Are Growth Stocks and Investing in Them 3 Penny Stocks Ready to Break Out in 2025 How Can Investors Benefit From After-Hours Trading FMC, Mosaic, Nutrien: Top Agricultural Stocks With Big Potential Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KEY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for KeyCorp ( NYSE:KEY – Free Report ). 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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Trey Fort had 27 points in Samford's 97-90 win against Alabama A&M on Saturday night. Fort added five rebounds for the Bulldogs (10-3). Collin Holloway shot 4 of 5 from the field and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line to add 16 points. Julian Brown shot 4 for 5 (3 for 4 from 3-point range) and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line to finish with 14 points. The Bulldogs (4-8) were led by Anthony Bryant, who recorded 22 points. Alabama A&M also got 21 points and 10 assists from Bilal Abdur-Rahman. Quincy McGriff also had 13 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

LOS ANGELES — It's always a good idea to bundle up at Mammoth Mountain, but anyone hoping to get in some holiday ski runs may want to consider some additional layers. A storm forecast to hit this weekend is expected to bring strong winds with gusts of up to 70 mph at the mountain's summit, according to the National Weather Service . A high-wind watch has been issued for most of Sunday, with sustained winds of 40 to 45 mph expected along with the more powerful gusts. A new snow layer of 1 to 2 inches is also possible — welcome news for those looking to hit the slopes before ringing in the new year. But while conditions may be blustery, visitors shouldn't expect the same sort of scene depicted in a viral video that's been making the rounds on social media. That video, which was posted on X on Christmas Day, showed hundreds of skiers lining up for a ski lift while being pelted by snow and wind. However, the video was originally posted on Instagram more than a week earlier — and was taken at a time when most lifts had been closed due to wind gusts up to 100 mph at the mountain's summit, Mammoth Mountain spokesperson Emily van Greuning told SFGate. Jake Baisley, who took the original video, said it was on the fourth day of his first trip to Mammoth Mountain. "The conditions were pretty crummy," he said, "lots of rocks showing and the lines were long on the weekends." Despite the wind and lines, he'll likely head back to Mammoth, he said, adding that the area is good for van life . Other than that now-viral moment, Van Greuning said, the busy holiday season has been going as expected. The Eastern Sierra ski resort has seen a good turnout so far this season, which usually starts in November and ends in May. With 3,500 acres available for skiing, there's not much concern for crowding on a typical day, Van Greuning told The Times in an email Thursday. Last year's season extended into August for only the third time in the resort's seven-decade history, when the main lodge saw a record 60 feet of snow. ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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So I heard. I watched Puig play only twice this year, once in the Galaxy's season-opening 1-1 draw with Inter Miami and a second time in his team's Fourth of July defeat to LAFC at the Rose Bowl. Outside of short highlight clips on social media, I never saw the former Barcelona prospect, not even when he assisted on the goal that sent the Galaxy to the MLS Cup final. That wasn't a reflection of my interest. Some of my friends will make fun of me for publicly admitting this, but I like Major League Soccer. I covered the league in my first job out of college and have casually kept up with it since. I take my children to a couple of games a year. My 11-year-old son owns Galaxy and LAFC hats but no Dodgers or Lakers merchandise. When flipping through channels in the past, if presented with the choice of, say, college football or MLS, I usually watched MLS. But not this year. While the MLS Cup final between the Galaxy and New York Red Bulls will be shown on Fox and Fox Deportes, the majority of games are now exclusively behind a paywall, courtesy of the league's broadcasting deal with Apple. MLS Season Pass subscriptions were reasonably priced — $79 for the entire season for Apple TV+ subscribers, $99 for non-subscribers — but I was already paying for DirecTV Stream, Netflix, Amazon Prime, PlayStation Plus and who knows what else. MLS became a casualty in my household, as well as in many others, and the possibility of being out of sight and out of mind should be a concern for a league that is looking to expand its audience. Which isn't to say the league made a mistake. This was a gamble MLS had to take. Now in the second year of a 10-year, $2.5 billion deal with Apple, MLS did what Major League Baseball is talking about doing, which is to centralize its broadcasting rights and sell them to a digital platform. Regional sports networks have been decimated by cord cutting, making traditional economic models unsustainable. The move to Apple not only increased the league's broadcast revenues — previous deals with ESPN, Fox and Univision were worth a combined $90 million annually, according to multiple reports — but also introduced a measure of uniformity in the league. The quality of the broadcasts are better than they were under regional sports networks. Viewers know where to watch games and when, as every one of them is on Season Pass and most of them are scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. local time either on Wednesday or Saturday. "That's been fueling our growth and driving our fan engagement," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Friday at his annual state of the league address. Apple and MLS declined to reveal the number of League Pass subscribers, but the league provided polling figures that indicated 94% of viewers offered positive or neutral reviews of League Pass. The average viewing time for a game is about 65 minutes for a 90-minute game, according to Garber. In other words, the League Pass is well-liked — by the people who have it. The challenge now is to increase that audience. The launch of League Pass last year coincided with the arrival of Lionel Messi, which presumably resulted in a wave of subscriptions. But the league can't count on the appearance of the next Messi; there is only one of him. MLS pointed to how its fans watch sports on streaming devices or recorded television than any other U.S. sports league, as well as how 71% of its fans are under the age of 45. The league also pointed to how it effectively drew more viewers to the Apple broadcast of Inter Miami's postseason opener with a livestream of a "Messi Cam' on TikTok, indicating further collaborations with wide-reaching entities could be in its future. Garber mentioned how Season Pass is available in other countries. The commissioner also made note of how Apple places games every week in front of its paywall. "What we have, really, is a communication problem," Garber said. "This is new, and we've got to work with Apple, we've got to work with our clubs and we've got to work with our partners to get more exposure to what we think is a great product." The greatest benefit to the league could be Apple's vested interest in improving the on-field product. MLS insiders said Apple has not only encouraged teams to sign more high-profile players but also pushed the league to switch to a fall-to-spring calendar more commonplace in other parts of the world, reasoning that doing so would simplify the process of buying and selling players. The on-field product is what matters. The on-field product is why MLS continues to face competition for viewers from overseas leagues. The on-field product is why the league hasn't succeeded in converting every soccer fan into a MLS fan. And ultimately, if casual viewers such as myself are to pay to watch the Galaxy or LAFC on a screen of some kind, the on-field product will be why.

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Justin Herbert tosses 3 TDs, Chargers clinch a playoff spot with a 40-7 rout of Patriots FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Justin Herbert threw three touchdown passes and the Los Angeles Chargers clinched their second playoff appearance in three seasons with a 40-7 victory over the New England Patriots. The win also secured the fourth postseason appearance in Jim Harbaugh’s five seasons as an NFL coach, adding to the three he made during his stint with the San Francisco 49ers. Herbert finished 26 of 38 for 281 yards to become the third player in NFL history with at least 3,000 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes in each of his first five seasons. The Patriots have lost six straight games, their second such losing streak of the season. They are now 2-14 the last two seasons at home. Dallas' Naji Marshall gets 4-game suspension, Phoenix's Jusuf Nurkic is banned 3 games for fight The NBA has suspended Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall for four games and Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic for three games for their roles in an on-court fight during Friday night’s game. Dallas forward P.J. Washington was suspended for one game. All of the suspensions are without pay. Nurkic was called for an offensive foul while being guarded by Daniel Gafford with 9:02 left in the third quarter before the altercation quickly escalated. Nurkic confronted Marshall before taking an open-handed swing at his head and then Marshall responded with a punch. Washington quickly shoved Nurkic to the ground before the teams were separated. The NBA said Marshall “attempted to further engage Nurkic in a hostile manner in the corridor outside the locker rooms.” Shohei Ohtani to become a father for the 1st time in 2025 LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is adding a newcomer to his family lineup. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar has posted on his Instagram account that he and wife Mamiko Tanaka are expecting a baby in 2025. The photo shows the couple's beloved dog, Decoy, as well as a pink ruffled onesie along with baby shoes and a sonogram that is covered by a baby emoji. Ohtani announced in February that he had married Tanaka, a former professional basketball player from his native Japan. The news from the intensely private player stunned Ohtani's teammates and his fans. Eli Manning and Antonio Gates are among the finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, former Defensive Players of the Year Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs, and prolific tight end Antonio Gates are among the finalists for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. The Hall on Saturday announced the names of the 15 modern-era finalists who advanced from a group of 25 to the final stage of voting. The selection committee will vote next month to pick the class of between three and five modern-era players that will be announced the week of the Super Bowl. Georgia QB Carson Beck announces plan to enter NFL draft after season-ending elbow injury Georgia quarterback Carson Beck has announced his plans to enter the NFL draft, five days after having season-ending elbow surgery. The fifth-year senior made his NFL plans official on social media. Beck suffered a right elbow injury in the first half of the Bulldogs’ 22-19 overtime win over Texas in the Southeastern Conference championship game on Dec. 7. Beck had surgery on Monday to repair his ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow. He is expected to begin throwing next spring. Backup Gunner Stockton will make his first start in the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame on Wednesday. Victor Wembanyama plays 1-on-1 chess with fans in New York Victor Wembanyama went to a park in New York City and played 1-on-1 with fans on Saturday. He even lost a couple of games. Not in basketball, though. Wemby was playing chess. Before the San Antonio Spurs left New York for a flight to Minnesota, Wembanyama put out the call on social media: “Who wants to meet me at the SW corner of Washington Square park to play chess? Im there,” Wembanyama wrote. It was 9:36 a.m. And people began showing up almost immediately. Mavs star Luka Doncic is latest pro athlete whose home was burglarized, business manager says DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is the latest professional athlete whose home has been burglarized. The star guard’s business manager tells multiple media outlets there was a break-in at Doncic’s home Friday night. Lara Beth Seager says nobody was home, and Doncic filed a police report. The Dallas Morning News reports that jewelry valued at about $30,000 was stolen. Doncic is the sixth known pro athlete in the U.S. whose home was burglarized since October. Star NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City and Joe Burrow of Cincinnati are among them. The NFL and NBA have issued security alerts to players over the break-ins. Panthers place 1,000-yard rusher Chuba Hubbard on IR for final 2 games with strained calf CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have shut down leading rusher Chuba Hubbard for the final two games of the season because of a strained calf. He was placed on injured reserve Saturday. Hubbard was limited in practice Friday with a knee injury and was listed as questionable to play Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After practice, Hubbard complained of pain and had an MRI, which revealed a grade two calf strain, according to the team. Hubbard ran for 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. He becomes the third Panthers running back to be placed on injured reserve this season, joining Miles Sanders and rookie Jonathan Brooks. Patriots QB Drake Maye returns to game after evaluation for head injury vs. Chargers FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye has returned to the game after being evaluated for a head injury following a blow to the helmet in the first quarter of New England’s matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. Maye was scrambling near the sideline on third down of the Patriots’ first possession of the game when he was hit by Chargers cornerback Cam Hart. Maye stayed down on the turf for several seconds before eventually getting up and jogging off the field on his own power. He briefly sat on the bench before going to the medical tent and then the locker room. He was replaced by backup Jacoby Brissett in the next series. But Maye returned at the 10:15 mark of the second quarter. Corbin Burnes and Arizona Diamondbacks agree to $210 million, 6-year deal, AP source says PHOENIX (AP) — Corbin Burnes and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a $210 million, six-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a successful physical. The 30-year-old Burnes was perhaps the top free agent pitcher on the market after going 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA for Baltimore last season. The Orioles acquired the right-hander in a February trade after he spent his first six major league seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Trey Fort had 27 points in Samford's 97-90 win against Alabama A&M on Saturday night. Fort added five rebounds for the Bulldogs (10-3). Collin Holloway shot 4 of 5 from the field and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line to add 16 points. Julian Brown shot 4 for 5 (3 for 4 from 3-point range) and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line to finish with 14 points. The Bulldogs (4-8) were led by Anthony Bryant, who recorded 22 points. Alabama A&M also got 21 points and 10 assists from Bilal Abdur-Rahman. Quincy McGriff also had 13 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — Jalen Haynes scored 18 points as George Mason beat Mount St. Mary's 64-56 on Saturday. Haynes also added 16 rebounds for the Patriots (9-4). Darius Maddox shot 5 of 11 from the field, including 1 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 2 for 3 from the line to add 13 points. Brayden O'Connor shot 2 for 5 (2 for 3 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with nine points. The Mountaineers (8-5, 1-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) were led by Dola Adebayo, who recorded 13 points and seven rebounds. Mount St. Mary's also got 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks from Terrell Ard Jr.. Arlandus Keyes also had seven points. Haynes scored 11 points in the first half and George Mason went into halftime trailing 30-28. George Mason used a 10-3 second-half run to come back from a three-point deficit and take the lead at 34-30 with 17:54 remaining in the half before finishing off the victory. Maddox scored nine second-half points. George Mason plays Tuesday against Davidson at home, and Mount St. Mary's hosts Niagara on Sunday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by and data from .

How to empower people through value transformationAustin scores 20 off the bench, Portland downs Lafayette 74-64Sutton scores 23, Omaha knocks off Sacramento State 70-60Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said overbilling by power distribution companies (Discos) was unacceptable and ordered that the installation of smart meters be completed as soon as possible to ensure transparency. In February, a four-member independent inquiry committee on ‘Abject Failure – Illegal Overbilling’ confirmed overcharging allegations made by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) against all Discos across the country but absolved them of “deliberate and mala fide” fleecing. In April, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi made it clear that overbilling would not be tolerated under any circumstances. The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Energy (Power Division) had also expressed grave concern over rising overbilling complaints in August. The directives were issued today as the premier chaired a review meeting on the performance of Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco), Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fescp), a press release from the PM Office Media Wing said. During the meeting, PM Shehbaz termed overbilling unacceptable, stating that strict action would be taken against officers involved in such practices. He expressed concern over the delay in the appointment process of Discos’ chief executive officers (CEOs) and directed to ensure that the appointments were made at the earliest through a highly transparent process. “Recruitment of workforce in distribution companies should be merit-based, with no compromise on transparency,” the prime minister asserted. Meanwhile, the meeting was apprised of the progress of smart meters’ installation as well. The advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) meters, also known as smart meters, automatically transfer the reading data to the control room (main server) on the exact meter reading date and time, enabling the officials to quickly process and send bills to the consumers. Since the system also allows Discos to receive and check readings on a daily basis, it minimises the chances of corruption (overbilling, tampering, etc) by ending the obsolete manual reading system. Pesco took the top spot for the installation rate, with 51,173 installed out of 152,559 smart meters, according to figures reported by state-run APP. Out of 223,365 three-phase smart meters, 49,470 had been installed by Lesco. Fesco had only installed 11,276 out of 192,311 smart meters. PM Shehbaz also said all available resources should be utilised to meet the targets set by Nepra. According to a detailed briefing on the achievement of targets, recovery rates up to November of the current fiscal year (FY 2024-25) were reported as 96.82 per cent for Lesco, 87.98pc for Pesco and 97.57pc for Fesco. Transmission and distribution losses (up to November of FY 2024-25) remained at 13.04pc for Lesco, 33pc for Pesco and 6.01pc for Fesco. Minister for Economic Affairs Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Power Division Awais Khan Leghari, Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Ali Pervez Malik, PM’s Coordinator Rana Ahsan Afzal, and other senior government officials attended the meeting.